The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-03-22
CORRESPONDENTS
Concerning the Market Value Of
Labor.

Labor.
Nix. EDIToR:-In the discussion Of
the labor problem, there il great con
fusion Of thought owing TO the fallacy
that exists ia the use Of this word
labor. The general conception of that
term is that it signifies a certain
amount Of any individuals eXertiOn
Tor given time. Comparisons are
often instituted as 70 the value OF
labor, but only on this one basis for
estimating value. Wages and sala-
rie. OF different workers are contrast
ed a. il the value of their labor de-
pended on this one unit, any indivt-
duaus effort for the same number OF
hours. The farm hand gets from $40
Id 50 a month, working steadily
from sunrise TO sunset. The school
teacher gets from so 10 500 "a month,
but keeps school only from O'Clock
to o'clock.
In making such comparisons, the
intimation is often implied that there
il no Justice ia such inequalities. But
with equal justice il might be claim
ed. that corn, rice, potatoes ought all
20 be sold at the same price for bag
weighing 100 pounds. These different
articles are all food products. But
chasing them in the same category is
no reason for assigning them the
same market value. In estimating
values, different factors make up diff
fersut amounts, the nature, quantity,
location OF the land, the time needed
for crops 10 mature, dlilereHt degrees
OF utility for food, chemically and
otherwise.
But leaving out of view these in
eaualities in production, there are IN
eaualities in the distribution, as well
as the creation, OF wealth. Whicu
many people regard as unfair. RIch
peopIe are suspected, envied, de-
uouuced, as in some way guilty OF
abstracting more than their fair share
of what is regarded as social pro-
duct. A few are accused OF living at
the. expense of the many. state So
eiaIism is advocated, with the avowed
purpose of securing by legislative
enactments some more satisfactory
egualiZatiou of wealth acquired aud
held now by few. An interesting
article. by w. II. SIaIlOck recently
faI.acy of such hopes, based on a
wrong Interpretation OF facts. WhlIe
acknowledging that fortunes acquired
by such practices as Stock-gamolIhS
are the capture or wealth, MI NAL
lock takes up for consideration ana
proof the broader, more comprehen'
sive statement, that instead or the
riches of the few being taken from the
production of the many, the present
IF rfraar IL Ia
production originated and organized
by the few. Not only do these few
as a body, produce the whole OF the
wealth which they enjoy; but tneS
DrO,iuce "a n body, that Increase o.
wealth which from year TO year i
made additionally available for tht
endowment anu comfort OF the many
This Is evident on few moments
consideration OF acknowledged facts
In 1910, the annual increase OF wealth
in the United States was SlrOOO,OOO
600 In 1890, the annual increase wa
50 SOC. 600. 600. In proportion To tn
number OF producers the annual IN
creased product ut the close O
fftv wears amounts To fifty thre
per cent The cause OF this lncreil-
il fmDroved methods IN the prOduc
tiou and distribution of wealth Tines
announcements are due To the enter
Drlse and skill of a few men, not
any additional exertion OF the many
For, though great numbers of men co
Ouefated in securing this Increase
uroduction, it does not follow tina
every one of the number - entltle
To The credit, aud eau call for his Indl
viduaI proportionate share. III 100
men produce cloth worth $1,000 IN on
DAYS time, and il one more ma
should be added, who, 10y dividIn
and controlling others labor. shoul
increase the product to $1,000, "
should say that this one man, IN
thousand-and-fi first man. should Q
credited with this additional value
$4,000 The additional annual lDcT'
ment OF wealth in the United otaJe
il due 10 the new ideas and me-
methods OF a few men, rot 10 On
routine labor of the multltud'
RroadIy speaking, these few men cor
stffute the small class which org
mates or organizes labor. Ihi- sma
class comprises the few men who a.
ouire aud hold the large proportion
Increased wealth. out OF ever
sIOO. 600. OOO produced, these few me
produced S53 600 900. They are ei
titled TO their respective shares OF tn
annual increment that would nav
been uuearned but for their skill Al