The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-22
Thus Gripping the Consuming Power of the
Peoplet to the Extent of $500, ,0O0, ,O0O-Im-
ported Labor Complete Failure.
The Pan-Electric Inquiry, and Some Of
the Things 1t Has Not Revealed.
Railway Postal Service Clerks Given Another
Short Lease of Official Life-A Lesson
for Land Commissioner Sparks.


LABOR IN AMERICA.
Interesting Facts and Figures from the First
Report of Commissioners Wright
WASHINGTON, March 2L-The first annual re-
port of the Bureau of Labor is completed. 10
will cover about Eve hundred pages. Under the
head The Industrial Depression in the United
States Commissioners Wright says:
From the observations of the agents of the
bureau, and from other sources from which it
has been possible to form conclusions, it is uns
doubtedly true that, out Of the total number OF
establishments, such as factories, mines etc,
existing in the country, about per cent were
absolutely idle during 1885, and that perhaps 5
per cent. more We're idle part of the time, or,
for just estimate, "a per cent. of the whole num-
Der of such establishments were idle, or equiva-
lent to idle, during the past year Applying
the percentage arrived at tn we obtain q
total of 998, ,839 as constituting the best state
ment of the unemployed in the United States
during 1S85-meaning by the unemployed those
who, under prosperous times, would be en-
ployed, and who, in 1885, were seeking employ
ment-that it has been possible for the bureau
to make. 1t is probably true that this total, as
representing the unemployed at any one time in
the United States, is fairly representative, even
if the laborers thrown out of work through the
cessation of railroad building be included. A
million OF men out Of employment means loss
to the consumptive power of the country of at
least 81 600, 600 per day, or crpplng of the
trade of the country Of over $500, 600, 600 per
the classes named above would not be far from
5000 each per annum, representing total earn
ings of 81, 800, 7l6, 900. The wage earnings
of the million that should be
employed are crippled to the extent of
over $500, 900, 600 per annum-a sum sufficient to
cause reaction in business and general cur
tailment of expenses, from which result appre-
hension and timidity among all classes. It's
curious TO observe, however, that while the se-
verify of the depression causes a crippling to
the extent of several hundred millions of dollars
per year of the consuming power of the people,
the volume of business transacted is not Grip
pied, comparatively, to any such extent"
1t is shown that just previous to the financial
panics of 1867. 1873 and 1892 there was an i'm
mense increase in the mileage of railroads con-
structed in the United States The results Of
this in throwing men out Of employment have
great bearing in producing depressions through
the Gripping of consumptive powers. The Com
s1sissioner concludes as follows:
tables are given indicative of two things,
viz: That while, as shown, the extent of the
existing industrial depression involves a Grip
ping of the wage receivers of the country and
consequent crippling of the consuming power Of
the people, the volume of business has been
fairly well preserved-at least not crippled to
any such extent as indicated By the crippling of
the consuming power-and that prices have
constantly fallen. Along with these features
there has been a constant diminishing of profits,
until many industries have been conducted with
little or no margin to those engaged and great
lowering of wages in general. The mechanical
industries Of the United States carried
in round numbers, $500, 900 horse power, each
horse power equaling the muscular
labor of six men: that is to say if men were en-
rloyed to furnish the power to carry on the in
dustries of this country it would require 21 .000,
600 men, and 21.000000 represent population,
according to the census of 1880, of los, 000, ,000
The industries are now carried on by 100000
persons, in round numbers, representing popu-
lation of 20, 000 900 only.
''The employment of contract labor of foreign
Importation, and rapid immigration, generally,
are features which have positive influence in
cri2plng consuming mower.
by the census of 1880 the whole number of
people engaged in agricultural pursuits in the
United States was 1870 493 Into this number
there had been absorbed 812, ,829 foreign born.
The total number employed in manufactures.
mechanical and mining industries was 3, 837, liz,
of whom ], ,225, 787 were of foreign BIRTH twill
be seen at once that the tendency of the immi-
grants is to assimilate with our mechanical in
dustries. This increases the supply of labor in
comparison to the demand. 1t lowers wages,
contributes to whatever overproducton exists,
and cripples the consuming power of the whole.
1t is undoubtedly true that during the past fifty
an element in American industrial progress
but it cannot be said now, and probably not to
any great extent IN the future, that America is
the home of the oppressed OF all nations, This
advertisement will undoubtedly be withdrawn,
as we'll AS the other, that there is room enough
in the United States far ALL
"Many instances might be given TO illustrate
the i'll effects of the inopportune Importation OF
foreign labor-the employment of Hungarians
in mining districts. the padrone System in some
localities and other features, not only of foreign
contract labor, but Of the employment OF for
eign labor which comes freely or on certaiR
kinds of solicitation. So far as the investigation
in hand indicates. the employment Of
foreign labor under contract, to take
the places of dissatisfied home laborers,
aas been miserable failure for all parties con-
cerned, except. perhaps, the parties imported.
1t has been clearly shown that the depressiona
of the past in the manufacturing nations of the
world have been nearly or quite, contemporaries
Gus in heir occurrence. AS to the severity Of
the present industrial depression and its dura-
tion, it can safely be asserted that the depres-
sion commenced early in 1882 and has continued
until the present time. From the time the
agents of the bureau entered the field in prose-
cutting their investigation to the time they
left it, period of FIVE or six months, there had
been a marked change in the condition of busi-
ness. At the present time March, 1866, the
effects of the depression are wearing away, and
all the indications are that prosperity is slowly
and gradually, but safely returning