The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis .672 U. S. Department of Labor WOMEN'S BUREAU Washington February 23, 1929. News Letter No, 58. ACTIVITIES AFFECTING .:10-e:EN IN INDUSTRY United States Legislation for Uniform Hours Proposed. Representative Dallinger, Iassachusetts, introduced in the House on :eicember 5, 1928, a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, providing that "Congress shall have power to establish uniform .eoure and conditions of labor for women and minors throughout the United States, and to prohibit the employment of children under such ages as Congress may from time to time determine." Arkansas The Daily News Record of February 5 reports as follows on a bill to amend the hour law introduced in the legislature by Mrs. Florence McRaven, former Secretary of the State Industrial Welfare Commission: "After a bitter fight on the floor of the Lower house to-day, a bill to place cotton mills of Arlmnsas under the provisions of the maximum-hour law for women was defeated, 54- to 32. The measure was introduced by ryirs. Florence hicRaven, representative from Pulask County. "Mrs. 1.-cRaven launched one of the most bitter battles yet to occur during this session of the leislature in behalf of her bill, declaring that a 'joker,' exempting cotton mills, crept into the act passed in 1915 to fix the hours of labor which employers may demand of women employees. She explained that her bill repeats the phrasing of the present law, except that it includes the words "cotton mills.' "Leading the opposition to the bill was Representative Gordon, of Conway County, who declared its passage would place a restriction on industry which might seriously affect Arl:aneas' industrial future and who declared that the bill is not agreeable to and is not supported by the women workers in the mills at Morrillton, Pine Bluff‘, and Monticello. Representative Killian, of Drew, who declared that the women workers in cotton :dills are contented with the 10-hour day plan which, under present conditions, allows them a half holiday on Saturday, said passage of the bill would necessarily elean a wage cut which would be a hardship on the women textile employees. Cctton mills of the State are now operating at a loss and 'possibly could not long survive under the terms imposed by the McRaven bill,' the Drew county man declared. Representative Grubb, of Chicot, also voiced opposition, declaring the measure 'premature,' in view of the State's dream of future industrial development. "Proponents of the measure charged that the true desires of women laborers in the cotton mills ha.e.e not been heard; that they have been afraid to voice their wishes, and attacked 'industries which place inhumane working conditions on their romon employees.'" Connecticut A bill has been introduced in the Connecticut legislature to establish a 46-hour week for woilen in industry. The present law allows 55 hours a week and 10 hours a day. The pending bill is sponsored by the State Federation of Labor and the Leaa;ue of Women Voters. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 2 District oL e;olumbia In the opinion of the Cornoration Counsel of the District of Columbia all feelle bookkeepers, steno„Taehers, and other clerical workers in mercantile establishments come under the operation Ci the 8-hour law. This opinion was given in response to a request of the I:erchants and Manufacturers' Association that clerical workers, be exempted and that the law be applied only to workers in other branches of the mercantile industry. In this appeal, the association called attention to the opinion of the attorney-general of New York that the 48-hour law in that State does not apply to the office workers in manufacturing and mercantile establishments. Bride, Cor)oration Counsel in the District of Columbia, Pointed out, :Ice:ever, that "thrpughout the hearings the proponents of the act and the opponents an well granted that the act would cover the sales forces of mercantile establish,lents with respect to female office employees. One employer pointet1 out that he - oulei be required to supplant the services of female office employees with males if the act became law, contending that there were times when the nature of his business _emended the working of additional time to that proscribed as constituting a full 'ay's work." "After a careful examination of the hearings and the debates in Congress," Mr. Bride continued, "there can be no question but that body, when it enacted this law, did not intend to apply the provisions of this act to those females engaged in the buying and selling of merchandise and to exclude their fellow working girls engaged in the conduct of the affairs of the establishment in the offices. "Of the fact that those actually engaged in the buying and selling of commodities are engaged in mercantile pursuits, there can be no question; but following the definitions to their logical conclusions a interpretation of the term would include those employees who are engaged, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of the mercantile establishments, The ends to ho accomplished would logically seem to govern rather than the means." Massachusetts Amendment to Night Work Law Pending. A bill now pending in the legislature would prohibit the employment of women in all manufacturing establishments between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. This provision is advocated the State 70deration of Labor, but opposed by the Associated In4ustries of Massachusetts. The latter organization last year urged an amendment to the present law to put textile plants on tee same basis as other manufacturing establishment°. Existing law makes 6 o'clock the closing hour in textile manufacturing only, but pereeits women to be eelployed until 10 o'clocl: in all other manufacturing plants. Other Legislative Bills. Other bills before the legislature this year provide for (1) no work in manufacturing establishments, mills, factories, and mercantile establishments on legal holidays; (2) regulation .f hours during which laundry 'collections may be made on Monday morning, and during which certain labor may be performed in laundries on any day; (I) the appointment by the Governor of a special commission of five persons to consider "what steps should be taken to make more effi.cient the work of the Department of Labor and Industries with reference to the problem of industrial health, and the advisability of creating within the department a division of industrial health;" (4-) a special un-eaid commission, to consist of two members of the Senate, five members of the House, and two persons to be appointed by the Governor, to investigate conditions affecting the textile industry, including problems of taxation, hours and eonditions of labor, wages and other matters. The commission would have power to summon witnesses and papers. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 3 Request for The commissioners of the petition from the manufacturers of of felt hats be declared seasonal, tlring the rush season. Seasonal ExeEption Denied. Department of Labor and Industries have denied the ladies' straw and felt hats that the manufacture to permit the employment of women 52 hours a week New Wage Board Established. A wage board to recommend a minimum rate of wages for women and girls employed in the boot and shoe cut stock and findings occupation was established by the minimum wage commission and began its work in October. This occupation includes the manufacture of such products as counters and innersoles, shoe trimmings, stays, leather and fiber heels, shanks, and similar lines. The establishment of the wage board followed an investigation into the wages of women in this occupation made by the minimum wage commission in February, 1925. This investigation showed that in 41 establishments nearly three-fourths of the women (72.9 per cent) earned less than a week; more than one-half (54.3 per cent),earned less than $13 a week; and one-third (32.1 per cent), less than 311 a week. Tfinnesota A bill now before the legislature and which is urged especially by the League of Women Voters, would provide a 54-hour week and a 9i-hour day for women throughout the State. A law substantially the same as this bill went into effect in 1923, but three years later -ras discovered to have been unconstitutionally enacted due to a clerical error by which an incorrect copy of the bill was sent to the Governor and sio.ned. The earlier laws, now in force, provide 9 hours a day and 54 hours a week for manufacturing or mechanical, telephone and telegraph establishments in cities of the first and second class, and for manufacturing and mechanical establishments 10 hours a day, 58 hours a week elsewhere. Canning establishments are exempt for 75 days a year. Mercantile establishments throughout the State are allowed a 58-hour week, and for mercantile establishments and restaurants in cities of the first and second cla-,s the day is limited to 10 hours. New Hampshire Hearings have been held on a bill backed by the State Federation of Labor which provides a 48-hour week for women in industry. Such a measure, which would -eplace the e:dstinz law providing a 10i-hour day and a 54-hour week, has been intro-Weed at four preceding sessions of the legislature. Another bill, introduced this year, corresponds to existins : legislation in Massachusetts. It would prohibit night work for women in textile plants, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and in other manufacturing establishments between 10 p.m, and 6 a.m. New Jersau Efforts of the Consumers' League of New Jersey to secure a law establishitm a Bureau of Women and Children in the Department of Labor from all accounts may prove successful, but the League is encountering opposition to including in the bill a requirement that the chief of such a bureau shall have "training and experience in methods of social research." The salary for this position has been increased since the bill was first introduced, from ,$3,600 to $4,000. A move also is under way to secure an enforcement provision for the night work law passed in 19232 but never in effect. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Bills to carry out two of Governor Roosevelt's recommendations have been introduced in the legislature ; one to establish a minimum wage board and the other to provide a 48--nour week for women in industry without overtime provisions as under existin: legislation. Another measure sponsored by the National Woman's Party would remove the prohibition against work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for women in restaurants. Pennsylvania Establishment of a 44-hour efeek for women in industry is the object of legislation urged at the present session of the legislature by the Women's Trade Union League of Pennsylvania and the State Federation of Labor, A 10-hour day and 54-hour week is the present legal standard in the State. Rhode Island A bill providing a 48-hour week for women which is sponsored by the United Textile Workers of America, has been introduced in the legislature of Rhode Island. Under the terms of another amendment to the labor law, no women would be permitted to work between 10 Texas Hour Law Violations. In the course of the work of law enforcement, the State Department of Labor reports that it has encountered a number of situations that constitute rather surious problems. "One of the most difficult of these problems is tile fact that all hospitals, charity institutions, and State eleemosynary institutions have been posed to be constant violators of the law governing eIurs of employment for women and girls; notwithstanding that the provisions of the law are very clear and that rulings of the Attorney General and court decisions leave no doubt as to the application of the law. The heads of such institutions where violations are found, invariably net up a plea of lack of funds to employ sufficient help and beseech the department to condono their infractions, some of them flagrant. This presents a difficult situation, as the department has not wished to take an attitude of arbitrary application of rules; least of all has it wished to be considered as prosecuting organizations that are engaged in the worthy. work of charity or social services. Those who urge immunity for such institutions entirely ignore the uncontrovertible fact that all women are physically constituted very much alike and that long hours of labor and responsibility in private industry are injurious to their health and well-being, and that long hours of work and responsibility are equally injurious in institutions maintained by taxation or public subscription. "The department has steadfastly held to the position that all laws are enacted to be enforced, and has tried and will continue to try, in a firm but reS sonably manner to compel such institutions to obey the law. There can be no excuse for such institutions maintained by the public, either through voluntary contributions or through taxation, to disregard laws designed for the protection of the individual. To do so is to deny the very principle to which they are presumed to be devoted." (Texas Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tenth Biennial Report, 1927-1928.) Survey of Textile Mills. A survey of textile mills made during April, May, and June, 1928, by the State Department of Labor is reported in the Tenth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of Texas. The 26 mills studied employed 5,286 persons and operated https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 5 on an average of 50 weeks a year, the report states, the average number of hours for the mill hands being 55 per week, and for office employees 49 per week. The work week consisted of 5-1 days. Eight mills reported running night shifts, the average weekly hours for night shifts being 50 and the scale of pay being approximately 10 per cent higher than for day work. The average weekly wages for the different cla ,ses of workers was as follows:. Office employees, $33.50; mill operatives paid on a weekly basis, skilled men, $19; skilled women, $13.50; unskilled men, $12.50; unskilled women, $11; boys, '.;11.75; girls. $12 30. Those operatives paid on a piece work basis averaged per week: skilled men, $18; skilled women, i14.35; unskilled men, $12.75; unskilled women, $12. A large proportion of the wives of mill workers were found to be employed and most of them worked in the same mills with their husbands or children. Not than her husband. infrequently, the report states, the wife actually was earning more New Legislation Advocated. The Department of Labor advocates amendments to the hour law to eliminate the exemption for telegraph and telephone and mercantile establishments in towns of less than 3,000 population, to put textile mills on the same basis es other manufacturing plants by reducing the maximum hours for women from 60 to 54 a week, and from 10 to 9 a day, and to repeal the provision for double time for overtime in laundries and textile mills, as its enforcement is impracticable. The department also urges a law prohibiting employ-lent of women for at least four weeks before and after childbirth, and a minimum wage law. "The work of the department during the last two years in enforcing the laws designed for the protection of female employees an::. in in :athering statistical information on the economic condition of women and girls chiland women for law wage minimum industry has demonstrated the urgent need for a 1927-1928,) Report, Biennial dren." (Texas Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tenth West VircIi.nia The West Virginia legislature again has before it a bill to regulate the and a 54-hour week. West working hours of women. This measure provides a 9-hour day fixing the maximumn legislation no have which States Virginia is o,qe of the four employed. be number of hours that women may Canada British Columbia. By a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, the order of the Boar-1 of Adjustment under the male minimum wage act of British ColumSi/:.1 fixing 40 cents an hour as the mininum rate of wages to be paid to all employees in the lumber industry, is declared invalid and is no longer in effect. The Supreme Court found that the act authorized the board to fix minimum rates of wages for employees in various occupations, but not to fix a minimum rate for all grades of workers throughout the entire industry. The only occupations now covered by any order under the act are those in the catering industry. (Labor Gazette, Canada, November, 1928.) Quebec. of the Province of Quebec recently commission wage minimum women's The in laundries, dye works, and dryemployees female governing revised Order No. 2, the with exception of the Island of Province, the cleanin, establishments in beyond the island. The revision and around miles Montreal and a radius of 10 under 18 years of age between made apprentices abolishes the distinction formerly 18 being now classed as "inexperienced and inexperienced workers,all girls under workers." https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 6 The three learning periods of 6 months each, formerly served by apprentices, are now reduced to two 6-month periods as for the inexperienced class, the rate for beginners also being equalized, and raised from $6 to $7 per week. By another change in the original order, the number of inexperienced =kers who may be employed in any particular establishment is increased from 35 per cent of the total number employed to 50 per cent. Labor Gazette, Canada, November, 1923.) China Speaking before the Pan-Pacific Women's Conference in Honolulu, in August, 1928, Kyong Bac-Tsung, Industrial Secretary, National Committee, Y.w.C.A., said: Women are chiefly employed in cotton spinning and weaving, silk reeling, match packing, cigarette wrapping, hosiery and embroidery work. That the working conditions in modern industrial China are far from good is a well-known fact. As yet, there is no legislation in existence nationally, no inspectors to supervise working conditions, and employers are left to their own discretion as to matters relating to Trking environment. With very few exceptions the factories do not show any intentionAimprove the conditions. No consideration or, perhaps, very little, is given to the health of workers. Over crowding, bad ventilation, high temperature and unsanitary conditions are often found in the factories. In cotton mills nothing is done to remove dust and fluff. This may reasonably be said to be a contributing cause to the many cases of tuberculosis among workers. On account of the