The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-10-01

49, 0qL 'pueq lIsI 9q, u,ra
Sept. roy 81 u Iedaan G,
81, 1890, and the year com msncing Sept.
l, 1890. up to and including Aug. 81,
1891. The methods employed to secure
the necessary data were almost entirely
those of the blank system. which has
proved 80 satisfactory in nearly all of
the previous investigations carried on by
the bureau since 1888. 1t was not the
original purpose, nor is 1t now pretended
that the data and statistics here present
ed represent any but purely wholesale
manufacturing establishments. To have
undertaken to cover the tail and custom
manufacturing establishments of the
state would have been a physical and
financial impossibility in the present
status of this bureau. Some 5000 blanks
were addressed and mailed to as many
separate establishments throughout the
state, and of this unmber 6,000, or rs
per cent, were returned fully and correct
ly answered. The figures contained in
the tables given elsewhere are based
entirely upon returns furnished this
bureau by over 5000 substantial, repre-
sentative and leading business firms of
this state.
1t is needless to comment upon the
separate figures or the totals included
in these tables: they tell their own
story. simply and with absolute truth
1t appears that there was a net increase
in wages of S6,377, $3.50 in the year
1891 as compared with the amount paid
in 1890, and net increase of production
of $31, 315, 100 ,6S in the year 1891 over
that of 1890 A simple analysis of these
tables further demonstrates the interest
ing fact that of the sixty-seven indus
tries covered n per cent. of them show
an increase either of the wages or prod
uct, or both, and that there were no
less than SO, TIT instances of individual
increases of wages during the same
year.
Of the sixty eight industries included,
rs per cent. of them show an increased
average yearly earning in the year 1891,
while the total average increase of year
ly earnings of the 2S5, 900 employees
was S23.11. The average increase of
yearly earnings of the employees in the
fifty one trades showing an increase was
SAB 9G in 1891 as compared with 1890.
In addition to the investigation of this
special subject, the bureau has continued
it's annual investigation of all labor
disturbances occurring in toe state dur
lug Iuc pdsI year. uo COCal uuH1U6r OF
strikes reported for the year 1891 was
4,519 as against 6,25S occurring in the
year 1890, decrease of 1.74O OF the
total NUMBER, 419-2, 375, or SO per
cent. of them, were in the building
trades, fact that seems to follow in
natural sequence the results obtained
in the special investigation of the EFFECT
of the tariff on labor and wages"
1t has been my experience, as doubt
not it has been that of every statistician
more or less, that one often finds him
self tempted-unconsciously perhpas-to
pursue an investigation with view to
establish a preconceived theory. How
often failure and positive discontinue
follow can safely leave to those who
have engaged in the fascinating study
of statistics. To the true statistican,
however, uninfluenced by social or poll
tical considerations, the profession is an
enviable one, and carries with it duties
and responsibilities of the highest order.
To him theories are as nothing; without
facts to support them they become
misleading and therefore worthless.
Facts and truth are what he seeks, and
having possessed himself of them he
places them, hard and cold, as they
oftentimes are, before the publio, salts
fed that he has done but his duty and
thereby attained bis highest ambitionA
CHARLES F. PECK, Commissioned