New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-01
coL0RED NEWS cONlnISSIoN


A bill has been introduced in the present
Congress by Mr. Phelps, Of Connecticut, and
referred to the Committee on Education and
Labor, in which the intelligent colored people
of the country take an unusual interest. II Is
entitled " An Act authorizing the appointment
"of a commission of colored men to inquire
into and report upon the material, indus
" trial and intellectual progress of the colored
people of the United States, and their pres
" ent status and the title defines the pur-
pose Of tie bill. 1t provides for the appoint
meut by the President of a commission OF five coli
Orcd men, to make inquiries concerning the pro-
gress made 10y the colored people Of the country
since the war, their present condition and pros
poets, and to report thereon, with all other in
formation obtainable concerning their advance
mcnt and permanent elevation to the President,
who shall communicate the same to Congress.
The sum Of $4,000 is appropriated for the
purpose of the investigation.
At first blush it would seem that all the
information called for or sought in the pro-
posed investigation might be found by careful
examination and analysis of the census reports
now in process of completion, without rcsorting
to the device Of a special commission for the
purpose. But, while it is perhaps true that
much OF il does lie in mass III the census Ia
bles and reports, it is no less true that for the
purpose sought the uncassied facts and
figures and mgrouped statistics are almost
useless SO far rs it is possible TO separate
from the general mass of statistics those which
relate TO the colored people, their material adj
yanccmcnt and present status, the census re-
ports may be used to great advantage. Bat to
attain the object sought in the bill more
specific inquiry is necessary, and in some direc
lions a more extended investigation aud more
complete system of comparisons. Ii may be
asked why this special investigation should be
ordered in behalf of the negro race any more
ihan of the representatives. in this country OF
any other foreign nationality. Why not APP
point special commission 10 prosecute
similar inquiry ~ to the Irish, Germans.
French or Italians The answer is plain:
We do not hold to them the same re-
ation that we do to the recently freed
and enfranchiscd blacks. We have made the
Chinese the subject of investigation by "A
special commission, though with narrower
functions and less extended field of inquiry
than the present bill contcmpates. This was
because Chinese immigration seemed to pre-
sent n problem Ill lHc SOluilOu o. WHICH our
industrial and other interests were deeply in
vOlved, and the duty of the Government to
make it under the circumstances q subject of
special investigation was not questioned.
If The effect of the immigration of q hundred
thousand more or less Chinese upon our
industrial pursuits and our social and ma
tional life is worth such special considera-
ton, how much more should the effect
of the great industrial, social and politi-
cal revolution caused by the enfran-
chisement of the former slaves be carefully
watched and noted Ii has happened more
over within the past month that Senators
and members OF Congress, in the discussion of
the Chinese question, have put on record their
opinion that the negro, no more than the
Chinaman, has any proper place in our civiliza-
ton that he has fallen below the expectations
that were entertained for him, and failed to
make any substantial progress since his enfran-
chisemcnt. 1t is with the desire to meet this
question and answer the doubts raised as To
their appreciation of and capacity TO enjoy free
institutions that the cOlored men North and
South ask Congress to set this inquiry on