presence of boiling water in the silk reeling room it becomes intolerably hot in summer and it is not unusual for many of the women and girls to faint. Bad light and the fineness of the silk thread cause defective eye sight among silk workers. The average working day, generally speaking, is 11 hours--from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with one hour off for lunch at noon. A very few places have adopted the 3-hour day. The Commercial Press of Shanghai is one of the first ones to adopt this standard, and their hours are cut short on very hot days in summer. It is not unusual to find women working 13 or 14 hours a day and in a few instances even longer, but the extremely long hours only exist in seasonal trades. In cotton mills, night work still exists. The night shift is also 11 hours-- 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. with one hour off for a meal at midnight. The change of shift occurs every other week in most mills, though in a few others it takes place every ton days. In the silk industry there is no night work, not su much due to the good will of the owners but, rather, necessitated by the cirmnstance that the work is too fine to be done under artificial Those who see the social implications of night work for women and the effects on women themselves and society at large, feel that night work for women should be prohibited; yet the working women seem to prefer night work. When questioned for a reason, a little girl said in her innocent way, "I prefer to work at night because the foremen do not watch us as closely as they do in the day," and a woman said, "It gives me chances to 3.tten:1 to other duties both social and domestic." These are possible advantages of night work but it seems to me night work can not justify its existence on those bases. The foreman should assume the duties of an instructor and supervisor, not that of a slave driver, and hours should be shortened so that the woman will have a chance to attend to her other duties without having to turn her night into day. Cuba Among several conventions of the International Labor Conference that were :ormally ratified in 1928 by the Republic of Cuba, are those concerning the employ- https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis ,ment of women before and after childbirth and the employment of women during the night. (International Labor Office, Official 3ulletin, iovember 15, 1928.) France The Bordeaux Trades Cha.riber, in the belief that the proper place for married women is the home, but that circumstances often make the earnino of sucla women essential if the family budget is to balance, has recently endeavored to solve the problem of the married woman worker by means of what is called a Bureau de Mi-Temps (Half-Time Office). The object is to encourage the creatiJn of part-time employment in industry and commerce which will enable married women, and especially those with eir oiuns ee t o atte n d o h i children, to work daily for a fe e xperiment would se em totibe t h e fir st sottf iitathls kin hd h old dutie s an d c hild r ewni. r an d d E ur o p e, and th e r e s ult ll o ,b ab Lab o r In form oemb2 er Tphre6 1928.) v Netherlands The proposed text of a bill to regulate the worl; of women, children and youn::; persons in agriculture was recently submitted to the Supreme Labor Council of the Netherlands by the Minister of Labor, Commerce, and industry. Under the terms oC this bill, women may not work between 7 p.m. and 6 a m., or on Sundays, save in be defined by administrative regulation. The memorandum exceptional cases ones, where certain operations n e'cplains that the cases contemplated are exceptioal s or in preventing the loss of food must be carried out, e.g., in Tending young person is working on a joint operation products, or perhaps where a woman or arimalIIJIJ yith adult male workers. Married women and unmarried women who have the care of a household and who have informed their employer of this fact, can not be employed Sfter one o s clock on Saturday, unless in exceptional cases to be defined by administrative regulation. jomen may not work for 8 weeks after confinement; this period may be shortened by a fortnight, but not more, on account of time taken off before be allowed time to nurse their children. (Indusconf-Inement. Nursing ..UK trial and Labor Information, December 10, 1928.) Vg.neuvla A labor law to supersede the workshops and public establishments act of June 26; 1917, was passed by Congress on July 12, 1928, and signed by President G(Iez on July 23, 1928. It provides amonr; other things that women shall work only during th3 hours from 6 a,m. to 6 p.m., and that they may not work in mines, foundries, or other industries, including the liquor trade, prejudicial to their health o: good habits. (Bulletin, Pan American Union, December, 1928.) FERSONNEL Massachusetts Miss Ethel M. Johnson has been reappointed Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industries. New York Mis.s Frances Perkins, since 1925 chairman of the State Industrial Board, and a member of this board since 1919, has been appointed by Governor Roosevelt as State Industrial Comuissioner, succeeding Mr. James A. Hamilton, whose term had expired. Miss Perkins is the first woman to become the head of a State department of labor. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 8 Miss Nelle Swartz, for many years director of the bureau of Women in ,Industry of the State department of labor, has been apnointed a member of the Industrial Commission to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Perkins. NOTES Which Workers Have Good Attendance? An article under this title appeared in the February issue of the Personnel Journal, in which the author, Dr. C.J. Ho, reports on a study of attendance in a large department store. The object of this study was to find the extent to which sex, age, marital status, personality difficulties, and home problems were causes of lateness an.: absenteeism. The results show that the average number of lates per month for the youngest is 0.89, and for the oldest is 0.23; that the average number of absences per month for the youngest is 0.55, and the oldest is 0.18; that the average number of sick benefits per month for the youngest is 0.08, and for the oldest is 0.19. The average number of lates per month for married people is 0.24; for Angle, 0.65; for widowed, 1.15; The average number of absences per month for married people is 0.32; for single, 0.47; for widowed, 0.94. Those who have no personality difficulties show 0.46 average number of lates per month; those with difficulties of one form or another show 0.63. The average number of absences per month for those with no difficulties is 0.45; for those with some difficulty is 0.51. Those with no home problems average 0.46 lates per month; those with some problems 0.69. The average number of sick benefits per month is 0.14 for those with no home problems; and 0.31 for those with some. When sex differences are taken into consideration, the results show that women who have home problems have more lates, absences, and sick benefits than those who are without them. But with men, home problems seem to have a tendency to make them more careful about attendance. In general, women are more frequently late and absent, but have fewer sick absences of long duration, than men. Vr.cations with Pay. The International Harvester Company has announced its intention of giving its 43,000 employees two weeks' annual vacation with pay. In addition every employee is to be allowed six days "time off" to be used in emergency cases. 'onferences of Worsen. Internation The Congress of the Labor an ocialist International, held in Brussels, in August, 1923, was preceded by an international conference of women which adopted resolutions calling for the following measures: For the Mother and Child. The creation and development of protection for pregnant and nursing mothers and women in childbirth; The ratification and full enforcement of the Washington Childbirth Convention for all women in employment; The provision 'of a special payment from public funds to all mothers at the time of maternity; The provision of free medical and nursing attendance before, at the time of, and after childbirth, and the provision of maternity hospitals; The establishment of a complete systom of advisory centers for maternity and infant welfare; https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 9 Extension and development of public hygiene, provision for the physical welfare of children at school, free medical advice and remedial institutions for all, especially for tuberculosis, venereal diseases, and alcoholism; Development of the protective care of the community for the mother and child, especially in the provision of milk, domestic help and nursery schools; Inquiry into the following points: (a) the causes of death from childbirth; (b) the effects upon maternity of various forms of physical labor performed by women and young girls; (c) the effects of too frequent pregnancies upon maternal health. For the Woman in Industry. per day and Restriction of the hours of work to a maximum of eight hours every of kind and of forty-eight hours in the week for all adult women in industries in every occupation; Remuneration which will enable women to live a civilized life, and which for production may be regarded as just in consideration of the value of women's work pay for "equal movement-labor the and for society; the fundamental principle of equal work"--should be observed; Adequate protection against dangers to health in employment of all kinds; Adequate period of rest for all employed women before and after confinement, together with the grant of sufficient maintenance for mother and child; in regard to Special attention to the work of young persons, especially for professional, its nature and duration, so that they may have leisure and energy on. recuperati for time to addition in t developmen moral and physical Selected Reading Lists Available. The Women's Bureau has prepared selected reading lists on hours of labor of women in indUstry and worhinc conditions of women in industry. These lists in Bureau. mimeo„;raphed form may be secured on request from the Women's https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis U.S. repartment of Labcr WOMEN'S BUREAU Washington Tune 21, 1929, News Letter Nc. 59. ACTIVITIES AFFECTING jOMEN IN INDUSTRY California Right to Fix Overtime Wages Sustained. The right of the California Industrial Welfare Connission to set overtime rates of pay in industries exempt from the 6-hour law for women was sustained in a decision rendered in March by Superior Judge Desmond in Long Beach. Appeal was immediately taken to a higher court. The case in question involved the employment by the Curtis Packing Corporation of women in the canning industries in excess of 8 hours a day without paying the overtime wage rates required by the Industrial Welfare Commission. Judge Desmond's decision specifically affects the legal right of the Industrial Welfare Commission to set overtime rates of pay, declaring that when the legislature delegates such power to specific groups or commissions the decrees of such commissions must have the force of legislative enactments. New Law Affecting Waitresses. The California Legislature of 1929, according to press reports, has passed an act which provides that waitresses shall not be required to lift more than 50 pounds or to carry a tray and contents weighing more than 10 pounds up cr down stairs. Connecticut Two bills, one endorsed by the Consumer's League of Connecticut reducing the hours of labor for womn from 55 to 49i a week, and the second, endorsed by the been rejected by Connecticut Federation of Labor, reducing hours to 46 a reek have this year's legislature. Another bill, also rejected, provided for a commission to study conditions among aged dependent poor and to bring recommndations on old age pensions tc the 1931 General Assembly. Illinois The bill providing an 6-hour day for women in industry again was defeated in the legislature this year. Massachusetts New Legislation, ts General Court of 1929 provide for an Massachuset the by passed Acts investigation by the Massachusetts Industrial Commission of the conditions affecting the textile industry and of the problem of unemployment in the textile and other industries. The Collidission, newly created, is to consist of the Commissioner of Labor and Industries, the Commissioner of Agriculture and five unpaid members to be appointed by the Governor, one of whom, is to be a representative of labor. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -2 The Commission is charged with the promotion and development of the industrial, agricultural, and recreational resources of the Commonwealth, and is authorized to conduct researches into the industrial, and agricultural situation within the Commonwealth, and to seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for the promotion of the industrial, agricultural, and recreational interests in the Commonwealth, and to prepare, print and distribute, books, charts, and phamphlets. Minimum Rate Set for New Occupations. A minimum rate of $14.65 a week for women and girls employed throughout the State in the boot and shoe cut stock and findings occupation is provided by a decree entered March 14 by the Minimum Wage Commission. This docrce became effective Tune 1, 1929. Under the decree the minimum rate applies to women 17 years of age or over \7h0 have had three months' experience in the occupaticn. Special rates of $10 and of $12 a week are established for inexperienced workers according tc age and length of employment. For beginners 17 years of age or over with less than 3 months' experience, the minimum rate is $12 a week. For beginners under 17 years of age with less than 3 month's experience, the minimum is $10 a week, and after 3 months' experience, 412 a week. The decree is based on the unanimous report of the wage board established for the occupation. The board submitted its report January 9, 1929. The public hearing on the determinations was held on February 7. The formation of the board and the entrance of the decree follows an investigation made by the Commission in February and in March 1925. The entrance of this decree brings 21 occupeticns under the minimum wage decrees. Rules Adopted Against Common Towel and Common Prinking Cup. The Department of Labor and Industries on February 19, 1929, adopted rules regarding the use of the common drinking cup and common towel in industrial establishments. These rules became effective May 1, and are as follows: On and after May 1, 1929, it shall be unlawful to provide a common towel or common drinking cup in any factory, workshop, manufacturing or mercantile establishment in this Commonwealth. The common drinking cup as used in these regulations shall be constituted as meaning "any vessel used in conveying water to the mouth and available for common used b7 employees". The term "common towel" as used in these regulations shall be considered to mean a roller towel or a towel available for use by more than one person without being washed after such use. These rules were adopted under authority of section 113 of chapter 149 of the General Laws which provides that: "Every factory, workshop, manufacturing, mechanical and mercantile establishment shall be well lighted, well ventilated, ana kept clean and free from insanitary conditions, according to reasonable rules and regulations adopted by the Department with reference thereto." It was decided by the Department that the use of the common drinking cup and the eenmsn towel in such establishments ccnstitutes an insanitary condition; and the rules above cited were therefore adopted. This action was taken as a result of requests made by the Mint Board of Sanitary Ccntrcl of New England, May 1928, asking that the Department adopt rules to prohibit the use of the common drinking cup, and eammen towels in factories. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 3Michigan The Michigan Federatienist for February, 1929, reports that two courts in Detroit upheld the conviction of an office building owner who was fined $25 for refusing to obey the State law which calls for seats in elevators operated by women, the defendant however refused to accept the decisions and appealed the case to the State Supreme Court. In the original trial the Judge scored tho defendant for his unsocial outlook. The costs of the seats would be but a few dollars but the owner claimed "his right to run his own business" was interfered with. Minnesota An amendment to the minimum wage law which would have raised the age limit of minor females to 21 (instead of 18) passed the Senate at this session of the legislature but failed of passage in the House. The 54-hour bill for women in industry also failed to pass. After amendments had been made removing the daily limitation of 9- hours and providing that the act apply only to cities with a population of 50,000 or more, the Senator who introduced the bill moved that it be returned to its author. Now Hampshire Bills introduced in the 1929 Legislature prohibiting night work for women and providing a 48-hour work week both were defeated. New Jersey An act creating a bureau of women and children within the State Department of Labor became effective May 1. This bureau, the director of which shall be a woman appointed by the commissioner of labor, is authorized to make studios and investigations of special problems connected with the labor of women and children, and to enforce the laws, rules, and regulations governing their employment. The director is to receive a salary of $4,000. No bill was introduced at this session of the legislature to make enforceable the tight, work law of 1923. New York Night Work Law Stands The Kirkland-Xenks bill permitting waitresses in the larger cities to work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m, was killed in committee in both houses of the legislature. The bill, which was sponsored by the National Woman's Party, was opposed by Miss Frances Perkins, State Industrial Commissioner, the State Federation of Labor, the organized waitresses, and the Women's Trade Union League. Industrial Survey Commission Abolished The legislature of this year abolished the Industrial Survey Xemmission after killing bills recommended by it to put all employment agencies under State control, to add 11 groups of occupational diseases to the compensation law and to create a compensation advisory medical council. