Evening star., 1897-01-01
L ABOR AND REFORM
The Efficiency Of the New York Labor
Bureau.
Benehcent Effects Of the Eight-HOul
ing Wage-Earning Capacity.

Federation Of Labor in New York, speaking
to Star reporter on the work Of the New
York labor bureau, said: "Out Of 1900 ap-
plicants for work at the bureau only eight
have proved to belong to trade unions.
showing conclusively that the tremendous
congestion in the labor market comes from
the unskilled. No effort is made for a
record on the part of the bureau. 1t is
alive to do all the good it can do, record or
no record. The argument was once used
to the manager by a visitor who wanted
800 hands for day or two: This will
help Your statistics The argument was
not success. In its quiet way, however,
1t has placed go men and some few girls
since October. None Of these have been go
disposed of as to disarrange the wages Of
those in trade unions.
This is one direction in which the man
sger uses the greatest circumspection and
care; for in his heart is growing a hope to
be the means of developing from the bu-
reau a great trusted labor exchange with
functions of arbitration and ability to
serve employers by bringing them at once
In touch with the unemployed. and the
workingmen by being constantly on the
alert for their interests
Wage-Earning Capacity.
In the last annual report of the British
board Of trade, a copy Of which was re-
ceived in Washington quite recently, some
curious facts were brought out. The ng-
gregate wage-earning capacity as seen in
the statistics has decreased during the
year. The blame for this is laid by some
on the Introduction Of the eight-hour day.
Reports from firms who have tried the
eisht-hour day, however, would seem to
show that there is no reason for less nav
to accompany fewer hours. In one large
works. after a reduction of the day fro
tweive hours to eight, the labor cost per
ton or product came out less.
Inc Jealousy of some employers Is in
directly referred to, and an instance IS
gwen where Manchester firm discharged
their best man because they could not
think OF allowing one of their servants to
earn several thousands Of pounds a wear
and rather than do this, they discharged
MIN, and themselves ceased to make
pront on their most remunerative depart
ment. This state of commercial ethics Is
hard TO understand in this country, where
one man Is generally considered as good as
another, but in England where the caste
instinct is still strong, the idea of a ser
want making much more than a living is to
some men intensely distasteful. This feel
ing Is so active that 1t was recently stated
as an indisputable fact that a large propor-
ton of English employers would rather earn
Il l,O (or $5,OOO) on a ten-hour day than fl
tl'ooo (or $1,000 on a ten-hour day than f1,-
Improving Their Time.
One OF the points touched on in this re-
pert Is specially interesting. When the
eiSht-hour system was about to be intro
duced into England, its opponents insisted
that the hour saved would be wasted in
drinking. Such, however, has not proven
to be the fact. On the contrary, 1t seems
to have had a beneficial effect on the morals
anu s Pnysique OF the mass of the people.
me workers OF the country are distinctly
more sober than they were and statistics
confirm this. Among the working classes
tea Is rapidly superseding beer as a bever-
age, and 1t Is said that a great change has
come over the country, not 50 much in the
way of teetotalism as in that of an all
around moderation.
Emigration Southwark.
Speaking day or two ago in reference to
the industrial prospects in the country
lying between the city of Washington and
the Mississippi river Vice President W. w.
FINLEY of the Southern Railway Company
said: The business outlook in the regions
traversed by the Southern railway was
never more promising than at the present
time.
''The tide Of desirable immigration COM
Ing from all portions of the north and
northwest, as well as from Europe has
been good, and continues to be steadily on
the increase. The steady growth Of popu-
lation has been systematized along con-
servative business lines.
Many Industrial colonies have been To-
Gated, and many more will be, composed of
people, who are working to-
gether in harmony, and are reaping the
rewards of labor judiciously directed
New mines have been opened and old
ones rejuyenated by better systems and
increased capital, and the iron industry has
entered upon new and vigorous career of
developing a trade with foreign
which has assumed large pro-
portions.
gold mining industry. and the primitive
methods of the ancient miner. with his
crude devices for gathering the precious
metal. have been superseded by the latest
and most approved scientific modes known
to the mining world. and promise the best
results.
The woodworking establishments of the
south are making good progress, and all
are growing stronger and are steadily Wild
ening the area Of their work with the
prime facilities they possess for turning
out their work at minimum cost.
Weaving Industries.
Cotton and woolen industries are all in a
dourishing condition, and are daily growing
In Importance, as they are constantly being
strengthened by accessions of capital and
skill. New lines Of work are being intro
duced and old ones improved by better ma
chinery and enhanced skill.
Lines of travel by rail and water are
Icing extended. and those that are already
improved, so as to fully keep
abreast of the demands made upon them by
the increasing volume Of business The
marked interest is Increasing in diversified
through which the south is now
raising many OF its supplies which 1t FORM
erly purchased from other sections Is ex-
In hGa fIrIf inf nlo
as we'll as largely adding to the wealth and
of all branches Of agriculture,
while. upon the whole. the outlook for in
creased prosperity in the south was never
better than at present"