The Washington times., 1895-03-13
GOVERNMENT And LABOR
How Far It May Go to Solve the ALL
Important Question.
Interesting Lecture Delivered by Commsi-
sioner Carroll D. Wright Before the
School Of Applied Ethics.

The Hon. Carroll D. Wright, United States
Commissioners Of Labor, discussed before
the school of applied ethics yesterday after
noon, at Columbian University, the func-
tions Of government as applied TO the solu-
ton of the labor question.
Senator Platt presided over the discus
sion, in which he also took part.
Mr.. Wright promised that he had no
scheme for the solution of the question, but
would discuss it, not theoretically, but
along the lines of the conditions as we find
them He agreed with the proposition
that there was no single abuse or injustice
by the removal of which the human race
would become happy. He defined the la
Dor question to be the struggle of the wage
Garner for higher standards of labor. He
described as the narrow theory the defini-
tion that the question meant how the wage
receiver may be able to secure a larger pro-
portion OF the products OF industry.
IN its relation to the question he held that
its functions We're rather protective than
preventive.
Government can regulate the liquor traf
fic, but il does not settle the temperance
question The broadest function of the
government is the regulation of the money
question, the one in which the labOrer is
most vitally interested; but there are in
this The disturbance and embarrassment
Of economic questions. Taxation is func-
tun of the government, but on this there
are diverse views, among them the single
tax theory, which, ii is claimed, VIII solve
the problem.
Government, he believed, had the right
to control moEopolies, but it could not be
denied that a trust properly handled might
lie benefit in the equaliZing of labor rates
and the regulations of The output OF prod
ucts So far the regulation of trusts has
been failure, hut That does not affect
the principle.
The government had right 10 insist that
If corporations asked the people to sub
scribe to their stock, that stock should be
'in esse," ard not in the imagination OF
the incorporators, as in the case OF al over
stocked values.
Mr Wright, speaking of the serious con
sideration Of transportation. held that
the government had no right To purchase the
railroads, and that such a movement would
result III disaster.
The lecturer mentioned some OF the ben
cfts to the iaboring class which had accrued
from legislation, such as the law relating
TO accidents TO employees and the liability
Of the corporations, especially explaining
the extension Of the principle OF respondent
superior beyond the common law intention.
He believed that government could
exercise the power or function of arbitra-
ton. Arbitration could not be compulsory.
That government can fix rates of wages is
an exploded theory. The chief function
of government in this regard lies not in the
use OF the sheriff or the military or in
/ junction, but in the power, ard effect
upon the public mind, which came from the
investigation and publication OF the facts.
The government may call the attention
! Of a railroad to defective bridge, but the
railroad may not repair it, When the facts
are known TO the public, however, the
bridge VIII sooD be repaired.
/ The closing part Of the address was in
! development OF the position that the most
! powerful factors in the whole consideration
4 We're knowledge and investigation. Nogov-
/ ernment can stand ON the crushed rights OF a
/ people and ethereal considerations are TO be
/ taken into the account as well as the
economic
/ Senator Platt made a brief address, in
I which he agreed with the propositions
1 laid dow n by The lecturer, hut admitted that
! he had no solution TO offer.
DR. Kent joined in the discussion and de-
i voted his remarks TO an appeal for work for
/ laboring men 10 do as cae OF the practical
| methods of dealing with an obviously
weak pointin governmental orany other con
| troll OF the labor question.