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -4- Tho Trund of Homo Work in Now York City. Beginning in 1922 the Division of Home Work Inspection of the Now York State Department of Labor has kept records of the number of firms giving out homework and also cf tho number of women who do industrial homework. These figures are compiled fram the lists required by law to be sent by employers to the Division oV Homework Inspection, giving the typo of work performed, and the namo and addresses of all persons to whom such work The number of firms giving out homework has increased 20 per cent, from 1,277 in tho year ending Tune 30, 1924, to 1,527 in thu year ending December 31, 1928. Likewise, over the same period the number of homcworkors has increased 20 per cent or from 10,760 to 12,887. At first gIlnco it would seam that industrial homework was increasing, but when the figures for all five yoars are taken into consideration,it is seen that both the number of firms and the number of homeworkers have shown a decrease in each of the last two yours over the preceding year. Is. From the coming in the year onding Tune 30, 1926, the number of firms decreased 13 per cent or from 1,747 to 1,527 and the numbur of homeworkers, 8 per cent from 14,046 to 12,887. It is impossible tc judge on the basis of figures for such a limited period whether this decrease in the use of hameworkers is of temporary nature or is a definite decline in tenement house manufacture. The number of firms distributing home work increased over the five-year period in all industries except in nen's clothing and powder puffs where there was a amall decrease, and knit goods in which there was a large falling off in number of firms. Among the industries whero the number of firms employing S11 •:_ increased, the largest gains were in lampshades, beads, and women's clothing. The number of homeworkers increased slightly in the mon's clothing industry, substantially in flowers and feathers, trimmings, novelties, men's neckwear, women's clothing, garters, lamp shades, and beads. In the last two industries the number of homeworkers was five or six tines as great at the end of the period as at the beginning. There was a slight decrease in the number of homeworkers in embroidery, gloves, powder puffs and shoes while the number of homeworkers in knit goods, tags, and cards fell off considerably. Throughout all five years men's clothing, with about a third of the workers, has been the largest homw work industry. Embroidery is second with over S fifth of all hone workers. The other main homework industries are flowers and feathers, trirmings, men's neckwear, novelties, women's clothing and lampshades, Each of these industries, with tho exception of lampshades with 486 hamtawcrkers to a firm ranged fror four in beads to 50 in cards. No such extremes as these appear in any of the other years. In the last year recorded the average ranged from 5 homeworkers to a firm in women's clothing to 19 in powder puffs. *** More firms were distributing work outside their factories, and mere women were doing inS ustrial homework in the year ending December 31, 1928 than in the year ending Tune 30, 1924. But even so, there were fewer firms and home workers in the year enI ing December 31, 1928 than there were in either of the two preceding years. Over a five-year poriod the high peak is seen in 1926, with a gradual reduction BuIgLetin, New York State Departnent of Labor, sincS that IS (. M3y 1929.) https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -5- North Carolina nsation law. The new For the first time North Carolina has a workmen's compe on 60 per cent of based on nsati law which goes into effect July 1, provides compe and a limit of days, 7 of d wages with a weekly maximum of $16, a waiting perio is by a tion istra Admin . $5,500 for disability, and $6,000 in case of death al proSpeci nor. the Gover commission of three full-time members appointed by vision is made for accident prevention. ssippi and South There are now only 4 States -Arkansas, Florida, Missi in the first two and compensation laws, Carolina - that are without workmen's a leading issue. of these workmen's compensation is said to be North Dakota Dakota, who was convicted for The proprietor of a cafe in Minot, North that appealed the case on the grounds employing women more than 4e hours a week ed settl well is held however, that, "It the law was unconstitutional. The Court labor of regulate and limit the hours that a state may, under the police power, duration is detrimental to health, profor women, where work of long continued is reasonable." vided that such regulation of limitation case of Adkins v. Children's The Court also pointed out that in the um wage the United States held the minim Hospital, in which the Supreme Court of stitutional, the decision was limited law of the District of Columbia uncon not overrule the opinion of that court strictly to the facts in the case and did statute liniting the hours of labor of in Muller v. Oregon in which the Oregon er, that the amendments to the North wemen was upheld. It was contended howev law and iples of equal protection of the le.ea statute in 1927 violated princ nal origi the the case fell within Process. The Court held that from an examination of the original provisions of the statute: "It is clear which affects the defendant stood alone statute that that portion of the low was was reenacted in 1923, 1925 and 1927 it fl-cm 1919 until 1923; that while it legis ional it is also clear that addit never phangod in any particular; and severed without affecting the original law lation which was added to it can be not necessary for us to pass upon the in any particular. It is therefore, to the original statute. It is also well constitutionality of the amLndnants te w!liah is unccnotitutional and which settled that an anerdnent to a statu t pted to be amended does not repeal or affec cannot be severed from the law attem act has a repealing clause." the original act even when the amendinz Pennsylvania s Biennial Report. Bureau of Women and Children Issue ia Department of Labor ylvan Penns the of ren The Bureau of Women and Child t coverip3 the period from June 1, 1927 and Industry ha S issued its biennial re.Nr as follows: to Nay 31, 19,19. The report reads in part is delegated the task of making "studies To the Bureau of Women and Children conneczed with the labor of women and and investigations of special problems tive Code). Within the two-year children," (Section 1707 State Administra u has completed four major period, June 1, 1927 to May 31, 1929, the Burea been printed as special bulletins of the pieces of industrial research which have prepared seven research articles less Department of Labor and Industry; has ed in the Department's monthly extensive in scope, all of bhich have been print ets for the specialized use of bulletin; and has issued six printed leafl different industrial groups. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -.6 As the maintenance of legal standards for factory work performed not in industrial establishments but in private homes involves the need of continuous study and investigation rather than routine inspection, the enforcement of the Bureau Department's industrial Home Work Regulations has been a function of the of Women and Children since those regulations were adopted October 1925. The Bureau's publication, "Persons, Firms, and Corporations Licensed to Employ Home Workers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," issued in 1928 lists approximately 1300 home work employers. At quarterly intervals these employers refer to the Bureau the names and addresses of all their home workers and these reports for December 1928 include 11,309 home workers. The Bureau's procedure in attempting to maintain labor standards in this large number of homes is outlined in its second annual home work report, "The Second Year's Administration of Industrial Home Work Regulations," published in Labor and Industry, March 1928. In the course of its home work investigations the Bureau's staff has gathered data as to the part-time nature of industrial horn work and the earnings of women employed on such work. This material forms the basis for a study, "The Hours of Work and Earnings of Women Employed on Industrial Home Work," to be printed in Labor and Industry for Rine 1929. *** To answer the many inquiries which have been mode both by employers and employees as to the actun] hours of work and the earnings of women as compared tc men in the same industry and in comparable occupations, the Bureau with the cooperation of The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has issued a study, "Hours and Earnings in the Silk Industry," Special Bulletin No. 29, now in press. This study involving the actual hours of work and earnings of approximately 17,000 silk workers was the result nf a review of the payrolls of 62 employers in the silk industry who welcomed the opportunity to contribute to an impartial, scientific report of this type. A study along comparable lines for the hosiery industry is now in preparation. This study also is being made with the cooperation of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and with the permission of 32 hosioryemployers who have offered their payroll records for review. It includes the hours of work, earnings weekly and annual, of approximately 10,000 workers. Appreciating importance to industrial employees, particularly women, of the proper type of work chair and understanding the problems of the employer in getting chairs which will be an asset and not a hindrance to production, the Bureau after very careful study has issued a report "A Good Chair For the Industrial Worker," Labor and Industry, August 1928. In addition the Bureau has gathered information suggestive of solutions for posture problems as they vary with the different industries in which women are employed. This material is made available to employers as it is requested. To bring the discussion of industrial problems out of the field of generalization and to indicate specifically the contribution wtich women can make toward higher industrial standards is an important function of the Bureau. To this end the Bureau attempts to disseminate a general knowledge of the State's standards for the protection of women and children in industry and to bring about a better understanding of the service which the Department of Labor and Industry offers to women and children who work. Two phamphlets prepared by the Bureau, "The Employment of Women in Pennsylvania," and "The Employment of Children in Pennsylvania," presenting a digest of the women's and children's labor laws, have gone through their third publicaticn and have been distributed widely through private organizatiuns and through the public school system. They have been the subject of special class discussion in continuation schools and have been made available to all employers of women and children in the State. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -7 - Informal conferences have frequently been held by the bureau for a consideration of special problems affecting women or children. One important conference held by the bureau within this two year period was a meeting of industrial nurses employed in establishments in Pennsylvania. The minutes of this conference made up the whole of the August 1927 number of Labor and Industry. Following the conference the bureau issued a directory of all of the establishments in Pennsylvania having industrial nurses, together with the names cf the nurses employed, The Bureau has frequently been asked to prepare industrial programs for meetings of club groups. It has served as the medium for the clearing og studies carried on by private organizations, thus avoiding duplication of effort and contributing to the constructive and practical nature of such reports. Tennessee A bill introduced in the 1929 legislature of Tennessee to reduce the hours of labor of women from 57 to 54 a week passed one house but was defeated in the other. The measure was supported by the League of Women Voters. Texas Hour Law Amended by Further Exemptions. According to press reports Mrs. Laura Burleson Negley, one of two women members of the Texas House of Representatives succeeded in pushing to final passage her bill to exempt from the women's 54,hour law matrons, nurses, superentendents, and attendants in orphans, homes which are of charitable nature and not operated for profit. Unsuccessful effort was made in the Senate to make the hour law apply to stenographers, pharmacists, telephone and telegraph operators and employees of mercantile establishments in towns under 3,000 population who now are exempt. Married Women Dismissed. Reports have come from Dallas, Texas, that the mayor of that city issued an order requiring department heads to release all married women from their jobs with the city unless there were unusual mitigating circumstances in their favor. Utah ft..M•MW.W.MMO A minimum wage act similar to the Massachusetts law was introduced in the Utah legislature this year by Mrs. Anna T. Piercey, It was not, however, reported out of committee. The existing law in the State was enacted in 1913 and fixed a minimum wage for experienced adult women of $1.25 a day. The law is inflexible, having no provision for adjusting the minimum rate to meet changing economic conditions. The act introduced this year was opposed by the Associated Industries. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis • 04 -8Wisconsin An 8-hour day and a 41 hour week for women in factories and mercantile establishments were the provisions of a bill introduced in the Wisconsin legislature this year by Mrs. Kryszak, member from Milwaukee. The bill was defeated in the assembly by a vote of 50 to 19, Canada Alberta Eight-Hour Day Inquiry. Among the labor measures recommended to the Alberta government by the Alberta Federation of Labor before opening of the present session of the legislature the general provision of an 8-hour day for industry occupied a prominent place. The government undertook to give consideration to this and to the other suggestions submitted by the Federation. In the meantime the Canadian Manufacturers' Association as well as individual employers in the province, by moans of telegrams and interviews with members of the provincial government, protested strongly against the adoption of general 6-hour day legislation, chiefly on the grounds that the 3 prairie provinces were competing for new industries, and that such restrictive legislation would place Alberta under a severe handicap as compared with Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The government conceded that there was some force in this contention, and on March 8 the Honorable J. E. Brownlee, the provincial premier, informed the legislature that the government did not intend to bring down an 8-hour day measure during the present session. He intimated, however, that during 1929 a complete industrial survey would be made in Alberta in order to secure information as to the seasonal nature of many industries and other material relating to the question of a legal limitation of the hours of labour in the province. (Labour Gazette, Canada, April 1929.) Women's Labor Conference. A women's conference was hold at Edmonton, Alberta, in March, to consider the working conditions of female employees in shops and factories. The conference adopted the following standard budget of a working woman in the province, submitted by tho Employed Girl's Council of Regina, as the proper basis for a minimum wage:Per week Board Room Washing Car fare .. Insurance Clothes, toilet sundries, marcels, etc Reading, study, stationery, correspondence Loss of time through sickness, holidays, etc Extra cost of illness, medicine, dentistry Savings for unemployment, old ago, etc https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis $8.00 2.50 1.00 .75 .50 3.75 1.00 1.00 .50 1.00 $20.00 0 -9The conforence decided to recormiend to the consideration of minimum wage boards in Canada the adoption of the adoption of tho standard hours of labour as paid down by the Womon's Bureau of the United States Department of Labor, which includes the following provisions:- cight-hour day; half holiday on Saturdays; one day's rest in scvon; time for meals not loss than thirty minutes; rest periods, ten minutes in each working period without lessoning the working day. (Labour Gazette, Canada, April 1929.) Hairdressers Ask Exemption. The Alberta Minimum iage Board hold special sessions during April at the request Calgary Hairdressers and Beauty Parlour Association to consider a proposal to suspend order No. 4 so far as it affects beauty parlours, the claim being made that the rate of wages established by the order is too high. (Labour Gazette, Canada, May 1929.) Order No. 4 provides a minimum rate of 44 for experienced workers and for 2 months, 38 for the apprentices, aftor a ono month probationary period, $6 for 3 mlanths. next the for $12 and months, 3 next 3 months, 310 for the next British Columbia New Male Minimum Wage Act. The legislature of British Columbia at its recent session passed a now male ninth= wage act, the former act having become inoperative when the ordors issued under its authority wore declared invalid by the Supremo Court of Canada. Under the now act the Board administering the law will fix a minimum wage rate if an employee in any industry asks for such intervention. In such a case the board would fix a minimum ic,,ge for the class of work affected and not for any other class of labour omployod in the industry. However, the board has the authority also to intervene and to fix wages on its own initiative. The identity of workmen applying for the Board's intervention will be kept secret. The act provides that appeals may be taken in the courts against decisions of the Board, whose rulings under the original act were final. The Board has authority to fix wages on a weekly, daily, or hourly basis. Undor the original act the minimum hourly rate only could be fixed, and this arrangement was said to involve a hardship in connection with the payment of wages to employees on duty for long hours but not actually working all the time. (Labour Gazette, Canada, April 1929.) Ontario Now Legislation Provides Overtime Pay. ,131 amendment to the Factory, Shop and Office Building act of Ontario provides that where any woman works beyond the number of hours in any one day or in any one week as provided in the act, whether the inspector has permitted the exemption or not, thc woman is entiticd to be paid wages for such overtime and the Minimum Wage Board of Ontario is given the right to cstablish a rate of wage for all such overtime worked in any one day or any one week. (Labour Gazette, Canada, May 1929.) Quebec The second annual report of the Quebec Minimum Wage Board records a marked improvement in the conditions of fona3e employment in thoso industrios in Which minimum wage orders have been in force for a year or more. The orders governing the omployment of female workers in laundries, dye works and dry cleaning establishments took effect on March 1, 1927, and had been in force for one ycar and four months when the report was prepared. These regulations not only fix minimum weekly rates of wages for exporionced and inexperienced employees but set a definite limit to the proportion of inexperienced workers. