Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-24


State Labor Commissioner I. v. Bar
ton, of this city, has compiled the sta
tistics which will be embodied in his
annual report, to be transmitted to
Governor Atkinson on June 1st The
result of Investigations are given in
two parts, the first embracing compare
tive statistics showing the condition of
manufactures; the second showing in
creased avenues of employment in
West Virginia, March, 1897, to Janu-
airy, 1900. The table of contents may
be summarized as follows:
Part l, condition of manufactures,
will show by comparative tables the
Department of Labor for the years 1899
and 1900, as compared with the report
OF the same industries for the years
1897 and 1898, showing number en-
ployed January 1, 1899, number en-
ployed January 1, 1900. number of
weeks in operation during 1899, num-
Der employed January l. 1897, per cent
OF increase or decrease in number en-
ployed January 1, 1897, to January l,
1900, and per cent of increase or de-
crease in wage rates January 1, 1897,
to January l, 1900, in FIVE hundred
manufacturing establishments.
Part II, will show increased avenues
of employment, giving number en-
ployed, capital invested and amount of
wages paid monthly in three hundred
mercantile, mining and manufacturing
institutions established in West Vir-
ginia, March, 1897, to January 1, 1900,
with a classified directory of the prin
cipal manufacturers Of the States.
Part Ill, presents extracts from the
report Of the Chicago Conference on
Trusts and gives an interesting review
Of the benefit features of American
Trade Unions.
Part Nv, gives history of the strike
of street railway employees in the city
of Wheeling in 1899, recommends the
establishment or a State Board of Ar
bitration, for the settlement of indus
trial disputes, and shows the extent of
like organizations in the United States.
Part V, presents statement of the
conditions of labor in the State, as
shown by special investigation and
comprises brief summary of the lead
ing events relating to labor, during
1899-1900; industrial legislation, State
and national, and bills rejected by the
legislature, session of 1899
Part vi, shows factory and workshop
inspection, with recommendations, the
industrial establishments inspected,
with name of firm or corporation,
when established, where located, char
acter of goods manufactured, number
of buildings, with description of same,
number employed, male and female,
and number of weeks in operation dur
ing 1899
4ne purpose of publishing at this
time the measures that will be propos-
ed by the Commissioner of Labor, to
the Legislature for enactment, is, TO
acquaint the people with the necessity,
which experience proves to exist for
such remedial legislation as is herein
recommended.
The enactment of these measures will
place the Bureau of Labor upon high
er plane of usefulness and increase it's
Importance to the wage Garner.
The Commissioner las ever regarded
this office as created in the interest of
idDoI, ludI 1T is Inc purpose OF the
Bureau to supply facts to the Legisla-
ture which may tend to benefit all
classes of labor and increase the pros
perity of the State, that its scope en-
braces the development of the States
resources, the advancement Of labor in
every field of industry, and the investi-
gatlon Of abuses, if any exist, in our
industrial operations, which may be
remedied by law.
In conclusion the Commissioner de-
sires to congratulate the people upon
the splendid conditions existing within
the State, and returns thanks to State
officials; acknowledged with thanks
the compliment of honorary member
ship in representative labor bodies,
and thanks manufacturers and employ
ers for uniform kindness and courte-
Gus treatment.
The summary of statistics in the first
part of the report shows the average
number of weeks in operation last year
4e15 The recapitulatiOn follows.