The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-26

consumption, such as meat, shoes ard
clothes, the investigator found tia;
. most of the workers received not only
high money wages, but that their real
wages also reached a very high leyo.
In the packing houses of Chicago
and other cities where large NUMBER,
of animals are slain and utilized Tiers
are many kinds OF workers, some o.,
whom are very skilled and Others
considerably less so. Some Of tho
operations, In fact are put into III.
hands of persons of low intelligence,
There has been, however general
rise in wages, owing to the fact that
the Federation of Labor, which tai
long maintained an aloof policy to.
ward the unskilled labUrers, has after
fourteen years of negotiation taken
the stockyard following into its fold
The workers in this industry hare
profited from the war as few Other
workers have done, as they are enjoy.
ing high wages and an eight hour i8G
The common laborers in this industry
be considered as far from skilled, weH
receiving in 1913 only 17ia cents an
hour. The basic rate went 10 22A
cents in 1916, to 271a in 1917 and 70
| 46.S cents an hour in 1913 This
means an increase in money wages
| of 1914 per cent and an actual o.
real increase, taking into consdara'
ton all the advanced costs OF Lying,
of $40 per cent.
What the Shocmakcrs Get
Although shoes are very high, in.
vestigation does not indicate that the
artisan who tolls in making them Is
getting much out of the enormous
costs which the public has 70 meet
for its footgear.
1.-THE prices Of. shoes writes the
analyst, are still advancing more
rapidly than at any time during the
war. The increase from March 70
September this year has exceeded t0s
increase from the beginning of The
war until March. An important factor
in this advance, We are told is adj
vanced labor costs. These deserves
are in error however, for sufficiently
clear explanation for the high prices
can be found in the market and 20
In the shop.
Labor is not getting rs n.-.h 1T
of the advance in price ms arc
shoe manufacturers and distributes
for labor costs, as our analysis WI
show, have advanced scarcely So N'
cent. over prc-Var rates, q MS"
sufficient to keep pace VITA g." '.''
in the cost Of living. In half ar 70
selected crafts we find The N.r''
have received advances in rca. u.EeA
1t is not strange that these p'1tH
should be found IN the later processes
of manufacture. Once the leather .
cut it is to the interest Of tire manu-
facturer to have the shoe finished aNd
marketed. Among these workers 50. IN
the war has passed much ~ th'
validity of the old adage "A. sH6A-
makers go barefo6tod.
1.-THE reduction Of output @, lots
and shoes since the aun.s.'a' is IN
important factor i'm the pgeser, MF1
prices. Tho output o. ,Iy.'.r
shoes in the quarter ending WIN
March. 1919, as compared with n'r'
duction in the quarter ending VIE
December, 1918, shows reduction Ok
moro than % per cont. The rr'"ra'.,
Is even greater with wouaus ana
chIldren's shoes. The full explains
ton of the high prices involves m'F'
than labor cost and underp'o'Geto'N
however. The enormous increase III
cost of production arises .~Sn
, limited leather supply Tanning g''
tivity. regulated production @. macs
and skins, leather and hide Ing 10. To-
; ton and shipping"
The material rise IN rho Wees o.
} the garment workers is ut.r.-I.e4 !.
various causes such as the o'L .-
of labor, the reaction from '' 1''
astrous strike OF 1913 and 70 the con.
ditions of the trade agreement Ahas ,
t which they are working The "''''
sets forth that on the whole q Is gen,
? orally felt that this industry @. -
} way to fair adjustmont ar' Pa, Wv
t wage Garner will thereby ie'a'.
r wages which will guarantee s-'.-
ard OF living near the w.H. p" .y
: comfort, work week or ...-t
hours, standard union o"N-'">
r work and real participation va Wv
functioning and the determining "
5 the functions Of work. out or sue" a.
= arrangement as this Mr. biaSe' P.,
l diets that there will come d oons'an'
3 a united and conteuted group "
8 workers and development on lly'
r part OF a real sense Of rasI0ns' '.'.''