New-York tribune., 1912-03-05
1 TIMELY INQUIRY.

The disturbed conditions in the indus
trial world make especially timely the
bill pending in Congress embOdying
President Taft's recommendations for
the appointment of q commission TO in
quire into industrial relations. The
labor troubles in the Lawrence wOOllen
mills have caused more than one inquiry.
\ conflict I'm the coal industry Is threat
ened. but the expectation is that it will
he averted so powerful an influence for
peace has been the outcome of the ma
tional inquiry into industrial conditions
i'm the coal mines several years ago. To
go outside Of this country. it is only nec-
now In progress in England, following rs
it did at a short interval great rail-
road strike there, in order TO appreciate
what possibilities OF upheaval exist in
the Industrial situation.
The inquiry advocated by President
Taft differs from other inquiries that
have been held in being designed TO be
preventive. Industrial investigations
hitherto have been the result Of labor
controversies of more than ordinary So
verify, TO the settlement OF which II be-
came essential that the public should he
put in possession OF all the facts. Their
aim has been 10 put stop TO contests
from which the public was suffering and
if possible 10 prevent their recurrence;
and each of them has been confined 10
the single industry that was disturbed
at the time. But the idea Of the pro-
posed inquiry into the relations Of en-
plOyerS and employees Is TO ascertain the
facts not 50 much in order to adjust rela-
tions already strained as 10 prevent 81
far as possible such disturbance IN the
future.
There is reason TO believe that the pre-
ventive effect Of an inquiry 50 ordered
as to inspire general confidence IN its
findings would he great. The public
would be put in possession Of mass Of
information which would enable It 10
form promptly an intelligent opinion Of
many controversies. and that fact alone
would he enough 10 deter those whose
case was weak. whether employers or
WOrkmen. from going tn extremes. Then.
again, there is a variety Of machinery for
the prevention and The adjustment OF in
dustrial grievances which has not been
tried in this country. The United States
has in general kept its hands off such dis
puteS and has left labor and capital 10
fight out their battles. trusting 10 the re
suit TO produce substantial Justice But
other countries have employed devices
for the public adjustment Of such dis
putcs. The effect Of such devices and
their adaptability to this country deserve
study and consideration.
England by this present coal strike T.
brought face'to face with the prospect Of
seeing the minimum wage in the coal in
duStry established either by law or agree
ment. Australia has gone far I'm this di-
rectiOn, having minimum wage boards
for raising the standards Of subnormal
industries. This idea Of organized so.
ciety's declaring that its own interests
require that no one in certain industries
calling for little skill shall be paid less
than certain wage is almost novel in
this country and is only vaguely under
stood. 1t is far from reasonable to say
that an inquiry such as is now proposed
would find this eXpedient either practi-
cable or desirable in the United States.
Yet it, with suitable conditions attached
1t contains any reasonable promise Of
protecting the public against such an in
dustrial calamity as that i'm England and
Of alleviating the social consequences
that spring from q mass of underpaid
labor III the less fortunate industries II
deserves 10 be attentively studied. Simi.
larly the possibilities that lie in such ma
chinery for furnishing prompt and an.
thOrifativc information 10 the public rr.
garding individual strikes as the Cana
dian industrial disputes act provides
call for consideration. as does also tho
success Of our own Erdman act in pre-
venting labor disputes on interstate rail.
roads and its susceptibility of more
general application The subject is al
most endless, for it is as wide as indus
trial society itself and it has as many
aspects as there are industrial relations.
The benefits Of such an inquiry as is
proposed would flow TO capital, to LABOR
ana To the public for all are concerned
III securing industrial peace and Justice.