{"value"=>"<p>Also known as the Commission to Investigate Municipal Ownership and Operation in the United States and Europe. Appointed by NCF to investigate public ownership of public utilities - gas, water, electric lighting and power, and street railways - in the United States and Great Britain. To this end a deputation of fifteen technical experts was sent to Great Britain, including the historian John R. Commons, and James W. Sullivan, one of Samuel Gompers' advisors, who studied street railways and labor conditions. The Commission, like NCF itself, was fundamentally against municipal ownership of utilities, and the investigation was funded by private utility companies and other businesses.</p> <p>Correspondence with businessmen, business associations, commercial clubs, chambers of commerce, educators, and others relating to the investigation; and reports of visits by the Committee of 21 to the British cities of Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Birmingham, Leicester, and Manchester to study the question of municipal ownership and operation of public utilities.</p> <p>Correspondence, 1906, of the Investigating Committee with businesses, particularly public utilities, soliciting contributions towards a goal of $100,000 with which to fund the investigation.</p> <p>Records of a commission presided over by Samuel Gompers, Sept. 18 and Oct. 5, 1905, created to organize the Committee of 21; meetings, Oct. 27-Dec. 22, 1905, of the Sub-Committee of Five called to make preparations for the investigation; and meetings of Jan.3, and May 21, 1906, of the Sub-Committee of Five concerned with preparing contracts for the work to be done by the technical experts.</p>"}