Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-11-05

ssses a collection. IL "a. h3weyes. obyi-
a. thlt s.ie woriinSnaan does mol buy
~ f3ol st Wholesale. II 81. therefore.
e.tsriy wroaS - compare the working
Hsaa's wages with wholesale prices. The
democratic Text Boss Iearnefiy dis
courses sn IL stability of Wholesale
p4ices. ahiie a. a matter ~ fact. IL is
recognized hy all authorities ON prices
that wholesale prices are exceedingly
sensitive and shat retaii prices aFe nfoFe
stsaie, ueyer reaching relatively as nigh
or as low levels as the former. But.
leaving aside the question 9f stability. II
Is the retail price which the ordinary
consumer "a compelled "a pay. and which.
therefore diseloses the more accurately
the cost Of Living Further. X IL stated
IN this Bulletin OF the Bureau Of Labor
that these retail prices we're secured
directly from the books Of sales OF over
@pJ retail meschants--that these prices
represent actual sales To consumers ss
tending over each month Of the fourteen
year period rovered-thaf they represent
stery important center Of industry in the
ceuatry-aud that the stores coutribut-
ing the data are such a. are largely
patrnnlzcd By the working classes II is
understood that these prices will be pub
!ssbs-i in the greatest detail FOR each city
covered in the Eighteenth Annual Re-
port Of tne Brrelu. now IN pgeSs-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 thnt the Whole mat
ter of cost Of living he left 10 the house
wives ~ the country. They do not per-
hHi-s recall the statefneat made in the
IL. - "a.
lilies contributed 20 the report-thst the
bureau has practically done already what
Is suGgesied-left the matter to she
wives Df over - OOO representative work
iIism-n.
Full of Mi-statr
The criticism Of the wage data ap
pears 10 be quite az futile n that Of the
figures far cost ot liking. II Is fun
uf mis.tatemeHts of fact. as may be seen
by reference 90 she Bulletin Itself The
method Of averaging imputed 10 the
bureau was not used. Even the most
cursary examination Of the Bulletin
coHid not fail 20 disclose the falzity af
tie premises upon which the entire criti-
cism a. 10 method j. based. IL has been
charged IN some quarters that the In
crease 0f Is per cent. IA wages shown
By the bureau Il greater than = actually
the case. because the wages which form
the basis OF the report represent highly
unianiK-d ceafers where wages have
been Increased most rapidly. This charge
Is readily refuted by comparing the Bul-
irfin wages Nith the average of the mini
MUM union wages shown for the same
occupations complied by the Secre-
tary of the Building Contractors Conn-
Gil OF Chicago. H., and publishcd by the
4 IaasIH -. -
York City. Bearing in mind that the
union wages quoted are minimum wages
nad that the actual union wages would
average considerably higher, the com.
paTison- IN few occupations are a. FOL.
lows: Minimum union wages OF masons
in - cities average - cents per hour.
while the aYeras se of the bureau Is not
qaite a. cents. minimum union wages
of brlcklayrrs In - cities average 51l.
cents per hour. while the average Of
the bureau i Jff. cents: minimum
union wages Of structural iron workers
in - elites average 46as cents per hour.
while the average of the barcau j. less
than Iih cents, minimum uniaH wages
OF plumbers in = cities average 81,
cents per hsur, while the average Of the
bureau h. 49, cents. These examples
tn.sht De multiplied. bat those given are
sufficient to show that the averages 81
she hureha are considerably lower than
the average ~ minimum union aaees.
aud are. therefore. fairly representative
OF both luioa aud nla-Hni1n labor Ia the
occupations covered. T'ae charge that
an uujustiaatir Increase In wages Is
seeurei By tAs bureau hg the collection
of its hgurrs from sLraurly nulsnlz-i
eenter- Is srsdiiy rcfuas=I by the above
facts
The principal charges have been mem
u1ned-th@ taiHor ones Hre equally uu-
warranted sad unsupported hy the facts.
The report ~ the bureau represents the
sum VI patient sui r=iustakins iavesti-
cation of Hearty three ye1rs. ard IT, per
nlsuent yaige cannot he lsssvneiI az ab-
scured hy partisan attacks. H.. value
A. a scientific study of economic randi-
tlens and a= a contribution 20 the zome-
what menEre statistics of wages and cost
Of living has already bceu recognized
both A. home and abroad. The accuracy
and excellence of the reports Of this
bureau af the government have never
been seriously questioned during IL eish
teen years OF existence. Under the able
and conservative management of Com
missioner Wright. Il has always merit.
ed Is reputation u being a non-parti-
san Ofice for the collection aud prestn-
tatian Of facts. and 50 Tar a. can b.
seen from careful examination " H..
latest report. the charges made for par
tisan effect viii not warrant the with
drawh Of the confidence Of the public.
nui Etrvrf.u1s.