Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-18
LABOR STATISTICS.
The Annual Report of Cemmissioner
 HotehkfsS.

Hotchkiss.
 The annual report of Commissioner s. M. Hotchkiss of the bureau of labor statistics shows careful and discriminating labor and research. The introduction speaks of the at tempt to secure from wage -earners all over the State monthly statement of all receipts and expenditures, with accompanying com ments. The plan was not successful, only 534 reports being received in all, which pres sumably includes consecutive reports from the few who responded for number of con- seoutive months. The commissioner finds in the replies received means of judging the drift of thought among the wage-earners, and perceptible evidence of Q growth of in telligence among the laboring people during the year. There is lesa complaint by employ
 CTS of unreasoning agitation, and growing disposition to treat questions that arise with fairness and deliberation. kBut he finds also deep seated conviction that "laborers are losing ground in the industrial turmoil, "their wages lessening without corresponding re- duction in the cost of living. Possibly this conclusion is reached from too small a field of comparisons. Of the 15o, 900 working men and women in this State, 534 is 8 small number to hear from, and it is quite possi-
 
 the discontented class than from others. This is a natural inference from the nature of many of the published extracts from the communications received by the commission CT. The manufacturers generally through out the State co-operated heartily with the commissioner in supplying the desired statistics. The report makes 8 conparl- son of the wages of 1880 and 1857, and to a considerable extent the cost of living. The plan of weekly payments has gained favor during the year. The commissioner is of the opinion that the
 majority of employees prefer such payments, but in many cases decline to state their pref erenee for fear of offending their employers. The ten hour law has been generally observ- ed Many parents of foreign birth endeavor to evade the law prohibiting the employment of children under thirteen years of age. From the statistics of comparative wages in 1860 and 1878 the commission reaches the following conclusions:
 The comparative statistics in this chapter show
 that there has been an average advance in tn the closely apprsximating 43 per cent, and of females 57 per cent
 Brass male s5 per cent; carpets, males 5s per cent females 63 per cent; clocks, males 36 DOT J Wooicn males as per cent, feaaies 4e per cent
 The statistics relatings to the necessaries ot life
 price of the groceries and provisions of ten and one been average A0VAnCc price of such kinds and cuts of meat as are com ts the market reports of both dates of 36 per cent
 Staple dry goods show average reduction of 39 per cent.
 MoQuettes in 1860 were made only in England. They now made in America of the same quali- ty the English goods and retail at one half the price of the English goods in 1660 The prices giv- are by the yard, and where there is . variation the highest and lowest figures are quoted All the
 quotations for retail prices of staple goods and
 are copied from the books or reputable dealers ana The report contains numerous statistical tables and concludes with commendation of a secret ballot law, with the full text of the bill introduced last Tuesday by MT. Glover. Temperance Meeting. A large audience gathered in Prohibition hall last evening. Temperance addresses were delivered by D. P. Candee and William H. Conklin. A. W. Judd presided. The meeting was under the auspices of Safety Temple of Honor No. 9. s. P. Thrasher made some interesting remarks and read a poem. Next Sunday night it is expected that Colonel Bain of Kentucky and another noted temperance orator will be in New Ha-