The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-15
WAGES ARE HEAVIER
TEXT OF NEW YORK LABOR COM
MISSIONER PEcK's REPORT.

An Investigation Designed to Expose the
Weaknesses OF the Mckinley Tariff Law
Has Precisely the Opposite Eneet--A
Political boomerang.
Charles #. Peck, commissioner of
labor for New York state, has issued his
annual report. A large part is devoted
TO figures Of interest In relation TO the
tariff. In order to prove whether "pro-
tection," as advocated by one political
party, or tariff for revenue only" would
prove Of advantage, statistics have been
gathered to show in every industry in
the state the increase or decrease of pro-
duction and comparative increase or de-
crease in wages. Mr.. Peck says.
"The period covered by investigation
includes the year Immediately prior to
the enactment Of what is termed the
Mckinley bill and the year immediate
ly, following its,hecoming law. That is,
the data upon which the report has
been nude was for tile year commenc-
ing Sept. /, 1888, up to and including
Aug. 81, 1890, and the year commencing
Sept. /, 1900. up to and including Aug.
81, 1901.
1.-THE methods employed to secure the
necessary data were almost entirely
those of the blank system. 1t was not
the original purpose, nor is 1t now pre-
tended, that the data and statistics pre-
scented present any but purely wholesale
manufacturing establishments. To have
undertaken to cover the retail and GUS
tom manufacturing establishments of
the state would have been physical
and financial impossibility. Some 5000
blanks were addressed and mailed to as
many separate establishments through
cut the state, and of this number 6 600.
or rs per cent, were returned-fully and
correctly answered.
From the tables it appears that there
was q net increase in wages of Sc
925.09 in the year 1891 as compared
with the amount paid in 1890. and net
increase Of production Of $31 ,3i5, 1870. 6S
in the year 1891 over that of 1890 A
simple analysis of this table further
demonstrates the interesting fact that
of the siSty-seyen industries covered n
per cent. of them show an increase
either of the wages or product, or both
and that there were no less than Sg,7lT
instances of individual increases of
wages during the same year.
while the industries are but sixty
seven iii number the total trades repre-
sented amount to 1,121, and give EN-
ploymcnt to 2s5,000 workingmen and
women. OF the sixty-seven Industries
included 10 per cent. Of them show an
increased average yearly eurning in the
year 1891, while the total average in
crease Of yearly earnings Of the 2s5 ,Or'
employees was Sl3,ll. The average in
crease Of yearly earnings Of the en-
plosees in the fifty-one trades showing
an increase was Fl8.98 in 1891 as com.
jared with 1890,
"In addition to the investigation OF
this special subject the bureau has con
tiuued its annual investigation of all
labor disturbances occurring in the state
} during the Iast year. The total numbe.
of strikes reported for the year 1891 was
1918 rs against CESS occurring in tin
year 1890, a decrease of 1879. OF tn,
total number, A,5l0, 2,87J or SO per cent
of them were in the building trades, q
fact thai seems to follow in natural Sc
quence the results obtained in the special
Investigation of the effect of the tariff
on labor and wages"
The report closes as follows: at has
been my experience, as l doubt not il
has been that of every statistician, mort
. or less, that one often finds himsel
tempted, unconsciously perhaps, to pur
T sue an investigation with view t,
establish preconceivcd theory. How
often failure and positive discontinue
, follow can safely leave to those who
, have engaged in the fascinating study
of statistics.
: ITO the true statistician, however
: unintluenced by social or political con
d siderations, the profession is an enviabl
: one and carries with it duties and re
5 sponsibilities of the highest order. T
y him theories are as nothing; withou
: facts to support them they become mis-
!. leading and therefore worthless Fact
and truth are what he seeks, and havin
5 possessed himself of them he place
!. them, hard and cold as they oftentine
|. arc, before tho public, satisfied that h
4 has done but his duty and thereby al
, tanned his highest ambition"