Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-24

! In september or October. Officers and soldiers
OF the active militia shall receive no pay except
| when ordered and mustered in the service of
| the United States and paid by the government.
| Each company may enroll not exceeding
! twenty-five honorary members, who shall pay
| $50 annually. and be exempt from jury duty
for one year from such payment
THE INDUSTRIAL SITUATION.
The Causes Of Depression Discussed by
the Commissioner of Labor.
THE EFFECT OF HAVING A MILLION IDLE MEN
IN THE COUNTRY-1M MIGRATION AND LABOR
SAVING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SUGGESTED
TO AVOID DEPRESSION IN THE FUTURE.
Over forty industries, nearly seven hundred
establishments, and over 15O, 900 employees are
comprehended in the tables which accompany
the first report of the commissioner of labor
recently sent to the Secretary of the Interior
Under the head, THE Industrial Depression
In the United States,'' he says: at is easy from
observation, 10 understand that an industrial
depression exists, but difficult to determine to
what extent 1t prevails When the agents of
the bureau lett their field work last fall far
different feeling was noticeable from that exist
Ing in the summer when they entered upon the
collection OF information. From their observa-
tons, and from other sources from which il has
been possible to form conclusions it is un-
doubtedly true that out of the total number of
establishments, such as factories, mines, ETC..
existing IN the country, about 5 per cent
were absolutely idle during 1885, and that per-
haps per cent more were idle a part of the
whole number OF such establishments ., were ere
idle or equivalent to idle during the past
year. : $ II the percentage stated above is
So then there We're 1915 :. idIs
or equivalent to idle, and 16s,75O hands out of
concerned, during 1885. Applying this
percentage, however, to the whole number of
people employed in all occupations i'm the
n al vrhi oh in, ono
there would have been 1,304 ,4O7 out OF en-
ployment; but this is number evidently too
large, because II applies to all occupations
those engaged in agriculture, professional and
personal service, trade ard Transportation me-
chanical and mining industries, and manufac-
lures. The percentage should be applied only
to those engaged in agriculture, trade and
transportation, mining industries, and manu-
features. There were engaged i'm these four
great branches. as shown by the census of 1880,
1897 ,S6l persons. Applying the percentage
arrived at t71a per cent? we obtain total of
the unemployed in the United States during
1SS5-meaning by the unemployed those who
under prosperous times. would be employed,
ana who In 1880 were seeking employment
that it has been possible for the bureau to make
1t is probably true that this total I'm round
numbers 1,OOO,OOOl, as representing the unem-
ployed at any one time in the United States is
iairiy representative even if the laborers thrown
railroad building be included"
MILLION OF MEN
out of employment means a loss to the con-
sumptive power of the country of at least
S1,OOO,OOO per day, or crppling OF the trade
of the country Of over $500, O0O, 600 per wear
Inc earnings OF the people involved in the
5000 each per aDnum. representing total earn
ings of $780, 5000. Six hundred dollars
has been taken as an average income for the
number used, because, according to the best es-
Inmates, this constitutes fair average-S4OO
as an average for those working for wages. and
~ 200 tor those who were working on salary
The constituent parts of the total number lead
to the conclusion that 5000, taking all into
consideration, is a fair average. 1t is also prob
ably nearly true that the 100000 out OF en-
ployment cannot eXpen0 more than 81 each
per day for subsistence on themselves and
Iamllles The wage-earnings, then, of the mill
lion that should be employed are crippled to
the extent OF over $500, 100000 per annum-a
and general curtailment of expenses from
which result apprehension and timidity among
an classes. 1t is curious to observe, however
that while the severity of the depression causes
q GRIPPING to the extent of several hundred
millions OF dollars per year of the consuming
transacted is not crippled commandments to
any such extent.
wORKINGMEN AND MACHINERY
In those countries, the commissioner says
where machinery has been developed the great
est number of work people are engaged, and in
those countries where machinery has been de-
veloped to little or no purpose poverty reigns
Ignorance is the prevailing condition and civil
should be asked, HAS the wage worker received
his equitable share of the benefits derived from
the introduction Of machinery, the answer
sumner is true. The modern system OF carrying
on great works by stock companies has done
much toward producing in all countries the
bad industrial conditions under which the
present generation is labOring. The result has
been an abnormal organization of capital, and
Industries of the country. Material labor cap
ltal have been OvercOnsumed to such an extent
that oyerproduction stands for overconsump-
M Vfroo 1al,f tn
e1gn Importation, and rapid immigration gen.
orally are features which have a positive infiu-
ence In Gripping consuming power.
THROWN OUT OF WORK.
Ithas been estimated by an eminent authority
and the estimate has not been doubted that
assuming the railway mileage built in 1882 to
have cost, with the equipment, an average of
$4,000 per mile, more than 766. 900 workmen
OF all classes must have been employed In con-
nection with railroad building in that year.
while in the building OF the greatly reduced
say / per cent and of 162, per cent in the cost
per mile, only 25O, 600 persons were employed;a
great army Of $4,000 men thus being dis
charged from railroad work in all its ramifica-
tons in one year. Two railroad projects alone
resulted in the discharge OF nearly 10000.
southern Europe for the very purpose Of build
ing the roads, SO when discharged they must to
large degree have served to increase the idle
class.
BY the census Of 1880 the whole number of
people engaged In agriculture in the United
states was 7,6IO,493. into the total number
then engaged in agriculture there had been alb
sorbed 81, 1923 t0reignborn; that is the foreign.
born constituted 1O.5 per cent of the whole
number employed in agriculture. The total
number employed in the country in manufac-
lures, mechanical and mining industries was
$685., liz. Into this number had been alb
sorbed 1926, 1877 OF the foreign-born, or 31.9
per cent Of the whole number. It will be seen
| at once that the tendency Of immigrants Is to
assimilate with our mechanical Industries.
This increases the supply OF labor In COMPARE
| son TO the demand, lowers wages, contributes
to whatever Over-producttOn exists and Grip
Piles most decidedly the consuming power Of
i tho whole.
THE ErTECr or EMIGRATION.
In examining the facts one sees that prior
to each period Of depression since 1887 there
has been . large increase In immigration, and
following the inception Of the depression sharp
falling on As times became prosperous after
each period, immigration hes set In and been