Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-25
LABOR HAS BEEN THE GAMER
Bryanite Assertions Disproved by Official
Figures,
LOW PRICES NOT CAUSED BY SCARCE MONEY
valuable Statistics Collected by the
state Department from Many M
ton. - stntisticinn Emery's
summary of Findings

WASHINGTON, Oct 2i..-The bureau OF
statistics OF the state department has just
published volume OF topical interest, en-
titled More y and Prices In Foreign Coun-
tries. Being a Series OF Reports Upon the
Currency system OF the Nations. in Their
Relations to Prices OF Commodities and
Wages Of Labor" This work has been in
preparation for months past. on July 2s
last Secretary Olney sent an ilenticr letter
OF instructions 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 10 tell OF the standard OF value
in their respective countries, the amount
OF money in circulation per capita. the pro.
portion OF gold silver and paper aud the
amount OF reserves. the effect Of the existing
system on the manufacturing industries and
rates OF labor the value OF agricultural eN-
ports and the minting practices. The re
views were to cover the ten.year period be
tween 1856 and 1896. and the hgures wers
TO be official whenever possible.
The resul; of this is a volume ot ga
pages in which each country Is treated In
detail. Annexed is a summary OF the hnd-
ings prepared by Frederick Emery, chief
OF the bureau of statistics OF the State de-
partment. in which he says:
Two important facts seem to be estab-
lished viz: First that there has been a
general decline In the prices of commodities
and especially OF certain raw materials
throughout the world, and that the decline
in prices Is not due to scarcity OF money,
but, on the other hand II is to be attributed
TO progress Ia invention and increased pro-
duction, both of raw materials and manu-
features. causing keener competition. with
the inevitable accompaniment OF lower
prices. II will be noted prices have been
steadier for articles which could be most
probably exported for gold. and that sharp
fluctuations due to local scarcity. have &C.
CURED in such articles as wheat and corn.
in which the prices have been generally
downward in the markets Of the world.
"2. That there has been a general
advance in wages. especially marked in the
leading Industrial countries. all of which
have either single gold standard, or a
double standard with gold reserve"
These statements are supported by a table
which is annexed showing the following
facts
Great Britain. single gold standard, shows
a general decline in prices OF per cent and
an advance in wages, except farm wages,
which are lower.
Belgium-Decline in prices; no change in
wages.
France. Double Standard--Declne In
prices. except beet sugar; slow but regular
advance in wages.
Germany. Single Gold standard-Decllne
in cereals pork and certain raw products,
increase In beef and many lines Of manu-
featured goods general advance in wages.
Austria, Gold and Limited Silver-General
decline in prices; advance In wages.
Italy, Double Standard-General decline
In prices. especially in the case of farm
labor.
Mexico. Nominally Double, Actually Silver
No change as to food products, not ex'
ported, advance in prices OF imported arti-
ces and coffee. meat. sugar; unskllled labor
unchanged, advance in skilled labor.
Costa Rica and Colombia. Silver-Increase
in prices; increase in wages as measured
In silver and paper.
The United States. Double Standard-Gen
eral decline in prices; general advance in
wages up to 1892 This last statement Is
based upon the senate finance committee
reports of the Fifty second congress.
For comparative purposes, tables are sup
piled, showing in detail prices and wages
In the United States, much OF the informa
ton being obtained from the bureau OF
statistics OF the treasury, senate committee
reports and other official sources.