New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE OUTLOOK OF LABOR IN ENGLAND.

THE EFFECTS OF MACHINERY ON WAGES Pr
J. Shield Nicholson PIP. M., 143. Imported by
Charles Scribncr's Sons.
In this little book Professor Nicholson glances at
tho relation Of machinery to wages In the past, the
present and the future lie finds from the history OF
the problem that the transition from a time whcn
machinery not in use 10 time when 1t came
into use has always been marked by evils, and that
these were increased by the suddenness and extent
OF the change and lessened by the extension of tho
market and by any improvement in the mobility OF
labor But the progress OF invention has tended to
lessen the possibility OF great revolutions by lessen
Ing the chance Of any except minor notifications IN
machinery. Unfortunate social results followed the
change, because the relations Of the employer ana the
employed could not remain what they mad been In
the days OF close contact and familiarity. This led
to a fearful degradation OF labor, from which 1t has
not yet altogether recovered. Only in some cases
did the Of machinery lead TO reducuoh vi
working hours and In the amount OF eN'ruoh
required to earn a living Indirectly the worklnS
classes benefited BY reduced prices Tor manu-
featured articles and directly By the Increase IN INC
number Of laborers employed. but these dement's wcc
Offset by n general tendency to excessive hours OF
labor and by greater fluctuations in wages due 10
overproduction. While machinery ruined the Skilled
workmen Of an earlier time. 1t has tended to raise
the average OF intelligence among the workers, ana IN
the light Of this fact the spread OF technical educaoh
has been found indispensable. natural result of the
use OF machinery the concentration of both labor
and capital and this proved in the past calamity 10
the laborer and a benefit to the owner OF capital
Capital has also the advantage that it could easily be
transferred from one place one occupation 10
another The only remedy for the laborer at this
point consisted in enlarged knowledge and improved
means OF transportation.
Thus the author looks upon the record OF the last
half century as a dismal one, and he is little better
pleased with the inadequate adjustment of the present
in England. This defect attributed TO the abuse OF
the doctrine Of lassez aire encouraged first by pure
ignorance OF the legislation that needed, then by
false cO'lusons drawn from the theory OF evolution
as expressed In the phrase survival OF the fttest
upon which Mr.. Nicholson remarks that lit Is an
optimism moro degrading and less 1usfabe than the
fatalsm Of enervated OrlenlalS." Government must
take hand in the effort at improvement. For the
future there should be better scheme of general and
technical education greater opportunity for the poor
to rise in the world. perfect knowledge OF
morality on the part of both employer and employed
and radical changes in international policy. The point
to this last clause lies in It's application. England
cannot much longer afford to look on while other
nations are busy arranging their The fact
that the old Roman jus Centrum in part originally
a market law that is law regulating trade is cited
as an indication Of the England must take
Few Americans who read this little book will find in
1t matter OF encouragement in reference to the inter
national commercial policy Of the United states.