Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-25
IN THE FIELD OF LABOR. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Issues Its Nineteenth
 Annual Report.
Annual Report.

The nineteenth annual report of the 1 Connecticut bureau of labor statistics is made public to-day. It is the first to be issued by Commissioner Scoville, and contains much valuable informa- ton upon variety of subjects. In his introduction Commissioner Sco- Vlue says ill respect to the science of l political economy and it's relation to the labor problem: "In the early days combinations among artisans were not so necessary as they have since be- come. The time has gone by when 1t ] IS necessary to argue for the right to comblne, or the usefulness of such combinations. The former is an ad- m1tted fact; the latter is becoming so generally recognized that presentation of It's proof is not necessary here. It should be granted that the working classes have such a right, and that sucn combinations are a benefit to the Worklngmen is now being acknowl- edged by most writers on social and economic subjects
 Go1ng further, Commissioner Sco- Vile says: "A slight knowledge of political economy would teach the
 
 on competitions; that the price of labor depended on the law of supply and de- mand," and that the object of the sclence of political economy is to dis cover laws that govern the production ana distribution of wealth." and. the report says, "the truth of the doctrine or supply and demand has been estab- l1shed beyond all possibility of sue cesSful contradition. It cannot. now ever, be claimed for it that it's effects are altogether independent of human actions, but 1t is claimed for it that at any given time and place the price of any commodity is determined by the relation its supply bears to the demand Tor 1t" Continuing, the report says: ~'o11t1cal economy would teach the working people that the wages of labor have generally been the bare means of subsistence, those which will enable a laborer to live and, have a being. What the standard subsistence shall be is determined very largely by the work ingmen themselves! If they are indo- lent and ignorant, it will be low; if they are courageous, intelligent and in dustrious. it will be high. 1t depends largely upon their aspirations" Nu- merous quotations from the writings Of political economists are to be found in the report which will be of interest to economist, workingman and en- ployer.
 Part New Factory Construction.
 The report contains a statement con- corning new mill construction. The amount expended in the state in new buildings for manufacturing purposes during the year ended July 1, 1908, was S2,367,213.93; being 2.5 per cent less than was expended for the same purpose ill 1902; the amount was, however. 21.5 per cent more than was expended for the same purpose in 1900 and 11.6 per cent more than in 1901. The report gives in detail the 1oca- ton of these new structures and the increased floor space brought into use because of their erection. It also gives in detail and in tabu1ated form the dimensions, style Of construction, number of stories, cost of each build ing, and the increase in number of en- ployes caused by such additions.
 Part II-Statistics of Manufacturers.
 A most gratifying exhibit is here shown, for by the figures in the report the prosperity which has obtained in the state for several years past still continues. It must be borne in mind,
 
 the period covered by the report ended November 30, 1903.
 Eight hundred and sixty establish ments are represented in this chapter of the report, and a brief comparative summary of the tables is given here. The average number of persons enl- ployed in these establishments during the fiscal year 1903 was 117.798, an in- crease of per cent over the average for 1902, and the amount paid in wages was 1O.5 per cent greater in 1908 than in 1902.
 The summary of table II presents the interesting information that the annual earnings per employe in 1903 were $46S.99, which sum should be placed in comparison with $45S.52 per employe in 1902, $441.43 in 1901, and $542.O4 in 1900.
 The recapitNlation of table III shows that the proportion of the gross value of products which was paid to labor during the year 1903 by the establish ment representing a productive value of $2O5, 165. .675.72 was ,26.9 per cent; this in comparison with a percentage of 26.4 per cent in 1902, 262 per cent in 1901. and 25.4 per cent in 1900.
 Part III-Manufactories
 This chapter of the report is devoted to a brief description and illustrations of the buildings of some of the leading manufacturing establishments in the state. and is a new feature. There are given also some interesting statistical data taken from the report of the United States census, having reference to each of the towns represented.
 Part ,IV-Directory of Labor Organ
 izations.
 A very complete directory of labor organizations located within the state is presented in this chapter The names and postoffice addresses of the secretaries of the unions are also given. The report says that there are 591 organizations known to have been in active existence in 1903. It is, therefore, interesting to note the ratio of increase in number during the past five years For the purpose of com parison the number of organizations of which the bureau has record are as follows: Tn 1899. PA: in 1900. 21O: in 1901, $40; in 1902. 510 and in 19o,; 591. In 1901. labor unions were found
 in