Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-01-07
LABOR MATTERS.


Az discussed In shs Third Annual re-
Pore of Commissioner white.
WASHINGTON, Dec 29.-Commissioner
Wright has submitted to the secretary of
the interior this third annual report of the
bureau of labor, which relates entirely to
strikes and loek-outs for the period of six
years ended Dec. 81. 1856. This report is
regarded as of special importance, rs il is
the result of the first general investigation
ever made by any nation of the facts con-
corning strikes and lock-outs for any ex-
tended period of time, or for any wide eS-
tent OF territory. The report covers about
700 printed pages, and gives the details of
each strike and lockout occurring in the
United States during the period named.
II exhibits the facts belonging to each in
dustrial trouble for each locality where the
trouble was found, without attempting to
establish or decide upon the connection be-
tween them. A tibulated statement shows
the number of strikes occurring dur
ing the last six years TO have
been 3,9Oa; number of establishments
involved, y, 336, and general average num-
Der of establishments involved in each
strike, 81. In 1887. the report says, there
were, according TO the best information OBJ
tainable, So strikes, the details of which
are not available. The building trades fur
nished 5000 of the total number OF estab-
lishments engaged in strikes. The tokal
number Of employees involved in the whole
number of strikes for the entire period is
shown to nave heen |, 31s,62i. The num-
Der Of employees in the establishments be-
fore the strikes occurred was ,662, 0t5,
while the whole number employed in the
establishments involved after the strikes
occuIre, was 1876, 247, loss Of %, 79s.
There were 1O3, 03S new employees engaged
after the strikes, and 81, 4s3 we're brought
from othe. places than those in which the
strikes occurred. In ., 1872 establishments
lock-outs were ordered during the period
named. In these there were l73, 995 en-
ployeS before the lock-outs occurred, and
169, 436 after the lock.outs, while the mum
Der actually locked out was 159. 54S. There
were 1876 new employees secured at the
close of the lock-outs, and 5,6S2 were
brought from other places than those in
which the loek-outs occurred.
An examination of the tables appended
to the report shows that New York, Penn
svlvania, Massachusetts, Ohio and Illinois
represent "A. "A per cent of the whole num-
- affsaetaH hEy 81 EaS
throughout the country, and so. so per cent
of the lock-outs, These i've states, it is
stated, contain 80 per cent OF all the manu-
featuring establishments. and employ SO
per cent of the capital involved in the mer-
cantiie industries OF the United States.
The results of the strikes, so far as gaining
the objects sought are concerned, are shown
to be as follows: Success followed in 10, DAT
cases, or 46. 50 per cent of the whole; par
tial success in J, 1904, or 13.45 per cent of
the whole, and failure followed in 500
cases, or 1899 per cent of the whole. By
lock-Outs, 564 establishments, or 1855 per
cent of the whole, succeeded in gaining
their points; 100 or 9.71 per cent partly
succeeded, and 1905, or $3.50 per cent
failed. As to the causes orobjects of strikes,
it is shown that increase OF wages was the
principal one, AZ. Al per cent. The other
leading causes are given as follows: For
reduction of hours; against reduction of
wages; for increase of wages, and reduction
of hours; against increase of hours. Total
for five leading causes, 1888 per cent All
other causes, p. II per cent.
Disclaiming absolute accuracy, the report
gives the losses Of employees and employers
resulting fIom strikes and lockOuts as fol-
lows: Losses to strikers during the six
years covered by the investigations, $751;
SIG, 165; loss to employers through lock-
outs for the same period, S., 1872, tit, or
total wage loss to employees of $50, 949. $50.
This loss occurred for both strikes and lock-
outs in 24,51S establishments, or an average
loss of S2,445 to each establishment, or of
nearly SAD to each striker involed.
The assistance given the strikers
during the same period, so ias as
ascertainable, amounts to 1895, G57; to
those suffering from lock-outs, 81, 1O5, 53s,
or ts.al of S4 ,430, 595. These amounts,
however, the commissioner says, is I'M
doubtedly too low. The employers losses
through strikes of the six years amounted
to $50. 1872, 653. Through lOck-outs, 3d.
342, 26i, or total loss at the establishments
involved of S34, 164, 914.
Besides completing the filed work for
this report, and the compilation OF informa-
ton, the burrau has carried almost to
completion the investigation begun last
year, concerning the moral, physical and
economical conditions of the working
women of great cities, and has continued
it, investigation into the cost of the dis
tribution of the great staple products. 1t
has also undertaken, according to congress-
ional instruction, the collection OF statistics
of marriage and divorce in the United
States, the report of which may be sub
mitted before the close OF the present session
Of congress.