New-York tribune., 1910-12-07

TRIBUNE. WEDNESDA
sus. but It is of the highest Importance that
official inquiry of this sort should not be
embarrassed by fraudulent conspiracies IN
some private or local interest.
Bureau Of Lighthouses.
Tie reorganization of the Lighthouse
Board has effected a very considerable saw
ing in the administration, and the estimates
for that service for the present year are
s42S.0 geo less than for the preceding year In
addition, three tenders, for which appropri-
atoms were made, are not being built, De-
cause they are not at present needed Tor
the service. The Secretary is now asking
for a large sum for the addition of lights
and other aids to the commerce Of the seas.
includine, a number in Alaska The trade
along that coast is becoming so important
that I respectfully urge the necessity for
following his recommendations.
Bureau Of Corporations.
The Commissioner of Corporations has
Just completed the first part of a report On
the lumber industry in the United States
This part does not treat OF the question CT
q trust or combination in the manufacture
of lumber. a subject to be dealt with later
The Commissioner does find, however,
condition In the ownership OF the standing
timber of the United States, other than the
government timber, that calls for serious
attention. The direct investigation made
by the Commissioner covered an area Wnlch
contains 50 per cent Of the privately owned
timber of the country. his report sho"'
tbst o,e-hsIf of the timber IN this area Is
cor
that a per cent is owned by three corpora
tons. and that there IS very extensive IN
terownership OF stock, as well as other cir
c,7nstances all pointing to friendly rela-
tons among those who own a majority OF
this timber, a relationship which might
lead IN a combination for the maintenance
of 4 price that would be very detrimental
IN the pubIfc interest and would create the
necessity of removing all tariff obstacles 10
the free j1nportations of lumber from otheF
countries
az, clad To note in the Secretarys re
mort the satisfactory progress which Is
heing made in respect to the preserVatoh
of the seals Of the Pribylov Islands very
active steps are being taken by the Depart
,,,e11t of State to secure arrangement
=. bich shall protect the Pribylov herd from
the losses due to pelagic sealing. Meantifle
the government has secured seal peits Oh
the bachelor seals (the killing of which does
not interfere with the maintenance Oh ihe
,erf5). from the sale Of which next niohlii
Il is expected 10 realize about s+So'pp'
SIM, largely in excess of the rental pala oS
The lessee of the government un9er the
previous contract.
Coast and Geodetio Survey.
The Coast and Ceodetic Survey has been
ENGAGED in surveying the coasts or the
PhiIiDujne archipelago. This IS heaFS
work. because of the extended character ot
tia coast line in these islands, but am
ei,d to note that about half of the needed
survey has been completed So large
part OF the coast line Of the archipelago
has bean unsurveyed as to make naVlsa-
tio1, in the neighborhood of numper OF lHe
/ islands. and especially on the east Side'
particularly dangerous.
Bureau Of Labor.
Tho Commissioner of Labor has been ac
! +ftalv engaged IN composing the differences
! between employers and employees ensaged
/ in Interstate transportation under tne Fro
/ man act Jointly with the chairman on lhs
/ Interstate Commerce Commission l can
Z not sneak IN 100 Il-ii ms - 49,
If these tr-o officers in conciiation and
| settlement OF controversies which put 1or
/ their interpositiop would have resulted ols-
astrously TO all interests.
| invite attention to the very serious m
;r,-- caused IN all those who are engaged
| in the manufacture of phosphorus
| matches. The diseases incident to this are
Frigb+f,II and as matches can be made
| from other materials entirely inpocuous
! believa that the injurious manufacture
! could bo discouraged and ought to be dis
! outraged bv tho imposition of q heavy fed
! era1 tax. recommend the adoption Of this
/ method Of stamping out q very serious
/ abuse
Eialrt- Hour Law.
/ Since 12e7 il has been the declared purpose
/ of this government to favor the movement
| for an eirht-hour day by A, provision of
! Iaz, that none OF the employees employed
/ bv or on behalf of the government should
work longer than eight hours IN every
| fxentv-four The first declaration Of this
! view was not accompanied with any penal
clause and had provision for Its en-
! forccvnent and. though President Grant by
| = proclamation twice attempted to give 1t
| his sanction and 70 require the officers of
! the government. TO carry it out, the purpose
| If the trainers of the law was ultimately
! defeated BY a decision Of the Supreme
! Court holding that the statute as drawn
was merely a direction OF the government
! to its agents and did not invalidate a con-
! tract made in behalf OF the government
which provided in the contract for labor
| for day of longer hours than eight,
! Thereafter in 1892. the present eght-hcur
! law was passed. which provides that the
! services and employment Of all laborers
and mechanics who are now or may here
| after bc employed by the government of
| the United States, by the District Of Co.
| lurbia or b. any contractor or sub-Con-
tractor on any public works Of the United
States and Of the said District of Colunn-
| bja are hereby restricted TO eight hours in
anv one calendar day. and II shall be IN
| lawful. etc, etc
! This law has been construed to limit the
application cf the requirement TO those who
are directly employed by rhe government.
| or TO those who are employed upon public
| works situate upon land owned by the
United states This construction prevented
its application 20 government battleships
and other vessels built In private sbipyards
| and to heavy guns and armor plate con-
| tracted for and made ar private esta bish-
rnents
The Proposed Law.
| The proposed act provides that no Ia
borer or mechanic doing any part Of the
! oroIa Cd by q with the