Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-29
THE AMERICAN ECONOMISTS.
Saturday Evenings Session Devoted to St
tistics.


tistics.
The session on Saturday evening Of the Ameri-
can Economic Association was devoted to re-
ports on statistics under the direction OF Hon.
Carroll d. Wright. the chairman Of the COM
mittee on statistics. Mr.. Wright prefaced the
reading of the various papers by report on
statistical work. which was full of interest. He
said that as 10 quantity, the work Of American
statisticians is equal to that Of any other coun-
try: as to quality. their work still falls some
what below the scientific characteristics which
belong to continental efforts. Yet, in respect
to quality they are making rapid progress.
Besies the regular sources Of routine statistics,
twenty -four states have established bureaus
of labor statistics. There has been q constant
elevation in the character Of the reports Of the
various bureaus and departments. The work
Of the census was analysed in detail in Col.
Wrights report and the value Of some import
ant points introduced into the work
Of the census of 1880 which bad not been in
cluded in previous censuses. Among the COM
pilations that were referred to as OF special i'm
portance we're the statistics OF business, wear
and tear Of buildings and personal indebted
ness. Cooperation Of states with the general
government in statistical work was suggested.
1t would save expense, but would lead ulti-
mately to the establishment of a permanent
census bureau. a result which the report said,
most statisticians would like to see.
STREET RAILWAY sTATIsrIcs-
A topic of general interest was discussed by
Mr.. Charles Fl. Corley in his paper on ''Street
Railway Statistics" Referring to the social
significance Of street railways he spoke Of two
of its factors on which the efficient discharge
of this social function depends. These are
first, speed Of cars, and second, cost OF riding.
1t is found that the distance from work at which
it is possible for workers using the cars to live
varies with the speed of the cars. while the
total area made available for population varies
as the square Of the speed. The second factor
ia an important one in the efficient perform
ance of the function of spreading the working
population, since every reduction in fares
places suburban residence within reach of a
larger class Of the poor. That they avail them
selves of it is shown by the fact that in some
cases a decrease of city rent in thickly settled
quarters has followed the opening OF new
suburban line. He thought that should street
railways ever come under public ownership or
control cbeapness and efficiency of service
should be regarded rather than the obtaining
of revenue.
STATISTICS AND CORPORATIONS.
The next paper was on Statistics as a Means
Of Correcting Corporate Abuses" by Prot. Henry
C. Adams. 1t was the object of this paper to
show that there is an essential difference be-
tween business organized as a corporation and
social evils arise from the fact that the law of
private property. which is appropriately ap-
piled in the case of business organized AZ a
partnership, is iLhpplieable to a business organ
zer asa corporation. Many of the social evils
res llsing in a society dominated by corpora
;tfefss werc pointed out-among them may be
fnentfored the instability OF business ventures,
panics and commercial depressions, and the
speculative character of Investments.
1t was further shown that the principle of
competition, which is a safeguard of public
interests in case of businesses organized as
partnerships. did not apply to businesses
organized as corporations. because III the latter
case the personality of the manager is merged
in the personality of the corporation. In order
to overcome the evils which we're thus sug-
gested. the speaker urged that the law of
corporate organization as applied to industries
should be radically modified.
He urged that industries should be classified
into those that subject to the principle of
competition and those superior to tn regulat-
ing influence of the competitive prime pie. and
that the privilege Of incorporation should be
granted only TO industries of the latter class
In this manner. il claimed. the machinery
might be established, through frequent reports
to public officials. fer the proper control of
corporations and for guarding Eociety against
those abuses which are now suffered.