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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR.
BULLETIN
OF THE
BUREAU OF LABOR.
No. 64-MAY, 1906.
ISSUED EVERY OTHER MONTH.
W A SH IN G TO N :
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1906.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Conditions o f living am ong the poor, b y S. E . Form an..................................................593-698
Benefit features of British trade unions, b y W alter E . W eyl, Ph. D .......................... 699-848
D igest o f recent reports o f State bureaus o f labor statistics:
California........................................................................................................................... 849,850
Maine.................................................................................................................................. 851-853
Virginia.............................................................................................................................. 853,854
W isconsin........................................................................................................................... 854r-857
D igest o f recent foreign statistical publications............................................................... 858-880
Depisions o f courts affecting labor....................................................................................... 881-903
Laws of various States relating to labor, enacted since January 1, 1904.................. 904-909
Cum ulative index of labor laws and decisionsrelating thereto........................................ 911-914
in
B U L L E T IN
OP THE
B U R E A U OF L A B O R .
No. 64.
WASHINGTON.
May , 1906.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
BY
S. E . F O R M A N .
INTRODUCTION.
This article gives the results of an inquiry into the conditions of
living which prevail among the poor of the District of Columbia, and
is based upon data contained in the household accounts of nineteen
families which were secured for the purpose of the investigation and
which are herewith published.
The article does not give an account of the living conditions which
prevail among paupers or among those who have reached the lowest
stages of destitution. It is impossible to secure accurate statements
of household expenses from families wholly submerged by poverty,
and, moreover, the conditions of existence of people of this class do
not admit of such treatment as was contemplated by the inquiry.
The report, however, does profess to carry the investigation as far
down the scale of adversity as it is practicable to go. The financial
history of a household is a very considerable affair, and before one
can hope to get a statement of expenses that even approaches accu
racy there must be certain favorable conditions to start with. There
must be sufficient intelligence in the household to keep a correct
account of the financial transactions as they occur. There must be
honesty, otherwise the items of the budget would be falsified. There
must be willingness to cooperate with the investigator, and this implies
a certain good will toward the world. There must be sobriety,
industry, and morality. Intemperance or idleness or vice in a family
would be almost certain to detract from the truthfulness of the
account. All these conditions must be complied with before a correct
budget can be secured, and it is seldom indeed that they are all found
593
594
BULLETIN OB' THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
to exist in a family that is in the lowest depths of poverty. Fruitful
investigation, nevertheless, is possible in families that have sunk to
the poverty line, or that are very close to it, and it is along the
poverty line, sometimes above it, sometimes below it, but never very
far from it, that the present inquiry has been conducted. Every
family included in the study was leading a hand-to-mouth existence.
In every case the expenditures exactly equaled or slightly exceeded
the income, and in hardly any case would it have been possible by
the shrewdest management to have saved any money. Every family
was visibly, palpably, actually poor. The loss of a day’s wages would
have caused keen embarrassment, the loss of a week’s wages would
have meant serious discomfort, if not suffering, while the loss of a
month’s wages would have resulted in an enforced appeal to charity.
In order that the reader may get a clearer notion as to the region
of society in which the inquiry was conducted, a brief description is
given of each of the nineteen families from which budgets were secured:
Family No. 1.— Ten in family— husband, wife, an aged aunt, and
seven children of the following ages: 8, 6, 5, 4 (twins), 2,
The
husband, about 30 years of age, is the only wage-earner and is
a coal heaver. His income varies from $9 to $12 a week. Food
consuming power, 5.45 adult males. Occupy a two-story four-room
frame building in the neighborhood of the gas works. The rooms
are of medium size. The house has no conveniences, and water is
brought from a distance. Both house and surroundings are insani
tary. Rent, $8.50 a month.
Family No. 2.— Four in family— husband, wife, and two children,
aged 12 and 11. The husband, of middle age, is a janitor for a church.
His income is $36 a month. Food-consuming power, 3.7 adult males.
Occupy three rooms of the second story of a building, the lower floor
of which is used for other purposes. Rooms quite large and airy.
No running water in the house. Conditions barely sanitary. House
wife is a care taker of the building, and the rent is $2 a month.
Family No. 3.— Seven in family— husband, wife, and five children
of the following ages: 25 (man), 16,14,12,4. The husband, of middle
age, works for a construction company. His wages are $2 a day, but
he loses many days on account of bad weather. A girl of 16 works in
a restaurant and brings in a little money. Food-consuming power,
6 adult males. Occupy a dilapidated two-story frame building on
the outskirts of the city. The house has three rooms of medium size
and a shed which may be used as a summer kitchen, but the dwelling
is insanitary in every particular. Water is brought from a distance
and is exceedingly hard to get in cold weather. Rent, $5 a month.
Family No. 4.— Seven in family— husband, wife, and five children of
the following ages: 24, 12, 8, 6, 4. The husband, an elderly man, and
oldest son, a man of 24, work with shovels at the rate of $1.50 each a
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
595
day. Regularly employed in good weather. Food-consuming power,
5.35 adult males. Occupy two first-floor back rooms and two base
ment rooms of a building. The front room on the first floor is used as a
store. The house has no conveniences and the conditions are insan
itary. Rent, $7.50 a month.
Family No. 5.— Seven in family— husband, wife, and five children
of the following ages: 15, 9, 7, 3, TV The husband, of middle age, is
a teamster and is quite regularly employed. His wages are $9 a week.
The oldest child, a girl of 15, works occasionally in a box factory,
receiving $2 a week. Food-consuming power, 4.6 adult males. Oc
cupy a two-story frame building with six small rooms, far out on the
outskirts. The house is out of repair, has no conveniences of any
kind, and is altogether insanitary. Water is brought from a distance.
Rent, $7 a month.
Family No. 6.— Seven in family— widow and six children of the
following ages: 16,14,12, 9, 7, 2. The mother is a charwoman in the
service of the Government. Her regular wages are $20 a month, but
her hours of labor permit her to earn some extra money in private
families. Boy also works and brings in several dollars a week, but
amount is very irregular. Food-consuming power, 5.25 adult males.
Occupy a small two-story frame building with four rooms of medium
size, located on the outskirts. The house is not kept in repair and
is insanitary. Rent, $5 a month.
Family No. 7.— Six in family— mother and five children of the fol
lowing ages: 15, 13, 10, 8, 6. The mother, who has been practically
deserted by her husband, takes in washing and earns about $4 a
week. The oldest child, a girl, earns $4 a week. Food-consuming
power, 4.6 adult males. Occupy a small two-story frame building
on a narrow street. The house has three rooms of moderate size, no
conveniences, and can hardly be said to be sanitary. Rent, $6 a
month.
Family No. 8.— Eight in family— husband, wife, and six children of
the following ages: 14, 13, 11, 6, 5, 3. The husband died and baby
was bom during the time between the first and second periods of
this investigation. Husband was a painter by trade, but the odor
of the paint became so offensive that he was compelled to abandon
his trade and work as a laborer at $1.52 a day. Upon the death of
the husband $500 life insurance was received, and from this the
family was living during the second period. Food-consuming power,
5.21 adult males. Occupy a two-story frame dwelling located in a
good neighborhood. The house has five rooms and no conveniences,
but may be said to be fairly sanitary. It is owned by the tenants,
but is mortgaged to its full value.
Family No. 9.— Nine in family— husband, wife, and seven children
of the following ages: 17, 15, 13, 12, 9, 7, 3. The husband, of middle
596
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
age, is a laborer, earning $9 a week. The two girls of 17 and 15 earn
together $6 a week. Food - consuming power, 7.15 adult males.
Occupy a two-story brick dwelling, well located. The house has four
good-sized rooms, but there are no conveniences of any kind and
the house is insanitary. Kent, $12.50 a month.
Family No. 10.— Colored. Five in family— husband, wife, and three
children of the following ages: 17, 14, 13. The husband, an elderly
man, is a rag picker and junk gatherer and earns from $4 to $5 a week.
The wife takes in washing and earns $2 to $3 a week. Food-consum
ing power, 4.6 adult males. Occupy a two-story frame building
located in an alley. It has four rooms of moderate size. The house
has no conveniences and is insanitary. Water is brought from a dis
tance. Rent, $5 a month.
Family No. 11.— Eight in family— husband, wife, and six children
of the following ages: 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, and a baby. The husband, of
middle age, is employed as a laborer in bridge construction. His
wages are $12 a week, but work is irregular. The oldest child, a boy
of 16, earns $4.50 a week. Food-consuming power, 5.85 adult males.
Occupy three good-sized rooms of the second story of a building, the
first story of which is used as a grocery store. There are no conven
iences and the house and its surroundings are thoroughly insanitary.
Rent, $11 a month.
Family No. 12.— Six in family— husband, wife, and four children of
the following ages: 7, 4, 2 (twins.) The husband, a young man, is a
skilled laborer in street paving. His wages are $1.75 a day, but work is
irregular on account of bad weather. Food-consuming power, 3.35
adult males. Occupy a two-story frame building with four rooms of
moderate size, located far out in the outskirts. The house is out
of repair, has no conveniences, and is in all respects insanitary. Rent,
$4 a month.
Family No. 13.— Four in family— widow and three children of the
following ages: 16, 15, 7. The mother is a charwoman in the service
of the Government, with regular wages at $20 a month. A boy of 15
earns $3 a week. Food-consuming power, 3.35 adult males. Occupy
a one-story brick building in a desirable locality. The house is in
good repair, has three good-sized rooms, but there are no conveniences
and it can hardly be said to be sanitary. Rent, $8.50 a month. Dur
ing the earlier period of the investigation this family occupied a house
for which they paid $10 a month rent.
Family No. 14.— Six in family— husband, wife, and four children of
the following ages: 17, 15, 11, 4. The husband, of middle age, is the
only wage-earner and is a teamster. His wages are $1.50 a day, but
work is irregular. Food-consuming power, 5.2 adult males. Occupy
a two-story building located in an alley. The house has four small
rooms. There are no conveniences, and both the house and its sur
roundings are insanitary. Rent, $7.30 a month.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
597
Family No. 15.— Six in family— husband, wife, and four children
of the following ages: 11, 8, 6, and a baby. The husband, a young
man, is the only wage-earner and is a tinner. His wages are $2.50 a
day, but he finds it impossible to get regular work. Food-consuming
power, 4.1 adult males. Occupy a two-story building of four rooms
very unfavorably located. The house is in a shamefully dilapidated
condition and is so insanitary as to be a disgrace. Water is brought
from a distance. Rent, $5 a month.
Family No. 16.— Seven in family—husband, wife, and five children
of the following ages: 11, 8, 5, 3, and a baby. The husband, of mid
dle age, is a skilled laborer. He receives $2 a day and work is quite
regular. In addition to the husband's earnings, the wife makes a
little money now and then by sewing. Food-consuming power, 4.25
adult males. Occupy a two-story brick dwelling well located. The
house has four small rooms and no conveniences and is insanitary in
every particular. Water is brought from a distance. Rent, $7.50
a month.
Family No. 17.— Four in family—husband, wife, and two children,
one 4 years of age and the other a baby. The husband, a young
man, is the only wage-earner and is a laborer at $2 a day. His work
is irregular, and he earns an average of from $7 to $10 &week. Food
consuming power, 2.45 adult males. Occupy a two-story brick
building located in an alley. The house has four small rooms, but no
conveniences and can not be said to be sanitary. Rent, $2 a week.
Family No. 18.— Six in family—husband, wife, and four children
of the following ages: 10, 8, 6, 3. The husband, of middle age, is the
only wage-earner and is employed as a clerk. His wages are $12 a
week. Food-consuming power, 3.95 adult males. Occupy a twostory brick building fairly well located. The house has five rooms,
water in the kitchen, no bath tub, but is sanitary. Rent, $14 a
month.
Family No. 19.— Colored. Seven in family— husband, wife, and
five children of the following ages: 14, 7, 6, 4, l j . The husband, a
young man, is a laborer in a flour mill. His wages are $9 a week
and employment is quite regular. The wife takes in washing and
thereby adds considerably to the income. Food-consuming power,
4.5 adult males. Occupy a two-story frame building well located.
The house has four small rooms but no conveniences and is not sani
tary. Rent, $10 a month.
An examination of the above details shows that the report deals
with a normal and with a very large segment of society. The people
the intimate facts of whose domestic economy are herein set forth
are representative of the thousands of other people in the District.
Taking the country over they are representative of millions of honest
industrious citizens who help to make the world around us the pleas
ant place it is.
598
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The budgets in most instances cover the expenditures of five weeks,
three weeks in summer (or at least early enough in the fall so that
no fire for heating was required) and two weeks in winter. In one
instance the inquiry extended over a period of only four weeks, two
weeks in summer and two weeks in winter. The accounts of the
individual families, as given in the detailed table (p. 634, et seq.),
show the amount expended day by day for each article purchased.
They are thus substantially exact reproductions of the original
budgets. For purposes of comparison and study the expenditures
appear in the table under twelve heads: (1) Breads and breadstuff s;
(2) meats; (3) vegetables and fruits; (4) milk, butter, and cheese;
(5) groceries, etc.; (6) clothing; (7) fuel and lighting; (8) furniture
and utensils; (9) rent; (10) insurance; (11) miscellaneous; (12) pay
ment on debt.
In addition to the detailed tabulation a summary of expenditures of
each of the nineteen families has been prepared (pp. 694-698). These
summaries give in epitome the financial transactions of each week.
FOOD.
Obviously the most important element in the family expense
account of the poor is the food element. The rent may fall in arrears,
the purchase of clothing may be postponed, the body may even con
tinue to shiver with cold until there is money for fuel, insurance policies
may lapse, but the purchase of food must go on continuously.
A study of the food element in the budgets soon brings to view wide
fluctuations in the amount expended week by week. Below is a table
showing the total amount spent for food b y each family each week
during the investigation:
TO TAL E X P E N D IT U R E FOR FOOD DU RIN G EACH W E E K , B Y FAMILIES.
Family.
No. 1...............................................................................
No. 2...............................................................................
No. 3...............................................................................
No. 4...............................................................................
No. 5...............................................................................
No. 6...............................................................................
No. 7...............................................................................
No. 8...............................................................................
No. 9...............................................................................
No. 10..............................................................................
No. 11..............................................................................
No. 12..............................................................................
No. 13..............................................................................
No. 14..............................................................................
No. 15..............................................................................
No. 16..............................................................................
No. 17.............................................................................
No. 18..............................................................................
No. 19..............................................................................
First
week.
$5.31
6.00
6.77
4.67
3.79
5.00
5.29
6.14
« 7.53
3.69
8.65
6.09
3.96 „
4.96
4.49
5.82
2.85
4.92
4.64
Second
week.
$5.77
5.86
6.44
3.34
5.70
4.64
4.86
5.15
d 7.09
4.50
8.40
5.49
3.51
3.92
3.92
4.23
3.24
2.82
5.74
Third
week.
$8.60
3.91
5.39
4.29
3.86
5.76
5.28
6.20
6.82
4.25
8.54
6.09
o4.56
3.87
4.22
6.05
2.24
3.15
4.13
Fourth
week.
$7.39
4.76
o3.56
3.30
4.60
5.60
5.50
5.10
6.77
4.73
6.83
6.18
4.24
4.63
3.27
5.67
2.14
2.56
5.69
o Not including $5 paid on debt for groceries not consumed during the period.
6 Not reported.
c Not including $3.81 paid on debt for groceries not consumed during the period.
d Not including $4 paid on debt for groceries not consumed during the period.
« In the last week a donation of food was received by the family.
Fifth
week.
$8.57
4.07
2.45
3.71
3.52
4.67
5.85
(&)
8.12
4.21
8.37
6.66
5.60
4.24
« 1.74
5.70
2.49
2.69
5.05
599
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
What is the explanation of these great differences in food expendi
ture? How can the fact be accounted for that family No. 1, for
example, spent $5.31 for food in the first week of the investigation and
$8.57 during the last week? In this instance the explanation is the
very simple one that in the first week the wage-earner was idle about
half the time, while in the last week he was employed every day. In
the case of family No. 2, why was there a fall from $5.86 in the second
week to $3.91 in the third week? Because in the third week the rent
fell due. W hy in the budget of family No. 3 is there the great differ
ence between $6.77 in the first week and $2.-15 in the last week?
Because in the last week the rent had to be paid and a payment of $6
upon an old debt had to be made, and furthermore the wage-earner
was idle part of the time. Thus we might go through the accounts of
every family and find that any considerable decrease in food expendi
tures was almost always due to the payment of rent or some financial
stress of the week.
What is the real effect of these fluctuations upon the bodily nourish
ment of the families? It does not necessarily follow that because a
smaller amount is spent for food in one week than in another a smaller
amount of nourishment is purchased. Ten cents’ worth of stew beef
at 5 cents a pound yields far more nutrition than 10 cents’ worth of the
more expensive tenderloin.
The following table shows how little the nutritive value of food
depends upon the price paid for i t :
AMOUNT OF VARIOUS ARTICLES OF FOOD PURCHASABLE FOR 10 CENTS AND
EQUIVALENT IN CALORIES OF EN E R GY.
[From the New International Encyclopedia, article on “ Food.” ]
Amount of food mate
rial purchasable for
10 cents.
Article of food*
Pounds.
Com meal, at 2£ cents per pound.............................................................................
Wheat flour, at 3 cents per pound............................................................................
Oatmeal, at 4 cents per pound..................................................................................
Beans, white, dried, at 5 cents per pound...............................................................
Pork, fat, salt, at 12 cents per pound......................................................................
Sugar, at 6 cents per pound......................................................................................
Wheat bread (loaf), at 5 cents per pound...............................................................
Rice, at 8 cents per pound.........................................................................................
Potatoes, at 90 cents per bushel...............................................................................
Beef, stew meat, at 5 cents per pound.....................................................................
Cheese, at 16 cents per pound...................................................................................
Butter, at 30 cents per pound...................................................................................
Roast pork, loin, at 12 cents per pound..................................................................
Smoked ham, at 18 cents per pound........................................................................
Milk, at 7 cents per quart..........................................................................................
Beef, round, at 12 cents per pound...........................................................................
Cabbage, at 2 \ cents per pound................................................................................
Eggs, at 24 cents per dozen.......................................................................................
4.00
3.33
2.50
2.00
.83
1.67
2.00
1.25
6.67
2.00
.63
.33
.83
.56
2.85
.83
4.00
.63
Equivalent
in calories
of energy.
6,540
5,440
4,500
3,040
2,950
2,920
2,400
2,025
1,970
1,530
1,185
1,125
1,035
915
885
740
460
385
The small amount available for the purchase of food in each of the
families investigated, even in the most prosperous weeks, does not per
600
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
mit any considerable indulgence in the more expensive foods. The
very necessities of the case would seem to compel a certain amount of
consideration of the nutritiousness as well as the cost of the food pur
chased. It may be doubted whether any of these families consciously
directed their purchases with a view to securing the largest amount of
nutriment for each unit of money expended. A very wide variation is
found in the individual budgets in this respect. Most of the families
investigated seem as a rule to have purchased foods which, as a matter
of fact, yield a large amount of nutriment for the money; while,
on the other hand, some of the families seem to have purchased food
with a lamentable disregard of food values. This latter is true of a
few of the families which had least to spend for food, and it is true even
in the weeks when there was the least available for food expenditure.
Thus, family No. 6, with an average expenditure for food per adult
male of only 98 cents a week, spent during the five weeks $1.80 for
pies and $2.21 for cake and candy, these expenditures being about 50
cents in excess of those for meat during the same period. This family
used no rice, no oatmeal, only 10 cents’ worth of com meal, and only a
half peck of potatoes. Its expenditures for bakers’ bread amounted
to $7, and 60 cents worth of flour (purchased in 10 and 20 cent lots)
was also used. During the week when its food expenditures were
lowest, but 37 cents was spent for meat, while 25 cents was spent for
pies and 55 cents for cake and candy. The head of this family, a
widow, said in explanation of her food expenditures, “ Don’t eat much
meats; can’t afford it.” Family No. 8, with an average expenditure
for food per adult male of $1.08 a week, spent $2.65 for pies and 16
cents for cake and candy. In one week when the food expenditures
were much reduced 90 cents was spent for pies and 5 cents for cake,
while only 55 cents was spent for meat. These instances, it should be
said, represent extreme cases.
In most of the families bakers’ bread seems truly to be the “ staff of
life.” Bread seems to be baked in the homes but very little; the total
expenditures for bread, including buns, for the 19 families was for the
whole period $91.01 as against $12.14 for flour. Of the 19 families 12
used no oatmeal, 8 no com meal, 9 no rice, and 4 (Nos. 12, 13,15, and
17) used neither com meal nor rice. Family No. 17 used no flour,
while Nos. 3,14, and 16 purchased but 1 pound during the period of
five weeks.
The cheapness of an article as food, however, is not to be determined
simply b y its cost at the store and the nutriment which it contains.
Thus oatmeal, for example, must be cooked for half an hour, and this
is considerably longer than is required for the other articles consumed
for breakfast by the families under consideration. Consequently, to
prepare oatmeal for breakfast would ordinarily take additional time
and add to that extent to the fuel bill. This is why oatmeal is not as
601
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
cheap as might at first appear, and why it is not found more frequently
in the family budget. Taking them all in all, however, the foods con
sumed by the families here investigated have, as a rule, high nutritive
value.
What, it may be asked, is the real significance of the fluctuations in
the food budgets when the matter of nourishment is considered ? Did
the amount of nourishment which these families received vary with
the amount of money spent ? The budgets show that in most families
it did. A fall in food expenditure was usually accompanied, first, by a
cutting down of fruit and vegetables (not including potatoes), and
then, if necessary, by a cut in the grocery and meat expenditure. The
expenditure for bread and breadstuffs was in most cases practically
unchanged in time of stress. In only one case did it appear that at
such a time homemade bread took* the place of the bakery product.
The following table gives the total expenditure for food and for
bread and breadstuffs for each family in the weeks of highest and of
lowest food expenditure. The per cent of the expenditure for bread
and breadstuffs of the total expenditure for food is also shown:
TOTAL E X P E N D IT U R E FOR FOOD AND FOR B R E A D AND BREADSTUFFS FOR EACH
FAM ILY IN THE W EEKS OF HIGHEST AND OF LOWEST FOOD E X P E N D IT U R E .
Week of highest food expenditure. Week of lowest food expenditure.
Expenditure for—
Expenditrre for—
Family.
Bread and breadstuffs.
Bread and breadstuffs.
Total food.
Amount.
Per cent
of total.
Total food.
Amount.
Per cent
of total.
No. 1..........................................
No. 2..........................................
No. 3.........................................
No. 4.........................................
No. 5.........................................
No. 6 ........................................
No. 7.........................................
No. 8..........................................
No. 9..........................................
No. 10........................................
No. 11........................................
No. 12........................................
No. 13........................................
No. 14........................................
No. 15........................................
No. 16........................................
No. 17........................................
No. 18........................................
No. 19........................................
$8.60
6.00
6.77
4.67
5.70
5.76
5.85
6.20
8.12
4.73
8.65
6.66
5.60
4.96
4.49
6.05
3.24
4.92
5.74
$1.56
.95
.95
.67
1.85
1.75
1.24
1.31
1.95
1.05
1.50
1.50
1.30
1.00
.75
1.35
.55
.49
.60
18.1
15.8
14.0
14.3
32.5
30.4
21.2
21.1
24.0
22.2
17.3
22.5
23.2
20.2
16.7
22.3
17.0
10.0
10.5
$5.31
3.91
2.45
3.30
3.52
4.64
4.86
5.10
6.77
3.69
6.83
5.49
3.51
3.87
«3.27
4.23
2.14
2.56
4.13
$1.49
.75
1.25
.63
.50
1.75
1.32
1.44
1.15
.73
1.33
1.20
1.25
.90
o.73
1.15
.60
.75
.60
28.1
19.2
51.0
19.0
14.2
37.7
27.2
28.2
17.0
19.8
19.5
21.9
35.6
23.3
o20.1
27.2
28.0
29.3
14.5
Average..........................
5.93
1.17
19.8
4.19
1.03
. 24.5
« Expenditures for the last week are not here considered, as in that week the family had to ask outside
aid ana was assisted by a large donation of food.
The table shows that while these families spent for all kinds of food
an average of $1.74 more in their most prosperous week than in the
week of lowest food expenditure, yet only 14 cents of this was for
bread and breadstuffs. Bread and breadstuffs in the week of highest
food expenditure constituted 19.8 per cent of all food expenditures,
but in the week of greatest stress their relative importance greatly
602
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
increased because of the cutting down in so many other articles, and
they constituted 24.5 per cent of all food expenditure. This indicates
clearly the importance of these articles in the poor man’s food bill.
For the whole period the expenditure for bread and breadstuffs con
stituted 22.4 per cent of the entire food expenditure, while that for
meat of all kinds constituted but 30.3 per cent. In three cases more
than a third and in one case more than a half of the weekly food
expenditure of the lowest week was for bread and breadstuffs. An
examination of the food expenditures in detail indicates plainly that
the fluctuations in food expenditure mean great differences in actual
nourishment and that during those weeks when expenditures were
lowest there was not enough to eat. In a number of the families it is
plain that the food purchased was at no time sufficient to provide
proper nourishment. In nearly all of the 19 families there are appear
ances at times of excessive and injurious economy in food purchases,
and in most, but not in all, of the cases in which this economy is
excessive it is enforced. On the other hand, the fact is plain from an
examination of the food expenditures that the inadequate nourish
ment secured is in some cases due in no small degree to a lack of
knowledge or to a disregard of food values.
The differences that appear in the food budgets of the same family
from week to week are no greater than the differences which are dis
closed when the expenditures of one family are compared with those
of another. It is evident that in comparing the food expenditures of
different families attention must be given not to the actual number of
persons in the family, but to the consuming power of the family, and
this power must be measured by a common standard. ( a) In the
table below the husband, or the adult male consumer, is taken as the
unit of consuming power. It is assumed as generally true—
1. That all husbands consume a like amount of food.
2. That the wife consumes 90 per cent as much food as the husband.
3. That a child from 11 to 14 years of age, inclusive, consumes 90 per
cent as much food as the husband.
4. That a child from 7 to 10 years of age, inclusive, consumes 75 per
cent as much food as the husband.
5. That a child from 4 to 6 years of age, inclusive, consumes 40 per
cent as much food as the husband.
6. That a child 3 years of age or under consumes 15 per cent as much
food as the husband.
Children 15 years of age or over are considered as adults so far as
consumption of food is concerned.
B y means of these equivalents the consuming power of each of the
families investigated may be reduced to a common basis, namely, the
number of adult male consumers. This has been done and is given in
a Eighteenth Annual R eport of the Com missioner o f Labor, p. 19.
603
CONDITIONS OF LIVING- AMONG THE POOR.
the following table, together with the average weekly expenditure for
food per adult male:
A V E RAG E W E E K L Y E XP E N D IT U R E FOR FOOD PER ADULT MALE IN EACH
FAM ILY.
[In this table payments on grocery bills for articles not consumed during the period included in this
investigation are omitted.]
Family.
Average
Number of weekly ex
Persons in equivalent penditure
family.
adult male for food
consumers. per adult
male.
No. 1........................................................................................................
No. 2........................................................................................................
No. 3........................................................................................................
No. 4........................................................................................................
No. 5........................................................................................................
No. 6........................................................................................................
No. 7........................................................................................................
No. 8........................................................................................................
No. 9........................................................................................................
No. 10.......................................................................................................
No. 11.......................................................................................................
No. 12.......................................................................................................
No. 13.......................................................................................................
No. 14.......................................................................................................
No. 15.......................................................................................................
No. 16.......................................................................................................
No. 17.......................................................................................................
No. 18.......................................................................................................
No. 19.......................................................................................................
10
4
7
7
7
7
6
8
9
5
8
6
4
6
6
7
4
6
7
5.45
3.7
6
5.35
4.6
5.25
4.6
5.21
7.15
4.6
5.85
3.35
3.35
5.2
4.1
4.25
2.45
3.95
4.5
$1.31
1.33
.82
.72
.93
.98
1.16
1.08
1.02
.93
1.39
1.82
3.31
.83
.86
1.29
1.06
.82
1.12
A v era g e.......................................................................................
6.5
4.68
1.08
According to the above table some of the families spent less than
half as much per adult male for food as was spent by other families.
Some families, it will be remembered, spent less than half as much
during certain weeks as in other weeks. But while the expenditure
per adult male given above is an average based on the experience of
only five weeks, it is believed that the figures are representative of the
condition of these and similarly situated families throughout the year.
Employment and consequently income are very irregular with many
of the families, and the expenditure for food as well as that for all the
other necessaries of life must be adapted to the income.
The high averages of the weekly food expenditures of some of the
families— Nos.-2, 11, and 13, for example— must not be taken as indi
cating a general condition of prosperity in these families, for in point
of fact there is prosperity in none of them. In these families the children
are mostly boys, and everything must give way to the appetite of a
growing boy. Consequently eating is of necessity the principal busi
ness of these families. In family No. 2,60.2 per cent of the income was
spent in food; in family No. 11,55.4 percent; in family No. 12, 67.7 per
cent. This meant poverty in all things but eating. In family No. 11
the boys were eating the family out of house and home; rent was in
arrears in the latter part of the period investigated, and there was no
money for needed clothing. To save the situation two of the boys
604
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
were sent to the industrial school just after the investigation was
concluded. Family No. 12 is well fed at the expense of all other
desirable things. There is no decent furniture in the house; the
family is very poorly clad; the children are not sent to school because
the family, for the purpose of saving in rent, lives so far on the out
skirts and so far from a schoolhouse that it is not practicable to send
them to school.
There is one other aspect in which it is useful to view the food
element, and that is to compare the cost of food with the total expendi
tures. In the case of very poor families such a comparison has vital
interest, for with them comfort and decency and even health itself
depend upon what is left after food is bought. If two-thirds or threefifths of the small income is left after proper nourishment is provided,
there is some chance of providing adequate shelter and clothing, but if
less than half is left after food is bought the family can hardly be prop
erly housed and properly clad. The table below shows the proportion
of total expenditures which went for food in each of the families investi
gated during the period of five weeks covered by the investigation:
PER CENT OP E XP E N D IT U R E FOR FOOD OF TO TAL E X P E N D IT U R E S IN EACH
FAM ILY.
[Payments on bills for articles not consumed during the period included in this investigation are
omitted.]
Family.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
1......................................................
2.....................................................
3.....................................................
4.....................................................
5.....................................................
6......................................................
7.....................................................
8.....................................................
9.....................................................
10....................................................
Per cent of
expenditure
for food of
total ex
penditures.
59.8
60.2
48.2
49.7
46.5
50.2
69.3
56.8
47.2
44.2
Family.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
11..................................................
12..................................................
13..................................................
14..................................................
15..................................................
16..................................................
17................................................
18..................................................
19..................................................
Per cent of
expenditure
for food of
total ex
penditures.
55.4
67.7
39.2
56.2
44.8
43.1
33
41.4
46.6
The above figures bring out vividly the truth that the greater part
of the earnings of the poor is expended for something to put into the
stomach. In 2 of these families more than two-thirds, in 8 more than
half, and in 17 of them more than 40 per cent of their total expendi
tures went for food. Some of the families that spent the lower per
centages for food did so at the expense of the table and as a matter of
choice. One of-them, No. 18, which was in arrears for its monthly
rent of $14, chooses to put considerably more than one-fourth of its
total expenditures into rent and that for poor people is a ruinous pro
portion. They wanted to live in a good house in a good neighborhood,
and to do this they were willing, they said, to stint in the matter of
food. It does not appear that the low percentages for food in this
605
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
table are indicative of prosperity; the high percentages are, however,
in all cases indicative of adversity.
The purchases recorded in the budgets show that the diet of the
very poor is confined to a few articles. Bread, meat, potatoes, coffee,
and tea are the staples. Nearly 25 per cent of the total expenditure
of all the families (nearly 60 per cent of the total food expenditure)
was spent for bread and meat alone. Bread for the most part is
bought from the bakery at 5 cents a loaf when fresh. To use home
made bread is generally considered out of the question because of the
extra fuel required for baking. More than half of the families use
stale bread, which is bought for 3 cents (sometimes
cents) a loaf
when it is 2 days old, and at 4 cents a loaf when it is 1 day old.
Of the meats used the most common are sausage, cheap stew beef, and
pork. Round steak is not infrequently bought, but the choice cuts
seldom if ever appear. Only in 3 families is there evidence of the use
of chickens. Fish appears with frequency, but oysters in only 2
families. In 5 of the families no purchase of eggs was found. Milk
in most of the families is used irregularly, although 7 used it daily for
the whole or a part of the period. In a few cases it may be said to be
used scarcely at all. In all the families butter is used to a greater or
less extent, yet in several of the families weeks pass without butter
appearing on the table. Sirup and cheap preserves and jellies seem
to be used largely in place of butter as a measure of economy. So
far as fruits are concerned, it seems that the very poor have to get
along with little, since the weekly expenditure for fruit of these families was less than 2 cents per adult male. Sixteen families spent
$8.09 for fruits of all kinds, but in 3 of the families no fruit of any kind
was bought.
The use of fruit may be best shown by the following table, which
gives the number of families buying, the number of purchases, and the
amount spent for each kind of fruit.
NUMBER OF FAM ILIES BU YIN G F R U IT AND NUMBER AND AMOUNT OF PURCHASES
OF EACH KIN D OF F R U IT.
Kind of fruit.
Apples................................................................................................................
Bananas...........................................................................—..............................
Cantaloupes......................................................................................................
Grapes...............................................................................................................
Lemons.............................................................................................................
Melons...............................................................................................................
Oranges.............................................................................................................
Peaches. ; ..........................................................................................................
Pears.................................................................................................................
Prunes...............................................................................................................
R a i s i n s ________ _____ ________________________ ___________ _____________ _____
W a.tftrm filons_______________________________________ ______________________
T o t a l _________
12951—No. 64—06---- 2
Families Number
of pur Amount
buying. chases.
spent.
12
3
2
35
6
2
4
2
2
4
6
2
1
6
2
1
1
13
2
1
2
$3.33
.70
.1 5
.60
.45
.25
.35
.25
1.32
.39
.10
.20
16
78
8.09
4
4
1
606
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR*
Apples, it will be seen, are the fruit most generally used, 12 families
having made purchases to the amount of $3.33, while 6 families spent
a total of $1.32 for pears, and 4 spent 60 cents for grapes. Only 2
families appear to have used prunes, usually considered especially the
poor man’ s fruit. Considering the families, the largest expenditure
was $1.10 by family No. 10, while family No. 9 spent $1.05, and
family No. 11, 90 cents. In 6 families ice is served with some degree
of regularity, but in the majority of the families it is not used at all.
Tobacco is used in 13 of the families, but in only 2 families does the
expenditure for the five weeks exceed a dollar. Beer and whisky
practically do not appear in the budgets at all. The almost complete
absence of these articles is due to the fact that families in which
intoxicants were habitually used were avoided in making this investi
gation.
RENT.
Next in importance to the food element in the cost of living of the
poor is the element of rent. Indeed, sometimes in the winter season
when there is no money for the landlord and when ejection is threat
ened rent becomes fully as important a matter as food. Between
freezing and starving there is but little to choose. There is always
this difference, however, between the problem of providing food and
that of securing shelter— when buying food there is a minimum of
expense below which the requirements of physical nature do not per
mit one to go, whereas when securing shelter there seems to be no
such limit. If the expenditure for food is reduced but little below a
certain minimum, the efficiency of the human machine is impaired; if
very much reduced, starvation ensues. But there can not be said to
be any fixed sum which is the minimum of expenditure for rent.
There seems to be no house too cheap, no structure with too small a
rental value, to prevent its being used as the habitation of human
beings. In the downward march of poverty, therefore, the descent in
housing conditions continues long after food conditions have reached
their lowest point. The experience of one of the families investigated
illustrates this truth very well. This family just before the investiga
tion began had been paying a rent of $12 per month. At the begin
ning of the investigation the rent was $10, but when the investigation
closed the family had moved again and was living in a house for which
it paid $8.50 per month. The extent to which it can continue to
move downward in the scale of rent paying is indicated by the follow
ing table, which gives the rents of all the families whose budgets were
investigated, together with the number of persons in each family and
the number of rooms rented:
607
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
R E N T P E R MONTH PAID B Y EACH FAM ILY, SIZE OF FAM ILY, AND NUMBER OF ROOMS
R EN TED.
Family.
Number Number Rent per
of
of
month.
persons. rooms.
No. 1 ..............................
No. 2 ..............................
No. 3 ..............................
No. 4 ..............................
No. 5 ..............................
No. 6 ..............................
No. 7 ............. ...............
No. 8 ..............................
No. 9 ..............................
No. 10............................
10
4
7
7
7
7
6
9
4
3
3
4
6
4
3
5
4
5
4
8
$8.50
a 2 .0 0
5.00
&7.50
7.00
5.00
6.00
c6 .3 5
12.50
5.00
Family.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
11.........................
12..........................
13..........................
14.........................
15..........................
16..........................
17..........................
18.........................
19..........................
Number Number Rent per
of
of
month.
persons. rooms.
8
6
4
6
6
7
4
6
7
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
5
4
$11.00
4.00
<*9.25
7.30
5.00
7.50
9.00
14.00
10.00
« The housewife is care taker o f the premises and the rent Is only nominal.
6 This family sublets rooms and receives perhaps $1.50 per month on the average.
c In this case the house is owned, but is heavily mortgaged. The interest on the mortgage amounts
to $6 per month and the water rent is $4 per annum. This is a virtual rental.
<*This is average rent paid. During latter part of period o f investigation rent was $8.50 per month,
and during the earlier weeks $10 for another property.
A glance at these payments is sufficient to show how very elastic is
the rent expenditure of the poor when compared with their food
expenditure. The widest difference in average expenditure for food
was shown in families No. 4 and No. 12, in which 72 cents and $1.82,
respectively, were their average weekly expenditures per adult male.
In rent expenditures there was a variation in families of six persons of
from $4 to $14 per month.
But housing conditions present many aspects upon which figures
can throw but little light. If we say that the average rent of these
19 families is $7 per month, we convey to the mind no adequate
notion of the kind of dwellings occupied. A rental of $7 a month for
a family of seven in certain portions of the city of Washington would
mean a degree of squalor and wretchedness deeper than it is the pur
pose of this inquiry to fathom. On the other hand, a rental of $7 per
month far out in the suburbs might secure quite a respectable and
comfortable house. Neither would it throw much light upon the sub
ject to state the average number of rooms in the houses occupied by
these families, for there are rooms and rooms, as every tenant knows.
Perhaps the best idea of the housing conditions under which the very
poor live will be obtained by reference to the description of the houses
occupied b y the 19 families already given on pages 594 to 597.
An examination of the descriptions of the houses occupied by these
19 families will give a pretty correct notion of the housing conditions
which prevail among the poor, for almost every house described is
matched by tens, sometimes by hundreds, of houses around it. The
examination discloses the fact that many of the conveniences known
as modern are not shared by the poor. In none of the houses is
there a bath tub, and in but one is there running water. In a large
number of cases water has to be brought so far as to prevent it from
being brought at all in quantities adequate for cleanliness. Gas is
supplied to but one house (No. 18), and in this instance by means of
608
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
a slot device instead of by a regular meter. A quarter of a dollar is
dropped in the slot and a certain amount of gas metered out. When
the amount is consumed, the gas is instantly cut off. Most of the
houses are so small as to preclude the idea of privacy, and some are
crowded beyond the point of decency. The location of most of the
houses is very undesirable and often very inconvenient. It will be
noticed that many of the families seek the outskirts of the city. This
is of course to save rent. But this economy is to some extent delusive.
In the remote suburbs there are extra expenses for car fare, especially
for the wage-earner. The prices of necessaries in the outskirts are
higher than they are in the center of the city. The grocer in the
suburbs usually charges more for flour and sugar, and the coal dealer
ordinarily adds 25 cents or 50 cents to the price of a ton of coal when
he sells it to customers several miles away. The sanitary conditions
o f the houses of these poor are seen from the description to be almost
uniformly bad. To what extent the houses themselves may be
regarded as fit for human habitation may be determined by consider
ing that the total assessed value of 15 of the houses (not including the
land) is only $3,650, and that of these there are 10 that have a com
bined value of only $1,500.
In the budgets of the poor the rent is the greatest single item of
expenditure, and to have on hand so large a sum on a fixed day taxes
to the utmost the financial resources of the family. Sometimes b y an
arrangement with the landlord weekly or fortnightly rent payments
are made, but as a rule the entire month’ s rent is paid on a certain
day. The result of this is that around the time of rent day there is
a noticeable diminution of expenditures, and the table is made to
suffer most. Sometimes the decrease in food expenditure during rent
week is slight, but in a considerable number of cases it is large and
therefore very serious.
CLOTHING.
After the rent has been paid and food has been bought the very
poor have but little left for anything else. And yet besides food and
shelter there must be clothes and fuel and furniture and medicine.
It is oftentimes out of the question for all these demands to be met
in a systematic, economical way. Even if the rent and food expen
ditures proceed on something like sound principles of economy, the
other expenditures in many cases can not, for there is not enough
money left for the application of economical principles. In the budg
ets of the poor many evidences of financial chaos must be expected,
for in respect to many things hardly anything but a makeshift policy
seems possible. This makeshift policy is one of the first facts that
confronts the student of living conditions among the poor, and a criti
cism of social phenomena that ignores this fact is far from adequate.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
609
A criticism that recognizes the fact and yet attributes the chaos and
bad bargaining exclusively to mismanagement in the household is
wide of the mark. The poor may buy unwisely, even extravagantly
at times, but at the best they are constantly buying at a disadvantage,
for a reason that is as hard as granite; they have not sufficient money
with which to buy to advantage. This truth becomes plainer and
plainer with a more intimate acquaintance with the details of the
expenditures of these families.
The differences in outlay for rent among the several families were
found to be very great, but the differences in outlay for clothing
shown in the budgets are even more pronounced. In some of the
budgets there is hardly any recorded expense for clothes, while in
others very respectable sums were spent. This, of course, is not of
itself significant. It is quite possible that a family might have spent
a good deal for clothing and still have made but few purchases during
the five weeks of the investigation. Nevertheless, the barrenness of
so many budgets in respect to purchases of clothing reflects an actual
condition.
The very poor do not get their clothes as other people do; that is
to say, they do not buy them as they need them. Sometimes clothing
is given them by relatives. The husband receives a cast-off suit from
a prosperous brother, the wife a decent dress from a prosperous sister.
Sometimes the church assists, either by donations or b y the agency
of the rummage sale. Oftentimes suitable clothes are not forthcoming
at all. The old ones are patched and repatched indefinitely. There
is one item, however, in the clothes budget that appears with great
regularity— the item of shoes. Here is an expense that can not
always be postponed. A hat or a skirt or a coat may be worn for
almost a generation, but shoes soon wear out and must be replaced
and cash is required for the replacement. It is “ shoes, shoes, shoes”
with the very poor as it is with those in better circumstances.
It will be noticed that four of the families show purchases of clothing
on the installment plan. Installment payments for clothes are usually
made on whole suits. A suit of clothes of any value whatever costs
a goodly sum, and the very poor rarely have goodly sums at hand.
Their financial ingenuity, as we have seen, is taxed to the utmost
when a sum large enough to pay the rent is accumulated. In one
instance it is true (family No. 11) a suit of clothes was purchased
for $5.50, but that was a very exceptional case. As a rule, the very
poor, in the face of the urgent demands for necessaries and the few
indulgencies which they allow themselves, find it well nigh impossible
to get more than two or three dollars ahead at a time for any purpose,
and if a garment costing more is to be bought at all it is usually
bought on the installment plan.
610
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
How inadequately the very poor are clad can not be brought out
fully by the figures and statements of a printed budget. A true con
ception of clothing conditions in these families can be acquired only
by visiting the homes. In some of the families the husband, although
a regular wage-earner, has no “ best suit” and the wife no “ best
dress.” What is worn on week days must be worn on Sundays as
well. In such cases churchgoing and visiting are considered out of
the question. In several instances the children are not permitted
to go to school because they are not properly clad. In five of the
families (Nos. 1, 3, 5, 15, and 17) fathers, mothers, and children are
so poorly clad that it is difficult to see how they maintain their selfrespect.
FUEL.
The very poor get their fuel in haphazard fashion here and there
as best they can. In one case (family No. 6) the housewife, a widow
with six children, could explain the absence of coal purchases by the
kind act of her landlord, yrho, when the rent money was proffered him
refused to accept it, telling her to take the money and buy coal with
it. Five of the families, two of which were of the three families that
were found to have spent the most for food, spent nothing whatever
for heating purposes during the period of investigation. The man
ner in which these five families solved the fuel question sheds light
upon the manner in which it is solved by thousands of poor families.
Family No. 3 had no fuel bill, because all the year round the husband
was constantly bringing home something for the stove, now a railroad
tie that had been cast away, now a pocket full of coal that had been
found lying loose on the railroad track near the house. In returning
from his work he was accustomed to pass where the coal cars were
and the housewife explained that the train men on the coal cars are
very good to the poor and let them pick up the coal that falls from the
loaded cars. She said further that in very cold weather the train
men sometimes “ managed to make coal fall off accidentally.” B y
dint of constant watchfulness, always appropriating a stray stick of
wood or a bit of coal, the frugal husband of family No. 3 succeeded
in keeping on hand a good supply of coal and wood. The husband
of family No. 5 exploited ash heaps which were located not far from
his house. Kegularly on Sunday, accompanied by one or more of
the children, he visited these heaps made by the dumping of the city
carts and secured enough coal to last through the week. In other
words, in this family the fuel problem was solved b y devoting the
Sunday to labor. In much the same way fuel was provided for
family No. 11. In this family the husband worked where building
was going on and whenever he found a piece of timber for which there
was no use he carried it home. He did this in the hottest days of
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOK.
611
summer as well as in winter, and as a result of this perseverance his
little yard was always piled high with wood. Family No. 12 provided
fuel from a little patch of woods near by, the husband cutting the
wood and bringing it home. These are some of the ways in which the
poor supply themselves with fuel.
For the greater part of the year the only fuel used is oil. In all the
families but two the oil stove is found. Upon this the simple cook
ing can be done at the expense of only a few cents a week. It should
be noticed, however, that the little stoves used do not permit the
baking of bread or the roasting of meats. In every family there is
a stove in which coal or wood is burned, but this is used for cooking
only in the winter time, when its use is necessary for heating.
In cold weather coal and wood are required, and then the fuel
problem presses very heavily upon the poor. There can be but one
fire and all must huddle together in the kitchen, the only room in the
house that is not cold. There is never enough money for a ton of
coal. The budgets show one instance of the purchase of a half-ton
and two instances of the purchase of a quarter of a ton. In all other
cases the coal was purchased by the peck or by the bushel. Of
course it can be purchased in such small quantities only at a great
loss. The budgets show that many of the families buying by the
bushel paid nearly $9 a ton for coal when the same coal was selling
for $6.75. The loss on purchases of coke is even more distressing.
Half bushel sacks of coke were bought at 10 cents a sack when a load
of coke containing 25 bushels could have been bought for $2.75. In
other words the families that bought coke by the sack paid 10 cents
for 6 cents worth of fuel.
When fuel is purchased at such ruinous prices it is not to be expected
that the heating will be ample. The bucket of coal or the sack of
coke is very precious and is made to last longer than is consistent with
comfort. In several of the houses during cold weather there was only
enough fire to take the chill from the atmosphere. In very few of
them was there a comfortable degree of warmth.
FURNITURE.
How do the poor keep furniture in their houses ? If a family finds
it so difficult to accumulate a sum large enough to buy a ton of coal,
how can it have a stove, which costs perhaps twice as much? If there
is never enough money to buy a new coat, how can there be enough
for a new bed or a new carpet ? The budgets answer these questions.
The very poor rarely buy outright any important article of furniture,
such as a chair, a table, or a stove. This is shown to be true of every
one of the 19 families investigated. There is only one way in which
the poor buy furniture and without unusual self-denial there is only
one way in which they can buy it, and that is on the installment
612
BULLETIN OF THE BUBEAU OF LABOB.
plan. The budgets of 15 of the families show installment pay
ments. Three of the other four budgets show no expenditure for
furniture whatever, although the housewives in these cases admit
that they had finished paying installments on furniture not long
before the investigation began. In only one instance was there no
trace of an installment, and that was in family No. 12. There the
prudent housewife declared that she made it a rule never to buy any
furniture on the installment plan, and one could well believe her, for
there was nothing in the house but the remains of the furniture that
the couple bought when they were married a dozen years before. So
the investigation shows that 18 of the 19 families buy their furni
ture on the installment plan, and that the nineteenth family buys no
furniture at all.
In most of the families installment dues are fixed charges running
quite all the year. When one article is paid for another is bought.
The amount of the weekly installment varies from 25 cents to $1.
The stimulus to regular payment is the threat of taking the article
out of the house. This threat, however, is seldom made good, except
in the case of sewing machines, which, it is said, are frequently
removed for failure to meet the installments. Payments are skipped
again and again. The installment collectors are a patient class and
the poor nearly always have a good word for them.
The articles brought into the house on the installment plan are of
the cheapest grade. Usually they are articles that are absolutely
necessary, such as stoves, bedclothes, rugs, chairs, lamps, and sewing
machines. There is one instance of a clock bought on installments,
and one family indulged in a picture and another in a book on the
installment plan.
One of the most common of installment articles is the sewing
machine. Perhaps not one of these families own or ever will own a
sewing machine outright, yet this most useful instrument is found in
many of the homes of the very poor. A machine is put into a house
nominally on the installment plan and is allowed to stay there so long
as the payments are made with a regularity that insures a profit in the
form of rent for the machine. When the installments are not suffi
cient for this the machine is removed. If but few payments have
been made such a transaction is mutually at a profit, and the house
wife has had the use of it at a fair rental. When the payments are
continued until the machine is paid for, which does not often occur,
the price is out of all proportion to the cash value of the machine, the
installment price being sometimes as high as $75, when the cash price
would not be over $35 or $40.
The installment plan does not suffice to give the poor well-furnished
homes. Three of the 19 houses were furnished sufficiently well to
produce a homelike appearance. In the others there was little but
613
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
the remains of the outfits purchased years before at the time of mar
riage. Occasionally a cheap and gaudy rug or a highly-varnished
rocking chair emphasizes by way of painful contrast the general
dilapidation.
INSURANCE.
The poor meet their insurance expenses as they meet so many other
obligations— b y the payment of small weekly sums. Insurance paid
for in this way is usually designated as “ industrial,” although the
word in this connection has but little meaning. The insurance bought
by the poor could very aptly be termed installment insurance. Espe
cially is this term fitting to the period which in policies paid for on the
weekly payment plan must elapse before the contract is complete and
before the mortuary benefit is in force.
Perhaps the most striking fact connected with the insurance element
in the budgets is the extent to which insurance is carried by the poor.
The well-to-do and the rich are not more generally insured than are
the poor. Of the 19 families investigated, every one carried some
insurance. The number of persons in all the families was 124, while
the number of policies in force in these families at one time during the
investigation was 119. Practically everybody was insured except
infants under 1 year of age, and these are uninsurable. In a number
of instances there were several policies upon the life of one person.
The extent to which the poor invest in life insurance is shown below in
a table which gives in summary the insurance facts of the budgets:
NUM BER OF IN D U STRIA L INSURANCE POLICIES C ARRIED AND AMOUNT OF W E E K L Y
PREMIUMS P A ID .
Family.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Amount
Number Number of
weekly
of per
of poli
premi
sons.
cies.
ums.
1.
2.
3,
4.
5.
6,
No. 7 .. .
No. 8(c)
No. 9 . . .
/
10 \
4
7
7
7
7 1
6 }{
/
8 1
9
«6
&11
4
7
8
6
64
03
67
06
d5
8
$0.50
.90
1.00
1.00
.50
.35
.30
.25
.15
.60
.90
.70
.95
Family.
Amount
Number Number of
weekly
of per
of poli
premi
sons.
cies.
ums.
No. 10.....................
5
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
8
6
4
6
6
7
4
6
7
11.....................
12.....................
13.....................
14.....................
15.....................
16.....................
17.....................
18.....................
19.....................
f
3
«7
68
6
4
2
7
6
<3
o6
1
bt
/
\
$0.40
1.00
1.00
1.05
1.00
.35
.10
.50
.20
1.07
1.17
.35
o First period.
6 Second period.
c The head of this family carries an endowment policy in the Knights of Pythias in addition to the
industrial policies.
d Four weeks; no report for fifth week,
c Policies lapsed after second week.
These figures show that insurance is held in high esteem, but they
do not tell how great a moral force it is in the lives of the poor. How
is it that people who are barely holding soul and body together,
and who are so sorely pressed by the demands of the present, will sur
614
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
render so large a part of the income, sometimes a tithe of it, to the pur
chase of a benefit that can only accrue in the future ? The sentiment
which prompts the poor to invest in insurance is akin to piety; if
death should come into the family they want the household to be pro
tected from harsh and profane influences and they want the departed
one to receive a decent burial. The dread of “ potter’s field” is
always present in the minds of the poor. “ I would rather stint them
(the children) a little in food,” one mother said, “ and pay my insur
ance, for then if anything happens to them there will be a place to put
them.” Burial money, that is the be-all and end-all of insurance
among the poor. Very seldom is there anything left after the under
taker has been paid and the cemetery expenses discharged. The
little weekly premiums are not investments, are not hoardings, but
are a pious provision for decency and propriety in the hour and article
of death. And herein is seen the real significance of the insurance
element among the poor. History teaches that the institution of
insurance as it is regarded by the poor is as old as society and the facts
of the budgets are illustrations of the truth that insurance is a funda
mental necessity of the social relation.
It was found that in all the families policies were carried on the lives
of the children. Just as soon as a little child arrives at an insurable
age— 1 year in some companies, 2 years in others— a policy on its
life is written, if another premium of 5 cents can possibly be spared.
The practice of insuring little children began only a few years ago, but
infantile insurance is now quite general among the poor. Whether
the custom is good and ought to receive the sanction of law need not
be discussed here at any length. Nothing occurred in these families
during the investigation to call the wisdom of the custom into ques
tion. On one occasion, however, it did sound rather uncanny to hear
a mother say, “ If anything should happen to that child” —pointing
to a fine little girl of 9 years— “ we would get $200.” Among the
class of people now under consideration the insurance of children can
doubtless be justified, for in this class parental love would win the
victory in an hour of temptation. Whether it is a practice that can
be universally justified is, and in the nature of things must forever be,
a matter of conjecture. You can not probe deep enough into human
motives to tell whether the neglect of a child is due to the fact that
its life is insured or whether the neglect is due to something else. On
that point the shrewdest investigator could easily be baffled.
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES OF THE POOR.
