Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-02-18
WOMAN AS A WAGE GARNER
REPORT OF THE DEPART
MENT OF LABOR.
Proportion of Female Workers
to the LabOring Class In

HfOpOrtIOH OI FtlIldlt NOIkcIo
to the LabOring Class In
creasing
Washington, Feb. 12.-The
eleventh annual report of the De-
partment of Labor, just trans
mitted to Congress by Commiss
s.oner Wright, relates entirely to
the work and wages of men, wo-
men and children. 1t shows that
the proportion of women to the
whole working class is increasing,
while that of children is decreas-
ing. The report was prepared in
pursuance Of a joint resolution Of
Congress directing an investiga-
ton relative to the employment Of
men, women and children. This
report is confined strictly to a
comparison of the extent of en-
ployment and wages in 1886
or E'present period with the con-
ditions which pertained some years
termed "former period") ante
dating the present period by at
least ten years.
The definite purpose of the in
vestigation was to determine to
what extent, if any, women were
superseding men; to show the con-
iugal condition Of the women who
were employed; to compare the
relative efficiency of men and wo-
men, and finally to show the rela
tive rates of wages received by
each sex in each industry.
1t was quite unnecessary to
cover the whole country. That IS,
to collect information from all in>
dustrial establishments. The at
tempt, therefore, was not made.
The agents of the department,
however, secured information
from 1907 establishments of vari-
Gus kinds, located in thirty differ
ent States, and employing 1+8,
367 persons, a number large
enough to ensure that the data
collected were thoroughly repre-
sentative. The complete data
sought for, however, was obtained
from only 931 establishments .
These 931 establishments ems
ployed 81, $50 persons in the for
mer and los, 640 in the present
period. OF this number, in the
first period, 26,479 we're males OF
Is years of age or over, as against
43, 1915 in the second; and 4,175
males under IS years Of age, as
against Z, $40 in the second. IL
the first period 27,163 were fe-
males is years of age or over,
and 6, 743 females under Is years
of age, as againct Is, 1852 and -,
751 respectively in the present
period.
From these figures it is seen
that male employees Is years OF
age Or over increased in the
present period over the former
period 63.1 per cen ., while fe-
male employees Of the same ag
period il creased 66 3 per cent
Male employees under Is years OF
age increased 50 per cent.
while female emp'o es under Is
years Of age increased 89.1 per
cent.
AS collateral information, ar
interesting showing is made Of
the figures of the past three
censuses concerning the en-
ployment Of women. The pro-
portion of females 10 years Of
age and over employed in all oc-
equations in the United States
rose in its relation TO the whole
number employed from IA 68 pei
cent. il 1870 to 1925 per cent
in 1890, while males decreased
in r portion from $3.50 pei
cent. N 1870 to 80 rs per cent. il
1890.
The report throws considera
Die additional light upon the
much discussed question as to
married women in industrial
pursuits For the present period
out Of an aggregate of 20, 90l
women, 20, 1921 or SO Z per cent
were single; 6.775, or 8.5 pei
cent, married; 2,O11. or 2 5 pei
cent. divorced, and 244, or three
tenths of one per cent, unknown
The last census figures on this
point are also analysed. Of tn;
3.914, 571 females 10 years of g
and ove engaged ia gain fl
pursuits in the United States il
1890, SO "a per cent. were single
or their conjugal condition un-
knows; Is IL per cent. were mar.
ried; 1910 per cent. were wid>
owed. and 90 per cent. were d..
vorced.
A comparison of the census
figures with those resulting from
the investigation OF the depart
ment can only be made with GER