La Junta tribune., 1904-11-05

sncs eoiie.Tion. IL i. however. obvi-
a- that the ~0rsinsman does not buy
L.. food at wholesale II is. therefore.
clearly wrong t0 compare tA~ vor2ing-
nan'. wage With " hyi->sls pries-- The
Democratic Text Zoo. l-aFnsdly dis
~orr.es IN IL stability OF Wholesale
prsees. sk.!- - q matter OF fact, II is
recognized By all agh.r.i4es on prices
that wholesale prices ART exceedingly
sensitive AID that retail prices are more
stable, never r-sehin. relatively as high
or as low level. a. the former. But
leaving aside the question Of stability, It
10 the retail price which the ordinary
consumer /. compelled 10 pay, and which.
therefore dis.lo--s the more accurately
the cost OF living. Further, II - stated
In this Bulletin Of the Bureau .: Labor
chat these retail prices were secured
tir-ctly from the books OF sales OF over
zoo retail m.rchants-,hat these prices
represent actual sales To consumers er-
leading over each mouth OF III. fourteen
year period coyerei-tHat they represent
every important center OF indusry IN the
couutry-and that the stores contribut-
hog the data are such are largely
patronized by the working classes. II -
uniersto-od that th-s. prices will be pub
Lshes. Ia the CREATES, detail for each city
covered In the Eighteenth Annual Re
port OF the Bureau. now In press-Hn
evidence that the officials OF the bureau
have 10 douH as to the integrity Of their
data.
As the final court, the Democratic
ma ma gers suggest that the whole mat
Ser Of eos Of living he left to the house
wives Of the country. They do not per
haps recall the statement made in the
criticised Bulletin that over 5000 fam
tiles contributed 20 the report-that the
bureau has practically done already what
So sugges,ed-left the matter TO the
wives 1t over 1000 representative work
hgInen.
Fnii Of Mi.state
The criticism of the wage data sp-
pears TO be quite futile as that of the
figures for cost OF living IL is full
of misStatements OF fact. as may be seen
by reference TO the Bulletin itself The
method OF averaging imputed 90 the
bureau wa. not u.ed. Even the most
cursory examination OF the Bulletin
could not fail to disclose the falsity of
the premises upon which the entire cF!tl-
eism aS TO method ~ based. IL has been
charged In some quarters that the iu-
crease Of ISIS per cent. In wages shown
BY the bureau IL greater than is actually
the case because the wages which form
the basis Of the report represent highly
unionized centers. where wages have
been increased most rapidly. This charge
IL readily refuted 10y comparing the Bui-
betin wages with the average of the mini
mum union wages shown for the same
occupations. a. complied by the secre-
tsry of the Building Contractors Coun-
eli of Chicago. H.. and published by the
Huilttn- EuYRlataFaf A AN-fsa.UFfnu ue New
York City. Bearing IL mind that the
uniou wages quoted are minimum wages
and that the actual union wages would
average considerably higher. the com
psrisons In few occupations are ss fol
lows: Minimum union wages OF masons
In - cities average "a cents per hour.
while the average OF the bureau is not
quite ~ cents. minimum union wages
OF bricklnyers ia - cities average 5Ii4
cents per hour, while the average OF
the bureau is 5Ia, cents; minimum
union wages OF structural iron workers
tn - cities average i6+. cents per hour,
while the average OF the bureau is less
than AK cents; minimum union wages
of plum bers Ia - cities average AS,
cents per hour. while the average Of the
bureau j. 439. cents. These examples
might be multiplied, but those given are
sufficient to show tha, 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
occupau tons covered. The charge that
an unjustihable Increase IN wages is
secured by the bureau by the collection
of its figures from strongly unioniz.d
crnters is readily refuted by the above
facts.
The principal charges have been men
tobed-the minor ones are equally IN
warranted and unsupported by the facts.
The report OF the bureau represents the
sum OF patient and painstakinE inyesti-
CATION OF nearly three years. and its per
manent value cannot be lessened or oh
scured by partisan attacks. Its value
ss a scicntihc study of economic condi.
lions and as contribution to the some
what meaEre statistics OF wages and cost
of living has already been recognized
both 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. !, has always merit.
ei its reputation OF being a non-parti.
.an Office for the collection and presssl-
tafion of facts, and 50 far as can be
seen from careful examination OF it,
latest report, the charges made for par
Gsan effect will not warrant the with
drawal OF the confidence OF the pubic.
OIney and C1e~einnd's Monumeutai
Brass.