The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-05

brief introduction by Commissioner
Carroll d, Wright, than whom there Is
no higher authority both as a social sta
tistielan and master Of all the intri-
cate questions affecting the welfare and
the interests Of labor. The results OF
the examination are thus established
OF the very first Importance and entitled
to full and unqualified acceptance. as
settling so far as they 80 the Ques-
tions to which they are applied.
The chief objects OF inquiry, as might
have been expected. We're directed to
the effect Of the trusts on prices and
on wages, and while many other al
lied topics are discussed, upon these
two main propositions, in which the
whole public and all parties are con-
cerned. was the principal effort bestow-
ed. II win doubtless surprise Mr., Bry-
an and his followers to learn that the
facts, the simple. stubborn things, DEM
onstrate. despite all that has been said
to the contrary. that trusts have ac-
tua,ly lowered prices and advanced
wages. OF course. there are here and
there exceptions. but. like all others.
they prove the rule. and the figures
which make up the demonstration are
given in detail so that any critic or
objector may put his finger on the ex-
act spot in which the evidence fails.
More than two hundred pages. giving
almost every conceivable fact concern
ing twenty Of the greatest commercial
centers Of the country are given, and
IL any critic dissents from Prof. Jenks'
conclusions. he has ready at hand the
facts with which to test his logic. In
deed. the clear. candid intelligence with
which the work has been done is one
of its chief claims to acceptance and
authority. for its true scientific spirit
is obvious; first find out the facts, then
honestly put them together and see
what they prove; rather than to adopt
the customary and reversed mode-to
declare some theory and then see
whether facts cannot be found or dis
covered to sustain It.
Upon the questions Of wages, 1t is
worth while to give the exact language
of the report. as follows;
"It would, of course, be too much to
say that these results show the general
effect OF combinations on wages. The
returns are not numerous enough. Be-
sides that. many Of the combinations
were formed at the beginning Of a
period Of general Industrial prosperity.
so that an increase in wages was per-
haps to be expected. The tables do
show. so far as figures go. that these
combinations have not decreased wages
among these classes Of wage earners.
Like tendencies appear also in the Ia
bles regarding large private companies.
The evidence contradicts. rather than
supports. the conclusion that high
priced men may be dispensed with.
and their places taken by men Of less
experience. In seven cases out Of four
teen the average annual wages Of sales
men increased. and the average annual
wages Of skilled laborers have increased
IN ten cases and decreased in two. the
average amount Of the increase being
considerably greater than the de-
crease"
The law Of the effects Of the trusts
on prices is deduced from more than
fifty pages Of exhaustive and carefully
itemized tables, Of which. perhaps, the
best idea may be gained from synop-
sis of the figures themselves the earliest
and the latest dates being given and
the common but variable unit Of meas
urement understood: