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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1904)
Secretary Cortelyou on Capital and Labor w sis (Copyright, 1". Frank Carpenter.) IASHINGTON, D. C. March 4. (Special Correspondence of The Bos.) "What can your depart ment do to settlo the existing troubles between labor and cap ital?" I asked this question of Secretary Cortel you as we sat together In hla office In the Department of Commerco and Labor yes terday afternoon. The secretary was look ing" over reports from his various bureaus, and checking lt statistical Items running high Into the millions. He has, you know, about fifteen of the most Important bureaus In the United States government, employ ing more than 10,000 men, and entailing an annual expenditure of more than $10,000,000. ' All the government Investigations and In formation about the big corporations and combinations of capital, as well as ques tions connected with labor, come before him, so that to a certain extent he repre sents Undo Sum In all his relations to the two. The secretory replied: "The I)ipartment of Commerce and Labor tuts no executive functions In settling the troubles of capital and labor. Tt cannot In terfere with either party In nny controversy that may arise. All thnt It alms to do Is to furnish tho fullest Information possible as to existing conditions, In order that each party may understand morn fully JuRt what those oondltlons are, and be guided thereby tn arranging a settlement." "What kinds of Information, Mr. Secre tary ?" I asked. "All klndH." was tho reply. "Everything that bears on tho relation of labor to cap ital. Tho elements of cost In various prod ucts, the nrtlcle controlled by trust and other combinations of capital and the ef fects that such trusts have on prices. W are collecting Information ns to wnges and hours of work, tho comparative cost of liv ing and tho kind of living In different parts of the United States, the material, social. Intellectual and moral condition of the workmen, as well as to all matters relating to controversies and disputes between em ployers and employes. This Information la for capitalists and wage earners alike, -They are. on a perfect equality here. The department acts only as an Information bureau or an educational office, to enable each party to a better understanding of what tho actual conditions are." "nut. Mr. Secretary, the department gives information to both parties, and It Is perfectly Impartial. Why can It not be an arbitrator between them?" "The Department of Commerce and La bor has no legal authority to act ns an arbitrator between capital and labor," re plied Secretary Cortelyou. "I see no reason, however, why tiny of Its officials may not act as arbitrators of labor controversies If requested to do so by the representatives of both parties. Congress, you know, has recognised the principle of industrial ar-. titration by the act of October 1. 181. under which the great Chicago strike of 1894 was arbitrated. That act was re pealed by the broader act of June 1, 1898. Both of these acts, however, related only to disputes between employers and em ployes engaged In Interstate commerce." "How about tho arbitration in the an thracite coal strike?" "In that strike a commission was ap pointed by tho president at tho request Of both operators and miners, ard Its authority to make a binding award rested only In tho agreement of the operators and miners to abldo by its decision. At you know, the labors of that commission were successful." "But, Mr. Secretary, are not such trou bles Increasing?" "I think not," was the answer. "The re lations of capital and labor appear to be growing better. A variety of Influences are operating to this end. The National Civlo federation is bringing about a better understanding between employers and em ployes In some parts of the country, and much Is being dono In other ways to ob viate industrial disturbance; as for in stance, by means of trade agreements. These agreements have been made by em ployers and employes coming together, largely through their representatives, to establish wages, hours of labor and other matters for a fixed period. Such agree ments prevent strikes and lock-outs, and at the present tjme seem to be one of the strongest forces making for Indus trial peace. . "We have also had some legislation by the various states as to boycotting, black listing, company stores, women and child labor which has removed some of the causes of friction between employers and employes. Arbitration boards to which labor controversies may be submitted have been provided for by twenty-one of the states, but only In a few cases have such boards been able to accomplish much in the adjustment of aggravated difficulties. They are chiefly advisory boards, having no power to enforce their decisions." "How many people are there In the United States, Mr. Secretary, who work with their hands?" "You will find that In the census report," replied Secretary Cortelyou. "Tske out all who are engaged as proprietors, clerks and professional men and we find that there are 18.W0.00O who work for wages with their hands. Some of these are skilled workman J . t V7 .U -, 4w J. SECRETARY OPTORGE B. CORTELYOU; and others unskilled. Of the total number about 4,000,000 are women." "What percentage of the whole belong to the labor unions?" "It is estimated that there are about 2.000, 000 belonging to the unions." "How about wages, are they Increasing In the United States?" "Yes," replied Secretary Cortelyou. "The Bureau of Iabor has been making an in vestigation of that subject, and its estimate Is that wages are now on the average about 15 per cent higher than they were In 1894. 