New-York tribune., 1902-10-06

A STUDY IN ECONOMICS.
RELATIONS OF CAPITAL AND LABOR
MAY BE INVESTIGATED By CAR
NEGIE INSTITUTE


Washington, Oct 5.-The coal strike a71 the
popular instruction in economic nrohIe,,- j. has
afforded the country have been hrougbt 70 a.,
attention Of the Carnegie Institute in numerous
letters urging the trustees to take nm m. sth
ject Of economics, and especially to rnata o. tbor
ough investigation of the relations between can't
tai and labor. the rates Of wages paid in pro-
portion 70 the unit Of work performed private
ownership Of natural monopolies etc rbA suh-
ject has already received the attention of ,ba
executive committee OF the institution and was
among the subjects on the schedule for discus
sion at the meeting in New-York last Frtdav
but the enforced absence Of Labor Cor,r,issi,ro,.
Carroll D. Wright prevented its Consideration
at that time.
An advisory board on the subject of ro1i+ic,1
economy which will give special attanrio, 70
strikes and trusts has already been selected
although the names Of the members have no,
been made public. The White House conference
and its failure TO produce immediate results has
already given added impetus to the dArnand
on the institution, which il is said can in no
way more materially benefit humanity than hy
turning the strong light Of science on the most
perplexing problems Of modern civilization
That the executive committee will bring the sub
ject in concrete form before the board of trustees
al its November meeting is practically an as
sured fact
Friends Of the Carnegie Institute believe that
with its extensive resources. il could not only
conduct a most comprehensive Investigation of
existing conditions both in this country and
abroad, but it could effectualIy cola borate the
almost unlimited information already published
in varying forms, eliminate the personal bias
with which almost every writer on political
economy and labor statistics unconsciousIy col
ors his premises. and without bias coordinate
the results better than any other existing or
ganization
The findings Of such an institute would it is
believed. command a respect impossible of at
tainment by any bureau Of the federal govern
naent because OF the ever present suspicion that
Investigations conducted by and conclusions de-
duced by the government are tinctured with the
political views of the party in power. Several
officials Of the administration have expressed
themselves in terms of warm approval in regard
TO the proposed investigation Secretary Root
and Commissioner Carroll d. Wright take the
liveIiest interest in the scheme. Postmaster
General PAYNE has said that. while he has given
no thought 10 the matter, superhcally the plan
meets with his approval The chief of the Bu-
reau of Statistics thinks it well calculated 70 be
OF the highest benefit 10 society. The Secretary
OF Agriculture says that he has attempted 10
secure theses on economics related especlally 10
agricultural problems. the distribution and re-
muneration Of agricultural labor, etc. but with
out success While numerous papers nave heen
presented TO him for consideration. there has
been nothing worthy Of publication
Nothing undertaken by the government bu-
reaus has however been on scale comparable
with that on which the Carnegie Institution
may undertake this important work The plan.
so far formulated. contemplates the gatheIiis
OF practically all the printed matter pertaining
to the subject and following its COORDINATION
the adaptation 10 conditions eNlStlnS IN Vhs
country The information thus attained would
he sInnIernented with a large amount of data
gathered in this country and embracing every
department OF human physical efort