The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-08-16
WAGES AND HOURS
Both Show improvement, the First
Higher and the Latter Shorter.
Food, However, Much Costlier.

A report was issued by the bureau
of labor at Washington, Monday, of an
investigation into wages and hours
of labor in 1905 in the principal man
ufacturing industries of the United
States. The report gives the average
wages and the hours Of labor and
the number OF employees in identi-
cal establishments in both 1904 and
1905. While the figures presented are
not exhaustive for the United States,
the report says:
"Jt is believed they are fairly rep
resentative of the Industries investl-
gated" Continuing the report says:
"The results of this investigation
show that in 1905 the average wages
per hour in the principal manufac-
turing 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.S per cent
more persons were employed in the
establishments investigated. AS there
was no reduction in the average hours
of labor per week, the average week
ly earnings per employee were 1.6
per cent higher than in 1904.
Gas there was an increase in the
number of employees as we'll as IN
the weekly earnings per employee,
there was considerable increase
in the weekly earnings of all en-
ployees, or, in other words, in the
amount of the weekly pay roll. This
increase was per cent in the estab-
lishments investigated.
when the figures of this article
relating to wages and hours of labor
and those of the succeeding article
relating 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, con-
sumed were 6 per cent higher in 1905
than in 1904. AS the average wages
per hour increased more than the re-
tail prices Of food, the purchasing
power of both hourly and weekly
wages was 1 per cent higher than
in 1904, or, expressed in other words,
one hours wages In 1905 would pur-
chase l per cent more food than one
hours wages in 1904.
"The average wages per hour in
1905 were 1879 per cent higher than
the average for the ten years pc
riod from. 1890 to 1899, inclusive. The
number Of employees was 1876 per
cent greater and the average hours
of labor peri week were Al per cent
lower. The average earnings per
week in 1905 were IA per cent higher
than the average earnings per week
during the ten years from 1890 to
1899. The aggregate weely earnings
of all employees, that is the total
amount of the pay rolls, were 52.3 per
cent higher in 1905 than the aver
age during the ten years period
named.
"The retail price of principal arti-
cles of food, weighted according to
family consumption of various articles,
was 12.4 per cent higher in 1905 than
was the average price for the ten
years from 1890 to 1899. Compared /
with the average for the same ten
years period the purchasing power
Of an hours wages in 1905 was 5.S |
per cent greater and of a weeks
wages IA per: cent greater, the in
crease in purchasing power or week
ly wages being less than the increase
in purchasing Of hourly wages be.
cause of the reduction of the hours
Of labor during the period"