The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-23
PLACING FAITH IN FIGURES
Statisticians Who Search for Facts Re-
garding Labor and Its Conditions.
Papers Submitted at Their National Conven-
tion-Suggestions from Mr.. Atkinson Caus-
! ing Lively Comment Are Referred.

The sixth annual convention of State Statisti-
clans began yesterday in the room occupied by
the Bureau Of Statistics at the Capitol There
were representatives present from twelve
States-Prof. Albert S. Bodies. of Pennsylvania;
Oscar Kochetzky. of Missouri; james Bishop,
Trenton. New Jersey; IA Flower. Wisconsin;
~ Il. Betten, Kansas; S. M. Hotchkiss, Con-
n~ecticut; S. w. Mathews, Maine; John Lamb,
Minnesota; E r. Hutchens. Iowa; c. J. Dris-
coll, Colorado; j. B. Bowditch, Rhode Island;
Prof. E w. Bsvis, Of Vanderbilt University.
Tennessee; Charles E.. Barnes, Michigan; q. G.
Moore and Henry Claymeir. factory inspectors,
Of Wisconsin; A. D. Fassett and George Gas
sett, of Ohio. and William A. Peells, jr, of In
diana 1t was expected that Hon. Carroll D..
Wright. chief of the National Bureau of Stats
tics would be present, but q telegram was re-
ceived during the day announcing
that it would be impossible for
him to be present. T. V. Powierly, master
workman of the Knights OF Labor, had also
promised to be in attendance, but he is not here
and nothing has been heard from him up to this
time.
In Colonel Wright's absence the convention
was presided over by Mr.. Frank A. Flower. the
vice-president. He said in calling the delegates
present to order that all regretted the absence
of the president, Mr.. Wright. as be was . man
so well informed on the subjects which would
come before the meeting, as we'll as so gen.
tlemanly and courteous in his intercourse with
all. that it was q great loss to be without him.
He spoke of the great pleasure he had had in at
tending previous meetings, as we'll as the profit it
had been to him. He thought that the Importance
of the work in which they were engaged was
growing, and that the public was becoming
aware Of its usefulness. He congratulated the
members on the honesty and impartiality with
which statistical work had been done. aud
spoke at some length on the purposes and uses
to which it had been put Students OF
statistics wanted to be able to show
why wages were lower in one State
than in another, and be able to give facts and
figures relative to production. 80 that economists
and thoughtful men could form correct judg-
ments in all matters whore the interests of labor
and capital were at stake.
After Mr.. Flowers speech was concluded the
convention adjourned until 2 o'clock in the aft
ernoon. On reassembling the following officers
were elected:
President, Carroll D. Wright; vice-presidens.
Frank A. Flower; secretary and treasurer, T..
r. Hutchins. 1t was also decided to mold the
next meeting in Denver, Col
The Secretary then read q letter from Presl-
dent Wright, calling attention to the following
points: !, the importance of collecting informa-
ton about mortgages and other records of in
debtedness; 2, to certain suggestions OF Hon.
Edward Atkinson which were of interest to the
bureaus, viz: IL cost of production; III efficiency
of labor; (13l distribution of the products OF labor.
President Wriehts letter provoked consid-
cradle discussion, especially on the points
suggested by Mr.. Atkinson. After this discus
sion an interesting paper by Mr.. Atkinson.
which had been sent to the secretary, was
read. 1t was a somewhat lengthy, but very in
teresting. document. The suggestive points in
it were, first. that IL the right measures are
taken by an agreement of the bureaus of labor
statistics TO work on q given line under uni
form conditions in almost every State in which
a bureau of labor statistics has been established,
typical establishments may be found which,
after being in operation for a long term of
years, have become bankrupt MIR. Atkinson
suggested that q common form should be
adopted by which the chief of each State bureau
might compile q set of tables in q given way,
might be fairly deduced. He suggested
q number OF questions. Among them were
the following: May not the occupations of
wage earpers be classified under a very few
heads in which the rates ct a given period will
be substantially the same in each classl May
not a sufficient number Of classes be investi-
gated in the manner heretofore proposed to the
end that the result or conclusion OF the investi-
kntluu VI buo epcCiuC 1dctOEioo muy SoTfo - . .
guide or check upon the miscellaneous statistics
covering large numbers os personsl May it not
be possible for the chiefs Of bureaus assembled
in convention to agree o. perhaps to appoint
. committee to lay out the share of the work
which each one shall undertake, and to make
arrangements for the general com parison Of the
results or conclusions Of each separate STATED
May not the purchasing power of each dollar
of wages be substantially established by a com
parison of the prices of certain necessities OF
lifa Whieh foPYo tha Ho0mon eo0gumnti00 0f the
working class of people in given occupations2
This paper created q great deal of comment
and discussion among the members of the con-
vention. Ii was referred to a COMMITTEES. con-
sisting Of Messrs. Bolles, Fassett and Bishop,
who will report during the session on the sug.
gestions.
Following Mr.. Atkinson's paper the secretary
read a brief one by Professor Folwell upon the
needs of a national Office and officer to combine
the various national statistical bureaus in one.
This applies only to national work. The author
paid a tribute of praise to the various State bu-
reaus and credited them with great value.
A paper on the practical ASPECTS OF the Labor
Question" followed this one. 1t was written by
Mr.. Lamb, the chief of the statistical bureau Of
Minnesota, and was followed by one on "The
Bread Line" by Mr.. Simpelaar, of Wis
consin. 1t was a setting forth Of the
effects Of labor-saving machinery on wages.
He illustrated the benefit of such machinery by
the social and financial condition Of Milwaukee,
a. shown In the homes of w~age-working people
of that city. The paper provoked a long and
widespread discussion, principally on the reia-
ton of wages to the cost of living. and the eff
feet of factories upon communities. Mr.. Lamb
gave q description of fhe strike among the sew
ing girls at Minneapolis.
The paper of Bert Stewart. of Illinois, was
read by the secretary. The writer of it took
strong ground against personal interviews and
against publishing the views Of workinemen,
which he regarded as comparatively worthless.
The commissioners discussed the paper very
freely, cutting into it without exception. The
views of workingmen were thought by these
to be the best features of all their reports and
the one m ost sought after. Mr.. Stewart said
that record evidence was the only reliable source
from which to obtain statistics.
The vote by which Denver was named as the
place of next Meeting was reconsidered and
Hartford, Conn, was selected. A roll call Of
States was made and responses were given as to
the lines of work that are being prosecuted by
the different bureaus.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That in the opinion of the members Of
State Commissioners of Statistics, assembled in In
dianapolis May %. 1888. the net mortgage indebt
edness of the country should be included in the scope
of the next national census investigation, including
also judgments to secure which real estate has been
attached.
The session will continue to-day and to.mor-
morrow. The convention has accepted an invi-
tatiou from Mr.. Pesile to visit the various indus