The Washington times., 1913-07-22
WILSON'S APPO|NTEE
.. INDUSTRIAL EXPERT
Prof. Commons Is Expected to
Prove Strongest Member of
New Commission.

Those who have studied the person
mel of the new industrial commission
appointed by President Wilson are con-
WINGED that out of that commission will
come a report and recommendations
on the subject of the relations of capi-
tai and labor which will have momen-
tous effects on national and State leg
islation in the long run No mere per-
functory or surface study of the ques-
tons involved is to be anticipated
The presence on the commission of
such men as Prof.. John X. Commons,
of the University of Wisconsin, ana
Frank P. Walsh, of Kansas City, ana
of such a woman as Mrs. J. Borden
Hartman, of New York, affords insur-
ance against that
Many predict that Prof. Commons will
prove to be the strong man of the COM
mission Mr.. Walsh himself has made
this prediction. In any event, Prof.
Commons is certain to be heard from
as one of the n. embers. Prof. Com
mons is well known in Washington.
He is a close friend of Senator La
Toilette is a man of radical but con-
structive tendencies, and has studied
the questions into which the commIs-
sion is to 90 Ceeply.
Expert In Railroad Law.
Those who know Prof. Commons are
aware that he had as much to do as
any one man, if not more, in shaping
the legislation for valuation OF the rail-
roads OF this country. The colossal
nature OF this legislation is as yet but
little appreciated, but II is bound TO he
in time. Eventually IL Will be per-
ceiyed that a single false step oy the
Government in the valuation oil the rail-
roads means millions to the country
each year Tor years TO come in the way
of Increased freight rates. Prof. Com
mons gave the Senate Interstate COM
merce Committee much sound advice
as TO pitfalls to be avoided and the
result was a piece of legislation gen.
orally pronounced sound from the stand
point of the public.
Interest has been drawn TO the work
of the Industrial commission of Wis
consin since the appointment OF Prof
Commons. He is the guiding spirit OF
that body and his selection as a mem
ber of the Federal Industrial rela-
tons commission is a blow to the Wis
consin commission, though IL is to Dc
expected he will still give the Wiscon-
sin commission the benefit OF his coun-
sci.
What Wisconsin Is Doing.
Prof. Commons, in a recent sum-
mary of the Wisconsin commissions
work, said The employers of Wisconsin
in 1911 paid $l,O25,Oc to liability insur-
ance companies, but scarcely 100000 of
il reached the pockets of the employees
or their dependents; that 1000 indus
trial accidents occurred in Wisconsin
each year, 100 Of them being fatal and
the others causing disability OF seven
days or more. Bur scarcely 10 per cent
of the injured receive any share of the
so, 900.
What the Wisconsin commission, ac-
cording to Prof. Commons, is try
ing TO do is to reduce the $l,025, 900 paid
by employers and raise the $500, 900 re-
ceived by the employees, with distribu-
ton among 1900 instead of loo
employees. 1t will help employers and
employed by reducing accidents and
bettering health of employees, and by
fixing definitely the compensation for
all employees who are injured will great
ly widen the area for the distribution
Of benefits.
Plans for Greater Safety.
Prof. Commons has gone perhaps
as deeply into this question as any man
in the country. His presence on the
Federal commission suggests the strong
probability that one of the chief things
that commission will give attention in a
big national way is the promotion of
better conditions as TO health and safety
in establishments where men and Wom-
en- are employed and the working out
on a great scale of the subject of COM
pensation for those injured in employ
ment or made i'll as the result of en-
ployment. This is by no means all the
new commission has to work out, but
II is one great phase of its inquiries.