The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-03-30

alike to compel a man to support his family at the same time that he sup ports himself, the upkeep charge in the case of workers must cover fam fly, as well as individual upkeep-
 Wages And Living Costs,
 A number of investigators have tried recently to make a scientific an alysis of the cost of maintaining in physical health family unit of man, wife, and three children under fourteen. For New York, the cost was Eset at $900: for Pittsburgh. $1,000; for Buffalo, $50; for Chicago, at $500; and for Fall River at $7.5o. Ap- parentIy, therefore, it requires from $2. 50 to $500 per working day ($75O to 1000 a year1 to provide physical health for a family tof five. The comparison of this standard with the wages actually pal0 by the leading American industries in the northern and eastern sections Of the United States, shows that a large proportion perhaps two-thirds, perhaps three quarters-of the adult males who are gainfulIy occupied in industry receive less than enough to support a. family of five in decency On the face of it, the present rates of wages are insuf- ncients in many instances. to cover even the first charge which ordinary business practice makes against an iavestmen charge for upkeep. Where the amounts paid in wages are inadequate to allow for reasonable up- keep. they obviously fail to provide against the other charges for invest r1ent, depreciation and insurance.s
 Justice would require that the wage cover, above upkeep, enough for de- preciation and insurance, varying with the wage of the individual and would this charge be negligibIe- In deed, in many businesses where the human hazards are high, it would us- ualIy amount each year to at least at a tenth of the total investment.
 F'urth ermores the worker might le7 tho form of interest on the invest 1nent, varying from five or six per cent in low hazard, 4ong-life occupa- tions, to a much higher per cent. in high hazard short-life occupations.
 Modern Bookkeeping for workers. this discussion The prevalence of wage rates below S1,0o0. and the gen. era1 impossibility of providing for more than bare family upkeep. charges on amounts of less than ST.. pp0s prove beyond question the eco homie inadequacy of vast numbers of wage rates.
 Strictly speaking. the great body of male American wage-earners receive no income They receive a wage which provides bare family upheep,. Tn their accounts is no mention of those stabiIizIng and reguIative charges which modern business men have learned to demand as a right depreciation, interest, and dividends.
 Workers should take account Of such charges. study business book keeping and apply the result Of their Knowledge to their own family affairs. The business man receives @income'' after he has met his running expen- sess and paid his fixed charges. The ordinary worker with a family makes, in a greet ma Jority of eases, bare rum ming expenses
 Each growth of intelligence among the workers brings one step nearer the day when they will place their budgets on a scientific basis. Each advance step presses toward a stand- ard Of return for labor at least as sta- ble and soundIy based as that now secured on capital.s