Evening journal., 1906-08-15
WAGES NOW
PURCHASE MORE
Last Year Mans Earnings
0utstripped Advance in
Food Prices

A report issued by the Bureau Of
Labor of an investigation into wages
and hours of labor in 1905 in the
principal manufacturing and mechani-
cal industries of the United states has
just been made public. The report
gives the average wages and hours Of
labor and the number Of employees in
Identical establishments in both 1904
and 1905. While the figures presented
are not exhaustive for the United
States the report says. 1t Is believed
they are fairly representative of the
industries Investigated"
Continuing the report says:
The result of this investigation
show that in 1905 the average wages
per hour in the principal manufactur-
ing and mechanical industries Of the
country were 1.6 per cent higher than
in 1904; that the average hours OF
labor per week remained the same as
in 1904. and that 6.3 per cent. more
persons We're employed in the estab-
liFhments Investigated. AS there was
no reduction in the average hours Of
/
earnings per employe were 1.6 per cent
higher than in 1904. AS there was an
increase in the number of employees
as well as in the weekly earnings pei
employe, there was a noteworthy in
crease in the weekly earnings Of all
employees, or in other words. amount
OF the weekly pay roll. This increase
was 3 per cent. in the establishments
investigated.
When the figures Of this article re-
lating to wages and hours OF labor
and those Of the succeeding article re-
lating to retail prices of food, are
/ brought together It is seen that the
retail prices of food, due weight be-
/ ing given to the quantity and cost OF
the different commodities consumed
were 0.6 per cent. higher in 1905 than
In 1904 AS the average wages per
hour increased more than the retail
prices OF food, the purchasing power Of
wages increased. In 1905 the purchas-
ing power Of both hourly and weekly
wages was ] per cent. higher than in
1904. or. expressed IN other words, an
hours wages in 1905 would purchase
per cent. more food than an hours
wages i'm 1904"
The averages OF wages per hour In
1905 We're 1879 per cent. higher than
the average for the ten-year period
from 1890 to 1899 inclusive. The num-
Der Of employees was 1876 per cent
greater and the average hours Of labor
per week were al per cent lower. The
average earnings per week in 1905
woro IA per cent higher than the aver
age earnings per week during the ten
years from 1890 TO 1899 The aggregate
weekly earnings Of all employes-thai
is the total amount Of the pay rolls
were 52.S per cent. higher in 1905 than
the average during the ten-year period
named.
"The retail price of the principal
! articles of fcc1 weighed according tC
femily consumption Of the various art.
/ icles. was i2.4 per cent. higher IN 190'
than was the average price for th'
ten years from 1890 to 1899. Compared
with the average for the same ten
year period. the purchasing power o
an hours wages in 1905 was 5.Ss pc
cent. gre1ter. and Of a weeks wages
IA per cent greater. the increase II
purchasing power cf weekly wages be
lilk less AilIIl AIt llllltAfN lll OuANl1N
ing power Of hourly wages because o
the reduction of the hours Of labo
during the period.
"The average wages per hour Il
1905 were 215 per cent. higher thar
1894, the year Of lowest wages durinl
the period covered. and weekly earn
ngs were 1876 higher. The purchasing
power OF an hours wages was create
i'm 1905 than in any other year cover
ed by this investiga ton being ~ pc
cent. greater than In 1894 the year o
lowest wages and Ia per cent. create
than IN 1896, the year Of lowest retal
prices The purchasing power Of
weeks wages IN 1905 was 8.5 per cent
greater than in 1894. but 81 per cent
less than I'm 1896"
In making the inquiry. the Labo
Bureau attempted 10 cover only thos
Industries in which the wages paid d
the United States in one year wer
S1O.0O0,0OO or more. The data present
ed were obtained in all cases b
special agents of the bureau throug
personal visits to the establishment