Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-06-14

The Histh Annual Convention d Commission
ers Held a ceayer.

The recent convention Of heads of state
and the national bureaus, held in Denver,
Col, was of unusual interest and import
snce. The number OF these bureaus is
now twcnry-eisht. and, while several states
were not represented, twenty one comynis-
sioners ami deputies were in attendance.
The sessions began May ~ and were eon-
tiuned through five days Several valuable
papers were read, reports of current work
given, discussions on various phases ot the
labor question beia, and useful and prac,i-
cal suggestions as To lines and methods of
work offered. These conventions of
practical workers in the broad field of
statistical investigation, are recognized as
of vital importance, and, although neeess-
tatlng considerable outlay of timr and
money on the part Of officials representing
the extreme portions of the country, are
regarded as essential to intelligent and
homogeneous work.
portion of the work for the current
year outlined by the convention. was that
suggested BY the .'Wonans Labor Commit
tee of the Worlds Congress Auxiliary re
lating 10 the industrial conditions OF
women and children" The matter of ''em
piosment agencies" received considerable
shown, as the result of Investigations made
by several of the Western bureaus. that
these agencies are generally only swinj
ling scheme by which Eastern working men
and women are cheated and defrauded.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved; That the commissioners of
labor of the different states of the United
States recommend to their next Legs lature
tH,l Df law btI plth-
lie employment agencies in their several
states, said free employment agencies to he
under the control of the state or common
wealth
Arrangements were completed for hold
ing a worlds congress of statisticians at
Chicago next year, and Hon. Carroll u.
Wright. of the L. 5. Bureau was chosen
as delegate from the convention To attend
the same. Two other American societies
will assist in making arrangements for the
congress, the American Statistical Associ-
alton, ami the American Economic Associ-
alton. The congress will be attended by
the leading statisticians of the World. Hon.
Carroll ID. Wright. who has so ably held
the position of president of the conventions,
for several years, declined to have his name
used in that connection for the next year,
and the following officers were chosen;
/ Chas. +. Peck of New York, president
{ Lester Bodine of Colorado, and Samuel W.
4 Matthews of Maine, vice presidents Frank
/ II. Bottom, Kansas secretary II. G Wadlin,
Mass, W. A. Peele, .Jr., Ind, and Samuel
NJ. Hotchkiss, Conn. executive committee,
] Albany. n. Y. was the place selected
/ for holding the next convention. Ii may
be well to observe that while as individuals
the commissioners of the several bureaus
are allied to different political parties, as a
body of statisticiaus they have no party
politics. As Mr., Wright remarked in his
address at the banquet given the convention
in Denver: They are part of the eiuca-
tional system of the United States. and as
a body, are true to the work committed to
them. Some men were thrust into office
for political reasons, but in the - volumes
which the Association has put ont, he did
not know of single perversion of the truth
for political opinions sake.
The true statistician seek for facts, lcav-
ing theories to others.
The week spent by the convention in
Denver and Colorado Springs. was full
of pleasing incidents. Public officials aud
private citizens. not only attended the meet
ings bnt devoted their time and attention to
entertaining and making the stay of the rep
rescntatives of the bureaus very pleasant.
Gov Rouit. Mayor Rogers, members of the
city council, aud boards of trade of Denver,
Colorado Springs, and Nanitou, not 0nll
attended the meetings of the convention,
but furnished grand banquet at the Wind
sor hotel. and accompanied the members
on rides and drives to the Argo smclters,
about the city of Denver, and its suburbs,
and TO the many points of interest in
the vicinity of Colorado Springs, the chcy-
enne Canyon, Pixies Peak, the Garden of
the Gods, Manitnu Mineral Springs, and
the Grand Cayerns. Space and time forbid
that we should undertake description of
the grand and sublime scenic attractions OF
tins wonderful region of country. Among
the interesting incidents of our stay in Col
orado Springs was a visit TO the Chido
Drexel Home for Aged and INDECENT Union
Printers. Through the munificence of the
gentlemen whose name the home bears,
united with the aid furnished by printers
throughout the country and the generosity