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis # 0 -10During the year a narked. reduction was noted in the number of inexperienced workers and a corresponding increase in tho number of experienced workers, the number of these receiving the full minimum rate as experienced workers being ed about doubled. The average weekly wage earned by all the employees experienc and $12.65 to $11.75 from district Montreal and inexperienced, increased in the in the rest of the province from $8.16 to $9.36. On the other side, the report instead quotes the opinion of employers to the effect that the minim= wage law, unfair the ng by suppressi it of hurting the industry has rather stabilized who competition of employers who paid inadequate wages, and by supporting those s guarantee the that law out paid fair wages. At the same tine it is pointed to workwomen a mininum wage from the start, with periodical increases fixed in advance, making employment steadier and reducing the labor turnover. (Labour Gazette, Canada, February 1929.) New Minimum Wage Order by the Minimum 'jag° Board of Quebec, effective July 1, issued recently Orders govern the employment of women in the boot and shoe and leather industries. The Board fixed for experienced workers a minimum rate of $12.50 in the city and Island of Montreal; of $10.00 in Luncipalities of over 3,000 population; and of $8.00 in nuncipalities having less than 3,000 populution. Experienced workers aro those having over 24 months experience at the trade. (Labour Gazette, Canada, May 1929.) Saskatchewan In the report of the Nininurage Board of Saskatchewan for the year ending April 30, 1928, one of the chief difficulties confronted in enforcing the minimum wage act is detailed as follows: Experience had proved that the rigid enforcement of the regulations of the to female employees, Minimum Viage Board, in regard to the rate of wages to be paid some that the orders of by urged has not in all cases proved satisfactory. It is Whatever the be allowed, the board should be strictly enforced and no deviation found that is it circumstances or whatever the result may be. On the other hand some employers, willing enough to a:Iploy women at a lower rate, are not inclined to pay the increased rate requested, to those whom they consider have not the ability to earn such wage. The result is the employee is given notice to leave. Instances have occurred whore employees have been recommended by the inspector for an increase and have been dismissed in consequence. These employees have come to the department begging to be given a permit to allow them to continue in their employment at the lesser wage, for the reason that they were unable to find other employment, and, being entirely dependent upon themselves for their living, the consequences would be serious if thoy wore out of orployment. In permits, other instances parents have berated the board for refusing to issue such earnings the to and find, was t difficult employmen other giving as a reason that were necessary. "It is regrettable," tho report states, "that sari° few employers in factories, hotels and cafes have taken advantage of non-English-speaking employees. These employees, unable to speak English, and therefore unable to under read the orders regulating their enployrent, are ignofant of their rights , factories in employed the Minimum. Wage Act. Frequently those girls are particularly those operating for the first time, at a less rate of wages than that provided for beginners in the Minimum TeLe Regulations. The inability to reluctant speak English causes them to be afraid of losing their jobs and very tion of investiga to do anything that would jeopardise their employment. In the to recourse two cafes, one hotel and one store, back wares were obtained without were the courts, and in a large number of other cases the wages of employees to increased to the amount set by the regulations by recommendations made https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 4 0. -11amploycrs. In July, 1927, legal proceedings wore cornenced against several cafo proprietors in Saskatoon for workinr- foyale amployees for long hours, but due to the strike tnstituted by the cafe umployees, which resulted in better working conditions, the natter upon request of the workers was allowed to drop." Of the 833 women employed in hotels and rostuarants and refreshment rooms, 188 work a six clay week, the renainder working seven daye. (Labair Gazette, Canada, February 1029.) Ecuador A new law relating to maximum hours of work and the weekly rest period became effective in Ecuaaor Taauary 1 of this year. It applies to all wageearners with the exception of aomestic sorvents, hamci workers, casual workers, commission agents and commercial travelers and persons engaged in work of a confidential, nanagerial or supervisory nature, for which special regulations will be drawn up later. The hours of work are fixed at 8 per day, with a rest period of 2 hours after the first 4 hours of work, or at any other point fixed by common agrOenent between emplS yer and enployee; the number of working days will be 6 per weeks Overtime nust in no case exceed two hours per day or 12 per week and will be paid for at a rate from 50 to 100 por cent higher than the normal. A weekly rest period of 36 consecutive hours nust be granted to workers on Sunday or on sale other day on which the parties concerned nay agree. No work shall be carried out on SunCLay excupt in industries in which work nust not on any account be interrupted, or in case of unavoidablo necessity, very serious circumstancee or imminent danger of accident. If work is performed between 7 P.n. and 6 a.m. the daily hours of work shall be reduced to 7. Several sections of the act deal with the raking up of lost time, fines for infringemeI ts of tho regulations, the duties of factory inspectors and the posting of tino-tables. (Industrial and. Labour Infornation, March 18, 1929.) Another recent enactment prohibits the employment of women in daagerous and unhealthful occupations and in night work, and establishes a rest period of three weeks previous to and three succeuding childbirth during which they shall receive 50 per cent of their wages, requiring also that a4-ter mothers return to work they shall be given sufficient time at regular periods to nurse their children. (Bulletin, Pan Anc, ,rican Union, February 1929.) Gemara At the request of the German Ministry of Labor, factory inspectors undertook a special inquiry in the course of the year 1927 into the employment of narried women in German industry and comerce. The following are the principal details collected, according to an analysis published by Mrs. Frida Wunderlich in Soziale Praxis of 1 Novenber 1928. Proportion of Married Wbmen. Since the census of 1899 the number of married women anployed has risen from 33.5 per cent to 34.8 per cent of the number of woman erploYed and from 9.6 per cent to 11.5 per cent of the whole nass of labor. AccordinC to districts the proportion of married women to the total of women workers varies from 12.9 per coat to 46.4 per cent for ranual WOrkUrS and from 4.5 per cent to 14 por cent for salaried employees. The textile industry is the one which employs relatively the largest number of narried wanen. It is nearly always economic defficul;.ties which compel narried wonen to work. Often the family rent https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 4 0. -12is too high for the husband's earnings, while sometimes the cost of establishing the household has not yet been not. Engagement and Dismissal. In normal tines women workers are negazed solely on the ground of their abilities, without any distinction being made between rrrried and unnarried. The former seem to be scvottmes preferred on account of their greater stability. However, when there is a shortage of orders married women are the first to be dismissed, because it is thought that they can live upon their husbands' earnings. For salaried employees the position is different. The preference seams to be given to those who are unmarried. The salaried employee gives up her work after marriage more often than the manual worker. Those two circumstances explain why the proportion of married women is much lower among employees than among workers. Regularity of Employment. The majority of married women work throughout the year and do not seem to have any preference for seasonal employment. Hours of Labor. As a general rule hours of labor are the same for married women as for the other groups of the staff. Greater facilities are sometimes allowed them in remotely situated rural undertakings. In general married women are not entitled to a loor period for the midday rest than others, and often they do not desire this because they live too far from the factory. Morbidity. No precise figures exist which would allow a comparison to be made between morbidity among married and single women workers. Certain employers think that married women workers are more regular in attendance than others; other employers hold the opposite opinion. According to the statistics of the sickness fund of Cologne, married women workers are ill for longer periods than single ones. Special Institutions for Socinl Welfare. Generally speaking, there are no special institutions of social welfare for married women in undertakings. As a rule working women do not care to nurse their children in the work place. In several large undertakings, however, there are workshops superintendents who pay special attention to married women and their families. (Industrial and. Labour Information, March 4, 1929.) Japan In view of the provision of the Japanese factory act establishing the night work of women and young persons, which comes into operation July 1, 1929, a number of leading cotton factories have already started the abolition of night work and have largely increased the number of their spindles in order to compensate for the decrease in production caused by the shortening of hours of work. Most of these factories have adopted the two-shift system; one shift works from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the other from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., with one-half hour interval in each shift. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis it 0 -13One of the most difficult problems with which the cotton spinners are faced is the increase in the cost of Production resulting from the shortening of hours. Under the present system 20 hours a day are worked by 2 shifts of 10 hours each, while after the abolition of night work the day will be reduced to 17 hours by 2 shifts of 4 hours each. Thus, the hours worked by each individual worker will be reduced by 15 per cont. At the same tine it is impossible under present the conditions to compensate for this reduction by reducing wages. Most of their announced have abolished been already factories in which night work has for rates present the maintaining intention of raising piece-work rates and workers paid by the day. Keen interest is shown in the question whether ilanufacturers will be able to check the rise in costs of production by increasing the efficiency of machinery and of the workers. The question of utilization of workers' spare time is also being carefully studied. One of the factories in which night work has been abolished has made arrangenonts to provide collective recreation or instruction for the workers for 2 hours daily. The members of the Japanese Cotton Spinners' Association have agreed to limit production. This limitation however, will cease as soon as the prohibition of night work cones into force. It is expected that there will be a great increase in production when night work is stopped by all the cotton factories. (Industrial and Labour Information, April 29, 1929.) PERSONNEL New Jersey Colonel Charles R. Blunt has been appointed Commissioner of Labor of New jersey for a tern of five years. He succeeds Dr. Andrew F. McBride whose 5 year term expired January 21, 1929. Mrs. Isabelle M. Summers has been appointed Director of the newly created Bureau of Women and Children of the Department of Labor. Mrs. Summers represented Passaic County in the Assembly during the four sessions from 1926 to 1929. New York Miss Frieda Miller has succeeded Miss Nelle Swartz as Director of the of the a Bureau of Women in Industry, Miss Swartz having been appointed 'ember State Industrial Comission. Pennsylvania ,In Pennsylvania, Mr. Peter Glick is the newly appointed Secretary of the State Department of Labor and Industry, and Miss Sarah M. Sorrel, the new Director of the Bureau of Women and Children, succeeding Miss Charlet-toil. Carr. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis alk -14NOTES How Many HOMO Makers? Reid of the An answer to this question is given by Hazel Kyrk and Margaret this year, of June for University of Chicago in the Journal of Home EconomicS in engaged women Their estimates, based on co-asus figures, show 22,169,387 in 13,491,583 and in 1900; homemaking in 1920; 10,899,936 in 1910; 16,255,469 of number "the 1890. "According to these estimates," the authors state, has the women engaged only in homemaking has not increased quite as rapidly as and the cent The population increased 68.0 per population from 1890 to 1920. pronumber of homemakers 64.3 per cent. Putting it in another way, a larger portion of women 15 years of age and over were in school or were gainfully were employed in 1920 than in 1890. In 1890, according to our estimate, there These 1.070 homemakers for each private family; in 1920 there were 0.923. with the that sispected long have we what indicate figures, if at all correct, in the persons of number the in decline a gone decline in household tasks has hone who perform than." Summer Schools for Women ;Torkers in Industry. Schools for women workers are in progress again this sumer. The Bryn Mawr Summer School opened June 15 with 110 students. The school at Barnard College reports 50 students from Now York City industries, and the Southern Summer School at Burnsville, N. C. will have at least 31 students from 17 conmunities in 8 States. National 7loments Trade Union League Convention. The two outstanding days of the 11th convention of the National ;foments Trade Union League, hold in Washington, D. C. May 6 to 11, wore those devoted to a wage symposium and discussion of the labor problems in the new industrial South. Prepared material and a set of challenging statements provoked rapid fire discussion from the delegates on the subject of wages, under the leadership of Lillian Herstein, of Chicago, on the one day; on the day following the central figure was Margaret Bowen, secretary of the newly formed union of textile workers in Elizabethton, Tennessee, as told the story of the rayon strike in Elizabothton which involved 5,000 workers and which since has been settled. The National headquarters of the League, by vote of the convention, will be moved to Washington in the fall in order to be in close touch with the national headquarters of the national labor movement and nearer to the field of work in the South. The officers elected were : Honernry President, Mrs. Raymond ,tqbbins; President, Rose Schneiderman; Vice President, Matilda Lindsay; Secretary-Treasurer, Elizabeth Christman; Executive Board, Mary E. Dreier, Sarah Lloyd Green, Mary V. Halas, Ames Nestor, Ethel M. Smith, and Maud Swartz. Meeting of Governmental Officials in Industry. The 16th annual convention of the Association of Governmental Officials in Industry of the United States and Canada was held June 4 to 7 in Toronto, Canada. Miss Maude Swett Who succeeded to the presidency on the expiration of Dr. McBride's term of office as Commissioner of Labor of Now Jersey, was reelected to that office, and Miss Louise E. Schutz was reelected to the office of secretary-treasurer. The vice presidents for the coning year are: MT. Yams H. H. Ballantyno, Mr. W. A. Rooksbery, General E. Leroy Sweetster, Dr. Eugene B. Patton, and Dr. C. W. Roberts. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 714 U. S. Departent of Labor •1( -31.;,•6 -ZaslAngton Cctoir 15, 1929. News Letter No. 60. CTIVITLSA77-CTIIIG tlorida Effort was made in the Florida Legislature of this year to .secur3 action on .a bill rroviding an 8-hour work day for wo:cen in that State. The' r.'easure was, however, not rported out of co:-:. ittee. .assachusetts Co7lpensation Awarded Ni-ht Club Letertainer. 00:tpensation a],:.ountin to ,1254.21 was awarded un- .Jr the workmen's co- cr:nsati3n act 1,1- the Ch,:,ir:n of the State industrial Accident oar.,: to a 19-year-olf, -,i.:-.7., a Drefessional dancer, who tore a cartilage in her lrit knee while dancing at a night club. The owner of the ni-ht club was insured b an enployer's liability corporation which was unwilling to pay the compensatiO in the et:se on the ground that the claimant was not an ey...-,:loyee, but an entertaiy(er who, for the purposes of her work was an independent cA.-- ractor, being Aqr.cedAy a booking office. The Chirran qf. ,th Industrial4:.cr-iclt hoard in his decision in the case stated that t}1cl.:..111 w,.s an employee/Of tI,e subscril-Jer engaF:ed in worh of a type associated with --I 1,19 cond 'u of tee busi'ess of the subscriber. The booking office stated, cared to have been that of an az,lit of the connection with le case; I subscriber rau than an e:.1, oyee 94/2 the injureC. clo.int. The chairman found that the el'ployee nqsei a .:.n .njur: in'tl.e course of and arising out of her cviployr:ent, and that .c31ridvaerefore enti d to compensation. 4/( / nassacueetts nduFtri'.1 Com,issinn. ndustrial Cca,issi9n authorized by the General Court of 1929 to investigate a c report on or befone the first ..:Cnos-,:ay in Dece,!ber, 1929, on the corrlitions affect in the textile industry and the ln- ohle: of unenploTient in that and in other indust. s includes in its membership of seven the commissioners of the depart:.