The Washington times., 1915-01-22

that this should be the duty of the c
WOULD EXTEND NEW
Another suggestion which so far finds
the commission divided. Is over the
question Of creating national board OF
coIciliation and mediation for industrial
corporations that do an interstate busi-
ness. Many suggestions have been
made that the Newlands-Erdman act
be extended to give the present board.
whose Jurisdiction Is now limited to
railroads, power over all corporations In
the interstate field.
In addition to George w. Perkins. the
Henry Ford. the automobile manufac-
turer, and Samuel Gompers. Of the
American Federation of Labor.
Perkins said that the rate Of wages
highest in the history Of the steel in
dustry. Excluding the salaried execu-
tive employees, the average Is $2.S5
d1y; yy,.r.v.r no..,n,. b. said III. com.
pany has reduced the hours Of labor to
eight hours a day. He read into the
record the entire report Of the labor
committee Of the United States Steel
labor corporations he believed a COM
plete record Of labor cnditions had al.
ways been kept before the board Of di-
rectors. He would also have such rec:
ords filed with some State or Federal
board.
The evils Of industrial life and the
remedies needed for their correction
were discussed by Mr.. Perkins.
Perkins emphatically said he was IN
favor of Federal regulation of railroads
favor Of labor unions.
"Half-baked laws and mutton-head
legislation are the principal causes OF
industrial warfare, Unemployment. pow
day was the way in which Perkins
summed up tho situation.
Perkins In his testimony read from q
prepared statement, which he made IN
to him some time ago by the commits
sion.
Cooperation and Competition.
Our political leaders tell US competi-
ton is still the life of trade and that
through it we will find a New Freedom.
They tell us that cooperation through
corporations is a great menace. to our
people and must be stopped" Perkins
said, "Germany takes exactly the op-
posite view.
twenty-five years ago Germany was
the land Of the small unit, In business
and her people were leaving. the coun-
ing some other land where they hoped
for better Industrial conditions.
Germany. gradually changed her sys-
tenn from the old destructive. competi-
to the system of large business units
with corporation on every. hand. Her
people gradually stopped leaving the
country until during the two years pre-
caily none Of her people left their homes
to look for better conditions elsewhere.
rs this not a startling contrast? 10
it not worthy OF deep, sober thought
Federal Government? May 1t not be just
possible that our business leaders have
been nearer right than our political
leaders?
Mutton Head Legislation.
For every ounce Of trouble brought
about in industry through the selfish
ness and cupidity Of business men a
pound OF trouble has been brought about
through half-baked laws and mutton
head legislauon on the part of our leg
islators. Our legislators have not even
possessed hindsight and they have been
veritable babes In foresight.
How vastly different and better In
dustrial conditions and relations would
have been during the past twenty years
II at the time of enacttng the Sherman
law two other laws had been passed.
OWN
watering and cvercapitalization in rail-
road and Industrial organizations. and
one that would have required full pub
licity for railroad and industrial organ
ternational.
1.-TWO such laws would have been
Of the greatest benefit ana protection
to investor, consumer and labor, would
maladjustment that has existed. and
would have permitted trade to go on
and expand In conformity with the
economics Of steam and electricity.
whatever to eradicate the evils that
have existed in business. and has done
much to hinder seriously the industrial
development Of this country. I can re-
Sa sbs has sd as sf its homes
pose the promotion of business and the
protection Of investor. labor and con-
sumner. or that has been based on sound
als.''
Defends Big Endowments.
Federal management Of foundations
like the Rockefeller. Sage, Carnegie
and others. Perkins said, would be a
great mistake, because private indi-
viduals could manage them much
more efficiently. No concern need be
felt as to possible menace from these
endowed institutions If the Govern
ment would insist that their transac-
tions be made public once or twice a
year.
II believe you threw out the sug-
gestion last Sunday evening that the
Government should take over these
foundations and administer them.
Perkins said. addressing the chair
man. This, of course, would mean
for them the same kind of efficiency
in administration that we have In
other branches of the Government.
This would be a distinct loss to the
people. for no one questions the high
efficiency with which these endow.
ments are being managed any more
than any one questions the low order
of efficiency with which. in many In
stances. the public's money Is man
aged by public servants in this coun-
try.
You ask me to what extent stock.
holders and directors of corporations
are responsible for labor conditions
The policy differs so largely in diff.
iereht concerns that a specific an
swer Is impossible
Reason For Depression.