Evening star., 1917-01-14
TO BEGIN INQUIRY
INTO LIVING COST
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ready to Investigate Condi-
tions in District.
AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS

Investigation into the cost of living
in the District of Columbia will be
started tomorrow morning by special
agents of the bureau of labor statistics
Of the Department of Labor. according
to an announcement made last night
by DIR. Royal Meeker. head of the bu-
reau. This survey of the living cost in
this city is to be made in accordance
with resolution passed by. Congress,
Of which Representative Keating OF
Colorado is the author.
In view of the difficulties attendant
upon making such an investigation, 1t
is not probable that the report which
pleted in time for submission to the
present Congress. DR.. Meeker esti-
mates that it will take at least six
weeks for the Investigators to visit
the individual homes about the city
and gather the information necessary
for the report, and it will take much
longer time to tabulate the statistics
in the Office and then write the re-
port.
City Divided Into Sections.
Only a few of the investigators will
or into what particular sections they
completed by the bureau up to closing
time last night. The city is to be di-
vided into sections, SO that an average
of the cost of living may be reached.
The idea is to make the report so that
the figures will not show living costs
normally low in another. Before the
week ends the bureau expects to have
twelve special agents in the city gath
ering data, and there may be additions
to the force as the investigation pro-
crosses
The bureau asks for the cooperation
of the householders throughout the
city to the extent that they will give
the Investigators every bit OF lnforma-
ton that is asked for. All informa-
ton obtained is to be kept in the great
est secrecy and there is no danger of
the living conditions in any particular
family getting into the hands of the
public.
No Inquiry Into Causes.
No effort will be made to go into
the causes of the increases, as DIR.
Meeker says that these lie outside OF
Washington for the most part. A
special part of the investigation will
go into the incomes and expenses OF
single women.
''The primary purpose of this inquiry
said the statement issued last night by
DIR. Meeker, announcing that the in
quiry will begin tomorrow. "is to ascer-
tain the incomes and expenses OF
typical workers families. This study
cannot go into the causes of the in
creases in prices. These causes are
difficult to ascertain and for the most
part lie outside of the District of
Columbia. The inquiry will include
wage earners and salaried employees in
both private and government employ
colored as well as white. The bureau
wants to get as accurately as possible
from large number of families the
total income from all sources and the
total outgo itemized into food of the
principal kinds. clothing. rent, fuel ano
lighting. and other expenses. Prices a,
retail of the principal articles of con.
sumption are desired.
Personal Visits Planned.
The information will be collected
by personal visits of special agents
All information will be held strictly
confidential, each agent and clerk of
the bureau being sworn not to reveal
any names or information concerning
any family. and the figures will be SO
compiled that persons giving the in
formation cannot be identified. The
bureau will select representative dis
tricts in different parts of the city.
and agents will make a houseto- house
inquiry. Every family visited by the
agents of the bureau is urged to CO.
operate in this study by giving all the
facts asked.
Besides the study of families. it is
the purpose to investigate in the same
way the incomes and expenses of single
women who board, or who room and
prepare their own meals, or who eat
at restaurants.
The wages paid in the more impor-
tant industries also will be studied, in
order to give the facts as to wages
and hours, as we'll as income and ex-
penditures. of the working people of
the Capital city