The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-06
CITY OWNERSHIP, OPEN SHOP.
CIVIC FEDERATION APPOINTS
COMMISSION TO PONDER 1T.

Trades Union Men Beginning to LOOK
Askance 1T the Motion Of Competing
with Non. Union Men Under Civil Service
Rules--Commissi0 on TO Get At the Facts.
The growing agitation over municipal
ownership has decided the executive ooun-
oil Of the National Civic Federation, on the
request OF It's department Of industrial
economies and trade agreements, to appoint
a commission to make an investigation In
this country and Europe OF national ana
municipal ownership and operation OF pub
lie utilities. The commission, which was
appointed yesterday, contains the names
OF prominent lawyers, business men and
heads Of large industrial operations all over
the country.
One fact, it Is stated, has developed since
the municipal ownership agitation began,
which is that the trades unions are getting
alarmed over municipal ownership, which
means In this country the enforcement
OF tho civil service laws. Under the civil
service laws there can be, no disorimina-
ton in favor Of union men In employing
them. The investigation Of the commits
sion is to be a very searching one. A state
ment made on behalf Of the Civic Fedora
ton yesterday on the subject OF the APP
pointment OF the commission says In part:
.The current discussion and acute agita-
ton of this subject indicate its hold upon
the popular mind and the necessity for its
analytical and comprehensive examina-
ton. Its present debate is often incon-
elusive because Of contradictory or I'M
satisfactory statements Of fact. 1t Is in
tended. therefore, that this investigation
shall disclose the actual results Of public
LII = ian "a khAU
have been undertaken in the United States
and of their more extensive practise In
foreign countries. The ascertainment Of
these facts will afford solid basis upon
which to found discussion and conclusions
for the guidance of future policy.
.The scope Of this inquiry will cover the
relative advantages or public ownership
and operation as compared with public
ownership and private operation and private
ownership and operation. Each system
upon. among other topics; Wages. hours
and conditions Of labor; collective bargain.
ing; cost and character Of service; political
conditions, civil service, spoils system and
municipal corruption; financial results;
taxation"
The commission will meet early in the
fall to arrange upon plan Of operation.
Among the members are:
New York City-Isaao y. selig1nan; John
G. Agar, president Of the Reform Club;
Oscar s Straus; Frank A. vanderlip, Albert
Timothy Healy, president Of the Interna-
tional brotherhood OF Stationary Fremen;
Prof. E. r. A. Seligman, Prof. Frank j.
Goodnow. Prof. Alexander Humphrey.
William j. Clark of the General Electric
Independent; Laurence F. Abbott. editor
of the Outlook; r. r. Bowker OF Publishers
Weekly; NJ X. hialtbie; T. c. Martin, editor
of the Electrical World and Engineer: Ed
ward A. MoFett. Charles 4 Conant. V.
Everit Macy, Marcus NJ; Marks:
Boston-tohn F.. Tobin, president Of the
Boot and Shoe Workers Union; James
Duncan, secretary Of the Granite Cutters
National Union; Prof. F. W. Taussig. p. F.
Sullivan Charles L. Edgar, Louis. D.
Brandsis,, Frank Parsons, James f. jackson,
Chicago-Franklin Macyeagh. Alex
ander H. Revel, Walter l.. Fisher Samuel
Insult, Graham Taylor, E. B. Smith, George
Z. Hooker, George c. Skies, slason Thomp-
misunderstanding E, Ingalls,, John P.
fndanapolis-s. NJ. Sexton, Alfred F.
Potts: John Mitchell. president Of the United
Mine Workers; George F. McSuiloch. John
+. McNamee.
Philadelphia Leo s. Rowe, Walton
Clark, Talcott Williams.
Miscellaneous-W. D. Foulke Of Richmond,
Va. Edward Rosewater Of Omaha; Charles
w. Knapp and Frederick N. Judson OF st.
Louis; c. H. Salmons, Horace f. Andrews,
b. L. Cease and Edward W. Bemis Of Cleve.
land; H. w. Goode of Portland, Ore; Samuel
Gompers. president Of, the American Fed:
Grafton Of Labor, and P. F. McNulty OF
Washington; Thomas Lowry Of Mime
apolis, J. c. Hutchins and Daniel j. Keefe
OF Detroit E. E. Clark, Cedar Rapids, Ia;
Prof j. w. Jews of Cornell, Prof. Henry
W. Farnham Of Yale, Prof. Carol D. Wright
Of Worcester, Mass; Prof. J. R. Commons
Of Madison, Wis.,; Prof. Henry Cadams
of Ann Arbor, Mich; Prof. John H. Gray
OF Evanston, H.