-ents of 1:1)of and industries 'and of agriculture arid fiv3 ele:Itars appointed by the jovcernog--Frederick H. PcInE:, Greenfield (chairman); Andrew Raeburn, Ne7 Bedford; Thorn .1 O'Hare; forfolk Downs Louis 2. I;irstein, Boston; Paul 2 Fitzpatrick, Brookline. Occupational Diseases. During I:ay of this year 349 cases of occupational diseases and accidents were , ny.estiated by the Division of Industrial Safety of thc State Department of Labor ad Industries. Fifty-Three were cases of industrini diseases of which 23 were ':ermatitis and 3 lea:, poisoni.ng. The others included :1hrome poison, inhaling a..1:.onia fumes; chlorine i.oison, brass Toison, inhaling carbon monoxide, and acid fui,es. Therie was one case of Lenzol poison and one case of preumoconiosis. Fortynine cascs/6ere men, and four were women. The plants visited included a shoe factory, ]tint works, textile finishin, cheiaical and dye corporation; leather , electrical ecluipL'ent, granite cutting and steel hardening. finishi7 NqW //44je sey The Bureau for ]omen and Children of the New Jersey Depart:lent of Labor has ounced three conferences to be held in Newark, Trenton, and Camden during October November, at which the 2rolcleEs of employment of women and children will he dis/cussed. It is planned to 1-1.ve speakers from other State bureaus, from Fcderal bureaus, and frola various independent organizations. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 414 -2 New York Court Decision lakes 51-Hour leek for 7/omen permissible. The Supreme Court of lIeY York, AppellatsDivision, First Department, in a decision rendered in Larch, 19299 reversed the earlier decision of the Attorney General as to the application of the women'e hour law of 1028. In a case brought by the State aF;ainst the inite Steam Laundry Inc. the court upheld the defendant stating that "an employer who works his female employees under a weeLly schedule of nine hours a day for five days and four and one-half hours cn the sixth day, may add under the express 7er..ait of the stetute to the sixth or short day of four and onehalf hours the one and one-half hours of overtime without violating the law." Thus a 51-hour week will result if the :-early allowance of 70 hours overtime specified in the act are distributed evenly throuahout the year. ',0-omen :orkers in Newburgh Industries. The Bureau of "jomen in Industry of the New York Derrte,ent of Labor has reported recently on a study of workim: conditions of woreen in Newbue7h. This is the second in a series of induetrial surveys of cities of hew York State. Newburgh, a city of 30,00C population was chosen for study as being one of the smaller cities of the State with fairly diversified industries. The chief manufacturing industries which employ women are clothing and textiles, but a considerable number of women work in paper goods and in a group of miscellaneous.industriee. At the time of the investiaation, the report states, Newburgh was in a period of industrial transition which had resulted in considerable unemployment aeong its women worl:ers. One lar:e plant that had e-aaoloyed more than 200 women had moved away, while two others with a co bined working force of about 200 women had ceased operation because of a falling off in demand for their products. Three plants which together had formerly employed in the neighborhood of 150 women were operating on part time and with only a skeleton force because of style changes and decreased demand for their output. Some of the women who had been thrown out of work by these industrial changes had found employment with two new firras which had just opened up in Newburgh. Neither of these was operating at full capacity, however, and they had absorbed only a part of the women who were seeking new work. This survey, then, presents a picture of a small industrial city in a state of transition, when the industries of the city were unable to offer employment to all the available labor. The 1,333 women covered in the investigation (61 per cent of the 29 2C3 industrial women in Newburgh) were found to be predominantly American born, single women chiefly (though 29 per cent were married and 8 per cent widowed, separated, or divorced), and the majority were between the ages of 18 and 45, a large proportion (29 per cent) being under 21. Sixteen per cent however, were 45 years or over. Scheduled working hours were short; about 30 per cent of all the women had a standard week of 44 hours or less. Only a third had a basic week of more than 43 hcurs, and less than 1 per cent were scheduled for more than z* hours. Actually hours worked in the week of the investigation (January 15, 1929) by 36 per cent of the women reporting were less than 40 hours, while only 28 per cent of the women actually worked as long as 40 hours a week. Only 3 women were found working illegal hours, that is more than 54 a week. Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of the women in factories and laundries worked their scheduled hours in the week studied. The proportion of full time was much the same in all industries except paper goods, in which only 3 per cent of the women worked full time. Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of the women worked less than their scheduled hours. Undertime was very serious among the workers in paper goods and laundries; 95 per cent in the former industry, and 76 per cent in the latter worked below their schedule. Even in the clothing industry where basic hours were decidedly short, 70 per cent of the women worked under schedule. This widespread under-employment meant, https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis • -3 for many 7orkers 7 reduced working capacity and an irreg ular Tae. The amount of time lost by employees shows specifically the seriousnes s of the undertime situation. Two-thirds of the workers (67 per cent) lost five hours or more in the week of the investigation; 36 per cent lost at least 10 hours; or fully one day's working time; and a fifth (21 per cent) 20 hours or more. Textile worke rs lost the most time, half the undertime workers losing at least 10 hours; and 6 per cent; 40 hours or more. Eleven per cent of the women worked more than their scheduled hours, but only four women had as much as 5 hours overtime work in the given week. 2 -ost of the overtime was concentrated in textiles and some of the misce llaneous industries, textiles leading with 21 per cent of its women working longer than scheduled hours. The median weekly rate of pay for all women in Newburgh was ' 4 14.91. Eighteen per cent of all the women had rates of less than. $12 and C5 per cent had rates of less than 20; only 6 per cent had rates of $25 or over. A study of actual earnings, however, showed that in the week of January 15, 1929, the median week's earnings of 1,149 women employed in factories and laundries were ';12.57; tiv.ct is; half the women earned less and half more than this amount. The media n earnings of factory workers in Newl)urgh were :12.53; as compared with $15.42, the average week's earnings of women in representative New York State factories (outs ide New York City) in the week studied. Only the Newburgh women working in facto ry industries classed as "miscellaneous" had earnings as high as the average facto ry earnings throughout the State. Their median week's earnings wefe $13.93.. Earnings in a particular week may vary above or below the average, the report points out, depending on the season of the year, wheth er it is busy or slow. Year's earnings, however; show what the worker c:.-.11 count on in the long run to meet the cost of living. The median earnings of women in Newburgh for the year ending with the week of January 15 2 1929, were $302. This is based on reports from 717 women who had been employed a year; and had worked at least 44 weeks out of the year. A fifth of the workers earned less than $600, a half earned less than e,1600, and almost threefourths earned less than $1000. /omen in the miscellaneous factory industries had the highest medic,n, $904; and laundry workers the lo-est, $600. Dividing a year's earnings by 52 shows what are the average weekly earnings throughout the year. Comparing these avera,:es with amounts actually earned by the same workers in the week studied gives some idea of the part which irregularity of employment plays in determining long-time earnins, and shows the discrepancy between what the worker earns in any given %eek and what she is able to averare steadily throughout the year. Evidently, says the report, the week of the inves tigation was a fairly representative week, for the - edian earnings of all Tomen reporting were only 63 cents less than the average for the year. This indicates that the considerable amount of undertime prevailing during the week studied also characterized the preceding year; and hence the study was not made in a week of exceptional unemployment. In each of the industries except clothing and the misce llaneous group; the median earnings for the selected week were within a dollar of the average for the year. The season of the year was evidently a slow one in the clothing inustry, for its women employees earned $2.50 less than their yearly average; while women in miscellaneous industries oarned )2.41 more than they could average throughout the year. Age was one of the most important factors bearing on the earning capacity of women in New urgh. The period of highest earning capacity was between the ages of 30 and 35. From a minimum of $633 a year for the 16-and 17-year-old group, median earnings increased rapidly to a maximum of $101 5 for the 30- to 35-year group. After 35, earning capacity declined sharply at first, then more gradually; women of 60 years and over earnin only $639--less than any other group except the 16 and 17 year olds. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis By far the largest share of the women in this study were single. Their median earnings were 489, slightly less tnan the :803 median wage for all workers; :-:arried women had earnings considerably higher, ;675; and those widowed, separated, or divorced made 775, or 0.00 a year less than the married workers. The age of the “orkers, rather than their marital status, was proba bly the dominant factor in such riifferenees in earning capac ity as were found to exist. All except 5 of the workers under 21 were single, and of those over 45 years of age, 61 per cent were single, botl, these age groups were comparativ ely low paid, and hence reduced the earnin:s level of the entire number of singl e women. On the other hand, half the married workers were between the ages of 30 and 45, a period of high earning capaciLy, (Industrial Dulletin, New York State Department of Labor, August and eeptel:ber, 1920.) Pennsylvania Special 3u1letin Number 29, recently issued by the 3ureau of _omen and Children of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, prese nts a scientific analysis or the hours and earnings of men and women employed in the silk industry of the State. The rapid growth of the industry in Pennsylvania, its seaso nal fluctuations, the variety of skilled and unskilled operations, and the high proportion of women employed, makes such an analysis of special importance. "The value to the industry of a study of this type," the re-)ort points out, "is hest expressed by the cooperation consistently shown by employers in remitting representa tives of the 'Bureau of -]omen and Children to review their pay rolls." In conclusion the report says "An analysis of the weekly hours and earnings of nearly 17 2000 men and women employed in 62 silk plants in Pennsylvania, a study representing one-fourth of the silk workers and 15 per cent of the silk plants in the State, brings out the following findings: 1. The pay period studied, the week of 7ebruary 15, 1920, was represent.:.-tive of the industry in its busy season with wage payments and employment nearly attaining the peak for the year. 2. Three-fourths of the silk -)lants were working more than one shift. 3• Fifty hours was the scheduled work week of approximat ely three-fourths of the employees. 4▪ Only one-fourth of the *oen and one-third of the women worked their regular scheduled hours; non tended to be employed none and women less than their schedule. Nearly one-half of the , en worked overti :ne, more than one-third of the wo:r1n wored undertime. • The weaving department had the highest proportion of full-time work, ' eing and finishing the highest proportion of overtime, and throwing the highest proportion of undertime. 6. Almost one-fourth of the men worked 60 hours or more; the same proportion of women worked less than 44 hours. 7▪ The median weekly earnings were 31C high,r for men than for -;omen; 26.93 for men and 'i16.29 for women. The extre me arount of overtime worked by men and the undertime worked by women only in part explains the difference in their earnings, for men and women worki ng full time in the same occupational group had median earnings differing, from $3.18 in the throwing qepartnient of throwing plants to .,;12.51 in the enterinr and twisting department of weaving plants. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -58. The warpers, ::eavers: and twisters had the highest earnings. .ith the exception of these three occupationei groups -,:here the T-edian earnings for men were as high as (; 1 2,1.60 and for wo:een as high as ;?25.4e; the 7:edian eurnings for men consistently fell elow 1,30 and for women below $1.5. 9. Overtime earnings did little to increase the median earnings of all men and actually lowered the median earnings of all women. "ihile nearly one-half the men worked overtime; one-fifth of then worked 8 hours or rore beyond their regular schedule, the median earnings of men employed overtie'e were only •2.4:. higher than the median earnings of men employed their regular full-tme hours. lomen working overtime had median earnings ,;;3.25 lower than the median earnings of wo:een working their regular ocheduled hours. 10. UrZ.ertime paterially lowered median earnings. One-fourth of the : en worked undertime and had median earnings which were $S.06 less than the :eedien earnings of men aloyed full time. There wore Ili ,)er cent of the woeten who were working un6ertine. This group; larger than the :roportion of women employed full time, had median earnings of 1.39 which rust, therefore, be considered as more representative of women's earnings than the (.:319.74 median earnings of women employe full time. 11. The median earnings in individual silk plants ranged from as low as $3.4l to as high as i51'.,.5C. In nearly one-third of the plants women receives. median - roportion of the plants nen received earnings of less than Wi; in the saws 2 median earnings of .?30 or rore. "A summary statement will serve to emin.lsize the outstandinc. -Toblem which the silk industry must faeo; that of instability of e=loynent. Extreme fluctuations in eieplo7:lent from month to month and yer,r to year have lon„; been recognized as a handicap to the silk industry. That similar fluctuations should occur in a single week of extreme ectivity in the industry inay not have 'oeen so goeerelly a=eciLted. In the weekly pair period studied, while the ;;reat majority of the plants were working double shifts; in some cases three shifts, the inclustey was not arovidiug a full week's work for one-third of its ereedoyees, .1t:louL, ,h it was requiring exceseive hours of overtime from one-third of its anployaes. These extre:.es in overtime and undertime are not explained on the grounds of sex; for while men une.uestionably -eorked the greater proportion of overtime, one-fourth of the men worked under-U:1c and more than one-fifth of the women worked overtime. :;or were those extremes wholly the result of pressure of work in certain departments and slack work in others for every occupational group showed an appreciable amount both of undertie and overtime employment. Certain geographical districts showec3 more overtime, others :.ore undertime, but in no district were the majority of the workers ce:-Iployerl their full-time hours. "The seriousness of instability of employment in the industry is the more acutely recouized with the evidence that undertime e::,loyment served to cut earnings to a greater extent than overtiale employment increased then." Canada Alberta. The sixth annual report of the hinimun .age Board refers to the application by employers during the year for permission to work their employees overtime. Such requests were connected with the Christmas and other seasonal rushes, and were granted by the board on condition that the provisions under the verious orders in regard to payment for overtime should be observed. Five requests were received for permission tc employ a greater number of apprentices than is permitted by the regulations. Investigations showed that https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis experienced help was not available ; permission was therefore granted for the number necessary to meet the requirepents of the industries. A new order, that iToverning the canning cf fruit and vegetables was issued during the year. The number of businesses ee2loying female help that were inspected during the year was 2,693. These basinesses employed 7,903 experienced helpers and 945 learners. As the result of the inspections, 25e orders for adjustments of wages, 59 for adjustment of hours, and 31 for adjustrent of staff; so that not rare than 25 )er cent would be in receipt of apprentice wages; were made. There was an increase in the total number of fwales e:7ployed under all orders. The total increase under all orders was 4308 or 27 per cent. The ins-eectors found a nurber of females in receipt of ages lees than the -c tiniuu:a rate, and a number who were wor::ing loner hours than the maximuu fixed by the board. ,11 wages and hours wore adjusted by employers when the infractions were brought to their attention by the inspectors. Three court cases were taken against proprietors of restaurants for failing to pay miminve wages, two convictions were obtained and the aeployer was ordered to pay back waes, one case was disiseed. (Labor Gazette, Canad August„ 1929.) British Columbia. .!age Boar: Reports for 1928. The 11th annual report of the :inimum ..Tac:,e Board of British Coluelbia; for 192C, shows that 9 orders have been put into force, and that these orders cover practically all women employees coming within the scope of the minirewl wage act--1,377. The minimum weekly rates set by the board range from c,12.75 ie the mercantile industry to $15.50 in fish canneries. In view of the number of workers affected by the rulings the :,ercen taze of employers who evaded the regulations is considered very small. Through pay roll inspections; personal visits by the officials and complaints of employees some discrepancies were found during the year. In the majority of cases employers :aid the girls the arrears due they:. without recourse to court oroceedings. Adjustments were effected through friendly negotiations conducted by correspondence or inerviiiws between employers, employees, and officials of the board. By these methods the sum of $3,202.11 was paid during 1923 to employees through out the province. This amount represents the difference between what they should have received under the various orders and what they were paid by employers who were not complying with the law. In fairness to the employers it is stated that this noncomp liance was not always wilful. In some cases a slight misunderstanding of an order led to an .inadequate wage being paid, in other instances employers coming into British Columbia from outside points failed te acquaint themselves with the regulations governing their particular industry or occupation. During the period under review C convictions for violations of the act were obtained, 2 cases were diselissed, and 1 case withdra:rn owing to the serious and sontinued illness of the material witness. Of the total number of women and girls employed in the 9 occupations and industries under the act, 3;692 or 19.05 per cent were reported as receiving the actual minimum for their respective classes of York. In the higher scales of pays it is noted that 11,904; or 61.44 per cent of all those reporte d, were listed as being in receipt of wages in excess of the legal minimum; leaving 3;781, or 19.51 per cent, who were paid below the minimum. This latter group, however, includes young girls and inexperienced workers for whom lower rates are set, and employees of experience whose working week was sorter than 46 hours, with a prc reta reduction in their remuneration. The average weekly waT,e cf all occupations for experie nced employees over le years of age durine. 