The list of miscellaneous expenses of the poor is remarkable for
what it does not contain. In the miscellaneous list one might expect
to find in great frequency expenditures for such things as postage,
stationery, newspapers, magazines, amusements, excursions, travel.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
615
These budgets are indeed very lightly burdened with such items.
Two of the 19 families received a penny newspaper with some regu
larity, but in most of these homes such a thing as a newspaper or a
magazine is seldom seen. As for amusements not one of the budgets
shows the expenditure of a cent in that direction. The little money
that is spent on car fare is for riding to and from the place of work or
to and from market. The more closely the miscellaneous list is
examined, the more meager it appears, and its meagerness is a true
index to the poverty of the poor.
The two items of greatest importance in the miscellaneous list are
the medicine bill and the doctor’s bill. Most of the budgets show
small payments for medicine and several show payment of doctor’s
fees. But the budgets do not give a full account of the experiences
of the poor in times of sickness. Expenses for sickness, like all the
expenses excepting those for food and shelter, are met in a haphazard
fashion. If there is money for medicine, well and good; if not, either
the doctor must provide it or it must be secured from a charitable
source. And what is true of medicine is also true of medical service.
Many of the families try hard to employ their own physician and a
few of them succeed. In a majority of instances, however, this is
not possible, and the “ corporation” doctor is of necessity called in.
It is in this matter of sickness that the poor really feel their poverty
the keenest, for it is here that they are brought very close to the gates
of charity if they are not brought entirely within them.
THE INSTALLMENT SYSTEM.
The most cursory glance at the budgets shows how great a part the
installment system plays in the finances of the poor. In one family
(No. 2) nearly a fifth of the total income goes to meet installment dues.
Courts and alleys and little streets teem with installment men, some
on their rounds collecting, others soliciting new business, sometimes
carrying into the houses the very articles to be sold. Clothes, furni
ture, and insurance are regularly bought on the installment plan.
Even the rent is sometimes collected weekly, and thereby becomes
an installment payment.
The bad features of the installment system are so obvious that they
hardly need mention. The overcharges for installment-bought articles
are of themselves enough to condemn the system financially. How
great these overcharges are it is difficult to determine with accuracy,
yet it is certain that they are very heavy and that they result in
appalling losses to the poor. A dollar or more is lost on a coarse
blanket, two or three dollars on an almost worthless rug, five or ten
dollars on a stove, twenty or thirty dollars on a sewing machine.
As bad as the installment system is financially it is equally bad
morally. Under its workings to be in debt becomes the normal con
616
BULLETIN OF THE BUBEAU OF LABOB.
dition of life, and to buy without paying passes from a custom to a
habit. Moreover, where at all times something in the house is being
bought on the installment plan and may, therefore, be taken away in
default of payment, there is wanting that sense of ownership which
contributes so powerfully to the maintenance of stable society. The
tendency of such a system is bound to be toward demoralization. As
the sense of ownership vanishes the sense of financial obligation grows
less keen. The housewife, knowing that the things in the house are
not really her own and growing more and more callous as to the
matter of their removal, learns to deal double with the collector.
Instead of meeting him with the money she meets him with a lie and
saves the money to give another installment man who will come on
another day. By postponement and by making the intervals between
payments longer and longer she may worry the collector out and cause
him to cease his visits before all the installments are paid. In this
way she may manage to get a few more things in her house, but she
gets them there at the expense of truthfulness, honesty, and fair
dealing.
The installment system may be condemned by the social philoso
pher, but it is not condemned by the poor. On the contrary, it is a
system which they stoutly defend. If you point out its evils they
will show you its goo.d features. They will tell you that they must
either buy on the installment plan or be deprived of many of the
necessities of life. If you advise them to save their money until they
can pay in cash, they will tell you that they have tried that plan, but
have failed. They contend that on a cash basis they would have
nothing, while on the installment plan they do manage to keep a few
things in the house.
It must be confessed that such philosophy can not easily be brushed
aside. This is a practical world for all of us, and for the very poor it is
intensely practical. The installment man enters a humble home and
spreads some rugs upon the bare floor. They add so much to the
comfort and cheer of the room that the housewife is constrained to
consider their purchase. She makes this calculation and finds that by
pinching a little here and a little there she might be able to save each
week the 25 cents necessary to buy the rugs. She reflects that she
could get along without them, but she reflects also that her oldest
daughter is approaching womanhood and that the girl will be more
likely to have decent companions if she has a decent home in which to
receive them. The good woman, therefore, is revolving a moral as
well as a financial question, and if she takes the rugs, if she decides to
incur a little more debt for the sake of a little more decency, what will
the social philosopher have to say? Another illustration: The install
ment man comes into the house with some rocking-chairs. The wife,
who has just left the washtub, is invited to take a seat in one of the
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOB.
617
chairs. She has not sat in a comfortable chair before for a long time,
and as her tired body reposes in the rocker she is quite overcome by a
delicious sense of rest. Oh, if she could only have such a chair to
come to at times and rest her aching bones! The cravings of human
nature suppress any qualms she may have as to the wisdom of buying
on the installment plan, and on that plan she buys the chair, paying
too much for it and perhaps not seeing her way clear to paying for it at
all. She has committed a financial sin, but who will say that it is one
that ought not to be forgiven?
Many of the very poor families who buy regularly on the installment
plan do succeed in surrounding themselves with a few, at least, of the
comforts of life, while with few exceptions those families who buy
nothing or very little in that way live under conditions too bad to be
justified by any economic or social theory. “ I know as well as any
b o d y /7said a widow who was paying for a stove by installments, “ that
I will pay more for the stove than it is worth, but I would rather do
that than freeze, and I am glad that I can get it on the installment
plan.77
IK K EG U LAK ITY OF EMPLOYMENT.
The cause which operated most powerfully to bring these families
down to the poverty line and to keep them there was the irregularity
with which the wage-earner was employed. To be sure there were
other contributing causes. In some cases the family became so large
that the rate of wages was no longer sufficient for a decent living. One
family had suffered heavy reverses through the protracted illness of
children. The reduced condition of another family was due to the
fact that the husband had been a hard drinker, although during the
period of the investigation he was leading a sober life. In almost
every case, however, the family attributed its misfortunes not to a low
rate of wages or to affliction or vice, but to irregularity of employment.
The wage-earners of the family were almost unanimous in their testi
mony on this point. The breadwinner of one family (No. 12), who
earned $1.75 a day when he worked, but who was laid off in bad
weather, said: “ We [himself, his wife, and four children] could get
along very well on $1.75 a day if I could work every day, but as it is
what we save in good weather is spent in bad weather, and we have
nothing all the time.77 A little family history revealed the fact that
about a year before the investigation began this man had cut his foot
severely and had lain in the hospital for three weeks, with the result
that his wife and children were compelled to throw themselves upon
charity.
The causes which produce a cessation of income among the poor are
as numerous as the vicissitudes of life. Accidents, sickness, bad
weather, the closing down of establishments, business failures, slack
618
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
work, are a few of the enemies of regular employment. Which of
these causes brings the greatest misfortunes depends in a large degree,
of course, upon the occupation. In the case of the 19 families here
considered bad weather is the thing most dreaded, because most of the
wage-earners work out of doors. It happened, however, that during
the period of investigation the weather for the most part was excep
tionally fine.
The budgets, therefore, do not tell in a formal way the whole story
of the havoc which bad weather makes in the lives of these people.
Nevertheless the effects of idleness due to bad weather are plainly
visible in the fortunes of many of the families and may be seen crop
ping out in the budgets in the form of installments, loans, scanty
expenditures for food and fuel, lapsed policies, arrears in rent.
The more carefully the experiences of these families are studied the
deeper becomes the impression that poverty is due quite as much to
irregularity of employment as it is to a low rate of wages. Two dollars
a day for 4 days in the week might mean poverty, while $1.50 a day
for 6 days in the week might mean prosperity. In the case of family
No. 2 the husband receives a little less than $1.50 a day, but receives
this every day. This family apparently has enough to eat and enjoys
some of the comforts of life. The husband of family No. 3 receives
$2 a day, but in the construction work in which he is engaged there
are times when his services are not needed. The loss caused by the
occasional idleness deprives the family at times of enough to eat. The
income of the wage-earners in family No. 4 is $3 a day, yet there is
hardly a family in which squalor and need are more pronounced.
Irregularity of employment is the explanation; and so with the whole
list, as we pass from one case to another, the importance of regularity
in employment is emphasized and the importance of the rate of wages
is minimized
LOSSES OF THE POOK.
The budgets have all been found to contain records of bad bargains.
This was to be expected. The practice of foresight and self-denial is
probably not less common with the very poor than among those in
better circumstances, but, it must be remembered, its constant exer
cise is far more difficult and lapses are more disastrous. The poor
housewife knows what good bargains are, but the meagerness of her
purse oftentimes prevents her from purchasing supplies except in very
small quantities. She goes to the grocery store and buys a single bar
of soap for 5 cents, knowing very well that she could get 6 bars for a
quarter, and that if she would buy 6 bars she would save 5 cents; but,
perhaps, if so much is spent for soap there will not be enough for food.
She is buying potatoes at the market. For her large family a bushel
of potatoes would not be an oversupply and that quantity can be
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOB.
619
bought for a dollar; but the outlay of a dollar for potatoes may not be
possible. Instead of spending a dollar for a bushel she spends 8 cents
for a quarter of a peck, paying at the rate of $1.28 a bushel, losing
nearly 30 per cent by the transaction. Three cans o f tomatoes can be
bought for 25 cents, but she has only enough money for 1 can, and for
that she pays 10 cents, perceiving clearly as she does that for every 5
cans purchased in this way there is a clear loss of 1 can. She has gone
the rounds of the market and has nearly finished her purchases, but
there are still butter, sugar, coffee, and salt to be bought, and besides
some matches are needed. For all these things she has 25 cents
remaining. Butter is 30 cents a pound; sugar, 5 cents; coffee, 15
cents; salt, 5 cents a large sack or 3 cents a small sack (the latter being
half as large as the former); matches, 3 boxes for 5 cents or 2 cents a
box. The purchase of a pound of butter can not be thought of. The
purchase of a half pound would leave but 10 cents for sugar, coffee,
salt, and matches. If all these desired articles are to be bought, the
remaining 25 cents must be skillfully spent. Practice has taught our
housewife the art of making skillful divisions. She buys a quarter of
a pound of butter for 8 cents, a half pound of sugar for 3 cents, half a
pound of coffee for 8 cents, a small sack of salt for 3 cents, a box
of matches for 2 cents, and has 1 cent left with which to buy an onion
for the soup. She has lost heavily on every one of these articles^
including the onion, and she knows she has lost.
The employment of such methods of purchase as are indicated
above is, as has been said, oftentimes necessary because of the small
amount of money available. But a study of the daily expenditures
clearly shows that in some families the same practice is followed
where such method of purchase is not a matter of necessity. What
is often necessary has become the habit, and practically all supplies,
even such things as are used constantly and will easily keep until used,
are purchased day by day and even meal by meal. Family No. 9
furnishes a most striking example of this habit. During a single day
4 purchases of a quarter of a pound of butter for 8 cents were made.
On 2 days 3 such purchases a day were made, and on 8 days 2 such
purchases a day were made. The earliest of these purchases were
made late in September. None of them was made in summer. The
same family purchased bananas also two and three times in a single
day. Even potatoes were purchased on one occasion three times in
a day, 2 purchases of a peck each and 1 of a half-peck. Three days
later a quarter of a peck was purchased, and then on four successive
days purchases were made of 2 quarter-pecks, one half-peck, and 1
peck. At another time potatoes were purchased twice a day on two
days, and during a period of five successive days 5 purchases were
made.
The above is an extreme case, and as such not fairly representative
of the practice of the families investigated. Several of the other
620
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
families, however, were accustomed to make purchases in very small
quantities, even at times when it was apparent that use was regular
and that such petty buying was not enforced. Butter was, as a rule,
bought b y the quarter of a pound at 8 cents or even 9 cents. Kero
sene was bought at 4 cents a quart, 2 cents a pint, and even by the
cent’s worth.
It is not alone in food purchases that the poor make bad bargains.
As the budgets plainly show, their losses extend all along the line.
In the purchase of fuel, of clothing, of furniture, of insurance, they
pay a heavy price because of their poverty. What is the measure of
the losses which the poor sustain by reason of the bad bargains which
they make? A study of the budgets of the 19 families investigated
enables us to make some sort of an estimate of this loss. In estimat
ing these losses care has been taken not to make them too great. The
losses have been under rather than over stated. For example, the
loss on a can of condensed milk for which 10 cents was paid was actu
ally I f cents, whereas in the budgets the loss is placed at I f cents.
Moreover— and this is of the utmost importance— only those losses were
recorded which were plainly occasioned by the slimness of the purse.
Thus when a quarter of a peck of tomatoes was bought for 8 cents,
the price being 30 cents a peck, no loss was stated, because it was
assumed that that quantity would last as long as the tomatoes would
remain firm and eatable, and that the smallness of the purchase was
therefore not necessarily attributable to the poverty of the purchaser.
Our 19 families in five weeks spent $879.50, exclusive of rent, and
of this sum $57.59 was lost through the circumstances and methods
described above. The most prosperous family lost 3 per cent on all
it bought— that is to say, on all it earned— while the least prosperous
lost 15 per cent. The average loss for all the families was 7 per cent.
In this calculation of losses the element of rent is disregarded, but
in strictness it should not be disregarded for the poor when buying
shelter— that is, when paying rent— receive less for a dollar than is
received by their more fortunate brothers, and the bad bargain is due
in a large measure to the fact that the poor, just b y reason of their pov
erty, can not make terms with landlords. The well-to-do can bid
for better houses, for improvements, and for more conveniences, but
the poor can not do so. They must look down rather than up; for
less desirable houses, not for better ones. Hence the demand for the
cheaper houses is always strong, and their owners are not compelled
to spend money on them to keep tenants in them. Thus it comes
about that the houses that are least desirable for habitation are those
that yield the greatest per cent on the investment. There is no place
for the poor except in these undesirable houses. B y virtue of neces
sity, therefore, the poor, when compared with the prosperous, buy
shelter at a loss.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
621
It is possible to estimate what these families lost in the way of bad
rent bargains. The house which family No. 1 rents assessed at $100
and the ground on which it stands at $180, making a total assessment
of $280. The rule in Washington is to assess property at two-thirds
of its market value. The full market value, therefore, of the house
rented by family No. 1 may be put down at $420. Real-estate men
will tell you that property rented by the well-to-do usually yields an
annual rent not exceeding 10 per cent (gross) of its market value.
Now, if family No. 1 had paid in rent 10 per cent of the market value
of the property rented it would have paid $3.50 per month. As
a matter of fact, this family paid $8.50 per month, a difference of
$5.00. A series of calculations of this kind for 15 families gives the
following table. In the case of four families such a calculation was
impracticable:
M ONTHLY REN TS A CTU ALLY PA ID B Y 15 FAM ILIES, COMPARED W IT H RENTS
NECESSARY TO SECURE A 10 P E R CENT RE TU R N ON FULL M ARK ET VALUE OF
PROPERTY.
Assessed value of property
rented.
Family.
House.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
1......................................
3......................................
5......................................
6......................................
7......................................
9......................................
10....................................
12....................................
13....................................
14....................................
15....................................
16....................................
17....................................
18....................................
19....................................
$100
100
200
200
100
400
100
200
200
300
100
450
300
700
200
Land.
$180
120
40
60
300
456
100
38
400
100
150
150
200
300
233
Total.
$280
220
240
260
400
856
200
238
600
400
250
600
500
1,000
433
Full
market
value of
property
rented.
$420
330
360
390
600
1,284
300
357
900
600
375
900
750
1,500
650
Excess of
Rent per
month Rent ac rent actually
tually
paid over
on a 10per cent paid per rent on a 10
basis of month. per cent ba
profit.
sis of profit.
$3.50
2.75
3.00
3.25
5.00
10.70
2.50
2.98
7.50
5.00
3.13
7.50
6.25
12.50
5.42
$8.50
5.00
7.00
5.00
6.00
12.50
5.00
4.00
o8.50
7.30
5.00
7.50
9.00
14.00
10.00
$5.00
2.25
4.00
1.75
1.00
1.80
2.50
1.02
1.00
2.30
1.87
2.75
1.50
4.58
a Rate paid latter part of period of investigation; $10 was rate paid during earlier weeks for another
property.
It seems that these 15 families paid in one month $114.30, and that
this sum was larger by $33.32 than it would have been had the owners
made only 10 per cent (gross) on their properties. The statement
indicates that the poor pay for housing 41.1 per cent more than is
paid by the well-to-do upon residence property representing the same
amount of invested capital.
When the losses that were incurred through unfortunate rent bar
gains by these 15 families are taken and combined with the other
losses, and a comparison instituted between the total losses and the
total expenditures, including one month's rent, it is found that the
most fortunate family lost nearly 4 per cent and the least fortunate
family quite 15 per cent. The average loss of the 15 families was 10
per cent by reason of bad bargains. If, therefore, we wish to form a
12951— N o. 64— 06------3
622
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
just notion of what a very poor man is earning, we must subtract from
his nominal earnings this one-tenth which he loses because of his pov
erty and of the conditions under which he purchases.
CONDITIONS OF BORROW ING AMONG THE POOR.
It was noticed that in the expenditures of some of the families losses
were occasioned by excessive rates of interest on money borrowed.
Investigation showed that the fact of borrowing did not necessarily
furnish any ground for censure. Financial crises overtake all classes,
and the poor must sometimes borrow as well as the rich. In one case
the money was borrowed when there was a death in the family; in
another case when there was a birth; in another case when the wageearner was kept from his work by a protracted illness. In all cases
money was needed at once, and there was none laid by. Friends
were appealed to, but they could not help. There was nothing to do
but go to the loan company.
Because of the importance of borrowing in the lives of the poor it is
thought proper to state here the results of a special study of the condi
tions of borrowing which prevail in the District of Columbia. The
study includes an examination of the methods of loan companies in
the city of Washington and of the rates charged when the security is
not good. It also gives the details of a number of representative loan
transactions.
The investigation does not include the operations of the pawn shop.
The very poor do not possess the kind of pledges which pawnbroking
requires. It would be well for the poor if they could deal with the
pawnbroker, for then they could find in the law substantial protection
against exorbitant rates and sharp practice. In most cases, how
ever, their security consists only of some wretched furniture, and for
this the pawnbroker has no use. If they borrow at all they must deal
with the loan companies, and when dealing with them they are
exposed to an extortion and an overreaching for which the law pro
vides no practical remedy.
There are in the District of Columbia 50 concerns licensed to lend
money, and of these about 20 are engaged in making loans where the
security is of such a character as to involve a heavy risk. Of course,
where the risk is great the interest is high, and the deeper the distress
the higher the rate mounts. As to the rate that can be lawfully charged
and as to the penalties for usury the District Code makes the following
provisions:
S e c t i o n 1178. The rate of interest in the District upon the loan or forbearance of any
money, goods, or things in action, and the rate to be allowed in judgments and decrees, in the
absence of express contract as to such rate of interest, shall be six dollars upon one hundred
dollars for one year, and at that rate for a greater or less sum or for a longer or shorter time.
S e c . 1170. The parties to a bond, bill, promissory note, or other instrument of writing for
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
623
the payment of money at any future time may contract therein for the payment o f interest
on the principal amount thereof at any rate not exceeding ten per centum per annum.
S e c . 1180. If any person or corporation shall contract in the District, verbally, to pay a
greater rate of interest than six per centum per annum, or shall contract, in writing, to pay a
greater rate than six per centum per annum, the creditor shall forfeit the whole of the
interest so contracted to be received: * * *
S e c . 1181. I f any person or corporation in the District shall directly or indirectly take or
receive any greater amount of interest than is herein declared to be lawful, whether in
advance or not, the person or corporation paying the same shall be entitled to sue for and
recover the amount of the unlawful interest so paid from the person or corporation receiv
ing the same, provided said suit be begun within one year from the date of such pay
ment.
S e c . 1182. In any action brought upon any contract for the payment of money with inter
est at a rate forbidden b y law, as aforesaid, any payments of interest that may have been
made on account o f said contract shall be deemed and taken to be payments made on account
of the principal debt, and judgment shah be rendered for no more than the balance found due
after deducting and properly crediting the interest so paid; * * *
As is too frequently the case with laws upon the subject of interest
and usury, the above provisions do not amount to much. A victim
of the usurer, before he can recover the amount of the overcharge,
must go to law, and the heavy expense of a lawsuit generally dis
courages this procedure. As a matter of practice in cases of loans to
the very poor the agency of the law does not figure very prominently
one way or the other. The lender, it is true, usually goes through the
form of taking a deed of trust or mortgage upon the furniture of the
borrower, but he seldom goes to the trouble of having the instrument
recorded; he demands a promissory note, or a series of such notes,
but he does not demand bona fide responsible indorsers. The lender
to the poor usually does not expect to get this money by resorting to
the harsh process of the law. He rarely intends to actually foreclose
and sell the furniture. Instead of invoking the law he invokes'a
moral force to compel payment; he holds the threat of foreclosure
and sale over the head of the borrower, and the threat is usually potent
enough. For what does foreclosure mean to the borrower? It means
no bed, no stove, no table, no chairs. And what does it mean to the
lender? A great deal of trouble and possibly an actual loss. The
money lender wants cash, not furniture, and those who know his ways
aver that he would rather have useful articles of small value, such as
beds, stoves, and tables, as security than valuable articles such as a
piano or an organ, for he knows that the borrower can easily part
with a piano or an organ, but that when the mortgage is upon an arti
cle of necessity every possible effort will be made to meet the pay
ments, however extortionate these may be. It is upon the neces
sities of the poor, upon the very desperation of their condition, that
the loan company chiefly relies. It is true that the lender sometimes
forecloses and sells the furniture, and it is true that the borrower
sometimes flees to the law for protection against usury, yet, as a rule,
624
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
the tragedies of loan transactions among the poor are enacted with
out the purview of the law.
The amount of the loans negotiated among the poor of the District
can not be determined even approximately. The companies are not
required by law to make public statements of their business, and it
would be a vain quest to attempt to gather statistics from the bor
rowers themselves. The loan is the last thing the housewife will tell
you about; it is the skeleton in the closet. It is plain, however, that
the amount of money borrowed by the poor must, in the agreggate,
be considerable. An inquiry into the history of the budgets of 50
poor families showed that in about one-fourth of these families there
were loans ranging in amount from $15 to $40. Such proportion
indicates that many thousands of families in the District are strug
gling under the burden of unfortunate loans.
It is more than likely that the negotiation of many of these loans
is due as much to the enterprise of the loan company as to the distress
of the borrower. Perhaps no business in Washington is pushed more
industriously or advertised more expensively than the loan business.
Those portions of the city where the struggle between Want and Have
is the keenest are flooded with circulars setting forth the blessings
of credit and the opportunities of borrowing. Below are some extracts
taken from the literature which the loan companies are accustomed
to distribute from door to door:
ASK US IF YOU NEED MONEY.
No matter what the circumstances may be we will loan you the
cash you need to meet any emergency on your furniture, pianos, teams,
fixtures, etc.
Ask us and you will get the money at the lowest rate in the city.
You can pay the money back in small monthly payments, which will
be arranged to suit your own convenience.
In another circular we read:
We loan money to all, $10 and upward on furniture, etc., without
removal. Loans made promptly without the knowledge of friends.
Confronted by these questions: Have you laid in your winter coal?
Have you money for your fall suit ? Have you money for your wife’s
outfit? Have you money to pay your grocer? Have you money to
pay the rent? Have you fitted out your children for school?
One company issues a brochure of 28 pages, called The Guide to
Prosperity. Here we have a complete philosophy of credit, and
we are lured on to the conclusion that in borrowing is the great secret
of prosperity. To the question, Is borrowing money a bad habit?
the following answer is given:
The Government borrows for capitalists. The railroad companies
and other large corporations borrow on their bonds. Cities and coun
ties borrow, pledging their credit to secure ready cash. The manu
CONDITIONS OF LIVING
AMONG THE POOR.
625
facturer, when he builds his factory, borrows money to buy raw
material and to carry his pay-roll. The merchant borrows; he can,
of course, buy on credit, but the successful ones realize the advantage
of buying for cash, and accordingly they borrow from the banks
and get special discount when they lay down the cash to the whole
saler.
Many business men have been started on a successful career by
the use of a small loan. * * * Most of the wealthy Americans
of to-day began their careers on borrowed money. Parents borrow
to educate their children; young men and women borrow to educate
themselves for more lucrative positions; the small householder bor
rows to save his property from foreclosure; the head of the family
to save his life insurance from forfeiture; every one at some time
finds it necessary to borrow money. Is it not plain therefore that
to borrow judiciously and from a nrm that takes your interests into
consideration is by no means a mistake ? The harm is not in borrow
ing money, but it is doing without it. Relieve yourself of that nervous
dread caused by the lack of ready money.
The conclusion of The Guide to Prosperity is as follows:
This company desires to say in conclusion that they have endeav
ored to point out the errors and mistakes of the average head of the
family. * * * This is an uncertain world, although present finan
cial conditions may be bright; your future prospects may apparently
be still brighter; but the Hand of Fate may rail heavily upon you
and the Wheel of Fortune may suddenly turn. The house builder
does not forget the fire escape; the boat builder does not forget the
life-preservers. Few anticipate misfortune. Dame Fortune is a
fickle jade, and you may incur her displeasure when it is least expected.
Then it will be necessary for you to seek aid. You are accordingly
asked to preserve this pamphlet, as it may be of service to you in
the future.
At the Christmas time special circulars are issued. In these lan
guage and art conspire to convince the needy that this is a borrowing
world, and to tempt them to succumb to the blandishments of the
loan company. Here is a circular entitled “ Christmas money; how
to get it.” On the outer page is a picture of Santa Claus carrying
a tree laden with Christmas delights. Within the circular one reads:
Christmas time, the one time in the year when we all desire a little
ready money to make the home happy, to please the wife and little
ones and help them realize that life is worth living. Don’t you want
to brighten up the lives of the little ones and bring good cheer into
your home and make this Christmas a merry Christmas for all ? Come
and see us if you need money. * * * We will make you a quick
loan on your furniture without removing the goods from your posses
sion. An application for $10 is given the same prompt attention
that a larger one receives.
On another circular the pictorial device is a Santa Claus (the loan
company personified) scattering Christmas money broadcast and
reassuring the financial despondent with these hopeful words:
Haven’ t you promised yourself many times during the year that
you were going to make your children and some friends a Christmas
626
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
present this year? The time has arrived, and you have no excuse.
We will loan you the money, and you can pay us back on easy terms
so you will never miss it.
Did we loan you Christmas money last year? If so, you are one of
our many satisfied customers. You may have an account with us
now. If not, it will pay you to come back where you have dealt,
where you are known, and where you will get even lower rates than
heretofore. Should you owe another company, we will be pleased to
pay them off for you and advance you more money at our low rate of
interest. Save yourself money and write or follow the crowd to
the
* * *
The loan companies in their literature speak of rates of interest, but
their actual charges can not with propriety of language be called
interest. In ordinary commercial transactions an interest charge
bears an exact proportion to the amount loaned and to the time the
loan has to run, the rate being either the legal rate or a rate not very
far above or below the legal rate. In loans to the poor the element
of risk enters into the interest charge in such a peculiar way as to con
stitute almost a new element, and this factor augments the cost of the
loan to such an enormous extent that the charges which the poor pay
for a loan ought to be called risk money rather than interest money.
The charges made by the loan companies of the District can not be
conveniently classified. In the making of rates each company is a
law unto itself. Moreover, there is but little consistency in the rates
which the same company charges from time to time. In an examina
tion of loan rates, therefore, it is necessary to take the subject up com
pany by company.
But few of the companies advertise their rates further than to insist
that they charge u excessively low ” rates. Several, however, give
figures in their circulars from which the interest rates may be com
puted. For purposes of comparison the advertised charges of several
companies are here given and the equivalent interest rates have been
computed:
A D V E R TISE D CHARGES FOR A LOAN W IT H E Q U IVALEN T IN TEREST RATES, BASED
UPON THE ACTUAL TIME THE B O R R O W E R HAS THE USE OF THE MONEY BOR
ROW ED.
Company A .
Amount of loan.
$50.......................................................................................................................
50.......................................................................................................................
Number Amount Interest
rate per
of
each cent per
monthly ofpay
annum
pay
ment.
(com
ments.
puted) .
6
12
$9.98
5.89
65
69
627
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
AD V E R TISE D CHARGES FOR A LOAN W IT H EQU IVALENT IN TER E ST RATES,
ETC.—Concluded.
Company B .
Interest
cost per
month.
Amount of loan.
$15........................................................................................................................................
20........................................................................................................................................
25........................................................................................................................................
Interest
rate per
cent per
annum
(com
puted) .
$0.87
1.10
1.23
70
66
59
$0.50
.65
.80
.90
1.15
1.35
1.G5
60
52
48
43
46
41
40
Company (7,
$10........................................................................................................................................
15........................................................................................................................................
20........................................................................................................................................
25........................................................................................................................................
30........................................................................................................................................
40........................................................................................................................................
50........................................................................................................................................
To gain anything like a correct idea of the interest burdens borne
by the poor we must turn from the advertised charges to the charges
actually made by the companies when a loan is applied for. The fol
lowing table gives the number of monthly payments, the amount of
each payment, and the rate per cent per annum charged as stated by
15 companies to an applicant for a loan of $20 when the security in
each instance was the same, namely, furniture, and when the time to
run was three or four months:
COST OF A LOAN OF $20, UPON SECU RITY OF FU RN ITU RE, IN 15 LOAN COMPANIES IN
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ACCORDING TO FIGURES FURNISHED AN APPLICANT
B Y THE COMPANIES.
Company.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
1.....................................................................................
2.....................................................................................
3.....................................................................................
4.....................................................................................
5.....................................................................................
6........................................................................; ...........
7.....................................................................................
8.....................................................................................
9.....................................................................................
10.....................................................................................
11.....................................................................................
12.....................................................................................
13.....................................................................................
14___ : .............................................................................
15.....................................................................................
Number Amount
of
of each
monthly monthly
pay
pay
ments.
ment.
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
$8.25
6.64
8.33
8.50
8.65
8.65
8.75
8.85
8.90
8.90
8.90
8.95
9.00
9.10
9.26
Actual inter
est rate per
Total
cent per an
amount num,
based on
of pay time borrower
ments.
has use of
money, (o)
$24.75
26.58
24.99
25.50
25.95
25.95
26.25
26.55
26.70
26.70
26.70
26.85
27.00
27.30
27.78
138
149
144
158
171
171
179
188
192
192
192
196
200
20$
221
a The “ actual interest rate percent ” given in this column is based upon the actual time that the bor
rower has the use of the money borrowed; in these calculations eacn monthly payment is applied
first to pay the interest accrued at the date of the payment and the remainder to the reduction of
the principal.
Neither the advertised charges of these companies nor the charges
shown in the above table which they give when a loan is applied for
are their true charges. For the actual charges we must look to actual
transactions. The details of actual transactions of this class are difli
628
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
cult to obtain, for the reason that the companies contrive to conduct
their business in such a way that there shall be no documentary
record of what is done. They give the borrower a card which states
that he (the borrower) has agreed to pay to the lender certain sums
on certain dates, and that is all. One can not learn from these cards
the amount of the loan or the terms upon which the money was lent.
Indeed, there is on the card no evidence whatever that a loan has been
made. There is evidence of the loan, however, in the possession of
the company, but this can not be obtained even by the borrower him
self until the debt is fully extinguished, and even then the borrower,
if he does not insist upon his rights, will be put off with a receipt in
full instead of receiving the original documents. The investigation
brought to light two instances where borrowers who had paid the
debts and had asked for their notes were told that the notes had been
lost and that receipts in full would have to suffice. If through insist
ence the original documents bearing upon the loan are obtained they
fail to tell the full story of the transaction. For example, A borrowed
a sum of money from one of these companies and gave as security a
series of notes the face of each of which was $4.50. The following is a
copy of note No. 4 of the series:
$4.50.
W a s h i n g t o n , D . C., A p r il 20th, 1905.
June 15th, 1905........... I promise to pay to the order of John Doe, four 50/100 dollars,
value received w ith interest a t ............ per cent per annum and an a ttorn ey's fee o f ten dollars
in event o f payment of this note shall not be made at maturity, and suit shall be instituted
thereon.
I further agree, this being one of a series o f ........... notes of ev«n date herewith, that in
event of any one of the series becoming due and remaining unpaid the amount covered b y the
series of notes which this is in shall thereupon become due and recoverable.
Em ployed a t ...........
(S ig n e d )..........................
No. 4.
A d d ress...........
There is nothing in the above document to show how much A bor
rowed or what rate of interest was actually paid. Or, take another
illustration where a sum of money was borrowed and a deed of trust
and a promissory note were given, copies of which instruments are
here presented:
This indenture, made this 14th day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and
five, b y and b e tw e e n ..........................a n d ............................, his wife, parties of the first part,
a n d ......................... a n d ........................... trustees, parties of the second part, all of the city of
Washington, District of Columbia:
Whereas, said parties of the first part are justly and bona fide indebted u n t o .........................
in the full sum of fifteen dollars, for the payment of which the said parties of the first part
have made, executed, and delivered one promissory note, bearing even date herewith, pay
able to the order of s a id .........................., which said note is for the sum of fifteen dollars, due
and payable in installments, as follows:
$3.45 on May 14,1905.
$3.45 on June 14,1905.
$3.45 on July 14,1905.
$3.45 on August 14,1905.
$1.20 on September 14,1905.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
629
And whereas, said parties of the first part desire____to secure the full and punctual pay
ment of said note, and each and ev^ry installment thereof as the same may become due.
Now, therefore, this indenture witnesgeth, that said parties of the first part, for and in
consideration of the premises and the sum of one dollar, lawful money of the United States,
to us in hand paid, b y the parties of the second part, at and before the signing, sealing, and
delivery o f these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bar
gained, sold, assigned, and delivered, and d o ____b y these presents grant, bargain, sell,
assign, and deliver unto the parties of the second part, jointly and severally, their and each
of their executors, administrators, and assigns.
All and singular the goods, chattels, and personal property hereinafter named, mentioned
and particularly described in schedule marked (A ), hereunto annexed as a part of this deed, the
same now being in and upon the premises, house, or messuage, known as N o.........., in the city
o f Washington, District of Columbia, together with every kind and description of goods,
chattels, and personal property that may now be owned by the parties of the first part whereever the same m ay be located, as well as all goods, chattels, and personal property which
the parties of the first part may hereafter at any time and in any manner acquire during the
time the debt hereby secured, or any part thereof, shall remain unpaid.
T o have and to hold the said goods and chattels an$ personal property unto and to the use
of the said parties of the second part or the survivor of them, their and each of their execu
tors, administrators, and assigns, in and upon the trusts and for the uses following:
In trust, to suffer and permit the said parties of the first part to retain possession of and
use the said goods, chattels, and personal property until the same shall and may be required
as hereinafter provided.
And upon this further trust, at any time hereafter, whether said note or any installment
thereof shall be due or not, upon the security hereby given being in anywise endangered, in
the opinion o f either o f the parties of the second part, by the removal of the said goods,
chattels, and personal property, or any of them, without the written consent thereto of the
said parties of the second part from the premises where now located, or b y the nonpayment
of the rent of the premises where said goods, chattels, and personal property may be placed,
stored, or deposited, or b y the rendering of any judgment or decree for the payment of money
against said parties of the first part, or if said party of the first part shall not keep said goods
and chattels insured in some good and reliable company against loss by fire to the amount of
the aforesaid note, and assign the same to the use o f the said parties of the second part for
more effectually securing the payment of said indebtedness, or if said security shall become
endangered in any other manner, in the opinion o f the said parties of the second part, or
either o f them, then or at any time thereafter, the said parties of the second part, the sur
vivor o f them or either ot them, or the executors, administrators, or assigns of either of them,
m ay take possession of said goods and chattels and personal property, wherever the same
be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, and dispose of the proceeds thereof
in the manner hereinafter provided as though default had been made in the payment of
said note.
And upon this further trust, upon default being made in the payment of said promissory
note, or any installment thereof, or any proper cost, charge, commission, half commission,
or expense in or about the same, then the whole sum remaining unpaid shall become imme
diately due and payable, and then, or at any time thereafter, the said parties of the second
part, the survivor of them, or either of them, or the executors, administrators or assigns of
either of them, may take possession of said goods, chattels, and personal property, wherever
the same m ay be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, upon such terms and after
such notice in writing to the said party of the first part or b y public advertisement, as the
said parties of the second part, the survivor of them or either of them, or the executors,
administrators, or assigns of either of the said parties of the second part in the execution of
this trust shall deem advantageous and proper; and out of the proceeds of said sale or sales,
firstly, to pay all proper costs, charges, and expenses incurred by said parties o f the second
part, the survivor of them, or either of them, or the executors, administrators, or assigns of
630
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
either of them, b y the holder or holders of the said note or any of them in the premises, and
to retain as compensation for services as trustee or trustees, a commission of ten per cent on
the amount o f said sale or sales, also any other expense and cost of any litigation necessary
in making said sale or sales, or in and about the preservation of the property and security
aforesaid, or in the execution o f this trust; secondly, to pay whatever may then remain unpaid
of said note and interest thereon, whether the same be due or n o t ; and lastly, to pay the
surplus, if any, to said parties of the first part, their executors, administrators, or assigns.
In witness whereof, said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and affixed
their seals on the day and year first hereinbefore written.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, one chair being delivered in the name all said goods, chattels
and personal property, in the presence of—
D is t r ic t o f C o l u m b ia ,
ss
..................................
[ s e a l .]
..................................
[ s e a l .]
:
I,
..................... , a notary public, in and for the District of Columbia, d o hereby certify,
t h a t ........................ part_____to a certain deed of trust bearing date th e _____day o f ____ ,A . D .
1 9 0 .., and hereunto annexed, personally appeared before me, in the District aforesaid, the said
........................ being personally well known to me to be the.person____ who executed the
said deed, and acknowledged the same to b e ____act and deed, and the said .. ........................
being of full age and being by me privily examined, apart from her husband, and have in the
deed aforesaid fully explained to her, acknowledged the same to be her act and deed and
declared that she willingly signed, sealed, and delivered the same, and that she wished not
to retract it.
Given under m y hand and notarial seal, th is______ day o f _______ A . D. 1 9 0 ...
Notary Public, D . C.
SCHEDULE “ A .”
Referred to in the foregoing deed of trust and made a part thereof: 3 oak c s chairs, 1 e
drawer wal chef, 1 mantel clock, 1 stove, 3 oak rockers, 6 gilt f pictures, 1 gilt f mirror 4' x 2',
1 oak drop head Singer sew mach M232792, 1 oak ex table, 6 chairs, 1 cook stove, 1 oak
bed room suit 3 pcs, 2 wal 3 drawer chefs, 1 wal bed.
W itness:
..........................
W ashington , D. C., A p r il Ilf., 1905.
F or value received, we promise to p a y to the order o f ..........................the sum of fifteen
dollars, in four installments of $3.45 each, due after date hereof in 1, 2, 3, and 4 months,
respectively, and one installment of $1.20 due after date hereof in five months, and should
default be made in the payment of any installment then the entire amount unpaid shall
become due and payable immediately.
Payable at the office o f ..................Loan Company, Washington, D. C., with interest at six
per cent per annum.
$15.00.
N o..............
These are copies of the original and legal documents connected with
a loan transaction— loan No. 1 below—yet they fail utterly to yield
information as to the real facts of the transaction. They are inserted
here only to show how idle it is to attempt to learn the facts of one of
these loan transactions from any document which the loan company
has had a hand in drawing up.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
631
W e must remember, too, that the company as a rule cares very
little about the documents connected with a loan to the poor or about
the property secured by the documents. To illustrate their indiffer
ence in this direction it may be stated that the articles of furniture
mentioned in the above deed of trust were surveyed and inventoried
after the borrower had received the money, and the enumeration of
articles was inserted in the deed several days after that instrument
had been signed by the borrowers.
By examining the documentary evidence available and by getting
the borrowers to assist in interpreting and supplementing the written
evidence it has been made possible to give pretty full accounts of a
number of actual loans made to the poor in the District of Columbia.
The most instructive and interesting of these accounts are given
below.
L oan N o . 1.—There was sickness in the family and a notice of
ejectment had been served for nonpayment of rent. To relieve the
situation, $15 was borrowed from a loan company. The borrower
agreed to pay for the $15 seven monthly installments of $3.45.
Thus the rate of interest charged was 162 per cent per annum. When
complaint was made by the borrower that the interest charged was
extortionate, the company agreed to accept $5 as the sixth payment
in place of the last two installments of $3.45, thus reducing the sum to
be paid from $24.15 to $22.25 and reducing the interest rate from 162
per cent to 143 per cent.
L oan No . 2.— The wife was in confinement and there was no
money in the house. Fifty dollars was borrowed from a loan com
pany. For this loan 12 notes of $5.92 each, bearing interest at 6 per
cent per annum, were given and a deed of trust executed on the house
hold goods of the borrower. Moreover, the borrower agreed to pay
$10 in the event it should be necessary to bring suit in connection with
the transaction. Four notes, amounting to $23.68, were paid when
the husband met with a painful accident and lost his employment.
He notified the loan company that he could not meet the notes. The
company then insisted upon a readjustment and required the bor
rower to sign 12 new notes of $5.22, aggregating $62.64. The bor
rower after signing the new notes asked for the eight old notes, but the
loan people only laughed and said “ that would be all right” and did
not give them. Things continued bad with the borrower, and the
new notes could not be met. After three months passed without the
company’s receiving any money seizure of the borrower’s household
goods was threatened. This was postponed by the borrower pay
ing $10. And thus the case stands.
L oan N o. 3.— This was a loan of $20, for which a series of 6 monthly
payments of $4.50 each was to be made.
632
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The payments were made at intervals of 15 days, paying off the
indebtedness in three months . ( a ) The actual interest paid was,
therefore, at the rate of 224 per cent per annum.
L o a n N o . 4.— In this case a widow with several children has been
in the clutches of a loan company for several years. About a year
ago she was on the point of being ejected for nonpayment of rent.
She applied to the loan company to which she was already indebted
to the amount of $8 and increased her loan to $15, receiving $7 in
cash.
For this $15 she was required to pay $26.50 in ten monthly install
ments of $2.65, equal to an interest rate of 143 per cent per annum if
paid as agreed. These payments she is now meeting with whatever
regularity she can.
L o a n N o . 5.— Here the loan was $18, but as a fee of $1 was charged
for negotiating the loan the sum received was really $17. For this
the borrower paid 10 payments of $2.70 and one payment of $1.50, or
a total of $28.50. The payments were made every fifteen days— pay
days. The cost of the loan here was actually 244 per cent per
annum.
L o a n N o . 6.— This loan, like so many of its kind, was negotiated
when the wife was in confinement and money could be had only by
borrowing. On January 3, 1905, the sum of $40 was accordingly
borrowed from a loan company, the borrower contracting to pay 9
monthly installments at $6.35 each. B y way of security a deed of
trust was taken upon furniture which practically had no value what
ever, but which of course could not have been removed without
causing great suffering. Upon the loan a payment of $6.35 was made
February 3. When the next payment came due the full sum could
not be raised, so the company agreed to postpone the payment for
one month if the borrower would pay $3.50. This he did and con
tinued to pay $3.50 monthly until November, when he paid a full
installment of $6.35. The $3.50 which was paid each month was not
regarded as part payment of an installment, but was simply a fine
imposed by the company for nonpayment. There thus remained
unpaid after the November payment $44.45. When a payment
became due in December, $40.70 having been paid, the company
offered to release the borrower for $22.75. The cost to the borrower
was thus 82 per cent.
L o a n N o . 7.— In this case $20 was borrowed and was paid in 6
monthly installments of $5 each. Here the rate of interest was 156
per cent per annum.
L o a n N o . 8.— Here the loan was nominally $20, but a fee of $2
was charged for the negotiation. It was agreed to pay the loan in 9
a A copy of note number 4 of the series is given above.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING- AMONG THE POOR.
633
monthly payments of $3.35 each. The actual cost of this loan was
thus 142 per cent per annum. At three different times the borrower
failed to meet the payments and was fined 35 cents each time for the
delay.
L o a n N o . 9.— In order to prevent ejectment for nonpayment of
rent, $15 was borrowed, the furniture being pledged as security.
Payment was made in 9 monthly payments of $2.70 each. The rate
of interest in this case was 131 per cent.
L o a n N o . 10.— In this case the husband, a motorman, was sick and
it became necessary to borrow $25 from a loan company. The debt
was to be paid in 9 monthly installments of $4.30 each. Here the
rate would have been 117 per cent per annum if the contract had
been carried out. After $30.10 had been paid the borrower objected
to further payments on the ground that the principal and a very
large interest had already been paid. The company then offered to
give a release if the borrower would pay $7.60 more, although $8.60
was still due. A lawyer then went to the company and threatened
exposure, and the debt was settled by paying $2.
L o a n N o . 11.— Here $15 was borrowed and was repaid monthly in
sums as follows: $3.50, $3, $2.50, $3.20, $3, $3.80, amounting to $19
in all. Here the rate was 85 per cent per annum.
L o a n N o . 12.— In this case there was a death in the family and no
money was at hand for funeral expenses. A loan company furnished
$24, to be paid in 12 monthly installments of $3.65 each. After sev
eral payments had been made the borrower tried to effect a settle
ment in full upon reasonable terms, but the company insisted on the
fulfillment of the original contract. The rate of interest in this case
was 129 per cent per annum.
L o a n N o . 13.— The wage-earner met with an accident and was
compelled to borrow money with which to buy the necessaries of life.
He borrowed from a loan company $15, to be paid in 9 monthly
installments of $2.65. The rate of interest here was 125 per cent per
annum. When a payment was not met the delay was penalized by a
fine of 35 cents.
The facts contained in the records of the above loan transactions
carry their own comment. The bargains which the loan companies
make with the poor are too hard to be classed with legitimate busi
ness transactions. They are bargains forced upon the poor in time
of great distress and often in times of great sorrow, and they are as
unbusinesslike as they are unmerciful and immoral. And so they are
regarded by the poor. Of all the bad bargains which the poor are
compelled to make the loan bargain is the only one that is deprecated
in bitter terms. The installment man and the insurance man receive
the favor and even the gratitude of the poor, but one never hears a
good word for the loan company.
634
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR-
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S.
F A M I L Y N O. 1 .
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
$0.15
$0.15
$0.15
$0.15
.10
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.15
.10
$0.15
Total
for
week.
FIRST WEEK (August,‘1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Flour.... ........................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Sausage.__ ...................................
Stew Beef............................. ........
Vegetables and fruits:
C abb ag e......................................
Onions..........................................
Potatoes......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
E ggs..............................................
Lard..............................................
Pie.................................................
Salt................................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Vinegar.........................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread (installment)............
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Soap..............................................
T obacco........................................
Washing soda..............................
Total..........................................
$0.15
.20
.04
.15
.10
.20
.10
.10
.04
. 40
. 30
.25
.08
.02
.10
.08
.02
.30
.30
.10
.15
.04
.25
.10
.10
.25
.04
.09
.02
.15
.09
.04
.25
.13
.04
.15
.13
.05
.10
.12
.06
.01
.05
.12
.25
.02
.06
. 12
.03
a. 25
.50
.50
.03
.05
.05
.01
. 30
. 18
.22
. 15
. 51
.05
.20
.05
.24
.25
.02
.10
.02
$1.05
. 40
.04
.08
.05
.01
.61
.78
1.58
.92
.81
1.21
.19
*6.35
.15
.05
.15
.05
.15
.05
.20
.15
.15
.15
.15
1.10
.30
.05
.20
.10
SECOND WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and breads tuffs:
Bread.............................................
■ Buns..............................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Beefsteak......................................
Sardines........................................
Sausage.........................................
Stew beef.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans.............................................
Cabbage........................................
Greens...........................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fre sh ..........................
Milk, butter, and cheese :
B utter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............. .............................
Eggs..............................................
P ie.................................................
R ice...............................................
Salt................................................
Soda...............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Clothing:
Shoes..................... .......................
Fuel and fighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
.10
.15
.20
. 10
.15
. 10
.28
.05
.10
.02
.o i
.05
.05
.10
.20
.02
. 10
.05
. 10
.03
. 10
.30
.05
.10
.15
.15
.15
.26
.05
.06
.05
.24
.20
.25
.10
.02
.01
.10
.05
.02
.12
.06
.15
.35
.02
.45
.05
.20
.51
.30
.06
.02
.05
.42
.15
.35
.06
.02
. 10
. 15
.40
. 40
. 43
.03
.01
.09
.05
Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
* This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*.
635
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X PE N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IF IE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I I ilT N O . 1—Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
SECOND WEEK (August, 1905)—
Concluded.
Furniture and utensils:
B room ...........................................
R ent.....................................................
Miscellaneous:
Medicine.......................................
Pins...............................................
Soap................................... ..........
T obacco........................................
T otal..........................................
third w eek
$0.10
.05
$0.05
$0.20
8.50
$0.20
8.50
.45
.45
.10
.10
.05
$0.05
$0.33
1.67
$0.56
1.43
10.31
1.10
$0.26
15.66
.20
.15
.15
.10
.08
.08
.15
.15
.15
.20
.15
1.15
.25
.08
.08
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
B read...........................................
Buns..............................................
Corn meal.....................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Lobster, canned..........................
Salmon, canned...........................
Sausage _ .....................................
Stew beef........
..............__
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Cabbage........................................
E ggplan t..... ..............................*
Lemons.........................................
Onions..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Tomatoes, fresh.........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, condensed.........................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee...........................................
Eggs..............................................
Lard..............................................
Mustard........................................
Oatmeal........................................
Pie............................................ .
S irup............................................
Soda..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
. Vinegar.........................................
Clothing:
Dry goods.....................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread (installment)............
Lamp chimney.............................
Insurance (6 policies')........................
Miscellaneous:
Safety pins...................................
Soap..............................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
.37
.10
.10
.20
.07
.10
.10
.25
.10
.35
.10
.07
.10
.10
.15
.25
.30
.20
.10
.15
.20
.16
.30
.25
.10
.52
1.50
.25
.10
.30
.35
.15
1.50
.25
.10
.10
.20
.10
.20
.13
• .02
.25
.05
.10
.06
.04
.10 ______ 1_______
.10
.30
.25
.10
.06
.02
.06
.02
.50
.08
1.50
.50
1.50
.10
.15
.15
.10
.15
.15
.71
1.62
3.63
.20
.63
.10
.05
.10
.10
.10
.10
.36
.25
.04
.20
.20
.08
.30
.30
.10
.02
3.15
.55
1.28
.42
11.36
FOURTH WEEK (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Fish...............................................
Pork..............................................
«2.45
.45
.10
.15
.30
.i s
.30
.70
.30
.45
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
636
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 1 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
$0.25
$0.25
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
fourth week
Meats—Concluded.
Sausage.........................................
Soup bone.....................................
Stew beef......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Beans, canned..............................
Cabbage.....................................
Lemons.........................................
Onions...........................................
P otatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Milk, condensed...........................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee...........................................
L ard...................... ? . ....................
Oatmeal........................................
P ie.................................................
R ice...............................................
Soda..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Vinegar.........................................
Clothing:
Shoes.............................................
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
W oo d .............................................
Furniture and utensils:
B room ...........................................
Furniture (installment).............
$0.05
.15
$0.10
.02
.08
.10
.10
.10
.03
.20
.03
.10
.10
.05
.20
.15
.05
.20
.12
.25
.04
.05
.05
.04
.24
.12
.05
-.50
.25
.10
.05
1.35
.10
.05
.15
.10
.05
.25
.50
.10
1.80
.25
.50
.10
1.80
.10
.10
.05
.05
.10
.15
.68
a 12.89
.05
.15
.30
1.51
.05
.10
3.55
.15
.05
.20
.05
.09
.05
.48
.25
.04
.50
.25
1.35
Insurance (11 policies).......................
Miscellaneous:
Chicken feed.................................
Needles..........................................
Soap...............................................
Stove polish.................................
Tobacco........................................
f if t h w e e k
.10
.20
.10
.10
.10
.12
.23
.30
$0.10
$0.10
Scrub b ru sh ............................ _..........
T otal..........................................
.10
$0.05
.15
.55
$0.05
1.84
2.10
.46
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
b 2.40
Bread.............................................
»
Flour.............................................
.45
.45
Meats:
.63
.23
Beefsteak......................................
.15
.25
Liver..............................................
.08
.08
.60
Oysters (quart)...........................
.30
.30
Pork steak....................................
.15
.15
.93
Stew beef......................................
.48
.15
.30
Vegetables and fruits:
.10
Beans............................................
.10
.10
.30
Lemons.........................................
.15
.10
.05
.15
Onions...........................................
.05
.10
Potatoes.......................................
.21
.05
.08
.08
.40
.10
.10
.10
.10
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
.15
.15
Butter...........................................
.10
Cheese............................................
.10
.10
.10
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
.10
Candy............................................
.10
.10
C atchup........................................
.10
.15
.15
Coffee.............................................
.39
.i4
.25
E ggs..............................................
a This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in notea, p. 635.
6 N ot shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
637
CONDITIONS OP LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O, 1—Concluded.
Articles bought.
f if t h
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
w eek
Groceries, etc.—Concluded.
Lard..............................................
Oatmeal........................................
Pie.................................................
R ice...............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
W ood .............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread (installment)............
Comforts (installment)..............
Furniture (installment arrears)
Insurance (11 policies)......................
Miscellaneous:
Book (installment).....................
Soap..............................................
Soap powder................................
T obacco........................................
Total.*.......................................
$0.10
$0.10
$0.05
$0.10
ao
$0.11
.25
.11
$0.11
$0.90
.10
.90
.10
.02
.10
.02
.10
.25
.50
.25
.50
a. 95
1.25
.50
.50
.05
.05
.10
1.25
.05
.05
.10
1.50
1.44
2.28
$0.15
.10
.10
.10
.33
.25
2.46
.96
1.15
$0.15
$0.20
.10
$0.85
.10
.30
.38
.30
1.11
.15
.20
& 13.34
F A M IL Y NO. 2 .
FIRST WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and bread stuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Beefsteak......................................
TTfl.m..............................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans, lima...................................
Cabbage.......................................
Melon............................................
Onions...........................................
P otatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, condensed..........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Eflrgrs..............................................
L ard.................................. ...........
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Clothing (installment)...............
Shoe repairing..............................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Soap..............................................
Washing soda..............................
T ota l..........................................
