The Delta independent., 1904-11-04

such 4 collection. 1t is. however, obvi-
US that the workingmAn does not buy
his food at wholesale. 1t is. therefore.
clearly wrong to compare the working
mans wages with Wholesale prices. The
Democratic Text Book learnedly dis
courses on TIE 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 il 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
600 retail merchants-that these prices
represent actual sales to consumers OK
tending over each month Of the fourteen
year period covcred-that they represent
every important center OF industry in the
country-and that the stores contribut-
ing the data are such ns are largely
patronized by the working classes. 1t is
understood that these prices will be pub
hshei in the greatest detail for each city
covered in the Eighteenth Annual Re-
port of the Bureau. now in prcss-an
evidence that the officials OF the bureau
have no doubt as to the integrity OF their
data.
As the final 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 5000 fam
lilies contributed to the report-that the
bureau has practically done already what
is suggested-left the matter to the
wives Of over % 600 representative work
ingmen.
Full of Mi.state men,s.
The criticism of the wage data mp
pears TO I've 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 to 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 criti-
cism as to method is basel. 1t has been
charged in SON. quarters that the in.
crease Of 1S.S per cent. in wages shown
by the bureau is greater than is actually
The case. because the wages which form
the basis OF th. report represent highly
unioniz-I centers. where wages have
been increased most rapidly. This charge
is readily rcfnted by comparing the Bui.
letin wages with III. average Of the mini
mum union wages shown for the same
occupations, a. compiled by the Secre-
tary OF the building Contractors Coun-
"il Of Chicago Ill. and published hy the
l:Iiliing Employers As5ociation Of New
ork City. Bearing in mind that the
union wages quoted are minimum wages
and that the actual union wages would
average considerably higher. the com
Iarisons in u Few occupations are fol-
lows: Minimum union wages Of masons
in ~ cities average ~ cents per hour.
while the average OF the bureau i- not
quit" IL cents: minimum union wage,
OF brcklayrrs in - cities average 57L
cents per hour. while the average OF
the bureau j. aa. cents: minimum
union wages of structural iron workers
in - cities average IIH. cent. per hcur.
while the average ~ the bureau Is less
than Az cents: minimum union wages
of plumbers in - cities average tia,
cents per hour. Will. the averag. of the
bureau is i3H, cents. The.. examples
might he multiplied, hut those given ar.
sufficient TO show tbst the average. Of
the hurssu are considerably lower than
the average of minimum union wages.
and are. therefore, fairly representative
OF both unioD and non.nnion labor IL the
occupations covered, The charge that
an unjnsrihabl- increase in wages !.
secured by the bureau by the collection
Of Its figures from strongly uuioniz-i
centers is readily r-futed by the above
facts.
The principal charges have been men
tion~d--thc minor ones are equally I'M
warranted and unsupported by the facts.
The report of the bureau represent. til.
sum Of patient and painstskiug ipv.-ti.
CATION OF nearly thr-. years. and Il. per.
manent vniu" cannot he l--~-ncd or oh.
secured by partisan attacks. Its vsia.
a. scientific study Of economic condi.
tions and as a contribution Go tn. some
Whist m-aEre 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 hsv. never
been seriously questioned during it, -igh.
teen years Of existence. Under the abb,
md conservative management Of Com
missioner Wright. It has always merit.
cd its reputation Of being u non. pa rti.
ean once for the collection and prrscn.
tation OF facts. and 40 far a. can b~
seen from careful examination Of It,
latest report. the charges made for par.
tsan effect will not warrant the with.
drawal OF the confidence OF tn. public