Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-26
LABOR CONDITIONS
Views of a British Commits
sion.
INDEPENDENCE OF MEN
PROGRESS OF CHEAPENING THE
PROCESSES OF PRODUCTION.
Rates Of Wages Cut Down, Yet Earn
ings Of Employees Are Increased
Increase in Output.

Labor conditions in the United States is
the subject of chapter in the recently
published report of the commission from
the British Iron Trade Association, which
visited the United States a few months
since and reported upon industrial condi-
tons. and especially those relating TO iron
and steel. Discussing this important ques-
ton of the condition of labor in the United
States as viewed from the standpoint or
the English citizen and manufacturer, the
report says:
THE conditions Of labor In the United
States is another matter that has received
a good deal Of attention. as being funda-
mental in the progress Of American indus
tries If not also in the relative progress OF
some of our own. The influence of trade
unionism is not nearly so strong nor so
aggressive In the United States as In Great
Britain. The reason is largely capable or
mathematical demonstration. A recent re-
port by the New York department or lapor
shows that while In Great Britain at re-
cent date there were 1905, 900 trade union
lists there were only 1000, 900 IN the United
States and Canada for about twice the pop
ulation, while Germany Is credited with
995 600 or about one-half the British figure
The trade union is not generally recognized
as a militant force in the United States, ex-
cept now and again. Few employers are
ready to acknowledge that 1t has any IN
f1uence worth naming.
Cheapening Process of Production.
1.-The almost abso' ute freedom OF LABOR
has been the chief instrument whereby 1t
has won such conQuests in the field OF IN
dustrial economy during the last quarter OF
a century. In all countries Industrial pro-
cesses have been greatly cheapened during
that period, but in America the cheapening
appears to have been carried farther than
anywhere else. According to figures recent
ly made public by Mr.. William Garrett, a
rail roller in an uptedate rail mill Ii paid
less than l cent per ton for rolling, against
10 cents at not very remote GATE. WITHIN
that time, again, wire rod roller mas seen
his earnings reduced from $2.12 to IL
cents per ton, and yet he earns larger wages
at the lower figure, while cents is paid
today for heating bilets to make wire rods.
against so cents during the period referred
to. If rod rollers says Mr.. Garrett were
to receive the same wages per ton that
they did twenty years ago, they would earn
1924 per day
The average output per worker has in
all cases increased enormously. AT the
nine Edgar Thomson blast furnaces. I was
told that LOCO men are employed for an
output of p, 500 tons per week, including
all the hands employed in handling and
stocking raw materials, transport, etc. This
gives an average Of 1863 tons Of pig iron per
man per week, or 1855 tons per man per
annum.
The Wages Paid.
''The minimum wage paid at the blast
furnaces is $3.50 per day Of twelve hours.
1 did not get the average wage paid at
these works, but Mr.. A. C. Dinkey. the
manager of the Homestead works, recently
testified that the average earnings of the
workmen there, excluding officials, is $2.73
per day, while the earnings Of rollers and
heaters rise to SIS per day. Wages in
short, are generally so good, and the men
have their futures so much in thsir own
hands, that they have every encourage
ment to do the best they can both for their
employers and for themselves.
The human factor and the personal
equation appear to count in the United
States for more than they generally do in
Europe. Worksnen appear to enjoy larger
measure of independence, based on the
knowledge of the fact that work Is more
easy to obtain than in older countries; that
they are able, as rule, to save money, and
are, therefore, less dependent than when
living, as is not unusual in Europe, from
hand to mouth, and that they are living
under a political regime which Is founded
on democratic principles.
1.-TWO features of the cations Of en-
ployers and employed may be named as
exercising powerful influence on the
amity of their connection-the first the en-
enlargement and reward of workmen's in
Ventions. and the second, the readiness
with which workmen of exceptional ca
pacity can themselves become employers
and capitalists"