The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-03
|NQU|R|NG INTO
LIVING COST
-
President Taft Sends Mes
sage to Congress on Inter-
national Investigation.

Washington. Feb. president
Taft in a message to congress today
urged al International inquiry into
the high cost of living. Tho presi-
dent asked authority to invite the
nations of the world to a conference
IN this city or elsewhere to make
plans for the investigation Of the
the people of the world
Mr.. Taft also urged the appoint.
ment of a federal commission to
make searching inquiry into the
subject of industrial relations
"For some years past" said the
president. 1.-The high and steadily in
%creasing cost Of living has been a
matter of such grave public concern
that l deem it of great public inter-
est that an International conference
be proposed at this time for the pur-
pose of preparing plans, to he sub
mitted to the various governments,
lfor an international inquiry into the
high cost of living, it's extent, causes,
effects and possible remedies.
There is no doubt but that a
commission could be appointed of
such unprejudiced and impartial
persons. experts in investigation of
economic facts. that a great deal of
very valuable light could he shed up
on the reason for the high prices
that have so distressed the people of
the world, and information given up
on which action might be taken to
reduce the cost Of living.
Those who have conducted inves-
legations have found that the phe-
nomenon Of rising prices is almost II
not quite general throughout the
world; but they are baffled in the at
tempt to trace the causes by the i'm
possibility of making any accurate
international comparisons. This is
because. in spite of the number of
Investigations already made, we are
still without adequate data and be
cause as yet no two countries estf-
mate their price levels on the same
basis or by the same Methods
AS to the commission on industrial
relations, the president said:
There should be an inquiry by the
federal government into the general
conditions of labor in the United
States. notwithstanding the fact that
some of the remedies will lie with
the separate states. or even entirely
outside the sphere of governmental
activity. in the hands of private in
dividuals and Of voluntary agencies.
One legitimate object of such an Of
fetal investigation and report is to
ohu PAoklS J.
which Of itself will often induce OF
compel the reform of unjust condi-
lions or the abatement of unreason-
able demands.
Enthusiastically the time is now
ripe for a searching inquiry into the
subject of industrial relations which
shall be official. authoritative, bal
anced and we'll grounded. such as
only the federal government can sue
cessfully undertake. The present
widespread interest in the subject
makes this an opportune time for an
investigation which in any event can
not long be postponed. 1t should he
non-partisan. comprehensive. thor
ough. patient and courageous"
The president also sent to congress
his promised message on Alaska and
the public domain in general. In
urging the construction Of a govern.
ment railroad. a commission form OF
government and other needed legis-
Ilation, for the far-away territory,
president Taft declared there was
nothing in the history Of the United
States which afforded such just rea-
son for criticism as the failure Of the
federal government to extend the
benefit Of its fostering care to Alas.
Ika.
IT am not in favor. OF government,
Ownership where the same certainty
and efficiency Of service can. be had