The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-03
TAFTURGESPROBE
On COST OF LIVING
Asks Authority to In
vite All Nations to
Conference.
SENDS MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS
Recommends Inquiry by Govern,
ment Into Subject of Indus
trial Relationships United
States Is Justly Subject to
Criticism for It's Ne
glect of Alaska.

Washington. February 2.-Presidcnt
iatt' In u message to Congress to-day. S.
urged an international inquiry into the
nigh cost of living. The President
asked authority to invite the nations
OF the world to conference in thla
city or elsewhere. to make plans for
the investigation OF the high prices
that nave SO distressed the people OF
the world"
Mr.. Taft also urged tho appointment
OF Federal commission to mako
searching Inquiry into the subject OF
industrial relations"
For some years past said tho
president, the high and steadily In
creasrnG cost of living has been a mat
ter OF such grave public concern that
deem 1t of great public interest that 1
am international conference be pro-
posed at this time for the purpose or
preparing plans. to be submitted to tho
various governments, for an interna-
tional inquiry into the high cost or
living. It's extent, causes, effects and
possible remedies
There Is no doubt but that a COM
mission could be appointed of such un-
pre1udiced and impartial persons, cS-
perts In investigation of economic facts,
that great deal of very valuable light
could be shed upon the reasons for tho
high prices that have SO distressed .ha
people OF the world, and Information
given upon which action might bid
taken to reduce the cost of living.
General Throughout world.
Those who have conducted investi-
cations have found that the phenom-
enon OF rising prices is almost. If not
quite, general throughout the world,
put they are baffied In the attempt TO
trace the causes by the impossibility
Oh making any accurate interna tionai
| comparisons. This is because, in spite
of the number of Investigations already
made. we are still without adequate
data and because as yet no two coun-
| tries estimate their price Levels on the
same oasis or by the same methods
AS to the commission on Industrial
relations, the President sald
There should be an inquiry by the
federal government into the general
conditions of labor in the United States.
notwithstanding the fact that some or
the remedies will lie with the separate
states or even entirely outside the
sphere or governmental activity ana
IN the hands of private Individuals and
OF voluntary agencies. One legitimate
OBJECT OF such an official investika, ion
and report Is to enlighten ana taform
PUBIC opinion, which of Itself will Of
ten induce or compel the reform OF
, unjust conditions or the abatement or
| unreasonable demands.
SCnquestionabiy the time is now rips
for searching inquiry into the sub
)ect OF industrial relations, which shall
be official, authoritative, balanced ana
well grounded such as only the Fed
erar government can successfully un-
uertlke The present widesprend in
terest In the subject makes this an on
perfume time for an investigation,
which in any event cannot long be post
poned. 1t should be non partisan. com
prehcnsive. thorough. patient and rour-
ugeous.''
Message ON AlasI<n.
President Tart to- day also sent to Con-
gross his promised message on Alaska
and the public domain In general In
urging the construction OF govern
inent railroad. commission form of
government, and other needed legisla- *
| Ion for tho far-away territory, Pres
| idcnt Taft declared there was nothing
| In the history of the United States
which Afforded such just reason for
criticism as the failure OF the Federal
government to extend the benefit OF
! its fostering care to Alaska
i am not in favor OF government
ownership where the same certainty
and efficiency OF service can be had
ny private enterprise" said the Pres
idcnt, but think the conditions pre-
, scntcd in Alaska are of such a char
actor as TO warrant the government +
for the purpose OF encouraging the
development of that vast and remark
! able territory. TO build and own Il
| trunk line railroad, which it can
lease on terms which may be varicI
ana changed TO meet the growing
prosperity and development OF the
territory aHe
President Taft said there was little
, Likelihood that tho Morgan-Guggen-
,eim interest would open up a rail-
, road under the present conditions in
Alaska.
The President would have COM
m ssion form of government for
Alaska, one half OF the commission
TO be elected and the other half an.
pointed by The President.
Leasing system Proposed
| y leasing system was proposed nv
/ the President tor government coal and
! phosphate lands In Alaska as well AZ
| in the United States
! The reclamation laws of the United
! States should be mOdiflcd in tha
/ opinion of the President so that
homestcader might be granted u
patent ut the end of i've years OF cut
ovation and three years of occupation.
The President also would relieve honle-
! steaders from the requirement OF oc-
cupation at a time when the condt.
ton of the land would make 1t bur. Il
dcnsome and difficult" fG
Following suggestion OF Secretary
OF tic interior Fisher, President TAFT !.
declared in his message that the con-
rol of Watcrpower sites should rn- z
main In the national government rather
than he turned over to the states Ue
would have the sites disposed of by
direct lease fran the government tho +
rental to be used in Improvement at !