The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-16

CONTINUED from Page one.)

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So. 900 in 1907
The cotton fabrics wrought in Amer
lean mills from our domestic hber con-
suned in 1903 1924 million bales, "niie
In 1907 they required more tnan iiiii-
Hons.
Our exports of manufactures ad.
vanced from 46S million dollars in 1913
to 740 millions in 1907.
Our imports of raw material for use
IN domestic manufacture increased
Froro 33O million dollars in 1908 to All
millions in 1907. while our exports IN q
the calendar year of 1907 were nearly
billion dollars, an increase of 80 per
cent over those of four years ago.
Industrial Conditions.
The mills and factories temporarily
closed by reason of financial distur-
Dances are rapidly resuming opera
TONS calling labor back to prontaple
employment.
This record of material activity in
field and forest, factory and farm.
mines and mills during the last FOUR
years might be indefinitely extended,
but this is quite sufficient to show the
DEVELOPMENT and robust condition or
our Industrial life.
The nine great executive depart
ments of the government through
which the head of the nation speaks.
and acts have advanced with STEADY
and resolute steps within the sphere
of their activities. presenting record
of achievements during the last TOUR
years of intelligent and progressive
administration unexampled in the MS
tory of the government.
The agricultural department has
continued its work in promoting the
interest of the farmers by diversifying
their products; supplying new ana
valuable seeds and plants especially
adapted to our climate and soil; Grad
icating diseases which infest and de-
stroy animal and vegetable Il1e' oe-
yeloping the beet sugar industry TO
four hundred and eighty thousand tons;
valued at 43 million dollars; enforced
the pure food law, enhancing the val
ue of farm products, conserving the
health of all our people, distributed
during the year. 1907 nearly II mir
lion bulletins; provided for over e.
600 scientists to gather Information
for the benefit of agriculture; pro-
tected our forest reserves from the
rayages of fire; converted the ARID
lands and waste places into 1ertlle
fields and poisoning gardens; ex-
tended our producing area Tor grams
westward into the dry regions, SO
that nearly so million bushels year
are being grown in regions which
have heretofore been unproductive,
and in every way possible conserving
the natural resources of the country
for ourselves and the generations to
come after us.
The department of commerce and
labor, organized in 1903, has been ac-
tive and potential in extending our
commerce and protecting our labor
1t has dispatched messengers to for
eign countries, particularly to south
America and the Orient. to learn the
needs and tastes of the people with
view of increasing our trade. The ex-
ports. which in 1903 aggregated l.
3e2 million dollars, will, it is estimat-
ed, in 1908 aggregate about 1,90e mil
lions, showing an increase practically
to every country. Its bureau or sta
tistics has esta blished a system of re-
cordins the internal commerce of the
country on the great lakes and 1t I'M
portant interior centers. Its bureau
of manufactures has brought about
more intimate relations between the
manufacturers of the United states
and buyers abroad, and, by bringing
purchasers into closer touch with
dealers, aided in the extension of
foreign markets for our manufactures:
1t has co-operated in the benehcent
work of arbitration to avert or ter
inmate strikes and promote the in
terests of our laboring people. Con-
gress has wisely co-operated with and
supplemented the work of this de-
partment by enacting a law for the
better protection of seamen and 10
ureyent their being induced to ship
through false representations. 1t has
provided for an Investigation into the
conditions of working women and
children; it has amended and
strengthened the law to prevent the
importation of contract labor, and
provided a plan for the further ex-
clusion of that class of Asiatic immi-
grafton which enters into competition
with American workmen. 1t has en-
acted law limiting the hours of labor
of employees engaged in railway train
service and of railway telegraphers.
Employers Liability Law.
The congress just closed re-enacted
the law passed by the Fifty-ninth con-
gress to conform to the opinion of
the supreme court, making common
carriers liable for accidents to their
employees engaged in interstate COM
merce. 1t has enacted a law for the
further protection of the life of rail-
road employees in their hazardous en-
ployment- 1t has provided compensa-
ton 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 en-
ployment. 1t has enacted a model
child-labor law for the District of
Columbia. 1t has directed thorough
investigation into the working condi-
lions of the employees of the telegraph
and telephone companies doing inter-
state business; and, in response to the
urgent appeal from both capital and
labor, congress, before its adjourn
ment, appropriated $150.000 for an
investigation into the cause of mine
accidents, with view of promoting
the safety of workers in our mines
1t is within bounds to say that nc
previous sessions of congress have dis
played a more active or intelligent in
terest in the needs of the wage-earn-
ers than the present three sessions
nor has there heretofore in the same
length of time been as much i'm.
portant and progressive legislation ir
the interests of this class of our fel.
low-citiZens.
The work of the department of the
Interior has beep 11pda tl,.