, 1873-05-31
TIE LABOR QUESTION IN MASSACHUSETTS,

1uf1NnNIt1u2AAI6.
We hnVo received o copy Of the Fourth Annual
Report Of the Bureau Of Statistics of Labor in
Massachusetts. Tho report is worry ablo and
valuable presentation Of tho facts pertaining to
oil olRsses Of labor In that stnto, to tho condition
Of the working people, their wants and their
suRerings. On page &C 1t gives statement Of
tho wagoa paid to each OF G5 branchoa Of uu-
skilled male labor, embracing all occupations
not mechanical, and thoso chow in average Of
daily wages Of $1.72 for an average of Go lours
per week, 1T 255 dayB' labor in q year, aud an
avorago aggregate of wages Of si3s.90 oacll per
tcaustczs, who got s2.25 per day; tho next
arc those laborcrH employed in public
works. In no case, however, is tho en-
ploynont for less that ton hours per day.
The general condition Of tho unskillcd laborcrs
ie that Of baro escape from deatitution. as a
clase, they al have farni'ics, md, oven with tho
earnings Of wives aud children, moro sub-
sistenee is obtnined.
With regard to the factory operatives, tho con-
dition Of things ID hardly any batter. Tho opera
tivoa hare not, in hardly any case, any intorost
in tho mills in which they work. Tho 1nill-stock
at Fall River is mostly owned by families. Ono
mill is owned by five poraous, brothors and Bis-
tors. Another family OWNS five mills and hold
shares in othor mills. Shares in thoac mills aro
worth 900 on par va1uo of 1,000. In Dork-
alliro, largo mill is owned by one family.
In ull places whore textile fabrics aro tho
loading industry tradeHmon cannot Hafoly giYo
crcait, because the operatives aro constantly OH
tho verge Of poverty. In ono place, tho factory
owner koeps store on his premises, charging
III advance Of 10 per cont on tho first cost Of tho
goods. Tho bille Of factory familieH average por
month, groceries, sal meats, $40; fuel, IS;
ront, $40; totnl, 540, requiring daily wages of
a1.15 per day for twonty-eix days per month.
Tho wiyoa, children, an1 mon hnyo 10 bo clothed
beside consequence Is that largo propor-
tion Of tho factory people are working III debt.
Tic nVcragc earnings Of mon engaged in tho
! manufacturing aud mechanical industries il
| s530.52 por year. The difference botwoon
| sum represents them al1 With these earnings,
! the inability to save, aoouro homo, or
| acquire competence, ia onniy UNDER
stood. 30 generally are faetory operatives
| III debt. that special branch OF law business
| hus grown up in the factoly towns, whereby tho
wages Of operatives are attached to pay thoir
| debts at stores. Whllo expenditure Tor npirits
| Is rookonod among ono OF tho callaoa for iul-
! providence, tho report thlnke that poverty Of
| Income is also strong proyocatlon to intou,-
! porance In drink, md that tho lack Of moans to
| enjoy inlocont amusomontB to tho poor, mud
procure comforts ut homo, often lead mon to
| tho woll-war1ncd saloon mud Its lively company
In d majority Of cascs when savings aro laid
by, 1t IL douc, aaYa the report by stlnting tho
household In matters Of education, hoaltl,, and
culture. The report includes aud approves m
oasay upon poverty by Ira Steward, d thought-
ful and Industrious mechanic, In Which tho sub-
jock OF poverty is discussed. 1Ie asserts tllat
poverty mnlses independence impossible. It
hiu1ora progrosB, loadlng to moro suffer-
ing and crimo than MI other carsos.
There Is closer relation between poverty and
slayory than tho average abolitioniBt oyor recog-
nizea. Tho motive Of Blnyory was to got tho
slavoa' labor for nothing. Tho motive for wage.
labor III to soouro homo Of Its robulta for nothing,
and, In point Of fact, wago-labor AaH boen moro
profitable tlau alayoly,
The report, In considering the Rubjoet Of
wages, placea two facts together, !. That
| wagcs have steadily Increased Tor hundreds Of
years. 4. That tho masses have neYez been,