Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-03-25
Wilmington. Thursdag, Mar q. 1885.



0enssairsiener yvfighs's Report.
Hon. Carroll b. Wright, comfniasioner
Of the bureau of labor, has submitted to
lie Secretary of the Interior, in his first
annual report, a document of much in.
tereat at this time, The report is a vol
luminous ono, and will make about 500
pages when printed. The commissioner
says that about five per cent Of the in
dietri,d establishments of the country,
Including mines, were absolutely idle
during tho whole Of 1885, and five per
cent more during portion of the year
an average Of a per cent for the year
representing the Unemployment of
1000, 600 persons, whose wages would
have amounted to $500, 100000. He
deduces from statistics, however, the
statement that "while, rs shown, the
extent Of the existing industrial depres-
sion involves crippling of the wage-re-
ceivers Of the country, and consequent
erippling Of the consuming power of the
people, the volume Of business has been
fairly well preseryed-at least, not Grip
pied TO any such extent as indicated by
the crippling of the consuming power
and that prices have constantly fallen"
The steam and water power by which
the mechanical industries of the United
States are carried ON is estimated by the
commissioner as representing, in round
numbers, $500, 900 horse power equiya-
lent 70 the labor of 81 200, 900 men, count
ing six men to each horsepower. The
number Of men employed in these indus
tries is placed at 100000. Upon this
point the report says;
1t Is true that In those countries where
machinery has been developed to the
highest the greatest number OF work people
are engaged, and that in those countries
where machinery has been developed to
little or no purpose poverty reigns, ignor-
ance Is the prevailing condition, and ciyili-
zation consequently far in the renr. Yet, ii
the question should be asked, has the wage
worker received his equitable share of the
benefits to be derived from the introduction
of machinery. the answer must be no. In
the struggle for industrial supremacy In the
great countries devoted to mechanical pro-
auctions, 1t probably has been impossible
for him to share equitably in such benefits,
Upon immigration and the importation
Of foreign labor, after stating that the
census statistics show that 1916 per cent
of those engaged in agricultural pursuits
and s1.9 per cent of those engaged in
mechanical and mining industries are Of
foreign birth, the commissioner says;
It Is undoubtedly true that during the
past so years immigration has been of ines
unable value as an element in American
Industrial progress, but 1t cannot be sale
now, and probably not to any great extent ii
the future, that America is the home OF th'
oppressed of all nations. This advertise
ment will undoubtedly be withdrawn, Jas vel
as that other, that there is room enough il
the United States for all.
Legitimate voluntary immigration may b.
too rapid to enable country developing
it's industries to assimilate labor from tn
outside, but when immigration becomes
subject of inducement of contract, for tn
purpose of displacing a higher grade Q
labor, the result is indeed pernioious, an
all the authority of law should be called /
to prevent the continuance OF the wrong.
The report says that at the present tim
the effects of the depression in industrii
circles are wearing away and all the ind
cations are that prosperity is slowly an
gradually, but safely returning, an
adds that the extent of the d
preston has not been so great as Il
popular mind has conceived it, and th
sit has been clearly shown that the d
pressions Of the past in the manufacture
nations of the world have been nearly
quite contemporaneous in their oecu
renee" In considering remedies f
labor troubles the report says:
What is known as industrial eopartnt
ship, involving profit sharing and embed
ing all the vitality there is in the princiI
OF cooperation, offers a practical way
producing goods on IA basis at once just
capital and to labor, and one which brin
out the best moral elements of the capital
and the workmen. This system has be
tried In many instances, and nearly alwa
with success. In the United States but lit
has been done in this direction, but whel
ever the principle has been tried there ha
been three grand results: Labor has
ceived q more liberal share for Its ski
capital has been better remunerated, a
involved raised. y One Of the fl
advantages to be gained would be redl
ton in the hours of labor, considered
many as the only solution for labor troub
and the great panacea for industrial
pressions.
1t Is certain that under the present con
lions of manufacturing through the aid
machinery, the hours of labor ought to
reduced, because the draft on the hum
system necessary to enable machinery to
well operated is so much greater than uni
hand processes. There is no q
test between labor and capital, nor betwt
the laborer and capitalist, as such, but tn,
Is contest between the latter as to
profits of capital and wages of labor,
In simple terms, as to the profits each sh
receive for his respective investment, a
this contest will continue so long as
purely wage system lasts. 1t is absurd
say that the interests of capital and la
are identical. They are no more identi
than the interests Of buyer and seller. III
are, however, reciprocal, and the intellig
comprehension of this reciprocal elem
can only be brought into the fullest play
the most complete organization.