The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-31
LABOR HEADS
GET TOGETHER
ON EXPENSE OF
FAMILY UPKEEP
Minimum Annual Expense For
Maintenance of Family of
Five Is Fixed at $500
ev GEORGE II. MANNING.


Washington. d. c. March so.-The
long dispatch question OF the minimum
cost of maintaining a family and the
amount needed annually to keep a
ssoslkinG- nan- eaptha1 hae ybeeA sset-
tied by the scientific investigators oi
the department OF labor.
It is estimated that $2S1.10 a year,
approximately $4.44 a week. is neces-
sary in these days to keep a working
woman well but not extravagantly
dressed. with a small allowance for in
dividual taste. The same clothes could
be bought two years ago. before the
United States entered the war, for
about $3.50.
The smallest income upon which a
wage Garner can properly support him.
self and wife and family Of three chill
dren below the age OF II is estimated
by the experts of the bureau Of labor
statistics to be $500 per year.
These figures were arrived at after
the most careful study and apply to
almost all parts Of the country. w. +.
Ogburn. STATISTICAL expert OF the ma
tional war labor board asserts. The
cost OF living in the country where
living and economic conditions are very
different from those in the cities and
what below that.
The conclusion that $500 per year
is necessary to keep a man and wife
and three children was reached by
Mr.. Ogburn after a study made in COM
pany with other STATISTICAL experts
during which the living costs of sew
eral thousand wage earners. among
them 500 shipbuiIding workers. were
investigated, Mr.. Ogburn said.
An investigation made in the Dis
trict of Columbia by government ex-
perts in 1916 to arrive at the cost of
living as a basis of fixing salaries of
the government departmental clerks,
showed that the average family receiv-
ing $1,150 was in debt. The cost of
living has advanced approximately so
per cent. since then.
Where the earnings of families are
less than $500 year. they either do
not have SO many children, or are in
debt. or must deny themselves the ne
cessities Of life" declared Mr.. Ogburn.
"Some sort of recreation il necessary
for families and that item must right
fully be included in the cost of living.
Persons who fail to get the proper rec
reation do not make good workers or
enjoy good health and spirits. In many
instances families deny themselves the
food in order to obtain rec
reation."
The figures in regard to the amount
needed to dress a working woman
were reached by the bureau
Of labor statistics after going over the
amounts spent by large number of
and professional women and
girls and striking fair average.
The clothes which working woman
would need annuoIly and which can
be bought for $231.10 are as follows:
One suit and one coat, alternate
years. procurable now for t34 to $4O.SO:
workday shirt waists, costing in all
from $500 to 1880; one dress waist
e6.s5 to $10.65: one one-piece wool
dress $40: one wool skirt 81 to $14.50;
Two summer skirts $3.50 to $7.25; one
party dress every other year. at $15.75,
(half the total COST; three hats. to-
falling in cost IS to $22; three pairs
shoes. totalIing SIT to $24; two or three
pairs OF gloves 81 to s.: five to ten
pairs OF stockings. from 50 to 81 up
70 SIS to $11.7o; two pairs of corsets.
It from $I3.40 to $3.50; underwear to
he amount of SO to $50. and an al
owance of $50 for miscellaneous arti-
lies. like belts. rubbers. neckwear, re-
pairs. cleaning, etc.