Statement Showing the Wages of Employes in the Liquor Business in the State of New York as Compared with the Wages of Workingmen in Thirty-two Other Principal Industries of the State.

The following table gives the average annual wages per employe for five years from 1891 to 1895, inclusive, as shown by the report of the Commissioner of the New York Bureau of Statistics of Labor:

The average annual wages per employe engaged in the liquor business for the above period was... The next highest average annual wages was paid to those engaged in the jewelry business, viz..... The average of the annual wages of those who were engaged during this period in the 32 leading industries of the State, outside of the liquor business, was..... The lowest average annual wages was paid to those engaged in the brick and terra cotta business, viz...... 246 95

$769 77

630 84

466 40

The average annual wages of those engaged in the liquor business during this period was 65 per cent. more than the average of those engaged in the other 32 leading industries; the average liquor wages was 22 per cent. more than the next highest average, viz., those engaged in the jewelry business; it was 86.4 per cent. more than those employed on food products, and 211 per cent. more than the lowest average, viz., those employed in the brick and terra cotta business.

Judging from the foregoing statistics, the liquor business has not been unduly depressed as compared with other industries, but on the contrary has been the most profitable of any, and consequently well able to bear its legitimate share of the expenses of government.

APPENDIX.

THE ORDINANCES AND LAWS

OF THE

Colonies of New Netherland and New York

AND THE

STATE OF NEW YORK,

Relating to the Excise and the Traffic in Intoxicating Liquors, from the first Ordinance in 1638 to the Liquor Tax Law of 1896.

COLLECTED BY

H. H. LYMAN, Commissioner of Excise.

With an introduction and references to the Session Laws, on the subject of Excise, prepared under his supervision by L. E. CHITTENDEN.

The following collection of municipal and State laws comprises the subjects of excise, the regulations of inns, taverns, etc., and the sale by retail of intoxicating liquors, wines, ale, beer and cider. These terms are closely related, and the term "excise" was not comprehensive enough to include them.

The meaning of that term has changed since its first use in legis. lation. Originally it was a tax imposed on any article of domestic production; now it is understood to cover the regulation and sale of all liquors, wines, etc., foreign as well as domestic, and those only.

The date or time of passage of the ordinance or act is placed in every instance at the head of it.

Omissions are in all cases indicated by stars. These omissions do not relate to the subject of the collection, or cover merely formal words used in all State laws.

In the earlier colonial period it was the custom frequently to reenact the same ordinance. Those imposing or "letting to farm" or "regulating the collection" of the excise were passed annually or biennially, without any or with very slight changes.