The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-30
EXPERTS TO S|fT
COST OF LIVING
Prof. Fisher, of Yale Urges
That Scope of Inquiry
Be Worldwide
WILL ASK TAFT TO
NAME COMMISSION
Senators Lodge, Burton and
Crawford Behind Movement
for Scientific Investiga-
ton of Conditions

WASHINGTON. Dec. $50 CO.
lossal and no menacing has the prob
lem Of increased cost of living be-
come that q worldwide movem emf
to investigate 1t, and, II possible. to
ind remedy was begun here to-
day. when tho American Association
tor the Advancement OF Science de-
termined to appoint a committee to
call upon President Taft
1t In the purpose OF the commit
tee, OF which Professor Irving Fish
or. CT Yale. Is to be chairman, and
which has the earnest support of
Senator Lodge, OF Massachusetts,;
Senator Burton. of Ohio. and Sena-
tor Crawford. OF South Dakota, to
steps to organize an international
commission with power to carry its
campaign into every country of con-
sequence on the globe.
The functions OF this commission
So outlined before tbs American AS
ISOLATION for the Advancement Of
Science today will be:
Functions of COMMITTEES.
/. To gather available facts to
changes IN wages, cost OF living
throughout the world, and to make
International comparisons
.. To secure evidence as to the
main causes Of these changes and OF
the international differences.
3. To devise possible remedies.
L. To ascertain the purchasing
power OF the monetary unit in the
different countries,
8. To determine the purchasing
power OF wages in different coun-
tries.
s. To ascertain the reasons for the
fail ana rise OF the purchasing power
of the monetary unit
7. To solve the problem of pre-
venting changes IN the purchasing
power Of the monetary unit,
Senator Lodge. Senator Burton
Senator Smoot and Senator Crawford
OF South Dakota, all declared tbs
organization of such 4 comm isslon Il
be an international need that couic
no longer be postponed. They pledg-
ed their support 20 any movement
in the United States that had such
an organization In View.
Professor Fishers Views
THE Increased cost OF living Ii
probably the most vital question thai
conrronts the civilized world today
said Professor Fisher, ''in view ot
the COLOSSAL tffppt9 ltbHS Ut tSF ttoN
lem, It's significance 70 hundreds o.
millions OF human beings; in view
Of the worldwide interest in Il ana
OF the ominous prediction Of many
experts thst the rise Of prices Is tt
continue.
The esta hiishment Of an inter
national commission, as suggested
here, is worth the concerted eff
forts Of Europe and America
Those interested In the project d.
not agree on any remedy or RENE
dies. We agreed merely on the IN,
portance OF the questions involved
The commission would not be author
tied to bind the various nations rep
resented to the adoption of any plan
that might De recommended. X
would be authorized to accept thu
best unbiased. scientific CONCLUSION
which they may dnd from com
pleter study OF the facts than ha
hitherto been made"
THE commission should be Off
>ciai. in order To secure the requisite
funds for SO broad study. II should
be official, too. for the reason tina
should 1t report favorahly on an!
plan requiring political cooperation
the way would be paved for the va
rious nations to enter into diplo
NORTHUMBERLAND fbtrA pasrcl