1895 and 1896 and 10 or 12 per cent above tho wages of 1S90, when they were higher than at any previous time in our history." "How about the cost of living. Has not that also Increased?" "Yes," replied the secretary. "Tho Ilu reau of Labor has Investigated that sub ject and It finds that the average cost of living of 1902 over that of 1890, the country over, has increased 8.3 per cent. The in vestigation was bused on tho Increase in the retail prices of food on an estlmuted amount used by each family." "Can you give the cost in different parts of the country?" "Yes," oaid tho secretary of commerce and labor as he picked up a report and went over the (Igures. "The average cost of food per family estimated by averaging 2.5G7 fumllles lu different parts of the United States was $314.61 each. In the north Atlantic states tho average In round numbers was $.0 per family and In the south Atlantic states $312 per family. In the western Ktates it was $322 and In the south central states. $310. These figures are based entirely on the retail prices of focd live of Its actual cost to the working man." "What Is your department diang as to the great combinations of capital?" "The Bureau of Corporations'," replied Secretary Cortelyou, "has been gather ing from all sources the Information al ready 'available as , to the various com binations of capital which come within its Jurisdiction. It Is compiling that in formation and studying it in order to de fine the scope of its Inquiries for more ppeclflo Information from such corpora tions or combinations." "Will tho information the department gathers be confidential or will it bo pi luted so that all may know Just how the various corporations stand?" "Some of the information of a general nature will be published and distributed, but as to certain specltlc Information re lutlivg to particular corporations the act creating the department expressly pro vides that it is gathered for the purpose of enabling the president to make recom mendations to congress for needed legis lation. Such Information will be neces sarily confidential as fax as the Depart ment of Commerce and Labor Is con cerned. It will be gathered In the public Interest, but none of it can be published except at the express direction of the president." "But, Mr. Cortelyou, many people look upon your deportment as the watch dog of the Investor and stockholder?" said, L "Congress did not specify any class as one In whose interest the bureau is cre atedwhose watch dog It ahall be. Its duties are plainly defined, and will be per formed with impartiality, without regard to special Interest, and for the benefit of the whole public." "Will It not make our financial condi tions more stable?" I asked. "Yes," replied Secretary Cortelyou. "I tiling there is no doubt but that the work of the Bureau of Corporations will have a steadying influence on financial condi tions. It will disseminate actual knowl edge of general corporate affairs and this will largely eliminate the fear and uncer tainty which are so often disturbing fac tors in tho financial and industrial world." The conversation here turned to commer cial matters, and I asked Secretary Cor telyou to tell me something about our business abroad. He replied: "Our foreign trade is in a very satis factory condition. We exported more goods lust year than during any preceding year In our history. Our exports to Europe were $100,000,000 greater than in 1902 and 60 per cent In excess of thoao of a decade ago. We have increased our exports to differ ent countries of North America 80 per cent and In South America we sold last year 35 per cent moro goods than we did the year before. To Asia and Oceania our exports liavo trebled In tho last ten years, and to Africa they have become five times as great. Our imports aro also Increas ing, although not so rapidly. Last year we Imported more goods than in any pre ceding year. Indeed, In 1903 the Imports amounted to nearly $1.000,OCO,000." "But Increased imports mean money go ing out of the country. Mr. Cortelyou," said I. "That is money thrown away." "I don't think so," was tho reply. "It phows that the country is prosperous and that business is good. About one-half of the total Imports consists of manufactur ers' materials and a large part of the bal ance Is compoMett of food stuffs and arti cles which we do not produce at home. Much of tho manufacturers' materials go abroad again In another chape, and these materials last year amounted to $USO,0CO,Oc0, which is an iiu rease of almost 50 per ceat over similar imports In 1893. That Indicates the enormous Increase In our manufacture lng Industries within the pant ten years." "How does the growth of our trade com pare with that of other nations, Mr. Cor telyou?" I aked. "Very favorably. Indeed," was the reply. "Our exports of