1928 was 17.52; as compared with ':17.06 in 1927, and $17.05 in 1926. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 7 Commenting on the increase in wages siace 1918 the report states that "while the Linimum Wage L - oard does not take all credit for the substanthl increase in wages during this period, to the orders is largely due this noticeable rise. Other economic factors have contributed in a lesser degree to these increases, but the wage level has been raised and maintained chiefly by this protective legislation." The re .ort observes that "as employees are also buyers, the higher thipir wages the more they can spend, and thus their roney goes into circulation to giVPOIrade." (Labor qazette; Canada, September, 1929.) Hale Linimum Wage Act. A board to administer the new I:ale 1 -inimum Wage Act of British Colvlbia was ap.20inted during August. Under the provisions of the new act the hoard is authorized to fix a :Animur wage rate for any occupation on receipt of a request fro at least 10 of the e-,:ployeas concerned, but the board may also fia 1:inimum rates on its own initiative. The first application for the establishment of minimum rates of wages was from members of the International 3rotherhood of Tecz-sters, Chauf'cu rs, Stablemen; and Helpers. Appeals against rulings of the board may be taken in the courts. (Labor Gazette, Canada, September, 1929.) • Ontario :1 1age Board Reports. The report of the :inimi..ua Jige Board of Ontario for 1920 shows that during the year arrears or wages dUG to a number of women were collected, 75 firms making such payments to 136 employees. The total amount collected was e,',7,334.15 of which the largest to any one person was 33507 the average being $5S.29. The board is accustomed to issue special permits for lower wages to handicap ped workers or for variations or suspensions of its orders in certain emergencies. The number of firms to which such penaits were issued in 1928 was 54. It is stated that the ,.,roportion of such permits is so small that the standards of wages are not affected, and at the sane time the system of special permits provides a valuable degree of flexibility, enabling a number of wo:lon to be steadily employed who otheraise would be excluded from remunerative wo-al:. (Labor Gazette, Canada; August,1929.) Rigid Enforcement of :inimum Wa.:;e Act Is Urged. The Trades and La)-)or Congress of Canada at its 45th annual convention held in August adopted a resolution instructing the Ontario executive committee to request the Tanimum '.:age Board of the province to strictly enforce the provision of the act against employers who dismiss or discriminate against employees who lay charges against employers for violation of the lirimum ':ial7e Act. The convention also approved a resolution asking that the =,:uel-ec Minimum Wage Act be amended so as to include women and girls employed in commercial as well as industrial establishments. Czechoslovakia On Hay 31; 1029, the Czechoslovak Government approved the recommendation concerning the general -)rirciples of sickness insurance adopted by the International Labor Conference at its tenth (1927) session. (Industrial and Labor Infora'ation, July 8, 1929.) W..0.•••• By letter of June 10, 1929, the German Governme nt informed the Secretary-General of the League of Nations; in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 405 of the Treaty of Versailles that it had approved the recomalehdation concerni ng the application of minimum wage fixing machinery, adopted by the International Labor Conference at its eleventh (1928) session. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -8 The communication states that the recommendation was submitted to the Reichsrat and the Reichstag as an appendix to the bill providing for ratifi cation of the convention concerning the creating of miniinum wage fixing e‘achinery. No special measures have to be adopted in order to apply the recommendations, since German legislation already complies with its y)rovisions. The legislation which gives effect to the ,)rovisions of the recommendation consists of the Homework Act of June 27, 1923, and the erders issued in application of that act, partic ularly the order of November 28, 1024, relating to home workers' trade commit tees and the order of October 6, 1923, relatine to wage registers and wage books. (Industrial and Labor inforreation, July 6, 1929.) Great Britain The formal ratification by the ra-itisi. Government or the convention concerning the creation of minimize wage fixing machinery adopted by the Indust rial Labor Conference at its eleventh (1928) session, was registered by the Secret ariat of the League of Nations on June 14.; 1929. (Industrial and Labor Information July 0, 1929.) Itali A electing recently took place at the Italian Finistr: of Corporations between representatives of the Facist General Confederation of Banks and those of the National Confederation of Fascist Unions of eiank Employees for the purpose of interpreting certain clauses in the agreerents arrived at between the two organizations. It was decided that the revision of appointments according to the sliding scale should take place every six months, starting from the month of July, 1929, and the cancellation of the contract of employment of female employees on marriage, as laid down by the National Convention of Bank Employees and by the contracts of the undertaking itself, should remain annulled. The provision of clause 55 of the same Convention, in virtue which -the female employee voluntarily leaving her employment in consequence of marriage has the right to a special bonus, remains in force. This provision further lays down that if the marriage of the woman emloyee takes place within three months from her leaving employment she will be entitled to half her monthly salary for every year of service. (Industrial and Labor Information, September 2.2 1929.). ) 1 I 4:.,it6 14 , -Jtperf, P,t The prohibition of nip-ht work for young persons and women under the Ja-eanese factory act eamo into effect on July 1, 1929s after a del, y of 12 ,rears from the time when the prohibition was laid down in the Factory Act for the first time. It affects more than 380 factories employing approximatel y 1,000 young, persons and 196,000 women. Hereafter the Japanese cotton mills will be operated on a two-shift basis from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.s reducing the actual hours of work from 10 hours to C: hours a day. To commemorate this event, Yanag,uchi, actin 2: chief of the Labor Division of the Bureau of Social Affairs: , broadcast on the eve of the prohibition a message stating the significance of the prohibition of night work and emphasizing the need for the workers to ::rofi t by their increased leisure. Practically all the newspapers of the country devoted much space to conii.ents on the enforcement of the abolition of night work. Mr. abe, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Japanese Cotton Spinners' Association, published a declaration stating eh,a the Japanese Eill owners are not disturbed by the change of working hours as a result of lonq, preparation. He welcomed the abolition of night work; because it not only protected the workers' health but also promoted internationa good will. l At thu sane time ho expressed the fear that Japan's competitive 1)osition in the international market night be weakened by the introduction of the new method . The Committee on ..iomen's Labor Froblmes of the https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -9 Japanese Association for International Legislation issued a statement; in which the committee expressed its earnest desire for the prompt extension of the hours during which night work is prohibited ; and also of the scope of applice,tion of the prohibitirn, so that Japanese law might conform to the terms of the Washington Conventions concerning the prohibition of night work. In courcemoration of the occasion, many factories celebrated the day in various ways. The Industrial Association of the Okayana Prefecture has decided to consecrate July 1 as "health day," and to observe this day every year. For this year the association recuested its affiliated factories to give a medical examination to all their employees on that day; and to start some sort of athletics for the improvement of their health. (Industrial and Labor Information, August 19, 1929.) Poland By letter of June 8, 1929, the Polish Government Delegate accredited to the League of Nations and to the Governing Body of the International Labor Office informed the Secretary-General of the League of Nations; in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 405 of the Treaty of Versailles, of the steps taken by Poland to give effect to the recommendation concerning the general principles of sickness insurance, adopted by the International Labor Office at its tenth (1927) session. The communication states that the legislation in force in Poland on the subject of compulsory sickness insurance (namely; the Compulsory Sickness Act of ::ay 19, 1920) completely satisfies the requirements of the recommendation. The general principles of the policy followed in Poland as regards insurance are in harmony with those set forth in the recol—endation; Polish experience has shown that these principles are those most likely to contribute to just, efficient, and rational management of sickness insurance. It should be added that the Polish Act extends to all parts of the republic except upper Silesia, where the provisions of Book II of the German Insurance Code of July 119 1911, as amended by Silesian legislation and administrative orders, are still in force, (Industrial and Labor Information; July 8, 1929.) Salvador By legislative decree of June 13; 1929, an 8-hour day has been established for laborers in mills; factories; at ports; on railroads and in other transportation companies; and for employees in industrial and commercial houses. Tines of from 5 to 200 colones are provided for infractions of the law. An amendment to the law authorizes the executive to regulate the hours of 1Lbor of the employees and workmen of the State, ,(Bulletin; Pan American Union; September; 1929.) NOTZS Consumer's League Studies Industrial Eazards. survey made by the Consumer's League of ::assachusetts over preliminary During a a period of three months, of the hazards in some :Assachusetts industries where women handle poisonous material; 55 factories in the shoe, leather, rubber, candy, and a few miscellaneous industries; were visited and 35 women working with poisons were interviewed in their homes and in the factories. Doctors were consulted; hospital records were coneulted, and conferences were held with employers. "A problem so corraon to many industries, so cowlex; arl yet so little investigated," the League feels, "can not be solved in such a short period. This study is offered however, in the hope that it may; by presenting certain existing conditions, arouse to the need of immediate action to safeguard women workers exposed to industrial https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 10 poisoning. 1..oreover, it is offered to research workers in the field of industrial hygiene with the hope that it may suggest to them problems for extensive and intensive study." Some manufacturers, the report points out, did not even know of benzol as an industrial hazard, yet in the i:assachusetts General Hospital there were in 1c)27 six serious cases of chronic benzol poisoning, three resulting in death, and these fatalities had occurred among workers in the very industries where employers showed the greatest ignorance in the natter. In tanning and leather finisl-inr establishments,w;%Rm in the sprayin, seasoning (doping), and topping processes women are exposed to occupational health hazards, Chemicals, such as bonze', methyl alcohol and amyl acetate, contained in the lacquers, pigments and finishes have been proven definitely injurious to the health of workers. workers in the candy industry are liable to chocolate dippers' dermatitis, a skin irritation similar to eczema, to felons, worn fingers, tinosynovitis (dry wrist), dysmennorrhea and colds. These latter ailments are common because of the necessarily low temperature in the chocolate rooms. In some cementing processes in the boot and shoe industry, in the covering and breasting of woorl.-n heels; and in the repairing and cleaning of finished shoes before shipment, women are often ex;Dosed to health hazards. Naphtha rubber cement, benzol cement, methyl (wood) alcohol, ether, and certain repairing dopes are the principal substances known by physicians in industrial hygiene to be injurious to the health of workers in those processes. Oementers in the rubber industry and also the workers in or near rooms where toxic substances are used, are often exposed to health hazards . Benzol and naphtha rubber cement, often containing carbon tetrachloride to prevent inflamm ability, are counted al:ong these toxic substances in proportion to the amount of benzol or naphtha used as a solvent. The fumes from bromine (used sometim es to ;rive a shiny finish to rubber fabrics), carbon disulphide, and sulphur chlorid e (used in vulcanizing processes) are also health hazards. The report lists States in which benzol poisonin p- is compensable and also summarizes foreign legislation in regard to the exclusion of women and young persons from work exposing them to benzene vapor: and the following recomendations on the part of the Consumers' League of and reportable, children, concludes with Eassachusetts: 1. The establishment in the State Department of Labor and Industries of a Division of Industrial Hygiene under a competent industr ial physician. Some States have such a division to which are referre d all industrial health problems. Intensive study of occupational disease s and preventive measures should be carried on by such a division as well as analysis of new chemicals with scientific experimentation as to the effect upon the health of individuals exposed to them. Printed instructions should be supplied to individual workers in various hazardous trades. Considering the health problems arising in modern industry, a physician, trained in industrial hygiene, is the logical person to cope with thorn. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 112. Reestablishment, with o.dequ;lte standanas, of the position of Inustrial Health Inspector in the Personnel Classification Service. The classification of Industrial Health. Inspector was dropped from the Reclassificon for Personnel Service rade in 1927, so that now there are no permanent standards of traininL, or experience reuired, and no special civil service examination :iven for an industrial health inspector different from that of an ordinary health inspector. 3. Adoption of an industrial code reulatin the use of benzol in industrial establishments. The Department of Labor and Industries has several codes for safeguarding workers in hazardous occupations. lighting code, sanitary code for washing and toilet facilities, rules and regulations for the painters' trade, and the operation of power presses and wood-working machinery have been adopted. Considering the hazard of benzol, it is equally necessary to have a code regulatin the use of this substance. 4. Required i.ledical supervision in all factories where workers are exposed to poisonous substances, with periodical physical examinations and blood tests of workers ex2osed to benzol. 5. The establishment of Industrial Clinics in hospitals and dispensaries in industrial centers. The need for such clinics with records of cases is very freat. The discontinuance last year of the 1 -assachusetts General Hospital Industrial Clinic is considered by all interested in industrial problems as a retrogressive step. 6. ;,-ore intensive and extensive research in the field of industrial hygiene. Closer cooperation between -klublic an: priv.,:.te agencies concerned with industrial health problems would be valuable. Industrial hygiene is little touched upon and affords an interesting and broad field for study. 7. 1:ore com-,.rehensive stud:- of industrial health conditions throughout the country by such Federal agencies as the -jener's Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Public Health Service. International Labor Office Issues Study of ".'omen's Laws. recent publication of the International Labor Office bears the title "Laws relating to the work of women; A comprehensive study of the legislation relating to the er:-.)loyrent of women in the States', embers of the International Labor Organization; with appendices containin-; tables and a summary of the State Lels of the United States of Allerica." The volume is 300 rimeographed and contains more pages. