The Republican journal., 1888-02-02
Labor in Maine.

THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMISSION
ER MATTHEW'S. INTERESTING FIGURES CIV
EN BY WAGE FARMERS.
The Maine bureau of labor statistics was in
situted by the last Legislature of that State.
and began its work when Hon. Samuel W.
Matthews was appointed commissioner on the
18th of last May. He has put in eight months
of solid work, and his first report appears to-
day. He has found a general spirit of frendi-
ness to the new bureau, and thanks the news
paper press. the Governor and others for
hearty cooperation, and thanks the Governor
for his efforts to secure the repeal of the trus-
tee process SO far as applies to wages, and for
his influence to secure the prohibition Of child
labor. A large number of "workingmen's
blanks Were distributed through the mails,
by personal interviews and through members
of labor organizations, several of whom have
manifested an interest in this branch of the
work of the bureau. The commissioner says
that. while only about One-tenth of the blanks
distributed have been returned, those received
and tabulated furnish valuable data on the
wage question. As has been the case with
other bureaus. the deductions from the tables
may be subjected TO criticism as reporting
wages too high. Those who make returns to
bureaus of statistics are generally the best
workmen. The averages are made from the
returns as furnished. Inquiries of a general
character corrohorate the statements made i'll
the returns received, and show that the aver
age of wages derived from the tables is not
largely in excess of the general average. The
wage question is one of the most difficult of
social problems. 1.-The line aioTg ~hch capi-
tai and labor touch is the wages SYSTEM" This
touch may be a source of irritation or mu-
tual ad .antage and satisfaction, according
wages represent a fair share of the joint prod
uct of work and capital. or are arbitrarily fix
cd at the dictation Of selti>hnc>S and greed.
THE REPORTS OF WAGE FARMERS.
The commissioner has reports from los wage
earners which disclose the following Interest,"
inc facts:
Number assisted by their famies..... ....26
Number owning houses. .......... .............4o
Number of homes inortSascd. d................... &
Number paid eekly................... ;. ....47
Number paid tortnightly Observation-Disclosures. ..39
Number paid monthly. iy............. ............. :
Number paid irregularlN .......... ......... II
Number belonging to labor organizations. .... 60
Number belonging to beneficiary organizations .32
Number having savings bank accounts. 26
Number accumuatng savings in former years. 81
Number accommodating savings during past year. 80
Number running in debt during past year..... .I9
Average age of persons reporting..... :h
Average hours employed daily. lei:
Average daily waSeS....-. Sl.!3
Average annual earnings. gs............... Sil1.6l
Average of days lost........... "A
Average earnings by other members of
family. ................ ........ Slll.35
Average cost of living ............. S3Jl l3
Average rental per month. .............. S6..5
Average number of persons in family. a.
Average earnings over eNpenSts...... Sl6 Is
Value of homes owned ....... ....... S41 ,20o.G0
Amount of mortgages. ........... S3.loJ.oO
The tables giving the average rate of wages