The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-17

It has been my fortune 70 be at the
head of this department since its organi-
cation, and / am glad to say that never,
under either Democratic or a Republican
administration, have been asked to do
anything of a political nature, nor has
there been a suggestion as to the character
of our work that could have bearing in
that direction. This is as it should be, for
it is clear to me that departure from this
rule would result in serious impairment
of its usefulness.
We are not noisy. We do our work
quietly, and what is accomplished appears
in the annual reports. -Four volumes have
been issued, and the fifth is now in the
hands of the printers. Each year Is de-
voted to particular line of inquiry In
this way much better results are attained
than would be possible if il were attempted
in each report to cover the entire field In
such case the report would necessarily
be meager, fragmentary and unsatisfac-
tory.
Our first volume, issued in 1886. covered
the subject of industrial depressions at
home and abroad. We employed special
agents in all parts of our own country, as
well as in the principal countries of
Europe. A vast amount of information
was collected bearing upon this subject in
all its phases. The facts and figures were
so arranged as TO render them Ineligible
TO the reader. Convict labor was the topic
of the second report. In this were in
cluded all penal institutions the inmates
of which were employed in productive in
dustry. Careful inquiries were made into
the convict system of every state in the
union, and also of foreign countries 1t
is needless to say that the volume con-
tains much food for thought. The third
volume relates 10 strikes and lockouts
in the United States during the six wears
prior 10 1857. Our inquiry was with es-
pecial reference to the causes and effects
of these disturbances and the resultant
gains and losses. The volume contains
also a coditication of our national and
state laws bearing upon this subject. The
fourth report is one of peculiar interest
and Importance to our people. 1t is upon
the condition of working women in twen-
ty-one OF our principal cities-their occu-
pations, wages moral character and
modes of living. II is devoted
specifically TO women who are EN-
ployed in shops and manufactures
We expect to further pursue this subject
by investigating the condition of those
who ply the needle domestic servants and
other classes OF women who earn their
bread. Volume five, which is now nearly
ready for distribution, is upon railroad
labor We have been at great pains 10
gather the material for this report. and |
think with good results. We have had
the hearty cooperation of organizations
of railway employees and OF the companies
AS an illustration | may cite the fact that
several OF the latter sent Us their pay rolls
so that We might have the exact truth as
TO the wages paid all classes of men. This
volume will be ready for distribution in
January.
All these volumes are Of great and in
creasiug value. The demand for them con-
tinues without abatement We have been
compelled TO issue four editions OF the first
and three of the second. The supply OF
the latter volumes is exhausted and new
issues will be necessary Congress appre-
ciates the advantage OF having these books
IN the hands of the people, and is gener-
Gus in its appropriations for this purpose
II is money we'll expended, Tor the books
go directly 70 those who need and value
them They are not thrown away by scat
teriug them broadcast, but any volume is
sent without cost to d person requesting
IL Not less than 90, 600 copies Of these
reports have been distributed, and the
greater part OF them have gone directly TO
the working people OF the country.
By system of exchange We receive re-
ports on similar subjects from foreign
countries. These issued by this depart
ment are fayorably reviewed and CON-
mentsd upon rsEosd. At the Paris ex-