Evening journal., 1892-08-29
THE TAGIFF AND WAGES
Statistician Peck's Investiga.
tons Given TO the Public.
NEW YoRK's WHOLESALE BUSINESS

The Labor Commissioner Confines His
Analysis of the Questions 60 That
Branch of Trade and Says That Earn
ings and Production Have Increased
ALBANY, Aug. 30 Charles F. Peck, CON-
missioner 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
lection" 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 in
crease or decrease OF production and COM
parative increase or decrease in wages.
Mr. Peck says;
THE period covered by investigation in
cludes the year Immediately prior to the
enactment Of what is termed the Mckinley
bill and the year Immediately following its
becoming law. That is, the data upon
which the report has been made'w was for the
year commencing Sept. l. 1889, up to and
including Aug. 81, 1890, and the year COM
mencing Sept. /, 1890, up to and including
Aug. 81, 1891.
"The methods employed to secure the
necessary data were almost entirely those
Of the blank system. It was not the orig
inal purpose nor is il now pretended that
the data and statistics presented present
any but purely wholesale manufacturing
establishments. To have undertaken to
cover the retail and custom manufacturing
establishments of the state would have
been physical and financial impossibility.
Some 5000 blanks were addressed and
mailed to as many separate establishments
throughout the state aud of this number
/ 5000, OF 20 per cent, were returned-fully
and correctly answered.
The Increase in Wages.
"From the tables it appears that there
was net increase in wages of S6,377 925.09
in the year 1891 ms compared with the
amount paid in 1890 and a net increase Of
production Of S31, 3l5 l3O. SO in the year 1891
over that of 1890.
"a simple analysis Of this table further
/ demonstrates the interesting fact that Of
the sixty-seven 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 ss,7l1 instances of indi-
vidual increases Of wages during the same
year.
"While the industries are but sixty
seven in number the total trades repre-
sented amount TO 1921, and give employ
ment TO 2S5,0OO warzingmen and women.
OF the sixty-seven industries 20 per cent. Of
them show an increased average yearly
earning in the year 1891, while the total
average increase of yearly earnings of the
200 employees was S23.1 The average
increase Of yearly earnings Of the employees
in the fifty-one trades showing an increase
was 1896 in 1891 as compared with 1890.
''In addition TO the investigation Of this
special subject the bureau has continued its
annual investigation Of all labor disturb
ances occurring in. the state during the past
year. The total number Of strikes reported
for the year 1891 was 1919 as against 6,25s
occurring in the year 1890, a decrease Of
1889 OF the total number 4,5l9, 2,375 OF
53 per cent. Of them, We're in the building
trades fact that seems TO follow in nat
tural sequence the results obtained in the
special investigation of the effect of thu
tariff on labor and wages,
A Statistician's Ambition.
The report closed as follows: at has
been my experience, as / doubt not it ma.
been that of every statistician more or less
that one often finds himself tempted, un
consciously perhaps 20 pursue an investi
CATION with a view to establish precon
ceived theory.
Glow often failure and positive discom
future follow / can safely leave 20 those wh'
have engaged in the fascinating study o
statistics
ITO the true statistician, however, unin
fluenced by social OF political considera
tions, the profession is an enviable one an,
carries with it duties and responsibilities o
the highest order To him theories are a
nothing; without facts TO support then
they become misleading and therefor
worthless. Facts and truth are what HI
seeks, and having possessed himself of then
he places them, hard and cold as they often
times are, before the public, satisfied tina
he has done but his duty, and thereby al
tanned his highest ambition