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis ,g` * 727 U. S. Departrent of Labor 'S Washington :loveniber 2;3, 1920. News Letter No. 61. ACTIVITIES AiF1XTING INDUSTRY Sumary of 1029 Amendmente to State Labor Laws for Jomen. of hours Although 1920 legislatures have made no changes in the maximum number existtheir elonen in industry nay be employed, a number of the Stetes hive arended inc.; :lour laws and also other types of laws. In the number o: amending acts passed, Ce.lifornia loads. The hour law was amended by acdin: barber shops to the list of establishments affected and by the addition of the wornTh "or industry," thus ma%in-; the law apply to females "erploved in any manufacturing, nechanice.1 or mercantile establishment or inr'ustry, laundry, hotel," etc. other arlendments require employers to keep accurate records showing the names and actual hours worked of all female eeployees; increase from ;50 to .)100 the maximum fine for a first violation of the hour and seatinc provisions; and make and liable for violations of both provisions managers, superintendents, agents officers, as well as employers. to restaurants The law roe-al.:tin::: the lifting of weights by women is extended maxinalm weight specifically, and to "ay oth ,r establishment em1oying women." The is adc.ced that provision new A to 50 75 pounres. allowed to be lifted is reduced from stairway, any down or 1.11) prohibits the carrying of any weight of 10 pounds or over for every fine $50 a of ', or series of stairways th-t rise more than 5 feet. Instea, ,3500 a is violations day's violation of this laef, the penalty now provided for nt. imprisonme maximunl fine or not more than 60 days in prison, or both fine and reeuire to is amended The act establishing the industrial welfere coremission daily and wae,es paid e'or:eed hours showing that employers shall keep pay-roll records me_e them accessible to the to women and minors. Any refusal to keep such records or of either sex under 21 persons cornlission is a misdemeanor. :,:inors are defined as to fix minimum authorized years di- age but the Industrial .bielfare Co-vinsion is not age. of years wages or maximum hours for male minors between 18 and 21 7elfare Commission to This law is further amended by autorizinT the Inustrial and erDceedings publish and distribute reports and bulletins covnrine-, its operations Under tho old and such other matter relative to its cork as it may deem advisable. s were law only biennial reports of the commission's investigations and proceedine; authorized. Kansas, this year, has created a commission of labor and industry to be camner, to be nosed of three members to be apeointed by the governor. One cortiissio on act; one, compensati of the workmen's designated chairman; is to have active charge , factory inspection of designated commissioner of labor, is to have active charge laws and supervision of State mine iespection, the State bureau of free ereeloyment, authority; jurisdicpowers; All such ustry. 2 in, in children pertaining, to women cend law this by transferred to the are coraidsson service tion and duties of the public created. here commission of labor and industry Maine's amendments exempt from the law regulating women's hours of work any telephone exchange where the operator during the night is not required to operate at the switchboard continuously but is able to sleep the major part of the night. From the provision reouirIng the -costing of our schedules telehpone exchanges employing lessthan 5 female operators are now exempt. Michigan has added an exemption from its hour law for student and Fraduate nurses in hospitals or nurses in fraternal or charitable homes. Labor, a In New Jersey, 1029 legislation has established in the Department of authorized is bureau bureau for women and children, the director to be a woman. This https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis _ - 2 and empowered to make studies and investicrations of special problems connected with the labor of women and children and tc create the necessary organization and appoint an adequate number of investiators; with the consent of the commissioner of labor, and; under the supervision and control of the commissioner of labor, to enforce the laws, rules and regulations governing the employment of women and children. Oklahoma, though it has had a law for many years prohibiting the employment of women underground in mines and quarries, has this year enacted a new law which reads that women and girls shall not be employed underground or in the operation of mines in the State, in any capacity other than clerical, and then only on top of the ground. The term "mines," the act says, means mines wherein lead, zinc; or other metals are sought or produced. All earlier acts in conflict with this, so far as they apply to such mines, are repealed. Violation of the 1929 law is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $500. In Pennsylvania, 1929 legislation requires any person violating any provision of the hour law to pay the costs of prosecution in addition to the fine imposed. Upon nonpayment of the fine ($25 to $50) and costs for a first violation of the posting and seating requirements, the offender shall be imprisoned; the amendment provides; for not more than 20 days; upon nonpayment of the fine ($50 to $200) and costs for a second or subsequent violation, he shall be imprisoned for not more than 60 days. Upon nonpayment of the fine ($10 to $50) and costs for a first violation of the hour and night work provisions, the offender shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 days; for nonpayment of the fine ($25 to $200) and costs for a second or subsequent violation, he shall be imprisoned for not more than 60 days. Another act of 1929 in Pennsylvania amends the penalty provision for violation of rules and regulations of the Department of Labor and Industry by addin:, the costs of prosecution to the fine of $100, and providing that upon nonpayment of fine and costs, the offender shall be imprisoned for not more than one month. Further amendment relates to enforcement procedure and to the powers and duties of the department in connection with its rules and regulations. In Rhode Island an anlending act removes from the jurisdiction of the law regulating women's hours of work in manufacturing, mechanical business or mercantile establishments, "women working by shifts during different periods or parts of the day in the employ of a public utility." Utah has repealed its minimum wage act. Wyoming's legislature of 1929 amended the seating and hour law for women of that State by requiring posting of the act in each establishment where women work, instead of in each room, as before. A further amendment eliminates the words "or unusual pressing business or necessity demands it" but leaves the law otherwise as it was permitting overtime where an emrgency exists; providing time and a half is paid. NUW .•••••••••^•••••••• jeraa Industrial Disease Investigation Bureau. (Joint report for period January 1 to June 30, 1029, ty John Roach; Deputy Commissioner of Labor, and Henry H. Kessler, M.D., Eedical Director, Rehabilitation Clinic, Newark.) The policy of establishing a medical unit for the investigation of occupational diseases had been under consideration by the New Jersey State Department of Labor for a number of years before definite action was taken that led to the creation of a bureau whose definite functions were to locate plants using toxic trade substances and after an engineering investigation of the premises and processes to give each employee a careful physical examination to determine, if possible, whether the work was affecting his health. It had been the practice of the Department of Labor for a long term of years, even before the compensation laws were extended to a group of occupational disease causes, to investigate reported cases and make the findings a https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis • - 3 d of an engineering inspection matter of official record. The investigation consiste with either the superintendent ce conferen a of the premises where the person worked, questions, and a careful answer to y authorit of the plant or someone having official an investigation was of hind This survey of the processes and materials handled. that many cases of assumed been lacking in thoroughness for until recently it has so that the few cases ed unreport occupational sickness were either not discovered or not conclusive as ieere Labor that did come to the attontion of the Department of losses. health provingtiaat particular occupations were causing definite n of competent Oirectio the The value of a more thorough investigation under practices is medical al medical supervision and in accordance with approved industri of the health picture apparent, when it is realized that a more accurate and complete physical examination of of workers in an establishment can be secured by a thorough all persons exposed rather than by placing too much dependence upon occasional were often reported cases of sickness the diagnoses of which, at least in the past, of ic symptoms diagnost to n attentio or no made bv medical men who had given little occupational cases. since January, 1929, is The practice of the new bureau that has been operating industrial activithe of to have the Field Director (who has a personal knowledL,e occupational the outline ties of the State that may expose workers to sickness) plants securing the with contacts groups that may need physical examinations, make as a liaison act to permission for these examinations to be made, and in general itself. officer between industry and the medical side of the bureau plant and does the the visits been made, has The Technician, after a contact of each case which actual work of taking blood samples, compiling a trade history samples are examined includes, of course, an accurate employment record. The blood medical director. by the laboratory expert who reports her findings to the examinations are to be made, The Medical Director visits all of the plants where where it is deemed becomes familiar with the trade exposures; and, in instances, premises. In addition necessary, he makes the physical examination of workmen on the disease are referred to the actual field medical work doubtful cases of occupatio.ial physical exaleinaby the field director to the medical director who makes a thorough factor in decidtion which in addition to its health aspects is often a determining Under the law in New ing whether the person is entitled to compensation ipayments. under the Workmen's Jersey, a definite group of occupational causes has been placed Arsenic; Phos:ercury, by Anthrax, Poisonin Lead, Compensation Laws as follows: derivatives all and es, its and homologu phorus, Wood Alcohol and Chrome, :benzene medical feathe All . thereof, Caisson Disease and ::esothoriuffor Radium Necrosis . director medical tures of the work are under the direct supervision of the s where instance in The services of the Consulting Chemist are requisitioned vague in terms or trade substances are used the toxicity of whice is reported either of which there is very little general medical knowledge. in existence for Although the Occupational Disease Investigation Bureau has been summarize the activities of a little less than five months it would be interestim: to ed into: (1) Investiclassifi be m,y es activiti the bureau during this time. Those n. Educatio gation, (2) physical Examination, (3) Investigation. Twenty-nine plants were visited for the purposes of inspecting the pre:eises as to the existence of occupational health hazards, and also to familiarize ourselves with conditions in the respective industries. Of these twenty-nine, 10 wore in in industries where benzene; its homologues or its derivatives were usecl, 11 were mercury where es in 7 were industri used, were industries where lead and its products a health in some form was used; and I was in an industry where chrome poisoning was hazard. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - 4 The wide variety of industries in which benzole was used is attested by the fact that we found it used in dye plants, perfumeries, chemical plants, and in artificial leather manufacture. 70110wing recommendations of the Department of Labor that benzole be eliminated in industry due to its poisonous qualities, most plants with a few exceptions carried out these recommendations. .;r3 found one or two plants still using benzole in varying amounts. An investigation wnts carried on of the workers in several of these places where benzole was still used. This investigation consisted of a complete physical examination of all workers in the plant, including a complete blood eJeeEination to rule out the )ossibility of benzole eoiooning. The report of this investigation will be described later. Cf the lead elants visited wq found i2en exjosed to lead in various industries such as smelters, as in the making of reflectors, storage batteries, chemical industry, pottery, lead color and tetra-ethyl lead. It was interesting to note the varying procedures adopted by the different industries for the industrial control of lead peisoninp:; the complete lack of uniformity Of standards for such control, and de were called upon to recommend certain standards of control which would include not only safe practices in the plant operation, but also a plan of medical supervision that would discern the early cases cf lead poisoning before they were sufficiently bad to cause permanent changes. Of the plants visited whore mercury was used four were hat factories, one was a chemicLa plant, one a thermometer plant, and one a itorage battery plant. Deepite the fact that chronic mercurial noisoning was considered a thing of the past in hat factories it was quite evident that many of the workers were still suffering from the disease. Tremors (shakes) were common in a large proportion of the men seen in these shops. A program of medical supervision for these plants has been developed and offered to the plant management as well as to the individual workers. Physical Exae-ination. Physical examinations were nerformed at the Rehabilitation Clinic, 9 Franklin Street, Newark; at the plant premises in four instances; at the Newark City Hospital; and in the Irvington General Hospital. 1:ach case received a complete clinical and physical investigation of the entire system along with a complete blood and in many instances urine and feces examinations, where indicated. In this way it was possible to make an accurate diagnosis, thus avoiding error due to incomplete data. The information given to us by the laboratory data was found invaluable, and in many cases not only corroborated the clinical findings but was sufficient to make a diagnosis in itself. Cases were referred to the clinic by the plants, directly, by individuals, by the field director, by hospitals, and by physicians. Through the cooperation of hospitals in Essex County the medical director of each hospital has been advised to report to our bureau all occupational disease cases and has also accorded us permission to visit and examine those cases. Two important studios were made; one in a plant where benzoic was used; and one in a lead color plant. Of 89 workers exposed to benzole in the artifici.1 leather industry, 10 were found with symptoms strongly suggestive of chronic benzole poisoning indicating the insidious nature of this poisoning and the need for proper safeguards through periodic me:.ic'.L1 supervision and the examination of the affected worker. The report of the National Safety Council Ccmmittee on Lenzole Poisoning indicated the value of a blood count as an important aid in the diagnosis. This was borne out in our experience. In the lead 'color industry out of 21 men examined 8 were found to be suffering from active lead absorption despite the fact that they were wearing respirators. These respirators, which were of the ordinary type, consisting of a small rubber mask with a piece of filtered paper over a wire gauze netting, were found to be inadequate in the prevention of absorption of lead dust. Recommendations for a proper type respirator with an air line were made and have been carried out in one plant. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis • - 5 Edueation. The purposes of this Occupational Disease Inspection Bureau are to study scientifically the cases of occupational diseases and to spread its knowledge aeiong physicians, eeefloyers, and employees. Secondly, to centact with all workmen apparently or decidedly affected by occupational diseases in order to establish the diagnosis as well as to exaa-ine systematically all workren engaged in industries that are exposed to health hazards. ith the exception of those physicians who are engaged in industrial practice the rank and file are unfeeliliar with the unhealthful conditions that obtain in industry and the diseases resulting,therefrom. This results in occupational diseases being called by other names making treatment unsatisfactory because of the lack of diagnosis. Funthormore; co:::aensation rihtfully due workmen affected by occupational diseases is often denied them because of the lack of information on the part of the attending physician in ascribing the syrIptams to conditions outside his employment. The past few years have seen the onset of new occupational aoisons or new forms of old occupational poisons such as tetra-ethyl lead, benzole and radium. The presence of such a technical bureau as this is of considerable help in initiating control investigation to ascertain the enact cause of all specific industrial illnesses. These insidious poisons have a definite effect upon the health of the worker and his working efficiency, and furthermore may even affect his life expectancy. The information obtained through the bureau is available to the family physician. No treatment is attempted at the bureau. The physician may avail himself of any material or information or any of the facilities that the clinic may have at its disposal. Tree blood counts and other laboratory work are included in this material placed at his dis-)osal. In order to enlarge this idea of popular propaganda both among the laity and medical profession, a museum is contemplated which will contain plaster models of various occupational diseases, tables, charts; and photocTaphs of affected wor"men and dangerous health hazards. The .,rogress of any community depends not only upon the advancement of its economic resources but also upon the state of happiness and health of its constituents. Through these nreventive measures the Occunational Disease Inspection T;ureau, by actual field work, medical enaminations, blood examinations, personal advice, inspection, investigation and popular propaganda, hopes to educate the public to the inherent health hazards in industry and so save them from the inevitable disability and invalidity that might result from them. (Industrial Bulletin, New Jersey Departnent of Labor, September, 1929.) Night 'Jerk Law Enforced. A report of activities of the new Bureau for Women and Children, of the New Jersey Department of Labor, states that in five cases of violation of the law prohibiting night work for women, the law was complied with after a reasonable allowance of time for adjusting plant operations. "Compliance with the law and the carrying out of its provisions is the aim of the department; and violators will be summarily dealt with when orders are not carried out. Drastic measures have not been necessary; however, and we hcpe that litigation and -Iresecution can be replaced by law observance and cooperation in the majority of cases." (Industrial Bulletin, New Jersey Department of Labor, September, 1920. Canada Nova Scotia. The Christian science Lonitor of November 11; 1929 reports that the first business meeting of the recently organized 4romen's Federated Trades Union; held at Halifax, November 15, passed a resolution favoring a minimum wage law for women an Nova Scotia and appointed a committee to further its adoption. