Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-03-11


meant the unemployed Of New York
city were in any larger numbers than
usual at this time Of year, and that 1t
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 $4,000 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: THE commission realizes
that present conditions in the labor
market are practically the same in
every year at this season and that the
problem is a 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 Of
service in making attacks on the Demo-
cratic strongholds. The federal indus
trial commission is still at its work
and it will make inquiries into the rea-
sons for unemployment in all the
cities of the country. Then 1t 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.
It can be said that the first step con-
templated by the commission after 1t
has gathered its material "is to pre-
sent to congress for enactment bill
establishing federal bureau to act as
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 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 case,
which could be taken on appeal to
the entire commission.
1t is pretty we'll understood in
Washington that the interstate COM
merce commission is opposed to hav-
ing its 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 its 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
| it's 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 part
Of this money to pay the salaries of
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 to re-
port on cases direct to the commission
which shall render final decision.
Admittedly this plan Is only an ex-
| pertinent and it is not thought that 1t
will meet all the requirements In the
case, but some relief Is expected.
Can't Throw out Evidence.
In 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 the competency
of evidence. In other words, they
cannot throw out OF their reports to
! the commission such testimony as
| they may think has no place in the
| record
When the members of the inter.
state commerce commission hold in
| dividual hearings they can admit or
| throw out testimony as they choose.
| This makes it certain that when the
commission as body passes on q
matter it will have before 1t only COM