Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-21

charge OF Hon. tArrOlI -. wright, from
HON he received much valuable informa
ton and advice for which he here expresses
his grateful acknow Judgments. The fifth
annual Convention Of the Chiefs ami Com
mssioners of the several Bureaus of Labor
Statistics in the United States, was held at
Madison, Wis, June sth. 9th and 10th This
convention which the Commissioner attended,
afforded him much important information a,
To the character and purposes of the work TO
which he had been assigned, as well as TO the
best methods Of accomplishing it. On his
return he Immediately entered upon the pre-
liminarv work necessary in the organization
of new epartment-the preparation of
blanks - correspondence with the several
State Commissioners by whom he was kind
ly furnished copies of their several reports
and, especially. efforts, by me- an. of cores
pondeuce and personal interviews with en-
ployers and employees, TO secure cooperation
and aid in the work of the Bureau. A glance
at the law creating this department will show
the magnitude of the work contemplated.
The actual time allotted the commissioner for
accomplishing it has been less than one-half
the year. The experience ofevery Bureau ha
been similar in this that year. or even a
longer time, is required in which the public
'lil can ne as 10 Tue
scope of Bureau of Industrial and Labor
Statistics. Referring to the obstacles to be
overcome. the Commissioner of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics for the State of Iowa. in
his first biennial report. saws AT first a
Misrepresentation existed in the minds of the
public, -espc cially among the labor organiza-
tuns-to the effect that this was Labor
Bureau. without reference to the very feature
8 81. II 81.
statistics relative to labor 1t was by very
many supposed. that upon all questions OF
strife between the employer and employed
of wages, etc. the Commissioner was to be
come, by this law, the arbitrator. and in him
was vested power to settle all disputes of this
character It has been only after a long time
most extensive correspondence, and the full
est explanation. that this obstacle to the work
has been largely overcome"
The fifth annual Convention of the Chiefs
and ssionersOf the several Bureaus OF
Labor Statistics in the United States which
met at Tonyawatha Spring Hotel, at two
o'clock. on thclfternoon of June s. 1887
furnished in the course of its proceedings a
general survey of the whole economic fell
and the methods of work employed by the
various bureaus. In the course Of his adj
dress the President Carroll d. Wright OF
Massachusetts said There are now twenty
State Bureaus of Labor Statistics in tins
country IA well as United States Bureau
Of Labor. 1t is eighteen years since the
first bureau was established Five bureaus
have been created during the present calendar
year Maine, Rhode island North Carolina
Minnesota and Colorado have seen fit to fol-
low the example of the fifteen States that
hnd created kindred offices. | know il is q
matter of some concern with men who have
the verv hest interest of these bureaus al
heart, who are a K Gus to do something 10
solve the great problems of labor and other
social and industrial problems that are press
ing upon the people, whether these bureaus car
furnish the necessary aid for such solutions
believe most emphatcally that the bureau.
Of statistics of labor can furnish the neces-
sary elements for the solution of some of the
great questions alluded to. do not believe
that the United States Bureau will absorb the
functions of the State offices The rapid ex-
tension of the Bureau of Labor idea should
cause neither alarm in one direction nor mis-
giving in the other, for this extension is the
lircct result of the popular demand for cor
rect data: and it is the duty of the bureaus to
answer the demand with the proper supply.
The most important problem TO be con
sdered hv the bureaus, is the "dstribu'ior
Of wealth" Under this head come the great
practical problems involved in the consdera-
tion of the relations between labor and capital
WAGES. LIVING. Ere. OF WAGE-WoRKuRs
The following tables have been compiled
from returns made by wagcworkers. A large
number of 'workingmcn's blanks" were dis
tributed through the mails, by personal in
tcrvicws and through members of labor or
ganizatiOns several of whom have NANTES
ted an interest in this branch of the work of
the bureau. While only about one-tenth of
the blanks distributed have been returned.
those received and tabulated furnish valuable
lsta on the wage question. As ha. been the
case with other bureaus the deductions from
our tables may be subjected to criticism a.
reporting wages too high. Those who make
returns TO bureaus of statistics are generally
the best wurkmen. The averages are mad
from the returns as furnished to us. Inqui-
ries of general character corrohorate the
statements made in the returns received and
show that the average of wages derived from
our tables is not largely in excess of the gen
rral average. The wage question is one OF
he most difficult of social problems. The
line along which capital and labor touch l.
the wages system" This touch" may be a
source of irritation or mutual advantage and
satisfaction. according as wages represent =
tair share of the joint product of work and
capital. or are arbitrarily fixed at the dlctatiou
of scltshness aud greed.
Undoubtedly, the true theory of wages i
formulated in what is known as the system OF
profit sharing. This system recognizes the
value of labor As one of the factors in tn,
work of production. Under the crude wsg'
,vstem--if system it can be called.-''we ig
iore the plcxus of reasons by which wage
ugh, TO he computed, and come to = rough
working result by paying the lsborer a dollar
md dollar and a half day" That Their,
are practical difficulties in the way of chang,
n the wage sy stem no candid person will de
". That change in certain lines of bust
ess is possible seems to have been demon
tratcd bv experiments made in Europe am
in ths country The necessary conditions ar,
intelligence and organization. There is No
aatural antagonism between capital and labor
Fhcv are partners IN common enterprise.
and as such. are mutually benefited or in
jurcd according as the conduct of each to-
wards the other is based on principles of right
and Justice. or the contrary. Evolution.
though slow in its process, is the only means
adapted TO American institutions by which
TABOR can be Htttu up 10 IT'S TlkH'iui plane
The ballot and not the bomb is the isstru-
ment upon which it must rely for protection
and correction of abuses.
The invention and multiplication of ma
chinery have introduced many perplexine
questions 10 the attention of modern political
economy. The displacement of labor. es-
pe cially of unskilled labor, over-productil N,
etc. are some of the new and difficult ques-
tons demanding consideration.
Observation and reflection prove the truth
of tile doctrine of low prices, high wages
and small profits" The purchasing power of
a dollar has been increased. If this double
increase of wages is not manifested in in
creased savings of workingmen, it is not that
our working people are extravagant but that
they live better than formerly. ''As the coun-
Try advances in power of production. men
ought and do grow in tastes, desires and
needs" Whether we visit the home of the
farmer and .well-to-do" mechanic, the camp
IF the lumherman, or the cottage of the COM
mon laborer. we will find the Maine workers
bill of fare" much better and more varied
than formerly. In many respects We find
improvement in the living Of most classes 81