Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-17

and promote the interests OF our laborinl
people. Congress has wisely co-operateC
With and supplemented the work of this de
partment by enactinR a law for the bettel
protection OF seamen and to prevent thell
being induced to ship through false repre-,
sentatons. IT has provided for an investi
cation into the conditions of workins
women and children; il has amended anS
strengthened the law to prevent the i'm.
portation of contract labor, and provided
a plan for the further exclusion of thai
class OF Asiatic immigration which enters
into competition with American workmen
~ has enacted a law limiting the hours
OF LABOR or employees engaged in railway
train service and of railway telegraphers.
The congress Just closed re-enacted the
law. passed by the Fffty-ninth congress tc
conform to the opinion of the supreme
court, making common carriers liable for
accidents to their employees engaged in in
t~erstate commerce. It has enacted a law for
the further protection of the life of railroad
employees in their hazardous employment
II has provided compensation for laborers
and mechanics who may be injured in the
service OF the government, and making a
provision for their families in the event
OF their being killed in the course of their
employment. 1t has enacted a model child
labor law in the District of Columbia. IL
has directed a thorough Investigation into
the working conditions of the employees of
the telegraph and telephone companies do
ing interstate business, and In response to
the urgent appeal from both capital and
labor congress-, before its adjournment. an
propriated $4,000 for an investigation into
Wv AhooN vi VII dtNtQeHlEs Wlln a XlA W
Of promoting the safety o fNworkers In our
mines.
1t is within bounds to say that no pre-
Nlous sessions of congress have displayed
a more active or intelligent interest In the
needs OF the wage earners than the laa
three sessions, nor has there heretofore in
the same length of time been as much Inn
portant and progressive legislation in the
interests of this class OF our fellow
citizens.
Operations i'm Cuba.
Senator Burrows reviewed at length and
in detail the operations of the several de-
partments Of the government, the oooupaa
tion of Cuba and the administration OF it's
affairs. and the administration of the gov.
int of the Philippines, and went on
The republican party stands for a re.
vision and readtustment of our customs
laws as changed industrial conditions at
home and abroad may hav made neces-
sary, keeping steadily in view the car
dinal principles of protection to American
industries and American labor. As evil
dence q its good faith in this regard, the
nationalN house of representatives clothed
under the constitution, with exclusive juris-
diction to originate all bills for raising
revenue, on the 10th of April just past,
by formal resolution, authorized and al.
rected its committee on ways and means.
the organ of the house having Jurisdiction
OF the question, ito sit during the recess
OF congress and to gather such Information
through governmental agents and other
wise, as 1t may see fit, looking toward
the preparation Of a bill for the revision
of the tariff"
experimenting this action on the part or
the house OF representatives, and cooper
ating with II, the senate, in the exercise
or It's constitutional prerogative to pro
pose or concur with amendments as on
other bills on the 18th OF May passed
the following resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on finance
are authorized, in connection with inyestI-
cations heretofore ordered by the senate,
with the view of promptly securing the in
vision of the customs laws OF the United
states, TO call to their assistance experts
In the executive departments of the gov
eminent and to employ such other as
sistants as they shall require; and they
are especially directed to report what fur
Their legislation is necessary to secure
and sother products of the United States
in foreign countries. and they shall also,
in the consideration of changes OF rates,
secure proof of the relative cost OF pro-
in this and In principal competing
countries of the various articles
affected by the tariff upon which changes
In rates of duty are desirable"
These public declarations by congress.
the eve of the election, give the most
solemn assurance possible that the work
viii he speedily undertaken and pressed
10 an early contamination.
In this connection IL can be safely prom
lsed that whatever revision or Reimbursement
takes place under the control of the re-
luate protection to American Industries
and American labor and defend the Amer
can market against the unjust and unequal
from whatever quarter they may
come.
Our recent financial disturbance chaI-
the soundness of our monetary con-
dillon and brought to the fore the question
Of our banking and currency system, the
consideration OF which became and con-
TO be a subject OF pressing and
commanding Importance. In the midst of
unusual prosperity, with 6,69e national banks
lnder direct supervision and control Of the
national government. with a paid-up cap
tai of over 100000 a surplus and UNI
divided profits OF $500 900, 900, and an out
circulation OF $3.50, OO0, 900, secured
by United states bonds, every dollar Of
Was worth its face I'm gold; with an
unprecedented holding OF coin in the treas
iry OF the United States, yet sudden
seized the banks. national and
state, and they were either reluctant or
to respond 10 the ordinary and
egitimate demands of trade.
The Time of Crisis.
CONSERVATION prevailed. confidence shak-
m. and nothing but the prompt and heroic
action OF the secretary Of the treasury
lverted a widespread and serious catas-