The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-13


cludss Interesting Deductions From
Statistics Relating to the Relative Mum
bers OF the Three Glasses Employed
Their Relative Wages and Efficiency
and Other Matters-More Women But
Fewer Children at Work.
Washington, Feb. 12.-The eleventh
annual report of the department of labor
just transmitted to congress by Commits
sioner Wright, relates entirely 10 the
work and wages of men, women end
children. 1t shows that the proportion OF
women 10 the whole laboring class is in
creasing, while that Of children is de-
creasing. The report was prepared IN
pursuance Of a joint resolution of con-
eress. directing an investigation relative
TO the employment of men, women and
children.
The definite purposes OF the investiga-
ton were to determine to what extent,
~ anv. women were superseding men. to
show the conjugal condition Of the wo-
men who are employed, TO compare the
relative efficiency OF men and Of women,
wages received by each set in each IN
dustry.
II was quite necessary TO cover the
whole country. that is, to collect inform
alton from all Industrial establishments.
The attempt. therefore. was not made.
The agents of the department. however,
secured information from 1857 establish
nents of various kinds, located in thirty
MI
persons, a number large enough TO in
sure that the data collected was thorough
" representative. The complete data
sought for. however, was obtained from
pnly 931 establishments. These 93l es-
Establishments employed 64.56o persons in
The former. and 10S64S in the present
nerio6. OF this number IN the first per
Iod. &C. 40 were males Of Is years OF age,
or over: as against 43195 In the second;
end AIS msies under IS years Of age. as
against $40 in the second. In the first
pe-iod. 27,i63 were females Of IS years OF
age or over, and 6.743 females urder Is
years Of age as against 1912 and l,iol
respectively in the present period.
From these figures Il Is seen that male
employees Is years OF age or over increas-
ed in the present period over the former
period ST. per cent, while female en-
ployes Of the same age and period IN
creased 663 per cent. Male employees
under II years OF age increased 500 per
rent while female employees under IS
years OF age increased SCI per cent.
As collateral information, an interest
Ing showing Is made OF the past three
rensuses concerning the employment of
women. The proportion of females 10
years Of age and over employed in all
occupations In these United States. rose
IN it's relation TO the whole number en-
ployed from 1853 period in 1870 to 1922
per cent in 1890, while males decreased
In proportion from $500 per cent in 1870
TO s278 per cent in 1890.
The report throws considerable addi-
tionaI light upon the much discussed
question as to the married women in in
dustrial pursuits, For the present per-
Tod out OF an aggregate OF 1887 women,
20, 221, or SS.7 per cent, were single; 6.355,
or SIS per cent, married; 2.011, or % per
cent, divorced, and PA, or $40 of l per
cent. unknown. The last census figures
on this point are also analysed. OF the
S,914,5 ST. females 10 years OF age or over,
engaged in gainful pursuits in the Unit
ed States in 1890. 1884 per cent were sim
gle, or their coniugal condition unknown
1916 per cent were married, 1910 per
cent widowed, and . per cent were d.
vorced. A comparison of the census fig
ures with those resulting from the inves-
tigation OF the department can only be
made with certain limitations. as the
former relate to all females productivity
employed. while the latter relate chiefly
TO manufacturing establishments where
women are employed 10 a large extent.
y,, % % HI q, oil
The agents secured data as to the rela-
tive efficiency OF women and children and
Of men working at the same occupations.
OF 7S2 instances in which men and wo-
men work at the same occupation and
perform their work with the same degree
OF efficiency. men receive greater pay in
sos, or 76.1 per cent Of the instances. and
women receive greater pay in 129. or
165 per cent, while in IS instances. or "A
per cent. they receive SOL per cent great
er pay than the women in the J95 in
stances in which they are given greater
pay, while the women receive 100 per
cent greater pay in the 129 instances In
which they are paid higher wages. Out
of the Us instances In which men and
children (peTSoonS under Is years of ege)
work at the same occupation with a like
degree Of efficiency, men receive better
pay in 1S2. or 1913 per cent of the in
stances and children receive greater pay
in "a. or 10.5 per cent while in % in
stances. or 81 per cent. they receive the
same pay for the same work. performed
with the same degree of efficiency. The
men receive 57.7 per cent greater pay
than the children in the 1872 instances. in
which they are paid more, while the
children receive but Sc per cent greater
pay in the twenty-four instances in
which they ara paid higher wages. The
main reason given for the employment of
women and girls is that they are better
adapted for the work a. which they ere
employed. Other reasons are that they
are more reliable. more easily controll-
ed. cheaper. more temperate, more easily
procurable, heater. more rapid. more in
dustrious. less liable 10 strike. learn more
rapidly. etc. on the other hand the
reasons for their opinion. given by those
who did not believe that there was any
tendency for the employment 10 increase
in their industries, were that often wo-
msn who Were better adapted and cheap
e. were unreliable; tha; their physical
strength is inadequate for heavy work;
that machinery Is gradually d!splacing
them, etc.
Other tables give the date when wo
men were first employed in each estab-
lishment and the occupation at which
they We're employed, the hours Of labor
worked in establishments reporting: A
list of occupations followed by women
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