Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-04-24

Mr.. Gladstone said of the paper on 'eThe
Progress of the Working Glasses in the Last
Half Century," written by Robert Gifen,
LII. D., that it was probably, in fern and
substance. the best reply to Henry George"
The full text of this remarkable paper 10
published in the current number of the
Popular Science Monthly, and 1t deserves the
careful attention of all interested in social
problems.
Mr.. Gifen shows that during the last half
century the working classes have made great
progress toward a better condition. He
shows that wages have uniformly increased
during that time, in most cases from so to
100 per cent. more wages for 20 per cent. less
work than fifty years ago. The cost Of liv-
ing has not increased so as to Offset the in-
crease in wages. Wheat ia cheaper than it
used to be. as great many people who do
not belong to the working classes know.
Sugar costs less than third of what 1t used
to, and the price of bacon is almost the same
as fifty years ago. Meat is considerably
higher. but it is to be remembered that meat
fifty years ago was hardly en- article of the
werkman's diet at ALL Clothing il much
per cent. less House rent has gone up. and
MIR. Giffen estimates that this item is one and
half times larger than formerly. But the
reduction in cost of clothing and of most
ticles of food leaves the workman distinctly
better eff. Allowing that he paid quarter
of his wages fifty years ago for house rent,
and that this expenditure is now ono and q
half times greater, the workman who earned
20 shillings then had 15 left for other pur-
poses, while the doubling of his wages leaves
him of his present 40 shillings 81 2 for
other purposes after paying his higher rent
of IL 1 2 shillings.
MIR. Giffen thinks that higher wages and
cheaper food have had decided effect on the
condition of the masses In proof of this he
cites the decline in the death-rate statistics
having conclusivelY shown that the mean du-
ration of life in England has been lengthened
about three years as compared with half .
century ago; the increased consumption of
such articles as tea and sugar, which is now
four times per head what it was then; the
spread of education, the average attendance
of children at English schools having grown
from 239, 600 to 2, 1858 900; the actual dimin-
ution in the number of crimes, despite the
growth of population; the equally marked
decline in the amount Of pauperism, the bur-
den of the poor being no greater now than
with half the present population fifty years
ago; and the increase in the number Of saw
ings banks depositors from 429. 600 to 4, no.
600. Mr.. Gifen further declares that the
poor have had almost all the benefit of the
great material advance of the last fifty years
He finds that while there has been q great in
crease of capital, the capitalist classes have
SO much increased in number that the amount
of capital possessed among them per head
has only increased 10 per cent, and the aver
age income per head hardly at all. while the
incomes of the masses have increased about
100 per cent. individually.
If all this is true end Mr.. GiEen's facts
and reasons are very convincing, tthe mas
ses' of the present have great reason to be
thankful that their lot is what it is But
somehow or other they do not appear to be
grateful. Indeed, there has perhaps been no
time during the last fifty years when the
masses have done more grumbIing than they
are now doing. Perhaps they are like the
eapitalists-the more they get the more they
want.