River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-02-08

what have said az to the immediate
need Cor government of much wider
powers than now exists there, II It
can be said to have any government
at all.
Lower Colorado River.
There is transmitted herewith q
letter from the Secretary of the In
terror setting out the work done un-
der joint resolution approved June 25,
1910, authorizing the expenditure of
81, 000, 900, or 80 much thereof as
might be necessary, to be expended
by the President for the purpose Of
protecting lands and property in the
Imperial valley and elsewhere along
the Colorado river In Arizona. The
money was expended and the protec-
tive works erected, but the disturb
ances in Mexico so delayed the work.
and the foods in the Colorado river
were so extensive that a part Of the
works have been carried away, and
the need for further action and ex-
penditure Of money exists.
Water-Power Sites.
In previous communications to Con-
gress have pointed out two methods
by which the water-power sites on
non-navigable streams may be con-
trolled as between the state and the
national government. It has seemed
wise that the control should be con.
centrated in one government or the
other as the active participant in
supervising it's use by private enter.
prise.
The Secretary of the Interior has
suggested another method by which
the water-power site shall be leased
directly by the government to those
who exercise a public franchise un.
der provisions imposing rental for
the water power to create fund to
be expended by the general govern.
| ment for the Improvement of the
stream and the benefit of the local
community where the power site is
and permitting the state to regulate
the rates at which the converted
power is Sold The latter method sug
gested by the Secretary is a more
direct method for Federal control,
and systematic organization and weld
ing together of the power derived
from water within radius of 800 OF
400 miles, l think it better that the
power of control should remain in
the national government than that
it should be turned over to the states.
Under such system the Federal gov.
eminent would have such direct SUI.
pervision of the whole matter that
any honest administration could cas-
lily prevent the abuses which monop
oily of absolute ownership in private
persons or companies would make
possible.
Eor some years past the high and
steadily increasing cost of living has
been a matter of such grave public
concern that | deem it of great public
interest that an international confer
ence be proposed at this time for the
purpose Of preparing plans, to be sub
mitted to the various governments, for
an international inquiry into the high
cost of living, it, extent causes, eff
fects, and possible remedies | there
president to invite foreign govern
ments to such conference, to be held
at Washington or elsewhere, the coE
press provide an appropriation, not to
exceed $4,000, to defray the expenses
of preparation and of participation by
the United States.
Commission on Industrial Relations.
The extraordinary growth of indus.
try in the past two decades and it's
revolutionary changes have raised new
and vital questions as to the relations
between employers and wage earners
which have become matters of press
ing public concern. Industrial rela
lions concern the public for double
reason. We are directly interested in
the maintenance of peaceful and sta
BILE industrial conditions for the sake
of our own comfort and well-being;
but society is equally interested, in it's
effectively civic capacity, in seeing
that our institutions are effectively
maintaining justice and fair dealing
economic interests may seem to
clash.
The MAGNITUDE and completely OF
modern industrial disputes have put
upon some of our statutes and our
presen mechanism for adjusting such
lifferences-wherp we can be said ia
have any mechanism at ala strain
they were never intended tn bear anG
for which they are uns1ited. What i,
urgently needed to day is a re-exami
Misbranding Imported Goods.
My attention has been called to thu
injustice which is done in this country
by the sale of article in the trade
purporting to be made in Ireland
when they are not so made, ard 1t il
suggested that the justice of the enact
ment of a law which, SO far as the jur
isdiction of the federal government
can go, would prevent continuance
of this misrepresentation to the pub
lie and fraud upon those who are en-
titled to use the statement in the sale
of their goods. l think it to be great.
ly in the interest of fair dealing, which
ought always to be encouraged by law.
for congress to enact law making it
misdemeanor. punishable by fine or
imprisonment, to use the mails or to
put into interstate commerce any ar
ticles of merchandise which bear upon
their face statement that they have
country when the fact is otherwise.