New-York tribune., 1902-02-05
PEOPLE OF SMALL MEANS.
HOW THE POOR SPEND THEIR MONEY
LITTLE CHANCE FOR THRIFT
AMONG WAGE FARMERS.

ct IS the women Of the self-supporting poor
who do not get their fair share OF the good
things Of life" said Robert Erskine Ely 10 the
members Of the League for Political Education,
yesterday. Mr.. Ely's topic was the Earnings Of
the Self-Supporting Poor" and he stated that the
margin Of income with the wage earning class is
so small after payment Of rent. food, fuel and
clothes that the full development Of the working
capacity OF the laborer IS difficult and that the
consequent economic loss TO society is very great
There is popular impression" he said that
the wage earners Of the United States COM
pared with those Of other countries are much
better of. This impression is well founded and IN
the broad sense IS entirely accurate. but in
this most favored Of all lands the majority Of
people are living under conditions Of life and labor
which compel rigid seIf-denial and involve the
possibility Of becoming dependent upon public or
private charity at some period cf their lives.
DR.. Carroll D. Wright, United States Commits
sioner Of Labor. estimates that in the year 1890.
15eaH0 persons in this country were wage earn
in manufacturing and mechanical Industries.
and that their average individual earnings were
500 year The number included men and women
boys and girls Of the age Of ten years older.
Il is probable that on average at least
persons depended for support upon each one OF the
100000, which means that three persons lived on
an average monthly income Of S33 80, or a little
over IS 33 q week, or about g II person.
The essential facts regarding wage earners'
psnditures known. In cities II IS generally
true that one-fourth Of the family income goes for
rent, and one-haIf for fuel and food. With the
figures given above, this that the three per-
sens living on a monthly income OF s33 33 after
spending Sl5 90 month on food and fuel and IS 80
on rent, viii have left SIS 80 month for clothing.
provision against misfortune death and all that
ministers 10 the higher life OF man. such
hgious and social privileges. books. pictures and
recreation IN It's various forms II these three
persons spend so apiece a year on clothing they
have left only 80 for all other expenditures. Is
70 be wondered at that the highest life Of the
poor is sometimes warped when each has only an
average OF Sl3 a year TO spend on all other pur-
poses, except rent food, fuel and clothing?
There IS more favorite form of philanthropy
than the encouragement Of wage earners to own
their own homes. An entirely competent investi
gator shows that IN American cities having popu-
aons Of more than 10000 less than q per cent Of
The homes Of the people are owned by those who
I've in them. In cities Of from 5000 to 100000 in
hab!tants less than IS per cent Of the homes
owned by those who live in them, In cities of less
than 5000 inhabitants less than a per cent of the
homes are owned by those who live in them.
Property Is more widely distributed in America
than in any Of the other great countries of the
world, and Vet even here one-tenth Of all the
families own about three times much property
as the other nine-tenths. In 1880 the average
wealth Of 55000oO families out OF the total 125000OO
IN this country was $50.
The gospel or thrift is often preached to the poor
of our economic problem cannot be solved by thrift
alone An Irish workingman Of decidedly superior
intelligence with a wife and four children. and
earning about SIG TO SIS week when he worked full
une had by close economy saved from $50 TO 500.
Two OF hts children taken III with a conta-
eous disease. He and his wife the only
nurses he being prevented from continuing his
work Il may be imagined that when doctors bills
ana funeral expenses were paid. the savings OF
several years were entirely swept away. This man
once said: You talk about laying up something
ior rainy day, but what If II rains every day for
weeks and weeks, and perhaps months%
NOW, what are the majority Of the people con-
lfonted by the exigencies of existence to bet
yer themselves? This is what the Russian Hebrews
"a this city do: They all work. and they take dodgers
or ooarders often, and they spend little nothing
m wssteful indulgences If they wish books they
Oorrow them al the free libraries: If they wish to
see pictures they look in shop windows and go TO
TIE Tree art galleries; II they wish hear good
music they attend the open air concerts in the
PARKS in the summer time, and perhaps go to a few
cAeap concerts IN the winter The young people OF
ne family grown 10 adult years may go 10 the the
SUe SIX or eight times In a years time More than
Hy other people on earth poor Jews make the very
est OF the cramped surroundings OF their lives.
me last lecture in the course How the Poor
:, I've VIII be given by Mr. Ely next Tuesday
= d. m at the rooms of the League for Political
-4ucsuon. No. q West Forty-fourth-st The sub
Seet OF the closing lecture will be Morals OF the
disappearing Poor"