$0.10
$0.15
$0.15
$0.10
.15
.23
.15
.05
.20
.10
.05
.13
.05
.10
.05
.05
.07
.05
.05
.22
.07
.05
.30
.05
.30
.24
.12
.12
.30
.10
.18
.22
.11
.12
.13
.13
.13
.90
.05
.10
.18
.57
.12
.24
.39
1.00
1.00
.35
1.00
1.00
1.00
.35
.11
.11
1.00
.05
.05
.05
.05
2.29
.05
.13
.05
.05
.10
.36
.20
3.26
.70
.-76
.37
2.18
9.56
« Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note &, p. 636, and
in note a.
12951—No. 64—06-----4
638
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M IL Y NO.
Articles bought.
Continued.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
SO. 15
$0.10
$0.15
$0.15
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
SECOND WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
B o lo g n a .......................................
.23
.20
.23
.05
$0.10
$0.25
$0.90
.15
.15
.76
.05
.40
.40
.20
.40
Yeal...............................................
Vegetables and fruits:
.05
Beans, canned..............................
Beans, lima...................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh.... .....................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Millr, condensed__ •......................
Groceries, etc.:
Eersrs..............................................
Lard..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing (installment)......................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).........
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Soap..............................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
third w eek
.10
.15
.09
.07
.10
.30
.30
.12
.12
.06
.10
.12
.13
.50
1.00
.07
.10
.10
.05
.07
.10
.30
.10
.10
.05
.24
.13
.13
1.50
.05
.15
.10
.14
.21
.20
.90
.10
.20
.63
.06
.10
.12
.39
.50
1.50
1.00
.10
.05
.05
1.65
3.17
.76
1.07
.05
.10
.25
.15
.15
.05
.20
.10
.57
.05
.15
.10
1.89
9.11
.05
.50
.25
.09
.14
.30
.13
.51
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
F lou r............................................
Meats:
Bacon............................................
Beefsteak......................................
Round steak.................................
Stew m eat.... ................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples .........................................
Corn, fresh....................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B u tter..........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, condensed..........................
Groceries, etc.:
Ferera....
..........................................
±?p
............................................
R ice...............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Yeast cake....................................
Clothing (installment)......................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
R en t.....................................................
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Soap...............................................
Washing soda..............................
T otal..........................................
.12
.13
.07
.14
.05
.08
.02
.07
.07
.07
.05
.10
.05
.08
.02
.28
•.05
.20
.15
.25
.09
.10
.55
.09
.10
.14
.21
.04
.24
.15
.02
.50
.05
.05
.15
.07
.12
.15
.25
.04
.12
.02
.50
.11
.11
a 2.00
1.00
1.00
.05
.05
.05
.05
.17
1.92
1.34
.37
.41
1.41
6 7.62
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «.
639
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
FAJTIILiY N O. 2 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
$0.10
$0.10
$0.15
$0.15
$0.20
.04
$0.70
.04
.15
.30
.30
.12
.08
.15
.13
.30
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
FOURTH WEEK (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Corned beef................... - .............
Fish........ ; .....................................
Liver____ ______ ________ _____
Pork chops...................................
Pork pudding..............................
Sirloin steakT...............................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples..................... .....................
Cabbage........................................
Com, canned................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Eggs___ ’. ......................................
Lard..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Clothing (installment)......................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal................................................
W ood .............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Soap...............................................
Starch...........................................
T otal..........................................
.15
.30
.12
.08
.15
.13
.30
.08
.05
.05
.08
.10
$0.25
.09
.25
.10
.08
.05
.10
.05
.16
.20
.10
.08
.10
.05
.50
.14
.10
.12
.10
.20
.14
.12
.30
.50
a. 50
.20
.14
.10
.25
.10
.25
.07
.30
.25
.60
.32
.30
a 1.00
1.00
1.00
.05
$0.50
.50
.05
.05
.50
6 8.78
.05
2.10
.10 > 1.35
1.01
.60
1.62
.15
.10
.15
.10
.75
.10
.05
.13
.18
1.00
.50
1.00
.13
.09
.25
.10
FIFTH WEEK (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
.10
Buckwheat...................................
R olls..............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Ham, fresh....................................
Oysters (p in t)..............................
Pork ch o p s...................................
Pork pudding...............................
Soup bone.....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage........................................
Onions...........................................
Oranges.........................................
Potatoes.......................................
.08
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
H om iny.........................................
L ard..............................................
Pie..................................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing (installment)......................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
.30
Kerosene________ ____________
W ood ............................................ 1.............
.15
.10
.05
.19
.i3
.09
.25
.10
.10
.02
.08
.08
.10
.02
.05
.32
.05
.08
.25
.25
.04
.04
.05
.06
.05
.10
.06
.05
.06
.05
.16
a. 50
.30
.10
.07
.25
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given m note a.
.60
.10
.32
640
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X PE N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 2 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
f if t h w e e k
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fa re ........................................
Postal card...................................
Soap..............................................
$0.05
$0.01
.05
$0.05
T otal..........................................
.53
.83
.41
a $1.00
«1.00
$0.05
$1.01
.05
.01
.15
.55
$1.97
6 7.80
$ 0.20
$0.30
$0.85
.56
.58
.25
.56
.58
.25
.48
.25
.15
.65
.60
.05
FAJHIJL1T NO. 3 .
FIRST WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread................................
Com m eal........................
Meats:
Corned beef......................
Fat back...........................
Mackerel...........................
Meat..................................
Sausage, green.................
Sausage, smoked.............
Shoulder, corned.............
Shoulder, smoked............
Soup bone....................... .
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...............................
M elon ...............„ ..............
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...............................
Cheese...............................
Milk, condensed...............
Milk, fresh........................
Groceries, etc.:
Candy................................
Coffee.................................
Mustard (glass)...............
Salt................................... .
Sugar.................................
T ea....................................
Clothing:
Shoes.................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene........................ .
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).
R ent.........................................
Insurance (7 policies)............
Miscellaneous:
Camphor oil.................... .
Castor oil..........................
Ice......................................
Soap................................. .
Vermifuge.........................
10.05
$0.15
$0.20
.30
.05
.18
.05
.10
.'25*
.15
.65
.60
.10
10
.20
.20
.50
.30
.04
.02
.02
.50
.30
.10
.12
.10
.05
.36
.05
.03
.19
.25
.10
.25
..65
.05
i.00
.10
.35
T otal.
.10
.10
.10
.25
1.65
$0.10
.15
1.00
a . 50
5.00
1.00
.05
.05
.70
1.10
.05
.05
.25
.20
".'20*
.79
.37
.66
11.95
.25
.25
.10
.65
1.65
.03
.75
.50
.75
.50
.50
.50
2.10
616.72
SECOND WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread.........................................
Flour..........................................
Meats:
Corned pork..............................
Fat back....................................
Sausage......................................
Shoulder, corned......................
10.40
.03
.20
0 Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
.20
641
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 3 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
SECOND WEEK (August, 1905)—
Concluded.
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans.............................................
Cantaloupes..................................
Corn___ t ......................................
Prunes...........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Mustard (glass)...........................
S u g a r ....7 .. .. 1...........................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Shoes.............................................
Shoe strin gs.................................
Stockings 7 ...................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bucket...........................................
Furniture (installment).............
Insurance (7 policies) r___ ^...............
Miscellaneous:
Ice..................................................
Medicine........................................
Pins...............................................
Quinine.........................................
T obacco.........................................
T otal..........................................
$0.12
«0.10
.05
.05
.50
$0.05
$0.10
$0.10
.03
.05
.01
.25
$0.12
.10
.05
.25
.50
.40
.10
.50
.40
.30
.36
.05
.30
. .20
.36
.10
.43
.20
.15
.50
.01
.15
.10
.10
.14
$0.50
$1.00
.35
.05
.10
.05
.05
.05
.90
.83
.05
.10
.10
1.50
.14
.50
1.00
.45
.10
.05
.10
.20
9.74
.39
.50
.30
5.32
.60
.15
.20
.30
.10
1.25
.10
.50
.40
.15
.60
.25
.10
.50
.50
.40
.15
.60
.25
.10
.50
.50
.38
.50
.38
.10
.36
.20
.36
.20
THIRD WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn m eal....................................
Meat:
Corned beef..................................
Fat back....................................
Liver.............................................
Pork shoulder..............................
Sausage.....................................
Suet..............................................
Veal................................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, condensed..........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee...........................................
Tea.................................................
Clothing:
A pron............................................
Bonnet..........................................
Dress.................................
Shoes (2 pairs)............................
Shoe strings................................
Stockings......................................
Towels.........................................
Trimmings....................
Undergarments
Fuel and lighting:
Matches.............
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread...................................
Bucket..........................................
B room .....................^..................
Brush. . . .
Furniture (installment').............
.10
.10
.25
.50
3.25
.02
.10
.16
.13
^25
.05
.50
.28
.10
.05
.10
.25
.50
3.25
.02
.10
.16
.13
.25
.05
.50
.28
.10
.05
.50
.20
.20
............ 1 « 1.00
.50
.20
Sauce pans.................................... 1.............
.20
Insurance T7 policies)........................ 1.............
o Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
P illo w ca se s________________
642
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
ITA U flLlT N O . 3 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
10.05
$0.05
.05
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
THIRD WEEK (August, 1905)—
Concluded.
Miscellaneous:Ice..................................................
Nails.............................................
Needles..........................................
Pins...............................................
Quinine.........................................
Soap..............................................
Tobacco.........................................
Vaseline........................................
Window glass..............................
T o t a l . . . , ..................................
$0.10
$0.35
$0.02
.05
10.05
.05
.05
.25
.10
.14
1.19
$0.05
1.84
1.25
.35
.42
a 19
.05
.20
.10
.20
.25
.25
.15
$0.55
.05
.02
.05
.05
.25
.15
.10
.14
a 14. £9
FOURTH WEEK (January, 1900).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Com meal.....................................
Crackers........................................
Meat:
Fish, salt ......................................
Meat..............................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans...........................................
Cabbage................
Onions...........................................
..............
Potatoes..
.
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, condp.nscd
.
_ _
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Payment of debt (&)......... •.........
Sirup.......................................
Sugar............................
Tea.............................................
Clothing:
Boots.-.........................................
Shoes......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.....................................
Miscellaneous:
Medicine........................................
Quinine.........................................
Postal card.................................
Tacks.............................................
T otal..........................................
.10
.02
.15
.10
.05
.10
.06
.74
.15
.74
.25
.03
.08
.10
.25
.03
.08
.05
.20
.10
.08
.10
.06
.05
1.05
.10
.02
.11
.15
.‘26
6 5.00
.10
.23
.20
2.00
.65
2.00
.65
.12
.12
.25
.05
.18
&5.00
.05
.25
.05
.01
.05
.21
.28
.54
.25
.50
c9.91
cll.69
.20
.10
.15
.20
.15
.10
.25
.10
1.05
.20
.01
•
FIFTH WEEK (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn meal.....................................
Meats:
Corned pork.................................
Sausage.......................................
Sausage, green.............................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh.................................... !
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Sugar..............................
_
Tea.................................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
.22
.22
.10
.12
.10
.12
.15
.15
.15
.15
.06
.18
.18
.17
.05
.06
.05
.05
.06
.06
.12
.12
d.50
a This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «, P. 641.
6 For groceries not bought during the period.
c Including $5, payment of debt for groceries not bought during the period.
d Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
643
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 3 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
FIFTH WEEK (January, 1906)—
Concluded.
R ent.....................................................
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Payment of debt (<*)...................
T otal..........................................
$5.00
.50
$5.00
.50
10.57
$0.20
$0.31
®6.00
a 6.00
$0.44
$0.37 &12.18
&cl4.57
$0.15
$0.05
F A M IL Y NO. 4 .
FIRST WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and bread stuffs:
Bread............................................
Crackers........................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Beefsteak......................................
Pork..............................................
Pork steak....................................
Salmon, canned...........................
Sausage..........................: .............
Stew m eat.............. .....................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Cantaloupes.................................
Corn..............................................
Corn, fresh....................................
Onions..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
W ate rmel on .................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee............................................
Eggs..............................................
Lard..............................................
Salt................................................
Sugar............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Gasoline........................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Rug (installment).......................
Scrub brush..................................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bluing...........................................
Cords.............................................
D octor...........................................
Ice.................................................
L ye................................................
Medicine........................................
Soap..............................................
Starch...........................................
T otal..........................................
$0.06
$0.12
$0.12
$0.03
.05
$0.09
.25
.15
.15
.10
.25
.15
.15
.10
.15
.30
.15
.10
.20
.15
.05
.15
.05
.15
.12
.05
.40
.55
.10
.15
.12
.05
.40
.10
.10
.02
.15
.05
.15
.13
.04
.04
.10
.20
.06
.10
.13
.02
.06
.20
.05
.02
.50
.05
.24
.06
.06
.50
.05
.50
.05
.50
.01
2.00
.01
.15
2.00
.05
.05
.25
.10
.05
.15
.05
.05
.25
.10
.05
3.06
.33
.13
.20
.zo
.30
.05
.05
.17
.10
.11
.24
$0. €2
.05
.41
1.29
1.82
.51
1.48
.19
.14
.08
.03
.24
.82
.10
.25
.15
.15
.33
.20
.25
.11
8.68
SECOND WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Meat _
Middlings......................................
P ork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Soup m eat....................................
.14
.15
.i3
.15
.20
.10
o For goods not bought during the period.
6 Including $6 payment of debt for goods not bought during the period.
c This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note
p. 642.
644
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 4 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
SECOND WEEK (August, 1905^—
Concluded.
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans............................................
Beans, lim a..................................
Cabbage........................................
Com, fresh....................................
Onions...........................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Cottage cheese.............................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
L ard..............................................
Sirup..............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Gasoline.......................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bug (installment).......................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Ice..................................................
Soap..............................................
Starch...........................................
Stove polish.................................
T otal..........................................
thir d w e e k
$0.10
$0.01
$0.24
$0.10
.08
.05
.05
.10
.01
.15
.24
.13
.13
.05
.02
.13
.13
.05
.20
$0.08
.05
.05
.10
.15
.02
.04
$0.04
.02
.05
.05
.05
$6.04
$0.02
.05
.05
.10
.12
.06
.12
.06
.05
a. 50
.20
.20
.05
.05
.01
.05
.05
.01
.02
.02
.55
,93
.62
.38
.24
1.16
.12
.15
.15
.18
.16
.12
0.88
.15
.15
.20
.16
.15
.10
.20
.02
6 4.40
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Meat..............................................
P ork..............................................
Pork steak....................................
Sausage.........................................
Soup meat.....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Onions...........................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Eggs..............................................
L ard..............................................
S iru p .............................................
Vinegar.........................................
Yeast powder...............................
Fuel and lighting:
Gasoline........................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Rug (installment).......................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bluing...........................................
Soap...............................................
Starch............................................
T otal..........................................
.15
.10
.10
.16
.io
.20
.15
.02
.75
.10
.02
.13
.13
.04
.15
.03
.85
.01
.10
.10
.06
.10
.04
.02
.05
.04
.04
.20
.13
.05
.05
.30
.13
.10
.05
.02
.05
.05
.02
.05
.05
.50
.79
.24
.24
.05
.50
1.45
.23
.28
.26
.50
.50
.05
.01
.05
.05
.88
1.43
.01
.10
.05
.48
.67
.04
5.74
o Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note
645
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 4 —Continued.
Articles bought.
fourth week
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
$0.06
$0.12
$0.15
$0.09
.10
$0.48
.10
.05
.20
.20
.10
.15
.25
.10
.23
.25
.10
.15
.30
.23
.36
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(February, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buckwheat..................................
Crackers........... ...........................
Meats:
Beef................................................
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Potatoes............................. .........
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Jelly...............................................
Pickles...........................................
Sirup..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Y east.............................................
Clothing:
Coat (installment)......................
Dry goods........... ........................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke...............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Lamp chimney.............................
Rug (installment).......................
R ent.....................................................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Soap...............................................
T otal..........................................
f if t h w e e k
Mon
day.
$0.06
.05
$0.10
.08
.08
.08
.04
.15
.08
.04
.10
.05
.15
.02
.10
.10
.20
.03
.10
.10
.15
.02
.05
.25
1.00
1.00
1.05
.32
.06
.48
.12
.80
.16
.06
.05
7.50
.45
.40
.05
.03
.10
.15
.15
.02
.23
.05
.25
7.50
a . 50
.25
.05
.05
8.84
.67
.47
3.14
b 14.30
.06
.10
.08
.18
.39
.50
.39
.15
.12
.35
.15
.12
.10
.15
.35
.45
.08
.45
.09
.02
.04
.25
.18
.28
.10
.16
.05
(February, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Lamb chops.................................
Liver..............................................
P ork..............................................
Pork steak....................................
Stew beef......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Vegetables....................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Apple butter................................
Conee.............................................
Lard..............................................
Macaroni.......................................
Rice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i .
Sugar.............................................
Vinegar.........................................
Y east.............................................
Clothing:
Coat (installment)......................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke...............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Rug (installment).......................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
.08
.io
.15
.08
.10
.08
.15
.09
.04
.02
.04
.05
.10
.08
.16
.06
.06
.16
.12
$0.04
.03
.10
.02
.02
.05
.36
.05
.08
.03
.10
.02
.02
.50
.50
.06
.32
.30
o.25
o.50
« Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals’ shown, for the reason given in note « .
646
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W EEKS— Continued.
F A M I I ilT N O . 4 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(February, 1906)—
Concluded.
f if t h w e e k
Miscellaneous:
Billing
_ . _____ ___________
$0.01
_ ______
............................................
T o ta l....................... ................
$0.01
.05
$6.05
Pills.........................................................
$0.32
.64
.05
.05
.05
.05
.48
$0.24
$0.65
$2.62
$0.04
«5. 74
$ 0.20
$0.15
$0.20
$0.15
$1.35
F A l t t l L Y N O. 5 .
FIRST WEEK (August, 1905).
Bread and bread stuffs:
Bread......................
Heats:
Beef..........................
Codfish....................
Ham, potted.............
Lam b....... ..................
Mackerel....................
Pork...........................
Shoulder....................
Smoked meat............
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples........................
Cabbage.....................
Carrots.......................
Onions........................
Potatoes....................
$0.20
$0.25
.10
.15
.05
.10
.35
.05
.05
.18
17
.17
.17
.28
.28
.10
.10
Tom atoes, fresh.........
.10
.02
.15
01
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter........................
Milk, fresh................ .
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee cake................ .
E ggs.......................... .
Rice........................... .
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene....................................
Furniture and utensils:
Blanket (installment).............
Sewing machine (installment)
Insurance (6 policies).....................
Miscellaneous:
Husband’s allowance...............
T otal.......................................
$0.20
.10
.10
.05
.12
.02
.04
.04
.10
.06
.04
.04
.02
02
.04
6.25
6.50
.35
35
61.00
.38
.77
59
.50
.60
.63
.71
c 5.93
SECOND WEEK (September, 1905)
Bread and breads tuffs:
Bread......................
.10
.25
.20
.35
.15
L. 45
.25
.15
Flour.......................
.40
Meats:
Beef..........................
.15
Beefsteak................
.12
.12
Corned beef.............
.10
.10
Fish..........................
.10
.10
Ham, potted..........
.05
.05
Mackerel.................
.10
10
Oysters (£ dozen)..
.15
■15
Pork...............; ........
.10
*.'io'
Sausage...................
.22
.12
.10
Shoulder.................
.47
.47
Vegetables and fruits:
.10
Bananas..................
.10
Beans......................
.10
.18
Onions.....................
.02
.02
.32
Potatoes.................
.06
.06
.15
Sweet potatoes___
Tomatoes, fresh .. .
.08
o This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «, p. 645.
6 Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
c This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, fo r the reason given in note 6.
647
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 5 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
second week (September, 1905)—
Concluded.
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cream, condensed___________
Milk, condensed........................... !.............
Milk, fresh.................................... 1.............
Groceries, etc.:
|
Catchup.........................................I.............
Coffee. t ......................................... !.............
Eggs.............................................. I.............
L a n i .....................
Simar________________ ___ ____ 1_______
Vinegar......................................... $0.05
ClothingT
Cotton thread________________
Gingham....................................... 1.............
Shoes_________________________ 1_______
Fuel and lighting:
.02
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Blanket (installment)................
Sewing machine (installment)...
Insurance (6 policies])................. .
Miscellaneous:
Bluing...........................................
Car fare.........................................
Expense of serving writ for non
payment of rent.......................
Husband's allowance..................
.01
Postal card...................................
.05
Soap..............................................
T otal..........................................
.25
thikd week (September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
F lo u r ............................................
Meats:
Beef................................................
Beefsteak......................................
Fat back.......................................
Mackerel.......................................
Shoulder.......................................
Soup bone.....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Bananas........................................
Beans............................................
Beans, canned..............................
Kraut............................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
Cake...............................................
Lard..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Yeast cake .. . ____ __________
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Blanket (installment')...............
Sewing machine (installment)
Rent
................................................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Chloride of lime
......................
Husband's allowance.................
Soap..............................................
Total..........................................
.25
.24
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
$0.14
Sun
day.
$0.14
$0.05
$0.06
.05
.15
.12
.12
.22
.05
.15
.12
.18
.29
.05
1.50
.05
.40
1.50
.02
.04
.02
$0.40
.02
.35
.25
.50
.35
.25
.50
.05
.10
.05
.10
.88
.67
4.01
$0.05
1.10
ol.85
a 1.00
.02
.10
&11.93
.20
.25
.25
.25
.01
.92
1.27
.10
.10
.15
.05
.10
.45
.05
.10
.10
.08
.14
.10
.22
.10
.15
.05
.05
.02
.03
7.00
.81
.31
.10
.32
.05
.35
1 . ...
.35 | 8.15
.05
.15
.10
.11
.04
.05
.25
o. 50
7.00
a.35
.25
.05
.10
.15
.05
.10
.45
.05
.10
.10
.11
.02
1.30
.24
.10
.10
.10
.15
.10
.10
.10
.10
.10
.02
Total
for
week.
$0.28
.05
.25
.02
.25
.02
.07
.05
Satur
day.
1.07
.10
.05
ol.OO
.05
&13.21
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note o. Including
11.85, expense of serving writ for nonpayment of rent.
648
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X PE N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 5 —Continued.
Articles bought.
fourth w eek
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
10.20
$0.10
$0.10
$0.10
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.20
.40
$0.15
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906).
Bread and bread stuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Ham, potted................................
Mackerel.......................................
Meat ............................................
Pork..............................................
Pudding _ ....................................
Roast _7........................................
Sausage........................................
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Annies...........................................
Bananas........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes.............................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cream, condensed........................
Groceries, etc.:
Cocoa.............................................
Coffee.............................................
Pie.................................................
Preserves......................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
C otton...........................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Blanket (installment1)... .............
Sewing machine (installment)..
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Cough medicine............................
Husband's allowance..................
Quinine.........................................
Soapine.........................................
Total..........................................
$0.15
.05
.12
.15
.10
.05
.10
.27
.15
.15
.43
.12
.25
.10
.15
.05
.43
.12
.25
.12
.05
.15
.10
.12
.05
.15
.15
.15
.15
.10
.60
.05
.15
.05
.10
$1.00
.40
.10
.16
.05
.05
.25
.16
.05
.10
.15
.05
.10
.10
.10
.10
.25
a. 50
.35
.25
.35
.10
.05
.05
.75
.30
1.05
.49
.65
2.01
.35
.10
al.00
.05
.05
6 7.10
FIFTH WEEK (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Crackers........................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beef................................................
Mackerel.......................................
P ork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Beans, lima..................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cream, condensed........................
Milk, condensed............................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
Coffee.............................................
E ggs..............................................
H o m i n y . ....................................
L ard..............................................
S iru p ............................................
Sugar.............................................
Vinegar.........................................
Yeast cake....................................
.25
.05
.20
.10
.15
.05
.20
.20
.15
.12
.10
.36
.32
.10
.51
.18
.08
.01
.07
.14
.08
.01
.07
.10
.30
.05
.10
.45
.15
.10
.13
.10
.16
.13
.05
.18
.09
.05
.10
.15
.05
.05
.10
.16
.05
.06
.05
.10
.10
.02
.02
.02
« Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in not''
.11
.10
.10
.02
.04
649
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* 5 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
FIFTH WEEK (January, 1906)—
Concluded.
Clothing:
Cotton thread..............................
Muslin...........................................
Shoes (2 pairs).............................
Silk thread....................................
Furniture and utensils:
Blanket (installment)................
Sewing machine (installment) ..
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Husband's allowance..................
Soap..............................................
Total..........................................
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.05
$0.32
$0.75
$1.00
.05
Total
for
week.
$0.05
.32
1.75
.05
.25
a. 50
.35
$0.25
.35
$0.10
.10
a 1.00
.10
$0.10
1.27
.49
1.17
.36
.70
2.37
$0.15
$0.25
$0.30
M0
$1.30
.10
.15
.15
.38
.13
&7.99
F A M I L Y N O . 6*
first w eek
(September, 1905).
Bread and bread stuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn meal.....................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Meat..............................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, canned..............................
Lemons.........................................
Onions...........................................
Oranges.........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes.....................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cottage cheese.............................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
Candy............................................
Coffee.............................................
Coffee cake....................................
L ard..............................................
Mustard........................................
Pie.................................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Calico.............................................
Collar............................................
C otton...........................................
Cotton thread...............................
Dress goods (installment).........
Shoes (2 pairs).............................
Stockings......................................
Toweling.......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
R ent.....................................................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
“ Cash”
Citronella......................................
Payment of debt ( c) ...................
Polish............................................
Powder.........................................
$0.10
$0.25
$0.25
.15
.23
.10
.10
.05
.05
.10
.10
.30
.30
.08
.05
.10
.06
.10
.10
.10
.10
.01
.05
.20
.05
.05
.20
.05
.05
.18
.02
.10
.10
.10
.19
.10
.13
.17
.10
.05
.21
.05
.20
.05
.20
.51
.13
.32
.10
.10
.05
« . 50
3.00
.25
.06
.15
.05
.01
.10
.05
.10
3.00
.25
.06
.60
.05
.35
$0.22
.05
.02
.05
.01
a. 50
5.00
a .30
5.00
.07
.25
.17
.05
clO. 00
.05
< d o .o o
.10
.05
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
5 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
c F o i goods not bought during the period.
.10
.05
650
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 6 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
FIRST WEEK (September, 1905)—
Concluded.
Miscellaneous—Concluded.
Soap.......................... ...................
Soapine.........................................
Starch...........................................
T otal..........................................
second week
$0.05
$0.05
$0.35
.69
$0.05
.05
.05
$0.05
.76
$4.97 o 11.28
$6.32
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Crackers........................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Chipped beef.................................
Pudding........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Lemons-.........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
Candy............................................
Coffee cake....................................
Doughnuts...................................
Noodles.........................................
Pie.................................................
Sugar.............................................
Vinegar.........................................
Yeast powder...............................
Clothing:
Cotton thread..............................
Dress goods (installment).........
Gingham.......................................
Sateen...........................................
Fuel and lighting:
Gasoline........................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Soap..............................................
Starch...........................................
T otal..........................................
$0.42 a b 26.09
•
.20
.25
.15
.35
.30
.20
.05
.10
.15
.15
.10
.12
.15
.10
.12
.10
.05
.10
.10
.08
.03
.30
.08
.21
.05
.10
.05
.15
.09
.05
.68
.19
.05
.05
.26
.10
.14
.05
.25
.33
.02
.05
.12
.05
.05
.10
.05
.05
.20
.30
.08
.10
.10
.03
1.60
.05
.10
.04
.09
.02
.05
.10
c, 50
.20
.15
.20
.15
.12
.08
.01
.01
.20
.01
.01
c.50
c .30
.10
.10
.05
.05
.20
.10
.05
.05
1.55
.40
1.08
.58
.71
.98
.36
d 6 .96
.15
.30
.20
.20
.15
.10
.20
.35
1.55
.10
.10
THIRD WEEK (September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Crackers........................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
.10
B e e fs t e a k ............................................_
Chipped beef.................................
R oast................. ..........................
Vegetables and fruits:
B ean s
.................................................
.13
.40
.55
.10
.40
.13
.55
.10
.10
.10
Corn, fresh....................................
T o m a t o e s , fr e s h ................................
.15
.15
Milk, butter, and cheese:
.90
.30
.30
.30
Butter.............*.............................
a Including $10, payment of debt for goods not bought during the period.
b This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a , p. 649.
c Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
d This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note e.
651
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 6 —Continued.
Mon
day.
Articles bought.
Wed
nes
day.
Tues
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Sun
day.
Satur
day.
Total
for
week.
(September, 1905)—
Concluded.
t h ir d w e e k
Groceries, etc.:
$0.05
Catchup.........................................
Cream puffs..................................
Doughnuts...... ......... .................
Jelly...................................... .......
Pie.................................................
SO. 01
.10
$0.20
$0.09
.05
.03
$0.10
.15
.15
$0.10
.05
.10
.10
.15
Clothing:
Belt............................: ..................
Garters..........................................
Gingham ....................... ..............
.03
.12
.19
.40
.05
1.50
.10
.15
.29Furniture and utensils:
Broom ...........................................
Miscellaneous:
Death D u st..................................
Given to children...... ..................
Ironing w ax.................................
Pins...............................................
Soapine.......................... ..............
Total..........................................
fourth
w ee k
.1 5
.29
.20
1.20
2.00
O ilc lo t h . . .
_ .................................
S to v e (in s t a llm e n t ).........................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
.10
.05
.02
$6.05
.26
.05
.09
.40
.10
.06
.40
.27
.10
.10
.30
o .50
.19
.40
.05
1.50
.10
.10
.10
.30
—
D ress g o o d s nnstflllrnATit) __
$0.05
.05
.20
1.20
2.00
a . 30
.10
.05
.05
.02
.10
.05
.10
.46
1.14
.55
.80
7.36
1.75
.60
* 13.46
.25
.25
.20
.20
.10
. .20
.20
.05
1.35
.10
.05
.20
.06
.06
.18
.06
.18
.24
.10
.06
.15
.18
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Crackers................... ....................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Bologna........................................
Chipped beef.................................
Head-cheese................................
Pigs’ feet...... ................................
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, canned..............................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Coffee cake....................................
D o u g h n u t s _______
___
.05
.20
.06
.10
.15
.18
.10
.10
.30
.10
.08
i
.08
.05
.90
.10
.32
.30
.08
.05
.10
_ _
Esrsrs............................... ..............
Peanuts..... ..................................
Pickles..........................................
Pie.................................................
Sugar............................................
Clothing:
Dress goods (installment). . . . . .
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
.1 6
.15
..
.
t
i
.10
.05
.15
.12
.20
.01
.07
.01
.07
* .30
.08
.06
.15
.12
1.00
.15
.10
.10
.10
.10
.15
.10
.05
.55
.24
1.00
(« )
a Not shown under any day because day o f payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*.
c Gift from landlord.
652
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR<
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 6 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
fourth w e e k
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bicycle repairs.............................
Total..........................................
f if t h w e e k
$1.00
$0.15
$1.00
a . 25
$0.15
.30
.05
$0.05
1.20
$0.59
3.17
.65
$1.22
.65
.10
.20
.10
.10
.25
.25
.30
$0.47
b 8.20
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstufis:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak.......................; .............
Bologna........................................
Chipped beef.................................
Pudding........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Onions...........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cream, condensed........................
Milk, condensed...........................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.... .........._........... ................
Coffee.............................................
Doughnuts...................................
L ard..............................................
Mustard........................................
Pie.................................................
Sugar.............................................
Yeast powder...............................
Clothing:
Dress goods (installment).........
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils: Stove (installment).....................
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Dentist..........................................
Machine oil...................................
Soap...............................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
1.20
.10
.20
.20
.20
.06
.13
.10
.10
.38
.06
.10
.13
.05
.10
-.05
.30
.05
.08
.08
.18
.39
.10
.08
.10
.05
.12
.06
.15
.12
.05
.10
.05
.10
.06
.06
.04
.15
.06
.69
.05
.10
.28
.10
.05
.10
.18
.05
.40
.30
.05
a. 50
.05
.20
.10
.05
.15
.25
.05
.05
.05
.25
.05
.05
.40
1.20
.05
a. 50
.20
1.20
.05
.53
.72
1.05
$0.15
.05
$0.15
.05
$0.15
.37
b 6.47
FAMJHLY N O. 7 .
FIRST WEEK (September, 1905).
Bread and breadstufis:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Meats:
Beef........................... ...................
Corned beef, canned....................
Middlings......................................
Pork chops...................................
Pork steak....................................
Sausage.........................................
$0.05
.10
$0.15
.03
$0.15
$0.80
.23
$0.20
.10
.10
.15
.15
.21
.13
.20
.10
.10
.30
.21
.13
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts,
b This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «.
653
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
WEEKS—Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 7—Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
$0.15
$0.45
$0.15
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
$0.15
$0.15
.20
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(September, 1905)—
Concluded.
first w eek
Meats—Concluded.
Shoulder.......................................
Veal chops....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, canned..............................
Cabbage .......................................
Com, fresh....................................
Onions...........................................
P otatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
E ggs..............................................
L ard..............................................
p ie ..................................................
Preserves......................................
Sugar.............................................
Yeast cake....................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Kerosene.......................................
R ent........’ ............................................
Miscellaneous:
Ic e ..................................................
Soap..............................................
Soap pow der................................
Starch...........................................
T ota l..........................................
.10
.10
.05
.10
.08
.05
$1.05
.20
$0.04
.01
.05
.03
.07
.10
.05
.10
.06
.10
.10
.02
.02
.08
.15
.08
.06
.08
.04
.04
.06
$0.02
.08
.10
.08
.04
.06
.06
.02
.02
.05
.05
.03
.02
.03
6.71
1.67
.77
.20
.05
.15
.05
.08
.20
.15
.40
.06
.10
.12
.18
.02
.08
.04
6.00
.08
.04
6.00
.05
.05
.20
.05
.04
.11
.20
.03
.56
.68
.68
.49
11.56
.20
.15
.10
.10
1.10
.10
.12
SECOND WEEK (September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
F lour.............................................
Meats:
M eat..............................................
Middlings......................................
P ork..............................................
Pork steak....................................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder........................................
Stew beef.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans, canned..............................
Cabbage........................................
Onions...........................................
P otatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
E ggs..............................................
N u tm e g s......................................
Preserves......................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
.04
.05
.15
.08
.15
.13
.10
.30
.01
.05
.07
.09
.08
.06
.08
.01
.08
.04
.08
.30
12951— N o. 64—06----- 5
.08
.08
.66
.07
.15
.04
.15
.16
.04
.18
.48
.01
.12
.08
.86
.09
.08
.04
.04
.04
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
I n s u r a n c e (3 p o lic ie s ').........
...
.88
.05
.04
.10
T ota l.............................................
.01
.05
.03
.10
.10
.05
.02
.29
.03
.13
.10
_________
S t o c k in g s _ _ __________
.13
.15
.05
.02
.20
.05
.15
.15
.30
.39
.53
.20
.15
.is
.10
.16
.30
.08
.91
.64
.70
.77
5.42
654
BULLETIN OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FA M IL IE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 7 —Continued.
Articles bought.
third w eek (September, 1905).
Bread and breadstufls:
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
$0.15
.05
$0.10
$0.15
$0.20
Fri
day.
$0.15
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.85
.05
.25
$0.10
.25
Meats:
B e e f ... .........................................
$0.20
Pork steak...................... .............
Shoulder____ ________ _________
.13
.15
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, canned . .. __________
.10
L a r d .............................................
Oatmeal........... ............................
Preserves.....................................
Sugar.............................................
Yeast cake..................................
Fuel and lighting:
C o a l.................................. ...... . . .
Kerosene.......................................
Insurance (3 policies)*........................
T otal..........................................
fourth week (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread........................ ...................
Buns..............................................
Corn m eal.....................................
Crackers........................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Meat..............................................
P ork..............................................
Pork chops...................................
Pork steak....................................
Sausage........................................
Shoulder........................................
Stew beef......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Kale...............................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned..............................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Eggs..............................................
Lard................ .............................
Preserves......................................
Sugar............................................
Clothing:
Cotton thread..............................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Kerosene..................................... .
Furniture and utensils:
Sewing machine (installment)..
Wardrobe (installment).............
Insurance (7 policies)........................
T otal..........................................
.15
.15
.15
.30
.15
.14
.15
.15
.20
.15
.75
.26
.60
.14
.15
.13
.10
.05
.02
.28
.05
.07
.01
.07
.01
.07
.07
.02
.10
.02
.02
.02
.02
.02
.08
.15
.08
.05
.10
.08
.08
.08
.15
.08
.05
.04
.04
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Milk, condensed...........................
Milk, fresh........................ ...........
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee................. .............. ...........
Total
for
week.
.08
.12
.30
.48
. 10
.10
.08
.18
.02
.06
.02
.08
.03
.08
.71
.15
1.39
.15
.78
.79
.66
1.09
.20
.20
.10
.20
.20
.05
.20
.35
.05
.05
.20
.08
.10
.14
.02
.13
.13
.18
.03
.30
5.77
1.10
.05
.05
.05
.51
.20
.13
.14
.21
.26
.45
.25
.25
.13
.14
.21
.13
.15
.13
.30
.25
.07
.15
.02
.28
.10
*
.10
.14
.10
. 10
.15
.15
.07
.01
.07
.01
.07
.10
.14
.10
.02
.02
.03
.05
.10
.11
.02
.04
.02
.30
.15
.16
.10
.35
.30
.15
.05
.05
.25
.25
.25
.05
.05
.50
.03
.03
.50
.60
L 42
1-29
.4 2 j
.88
.87
1.15
1.15
.50
a. 50
.60
&7.68
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note
655
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S F O R F IV E SPECIFIED
W EE K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* 7 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
fifth week
Mon
day..
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
$0.10
.10
$0.10
$0.20
$0.20
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.20
$0.10
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread...........................................
Cracker d u s t................................
Flour........... .................................
Meats:
Beefsteak...... ................................
Chicken.........................................
Codfish..........................................
Corned beef, canned___________
H am ......................................... .....
Pork steak....................................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder.......................................
Stew beef...... ............. ............ .....
Vegetables and fruits:
Onions..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B u tter......................... ................
Cheese............................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Eggs..............................................
Hom iny........................................
Lard..............................................
Preserves......................................
Sugar.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal................................................
Kerosene...... ........................... .....
Furniture and utensils:
Sewing machine (installment)...
Wardrobe (installment).............
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bluing...........................................
S o a p ............................................
Starch...........................................
Total..........................................
$0.20
.04
.12
.25
.13
.10
.13
.07
.14
.13
.15
.16
.01
.07
.10
.13
.16
.02
.02
.02
.15
.15
.15
.05
.11
.05
1
.05 1............
.25
.02
.02
.10
.02
.10
.25
.01
.07
.02
.27
.10
.15
.31
.10
.14
.02
.80
.05
.11
.05
.10
.05
.25
.03
.50
.06
.03
|
a. 50
a . 50
.60
1
1
.60
____ 1_____■
.05
j
j
1.26
.83
j
.50
.60
.25
.07
.10
.34
.39
.15
.16
.60
.25
.20
.13
$1.10
.10
.04
1.15
.05
.10
.03
.05
.05
.03
.98
1.06
.79
1.12
*8.19
$0.16
$0.28
$0.16
.05
.05
$0.23
$1.39
F A M I L Y N O. 8.
f ir s t w e e k
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread..........................
Com meal..................
Flour..........................
Meats:
B eefsteak.,...............
H am ...........................
Meat...........................
P o r k .........................
Sausage......................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage.....................
Onions........................
Potatoes.....................
Tomatoes, fresh........
Milk, blitter, and cheese;
Butter........................
Cheese.........................
Milk, fresh..................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee..........................
Lard............................
Pepper........................
Pie...............................
Rice............... ............
$ 0.20
$0.12
$0.24
.0 5
.10
.15
.05
.10
.0 5
.1 5
.20
.05
\‘ie
.6 0
.1 6
'*\'io'
.20
.1 5
.0 6
.05
.20
.10
.05
.05
.05
.15
.05
.03
.05
.03
.1 5
.05
.03
.1 5
.4 5
.20
" '.* 0 3 '
.03
.2 4
.09
.0 5
.1 6
" ‘ .'o s ’
.15
.02
.15
” "05’
.0 5
« Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
$ This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, fo r the reason given in note «.
.02
656
BULLETIN OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 8 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
FIRST w eek (September, 1905)—
Concluded.
Groceries, etc.—Concluded.
Sirup.............................................
Sugar........... - ..........................
10.06
.05
«0.10
.06
$0.10
.06
.02
.05
Yeast powder...............................
Clothing: *
Cotton thread..............................
Fuel and lighting:
Gasoline. . . . r_________________
TTcrnspnA .....................................
MatphAS .....................................
.05
T otal..........................................
.43
1.01
1.00
1.14
.86
.16
.08
.05
.12
.15
.08
.20
.05
.05
.05
.10
.05
.20
.03
.02
o . 90
.02
$0.05
.05
$0.05
.05
$0.20
.30
.10
.02
.05
.05
.12
.08
.03
Miscellaneous:
Billing...........................................
I c e .. r ...........................................
Soap..............................................
Starch............................... ...........
second week
10.12
*0.05
.05
.05
.25
.05
.05
1.92 ‘
.48
6 7.74
.20
.10
.15
.94
.35
.05
.05
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Ham ..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage........................................
Com, fresh....................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
ChftASA ..........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cake...............................................
Catchup.........................................
Chocolate......................................
Coffee.............................................
Lard..............................................
Pie..................................................
Rice...............................................
Sirup..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Yeast powder...............................
Clothing:
Shoes.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Gasoline........................................
Matches.........................................
Rent:
Building association (indebt
edness on hom e).......................
Water rent...................................
Insurance:
Endowment (Knights of Pythias) __T................. .................
Industrial (6 policies).................
Miscellaneous:
Snap
............ . ......................
Snfl.pine.........................................
Starch...........................................
T otal..........................................
.05
.16
.05
.12
.01
.05
.05
.05
.05
.10
.05
.05
.05
.05
.10
.15
.03
.05
.10
.25
.20
.10
.05
.15
.05
.05
.10
.15
.10
.15
.06
.06
.10
.02
.10
.06
.08
.20
.15
.10
.06
.09
.15
.12
.05
.05
2.05
2.05
.02
.08
.0 2
.08
6.00
6.00
4.00
4.00
2.45
3.30
a .9 0
.85
.05
.0 5
.05
.05
.0 5
.0 5
.62
9.39
4.98
.30
.10
.08
.05
.10
.10
.08
.15
.90
.02
.30
.30
.05
.05
.05
.05
.10
.12
.06
.30
.15
1.36
.87
3.18
.3 5
c 21.65
Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «.
e This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a. Including
$6, payment to building association on account o f indebtedness on home, and $4 for year's water rent.
a
657
CONDITIONS OP LIVING- AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OP 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M l i l f NO* 8 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
$0.24
$0.24
$0.16
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.24
$0.10
Total
for
week.
THIRD WEEK (September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn meal.....................................
Crackers........................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Beefsteak......................................
Bologna........................................
Chipped beef.................................
Fish...............................................
H am ..............................................
Ham, cooked................................
Meat..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage........................................
Corn, fresh....................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Ginger snaps................................
L ard..............................................
Mustard........................................
Pie................... .............................
Salt................................................
Sirup.............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Vinegar.........................................
Yeast powder...............................
Fuel and lighting:
Gasoline........................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bluing...........................................
Ice..................................................
Soap..............................................
Starch...........................................
Total.........................................
f o u r th w e e k
$0.13
.05
.01
.04
.10
.30
.17
.15
.05
.15
.20
.10
.30
.10
.30
$0.08
.05
.05
.05
.15
.05
.05
.09
.10
.05
.10
.30
.10
.15
.10
.15
.04
.05
.05
.01
.05
.10
.05
.04
.04
.15
.05
.05
.15
.03
.07
.15
.05
.05
.15
.05
.15
.04
.08
.08
.06
.06
.06
.03
.05
.15
.06
.11
.05
.01
.10
.05
.10
.11
.05
.05
.08
.05
.05
.15
.05
.02
.25
.40
.10
.01
.05
.05
.12
.03
.02
.05
1.39
.98
.30
.05
.32
.16
.05
.18
.10
.75
.05
.10
.28
.10
.01
.05
.20
.03
.02
“ .90
.05
.05
.05
.25
.05
.05
.41
6 7.75
.05
.80
.05
.24
.35
.05
.93
$1.11
.05
.01
.14
.52
.68
1.94
.08
.16
.16
.08
.35
.08
.06
.26
.20
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
.16
.16
.08
Corn meal.....................................
Crackers........................................
.08
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Bacon............................................
.39
Beef................................................
1
Fish...............................................
Mackerel.......................................
.15
P ork..............................................
Sardines........................................
.06
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
.25
Onions..........................................
Parsley..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
.07
.25
Turnips.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
.15
Cream, condensed........................
.06
Milk, fresh....................................
.04
.04
.04
“ Not shown under any day because day of payment was not
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for
.10
.10
.05
.10
.01
.01
.05
.39
.06
.46
.15
.10
.11
.20
.25
.01
.01
.32
.05
.15
.30
.06
.04
.04
32
.04
.08
specified in original family accounts.
the reason given in note
658
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FA M ILIE S F O R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* 8 —Concluded*
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
fourth w eek
Groceries, etc.:
Cake. __ ____________________
Catchup ..................................
Doughnuts...................................
L a r d ........................ .
Nutmegs..... .................................
Pickles........................ ...... ...........
P ie ................................................
R ice...............................................
Sugar._____ _______ ___________
Yeast c a k e .................................
Clothing:
Shoe repairing......... .
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene................... ...................
Insurance (5 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bird sand................... ..................
Bluing...........................................
Total..........................................
$0.06
.o i
$0.06
.05
.10
.10
.05
.02
.20
.05
.23
.01
.25
.25
$0.05
.10
.05
$0.10
.06
.70
10.25
1.87
$0.02
.10
.05
.23
.10
$0.10
.06
.70
.10
.10
.10
1.29
$0.13
1.42
1.20
.15
6.31
$0.08
$0.25
$0.17
.05
.05
$0.16
.06
.05
$1.26
.11
. 15
F A M I L Y N O. 9 .
first week
(September, 1905).
Bread and bread stuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn meal....... ............................
Crackers................................. ......
Meats:
Beef................................................
Beefsteak............................... ......
Corned p o r k ...............................
Crabs......... ..................................
Fish................................................
Meat..............................................
P ork.............................................
Shoulder........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Bananas........................................
Beans............................................
Corn, fresh......... ...........................
Onions...........................................
Pears..............................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Candy............................................
L ard..............................................
Payment of debt ( « ) ...................
Sugar............................ ................
Tea.............................. .................
Clothing:
Collar.............................................
Cotton thread..............................
* Shoe repairing..............................
Shoes.............................................
Stockings............................... ......
Stockings and shirt.....................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke...............................................
Kerosene....... ...............................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Rugs (installment).....................
$0.16
$0.17
$0.27
.05
.13
.05
.24
.08
.10
.20
.10
.13
.05
.15
.20
.51
.40
.07
.08
.20
.29
.15
.22
.07
.
.15
.16
.05
.05
.40
.10
.15
.05
.10
.20
.10
.16
.24
.10
.20
.15
.45
.05
.20
1.25
.40
.15
.15
.25
.06
.01
.02
.06
.06
.10
.40
.20
.08
.10
.10
.08
.10
.03
.06
«3.81
.06
.06
.05
.10
.04
.10
.05
.06
.72
.20
.17
.05
.18
0 3.81
.05
. 18
.05
.10
.05
.40
2.00
.15
.35
.10
.05
.40
2.00
.25
.35
.03
.10
.07
&.25
*.25
a For groceries not bought during the period.
* N ot shown under any day because day o f payment was not specified in original family account a .
659
CONDITIONS OF LIVING- AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* 9 —Continued.
Articles bought
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
$0.05
$0.10
.05
.10
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(September, 1905)-—
Concluded.
first w eek
Miscellaneous:
$0.10
.05
Chicken feed.................................
Cigars............................................
Medicine........................................
.70
.06
.25
Paid o u t... ....................................
Pins.......................................... .
Pipe...............................................
Soap..............................................
Starch...........................................
Sunday-school contribution......
Tobacco.........................................
Washing pndfl.... ........................
$0.04
T otal..........................................
.98
1.23
1.81
.51
1.97
a 9.63
.17
.22
.19
.05
.35
.09
.25
.05
.17
.06
.10
.08
.05
.12
second w eek
$0.05
.01
.02
.05
.05
$0.17
.01
.10
.06
.01
$0.25
.10
.10
.70
.06
.51
.02
.02
.05
.05
.02
.10
.07
$0.02
.58 a b 17.21
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn meal.....................................
Crackers........................................
R olls..............................................
Meats:
Beef................................................
Beefsteak......................................
Corned beef, canned...................
Corned p ork.................................
Crabs.............................................
F ish ..............................................
Meat..............................................
Pigs’ feet.......................................
P ork..............................................
Vegetables and fruit:
Apples...........................................
Bananas.......................................
Beans, canned.............................
Cabbage........................................
Corn, fresh...................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Tomatoes, fresh..........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Apple butter................................
Cake..............................................
Candy............................................
Coffee.............................................
Ice cream......................................
Ice-cream sandwiches.................
Payment of debt ( c) ...................
Pickles...........................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Cap................................................
Coat...............................................
Cotton goods...............................
Dress...........................................
Dress sk irt...................................
Lace...............................................
R ibbon..........................................
Shoe repairing..............................
Stockings......................................
Suit of clothes..............................
Undergarments...........................
.03
.05
1. 44
.10
.05
.03
.22
.06
.14
.05
.21
.05
.15
.07
.08
.20
.16
.05
.20
.15
.05
.12
.40
.15
.20
.10
.05
.05
.12
.20
.15
.10
.08
.10
.05
.25
.05
.02
.13
22
.24
.20
.43
.05
.13
.32
.05
.49
.10
.20
.10
.10
.10
' .02
.08
.04
.24
.05
.04
.08
.16
.08
.02
.04
.02
.10
.05
.72
.15
.20
.10
.10
.10
. 15
.11
.06
.05
.10
.15
.10
.06
.01
.06
C4.00
C4.00
.06
.06
.05
.18
.98
.43
.50
3.00
.10
.69
.30
.19
3.00
.25
.20
a Including $3.81, payment of debt for groceries not bought during the period.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note &, p. 658.
cF ot groceries not bought during the period.
.06
.12
.05
.18
.98
.43
.50
3.00
.10
.69
.30
.39
3.00
.25
660
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* 9 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(September, 1905)—
Concluded.
secon d w e e k
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture rtnstfl.llmp.nt)
..
Rugs (installment).....................
$2.00
Miscellaneous:
Beer...............................................
Paid o u t .......................................
Soap..............................................
T otal..........................................
t h ir d w e e k
a $0.25
a. 25
2.00
$0.10
.10
.25
.10
1.40
$0.96 6 c 23.86
$0.25
.05
.05
$0.68
3.05
$1.34
.17
.12
.32
.08
.12
.06
$1.28 6 14.65
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstufis:
Bread............................................
Com meal.....................................
Crackers........................................
Meats:
Beefsteak.....................................
Corned beef..................................
Corned beef, canned....................
Fish...............................................
H am ..............................................
Pigs’ fe e t......................................
P ork..............................................
, Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruit:
Apples...........................................
Beans, canned..............................
Cabbage........................................
Corn, fresh...................................
Grapes..........................................
Onions...........................................
Pears.............................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Vegetables....................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Lard..............................................
Pickles...........................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Belt................................................
Necktie..........................................
R ibbon..........................................
Shoe repairing..............................
Shoes.............................................
Stockings......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Rugs (installment).....................
R ent.....................................................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Chicken feed.................................
Sunday-school contribution___
T otal..........................................
.17
.05
.14
.05
.05
.05
.23
.13
.42
.05
.08
.12
.15
.05
.08
.08
.05
.94
.05
.05
.06
.24
.14
.10
.20
.50
.05
.31
.63
.50
.08
.05
.10
.05
.08
.39
.15
.12
.05
.45
.15
.20
.25
.05
.15
.15
.12
.12
.05
.30
.15
.10
.15
.16
.08
.24
.08
.16
.04
.04
.06
.02
.02
.10
.25
.97
.10
.18
.25
.10
.06
.01
.06
.12
.06
.01
.30
.12
.10
.25
.10
.25
.50
.25
.10
.25
.10
.25
.50
.25
a. 25
a .25
12.50
a. 95
12.50
.51
1.70
1.63
.53
.05
.05
.05
.05
13.08
2.96
.46
c 22.32
.10
.15
1.15
FOURTH WEEK (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Corned Dork.................................
.15
.20
.20
.25
.10
.07
.07
.07
.15
.18
.07
o Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 Including $4, payment or debt for groceries not bought during the period.
c This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
.43
.18
661
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X PE N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W EE K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 9 —Continued.
Articles bought. •
Wed
nes
day.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
$0.05
.07
.13
$0.17
.15
.07
.10
.10
.08
.08
.13
.13
.04
.18
.10
.02
.09
.05
.02
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.18
.27
$0.07
$0.07
Total
for
week.
FOURTH WEEK (January, 1906)—
Concluded.
Meats—Concluded.
Fish...............................................
Meat..............................................
Pork..............................................
Pork pudding.. . _______ ______
Sardines... ,T .. ______________
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage........... ...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese ..........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Baking powder............................
Cake..............................................
Coffee.............................................
Efirfirs..............................................
Mustard........................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Shoes.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Coke..............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches........................................
R ent.....................................................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
“ Cash” .........................................
Laundry
............ _....................
Medicine.......................................
Soap..............................................
Starch...........................................
Washing soda..............................
T otal..........................................
fifth week
$0.18
$0.05
.05
.50
.15
.13
.94
.15
.10
.04
.23
.05
.01
.25
.06
.02
.05
1.00
1.00
.30
.03
.05
.02
.10
12.30
.10
.03
.02
.03
.01
.05
.50
.25
.22
.05
.06
.25
.09
.06
.05
.05
.05
.09
.06
.05
.65
.02
$0.18
.47
.63
.13
.05
.25
.50
.03
.30
.20
.22
.04
12.50
a . 95
.01
.10
.50
.10
.03
.03
.10
.50
.05
.05
.03
.03
13.19
1.30
1.22
1.25
.43
4.14
.27
6 22.75
.30
.25
.20
.25
.15
.40
.35
.05
1.60
.35
(January, 1906).
Bread and breads tuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Beefsteak......................................
Fish...............................................
Liver.............................................
Meat..............................................
Pork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Cabbage........................................
Com, canned................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Baking powder............................
Coffee............................................
Eggs..............................................
Lard..............................................
