The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-03-26
THE AGE OF DEPRESSION.

Labor Commissioner Wright Gives His
Views as to the Causes of Business Stag
nation, and His Ideas of a Remedy
Prosperity Slowly but Surely Returning.
WASHINGTON, March 23-The first annual
report of Carroll d. Wright, Commissioner of
the Bureau of Labor, has been submitted to
the Secretary of the Interior. 1t viii make
a volume of 500 pages and comprehends more
thai 40 industries nearly 100 establishments
and over $4,000 employees. In the chapter
devoted to the industrial depression
Wright estimates that there were in 1885
100000 men unemployed in the United States,
who, according to the census OF 1880, were
engaged in agriculture, trade and transporta-
ton, mining Industries and manufactures
meaning by the unemployed, those who, un-
der prosperous times, would be employed.
and who in 1885 were seeking elnployme MT.
The report says:
million men out of employment means a
loss to the consuinptive power of the country
of at least 81, CO., QUO per day. or Gripping OF
the trade of the country of over $50. 000 600
per year. The earnings of the people in-
VOWED in the classes named above would not
be far from $500 each per annum. rep
resenting total earnings of $3.50, 716, 900.
The wage earnings of the million
that should he employed are crippled to the
extent of over 500, 900 900 Der annum.
1t is cur Gus to observe, however, that while
the sever ty of the depression causes Grip
ping to the extent of several hundred m H.
ions of dollars per year of the consuming
power of the people the volume of business
transacted is not crippled comparatively to
any such extent
The popular idea of the severity of the
present depression, Mr.. Wright says, would
lead one to suppose that all branches
severely 4Se eTdsp cd
the day, but an examination of some
| of the principal commercial and in.
dustrial facts available teaches the error OF
popular OPP n on in this respect While the
number of ia lures for 1884, was but little more
| than the number for 1885, the total amount OF
| iabil ties was very nearly double, and the to-
tai amount of liabilities for 1855 was less than
the amount of liabilities for either of the
years 1851. 81, '73 IA, 70, re- ~ rs 's3 or 81
Discussing the causes of industrial depres-
sion Mr. Wrghtsat one of the chief positive
| causes which produce depressed per DDS is a
| fall IN prices. 1t matters not what causes the
fall The first influence of n fall in prices is
an apprehension of loss, while low
prices NAV be regarded as one of the chief
causes, il not the leading cause, of indus
| trial depressions Machinery has been
most potent in bringing the mechanically pro
| ducing nations Of the world to Their present
| industrial position. The rapid development
and adoption of machinery in all the activities
! belonging TO production and transportation
have brought on over-production, so that ma
chinery and overproduction are two causes
so closely allied that it is quite difficult to dis
cuss the one without taking the other into
consideration. In those countries where ma
| chinery has been developed to the highest
| the greatest number of work people are en-
gagged, and in those countries where ma
chinery has been developed to little or no pur-
pose poverty reigns ignorance is the prevail
| ing condition, and civilization consequently
far in the rear. And yet he says, if the ques-
| ton should be asked: Has the wage-worker
received his equitable share of the benefits
derived from the Introduction of machinery
| the answer must be no. That he has shared
| greatly as consumer is true, and his great
| est benefit has come through his being u con-
sumner
The employment of contract labor of for :
eign Importation, and rapid immigration gen.
orally ARE features which have positive infiu-
| ence in Gripping consuming power. The in
| tluence of foreign immigration Is illustrated
| by appropriate tables. The facts noted that
| prior to each period of industrial depression
| III the United states since 1887, there has been
| a large increase in immigration and following
| the inception of the depression sharp fall
| ing Off. This constant augmentation OF the
| number of laborerS during the prosperous
| years has had its full share in bringing about
| the following period of depression.
| In his summary the Commissioner says that
| the effects of the present industrial depres-
/ sion are wearing away, and all the indica'
| tons are that prosperity is SLOWLY, gradually,
but safely returning, and that the extent OF
| tho depression has not been so great as the
! popular mind has conceived it.
| There is, the Commissioner says, no contest
| between labor and capital, nor between the
| labOrer and capitalist as such, but there is q
| contest between the latter as to the profits of
| capital and wages of labor, or, in simple
| terms, as to the profits each shall receive for
| his respective investment, and this contest
| will continue so long as the wage system
| lasts.
! In conclusion the Commissioner suggests,
| in the way of remedial legislation, that with
healthy public opinion behind it, the law
| making power can prey ent to great degree
| the unholy speculation in food products. 1t
| can indulge in a conservative care in eX-
| tending railroad building and in facili-
| tating the organization of manufacturing
| CORPORATIONS. 1t can restrict the grants
| of the public domain. 1t can enact
uniform bankrupt laws, extending the pro-
| visions of such laws so that the poor man in-
| debted bnt few hundred dollars shall be
able to readjust his financial affairs as readily
as the larger debtor. 1t can abridge the pro-
| visions of laws relating to the collection of
| debts to the end that the credit system shall
| not be abused. 1t can sec to it thar the tariff
shall be regulated on the basis of justice and
| science; that stable currency be guaran-
| teed reasonable and humane regulations
| relative to immigration provided, and see to
| it that labor is not lowered either in standard
or through earnings by the pernlciOuS method
| OF importations by contract; that every law
/ full endeavor be made TO stimulate industrial
| education in all parts of the country; that the
| necessity shall be recognized of the industrial
development OF all parts of the land, that there
| may result q legitimate increase in the conSum-
| ing power of the people. 1t cali stimulate the
| growth of the principl of industrial CO.
| partnerships through methods of proft-shar-
| ing and adoption of shorter hours of labor. IL
| can ask that the contracts of labor be as free
| as the contracts of the commodities under
| fair agreements for services rendered, to the
| end that the workman shall not be obliged to
| him, and it can hold the party which
| declines to resort to the conciIiatory
methods of arbitration morally re.
| sponsibe for all the i'll effects growing out
| of contest These remedial agencies, or RENE
| dial methods, alleviatory in their design, are
| all boss bic, the Comm SsiOner thinks OY the