Washington sentinel., 1898-07-30

The Relations of Liquor aud Em-
ploymenC Considered.
In the current issue of the De-
partment OF Labor Bullstin there
is an interesting review OF the
twelfth annual report of he Com
missioner of Labor on Economic
Aspect OF the Liquor Problem"
In addition to the strictly statisti-
cal results of study Of the liquor
question, the report goes still tar
ther, and presents some valuable
information in regard to the use OF
intoxicants in its relation to en-
ploYment. This information is all
based on the observation and ex-
perience Of large employers ot
labor in various industries.
The main object in the investiga-
ton was to ascertain how the
drinking habits OF man affected
his chances for securing employ
ment and what means were used
by employers for judging the pro-
spectiVe employe generally. 1t
was the desire of the department
to acquire a knowledge OF the
lines OF industry in which men
addicted to the use Of Intoxicating
liquors we're not employed, and
the reasons why they were not. 1t
was also desirable to know the ex-
tent of the use Of liquors by men
subject to night work, overwork,
exposure, irregularitY of hours,
&c., and, finally, to know what
means employers suggested as the
best to lessen the consumption OF
liquors.
A schedule embodying all these
questions in detail was sent out to
3o,4I4 employers, of whom I1,II4
were engaged in agriculture, 6,673
in manufactures, 6,sSa in mining
and quarrying, 3,o4o in various
trades and a,oos in transportation.
A total of 7,oss establishments
sent replies, reporting I,745,os3
employees; I24 establishments did
not report the number of employees.
The number of employees reported
was considered sufficient in each
case to make the accompanying
statements fairly representative.
Employers were asked If in en-
ploying new men they were accus-
toned to give consideration to
their habits regarding the use of
liquors, and, il so, how they made
their Investigations. OF the 6,o75
employers answering this question,
1913 reported that the liquor habit
was not taken into consideration
by them when employing men and
5,363 reported various means used
in ascertaining the facts.
Enquiry" is given as the means
in 9oI cases. The appearance
of the applicant for work was
enough to satisfy 433 employers,
So5 employers based their opinions
on personal knowledge, while ass
required recommendations. ONLY
eight employers reporting required
bond for the sobriety of their en-
ployes, and all these were in trans.
portation. 1t was found that in
some establishments no one using
intoxicants was employed. In
other cases prohibition applied to
certain occupations only, and in
still others to employees only
when on duty.
The two chief single reasons
given for the requirement that en-
ploYes should not use liquors ap-
pear from the answers received to
guard against accidents" and
responsibility OF position" These
reasons were given by more than
two-thirds the number reporting
More than half OF the establish.
ments reporting require in certain
occupations and under certain cir
cumstanees that liquors shall no
be used by employees.
Perhaps the most surprising re
suit Of the investigation was tha
addueed in regard to whether met
subject to nightwork are not NOR,