The Springfield herald., 1904-11-04

.
ns that the workingman does not buy
his food at wholesale. 1t is. therefore.
clearly wrong to compare the working
mans wnges with wholesale prices. The
Democratic Text Book learnedly dis
courses on tie stability of wholesale
prices while as matter of fact, it is
recognized by all authorities on prices
that wholesale prices are exceedingly
sensitive and that retail prices are moro
stable. never reaching relatively as high
or ns 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 We're secured
directly from the books OF sales OF over
zoo retail mcrchants-that these prices
represent actual sales to consumers ex-
tending over each month of the fourteen
year period coyered-that they represent
every important center of industry in the
coumtry-and that the stores contribut-
ing the data are such AS nre largely
patroniZed by the working classes. 1t is
understood that these prices will be pub
lished 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 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.
hnps recall the statement made In the
criticised Bulletin that over 25.OOO fam
lilies contributed to the report-that the
bureau has practically done already what
is suggested-left the matter to tho
wives Of over 25,OO0 representative work
iugmen.
Full of Misstate enss.
The criticism of the wage data ap-
pears to be quite as futile AS that of tho
figures for cost of living. 1t is full
OF misstat tements 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 based. 1t has been
charged in some quarters that the in-
crease of 1873 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
unionized 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 ILL.,, and published by the
Building Employers Association Of 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 IL 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 bricklayers in 20 cities average 57H
cents per hour, while the average of
the bureau is 54A cents; minimum
union wages of structural iron workers
in % cities average 46A cents per hour,
while the average of the bureau is less
than 41A cents; minimum union wages
of plumbers in % cities average 47N
cents per hour, while the average of the
bureau is 43H 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 or MINIMUM. union wages,
and are, therefore, fairly representative
of both union and non-union labor in the
occupations covered. The charge that
an unjustiGable increase In wages il
secured by the bureau by the collection
of its figures from strongly uniOnized
centers Is readily refuted by the above
facts.
The principal charges have been men
tioned-the minor ones are equally uti-
warranted and unsupported by the facts.
The report Of the bureau represents the
sum of IL patient and painstaking investi.
CATION of nearly three years, and its per-
manent value cannot be lessened or OBJ
scured by partisan attacks. Its value
as a scientific study of economic cOndi-
tions and as a contribution to the some
what mcagre statistics of wages and cost
of living has already been recognized
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
ed its reputation of being non-parti-
san office for the collection and presen-
tuition of facts, and SO far as can bn
seen from a careful examination of its
latest report the charges made for par.
tisan effect will not warrant the with.
drQwal of the confidence of the public