Repoet of Boakd of Womkn Manauees. 181 



Committee on Statistics. 

 Early in the work for the exposition, Mrs. Pahxier caused a circular 

 to be sent out asking for a full record of what women were doing in all 

 industrial lines, and she desired the ladies of each State and Territory 

 to prepare cliarts gi\'ing full information as to such work. A com- 

 mittee on statistics was one of the first to be formed by the Kew 

 York State Board of Women Managers, and it was considered a wise 

 plan to select a New York city woman as chairman. Miss Roosevelt 

 was appointed, and accepted the position. Mrs. Palmer's expressed 

 desire gave the work an impetus it could not otherwise have had, for 

 gathering statistics is an almost thankless task. No matter how well 

 such an exhibit might be planned, there could be no hope of completely 

 covering the ground in the short space of time allowed, and even if 

 incomparably well done the fact would still remain that the exhibit 

 would only interest a small number of individuals. But Mrs. Palmer's 

 object was a good one, and the New York board was desirous of 

 co-operating with her. The county workers formed their committees 

 on the lines marked out by the women managers, and in the course of 

 time records began to come in from different parts of the State. This 

 was pioneer work, and Miss Roosevelt makes no pretension to a com- 

 plete record. 



It is valuable, however, if for no other reason than its suggestiveness, 

 showing the innumerable objects to which women turn for self-support. 

 The question of the wage-earning power of men and women is beyond 

 the scope of this report, but it would seem well to state what the 

 investigations prove, that frequently the complaints made as to the 

 higher wages given men are most unjust, as women are often the ones 

 who cut down the wages for their whole sex. This is largely owing to 

 the fact that many only wish to help support themselves while living 

 at home, and constantly look forward to the probability of marriage. 



Miss Roosevelt found a very able co-worker in Miss Florence Lock- 

 wood, and she was aided also by Miss Mary Gay Humphreys, a news- 

 paper woman, who had given special attention to factory women, and 

 Miss Margaret Finn, factory inspector. Miss Lockwood was made 

 chairman of the New York city siib-committee, and more than a year 

 was most exactingly demanded from the women in their task of col- 

 lecting and preparing the statistics. It is interesting to state here that 

 one of the men in Washington, whom Miss Roosevelt consulted as an 

 authority in regard to her work, said that whatever her committee was 

 able to print, so long as it was correct, would be most useful even 

 where not absolutely' full. Something of the nature and magnitude 

 of the work of the committee on statistics will be seen by the following 

 extracts from a report issued several months ago : " The data given 

 has in every instance, except two (for the insane and criminal reports), 

 been collected by volunteers and in all instances arranged by volunteers. 

 When this fact is realized and it is also remembered that up to this 

 time no attempt has been made to make a general and complete classi- 

 fication of the achievements and occupations of women, it will be under 



