The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-18
IMPORTANT QUESTION
TO BE DECIDED
Whether Resources of s25o,ooo,ooo for
Charitable Purposes Shall Be EN-
ployed With or Without
Government Regulation.

4
by four great philanthropic institution
should be employed without goyernmer
regulation in the promotion OF enter
prises affecting public welfare, especial
that of wageearners, is one OF the que'
tions which the federal industrial rela
tions commission will bring to the from
here during its Forthcoming hearings. In
vestigators have for the last two week
been preparing data upon which to has
the examination of witnesses,
The four institutions are the Rockefel
Ter, Sage Cleveland (0hio) and Baron d
Tirsch foundations, the latter represent
ed i'm this country by Jacob II. Schifi
Their chief officers have been summoned
to testify and viii be asked, il was SAT-
to-day at the commission headquarters
to tell what policies govern the distribu
ton of their charities, their attitude to
ward labor problems, the nature of theil
schemes for social betternfent; in sum
to disclose in detail the character Of al
their activities.
In view of the fact that the immense
resources OF these institutions were chief
" derived from the profits OF industrial
enterprises and that they were now en-
ploying them in many ways affecting
the conditions of wagearners, it was the
desire OF the commission, it was ex-
planned, 10 determine whether their pol
icies were in every respect consistent
with the public welfare. 1t was pointed
out that the institutions were under no
legal obligation to make their operations
public and that it was pertinent ques-
tion TO determine whether such immense
resources were potentially dangerous,
when not subject 10 governmental super
vision.
In raising this question no implication
was intended, il was explained. II was
simply the purpose of the commission to
call attention without prejudice, TO the
power which these institutions were in
position to exercise, rightfully or wrong
fully, especially in shaping public opin-
ion. Whether after the facts have been
brought out, such institutions shall and
can be regulated will be left TO Congress
after the commission has reported. IL
was pointed out that in England, the so
called charity trusts" are required by
law to make public reports.
The commission also plans TO call the
directors and chief stockholders of sew
eral of the large industries TO obtain a
discussion OF their relations with en-
ployes; also members OF the National
Civic Federation. and the New York
Charity Organization society.
1T is the purpose OF the commission
says statement by Frank p. Walsh, |
before il in New York the men whose |
ismes are most closely. associated with |
,ur great basic industries, and through |
his means TO obtain a full, frank dis I
'ussion OF the relation that exists be- /
.ween the Capitalization OF wealth and 4
,ower in their hands and a feeling Of UNI
est among wage-earners.
whether rightfully OF wrongfully, a
cry large number Of wage-earners COM
lain that their interests are prejudiced
" the fact that the industries in which
hey are employed are owned and con
rolled By men who live az a distance
nd who have no personal knowledge OF
he conditions under which the employees
rork and live. This i one Of the charges
most frequently mode by writers and
peakers engaged in enlisting recruits for
he most radical political and economical
and the commission feels
hat lie work viii not be- complete until
has given full consideration to the {
lbiect. I.
Large employers and stockholders In
.dustrial corporations are more and more
irning their attention 70 organized ef
1rfs toward social betterment. The Z
lmmission win seek 20 lind out whether
t not these efforts are undertaken be :
.use their authors tel a responsibility /.
n the conditions which create the need
such effort. and II - whether o. not
10 various schemes Of welfare work and
can b. considered adequate
meet the needs u
"The commission assumes Of course,
at every good citizen desiree to aid IN
iy sincere effort 70 ct AZ the under.
ing causes 81 industrial unrest. and in !
.is e. be- its other inquiries. u q ap- y
oaching its tssk with ~ open mind and q
desire only e ct a. the facts. Each Z
ftness uil ~ urged - make com !,
ete statement uf he rieeas. The rom- .
issinns conclusions WiH D. stated only =
its report o. Congress. and urtd that =
safm.ttei its nttituat wH8 b. open 2
.ndsd ana free from TrfiudnF q
Neariv - witnesses hate Been suu. 2
1fad. most ri them rerssFs az nati0n- q
Tsfuuinanar. No.
Tlser ineluas. gshn nj Rasksfe-ls1. b. Fl
y. MoFran Iaeab d shH. Chsries i
-. George FF. perkfns tssorrs y. |u'
krf. andrrW Csrnnele. DANTE gnnrrn- g
~. "a narv sn# s8airh fsn 6saiir. ir
qasst B.araurt. a. Ha4tut Hff.hurn ~ LEI
wnal MfnoisFfs NFu knrt fnHnesars. 81
Iius Fassrunlf fia.aga ul.rrharf rr
.rrf d Frrd. fsefre.t sutuuisIi..is a1Er
.stn~r-s errsusi fsurrFers trssiferf ~ uf
. aneranr FfflrHtiar rf tair- ard ~
- Mmfhr1i ate frsssasss Hdf# AZ. BE-
-rs I'll lFtfrn. anari u41fn-s rseksr r
.f Tow rrra-cert 81 tae Natfant fa
1srafInrs sawr'.i rtffnsFer Etis-r RI
Fa-ae Neu fu7E auf fs sr
srss.s Htnu ntturHrs nhr tau r
5-u.-fr aarnsssf uFt a. o. -
itass VI ea-fa-rtiafs atlifr Nats Ham
~ Ntn sea- asrrs f1ariss
1a rMitra Hw Harvard m