The Advocate and news., 1898-03-02

NaAuS VI blaLlollCp 10 appAOSldISu Wy lASoS
States, while Kansas, with a productive
energy of from $300,000,000 to 100000
600 annually, thinks 1t sufficient TO expend
$500 per annum to record the opera
tion of her productive industries and
progress Of her sociological advancement.
This $500 Is supposed to provide also for
the additional duties imposed by the in
spection Of factories and workshops twice
each year by the Commissioner for the
protection of thousands OF humble toilers
who are compelled to work under condi-
tions that are both dangerous and de-
grading because Of exposed machinery,
poorly heated and insufficlently venti-
lated shops and work rooms, the absence
of fire escapes and safety appliances, i'm
proper sanitary conditions, etc.
Disclaiming any criticism OF any for
mer Legislatures conclude that they did
not realize the value OF statistics or con-
sidered the establishment Of the Kansas
bureau as an experiment. II the latter,
time has demonstrated that the expert
ment has been a success to the extent Of
its means and should be promoted and
encouraged not only from financial
standpoint, but from legal standpoint
by laws empowering the Commissioner
with sufficient authority to secure full
and complete results. II the former sup
position is true as to the value Of sta
tistics 1t should be noted by our citizens
and statesmen what value Congress
places upon statistics by It's approprla-
ton of $1S8,O00 per annum for the Ma
tional Department of Labor and Statis-
tics, and to the further fact that nearly
all official departments represented in the
United States Cabinet maintain statisti-
cal departments, as we'll as do all the pro-
gressiVe States In the Union, equipping
them with a requisite appropriation for
their maintenance.
One of the objects of bureau of sta
tistics is to present through statistics the
true condition Of the wage Garner, the
manufacturer, In fact, all productive and
industrial concerns, that their interests
may be better protected through legis-
lation. All must agree that vicious and
dangerous legislation is largely due to
lack Of knowledge Of the true Condi-
tions surrounding the object or subject
of such legislation. Another benefit that
might be noted which acrues from the
use of statistics Is it's benefcent effects
upon the sociological condition of the
people. All agree that the efforts of the
human mind for the ameliOratiOn of the
masses is laudable and defensible, and
the exposure of inhumane and degrad-
ing conditions which are derOgatory to
the public health, morals and general
welfare, leads to correction and regula-
ton by society itself. Thus we see in
Vulnerable benefits may be achieved by
reliable and intelligent statistics. But
with the necessity for statistics, restric-
tions or limitation on the effort Of the
statistician reduces his ability to cover
the several fields with that thorOughness
that 10 so essential to every undertaking,
and the result is that his statistics are
vitiated very materially. Kansas is proud
OF her institutions and of her resources,
of the progress and the place she holds
in the nation, yet the duty her statesmen
and legislators owe to her citizens re-
Quires closer inspection Of the needs
and requirements for her institutions,
and none more than the Bureau of Labor
and Industrial Statistics, remembering
that "the greatest good to the greatest
number" is a motto well worthy Of their
following.