Norwich bulletin., 1922-09-29
Humanity in Government
By James J. Davis. Secretary of Labor

'.
 Finding the Facts.
 Facts are a fundamental need in any movement which has for It's purpose the advancement of humanity. Before we can provide any group of men with op- portunities to benefit themselves, to inn prove their social, economic and politi- cal status we must know their needs, exactly and in detail. The department of labor In the pursuit of its laW-irn- posed duty of fostering and promoting the welfare os the wage earner, f1nds that It's first and vital need is facts. IL must know in full and complete detail every circumstance surrounding the work the play the home life and the civic activity Of the wage earner before It can undertake to aid him in his struggle toward better things.
 It is particularly fitting that the fact finding organization of the department of labor should be the bureau from which the department itself grew. the bureau which had been in existence and at work for nearly thirty years before the department itself was created. The bureau of labor statistics was formally organized as the bureau of labor in the department of the interior in 1885. In 1888 it became an Independent bureau of labor and in 1903 1t was placed in the department of commerce and labor. With the creation of the present depart ment of labor 1t became the bureau of labor statistics, the fact gathering or ganizatton of the department. Its func- tion Is described in the act which ere | ated 1t in 1884 which provides that it Shall collect information upon the sub- ject of labor and its relation to capital, | hours Of labor ard the earnings of la.- ! nd nA ha of promoting their material. social, in tellectual and moral prosperity"
 1 In it's nearly forty years of service the bureau of labor statistics has per fected a reliable system for collecting 1 authoritative information and it's long experience has made 1t 8 smoothly run i ming efficient organization. It gathers collates and reports statistics of labor and generally dfsseminates labor tnfor- 1 nation. It maintains a constant and | close touch with every ranihcation oi 1 the wide field of labor activity and the fruits of it's researches are made i'm mediately available to the secretary oi labor and the other bureaus of the de partment, as we'll as for general publt. cation The department in its policy of service to the whole people, make.
 the information gathered by the bu- reau of labor statistics available to tn. Il public.
 From the cost of beefsteak in Nev
 York to the hours of labor of a haxves
 hand in Texas every detail that affect, the wage-earner interests the bureau q labor statistics. An indication of tn,
 breadth of the studies made by the bu
 reau is gwen in 8 partial list of it's se . ries of publications which includes ] wholesale prices of commodities, detai prices and cost of living. wages an.
 hours of labor. employment and unern ployment, workmen's insurance and com i, pensation. industrial accidents and Ia
 dustriai hygiene. labor laws Of tn e United States, and foreign labor law
 Through its field forces the bureau col lects monthly the wholesale prioes C commodities. and retail prices. Fou , times year tho bureau makes a surve
 of the cost of living, covering th
 changes in living costs of woresfngnen' f families ln Sz cities of tho Unite States. Reports of wages and hours C
 labor arc collected from time to tim
 from representative estaadlishments ir
 the principal industries in various ir
 dustria1 centers of the country. Thes
 statistics the bureau secures dfrecti from the payroils of tho various estaf ishmsnts studied. Union scales (
 wages in ee cities of the United State
 are collected annually. and these fis I ures cover the scales of wages of nnof f than q million employees in the orgar ized trades. Employment statistics ar
 gathered monthly from rTaresenta4tv, establishments In IS of the country important industries.