.10
.05
.08
.05
.29
.05
.12
.09
.22
.05
.54
.10
.10
.20
.10
.10
.09
.07
.13
.04
.06
.50
.15
.28
.05
.19
.10
.15
.10
.08
.10
.96
.20
1.16
.05
.04
.14
.05
.02
.05
.02
.02
.05
.10
.25
.10
.14
.05
.02
.07
.02
.05
.25
.05
.09
.16
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
.19
.27
.19
.45
.10
.56
.20
.18
.05
.25
.09
.15
662
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 9 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Tues
day.
Mon
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
fifth week
Groceries, etc.—Concluded.
Mustard........................................
Pinkies....... ...................................
R ice ..............................................
Salt................................................
Sugar................... ...... ..................
Tea.
............ ...... ..................
Yefl.fit cake .........__....................
Clothing:
Cap................................................
Ribbon
................................
Stockings......... ...... .....................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Coke..............................................
Kerosene
.................................
Matches........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Sewing machine (installment)
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Pins...............................................
Soap..............................................
Starch...........................................
Washing soda
.......................
T otal..........................................
$0.05.
$0.05
$0.01
.05
$0.12
.10
.03
.02
.01
$0.06
.10
$0.10
.15
.02
$0.03
$0.10
.01
.05
.03
.28
.15
.02
.50
.20
.25
.50
.20
.25
.25
.25
.20
.06
.04
.03
.01
a . 50
a . 95
.05
.03
.02
.01
.01
.10
.03
.02
.24
6 11.23
$0.40
$0.33
.40
.05
1.56
.59
1.77
.83
.78
4.01
$0.04
$0.04
$0.05
F A M I L Y N O. lO .
first w eek
(September, 1905).
Bread and bread stuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
k
Fat back.......................................
M eat..............................................
P ork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Sausage, smoked..........................
Shoulder.......................................
Stew beef......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans, string................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
L ard..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Clothing;
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Gasoline........................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches..'.....................................
Furniture and utensils:
Clock (installment).....................
Sewing machine (installment)..
Insurance (3 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Ice..................................................
Sachet powder..............................
Soap........... ..................................
T otal..........................................
$0.04
$0.08
$0.08
.09
.10
.15
.10
.05
.10
.09
.10
.45
.10
.05
.58
.12
.30
.48
.12
.10
.05
.20
.13
.10
.13
.05
.20
.20
.36
.10
.10
.04
.04
.05
.03
.01
.07
.04
.07
.12
.05
.22
.10
.10
.22
.10
.25
.25
.11
.03
.11
.06
.02
.01
.50
.40
.50
o.75
.80
.40
.05
.05
j
1.12 |
.05
.05
. 63
.48
.75
.05
.05
.10
.25
.10
.10
2.06
6 6.63
.05
.29
.55
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note ®.
663
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X PE N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* lO —Continued.
Articles bought.
second w eek
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
$0.20
$0.10
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Total
for
week.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.15
$0.05
.40
$0.75
.40
.15
.14
.15
.28
.20
.70
.12
(October, 1905).
Bread and bread stuffs:
Bread..................................... .
F lo u r ....'.....................................
Meats:
Corned p ork.................................
Fish...............................................
Pork_________________________
Sausage...................... .................
Shoulder.......................................
Stew beef.... .................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans, strin g...............................
Grapes....... T................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Lard.............................................
Oatmeal........................................
Sugar......... ..................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Caps..............................................
Cotton th read .............................
Garters.........................................
Gingham......................................
Shoes (2 pairs).............................
Stockings.......................... ...........
Underwear...................................
Fuel and lighting:
C oal.............................................
Kerosene......................................
Matches.........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Clock (installment'*
............
Sewing machine (installment) ..
K ent.....................................................
Insurance (3 policies)................. ......
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Ice.................................................
Soap...................................... ......
Tobacco...................... .................
T otal..........................................
$0.20
.14
$0.05
!
$0.15
1
.13
.10
.20
.10
.12
.10
.10
.10
.04
.12
.10
.10
.10
.15
.13
.10
.15
.13
.02
.30
.04
.12
.10
i
l
i
.28
.04
.28
.14
.12
.46
.10
.20
.10
.20
.10
.50
.05
3.66
.25
.50
.50
.05
.25
.20
3.00
.25
.50.
.30
.12
.06
.30
.15
.06
.25
.20
.03
.50
a . 75
5.00
.40
.50
.40
.05
5.00
.10
.05
.05
.05
.05
.10
.20
.05
.20
5.93 | 1.39
&16.96
.20
i
.81
5.83
.27
1.48
.53
.15
.10
.10
.05
.10
.12
.24
.12
THIRD WEEK (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread........ .................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Liver............................................
Middlings, smoked......................
Pork..............................................
Sausage...................... .................
Shoulder.......................................
Shoulder, corned..........................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage........................................
Oranges........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
L ard..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene......................................
W ood .............................................
.24
.12
.12
.24
.04
.04
.36
.10
.14
.84
.46
.48
.24
.08
.06
.04
.05
.10
.05
1
i
.10
.10
.05
.08
.04
.34
.06
.20 1______
j
'
.12
.25
.05
.08
.04
.65
.40
.10
.14 !______
.12
.10
.24
.40
.15
1
.06
.10
.05
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*.
664
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* 1 0 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
th ir d w e e k
Furniture and utensils:
Sewing machine (installment)..
Miscellaneous:
Doctor bill....................................
Medicine.......................................
Total..........................................
fourth w e e k
1.00
.30
$0.63
$0.50
$0.44
1.84
$0.68
$0.81
.15
.15
.05
.05
.05
.05
.15
$0.90
6 6.45
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn meal......................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Meat..............................................
Pork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Sausage, smoked.........................
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Cabbage........................................
Onions..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Baking powder............................
Lard..............................................
Oatmeal........................................
Tea.................................................
Clothing:
Coat...............................................
Collar.............................................
Flannellet.....................................
Garters............................ ............
Rubbers........................................
Stockings......................................
Underwear...................................
Wrapper.......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Sewing machine (installment)..
Insurance (3 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Tobacco.........................................
T otal..........................................
f if t h w e e k
a $0.75
$1.00
.30
.60
.05
.40
.40
.25
.15
.20
.20
.15
.12
.15
.15
.02
.04
.01
.36
.10
.01
.60
.12
.30
.02
.05
.05
.10
1.00
.04
.16
.10
.12
.10
.05
.10
.12
.10
.15
1.00
.05
.35
.25
.50
.15
.50
.98
.05
.35
.25
.50
.15
.50
.98
.70
.10
.91
.10
.05
.05
.75
.40
3.32
.45
.66
.45
.25
.12
.12
.10
.04
.54
.12
.10
.10
.12
.53
2.01
.47
.20
.75
1.30
.15
.10
.15
2.77
.90
10.91
(February, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
.50
.10
.15
.10
.15
Bread.................................... .
Buns..............................................
.05
.05
.40
.40
Flour.............................................
.05
R olls..............................................
.05
Meats:
.31
.13
.18
Bacon, breakfast.........................
.42
.12
.18
.12
Pork..............................................
.15
.05
Sausage.........................................
.10
.24
.48
.24
Shoulder........................................
.15
Spare ribs.....................................
.15
Vegetables and fruits:
.24
.12
.12
Apples...........................................
.10
.10
Cabbage........................................
.30
.15
Potatoes.......................................
.15
.05
.05
Sweet potatoes............................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
.22
.04
.04
.04
.02
.04
.02
.02
Milk, fresh....................................
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note ®.
665
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE TOOK.
D A IL Y E X PE N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W EE K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 1 0 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(February, 1906)—
Concluded.
fifth w eek
Groceries, etc.:
Bakinar nowder_______________
Cake.............................................. 1.............
Eggs.............................................. !.............
Lard.............................................. i.............
Oatmeal........................................!.............
Peanuts........................................ *.............
Pie................................................. 1.............
Sugar.............................................1.............
Tea................................................ 1.............
Clothing:
1
Coat...............................................'.............
Socks............................................. 1.............
Trousers....................................... 1.............
Fuel and lighting:
1
Kerosene _ __________________ '_____ .
Furniture and utensils:
1
Sewing machine (installment)..
R ent.....................................................
Insurance (3 policies) __....................
Miscellaneous:
Mucilage........................................
Soap..............................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
$0.32
$0.05
$0.05
.09
.10
.05
$0.05
.05
.25
.10
a. 50
.10
.50
.10
.50
.13
.10
.03
a. 75
5.00
o l. 00
5.00
.05
.05
.15
.05
.05
5.53
$0.05
.05
.09
.10
.05
.05
.05
.25
.10
$0.05
$0.05
$0.05
.48
.41
.41
1.44
1.60
b 12.44
F A M I L Y N O. 1 1 .
first week
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
$0.10
$0.21
$0.16
$0.16
$0.16
$0.26
$1.15
Bread............................................ $0.10
Com meal
.
_____
.10
.10
Flour.............................................1.............
.25
.25
Meats:
1
.23
B acon............................................1.............
.23
Beefsteak_________
i______
.28
.28
.63
Meat.............................................. I
.63
Sansaare______________________
.16
.10
.06
Shoulder_____________________________
.75
.75
Vegetables and fruits:
.05
Apples...........................................
.05
.08
Beans............................................
.08
.25
Beans, canned..............................
.10
.10
.05
.20
Cabbage........................................
.10
.10
Corn, canned................................
.10
.10
Peaches.........................................
.25
.25
Potatoes.......................................
.05
.15
.15
.60
.25
.18
.43
Sweet potatoes............................
.25
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
.10
.10
.05
.10
.35
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
.17
.13
.69
.13
.13
.13
Cheese...........................................
.10
.15
.05
.16
.02
.02
Milk, fresh....................................
.02
.02
.08
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee_________________________
.34
.17
.17
Donarhnnts. . _______________ 1_______
.05
.05
Eggs..............................................
.26
.13
.13
.05
Jelly...............................................
.05
.06
L ard..............................................
.06
.68
Pies................................................
.10
.13
.05
.10
.10
.10
.10
.20
Preserves......................................
.20
.03
Salt................................................
.03
.12
.12
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
.25
Shirt..............................................
.25
.15
Shoe repairing..............................
.15
.25
Trousers.......................................
.25
W aist............................................
.25
.25
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note
666
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
FAMILY NO. 1 1 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(September, 1905)—
Concluded.
first w eek
Furniture and utensils:
Chair (installment)....................
$0.50
1.00
a $0.25
.06
.50
1.00
$0.06
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Comb.............................................
Hair c u t ........................................
Ice..................................................
Medicine........................................
Payment on loan.........................
Removing refuse..........................
Shave. ..7 .....................................
Soap...............................................
Tobacco........................................
$0.05
.05
.05
.05
T otal........ .................................
1.78
1.16
2.37
b 6.04
1.52
L09
.18
.18
.18
.16
.16
.10
.16
second week
$0.05
.15
.70
$0.10
2.25
$0.25
.05
.05
$0.10
.05
.15
.70
.10
2.25
.25
.10
.10
.20
1.05 be 15.26
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn m eal.....................................
Meats:
Beefsteak_____________ ____ __
Chipped beef.................................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans............................................
Beans, canned..............................
Cabbage........................................
Corn, canned................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes.............................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh............................... .....
Groceries, etc.:
C offee...........................................
Doughnuts..................................
Jelly...............................................
L ard..............................................
Macaroni........ ................ ............
Pies................................................
Preserves......................................
Sirup..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Cap...... ..........................................
Cotton goods................................
Cotton thread..............................
Dress.............................................
Shoes.............................................
Socks.............................................
Stockings......................................
Suit of clothes..............................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches...................... ........ ..........
Furniture and utensils:
Chair (installment).....................
Stove (installment).....................
R en t.....................................................
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bluing............................................
Car fare.........................................
Flaxseed meal.............................
Ice..................................................
.20
.65
.20
.10
.20
.10
.15
.18
.15
.10
.15
. 15
.10
.60
.10
.20
1.30
.04
.10
.10
.15
.15
.10
.10
.25
.20
.10
.23
.10
.15
.68
.33
.20
.15
.08
.45
.28
.20
.10
.08
.04
.07
.12
.10
.10
.10
.12
.15
.12
.10
.12
.14
.05
.15
1.50
.10
.12
5.50
.10
6.00
1.70
.10
.12
.25
.10
.08
.17
.05
.08
.10
.20
.10
.15
.15
.05
1.18
.10
.65
.15
.05
.16
.04
.17
.05
.08
.36
.10
.75
.10
.10
.24
.25
.14
.05
.15
1.50
.20
.12
5.50
.10
.04
a . 25
a. 50
6.00
1.70
.05
.10
.05
1
.05
.05
1
.05
a Not shown under any day because day o f payment was not specified in original family accounts.
b Including $2.25, payment on loan.
« This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note
.05
.10
667
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 1 1 —Continued.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Miscellaneous—Concluded.
Lead pencil__ ____ ____________
Postal c a r d .................................
S oap .......... ...................................
Starch.... ............................. ........
T o b a c c o ......................................
$0.05
$0.05
.05
.05
T otal..........................................
&23
7.98
Articles bought.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(September, 1905)—
Concluded.
second w eek
third week
$0.01
.01
.15
.05
.20
$0.01
.01
$0.10
.05
.05
$1.30
$1.74
1.35
7.96
$1.26
« 25.57
.16
.18
.20
.30
.20
1.44
(October, 1905).
Bread and. bread stuffs:
Bread..........................................
.20
.20
Meats:
Beef................. ............ ................
.25
Lamb c h o p s .................................
L ive r.__ t . ....................... ...........
.10
.15
Meat..............................................
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
A p p le s .......... .......................... .
Beans............................................
.10
Beans, canned.............................
Cabbage................ ......................
.08
Com, canned................................
Onions...........................................
.15
Potatoes......................................
.10
Raisins........................................ .
Sweet potatoes............................
.15
Tomatoes, fresh...... ....................
.10
.10
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...................... .................. .
Cheese.........................................
.02*
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.................. __ ............... .
.17
.10
Eggs..............................................
Nutmeg__________ _________ __
Pie.............................. .................
.05
.10
R ic e ............. ............ ..................
.12
Sugar............................................
Clothing:
Cap................................................
Dress......................................... .
.15
Shoes.................. ........................ .
Socks................................. ...........
Trousers....................................... ______ !_______
Fuel and lighting:
' Kerosene........ ........................ .....
....
Matches........................................
.02
Furniture and utensils:
Chair (installment).....................
Lamp chimney.............................
.08
Stove (installment).....................
I
I
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
.25
Lunch b o x ....................................
Newspapers_________ _________
Postal card ...................................
.o i
Soap......................................... .....
.10
Tobacco.......................................
.10
Witch h a zel.............. ..................
.05
Total..........................................
1.39
.25
.25
.10
.40
1.20
.25
.25
.55
.65
.10
.15
.10
.08
.10
.07
.15
.05
.09
.15
.10
.10
. 10
.10
.15
.05
.10
. 15
.10
.02
.15
.06
.01
.05
.10
.10
1
.10
.25
.11
.02
6.25
-.08
6.50
6 L 00
'
1
.25
.15
1.00
.10
.25
.11
!
I
.27
.11
.01
.50
.10
.24
.25
!
1
______ i
1 i1
1
.30
.15
.30
.16
.12
1.00
.10
|
. 15
.10
.05
.10
i
.25
.30
.20
.23
.10
.20
.64
.10
.30
.60
.30
1
1............ 1
.15
1
1
.03
1
1
.05 |
| .10
i
i
1
1.61 1 1.24
1.36 1 2.41
.25
.15
.03
.01
.15
.30
.05
!
|
.10
1.80
1.C3
elS.19
a This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a, p. 666.
&Not shown under any day because day of payment was hot specified in original family accounts.
* This amount exceeds the sum o f the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note &.
668
BULLETIN OF THE BUEEAU OF LABOE.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U E E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* 1 1 —Continued.
Articles bought.
foubth week
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day
$0.30
*.05
$0.20
$0.12
$0.14
$0.28
$0.08
$0.16
.20
.10
.25
.13
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstufis:
Bread............................................
Crackers........................................
Meats:
Shoulder........................................
.25
.10
.10
.13
.20
.19
.58
.10
Vegetables and fruits:
.10
.14
.10
.05
.05
.08
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
.05
Groceries, etc.:
.10
.16
.06
.10
.08
.16
.03
.10
.16
.07
Pickles...........................................
Pie.................................................
Preserves......................................
Salt................................................
S iru p ............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea,.................................................
Clothing:
Cotton thread..............................
Stockings. . ..................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal................................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Chair (installment).....................
Stove (installment).....................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bluing...........................................
Car fare.........................................
Bye. ............ ................................
Medicine........................................
Soap..............................................
Tobacco.........................................
T otal..........................................
.05
.05
.05
.10
.10
.02
.05
.05
.05
.10
.06
.13
.16
.52
.05
.05
.25
.10
.05
.05
.07
.35
.15
.05
.10
.06
.10
.10
.05
.10
.05
.10
.25
.70
1.05
. 1.5
.50
.15
.25
o.25
o.50
2.10
.35
.05
.10
.10
.70
.09
.20
.05
.10
.10
.35
.05
.35
.05
.05
1.85
1.29
.05
2.16
1.30
.40
.30
.95
.58
.10
.20
.29
.15
.10
.32
.10
.09
.05
$1.28
.05
.15
.05
.10
.08
.05
fifth w eek
Total
for
week.
1.52
.04
.05
1.30
1.55
611.72
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstufis:
.30
.20
1.53
.26
.20
.20
.20
.17
Bread.............................................
.05
Runs
.05
Crackers........................................
.05
.05
.24
.20
.04
Flour.............................................
Meats:
.30
B acon..................................... ......
.15
.15
.12
.12
Fish...............................................
.66
Meat___ __________ ______ _____
.16
.15
.15
.20
.47
.24
.23
Pork..............................................
.33
Pudding...... ....................... ..........
.18
. 15
.81
.13
.24
.24
.20
Sausage.........................................
.40
Scrapple....... .................... _...........
.20
.20
Vegetables and fruits:
.10
Beans, canned..................... ........
.10
.59
.13
.16
.14
.16
Cabbage........................................
.10
.05
.05
Onions............ ........ .....................
.54
.15
.08
.08
.08
.15
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
.52
.14
.10
Blitter .........................................
.28
.06
.37
.02
.07
.07
.05
.02
.08
Milk, fresh....................................
a N ot shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
b This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note ®.
669
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A J H II/lf NO. 1 1 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
i Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day
Fri
day.
$0.09
$0.08
$0.13
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
f if t h w e e k
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Lard..............................................
Pepper...........................................
Pickles..........................................
Pies................................................
Preserves......................................
S iru p ............................................
Sugar............................................
Clothing:
Cotton thread..............................
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Newspaper...................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
.02
$0.05
$0.05
.10
.06
.70
.05
1.78
$0.05
$0.13
.02
.05
.10
.10
.06
.10
$0.43
.05
.02
.02
.15
.20
.20
.12
.05
.05
.35
a . 50
1.05
.01
1.93
.05
1.21
.89
1.27
1.53
.05
.01
.15
1.02
&10.13
F A M I L Y N O. 1 2 .
f ir s t w e e k
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread...........................................
Flour...........................................
Meats:
Beefsteak....................................
California ham ...........................
Herring.......................................
Liver............................................
Soup bone..................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, navy...............
Cabbage.....................
Com, fresh.................
Onions........................
Potatoes.....................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter........................
Cheese.........................
Milk, condensed........
Groceries, etc.:
Baking powder..........
Cakes..........................
Coffee..........................
L ard............................
Oatmeal.....................
Pepper........................
Pickles........................
Salt.............................
S iru p ..........................
Sugar..........................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene....................
Matches......................
Insurance (6 policies)----Miscellaneous:
L am pw ick.................
Tobacco......................
Total.
$0.20
10.20
«0.20
$0.20
$0.20 $0.20
.20
.34
.56
.10
.10
.10
.10
.10
.25
.14
.14
.20
.10
.20
.34
.56
.12
.24
.25
$ 1.20
.12
.24
.50
.09
.05
.15
.09
.05
.15
.28
.56
.20
.30
\’io‘
.05
.10
.17
.06
.12
.11
.10
.34
'io ‘
.10
.12
.05
.10
.08
*05*
V vf
.12
.05
2.00
.17
.02
‘ *.*65*
2.52
.05
.59
.53
.05
3.28
.08
.28
.12
.05
2.00
.02
.15
8.43
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «.
12951— N o. 64— 06------ 6
670
BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 1 2 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
second w eek (October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
$0.20
$0.20
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
California ham............................. ............ i.............
F ish............................................... ______ 1_______
Liver.............................................
Sausage.........................................
.25
Soup bone.....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage........................................
Onionsf..........................................
P otatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, condensed...........................
.10
Groceries, etc.:
Bread soda...................................
Coffee..................•..........................
.17
Cornstarch...................................
Lard..............................................
Oatmeal........................................
.10
Pickles..........................................
S iru p ............................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Shoes (2 pairs).............................
1.00
R ent.....................................................
4.00
Miscellaneous:
Soap..............................................
Tobacco.........................................
.05
.05
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
$0.20
$0.20
Satur
day.
Fri
day.
$0.20
.41
i
::::::::
.25
.14
.20
.10
$1.20
.54
.10
.16
.10
.41
.54
.10
.16
.50
.10
.10
.05
.15
.10
.10
.05
.15
.10
.28
.42
.20
.30
.10
.06
.10
.06
Total
for
week.
$0.20
.05
.17
.05
.12
.11
Sun
day.
.17
.05
.34
.05
.12
.10
.06
.10
.34
1.00
2.00
4.00
.05
.05
.10
.05
.10
.25
T otal..........................................
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
California ham.............................
Fish...............................................
Liver.............................................
Sausage.........................................
Soup bone.....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Cabbage........................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Turnips.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Lard..............................................
Oatmeal........................................
Pickles...........................................
Sirup.............................................
Sugar ...........................................
Clothing:
Hat (man’s ) ........................ ........
Shoe repairing..............................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene................................
Matches.........................................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Cascarets......................................
Nails..............................................
Tobacco........................................
5.35
.77
.36
.65
.56
3.65
11.84
.20
.20
.25
.20
.20
.20
.40
1.25
.40
.30
.45
.10
.10
.30
.45
.10
.12
.63
.10
.10
.07
.05
.15
.10
.05
.10
.07
.05
.15
.10
.05
.14
.28
.10
.56
.20
.30
.17
.17
.12
.10
.06
.10
.17
.34
.12
.10
.06
.20
.34
.05
.05
T otal..........................................
2.35
.85
t h ir d w e e k
.12
\13
.25
.14
.20
.10
.10
.10
.11
.50
.25
.06
.50
.20
.20
.12
.05
1.40
.05
.05
.05
.10
.05
.25
.86
.56
3.34
8.76
.10
.05
.80
.12
.05
1.40
CONDITIONS OF LIVING
671
AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 1 3 —Continued.
Articles bought
fourth week
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
$0.20
$0.20
$0.20
$0.25
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstufls:
Bread..........................................
Flour...........................................
Meats:
Beefsteak.....................................
California hams...........................
Pork pudding...............................
Pudding___ 7 ...............................
Sausage^.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, lima..................................
Beans, navy.................................
Com, canned................................
Onions..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
Baking powder............................
Coffee 7 .*.......................................
Cornstarch...................................
Hom iny........................................
L a r d ./..........................................
Oatmeal........................................
Pickles...........................................
S im p .............................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Cotton thread..............................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches........................................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Soap..............................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
f if t h w e e k
Mon
day.
$0.20
.25
$0.25
.20
.48
.24
.24
.25
.25
.15
.30
.10
.10
.10
A7
.io
.11
$1.30
.20
.25
.48
.24
.24
.50
.15
.10
.10
.05
.15
.15
.10
.10
.05
.15
.34
.10
.49
.30
.40
.05
.17
.05
.05
.12
.10
.06
.10
.15
.05
.34
.05
.05
.12
.10
.06
.20
.26
.12
.12
.05
a 1.00
.10
.10
.05
.05
.05
.70
.72
.20
.20
.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.25
.96
.54
.60
3.23
6 7.75
.20
.20
.20
.25
.25
1.25
.25
.30
.43
.45
.08
.24
.50
.43
.15
.10
.09
.10
.05
.15
.15
.15
.10
.09
.10
.05
.15
.15
.30
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstufls:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Liver.............................................
Pudding........................................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder, corned..........................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, lima..................................
Beans, navy.................................
Cabbage........................................
Com, canned................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Turnips.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Lard..............................................
Oatmeal........................................
Pickles...........................................
S im p.............................................
Sugar............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
.25
.15
.08
.24
.25
.17
.35
.10
.10
.17
.i2
.10
.17
.10
.10
.47
.35
.40
A7
.17
.12
.10
.06
.10
.17
.51
.24
.10
.06
.20
.34
.12
.12
a N ot shown under any day because day of-payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*.
672
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W EE K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 1 2 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
nest
day. j day*
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1806)—
Concluded.
f if t h w e e k
Furniture and utensils:
Lamp shade.................................
Clothespins..................................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Lam pwicks..................................
Soap..............................................
T obacco........................................
$0.05
$0.05
T ota l..........................................
.60
.61
$0.08
$0.05
$0.08
.05
al.00
.02
$0.99
$0.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.02
.10
.25
.80
.87
3.41
6 8.28
$0.08
.10
$0.15
$0.25
$0.83
.10
.10
.18
.48
.10
.10
.20
.07
.15
.10
FAJMLllilT N O. 1 3 .
first w e e k
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Meats:
Meat..............................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans............................................
Onions...........................................
Pears.............................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:*
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
C atch up.......................................
Coffee............................................
Jelly...............................................
Pies................................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Clothing:
Cap................................................
Clothing (installment)................
Overalls........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Lamp, burner, and wick............
Sewing machine (installment). .
R ent.....................................................
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Carpet staples..............................
Ice..................................................
Machine needles...........................
Moving..........................................
Payment of debt ( c ) ...................
Postage stamps...........................
Vaseline........................................
T otal..........................................
sec on d w e e k
$0.05
$0.15
$0.15
.20
.10
.08
i
1
!
.05 i
i
j
.10
.07
.15
.10
.15
.08
.08
.08
.10
.15
.46
$0.08
.05
.05
.16
.05
.30
.56
.15
.05
.16
.05
.06
.05
.56
.15
i
i
i
.15
.25
.25
.50
.25
.25
j
l
.10
.75
10.00
.50
.10
10.00
.50
.05
.05
.05
.05
2.50
c5.00
.04
.05
.05
.05
2.50
c5.00
.04
.05
10.43
.43
3.35
.72
.57
<*7.07
.23
<*24.05
.15
.10
.20
.20
.20
.15
.05
.20
1.05
.20
.05
.05
.05
.10
.27
.13
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Bologna........................................
Codfish..........................................
Meat..............................................
Sausage.........................................
.05
.i3
.05
.22
<*Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*.
c For goods not bought during the period.
<*Including $5, payment of debt for goods not bought during the period.
673
CONDITIONS OP LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A R K IliY NO. 1 3 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Suncay.
Total
for
week.
(October, 1905)—
Concluded.
second w eek
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Tomatoes, fresh..........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Lard..............................................
Pies................................................
Sirup.............................................
Tea*..............................................
Clothing:
Clothing (installment)...............
Cotton thread.............................
Drilling.........................................
H airpins......................................
Stockings__ 7...............................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Sewing machine (installment). .
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bicycle tape..................................
Car fare.........................................
Ice..................................................
Lime..............................................
Insect powder..............................
Soap..............................................
Starch...........................................
Thimble........................................
T otal..........................................
th ir d w e e k
$0.10
$0.10
.10
$0.10
10.08
$0.15
.08
.10
.08
$0.08
$0.15
.08
.08
$0.08
.10
.10
.10
.25
.10
.20
.15
.20
1.00
.30
.30
.56
1.00
.05
.30
.05
.50
.30
.05
i
.05 ______ 1_______
.50
.30
.10
.10
o.75
.35
.35
.05
.05
.10
.10
.05
.10
.05
.10
.10
.05
.05
.02
.10
.05
.05
.02
.76
.53
1.25
2.68
.45
.38
.63
b 7.43
.15
.20
.10
.10
.15
.20
.20
.05
1.05
.10
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Meats:
Pork chops...................................
.................
Sausage..............
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, canned..............................
Cabbage........................................
Onions.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
Coffee.............................................
Oatmeal........................................
Payment o f debt (O ................
Pies................................................
Sirup.............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing (installment)......................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Kerosene.......................................
W ood .............................................
Furniture and utensils:
.20
.15
.08
.15
.08
.08
.08
.10
S ew inff m ach in e (in s ta llm e n ts . .
.16
.13
.48
.10
.07
.05
.30
.07
.05
.04
.10
.16
.16
.10
Insurance (4 policies)........................ i.............
.16
.13
.48
C5.00
.15
.15
.10
.30
.20
.30
.12
.10
.04
.30
.50
.10
.32
.10
c5.00
.30
.10
.30
.20
a . 50
.30
.12
.10
a. 75
o.35
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts,
b This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note o.
c For groceries not bought during the period.
674
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 F A M ILIE S F O R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S — Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 1 3 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
10.25
$0.25
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
THIRD WEEK (October, 1905)—
Concluded.
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Pearline........................................
Soap..............................................
$0.05
T otal..........................................
.53
.78
.10
.20
fourth week
.79
$0.25
.05
$0.75
.05
.20
$0.78
$0.67
a 7.14
.39 a &12. 68
.10
.05
.05
.25
.70
.05
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Crackers........................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Fish...............................................
Meat..............................................
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Oranges.........................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Pies................................................
Sirup..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Apron goods................................
Clothing (installment)................
Cotton thread..............................
Dress g oods..................................
R ibbon..........................................
Shoe repairing..............................
Underwear....................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Kerosene.......................................
W ood .............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Sewing machine (installment). .
R en t.....................................................
Insurance (4 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Moving..........................................
Soap..............................................
T otal..........................................
f if t h w e e k
$0.15
.12
.12
.25
.15
.40
.25
.15
.40
.15
.15
.10
.38
.53
.10
.32
.08
.16
.10
.15
1............
.32
.08
.28
.16
.10
.46
.28
.25
.10
.46
.20
. 15 ,
.20
.36
1.17
.15
.30
.35
.92
.40
.06
.36
c. 50
.30
1.17
.15
.35
.92
______ 1
.25
8.50
.25
.25
.80
5.86
.25
............ |.............
.30
11.76
c. 75
8.50
.25
.25
3.00
1.58
-40
.06
.25
1.00
.75
3.00
.30
d 22.25
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
1.10
.15
.15
.15
.15
.20
.20
.10
Crackers........................................
.05
.10
.20
.05
Meats:
Beef tongue.............. ....................
.15
.15
Ham, p otted................................
.15
.10
.05
Pigs’ feet.......................................
.15
.15
Pork chops...................................
.15
.16
Roast beef....................................
.45
.45
Vegetables and fruits :
Beans............................................
.15
.05
.10
Beans, canned..............................
.10
.10
.05
Onions...........................................
.05
Potatoes.......................................
.08
.08
.08
.08
Sweet potatoes............................
.10
Tomatoes, canned.......................
.10
a Including $5, payment of debt for groceries not bought during the period.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a, p. 673.
c Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts,
d This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note c.
675
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S — Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 1 3 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Tues
day.
Mon
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
$0.15
$0.15
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
FIFTH WEEK (January, 1906)—
Concluded.
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter........................................... $0.30
Cheese...........................................
Milk, condensed...........................
‘ $6.20
Milk, fresh....................................
.04
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
Coffee............................................
.16
Eggs..............................................
.28
L ard..............................................
Macaroni.......................................
Pie.................................................
.10
Suerar________________________
Clothing (installment)......................1.............
Fuel and lighting:
:
Coal............................................... 1.............
Kerosene.....................................................
Furniture and utensils:
Sewing machine (installment). . 1............
Insurance (4 noliciesl________ ____ 1_______
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
.25
Lamp wick....................................
.02
Listerine.......................................
.10
Paregoric......................................
.05
Starch...........................................
Stove polish.................................
T otal..........................................
-.98
1.10
$0.09
.20
.04
$0.08
.08
|
.08
.16
.67
.10
.06
.10
.27
a .50
.11
.10
.06
.28
1
!
,
i
.27
$0.28
$0.60
.09
.40
.16
.30
.11
.58
.11
a . 75
a . 35
.50
.02
.10
.05
.05
.05
.25
.05
.68
.05
.95
.73
2.44
.18
68.66
$0.20
$0.10
$0.15
$0.10
$1.00
.05
.05
.37
.10
. xo
.25
.05
.15
.30
F A M I L Y NO. 1 4 .
first week
(September, 1905).
Bread and breadstufis:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Bologna........................................
Head-cheese.................................
L am b......... ..................................
Meat..............................................
Middlings.....................................
Pudding........................................
Salmon..........................................
Sardines........................................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder.......................................
Soup bone.....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Bananas.......................................
Beans............................................
Cabbage........................................
Grapes..........................................
Onions..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes fresh..........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Noodles.........................................
Pie.................................................
Rice...............................................
Sirup.............................................
Sugar............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Dry goods....................................
$0.15
$0.15
$0.15
.10
.10
.07
.05
.io
.05
.13
.10
.10
.10
.05
.05
.05
.10
.15
.10
.10
.10
.25
.10
.05
.10
j
.05
.05
.05
.20
.15
.15
.02
.10
.08
.07
.02
.05
.05
.15
.10
.08
.05
1
.05
.05
.05
.02
.13
.05
.05
.05
.06
.25
.06
.06
.05
.06
.06
.05
.49
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
.25
.07
.05
.05
.05
.03
.05
.03
.10
.06
.05
.10
.10
.36
.15
.74
676
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 1 4 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(September, 1905)—
Concluded.
first w eek
Fuel and lighting:
$0.06
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
second week
.10
.05
$0.66
.10
.15
.03
.15
$0.15
$0.03
.05
$0.05
1.19
.51
.81
1.25
1.41
$0.41
&6.49
.15
.15
.10
.10
.20
.05
.10
.80
.05
.15
.08
.10
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Crackers........................................
Meats:
Bologna........................................
Head-cheese..................................
Kidneys........................................
M eat.............................................
P ork..............................................
Pork pudding...............................
Shoulder.......................................
Soup m eat....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Cabbage........................................
Onions...........................................
Pears.............................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh...........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cake...............................................
Coffee.............................................
Ginger...........................................
Rice..............................................„
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Clothing:
Dry goods.....................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
R ent.....................................................
Insurance (2 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
third w eek
o. 25
.05
$0.05
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Hair cu t........................................
Soap..............................................
T obacco........................................
T otal..........................................
$0.06
.05
.10
.17
.14
.10
.07
.15
.07
.08
.12
.10
.01
.08
.10
.14
.01
.05
.13
.23
.10
.10
.07
.05
.07
.08
.05
.15
.22
.35
.08
.14
.17
.10
.27
.25
.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.03
.06
.06
.06
.05
.06
.15
.05
.05
.02
.03
.48
.05
.02
.24
.15
.15
.01
'.06
.06
.01
o.25
7.30
o. 10
7.30
.10
.10
.05
.05
.25
.05
.56
612.09
.30
.80
.42
.65
7.89
1.12
.05
.15
.15
.15
.20
.15
.05
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Crackers........................................
Meats:
Bologna.........................................
Head-cheese..................................
P ork..............................................
Pudding........................................
Sausage........................................
Shoulder........................................
Soup meat....................................
Stew beef......................................
.07
.13
.12
.05
.10
.10
.10
.10
.20
.05
.11
.85
.05
.05
.23
.18
.24
« N ot shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
.12
.18
.10
.10
.50
.54
.18
.11
677
CONDITIONS OF LIVING- AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SP E C IF IE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO* 14—Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(October, 1905)—
Concluded.
third w eek
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Cabbage........................................
Onions...........................................
P otatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, fresh..........................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
$0.08
$0.10
.05
10.05
.05
.05
.02
Groceries, etc.:
Catchup.........................................
Coffee .1 .........................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Cotton...........................................
Dry goods....................................
Shoes.............................................
Silk thread...................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
Insurance (2 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Glasses..........................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
.05
.05
.05
1.00
.06
.05
.05
.05
10.10
.06
$0.10
.18
.01
.05
.10
$0.10
$0.01
.06
.02
$6.02
.10
.05
.24
.05
.05
.06
.05
.20
1.00
.05
.20
.06
.01
.15
.05
.06
.06
.02
.01
a. 25
.10
.10
.10
.25
.05
.15
.25
.25
.05
.27
1.20
1.71
.94
.66
.81
.15
.10
.20
.15
.15
.25
.31
6 6.15
FOURTH WEEK (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
_________ _________ __
Bread
Meats:
Chipped beef.................................
Head-cheese..................................
Lam b............................................
Pork pudding...............................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder.......................................
Soup m eat....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Cabbage........................................
Onions...........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Turnips.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Candy............................................
Hom iny.........................................
Lard..............................................
Oatmeal........................................
Sirup ...........................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Dry goods.....................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Clothespins..................................
Stove (installment) ...................
Insurance (2 policies)........................
.05
.05
.23
.20
.10
.01
.05
.02
.05
.10
.05
.13
.23
.13
.20
.20
.08
.10
•.08
.05
.05
.08
.08
.08
.06
1.00
.08
.10
.20
.10
.16
.01
-.13
.05
.08
.34
.02
.05
.05
.16
.03
.10
.10
.36
..05
.08
.03
.06
.05
.06
.10
.06
.10
.06
.78
.06
.42
.06
.06
.01
.05
.05
.15
.20
.64
.33
•.40
.20
1.20
.12
.01
.05
o .2 5
0.10
° Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «.
678
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES F O R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S — Continued.
F A J H lL ir N O . 1 4 —Concluded.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Miscellaneous:
Newspapers..................................
Soap .1 .......................................
Tobacco........................................
$0.01
$0.01
$0.01
$0.01
.04
$0.01
$0.01
$0.05
$0.11
.04
.20
T otal..........................................
.76
.54
o6.71
Articles bought.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
fourth w e e k
f if t h w e e k
.Off
1.35
.94
.76
.64
1.37
.20
.05
.15
.15
.05
.20
.15
.13
.13
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Bologna........................................
HanT.............................................
Pnrlr
.10
.05
____________________
.10
•15
.10
Pork pudding...............................1.............
T otal..........................................
.10
.08
.08
.08
.02
.01
.05
.84
1.02
.05
.08
.04
.06
.05
.05
.40
.01
.04
.02
.08
.06
.08
.06
.51
.15
.23
.20
.10
.22
.12
.10
.10
.12
.08
.10
.10
.08
.01
.06
.12
.10
.12
.08
.08
.04
.10
.13
.10
.10
.12
Stew beef......................................
Tripe.............................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh.............v .....................
Groceries, etc.:
Cake..............................................
Candy............................................
Coffee.............................................
Hom iny.........................................
Lard..............................................
Pepper...........................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Clothing:
Dry goods.....................................
Shoes.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
Insurance (2 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Newspapers..................................
Soap...............................................
T obacco........................................
Washing soda..............................
.10
.90
.05
.06
.40
1.19
.48
.08
.02
.01
.05
.16
.04
.02
.30
.10
.80
1.19
.06
.06
.10
5.25
.10
.01
.03
.05
.02
.01
.10
.89
.69
2.19
$0.15
$0.15
.01
.05
.10
.03
.25
.02
.74
.42
c7.04
$0.15
$0.10
$0.75
.05
F A M I L Y N O. 1 5 .
f ir s t w e e k
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Beefsteak......................................
Bologna........................................
Meat..............................................
P ork..............................................
Shoulder........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Grapes,.........................................
a This amount exceeds the sum of the daily
6 Not shown under any day because day of
cThis amount exceeds the sum of the daily
$0.10
.30
$0.10
.05
.30
.50
.05
.30
.25
.05
.30
.25
.50
.25
.25
.10
.10
.is
.25
.15
totals shown, for the reason given in note <*, p. 677.
payment was not specified in original family accounts.
totals shown, for the reason given in note &.
679
CONDITION'S OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
FA JH IIilT NO. 1 5 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
FIRST WEEK (October, 1905)—
Concluded.
Vegetables and fruits—Concluded.
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk...............................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Pickles..........................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Gown............................................
H a t................................................
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke..............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread (installm ent)...........
Blankets (installment)...............
Sewing machine (installment). .
T ub................................................
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
D octor..........................................
Errand.........................................
Gold D u st....................................
Hair cu t........................................
Medicine........................................
Soap..............................................
Telephone message......................
Total..........................................
$0.10
.10
.03
$0.10
$0.10
.10
.10
.56
.56
.25
.03
$0.25
.15
.20
.15
$0.05
$0.50
.50
.50
.50
.20
$0.20
.10
.50
.15
.05
.20
.15
.10
a. 25
a. 50
.50
.10
.50
.10
.50
1.00
1.00
.01
.25
.40
2.00
.01
.12
.25
.75
.25
.05
.12
$0.35
.25
.05
2.20
2.53
.45
.61
1.10
3.18
.10
.15
.15
.05
.10
.10
.10
.25
&11.07
.10
.80
.05
.12
SECOND WEEK (October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Meat..............................................
Pork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans............................................
Onions..........................................
Pears.............................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Turnips.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Millr...............................................
Groceries, etc.:
Candy............................................
Coffee................. ...... ........... ........
Pie.................................................
Ye sat powder...............................
Clothing:
Shoes.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke..............................................
Kerosene.......................................
W ood ............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread (installment)............
Blankets (installment)...............
Sewing machine (installment). .
.20
.10
.15
'
.05
.23
.12
.25
.i5
.10
.18
.45
.38
.25
.18
.15
.08
.10
.10
.05
.15
.15
.05
.08
.20
.10
.05
.28
.25
.28
.25
.05
.15
.05
.15
.13
.05
.05
.10
.13
.05
1.75
1.75
.20
.05
.10
.06
.50
.25
.50
.30
.11
.50
.25
.50
a . 50
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given m note «.
680
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES F O R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M II/S T N O . 1 5 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
SECOND WEEK (October, 1905)—
Concluded.
$2.00
a. 50
$2.00
Miscellaneous:
$6.35
Soap..............................................
T otal..........................................
$2.10
b 7.10
$1.03
$0.20
6.35
.20
$0.27 &c 16.88
2.63
$0.95
1.80
.10
.10
.15
.10
.43
THIRD WEEK (October, 1905).
Bread and breadstufis:
Bread............................................
Buckwheat.................................
Flour...........................................
Meats:
Pork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder.......................................
Soup bone.....................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Black-eyed peas.........................
Pears
................................
Potatoes.....................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Turnips.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
Coffee.............................................
L ard..............................................
Maple sirup..................................
Sugar.............................................
Y east.............................................
Clothing:
Canton flannel..............................
Dresses for children....................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread (installment)............
Blankets (installment)...............
Sewing machine (installment). . •
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Newspaper....................................
T otal........................................ !
fourth w e e k
.05
.15
i
' _____1_______
.05
.10
.50
.10
.43
.48
.17
.48
.17
.15
.10
.10
.15
.17
.10
.13
.10
.05
.25
.17
.10
.13
.10
.05
.14
.28
.42
.08
.15
.29
.15
.08
.25
.02
.05
.23
.29
.15
.08
.25
.02
.25
1.35
.25
1.35
.10
.40
.40
.50
o.25
o. 50
.50
.50
.50
.01
.01
1.01
.50
.10
.18
.25
.52
4.85
.10
C7.98
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstufis:
Bread.............................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Meat..............................................
Middling........................................
P ork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk...............................................
Groceries, etc.:
Candy............................................
Catchup.........................................
Coffee.............................................
.15
.10
.20
.53
.20
.24
.24
.10
.10
.11
.10
.10
.10
.10
.15
.15
.25
.11
.15
.30
.30
.45
.25
.05
.05 ............
.15 1............
.05
.05
.15
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 Including $6.35, payment on loan.
c This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note o.
681
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E TA IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SP E C IF IE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I l i V NO. 1 5 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
foubth week
Groceries, etc.—Concluded.
Lard......... .....................................
Molasses.......................................
Pie.................................................
Sage...............................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke..............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread (installment)............
Blankets (installment)...............
Sewing machine (installment). .
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Gold Dust.....................................
Soap..............................................
Talcum powder............................
T otal..........................................
fifth w eek
$0.13
$6.10
.10
$0.13
.10
.20
.05
.16
.10
$6.05
.16
.10
.10
.20
.06
.50
.10
$0.10
$0.10
.60
.06
$0.10
a. 25
a. 50
.50
.50
.50
1.16
1.33
.60
.10
.10
.10
.05
.10
.10
.11
.10
.10
.11
.10
.10
2.05
6 6.09
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Meat..............................................
Middlings......................................
Soup bone............................ .......
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Onions..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Milk ...........................................
Groceries, etc.:
Candy............................................
Coffee............................................
Lard..............................................
P ie.................................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke..............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Bedspread (installment)............
Blankets (installment)...............
Lamp chimney.............................
Sewing machine (installment). .
Insurance (7 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Safety pins...................................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
.35
.20
.20
.10
.10
.10
.10
.10
.10
i
|
.10
.10
l
............
.05
.10
.10
.06
.25
.06
.50
.20
.05
.15
.05
.15
.16
i
$0.03
.07
.18
|
.20
.12
.06
.25
.50
.06
.50
a. 50
.50
i
.02
.97
.95
.15
.20
.28
.03
.16
.07
.23
.56
.05
.02
.05
.33
c 3.94
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «.
c This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*. In this
week a donation of food was received by the family.
682
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FA M ILIE S F O R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 1 6 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(October, 1905)—
Concluded.
fibst w eek
Vegetables and fruits:
$0.10
$0.10
.10
.15
.10
.53
.10
.15
.25
.15
$0.10
$0.15
Onions..........................................
.15
.10
.15
T urnips... ..................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
.10
.23
.10
.10
.20
.02
$0.04
.13
.08
.15
.13
.02
.10
.04
Groceries, etc.:
C atch up......................................
.25
Eggs..............................................
Lard..............................................
Mustard (glass)...........................
Noodles. .7....................................
Pepper..........................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Shoes.............................................
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Ga.soline........... ............................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Picture (installment).................
Rugs (installment).....................
Stove (installment)....................
R ent..............................................
Insurance (6 policies).................
Miscellaneous:
Medicine........................................
Salve.............................................
Soapine.........................................
T otal..........................................
second w e e k
.15
$0.07
.05
1
•10
.10
__________i__________
$0.02
.10
.10
.05
.05
.11 !
.50
.02
.25
.20
.05
.20
.05
.05
.64
6 13.43
.05
.80
.67
.05
.25
.05
.10
1.49
.50
.05
.25
a .25
a. 50
3.50
.51
3.50
.51
4.12
.10
.40
.28
.15
.10
.10
.05
.05
.11
1.50
.25
1.50
.25
10.03
.23
.14
.47
4.49
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Rye bread.....................................
Meats:
B acon............... : ...........................
Pork pudding...............................
Roast beef...................................
Shoulder.......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Kale...............................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Turnips.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
B utter...........................................
Cream, condensed........................
Milk, fresh....................................
Schweitzer cheese........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Lard..............................................
Noodles.........................................
Pickles
. ................................
Rice...............................................
Sugar.............................................
.10
.75
.30
.10
.18
.40
.55
.15
.18
.40
.55
.25
.15
.15
.10
.10
.25
.15
.15
.25
.25
.10
.15
.10
.10
.13
.05
.02
.02
.04
.10
.05
.05
.15
.13
.10
.05
.ii
.05
.13
.05
.08
.10
.15
*.18
.10
.05
.05
.05
.11
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*.
683
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 1 6 —Continued.
Articles bought.
second w eek (October, 1905)—
Concluded.
Clothing:
Cotton thread..............................
Shoes.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke..............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches.........................................
W ood (bundle)............................
Furniture and utensils:
Lamp chimney.............................
Rugs (installment).....................
Stove (installment).....................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Church contribution...................
Newspaper...................................
Payment on loan.........................
Soap..............................................
Washing soda..............................
T otal..........................................
third w eek
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
$0.05
$0.10
.10
Sun
day.
$0.05
1.25
$1.25
$0.10
.04
$0.10
Total
for
week.
.40
.08
.02
.03
$0.04
$0.02
.03
.08
.08
o.25
o. 50
1.21
1.21
.25
3.45
.25
. 10
3.45
.10
.02
.10
.10
.02
6 5.21
.55
.36
.50
.46
4.05
.14 6 c 12.02
.10
.05
.25
.05
.30
.05
.10
.05
.25
.05
.95
.25
.05
.05
.05
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Com meal.....................................
Crackers........................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Bacon, breakfast.........................
Beefsteak......................................
Bologna........................................
Pork pudding...............................
Shoulder.......................................
Shoulder, fresh............................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans, string*..............................
K raut............................................
Onions..........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Spinach.........................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
Coffee.............................................
Lard..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Vinegar.........................................
Clothing:
Caps...............................................
Cotton thread..............................
Shoes.............................................
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke..............................................
Kerosene.......................................
W ood (bundle)............................
Furniture and utensils:
Stove (installment).....................
R ent..............................................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Crosspieces...................................
.05
.05
.15
.15
.10
.25
.20
.20
.15
.13
.65
.43
.25
.10
.15
.10
.65
.20
.15
.10
.15
.10
.20
.14
.05
.08
.15
.02
.15
.25
. 15
.13
.65
.43
.25
.15
.04
.06
.05
.10
.05
.29
.05
.22
.02
.05
.15
.30
.15
.11
.02
.15
.is
.15
.11
.02
.45
.45
.05
.50
.10
.05
.50
.10
.10
.10
.04
.10
.04
.20
.10
.60
.08
.03
.50
.50
4.00
.80
.80
.80
.03
r
1
4.00
.50
.30
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 Including $3.45 paid on loan.
c This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*.
684
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES F O R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W EEKS— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O. 1 6 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
THIRD WEEK (October, 1905)—
Concluded.
Miscellaneous—Concluded.
Soap..............................................
Tal^ets.........................................
Union dues...................................
T o ta l.........................................
fourth week
$4.25
$0.86
$1.09
$1.17
.15
.25
.10
.25
.50
1.44
$0.10
. 10
.50
$0.10
4.23
$1.62
14.66
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Rye bread.....................................
Meats":
Bologna.....................................
P orkch ops...................................
Round steak................................
Sausage.........................................
Shoulder.......................................
Stew beef......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, navy.................................
Cabbage . . I ..................................
Potatoes.......................................
Turnips.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
.Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Apple butter................................
Coffee.............................................
Hom iny........................................
Lard..............................................
Noodles.........................................
Rice...............................................
Sugar.............................................
Yeast cake....................................
Clothing:
Calico............................................
Clothing (installment)................
Gingham.......................................
Overalls........................................
Shoe repairing..............................
Shoes (two pairs)........................
Shoe strings.................................
Socks.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke...............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Picture (installment)..................
Rugs (installment).....................
Stove (installment).....................
Rent,.................. ............................... .
Tuanranee (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Laundry.......................................
Soap..............................................
Soapine.........................................
Tobacco........................................
Union dues...................................
T otal..........................................
fifth w eek
$0.10
!
.35
.08
1.10
.08
.10
.10
. 15
.54
.10
.56
.30
.15
.25
.10
.13
.56
.30
.15
.10
.15
.29
.25
. 15
.43. 15'
.30
.15
.15
.04
.04
.15
.08
.02
.05
.04
.05
.30
.10
.02
.17
.07
.10
.05
.13
.02
.03
.15
.60
.25
.10
.16
.06
.26
.06
.25
4.00
.25
a . 25
a. 50
4.00
1.02
i.02
.05
.05
.81
.08
.08
.10
.05
. 10
.50
.26
618.45
.05
.05
.50
.05
4.39
. 10
.17
.07
.10
.15
.05
.13
.02
.60
a. 50
.76
.75
.50
2.20
.05
.25
.76
.75
.50
2.20
.05
.60
. 10
.27
1.53
1.12
1.19
.10
.25
.05
.05
7.90
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Rve bread.....................................
.10
.05
.25
.io
.70
.15
.10
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note <*.
CONDITIONS OF LIVING
685
AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E S P E C IF IE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 1 6 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
fifth week (January, 1906)—
Concluded.
Meats:
Pigs* feet......................................
Pork chops.........._ ......................
Pork pudding...............................
Round steak!...............................
Shoulder.......................................
Stew beef......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, n a v y ................................
Onions___I...................................
Potatoes.......................................
Prunes..........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc:
Apple butter..... .........................
Coffee............................................
Eggs..............................................
Hom iny........................................
Lard..............................................
R ice...............................................
S iru p ............................................
Clothing:
B uttons ................................................
Calico............................................
Clothing (installment)...............
Garters.........................................
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
$0.24
Fri
day.
$0.20
$0.25
.15
.02
$0.04
.04
.10
.12
.10
.16
.55'
.10
.10
.11
.17
.11.
. 17
.10'
. 18
.22'
.05“
.10'
.18
.10
.05
.10.39
.50
.10.30
3.00
.16
.03
.32
.06
.05
.03
.50
.86
.5 0
.85
.06
.05
.10
.05
2.47
.10
.08'
.10
.10
.05'
.25
.08
.10
.10
.25
W a s h in g ...............................................
T otal..........................................
.25
.10
.30
3.00
L a u n d r y .............................................
S o a p ............... ........................................
S o a p in e ........................................... ......
Tobacco........................................
.15.05
.25.14
.39
.10
Total
for
week.
$0. Iff
.44
.20
.64.54'
.50
.20
.39
.54
.50
.10
.50
S t.oek in gs......... ....................................
Suit of clothes..............................
Fuel and lighting:
Coke..............................................
Kerosene.......................................
Matches........................................
W ood (bundle)............................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Insurance (6 policies) ........................
Miscellaneous:
Composition books .........................
$0.10
.14
.15
.04
Sun
day.
.15
.05
$0.25
.02
Satur
day.
1.17
.75
.75
.54
6.91
$0.05
$0.10
$0.05
.08
.43
12.59'
F A M I L Y N O. 1 7 .
f ir s t w e e k
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread.........................
Meats:
Meat...........................
Oysters......................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples........................
Beans..........................
C om ............................
Pears..........................
Potatoes....................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter........................
Milk, condensed........
Milk, fresh.................
Groceries, etc.:
Coflee..........................
Lard...........................
Pickles........................
12951— No. 64—06----- 7
10.10
$0.10
$0.10
.
.15
$0.10
$0.60*
.30
.30
.08
.05
.10*
.10
08
.05
.10
.05
10
13
.04
.05
.02
.04
.13.
08
.04
04
.05
15
05
.10
.12
.13
.10
.28
.2d
.10
. 02.
686
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 1 7 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Total
for
week.
Sun
day.
