Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-01

problem. More liberal employment poll
cies may result.
This problem is one of many which
have been committed by the President
to his Commission on Social Trends.
The work Is supported financially by
large foundations. The sum of $780,
600 has been pledged to cover the cost
Of the survey. A tentative list of the
other problems which this commission
will study includes population, food
and natural resources: the recruitment
OF population; vitality and health; how
people pass their time; shifting occupa-
tons; habitations; inventions and their
diffusion; the changing family; the
status of women; welfare of children:
schools and adult education; the
church; recreation and leisure; social
attitudes; culture; the socially malad-
1usted; rural life; urban changes; So
cial legislation.
The aim is to hold a mirror up to
national life. It Is not a search for
new problems on which to base new
legislation; 1t is intended to find the
basis OF fact for an intelligent under
standing Of tendencies in America.
Many OF the surveys may not result IN
legislation; some of them may prove
that proposed Legislation is not needed.
The Presidents chief aim is to raise
standards and to obtain results by VOL
untary action, although some legisla-
ton may result as by-product. 1t is
nopeu That the survey may bear fruit
Tor many years to come.
Recalls His Safety Survey.
This is not wholly new type of COM
mission. AS Secretary of Commerce
Mr.. Hoover carried on a similar study
through the conference on traffic safety.
That broad, fundamental study resulted
IN no Federal legislation. but it pro-
duced voluntary action by manufac-
turerS in fixing the standard of auto
mobile brakes; 1t produced model State
laws and city ordinances which have
been adopted in many countries.
Tne most conSpicuously successful Of
the fundamental studies of this kind
In the past was that of the Aldrich
Monetary Commission, which 20 years
ago investigated the banking systems
ana the financial practices Of the world.
every banking law passed in this coun-
try since that time has been modified
by the report Of the Aldrich commits
sion. 1t Is q standard work all over the
world. The demand for copies of the
report among economists was such that
the volumes now rate as choice Arneri-
cana, commanding price Of $1,000 a
set.
President Hoover Is even organizing
commissions in his cabinet. He found
that the Secretary of Commerce. the
Postmaster General, the Secretary of
the Navy and the chairman of the
Shipping Board were working more or
less at cross purposes in the matter of
letting overseas mail contracts. He or
ganized them into q commission called
the 1nterdepartmental committee on
overseas mail contracts. These con-
tracts act as subsidies to encourage
American shipping.
Reduction Of $7,0OO,OOO.
Before the commission was Organized
the Government had committed itself
to an expenditure of 81, 00O, 900 q year
and provided for the construction of
IL ships; the commission, tackling the
subject afresh, committed the Govern
ment to an expenditure Of only s5.OOO,-
600 year and will obtain the construc-
ton Of 40 ships. The President also
organized the Secretary of Commerce,
the Secretary Of War, the Secretary of
the Navy and the Postmaster General
into q commission to develop q report
on the subject of Government aid to
commercial navigation.
Another Hoover commission is one
appointed jointly by him and the Gov
ernor Of California to consider the
problem Of building bridge across San
Francisco Bay, which has long been
held up by differences between Federal
and State off1cials. The President ap-
pointed a similar commission with the
governor Of California to bring Federal
and State interests into harmony in
development Of California water power
resources. Another Hoover commission
Is to consider plans for the mitigation
OF unemployment, another, financed by
Julius Rosenwald, is to survey the prob
lem Of illiteracy.
Executive Power Barred.
President Hoover is not indiscrini-
nate In his appointment of commits.