The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-18
COST OF LIVING
THEN AND NOW

We'll, I've made a study Of statistics
all my lfc,'' said the little old man, who
by his irreverent underlings Is called the
crank" but sometimes. you know. they
don't work out the way you want them
to at all"
There was not much doing in his office
and among those who were loafing there
was a young fellow Of inqUiring turn Of
mind who got on the subject of a general
Increase OF pay for the government en-
ployes. making the assertion that the
trusts had so put up the price OF living
that it had the effect of materially re-
ducing wages.
I'm not so sure of that" said the stat
istician. THE government itself has gone
into the subject pretty thoroughly and It
does not find the figures quite to justify
your statement. Take the price Of food
stuffs in general from the year 1880 to
1899 as an average OF 100 per cent; you
will find that in 1880 IL rose to 1921 per
cent, and then It lessened until the year
1896, when it was down TO 95.S per cent.
1t gradually went I'D again until In 1865
it was 1l2.5 per cent-or 10 make it sim
pier. it had risen just 1e.2 per cent higher
In 1905 than 81 was in 1890.
I've taken the trouble, be went on. (for
he is always ready to talk when started on
his hobby, ito get at the percentage Of in
crease in the most used food products in
1905 over the year 1880. I find that three
staples have materially decreased. Coffee.
11.2 per cent: molasses. 3 per cent, and
other things have increased: Beef, 1913
per cent; bread. 40; butter, SO: mutton,
Il; pork, 303. potatoes. S; veal 191; eggs,
S0.S: chickens. 20; corn meal, 222; and
bacon, 449 These increases. together with
the increased prices in some other not so
much used products, bring up the average
increase. as said, to 1o.2 per cent"
And there has been no corresponding
increase In wages?'' ventured the inquir-
ing young man.
"Ahl but there has" said the crank"
mildly, only the question OF a raise in
wages IS a difficult one 10 set down.
because it involves not only the differ
ences between skilled and unskilled labor,
but also the differences brought about by
the labor unions IN reduced hours Of
labor But. broadly speaking, it may be
said that the average wages per hour in
1903 were 1N9 per cent higher than In
the ten-bOur-a-day period between 1890
and 1899. But in this calculation you
must figure that the number OF employees
for the respective periods was 80 per cent
greater. and the average hours OF labor
were over 1 per cent lower
But the young man of an inquiring
turn Of mind had with him some clip
Win FrFH rLrrr ~ - "a
newspapers. and these showed a marked
difference in prices IN some food COM
modities. said he. Look here, old gem
tleman in 1851 coffee was l9 cents; it
is - cents to-day; poultry was l-2 cents,
now II IS -; beef is cheaper. II was
cents and now 70 Is listed at 10. Why
even whisky-in 1SS7 It's market price
was Sl.14 "A gallon, and to-day it is S1-35."
We'll. ! stick by the government Sc
ports said the Old gentleman. a little
angrily. You can make fun Of them II
you want to. but there are many things
that come into this calculation Of prices
and wages that no statistics can gather
There is the difference between what the
wholesale price is and what the retail
merchant charges; the difference in hours
men work; the cheapness of construction
Of houses in certain places which initiates
or reduces rent; the price OF gas. the
price Of coal. the price OF clothes. IL
would take one statistical bureau all by
itself % put these figures into such shape
that he layman could understand them
and
you mean that facing this problem
your beloved statistics fail?'' asked the
inquiring young man. sarcasucally.
"No-not fail-but il requires a larger
brain than YOURS 20 grasp their fun sig
Hidcance. he answered, and 50. as the
debate threatened 10 become acrimonious.
We stopped il short