St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-14
LABOR BUREAU,
The Sys tenn Adopted and Dues
tions Asked for Information.

- nv ~ . Win &ANOpbCu
tiOns Asked for Information.
John Lamb is organizing the labor
bureau, and begins active work to-mor-
row. His next report will contain sta
tistics in regard to the productive estab-
lishments of this state. The printed
blank used contains the following letter
to those interviewed:
ST. PAUL, Minn.-Dear Sir: The state br-
reau of labor statistics is engaged in making
a record of the number location, ETC., of the
productive establishments in the state All
the figures given will be reduced 10 totals in
the report, so that the facts given to the bu-
reau by any one establishment will be en-
tirely concealed in the totals You need
therefore, have no apprehension of giving
the facts with the utmost freedom as abso-
lutte secrecy. SO lar as any one establishment
is concerned, is guaranteed. These facts.
when collected, will be very valuable to the
individual employer and to society at large
Our knowledge of industrial facts and sta
tistcs can not be made too complete for in
telligent action on the part of the workman.
the employer and the state. Yours respect
fully, JOHN LAMB,
Commissioner
The blank contains fifty-three cues
tons, about half of which are in regard
to number of employees, their age. sex.
wages and hours of labor; also, the
sanitary condition of the work rooms.
The other questions include the follow
ing pertinent queries: Capital invested
in production? Value of annual pro-
duct? Amount paid during year for
material? Amount paid during wear for
labor? Amount paid for insurance on
capital employed in production?
Amount paid for repairs? for taxes on
land? for personal tax? Value of land?
Value of buildings, machinery, water
power, etc.? To answer all these cues.
lions in any shape will prove a pretty
puzzle for manufacturer. If all the
questions are answered, one can i'm
mediately see what profit goes to the
manufacturer after paying wages and
legitimate expenses involved in manag-
ing the business. While the working
people would much appreciate such
statistics, there is yet doubt if they
can be obtained. In fact, Commissioner
Lamb will have the honor of getting
out the first report of the kind-if he
succeeds. Some of the difficulties in
the way may be seen, when it is re-
membered that the material for the re-
port will necessarily be gained only
from employers and manufacturers. No
class, except that one being inter
viewed. There is absolutely no way
of verifying their statements, ana there
is no known means of compelling them
to give accurate answers. Even with
the most friendly intentions on the part
of those interviewed, it would take sew
eral hours of careful calculation to an
sWer the questions, and most business
men are too busy to spend that much
time for the benefit of the state. Even
the WealthleSt and most prosperous es-
Establishments are in the habit OF giving
out the impression that their business
is sort of semi-philanthroplc venture,
kept running more for the sake of civ
ing the working people something to
do, than for any money there is in it for
the firm. The working people and
economic writer's often doubt these
statements. Statistics are usually
brought forward to prove or disprove
the statements made on either side, and
nobody dareS dispute statistical au-
thority. But from a brief review of the
situation in this particular case, it ap-
pears that statistics are no more IN
fallible than many other sources of
human information.
The attempt to collect this informa-
ton will doubtless develop some inter
eSting lines of inquiry, and in any case
it is likely that enough material will be
gathered to make an interesting report.
The appointment of Frank CasSerly,
of st. Paul, as second deputy makes the
force complete. Mr.. Casserly will be-
gin work in st. Paul tomorrow, and
Mr.. McGaughey in Minneapolis. Mr.
Lamb and Mr.. Evans will attend the
clerical work and arrange for getting
statistics from more remote parts of the
state