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Show OF PHSS Gratifying Betterment of Ec.uu' nomic Conditions Shown inf the Last Quarter of a Century. By GEORGE A. STEVENS, Senior Statistician, Department of Labor of New York Stat. v y08T Important of v changes af- y t"ciln ,abor ,n I - 1 II tha ,Mt twenty- I 'X fHi Ai Qve years, in my f , 1 1 1 1 opinion. Is the be t-vl t-vl ; torment of tbe -j5ej economic condl-A condl-A j 1 tlon of the work-V-.'Kn, era, through their V' f l" organizations., kfl Wages bar V J been largely in- creased, while there has been a material reduction in working time. Tbe eight hour day Is in force In a large number of trades, especially In tbe building Industry and the printing trade. Tbe Saturday half holiday la also generally observed. In that, term of years, through the efforts of tbe organized workers, their standard of living baa been greatly improved. im-proved. Tbelr homea are better furnished fur-nished and their children better dressed. dress-ed. If tbere bsd been no organization, conditions would not be what they are today. The factory laws have been ins-proved, ins-proved, the rives and limb of employes employ-es are better protected. Dangerous machinery la safeguarded. Tbere is far closer supervision over factory work. Tbe legislature is constantly Increasing the fore of factory inspectors inspec-tors and giving the department of labor la-bor sufficient means to carry on the work In a aultable manner. Conditions Condi-tions under which men and women work are better; sanitation, ventilation, ventila-tion, light and other provisions for tbe comfort of employe have come in with saner architecture and more wholesom regard for the welfare of employes. |
