Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-06
the commission dealt with a large
foreign element.
Much For Food

Much FOR bOOU
The average wage scale was not
high while the cost of foodstuffs was
mounting. Thirty per cent. of those
examined were earning nothingly,
chiefly because of physical disabili-
ty while sixty per cent. were in good
health and able to performe as much
labor as their age would permit.
Four per cent. of those examined
earned less than ) per cent. because
poor health prevented them from
working full time while more than
10 per cent. earned from 50 to $l2.
Only 10 per cent. earned s25 a week
or over; % per cent! earned $12 to
$50, and IL per cent. earned $40 TO
s25.,
Pittsburgh leads in the higher
wage scale, II per cent. of those
earning s25 to $50 week living in
that city; Reading has IL per cent.
and Philadelphia G per cent, the
Sumber of aliens in the latter city
reducing it's totals. Philadelphia,
however, leads in those making from
$15 TO $25.
Earnings Diminished
Despite increased wages due to
the war the earnings of the aged
grsup diminished. Before the war
90 per cent. of the number of those
examined had earned as high as
cnt. This is said to show that even
SIS to $50 a week, the figure now be-
ing decreased to 2S per cent; 2S
per cent. had earned $40 and over,
while now the figure is but IL per
cent. This is said to show that even
with the war the aged cannot get
the wages they received while in the
prime of life.
The report on the cost of living
is rather startling. Approximately
30 per cent. spent $40 a week for
food and 45 per cent. expended from
$40 to $45. This figure represents
the cost of food for the entire FAM
lily of the wage. earned. Between 60
and 20 per cent. of all moneys earn
ed went for food. So much money
was expended for this necessity that
little was left for clothing. Many
strange tales were told by "a per
cent of those examined as to how
they got their clothes without any
expenditure of money. More than
half spent less than fifty cents a
week for the clothing of entire fami-
lies.
Little Life Insurance
Pittsburgh comes to the front in
the number of home-owning resi-
dents. More than half, $50 out of
LIP examined, owned their own
properties in Pittsburgh. That city
also reported the startling fact that
only 65 had any life insurance.
Careful investigation was made
| into the reasons for early retire
ments from various trades. Rail-
| roading made the worst record, none
of the retired workers examined
having lived long enough to be re-
tired because of age.
Figures for Trades
Figures covering the more important
trades follow:
Buildng-Forty-e per cent, prac-
tically incapacitated before 60 years
Old; reasons, sickness, 40 per cent. old
age, 80 per cent. accidents, 121 1-2 per
cent.
Steelworkers-Se per cent.
incapacitated before 60; accidents, 1S
per cent; old age, "a per cent sick
ness, IL per cent.
| ailroaders-Seventy-t per cent,
out before 55. No retirements because
OF OLD age retirements being due equal
ly to accidents and sickness.
Outdoor Trades-Sixty-fiv per cent,
| incapacitated before 60: sickness, Al
per cent; old age, IS per cent. acci-
dent. . per cent.
Sedentary Trades Ninety-five per
cent, still working at 65; retrements
being due sicknes, so per cent. i; old
age, IL per cent. accident, per cent.
Glass Blowers, Pittsburgh-Seventy-
hve per cent, continue to 60 years of
age; incapacitation being due, sickness,
AZ per cent; old age. 80 per cent ;
accident per cent.
James y. Maurer, Reading. chairman
1.-THE commission, intends To file hisre-
port before March Ii