The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-24
WEDNESDAY, JULY "a.
Bureaus of Labor statistics.

Bureaus of labor statistics are created
by law. The fact that legislatures create
them and assign them certain duties is
sufficient proof of their importance with
out seeking to adduce other testimony.
Statistics is not sentiment, nor opinions,
but "a collection of facts, arranged and
classified, respecting the condition OF the
people in a state, or respecting
any particular class or interest, especially
those subjects which can be stated innum-
bers, or in tables of numbers, or in any
tabular and classified arrangement" So
saws Mr.. WEBsTER-and better definition
cannot be found.
Labor statistics deal exclusively with
labor, laboring people, their work, their
wages, cost OF living, their surplus earn
ings and hours Of labor, including women
and children.
Hitherto it has been difficult, indeed
almost impossible, to obtain facts relating
10 such matters as have been suggested.
Men refused 10 answer questions, or they
answered some and declined TO answer
Others. As a result, much time and money
has been practically thrown away. Upon
9 limited number Of facts superstructures
Of conjectures have been reared-the best
that could be done, and yet unsatisfactory
b. the statistician and TO the public.
The subject Of labor within few years
has grown immensely in Importance. IL
has come TO the front and has demanded
audience. II has asked 10 be heard, and
legislatures have exhibited greater willing
ness to listen and to learn. Especially is
this true OF the legislature of Indiana.
The declaration may be trite, but il is
not the less true, that all wealth is born
OF labor. that ultimately all revenues are
derived from labor. and all taxes are paid
from its surplus earnings. II this is true,
and il is no. likely TO be controverted, it
affords an explanation OF the interest now
taken in the subject of labor in all of its
bearings upon the welfare of the state,
and explains also why the recent legisla-
ture of Indiana increased the appropria-
ton to aid the chief OF the bureau of sta
tistics in supplying the people with facts,
and furnishes the reason for clothing him
with all necessary power TO obtain the
facts.
When the chief of the bureau of labor
statistics concludes 10 investigate any
branch Of the industries OF the state, such
questions as he may deem wise 10 ask
must be answered, as appears by the fol-
lowing sections OF the statute now in
force:
Sec. 5. The chief or duly authorized deputy
shall have power TO examine witnesses under
oath, 10 compel the attendance Of witnesses
and the production of papers while acting in
any part Of this state, and witnesses may be
summoned by said chief or authorized deputy
thereof by its process in the same manner, adj
minister Oaths and take testimony in all matters
relating to the duties herein required of said
bureau.
Sec. 4. Any county, municipal or township
officer, corporation, firm. individual or asso-
citation doing business within this state who
shall neglect or refuse, for thirty days, TO an
swer questions by circular or upon personal
application, or who shall refuse to obey the
summons and give testimony according 70 the
provisions of this act, shall be liable 10 a pen
atty Of S1OO 70 be collected by the order Of the
chief of said bureau Of statistics in an action
wherein the state Of Indiana shall be plaintiff.
There need be no misunderstanding Of
the law. II is explicit and 10 the point
II evinces, on the part of the legislature,
Z IN intelligent appreciation OF reliable sta
tistics, Of facts, as the basis Of argument
pro Il con on labor questions, and places
Indiana in the front rank of states in all
matters pertaining to labor statistics. II
is the purpose Of the chief OF the Indiana
bureau to carry out to the letter the spirit
OF the law enacted by the legislature. The
investigation OF such subjects as he selects
for his next biennial report, will be thor
ough and exhaustive Mr.. PEELLE fully
recognizes the responsibilities the law i'm
poses and when his next report appears
the facts will enable those who construct
Arguments based upon statistics to arrive
nj satisfactory conclusions.