354 ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 



the Bureau cooperates with the various states. The responsibihty 

 of the government for work of this kind is obvious, and there can 

 be no doubt as to its being profitable. 



THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, THE WOMAN IN INDUSTRY 

 SERVICE AND THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU 



13. The Bureau of Labor Statistics gathers the statistics of 

 wages in the various industries and the cost of living, and pub- 

 lishes much valuable material of interest to labor and capital. 

 The prosperity and happiness of all the people depend to a con- 

 siderable extent upon industrial peace and freedom from strikes 

 and disorder. Industrial peace and contentment require justice 

 and fair dealing between employers and employed. In order 

 that both may know what is just and fair, statistical information 

 as to wages and changes in prices and the cost of living is 

 essential. It is probable that the greatest obstacle to a good 

 understanding between employers and employed is lack of infor- 

 mation. Suspicion and prejudice often give way to sympathy 

 and understanding when full information, including information 

 about what others are doing, is made available. The good results 

 achieved by generous treatment of labor should be put before 

 all employers, and if the government would spend more on re- 

 search and education in this important field, might it not save 

 much that is now spent in other directions? And might not the 

 public be saved much both in expense and inconvenience that 

 results from industrial warfare? This subject is of such tre- 

 mendous and far-reaching importance that one is led to ask 

 whether the government is doing as much as it should in this 

 connection. 



The work of the Children's Bureau and the Woman in Industry 

 service is relatively new, but of great importance. Women are 

 employed in the industries more than ever before, and the high 

 wages and shortage of labor increases the pressure for the work of 

 children. In the interest of the state, apart from considerations of 

 humanity, women and children should be protected in the indus- 

 tries ; and the work of these two bureaus is therefore of funda- 

 mental importance. It seems likely that it will grow rapidly in 

 magnitude and occupy a larger place in the public's thought. 



