New-York tribune., 1918-05-22
Charity Organization Finds
Wages Are Not Keeping
Pace With Prices
377 Families Visited
All Willing to Do Their Bit,
but Children Show Under
Nourishment

The rapid increase in the cost of liv-
ing coupled with the comparative sta
bility Of wages is bringing about a
condition that seriously affects ma
tional health and wellbeing. This is
the finding of the Charity Organiza-
ton Society, which yesterday issued a
report of its survey into standards of
life among typical groups in the popu-
laton of Manhattan.
The survey was carried through by
the society's home economic commit
tee. Its scope included 377 families,
living on four different blocks in Man
hattan--one on the lower East Side,
near University Settlement; one on the
lower West Side, near Greenwich Viii
lage; one on the middle West Side,
near Hartley House, and one on the
upper East Side, near Union Settle
ment.
The groups selected were as far as
possible typical of the average popu-
lation of New York City They were
drawn from no special class or trade.
The survey shows that wages have
shown no general increase. On the
other hand, the cost Of living has gone
steadily higher.
All Eager to Do Their Bit
There is little complaint. the report
says, for every one seems ready and
eager to do his "bit'' and help out in
the war. but, nevertheless, the cost of
the necessities of life is rising so far
above the average income that if re-
adjustments are not made the morale
and stamina Of the people is bound to
decrease.
Of the STA individual workers cues.
A.
same amount as in January, 1917. OF
the remainder. IL per cent were earn
ing less and 81 per cent more. Own
ers of small businesses had suffered
almost universal decrease in their in
comes.
On the other hand, the report shows,
necessities of life have showed a sub
stantial increase in every class. Cloth
ing has advanced 26 per cent; furniture
and furnishings, % per cent; food, "a
per cent; fuel and light, 8 per cent;
housing, per cent, and general living
costs, 26 per cent.
"Last year." the report says, "there
was only one working woman in every
four families in this group; this year
there is one in every three families
What will be the situation next year ~
Undernourishment Increasing
eff wage increases have been as in
frequent in similar family groups as
in this particular group, is it any won
der that undernourishment is reported
to be rapidly increasing among school
| children and that the struggle to make
both ends meet is apparently becoming
acute in homes where previously there
was a comfortable margin?
"The situation would be seriou.
enough if this were the first year Of
high living costs, but this is the fourth
year during which prices have beer
rapidly rising, and there is no indica
ton in the reports from these families
of increases in incomes during the pre-
vious years which would help to coun.
terbalance the lack of increase during
the year especially studied.
"lf wages are supposed to have a
direct relationship to living costs, why
should wages have increased far less
frequently in certain types of occupa
tion than in others? Should not all
employers feel greater responsibility
for increasing wages when living costs
increase?
"How far is it safe to let the presen!
and future health of the nation be
impaired by such economics in food
clothing and fuel as were described
by a group of families supposed,
living on fairly adequate incomes y,