Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-03

State Labor Commissioner l. V. Bar
ton is home from Charleston, where he
attended the session of the Legislature,
and looked after the appropriation for
his department. The salary of the
Commissioner and his assistant
amounts to $4,000 year, and $4,000
more was asked for the carrying cut
Of plans formulated by Mr.. Barton, for
the work of the department during the
next two years. These plans were ex-
planned in a tabulated statement which
was furnished to the chairmen of the
finance committees Ut the House and
Senate, but there was nevertheless a
general lack of information upon the
subject of the Labor Bureau, which re-
suited in the cutting down Of the
amount for the contingent expenses Of
the department to $1,000.
It is unfortunately true that many
persons, if not most persons, are under
the impression that the Bureau is
si-nply union labor scheme, and was
established as a result of agitation by
labor bodies, and without reference to
the good purposes which it might serve.
This erroneous idea is best disproyen
by the work of the Bureau during the
past two years, as explained in the ex
haustive report of Mr.. Barton. One in
stance of it's operation may serve as
an example of what has been and may
be accomplished through this agency,
Some time ago Mr.. Barton was asked
to furnish information pertaining to
the timber resources of the New River
region. His reply opened up an inves-
tigation by capitalists, which has re-
suited in the construction Of a $250,000
plant which already furnishes employ
ment to 1?5 men.
The Bureau will gather and compile
valuable statistics concerning the re-
sources OF the State, which can be Sc
cured in no other way. 1t has already
taken a step in this direction. Mr..
Barton is a member of the national or
ganizatiOn of Chiefs of Labor Bureaus
which gives him the advantage of all
the current literature pertaining to his
work. The organization embraces the
heads of departments of thirty-five
States. 1t has ordered the compilation
Of statistics pertaining to municipal
and private ownership of light and
water plants, and Mr.. Barton will take
Il; hn in
Another subject which the Bureau
will investigate" said Mr.. Barton, in
a talk with a Register reporter yester-
day, will be the condition of the wage
earners of the State. We will ascertain
the number Of employees in different oc-
equations, the wages paid, the hours
OF labor, recent or contemplated i'm
provements, and other data bearing on
the general subject.
IF the appropriation for the Bureau
will permit it, we will also investigate
the lumber business. This has been
asked by the Governor, and will be a
matter of general State interest. have
already made a partial investigation
along this line. and | am convinced
that there are as many persons en-
ployed in the lumber interests as in
The coal interests. Taking the various
branches of the lumber industry in
West Virginia, not less than twenty
thousand men find employment
THE amount OF the appropriation by
The recent Legislature is larger than
The appropriation for the preceding
two years, but it will not permit of
such an enlargement of the scope Of
usefulness of the Bureau as was con-
templated in the Governors message.
The sum Of $4,000 a year would be
ample, and it could be demonstrated
that it would be money wisely ex-
pended. If there is merit in the adj
vartisement of the resources of the
Stste-and this idea finds favor gener-
ally, l think-the Bureau should not
be restricted in its investigations, or
in the dissemination of the facts
CLEANED through such investigations,
by insufficient funds for the work"
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