Evening star., 1898-10-10
EFFECTS ON LABOR
Probable Results of Work of Indus.
trial Commission.
MR.. SCHULDP DISCUSSES THE SUBJECT
Views Expressed by Labor Leaders
Upon Problems Presented.
THE INTERESTS INVOLVED

t. rI- Eiit.~ Of Th, Evening Star:
Tn, industrial commission. consisting of
f,. senators. five representatives and nine
c=viuars. aypofnjed 10 investigate and rec
cmmerd legislation upon the numerous
serious problems now confronting labor and
capital. will meet in This city next Monday.
VI hiie the Industrial commission has a great
work =" perform. there does not seem to
lac much public interest manifested ir It's
oI gariza;ioU ard operations.
The Industrial commission is authorized
by Congress to Investigate questions per-
taining to immigration. TO labor. to agTicul-
tue. To manufacturing. to business, and to
report To Congress and TO suggest such leg
isiation as it may deem best upon these
subjects In view Of the numerous intri-
cate problems now confronting the nation
as regards labor against capital, it VIII be
readily seen that the commissioners must
be well versad in al economic subjects.
That the commission is fully qualified To
perform its arduOus labors is unqueS-
toned. Senator Kyle, chairman Of the
commission. holds the same position on
the Senate labor committee and of the
other four senators on the commission. two,
Penrose and Mantle, are members of the
same body. OF the five represen tauVes.
Gardner Bell and Lorimer, are members of
william members. those officially con1iect-
ed with labor are NJ. d Retch1ofd,
president Of the United Miners of America !;
F. P Sargent grand chief of the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Fire men. and John NJ.
Farquhar Of the International Typ0graph-
ical | Mon.
Questions for Consideration.
\ few of the questions which the COM
mission will he called upon to adjust are
tn following:
First Convict Labor Should our prison
ers be- allowed to roll in idleness. enjoying
good solid meals and comfortable quarters,
Will the labOrer, who has committed no
crime. is perhaps upon the verge of starVa-
tom The labor organizations are fighting
prison labor rs unfair competition. The
state. on the other hand, ridicules the idea
of allowing a convict to remain idle, claim
ing u 10 be q premium on crime. Which is
right and how can the differences oe ami
Cably adjusted?
Second. Sweat ShoTsT The sweat shops
are The arch Cause Of our labor depression.
What can De done To ohiiterate them? What
legislation can be recommended to abolish
them. but at the same time not throw in
id 3-nesS the thousands of Sweat-shop work
ers who. without This miserable remunera-
Jion received. would starve?
Third Agricultural Opportunities. Meth
ods 10 induce the Idle city laborar to for
sake the congested labor markets and adopt
agricultural pursuits. Owing to the fasci-
nation of city life. this will be found To be
one % the commissions most intricate
problems. There is no necessity for thu
Iahor-r 10 starve in a city when a good
NJ NE awaits him a farm hand. Yet
many would prefer TINS than labor in the
country
Fourth New Industries" There are
many NV Industries which could b. intro
duced with profit into the United States.
Aside from the fact that il would naturally
greatly benefit the Iaboring class. it would
b9yr a T4plfITrgI S;yujTig4NOa m king
the Tuitad States mora independent of for
eisu products. The beet sugar industry
several years ago was practically unknown
here. Now II is one Of the most thriving
Industries Of the northwest. Tea growing
has also been sxperin .nted with in South
Carolina. Perhaps in time this will also be
made profitable
Naturally il would hardly he possible to
mention The entire list Of problems which
the commission will be called upon TO ad-
Jest. in its two years of service. nut the
following cannot well be omitted. present.
ing as they do the present serious labor
questions of the dav:
Pauperism-its remedy.
Factory system m-inVestigation as to its
effect upon the women and children.
Compulsory government insl!rance-argu-
mente pro and con as 10 its benefits.
Legislation TO prevent strikes
Immigration.
Corporations and Employees.
Besides these national questions there
arr numerous differences between large cor
pOratious and their employees which the
commission viii arThtrate. That it will
he successful in its vast undertaking no
one doubts.
a similar commission appointed some -ime
aso IL England accomplished such good re-
suits hat il is proposed to continue the
commission there to further investigate
questions heretofore specifically touched
upon. II IS d matter of record that all the
subjects which the English commission
treated have improved wonderfully uEder
It's suggestions and recommendations
The commission did not have the authority
tho American tribunal Will have. cUnse-
quentiy its work was not productive uf
more substantial results our commission,
however. is scheduled for several unique
iuHoy atoms in the field Of labor Its re-
ports to Congress or all the subjects inNeS-
tiedted will doubtless prove valuable,
VulumiHoUs and interesting paper.
While the commission has two years in
which TO conduct its Investigations, this
time will hardly be found sufficient Ques-
lions which have puzzled the nation for de-
ad's Cannot be solved ia a hurry. Ii requires
TIM thought, iuvestiga ton. thorough
knowledge Of the subj and study TO bring
them 60 focus Waen the action of the
commission would even be thought OF. OF
course il must not be supposed that the
cor .II-SloIerS Will settle all the uues tions
presented to chem. Their suggestions and
Trr1mmeudations. however, will be means
toward that end.
some Possible Renefits
should not the commissions recommen-
datiDnS result In great and lasting re-
fo~usr VIII the condition Of our working
mon he in anywise benefited? VIII they
secure an advance III wages. good sanitary
homes, shorter hours? VIII uniform state
laws regarding the treatment of laborerS
br resommeuded? In what manner will
the capitalist be benefited? viii the com.
mission point OuJ tu him the numerous
golden opportunities to be embraced in ne.
Riyct"i and now undeveiOped industries
The folly Of overburdening the overcrowdeG
ones All these questions and many more
the commission is expected TO give a YER
dict upon. viii il bs a good fair anC