The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-09

cessities OF life. There Is no doubt but
that commission could be appointed
of such unprejudiced and impartial per.
sons, experts in investigation OF eco
nomic facts, that a great deal Of very
valuable light could be shed upon the
reasons for the high prices that have so
distressed the people of the world and
information given upon which action
might be taken to reduce the cost of
living The very satisfactory report
of the railway stock and bonds com,
mission indicates how useful an invcs
tigation of this kind can be when un-
dcrtaken by men who have had ade-
uuate experience in economic inquiries
and observation-disclosures and judgment
correctly to apply sound principles to
the facts found.
For some years past the high and
steadily increasing cost of living has
been matter of such grave public con
-ern that | deem it of great public in
terest that an international confer
ence be proposed at this time for the
purpose of preparing plans, to be sub
mitted to the various governments, for
an international inquiry into the high
cost of living, its extent, causes, eff
fects and possible remedies. | there
fore recommend that to enable the
president to invite foreign govern
mentS to such conference, to be held
at Washington or elsewhere. the con-
gress provide an appropriation, not to
exceed $4,000 to defray the expenses
Of preparation and of participation by
the United States.
The numerous investigations on the
subject. official or other, already made
in various countries tsuch as Austria,
Belgium. Canada, Denmark, France,
Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the
Netherlands and the United States
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 world, but they are batfied i'll
the attempt to trace the causes by the
impossibility of making any accurate
international comparisons. This Is be-
cause. in spite of the number of inves-
legations already made. we are still
without adequate data and because as
yet no two countries estimate their
price 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
it 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 its
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-iT
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 in
terruption to the normal and peaceful
relations between employer and wage
! Garner involves public discomfort anC
] in many cases public disaster. Sucl
/ Interruptions become, therefore. quite
as much a matter of public concern a
restraint of trade or monopoly.
Industrial relations concern the pub
lie for a double reason. We are di
peaceful and stable industrial cOndi
tions for the sake of our own comfor
and well being. but society is equally
interested in its sovereign civic capac
ity in seeing that our institutions arr
effectively maintaining justice and fai
whose economic interests may seem I,
clash. Railway strikes on such a seal,
as has recently been witnessed il
France and in England. a strike o
coal mine workers such as we have
more than once witnessed in this coun
try and such a wholesale reinquishin:
of public service as that Of the stree
cleaners recently in New York Illus
trate the serious danger to public wei
being and the inadequacy OF the exist
ing social machinery either to proven
! such occurrences or to adjust them ol
any equitable and permanent basi
after they have arisen.
In spite of the frequency with which
we are exposed to these dangers and il
spite of the absence OF provision 70
dealing with them we continue to as
sumo with easy going confidence tina
In each new case somehow or other tn,
parties to the dispute will find som,
solution which will be agreeable t
themselves and consistent with the pub
lie interest. We all see the grave Oh
! iaptinuS IN Stril,ac oDJ IopI.nutc bn,u