The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-03

Net leI ILIIteu iSLdTeS
 have themselves strongly demonstrat-
 ed the need of further study Of world
 wide scope. Those who have conduct ed these investigations have found that the phenomenon of rising prices is almost, If not quite. general through out the word. but they are buf11ed in the attempt to trace the causes by the impoSsibility of Laaking any accurate international comparisons. This iS be- cause in spite of the number of iDves- tigations already made. we are still without adequate data and because as yet no two countries estimate their rice levels on the same basis or by the same methods
 As already indicated. the preliminary conference itself would entail a com paratively small expense. and most of the subsequent investigations for which 1t would prepare the way could be car ried out by existing bureaus in this and other governments as part of their regular work and would require little. if any. additional appropriations for such bureaus.
 Commission on Industrial Relations.
 The extraordinary growth of indus try in the past two decades and it's revolutionary changes have raised new and vital questions as to the relations between employers and wage earnerS which have become matters of press ing public concern. These questions have been somewhat obscured by the profound changes in the relations be- tween competing producers and pro ducerS as a class and conSumers-in other words. by the changes which. among other results. have given rise to what is commonly called the trust problem. The large scale production characteristic of modern industry, however. involves the one set of rela- tions no less than the other. Any i'm terruption to the normal and peaceful relations between employer and wage earner involves public discomfort and in many cases public disaster. Such interruptions become. therefore. quite as much matter of public concern as restraint of trade or monopoly.
 Industrial relations concern the pub lie for a double reason. We are di- rectly interested in the maintenance of peaceful and stable industrial condi- tions for the sake of our own comfort and well being. but society, is equally
 
 ity in seeing that our institutions are effectively maintaining justice and fair dealing between any classes of citizens whose economic interests may seem to clash. Railway strikes on such scale as has recently been witnessed in France and In England. strike of coal mine workers such as we have more than once witnessed in this coun- rSek,a of public service as that of the street cleaners recently in New York illus trate the serious danger to public well being and the inadequacy of the exist ing social machinery either to prevent such occurrences Or to adjust them on any equitable and permanent basis after they have arisen
 In spite of the frequency with which we are exposed to these dangers and in spite of the absence Of provision for dealing with them we continue to as- sume with easy going confidence that in each new case somehow or other the parties to the dispute will find some solution which will be agreeable to themselves and consistent with the pub lie interest. We all see the grave ob jections to strikes and lOckouts. how ever necessary they may be in extreme cases. and we are ready to critirise the more extreme phases of the induStriai conflict. such as boycotts and black lists. but we leave the situation such that industrial disputes lead inevitably to a state of industrial war in which these are the only weapons left to the two cOmbatants. No more clumsy or expensive method of determining the rate of wages and the hours and con- ditions Of labor could well be devised The successful operation of the Erd- man act as between interstate railroads and their employers shows how much good can be done ny proper Legislation.
 At the moment when the diScOmfortS and dangers incident to iDduSt rial strife are actually felt by the public there is an outcry for the establishment Of some tribunal for the immediate seT- | clement of the particular dispute. but | what is needed Is some system. devised 1 by patient and deliberate study in ad- 1 vance. that will meet these constantly | and clearly foreseeabIe emer- l gencies. not makeshlft to tide over an | storm. but in fair weather. should the
  paired.
 The magnitude and complexity of modern industrial disputes have put upon some of our statutes and our present mechanism for adjusting such where we can be said to have any mechanism at ala strain they were never intended to bear and for which they are unsuited. What k needed today iS re-exam nina ton of our laws bearing upon the reIa tions of employer and employee ana n careful and discriminating scrutiny of the various plans which are being tried In several of our own states anG In other countries. This would seem to b the first natural step in bringing about an adjustment of these relations better suited to the newer conditions of industry.
 Numerous special investigations. of fciaI and unofficial. have revealed con 1itions in more than one industry