Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1892 — A Comparison. [ARTICLE]

A Comparison.

The following YSry moderate table of expenses of a workingman’s family is famished by Labor Commissioner Sovereign, of lowa, and will compare favorably with the Ward McAllister table: Per year House rent, $5 per month $ 60.00 Fuel 24.00 Food, two adults, per week. sl.lO each.... 176.80 Food, three children, per week. 84 cents each 131.04 One dress suit for man 18.60 One overcoat 4.60 One hat 1.50 One cap for winter 80 Two pair boots 7.00 Four pair pants for wear while working. 5.00 One common oat and vest 4.00 One pair gloves and mittens 76 One pair overshoes 1.23 Two suits winter underclothes 8.00 Two suits summer underclothes 1.60 One good dress for wife 6.00 One hat : 2.00 Winter wraps for wife. 6.00 One corset 1.60 Two suits underwear 8.00 Pins, needles, thread, combs, muslin, hoße and aprons 8.00 Clothing, foot and headwear, three children 45.00 Table linen...' 3.00 Towels 1.60 Soap, toilet and laundry 2.60 Oil for lamp 1.80 Brooms 40 Bedding and covers. 11.00 Replacing broken dishes and worn-out furniture, etc 9.00 School books for three children. 9.00 Subscriptions to newspaper. 2.00 Total 1545.34 Mr. Sovereign’s man never smokes, chews or drinks; never belongs to clubs or lodges; never needs a doctor, preacher, lawyer or undertaker; never attends the theater or circus, and never pays any railroad or car faro. Notwithstanding the unusual health of our economio friend he appears to be losing money. Mr. Sovereign has gathered from oeusus bulletins, copies of pay-rolls from shops, factories and mines, facts which show that the average male earnings in all industries is $410.54, or $134.80 less than the oost of living. With such facte as these continually being brought out by labor organizations and labor bureaus, is it any wonder that the laboring man is not contented, or that epme men prefer rather to tramp than work?