(October, 1905)—
Concluded.
f ir s t w e e k
Clothing:
Fuel and lighting:
$0.03
W ood ..........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Miscellaneous:
$0.25
$0.75
\ .10
.05
$0.75
.10
.05
.10
.06
.10
.06
.06
.50
2.00
.50
2.00
a . 20
$0.03
.10
.05
.35
.01
.05
.16
3.00
. 15
.05
10.10
.47
.47
.12
$0.37
&7.83
.88
6 clO. 44
.05
.05
.10
.10
.10
.10
.05
.01
$0.05
.16
• 3.66
.15
T otal.............................................
sec on d w e e k
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread. .........................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
.08
Hndfish
Ham, cooked................................
Meat, _ .........................................
Oysters (1 dozen)........................
Pork..............................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apple's...........................................
Corn, canned................................
Onions..........................................
Pears.............................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cake...............................................
Candy............................................
C atchup.......................................
Coffee.............................................
Spaghetti......................................
S u gar
........................................... .
Clothing:
Cap................................................
Garters. . , ....................................
Hat elastic....................................
Jacket...........................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Coke...............................................
K e r o s e n e ........................... ..........
Matches.........................................
W ood ............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Coffee strainer..............................
Furniture (installment).............
Pitcher..........................................
R ug................................................
Saucepan......................................
Scrub brush..................................
Spoons...........................................
Stove poker..................................
.15
.13
.55
.08
.05
.15
.23
.30
. 16
.05
.10
.30
.16
%
.05
. 10
.05
.10
.08
.08
.02
.05
.15
.04
.05
.15
.05
.30
.05
.11
.06
.25
.15
.02
.25
.20
.02
.02
.05
.12
.30
.32
.02
.05
.05
.30
.05
.17
.25
.15
.02
.25
.30
.10
.05
.10
.01
.20
.10
.10
.01
.03
.50
.10
. 19
.10
.05
.05
.05
R e n t,...............................................................
Insurance (3 policies)........................
.30
.20
.02
.02
.13
.05
.50
.10
.19
.10
.05
.05
.05
a 2.00
a . 20
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 Including $3 paid on loan.
c This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note
687
CONDITION'S OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A J H IL Y N O. 1 7 —Continued.
Articles bought.
second
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day
Thurs
day.
$0.25
$0.10
.10
$0.05
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
Week (October, 1905)—
Concluded.
Miscellaneous:
Beer...............................................
Car fare.........................................
Dog collar.....................................
Paregoric......................................
Spirits niter..................................
Starch...........................................
Sweet oil.......................................
$0.10
T otal..........................................
1.57
1.29
.79
.39
.45
$2.01
$0.17
®8.87
.05
.05
.10
.05
.05
.10
.05
.05
.05
.45
.10
third week
$0.15
.45
.10
.05
.10
.05
.10
$0.10
.05
.10
.05
.10
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Buns..............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Pork..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Stew beef......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Apples...........................................
Beans, canned..............................
Corn, canned................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee............................................
Sugar.............................................
Clothing:
Flannel..........................................
Gowns...........................................
Necktie..........................................
Shirt..............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Coke..............................................
W ood ............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
R ent.....................................................
Miscellaneous:
Beer...............................................
Medicine........................................
Nipple...........................................
Nursing bottle.............................
T otal..........................................
.08
.15
.15
.08
.13
.08
.15
.15
.05
.10
.16
.13
.08
.05
.10
.08
.08
.08
.09
.04
.08
.08
.08
.15
.08
.09
.44
.11
.15
.11
.15
.50
.15
.50
.15
.50
.15
.50
.30
.10
.30
.30
.10
.20
.10
6.50
62.00
.05
1.35
.55
.10
.10
.05
1.90
.10
.10
c8.89
2.13
.83
.34
.66
.36
1.08
.99
.05
.05
.15
.10
.10
.10
.05
.60
.15
.10
.10
.15
.14
.08
FOURTH week (January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Beef...............................................
Meat..............................................
Oysters (1 p in t)...........................
Pork...........................................
Scrapple........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cake..................... : .......................
Coffee.............................................
Horse-radish................................
Sugar............................................
.10
.10
.14
.08
.08
.04
_
.04
.10
.06
.04
.04
.04
.15
.10
.04
.04
.10
.10
a This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note «, p. 686
6 Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
cThis amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note 6.
.23
.10
.28
.10
.10
.10
.06
688
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y N O . 1 7 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.10
.03
$0.10
$0.10
.05
$0.10
.03
$0.10
Total
for
week.
(January, 1906)—
Concluded.
fourth week
Fuel and lighting:
Coke..............................................
W ood ............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Lamp (installment).... ...............
R ent__ ...............................................
T otal..........................................
fifth w eek
$0.50
.11
«.50
a .25
a 2.00
$0.19
$0.41
.32
.38
.39
.72
.34
6 5.50
.10
.10
.10
.05
.10
.05
.05
.55
.15
.23
.13
.15
.07
.08
.10
.08
,
.10
.10
.08
.15
.04
.08
.15
.36
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Meat..............................................
Oysters (1 dozen)........................
Pork___ I ......................................
Stew beef......................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans, canned..............................
Com, canned................................
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc:
Coffee............................................
Eggs..............................................
Sugar............................................
Clothing:
Shoe repairing..............................
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Coke..............................................
Kerosene..........I ...........................
W ood ............................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Lamp (installment)....................
R ent.....................................................
Miscellaneous:
Car fa re ........................................
Medicine........................................
Payment of fine on loan.............
Payment on loan.........................
Tobacco........................................
T otal..........................................
.13
.23
.07
.08
.10
.04
.04
.04
.04
.08
.25
.13
.11
.25
.13
.11
1.00
.10
1.00
.10
.06
.10
.10
.10
.25
.10
.03
.03
.03
.10
.25
.40
.06
.19
.50
.25
.50
.25
a 2. CO
.35
2.90
c5.53
.25
2.00
.25
2.00
.35
2.90
.05
.05
.86
.27
.30
.36
3.19
.28 6c 12.79
$0.07
$0.07
10.14
$0.49
.35
.35
.50
F A M I L Y NO. 1 8 .
first w eek
(October, 1905).
Bread and breads tuffs:
Bread..........................
Meats:
Beef.............................
Meat...........................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans..........................
Kale............................
Potatoes.....................
Tomatoes, fresh........
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter........................
Milk, fresh..................
10.07
10.07
10.07
.50
.10
.28
.09
.10
.05
.05
10
.i4
14
14
.09
.10
.10
.05
$0.09
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
c Including $2.90 paid on loan and $0.35 fine on loan.
.42
.73
689
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 1 8 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(October, 1905)—
Concluded.
first week
Groceries, etc.:
Baby fo o d .....................................
Coffee.............................................
Doughnuts..................................
L a rd .............................................
Sirup.............................................
Sugar............................................
Tea................................................
Clothing:
Shoe repairing.............................
Fuel and lighting':
Coal...............................................
Gas................................................
Matches........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Grate for stove............................
Rug (installment).......................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Ice..................................................
Shave.............................................
Soap..............................................
Washing.......................................
T otal..........................................
id. is
$0.45
.05
$0.10
.25
.15
.35
$0.45
$0.90
.18
.05
.05
.20
.50
.15
$0.05
.10
.25
.75
.40
.25
$0.25
.25
.05
.50
.25
.05
.25
.25
.25
1.14
.25
1.14
.25
.05
.05
.05
.05
.10
.05
2.10
.69
2.09
1.36
1.01
2.97
.07
.07
.07
.07
.07
.18
.53
.50
.10
.50
.10
.05
.05
.25
.30
.10
.05
1.50
1.50
$0.09
10.31
SECOND WEEK (October, 1905).
Bread and breads tuffs:
Bread............................................
Meats:
Meat..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Milk, fresh....................................
Groceries, etc.:
Baby fo o d ........ .............. . .....
Coffee.............................................
Doughnuts...................................
Sirup.............................................
Sugar............................................
Clothing:
Necktie..........................................
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Gas................................................
Kerosene.......................................
Furniture and utensils:
Rug (installment).......................
Insurance (6 policies)......................
Miscellaneous:
Ice..................................................
Medicine........................................
Nipple...........................................
Polish............................................
Washing.......................................
Washing soda..............................
T otal..........................................
third w eek
.09
.09
.45
.08
.18
.09
.09
.04
.09
.09
.45
.26
.05
.10
.25
.05
.10
.25
.17
.10
.25
.11
.17
.10
.25
.25
.11
.25
o.25
1.02
1.02
.05
.05
.01
.58
.05
.10
.20
.10
.05
.10
1.00
.01
.05
.05
.10
.75
.25
2.37
.59
.16
.37
.51
2.09
.07
.07
.06
.07
.07
.12
.19
.59
.06
.52
.12
.52
.12
.09
6 6.43
(November, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Corn meal.....................................
Meats:
Meat..............................................
Sausage.........................................
Vegetables and fruits;
Potatoes.......................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Milk, fresh.............. .....................
.05
.05
.09
.09
.09
.09
.09
.09
.09
.63
a N ot shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
690
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES F O R F IV E SP E C IFIE D
W E E K S— Continued.
F A J ttI L Y NO. 1 8 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(November, 1905)—
Concluded.
third week
Groceries, etc.:
Baby fo o d ....................................
Coffee.............................................
Sirup...... .......................................
Soup, canned................................
Sugar.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Gas................................................
Furniture and utensils:
Rug (installment).............. .
Insurance (6 policies).... ...................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Medicine........................................
S o a p ...........................................
T o t a l . . . . . .................................
fourth w eek
80.10
80.45
.18
.20
.10
.25
.10
80.25
80.25
.25
.50
.25
80.25
a. 25
1.02
1.02
.25
.05
.10
.25
.15
.05
.05
1.73
.60
.41
.56
.81
1.17
.07
.19
.14
.07
.07
.07
.14
80.09
&S.62
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread......... ...................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beef__________________________
Pudding........................................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee...........................................
Doughnuts....................................
Sirup.............................................
Sugar............................ .............. Tea,............. ..................................
Clothing:
Braid.............................................
Cotton thread.............................
Dress goods for baby..................
Flannel...... ..................................
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal.............................. ........ ........
Coal and w ood.............................
G a s....... ........................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Rug (installment).......................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Medicine........................................
S o a p ................................... ......
T o ta l..........................................
fifth w eek
80.45
80.18
.10
.56
.19
.25
.15
.25
.25
.15
.25
.50
.50
.08
.10
.25
.13
.05
.05
.30
.25
.25
.08
.10
.10
.25
.13
.io
.05
.10
.30
.25
.10
.05
.10
.35
.25
.65
.50
.25
.25
.50
.30
.50
.25
1.30
.25
1.30
.20
.60
3.72
1.09
.32
.57
.07
.07
.07
.10
.05
.90
.05
1.12
.94
7.76
.07
.19
.47
.19
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread............................................
Flour....................... ......................
Meats:
Bacon............................................
Meat..............................................
Vegetables and fruits:
P o ta to e s..................... ................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Milk, condensed...........................
Groceries, etc.:
Coffee.............................................
Sirup.............. .......................... ..
Sugar.............................................
.19
.07
.35
.07
.35
.08
.08
.50
.50
.10
.25
1.00
. 18
a Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
&This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note a.
.18
.10
.25
691
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL O F 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S — Continued.
F A J fllliir N O . 1 8 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
FIFTH WEEK (January, 1906)—
Concluded.
Clothing:
Bonnet for b a by ..........................
Clothing (installment)...............
Cotton thread..............................
Shirt for b a b y ..............................
Shoe repairing.............................
Shoes.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Coal...............................................
Coal and w ood.............................
Gas................................................
Furniture and utensils:
Furniture (installment).............
Rug (installment).......................
Insurance (8 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Car fare.........................................
Medicine........................................
Nipple...........................................
Soap..............................................
Washing.......................................
Total..........................................
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
$0.25
$0.05
$0.25
a. 50
.05
. 10
.50
.25
$0.10
.50
.25
.25
Total
for
week.
.25
.50
.35
.25
$0.35
.25
.25
.05
$0.60
2.83
a. 50
.25
1.04
.25
1.04
.85
.67
.05
.05
.05
1.64
$0.25
.67
.87
$0.25
.05
.50
.35
.10
.05
.60
.30
6 8.83
F A I Q L Y NO. 19 .
fiest w eek
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread......................
Flour .....................
Meats:
F is h ........................
H am ........................
Meat........................
Shoulder..................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans......................
Cabbage..................
Pears .....................
Potatoes..................
Spinach...................
Sweet potatoes___
Groceries, etc.:
Baking powder___
Cake.........................
Candy......................
Lard........................
Peanuts...................
Sugar.......................
Tea...........................
Yeast cake..............
Fuel and lighting:
Coal.........................
Kerosene.................
W ood .......................
Insurance (6 policies)..
Miscellaneous:
Bluing.....................
Car fare...................
L ye..........................
Soap.........................
Tobacco...................
Total....................
second w eek
$0.10
$0.10
.40
$0.40
$0.25
$1
$0.20
.10
.07
.07
.13
.13
13
13
20
13
.05
10
.10
10
.10
.05
.24
05
24
.25
.25
.02
25
25
02
1.95
$1.95
.11
.25
.35
’ ’ *.*25
................ 35
.05 ............
2.30
.57
.05
.10
.10
.10
*05........ *05
.35
.15
35
15
.40
.56
05
.15
.40
3.97
8.05
(October, 1905).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Bread.......................
Flour.......................
o N ot shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note o.
.20
.40
692
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES F O R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 1 9 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Monday.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(October, 1905)—
Concluded.
second week
Meats:
Meat............................
Pork............................
Roast beef..................
Sardines.....................
Shoulder.....................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage.....................
Kale............................
Onions........................
Pears..........................
Potatoes.....................
Spurry........................
Sweet potatoes..........
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter........................
Groceries, etc.:
Baking powder.........
Cake............................
Catchup......................
L ard...........................
Peanuts......................
Pies.............................
Sugar..........................
Tea..............................
Yeast cake.................
Clothing:
Shirt...........................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene....................
Furniture and utensils:
Lamp chimney..........
Insurance (6 policies)___
Miscellaneous:
C arfare......................
Church contribution.
L y e.............................
Pew rent, church___
Soap............................
Tobacco......................
Umbrella....................
third week
10.20
10
.30
.75
.15
1.03
.03
.08
.20
10.08
.10
$0.13
.13
.26
.10
.10
.13
.15
$0.15
.15
.05
.10
.10
T
.35
.25
.25
.02
.50
.50
.06
.15
.06
.12
.25
*0.12
.05
“ i.'50*
.15
.50
76
Total.
10.10
10.10
43
.33
.90
.05
.10
1.62
9.53
(November, 1905).
Bread and breadstufis:
Bread................... . . . .
Flour...........................
Meats:
H am ............................
H eart..........................
Meat............................
M utton.......................
P ork............................
Shoulder.....................
Vegetables and fruits:
Pears...........................
Potatoes.....................
Spinach.......................
Sweet potatoes..........
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter.........................
Milk, fresh..................
Groceries, etc.:
.15
.40
.30
.25
.15
.50
.13
.13
.20
.13
.08
.05
Sugar___
Tea»
Clothing:
Stockings
Fuel and lighting:
Coal......................
Kerosene..............
W ood ...................
Insurance (6 policies)
.50
06
’35
.06
.06
.30
.18
.25
.35
CONDITIONS OF LIVING
693
AMONG THE POOR.
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECIFIED
W E E K S— Continued.
F A M I L Y NO. 1 9 —Continued.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
10.05
10.05
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Fri
day.
Satur
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(November, 1905)—
Concluded.
third week
Miscellaneous:
Basket...........................................
Bluing...........................................
Car fare.........................................
L y e................................................
Soap..............................................
T otal..........................................
fourth w eek
T otal..........................................
w eek
.46
10.45
$0.11
«0.52
.10
.10
.10
.05
.10
4.62
6.36
(January, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Chickens........................................
Fish...............................................
M utton..........................................
P ork..............................................
Shoulder........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Beans............................................
Cabbage........................................
Sweet potatoes............................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter..........................................
Groceries, etc :
Cakes.............................................
Candy............................................
Lard..............................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Yeast cake....................................
Yeast powder...............................
Clothing:
Shoes (3 pairs).............................
Stockings......................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Church contribution...................
L y e................................................
Soap..............................................
Tobacco........................................
fifth
.05
.10
.20
10.30
10.30
a. 75
.38
.38
1.00
.10
1.00
.10
.25
.40
.25
.40
1.10
.10
.10
1.10
.10
.10
.15
.24
.10
.10
.15
.09
.15
.05
.30
.25
.25
.05
.05
.30
.25
.22
.02
.10
.05
.15
.25
5.00
.25
5.00
.35
.10
.06
.16
.35
10.10
.io
.05
.05
.15
.15
5.15
.35
.46
.25
.19
4.60
.10
.10
.10
611.85
(February, 1906).
Bread and breadstuffs:
Corn meal......................................
Flour.............................................
Meats:
Beefsteak......................................
Fish...............................................
Mutton chops...............................
Pork chops...................................
Roast p ork...................................
Shoulder........................................
Vegetables and fruits:
Cabbage........................................
Potatoes.......................................
Sweet potatoes.............................
Tomatoes, canned.......................
Milk, butter, and cheese:
Butter...........................................
Cheese............................................
Groceries, etc.:
Cakes.............................................
Candy............................................
Eggs..............................................
L ard..............................................
.15
.30
.15
.30
.25
.15
.24
.19
.57
.77
.08
.12
.12
.30
.09
.15
.15
.25
.24
.19
.57
.77
.08
.12
.12
.30
.15
.24
.15
.10
.13
.20
.10
.13
.20
.24
.24
« Not shown under any day because day of payment was not specified in original family accounts.
6 This amount exceeds the sum of the daily totals shown, for the reason given in note o.
694
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
D A IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E S IN D E T A IL OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPE C IFIE D
W E E K S—Concluded.
F A M I L Y N O . 1 9 —Concluded.
Articles bought.
Mon
day.
Tues
day.
Wed
nes
day.
Thurs
day.
Satur
day.
Fri
day.
Sun
day.
Total
for
week.
(February, 1906)—
Concluded.
fifth week
Groceries, etc.—Concluded.
Rice...............................................
Salt................................................
Sugar.............................................
Tea.................................................
Yeast powder...............................
Clothing:
Shoes.............................................
Fuel and lighting:
Kerosene.......................................
R en t.....................................................
Insurance (6 policies)........................
Miscellaneous:
Bluing...........................................
Car fare.........................................
L y e................................................
Soap.
..
_
Society dues.................................
T obacco........................................
T otal..........................................
$0.10
.05
.25
.25
$0.10
$0.10
.05
.25
.25
.10
$1.75
1.75
$0.06
.60
$0.11
10.00
.17
10.00
.05
.10
.05
.05
.25
2.20
.10
.05
.10
.74
10.55
$0.24
.10
.05
.15
.10
.25
.20
.41
4.23
18.37
SUM M ARY OF W E E K L Y E X P E N D IT U R E S OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECI
F IE D W E E K S , B Y G RO U PS O F A R T IC LE S BO U G H T.
Group of articles bought.
First
week.
Second
week.
Third
week.
Fourth
week.
Fifth
j week.
Total for
five
weeks.
FAMILY NO. 1.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries.......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R en t..............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
$1.49
.95
.70
.70
1.47
$1.40
1.48
.68
.50
1.71
.35
.14
.20
8.50
$1.56
3.02
1.27
.72
2.03
.20
.08
.58
$2.45
2.20
1.15
.23
1.36
.75
1.65
.85
$2.85
2.39
1.21
.35
1.77
.50
.14
.70
1.50
.40
1.80
.45
1.25
.70
$9.75
10.04
5.01
2.50
8.34
1.30
3.14
3.58
8.50
5.05
2.39
T ota l..................................................
6.35
15.66
11.36
12.89
13.34
59.60
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries.......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R en t..............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
.95
1.56
.94
1.05
1.50
1.35
.11
1.00
.90
1.61
.85
1.20
1.30
.50
.75
1.08
.68
.74
.66
.50
.11
.90
2.07
.49
.29
.32
.50
1.02
1.00
1.00
.10
1.00
.25
a 2.00
1.00
.10
.74
1.38
.64
.74
1.26
.50
.92
1.00
1.00
.60
1.00
.21
4.24
7.70
3.60
4.02
5.04
3.35
2.16
4.50
a 2.00
5.00
1.26
T otal..................................................
9.56
9.11
7.62
8.78
7.80
42.87
.95
3.57
.30
.1.02
1.68
1.95
.52
1.20
1.35
2.50
1.17
.89
.46
.25
1.25
.44
.15
.21
.15
.25
i. i2
1.70
FAMILY NO. 2.
1.50
FAMILY NO. 3.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
6.40
9.35
1.43
.98
3.66
a Family occupies the second floor of a building and the wife is care taker of the first floor, which is
used by a school; $2 per month, in addition to her work, paid for rent.
695
CONDITIONS OF LIVING AMONG THE POOR,
SU M M ARY O F W E E K L Y E X P E N D IT U R E S O F 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECI
F IE D W E E K S, B Y G RO U PS OF A R T IC LE S BO U G H T— Continued.
Group of articles bought.
First
week.
Second
week.
Third
week.
family no . 3—concluded.
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
$0.93
1.65
.15
.50
5.00
1.00
1.65
$1.09
.66
.10
.64
$0.56
4.76
.05
1.83
1.00
.90
1.00
1.36
T ota l..................................................
16.72
9.74
14.39
.67
1.10
1.37
.66
.87
.82
1.08
.78
.51
.15
.88
.96
T. 03
.77
.65
Fourth
week.
a $5.79
2.65
.12
Fifth
week.
$0.40
Total for
five
weeks.
.36
.12
.50
5.00
.50
&6.00
a $8.77
9.72
.54
a 47
10.00
3.50
610.27
a 11.69
6 14.57
c67.11
.89
.87
.53
.71
.71
.50
.62
.25
.50
.16
3.89
4. 31
4.29
3.54
a 28
2.55
2.04
2.10
7.50
2.20
a 16
FAMILY NO. 4.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries.....................................................
Clothing.... .................................................
Fuel and lighting................ : .....................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
.30
.55
.23
.50
.29
.50
.50
2.66
.20
.13
.50
.16
.63
.30
.58
.89
.90
2.05
.60
.30
7.50
.50
.05
T otal..................................................
8.68
4.40
5.74
14.30
5.74
38.86
1.35
1.33
.82
.09
.20
1.54
.90
.65
.32
.45
1.40
1.52
.42
.65
.61
.10
.10
.75
.50
L ll
.40
.70
.81
2.17
.35
1.20
.35
1.20
6.64
6.42
3.14
2.36
2.91
422
.25
a 75
7.00
1.75
47.72
FAMILY NO. 5.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................... ! ..........................
Vegetables and fruits................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
.04
.75
1.85
1.56
.85
.60
.84
1.95
.06
.75
.35
1.00
.35
<*3.12
.05
.75
7.00
.35
1.20
T otal..................................................
5.93
4 11.93
13.21
7.10
7.99
d 46.16
FAMILY NO. 6.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats...........................................................
Vegetables and fruits...............................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous...............................................
1.40
.53
.70
1.00
1.37
4.38
.07
.50
5.00
.30
/10.84
1.75
.37
.40
.87
1.25
.95
.22
.50
1.75
1.08
.35
.90
1.68
3.68
1.70
.91
.28
1.32
1.39
1.00
3.40
1.00
1.50
.67
.15
1.12
1.23
.50
.05
.50
.30
.35
.30
.32
.25
.35
.20
.55
8.10
3.56
1.88
5.21
6.92
10.51
e .34
5.90
5.00
1.35
/12.41
T otal..................................................
/26.09
6.96
13.46
8.20
6.47
/ 61.18
1.03
2.29
.63
.31
1.03
1.32
1.77
.59
.31
.87
.10
.16
1.15
2.10
.45
.32
1.26
1.25
2.15
.55'
.49
L06
.05
.53
LOO
1.24
2.56
.39
.55
1.11
.30
.30
.60
.60
.18
5.99
10.87
2.61
1.98
5.33
.15
1.56
2.00
6.00
1.80
.33
5.42
5.77
7.68
8.19
38.62
FAMILY NO. 7.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
T otal..................................................
.12
.19
6.00
.15
11.56
.75
.56
1.00
a Including $5, payment of debt for groceries not bought during the period.
&Including $6, payment o f debt for goods not bought during the period.
c Including $11, payment of debts for goods not bought during the period.
d Including $1.85, expense of serving writ for nonpayment of rent.
« A gift of fuel was received from the landlord.
/Including $10, payment of debt for goods not bought during the period.
696
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
SUM M ARY OF W E E K L Y E X P E N D IT U R E S OF 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECI
F IE D W E E K S , B Y GRO U PS OF A R T IC LE S BOUGH T— Continued.
Group of articles bought.
First
week.
Second
week.
Third
week.
Fourth
week.
Fifth
week.
Total for
five
weeks.
FAMILY NO. 8.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats...........................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries__1 .. ............................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
$1.54
1.31
.56
T otal..................................................
.86
1.87
.05
.25
$1.29
.55
.73
.48
2.10
2.05
.10
610.00
$1.31
1.52
.87
.67
1.83
.25
$1.44
1.47
.64
$5.58
4.85
2.80
2.69
6.67
2.35
.68
.87
.25
.06
.66
(a)
b 1 0 .00
6.70
1.15
4.20
.15
.90
.40
.70
7.74
621.65
' 7.75
6.31
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting.......................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R en t.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
1.52
1.61
2.80
1.09
c4.32
3.15
.17
.50
1.62
2.13
1.42
1.07
<*4.85
9.82
1.04
2.17
1.99
1.25
.37
1.45
1.15
2.82
$1.95
2.85
.97
.61
.50
2.00
.50
12.50
.95
.45
.10
12.50
.95
.77
.94
1.18
.95
.55
.50
T otal..................................................
c 17.21
<*23.86
22.32
22.75
11.23
.73
1.49
1.15
1.59
.48
.42
1.05
2.26
.23
.34
.37
1.05
1.93
1.07
.16
.52
3.78
1.00
.90
.40
.20
b
43. 45
FAMILY NO. 9.
2.05
1.22
1.00
.76
1.20
7.28
11.58
8.63
5.32
< 11.33
16.37
1.48
2.00
25.00
4.85
3.53
.95
.16
e
97. 37
FAMILY NO. 10.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent..............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
.19
.42
.25
.19
1.25
.80
.45
4.75
.51
1.25
5.00
.40
.55
T otal...................................................
6.63
16.96
.86
.86
.15
.75
.10
.75
1.30
1.30
.25
6.45
1.44
1.51
.69
.22
.79
1.10
.13
.75
5.00
1.00
4.98
8.78
3.33
1.33
2.96
9.88
1.08
4.75
10.00
.25
3.50
2.80
10.91
12.44
53,39
1.33
2.33
1.16
1.87
3.09
1.33
.89
1.19
.05
FAMILY NO. 11.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.....................'.................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
T otal..................................................
1.50
2.05
2.31
2.24
.73
1.95
7.91
.14
.75
2.92
.75
1.23
1.75
.13
.83
.50
7.42
11.87
9.96
4.05
7.49
10.76
.92
3.64
/3.90
1.70
.67
1.00
2.10
1.24
1.05
.16
6.85
/6.91
/15.26
25.57
13.19
11.72
10.13
/ 75.87
1.20
1.65
1.70
.52
1.06
1.16
.70
1.50
1.71
.55
1.19
1.23
1.50
1.70
.79
7.25
8.78
2.75
5.45
6.28
2.80
1.00
1.79
.90
.81
1.00
1.28
2.20
6.00
2.20
.94
.68
1.33
.15
.65
.75
6.00
FAMILY NO. 12.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
1.40
1.86
.49
1.06
1.28
1.81
.40
.92
1.16
2.00
.10
1.22
1.45
a No expenditures for furniture and utensils during the four weeks of this investigation.
6 Including $6, payment to building association on account of indebtedness on home, and $4 for year’ s
water rent.
c Including $3.81, payment of debt for groceries not bought during the period.
<*Including $4, payment of debt for groceries not bought during the period.
« Including $7.81, payment of debt for groceries not bought during the period.
/Including $2.25 paid on loan.
697
CONDITIONS OP LIVING AMONG THE POOR.
SUM M ARY OF W E E K L Y E X P E N D IT U R E S OF 19 FAM ILIES FO R F IV E SPECI
F IE D W E E K S, B Y G RO U PS OF A R T IC LE S BOUGH T— Continued.
Group of articles bought.
family no .
First
week.
Second
week.
Third
week.
Fourth
week.
Fifth
week.
Total for
five
weeks.
12—concluded.
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
$0.17
2r00
.17
T otal..................................................
$0.17
$0.17
$0.12
.13
.35
1.40
.40
1.00
.30
1.00
.37
$0.63
.13
4.00
5.40
1.59
8.43
11.84
8.76
7.75
8.28
45.06
.93
.48
.62
.61
1.32
1.00
1.25
.55
.20
.86
.65
2.20
.10
.75
1.15
.77
.42
.80
a 6.42
.50
.52
.75
1.30
1.05
.56
1.25
1.44
.50
.69
.75
.35
.52
.35
1.00
.75
.92
.25
1.03
1.29
3.75
.71
.75
8.50
.25
4.05
.35
.77
5.38
3.77
2.05
4.55
o 11.12
7.95
2.02
3.85
18.50
1.80
6 14.08
$4.00
FAMILY NO. 13.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats...........................................................
Vegetables and fruits........................ .......
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
.85
10.00
.50
6 7.74
T otal..................................................
6 24.05
7.43
0 12.68
22.25
8.66
c 75.07
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats...........................................................
Vegetables and fruits................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting.......................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
1.00
2.05
.80
.32
.79
.74
.06
.25
.90
1.83
.44
.26
.44
1.30
.08
.25
1.00
1.97
.45
.36
.85
1.20
.13
.30
.95
1.63
.40
.56
.70
1.99
.06
.25
.05
.43
.85
1.58
.66
.15
.68
.15
.07
.25
7.30
.10
.30
.10
.55
.10
.35
.10
.40
4.70
9.06
2.75
1.65
3.46
5.38
.40
1.30
7.30
.45
2.03
T otal..................................................
6.49
12.09
6.15
6.71
7.04
38.48
.75
1.65
.70
.84
.55
1.20
.10
1.35
1.03
.90
.80
.42
1.07
1.60
.40
1.25
.73
.65
.30
.70
.89
.10
.66
1.25
.35
.40
.40
.10
.49
.32
1.31
.50
.01
.50
.31
.50
.07
3.83
4.86
2.98
2.59
3.38
4.65
2.39
6.41
2.00
2.50
<*10.37
FAMILY NO. 14.
FAMILY NO. 15.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats...........................................................
Vegetables and fruits................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting.......................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
.50
3.43
.97
1.26
.78
.53
.38
1.75
.91
1.25
2.00
.50
4 6.55
T otal..................................................
11.07
4 16.88
7.98
6.09
« 3.94
<*45.96
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats...........................................................
Vegetables and fruits................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
1.13
1.35
1.63
.37
1.34
1.75
.55
1.00
3.50
.51
.30
1.15
1.28
.75
.36
.69
1.30
.53
.83
1.18
1.75
.98
.97
.79
5.61
.32
1.00
4.001.02
.83
.95
2.42
.59
.81
.93
4.39
.46
.50
1.21
/3.92
1.35
1.76
1.60
.56
.78
1.10
.71
.50
4.00
.86
.68
5.76
8.56
5.55
3.07
4.53
14.15
2.57
3.83
11.50
3.60
/8.03
T otal..................................................
13.43
/12.02
12.59
/ 71.15
FAMILY NO. 16.
2.30
14.66
18.45
<*Including $5, payment of debt for groceries not bought during the period.
6 Including $5, payment of debt for goods not bought during the period,
c Including $10, payment of debts for goods not bought during the period.
<*Including $6.35 paid on loan.
« In this week a donation of food was received by the family.
/Including $3.45 paid on loan.
698
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
SUM M ARY OF W E E K L Y E X P E N D IT U R E S O F 19 FA M ILIE S FO R F IV E SPECI
F IE D W E E K S, B Y GRO U PS O F A R T IC L E S BO U G H T— Concluded.
Group of articles bought.
First
week.
Second
week.
Third
week.
Fourth
week.
Fifth
week.
Total for
five
weeks.
FAMILY NO. 17.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance................. ..................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
$0.60
.96
.46
.51
.32
.90
.22
.50
2.00
.20
a 3.77
$0.55
.97
.46
.62
.64
.67
.67
1.09
2.00
.20
1.00
$0.55
.44
.46
.53
.26
1.30
.70
.50
2.00
T otal..................................................
0 10.44
8.87
8.89
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats............................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.... ..................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
.49
.85
.40
1.15
2.03
.75
.80
.50
.53
.60
.58
1.11
.27
.61
.25
.65
.64
.05
.63
1.18
1.14
2.20
T otal..................................................
$0.60
.57
6 5.55
$2.85
3.60
1.66
2.78
2.07
3.97
3.10
3.59
10.00
.40
c 12.47
5.50
512.79
c 46.49
.75
.40
.75
.25
.75
.66
.80
1.40
.75
.66
.42
.08
1.00
.53
1.65
1.10
.75
1.02
1.46
1.02
.45
1.30
.95
1.04
1.60
3.08
2.01
.53
4.11
5.56
3.40
4.61
2.57
(d)
K 5.52
6.66
10.31
6.43
5.62
7.76
8.83
<*38.95
.50
2.32
.76
.60
2.43
1.00
.15
1.56
.50
.15
.12
.60
2.10
.59
.29
.55
.50
.73
.75
3.23
.35
.24
1.12
5.25
.16
.45
2.17
.62
.39
1.42
1.75
.17
.35
.75
.35
2.67
.35
.65
.35
.40
10.00
.60
.80
2.90
12.25
3.32
1.07
5.71
8.00
3.52
.12
10.00
2.00
5.27
8.05
9.53
6.36
11.85
18.37
54*16
.61
.36
.61
.75
2.00
2.15
$0.55
.66
.28
.51
.49
1.10
.90
.75
2.00
FAMILY NO. 18.
FAMILY NO. 19.
Bread and breadstuffs...............................
Meats...........................................................
Vegetables and fruits.................................
Milk, butter, and cheese............................
Groceries......................................................
Clothing.......................................................
Fuel and lighting........................................
Furniture and utensils..............................
R ent.............................................................
Insurance.....................................................
Miscellaneous..............................................
T otal..................................................
1.06
2.31
a Including $3 paid on loan.
&Including $2.90 paid on loan and $0.35 fine on loan.
c Including $5.90 paid on loan and $0.35 fine on loan.
£ N o rent paid during the five weeks included in this investigation.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
BY W ALTER
E. W EYL, PH. D.
INTRODUCTION.
The subject of trade-union benefits is one of the most important of
that great complex of problems forming what is commonly called the
labor question. On the one hand, it is intimately related to every
phase of trade-union activity; on the other, to the vital question of
the insurance of workingmen. Through trade-union benefits the
workingman is insured against the usual and the extraordinary acci
dents that may befall him as a man or as a workingman. The char
acter of the benefits denotes with a fair degree of approximation the
character of the union granting them. The attitude of the organiza
tion upon other problems may be deduced from its attitude toward
this question.
A few American unions have already initiated both national and
local systems of insurance, though their experience is not yet sufficient
to serve as a guide to other labor organizations. In so far as unions in
this country have initiated extended benefit features, it has been done
largely in the English manner and has been based upon English
models. For the United Kingdom, the last fifty years show a large
accumulation of data bearing upon the subject of trade-union insur
ance, and the experience of British unions can not but be of great
importance to American organizations in the determination of their
future policy toward workingmen's insurance.
Several causes have contributed to the greater development of
trade-union insurance in the United Kingdom than in other coun
tries. In the first place trade unions arose and developed most rap
idly in England. Until within a year or two ago, when the American
trade unionists began to exceed in number those of Great Britain
and Ireland, there were more unionists in the United Kingdom than
in any other country in the world. Even at the present time, the
United Kingdom has more unionists per thousand of the population,
although it is doubtful whether the proportion of trade unionists to
the urban and industrial population of the United Kingdom greatly
exceeds, if at all, the proportion in the United States.
In the second place, unions in the United Kingdom have always
been, and still are, more closely knit together than elsewhere. Owing
to the greater age of the unions and the less fluctuating conditions of
industry, the organizations have there acquired unexampled stability
and permanence. The mobility of labor is not so great as in the
699
700
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
United States, and conditions are therefore more favorable to the
growth of insurance, an institution requiring a certain fixity of resi
dence among the great body of workingmen. The registration of
trade unions, by giving greater publicity to their accounts and greater
confidence in their operations, has also tended toward the develop
ment of benefit features. Moreover, the English Government, unlike
the governments of the more progressive among the continental coun
tries, has not entered upon any extended scheme of national work
ingmen^ insurance. The development of insurance by the organized
workingmen themselves has, therefore, received a stronger stimulus.
Still another factor has contributed to make England a more fertile
field than the United States for the growth of benefit provisions by
trade unions. From a racial, religious, and national point of view
British unions are comparatively homogeneous, whereas American
organizations are for the most part compelled to overcome a certain
amount of mutual jealousy among the different elements composing
them, a jealousy likely*to be intensified where financial operations
upon a large scale are involved. In a union composed of more or less
envious and antagonistic representatives of various nationalities,
officials of the unions will, not improbably, be accused of favoritism
toward members of their own nationality, race, or religion in their
administration of the sick or other benefit funds of the unions.
Whether or not American unions will develop an extensive system
of friendly benefits will depend largely upon the character of the
trades from which the unions will draw members. If, as does not
seem unlikely, the unions are to be recruited more and more from a
comparatively low-skilled body of workers, the probability of an
extensive system of benefits will be seriously lessened. Benefits
involve high dues, high dues involve high wages, and high wages
assume the existence of an organization of skilled workers. The
question of large or small benefits is mainly a question of industrial
versus political action by the unionists. If it is found impossible to
buy up the surplus labor on the market, then, in all probability, there
will be no extensive system of out-of-work benefits; and if, as is
feared, the trade life shortens, the probability of the development of
superannuation benefits will be lessened. If unions are recruited from
trades paying low wages and involving the liability of fluctuating
membership in the unions, the prospect of the development of any
but the simplest benefits will be slight. The lessening of skill in many
trades, consequent upon the rapid perfecting of machinery and upon
*the equally rapid specialization and minute division of industry, makes
it seem improbable that benefits will develop to a very considerable
extent.
Friendly benefits may be regarded largely as a weapon of defense
for the skilled trades. Workingmen in a given union in a definite
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
701
single trade assume liability for all eventualities that m ay come to the
members of the union, including death, disability from old age, injury,
sickness, accidents, stoppage of work or unemployment for any reason,
loss of tools, etc. Unions of unskilled workingmen have never been
able to carry this principle of corporate responsibility to its logical
conclusion, and they contend that this responsibility should be cast
upon the community itself. The dependence of unions of unskilled
workingmen upon such policies as the sympathetic strike, the union
label, etc., as well as their disposition to have recourse to political
regulation of the conditions of the trade, is directly in opposition to
the policy o f the skilled unions, as expressed in their benefit features.
H ISTO R Y OF TRAD E UNION BENEFITS IN TH E UNITED
KINGDOM.
The history of trade-union benefits in Great Britain is largely the
history of trade unionism itself. From the beginning the small trade
clubs supplemented their activity in the matter of trade regulations by
a series of rules providing for the payment of relief upon the death,
illness, or loss of work of the member. In fact, benefit features
usually masked the real trade purpose of the union. Prior to the
legalization of trade unions in 1824-25, organizations of a trade char
acter frequently existed under the guise of friendly societies. The
journeymen of a particular trade would come together with the idea
of forming a club for the payment of sick and funeral benefits, but
insensibly the trade policy o f the men came to the fore and questions
of wages and hours of labor were freely discussed. When the friendly
society was general in scope, and admitted members from different
trades, the question o f trade-union action, of course, did not arise.
But when, 'as in many cases, membership was limited to men of a par
ticular trade, the sick or funeral club so formed soon became in reality
a local trade union with benefit features.
According to Sidney and Beatrice W ebb(a) an organization of this
sort existed among the Glasgow coopers as early as 1752, and among
the Newcastle shoemakers as early as 1719, while the London Sailmakers’ Burial Society arose in 1740.
The friendly features of these societies seem to have been predomi
nant, but in cases of dispute the accumulated surplus was used for
strikes, and the funds “ have also too frequently been converted into
engines of abuse by paying weekly sums to artisans out of work, and
have therefore encouraged combinations among workmen not less
injurious to the misguided members than to the public weal.” (*6)
a H istory o f Trade U nionism , new edition, 1902, p. 23.
&See O bservations on the R ise and Progress o f Friendly Societies, 1824, p . 55, quoted in
W ebb's H istory o f Trade Unionism , new edition, 1902, p. 23.
12951— N o. 64— 06-----:8
702
BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OP LABOR.
In thus form ing trad© unions under the guise o f friendly societies,
the workingmen usually emphasized in their formal utterances the
necessity of protec don against sickness and death. On the 18th of
June, 1796, the Friendly Associated Cotton Spinners of Oldham and
Neighborhood, said: “ As man is but a vulnerable creature, and as
such subject to all the afflictions which nature can entail upon him,
and as the most intolerable portion of it in general falls upon the
industrious laboring mechanic and too often renders his condition
miserable, especially such as are distant from their native homes or
parishes, and who too often have fallen victim s to the fury of some
acute or epidemical disease before they obtain, perhaps, sufficient or
necessary relief,” etc., “ Therefore we hope our mutually associating
ourselves for the particular relief of each other in case of necessity may
prove of * * * utility * * * Therefore to sweeten the dis
position, restrain vice, allay discord, promote virtue, establish social
and domestic happiness, to relieve the sick and infirm, we have agreed
to the following articles and regulations.” ^ ) The apparent friendly
society was, like other organizations, really a trade union, regulating
conditions of trade, and even going so far as to fine two shillings (49
cents) any member or members who “ in a boastful manner (as hath
frequently been the case) acquaint the people what money they had
earned in a short time (which has often been very injurious to cotton
spinners).” (6)
This tendency was perfectly obvious to contem porary observers.
An anonymous author, descanting in 1834 on the evils of trade unions,
says:
“ In some places benefit societies, legally enrolled, have been made
the cloak for combinations, and thus violence and intim idation have
been practiced b y bodies organized under the apparent sane cion of the
law. This is one of the most disastrous results that can be appre
hended from the spirit of union; it is turning nourishment into poison
and making what is calculated to confer the greatest benefits on the
working classes a source of almost unmitigated evil.” (c)
In confirmation of this statement, the anonymous author o f the
tract refers to a society called the Friendly Boiler Makers’ Society, at
Manchester, instituted July, 1832, with the following preamble: “ It
having been an ancient custom for divers artists within the United
Kingdom to form themselves into societies for the sole purpose of
assisting each other in cases of sickness, old age, and other infirmities,
and for the burial of the dead; under these circumstances, the members
com posing this society have agreed to raise a fund for the purpose
a See extracts from docum ents (1796 to 1890) o f the Oldham Spim lers, m anuscript cop y , in
W ebb collection.
b See A rticle 19 o f the constitution.
c See Character, O bject, and E ffects o f Trades’ U nions, e tc., A n on., L on don , 1834.
pp. 103,104.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
703
aforesaid.” (a) The same author mentions another organization, the
rules of which state that they “ think it their duty thus publicly to
declare that the intention of their institution is for the purpose ^ 7y of
mutual relief in cases of infirmity, of accidents, and for the burial of
deceased members and their wives.” Both organizations, however,
were in reality trade unions forbidding piecework, charging minimum
rates, and generally regulating in detail the conditions of the trade. (*6)
“ Most unions act not only as trade agencies, but also as friendly
societies. They were mostly first established as friendly societies, so
that their real object might be disguised, it being then illegal.”
A typical benefit trade union of the eighteenth century was the
Society of Tailors, of which the articles of agreement were made in
1760. (c) To become eligible to this society one had to be a native
British tailor under 34 years of age and free from all bodily com plaints;
“ but should it afterwards be proved that any person so recommended
was above the age of 34 years at the time of his admission, or not a
native of Great Britain, or not a taylor b y trade, or not in good
health at the time he was admitted, such person so recommended
shall be immediately expelled this society.”
The initiation fee of the society was fixed at 5s. 8d., and the dues at
3s. 6d. per meeting, which meetings were held eight times per year.
Provision was then, as now, made with regard to the minimum
period of membership required before the members could receive
benefits. The following is quoted from Article IV : “ No person shall
receive any benefit from this society, until he has belonged to the same
six m onths; and after such time if he should fall sick and be incapable
of working, he shall, seven days after notice has been given to the land
lord, receive 16s. per week, provided whether sick or well he pays his
dues according to these articles.” (c)
When it was necessary for the sick man to go to the country to
regain his health, the stewards, who were the officials of the company
serving in regular rotation according to seniority, were allowed to
give him money in advance not exceeding 4 weeks’ pay. In case,
however, the suspicion of the stewards was aroused as to the reality of
his illness an examination was made by a doctor at the expense of the
society. The sick member was also obliged to “ send a certificate
a See Character, O bject, and E ffects o f Trades’ Unions, etc., A non., London, 1834
pp. 103, 104.
&See Trades Unions as a Means o f Im proving the Conditions o f L abor, b y John B urnett,
Edinburgh, 1886, p. 31.
c “ A rticles of Agreem ent, made and confirm ed b y a Society of Taylors at a general m eeting,
held and to be continued at the house o f Mr. Bargewell, the Scotch Arm s, B edfordbury, in
the Parish o f St. M artin’s in the Fields. Begun March 25,1760. R eprinted with alterations,
b y order of a general m eeting o f the society, on M onday, June 22, 1812.” The original o f
these articles is in the British Museum, but the quotations are here made from the work o f
F . W . G alton, entitled Select Docum ents Illustrating the H istoiy o f Trade U nionism . I .
The Tailoring Trade, London, 1896, pp. 132-145.
704
BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OP LABOR.
every 4 weeks signed by the parson and church wardens of the parish
or, if in Scotland, b y the ministers and elders of the parish.” (a)
Every effort was made to prevent malingering. “ If a member
demands money on pretense of illness, and be found at work, or taking
orders in his business during the course of his being upon the club, or
if he shall be found intoxicated with liquor, or out of his lodgings after
the hour of nine o’clock in the evening, from Lady-day to Michaelmasday, and from Michaelmas-day to Lady-day at eight o’clock in the
evening, or found playing at cards, or any other mode of gambling, he
shal1 be excluded. If a member goes out from his lodgings, he shall
leave word in writing where he is gone, so that the stewards m ay find
him, if they require it.”
The present policy of the trade unions and benefit societies toward
inherited diseases or diseases resulting from dissipation were even
then in vogue. “ No person shall have any benefit from this society
who hath a disorder on him, wherewith he hath been afflicted from his
infancy, or any distemper he hath brought on b y a loose, wicked life,
such as the venereal disease; but after the decease of such member,
his heirs or executors shall receive nine pounds sterling as legacy, and
four pounds sterling for funeral charges.” (6)
, The articles of the Society of Tailors limited the sick pay of a meniber
to “ fifty-tw o weeks’ pay in the space of two years, after which time he
shall be deemed a pensioner; a member declaring off to evade this
article to be expelled.”
Provision is also made for permanent injuries. “ I f a member
through age, or by any accident, become blind or lame, and by that
means rendered incapable of working, he shall receive from the society
two shillings and sixpence per week.” The payment of 2s. 6d. per
week was also made for members of the society impressed into the land
or sea service and maimed as a consequence, provided they paid their
dues during the period. “ But if a member of this society shall enter
voluntarily into His M ajesty’s service b y sea or land, he shall be
immediately expelled.”
One of the primary objects of the organization was the payment of
benefits on the event of the death of a member or of his wife. “ A t the
death of a free member’s lawful married wife, he may receive four
pounds for her funeral, provided he produces the certificate of their
marriage; then the stewards shall draw it and pay on demand, but if
he does not produce the certificate of their marriage, it shall be left for
the next club night to settle.”
The full funeral benefit for a member was £13, and in case a wife
died before her husband “ the four pounds which he received for his
wife’s funeral will also be deducted out of his legacy.” (c)
a Article IV.
&Article VI.
c Article XV .
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
705
W hile the organization was generous in the payment of benefits, it
was also cautious in its policy. It did not desire bankruptcy and
“ that the disagreeable necessity of shutting up the box m ay be avoided
and which happens when many members are sick at one tim e” it
resolved that the capital of the society should never be less than £500,
and, in case of a deficiency, to support the sick the m oney should be
borrowed for that purpose and the charges inserted in the books “ to
every member, in proportion as the sum wanted, and to be uaid as a
fine in three half quarters after booking.” (a)
That the Journeymen Tailors of Dublin, as early as 1725, paid regu
lar benefits we have upon the authority of “ A new poem on the
ahcient and loyal Society of Journeymen Taylors, who are to dine at
the K ing’s-Inn’s-Hall, this present Monday, being the 26th of this
instant, July, 1725. B y H (enry) N (elson), Bricklayer, one o f the
Brethren.”
“ Assist m y sacred m use, m y pen inspire;
And fill m y breast w ith soft poetick fire,
That I m ay w rite, and the ju st m erits raise
O f T aylor’s journeym en deserving praise.”
The “ ancient and loyal society” appears to have paid old age pen
sions as well as funeral, death, and sick benefits:
“ L et tim e their actions w rite in books o f fam e,
W ho age supports and orphans young m aintain,
Their sick relieve, likewise their dead interr,
W hat action greater can the w orld prefer.”
In his “ Select Documents Illustrating the H istory of Trade Union
ism,” Mr. F. W . Galton has presented the “ Report of the second halfyears’ inspection, 1818, of the books of the Old George, Associated
Taylors, Benefit Society.” , (6)
This report shows that the sick
benefit imposed the severest burden upon the society, the super
annuation benefit entailing the next heaviest charge, and the funeral
benefit the third. During the second half year of 1818 the sick dis
bursements of the first division of the organization amounted to
£214 4s. ($1,042.40).(c) This money was paid to 35 members, who
drew from it during the half year an average of somewhat less than 7
weeks’ pay per sick member. The cost of the pensions was £135 6s.
($658.44), the sum being paid to 18 persons who drew 6s. ($1.46) per
week. The sum of £15 ($73) was paid to the heirs of two deceased
members, £15 18s. ($77.38) to the heirs of one deceased member, and
the sum of £5 (24.33) was paid in two cases upon the death of a mem« A rticle X V II.
b These docum ents are preserved in the British Museum.
c Conversions of English into Am erican m oney, for dates follow ing the establishm ent o f an
Am erican currency, are m ade on the basis o f £1 = $4 .8 6 6 5 .
706
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
ber’s wife. The total cost of these 3 benefits was considerably over 90
per cent of the entire expenses of the division, the other principal ele
ment of expense being beer money, which, at Is. 2d. (28 cents) per
member, amounted, for 322 men, to over £20 ($97.33). The expense
of administration appears to have been almost nil, the only item
appearing on this account being that of the clerk’s salary, which was
£3 18s. 9d. ($19.16) for the half year.
Some indication of the friendly benefits o f the Journeymen Tailors’
Society, as it existed in 1818, m ay be seen from articles appearing
in “ The Gorgon,” a weekly political publication of London, during
the months of September and October, 1818. The stalwarts among
the organized tailors were called “ F lints;” other organizations, who
were weaker in number and less firm in demands, existed under the
name of “ Dungs.” The “ Flints” had “ a double subscription, one
for a benefit club to maintain them in sickness and when superannu
ated, the other a mere trifle for supporting the com bination.” They
also had “ a much larger subscription for the purpose of maintaining
their own members, who can not be em ployed when trade is dull.”
This out-of-w ork benefit was conducted on a generous scale, and
amounted to an equalization of the wages of all the employees for
the week, irrespective of the number of days they worked. The
m oney for this purpose was raised b y a rate of payment levied on
those who had employment, according to the number of days in the
week they were employed. Thus, if a man was employed but one
day, he received as much from the subscription as made his earnings
8s. or 9s. ($1.95 or $2.19) a week; if he were employed two days he
neither paid nor received; if his employment continued for three
days, he paid a small sum, which increased day b y day for as many
days as he worked in the week.
It is evident, then, that from the very first trade unions dealt with
a minute and exact regulation of benefits.
In the earliest organization of which we have record, entrance fees
and weekly contributions were fixed b y statute, and provision was
made enabling the officers to increase the weekly contribution when
necessary. The time at which a sick person may receive a benefit,
and the amount of it, were determined in advance, and no one in
arrears could be granted a benefit. Usually the sick member was
not required to pay dues during his illness, but upon recovery of his
health, “ if it should please God to restore it,” he was considered a
member without arrears. Provision was also made in these early
unions for the visiting of the sick and for the prevention of malingering
and defrauding of the funds. (a)
a See statutes o f the Friendly A ssociated C otton Spinners o f Oldham and N eighborhood,
established 1796, etc. M anuscripts in W ebb collection.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BBITI8H TRADE UNIONS.
707
Everywhere are found traces of incipient trade unions masquerading
as friendly societies and paying regular benefits. In 1759 the union
of weavers was described as “ an unlawful combination among the
worsted small-ware weavers, under the name of being concerned with
or payers to a box.”
As early as 1812 it was observed that the sfaall local organizations
of London Gold Beaters had during the three years immediately
preceding (1810-1812) given or loaned to 14 other trades the sum of
£200 ($973.30), an amount which, for those times, constituted a
very large contribution from a single small organization. (a)
The guise of friendly societies survived even the necessity for decep
tion. When the secretary of the Bricklayers7Union, appearing before
the committee of 1838, over a dozen years after the enactment of the
law legalizing trade unions, was asked, “ What are the objects of the
Friendly Society of Operative Bricklayers?77 he replied, “ It is to
afford permanent relief to its members in case of sickness or accident
and for the decent interment of the dead.77(*6)
In England, Scotland, and Ireland Typographical Provident Soci
eties existed from very early times. In Ireland, for example, such
societies existed in Dublin, Belfast, Carlow, Clonmel, Cork, Galway,
Kilkenny, Londonderry, Limerick, and W exford. The Dublin Typo
graphical Provident Society, for example, was composed of journey
men printers in the city of Dublin. It had early established a fund,
affording relief to members out of employment or desiring to emigrate.
The weekly subscription was Id. (2 cents) on every 3s. (73 cents)
earned, or one thirty-sixth of a man’s earnings. The maximum sub
scription was 3s. (73 cents) per week, which would have corresponded
to weekly earnings of 108s. ($26.28). The society provided for dona
tion pay to unemployed members not losing their situation through
negligence, for sick payments, and for superannuation and funeral
payments. The sum of £6 ($29.20) was paid to members desiring
to emigrate to America or other foreign points, and £2 ($9.73) to
any member desiring to emigrate from Dublin to England or Scot
land. (c)
In the rules of many other unions are found provisions for friendly
benefits: “ In 1829 a committee was formed which established the
Bookbinders7 Pension Society, out of which, in 1837, was formed the
Asylum Society, whose almshouses are situate in Balls Pond Koad.
