Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-07-30

AS activity and development III Teai'S
and building operations have so close
a relation to the question of the wage
scale and the cost of living 1t VIII be
of interest to consider some of the lat
est developments in the matter OF
wages and prices, according to the
Newark Sunday Call.
Only a few days ago warning was
given TO Congress through the Anthra-
cite Consumers League of the possible
ity Of serious and menacing, but newt
able rise in the price of coal unless the
cost of living could be reduced. A rise
of at least $3.50 a ton would be neces-
sary in anthracite and was bound TO
come unless living costs were reduced.
1t was stated that coal may jump even
SIS a ton. Employers justify the de-
mando of the men for increased wages
as a single Sundays meal for a miners
family is said to be costing more than
q days wages.
The greatest establishment Is ex-
pressed in the mining regions that the
federal authorities not only do not
seem to be alive to the serious nac
of high food prices, but seem averse
to their reduction and are using gov
influence to prevent such re-
duction. II this attitude continues, II
is declared, coal prices may mount to
ever $40 a ton. Nothing but q reduc-
ton In the price of food, clothing and
shoes can stop the demand for increas-
ed wages to miners being granted with
the result of marked increases in coal
prices.
High Costs Problem
Back of the high cost of material IN
the building trade and the high wage
In that industry are similar factors of
high living costs. There Is, however, q
basic and supremacy important differ
ence between building-especfally Tor
investment purposes, such as housing
and mining or other Industries. Food
products, coal and clothing are rapidly
consumed and have to be constantly
replaced. The turnover is generally
made during the same season. 1t is
comparatively a hand-to-mouth condi-
ton. If costs go up or down prices are
raised or lowered and no unusual risk
is assumed. If the producer or dealer
in food stocks q to produce them for
twenty or more years to come or II the
holder had to acquire them to last over
that period with the possibility of
prices falling within three or four years
1t would lead to q natural hesitation in
the production and handling of food
stuffs. Housing is, of course just in
this situation. The house is not to be
pulled down and a new one built every
year. IL 10 10 JIG llStO " Ia Va
forty years or more and the investor
has seriously to consider the prospect
of reductions in cost of building a few
yea%&hence, with consequent general
reduction of rentals and loss on his
higher cost Investment. This Is espe-
.cially the case at a time when q world
upheayal has resulted In topnotch rates
of wages and prices that are bound to
moderate as reconstruction proceeds.
Unimproved realty is naturally in a
somewhat similar position.
For reasons such as these the con-
sideration of the general question of
wages and cost of living becomes of
serious Importance.
There is, of course, the very gen.
eral claim that the increased cost of
living far outruns the general increase
in wages, one important authority of
the labor interests declaring that wages
must rise still higher, because while
wages have generally increased 40 per
cent. cost of living has gone up 10 per
cent. The assumption probably is that
g. 20 per cent increase in wage would
bring them up to the living cost level.
But an average all round rise in wages
of 25 per cent. would obviously still
further raise the cost of living, and
this alternate rise In wages and
living costs would go on in an end
less progression. 1t is obviously UNI
scientific and will not solve the prob
lem. 1t is merely a temporary expedi-
emit, like repeated cutting out of an
cerous growths, that only return with
increasing virulence.
Conflicting Data
The various data on general rises In
wages and prices are so diverse and
conflicting that any approach to relia-
bility for general all round purposes is
very difficult. Thus there are reports
of the New Jersey State Labor Bureau
showing a rise in wages from $565.13
per worker in 1914 to $S04.03 in 1917,
the latter being based on the wages of
46S,61S employees in 3,197 plants. This
is IN increase of AZ per cent. A re-
port issued last week by the State In
dustrial Commission of New York
gives figures showing that the average
weekly wage OF factory workers in
New York State has risen from $12.70
in 1914 to $22.51. This represents an
increase in wages of 1924 per cent. 1t
is declared to represent the weekly av-
erage paid In June by 1,64S firms to
about $50, 900 employees. Here the jump
of 1924 per cent. in wages exceeds the
alleged rise of rs per cent. in cost of
living.
In tabulations regarding rises in cost
Va llNli6 tASIt stl6 SlIQlIhT ulNeTS1lleS.
Among the most interesting general
summaries are those presented in two
recent reports of the National Indus
trial Conference Board. whose offices
are in Boston.
Table of Increases
These tabulations are national not
local. They are based on an ascertain
ed relative importance of the factors
OF q wage earner's family budget as
follows, the figures being In percent
ages Food, 43.1 per cent; shelter, Ut;
clothing 1872; fuel. heat and light, Sc,
and sundries, 30.4 per cent. Report
No. IA covers increases Gin per cent?
OF living costs form July, 1914, to No
vember. 1918. Report No. II covers
n rise from July. s1914, to March,
1919. Comparing the two reports the
figures are as follows:
Increased cost of living Gin percent
ages) from July, 1914
To November, To March.
1918 1919
Food ............ 8S rs
shelter .......... 20 %
Clothing .-...... 90 81
Fuel heat and light So ST
......... SIS SIS
1t will be seen that between Novem-
berand March there was a drop in
relative cost of food and clothing and
q rise In cost of housing and fuel.
These figures represent an all round