Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-24

at once relieve the workers. and render
trade crises less acute by steadying
the supply of labor
Differentiation of the unemployable
from the willing workers and a better
classification of paupers would enable
US to understand the extent of the prob
lem, and how far reorganization of
labor must be carried. Raising the con-
ditions of the whole working class by
better housing and better wages will help
keep decent unskilled workmen from
sinking"
Other causes for present conditions are
given, chief of which are intemperance
and financial depression. Beginning with
the second quarter of 1908 there has been
an almost steady decrease in wages
throughout the United Kingdom The
board of trade returns show that the
wages Of 49,, 900 workmen were reduced
In 1908, while only $4,000 received an in
crease.
Wages of Workers.
During the first six months of 1909 the
wages of 1,Os1.273 workmen were reduced
and only $3.50 workmen enjoyed an in
crease. During the first six months of
1863 the wages of s46,75O coal miners
were reduced an average of $329.676 per
week; $500 of those who had their
wages reduced We're in the engineering
and shipbuilding trade; G9,OO0 were in
the manufacture of iron and steel.
The decrease in wages has been so
general that the board of trade has in
PRODUCED into parliament a bill, now
pending. authorizing it to fix minimum
rate in all trades where there is salts
factory proof that the. wage scale is UNI
usually low in comparison with the COM
pensation received for the work in other
industries. This indicates the pessimistic
feeling that prevails throughout the
country.
A report Of the board of trade shows
that Of the 1,0S1,273 persons who suffered
a reduction during the first six months
of the current year 62.4 per cent have
their wages determined by boards of ar
bitration, trades union committees and
other centralized representatives. Bill per
cent by direct negotiation between the
interested parties and 6.5 per cent by an
automatic sliding scale.
This situation cannot be corrected so
long as the commercial conditions are
unimproved. The reports of the British
board of trade show shrinkage in al
most every line of industry and COM
MERGE and at the same time an increase
of about nearly 21a per cent in the cost of
living. Since 1900 the retail prices in
England of the twenty-three principal
articles Of food have advanced an aver
age Of "a per cent; the price Of bread is
8 per cent higher than it was In 1909;
beef Is CT per cent higher. vegetables =
per cent higher, butter ) per cent higher,
oatmeal and other cereals 1.S per cent
higher, while bacon, pork and cheese are
per cent lower.
During the last year occurred the heavi-
est decline of exports from the United
Kingdom ever recorded. 1t amounted to
more than $25O.0O9.OOO. At the same time
the imports of raw materials TO be cone
verted into finished products in British
factories fell off s1s9,oooro.
Consumption of Liquor.
The official statistics show that the per
capita consumption of liquor in the United
Kingdom is declining, although intern
perance is still given as one. of the chief
reasons for restitution and the lack OF
employment Ten years ago the per cap
ita consumption Of beer in the United
Kingdom was 32.2S gallons. Since then
1t has gradually declined to 2I.S1 gallons.
There is scarcely year during the dec
AIDE that does not show falling off. and
the same may be said of spirits, although
the decrease is not so great as in beer.
The per capita expenditure for all kinds
Of drinks in the United Kingdom has also
decreased during the last ten years from
CA lis Sd to E3 los Sd. The largest de-
crease is shown in ireland. the next In
England and the least in Scotland. In
deed, the consumption of liquor in Scot
land remains about the same. There was
slight increase in 1903 and again In
1904, and a slight falling off annually
/
back again to the figures Of ten years
ago Last year 1851 .919 gallons Of spir-
its were consumed, as against g. 7tO,S7 In
1892 In Ireland there has been an en-
couraging decrease In the consumption
Of spirits from 4.713.17s to 3,ts'3,661 gal
Ions during the last ten years.
Proposed System of Insurance.
Consul General Griffith of London has
recently made a report to the sec
rotary of state concerning plan
for insurance against the loss OF employ
ment which will be submitted to parlia-
ment. Such an arrangement is in opera
ton in Germany. where it has been re-
markably successful. Every wage-earner
is insured at the expense of his employer,
who pays the premium weekly by attach
ing stamps to a card provided by the in
surance department in the district where
the insured is employed. This applies to
household servants, mechanics, clerks,
bookkeepers, laborers and all other
classes of wage-earners. The amount OF
risk is regulated by the amount of wages,
and on pay day the paymaster. in making
up his rolls, places ordinary postage
stamps upon a card to the amount re-
quired.
When a coachman or cook receives his
wages his or her employer sticks the
proper amount of stamps upon card.
and when the card is full the person
whose name it bears leaves II at the in
surance Office and receives new one
inscribed with his or her name, occupa-
ton and address, the amount for which
the bearer is insured and the weekly or
monthly premium, which must be paid in
hostage stamps. If an employer refuses
to nav this premium, the servant or work