Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-16

ing trades in the United States are as
243 to 100 In England, or in other
words, two and 43-1O0 times as great
great.
or about two and one-third times as
In the engineering trades they are 213
to 100; in the printing trades as 246
to 100. Or for all these trades to-
gether about an average of 230 in this
country to 100 in England and Wales
That sounds well for the American
policy Of protecting labor. But the
investigator must proceed a little fur
Their.
The hours of labor are notably
shorter In the United States-11 per
cent. in the building trades and per
cent. in the printing trades. In en-
cheering trades the American works
longer by per cent.
When it comes to rents, the Ameri-
can workingman feels the goad. This
portion Of the report will please the
single taxer as that on wages will de-
light the protectionist The average
per cent. higher than the English
lowest rents in the United States ex-
coed by SO to II per cent. the average
highest rents for the same accommo-
dations In England and Wales. The
general average is rather more than
twice as high here
In the expenditures for food the
American family budget average 33
But it is shown that the food is more
0yfo CT in -
quality. A fact which sounds curious
in figures is that the American fam
lily averages about eight and one-half
pounds of bread weekly to % pounds
in the United Kingdom. This Is more
than Offset by the greater expendi-
lures for meat and vegetables.
In a final summing up of their
statistics the English Investigators
conclude that workmen's wages in the
United States are higher by about 100
per cent, with slightly shorter hours,
while on the other hand the Ameri-
cans expenditure on food and rent is
higher by about 81 per cent. The cost
of clothing does not seem to have en-
tered into the investigation, though
the fight for free wool and cheaper
woolens shows it to be a matter of
concern to the American workingman.
Various Cities Compared.
The relative cost of living in Amer
lean towns as figured by the British
commission, has it's points of inter
est. New York here is taken as the
standard with the index number 100.
In Chicago, the second city in popu-
lation, meat is 20 per cent. cheaper;
food prices as whole 6 per cent.
lower. Rents and food prices com
bined are II per cent. less than in
nearest Manhattan. Wages in all
skilled trades, except hand compost
ton, are from to 10 per cent. higher
Still keeping New York's 100 as
the standard, we find rents and food
prices combined in various towns as
follows: Baltimore, Sc; Birmingham,
Ala, 81; (curiously enough food
prices alone are here per cent. high
er than in New York;; Boston, 90;
Cincinnati, 90; Cleveland, 80; Detroit,
SO; Duluth, 90; Louisville, 90; Mem
phis, 90; Milwaukee, Sc; Minneapolis
ST. Paul, 81; New Orleans, 90; New
ark, 90; Philadelphia, 90; Pittsburg,
100; Providence, SO; st. Louis, SO.
Many other cities are covered by
the report, but the above is a repre-
sentative selection. 1t will be noted
that, outside New York, food and
shelter are highest in Pittsburg and
cheapest In Detroit. In cities of ap-
proximately the same class rents are
highest in st. Louis, 101, and lowe
In Baltimore, 54
The figures will suggest much to
the thoughtful reader. In about a
year, more thoughts will be suggested
about the country using this report
with equal skill to prove that the sue
cess of either the Republican or the
Democratic party Is essential to pros
perity.
House Waiting for the Senate.
The closing days of the second
month of the extra session found both
the White House and the capitol de-
spairing of the accomplishment of any
legislative work whatsoever The
house transacted it's business prompt
ly from the start. and if it is now loaf
ing it is excusable on the plea that
it is waiting for the senate to catch
up. 1t has sent to the senate the reel
procity bill, the farmers free list, the
resolution for the election of senators
by direct vote of the people and the
reapportionment bill. Not one of
these has been passed by the senate;
only one has been even partially de-
bated.
The fixing of June II as the date on
which to take the vote on direct cleo
ton Of senators gives a sort of a fixed
point from which to estimate the prob
able duration Of the special session.
Special business will engage the SEN
ate until that date. Though the d.
rect election bill may be voted on, it
will not be put out of the way, for the
adoption Of the Sutherland amend
ment, obnoxious to the house, is GER
n III