Both societies are largely supported by the journeymen in the trade.77(d)
a W ebb’s H istory o f Trade Unionism , new edition, 1902, p. 81.
&Question 6473, p. 45, R eport 2.
c See article by J. W . Crom pton on Printers’ Strikes and Trade U nions, R eport of the Com
m ittee on Trades’ Societies appointed by the National A ssociation for the Prom otion of
Social Science, L ondon, 1880, pp. 87,88.
d See Som e A ccount o f the London Consolidated Society o f Bookbinders, by T . J. D unning;
R eport o f the Com m ittee on Traders’ Societies o f the N ational A ssociation for the Prom otion
o f Social Science, L ondon, 1860, p. 99.
708
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
Concerning the plumbers, it is declared that “ from 1840 to 1865 very
little is known of the movements in connection within our trade, but
I find that a delegate meeting was held in Liverpool in 1849 for the
purpose of revising rules and adding provident benefits to the trade
benefits.” ( a )
The existence of trade-union benefits is thus as old as that o f trade
unionism itself. From the beginning of the trade-union movement
about the commencement of the eighteenth century, trade friendly
societies coexisted with trade societies pure and simple. Neither
type of organization was legal, but both persisted in defiance of the
law. In fact, legal persecution of the union for trade purposes led
to the establishment in many places throughout the Kingdom of
small trade combinations under the mask of benefit clubs, and it was
largely in behalf of such organizations that the laws of 1824 and 1825,
legalizing trade unions, were sought and obtained. ( b)
In the early thirties a popular wave of unionism swept through Eng
land, and organizations sprang up, not only among skilled male workers,
but also among women and unskilled laborers. It was manifestly
impossible to obtain sufficient dues from these loosely organized work
men for the establishment of benefits upon any considerable scale,
and generally these organizations, composed largely of workmen with
out resources and without previous trade-union training, rapidly
disintegrated and collapsed. During the next twenty years the bene
fits of the unions were neither large nor extended. (6)
The first establishment of union friendly benefits upon a large, com
prehensive plan took place in the early fifties. The amalgamation of a
number of competing trade societies into the Amalgamated Society
of Engineers may be taken as the beginning of a new phase of trade
unionism. This organization and the trade unions modeled after it
were distinguished from their immediate predecessors by the creation
of large funds, obtained by imposing high dues. Considerable benefits
were established for the relief of sick, injured, unemployed, and super
annuated members, as well as for the wives and children of deceased
members.
It must not be supposed that the trade unions that flourished from
1851 to 1889, a period marking the creation and establishment of the
trade union with large benefit features, were possessed of identical or
even similar methods of procedure. Many organizations that rose
and had their being during this period were compelled by the poverty
and lack of discipline of their members to adhere to the principle of
low dues and low benefits; while others, such as the Cotton Spinners,
though charging heavy dues, were content with the maintenance of
a See U nited O perative Plum bers’ Association o f G reat Britain and Ireland, General Secre
tary’s R eport, 1895, p. 3.
b See W ebb’s H istory o f Trade Unionism .
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
709
small benefits, and devoted their large incomes to the creation of
great reserve funds for the trade protection of their members.
The Amalgamated Society of Engineers, which was created in 1850
b y the amalgamation of a number of form erly existing trade unions
in the engineering trade, made the payment of large benefits an impor
tant feature of its constitution. The original unions, however, out
of which the Amalgamated Society of Engineers grew, had already
worked out more or less extensive systems of benefits.
The Steam Engine Makers’ Society, which was to have been a party
to the amalgamation, but which subsequently refused to join, and the
Old Mechanics paid an accident benefit of £100 ($486.65), and the
form er organization paid a practically continuous sick benefit of 3s.
6d. (85 cents) per week. The Steam Engine Makers’ Society did not
pay an unemployed benefit, although some of its branches did, but
the Old Mechanics paid 10s. ($2.43) per week for ten weeks and 7s.
($1.70) per week for the remaining period of unemployment. The
Steam Engine Makers’ Society paid a superannuation benefit of 4s.
(97 cents) per week, and the Old Mechanics paid 5s. ($1.22) per week.
The organizations, however, were not large at this time, and the total
amount of benefits paid was inconsiderable.
The Amalgamated Society of Engineers soon found many imitators.
Among these was the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, which
resulted from the London strike of 1859 and 1860, and rapidly attained
a prominence second only to that of the engineers. The tailors
formed an amalgamated society in 1866 (a) and followed out in great
detail the organization of the engineers. During the quarter century
that followed the creation of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
in 1850, almost every labor union in the United Kingdom felt the
impact of the new ideas, and many of them incorporated in their
constitutions at least some of the fea tv es of the Amalgamated Society.
There were 19 trade unions in the late fifties which combined benefit
purposes with trade regulations. As shown in the following table, the
entrance fees varied from Is. (24 cents) to £5 10s. ($26.77) and the
total weekly dues from 3d. (6 cents) to Is. (24 cents). The allow
ances for sickness varied from 5s. ($1.22) to 12s. ($2.92) per week,
and for unemployment from 4s. (97 cents) to 12s. ($2.92), while the
weekly strike payment ranged from 8s. ($1.95) for man, Is. (24 cents)
for wife, and Is. (24 cents) for each child to a maximum of 25s. ($6.08).
The minimum funeral allowance was £3 ($14.60) and the maximum
allowance was £12 ($58.40). In some cases accident and superan
nuation benefits were paid, but this was the exception rather than
the rule.
a See W ebb’s H istory of Trade Unionism , new edition, 1902, p. 205.
710
BULLETIN OB' THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOW ANCES OF 19 SOCIETIES FOR TR AD E AND B E N E FIT
PURPOSES.
[From Report on Trades Societies’ Rules by G. Shaw Lefevre, Report of the Committee on Trades Soci
eties of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, London, 1860, pp. 144,146.]
Contributions—
Number of—
Date
of in*
stitution.
Trade.
Coachmakers .. 1834
B ookbinders...
Upholsterers...
Tin-plate work
ers.
Plum bers. . .
S m iths........
T a ilors........
Flint glass mak
ers.
Com positors.. .
Cotton spinners
Steam engine
makers.
Stone masons..
Machine print
ers.
Morocco leath
er finishers.
Engineers.......
Plasterers...
Coachmakers ..
Shipwrights ..
Saw makers . . ,
1850
1846
1833
(®)
1822
(®)
(®)
(®)
(®)
1824
(«)
Sphere
of action.
Lim
its of
age of
Bran Mem ad
ches. bers. mis
sion.
United King
dom.
London.......
Liverpool...
Glasgow___
Liverpool__
England----Glasgow___
United King
dom.
London.......
Preston.......
England-----
120 3,652
613
(®)
(®)
(a)
(«)
(a)
(a)
(®)
&$0.01
(«)
20-50
5.11
1.22
$0.97-3.65
(a)
fa)
la)
(a)
(a)
(o)
.12
.07
.06
(a)
(«)
$0.12
.02
(«)
(®)
c .03
.18
.06
$0.16-.24
(®)
(®)
(®>
(®)
(®)
(®)
22-45
(a)
(a)
(®)
(®)
(®)
London..
(«)
(®)
United King
dom.
(«)
(®)
(®>
(®)
(«)
(«)
(®)
(®)
Sunderland.
Sheffield___
$1.28
?o)
(®)
(a)
213
(a)
6
Total.
23-50
(®)
(®)
(a)
(®)
Entrance.
(a)
(«)
.61 («)
1.46-2.43 $0.06
.04
.61
1.83-9.73 («)
(a)
England and
Wales.
England.......
1861
Per week for—
Fund MisBen for
efit trade cellanefund. pur ous.
poses.
20-50
50
...........
2.43-24.33
1.22
.04
(d)
(®)
21-40
2.43-9.73
.07
45
14.60-26.77
1.83
3.65-17.03
20-40
.21-
.24
1.46
19.47
6.33
$0.13
.04-.08
.02 ‘ (a) '
(®)
(®)
.08-.12
(d)
} .16
.08
.15
(®)
(a)
(®)
.15
(®)
(a)
(«)
.24
(®)
(a)
(a)
.04
(a)
(«)
(®)
.04 (®)
(«)
(®)
.06
(®)
(®)
<®>
.24
(a)
.12
(«)
« .24
Allowances.
Trade.
Coachmakers.
Bookbinders..
Upholsterers..
Tin-plate w orkers...
Plumbers.................
Smiths.
Tailors.
Flint glass makers.
Compositors............
Cotton spinners____
Steam engine mak
ers.
Stone masons..........
Machine printers. . .
Special levies.
Sickness (per
week).
Accident.
$243.33.
Right to a petition
When funds reduced $1.22 for three
to $97.33 a levy of
months.
$0.04, and when un
der $48.67 a levy of
$0 . 12.
$0.12 levied for funer $1.95 for six weeks
als, $0.12 a month
once
in
six
for emigration fund.
months.
$0.04 toward each fu
neral; special levies
to be laid to supply
deficiencies.
$2A3 for 12 weeks, $136.26.
$1.46 for
12
weeks, and $0.97
after.
$1.95 for 13 weeks,
$1.46 for next 13,
$0.97 after.
$53.40and $53.40.
$19.47 and $14.60.
$14.60.
$48.67 and $48.67.
$14.60 and $14.60;
$4.87 for child.
$24.33 and $14.60.
$2.92 for 26 weeks,
$486.65.
$24.33.
$2.43 for 24 weeks.. $486.65...................
$2.43 per week for
6 months, $1.22
p e r ‘week for 6
months.
a N ot reported.
$ To funeral fund.
c And not less than 5 cents to reserve fund.
Funeral.
d Committee to decide.
e 12 cents, if in the country.
711
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BBITISH TRADE UNIONS,
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOWANCES OF 19 SOCIETIES FOR T R A D E AND BEN EFIT
PURPOSES—Concluded.
Allowances.
Trade.
Special levies.
Sickness (per
week).
Morocco leather fin
ishers.
10.24 from each mem
ber for anyone wish
ing to emigrate, not
exceeding 4 in one
year.
$1.83 for 13 weeks.
$2.43 for 26 weeks,
$1.22 after.
Engineers____
Plasterers___
Coachmakers.
Shipwrights..
Saw m akers..
Funeral.
Accident.
$486.65.
$58.40.
$2.43 for 3 months, $29.20.
$1.22 after.
$0.04 to every funeral.. $2.11 for 3 months,
$24.33 and $24.33.
$1.14 after.
Levy of $0.12.
$48.‘67.
$24.33 and $24.33.
$6.12 for funeral.......... $1.22 for 12 weeks,
$0.61 after.
Allowances.
Trade.
Tramp.
Coachmakers .
$0.37 and bed.
Bookbinders..
Upholsterers.
$1.70................
Flint glass makers..
Compositors.......
Cotton spinners.
Steam engine makers.
Stone masons.............
Machine printers.
Morocco leather fin
ishers.
Engineers....................
Plasterers___
Coachmakers .
Shipwrights..
Superan
nuation
On strike (per week).
(per week).
$8.52 to $5.11 d o w n ...
$1.95, $0.49 to wife for
4 weeks.
$2.92,$2.43, $2.43 to man, $0.73 to
and $1.22.
wife, $0.24 for each
child under 12.
$0.61...
$2.43, $0.49 to wife,
$0.24 for each child
under 12.
$3.41, $0.49 to wife.
$1.70 for 4 weeks once
in 6 weeks.
Tin-plate workers.
Plumbers.
Smiths___
Want of work (per
week).
$0.02 per mile____ $2.43............................
Traveling expen
ses $41.37 for
emigration.
$0.85........
$0.49 to
$0.73.
$2.43 for 4 months,
$1.95 for 4, $1.46 for 8,
$1.22 for 14, $0.97
for 12.
$ 1.22......................... . $0.97 to $19.47 during
each £ year.
$0.97 per week for 13
weeks.
$0.37 per day........
$0.12 per day and
bed.
$2.43 per we^k for
6 months, $1.22
per week for 6
months.
$4.87......................
$2.92.............................
Saw makers.
$3.65 for 6 months,
$2.43 for next 6
months.
$1.22.
$2.43 for 13 weeks, $0.24
for each child, $1.22
for next 13 weeks.
$2.43.
$6.08 for 3 months,$2.43
for 3 months, $1.46
for 3 months, $0.73
after.
$1.83 for 13 weeks.......
$2.43 for 14 weeks,
$1.70 for 30, $1.46
after.
$0.37 per day..
$2.92.
$2.11 .
$1.70.
$3.65.
One-half of current
wages for 2 months,
and afterwards onefourth.
$1.95, $0.24 frr wife,
$0.24 for each child.
These organizations with benefit features, which by 1889 had come
to be called the “ old unions,” were twenty years before still entitled
“ new u nions/7 as distinguished from “ the old-fashioned unions”
existing prior to that time for purely trade purposes. The subscrip
tions to these unions, antedating the Amalgamated Society of Engi
neers, were, as a rule, insignificant, sometimes amounting to only Id.
712
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
(2 cents) a week. “ The members probably belonged to the Odd
Fellows or Foresters for the benefit purposes, and their financial tie
to their union being so weak, they join it or leave it with equal care
lessness. Nevertheless, small as the subscription is, a fund will in
course of time be accumulated. There is nothing to do with this
fund. * * * The men become impatient to use it,” a strike occurs
and is lost. (a)
B y 1869 trade unions with benefit features had developed to a con
siderable extent. The trade-union commission, in its final report in
that year, gave the statistics of 153 trade unions, showing number
o f members, entrance fee, rate of contribution, and data concerning
receipts and expenditures. The unions varied in size from the associa
tion containing thousands down to the Union Society of Biscuit (Jour
neym en), Pastry, and Gingerbread Makers, with a total of 6 members.
The rate of contributions was much lower than at the present time,
and in some cases no regular contribution was made at all. The Brick
Makers' Friendly Association (Oldham) reported fhat its contributions
“ are such weekly sums as may be necessary to defray expenses.”
From the Hosiery Society of Leicester and Leicestershire the report
came that there were “ no fixed contributions, but levies made, when
needed, by publication of a trade bill.” Other organizations reported
that the contributions varied in the several branches of the different
lodges, and in most cases dependence was had upon special levies for
funerals or upon the death of the wife, or the disablement of a member,
or for any other good cause, including the depletion of the funds.
Several of the organizations had separate contributions for different
classes of members, and in many cases special rates were made for
apprentices. (6)
During the last forty years the system of benefits has gone through
a state of gradual development and extension. Union after union
came to adopt benefit features, and these benefits enlarged their scope
and increased in amount. The statistics of unions with benefit fea
tures, presented in other parts of this report, show how rapid and
continuous the movement has been. Rules have been elaborated
for the administration of benefits, and during this period the benefit
system has made an indelible imprint upon the entire policy of the
British unions.
During the later eighties, however, a marked reaction took place
against the extension of benefit unions. A wave of militant trade
unionism swept through the world of workers, and discontent was
a See The Am algam ated Society o f Carpenters and Joiners, by Edw ard S. Beesly.
R eprinted from the Fortnightly R eview , L ondon, 1867.
&See Eleventh and Final R eport o f the R oyal Com missioners to Inquire in to the Organi
zation and Rules o f Trades’ U nions and other A ssociations, Volum e I I , appendix, Lon
don, 1869, pp. 316-329.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
713
expressed with the conservative unionists who adhered to the old
ideal of unions, a large part of the function of which consisted in
insuring members. This movement of revolt culminated in the strike
of the dock laborers in 1889. From the time of this strike a “ new
unionism 77 arose, which spread rapidly among the unskilled trades
and strove to organize the unskilled workers and the women in
industry.
The early successes of this movement for a time convinced the
workers that a new era had arrived in trade union development.
No longer would trade unionism be restricted to those able to pay
high benefits; no longer would women and unskilled laborers remain
unorganized.
“ Now trades unionism /7says Annie Besant, “ is spreading among
women, and large and powerful unions are springing up among
unskilled laborers; so that there is hope that at last all workers will
be enrolled in disciplined hosts and there will be no stragglers from
the army of labor.77(a)
During this period the question of benefits was acridly discussed,
and the battle between the old and the new unions was waged with
much expenditure of argument on both sides. Claims and counter
claims were urged, showing the relative success of the one as com
pared with the other form of union, in the winning of strikes and
lockouts. “ The proportion of strikes won by the ‘ new 7 unionists
is very large as compared with those won b y the ‘ old,777 says one of
the leaders of the new unionism movement. “ The press twits us
with one or two defeats, ignoring the fact that the Amalgamated
Engineers, in 20 years, have had about 20 strikes in London, and
lost them all from the m asters point of view.77(*&)
Over 15 years have elapsed since the success of the dock strike, and
the antagonism between the old and the new unions by this time has
been largely allayed. During these years the old conservative unions,
which prior to 1889 had tended to develop into mere friendly societies,
have been rejuvenated, and the newer organizations have receded a
little from their former radical position. The new unions of unskilled
workers found it absolutely necessary to increase their dues to a slight
extent in order to provide adequate funds for trade purposes, and ben
efits were introduced upon a small scale, partly to attract new members,
partly to retain those who had already joined. The new unions have
not grown so rapidly as was anticipated by their adherents, in many
cases their numbers having actually declined. A t the present time
unions with large benefits are the characteristic organizations of the
United Kingdom.
a See The Trades l/n ion M ovem ent, by Annie Besant, L ondon, 1890.
&See speech delivered by John Bum s on “ T h e L iverpool Congress,” London, 1890.
714
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
CHANGING ATTITU DE TOW ARD BEN EFIT FEATURES.
During the period in which the benefit features of British trade
unions have developed, a series of changes has taken place in the
public attitude toward these benefits. The original criticism of the
benefits was involved in the criticism of the trade union itself. As
long as trade unions were considered as of questionable legality and
as combinations in restraint of trade, any action they might take was
regarded as necessarily evil. The earliest criticism of the payment
o f benefits was that it enabled the unions to carry out their nefarious
purposes of keeping men out of employment, enforcing idleness,
depressing industry, and reducing all workmen to the same level.
“ These unions,” says an anonymous critic over 70 years ago,
“ when their rules are strictly followed, produce similar results, though
in a more aggravated shape, to those which arise from a poor-rate and
labor-rate, in their worst forms of abuse. If a workman throws him
self out of employ, because he is not satisfied with his wages, a weekly
payment of 8s. [$1.95] or 10s. [$2.43] is ready for his acceptance,
which he can demand as his right and enjoy in idleness. He can gain
nothing by superior qualifications for his business, and lose nothing
by the want of them; industry will not increase his wages, nor negli
gence depress them, but the earnings of all are reduced to one common
level, an attempt to raise which, b y any one man, is treated as an
offense to the general body.” (a)
This criticism was leveled against the out-of-w ork benefit. A fur
ther objection was urged against benefits as constituting a fraud upon
the worker, through fluctuation in the amount of dues and payments.
“ The workman who enters one o f these unions, on the expectation
that their rules are or can be observed, will find himself woefully
deceived. He will have to pay more than they enact, and to receive
less. B y the regulations of the com bination, of which an account
has been given, a member has to pay 3d. [6 cents] weekly, and to be
paid 9s. [$2.19] or 10s. [$2.43] when out of work, while in practice
the weekly contribution has been frequently Is. [24 cents] , 2s. [49
cents] , and sometimes even 5s. [$1.22] , and the allowance when on a
strike the merest pittance that can suffice for subsistence.n(6)
Many attacks on benefit features were prompted by the fear that
the accumulation of large sums would lead to strikes, resulting in the
impoverishment of the worker, and the sums collected for provident
purposes would be expended on industrial conflicts. When this pre
diction was falsified by events, the point of attack was shifted, and
the unions were denounced as actuarily unsound. W ithin measur
able time, it was stated, the unions would realize that the paying of
the large benefits they had promised would surely entail their financial
a Character, Object, and Effects of Trade Unions,
bldem , p. 64.
London, 1834, p. 94.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
715
breakdown. The combination of trade and benefit funds was espe
cially attacked on the score of dishonesty and as calculated to deflect
sums collected of workingmen from their original purpose. The sys
tem was also denounced for its alleged tendency to create tyrannical
government by trade-union officials and unwilling submission of the
unionists to the dictates of the leaders.
The argument against the combination of friendly and trade-union
funds rested not only upon the alleged dishonesty of this procedure,
but also upon the supposed danger from an actuarial point of view.
“ This, too, is certain /’ says one author, “ that in every trades union
there exists the fatal element of incalculability. A t any moment a
trade dispute may swamp the richest and best regulated union.” He
believes that the combination of funds is the surest means of bringing
the trade unions to bankruptcy. “ It may be remarked,” he says,
“ that it is too frequently unobserved that regulations which leave the
funds required to meet definite contingencies open to diversion for
casual and incalculable demands have also the effect of removing the
conditions which are generally indispensable to permanent success.”
We would therefore naturally expect the unionists to fear the com bi
nation of funds and the opponents of unionists to advocate it.
“ Strange to say,” he continues, “ we find the supporters of unionism
clinging tenaciously to this double function, and angrily resisting every
proposal for separation, as an insidious device to sap the power of the
system. On the other hand, the opponents of unionism, with no less
inconsistency, call for the peremptory separation of the trade and
provident purposes of the unions, or at least of the funds devoted to
each. They do not see that, even if they could effect this object—
as assuredly they can not— they would only give increased stability
and permanence to a system they condemn.” (a)
A similar criticism of trade-union insurance is made by Robert
Somers, in “ The Trade Unions: An Appeal to the W orking Classes
and Their Friends.”
Mr. Somers demands that the benefit features of the unions “ be
fully reserved for the purpose for which they are contributed.” The
argument for the “ astounding practice” of the unions, of using their
insurance funds for trade purposes— i. e . , that the unions are “ only
free clubs of fellow-workmen, who are thinking primarily of trade pur
poses, and care comparatively little for insurance or benefits,” he conaSee Trade U nionism , with Rem arks on the R eport o f the Commissioners on Trades’
U nions, b y J. Stirling. R eprinted from the second edition, 1869 (Glasgow, 1889), pp. 45, 46.
The general attitude o f the author on the subject o f benefit features m ay perhaps be judged
b y his interpretation o f the trade union itself: “ The fanatical faith of the w orking classes in
the artificial mechanism o f com bination w ill give place to trust in the wiser, because more
natural, system o f individual com petition ; and the hiring o f labor, like the exchange o f
com m odities, w ill be set free to be regulated by the heaven-ordained laws o f supply and
dem and.”
716
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
siders to be “ full to the brim, not only of sophistry, but of palpable
dishonor.” He believes that the unions are acting “ at enmity with
fundamental principles of law and common integrity by adhering to a
financial perversity of this kind;” and he suggests as an alternative
that “ funds paid for benefit purposes * * * be reserved for
benefit purposes, and funds required for strikes and other great
emergencies * * * be raised by special levies.” ( a )
The union of the benefit and trade funds is attacked with equal vigor
by Edmund Potter, M. P ., in a book which appeared either in Decem
ber, 1869, or in 1870. “ It appears to us to be scarcely fair that .funds
subscribed for purposes solemn and almost sacred should be made use
of to support contests between masters and men.” “ The unionists,”
he continues, “ seek to be admitted to the privileges of the Friendly
Societies’ Acts, for the purpose of using the funds of their societies—
sick, burial, and insurance funds— for the working of their trade
action.” It is true, he admits, that many friendly societies “ are con
nected with certain trades in towns or districts, and meeting as they
do in their own rooms very naturally discuss union questions,” and
that “ many so-called friendly societies are merely trades’ unions,”
but he is opposed to the granting of the privileges and immunities of
friendly societies to any organization that has distinctively trade
purposes. ( b )
“ The combination of trade with benefit purposes,” says another
author, “ was astutely conceived, with a view to increase the strength
of trade organizations. The benefit element was first to decoy and
then to control. The lure of prospective benefits having attracted
members, the dread of confiscation was to enforce obedience. A
workman, it was calculated, who had contributed for years to a
union, would hardly dare to resist the will of its chiefs. The savings
of a lifetime stood pledged for his submission.” (c)
These opponents of trade-union benefits were opposed not only to
these benefits, but also to any form of charitable or other benefits that
the unionist might secure in his aggressive action. The out-of-work
benefit was looked upon as a means of enabling the trade unionist
to hold out against what the employer may consider reasonable wages.
“ The unionist,” continues the same author, “ fights his battle with
the poor law at his, back. I^the worst comes to the worst, he can fall
back on the parish for support. No doubt guardians may refuse
relief to workmen who will not accept of proffered em ploym ent; but*&
a The Trade Unions. An Appeal to the W orking Classes and their Friends, by R obert
Somers, Edinburgh, 1876, pp. 228,229. This book is a somewhat belated attack upon the
trade unions, based broadly upon the results o f the investigation o f 1869. It devotes some
space to the benefit features of the trade union and attacks the organizations from all sides.
&See Some Opinions on Trade U nions, by Edm und P otter, M. P ., pp. 9 ,1 0 .
c See Trade U nionism , w ith Rem arks on the R eport o f the Com missioners o f Trades’
U nions, b y J. Stirling. R eprinted from the second edition, 1869 (G lasgow , 1889), p. 43.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
717
public opinion would hardly sanction a stern application of poor-law
rules in the face of claimant distress, even though self-inflicted.” (°)
Even within recent years strong opposition has been manifested by
opponents of the trade unions to the payment of benefits by these
organizations. “ Perhaps the most effective weapon of intim idation,”
says one author writing in 1891, “ which the unions in the skilled
trades possess over their own members” is that of a withdrawal of
benefit rights. This threat is more effective on the middle-aged than
on the young, “ on the steady-going than on the reckless, as the former
subscribe regularly and the latter let their arrears accumulate, safe in
the knowledge that the union, in spite of its rules, will not disqualify
them. * * * Among those who have really been discharged will
be found many who have all their lives paid their subscriptions, but
who are getting too near to their pension to be anything but a drag on
the society, and so are cast off just when they had hoped to reap some
reward from it.” (66
)
Officials of the union may with impunity draw a pen through the
name of a man who has subscribed as much as £100 ($486.65) to the
organization.
To preserve the power granted to them by the creation of benefit
features, the unions “ nip in the bud any projects of benefits outside
the union control” and bitterly oppose plans of employers to benefit
the conditions of those working for them. (6)
A more unbiased representation of the public attitude toward the
benefit features of trade unions is made by a report of the Committee
on Trades Societies, appointed at the suggestion of the meeting of
the Council of the National Association for the Prom otion of Social
Science, in 1858. This report, finally printed in 1860, is considered
the best summarization of the conditions of the various trade unions
at that time.
The report took up in detail the subject of the advantages and dis
advantages of a connection between benefit and trade societies. The
m ajority report came to the conclusion that the advantage of this
connection was that since the work could be carried on by a single set
of officers and by the same machinery the management was more
economical. On the other hand, the m ajority of the committee
believed that the principal disadvantage of this connection was that
in times of need the temptation arose to appropriate benefit funds for
strike purposes “ and that there is a very strong m otive, amounting
even to a kind of moral compulsion, held out to members of the
friendly society to acquiesce from interested motives in the general
a See Trade U nionism , w ith Rem arks on the R eport o f the Commissioners o f Trades'
U nions, b y J. Stirling. R eprinted from the second edition, 1869 (G lasgow , 1889), p. 16.
6 Modern L abor: A R eview o f the L abor Problem , by J. Stafford Ransom e, C ondon,
pp. 65-68.
12951— N o. 64— 06-----9
718
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
policy of the trades’ union, lest by resistance they should endanger
their sick allowances and life insurance.”
In elaboration of this point the m ajority of the committee pointed
out that whereas in the case of friendly societies Parliament had pro
vided “ a simple and efficacious remedy for individual members” in
the case of a trade union such a protection did not exist. As a con
sequence “ it is quite impossible, in such cases, for individual members
to prevent, however much they may disapprove, the expenditure on
trade purposes of funds which they have subscribed for benefit pur
poses and which should be laid by to meet the future exigencies of the
society without recurrence to the court of chancery— a course which is
obviously beyond their means.”
The m ajority report of the committee on the advantage 6f the
benefit features of trade unions was not unfavorable. It found:
That trades’ societies have secured the cooperation of many
prudent workmen by undertaking to provide maintenance for those
who are casually out of employment or who are seeking for it by
assuming the functions of benefit societies, occasionally b y prom oting
emigration or establishing reading rooms and libraries.
That while this union of purposes adds to the attraction of these
societies it not seldom enables a m ajority of their members to dominate
over an unwilling m inority in strikes and all their consequences.
That the legal difficulties which rich societies experience in finding a
profitable investment for their funds often increase greatly b y tne
tem ptation to em ploy them in strikes.
The m inority report was much more favorable.
It found—
That what we have called the universal function of trades societies
[namely, the enabling of the workingman to maintain himself while
casually out o f employment or travelmg in search of it] has the effect
of securing to them the support o f large numbers of the most prudent
and moderate-minded workmen.
This support is further secured, in most cases, b y the com bination
with the purposes of a trade society of those o f an ordinary benefit
society, and sometimes of other institutions, such as libraries, reading
rooms, etc.
This com bination of purposes often affords to a m ajority the means
of involving an unwilling m inority in strikes and all the consequences
which m ay flow from them.
The first or universal function o f trades societies might (we think)
be safely legalized under the Friendly Societies Acts.
The attitude of the new unionists toward benefit features was,
especially at the first, decided and determined in its opposition. The
new unionists favored an appeal to the State for the insurance of the
workingmen, and they felt that little or nothing could be accomplished
if the unions assumed burdens properly belonging to the community
as a whole. This view is well represented in a pamphlet b y John
Burns.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BBITISH TRADE UNIONS,
719
“ Trade unions,” he says, “ must be less sick and friendly societies
than they have been in the past. A t the present moment, in many
cases, they were nothing more nor less than middle class rent-reducing
societies/7 He contended, “ If their [the unionists’] vigor was sapped
away prematurely and prematurely aged through overwork, they had
no right to throw themselves as burdens upon a limited class— that
class to which they belonged— but they had a right to make sick,
superannuation, and unemployed relief come by graduated income
tax from the middle and upper classes.”
In the same article, appeal is made directly to the State for the
insurance of the workingmen. “ The new unionists intended to do
their best to invoke the aid of the State whenever the latter could do
for the working classes more good than they could by trades unionism
do for themselves.” (a)
This question of benefits marked very clearly the difference between
the old and the new unionism. As expressed in the words of John
Burns, “ the new unionism is socialistic in its tendencies, while the old
is individualistic or at least sectional.” (&)
During the last few decades, the public has decidedly approved the
benefit features of trade unions, which are praised by people both in
and out o f the unions, because of their supposed effect, that of making
the organizations conservative; and, further, because many evils
originally feared have not come to pass. The unionists themselves,
in replying to attacks upon their general policy, have almost invaria
bly laid as much emphasis as possible upon benefit features, and it is
safe to say that the great mass of organized workmen are now heartily
in sym pathy with the principle and policy of paying benefits, though
they m ay be dissatisfied with the special provisions in their own union.
The reports and other literature of the trade unions are replete with
eulogies and praises of benefits, and the casual reader of this literature
might easily come to the false conclusion that unions exist mainly, if
not entirely, for the payment of this insurance.
One of the advantages of benefit unions, as discovered by the advo
cates of these organizations in the sixties, was the comparative econ
om y of insuring the members in one organization instead of in two.
“ It is much more economical to depend upon one society combining
all benefits than to contribute to a friendly society for sick and funeral
benefit and to a union for tool and accident benefit and trade pur
poses. The advantage of the former course lies in concentration of
management and consequent lessening of working expenses.” (c)
a Trade Unionism — Past, Present, and Future, by John Bum s. Pam phlet reprinted from
“ The Rotherham A dvertiser,” 1890.
b See John Burns, quoted through H enry D yer in the E volution of Industry, 1895.
c See The Am algam ated Society o f Carpenters and Joiners, by Edw ard S. Beesly.
R eprinted from Fortnightly R eview , L ondon, 1867.
720
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The trade unions further maintain that benefit features have
resulted in a diminution of the amount of pauperism of the country.
Thus, in his book on Trade Unions, Burnett claims to have estab
lished that “ b y the disbursement of their funds for friendly purposes,
they [the unions] have reduced and prevented pauperism and ren
dered their members the most peaceful and contented portion of the
toiling population.
“ Thus * * * the trade unions of the country have been
engaged in a work of mutual brotherhood, which should extort the
admiration of a l l . ’ ’ (a)
The payment of benefits has been defended also on the ground that
through them the unions become businesslike in their methods, con
servative in their dealings, and careful in the avoidance of strikes.
TRAD E UNION BEN EFITS AND THE CHARACTER OF THE
INDUSTRY.
The emphasis laid upon various benefits by different groups of trade
unions depends to a large extent upon the nature of the industry.
The extent of the benefits is limited by the amount of the members’
contributions, which in turn is limited by the rate of wages prevailing
in the industry. The nature and extent of the benefits are thus
influenced by wages, amount of skill, and strategic position of the
trade. Moreover, the unions in each industry endeavor to insure their
members against the particular ills to which the pursuit they follow
is likely to subject them.
The latest detailed figures for the various groups of trade unions
are found in the Report by the Chief Labor Correspondent of the
Board of Trade on Trade Unions in 1901. The following summary
taken from this report shows, by groups of trades, the membership,
the total income, and the expenditure for various kinds of benefits
of the 100 principal trade unions in 1901:
a See Trades Unions as a Means o f Im proving the Conditions o f L abor, by John B urnett,
Edinburgh, 1886, pp. 32-35.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS,
721
INCOME AND E X P E N D IT U R E OF 100 P R IN C IPA L TR AD E UNIONS OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM. B Y GROUPS OF TRAD ES. 1901.
[From the Report by the Chief Labor Correspondent of the Board of Trade on Trade Unions for
1901, pages 120 to 129.]
Items.
Membership at end of 1901..........................
Metal, en
Building Mining and gineering,
Textile
trades (14 quarrying and ship trades (20
unions). (15 unions). building
unions).
(14 unions).
208,869
248,868
Funds at end of 1900.................................... $2,349,055
$3,507,262
237,742
Clothing
trades (4
unions).
111,544
48,187
$5,812,397 j $2,780,650
$377,450
Income in 1901:
Contributions and levies......................
Other income..........................................
1,712,385
125,780
1,340,774
171,437
3,377,040
289,065
724,870
175,948
277,843
12,872
Total....................................................
1,838,165
1,512,211
3,666,105
900,818
290,715
Expenditure in 1901:
Unemployed, traveling, and emigra
tionoenefits........................................
Dispute benefit......................................
Sick and accident benefits....................
Superannuation ben efit.......................
Funeral benefit......................................
Other benefits and grants to members.
Payments to Federations, grants to
other societies, etc..............................
Working and other expenses...............
327,165
412,947
467,564
165,811
111,375
50,573
86,269
328,168
172,459
61,722
8,429
642,500
90,123
656,924
655,192
169,602
59,687
212,209
42,913
36,864
14,872
26,488
9,412
8,375
19,802
116,154
10,555
18,965
14,137
392,561
47,010
250,031
73,771
435,649
95,958
181,194
16,935
52,305
954,088
2,783,448
619,910
243,091
4,065,385
6,695,054
3,061,558
425,074
%
T otal.................................................... , 1,942,133
Funds at end of 1901....................................
Items.
2,245,087
Transpor Printing,
paper, and
tation
(land and
allied
sea) (10
trades (7
unions).
unions).
W ood
working Miscellane
and fur ous trades Total (100
nishing
unions).
trades (5 (11 unions).
unions).
121,725
41,907
19,928
122,456
1,161,226
Funds at end of 1900.................................... $1,791,792
$749,582
$273,045
$637,584
$18,278,817
Membership at end of 1901..........................
Income in 1901:
Contributions and levies......................
Other income.........................................
505,493
133,712
356,014
28,124
201,288
19,505
532,001
48,144
9,027,708
1,004,587
T otal....................................................
639,205
384,138
220,793
580,145
10,032,295
16,935
23,169
57,595
14,488
27,608
43,570
168,191
17,918
17,310
67,917
24,240
175
68,496
11,091
29,510
30,294
11,285
2,603
55,687
49,151
123,755
28,537
29,598
3,027
1,585,827
995,282
1,678,135
987,666
480,883
177,476
10,351
263,424
9,217
57,211
4,930
55,663
35,915
155,616
308,224
1,843,654
T otal....................................................
457,140
362,179
213,872
481,286
8,057,147
Funds at end of 1901....................................
1,973,857
771,541
279,966
736,443 | 20,253,965
Expenditure in 1901:
Unemployed, traveling, and emigra
tion benefits........................................
Dispute benefit......................................
Sick and accident benefits....................
Superannuation benefit.......................
Funeral benefit.............................. .....
Other benefits and grants to members.
Payments to Federations, grants to
other societies, etc..............................
Working and other expenses...............
722
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The following table shows, for each of the groups comprising the
100 principal unions, the per cent of expenditure for each kind of
benefit for the 10-year period, 1892 to 1901:
PE R CENT OF E X P E N D IT U R E OF 100 P R IN C IPA L TR AD E UNIONS FOR EACH B E N E FIT
AND FOR W ORKIN G AND MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES, AND TO TAL E X P E N D IT U R E
FOR THE PERIO D, 1892 TO 1901, B Y GROUPS OF TR AD ES.
Per cent of expenditure in 1892-1901 on—
Other benefits.
Work
ing
Total ex
Fu
and
mis penditure.
Sick Super neral
and
cella
and
acci annu other Total. neous
dent. ation. bene
expen
fits.
ses.
Group of trade unions.
Dis
pute
bene
fit.
Building.....................................................
Mining and quarrying.............................
Metal, engineering, and shipbuilding...
Textile.......................................................
Clothing.....................................................
Transportation........................................
Printing and allied trades......................
W oodworking and furnishing................
General labor and miscellaneous...........
15.3
39.3
15.9
27.7
21.2
6.8
5.7
11.8
16.8
14.6
13.3
27.3
28.9
3.9
6.8
48.2
29.5
18.3
26.5
12.8
19.3
5.1
38.0
10.4
5.2
10.5
18.9
16.8
1.7
9.7
3.2
13.6
14.1
6.3
11.4
15.3
8.3
17.8
8.7
16.5
9.7
10.4
10.4
60.9
41.4
71.7
53.5
60.3
36.9
76.7
64.5
53.9
23.8
19.3
12.4
18.8
18.5
56.3
17.6
23.7
29.3
$12,906,201
10,157,875
28,516,590
6,818,059
3,063,087
3,817,930
2,873,722
1,766,943
3,698,199
T otal................................................
19.4
21.7
17.9
9.9
11.3
60.8
19.8
73,618,606
Unemployed.
8.4
« One of the best organized industries in the United Kingdom is that
of the building trades, but the unions in these trades have directed
their energies more to trade than to friendly purposes. They do not
have, to the same extent as the metal, engineering, and shipbuilding,
the textile, the printing and allied trades, and a number of other
industries, an extensive system of unemployed benefits. During the
10 years from 1892 to 1901, inclusive, only 14.6 per cent of the total
expenditure of the principal unions in the building trades was used in
payment of the unemployed benefit,while the 100 principal unions in
all trades devoted 21.7 per cent of their expenditure to that purpose.
In the year 1901 the 14 principal building unions, with a membership
of 208,869, expended only £67,228 ($327,165) on unemployed and
similar benefits, while the 100 principal unions, with a membership
of 1,161,226, expended £325,866 ($1,585,827).
Among the bricklayers, masons, plasterers, plumbers, and largely
among the painters, unemployed benefit in the full sense of the term
is not provided. All that is done is to allow to members a small sum
while traveling in search of work. On the other hand. the carpenters
and joiners, while attending closely to the provision or trade benefits,
also allow to their members every kind of benefit for which the older
types of union provide. ( a)
Among the building trades, as in other trades, benefits are paid
principally by the unions of skilled rather than by unions of unskilled
workers. In all the trades considered, however, provision is made
a Eighth R eport b y the Chief L abor Correspondent on Trade U nions, 1894 and 1895,
L ondon, 1896, p. xvii.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
723
for the funeral benefit. In the building trades a still larger provision
is made for sick and accident benefits than for the funeral benefits.
From 1892 to 1901, inclusive, the 100 principal unions in all trades
contributed 17.9 per cent of their total expenditure to the payment
of sick and accident benefits; in the same period the proportion con
tributed by the principal unions in the building trades to this benefit
was 26.5 per cent.
Of the principal benefit unions, the metal, engineering, and ship
building trades are extremely important and contain a larger number
of separate industries than any other group. This group includes
unions in iron and steel manufacture, in which, however, the number
of benefit unions is small; the various engineering trades, in which
the unions are large; the cutlery trades; the shipbuilding trades,
including the boilermakers and iron and steel shipbuilders, the Asso
ciated Shipwrights, and several others.
This group of unions is the richest in accumulated funds. While in
1901 the 100 principal unions had accumulated funds averaging 71s.
8d. ($17.44) per member, the funds in the union of the metal, engi
neering, and shipbuilding trades amounted to 115s. 9d. ($28.16) per
member. The income of these organizations is also the largest. In
1901 the unions in these trades had only slightly above one-fifth the
membership of the 100 principal unions, but their income amounted
to over three-eighths of the income of all the principal trade unions
and their expenditure to over one-third.
Of the expenditure of the unions in the metal, engineering, and
shipbuilding trades, a very large proportion goes toward paying
friendly benefits. W hile, in the 10-year period under consideration,
the 100 principal unions devoted 60.8 per cent of their expenditure
to friendly benefits the principal unions of the metal, engineering,
and shipbuilding trades devoted 71.7 per cent to this purpose. In
the matter of unemployed and in sick and accident benefits, the
unions in the metal, engineering, and shipbuilding trades paid a larger
proportion than the average for the 100 unions, and this difference
was even greater in the case of superannuation benefits.
The printing trades are organized strongly for trade purposes, and
the payment of out-of-work benefit is general among them. They
do not appropriate large sums, however, to the sick benefit and are
not required to give much of their funds to the payment of accident
benefits, since the proportion of accidents in the trade is not large.
During the period from 1892 to 1901 almost one-half of the total
expenditure of this group, or 48.2 per cent, was for unemployed
benefits, the proportion of expenditure for this purpose being the
largest among all the groups of unions, while the proportional expend
iture upon disputes was the smallest among all the unions, and the
proportional expenditure upon sickness and accidents was., with one
exception, the smallest.
724
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
In the mining and quarrying trade unions the unemployed or outof-work benefit was unimportant. There was no superannuation
benefit, and a large proportion of the expenses of the unions was
applied to disputes. The income of these organizations, however,
is not large, and their accumulated funds are somewhat below the
average for the principal unions. In point of numbers, the unions
of the mining and quarrying industries are the most important, but
in point of income, expenditure, and accumulated funds they are far
behind other groups of unions much smaller in membership.
In the clothing trade little provision is made for out-of-work bene
fits, payments to the unemployed during the period from 1892 to 1901
being only 3.9 per cent of the total expenditures. In 1894 the only
important section which made such provision for its members in the
full sense of the term was “ the hat-making trade, which alone fur
nished more than one-half of the total unemployed expenditure
shown by the whole group. In most of the other cases, the amounts
charged under the head of ‘ unemployed benefit ’ refer only to
small allowances made to members traveling in search of work.” (a)
The expenditure for sick and accident benefits b y the principal
unions in the clothing trades was very high during the period from
1892 to 1901, but the payments for funeral benefits were below the
average for all the principal unions.
In the textile trades, which are strongly organized for trade pur
poses, the payment of unemployed benefits required a large proportion
of the entire expenditure of the principal unions from 1892 to 1901,
28.9 per cent being devoted to the payjpent of the unemployed and
27.7 per cent to the payment of dispute benefits. The expenditure,
on the other hand, for sick and accident and superannuation benefits
was extremely low, in both cases being lower than that for any other
group of unions paying benefits. In the “ general labor and miscel
laneous” unions of unskilled and low-skilled labor only the simpler
benefits are paid. In these unions the working expenses are very
high, amounting during the period from 1892 to 1901 to 29.3 per cent
of the entire expenditure as compared with 19.8 per cent for the 100
principal unions. The expenditure for sick and accident benefits was
large in proportion to the small receipts of these unions. The per
centage of working expenses of the different groups of industries
varies in inverse ratio to their total expenditure.
Many examples may be taken to illustrate the influence of the
character of the industry and the nature of the particular occupation
or operation upon the benefit expenditures of the unions. When,
for instance, the work is unskilled and the workman liable to accident,
a disproportionate sum is devoted to the payment of accident benefits.
a See Eighth R eport o f Chief L abor Correspondent of the B oard o f Trade, 1894 and 1895,
London, 1896, p. xviii.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
725
Thus in 1903 the Carters' Association of England (a) gave £441 11s.
8d. ($2,148.97) to weekly accident pay, compared with only £122 18s.
4d. ($598.17) for sick pay, £78 ($379.59) for deaths due to natural
causes, and £20 ($97.33) for deaths due to accidental causes. No
out-of-work and no superannuation benefits were paid, practically
the total available income of the union having been applied to the
payment of accident, sick, and death benefits. It is typical of this
poor union that the mere cost of management, despite low salaries,
amounted to over one-third the total income.
As a general rule, the various organizations in a given industry or
group of industries tend to a similarity and equality in the character
and amount of their benefits. Thus, all the miners' associations have
small dues, amounting on an average from 3d. (6 cents) to 6d. (12
cents) per week or from 13s. ($3.16) to 26s. ($6.33) per year for full
members and to half that amount for half members, who are usually
below the age of 18. As a rule, these organizations do not main
tain considerable friendly benefits, the principal one being the funeral
benefit.
Until recently the dues of the Coalville and District Miners' Asso
ciation were Is. (24 cents) per month, payable in weekly or fortnightly
contributions. (6)
This association is a comparatively wealthy organization. On
December 31, 1903, it had a membership of 3,403 and accumulated
funds amounting to almost £7J ($36.50) per member. Its working
expenses in general for the year 1903 were only about three-fourths
the interest from invested funds. It has practically no benefits what
ever. In the balance sheet for the year ending December 31, 1903,
the amounts paid for the various benefits are not separately shown,
but their total was less than £150 ($729.98). The total income for
that year amounted to £4,251 9s. 9d. ($20,689.86), while the total
expenditure, including benefits, was only £805 8s. 2d. ($3,919.52),
or less than one-fifth of the income.
In the year 1901 this association paid out £22 ($107) for unem
ployed, traveling, and emigration benefits, nothing for sick and acci
dent, superannuation, funeral, or dispute benefits, and only £11 ($54)
in grants to members. In other words, the organization, with an
income in 1901 of £4,174 ($20,313), had an entire expenditure, irre
spective of working and miscellaneous expenses, of only £126 ($613),
and its total expenses amounted to only about one-seventh of its
income. (c)
a Thirteenth Y early Balance Sheet (1903) o f the U nited Carters' Association o f England.
6 See Rules o f the Coalville and D istrict M iners' A ssociation, revised, 1891, Leicester, rule
42, p. 15. A t the present tim e the dues am ount to 6d. (12 cents) per week.
c R eport by the Chief Labor Correspondent o f the Board o f Trade on Trade Unions in 1901.
p p . 12 0,12 1.
726
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The unions of unskilled labor have not infrequently been disorgan
ized through their attempts to pay large benefits on the small contribu
tions of members. 4‘ It is m y duty,” says the general secretary of the
Navvies’ , Builders’ , Laborers’ , and General Laborers’ Union, in his
thirteenth annual statement (1903) “ to again draw attention to the
benefits guaranteed in comparison to the small rate of contribution
paid by members. The executives have tried to solve the problem,
but so far have not been able to do much, as it finally rests with the
members themselves, under present rules whether an improvement
can be effected or not.”
The trade unions of unskilled workingmen do not treat the pay
ment of friendly benefits as a matter of first importance. Thus,
the constitution of the Scottish Hackney Carriage, Tramway, and
Omnibus Employees’ Society, in stating the objects of the organ
ization, emphasizes the trade policy, alleging that the sick and funeral
funds are created merely to enable such members as voluntarily desire
it to provide for their relief in sickness or temporary disablement, etc.
The sick and funeral fund of the Scottish Hackney Carriage, Tram
way, and Omnibus Employees’ Society is fairly typical of organiza
tions for friendly benefits in unskilled trades. The entrance fee to
this fund is Is. (24 cents), if the applicant for membership is between
the ages of 16 and 40, and 2s. (49 cents), if he is between the ages of
40 and 50, while the weekly contribution is 3d. (6 cents) for the first
class and 4d. (8 cents) for the second class. The initiation fees and
dues are thus graduated in rough approximation to age.
The sick allowance is fairly generous. The payment is 10s. ($2.43)
per week for the first 8 weeks, 7s. 6d. ($1.83) for the next eight weeks,
and 5s. ($1.22) for an additional 10 weeks, after which the allowance
ceases. The usual provisions with regard to doctor’s services, visiting
of a sick member, the punishment of a false declaration of sickness,
the remaining of the sick man at home during certain hours of the day,
or the employment of the alleged sick member, etc., are to be found in
the rules of the sick fund. No member is allowed aliment for less than
4 days’ illness, nor for any sickness caused by drunkenness or disor
derly conduct, or otherwise im properly contracted. There is a regular
form of declaration in order to secure the sick benefit, also a form of
declaration to be used when the member is able to dispense with the
sick benefit, and in the form of application for membership-to the sick
and funeral fund of the union the applicant must declare the date of
his birth, his age, his wife’s name, his wife’s age, his children’ s names
and their ages, together with the assertion that all of them are in good
health. ‘ ‘ Should any of the statements herein contained prove false,”
continues the application, “ whatever sums I have paid into the society
shall be forfeited, and I shall be disentitled to any of its benefits.”
In speaking of the benefit unions and the influence of the trade,
only two classes have hitherto been mentioned, viz, unions with large
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
727
dues and large benefits and unions with small dues and small benefits.
There is, however, a third class of unions with large dues and simple
and small benefits. Such unions are found largely in the textile
industry. The Amalgamated Operative Cotton Spinners, for exam
ple, has always endeavored to build up its power by means of a spirited
militant policy rather than by the payment of benefits. It accumu
lates large funds in order to prepare for strikes. “ It is satisfactory
to find,” says its annual report for 1897, “ that we have again made
great strides in the way of increasing our funds. This is an excellent
improvement, though it is probable it would not have been so marked
had there not been more of the piecers’ funds included in the return.”
The friendly benefits of this organization are largely of a semimili
tant nature. The organization states that “ we still remain, and are
likely to remain, heavily handicapped with a heavy out-of-work
expenditure.” During the year 1897 the expenditure for out-of-work
pay, stoppages, disputes, left-out pay, and lockout pay constituted
an “ unemployment benefit of £33,245 Os. lid . [$161,787.02], which
is more than double what it costs any other trade society in the King
dom for the same benefit. This is a point that should be taken into
consideration by our members, when they are tempted to complain
about the heavy subscriptions. A splendid reserve fund can not be
raised, and heavy benefits paid, unless the money is paid in for this
purpose.”
This payment of large sums for militant benefits is typical of the
Amalgamated Operative Cotton Spinners and has always marked its
financial administration. In 1895 over £30,000 ($145,995) was spent
for out-of-work benefits, disputes’ victim s, lockouts, and stoppages,
“ which sum is far and away larger than the cost of similar benefits in
any other labor organizations.” (a)
The policy of the Amalgamated Operative Cotton Spinners renders
the society extremely formidable in the case of a strike or lockout.
During the years 1892 and 1893, this society expended during the lock
out of those years £182,000 ($885,703), or over £10 ($48.67) per mem
ber. For the Amalgamated Engineers to makg a similar effort at the
present time would require an expenditure of about £1,000,000
($4,866,500) in 2 years on the lockout alone, or a sum over 50 per
cent in excess of their entire accumulated funds.
This policy of the cotton spinners’ organization has been typical of
the trade from the earliest times. In 1872, with 2,276 members, the
cotton spinners of the Oldham district expended £1,669 18s. 8Jd.
($8,126.74) for out-of-work unemployment as against only £43 12s.
($212.18) for funerals and £71 14s. 6d. ($349.05) for sickness.' After
1878 the payment for sickness was discontinued. From 1872 to 1904,
during which time the membership of the organization grew from
a R eport o f Am algam ated O perative C otton Spinners, 1895.
728
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
2,276 to 6,537, the following sums were paid out: £444,138 3s. 5£d($2,161,398.42) for unemployment, £896 8s. 9d. ($4,362.51) for emi
gration, and £8,019 9s. 6d. ($39,026.78) for the leaving of trades. A ll
of these were in the nature of benefits with distinctively trade pur
poses. The payment for funerals, on the other hand, amounted to
only £4,196 16s. ($20,423.73), or about 0.94 per cent of the out-ofwork benefit.
Women unionists are not affected much by the benefit policy of
trade unions. In the first place the number of organized women is
small. In 1903 there were only 119,416 women who were members
of trade unions, as compared with 122,210 at the end of 1902, a
decrease of 2.3 per cent.
In 1901, the latest year for which a detailed statement is made of
the number of women in the various groups of trade unions, there
were but 144 British and Irish unions including women and girls as
members, the total female membership of the unions being only
120,078, or 6.2 per cent of the total membership. This was a decline
from 1900, when there were 123,510 female members, or 6.5 per cent
of the total. The great m ajority of female members in 1901 was
found in the textile trades, 107,927, or 89.9 per cent, of the total being
employed in these industries. Most of these, or 94,663, were in the
cotton trades, 61 per cent of all women unionists being engaged in
cotton weaving. W omen, therefore, do not belong to trades paying
extensive benefits. Practically no women are in the metal, engineer
ing, and shipbuilding trades, the mining industry, the building trades,
or other trades in which labor organizations pay large benefits. The
following table shows the number of unions with which female mem
bers are connected in the various trade groups and the number and
per cent of females in each group, also the total number of unionists
of both sexes in each group : ( a )
a R eport o f the Chief L abor Correspondent o f the Board o f Trade on Trade Unions in 1901,
pp. x x , xxi.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
729
NUM BER AND PE R CENT OF FEMALE TR AD E UNIONISTS IN EACH GROUP OF TRADES,
1901.
Unions with female members.
Trades with which unions are connected.
Number
of
unions.
All unions.
Percent
Number age of all Number Number of
male and
of female
female
of
female
trade
members,
unions. members.
(a)
union
ists.
Textile trades:
Cotton preparing and spinning.....................
Cotton weaving................................................
Woolen and worsted manufacture................
Linen and jute manufacture..........................
Hosiery.............................................................
Other textile trades........................................
