The Washington times., 1917-01-17
District Housewives Contribute
Statistics on Expense of
Maintaining Home.
HOME BooKKEEPERs FOUND
Investigators Furnish Blanket
Forms Requiring Statement
Of Prices on Purchases.

iWashington housewives are helping
agents of the Bureau Of Labor Statis-
tics to ascertain the cost OF living in
the District
DR.. Royal Meeker, head of the bureau.
said today the canvass conducted in the
northeast section of the city by six wo-
men agents had produced some valu-
able statistics. Better than that, he
said, the experience Of the agents had
convinced them that the housewives Of
the city generally would cooperate with
them.
Find Detailed Records.
The agents were surprised to learn
that 80 many families keep records Of
their incomes and expenditures. In a
number Of instances yesterday. the
agents had scarcely made their mission
known. before the housewives produced
little books from which they read the
amount Of money received by the bread
winner Of the family and contained de-
tails OF the expenditures. A large ma
such records. however. and in most
cases the agents had to ask number
Of questions. =
Many were unable to answer or
hand how much they spent for sugar,
rice. eggs, and other articles OF food
In q year, and were equally at sea
as to the aggregate quantity Of each
article Of foodstuh consumed by the
family In twelve months.
Prepare Forms.
To meet these cases, the bureau
prepared two blank forms which
were left with the housewives with
Instructions to all them out from day
to day. One Of the forms is for sums
Of money received by the housewives
each week, while on the other she is
expected to list her daily expendi-
lures for the necessities Of life. This
sheet is supposed TO contain the namo
Of the foodstuf purchases, the amount
paid for IT and the quantity obtained.
The bureau hopes the housewives
win keep these records daily for q
month 50 as to accurately answer the
question "What does IL cost to live in
WashingtonT Practically all the
housewives with whom the blank
forms were left yesterday promised
70 nh them out each day.
For the purpose OF famfliariing the
people OF Washington with the ques-
Meeker today gave The Times q copy
OF the schedule of interrogatiCns.
Intimate Questions.
The investigation, according to the
schedule, covers three main SubJecae,
total family income, expenditures Of
the family for food FOR a year, and
expenditures for ether than food for
q year.
The bureau wants to know what
wages are received by the husband,
wife, and any children who may be
working, and the. number of weeks
idleness.
Taking up foods, the bureau is de-
sirious Of learning how much was
spent for the following articles, and
what quantity was obtained for the
money:
Fresh beef and veal, salt beef. hog
products other than lard; mutton,
poultry, other meats, fish and other
sea food; eggs, sweet and butter
milk, cream, cheese, condensed milk. |
butter and oleomargarine, tea, coffee |
and substitutes; sugar, molasses. lard
and compounds; -four, corn meal, |
bread, rice, cereals, fresh, canned and |
dried fruits, potatoes, other veEe- |
tables, and other foodstuffs.
How Much Rent
Rent Is the next subject consider
ed. Each family is not only asked |
to state how much rent is paid for
a house or apartment, but how many |
rooms are provided, as well as the |
class Of accommodations. The bureau |
wants to know whether the occupants |
own their homes or are paying TOR
them by the month.
Gas. electric lighting, coal and wood |
are the next items about which in-
formation is sought. Following these
come clothing for the husband, wife,
and each child. The next interroEa-
lions relate TO taxes, life and fire in
surance.
Even Item of CaFfare.
Inquiry Is then directed to the fol-
lowing TENS: Charity, religion, labor
organizations, other organizations,
carfare, furniture and utensils, books,
periodicals and newspapers, amuse-
ments, vacation, distilled and fer
mented liquors, tobacco, sickness, fu-