The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-10-26

Of gtatistics Of labor. A. d. FAssETT.
In submitting this, the thirteenth and las
annual report Of the bureau Of statistics O
labor, have but little TO say in the way Oi
introduction.
The year 1889 has been one Of great pros
perity and commercial activity. In this CON
neOSiOE it is pleasing 10 note that there have
been but few strikes or look -Outs, and thC
relation Of employer and employe has beer
as friendly and harmonious as it is possible
for them TO remain under the present over
crowded condition of the labor market.
Ga page IA, he says:
The average number of willing workers
out of employment is fully equal to 10 pei
cent. Of the whole number Of labOrers
skilled and unPkilled.
On page So, the commissioner quotes
Carroll D. Wright, commissioner Of the
United States bureau Of labor statistics,
who says that fully 100000 willing
workers are out Of employment.
Concerning the discontinuance Of the
Office, the commissioner says:
/ had expected to remain in Office until
February 10, 1891, the date when my CON-
mission expires. On February "a, bill was
introduced in the house of representatives
by Mr.. GaurneP, of RlChland county, chang
ing the name OF this department from the
bureau of statistics of labor to the bureau of
labor statistics. This bill passed the house
March 13, and the senate March 81.
The slight change in the law had the effect
of legislating the Office of commissioner of
statistics Of labor out Of existence, as we'll as
my official connection with it. Upon the
signing Of such bill, my term Of office eX-
piFes.
Some of the tables deduced from the in
vestgRtlon Of woman wage workers could
not be completed in the three days allowed
me. Several strike aud look out
tables are omitted for the same reason, and
q number of the counties must be left out of
the industrial census table. / offer this as
as explanation Of some of the shOrtCom-
ings that appear in this report.
The reader will readily see In whose
interest the law was changed. Under the
bureau Of statistics of labor, the commits
sloner was required to make correct
statement Of the following facts:
l. Number Of establishments employing
labor.
2. Amount Of investment.
3. Number of hands employed.
4. Amount paid hands.
5. Amount paid for material.
6. Total amount Of products.
Thus il was an easy matter to ascertain
the net profit to the manufacturer, how
much each employe earned for the en-
ployer, and the share of this profit that
labor received, as shall show from some
of the quotations that follow. The inn
position waS.too glsring to allow the peo-
pie to be further informed upon that
subject. Hence the change. The people
must not be permitted to obtain this kind
Of information.
On page % Of this report, I find the
following:
This brings me into a consideration OF
the second suggestiOn-the decentralization
Of the gentler sex. In handling this branch
of q most painful subject, must necessarily
wound the feelings Of many worthy persons,
but what ! say shall be said in a spirit OF
klnunee9g oODnQenb bnh5 DrAV0 sbAGoinonl
Of the truth will benefit most those wounded
deepest. shall proceed with this investiga-
tion in the spirit that the surgeon uses his
knife on the patient he would restore "a
health.
Public sentiment can only be aroused in
opposition to great wrongs by opposing
them. Slavery could never have been
abolished had the conscience of the nation
not been quickened by exposure of the hor-
rible details of slave life; and 80 of the hor.
rors Of factory life. Slavery itself was
scarcely more degrading, its horrors scarcely
more revolving, and its effects scarcely more
damaging TO good morals and good govern.
ment than is fast becoming the result of the
displacement of men in the workshops with
women. As will be seen by reference to the
tables, Q large msjority of the women are re-.
ceiving less than 500 per snnum, an
Amol1Ok wholly inanffloiank In faAd and