The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-08
x0kyxGOUs CON0KEssMAS.
Offers TO Fay Quarter Ut " ""i'o" '''
Labor Com mission.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 7.-Represeh'au'e
phiuIps. OF Pennsylvania, has eNp'eSH
n willingness TO pay quarter Oh '''''
aion dollars out Of his own poche' W
the expense of labor comti.ssio'
Congress will authorize the cie"'" ~
the commission In accoroance rhts
terms of a bill he mas Pres s src,,
n,,8ee OF earnestness mas ord""
TTa,,n,-,hie attention To- the merits OF MT.
t,S,I,tns' hin that Chairman McGann. OF
,hn I.ahor COMMITTEES, has appointed
s,,octaI subcommittee, with Representative
Erdman. OF Pennsylvania, at It's head' 10
consider the measure. The attention Vi
Labor Commissioner Virgin hds aioo
been directed 10 II, together with fhiIHPs
assurance OF protecting the Government
,cajnst the expense of the commission
As a result the bin for national arDltIa-
tion OF labor difficulties Is Tor Inc tiihe
being I'm allegiance while the ineros vi ,"'
Phillips bill are being considereu' Nj
Phillips IS one of the wedlthiest heH III
Congress. and. while his Suggestion mas
been modestly made, there Is no uoup'
OF his Willingness and AFFINITY 10 eAeo"''
H.
The plan OF n labor commission IS inc
result of much careful study Mr.. PM
lips has gwen the subject. !lis idea Is
that the country is not yet ready Tor Ia"
on the many industrial Issues, as inc Dea'
form or remedy is not yet apparent. He'
therefore, proposes in his Dill lna'
commission Of experts shail conSiuei tnc
many plans OF reform proposed sIitihs
the good from the bad. and ascertainins
tbe most feasible LEGISLATION TO be recon-
uended to Congress. The commission Is
20 be non-partisan. and is TO CONSIDER
legislation to meet the problems OF iapoi'
agriculture and capital.
The bill authorizes the appointment by
the President of five commissioners rep
resenfng labor. five representing as1-
culture and five business. Each group OF
five Is 20 choose two more members. max
ing seven in each group and q In all.
The commission is to meet in Washington,
elect its officers and each group Is 20
have the services of a lawyer and secre-
tary. The bill provides that at shall be
the duty of this commission to investigate
questions pertaining 10 immigration, to
labor. 10 agriculture and TO business, and
recommend TO Congress such legislation
as IL may deem best upon these subjects.
J.. shall furnish such information and sug-
gest such laws as may be made a basis
for uniform leg. station by the States in
order 10 harmonic conflicting interests.
and to be equitable to the laborer, the
employer the producer and the consumer.
The commission shall receive petitions and
grant reasonable time for hearings on
subjects pertaining to its duties. and. #
deemed necessary, It shall appoint a sub
commission or commissions to make in
designations in any part of the United
states. and II shall be allowed expenses
for the same
The expense Of the large number of
commissioners. clerks. stenographers. law
yers, etc. proposed By the bill has raised
question against the bill, and has
brought out Mr.. Phillips offer to protect
the Government to the extent of s2J0O0O
out or his own pocket against the ex-
penses Of the officers and employees Of
the commission. The special committee
having the bill in charge expect 10 con-
sder the bill, and. perhaps, grant hear
inSs on 1t at an early day.