The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-05-14
Senator Demands That Congress
Delve Deep Into Conduct Of
Americas Leading Enterprise
and It's Attitude Towards En-
Sployes. 7 7 4 IS ..:] .... .#5 5@ /

WASHINGTON, D. C.,s May Ia
Following the startling revelations
made in report Of the senate of the
conditions which led, to the strike at
the Bethlehem steel works. it was
learned today tnat Senator Borah OF
Idaho will introduce a resolution call
ing for complete congressional in
vestigation of the iron and steel in-7
dustries of the country RS.
The proposed investigation, if car
ried out to the letter, promises to be
even more sensational than the Beth
lehem probe in exposing the condi-
tions under which hundreds Of thou
sands Of American workers labor. It
is believed that such, an investiga-
ton will easily prove the charge
made by. organized labor of frightful
underpay and overwork in Americas
leading industry. 8 +. = r Fl Z & Z.
The effect of the Bethlehem inves-
tigation upon the allied steel interests
Is illustrated by the quick sequence
of events following. the passage Of
Rainey's resolution III the house and
Owens measure in the senate Here
is what happened: = - 9 &
EARLY in March the investigation
was ordered by the house Of repre-
sentatives. <=s5l.,
On March 1S the officials from the
arrived at Bethlehem, Pa.
On March 20, Judge Elbert H. Gary
wired to all the plants of the United
States Steel Corporation to- imme-
diately reduce Sunday work to the
lowest possible point.
To still further placate the storm
of condemnation aroused by the pub
lished conditions aroused by the pub
lished conditions at Bethlehem and
other steel plants, the United States
Steel Corporation announced ''vol-
untary' increase of thirteen cents
day for each steel worker: The sub
sidized press praised the steel trust,
but the Independent and labor press
continued the work of exposure. 80
The steel interests then engineered
voluntary call son President Taft
by the leading business men o
Bethlehem asktns the sss;Fat ather Of In
functions not to believe what the
strikers said. Of course, the presi-
dent wouldn't. But others did. IS
Then Judge Gary. the star. press
agent, announced that the steel trust
flowed its 100000 employees 80 much.,
that it has decided to- give their fam
lilies lump sums for injuries or deaths
to their. r..bread-Winners instead Of Lett
ting judges and juries decide; such
things. : A few days later he fur
| nished more copy. to. the news
papers by giving them story about
a great old-age pension scheme the
steel trust Is going to put into opera
| tion some Of these days. ~
/ But on May 5 the department Of
commerce and labor handed in its re-
port to the senate in accordance with
Senator Owens resolution. This Of
ficial report of course, did not re-
ceive' the same publicity and prom
1inence in the subsidized press as have
the various "beneyolent' schemes Of
the steel trust: ...ssg,5s~a. g5s:. .sss
Labor men acquainted with con-
ditions in the plants of the steel
| trust say that "some Of those hell
joints are even worse than. Bethle-
hem.'" In Bethlehem, the Official re-
port says. the men work twelve hours
of hard labor for seven days a week,
large percentage of them earning
OnlV 12A Il cents an ,hn1,r ~