The evening times., 1896-02-18
ASSIGNS MANY REASONS
Favorable Report Accompanying
the Phillips Labor Bill.
TO APPOINT A COMMISSION
Discomfort, Strikes and Violence Are
Citedas Evidence of the w widespread
Dissatisfaction With the Laws Gov
erningt he IndustrialC Classes-Eq
Rights Must he Maintained

The report on the Phillips bill, which pro-
vides for the election of q commission to in
Quirc into industrial troubles, ravorably re-
ported from the Committee ON Labor, yes
tcrday, as stated in The Evening Times,
goes into II discussion OF the subject at con-
siderable length and assigns many reasons
for rthenccessity y of its passage. It's, I'M part
as follows:
because there is widespread dissatisfac-
tion with the lawsgoverning labor, a S sho wn
by discomfort. strikes and violence. causing
great loss, misery. and danger to society.
Because of the growing discomfort among
farmers, as evidenced by ythcirvariousorgan
izations their protests against unequal bur
dcns and taxation, discriminating chargcsin
transportation, and exorbitaut charges by
mi'idlcmen in disposing OF their commodi-
ties. .4.rt
because the business men need and busi-
ness interests require a Just and more satis-
factory settlement OF differences with
those with whom they deal, and upon whose
labor and products successful business must
depend.
''Because ii is expected that this commits
sion will be composed OF experts. The ablest
and best of each class named, bringing into
conference representative men of labor. ag-
riculturc ana business. whose duties will lie
to recommend laws looking toward u more
just distribution of the burdens and benefits
OF our self-government.
NEW CONDITIONS.
because our In ws have not kept abreast
with the rapid pace of development. New
conditions confrunt us on every hand In the
niassing goflaborand ca pita ]: in nnewimprove-
mcnts in the instruments OF husbandry
tnlaking great changes in agricultural pur-
suits; in the mode of manufacturing, trans
portation, travel. and intercommunication.
IAN have been revolutionized within a
generation.
We have been offering premiums for
Inventions, discovery and development.
We have had ten thousand men burning
midnight oil inventing labor-sav ing nh
chimes and devices OF n II kinds until we have
changed the whole order of industrial pur
suits; but we have offered no premium for
talent or energy in ameiorating the altered
conditions OF labor; established no COM
mission To bring up our la ws to meet these
new conditions: hence there is friction, dis
content and violence, destroying peace,
property and life.
Because of the importance Of the agri-
cultural pursuit to the welfare and ba appiness
OF man, the agricultural industry is the
most important of all industries. All civ
ilized life depends upon the products of the
soil: all food and clothing come from the
soil; yet this most important industry is
greatly depressed. The constant settling
in the value of farm products ...si .aE;.i
land in recent Years IN :. large portion of the
United s .ates has made grea I discomfort and
unrest among farmers. Many Of them can
not hope to have their children succeed them
in husba ndry, and they are eexhausting their
limited means to fit them for pursuits in the
crowded town or city.
-.In 1870 the value of the farm lands
in the United States was $9,262, ,s03,s61;
in 1880 1T was $1O,197 ,O96,776, an in
crease in value, notwithsta nding the opening
up Of millions of acres rich in soil, of less>
than ST.. 900 100000, while population
increased in the same time from SO 900 GOO
to 5O,Oo0,OoO, an increase of 10 per cent
in value of farms and 40 per cent in popu-
lstion.
Again. in 1850 the value Of property
in the United States, in round numbers. was
S43.6UO, ,OOO, 900: in 1870, $50 O,O6s, 5ls;-
5OT.
FIGURES THAT SHOCK.
"These are startling figures when we
consider that agriculture is the foundation
of all other industries, and that "A per cent
of the toiling people were engaged in tiling
the soil. No country can prosper when the
agricultural interest Is suffering. This
commission is needed by the farmers. not
only because of these facts. but on accOuntOf
their growing discomfort. as shown by their
various organizations and protests against
unequal burdens and discriminating laws.
Even if the agriculturst had nothing OF
which 10 complain or to adjust, he is needed
in such a conference as this to aid in seek
ing way out of the manifold labor troub-
les, which so vitally affect his interests as
well as those OF the whole population.
in the very beginning. God sent forth
man TO till the soil as his chief employment.
All civilized life depends upon agriculture.
Without the farmer. the world would be a
wilderness. In our marvellous development
the interests of the farmer have not been
properly guarded.
THAT our relations are most intimately
bound up with the wage-earner is shown by
the many strikes and lockouts in recent
years, WHICH nave entdlicu great suffering
and loss of property, as well as the sacrifice
of life. Upon this subject of strikes. we de-
sire TO state that the Hon. Carroll ID. Wright,
Commissioner of Labor, in his third annual
report. submitted the results of an extern
sivc Investigation as to strikes and lockouts
in the United States from $50 to 1886. 1t
will be seen by an examination of this sum-
mary that during the years snamed-1Ss1 to
1886, both inclusive-there, were 3,9O2
strikes in the United States.
There were %, ,3O4 establishments. and
more than ,323, ,2O3 employees involved.
SIT will be seen also by this report that
The loss to the strikers for the
period of six years was. SOL ,S14,723
Loss to the employees by reason
of lockouts. ........... S157.717
Loss TO the employers OF flabor.. 34,163.s14
Amount of assistance to strik-
ers by contribution.......... 4,43O,595
Total loss in the six years.. 9S,566, ,S59
THE ENORMOUS LOSS.
"Thcse figures represent the actual loss
to the parties engaged and do not represent
the enormous loss which incidentally came
to the community by reason of such dist urb-
ances.
1.-The facts and figures of the last few
A-.t-