however, does not prevent comparison with previous Federal Census classification, and it is hoped that it is in line with subsequent classifications. Before leaving the subject of the restricted scope of occupations among Negroes, something should be said of the far-reaching effects this restriction has upon the life of the wage-earners. Negroes are crowded into these poorer-paid occupations because many of them are inefficient and because of the color prejudice on the part of white workmen and employers.[62] Both of these influences are severe handicaps in the face of the competition in this advanced industrial community. Restricted thus to a few occupations, there is a larger number of competitors within a limited field with a consequent tendency to lower an already low wage scale. In this way the limitations of occupational mobility react upon income, producing a low standard of living, the lodger evil, and social consequences pointed out below (pp. 80, 89, 144 ff). To sum up the occupational condition of Negro wage-earners: The large majority of Negroes are employed to-day in occupations of domestic and personal service. This is partly the result of the historical conditions of servitude, of a prejudice on the part of white workmen and employers, which restricts them to this lower field, and of the inefficiency of Negro wage-earners for competition in occupations requiring a higher order of training and skill. The steady increase in 1890, 1900 and 1905 of numbers employed in occupations other than personal and domestic service is prophetic of a probable widening scope of the field of employment open to them. FOOTNOTES: [49] Williams, _History of the Negro Race in America_, vol. i, p. 135. [50] _Colonial Doc._, i, 364. [51] _Laws of New York_, 1691-1773, pp. 83, 156; _Doc. relating to Colonial History of New York_, vol. i, 499; ii, 474. [52] _Doc. relating to Colonial History of New York_, iii, 307. [53] _Ibid._, ix, 875; iv, 511; Burghermen and Freemen, _collection of New York Historical Society_, 1885, p. 569. [54] _Ibid._, 377 (London Doc. xi); _ibid._, vi, 1005 (London Doc. xxxii.) "Letter from a gunner to his cousin." [55] Williams, _op. cit._, pp. 137, 142. [56] Horsmanden, _History of the Negro Plot, passim._ [57] For business enterprises, see chap. v, pp. 96-7. [58] Quoted in Ovington, _Half a Man_, pp. 27-28. [59] _Constitution and By-Laws of the United Public Waiters' Mutual Beneficial Association._ [60] Ovington, _op. cit._, pp. 93-95. [61] _Cf._ Ovington, _op. cit._, pp. 56-57, 144-145.