Milford chronicle., 1904-11-04


Gus that the workingman does not buy
his food at wholesale. 1t is, therefore,
clearly wrong to compare the working
man's wages with wholesale prices. The
Democratic Text Book learnedly dis
courses on the stability of wholesale
prices. while as a matter of fact, it is
recognized by all authorities on prices
that wholesale prices are exceedingly
sensitive and that retail prices are more
stable. never reaching relatively as high
or as low levels as the former. But,
leaving aside the question Of stability, It
Is the retail price which the ordinary
consumer is compelled to pay. and which,
therefore. discloses the more accurately
the cost of living. Further, it is stated
in this Bulletin OF the Bureau Of Labor
that these retail prices were secured
directly from the books of sales Of over
300 retail merchants-that these prices
represent actual sales TO consumers ex-
tending over each month OF the fourteen
year period covered-that they represent
every important center Of industry IN the
country-and that the stores contribut-
ing the data are such as are largely
patronized by the working classes. 1t IS
understood that these prices will be pub
liehed in the greatest detail for each city
covered in the Eighteenth Annual Re
port OF the Bureau. now in press-an
evidence that the officials Of the bureau
have no doubt as to the integrity Of their
data.
As the hnal court. the Democratic
managers suggest that the whole mat
ter Of cost Of living be left TO the house
wives Of the country. They do not per
haps recall the statement made IN the
criticised Bulletin that over $4,000 fam
flies contributed to the report-that the
bureau has practically done already what
is suggested-left the matter TO the
wives Of over 25OOO representative work
ingmen.
Full of MisHtatements.
The criticism Of the wage data ap-
pears 10 be quite as futile as that Of the
figures for cost OF living. 1t is full
OF misstatements OF fact, as may be seen
by reference TO the Bulletin itself. The
method Of averaging imputed 10 the
bureau was not used. Even the most
cursory examination Of the Bulletin
could not fail to disclose the falsity Of
the premises upon which the entire erati-
cism as 10 method is based. 1t has been
charged in some quarters that the in
crease of ISIS per cent. in wages shown
by the bureau is greater than is actually
the case, because the wages which form
the basis Of the report represent highly
nionized centers, where wages have
been increased most rapidly. This charge
Is readily refuted by comparing the Bull
letin wages with the average Of the mini
mum union wages shown for the same
occupations, as compiled by the Secre-
tary Of the Building Contractors Coun-
Gil Of Chicago. H.. and published by the
Building Employers Association ot New
York City. Bearing in mind that the
union wages quoted are minimum wages
and that the actual union wages would
average considerably higher, the COM
parisons in a few occupations are as fol-
lows: Minimum union wages Of masons
IN % cities average 81 cents per hour,
while the average Of the bureau is not
quite 45 cents; minimum union wages
of brickayers in 90 cities average 51A
cents per hour, while the average Of
the bureau is 543t cents minimum
union wages Of structural iron workers
IN 25 cities average 46S4 cents per hour
while the average OF the bureau is less
than ala cents; minimum union wages
OF plumbers in 2S cities average 47&
cents per hour. while the average Of the |
bureau is 43st cents. These examples |
might be multiplied. but those given are
sufficient to show that the averages Of
the bureau are considerably lower than
the average OF minimum union wages,
and are, therefore, fairly representative
Of both union and non-uuion labor in the
occupations covered. The charge that
an unjustihable increase in wages is
secured by the bureau by the collection
of its figures from strongly uni0nized !
eenters is readily refuted by the above
facts.
The principal charges have been men
tiOned-the minor ones are equally I'M
warranted and unsupported by the facts. !
The report Of the bureau represents the !
sum Of a patient and psinstaking investi- |
CATION OF nearly three years, and it's per
manent value cannot be lsssened or OBJ |
seured by partisan attacks. Its value
as & scientific study Of economic eondi- |
fions and as a contribution 70 the some
what meagre statistics Of wages and cost
Of living has already been recognized
beth at home and abroad. The accuracy
and excellence Of the reports Of this
bureau Of the government have never
been seriously questioned during its eigh-
teen years Of existence. Under the able
and conservative management Of Com
missioner Wright, it has always merit |
cd its reputation OF being a non-parti- |
san office for the collection and presen-
tRtion OF facts. and so far as can be
seen from a careful examination Of its |
hteSt report. the charges made for par
Eisan effect viii not warrant the with