The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-07-31
RRlnsH ANp AMERICAN WAGES


The question of wages Is always
All interesting one: and much more
SO when it is studied comparatively
1.Ae difference between the wages
of American aud British workingmen
as we'll as the purchasing power ot
the same iii the United States and
England. are often prolific topics Of
discussion.
The recent report of Ct II. Askwith
assistant secretary OF the board Of
trade which is a department Of the
British government made a visit to
the United States to study labor
conditions. and compare gnem to
those existing In England and IN
Wales. His report to his home gov
ernment has just been made public.
aud its franlSness leaves no room
for any suspicion Oh mfairness.
Alr. Askwiths final conclusion Is
that the American worMngman has
sthe hest OF it in both wage and the
living problems The British work
man, he says. has the advantage over
tne Belgian, the French and the Ger
Fnan artizan, hnt not over the Amer
ican
TO prove his assertions. the sta
stistician gives figures. first as to
sthe prevalent range OF weekly wag
ps III both countries Omittlng here
sthe piece farction, just to give a
general idea of the matter, Alf Ask
with sets the weekly pay ot British
at 81 to 40 shillings, and
Americans, lie to 125 shiliings Brit
5sh painters. 81 to 3T shillings. Am
ericans. 65 to So shillings, Lahorers
lis 10 - shillings IN England; In the
aUnitde States 3 to 43 shillings.
British hand conapositors in printing
affioes, Is to 81 shillsngR Americans
5S to 81 shillings
In the matter Of rent the
ratio 100 to designate tliy zee In
thc following differences
are noted Three rooms. l9s four.
207. five. 220 six, 2I3. That is to
use The last figures. six room in
England will cost IN round numbers
six shilings a week. the same III the
Omitted states viii cost - shlings
In The cost Of fondstuffs. he sta-
tistlcs are not quite as reliable, be-
cause those referring TO Eng gland ap-
ply to 1905 while American figures
ire for 1903 Meat Is higher in Eng
land, according to those figures,
with the exception OF bacon Flour
IS three pence higher in the United
States; potatoes, three; milk, one;
.heese, three.
The present condition OF British
abor is well Illustrated by a motion
hat was defeated in the house OF
commons and was intended to eniOrc
! compulsory minimum OF weekly
wages amounting 70 $3.50 TIE NOV
Ell WAS a labor member. Wall Crooks
-f N6olwich, Who in the course of
ln address on Ike subject, sac that
81 per cent Of the adult worhers ia
England receive less than thai sum.
q Is true that The American work
ngman spends 50 per cent more than
The British workman for food and
.ent, and this Of course. cuts deeply
INTO his weekly income This Is true
1i All wage earnersI this torn being
lsed i'm It's widest meaning, The legal
definition OF q wage Garner being
hat Of any who earns 81 500 a year
)T less.
The report OF SIR Askwltb doe not
mean taat the condition cf Tie
american wOrkingnan is. totay as
satisfactory as ID should be when
considered ~ itself But 4 does
mean. however that when American
aDor is contrasted with British anu
other labor. ID is in a better cOnaiiion
hat the latter