The sun., 1902-02-11
LABOR IN The UNITED STATES
REPORT OF THE INDUSTRIAL
COMMISSION COMPLETED.
Uniform Legislation for the Resuiaton
OF Labor Recommended -Injunctien
should He sparingiy Used-wemen
.t work Strikes and the Boycott.

NJ Work-strikes and the Boycott.
w,susoros. Feb. io.-The final re-
mort OF the Industrial Commission, makes
the following remarks upon the general
subject of Labor in the course OF volumi-
nous chapters in which all branches OF
the subject are gone into in great detail
The remarkable revolution In business
methods and conditions OF the past Few
wears, showing itself In industrial combi-
nations and the so-oalled community OF
interests, has been accompanied by an
almost equally remarkable consolidation
Of labor interests through the growth and
strengthening of labor organizations and
the increase In labor legislation. What
aver may be the ultimate outcome OF this
vroDth OF organization on both sides,
is first tendency has been to bring about
a more definite separation OF the two. and
IN many cases a distinct confronting Of
one by he other. each relying partly upon
the strength Of It's organization and partly
upon legislation and the courts.
THE census of 1890 estimated the value
of manufactured products for the entire
United States at $9.s72 ,000. 600. and the
aggregate wages In the same industries
at 2,2s3. 900 900, according TO which 1t
would appear that labor received PASS per
cent. of the joint product. But this in
ference is manifestly wrong. since the
cost OF material used In manufactures was
moro than half the value of the product,
viz, S5,Ie2 ,0oo, 900. or 55.os per cent. Mis-
oelaneous expenses also we're 6.73 per
cent. of the total product. The proper
method Of inquiry into the proportion Of
the product going to labor is that which
separates out the cost Of material and
sndeavors TO discover what proportion
Of the net product is assigned to labor.
II this is done IL appears that in 1890 the
net product Of all manufacturing industries
was 1,2il 600 900. and Of this net product
the total wages paid would be 81 per cent.
instead Of ~ per cent. The above figure
for wages, however. includes salaried
employees, officers, superintendents. firm
members and clerks The payment to
wage Gamers, properly speaking (but In
Guiding some overseers and foremen on
salary, was 81 s9l .22s .s2i. or ++.9 per cent.
Of the value OF the net product OF manu-
featuring industry.
The net product OF manufacturing
industry in the United States by the Census
Of 1900 was s., coo 1856 .5S4; while the wages
paid mot including any salsried offioers)
we're ~ 1928 .+07 ,257. or Al per cent OF the
net product. There has been decrease
in the proportion of the total product going
20 wage-earners; while, as shown elsewhere
the absolute amount going to the wage
working class has slightly decreased per
capita during the decade. Wages In 1890,
the year actually covered by the census
figures. had not reached a point as high
as in 1900 and 1901 In a period OF rising
prosperity wages ordinarily advanced less
rapidly than prices and profit.
ut is significant TO notice the movement
OF daily rates OF wages, compared with
the movement OF Wholesale prices Of pro-
ducts. In general there is conformity
between the two, depending largely upon
the conditions OF prosperity and depression.
but the fluctuations Of prices are more
extreme and sudden than those Of wages.
Wages follow at a considerable interval the
rise and fall OF prices. From this Il fol-
lows that when prices rise as result Of
prosperity, rise Is caused in the cost Of
living. and therefore q considerable portion
of the succeeding rise in wages Is counter
acted and when prices fall as a result of
depression the laborer does not enjoy
all the fruits Of low prices on account OF
the resulting lack Of employment. ~
Perhaps the most significant feature
OF modern industry is the increasing in
tsnsity Of exertion. owing to the introduc-
ton OF machinery and minute division
OF labor. Where formerly the working
man could change from one operation
10 another, he now Is limited 20 very
small operation in large series He
acquires intense speed, and the force of
competition compels employers TO select
only those who excel In physical vigor.
To this is added the fact that labor unions
have quite generally been compelled TO
remove the restrictions, which often for
merly existed. on the amount Of work
man shall be permitted 10 turn out. The
result is that the trade life of the working
man has been reduced in many industries
The superintendent Of the free employ
pna ktiraafi nf fata hal ha,
average woman who earns her living as a
domestic is commercially dead after she
is IS years OF age. There is no place for
man that is so years OF age. if he Is a com
mon lahorer. II he shows his age, gen.
ersl complaint comes from all trades unions
and from workers in all occupations re-
specting this shortening of trade life.
Plainly, IL the increased exertion of the
wage Garner shortens his period of earnings,
there ought TO be a corresponding rise in
the daily rates of wages in order that he
may retain throughout his life his original
standard of living.
While the laws regarding time of pay
ment have been held unconstitutional or
have been ignored without penalty, yet in
the case Of strong organizations Of labor.
weekly and fortnightly payments are usu-
ally secured. Here as may be frequently
noticed, the trade union enters as a means
Of regulation where the State Legislature
fails
A largo amount OF testimony has been
taken by the lndust rial Commission re-
garding the movement for fewer hours Of
labor and the effects Of reductions In hours
upon production and upon wages and con-
ditions OF workmen and their families
representative Of the Chicago Bridge
and Structural Iron Workers Union holds
that the s-hour day has so increased the
efhciency OF the laborer that there is act
ualy more work done In eight houre than
was formerly done In ten hours. On the
SIDE of the working population there can
ne no question respecting the desirability
oi fewer hours from every standpoint.
lhey gain not only in health, but also in
intelligence. morality, temperance and
preparation for citizenship.
Furthermore a reduction OF hours IL
not accompanied by a permanent reduc-
ton IN the daily rates Of pay Doubtless
II good policy for labor organizations
In demanding reduction OF hours. 20
oonoede temporary reduction in the rate
OF pay per day, which might he consistent
with an increase In the rate per hour. The
granite cutters adopted this plan. and when
their hours were reduced from ten to nine
they accepted a drop Of rs cents a day In
wages. One year later they regained
the wages of the ten-hour day. Again
they dropped rs cents in order 10 get the
elght-hour day. and in another year they
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