The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-09
THE WAGE SCHEDULE.
Labor Commissioner Desires Many
Questions to Be Answered
NAMESWlLL NOT BE MA0EPUBLIC
The Information Given will be Used to
Make Up Tables showing What
Virginia Does as Manufacturing
state. The Commissioner viii
Base His Recommends
lions on These Reports.

Since Labor Commissioner Archer
Montaeue went into Office last March be
has been hard at work and hass gotten
the affairs Of his department in very
good shape Considering the fact that
the LEGISLATURE made very small ape
propriauon 10 this department the
Commissions has already accomplished
much.
When he started out Nr Montague
was puzzled as 10 the best method OF
securing list OF the manufacturing
firms in this State He went az mo
task with commcudabls energy and by
reference 10 directories and other publ
cations and by spoudence be has se-
cured the names of hundreds OF osia0-
ushmmts employing fore than $500 cap-
ital
IMPORTANT WORK TO BE DONE.
The Commissioner has now laid the
foundation for the real work of tfe ccm-
mission. He has prepared schedule
OF questions that will be submitted so
blank form 10 manufacturer 90 be ans
werod by them. The questions are as
follows. Name Of firm or company. state
whether incorporated. number 1l moni-
bers males OF femalesJ location of rae
tory kind of goods manufactured. total
value OF goods manufactured during the
year 1881 whether sold or unsold, este
mating the value of those on hand az
selling price,, value of Manufactured
goods On hand January 3, 1884, Gncludins
products manufactured and unsoid,
whether in warehouses at the factory
or shops, or in transiD. total value of
ol stock or material used during 1897,
total value of supplies used, fuel light,
water power boxes barrels etc, 800 1897,
total value Of all materials on hand jan
uary !. 1897. total number of days in ope-
ration during 1896 total number of days
u operation during 1S9I giving the num-
ber Of whole days in operation. adding
parts of days worked 10 make whole
days.; total amount of wages paid in
1886 total amount of wages paid in 1891
mot including salaries paid officials or
ne.p in Omce. abOuut5 paid for rent,
taxes, insurance and amount Of capital
invested. BY capital is meant actual
capital invested but that should include
The various amounts invested in land,
buildings. fixtures machinery. implements
and tools. cash used in the business and
not Included in the foregoing items. For
corporations only paid up capital stock
should be given
THE OFFICE HELP.
The corporations or firms arc requested
10 give tho average salary per month
paid 10 managers. fOromen. salCsmen,
book-keepers clerks and sten0gaphcrs.
specifying the number OF males and fo-
males ana the salaries paid them.
A blank sheet SIS furnished Tor this IN
formation TO given:
Occupation of employees. males or fe-
males. number employed under sixteen
years, number employed over sixteen
years average daily wages; hours OF daily
labor changes in wages for The year end-
ing December 81. 1885, stating increases
and reductions. also the number OF per-
sons. males and females, employed each
month in 1896 and 1897.
The manufacturers are requested 10
state briefly the present condition of
their employees and future prospects and
TO recommend such legislation as in their
judgment is needed o. stimulate their
business.
These reports arc not 10 be made public.
The commissioners viii classify them in
order % present figures as whole for
each class of industry. These viii be
published in the commissioners report
along with his own recommendations 90
the legislature. To SIS Mr. Montague pur-
pose 90 have The report printed in time 90
send tO the lawmakers some time in ad-
vance OF the meeting OF the Legislature.
Suitable blanks will De sent 20 the labor
organizations for such information as
they may be able 90 give
A PROVISION or THE ACT
The blanks contain this synopsis OF the
act creating the commission.
section 4 provides that the Commis-
si0ner shall have power 90 take and pre-
serve testimony examine witnesses un- |
der oath and administer the same, and
iu the discharge Of his duties may. under
proper restrictions. enter any public in-
stituu0n OF the State. and any factory
or mine. The Commissioner
may also furnish and deliver written or
printed list OF interrog8tiOns 10 any per-
son. company or the proper officer OF
any corporation, and require fun and
complete answers 90 be made thereto and
returned under oath within thirty DAYS OF |
receipt of said list of questions, and If |
any person who may be sworn 20 give |
testimony shall wiilfully fail or refuse 70 |
answer any legal ana proper questions |
Dr0pOunded 90 him concerning the sub |
.uct OF such examination, as indicated IN !
he second section of this act, or II any /
person 20 whom "a written or printed list |
lf such intcrrOgau0ns has been furnished |
1y said Commissioner shall neglect or /
refuse 10 fully answer and return the /
same under oath. such person shan be /
deemed guilty of a misdemean0r, and |
ipon conviction thereof before q. court /
" competent jurisdiction, shall be fined |
~ sum not exceeding one hundred dol (
ars nor les than twenty-five dollars. or /
1y imprisonment in the country Jail not |
exceeding ninety days. or by both fine /
and Imprisonment, provided. however. /
hat nothing I'm this act shall be constru-
.d as permitting the Commissioner or
any employee OF this bureau 90 make use
u any Information or statistics gathered
rom any person. company or corporation
for any other than the purposes Of this
act"
The Commissioner adds the following:
In accordance with the law. the ac
blank Is sent YOU with re-
luest TO reply 10 the questions therein
contained and return Immediately 10 this
lffice. The Information obtained Will be
'nly 20 show the progress OF the state
n manufacturing
NO use shall be made In said reports
II the name OF individuals nrms or cor
'orations supplying the Information call
ID tor hy this act such information being
ieemed confidential and not for the pur-
III