New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-04
SEEN THROUGH FRENCH EVEN.
THE AMERICAN WORKMAN AS VIEWED By
NJ. EMILE LEvASsEUR. HIS WAGES
AND HIS MODE OF LIFE.

NJ Ievasseur member OF the Institute ana
professor az the College de France. has been SEM
twice 10 the United States by the french Ho'e''
ment 10 make an investigation or the condition Oh
the American workman. He is about to publish IN
.,.o Volumes the result Of his observations. ana
meanwhile he has Just delivered before the Society
for the Encouragement OF National lhduS'rS d"
address containing summary OF MS Vie"o y" '''
subject During the whole Of last year NJ Levas-
seur devoted his regular course Of lectures al ire
oouooe % a thorough exposition Of everything rea-
tive 10 the American workman. which Will prob
ah,,y he the title Of his book In his recent ad-
dress to the Society for the Encouragement OF Ma
tional Industry the learned professor ana econo-
mist spoke mainly three questions concerning the
workman in the United States. viz. the wages he
gets the tools and machinery he uses. and his man.
ner of living.
The salary Of the American workman says NJ
Ieyasseur Is very high generally or course. II Is
not the same in all branches Of trade. but. on
| the average II Is much higher than in Europe.
| This average computed from. figures representing
| 80 cents a day for women in sweat shops TO the
| Sc earned by certain workmen. amounts TO WI.
| This is more than the wages paid In France. and
even above that In England the european country
where wages the highest
NJ Levasseur grows enthusiastic when ne turns
10 the second portion Of his subject, that relative
| to the tools implements and machinery. 10 the
"outillage' used by the American workman you
| must see 1t, l have. and as several among you
II. a
| stand all the Importance Of the role assigned TO
| the outillagc' in American production. There IS
| IN the United States general tendency 10 90
everything on a grand scale. to faire grand. anu
II IS according this idea that all new enterprises
are ORGANIZED Industrial concentration is the order
| of the day in the civilized world; nowhere Is II
ACCOMPLISHED with greater success than In America
| II &c the economical law of the least effort which
governs the manufacturers: to produce much. In
| order to produce chcaply through increasing the
mower of the "outillage" 'relr, lg proportionatey
general expenses and uniting the advantages OF the
| division of work with those Of unity OF manage
| ment" In regard TO this and the consequent de-
ve,onuent of production in the United States MIR.
Ievasseur gave many figures and statistics which
| were little known to his French hearers ana whicn
it would be superfuous to republsh here Tor Amer
| lean readers He adds that nowhere Is the use Oh
/ machinery in large and small industries more gen
! eral and the improve ment Of machinery moro rapid
than in the United States This progress In ma
chinery is moi peculiar to that country. any moro
than that Of concentration But 1t has greater IN
| tensty in the United States than anywhere eise'
| because the American possesses the genius OF IN
yentlon and holiness in enterprise because popu-
| lation has increased. and wealth still more rapioy
than the reputation and also because that popuIa-
ton furnishes an enormous market. mainly ,o on
per head is greater than in European countries -.
This brought NJ Leyasseur to the third part "a ,6 o,
h u.s. He again quoted
| and figures well known here. he eno"eu, tnd'
living expenses for food and clothing are not deare
| In America, with the exception OF lodging IheIe
| is he said "a chapter of expenses heavier 10,
| is the lodging. But this is because the American
| is more exacting After having examined many
cases, l have been able to conclude that, instead
| OF one or two rooms the American FAMILY OF
| 'menage' occupiec generally four rooms. / must
add that the American lodging is better furnished
| and more comfortable Living Is dear In America
they say. But, 1t Is proper to add, not because
articles cost more. but because more are needed
| TO live. The American workman wants more
| EurODean cOmrade;
larger scale. and he Is so much used TO II that II
would be him real suffering TO retrench any
thing from his usual consumption and way OF Nv
ing Europeans who have visited factories In
| America have been able to understand. and have
the explanation of these habis Of general comfort.
At this point VI. Levasseur gives description OF
the cleanliness prevailing in every hall. room and
even closets In American factories. compared
to those in Europe. lie also says In regard to other
taken off his working clothes he has nothing 10
distinguish him from the gentleman the 'bour.
| geois; IL is the high hat the same jacket In
| summer time. and the same coat In winter Al
| least the appearance is similar the quality makes
the only difference. II ~ the with respect "a
the workingwoman In principle. the laboring
| class does differ from the others II lives on
IT'S income raising the level Of Its needs to that
OF this income: all members OF that class modify
their manner OF living according TO the increase OF
| their incomes"
AS conclusion of this address. N. Levasseur
| said: without wanting TO assimilate the con-
ditions OF country 10 those Of another, believe
that the example OF the United States can be USE
fully studied In France"