Speech #520146081

It seems to me that every citizen and every Senator and member of Congress ought not only to be willing. but to desire that the investigation should be made. The Senator from Kansas and the Senator from Florida have stated abundant reasons why the investigation directed by the joint resolution of last summer should proceed. I favored the measure at that time because I thought an investigation into the condition of the poor of our great cities would throw light upon the immigration question. I agree with the suggestion of the Senator from Florida. made perhaps also by other Senators. that a better word might have been chosen than the word "slums." but never mind the nomenclature. the condition of the great masses of our people who are crowded into the close quarters of the greatcities ofthiscountry ought to be investigated. It was not necessary that there should have been a special joint resolution for that investigation. because the act which created the office of Commissioner of Labor gave to that officer ample power to make an investigation without special instructions from Congress. .