The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1914-12-16
Carlson's State Relations Commission
(By Alva A. Swain)


The commission for the settlement
and prevention of industrial disputes
las proposed by Governor-elect Carl
son is in many ways a new scheme.
So far it has not been tried in the ex-
act form as proposed by Mr.. Carlson
in any other state in the Union. Yet
lit appears to be a scheme which. if
handled properly, should solve many
of the questions that so often arise
in industrial disputes. f.t
Mr.. Carlson's proposition, in snort,
is to abolish all boards, bureaus and
commissions whose duties and powers
in any way relate to labor and incus-
|trialism, and to create in their stead
la single commission appointed by the
governor and clothed with all of the
powers now vested in the boards, bu-
reaus and commissions to be abolish
ed. This would include the powers of
the public utility commission, the
of mines, the coal mine
commission and inspectors, the labor
department, the boiler inspector, the
state bureau of mines, and that por-
|tion of the power of the auditing
board and the military board that "on-
trolls the auditing and payment of
military bills.
At the present time the power ex-
ercised by the above boards and bu-
reaus is divided. Part of it is under
the control of the secretary of statti
part of it is under the control OF the
governor; part of it is under the. con-
troll of all the executive officers act
ing jointly, and part of it is really
not under the control of any one. exc
cutive department. It was by reason
of this divided power that Governor
Ammons was unable to control the sit
uation during the last strike. Gov
ernor-elect Carlson is of the opinion
that commission, vested with all the
power and appointed by the governor,
and vested with the further power
to investigate and offer a plan of set
tlemnt, could be great help in the
troubles. In fact, Governor Carlson
feels that a commission, clothed with
the authority that would be giver his
proposed commission, could prevent
many strike being called. He will
try to secure the enactment of Sec
tion in the law providing that all la
Dor disputes shall be referred to this
commission, and that no strike shall
be called pending the investigation by
this commission of the differences be-
tween the parties involved. He will
also try to clothe this commission with
power to order the installation of
equipment that will look to he safety
and health of employees. In addition,
he is desirious that it shall be clothed
with power to investigate the standard
of efficiency and responsibility among
employees, especially where their labor
is sold collectively. In other words,
the commission shall be authorized to
not only protect life and property in
securing the proper installment of
machinery and equipment, but also in
securing the most efficient labor for
positions, especially if they be of a
hazardous nature.
Governor-elect Carlson's idea in hav-
ing this commission appointed by he
governor is to concentrate this power.
By SO doing the chief executive an
secure immediate knowledge of any
situation that may arise and he will be
in a position to deal with it almost in
stanly.
Columns might be written about his
proposed commission, but the above
are the essential features and convey
his proposition in genral.