The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-24
POSED TO THE THEORY OF
sgLyERTTEs.
WAGES HAVE INCREASED
HAVING THE SINGLE GOLD
STANDARD.
GENERAL FALL IN COMMODITIES.
Publication by the State Depart
ment Bureau of Statistics.

WASHINGTON; Oct 23:-The bureau
of statistics of the state department
has just published volume of topical
interest entitled Money and Prices in
Foreign Countries, being a series of
reports upon the currency systems of
various nations in their relation to
prices Of commodities and wages Of
labor" This work has been in prep
aration for months past. On July 25
last Secretary Olney sent an identical
letter of instruction to all United States
diplomatic and consular officers, calling
for explicit information on the subject
embraced under the general head above
stated. They were instructed to tell
Of the standard Of value in their re-
spective countries-'whether a gold
unit or silver unit or what is generally
known as the double or limping stand
ard'-the amount of money in circula-
tion per capita; the proportion of gold,
silver or paper and the amount Of re-
serves; the effect of the existing system
on manufacturing industries and rates
of labor; whether they have been slim
~ulated and increased or not; the value
of agricultural exports and the minting
practices. The reviews were to cover
the ten-year period between 1886 and
1896, and the figures were to be official
wherever possible.
The result of this is a volume of
274 pages, in which each country is
treated in detail Among the reports is
that from Consul General Crittenden,
the advance publication Of which in a
newspaper led to his reprimand by Sec
rotary Olney. Annexed is summary
Of the findings prepared by Frederick
Emery, chief of the bureau of statistics
of the state department, in which he
says:
Two important facts seem to be es-
tablished. viz: First. that there has
been general decline in the prices Of
commodities. especially in certain raw
products throughout the world. It is
claimed on one hand that this decline
in prices is due to scarcity of money
and on the other, it is to be attributed
to progress in invention and increased
production, both of raw material and
manufactures, causing keener COMPETE
ton with the inevitable accompani-
ment of lower prices. 1t will be noted
that in Mexico prices have been
steadier for articles which could be
most profitably exported for gold and
that sharp fluctuations due to local
such articles as wheat and corn, in
which the prices have been generally
downward in the markets Of the world.
Second. that there has been g. general
advance in wages, especially marked
in the leading industrial countries. all
Of which have either a single gold
standard or a double standard with
a gold reserve These statements are
supported by q short table, which is
annexed, showing the following facts:
Great Britain, single gold. shows a
general decline in prices of nine per
cent and an advance in wages. ex-
cept farm wages, which are lower.
Belgium, double standard, decline in
prices. no change in wages.
France, double standard, decline In
prices, except beet sugar, slow but reg
ular advance in wages.
Germany, single gold, decline in cere-
ais, pork and certain raw products;
increase in beef and many lines of man
ufactured goods; general advance in
wages.
Austria, gold, limited silver, general
decline in prices, advance in wages.
Italy, double standard, general de-
cline in prices, especially in case of
farm labor
Mexico, nominally double, actually
silver, no change as to food products
not exported, advance in price of i'm
ported articles and coffee, meal, sugar;
unskilled labor unchanged, advance in
skilled labor.
Costa Rica and Colombia, silver, in
crease in prices, increases in wages as
measured in silver and paper.
The United States, double standard
general decline in prices, general ad-
vance in wages up to 1892. The latter
statement is based upon the senate
finance committee reports Of the Fifty
second congress.
For comparative purposes tables are
supplied showing in detail prices and
wages in the United States, much of the
information being obtained from the
bureau of statistics of the treasury,
senate committee reports and other Of
fetal sources.