Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-08
= z Il
LIQUOR AND INDUSTRY
An Important Investigation Now Being
Prosecuted.
The Department Of Labor Pursuing
Absorbing Interest.

The department of labor, under the direc-
ton OF Commissioner Carroll ID. Wright,
has commenced an investigation which
promises to be one of the most important
yet conducted by this bureau. The subject
of 1t is the liquor problem in relation to in
dustry. The amount Of capital invested in
the manufacture of liquors and substantial
statistics Of a similar character will be
carefully collated, but the most important
trend of the investigation will 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 pro-
pounding Of interrogatories in this line Of
the work will place themselves in commu-
ncation with all establishments employing
large numbers of men. These establish
ments vii! be placed under their separate
heads, according to the kind of goods man.
ufactured. Their managers will be asked
the number of persons in their employ, and
then a series of questions will follow, the
answers to which Will give a valuable in
sight into the subject under consideration
Some Specimen Questions.
A manufacturer. for instance, will be
asked If, when employing new men, he
habitually or usually takes into considera-
ton the question whether they are addict
ed to the use Of intoxicating liquors or not
how he satisfied himself of the facts He
VIII also he Intercepted as to whether any
considerable portion of his employees are
subject TO night work, and if those so en-
gagged are more addicted to the use of in
toxicating liquors than others In case this
is so, the character of the occupations they
follow VIII be requested and the number of
men employed in each. The manufacturer
Will also be questioned upon the subject OF
frequent and considerable overwork on the
part OF MS employees, whether they are eX-
posed to severe weather, whether they are
employed ifregularly, as, for instance by
seasons OF by day and night alternately
and II so, whether such employees, under
such conditions, are more subject to the use
OF strong drink than others who work reg
ulariy and ale not subject to exposure.
Other Causes Sought For.
A vast number of other questions Will be
asked For instance, the bureau Will en-
deavor to learn whether the reduction in
the daily hours of labor in the establish
ment noticelbly lessened the use of in
toSlcating liquor among the employees. If
employees are more addicted to the use Of
Intoxicating liquors Immediately after reg
Ciar wage payment than at other times. Ii
the oVerindufsence In Intoxicating liquor on
Sundays and holidays Interfere win the
usefulness on tne days Immediately fellow
ing, and cgm5er of similar questions
bearing upon TIE same text. In conclusion
each employer Intercepted VIII be asked
fo1' his views ; to what means better than
those now employed can be taken By en-
pi.yers, communities, orgaDiza iyns, munic-
ipalitieS or states TO lessen the consur,lp-
ton of Intoxicating liquor among the peo-
pie.
How "a Was brought About.
The Investigation now il progress is The
result OF a long crusade, which was v-aeei
on the part of the ohibitionsts in an ef-
fort to secure from Congress authority for
the appointment of a commission to inyes-
tisate the moral and substantial effects Of
the alcoholic liquor traffic. For ten years
the representatives of the leading Temper
aDce societies pieaded with Congress 10
appoint a commission fo- this parDose but
TIER eHurtS were IN vain, the National
legislature WAS chary Of placing in me
Lands OF ultra-beile yerS in absolute prch b.
t.ots an instrument that could be uIiilzel
Tor personal purposes TO such a great ex-
tent. TWO years ago, however, a number of
Wen known gentlemen, who were anxious
10 KNOW the purely economical effects Of
the use OF intoNicantS in this country form
ed committee OF fifty, under ;ne chair
nanship of Mr. Seth b. Low and directed
their effort toward having the duty OF in
Vestgatin8 the subject placed in the hands
OF The department of labor. Tn, Canyre IS
preceding the present one gave the neces-
saiy authority and Commissioner Wright
has commenced the work on the broal
scale, which always characteriDrs the re-
searches CT The department over which he
presides.