Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-02-15

u6Su LOT government OL UluCu WlUS1
powers than now exists there, If il
can be said to have any government
at all
Lower Colorado River.
There is transmitted herewith a
letter from the Secretary Of the In
terror setting out the work done IN
der joint resolution approved June p,
1910, authorizing the expenditure Of
100000, or so 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 floods in the Colorado river
were so extensive that q 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
troIled as between the state and the
national government. 1t has seemed
wise that the control should be con
centrated in one government or the
other as the active participant in
supervising its 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 IN
der provisions imposing a rental for
the water power to create a 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 in view of the probable union
ing together Of the power derived
from water within a radius of 800 or
400 miles, I think 1t better that the
power Of control should remain in
the national government than that
it should be turned over to the states.
Under such a system the Federal gov
eminent would have such direct SUI
s~-s- g~A
any honest administration could cas-
lily prevent the abuses which a mOnop-
oily of absolute ownership in private
persons or companies would make
possible.
For some years past the high and
steadily increasing cost of living has
been a matter of such grave public
concern that I 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, its extent, causes, eff
fects, and possible remedies. I there
fore recommend that, to enable the
president TO invite foreign govern
ments to such a conference, to be held
at Washington or elsewhere, the con-
press provide an appropriation, not tc
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 a 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 its
effectively civic capacity, in seeing
that our institutions are effectively
maintaining justice and fair dealing
between any classes of citizens whose
economic interests may seem to
clash
The magniture and complexity Of
modern industrial disputes have put
upon some of our statutes and our
preseu mechanism for adjusting such
Hfferences-where we can be said to
have any mechanism at ala strain
they were never intended to bear and
for which they are unsuited. What is
urgently needed to day is a re-eyami-
MIsbranding Imported Goods.
My attention has been called to the
/ 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; and it is
! 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 a continuance
of this misrepresen .ation to the pub
| lie and fraud upon those who are en-
titled to use the statement in the sale
OF their goods. I think it to be great
! ly in the interest Of fair dealing. which
ought always to be encouraged by law,
for congress to enact a law making it
a misdemeanor, punishable by fine or
I 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
been manufactured in some particular
! country when the fact is otherwise.
-