The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
He Would Have an Inter- national Conference on
 the Subject
SENDS MESSAGE ON
 ALASKAN PROBLEMS
Recommends Construction of Govern ment Owned Railroad, Commis- sion Form of Government and
 Other Needed Legislation

Washington. February 2-President Tatt in a 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 u conference in this city or elsewhere to make plans for the investigation of the ''hlsh prices that have so distressed the people of the world.
 MT Taft also urged the appointment of federal commission to maNe searching inquiry into the subject or industrial re- lations
 Matter of Concern
 "For some years past said the Presi- dent. the high and steadily increasing cost of living has been Il matter of such grave public concern that deem 1t of great public interest that an nterna- tionaI conference be proposed at this time for the purpose of preparing plans, to be submitted to the various govern merits, for an international inquiry into the high cost of living it's extent, causes, effects and possible remedies.
 "'rhero is no doubt but that com- mission could he appointed of such nnprci- udieed and impartial persons, experts
  great Zeal of very valuable light could be shed upon the reason for the high prices that have so distressed the people of the world, and Information given upou which action might be taken to reduce the cost of living
 Is Throughout World
 e'rhose who have conducted investiga- tfons have found that tho phenomenon of rising prices is almost. not quite. gel eral throughout the world; but they arc baRled in the attempt 10 trace the causes by the impossibility of making any accurate international comparisons This is because in spite of the number of ln- Vestigations already made. we are still without adequate data and because as yet no tive countries estimate thcir price loveis on tho solnc basis or bs the same methods"
 | As to the commission on industrial re- lations. the President said
 Should Be Inquiry "There should be an inquiry hy the federal government into the genei al conditions of labor in the United States notwithstanding tho fact that some of | the remedies will lie with the separat tc states or even entirely outside the sphere of governmental activity in inc hands of private individuals and of voluntary agencies. one legitimate object of such all official investiga- ton and report Is to enlghten and inform public opinion, which of itself will often induce or compel the re- form of unjust conditions of the abate- ment of unreasonable demands. eUnquestionably the time is now ripe for q searching inquiry into the subject of industrial relations which ] shall be official. authoritative, balanced and well rounded. such as only the l federal government can successfully undertake The present widespread in- terest in the subject makes this an op- perfume time for an investigation which in any event cannot long be postponed. 1t should be non pa rtisan, | comprehensive, thorough. patient and coura geous,'
 Message on Alaska President Taft today sent to Congress his promised message on Alaska and | the public domain in general. In urg- | ing the construction of q government | railroad, q commission form of gov ernment and other needed legislation | Tor the Tar away lcffltofy. Gresldenl | 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 govern ment to extend the benefit of it's foster ing care to Alaska.
 "I am nos in favor of government own crshp where the same certainty and ef- fciency of leryice can be had by private l -~----~--~~>--~-~-----~>~- fCONTINIED ON PAGE gl