New-York tribune., 1900-05-13
VALUE OF COMMISSIONS.
OFTEN USEFUL TO GOVERNMENT, BUT
DIFFICULT TO DISPOSE OF
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

BY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUSEl
Washington. May 12-Senator Kyle. of South Da-
kota. has introduced bill extend the life of the
Industrial Commission, of which he is the presi-
dent, until December, 1901 in order that it may
have time to finish certain Investigations upon
which 1t has entered and make its final report when
Congress is in session. This proposition not in
the nature of surprise 1t is by means
unusual thing for commission TO find much
more to do than was estimated by Its authors and
promoters, or by Congress- when il was authorized
and appointed that the latter is less easily
persuaded to prolong its official existence ane
labors and there have been number of instances
where the extensions of time have covered longer
periods than those originally fixed by law. Some
influential leaders in Congress have begun to re-
gard with disfavor the creation of commissions
for this reason. As one of them recently Observed
1t is easy enough to create commission and set
it going and provide that it shall cease to exist at
the end of one year or two years. but it is not
times thought that the members of commission
preparation of arguments In favor of the extension
of their official existence as they did to the study
and investigation OF the subject referred 10 them
Some statesmen also are disposed to criticise the
increasing tendency authorize and create
commissions for a variety of objects and purposes
as adjuncts either of the Executive or the legs
lative department of the Government. There may
be just foundation for such criticism. but the
work done by some of the commissions both those
which have been clothed with Executive powers
and functions and those whose duties have been 70
investigate certain subjects and report with view
to future Executive legislative action both
Executive and legislative action has been
only necessary and useful but of great benefit to
the country Thus the Paris Commission not only
established peace between the United States and
Spain. but laid sure foundation for legislation by
Congress respecting the territory acquired from the
latter country The work of the Interstate Com
sesses both legislative and judicial powers.
in So ss e e %or Of e
States Fish Commission. and that done by the
Service Commission 10 n n
law enacted by Republican Congress and APP
ceedingly beneficial not only in its direct results
but in Its influence on State and municipal admins
SPANISH WAR COMMISSIONS.
One of the necessary consequences of the
with Spain the creation of several commissions
and the appointment of number of Special Com
mssoners by Executive authority. Among them
the Evacuation Commissions to discharge the
duties relating to the evacuation of Cuba and Porto
Rico by the Spanish forces and the surrender of
Spanish forttica ions and other public property by
Spain; the first Philippine Commission whose re-
port has been laid before Congress-; the Insular
Commissions, appointed to Investigate and report
on civil matters pertaining to Cuba and Porto Rico
the Special Commissioners appointed to perform
similar duties in Porto Rico; the Special Commits
sioner to investigate and revise the revenue laws
Of Cuba and Porto Rico, and the Special Commits
sion on the conduct of the
There has been criticism account of the
these commissions, but the amounts and Items of
All .I, me eNpenditures have not as yet been made
one or two OF the cases So fan, now known the
expenses were as follows:
=, Object Of expenditure; Amount
nent in the war with spain s1o5 144 81
Cuban and Porto Rcan Evacuation commissions So 6s2 81
Commission TO investigate civil matters in Cuba
Special Commissioner H. X Carroll to investi io22 81
gate the administration of civil affairs in
Special Commissioner Robert P Porter for In o.
vestigating conditions Of Cuba and Porto 278
These items make a total of $194 9s1 An examna-
| that the Commissioners received compensation at
liberal rate. and that the allowances on account
CT expenses were on a generous scale. The Senate
recently adopted resolution of inquiry respecting
salaries, expenses and other allowances TO COM
missions created or appointed by the President
reply to which. when received. will throw a good
deal OF light on the subject it will cover a
period S Of fifteen years. in the course of which
have been paid under authority of the Executive
among them W were President Cevelands Special
encounters with pulque and other seductive Mexi-
Blount. who sent to Honolulu to console and
encourage Liiiuokalan, the dethroned sovereign of
\ LONG LIST OF APPOINTMENTS
The number Of commissions authorized and Gre
ated by Congress in the last twenty years Is a
large one The list includes the Tariff Commits
sion or 1882, whose recommendations did not win
the special favor of the XLVIIth Congress-: the
Civil Service Commission and the Interstate Com
merce Commission. which have been already
referred to; the Industrial Commission, which
wants its official existence prolonged: the Inter-
national Joint Commission to adjust and settle the
controversies between the United States and Great
in accomplishing satisfactory results: the Commits
sion to the hve civilized tribes which ap-
pointed number of years ago, and is still in
istence the commission to revise the criminal and
in existence eight or ten years, and has sub
mitted It's report TO Congress. but which has with
drawn IL since the beginning of this session; the
lnteroceanic Canal Commission, the third in num-
Der, which Is TO submit its fnal report De-
cember: Philippne Commission. he N
number which is about TO enter upon its duties
the Paris Exposition Commission. the Columbian
Exposition Commission whiCL has passed out of ex-
fstence; the Pan American Exposition Commission,
the several Monetary commissions TO international
bimetallic conferences which came naught the
Commissioners 10 The Hague Arbitration Confer
ence; the Hawaiian Commission many of whose
recommendations have just been crystaiZed into
laws; the Joint Commission TO simplify the meth
the Government and whose recommendations We're
| enacted into law. and the Joint Commission on
Railway Mail Transportation. which has not yet
finished its work and submitted report. In 1880
Special Commissio was appointed TO negotiate
reciprocity trade arrangements with foreign coun-
tries, which it did with much success. and to the
general satisfaction OF the country Special
Commissioner Plenipotentiary appointed two or
stlll engaged I'm that work, of the results Of
which have been submitted To Congress. but haNe
not yet been approved.
IMPORTANT POWERS IN FUTURE.
Several proposftions TO authorize the appoint
ment of commissions and tribunals have been con-
sidered at this session of Congress. one Is COM
mission revise the laws of Porto Rico and devise
and recommend torm or ciNh government Tor
the island. This commission will soon be apponte ed
nd ized hat m