Evening star., 1937-04-17


portant to manufacturers and busi-
ness generally. In this census State
summaries we're issued as we'll as in
dividual reports for approximately 235
industries Such information as num-
Der Of establishments number of
wage earners," wages" and value of
products" added their quota to the
general data.
The business census was of espe-
cial significance in these days of dis
cussion regarding the increase Of
prosperity or lack of it. 1t brought
out indisputable evidence that happy
days are indeed here again." and in
its coldly matter-of-fact way laid out
the figures. The census showed in
creases in all fields of business and
covered more than 100000 bust
ness establishments. In retail trade
for example, in 1885 business amount
ed to s33,l61 ,276,000, while in 1888
the amount to its credit was SIS, ,O37,-
225,000 The number of stores in 1885
was 1853 ,961; in 1888 they numbered
1,526,119.
Wholesale trade perked up CORE
spondlngly. Net sales in wholesale
trade for 1885 amounted to S42, ,S02,-
$4,000, as compared with s3O,009,-
5000 in 1933-an increase of 43 per
cent!
What about the men and women
employed? Well, in 1885 the retail
trade employed on an average 3,961,-
478; there were l,5l1,734 proprietors
and firm members, in addition to this,
actively engaged in their own stores
The pay roll for 1885, not including
compensation for these active owners
was s3,623 ,2ss,00O.
In 1888 retail trade employed g.
433, 3,652. The number of proprietors
and firm members active was larger
as it always is during a time of de-
preston when owners work themselves
instead Of employing others, and num-
bered In 1888, l,574,34l. The pay
roll. exclusive of compensation fo1
working owners or proprietors, was
s2,910,445,O 900.
In the wholesale trade there was
an increase of 8 per cent in 1885 over
1888; and "a per cent increase in the
1885 pay roll.
With respect to this inquiries are
often heard about the possibility OF
taking an unemployment census. n
AS matter Of fact, to take an I'M
employment census would be to at
tempt to measure nothing in terms
of nothing. A census can only be
taken along affirmative or existing
lines. What, we may ask, Is unemploy-
ment? Does four days work week
constitute unemployment? Or three
or two? On the other hand, if a
census of employment be taken, and
measured against q census of en-
ployables, you can arrive at statistics
with regard to unemployment. En-
ployment, in other words, can be
measured in degrees against popu-
lation.
NO RECENT unemployment" CEN
sus has been authorized, although
~ SSAASA COO, Va SouloC, SIlCo4O dCSlAC
to inaugurate such a census it would
be inaugurated. It takes a long
time to prepare for census and
bureau officials are now making ready
for the 1910 population census, with
which anything as Intangible as an
unemployment" census would serious
" interfere. When the 1910 census is
taken, however, it will supply data with
regard to population, employment and
vocations, which will in turn answer
the purpose of an unemployment"
census. At present, information with
regard to unemployment, which is
probably more complete than could
be obtained by self-registration meth
ods, is available at the United States
Employment Service. They have at
present records which show 6,500,000
unemployed In the United States and
Census Bureau officials are inclined
to regard this informat ton as the best
available.
Records Of the Census Bureau indi-
cate that, taking into confederation