The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-12

The definite purpose of the investiga.
ton was to determine to what extent. II
any, women were superseding men; to
show the conjugal condition OF women
who were employed; to compare the rel
ative efficiency Of men and women, and,
finally, to show the relative rates of
wages received by each sex in each in
dustry.
The agents Of the departments Sc
cured information from establishments
of various kinds located I'm 30 different
states. These 931 establishments en-
ployed 64,560 persons in the former and
1cS,6 648 in the present period
or this number, in the first period, ,26. as
were males Of Is years Of age or over, as
against 1876 in the second; and ATS
males under Is years Of age, as against
75l0 in the second.
In the first period, q, ,163 were females,
IL years Of age or over. and 6743 females
under IL years Of age. as against 400 16i
and 12.75l, respectively, in the present
period.
From these figures, 1t is seen that male
employees 18 years Of age or over in
creased In the present period over the
former period 63.1 per cent, while fe-
male employees Of the same age and Pc
riod increased 66.s per cent. Male en-
ployes under Is years of age increased
60.6 per cent, while female employees un.
der Is years Of age increased S91 per
cent.
AS collateral information, an interest
ing showing is made Of the figures OF
the past three censuses concerning the
employment Of women. The proportion
of females 10 years of age and over
employed In all occupations in the
United states rose in its relation to the
whole number employed from 14.68 per
cent in 1870 to 1922 per cent in 1890, while
males decreased in proportion from $50
per cent In 1870 to S2.7S per cent in 1890.
The report throws considerable ad-
ditional light upon the much discussed
question as to married women in in
dustrial pursuits. For the present pe-
riod, out OF an aggregate of 1887 wo-
men, 70.92l, or SS.7 per cent, were single:
6I55. or S.5 per cent, married; POLL or 2.5
per cent, divorced, and 244, or g of /
per cent, unknown. The last census
figures on this point are also analyzed
or the 3,914,51 females 10 years of age
and over engaged in gainful pursuits in
the United States in 1890, 6S. "a per cent
were single, or their conjugal condition
unknown; 1916 per cent were married.
1910 per cent were widows and 80 per
cent were divorced. In 436 Of the esti-
mates which were canvassed, the agents
showed data as to the relative efficiency
of women and children and of men work.
ing at the same occupations. OF 1872 in
stances, men and women were consid-
cred in the same occupation, and per-
form 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 1876
per cent. while In So instances, or "a per
cent, they receive the same pay for the
same work. The men receive SOL per
cent greater pay than the women in the
5e5 instances in which they are given
greater pay. The women receive 1913 per
cent greater pay in the 129 instances In
which they are paid higher wages. Out
OF 22S instances in which the men and
children (persons under 18 years of age)
work at the same occupation with a like
degree Of efficiency. men receive greater
pay in 1872, or 1913 per cent, of the in
stances. and children receive greater
pay In ~. or 1915 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 ST. per cent greater pay
than the children i'm the 1872 instances In
which they are paid more, while the
children receive but S.6 per cent greater
pay I'm the "a instances in which they
are paid higher wages. The main rea-
son given for the employment Of wo-
men and girls is usually that they are
better adapted for the work at which
they are employed. Other reasons are
that they are more reliable, more easi-
" controlled. cheaper. more temperate.
more easily procurable. neater. more
rapid, more Industrious less liable to
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 OF women to increase
IN their Industries. were that very often
women. who are better adapted and
cheaper, are unreliable; that their ply
steal strength is inadequate for heavy
work: that machinery is gradually dis
placing them, etc.
other tables give the date when wo-
men were first employed In each estab-
iishment and occupations ut WHICH they