Graham guardian., 1902-09-05
WAGES AND COST OF LIVING,

department cf labof aV "asnlnS'o ""
in regard to changes in wages
and prices accommodates in recent
wears arc said to show that wages
since 1896 have increased but from
10 to ID per cent, while com
modities have advanced from 20
to 88 per cent. Wages as usual
saws the citizen have moved slowly,
but commodities have responded
quickly to the mutations of supply
and demand and the manIpulations
Of trusts and combines. Wages
in 1896 were low, but it is held
that in that year given amount
Of money would buy more than
in 1902. 1t is conceded that
can ditions vary. The rate OF
wages is different in one part Of
the country from what it is IN
another part, and city WAGES are
higher in certain pursuits than
c ounty wages The changes since
1896 have not been uniform.
Some trades. experiencing brisk
er demand than others, have
made larger gains. But all have
made some gains, and in some
trades the gains have been con.
siderable
Similarly in regard to prices
Of commodities, some Of which
have Increased since 1896, while
others have fallen As n rule
prices have. as already stated,
advanced. The average price, "
found by taking IL hundred dit.
terent commodities, has con
sidcrabiy increased, and this in
crcac is larger than the increase
in the price Of labor, even when
deduction has been made for
the material shortening Of the
hours Of labor since 1886 1t is
possible that 10 some extent the
increased abundance of gold tells
upon prices. As regards such
articals as coffee and cotton the
price has been liked, it is general
ly believed, by the statistical
position" or the extent Of the
supply in reference to the demand.
Coffee thus by the operation of
natural causes has been low and
cotton and certain grains have
been high. Meat, particularly
beef, has been exceptionally high.
Whether its high price is due, as
some assert, to deficient supply,
or, as others contend, at the
wiles OF combine" of dealers,
the fact remains that the wage
earner's purchases Of beet and
coal are much abbreviated. He
can not live as well us he formerly
could on the same wages. Even
though some articles are sold
lower than form formerly, still
from causes natural or artificial
the greater number Of his pur-
chaseS are made at edvanced price.
II this be the case the present
prosperity is less for him than is
commonly represented to be.
No doubt employment is more
general than in 1896. 1t is easier
now than then to get wages, good
or bad. But it remains that the
advances in prices in recent years,
whatever the cause Of the several
advances, have to a largea extent
neutralized the advance in wages.
The injury is not confined to
wage-earners, but extends to
all who live on fixed incomes.
The clerk or salesman, the widow
who lives on rents or interest
payments, clergyman and others
having stated salaries, all find
that, while their incomes, do
not increase it costs more
to live than formerly, and
they would welcome an era of
lower prices. There are in every
community large number of
voters who are more anxious
for more natural and reasonable
range of prices, and will at the
first opportunity endeavor to
secure the repeal of laws that
enhance prices, and thus rob Peter
to pay Paul.
New JERSEY, which appears to