19
50
4
12
4
5
21,423
73,240
827
10,061
1,636
740
17.8
61.0
0.7
8.4
1.4
0.6
20
110
31
24
12
46
44,636
121,493
8,817
16,686
5,498
22,126
Total textile trades.....................................
94
107,927
89.9
243
219,256
B oot and shoe manufacture.................................
Tailoring..................................................................
Hat and cap manufacture.....................................
Other clothing trades............................................
Printing, paper, and allied trades.......................
Food and tobacco trades......................................
Other trades...........................................................
2
7
2
2
6
4
27
777
552
2,494
199
823
2,235
5,071
0.6
0.4
2.1
0.2
0.7
1.9
4.2
15
20
6
7
50
28
867
33,542
25,014
6,874
861
58,214
19,300
1,559,719
144
145
120,078
123,510
100.0
100.0
1,236
1,252
1,922,780
1,910,614
Total, all trades...............................{l900
o In some cases the figures in this column are estimates.
N ATURE OF EX ISTIN G BENEFITS.
Friendly benefits in unions generally have in view a trade pur
pose as well as insurance. To a considerable extent benefits are
introduced with the object of rendering the unionists stronger in
disputes* with their employers. This is especially observable in the
unemployment or out-of-work benefits, established as a form of
relief for the distressed, but perhaps to an equal extent based upon
the idea of removing the surplus labor from the market and put
ting the unemployed man above the necessity of underbidding.
The payment of 10s. ($2.43) to an unemployed man, who is thus
enabled to refuse to work below the standard rate of 20s. ($4.87),
although he might have secured a position at 16s. ($3.89), is in the nature
of a strike in detail. This benefit has in the past been employed by a
few strong, exclusive unions in a directly militant way. One man
after another has been withdrawn from the em ploy of an obnoxious
or antagonistic employer and maintained on out-of-work benefit until
the employer has been willing to grant terms. Even at the present
time the out-of-w ork benefit accomplishes this purpose of maintain
ing wages at the standard rate. The same is true of a different form
of this benefit, the traveling benefit, which maintains a workingman
in search of employment in another place and prevents him, from
accepting wages below the standard. Another evidence of the trade
purpose of friendly benefits is furnished by the emigration benefit,
which was consciously intended to buy up and remove the surplus
labor from the market.
730
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
To a less extent other benefits exert this influence. The pay
ment of a small sum to members above the age of 65 has the advan
tageous effect, so far as the workmen in the trade are concerned,
of obviating the com petition of old men, who might be disposed to
undercut wages. The superannuation benefit is not paid in cases
where the workingman continues at his trade, though all or part of it
may be paid if he works at another trade. But when the superannua
tion benefit is paid for the entire incapacitation of the member, no
direct trade result is to be observed.
Sick and accident benefits have very much less of a trade purpose
than the out-of-work benefit. Of course, to permit employees to
verge on starvation during a period of sickness or incapacitation from
accident would be to force them to accept lower wages upon the termi
nation of their incapacity. It is quite clear, however, that the prin
cipal effect of this benefit is friendly. The same is true of the funeral
benefit and the payment of sums upon the death of a member's wife.
W hile British unions enter the field covered b y friendly societies,
and even extend this field, their purposes can in no sense be called
antagonistic. It is not unusual for a trade union to declare specific
ally in its constitution that it does not wish to com pete with friendly
societies, or in any way to injure them. “ It is no part the object of
this association," say the Scottish Iron Molders, “ to, in any sense,
act as a rival to the many benefit societies in the United Kingdom ,
but rather to provide against a train of events which, in the course of
things, will arise, and which it is impossible to make provision for in
the ordinary benefit societies." (a) The field of insurance covered by
friendly societies is, on the whole, different from that covered b y the
trade unions. The friendly society lays stress chiefly upon payments
for sickness and funerals, while in the trade unions, though the
insurance includes this branch, the greater part of the sums dispensed
in the form of benefits are paid for accidents, superannuation, out-ofwork, loss of tools, emigration, and other benefits.
In the great m ajority of British unions the theory is held that
insurance of workingmen is a legitimate sphere o f activity on the part
of the trade*union. The question has repeatedly arisen as to whether
or not the union should do anything more than merely protect its
members in strikes and lockouts, but the preponderance o f opinion in
England has always justified the use of benefits. “ Every bona fide
trade union," says one writer, “ is a protective association, and in the
conflict of opinion in recent years with regard to the proper functions
of these organizations we have had a recrudescence of the old con
troversy as to whether or not they should endeavor to be anything
more.
a Rules o f the A ssociated Iron M olders o f Scotland, G lasgow , 1904, p. 3.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
731
“ Differences of opinion on this point still exist, but the balance is
overwhelmingly on the side of the wider interpretation of the rightful
sphere of trade-union action." (a)
In fact, it has often been stated that the insurance is the principal
work of the unions. Thus, the m inority report of the subcommittee
appointed b y the National Association for the Prom otion of Social
Science in 1860 went so far as to assert “ that the simplest and univer
sal function of trades' societies is the enabling the workman to main
tain himself while casually out of employment or traveling in search
of it ." (6) This view, however, leans too much upon the other side,
and is in conflict with that of the trade unionists themselves, who have
always maintained that benefit features, while important, are merely
incidental and secondary to the attainment of the trade purpose of the
unions— that is, the protection o f the laborer in his relations with the
employer.
The importance of friendly benefits in the eyes of the union is shown
b y the prominence they receive in the enunciation of the purposes of
the organizations.
The laws regulating British trade unions require that the various
objects and purposes of trade unions be explicitly stated in their rules.
In m ost o f the trade-union constitutions great, and perhaps even
undue, emphasis is laid upon the benefit features. Thus, the rules of
the United Society o f Boiler Makers and Iron and Steel Ship Builders
declare “ that the objects of this society are the establishment o f a
fund for the relief of its members in sickness, with medical and surgical
aid, assistance to members out of employment, protection o f trade or
disputes connected therewith, accidents, old age, for the interment of
its deceased members and their wives, and for regulating the relations
between workmen and masters."
The rules of the Friendly Society of Iron Founders state that “ the
objects of this society are the establishment of a fund for the relief of
its members out of work, and for the mutual support of its members in
case of sickness, accident, or superannuation, the burial of the dead,
and the prom otion of their trade interests and general welfare." The
Amalgamated Society of Engineers mentions among its objects the
assistance of the members “ when out of work or in distressed cir
cum stances," support “ in case of sickness, accident, superannuation,
and loss of tools b y fire," and provisions “ for their burial and the
burial of their w ives."
The rules of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners
declare that “ the objects of this society are to raise funds for the
advancement and protection of the trade; for the mutual support of
a L ife and L abor o f the People in L ondon, V ol. I X , London, 1897, p. 247.
b R eport o f the Com m ittee on Trades, Societies o f the N ational A ssociation for the Prom o
tion o f Social Science, L ondon, 1860, p. x x .
732
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
its members in case of sickness, accident, and superannuation; for the
burial of members and their wives; emigration; loss of tools by fire,
water, or theft, and for assistance of members out of work. Also to
form a contingent and benevolent fund, which shall be used for the
purpose of granting assistance in cases of extreme distress not other
wise provided for b y these rules.”
In almost all the other unions the friendly benefits are emphasized
in the constitutions and by-laws, and in many constitutions are given
a place more important even than the trade protection of the members.
On the other hand the rules of the cotton spinners’ organization, (a)
which is not a markedly benefit organization, do not mention other
friendly benefits than out-of-work, emigration, and accident benefits.
The association, it is stated, is formed to secure for its members a
fair reward for their labor, to provide for the settlement of disputes,
enforcement of factory codes, and other legislative enactments for
the protection of labor. “ To afford pecuniary assistance to any mem
ber who may be out of employment in consequence of a dispute or
lockout or when disabled by accident; to enable such of our members
as may wish it, and who are on the funds, to emigrate.” No mention
is made in the rules of the protection of the sick, the payment of
funeral benefits, or the protection of the old member. This lack of
insistence upon friendly benefits in recapitulating the objects of the
society is true also of many others of the textile unions.
No correct idea can be obtained of the meaning and extent of the
benefit features of British trade unions without some knowledge of
the organizations themselves. The following brief discussion of the
growth and statistics of British unions down to 1903 is therefore given.
The figures are from the British Labor Gazette for December, 1904,
and are the latest available.
According to this authority, 1,166 trade unions were in existence
at the end of 1903, with a total of 1,902,308 members, and of these
119,416 or 6.27 per cent were women and girls.
The tables showing financial details were based on the accounts
o f 100 selected unions. These 100 unions were selected as represent
ing the largest and most important unions in their respective groups
and as comprising among them the great bulk both of membership
and of funds.
While the total membership of 1,902,308 was divided among 1,166
unions, nearly 60 per cent of this number, or 1,133,640 members,
belonged to the 100 principal unions. These 100 unions in 1903 had
an income of £2,073,612 ($10,091,233), or 36s. 7d. ($8.90) per member,
and an expenditure of £1,895,015 ($9,222,090), or 33s. 5Jd. ($8.14)
a See Rules o f the Am algam ated A ssociation o f O perative C otton Spinners, e tc., of Lan
cashire and A djoining Counties, M anchester, 1904.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
733
per member. Their accumulated funds amounted to £4,550,775
($22,146,347), or 80s. 3|d. ($19.54) per member. The accumulated
funds were over 3J times as great in 1903 as in 1893, although the
membership had increased less than 25 per cent. The per capita
accumulated funds during the years from 1893 to 1903 increased
from 29s. 9d. ($7.24) to 80s. 3 Jd. ($19.54), or nearly 170 per cent.
During the 12 years from 1892 to 1903 the total expenditure of the
100 principal unions was £18,677,614 ($90,894,609). Of this amount,
£3,807,920 ($18,531,243) o f 20.4 per cent was for working expenses,
£3,360,019 ($16,351,532) or 18 per cent was for dispute benefits,
£4,169,459 ($20,290,672) or 22.3 per cent was for unemployed bene
fits, and £7,340,216 ($35,721,161) or 39.3 per cent was for other
benefits. The expenditure for friendly benefits, including unemployed
benefits, was thus nearly 3 J times as great as that for dispute benefits.
In other words, of the total sum devoted to friendly benefits and to
militant expenditure over three-fourths went to the account of friendly
benefits.
From 1902 to 1903 there was a decrease in the total membership
of British unions from 1,924,809 to 1,902,308, or 1.17 per cent. The
membership of the 100 principal unions decreased from 1,148,582 to
1,133,640, or 1.30 per cent. The income of the 100 principal unions
increased from £2,067,666 ($10,062,297) to £2,073,612 ($10,091,233),
or from an income per member of 36s. ($8.76) in 1902 to 36s. 7d.
($8.90) in 1903. The expenditure per member, however, increased
in a greater degree, or from 31s. Ofd. ($7.56) to 33s. 5Jd. ($8.14).
The accumulated funds increased from £4,372,178 ($21,277,204) to
£4,550,775 ($22,146,347), or from 76s. lid . ($18.52) to 80s. 3id.
($19.54) per member. The increased expenditure was largely due
to considerable increase in the payments for unemployment, 38.92
per cent of the expenditure for friendly benefits being devoted to the
payment of the unemployed benefit in 1903, as compared with 35.87
per cent in 1902 and 36.23 per cent during the 12 years from 1892 to
1903. The percentage of total expenditure devoted to working and
management increased slightly during the year 1903.
No statement is given in the Labor Gazette showing the number
of trade unionists according to trade groups or according to size of
unions. The latest figures giving detailed information on these points
are found in the Report of the Chief Labor Correspondent of the
Board of Trade on Trade Unions in 1901, and are as follow s:
Of 1,922,780 British trade unionists reported in 1901, 514,536
belonged to unions in the mining and quarrying industry; 334,913 in
the metal, engineering, and shipbuilding trades; 248,648 in the build
ing trades; 219,256 in the textile trades; 166,434 in the transport
trades; 66,291 in the clothing trades, and 372,702 in the miscellaneous
and working trades.
12951— N o. 64—0 6 -— 10
734
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
Of the entire number of union members in 1901, 59 per cent were
found in 40 organizations with a membership of 10,000 or over, while
the remaining 41 per cent were scattered in 1,196 different unions.
The membership of a very large percentage of the unions was ex
tremely small. Thus there were 189 separate unions, each of which
had less than 50 members, averaging about 30; 253 unions had a
membership ranging from 50 to 100, and in 330 unions the member
ship ranged from 100 to 300. The m ajority of the small unions were
unregistered, but the greater number of the large unions were regis
tered under the law.
The proportion between friendly benefits and dispute benefits varied
greatly in different classes of trades. That in the mining industry
w r s least of all, only 41.4 per cent of the entire expenditure during
the period 1892 to 1901 having been devoted to friendly benefits, and
39.3 per cent to dispute benefits. In the metal, engineering, and ship
building trades 71.7 per cent was devoted to friendly benefits, and only
15.9 per cent to dispute benefits. The greatest difference of all, however,
was in the printing trades, where during the 10 years ending Decem
ber 31, 1901, 76.7 per cent of the expenditure was devoted to friendly
and only 5.7 per cent to dispute benefits. In this calculation, how
ever, the out-of-work benefit has been counted as a friendly benefit,
though its nature may be better described as semimilitant, since in
truth it lies half way between an entirely friendly benefit and an
expenditure for strikes.
OUT-OF-W ORK BEN EFIT.
The out-of-w ork benefit developed gradually from the traveling
benefit, which was paid to journeymen from the very beginning of the
trade-union movement, even as early as the first half of the eighteenth
century. Many trades in England were organized into a large num
ber of local groups, and the members who were out of work moved
from town to town and secured temporary relief. In 1741 it was
stated of the wool combers that “ they further support one another
in so much that they are become one society throughout the King
dom. And that they may keep up their price to encourage idleness
rather than labor, if any one of their club is out of work, they give
him a ticket and money to seek for work at the next town where a
box club is, where he is also subsisted, suffered to live a certain time
with them, and then used as before, by which means he can travel
the Kingdom round, be caressed at each club, and not spend a farthing
of his own or strike one stroke of work. This hath been imitated by
the weavers also, though not carried through the Kingdom , but con
fined to the places where they work.” ( a) B y the beginning of the
a See A Short Essay upon Trade in General, b y “ A L over o f H is C ountry,” L ondon, 1741.
Q uoted in W ebb’s H istory o f Trade U nionism , new edition, 1902, p. 31.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
735
nineteenth century the compositors and the calico printers had a
series of local clubs throughout the country, and a systematic form
of refief for the tramping journeyman.
The German system, however, of spending a few years in traveling
about the country at the termination of apprenticeship { d i e W a n d e r ja fir e )
does not seem to have been a regular custom for English
workingmen. ( a )
Of all the benefits of trade unions, the out-of-work benefit has met
with the bitterest opposition from the critics of trade unions. This
is in large measure due to the militant nature of this benefit. While
almost all benefits of trade unions, including superannuation, funeral,
sick, and accident benefits, are to a certain extent intended to
strengthen the resisting power of the unionists, this m otive is espe
cially apparent in the granting of out-of-w ork benefits. This applica
tion of the out-of-work benefit is thus to a large extent in effect a
strike in detail. The action of a man in taking support from a union
rather than accept work at a reduced rate of pay is similar to the
whole body of men striking or refusing to accept conditions of work
other than those to which they have been accustomed or expect.
It is from this point/ of view that the unions chiefly commend the
out-of-work benefit. Supporting a laborer in the absence of work at
union rates has the same effect as a strike for the maintenance of
union rates of wages. It also secures something like steadiness of
employment.
According to Professor Beesly, the out-of-work benefit “ does for
the workman what the capitalist will do for him when society is better
organized— secures him something like steadiness of income and
employment.77(*6)
The out-of-work benefit also has th& effect of converting the union
into an employment agency. It is to the interest of the organization
to keep the number of men out of work at as low a figure as possible.
“ It is the business of the secretary of every branch/7 says Professor
Beesly, “ to know if any work is to be had in the neighborhood and
to send it to members on donation.77(6)_
The members that do not tell of such work are fined, and slackness
of work in any locality must be immediately reported. The out-ofwork benefit is not, as a rule, large enough to put a premium upon
idleness, and a man declining to accept work in another place loses
his donation. “ It is better for him and the society,77 continues
Professor Beesly, “ that he should be earning 30s. [$7.30] at Manchester
than idling on 10s. [$2.43] donation at Birmingham or W orcester.77(6)
a See W ebb’s H istory o f Trade Unionism , new edition, 1902, p. 24.
&See The Am algam ated Society o f Carpenters and Joiners, fey Edw ard S. Beesly. R eprinted
from the F ortnightly R eview , London, 1867.
736
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
Either the union or the employer pays the fare o f the workingman
to the new place, and the man out of work must go, unless he is ill or
has some other reasonable excuse.
The advantages of the out-of-w ork benefit from the point of view of
the workingman are thus summed up b y Professor Beesly: “ Experi
ence proves that this system works admirably. Secretaries and pri
vate members are alike vigilant to keep down donation. The sense of
com fort and security it inspires can not be estimated by those who,
never having known what it is to depend for their bread on payment
b y the day or the hour, draw foolish comparisons between the preca
rious intermittent wages of an artisan and the steady salary o f a bank
clerk or curate.” (a)
The influence of the unemployed benefit in regulating conditions of
trade, and the immense emphasis laid upon it by many unions, may be
illustrated b y the experiences o f the London Society of Compositors.
During X h e 56 years (1848-1903) for which statistics o f the society are
available, a great element of expense has been the payment o f benefits
to the unemployed. In this period it spent a much smaller sum on
strikes than on the unemployed benefit. Until 1861 the payments to
the unemployed never amounted to over £1,000 ($4,867) per year, but
since that year there have been only three years when the payments
were less than that sum.
During the last 22 years, from 1882 to 1903, inclusive, almost
one-half of the total receipts of the London Society of Compos
itors was expended upon the payment of benefits to unem ployed
members. During the last 4 years the amount paid in unem ployed
benefits was considerably over one-half of the entire amount derived
from subscriptions, and during the year 1894 it was more than 64 per
cent. The number o f claimants for the out-of-w ork benefits has also
increased with considerable regularity, ranging from 17.3 per cent to
26.3 per cent of the total membership of the union. The average
amount of relief given to each claimant has also tended to increase.
During the period from 1882 to 1890, inclusive, the average payment
made to each claimant, actually in receipt of relief, was well below
£4 ($19.47), and with the exception of one year, 1894, it was invaria
bly less than £6 ($29.20) during the period from 1891 to 1899, inclu
sive. During the years 1900 to 1902, inclusive, the average relief per
claimant ranged about £6 4s. ($30.17), and in the year 1903 it rose to
£7 10s. 9fd. ($36.70). O f the 1 shilling (24 cents) paid weekly b y each
member of the society, 6^d. (13 cents) are devoted entirely to this
benefit.
a See The Am algam ated S ociety o f Carpenters and Joiners, b y Edw ard S. Beesly.
R eprinted from the F ortnightly R eview , L ondon, 1867.
737
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
The following table shows the development of the unem ployed
benefit in that organization during the last 22 years:
STATISTICS OF BEN EFITS PAID TO UNEMPLOYED MEMBERS OF THE LONDON
SOCIETY OF COMPOSITORS, 1882 TO 1903.
[From the Fifty-sixth Annual Report of the London Society of Compositors, 1903, p. 35.]
Per cent
Pay
of
ments to Average
Number Subscrip Number
unem
of
claim
relief to
of mem
tions.
claim
each
ants of
ployed
bers.
ants.
member mem claimant.
ship.
bers.
Year.
1882.............................
1883.............................
1884.............................
1885.............................
1886.............................
1887.............................
1888.............................
1889.............................
1890.............................
1891.............................
1892.............................
1893.............................
1894.............................
1895.............................
1896.............................
1897.............................
1898.............................
1899.............................
1900.............................
1901.............................
1902
.............. t
1903
................
5,660
5,850
6,175
6,435
6,585
7,025
7,400
7,955
8,910
9,350
9,798
10,151
10,011
10,280
10,558
10,780
11,079
11,415
11,287
11,355
11,244
11,270
$42,270
45,196
48,624
51,143
50,758
55,057
58,318
62,739
73,017
81,172
88,466
95,700
125,619
133,281
147,657
131,786
135,811
138,504
142,529
139,420
137,605
ol42,123
1,180
1,227
1,209
1,435
1,455
1,429
1,555
1,505
1.545
2,031
2,256
2,447
2,636
2,151
2,041
1,922
1,991
2,166
2.546
2,552
2,511
2,294
20.8
21.0
19.6
22.3
22.1
20.3
21.0
18.9
17.3
21.7
23.0
24.1
26.3
20.9
19.3
17.8
18.0
19.0
22.6
22.5
22.3
20.4
$23,363
20,148
19,492
25,636
26,485
23,084
26,981
25,250
26,956
51,773
57,942
57,744
80,704
58,062
51,675
49,058
46,542
62,871
77,226
76,850
75,360
76,921
$19.80
16.42
16.12
17.86
18.20
16.15
17.34
16.77
17.44
25.49
25.69
23.60
30.62
26.99
25.32
25.52
23.37
29.03
30.33
30.11
30.01
36.70
Maxi
mum
yearly
relief.
$46.72
46.72
46.72
74.94
89.06
46.72
61.32
64.24
64.24
99.28
96.36
75.92
81.76
81.76
81.76
81.76
81.76
93.44
99.28
110.96
93.44
123.12
Weekly
amount
per mem
ber re
quired
for un
employed
claims.
$0.0811
.0659
.0608
.0760
.0760
.0608
.0709
.0608
.0558
.1065
.1115
.1115
.1571
.1065
.0963
.0862
.0811
.1065
.1318
.1318
.1268
.1318
«N ot including amount refunded in connection with the levy.
No benefit fluctuates so violently as does the out-of-w ork benefit.
The total is small in good times, but is enormously large in periods of
industrial stress. Thus, in the year 1882, the United Society of
Boiler Makers spent on out-of-work pay, in the form of traveling
benefit, a total of £734 ($3,572), which two years later rose to £57,205
($278,388). During the four years from 1880 to 1883 the union spent
£25,991 ($126,485) for traveling and out-of-w ork benefit. During the
next four years, which marked a depression, the same union paid
£159,571 ($776,552). The cost of the benefit fluctuated from £57,205
($278,388) in 1884 to £3,486 ($16,965) in 1889; rose again to £48,377
($235,427) in 1894; fell again to £11,386 ($55,410) in 1899, and rose
again to £71,922 ($350,008) in 1903. In other words, the cost of this
benefit per member amounted to 39s. 9fd. ($9.69) in 1884; 2s. 3fd.
(56 cents) in 1889; 24s. 9£d. ($6.03) in 1894; 4s. 9£d. ($1.17) in 1899,
and to 29s. 7id . ($7.21) in 1903, the periods of fluctuation coinciding
with the 5-year periods of depression and recuperation in this, as in
the other trades.
The Boiler Makers expended only £97,162 ($472,839) for disputes
during the 37 years from 1867 to 1903, and £128,454 ($625,121)
for out-of-w ork benefits during the 2 years of 1902 and 1903.
738
BULLETIN OF THE BUEEAU OF LABOE.
A large part of the out-of-work and stoppage pay of the Amalga
mated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners is due to a new rule
adopted b y several of the districts, by which members can claim outof-work benefits when working part time. This system, which was
rendered possible as a result of the enormous assets of the union,
amounting to some £390,000 ($1,897,935), or about £21 ($102.20) per
member, has met with the opposition of the secretary of the organiza
tion, as follow s: “ We ventured last year to point out that we con
sidered the adoption of such a rule as a step in the wrong direction.
Further experience of its working confirms the view we expressed.
W e hope that the members will examine its incidence very carefully
and make such alterations as appear in their general interests to be
necessary.”
The out-of-work benefit of the Amalgamated Cotton Spinners has
always been far in excess of any other friendly benefit of the organiza
tion. In the year 1903 the out-of-work benefit and stoppage pay to
members amounted to £56,671 ($275,789), or almost five times as
much as payment to members for accidents, tr,ade disputes, funerals,
lockouts, leaving trade, left out, emigration, and superannuation and
old age benefits, combined. The payment of this single benefit
amounted to almost three-fifths of the entire expenditure of the union
for all purposes whatsoever, and while in many respects the year was
exceptional the out-of-work benefit has always formed a very high
percentage of the total expenses of the union.(a)
Unemployment among the iron founders, as measured by the total
number of traveling cards out, fluctuated very considerably during
the 32 years ending in 1903. In 1872, out of every thousand mem
bers of the society, 1.8 members were constantly traveling. This pro
portion rose rapidly until it reached a maximum of 17.4 per thousand
members in 1879. From then it fell gradually to 5.0 in 1882, rose
again to 9.1 in 1885, fell to 1.6 in 1889, rose to 8.1 in 1894, fell again
to 1.5 in 1899, and rose again, ranging from 5.3 to 5.5 per thousand
members during the last three years from 1901 to 1903. (6)
The out-of-w ork benefit, especially in bad years, falls heavily upon
the resources of the Bookbinders.
“ It is regrettable that the year has been marked by severe depres
sion in many departments of trade, and that this depression has very
seriously affected our industry. The resources of the society have
been heavily strained by the large proportion of members who have
been compelled to swell the list of the unemployed. Some notion of
the extent of the slackness may be formed when we find that no less
a See Annual Eeporfc (1903) Am algam ated A ssociation o f O perative C otton Spinners,
pp. 4 2 ,43 .
&See Annual E eport o f the Friendly S ociety o f Iron Founders o f England, Ireland, and
W ales for 1903, p. 39.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
739
than 47 per cent of the membership was on the claimant’s list during
the year for one week or longer, 125 having received the claimant’s
allowance to its full extent.” (a)
During the year 1903,157 members of the General Railway Workers’
Union received out-of-work pay during 2,362 days. This amounted
to an average of 15 days per member out of work, and to an average
payment of £1 Is. lOd. ($5.31). The number of members at the begin
ning of this year was 4,370 and at its close 3,945. (**6)
During periods of depression the burden of the out-of-work benefit
increases very rapidly, and the necessity for rigid adherence to the
rules becomes more apparent as it becomes more difficult. The prob
lem of meeting the demands of more or less incapable workingmen
thrown out of employment is not new. The Steam Engine Makers,
in their report for 1843, note a large decline in their accumulated
funds, attributed to the out-of-work benefit and to the burden
imposed upon the society by incapable men who are discharged and
are supported by the organization. “ The society,” continues the
report, “ was never intended by its founders to be an asylum for those
who were, through want of talent or inability, incapable of earning
their livelihood at our profession,” even after having “ served a legal
time to the trade.”
The report claims that members of loose moral character, over and
over again discharged for immorality and incapable of permanently
holding a position, are frequently in a last instance discharged for a
cause which throws them on the donation or out-of-work funds. “ It
can not be doubted but that there are some who seem careless about
the society’s interests and its funds in particular.” The secretary
continues that, while he pitied those in distress, it is impossible to aug
ment the benefits without augmenting the income of the society. (c)
The following tables, taken from the Ninth Annual Abstract of Labor
Statistics of the United Kingdom, 1901-1902, show the proportion of
members of trade unions unemployed in the building trades, in the
metal, engineering, and shipbuilding trades, in the printing and book
binding trades, and in all the trades for which returns were made in the
United Kingdom during each month of the 15 years from 1888 to 1902.
These tables indicate to a certain extent the burden of the cost of the
o>See Annual A udit A ccount o f the London Consolidated Society of Journeym en B ook
binders, 1904, p. 2.
&General R ailw ay W orkers U nion, balance sheets for year ending D ecem ber 31, 1903,
M anchester, 1904.
c It is interesting to note how rapidly the attitude o f the trade-union officials changes
when bad tim es change to good tim es. The report o f the Steam Engine Makers for 1843
is quite lugubrious; the report for 1844 states that conditions are im proving, and the report
for 1845, page 80, asserts that “ the present position o f our society is m ore than usually cheer
in g.” It not infrequently happens that the adm onitions delivered b y the secretaries o f
the union during periods o f adversity are com pletely forgotten upon the return o f good tim es.
740
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
unemployed benefit and the fluctuations in the cost of this benefit at
various periods. It is inherent in the nature of this benefit that its
cost increases exactly at the time when the union is least able to pay it,
namely, in bad times. Of all the trade unions making returns, the
average percentage of members unemployed during the year 1888 was
4.9 per cent. From this point it sank to 2.1 per cent in the year 1889,
at which point it remained stationary in 1890. From this point it
rose rapidly to a maximum of 7.5 in 1893, falling again to 2.4 in 1899.
From this date it has again risen. The percentage of members unem
ployed was over three and a half times as great in 1893 as in 1889 or
1890. If a comparison of months is made instead of years, a wider
variation is shown, the percentage of unemployment for all the trades
making returns being over seven times as great in December, 1892,
as in January and February, 1890.
P E R CENT OF MEMBERS OF B R ITISH TR AD E UNIONS UNEM PLOYED, B Y MONTHS
AND YEA R S, 1888 TO 1902.
[Compiled from returns furnished to the Labor Department of the British Board of Trade by trade
unions.]
ALL TRADE UNIONS MAKING RETURNS.
A t end 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902.
of—
Jan___
F e b ....
March..
A p ril...
May----June__
July----A ug----S ep t....
O ct___
N ov___
D ec___
7.8
7.0
5.7
5.2
4.8
4.6
3.9
4.8
4.4
4.4
3.1
3.3
3.1
2.8
2.2
2.0
2.0
1.8
1.7
2.5
2.1
1.8
1.5
1.7
1.4
1.4
1.7
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.3
2.3
2.6
2.6
2.4
3.0
3.4
2.6
2.8
2.7
3.0
2.9
3.3
4.2
4.5
4.4
3.8
4.4
5.0
5.7
5.7
5.4
5.9
5.2
5.0
5.1
6.2
7.3
8.3
10.2
10.0
9.5
8.7
6.9
6.2
5.8
6.2
7.1
7.3
7.3
7.2
7.9
7.0
6.3
6.5
6.1
6.3
6.3
7.4
7.7
7.6
7.4
7.0
7.7
8.2
7.9
6.5
0.5
6.0
5.6
5.3
5.2
4.9
4.9
4.3
4.8
4.5
3.8
3.5
3.2
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.4'
3.6
3.3
2.9
3.2
3.3
3.0
2.5
2.5
2.3
2.7
2.7
3.5
4.4
4.7
4.8
5.3
5.0
4.4
3.1
2.9
2.7
2.6
2.6
2.8
2.6
2.5
2.3
2.9
3.0
2.6
2.5
2.2
2.5
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.5
2.7
2.9
2.3
2.5
2.4
2.6
2.7
3.0
3.6
3.3
3.2
4.0
4.0
3.9
3.6
3.8
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.9
3.7
3.7
3.8
4.6
4.4
4.3
3.7
3.9
4.0
4.2
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.0
4.8
5.5
Yearly
mean.
4.9
2.1
2.1
3.5
6.3
7.5
6.9
5.8
3.4
3.5
♦
3.0
2.4
2.9
3.8
4.4
BUILDING TRADES (CARPENTERS AND PLUMBERS ONLY).(a)
2.4
2.0
1.2
8.4
Jan___
F e b .... 10.1
March.. 10.7
A p ril... 8.5
May----- 5.2
June__
3.5
J u ly .... 2.8
A ug----- 3.3
Sept___ 3.4
O ct___
3.3
N ov___ 3.2
Dec___
3.3
6.0
6.7
6.4
4.7
3.7
1.9
1.7
1.7
1.5
1.5
1.6
1.7
3.3
3.0
3.0
2.8
2.0
1.6
. 1.8
2.0
1.5
1.4
1.5
1.9
5.0
5.5
3.0
2.8
1.5
2.5
1.9
1.1
1.9
1.3
1.4
1.5
3.3
3.8
4.4
4.5
2.8
2.3
2.3
2.1
2.1
2.4
3.2
3.0
6.1
5.0
3.8
2.5
2.5
2.6
2.8
2.8
3.1
3.9
4.0
6.5
7.3
4.4
3.8
3.1
3.6
3.8
3.6
3.2
3.6
3.8
4.2
5.7
8.2
10.1
4.9
3.3
2.5
2.5
2.4
1.8
1.6
1.9
2.1
3.8
3.7
2.5
2.6
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.8
1.1
1.3
.9
.9
2.1
.8
1.5
1.3
1.2
1.4
1.7
1.6
2 .8
Yearly
mean.
3.3
2.2
2.5
3.0
3.8
4.1
3.8
1.8
1.6
5.5
1.0
2.0
1.7
1.6
1.1
1.2
1.2
.9
.9
.9
1.1
1.8
1.7
1.5
1.6
1.3
1.3
1.5
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.1
1.5
2.5
2.7
3.1
2.6
2.2
1.9
2.0
1.8
1.8
2.1
2.5
3.3
4.2
4.7
5.2
4.7
3.4
3.1
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.9
3.1
3.5
5.2
5.0
5.9
4.1
3.5
3.1
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.8
4.4
4.6
5.9
1.3
1.5
2.5
3.7
4.2
1.0
a The other trade unions connected with the building trades do not, as a rule, pay unemployed benefit,
and consequently do not keep an exact record of the number of their members out of work.
741
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
P E R CENT OF MEMBERS OF B R ITISH TRAD E UNIONS UNEMPLOYED, B Y MONTHS
AND Y EARS, 1888 TO 1902.
[Compiled from returns furnished to the Labor Department of the British Board of Trade by trade
unions.]
JHETAL, EPiGINEBRING, AND SHIPBUILDING TRADES.
A t end
of—
1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902.
Jan.......
Feb.......
March..
A p ril...
May---June__
July---A ug----Sept___
Oct.......
N ov ___ !
Dec......
9.2
7.8
6.5
5.9
5.8
5.5
6.7
5.3
5.4
5.3
4.5
3.6
3.3
2.8
2.6
2.0
2.2
2.6
2.1
1.9
2.1
2.7
1.6
1.4
1.8
1.3
1.2
1.6
1.7
2.1
2.2
2.6
2.6
3.3
3.1
3.0
3.2
3.5
2.8
3.1
3.4
3.7
3.4
4.3
5.2
5.5
6.1
5.3
5.5
6.1
7.2
7.5
7.2
7.0
7.3
7.1
7.3
8.7
10.5
11.1
12.0
11.6
10.8
10.4
10.5
10.0
10.7
11.4
12.2
12.2
12.4
12.6
10.7
9.7
10.5
10.1
10.0
9.9
12.0
12.5
12.4
12.3
11.5
12.3
11.4
10.7
9.2
8.7
8.1
7.8
7.5
7.3
7.2
7.6
6.4
6.7
5.7
4.7
4.1
3.8
3.8
3.7
3.7
4.1
4.7
4.2
3.8
3.9
3.5
3.1
2.9
2.9
2.5
2.9
3.4
4.8
6.7
7.9
8.0
8.7
7.7
7.0
4.5
4.0
3.2
3.1
3.3
3.3
3.1
3.0
2.6
3.2
3.0
2.5
2.6
2.2
2.4
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.5
2.3
2.5
2.2
2.1
2.3
2.3
2.1
2.4
2.4
2.6
2.7
2.8
3.5
3.9
4.1
3.8
3.2
3.7
3.1
3.4
3.2
3.6
3.6
3.8
4.4
5.5
•
4.7
4.7
4.1
4.7
5.0
5.5
4.8
5.0
6.3
6.7
6.8
7.9
Yearly
mean.
6.0
2.3
2.2
4.1
7.7
11.4
11.2
8.2
4.2
4.8
4.0
2.4
2.6
3.8
5.5
PRINTING AND ROOKRINDING TRADES.
Jan.......
Feb.......
March..
A p ril...
May—
June....
J u ly ....
A ug----S ep t....
Oct.......
N ov___
Dec......
0.7
2.3
2.1
2.0
2.0
1.4
1.7
4.3
4.4
4.2
3.0
.9
1.5
2.3
1.5
1.2
1.6
1.6
2.7
2.6
4.1
6.7
2.7
.9
1.8
1.9
1.6
1.6
.8
1.9
1.7
2.5
5.0
4.1
1.8
2.0
3.7
3.0
1.8
4.8
2.3
2.7
4.3
4.3
8.0
7.0
4.3
1.7
4.6
5.0
2.9
2.9
2.3
3.4
3.2
4.3
4.3
7.7
6.3
3.7
3.8
3.3
2.8
2.6
2.6
2.8
3.0
6.3
6.3
5.2
3.8
6.0
6.1
5.7
5.4
4.9
6.0
6.4
6.1
7.5
6.5
5.1
3.7
4.5
5.3
4.8
4.9
5.4
5.6
5.5
4.1
6.7
5.7
3.8
2.5
4.1
5.4
4.9
4.6
4.4
4.8
4.8
3.8
5.6
5.0
3.4
2.3
3.0
4.8
4.4
3.6
3.7
3.4
4.4
3.1
5.3
5.4
3.5
2.5
3.1
4.9
3.6
3.0
3.1
3.6
3.8
3.0
4.6
4.6
3.3
2.4
3.9
4.4
3.5
3.3
3.0
3.9
4.0
3.9
5.9
5.1
3.5
2.2
3.5
4.2
4.3
3.6
4.1
4.4
4.6
3.9
5.6
4.2
4.5
2.8
4.4
4.1
3.7
3.7
4.1
5.2
4.9
4.0
6.5
5.6
4.6
2.6
4.7
5.4
4.5
3.4
4.1
4.7
4.6
4.4
6.0
6.2
4.9
3.0
3.7
Yearly
mean.
2.4
2.5
2.2
4.0
4.3
4.1
5.7
4.9
4.3
3.9
3.7
3.9
4.2
4.5
4.6
The following table, showing the number of members of the Friendly
Society of Iron Founders on the out-of-work, on the sick, and on the
superannuation benefit during each month of the years 1894 to 1903,
inclusive, indicates the extent to which the various benefits fluctuate.
The percentage of persons on the out-of-work benefit fell from 10.3
per cent in 1894 to 1.7 per cent in 1899, and rose again to 7.3 per
cent in 1902. The highest percentage was thus over six times as
great as the lowest; on the other hand the percentage of members
on the sick benefit fluctuated only between 2.5 per cent and 2.7 per
cent, while the percentage of members on the superannuation benefit
increased from 4.3 per cent to 5.4 per cent of all the members.
742
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE F R IE N D L Y SOCIETY OF IRON FOUNDERS RECEIVING
OUT-OF-W ORK, SICK, AND SUPERANNUATION BEN EFITS FOR EACH MONTH, AND
PER CENT OF TO TAL MEMBERSHIP A N N U A LLY RECEIVING SUCH BENEFITS, 1894
TO 1903.
[From the Annual Report of the Friendly Society of Iron Founders of England, Ireland, and Wales,
for the ninety-fourth year, from January to December, 1903.]
OUT-OF-WORK BENEFIT.
Year.
1894.........
1895.........
1896.........
1897.........
1898.........
1899.........
1900.........
1901.........
1902.........
1903.........
Jan.
Per
Aver cent
of
age
Feb. Mar. April May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. for
total
the mem
year.
bers.
1,666
1,839
763
525
2,048
484
356
1,081
1,645
1,340
1,451
1,748
556
523
1,095
291
326
1,032
1,654
1,176
1,336
1,711
465
581
662
265
337
1,095
1,442
933
1,257
1,561
417
679
451
240
377
1,076
1,261
888
1,434
1,386
361
408
349
289
327
1,029
1,149
755
1,348
1,207
343
688
335
276
443
1,198
1,273
978
1,436
1,000
350
864
345
274
454
1,033
1,057
852
1,474
907
430
1,567
317
277
496
1,063
1,078
1,006
1,753
914
481
1,848
334
298
625
1,089
1,208
1,147
1,731
919
482
2,143
318
293
657
1,130
1,386
1,347
1,784
804
465
2,134
345
290
773
1,348
1,318
1,511
1,990
849
532
2,211
436
404
1,009
1,628
1,480
1,813
1,550
1,237
470
1,181
586
307
515
1,151
1,329
1,146
10.3
8.2
3.0
7.1
3.5
1.7
2.8
6.3
7.3
6.2
336
353
409
367
428
468
434
448
471
424
332
380
436
398
450
435
480
479
461
439
392
432
448
415
492
543
482
556
545
473
382
396
391
420
433
485
494
487
476
465
2.5
2.6
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.7
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.5
650
674
687
692
679
701
700
704
708
731
784
737
752
777
753
756
765
810
800
805
845
861
882
917
954
952
952
997 1,014 1,025
655
676
701
718
744
762
794
852
922
989
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.3
4.4
4.3
4.4
4.7
5.0
5.4
2,660
2,309
1,562
2,319
1,763
1,546
1,803
2,481
2,728
2,600
17.6
15.3
9.9
14.0
10.4
8.8
9.9
13.6
14.9
14.5
SICK BENEFIT.
1894.........
1895.........
1896.........
1897.........
1898.........
1899.........
1900.........
1901.........
1902.........
1903.........
443
396
397
467
447
482
691
479
511
587
407
490
406
475
461
572
670
530
544
527
413
376
581
403
450
582
544
537
503
491
365
425
386
452
424
490
494
502
451
452
366
341
350
328
372 . 351
395
426
412
400
428
459
397
440
469
447
466
453
444
460
349
333
367
401
405
445
462
468
422
439
329
337
345
413
418
454
415
469
431
427
353
342
368
384
409
462
422
463
453
417
SUPERANNUATION BENEFIT.
1894.........
1895.........
1896.........
1897.........
1898.........
1899.........
1900.........
1901.........
1902........
1903.........
639
645
689
706
737
759
773
827
893
966
648
679
698
698
732
757
775
841
905
985
649
674
695
704
740
754
776
836
905
969
643
676
703
711
746
756
783
839
902
971
656
676
720
718
736
766
782
830
912
979
657
672
702
717
738
748
790
852
929
980
656
668
704
718
735
752
786
836
910
996
656
650
670
680
687
699
724
720
745
741
758
765
809
801
848
853
929 $18
993 1,000
TOTAL FOR THE THREE BENEFITS.
1894.........
1895.........
1896.........
1897.........
1898.........
1899.........
1900.........
1901.........
1902.........
1903.........
2,748
2,880
1,849
1,698
3,232
1,625
1,820
2,387
3,049
2,893
2,540
2,917
1,660
1,696
2,288
1,620
l,77l
2,403
3,103
2,688
3,330
2,966
1,563
1,735
1,#52
1,601
1,657
2,468
2,850
2,393
2,265
2,662
1,506
1,842
1,621
1,486
1,654
2,417
2,614
2,311
2,456
2,412
1,453
1,521
1,497
1,514
1,549
2,328
2,514
2,178
2,346
2,207
1,396
1,831
1,473
1,452
1,630
2,397
2,668
2,418
2,441
2,001
1,421
1,983
1,485
1,471
1,702
2,337
2,389
2,287
2,453
1,914
1,462
2,704
1,480
1,489
1,720
2,380
2,438
2,424
2,762
1,936
1,548
2,952
1,484
1,525
1,848
2,405
2,579
2,564
2,717
1,964
1,591
3,241
1,498
1,517
1,891
2,439
2,821
2,768
2,790
1,863
1,605
3,266
1,548
1,490
2,055
2,709
2,731
2,964
3,069
1,981
1,688
3,363
1,705
1,757
2,336
3,101
2,977
3,311
743
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
The following table shows the number of members of the Steam
Engine Makers’ Society reported out of work in m onthly reports
from 1875 to 1903:
NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE STEAM ENGINE M AKERS' SOCIETY R E PO RT E D
OUT OF W ORK, B Y MONTHS AND YEARS, 1875 TO 1903.
Month.
1875. 1877. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1883. 1885. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891.
January...............................
February.............................
March...................................
April.....................................
May......................................
June......................................
July......................................
August.................................
September............................
October................................
November............................
December.............................
58
54
38
43
28
27
51
63
77
48
56
46
103
105
95
89
86
111
107
80
114
132
153
166
419
474
509
585
496
359
442
389
393
353
304
246
230
164
153
129
130
118
172
151
105
134
143
129
Average per month............
49
111|
414
146*
125
124
111
94
112
71
90
72
74
88
85
62
92*
63
61
44
32
52
60
61
74
84
88
113
84
178
214
236
209
154
141
160
220
296
301
299
282
271
257
263
213
183
381
341
318
372
359
339
288
254
207
156
121
127
131
108
137
103
114
92
90
88
70
54
46
88
37
31
32
29
47
47
44
28
30
34
35
39
37
45
44
51
45
42
34
68
224
298*
136*
51
38*
60
66
61
80
100
69
60
84
121
109
106
88
83*
Total members......... 3,871 4,124 4,071 4,134 4,387 4,762 5,062 5,080 5,165 5,500 5,822 5,965
Month.
1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903.
January...............................
February.............................
March...................................
April.....................................
May......................................
June......................................
July......................................
August.................................
September............................
October...............................
November...........« ..............
December.............................
113
114
324
140
123
127
154
147
158
259
282
296
353
358
290
258
270
296
289
297
367
430
370
457
423
405
387
371
368
397
373
382
423
405
373
384
383
359
297
268
258
216
221
194
186
189
225
220
251
123
83
81
73
63
62
67
111
152
176
103
78
69
86
70
60
101
169
1,549
1,611
1,720
1,830
2,031
Average per m onth............
186
336
391
251*
111
781
335
210
173
83
87
79
128
69
95
92
86
76
71
78
74
74
68
83
74
92
94
60
61
49
66
60
46
43
51
43
44
65
70
61
68
51
78
76
80
74
90
84
87
81
117
208
217
220
218
183
184
168
187
171
175
198
223
227
228
130*
75*
55*
103*
198*
Total members......... 6,100 6,328 6,680 7,085 8,118 8,565 8,113 8,202 8,566 8,976 9,303
229
230
210
186
167
150
133
155
180
286
324
283
212
9,651
In order to lessen the amount of idle or out-of-work benefit, the
unions endeavor, as far as possible, to secure suitable positions for
the men instead of paying benefits. Every member knowing of a
vacancy or leaving one situation to take another or receiving notice
that he is to leave his job is usually obliged to give immediate notice
thereof to the secretary or to the vacant book, so that an effort may
be made to secure the situation for some unemployed member.
Moreover, any member in receipt of out-of-work benefit will have his
pay stopped if he refuses work secured for him or, in case he is
informed where he can obtain work, if he either refuses it or declines
to investigate the matter immediately.
Should the secretary or vacant bookkeeper receive a bona fide
application for men, he requests volunteers for the job and gives the
preference to those members who have been longest on the out-ofwork roll. If more men volunteer than are wanted, he selects the
required number by ballot. In case the number of volunteers is not
sufficient, the secretary selects by ballot from those on the out-of
744
BULLETIN 'OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
work roll who have not volunteered, and if a member so elected
refuses to accept the job he is at once suspended from the benefit.
Members in receipt of out-of-work allowance who take intoxicating
liquors in excess are liable to forfeit their out-of-work benefit until
they have been again employed for three months continuously.
SICK BENEFIT.
Sick benefits have existed among trade unions from very early
times. As early as 1796 there was an organization whose rules pro
vided “ that if any member or members of this society fall sick or
lame and are thereby rendered incapable of work, he or they shall
be relieved by an equal collection from all the members which shall
be given to him or them as the committee shall determine.” The
sick benefit has always been one of the most popular of benefits. In
1901 out of the 100 leading British trade unions 77 had some form of
sick or accident benefit.
In many respects trade unions are adapted to the granting of sick
benefits, since such a form of insurance is not easily carried out by
ordinary insurance companies. Sickness is a singularly difficult thing
to define. Doctors proverbially disagree in their diagnoses. They
might .find equal chance for discord in deciding whether a man is
actually sick or merely feigning illness. The loss to any insurance
society from fictitious illness of its members or malingering renders
it obligatory that the insuring body be a homogenous group governed
b y esprit de corps with a local administration gratuitous or at least
cheap, and such an administration can best be carried on by men of
the same trade and locality.
Sick insurance payments increase with the average age of the mem
bers, but by no means so rapidly as superannuation benefits. ( a) The
cost is, therefore, far more constant, and to meet the future demands
of the benefit does not require so large an accumulation of funds as
that required for superannuation benefits.
The percentage of members of a trade union drawing sick ben
efits fluctuates but little from year to year, but shows a gradual
increase with the advancing age of the members. During the 26
years from 1851 to 1876 there were only 5 years when the average
percentage of the members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
upon sick benefit was as high as 2 per cent and only 1 year in which
the proportion of members upon sick benefit exceeded 2.1 per cent.
During the 27 years from 1877 to 1903, however, there was no year
in which the percentage of members in receipt of sick benefit was not
above 2 per cent; the percentage ranged from 2.1 per cent in 1877 to
2.6 per cent in 1895.
a The fluctuation o f sickness w ith the varying age o f insured persons is statistically shown
in another part o f this report.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
745
The following table shows for eight of the larger trade unions the
average m onthly percentage o f members in receipt o f the sick benefits
during each year of the period from 1870 to 1894. This proportion
is fairly uniform with, however, a tendency to increase, resulting prob
ably from the increasing age of the members.
AV E R AG E P E R CENT OF MEMBERS P E R MONTH RECEIVING SICK BE N E FITS EACH
Y E A R IN E IGH T SELECTED UNIONS, 1870 TO 1894.
[The figures in this table are from the Annual Reports of the Labor Department on Trade Unions.
Since 1894 the number of members receiving sick benefits is not separately shown .in these reports.]
Year.
1870..............
1871..............
1872..............
1873..............
1874..............
1875..............
1876..............
1877..............
1878..............
1879..............
1880..............
1881..............
1882..............
1883..............
1884..............
1885..............
1886..............
1887..............
1888..............
1889..............
1890..............
1891..............
1892..............
1893..............
1894..............
Amalga
United
mated
Amalga
Society of Society of mated
Brush
Carpen Society of
Makers. ters and Engineers.
Joiners.
■
2.0
2.6
2.2
2.4
2.5
2.4
2.9
2.7
2.5
2.8
2.1
2.3
2.6
3.2
3.04
2.85
3.00
1.8
2.2
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.8
1.7
1.7
1.8
2.2
2.2
2.4
2.1
2.0
2.0
2.2
2.5
2.3
2.4
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.18
1.98
2.02
2.1
1.9
1.7
1.7
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.4
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.2
2.2
2.5
2.44
2.45
2. as
United
Society of United
Steam
Boiler
Friendly
Pattern
Engine Society of Makers
Makers’
Makers’
Iron
and Iron Associa
Society. Founders. and Steel
tion.
Ship
Builders.
1.9
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.6
2.1
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.2
2.6
2.5
2.41
2.40
2.07
2.5
2.4
2.3
2.0
2.2
2.3
2.5
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.9
2.7
2.8
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.4
2.6
2.8
2.52
2.69
2.41
1.9
2.2
2.8
2.8
2.8
3.4
4.2
3.2
2.7
2.1
2.4
3.0
3.1
3.3
3.3
3.1
2.6
2.7
2.77
2.78
3.17
3.00
1.3
1.6
1.4
1.6
1.3
1.5
1.4
1.0
1.4
1.7
1.88
1.55
(«)
(a)
Amalga
mated
Society of
Tailors.
(a)
1.10
1.10
.70
.75
.97
1.10
1.10
1.20
1.30
1.60
1.60
1.50
1.30
1.40
1.50
1.50
1.70
1.70
1.61
1.47
1.61
1.62
1.60
1.28
a Not reported.
Though there was considerable variation for some societies in the
per capita amount of sick benefit paid from year to year, as a general
thing the amount was somewhat greater in later than in former years.
This was true in the case of the Friendly Society of Iron Founders,
the United Pattern Makers’ Association, the Operative Bricklayers’
Society, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Amalga
mated Society o f House Decorators and Painters, and a number of
other trades.
The per capita expenditure on this benefit by the Engineers during
the period from 1851 to 1903 varied from a minimum of 4s. 9d. ($1.16)
in 1851 and 7s. ljd . ($1.73) in 1852 to a maximum of 13s. 4fd. ($3.26)
in 1886. There were only two other, years, however, 1879 and 1887,
when the per capita expenditure was as high as 12s. ($2.92). During
the last 10 years of the period the amount was fairly constant, aver
aging 10s. 6fd. ($2.57).
During the period from 1853 to 1903 the average sick benefit paid
b y the Steam Engine Makers’ Society varied from 3s. 3|d. ($0.81) in
746
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
1858 (the next lowest being 7s. 3d. ($1.76) in 1857) to 12s. 2£d.
($2.97) in 1891. The last 10 years of the period showed an average
of 10s. 2Jd. ($2.48).
For the Society of Boiler Makers and Iron and Steel Ship Builders
figures are available from 1867 to 1903, the minimum sick benefit per
member being 7s. 5fd. ($1.82) in 1873 and the maximum 18s. 9d.
($4.56) in 1903. There was considerable variation during the period,
the last 4 years showing a rapid increase from 12s. 8d. ($3.08) to
18s. 9d. ($4.56).
During the 10 years from 1894 to 1903, the sick benefit of the Iron
Founders fluctuated but little, the average yearly benefit per member
during that period varying from a minimum of 9s. 4fd. ($2.29) in 1894
to a maximum of 11s. 4Jd. ($2.77) in 1900.
The number receiving sick benefit, however, tends to increase during
bad times, owing to the debilitating effect of malnutrition as the result
of low wages. “ This benefit,” says the F ifty-fifth Annual Report of
the Operative Bricklayers’ Society, “ reflects to a considerable extent
the state of trade; many of our members are unable to provide for
emergencies, and when unemployed for any length of time become
debilitated for want of proper nourishing food, and they are compelled
to seek medical relief and consequently fall on the sick benefit. In
making this statement I have no desire to make the imputation of
malingering, * * * but m y experience shows that men with
every desire to keep away from the doctor are driven to him through
the debilitating influence of unsatisfied nature; men who while fairly
well nourished can keep at bay incipient ailments to which they are
liable, when that nourishment is lessened in any appreciable degree
are unable to resist their insidious encroachment. ” ( a )
“ Generally speaking,” says the secretary of another organization,
“ when trade is good, and men are earning sufficient to obtain the
necessaries for sustaining the body, health is maintained, but that this
is not always the case is proved by the fact that the unpropitious
weather of the past year has produced an abnormally large amount of
sickness among our members, * * *. This is, however, what the
scheme was instituted for, and it is in the time of affliction that a
man fully realizes the benefit of his union.” (6)
a O perative B ricklayers7 S ociety, F ifty-fifth Annual R eport from D ecem ber, 1902, to
Decem ber, 1903, p. iii.
b Scottish Typographical A ssociation, Sixty-eighth R eport, year ending D ecem ber, 1903,
Glasgow, 1904, p . 5.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
747
ACCIDENT BEN EFIT.
Closely associated with the sick benefit is that paid for accidents.
