The Evening critic., 1885-01-23
TIE LABOR BUREAU
Commissioner Wright'S Idea About
It's Organization,
ITS PURPOSES AND USES.
The New Department To Prove Of
Importance To the Industries of
the Country y-Pertisanship and
Theory To Be Moet Rig
idly Excluded From
Its Workings.

The arrival in Washington of Colonel
Carroll ID. Wright, the newly.appointed
chief Of the as yet unorganizod Bureau of
Labor and Statistics, will be awaited with
interest, and his first steps will be regarded
with curiosity Having been confirmed
yesterday, he will lose no time in coming
to this city.
The success of his efforts and tho perfec-
tion Of the methods to be employed IS II
matter Of national interest and Importance.
Colonel Wright says of the needs and
uses of the bureau which he Is to create in
Washington
THE objects arc primarily the collection
and dissemination of knowledge relating
TO the industrial forces Of the country.
Statistics belong to the educational work
of society the needs of bureau belong to
the needs for education. The uses are in
dissipating false ideas. Only a few years
ago many men thought tho so.called labor
question could be solved through legisa-
tive enactment or through the adoption Of
some special solution, or supposed solution,
but to-day, through the results coming
from investigation, the better understand
ing of conditions and the more intelligent
appreciation of economic forces, most men
have concluded that tho labor question,
like all other questions affecting society,
must agree with the moral and intellectual
growth Of society ITSELF
Colonel Wright says that he believes the
National Bureau of Labor Statistics owes
its existence to the efforts made by Senator
Hoar as far back as 1879; IN June last the
lureau was created by law; since that time
the fierce struggle over the appointment of
commissioner has waged INCREASINGLY.
That the new bureau will be non partisan
and free from preudices is guaranteed by
Colonel Wright's reputation and record as
the head of the Massachusetts, Labor Bu-
reau, and additional assurance on this sub
.ject is derived from his own statement
made in Boston the other day that "if the
National Bureau of Labor is conducted on
a scientific and impartial basis, there will
be no grindstones In it on which the axes
of any party can be sharpened."
Colonel Wright expects to come to this
city in few days and get to work.
81 60 to Washington y he said to Boston
interviewer, "for the purpose of organizing
the National Bureau and practically setting
it at work. While not intending to shirk
or neglect the Massachusetts, census, its re-
quirements leave me quite at liberty to
spend such time as may be necessary at
| Washington during the next few weeks to
| perfect the organization Of the new bureau,
| should the Senate be kind enough to ap-
| prove the Presidents appointment This
| time feel at liberty to take, because had
no vacation during the last year, and can
| have none the present year at any proper
season. So, if l caro- to take my vacation
| in a desultory way, and do not neglect the
duties Of my Massachusetts, office, / 500 nc
reason why should otspend some time at
Washington.
II wal organize the National Bureau
after the Massachusetts, plan, because / have
noticed that this basis, when adopted by
1 other States, has brought success that
when il has not been adopted partial fail
ure has been observed. Then again, the
Massachusetts, bureau is the senior bureau
in the country, and j happen to be the
senior officer of such bureaus, aud 1t seems
only just that Massachusetts, should have
the transplanting, as 1t were, of her sys-
tenn in International system.
"There are now thirteen such bureaus in
the country, beside the bureau at Washing
ton. The chiefs and commissioners Of fthese
| bureaus have instituted q convention for
| the purpose of HarmoniZing the statistical
work of the country. With the new bu-
reau in harmony with the work of the
others, better results will accrue than could
if complications existed. So, while have
no desire to 20 to Washington, aud have nc
desire personally to accept the appointment
| have been persuaded that may 40 a ser
vice by accepting it,
could benefit the masses and of what use 1t
would prove to the working classes, he re-
plied
ait can help them by bringing to them {
wider knowledge of the forces which belong
to industry. If the laoorer and his em
ployer can be taught that their interests arr
not, as they have always been told, identl
cal, but are, on the other hand, reciprocal
much has been done to secure industria
| ha laarn thrnnUh ipUagti0u
tion that wages are the result of laws out
side the control of himself and his en-
plOyer, he has learned much toward secur
ing his own comfort. If his employer cal
learn that with broad, humane Christian
treatment which is opitOmzed by tn
golden rule, he receives better and sure
dividends, and that his works and his Gu
terprise are safer and more secure, tn
laborer has been helped in an inestimab
degree. These are a few Of the direction
through which aid can be brought to th
laboring classes by bureau Of the kind il
question"
In response to question as to the polio.
TO be pursued in organizing the new bu
reau, Colonel Wright said that the polio
to be pursued and the spirit in which al
his efforts would be made was outlined au
indicated by q letter Of advice to him iron
General Walker, and the sentiments an
| tone OF. which ne luOsJ culpuhtlChllI III
dorsed, and to which he would strictly ad
here. The letter is as follows:
u feel the strongest confidence that th
country is prepared for your work, and tina
the work can be done to the satisfaction {
all citizens, aud that your oilica has only {
prove itself superior alike to partisan dicta
, tion and to the seductions of theory /
order to command the cordial support {
d. the press and Of the body of citizens.
any mistake is more likely than others t
> be committed in such critical position,
I is to undertake to recognize both parties
:, parties, and to award so much In due tur
x to each. This course almost inevitably leat
toiealousy and dissatisfaction. Ifan office
d strong enough simply to consider the bod
Q of citizens and to refuse to recognize
!. entertain consideration Of parties, succe
D is already, in the main, assured. Publ
II con Dhdence once given, the choice
!. agencies, the selection of Inquiries
Q be propounded, are easy aud plai
r The country is hungry for information
> everything of statistical character,
even of a statistical appearance, is TAXI
up with an oagerness that is almost +
thetic, the community have not yet Learnt
10 be halt skeptical aud critical enough
respect to such statements All this
favorable to such laudable efforts as you a
engaged 10, for the difficulty Of collecti
statistics In a new country requires mu
indulgence, and have strong hopes th
you will so distinctly and deelsigely d
l connect the Bureau of Labor Statisti