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -6 41•111 Cermany Effects of German Labor Legislation for .:omen. iase Laders, Oberregierungsrat in the Federal linistry of Labor, -aerlin, in an article in the September issue of the International Labor Review, discusses the effects of German labor legislation on the employment possibilities for women. After considering the several types of special legislation and pointini, out that the general occupational censuses and the statistics given in the annual reports of the industrial inspectors clearly show that there has by no moans been a displacement of women workers in Germany because of such legislation, which has been extended continually by acts and orders since 1873; she says in conclusion: "When we remembe r the long and difficult years of struggle in the course of the last century before the idea of labor protection was accepted at all, and the strong opposition the employers always put forward to every fresh development of the protection of female workers, then it Seems almost ridiculous for the loading women of the Open Door Council to appeal to the women of all nations for the 'launching of the now international adventure,' i.e. in particular, the campaign against special legislation for the protection of female workers. It is true that there are still very many 'closed doors' which can and must be opened for women, such as their admission to higher and the highest posts, the promotion of the factory worker to the position of forewoman or works manager, etc. If the Open Door Council directs its campaign towards opening of such doors, then it will be welcomed; but to combat special legislation for the )rotection of female workers is not opening doors, but tearing a safety net. This net has been woven by dint of long and painful toil, and the meshes should rather be made smaller, and not wider, in order to nrotect female workers from the prodigal exploitation of their womanhood and motherhood." Great Britain A private members' bill promoted by Labor to make it incumbent upon employers in Britain to give every member of their staffs eight days' holiday annually on full pay has received a second reading in the :louse of Commons. On closure, the motion, taken after five hours' debate, in which the Conservative members opposed the bill as calculated to handicap industry was carried 124 to 63, and the measure was given a second reading without further division. In the course of the debate John J. Lawson, secretary to the Ministry of Labor, said the Government accepted the bill's intention but was conscious th_t the cluestio n concerned could not be dealt with in such si2Inle terms. This was taken to mean that facilities are not to be given to enable the measure to become law. The Daily Herald, the Labor organ supporting the measure, says the eight days' break has not come yet, lnIt is "a great deal nearer." The Daily Telegra lh; Conservative, says the Government statement is "an interesting illustration of the difficulties of Socialism in office in explaining to SociLlisn out of office that the ) - ossibilities of giving everyone a good time by law are severely (Christian Science .i.:onitor, November 16, 1029.) Greece At a meeting held on July 25, 1929, at which ir. Venizelos presided, Er. Zaccas, Director of the Labor Section in the Greek :inistry of National Economy, gave an account of the discussions which took place at the Twelfth Session of the International Labor Conference, which he attended as Greek Governnient delegate. Er. Zaccas reported that he had informed the conference of the intention of his Government of taking steps as soon as possible to provide for strict enforce-ent of the conventions relatinr, to the protection of women and childre n. A discussion took place on the stops w;licl. the Government proposed to take for the benefit of the workers, with special rofnrence to social insuran ce. according to an official comnun4 cation issued after the mootin, a Bill on this subject has https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis • - 7 - the International been drafted and submitted to the Social Insurance Section of for approval to sub.litted Labor Office for excleinntion. The Bill has also been introduced in the Chamber in representatives of e!iployers and workers, and will be Information, SeptemOctober. (21eftheron Vima, July 26, 1929; Industrial and Labor ber 23, 1929.) India conThe Royal Commission appointed "to inquire into and report on the existing on the India, ditions of labor in industrial undertakings and plantations in British health, efficiency and standard of living of the workers; and on the relation between employers and em-;:loyed; and to make recommendations," has issued a schedule of the subjects falling within these terms of reference which appear likely to engage the conleissioners' attention in the course of their inquiry, and on which they invite evidence. The schedule, which is not intended to be exhaustive, comprises 146 headings divided into 18 sections: unem1. Recruitment includes such questions as migration, employment agencies, ployment, and recruient for Assam. works committees, 2. Staff Organization includes training of supervisory staff, time-keeping and :piecework registers, and subcontracting. subletting; eviction, 3. Housing covers public and ,--)rivate building, rent-rates, . conditions housing and the moral effect on the worker of industrial working conmortality; infant and 4. Health questions include those of birthrate tion in humidifica of control ditions, provision of medical facilities, supervision, of ty "suitabili (including cotton mills, industrial diseases; sickness insurance International Labor Convention"); and maternity benefits. the _ossi5. Welfare covers the nrovision of educational facilities by employers, y possibilit the and bility of provisions for old age and incapacity; cooperation, of a 1:iners' lelfnre Fund. vocational training. 6. Education relates in pert to facilities for industrial and incidence of accidents, 7. Safety. Inquiry is proposed into existing regulations, aid, inspection, and causes, prevention (including "Safety First" propaganda), firstgenerally. conditions and working light effect upon safety of hours, health, n and the legislatio existing the includes cf operation 8. .,,rorkmen's Compensation by insurance vlsory ) . eom; of possibility of improvement, including the question employers. 9. Hours is dtvidee, into four subsections—factories; mines, railways, and other on the workers and on establishments. The subjects scheduled include the effect in mines; and industry of the 60-hour week in factories and of the restricted hours the extent of the application to railways of the conventions concerning hours and rest Cays. , Adults and Children include the unE. 10. Special Questions relating to .!omen, y of existing regulations affecting suite,ilit admission of infants to factories, the extent of "tlind alley" employship, women and children, facilities for apprentice ment, the double and single shift systems as affecting the health of women, young persons and children, and the question of the exclusion of women from work in mines. 11. Special ,uestione relating to Seamen aeld lorkers comprise hours of work, rations and accommodation, articles of agreement; etc.; and the provisions and possible revision of the Indian 1.erchant Shipping Act. 12. Wages, include among 16 subjects scheduled, prevailing rates and average earnings, movements in recent years, payment in 'And, payelent through middlemen, method of fixing wages; basis of payment for over-Vie and Sunday work, possibility of statutory establishment of minimum wages, fines and other deductions, period of payment, indebtedness, bonus and profit sharing soh( Lee, nnnual or other leave, and the desirability of the Fair ..;e7,es Cle.use in public contracts. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis • -813. Industrial Efficiency of ..lorkers covers the questions of changes in recent years, comparativ efficiency of Indian and foreign workers, influence of various factors (use of machinery, physique; climate, etc.) on comparisons, effect on production of such factors as changes in working hours, housing, legislation, alcohol and drugs; etc., and possible methods of securing increased efficiency. 14. Trade Combinations include the extent and effect of organization of employers or employed, nature of trade union activities, attitude of employers towards trade unions, operation and possible amendment of the Trade Union Act, 1926, methods of negotiation and attempts at cooperation bet7.een employers and employed, and the position of State employees in relation to the general trade union movement. 15. Industrial Disputes comprise the extent of strikes and lockouts, conciliation and arbitration machinery, operation of the Trades Disputes Act, and the attitude of the Government towards trade combinations and industrial disputes. 16. Law of Master and Servant covers in part types of contract of employment commonly in use, together with tho operation of certain special labor acts. 17. Administration includes in addition to factory and mines inspection and inspection of plantations, docks and other industrial establishments, "the International Labor Organization; ratification of conventions and action taken, its effect on legislation, etc." 18. Intelligence. Under this head, are specified the questions of the extent and use, method of collection and degree of accuracy of existing statistics, the possibility of improvement in statistics, the nature and results of cost of living inquiries, and the future developments necessary. The commission, it is unofficially announced; will meet at Karachi on October 13, 1929, and will continue to work until the latter part of March, 1930. They expect to visit all the leading industrial centers and probably all the provincial capitals in the course of the cold weather of 1929-1930. It is also stated that, for the purpose of the inquiry into questions relating to women and child workers, the commission will co-opt Indian women for local investigations. It is further proposed to enlist the hell') of assessors representing the interests of employers and workers in connection with the inquiry. (Industrial and Labor Information, September 23, 1929.) Spanish Law on Maternity Insurance. Creen,..eonv maternitle insurance was established in Spain by a law passed Larch tr.? provisions of which differ considerably from those of the provisional 22, decree on the same subject of August 21, 1923. The purpose of the law; like that of the decree, is to give effect to the international draft convention on the protection of maternity ratified by Spain in 1922. ,ecording to the new law all wage earning women between the ages of 16 and 50, ho in domestic neevice, ruet carry maternity insurance. Each insured woman excep will ety 7.5C -eesetas (abou A.50) annually, and her employe_ will pay an eeual T'ne Sato is to contribute to the :neeurarce fund 50 pesetas for each conamour,' finement and other unspecified amounts for nursing benefits. Every insured woman is entitled to medical aid and medicines during pregnancy and confinement and to a weekly cash benefit for the 6 weeks following her confinement, e-0-311:; which she is required to stay away from work. Her place must be kept for her - he employer for a certain length of time. Upon presenting a physician's ' certificate Cl nrognancy, an insured woman has the right to stay away from work for the 6 weeke before her confinement, and a benefit is paid during that time also. The amounts to be paid as benefits will be set in subsequent regulations. The law also provides for the establishment of a ::aternity and Infancy Fund (Fondo 1:aternal o Infantil) to be used for establishing new maternity and infancy health centers and for aiding those already in existence. The resources of the fund will consist of a certain percentage of the premiums paid by the insured women and of donations from public and private sources. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis If+ When the available resources permit, a cash benefit may be paid beyond the prescribed period if the mother is ill as a result of childbirth, Cr if the mother loses her employment through such illness, or if the child is ill. The general administration of the law will be in the hands of the National Provident Institute, which administers also the law on old-age pensions. To see that the women are given the medical aid, the cash benefit, and the rest pericd prescribed by law, local maternity insurance organizaticns will be established in certain cities. In other places local administration of the law will be carried on by certain approved mutual aid societies, public child welfare boards, public boards of education, or public health boards, in which the insurance organizations, the wori:ers, and their employers must be represented. The law prescribes fines for employers and employees who fail to comply with it. (Gaceta de le,drid, :earch 24, 1929; American Journal of Public Health, September, 1929.) NOTES U.S. Laws for Women Workers Cited as Example for Dutch. The News Service of the National Catholic Welfare Council of recent date carried the following ito., from their Louvain correspondent: In the diocese of Harlem, Holland, Bishop Aengenent has confided the social women service work to the Ladies of Nazareth, a recently founded relirj.ous community whose members follow their own individual tastes in dressing and do not change their names upon entering. It's not what we are accustomed to from the religious communities of women, nor is it the only departure from accepted conventional regulations; for I have before me a two-column leader from a political daily signed "Mia Van der Kallen, of the Ladies of Nazareth." It's a plea for a Women's Bureau in the Dutch Ministry of Labor, modeled after the bureau organized in the United States by the vote of the Kenyon-Campbell bill in June, 1920. Via Van der Kallen, who does not appear to fear public comment for venturing to vent her views on social matters in the political press, evidently has made a thorough study of women's labor conditions in the United States and of the work accomplished for Areerican working women by /Siss Julia Lathrop, Hiss Marie Obenauer, . repared the way for organMiss van ,Kleeck, Miss Mary Anderson and others who have . Bureau at Women's Washington. She concludes her long and interesting ization of the article as follows: "In many matters our old world has conferred upon itself a certificate of superiority, which I am not prepared to contest. There is one point s however, in which Arerica is unquestionably far ahead of us; had Europe known in 1914 its United States of Europe, all the differences probably would have been settled at a tempestuous session of the Geneva Congress. Far too late has Briand placed the Etats Unis d'Europe upon the Hague program. "Next to this one Point, upon which America may well read a lesson to 2urope, there are quite a number of others, upon which, however; much opinion may differ. It must be admitted that the New World gathers experience much sooner than we do over here and that there is a lot to learn from these American experiences by us Europeans." The congregation of the Ladies of Nazareth, to whom Msgr. Aengenent entrusted in his diocese--abode of more than one-half of all the Holland factory and shop girls-the organization of these girls, has thought it proper to carry out this order not only through the practise of Christian charity in "The Grail," but also through research work and informing study. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis One of the first results of their study they beg to jot down in this first article of their program: "We stand for an autonomous Yomen's Department in our Linistry of Labor, for a department entirely filled by women." At present, amidst the army cf men officials in the Department of Labor the assistant women inspectors may be counted upon the fingers of ore hand. American Association for Labor Legislation. annual 23d meeting of the American Association for Labor Legislation will The New in Deceber 27-28, 1929. D.Iportant among the topics for disbe held Orleans,' of cussion are employment problems the older workers, aims and methods of le,9;a1 research, labor injunctions and equity courts, workmen's compensation and methods for stabilizing employment. Joint meetings will be held with the American Political Science Association, the Association of American Law Schools, and various local organizations. Besides the president of the American Association for Labor Legislation, Thozas I. Parkinsoli, presiding officers for the sessions will include ::ary Anderson, Director of theWomen's Bureau, Morton A. Aldrich, Tulane University, Francis S. Philbrick, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Charles H. Behr°, Chairman, Eanufacturers Bureau, New Orleans Association of Commerce, Frances Perkins, Commissioner of Labor, New York, and John A. Lapp, Mrquette University, Eilwaukee. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
@FedFRASER