The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-06
OFFER WITH AN IF
REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS AND
HIS LABOR COMMISSION.
He Would Pay Its Expenses, Esti-
mated at s:4o,Ooo, .sIf' He Were
AbIe--Pension Rulings.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Representative
Phillips. of Pennsylvania, has expressed
willingness. to pay a quarter of million
dollars out OF his own pocket to meet the
expense of the labor commission If Con-
gress will authorize the creation of the
commission in accordance with the terms
of bill he has presented. This pledge of
earnestness has drawn such favorable at
tention to the merits OF Mr.. Phillipss bill
that Chairman 4McGanns of the labor COM
mittee. has appointed a special subcom-
mittee. with Representative Erdman, of
Pennsylvania, at its head, to consider the
measure. The attention of Labor Com
missioner Wright has also been directed to
it, and also informed of Mr.. Phillips's as
surance of protecting the government
against the expense of the commission. AS
a result the bill for national arbitration of
labor difficulties is for the time being in
abeyance, while the merits of the Phillips
bill are being considered. Mr.. Phillips Is
while his suggestion has been modestly
made, there is no doubt of his willingness
ana ba ao nlay to o. execute IT. commission "a tne
result of much careful study Mr.. Phillips
has given the subject. His idea is that the
country is not yet ready for law on the
many Industrial issues, as the best form
or remedy is not yet apparent. He there
of experts shall consider the many plans
of reform proposed sitting the good from
the bad and ascertaining the most feasible
The commission is to be nonpartsan and
is to consider the legislation to meet the
The bill authorizes i the appointment by
the President of five commissioners repre-
senting labor, five repres ,ntatives of agri-
culture and five business men, Each group
of five is to choose two more members,
making seven in each group and twenty
one in all. THE commission is to meet in
group is to have the services Of
a., lawyer :: and ! secretary s It, pre-
commission to investigate questions tending
to immigration. to labor, to agriculture and
such legislation as it may. deem best upon
these subjects 1t shall furnish such in
formation and suggest such laws as may
by the various States in order to harmonic
conflicting interests, and to be equitable
to the ha the mp the bs
receive petitions and grant reasonable time
for hearings ON SUBJECTS pertaining. to its
appoint a subcommission or commissioner to
make Investigations in any part of the
United States, and it shall be allowed ex-
penses for the same
The expenses of the large number of COM
missioners, clerks stenographers. lawyers.
question against the bill and has brought
out Mr.. Phillips s 4offer to protect the gov
eminent to the extent of s250O0O out of his
and employees of the commission. The
special committee having the bill in charge
expects to consider tie bill and perhaps
grant hearings on it at early date.
Representative Phillips was seen this
evening concerning the offer which he was
said to have made TO contribute $2500O0
toward the cost to the government of car
rying out the provisions of his bill. Mr..
Phillips says that he misunderstood in
the matter. He said: Il did not make this
statement, as reported, but, in conversa-
ton with a friend in regard to the bill,
the expense of the commission was men
toned. Then I alluded to the great cost
attending the recent coal and coke strikes,
and more recent railroad strikes,
not only the loss of property and many mil
lions of dollars IN money but also the loss
of life, and stated that the cost of the bill
should not be considered; that IL / were
able would be willing to pay the salaries
of the commission proposed, which would
amount to $24O000, or, in round numbers, a
quarter of a million dollars, and that |
would be willing to pay such sum. provided
the commission proposed would be the be-
ginning of solution of this great indus
trial problem, which is pressing for solution
in Europe as we'll as in America. If a
avert one strike such those referred
should be very sorry to hold out such an
inducement as the payment of money foI
the passage of this bill any other one
and would not consider such an offer an
argument in its favor"