The evening times., 1900-02-27

mort is addressed 70 n n. James H. Kyle.
Chairman Of thc Coma--ssiun. and in part
is as follows:
The Industrial Commission was ere
ated by an act Of Congress approved June
Is 1925 Its chief inspiration was the hope
of finding fundamental economic grounds
upon which capital md labor can build to-
gether. side by side in more resttul har-
mony That each is essential 10 the oP-
erations OF the othrr needs only 10 be sid.
Capital would rust in the hank vaults II
the hand Of the worhingman did not make
il productive Labor would waste Its en-
ergies in proftless endeavor IL capital ala
not provide il with opportunities. And
vet fnter-dependent as they are and re-
ctprocally vital. no arrangement OF in
dustrial conditions has been yet devised
so exactly adjusting one 10 the ether as
10 make friction needless and impossible
1T was primarily for the purpose Of de-
n-ising legislation, both National and State,
to hiring them into closer sympathy that
the Industrial Commission was called INTO
being. To this broad function was added
another quite as broad and important IL
was required to survey the world Of COM
nerce and business with a view TO regulat-
ing mere equitably. so far as legislation
can accomplish it, the complicated rela-
tions the producer. the distributor and the
consumer bear 10 each other.
The First Step Taken.
The creation of the Industrial Com
mission is the first step over taken by the
Government TO make an enquiry OF this
scope and character for the guidance oil
Congress and legislatures in the enact
ment of a constantly increasing body OF
industrial laws. Something like II had
been undertaken in England through the
agency Of a royal Commission on Labour
organized under royal warrant given at
The Court Of St James. April q, 1871. but,
as its title indicates its function was only
with the labor problem.
As well as in the scope Of its enquiry
T differed in thai resp ct from the Com
mission by which this report is submitted
10 Congress. This Commission S work h-s
been for itself 10 outline without Ia, guide
CT previous attempts. There aie no prece-
dents in the proceedings o. eaIlier b5dles
go light II i'm the discharge or lis finctio IS;
and unlike the royal commission. that
looked into conditions in an ancient q
loug-sejtled community. homogeneous 10
a degree and geographically Cl cumscriD-
ed the Industrial Commission OF tie | l.
ted States Is called to a much broader
enquiry among cosmopolitan peop.e Il q
comparatively new lard, Of ccnu- entail dI-
nensiona and diversified inte4 es,s where
the eger-chauging conditions Of growth
and development and progress uatoid with
rauidiLy that makes the precedent OF
YESTERDAY seem narrow and provincial 10
day.
Its duties, By section .. OF the act Gre
ating It, are described as the in, estiga ioa
of questions pertaining to immigraJ Of. tC
labor TO agriculture, to manufacturing
and tc business and il is TO report to Goa
gerss and TO suggest such legislation as il
NAV deem best on these suhJe Is; to I r
nish such information and suggest suci
laws as may be made basis f"r untfoTT
legislation by the various States OF tn'
Onion With a view to harmonlzing con-
ficting interests and to the equitable ad-
justment OF differences between the labor
eF and the employer, the producer and the
consumer Ii is authorized 20 take teSti-
mony. il deemed necessary, and, II also
necessary. to appoint subcommissiCns OF
its own members to make Investigations
in any part Of the United States.
The scope of the Act.
The committee on procedure in its ini-
tiai report constituting the purpose and out
lining the scope of the act writes
The purpose OF this Commission is tc
ascertain the nature of the existing legisla
tiou Of the several States and of the United
States bearing upon industrial conditions
the actual operation OF that legislation in
its relation to the workingman, to the
manufacturer and business man. and to the
consumer: the character and effects of sim
liar Legislation in foreign countries. and
how far il is applicable or desirable foi
the Improvement of industrial conditions
with view to determining how far it Is
possible to frame uniform industrial laws
The adoption of which can be recommended
10 Congress and to the Legislatures of th'
several States. 4 similar statement vii
applv to the work of the Commission :,
far as it relates TO agriculture. to mining
and TO transportation.
The main work of the Commission may
therefore be said to be TO study and com
pare existing laws bearing upon industrial
conditions here and elsewhere. to ascertain
by competent testimony wherein they are
deficient defective imperative. or Oppres-
siye and to recommend such remedial stat
utes as will tend not only to make the con-
ditiOns of industry more uniform as be-
tween the several States. but to remove
such existing sources or causes of discon-
tent inequality. and injustice as can be
reached aud regulated through legislation
- In order to secure satisfactory results
fl appears to your committee imperativelA
necessary that the work shall be confined
strictly to the main purpose. viz. of ascer.
tanning the nature and effects of existing
legislation and the nature OF remedial leg
isiation which may be necessary or desira
BILE to equalize conditions in industry. anC
to remove any just grounds of complaint
on the part OF either labor or capital or o
the people at large
Personnel of the Commission.
The act of Congress directs that III,
Industrial Commission be constituted o
five members of the Senate. to be appoint
ed by the Presiding officer thereof OF fiv,
members of the House of Representatives
TO be appointed by the Speaker. and of MIN
other persons. fairly representing the off
ferent industries and emplOyments. TO b.
appointed by the President, by and witt
The advice and consent Of the Senate Vic
President Hobart on July s, 1898. appoint
ed. on behalf of the Senate, Senators
James II. Kyle of South Dakota, Boie.
Penrose of Pennsylvania, Lee Mantle O
Montana. stephen X. Mallory of Florida
and John w. Daniel of Virginia. Speake
Reed. on the same day. on behalf Of tht
House of Representatives named Repre-
seRtatiyeS John J. Gardner of New Jersey
William Lorimer of Illinois, L. F. Living
ston OF Georgia. John c. Bell of Colorado
aud William c. Lowering OF Massachusetts
Mr.. Lowering was unable to serve and IN,
Speaker named Representative Theobolc
Often of Wisconsin in his stead. BetweeI
September and October "a 1898, tn,