Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-23
X0RK0F LAB|)RBUR[A|)
Its Success In Getting Down
to Practical Matters Is
Very Manifest
GOOD FEATURES ARE ENLARGED
Tho Tenth Biennial Report Of the
Iowa Bureau Of Labor Statistics
outstrips All others-Three Hundred
and Eighteen Factories Inspected
Under New Law.
Special to rimes-Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
| Des Moines. Nov. 23.-The great fea-
| ture OF the tenth biennial report of the
Iowa bureau of labor statistics. this
| week being distributed by Commits
sioner Edward d. Brigham, Is the man
| ifest success Of the bureau in getting
down to practical matters and min
utest detail concerning the material In
| terests of both employers and employees
| in the great growing industries Of Iowa.
There is general absence of those gen
under the necessity of guessing; and s.
! superabundance Of specific and exact
Information from which conclusions
may be drawn by each one according
to his bent. All the good features OF
previous reports from this bureau are
preserved and enlarged. and many new
| features added. so that II is no exag-
| geration to say that the latest report tai
outstrips all others. 1t IS a production
| in which Commissioner Brigham and
| his deputy, Arthur Z. Holder. have put
| their best efforts the past two years
and it represents a vass amount OF la
| bor
The particular new feature Of the
| work has been factory inspection as
provided by new law, and matters In
cident thereto. Inspection was made
Sootari.c poonvnp,pnfia Ia I ion q
were made as to safety appliances,
sanitary provisions and various eondi-
tions OF labor. The report shows just
what recommendations were made In
every case and what was done. In some
counties recommendations were gener-
ally complied with and in others almost
totally disregarded, and this discloses
The character of the local support Civ
, en- the commissioner in enforcing the
laws. A record was obtained OF i9l
accidents in factories OF which forty
one were fatal. A record of railroad
accidents is appended. But the COM
missioner shows the necessity for re-
curing better reports on accidents.
In the more general matter of the
conditions OF labor there is much space
given to full and complete record OF
the number and growth of organiza-
tions of labor for mutual Improvement
and uplifting of the laboring men. with
exact information as to wages paid IN
the various Industries and for various
classes of labor. and in different coun-
ties and cities. the results of co-opera-
ltton among workingmen in the skilled
trades In securing shorter hours and
better wages and other conditions, the
trade agreements and provisions for
arbitration. the record of strikes. the
profits of labor and of capital. the new
Industries and opportunities for new
industries. Much of this is information
that has never been sought before. but
lit is all pertinent and of permanent
value. For instance. 1t IS shown from
these reports that in 1902 in the state
of Iowa 62r299 persons received an av-
eraee wage Of $434.S0 a year. as against
12. 900 less with an average in 1896 OF
s352.71. The increase In employment OF
children is shown. The trade agree
ments in force In the state are given In
full. and these show exactly the ma
ture OF the contracts entered into by
employers and employees In various
Lines. The provisions COR arbitration
contained In these repor.s are shown 20
be numerous and this accounts for the
small number Of strikes In the state
considering the number OF cases IN
which wages have been advanced. The
tables showing the condition OF indus
tries, the business done. the profits
made. cost of material and labor, etc,
are very complete and afford fine ba-
sis for figuring by those who may con-
template enrbarking in manufactures.
There Is information concerning OPP
portunities for new industries and un-
developed water power The infornaa-
ton in regard to conditions I'm the rail-
way service is unusually complete.
good many special features are In
cluded In the book. There is COM
plete directory Of employers OF Iowa.
the names and addresses of some 1000
individuals or firms employing labor.
The valuable paper by Professor Frank
1. Herriott on vital statistics Is IN
cluded in the report. The paper by
James Kilbourne of Dayton, Ohio, read
at the national convention of employ
ers and employees at Minneapolis. on
some nhases of the labor question. is
reprinted here. The chapter on manu-
al training In high schools. prepared
by Professor Newell. of Des Moines.
for the state educa tional department, is
printed. The report is being sent ou,
10 state officials. legislators and per-
sons Interested In the subject. Mr.
Briaha,n's many recommendations AS
to needed legislation or amendments to
axiet;,o ,oUS are fully backed by sta
tistics relating thereto, and VIII there
fore carry much weight conciss
history of the labor bureau is given te
show the steps by which the bureau
nas attained It's present high standing
ard Importance.