Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-03-10

4
probably would be found he had no In
tention of intimating that the condi-
ton of unemployment was due TO
legislation enacted or promised.
Conditions About as Usual.
The next day Mr.. Walsh sent de-
NAL He admitted that he said there
were 100000 men and women out of
work in New York city, but he pointed
to another part Of his message which
the telegram had failed to transmit TO
the capital 'sThe commission realizes
that present conditions in the labor
market are practically the same in
every year at this season and that the
problem is permanent one"
| This explanation pleased and re-
lieved the Democrats Immediately and
took away from the Republicans and
the Progressives some of the ammuni-
ton which they thought would be o.
service in making attacks on the Demo
cratic strongholds The federal indus
trial commission is still at its work
and 1t will make inquiries into the rea-
sons for unemployment in all the
cities of the country. Then it will come
| back to Washington and will draw up
the report in which it will recommend
legislative action which the Democrats
hope will strike at the root of the evil
OF enforced idleness
Federal Control Asked.
1t can be said that the first step con-
templated by the commission after it
| has gathered it's material lis to pre-
sent to congress for enactment a bill
| establishing federal bureau to act as
a clearing house for public and private
agencies and to direct the movements
OF migratory workers. Cooperation to
end casual employment will be urged
upon employers"
Congress is to be asked to pass legis-
lation which will put under federal
control every employment agency In
the United States which is doing an in
terstate business. 1t is charged that
alluring promises are held out to men
in one locality of employment at good
wages in other sections of the country,
and that frequently when the trip is
made and the expense undergone, they
find they have been deceived
Doesn't Want to Be Enlarged.
Senator Kenyon of Iowa has
introduced a bill in congress in
| creasing to sixteen the member
ship of the interstate commerce
commission. This is an addition of
ten members. The measure contem-
plates The division of the country into
five districts with headquarters at
Washington, Atlanta. Chicago, Kansas
City and San Francisco, with the prin-
cipal office at Chicago. Three COM
missioners in any district under the
terms of the bill could decide a case,
which could be taken on appeal to
the entire commission.
1t is pretty well understood in
Washington that the interstate COM
merce commission is opposed to hav-
ing it's membership increased In a
recent dispatch 1t was told how the
| commission is being overworked be-
cause of the mass of business before
it, The objection of the commission to
increasing it's membership is that it
would make the board unwieldy and
that agreements would be much more
difficult to reach than they are at
present.
Meantime the commission is taking
its own way to find relief from its
present overworked condition. 1t has
sum of money granted to it as a con-
tingent fund and it has used a part
of this money to pay the salaries of a
board of examiner attorneys" 1t has
appointed the members of this board
and their duties will be to hold hear
ings much after the manner of those
held by masters in chancery and 70 re-
port on cases direct to the commission
which shall render final decision.
Admittedly this plan is only an ex-
pertinent and ii is not thought that 1t
will meet all the requirements in the
case, but some relief is expected.
Can't Throw Out Evidence.
In a sense the appointment of the
seven members of the board of exam
liner attorneys simply supplements the
work of examiners who have done
field work since the commission was
established. The new board, however
has somewhat larger powers than ex-
aminers have had in the past In one
respect, an important respect. the ex-
aminer attorneys Will be handicapped
They cannot pass on tle competency
Of evidence. In other words, they
cannot throw out of their reports to
the commission such testimony as
they may think has 10 place in the
record
When the members of the inter
state commerce commission hold in
diviCual hearings they can admit or
throw out testimony as they choose
This makes it certain that when the
commission as a body passes on a
matter il will have before 1t only COM
petent material It is believed that
before long an effort will be made to
give the necessary power to reject to
the me.Lbers of the board of examin-
or attorneys. When this is done the
carrier corporations of the country
probably will and that the path to de-
clsions on matters concerning them
will be much easier walking and will
be free from some of the obstacles of
the past.
1t is not difficult to explain why no
sustained effort has been made in con-
gress to increase the membership of
the interstate commerce commission
The members of the board are op-
posed 10 any such plan. The opposl-
tion is based on the plea of efficiency
and not on any ground which can be
considered selfish. The commission
ers, as has been said, hold that too
large a board would be unwieldy and
that Il would Take longer to arrive at
decisions than is the case at pres
emit