The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-11

LOT the A1nerlcans family. At present
the following figures are believed to
represent the apportionment of the
average incomes: Food, as per cent;
clothing, 25 per cent; rent 20 per
cent, and the balance for incidentals,
including fuel, medical attendance, re-
creation and savings. Whether this
division of the income can be i'm
proved upon rests with future students
of economy. 1t has been said recent
ly that If the modern factory repre-
sents the center of economy in pro-
duction, the home still must remain
the center of enjoyment and use of
the Factory products, and it is the
economic woman at the head of the
home who must bring about this last
result. Nothing could call for a broad
er training. To be a good manufac-
turer requires knowledge along but a
single line. To be a judicious con-
sumner requires wisdom along man,
lines. 1t is claimed that the indus
trial expansion Of the present is due
chiefly to personal extravaganza. This
same extravaganza, if not wisely con-
trolled, can be productive of the
greatest general loss.
~ lew years ago lHe courses OF DO
mestic economy in the educational in
situations included chiefly sewing and
cooking. In modern domestic econ
omy these receive least attention be-
cause they are largely factory indus
tries. 1t is consumption and relative
value which the modern home
economist needs to study. She must
learn to choose and to use the great
resources of the modern industrial
world in a manner to give the great
est benefit to the family dependent
upon her for their comfort. The most
important thing in domestic eco
nomics is money sense in expenditure.
For several years the University of
Illinois has been giving a course of
lectures upon this subject to women
students which the professor, an ex-
pert economist, considers of equal
scientific value to the courses upon
business administration prepared for
the men. At the University of Chicago
the proper superintendent of the fami-
ly income is one of the subjects re-
ceiving special consideration.
The imports of luxuries into the
United States in last October were the
highest upon record for a single
month. The department of
estimates that luxuries coming into
this country now approximate a value
of 81, 900, 900 a day. They aggregated
over $3.50, 600, 900 for the last year.
These include objects of foreign art,
clothing, embroideries, feathers, dec
grated china, jewels, liquors, tobacco,
toys and various other articles. To a
large degree these articles were of
feminine selection so the woman
economist has constantly before the
question as to whether or not it is
best for her to give the preference
in her expenditures to the products of
her own country or to importations
from abroad. She also must consider
the real value of every purchase, since
Mr.. James Hill informs us that every
dollar %unprofitably expended is a
crime against posterity.'
Home economy includes a considera-
BILE amount of what is known in out
side industrial circles as deficiency
engineering" A fine distinction must
be drawn between what is necessary
and what is unnecessary and much
that is non-essential should be elimi-
AittAN'. ~ w WIN Siobl"
be fixed by the family income and
not by that of the. family next door.
The woman who hovertaxes her own
strength doing laundry work in her
own kitchen. in order that she may
be able to buy a.chiffon ruffled cover
for the top Of her. baby carriage, when
she has it upon parade in front of
her house, is not any more foolish
than the woman who does without
other help necessary to the comfort
of the family in order that they MAJ
have an automobile to use upon Sun
day and the few holidays her clerk
husband can manage to escape from
his desk.
The economic studies of women are
not all confined to, domestic matters,
even though these may be considered
as of first Importance. There are in
the employ of the United States gov-
eminent, as well as in the government
of many states n cities, trained
women experts without whose aid
much of the research which has been
carried on within the past few years
could not have been possible. The
departments of and labor
are continually conducting investiga-
lion of the conditions Of women and
children who work. Nest of these in
u~uiries are under the direction of
women who have had economic train
ing in some of the colleges Or uni
versailles. The results of their work
end toward securing shorter hours,
improved conditions. better pay and
more general comfort for the women
toilcrs who, until recently, have re-
ceived less consideration in this coun-
try than in any other. 1t was a
woman economist who conducted the
investigations made by the federal
government into the conditions of the
striking laundry workers in New York
last year, and who is continuing in
~vestigations of the same industry in a
number of other cities with good re-
suits,
The agitation for minimum Wag
laws, which is now becoming pro-
nounced in a number of states, has
been brought about chiefly by the
women social economists who are able
to ascertain definitely just what