The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-11

roll d. Wright. has commenced an
investigation which promises to be
one Of the most important vet con-
Quoted by this bureau. The subject Of
1t Is the liquor problem in relation
to industry. The amount Of capital In
vested in the manufacture of liquors
and substantial statistics Of q similar
character will be carefully collated, but
the most important trend Of the in
vestigation viii be in the direction OF
ascertaining the causes which lead to
the consumption Of liquor among the
wage earners Of the country. The
agents who will have in charge the
propounding Of interrogatories In this
line OF the work will place themselves
in communica ton with all establish
ments employing large numbers Of men.
These establishments will be placed un-
der their separate heads, according to
the kind Of goods manufactured. Their
managers will be asked the number OF
persons In their employ, and then u
series Of questions will follow, the an
swers 20 which will give a valuable
insight into the subject under consid-
GRAFTON. A manufacturer for instance.
will be asked II. when employing new
men, he habitually or usually takes in
to consideration the question whether
they are addicted to the use Of intoxi-
eating liquors or not. If such Is the
case. he will then be asked how he sat
isfied himself of the facts. He will also
be interrogated as to whether any con-
siderable portion Of his employees are
subject to night work, and If those SO
engaged or more addicted to the use Of
intoxicating liquors than others. III
case this Is so, the character Of the
occupations they follow will be request
ed and the number of men employed
in each. The manufacturer will also
be questioned upon the subject Of fire.
quent and considerable Overwork on the
part Of his employees, whether they are
exposed to severe weather, whether
they are employed irregularly, as, for
instance. by seasons or by day and
night alternately. and If SO. whether
such employees, under such conditions.
are more subject to the use of strong
drink than others who work regularly
and are not subject to exposure. A
vast number of other questions will
be asked. Fer instance, the bureau
will endeavor to learn whether the re-
duction in the daily hours Of labor i'm
the establishment noticeably lessened
the use OF intoxicating liquor among
the employees. If employees are more
addicted to the use Of intoxicating
liquors Immediately after regular wage
pay iieHt hhdH IL otheI tuie" eAS
overindulgence III intoxicating liquors
on Sundays and holidays interferes
with the usefulness on the days imme-
diately following. and a number Of sim
liar questions bearing upon the same
text. In conclusion each employer In
terrogated will be asked for his views
as to what means better than those
now employed can be taken by em-
ployers. communities, organizations.
municipalities or states to lessen the
consumption Of, intoxicating liquors
among the people. The investigation
now In progress is the result of long
crusade. which was waged on the part
Of the ProhibitiOnlsts IN an effort to
appointment of a commission to inves-
tigate the moral and substantial effects
Of the alcoholic liquor traffic.