Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-02-02
ASKS FOR A Commission
RECOMMENDS SEARCHING IN.
CURRY INTO PRESENT INDUS.
TRIAL RELATIONS
AN ALASKAN RAILWAY
EXECUTIVE MAKES SEVERAL RE-
CONCENTRATIONS REGARDING
NORTHERN TERRITORY

Washington, Feb. 2.-President Taft
in message to congress today urged
an international inquiry into the high
cost of living. The president asked
authority to invite the nations of the
world to a conference in this city or
elsewhere to make plans for the in
vestigation of the high prices that so
distressed the people of the world"
Mr. Taft also urged the appoint
ment of federal commission to
make searching inquiry into the sub
ject of industrial relations"
For some years past" said the
president, "the high and steadily in
creasing cost of living has been a
matter of such grave public concern
that I deem it of great public inter-
est than an international conference
be proposed at this time for the pur-
pose of preparing plans, to be sub
mitted to the various governments,
for an international inquiry into the
high cost of living, its extent. causes
effects, and possible remedies.
There is no doubt but that COM
mission could be appointed OF such
unprejudiced and impartial persons,
experts in investigation of economic |
facts, that IA great deal of very valu-
able light could be shed upon the rea-
sons for the high prices that have SO |
distressed the people of the world, |
and inf rnation given upon when ac-
tion might be taken to reduce the
cost of living.
Those who have conducted investi. !
cations have found that the phenom-
enon o: rising prices is almost If not |
quite general throughout the world;
but they are baffled in the attempt to
trace the causes by the impossiblity
of making any accurate international
comparisons. This already made, we
are still without adequate data and
because as yet no two countries esti-
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 tho
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 individuals and
of voluntary agencies. One legitimate
object of such an official investigation
and report is to enlighten ard inform
public opinion, which of itself will oft
en- induce or compel the reform of I'm.
Just conditions or the abatement of
unreasonable demands.
Enthusiastically the time is ow
ripe for searching inquiry into the
subject of industrial relations which
shall be official, authoritative, balanced
and well grounded, such as only the
federal government can successfully
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 be non-partisan
comprehensive, thorough, patient and
courageous"
President Taft today also sent to
congress his promised message on
Alaska and the public domain in gen.
eral. In urging the construction of a
government railroad, a commission
form of government and other needed
legislation 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 ben. I
eft Of its fostering care to Alaska. I
Il am not in favor of government ,