Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-13
AMERICANS EARN MORE.


summary Of the findings Of q BRUSH
commission that Investigated the ques-
tion Of wages and the cost of living III
England and Wales as compared "
the same conditions IN the On..g -
States. Further light Is thrown on th 10
report by a digest of the innings "
this commission given by the Lonaol.
Times. The Times finds In the report
that conditions In England and Wales
are better than In Germany, France OF
, Belgium, but it finds that the wage
worker in the United States SHOWS =
relatively better position over England
than the worker Of England SHOWS over
the other countries named. The Ilmes
says: ,.s
dealing with European countries, IN
Gliding our own, has been to show that
Mn regard to the conditions investlgat-
lad the artisan in this country has, IN
VARYING degree, the advantage over ms
bellows in Germany, France or BEL
lb,nm He earns somewha thigherWages,
Works somewhat shorter hours, and
HAYS somewhat less for the necessarles
ehf life. Without going into qualifying
Metals or minor distinctions we may
tHccept that as the broad result But
ywhenawe come to the United states
THE picture Is turned almost complete
" round. From the abstract Wnlcn We
nublish the reader will see that the
workman enjoys an enormous advan-
tage over his fellow in England, an ad-
vantage far greater than the latter en-
lows over the German or the French-
man. He earns more than two-and-a.
quarter times as much money ana
works shorter hours for It; so that ms
hourly rate OF earnings Is as 24o 70 Ivy,
or pretty nearly twice-and-a-n as
much Against that enormous dlnerence
irA wages there Is something TO DC set
M the way Of expenditure. Rent is twice
al, high and food is about one-tnlru
higher than in England, but the cost
cbf living altogether Is only as loz "
foo. or about half as much again.
\ Now. these facts completely dispose
nf two widely current misconcepIlons
ar misstatements. One Is tnat Ing
hirher,wages admittedly paid In Amer
Tea are all swallowed up and more by
the higher cost of living, which IS De-
Viewed to surpass the standard OF TINS
country In regard to the necessarles OF
1,fa nv an enormous amount, and 70
constitute an intolerable burden. The
present report explicitly states the
contrary at the conclusion Of a long,
I elaborate and extremely careful com
narison Of the two countries. In the
limited states, it says, q much greater
margin Of earnings over cost OF living
e available, even when allowance mas
! hean made for the Increased expendl-
tire On food and rent. The margin IS
clearly large, making possible COM
mand of the necessaries and conven.
iences and minor Injuries Of life that
Il both nominally and really greater
than that enjoyed by the corresponding
| class in this country.
a discussion Of this problem is SO
Aeldom shown in this light in this
country that 1t is worthy Of careful con-
alteration. OF late there has been too
much said about the thigh cost Of liy-
Ing" in this country, without sufhcient
consideration Of the better plane OF
living made possible by the increased
scale Of wages, the shorter work DAY
and the general advances made In this
country among all classes along educa-
tional lines.