The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-08


LabOr-ShOws How the Depart
ment Tried to show Everything
That Might Tend to the Interest
of the Republican Party-Real
Conditions shown.
By R. M. Larner.
Washington, Aug. Hon. William
S. Cowherd, chairman of the Demo-
cratic Congressional Committee has
had the late report of the Hon. Carroll
D. Wright, Labor Commissioner, on
Wages and Cost of Living" under
consideration, and has issued the fol-
lowing statement thereon:
Briefly summarized, Col. Wright's re-
port on Wages and the Cost of Liv-
ing" just issued, shows:
That the retail prices of food were
1913 per cent. higher in 1903 than the
average for the ten years from 1890 to
1899.
That the weekly earnings per en-
ploye were 1913 per cent. higher in
1908 than the average for the ten years
from 1890 to 1899.
That the purchasing power of wages
was in 1903 Is per cent. greater than
the average for the ten years from
1890 to 1899.
1t is rather remarkable, under the
circumstances, if Col. Wright's object
was to show that the country is in
much better condition at present than
for many years. that he did not pro-
duce statistics showing a much greater
margin in its favor. Perhaps indus
trial conditions at the present time
caused him to revise his figures at the
last minute, and decided in favor of
a smaller margin. Some of the minor
points brought out by the report are:
The number of people employed in
1908 was 26.4 per cent. greater than
the average from 1890 to 1899.
The hours of labor per week were
3.4 per cent. less in 1908 than the aV-
erage from 1890 to 1899.
Hence, the weekly earnings of all
employees were 41.9 per cent. greater in
1903 than the average from 1890 to
1899
In the Interest of Protection.
1t is plainly evident to every pur-
chaser of household supplies for the
past ten years that these statistics
are utterly unreliable, and have been
manipulated in the interest of protec-
ton and of the Republican party.
The truth of the matter is, there are
200, 900 wage earners to-day on a strike;
they are on a strike either because the
cost of living has reduced the pur
chasing power of the wage received
or because their wages have been re-
duced within the year.
The trade journals inform us that
for the years 1903 and 1904 the wages
of 100000 men, largely in the pro
tected industries, have been reduced
from 10 to 80 per cent. 1t is esti-
mated that the number of men now
unemployed is 600, 900. They have been
laid off by the railroads and by hun
dreds of the great mills throughout the
country. Many have been dispos-
sessed of their former homes, and are
sleeping in the parks in the great
cities. They have hungry families for
whom they are unable to provide, and
more men have committed suicide in
the past year than ever before in the
history of the country.
Mr.. Wright has been heralded by
Secretary Shaw as the highest author
ity in the country on the question of
wages and prices; that he is an able
statistician no one can deny, the bull
letin just issued, as well as his for
mer reports are sufficient proof of his
skill Ill IlldlAllthicNiAi5 40 NANS ~ ANA~NN
party necessities.
Dun,s Figures Scientific and Accu-
rate.
For several years Col. Wright's bu-
reu has been supplying US with whole
sale prices, which showed an average
increase in prices, since 1892, only about
half as great as was shown by Dun's
Review, our best commercial authority.
Dun's price tables were scientifically
constructed. His prices were propor-
toned to consumption. That is. his
averages were properly balanced or
weighted" so that the price of COM
paratively unimportant article of con-
sumption did not have the same effect
upon his average as did the price OF the
most important article. He did not
make his price tables to support an
economic theory. but to give the facts.
WriEht's Price Microscope.
On the contrary, Col Wright's price
tables were unscientific, and partisan.
He magnified little. trivial articles, like
nutmegs, putty and alum, until they
looked as big as cotton, corn and hay.
Thus. in his 1902 report, the decline in
the price of nutmegs more than coun-
teracted the advances in the prices Of
sugar, eggs, milk, bread and fresh
beef The average family consumes
ABOUT s cents worth VI nuLIDNkb III a
year and $3.50 worth of these other ar
ticles That is, Col. Wright magnified
nutmegs about 5000 times before he
compared them with these other ar
ticles.
In this way Col. Wright kept prices
down so that, for 1902 his figures show
ed an increase of less than 26 per cent.
over the 1897 prices. while the scientific
figures of Dun showed a difference of
about 81 per cent.
Republicans Afraid of High Prices.
But even 26 per cent. was too much
for Col. Wright and his Republican
friends. 1t would never do TO enter
a presidential campaign with 26 per
cent. increase in average prices. The
wicked" Democrat would credit this
great increase in the cost of living
to the hundreds of protected trusts
which have grown up and fourished
under the Dingley tariff act, and no
amount of juggling would result in
a corresponding raise in wages.
Confronted with this difficulty and
pressed by party needs 10 find some
avenue of escape, Col Wright hit upon
the happy solution of abandoning
wholesale prices as the basis of his
figures and resorting TO retail prices
selected by his agents. from localities
most suitable TO the purpose I'm hand.
Wholesale prices as everybody knows.
are comparatively stable; they are
practically the same all over the land
with the cost OF freight added RE-
tail prices are utterly unstable: there