The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-09
PRICES AND WAGES.
at Last the Truth About them i
Known.

ing that Wages Have Risen and Prices
Have FaIlen-NOt Peg Left for the
Mckinley Prices Liar to Hang False
hood on Facts from the Unanimous
and Non-Partisan Senate Report.
until within q few weeks, no comprehen-
slvely scientific investigation into the wages
question for the period covered by the new
Tariff had been completed, although one
which promised unimpeachable results had
been inaugurated. But judging by the signs Of
the times, and the isolated facts which came
under our notice, we made the following
statement a good while ago: "The simple
fact Of the matter is that wages have been
higher, work more plentiful, trade brisker,
foreign commerce larger, average duties low
or, manufactured commodities cheaper and
every class of citizens more prosperous since
the Mckinley Tariff passed than they were
before in many years. We do not attribute
all this to the Mckinley Tariff, but We know
it to be q fact, and evory one OF ordinary
Intelligence and information knows that 1t is
u fact. Why attempt to deny it2"
Since these words we're written the Senate
Investigating Committee has reported and
veraes our statements in every particular. No
doubt the Free Trader would like 10 shift the
argument from the solid foundation OF this
elaborate, non-partisan, absolutely conclusive
report, to the meagre data cited before 1t was
made. But we do not propose to allow him to
do SO. Here are the facts, which we will COM
pei him to face:
Extracts from he Senate Report on Prices and
Wages.l
SIN order to give the statistics collected the
weight OF undoubted authority, the committee
decided at the outset, with entire unanimity,
that the inquiry should be extended only TO
such subjects and be carried on through such
agencies and by such methods as were ap-
proved by the unanimous voice OF the commit
tee, and this plan was scrupulously followed
in all decisions as to the character, general
scope and details OF the investigation. ALI
concurred in the view that IL the facts could
be secured In such manner as to create gen.
eral confidence in their accuracy, great step
forward would be taken In the solution Of i'm
portant economic problems. There was no
expectation that the members Of the commit
ee would agree about the political or even the
economic bearings of the facts ascertained /;
but all were DESTROYS that hereafter there
should be no reason 10 question the integrity
of the facts.
1.-THE committee consulted from time 10 time
several eminent statistcians as to the scope
OF tho inquiry and the methods by which II
should be conducted, Among the gentlemen
consulted were Gen. T. A. Walker Prof. Henry
@. Adams, Prof. Edmund J. James, Mr.. Ed
ward Atkinson and Mr.. W. M. Grosvenor
The committee are under obligations to these
gentlemen, especially to General Walker, fol
their kindness in giving valuable time and ad-
vice to the consideration Of the details Of the
committees work.
"In the summer Of 1891, DIR. Roland P. Falk-
ner, professor OF statistics In the University OF
Pennsylvania, was selected as the statist ician oil
the committee, and to him was given entire
charge Of the work Of Analysing the statistics
COLLECTED and the entertainment OF results. DR.
Falkners report, which Is annexed hereto
I(Appendlx Az, embodies the results of the in
vestigatlon, and explains In detail the reasons
for adopting the methods by which these results
are reached. The committee cannot express
too strongly their appreciation OF the grea
value OF DR.. Falkner's services in this connec-
ton.
SIN stating the results Of the investigation
comparisons are made, unless otherwise
stated, with the price or wages for the months
of June. July and August, 1889, the average
for these months being taken as standard
This average is expressed by the number 100
land the changes are shown in the tables sub
mltted by percentages OF 100. The results o.
the inquiry are as follows:
RI PRICES.
'The summary for September 1, 1891, shows
a decline in retail prices Of the GA selected ar
tlcles Of 064 oil per cent. by one methoC
of computation, $40 per cent by another.
WAGES.
"Itappears from the report OF the statisticIar
THAT in the fifteen general occupations selected
by the committee, wages were three-iourths o
1 per cent. higher in September, 1891, than IL
the three months selected as a basis In 1889
and that the wages In the special industries
selected was OBJ OF per cent. higher than q
) the beginning Of the period"
So much Nor the Senate Report. Then, OF
August 29th, came the report OF the Democrat
10 Commissioner OF Labor OF New York State
Charles F. Peck. who, by the way, was appoint
ed to his present Office by Grover Cleveland
when he was Governor OF New York.
Mr.. Peck has been conducting an investlga
ton through his bureau into the effects OF tn,
new Tain upon wages. Here are the fact
he discovered.
. Extracts From the Neto York State Bureau o
Labor Report on Wdges.l
"ThepOrlOd covered by investigation include
the year Immediately prior to the snactmen
: OF what IL termed the mckinley bill. l." and tn,