domestic products are greater today than tlipse of any o;her country, and our exports are growing more rapidly than those of any other, nation. In 1873 w shipped abroad In round num bers $t97.00ft,Ot,0 worth of good, and In 1903 the sum had grown to $1,437,000,(00. In 1875 the United Kingdom exported $1,7,00),0 worth of goods, while In 1903 its exports were $1,415,000,000 worth. In other words. In that time we Increased our exports al most 300 per cent, while those of the United Kingdom Increased less than 40 per cent. In 1875 our export trade was not half a groat as that of Great Britain and Ireland In 1903 we exceeded the latter country by, $m, 000, 000 worth of exports. Germany in li75 had an export trade of $96,0CO.OJ0 in excess of that of the United States. In 1903 It was more than $20,000,000 behind ths "United States. The United Kingdom and, Germany are, next to the United States, tho largest of the exporting nations. SCI you see how we grow." "Who are our best customers among the nations, Mr. Secretary?" I asked. "The United Kingdom by far," was the reply. "It takes more of our exports than any other country, although Germany and Canada take a great deal, and the percent age of increase in their case is larger. We are Increasing our trade to Russia, having more than quadrupled it In the last ten years. We are also selling more goods to Mexico than ever before." "How about Mr. Skinner's expedition to Abyssinia, Secretary Cortelyou. Will that expedition pay?" "I think that closer business relationships will prove valuable to our country In every case whether they be with largo nations or small ones, and especially with those na tions whose consuming powers aro In a stage of development Tho wlso and exe Derioiiced nations of the world, which have been studying tho art of developing their export trade, omit no opportunity to cultivate commercial relations with all countries. I think the United States can with profit follow their example." "Our foreign consuls all report to you, Mr. Cortelyou? How do they compare with, the commercial agents of other nations?" "Tes, they report to me through the. State department," was the reply. "The com ments by the newspapers and business men of other nations indicate that our consular service compares well with that of other countries, but that is not enough from an American point of view. While the work of many of the consuls Is of a very high grade there can be much Improvement. This fact was fully recognized by the president and by those of his officials who have immediate supervision of the work of the consuls. The suggestions made by the business public from time to time with ref erence to the practical problems which confront them in their attempts to increase their export trade will undoubtedly prove helpful in this direction. The consuls are essentially commercial officers. They should play a more vital part In the extension of our foreign trade. Their relations to the now department are one of its pressing problems. The Department of Commerce and Labor will do its share In the effort to Improve this service whenever improve ment is shown to be needed." "Returning to the labor question, Mn, Secretary- Tell me something about our immigrants. I understand we had almost a million last year?" "The actual number of the Immigrants who landed In 1903 is 857.000. That Is the most we have ever bad In a single year. We came nearest it In 18S2, when 789.000 were admitted." "That Is an enormous number of people," said I. "Is Uncle Sam big enough to di gest an annual meal like that and retain his true Americanism?" "The question Is a grave one," replied Secretary Cortelyou, "especially consider ing tho class of immigrants we are now getting. Until within tho past fifteen years practically all of our Immigrants came from northern and western Europe and they were largely of Teutonic stock. They wore intelligent and industrious, and they have taken a large part In building tip the country, in molding our Institutions and contributing to our high standard of American citizenship. "Within the past fifteen years much of our Immigration has been from southern and eastern Europe, composed of elements by no means so desirable, classes which do not easily assimilate with us. which con gregate In cities and communities by them selves, and which may In some degree constitute an unwholesome element of our population. During the past year G.'O.OTO of this class of Immigrants were landed, constituting almost 70 per cent of the year's Immigration. A large percentage of the.-e people do not read or write in any lan guage and it will be long before they can be made Into good American citizens. FRANK G. CARPENTER. Why Tbcy Are Poor Their Ideas are larger than their purses. They think the world owes them a living. They do not keep account of their ex penditures. They are easy dupes of schemers and promoters. They reverse the maxim "Duty before pleasure." They have too many and too expensive amusements. They do not think It worth while to save nickels and dimes. They have risked a competence In trying to get rich quickly. theIt They allow friends to Impose good nature and generos, chM. The parents are e ideas, ren have ,,"d0today what they can P-ibiyT-'t oS until tomorrow.
