The morning call., 1895-01-06
BACKS HIS PLAN.
Phillips and His Bill for
Labor.
CREATING A COMMISSION.
How He Proposes to Remedy
All Strikes.
CREATING A COMMISSION
MONEY READY FOR EXPENSES.
The Rich Representative From Penn.
syivania Ready to Spend Quar-
ter of a Million.

w ASHlNGION, Udu O.-lb WOO iOPoi wv
to-day that Representative Phillips OF
Pennsylvania has expressed willingness
to pay quarter of million OF dollars out
of his own pocket to meet the expense OF
the Labor Commission if Congress would
authorize the creation OF a commission in
accordance with he terms of bill he has
presented. This show of earnestness has
drawn such favorable attention to the
merits of Phillips bill that Chairman Nc
Gam of the Labor Committee has ar
pointed a special subcommittee with
Representative Erdman of Pennsylvania
at its head to consider the measure
The attention of Labor Commissioner
Wright has also been directed to it, to-
eetber with Phillips assurance of protect
ing the Government against the expense
of the commission. As result the bill
for national arbitration of labor difficulties
is for the time being in allegiance while the
merits of the Philips bill are being con-
sidered. Phillips is one of the wealthlest
men in Congress.
The plan of q labor commission is the
result Of he careful study that Phillips
has given the subject. His Idea 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 therefore
proposes in his bill that commission of
experts shall consider the many plans of
reform proposed. sitting the good from the
bad and ascertaining the most feasible
legislation to be recommended TO Congress.
The commission is to be non-partisan-is
to consider legislation 10 meet the problem
of labor. agriculture and capital. The bill
authorizes the appointment by the Pres
dent of five commissioners represen ting
labor. i've representatives of agriculture
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 Washing
ton, elect It's officers and each group is to
have the services of lawyer and secre-
tary. The bill provides that it shall be
the duty of the commission to investigate
questions pertaining to immigration, to
labor, to agriculture and TO business, and
recommend to Congress such legislation as
it may deem best on these subjects 1t
shall furnish such information aud suggest
such laws as may be made the basis for
uniform legislation by the various States
in order to harmonic conflicting Interests
and to be equitable to the aborer, the en-
ployer, the producer and the consumer.
The commission shall receive petitions
and grant reasonable time for hearing on
subjects pertaining to it's duties, and If
deemed necessary it shall appoint a SUBJ
committee or commission to make invest tt
cations in any part OF the United States,
and it shall be allowed expenses for the
same.
The expenses Of the large number of
Commissioners. clerks, stenograDhers,
lawyers. ETC., proposed in the bill has
raised question against the bill and has
brought in Phillips Offer to protect
be Government to the extent of $3.50, 600
out of his own pocket. against the ex-
penses OF the officers and emplyes of the
commission. The special committee hav-
ing the bill in charge expect to consider
the bill and perhaps grant hearings on 1t
at an early day.
Representative Phillips was seen this
evening concerning the Uffer which he
was said to have made to contribute
S250,000 toward the cost of the Govern
ment OF carrying out the provisions of the
bill. Phillips says that he was misunder-
sood in this matter. He said:
81 did not make this statement as re-
ported. but in conversation with a friend
IN regard to the bill the expense of the
commission was men toned. Then l al
luded to the great cost attending the re-
cent coke and the more recent railroad
strikes, not only the loss of property and
many millions OF dollars in money, but
also the loss of life. and stating the cost of
the bill should not be considered; that, in
fact, if were able l would be willing to
pay the salaries of the commission pro-
posed, witch would amount to $3.50, 900,
or. in round numbers. a quarter of mil
lion dollars. and that would be willing to
pay such a sum. provided the commission
proposed would be the beginning of So
luton of this great problem.
81 should be very sorry to hold out such
an indictment as to pay money for the
passage of this bill or any other one, and
would not consider such an argument in
its favor"