The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-22
FIND RELATIONS OF
 CAPITAL AND LABOR Commission of Nine Is Gre C ated By Congress
 TERMS OF MEASURE
Important Features of the Committee Report Which Recommended
 the Passage of the Bill By Congress
By c. E. STEWART


 Washington, August 21.-(Special.)-Con gress has created commission of in- dustrial relations It will be the duty of this commission, which is to be composed of nine persons to be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen ate, not less than three of whom shall be employers of labor, and not less than three of whom shall be representatives of organized labor. to inquire into the gen eral condition of labor in the principle industries in the United States, and es- pecially those which are carried on in cor porate forms. It shall also inquire into existing relations between employers and employees; Into the effect of industrial con ditions on public welfare and into the rights and power of communities to deal therewith into growth of associations of employers and of wage-earners and the effect of such associations upon the re- lations between employers and employees; into the extent and results of methods of collective bargaining; into any methods which have been tried in any state or foreign country for maintaining mutually satisfactory relations between employers and employees; into methods for avoiding or adjusting labor disputes through peace- full and eonciliatory mediation and nego- tiations; Into the scope, methods and re- sources of existing bureaus of labor and into possible ways of increasing their use fulness. The commission shall seek to discover the underlying causes of dissat- isfaction in the industrial situation and report It's conclusion thereon. In making It's report the committee which recommended this commission to Congress said: That there is widespread unrest amongst the wage earners of the country Is apparent from the large mum Der of trade disputes which have lately occurred or have recently been imminent. Strikes between labor and capital are like wars between nations-they bring sui fering and privation to the participants, and particularly the wage-earners and those dependent upon them"
 For the purpose of conducting this in- auiry the Congress has appropriated s1oo,- 000
 In February, 1909. the board of trade of London began an investigation or an inquiry into questions affecting the condi- tion of the working classes in certain in dustrial towns of the United States of America" and made comparison of such conditions as they found them with a like inquiry made in British towns beginning in October, 1905.
 
 tistical data gathered was submitted to the British parliament and resulted in a Letter understanding and comprehension of the conditions prevailing amongst the laboring classes of England as compared with other countries, and placed the law makers of that government in position to enact laws more intelligently upon matters pertaining thereto.
 1t is conceded that the commission will undertake gigantic task. full inves- tigation of the conditions that exist in this country that bring about the many disputes between capital and labor and an equitable plan for the relief of such con- ditions if found and brought into realiza- ton by this commission will be work of vast profit and value to the govern ment.
 Many representatives believe that the work of the commission will be great and lasting value to Congress. They believe however, that they already know the prin- oipal cause for the unrest with the labor ing classes, and in fact all classes in the United States. They believe that the high cost of living brought about in the main by an exorbitant tarff has created and made necessary expenditures with the peo- pie far out of proportion to their income and that this condition grows steadily worse. because the expenses are constant ly increasing with little increase in wages
 There are, however, other causes like hours of labor, arbitration of grievances. etc, that the data collected by the com mission will materially aid Congress in its endeavor to solve with fairness and for the best industrial interest of the coun- try.
 The commission will not confine its in- quiries to this country. but will investi~ gate conditions in other countries with the view of adopting and recommending such remedies as have proved effectual wherever found.