The Detroit times., 1908-12-02

y
tains I'm the demand for farm laborers
and often at seasons Of the year wnen
manufacturing Industries are SLACK
The frst requisite IL to make accessible
the information above referred TO, and
the second Is 10 facilitate and cheapsh
transportation. This may be done, per-
rangement with the vario.s railroad
and transportation companies or the
country for a labor-exchange rate
The bureau OF corporations has con
tinued its work OF investigation OF IN
dustTial interstate corporations ana the
publication OF important facts relating
thereto. II has continued 10 prepare as
the result OF these investigations. re-
ports on particular Industries. and with
the authority or the president has made
them public. together with the conclu-
sions OF the commissioner upon the
facts set forth.
on Aug. 8. 1907. the bureau published
It's third report on The petroleum INDUS
try entitled Prices ana Profits. This
report dealt with the results OF certain
! methods OF the standard OIL company.
Ii was the logical sequel or earlier re-
ports. which had sea forth the business
methods OF that company inis last
report showed the results OF sueh
methods upon the consumers and upon
the profts OF the Standard OIL com
pany.
The bureau has now on hand and un-
| finished Investigations OF the tobacco;
steel. and lumber industries; inland
waterways, the International Harvester
I company, and further Investigations OF
the petroleum. industry ana the cotton
| exchanges. IL Is also engaged IN pre-
pairing special subject matters Tor the
/ use OF the national conservation COM
mission. recently appointed by the
president.
The i've years experience OF the
I bureau since its creation In dealing
with corporate AFFAIRS has made II
clear that the greatest advance toward
corporate reform must come through
some general system OF pubncity. The
logical conclusion from the work or the
bureau thus far points TO the impera-
tive need of a federal constructive sys-
tenn for the positive supervision of In
terstate corporations to the primary
end OF securing efhcient publicity In
corporate affairs, such puoicity must
be OF the sort that is adapted to the
practical requirements OF American
public opinion II can not content it
self with the mere publication or
alone are not fitted to form the basis or
public opinion. The government must
collect such figures. but to make them
of any use In this connection IL must
also summarize and digest them and
present them to the public In the shape
90 brief reliable. clear conclusions
showing important corporate facts, Inc
work OF the bureau OF corporations thus
far has been directed 10 this end. ana
the results have demonstrated its value
Another fact touched upon In my last
report has been still more clearly dem
onstrated by the work or the bureau.
Ii Is becoming more AND more obvious
that the work OF the government In
regulating corporations should not be
directed at the mere existence of COM
bination Itself as such. but should deal
rather with the way In which the COM
bination powers arc USED So as 10 pre-
vent as far as possible the misuse Of
these great Industrial forces. Only
such combinations as are formed for
wrongful purposes, or sash co, eomo ina
should be brought under The condemna-
ton OF the law
One OF the great needs In Industrial
cal change In the law respecting en-
ployers' liability. AT the present time.
except for the recent act for govern
old common law still prevail in most OF
our states with some degree OF modin-'
cation OF the fellow servant doctrine;
But these notifications 40 not at all
bring our Legislation on employers La
bility anywhere near the standard set
by all the principal countries OF the
sstion can be collected for injury or
death unless such injury or death 10
due directly to some negligence on the
part OF the employer or one OF his rep
resentatives or employees.
Justice demands that this burden OF
industry should not be thrown upon
those members OF society least able to
and their families-as Is nov the case.
Never before were such persistent
efforts made on the part OF leading ma.
trade. and the results are seen In the
rapid growth OF the productive indus
tries and the great expansion OF the
gagged In the international competition.
| This Is particularly noticeable In the
countries OF middle and western Europe.
ural resources and the most extensive
equipment for mechanical construction,
combined with the Intelligence and en-
~ m n
port OF manufactured products IL con-
cerned we are In many respects far be-
hind. Progress. however. is being made
ture are becoming better and more
widely known In foreign markets An
important step taken IL this direction
concerns the bureau of manufactures.
which has been working persistently
and effectively to acquaint our business
people as to trade conditions and re-
quirements abroad. with the result that
a popular demand for information and
aid has been stimulated that can not be
adequately met with the limited factii-
ties OF the bureau
I renew the recommendation Of my
last annual report in favor OF meas.
| ure that shall insure US superior mail
| communication with the republics OF
South America. with Australasia. by
| way of our lnsular territories In the
mid -Pacifc: and with the Philippines.
which In it's essentials accords with
| that recommendation has passed the
senate and now awaits action by the
house OF representatives.
I During the fiscal year the lighthouse
\ establishment was considerably en-
| lsrged by the addition OF tenders. light
vessels. and other aids to navigation.
which became necessary on account of
| improvements TO harbors and increase
! In commerce. There were newly estab-
| ished during the year IS lights. 10
| fog signals, Is submarine signals, and
1s9 buoys. besides 1873 daymarks and
$50 post lanterns.
There arc at present on tSe rolls OF
the lighthouse establishment 1.631 keep
ers assistant Keepers. and iaborers In
| charge df lights The number author
lied nv stat'ptc "a $50 owe hundred
and twenty-five lights are to be estab-
| iisbed during the ptescltt nscal year,
requiring the DcrvicCs of 81 keepers In
view or these facts IL Is recommended
that the authorized number or Keepers
| assistant Keepers. and laborcrs be in
! creased at once TO l.72s. and after July
4, 1902. 10 l.150.
| izing the board to pay the surgical and
hospital expenses OF seamen employed
| on board vessels or the lighthouse es-
Establishment and injured in the per-
| Torrance OF duty. They are now en-
titled to treatment at the nearest
marine hospital but such a hospital
may be many miles from the scene OF
the accident while private medical as
sistance might be obtained I'm the i'm
United States. and not the seaman.
! should bear the expense OF treatment
but there Is at present no law author
izing IL.
The movement for tho conservation
| OF our natural resources has important