The combined sick and accident benefits of the 100 principal unions
required in 1901 an expenditure of £344,834 ($1,678,135), or 20.8 per
cent of the total expenditure of the unions. Of this amount, the
greater portion was paid by the metal, engineering, and shipbuilding,
and the building trades, these trades expending two-thirds of the
entire sum contributed to sick and accident insurance.
Since the passage of the W orkmen’s Compensation A ct, British
unions have done efficient service in prosecuting cases of injured work
men and in securing compensation for their accidents. The number
of such accidents is considerable. In 1903, according to the annual
report of the Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners,
1,037 accidents occurred to spinners alone. The report states that
“ in every case where an accident occurs, the Amalgamation [Amal
gamated Society] is prepared to see that the benefits provided by
the Workmen’s Compensation A ct are secured. Although this decla
ration has been previously made, instances have occurred where
members have seen fit to deal with their own claims. We offer no
objection to this. We know, however, that several cases of a serious
character have been settled privately for totally inadequate sums.”
Union members are continually advised, both in the annual reports
and in the various trade-union journals, immediately to report their
accidents both to the union officials and to the employers, no matter
how slight the accident may be. In a number of cases, union men
continued at work for a week or two without reporting apparently
slight accidents, which, after a few weeks, assumed an acute form.
The unions as a rule are extremely reasonable in such cases, but all
attempts are made to have the men report in order to avoid possible
injustice toward an injured man or an imposition on the union funds
by a fraudulent pretense of accident.
The number of injuries in British industries has rapidly increased,
although to a certain extent the apparent increase may be attributable
to the more careful reporting of nonfatal accidents in the last few
years. The number of persons injured increased almost 81 per cent
during the 7 years from 1897 to 1903.
748
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
The following table shows the number of persons killed and injured
in accidents in each industry from 1897 to 1904:
PERSONS K IL LE D AND IN JU RED IN IN D U STRIA L ACCIDENTS, 1897 TO 1904.
[From the Tenth Abstract of Labor Statistics of the United Kingdom, 1902-1904, pp. 108,109. Figures
for 1904 are preliminary and subject to revision.]
KILLED.
1897.
1898.
1899.
1900.
1901.
1902.
1903.
Factories and workshops:
Factories.....................................................
Workshops.................................................
Laundries....................................................
Docks, wharves, and quays.....................
Warehouses................................................
Buildings....................................................
513
3
2
88
12
40
575
2
802
11
3
132
30
67
769
13
89
16
45
675
6
1
115
21
53
840
10
1
129
41
89
742
6
4
159
18
115
721
5
1
138
32
121
1,110 <*1,044
1,018
115
34
104
1904.
Total........................................................
658
727
871
1,045
1,035
Mines and quarries:
Coal mines (underground).......................
Coal mines (surface)..................................
Iron, etc., mines (underground)..............
Iron, etc., mines, (surface).......................
Quarries (inside)........................................
Quarries (outside).....................................
833
97
42
7
93
30
779
129
27
6
100
34
801
115
50
6
98
19
899
113
32
6
115
12
950
151
28
2
86
12
907
117
26
3
103
16
917
155
21
4
84
11
909
140
28
7
96
16
T otal......................................: ................
1,102
1,075
1,089
1,177
1,229
1,172
1,192
1,196
Shipping:
Merchant vessels........................................ 1,631
Fishing vessels...........................................
243
1,139
271
1,743
257
1,436
394
1,514
204
1,396
291
1,144
218
1,125
(*)
(*)
Total........................................................
1,874
1,410
2,000
1,830
1,718
1,687
1,362
Railway service:
Companies’ servants (accidents con
nected with movement of railway ve
hicles) ......................................................
Companies’ servants (other accidents)..
Contractors’ servants...............................
492
47
27
490
32
20
507
48
29
568
44
19
491
48
26
435
33
17
432
38
27
402
29
17
T otal.........................................................
566
542
584
631
565
485
497
448
Industries under Notice of Accidents Act (c ).
62
56
75
70
75
62
56
58
Grand total.............................................
4,262
3,810
4,619
4,753
4,622 <*4,515
4,151
(*)
1904.
INJURED.
1897.
1898.
1900.
1901.
1902.
1903.
Factories and workshops:
Factories.............................................. 35,447 49,290 60,691
W orkshops...........................................
76
135
150
202
217
242
Laundries.............................................
Docks, wharves, and quays............... 2,859 4,070 4,591
Warehouses..........................................
956 2,507 3,513
Buildings..............................................
276
616
702
67,926
229
301
4,440
3,718
1,361
72,128
230
351
4,412
3,463
2,141
77,114
227
351
4,906
4,235
2,412
78,552
205
350
5,342
4,593
2,511
T otal.................................................. 39,816 56,835 69,889
77,975
82,725
89,245
91,553
(*)
1899.
8
8
Mines and quarries.
Coal mines (underground)................. 3,952
504
Coal mines (surface)...........................
Iron, etc., mines (underground).......
212
Iron, etc., mines (surface).................
96
Quarries (inside).................................
661
Quarries (outside)...............................
465
3,615
458
230
105
768
666
3,649
466
229
133
918
249
3,876
558
203
91
863
168
3,572
432
175
82
876
189
3,332
413
186
68
1,006
184
3,360
462
187
79
1,165
261
(b)
(*)
(&)
(o)
(*)
(*>)
T otal.................................................. 5,890
5,842
5,644
5,759
5,326
5,189
5,514
(6)
a This total does not agree with that shown in the table on p. 749. The detailed figures are given as
shown in the original report.
<>Not reported.
cThese industries, as stated in the act, comprise “ construction, use, working, or repair of any
railway, tramroad, tramway, igaswork,] canal, bridge, tunnel, [harbor, dock, port, pier, quay,] or
other work authorized by any local or personal act of P a r lia m e n t a ls o “ use or working of any
traction engine or other engine or machine worked by steam in the open air.”
<*This is not the correct sum of the items. The figures are given, however, as shown in the original
report.
749
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
PERSON S K IL L E D AND IN JU RED IN IN D U ST RIA L ACCIDENTS, 1897 TO 1904—Concluded.
IN JU11 JED—Concluded.
1897.
1898.
1899.
1900.
1901.
Shipping:
Merchant vessels................................. 2,440
154
Fishing vessels....................................
2,354
132
2,746
150
2,463
115
2,394
133
T otal.................................................. 2,594
2,486
2,896
2,578
2,527
4,117
Railway service:
Companies* servants (accidents con
nected with movement of railway
vehicles)............................................ 4,104
Companies* servants (other acci
dents) ................................................ 10,180
Contractors* servants........................
118
1902.
1903,
1904.
2,228
157
2,438
143
2,469
127
2,385
2,581
2,596
3,759
3,892
4,582
4,542
4,214
3,806
8,709 10,809
153
191
11,009
147
10,393
133
9,929
123
10,431 10,495
121
166
Total.................................................. 14,502 12,979 15,582
15,698
14,740
13,858
14,356 114,508
2,293
1,968
1,451
Industries under Notice of Accidents
Act (« ) .....................................................
1,154
1,491
2,358
1,560
1,096
Grand total...................................... 63,856 79,633 96,369 104,303 107,286 J&112,197 115,564 j (c)
« These industries, as stated in the act, comprise “ construction, use, working, or repair of any
railway, tramroad, tramway, [gaswork,] canal, bridge, tunnel, [harbor, dock, fort, pier, quay,] or
other work authorized by any local or personal act of Parliament;” also “ use or working of any
traction engine or other engine or machine worked by steam in the open air.”
b This is not the correct sum of the items; the figures are given, however, as shown in the original
report.
cNot reported.
The following table shows the number o f fatal and nonfatal acci
dents to persons of each sex as reported under the Factory and W ork
shop Acts from 1888 to 1904:
F A TA L AND N O N FA TA L ACCIDENTS R E PO R T E D UNDER THE FA CTO R Y AND W O R K
SHOP ACTS, 1888 TO 1904.
[From the Tenth Abstract of Labor Statistics of the United Kingdom, 1902-1904, pp. 110, 111. The fig
ures are not strictly comparable throughout. They are affectea by the 1891 act, which added ‘ ' women
workshops” to the works under the accident provisions of the 1878 act, and by the 1895 act, which
added “ men workshops ” and laundries, docks, wharves, quays, warehouses, and buildings. Figures
for 1904 are preliminary.]
Fatal accidents.
Year.
Factories
and work
shops.
M.
1888..
1889..
1890..
1891..
1892..
1893..
1894..
1895..
1896..
1897..
1900.
1901.
1902.
1903.
1904.
432
436
405
403
403
430
431
480
503
567
669
797
758
815
732
715
F.
17
11
48
15
23
19
18
24
10
13
10
12
16
24
35
16
11
To
tal.
Nonfatal accidents.
Laundries,
docks, and
buildings.
M.
F.
To
tal.
M.
106
142
150
190
232
253
260
299
292
369
432
436
405
403
403
430
431
585
644
717
858
1,026
1,010
1,066
1,031
1,007
I___
1
443
484 ....... i
I '
420
426
422
448
455
490 105
1
516 141
1
577 150
i
681 189
3
813 229
782 252
1
850 251
9
748 299 . . . .
726 292 —
Total.
F. Total.
17
11
48
15
23
19
18
24
11
14
10
13
19
25
44
16
11
M.
386
5,589
5,967
443
484
6,238
6,502
420
426
6,654
6,332
422
7,661
448
8,231
455
596 11,457
658 12,985
727 15,843
871 18,758
1,045 23,385
1,035 24,168
1,110 24,913
1,047 25,704
(a)
1,018
a Not reported.
12951— N o. 64— 06----- 11
Reported to certify
ing surgeons.
Total.
1,462
1,557
1,605
1,563
1,432
1,640
1,780
2,380
2,342
2,657
3,142
3,274
4,064
4,053
3,758
(«)
Reported to inspect
ors only.
M.
F.
Total.
(a)
23,891
37.495
46,958
50,021
52,897
58.495
60,341
(a)
(a)
598
840
1,031
1,295
1,596
1,784
1,750
(a)
19,124
24,489
38,335
47,989
51,316
54,493
60,279
62,091
(a)
7,051
7,524
7,727
8,107
8,217
7,764
9,301
10,011
13,837
15,327
18,500
21,900
26,659
28,232
28,966
29,462
(a)
750
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The payment for accident benefit assumes large proportions in
trades to which the danger of accident is great. Thus, the United
Operative Masons and Granite Cutters’ Union emphasizes in its bene
fits those for accidents. Provision is made for totally as well as par
tially disabled members, and a special rule (rule 34) applies entirely
to eye accidents, to which members of the trade are peculiarly liable.
The rules of this society may be taken as a standard for those govern
ing accident benefits. It is provided that “ any member disabled for
life by an accident received while following his employment, or going
to or returning from his work, or while transacting the business of
the union, which will totally and permanently disable h im /7 may
receive the sum of £50 ($243.33), “ unless such accident was caused
by his own misconduct or willful neglect.”
The administration of this benefit is safeguarded in many ways.
“ Members who receive an accident, however trifling it may be at the
time, shall send or cause to be sent, written notice to the secretary of
the branch” within 6 weeks. Unless this is done, the injured man
loses his rights. The case is immediately examined upon the receipt
of such notice.
The rules provide that 6 months must elapse from the date o f an
accident before application may be made for relief on account of total
disablement, but the application must be made within 9 months
after the date of the accident; “ but in case of fatal accident, or ampu
tation of leg, hand, or arm b y accident, application may be made to
the union without restriction of tim e.”
The following table, from the N inety-fourth Annual Report of the
Friendly Society of Iron Founders of England, Ireland, and Wales for
1903 (page 38), shows the number of members who were paid accident
benefits in each year from 1858 to 1903, inclusive, together with cause
of claim :
MEMBERS OP TH E F R IE N D L Y SOCIETY OP IR O N FOUNDERS WHO R E C E IV E D ACCI
DEN T B E N E FIT S EACH YJ5AR FROM 1858 TO 1903.
Paralysis.
Year.
1858..........................................
1859..........................................
I860..........................................
1861..........................................
1862..........................................
1863..........................................
1864..........................................
1865..........................................
1866..........................................
1867..........................................
1868..........................................
1869..........................................
1870..........................................
1871..........................................
1872..........................................
Not
other Para
wise plegia.
classi
fied.
Loss of sight.
Epi
lepsy.
Paral
ysis.
Par
tial.
Total
num
ber
of
Not at A t the
claims
the
Total.
trade.
grant
trade.
ed.
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
4
2
4
3
4
1
1
2
8
4
2
1
4
1
i
Accidents.
2
3
2
3
3
4
4
3
4
4
1
2
8
8
8
9
10
17
1
2
11
3
4
23
11
6
1
3
7
3
9
7
751
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BBITISH TRADE UNIONS.
MEMBERS OF THE F R IE N D L Y SOCIETY OF IRON FOUNDERS W HO RECEIVED ACCI
DEN T BEN EFITS EACH Y E A R FROM 1858 TO 1903—Concluded.
Paralysis.
Year.
1873..........................................
1874..........................................
1875..........................................
1 8 7 6 ......................................
1877..........................................
1878..........................................
1879..........................................
1880..........................................
1881..........................................
1882..........................................
1883 .........................................
1884.........................................
1885..........................................
1886..........................................
1887..........................................
1888..........................................
1889..........................................
1890..........................................
1891..........................................
1892..........................................
1893.........................................
1894.........................................
1895.........................................
1896.........................................
1897..........................................
1898.........................................
1899.........................................
1900.........................................
1901.........................................
1902.........................................
1903.........................................
Total............................
Loss of sight.
Not
other Para
Epi
wise
classi plegia. lepsy.
fied.
1
1
1
3
1
1
Paral
ysis.
Par
tial.
1
3
1
2
1
3
8
3
2
1
4
6
8
3
2
2
2
5
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
5
1
1
2
1
4
1
14
5
5
4
2
3
4
7
3
4
10
Total
num
ber of
Not at A t the claims
the
trade. grant
trade/
ed.
3
2
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
.
5
1
7
1
4
6
4
i
2
1
2
156
61
6
Total.
Accidents.
1
1
1
1
1
1
9
27
3
4
7
10
1
8
3
5
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
3
5
15
13
11
14
12
18
12
11
10
9
8
9
2
4
7
2
10
3
8
9
7
9
7
15
9
8
7
14
9
12
11
143
415
5
4
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
3
2
FUNERAL BEN EFIT.
The most fundamental of all purely friendly benefits is the funeral
benefit. Death affects all members and all members but once, and
the actual cost of the funeral is approxim ately equal for all the
members of the same union.
The funeral benefit is, further, one of the easiest benefits to estab
lish and administer. There is little danger that the payment will be
made when the contingency insured against does not occur. More
over, the benefit is cheap, and the total amount paid for it is slight.
During the 10 years ending in 1901, the 100 chief unions of Great
Britain devoted altogether only 6 per cent of their total expenditure
to funeral benefits, although 89 of the 100 organizations paid this
benefit.
The funeral benefit o f many unions is intended to cover more than
the mere cost of the funeral. I f a member of the Associated Iron
Molders of Scotland dies while on travel, and his friends are unable to
remove him, he is buried by the secretary of the district in which he
dies, and the expense of his funeral is paid, a maximum of £5 ($24.33)
being allowed for that purpose. The benefit, however, amounts to
from £10 ($48.67) to £30 ($146), and the remainder, after deducting
752
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
all arrears, is paid to the relatives of the deceased.
every precaution is taken to prevent fraud.
A t the same time
To prevent the society from being imposed upon, the district com
m ittee shall inquire into all applications made to them for the funeral
benefit, and be fully satisfied of the validity of the claim before it is
discharged, and a certificate under the hands of the registrar of deaths
must be produced and sent to central in every case. Should the
application not be proven to the satisfaction of the committee, and
the benefit refused, an appeal may be made to a general meeting of
the district and from thence to the executive council. The com
mittees of the different districts are enjoined to see their members
decently interred.
All claims for this benefit must be made previous to interment and
within 48 hours after death. Funeral benefit may be paid in any
district, if required, to meet convenience of parties claiming this
benefit by producing the member’s card, also the register of death,
which must be given to the district secretary, who, ir satisfied, shall
m ake. out an order for payment, which, after being signed by the
president, shall be discharged by the treasurer and sent to central. ( a)
The death benefit of the Northumberland Miners’ Mutual Confident
Association (*6) amounts to only £2 ($9.73) per member, which is paid
to the nearest relative or to some other person nominated by the
deceased. In case of dispute the executive committee has the right
to determine who is to receive the money. If persons are idle over
12 months on account of sickness or accident, no benefits will be paid
unless such persons shall have paid to the local official the sum of Is.
(24 cents) on the last pay day of July in the second year in which they
have been idle, and each succeeding July.
The funeral allowance of the Scottish Hackney Carriage, Tramway,
and Omnibus Employees’ Society is low, amounting to £5 ($24.33)
for a member; £3 ($14.60) for a member’s wife, £1 ($4.87) for a child
under 7 years of age, £2 ($9.73) for a child from 7 to 14, and 10s.
($2.43) for a stillborn child. On the death of an unmarried member’s
father or mother £3 ($14.60) funeral allowance is paid. The member
is entitled to a funeral allowance for a second wife only in the event
o f her dying at least 12 months after the date of the death of the
former wife, and no funeral allowance is paid “ on account of any
member or his wife or his mother, whose death has been caused by
their own misconduct, or who may have died through the effects of
delirium tremens.”
The rules of the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers and Con
fectioners also provide that if the committee to the branch of the
deceased member “ have any doubt that the money might be misap
propriated,” they or their nominees “ shall see the body decently
interred” and pay the balance to the widow or children.
« See Rules of the Associated Iron Molders of Scotland, p. 60.
&Rules of the Northumberland Miners’ Mutual Confident Association, Newcastle-uponTyne, 1902.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
753
This union graduates the funeral benefits into 11 distinct classes,
according to the age of the member at the time of his entrance into
the society, as follow s: A member entering below the age of 25
receives £12 ($58.40); one entering between 25 and 30 years of age
receives £10 ($48.67); between 30 and 35, £9 ($43.80); and between
35 and 41, £8 ($38.93). Members who enter at the age of 42 receive
£7, 10s. ($36.50), and for each year that the age of the member at the
time of his admission to the union exceeds 42 years 10s. ($2.43) less,
so that members entering at the age of 47 receive only £5 ($24.33)
at death. The same rate, £5 ($24.33) is paid for members entering
the union at the age of 48 or 49 while the lowest rate, £4 10s. ($21.90)
is paid for members entering at the age of 50.
INSURANCE OF CHILDREN OF TRAD E UNIONISTS.
It has recently been proposed to extend the funeral benefit to the
children of unionists. The Trade Union Parliamentary Committee,
in its meetings held in September, 1904, considered and discussed a
scheme proposed by the secretary of the National Amalgamated Brass
W orkers’ Society, and while no definite action was taken further than
a unanimous resolution intended to promote discussion and investiga
tion, the interest displayed in the scheme was noteworthy for two
reasons. In the first place, the insurance, upon a large scale, of the
children of the trade unionists is an extension, and a considerable
extension, of the present system of insurance, covering, as it does, the
member, his wife, and sometimes his mother. In the second place,
the insurance of children is intended to be collective in its character
and to extend over the boundaries of the several trade unions.
The plan as submitted to the Parliamentary Committee in July,
1904, by Mr. W . J. Davis, of the National Amalgamated Brass W ork
ers’ Society, and recommended by the Parliamentary Committee to
the Trade-Union Congress, fixed the limits of age within which children
might be insured between 1 day and 14 years. Contributions were
fixed at Is. (24 cents) per annum, or a little less than one-half of 1
cent per week. The benefits to be obtained were to be such as the law
permits, but in no case greater than £2 10s. ($12.17) per child. The
benefit was to be paid only to members who, on the day of the death
of the child were not over 6 weeks in arrears to the society to which
they belonged, and only in case they had been members of that organi
zation for at least 52 weeks. The benefit was to commence after 26
weeks affiliation, and the contributions were to secure the funeral
benefit for all children under 14 years of age of all members of the
unions affiliated. In other words, the unions themselves were by
affiliation with the central organization to insure the children of their
members in the central society.
754
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
It was maintained that this scheme o f insurance is actuarily correct
and that the contributions and benefits had been calculated on reliable
data, such as the reports of the registrar-general on the births, mar
riages, and deaths in the census of the year 1901, etc.
During the year ending May, 1904, the National Society of Amalga
mated Brass Workers granted a funeral benefit of £1 ($4.87) upon
the death of a member’s child under 14 years of age. The number of
children’s deaths during the year was only 90 out of a total of 7,000
members, 67 of these deaths being of children over the age of 3 months,
and 23 of children under the age of 3 months. According to Mr.
Davis, the cost of the scheme as applied during that year to the Brass
Workers’ Society would have been £202 ($983), while the returns at
Is. (24 cents) per member would have been £350 ($1,703).
Numerous advantages are anticipated from this system of collecting
insurance b y the trade unions on the children of their members. No
capital would be required; insurance would be cheap and payments
certain. Practically no expense for management would be incurred,
since no collectors would be needed, and it would only be necessary
to send the quarterly payments to the central fund according to the
membership of the union, and receive the money whenever due upon
the death of a child. The amount of work thus thrown upon the
branch secretaries would not be large, since the average of deaths a
year in the branch would not be more than one, or at m ost, two.
The proposers of the scheme lay stress upon the alleged fact that,
despite their costly methods, industrial insurance companies annually
gain large sums of money, and it is asked, “ why it is that the work
ingmen are permitted to manage their trades unionism for themselves,
while the rich manage insurance?” ( a)
EM IGRATION BEN EFIT.
At one time it was predicted that the emigration benefit would grow
to be one of the largest expenditures of British trade unions. In
the early forties the trade unionists, imbued with the economic
theories of the time, and convinced of the necessity of limiting the
supply of labor, undertook to use part of their small fund for ridding
the market of the surplus labor. The organizations, especially the
wealthy and exclusive ones, not only passed rules limiting apprentice
ship and abolishing overtime, but also laid considerable emphasis on
the establishment of an emigration fund.
It was argued that if it paid to give men the donation pay to keep
them from the market, it would certainly pay to send them to Australia
or to America, so that the men at home might be permanently freed from
the pressure of their com petition. The flint glass makers, the com
a A Scheme o f Insurance, b y W . J. D avis, p. 6.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
755
positors, bookbinders, iron molders, potters, engineers, and other
trades in which organization was fa ir ly close, tended during the years
after 1843 to devote larger and larger sums of money to the creation of
emigration funds. During the periodfrom 1855 to 1874 the iron mold
ers spent no less than £4,712 ($22,931) upon this single benefit. ( a ) From
1850 to 1860, a considerable exodus from the United Kingdom took
place, and during this time emigration funds were extremely popular in
the trade unions. The result of the expenditure for this benefit, how
ever, proved to be far from what had been anticipated. The funds of the
organizations were discovered to be much too small to have any appre
ciable effect upon the mass of unemployed labor in bad times. More
over, this assisted emigration tended to lower the caliber of the men
engaged in the industry. The intelligent, vigorous, and hardy workmen
were perfectly willing to emigrate, whereas the ne’er-do-wells, the
shiftless, and the unskilled workingmen were the last to leave and the
first to return. Furthermore, the policy soon met with the determined
opposition of the Australians and Americans, among whom several o f
the societies had branches. B y the sixties the popularity of the emi
gration benefit began to wane, and while it still continued to be paid
its influence on the trade-union world rapidly lessened. This diminu
tion of the emigration fund accompanied also a change in the funda
mental policy of the trade unions. At first it was thought that wages
are maintained solely by the relation of supply to demand; now the
unions realized that high wages depend upon the insistence by all men
in the trade on a definite high standard of living.
The object of the emigration benefit, that is, to relieve the congested
labor market, is, as a rule, perfectly evident from the rules of the organ
ization. Thus, the Union of Flax Roughers, a small Irish organiza
tion expending a considerable portion of its income for emigration,
provides in its rules that no application for emigration shall be enter
tained unless the applicant has been two years a member of the
society, has paid all his arrears and contributions of moneys due the
society, and has signed an agreement forfeiting all claims to benefits
afforded b y the rules of the union, and if he returns within two years
“ to the occupation of a flax rougher he shall refund to the society the
whole of the amount advanced to him for emigration,” but the later he
returns the smaller the amount which he must refund. (6)
One of the arguments used against emigration benefits is the fact
that they attempt to relieve the pressure of surplus labor in one part
of the world by sending workingmen to another. The American and
Australian branches of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
objected strenuously to the shipping of surplus workingmen to the
countries they represented. This evil of the emigration benefit was
a See W ebb’s H istory o f Trade U nionism , new edition, 1902, p. 184.
b See Rules o f the F lax Roughers’ Trade U nion, B elfast, 1901, pp. 17,18.
756
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
shown even more strikingly in the tendency of the union in one part
of the Kingdom to send workingmen to another part of it.
Thus, the Dublin Typographical Provident Society offered £2 ($9.73)
to any member willing to emigrate to England, and it was also not un
usual in the earlier history of trade unionism for a union to pay for
sending the surplus workingmen from one town to another in the same
country. The danger of the process, however, showed the im possibility
of a permanent solution of the problem of surplus labor b y this means.
Like other benefits, the emigration benefit gradually changed from
a local to a national character. In 1853 a plan was proposed by the
National Typographical Association to unite the several small emigra
tion societies existing in the printing trades into a single National
Typographical Emigration Society. It was proposed that each of the
several societies forming the National Association, wishing to become
a branch of this new society, contribute 10s. ($2.43) per month for
each 10 members earning two-thirds wages or over, 6s. 8d. ($1.62) for
each* 10 members earning from one-third to two-thirds wages, and 3s.
4d. (81 cents) for each 10 members earning less than one-third wages.
It was provided that such sum as the subscription from each branch
would amount to should be at the disposition of the branch from
which it came. For these sums uniform shares of the value of £6
($29.20) each were to be allotted, one share, or £6 ($29.20), being
granted to an emigrant going to America, and three shares, or £18
($87.60) to an emigrant proceeding to Australia.
It was hoped that by this encouragement to emigrate the surplus
labor in the printing trade might be reduced and the condition of the
remaining members greatly improved. From 400 to 500 men, the
association calculated, would be enabled to emigrate in two years.
The plan, however, did not secure the universal support expected, and
the number of emigrants sent out by the society was insignificant. (a)
According to a table appended to its fifty-sixth annual report, the
London Society of Compositors did not contribute any portion of its
income to the emigration benefit during the period from 1848 to 1852.
In the year 1853 it paid for this purpose £250 ($1,217), or more than
was spent in that year for unemployed, traveling, and strike benefits,
as well as grants to other societies. The following year £350 ($1,703)
was paid for emigration benefit, but in each of the two years 1855
and 1856 the sums expended for this purpose sank to £100 ($487).
During the fourteen years following, from 1857 to 1870, no disburse
ments at all were made for the purposes of emigration, but in 1871
the benefit was reintroduced, and since that time it has slowly and
irregularly increased, amounting in 1903 to £634 ($3,085), a sum con« A rticle by J. W . Crom pton on Printers, Strikes and Trade U nions, published in the
R eport on Trades’ Societies and Strikes, prepared for the N ational A ssociation for the Pro
m otion o f Social Science, L ondon, 1860, pp. 8 1 ,82 .
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
757
siderably in excess of any former annual disbursement for this purpose.
During the year 1903 this disbursement averaged Is. ljd . (27 cents)
per member of the organization.
The destination of the persons emigrating was chiefly to Englishspeaking countries— that is, to the United States and the British
colonies. This fact is quite explicable, in view of the nature of the
occupation.
The former payments per emigrant were larger than those subse
quently made. The average age at emigration was low, most of the
members being under 30 at the time of their leaving the country.
In the seventeenth annual delegate meeting of the Operative Bakers
of Scotland National Federal Union in June, 1904, it was proposed that
a scheme be put in operation to combat the present increasing unem
ployment in the trade by the payment of an emigration benefit. This
plan, favorably reported by the committee, but lost in the delegate
meeting by a vote of only 35 to 29, proposed that anyone for twelve
consecutive months a member of the organization should be entitled to
receive from the union a sum not less than £7 ($34.07) and not more
than £12 ($58.40) in the event of his wishing to better his condition by
emigrating from the United Kingdom. The plan provided that the
executive board have full power to pass upon all applications, and
it was proposed that the expenses arising from these grants would .be
met by an increased tax of Id. (2 cents) per week upon the working
members.
The supposed necessity for the emigration benefit in this case arose
from the difficulty of dealing with the problem of the unemployed.
The use of machinery in the making of bread in the large bakeries had
thrown many men out of employment. This was especially true in
Glasgow, whither bakers had come from all parts of the country. ( a )
It was impossible to hold the men’s allegiance to the union when
they could not get jobs. “ Seeing these men could not find employ
ment and the union could not hold out hope to them, some day the
union would find that they were prepared to break away from their
agreement.” (6) “ It was far better,” said one of the speakers, “ to
spend £200 or £300 [$973 or $1,460] in putting the union on a sound
economic basis than to spend £2,000 or £3,000 [$9,733 or $14,600] on
a ruinous strike, as it would be ruinous in the city of Glasgow.”
a See Report of the Seventeenth Annual Delegate Meeting of the Operative Bakers of Scot
land National Federal Union, Glasgow, 1904, p. 37. According to the financial statement of
the union issued for the quarter ending July 11,1904, conditions of the trade were extremely
bad. Of a total membership of 4,569,1,180, or over 25 per cent, were unemployed. In
Glasgow conditions were exceptionally bad, over two-fifths of all union members being
unemployed. In other words, for every three union bakers working in Glasgow tw o were
unemployed.
b Report of the Seventeenth Annual Delegate Meeting of the Operative Bakers of Scotland
National Federal Union, p. 38.
758
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
It is probable that had this emigration scheme been carried out
it would by no means have solved the problem of unemployment
which was then facing the union. At £10 ($48.67) per member, the
cost of securing the emigration of all of the unemployed members
would have been £11,800 ($57,425), while the annual revenue antic
ipated from the penny funds would have been only about £730
($3,553). For every man sent off by the union two would have sought
to enter the trade. The funds collected would not have been sufficient
to care for more than one-half of the new members enrolled during
the three months ending July 11, 1904. The debates in the delegate
meeting, however, clearly indicate the end and purposes of the emi
gration benefit and the causes that had given rise to the development
of a similar benefit in earlier years.
The National Society of Amalgamated Brass Workers and Metal
Mechanics still have in their rules provisions for the emigration of
members. Any member receiving dispute pay (in other words, during
a strike or lockout) shall receive, on application, a grant of £5 ($24.33)
for the purpose of emigration, and members in receipt of out-of-work
pay shall receive the sum of £3 10s. ($17.03) for emigrating.
The payment of the emigration benefit takes the place of out-ofwork or dispute pay. The emigrating member may retain member
ship b y the payment of 3d. (6 cents) per week, and is entitled to
funeral allowance so long as he remains away. It is an invariable
rule of the society that the general secretary must receive the consent
of the wife of a married member who proposes to emigrate before he
lays the application before the executive council. (a)
The emigration benefit appears to hold somewhat more tenaciously
among Irish than among British unions. Thus, the Flax Roughers,
a small trade union with headquarters at Belfast, and an income of
less than £1,000 ($4,867) a year, reports in 1903 a total expenditure
of £136 ($662) for the payment of an emigration benefit of £8 ($39)
to 17 members. These emigration payments represent 18 per cent
of the total expenditure of the union during the year 1903. (6)
a See rules 40 #nd 41 of the general rules of the National Society of Amalgamated Brass
Workers and Metal Mechanics, 1904. The amount of money devoted to the payment of
the emigration benefit has never been large, the total sum paid for this purpose as well as
for grants to members in distress, accident, etc., averaging less than £100 ($486.65) during
the thirty-two years from 1872 to 1903. (See Thirty-second Annual Report and Finan
cial Statement of the National Society of Amalgamated Brass Workers for the year ending
January 23,1904, p. 11.)
&See Thirteenth Annual Report of the Flax R o u g h e d Trade Union for year ending
December 31,1903, Belfast, 1904.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
759
SUPERANNUATION BENEFIT.
Superannuation is one of the most modern of trade union benefits,
and in many unions one of the most popular. According to Mr.
Charles Drummond, for a time secretary of the London Society of
Compositors, British unions are coming more and more to recognize
their obligation to provide adequate pensions for their aged members
and those otherwise incapacitated for work. “ I believe,” Mr. Drum
mond says, “ it is the most popular benefit of any* that is provided
by trade unions that have benefits at all. There are some unions
that do not provide benefits that are trade unions per se; but where
a superannuation fund exists, I believe it is the most popular benefit
of any.” ( a )
In 1901, of the 100 principal unions, 38 with a membership of
566,765, or almost one-half the total membership, paid this benefit,
while in the case of miners the superannuation benefit, though not
directly paid by unions, was provided by other agencies. In the
unions promising superannuation benefit great efforts are made to
prevent the superannuation payments from lapsing. In the case of
threatened strikes, preparations are made in advance, and the younger
members of the union are frequently willing to make exceptional
sacrifices and permit the levying of additional taxes in order' to pre
vent the old men from losing their superannuation allowance.
In the superannuation benefit trade unions have but little competi
tion from the friendly societies, which have done but little in the pay
ment of old-age pensions. The friendly societies have, it is true,
granted continuous sick pay to very old members, but even this
policy, while not broad in extent, has endangered the financial sta
bility of the organizations.
In 1882 the Ancient Order of Foresters and the Manchester Unity
of Odd Fellows adopted plans b y which each member could at the age
of 65 secure a pension of 5s. (SI.22) per week by paying a weekly,
monthly, or yearly contribution, which varied according to the age of
the member when joining. The results, however, were not such as to
indicate any extension of this principle. “ Of 804,415 adult male
members of the Manchester Unity, just over 500 have joined in 17
years. In the Foresters the results are still more discouraging; for
out of a total adult membership of 726,403, only 5 members have
joined.” (6)
The tendency of the superannuation benefit is to remove old men
from the industry, the ordinary rules for superannuation providing
that a member accepting the benefit shall not be allowed to work at
a See The Problem of the Aged Poor, London, 1895, p. 185.
&The case for State Pensions in Old Age, by George Turner, Fabian Tract 73, London,
1899, p. 5.
760
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
his trade. “ Should he do so, he shall not receive superannuation
benefits while so employed, but shall pay the current weekly rate of
contribution.” It is provided, however, that a member “ shall be
entitled to superannuation benefit irrespective of any income he may
-derive from private means, or from any other calling in connection
with the trade and no inquiry shall be made with reference to a mem
bers private income.” (®)
Advocates of the superannuation Benefit rely as much upon senti
mental as upon practical considerations.
“ We are proud to say,” says an official of the Amalgamated Society
of Engineers, “ that we are enabled to support nearly 2,000 of our old,
respected brethren.”
This quotation, like all references to superannuation benefits, shows
that such benefits are looked upon as not at all in the nature of char
itable relief. Unionists feel that the men who receive the benefits
have actually paid for them, and that the superannuation benefit is
almost a distinction pour le merite.
I have always entertained the highest respect for the superannua
tion benefit. I have felt that it is one of the mainstays of our society;
that it forms a great inducement to young men to join the society and
for aged men to continue to be its members. And when I consider
that men from their very earliest days have been associated with this
society, have made sacrifices for its benefit, have under all circum
stances of difficulty and depression maintained their position in its
ranks, never having allowed themselves to be withdrawn by induce
ments offered either on the one hand or the other, but have, through a
long service of years, helped the trade through the means of the
society, I say, I look upon superannuation, which is a reward for these
services, as one of the greatest recognitions you can make of the serv
ices of our oldest members. (*6)
Frequently trade unions are at first careless or ignorant in regard
to the management of superannuation funds. The organizations
have a tendency to burden themselves with large obligations without
assuring themselves of the contributions that alone can render it
possible for them to meet these obligations easily. This is especially
true of the superannuation benefit, which is simply a deferred life
annuity that greatly increases the obligation with the rising average
age of tL Nmembers.
The Amalgamated Society of Engineers at the time of its organiza
tion fixed the superannuation benefit at 5s. ($1.22) per week for mem
bers over 50 years of age affiliated for 18 years with any one of the
societies amalgamated, and not earning over 10s. ($2.43) per week.
In the delegate meeting of 1864 the superannuation benefit was
increased to 7s. ($1.70) per week for men of 50 years of age and 18
a-Rules of the United Pattern Makers’ Association, London, 1897, p. 54.
&See Forty Years Industrial Progress, b y John Anderson, pp. 11,12.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
761
years’ membership, but 8s. ($1.95) per week were promised to mem
bers of 25 years’ membership, and 9s. ($2.19) for members of 30
years’ standing. It was further provided that members should be
entitled to this benefit irrespective of their income from other sources.
During the period of development of the Amalgamated Society of
Engineers and of other trade unions, men came to the front from time
to time who realized the character of the superannuation benefit
and the necessity for providing for it in advance. When, in 1850,
the Amalgamated Society of Engineers was organized, a resolution
was made b y Mr. Newton, the prime mover in the organization of the
society, “ to instruct the executive council to prepare a place of invest
ment for a superannuation guarantee fund and submit it to the
society along with the proposition and suggestions for next delegate
meeting, so that such a sum may be invested as will insure from it
alone the payment of that superannuation relief which our rules
promise.” (a)
The foresight of Mr. Newton on this occasion seems worthy of all
praise. 1‘ He knew that large numbers of members would be admitted
to membership in a term of years within which the society would not be
called upon to fulfill promises made, and that within such term provi
sion should be made for the due fulfillment of those promises.” (6)
The importance of the resolution of Mr. Newton, however, was not
recognized at that time, and the society did not initiate the superan
nuation fund until the year 1892. The tendency of the superannua
tion benefit to bear with increasing weight upon the finances of the
union began to be recognized most clearly about a quarter of a century
after the formation of the society.
In 1850 an estimate had been made of the probable cost per member
of the union for trade protection, the donation or out-of-work benefit,
the sick benefit, funeral allowance, the cost of management, and the
superannuation of the members. The average payments for these
items (except superannuation benefits) during the 23 years from 1852
to 1874 showed that the estimates made in the year 1850 had been
surprisingly accurate, and were in fact in excess of the actual sums
paid. Upon the single item of the superannuation benefit, however,
the condition of the society had changed completely. In 1850 the
estimate of futu 3 superannuation charges was placed at Is. (24 cents)
per member, v _ile at the time that the Newcastle meeting was in session
in 1874, “ there were 446 members on superannuation benefit, costing
the society at the rate of 4s. 5d. [$1.07] per member per year on the
then membership, which was some five times as large as when the 446
superannuated members had joined.” (c)
a See Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Jubilee Souvenir, 1901, p. 23.
b Idem, p. 24.
'C Idem, p. 65.
762
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
While the superannuation benefit in 1874 was inconsiderable, as
compared to the enormous expenditures it now necessitates, it had
already grown sufficiently to cause serious alarm among many farseeing leaders of the trade union. In the monthly reports the matter
was repeatedly called to the attention of the society by the general sec
retary, and at the delegate meeting Mr. Newton, in reviewing the situ
ation, spoke of its seriousness. The result, however, was an increase in
the scale of benefits by the payment of 10s. ($2.43) a week for members
of 40 years’ standing. The rules for granting the benefit became more
rigid, and the regulation was made binding that all claims must be
indorsed by the council before payment could be made to the applicant.
By the time of the delegate meeting in 1885, the demands made upon
the treasury for the superannuation benefit had become so pressing that
the president again called the attention of the members to the impor
tant subject. While in 1851 the superannuation benefit had cost only
0.5 per cent of the society’s income, by the year 1884 it had increased
to 20 per cent of an income 7 times as large. At the delegate meeting
of 1885 it was stated that the average length of membership of the
men at the time of applying for superannuation was 31 years and 11
months, and the average age of such members 59 years. It was
pointed out at that time that, according to the post-office tables, a
person of 25 years of age, desiring a pension of 7s. ($1.70) at the age of
55, was obliged to contribute the sum of Is. 5Jd. (35 cents) per week
during the entire 30 years previous to the granting of the claim. On
the other hand, the trade union paying a larger benefit received a
smaller weekly contribution, which covered not only superannuation,
but charges for accident, sick, and funeral claims, as well as for trade
protection and payment to the unemployed.
The increasing liabilities of the society and the reduction in the
accumulated funds, due in part to a number of strikes, led to a reduc
tion in benefits, including that of superannuation. Previously a mem
ber could secure a'superannuation benefit of 7, 8, 9, or 10s. ($1.70,
$1.95, $2.19, or $2.43) per week, according to the period of his member
ship, the payments being made respectively for a member 18, 25, 30,
and 40 years. These were now raised to 25, 30, 35, and 40 years.
The new scale was not to affect persons enjoying the superannuation
benefit, but would merely involve subsequent claims. Despite this
raise in the conditions under which superannuation funds might be
granted, the amount paid for this benefit and the charge of the benefit
per member of the society have continued to increase steadily and
rapidly.
Carelessness in the matter of promising superannuation benefits,
however, has not been entirely the fault of the originators of the plan.
Each successive administration finds itself face to face with a demand
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE
UNIONS.
763
for increased benefits, while opposition to any increase in the contribu
tions of the members remains constant.
“ It has frequently been stated,” says the secretary of the Amalga
mated Society of Engineers in 1895, “ that the founders of the society
were at fault from the beginning on account of the want of data to
work from, and that a serious error was made in regard to the amount
of superannuation benefit that we could afford to pay from a contribu
tion of Is. [24 cents] per week, but the extracts from the rules (from
1847-1895) * * * do not bear out this contention, as several
increases have been made since the formation. Therefore, if sinners
there be, they were not the founders.” ( a )
As stated, the burden of the superannuation benefit has increased
to a large extent as a result of the lavish promises of the organization
and the inherent unsoundness of the plans adopted. The average age
of the members has risen, while the rate of weekly payments shows a
tendency to decrease. Another factor, it is claimed, has tended to
make the burden upon the organization still heavier. With each suc
cessive decade, say the union reports, the age at which a workman is
incapacitated from earning the minimum wage tends to become lower.
“ The decision of the companies to compel men to retire at a certain
age, while they [are still fit for duty, tells upon our members and our
funds.” (**&)
A report of the Engineers says:
Our members are growing older and live longer on an average
than they did 20 years ago; besides an additional shilling [24 cents]
per week has been added to the benefit of those who do not claim its
provisions before having attained 40 years' membership. There is
another powerful factor which is now so prevalent in our government
workshops— railway companies, municipal corporations, and nearly
every large establishment throughout the United Kingdom, have [sic]
a standing order that no man is to be engaged if over 40 years of age.
Think of this, and ask yourselves what is to be the result of men
being debarred from working at their trade when they are generally
acknowledged to be in the prime of life. (c)
This allegation of the shortening of the trade life is not an entirely
new factor in trade union experience. In 1818 the London tailors
complained that their period of usefulness was shortened by the
nature of the work. Out of 405 journeymen tailors frequenting one
house of call in 1818 only 16, it was claimed, were of the age of 46
or over and only 1 was as old as 56. The following statement shows
a See Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Report of the Executive Council on the Finan
cial Position of the Society with Statistics and Diagrams, London, 1895, pp. 2 ,3 .
&See Report of Associated Society of Locom otive Engineers and Firemen for 1903,
Leeds, 1904.
c See Thirty-seventh Annual R eport of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers for 1887.
764
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
the ages of these 405 journeymen tailors according to the testimony
of a contemporary newspaper:
Class
Class
Class
Class
Class
Class
1 from
2 from
3 from
4 from
5 from
6 from
18
24
28
32
40
46
to
to
to
to
to
to
24
28
32
40
46
56
years of
years of
years of
years o f
years of
years of
age....................................................................... 79
age....................................................................... 106
age....................................................................... 102
age....................................................................... 75
age....................................................................... 27
age....................................................................... 16
Total............................................................................................................... 405
The paper states that the oldest man was in his fifty-sixth year,
and not one of the men upwards of 46 years of age had regularly fol
lowed his business as a sewing tailor. Of the 405, rather more than
half of them were married. (a)
The severe drain imposed upon the members of a trade society
by a superannuation fund was felt as early as the beginning of the
nineteenth century by the local organizations adopting it. The Old
George, Associated Taylors’ , Benefit Society, as early as 1818, paid
almost one-third of its entire expenditures in providing its aged mem
bers with a pension of 6s. ($1.46) per week. The majority of tailors’
and other organizations of the time very probably did not have any
such benefit feature, but in June, 1824, one of the London societies
attempted “ to raise a fund for the relief and support of aged and
decayed journeymen taylors.” (6) The society desired to secure by
levies, subscriptions, etc., a sum of money which should be put out
at interest and remain “ inviolably sacred for at least the term of 5
years from the present date, except the sums received should exceed
£4,000 [$19,466].” The prospectus for this purpose, which provides
for a general levy on all the unions combining for that purpose and
conferring benefits on aged members in the various organizations
according to rotation, is preserved by Galton in his book on the
Tailoring Trade. The attempt does not appear to have met with
success.
Trade unions, like friendly societies, are hampered by the demands
made upon them by the aged members.
The thoughtful men in both the trade unions and the friendly
societies are recognizing this. They realize how dangerously the agea
members are handicapping the societies. Turn how or where they
will, the claims and necessities of their aged brethren are forced upon
them. * * * As things are at present, the younger members of
both friendly societies and trade unions are heavily taxed to provide
for the unsound continuous sick pay in some lodges of the former,
a From “ The Gorgon,” etc., October 3, 1818, pp. 154-160. The chief cause of the early
deaths is shown to be consumption. See Galton, Select Documents Illustrating the History
of Trade Unionism. I. The Tailoring Trade, p. 150.
b See manuscript in British Museum, also Galton, Select Documents Illustrating the His
tory of Trade Unionism. I. The Tailoring Trade, p. 167.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
765
and the superannuation benefit in a few of the latter. The result
is that financial collapse is in prospect for many friendly societies,
and a serious limitation of trade action the heavy price to be paid
by the trade unions. (a)
The increase in the number of persons receiving superannuation
benefit in most of the unions has been startlingly rapid, out of all pro
portion to the increase in membership. Thus, in the year 1851 the
average number of persons in the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
on superannuation benefit amounted to 1 per 1,000 of the total mem
bership. This percentage rapidly increased to 9 per 1,000 in 1868.
From 1869 to 1878 the percentage fluctuated between 10 per 1,000
and 12 per 1,000; in the next year it jumped to 18 per 1,000; and in
the next year, 1880, to 21 per 1,000. From this period it gradually
increased to 30 per 1,000 in 1892; to 40 per 1,000 in 1899; and to 47
per 1,000 in 1903. In 1903 about 1 out of every 22 members, includ
ing boys, is superannuated, the total number of persons in receipt
of this benefit being 4,386.
In 1851 the cost of superannuation for the members of the Amal
gamated Society of Engineers for the year was 2^d. (5 cents); in 1852,
8Jd. (17 cents). With the exception of one year it did not reach 5s.
($1.22) a year until 1875, and at that period it amounted to over oneeighth of the total expenditure for all purposes. The increase from this
time was very rapid, and by 1881 the superannuation benefit had
increased to 10s. 2Jd. ($2.48) and to over 20 per cent of the total
expenditure. In other words, by 1881 the cost per member for super
annuation was, with one exception (1870), over twice the amount that
it had been during any year previous to 1876, and over four times the
amount that it had been during any year previous to 1864. During
the next 16 years the superannuation benefit increased with consid
erable variations and fluctuations, and in the year 1897 it amounted
to 14s. ll^d. ($3.64). The lockout of 1897, however, by forcing out
thousands of men and diminishing the total membership probably did
much to change the average age of the members. The younger mem
bers were probably forced out most rapidly, and many of the older
men who had been holding on to their positions probably found it
impossible to be reinstated after the conclusion of the lockout. The
immediate result was a rapid increase both in the total amount paid
in superannuation and in the per capita expenditure for that purpose.
From 1897 to 1903 the expenditure for this purpose increased from
£68,760 to £101,419 ($334,621 to $493,556), and the per capita expendi
ture increased from 14s. l l j d . to21s. 3d. ($3.64t o $5.17). Thepercapita expenditure at the present time, 1903, amounts to 33 per cent, or
about one-third of the total expenditure, and to 28 per cent of the
a The Case for State Pensions in Old Age, by George Turner, Fabian Tract 73, London,
1899, p. 9.
12951— N o. 64— 06----- 12
766
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
entire income of the society. The expenditure in 1903 for superan
nuation was greater than that for donations for out-of-work benefits,
and was over twice that expended for sick benefits, almost 8 times
that expended for funerals, and over 28 times the amount expended
for accidents.
There is no cause to believe that the rapid increase in the amount
of superannuation benefits Will tend to cease.
During the year 1903, 718 members of the Amalgamated Society of
Engineers were superannuated. Of this number 144 were between
the ages of 55 and 60, 321 between the ages of 60 and 65, 186 between
the ages of 65 and 70, 59 between the ages of 70 and 75, and only 8
above the age of 75. The average age of the 718 members superan
nuated was 63 i years, and the average period dtiring which they were
members was 38 J years. The average age of admission to member
ship of those superannuated in 1903 was thus 25 years.
As a rule, the payments of the various members superannuated
increased with the period of their membership and with their average
age at retirement. Thus, the members who retired at the age of 60 or
under averaged 8s. 4§d. ($2.04) per week, while those who retired a,t
75 or above received an average of 9s. 10Jd. ($2.40).
The same is true of the turners, smiths, and other separate trades
within the union. The average weekly payment of all classes of
workers superannuated during the year was 9s. 2^d. ($2.24), which
means an average annual payment of almost £24 ($116.80) per year.
The superannuation benefit of the Associated Iron Molders of Scot
land has been paid during the last 61 years. During this period it has
increased practically uniformly and at an accelerating rate. In the
year 1843 the payment of this benefit was £15 ($73); in the year
1851 it amounted to £145 ($706). This increased rapidly, but it did
not attain £1,000 until the year ending January 13, 1877, when it was
£1,100 ($5,353). Since that date it has continued to increase up to a
maximum of £7,954 ($38,708) in the year ending December 26, 1903.
During this period the superannuation benefit increased very much
more rapidly than the funeral and accident benefit: From 1841 until
1880 the funeral and accident benefit was always larger, and usually
from one and one-half to three times as large as the superannuation
benefit. Since 1880, however, the superannuation benefit has, as a
rule, been considerably larger than the funeral and accident benefit.
The files of trade-union journals are replete with forebodings of the
future failure of the trade unions to bear up under the burden of the
superannuation benefit. “ If,” says a correspondent of the Amal
gamated Engineers’ Journal, “ we take the history of the past as the
best basis for future prophecy, it will be easily seen that in another 10
or 20 years the cost of superannuation will be quite beyond our present
rate of contribution. * ' * * The A. S. E., in common with other
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
767
trade unions, will have to look for— to demand— State aid in this
benefit, and it will be a just and reasonable demand, for are not the
workers the life’s blood of the community, the body, if not, unfortu
nately, altogether the soul of society ?” (a)
The same number of the magazine contains a cartoon in which a
bearded workingfrian, in a paper cap, throws off a heavy load called
“ Superannuation benefit” and hands it to John Bull, with the state
ment : “ As I advance in years I find this burden getting too heavy. I
want your help.”
To avoid the drain on this benefit, rules have been established by a
number of organizations with the purpose of limiting the amount of
money expended on it.
For instance, the Bookbinders and Machine Rulers’ Consolidated
Union provide in their rules “ that 1 per cent of the total membership
of the union be the limit of eligibility of members to claim the benefits
of the fund.” “ The applicant who has been a member for the great
est number of years, merits being equal, shall be entitled to the first
claim of appointment irrespective of the date of his application for
benefit.” (6)
According to the rules of the lithographic printers “ the number of
members in receipt of superannuation shall be at the rate of 1 per cent
of the total membership of the society. In case of the applications for
superannuation exceeding the limit of 1 per cent of the members, the
names of the candidates and their claims shall be sent to the general
office, and the member whose consecutive number of years of member
ship are the highest shall be entitled to the first vacancy.” (c) This
limitation, however, does not meet the requirements of the situation.
It is generally recognized that, heavy as is the present burden, the
future cost will be still greater. The ratio of trade unionists in receipt
of superannuation benefits to the entire number of members is less
than the ratio of aged persons to the entire population and consid
erably less than the ratio of aged persons to the population of tradeunion age. This is more noteworthy, as the average minimum age
at which trade unions grant superannuation is only about 55 years.
The small percentage of superannuated members is due in the first
place to the comparatively recent period during which the superan
nuation benefit has been instituted and to the fact that many of the
trade unions have grown rapidly within the last decade or two. The
burden of the superannuation benefit upon the members will therefore
be much greater than it is at present when the ratio of superannuated
a Amalgamated Engineers’ Journal, September, 1901, pp. 22, 23.
b See General Rules of the Bookbinders and Machine Rulers7Consolidated Union, revised,
Bradford, 1899, rule 16, pp. 18,19.
c See Rules of the Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers of Great Britain and
Ireland, revised at Glasgow, 1901, rule 24, p. 31.
768
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
members to all members is as great as the ratio of workmen over 60 to
workmen from 20 to 60 years of age.
Certain British unions have provided for the creation o f separate
funds for the payment of the superannuation benefit, which are kept
distinct from the ordinary funds of the union, and in some cases are
devoted to the purposes of lending to members on their freehold or
leasehold property. The rules of the United Society of Boiler Makers
provides for the investment in this manner of the surplus money in
the superannuation fund.
All money in the fund above £20,000 ($97,330) may be loaned out
to members who have for five years been first class or for seven years
second class members of the society. All applications for loans on
the security of freehold or leasehold property must be made to the
general secretary, and the applicant incloses Is. (24 cents) to defray
the cost of the ballot. The general secretary brings such applications
to the executive council for their consideration. In the event of
there being more than £20,000 ($97,330) in the fund, but an insuffi
cient balance to supply the requirements of all applicants, elections
take place on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. The unsuc
cessful candidates have the right of refusal of any further loans before
the next ballot takes place. Successful applicants fill out a form
showing the location and value of the property and the amount of the
loan required, and inclose one guinea ($5.11) as a valuation fee. The
nearest local to the property sends a properly qualified person approved
of by the executive council to value the property.
The maximum loan to any member is £500 ($2,433), and no mem
ber can secure a loan for more than one house nor upon a sublease
as security. The money loaned must not exceed seven-eighths of the
total value of the property, and the principal and interest at 4 per
cent must be paid within a maximum of 20 years. Payments of
interest are quarterly, and a member is fined 2s. 6d. (61 cents) for every
month, or part of a month, that his quarterly payment is delayed.
If two successive quarterly payments are missed, the executive council
has the power to foreclose.
In lending money to its members, the union makes it possible for
them to shorten the period of repayment and to lessen the sum upon
which interest is chargeable. It also permits a member to sell the
property subject to the loan to any other member and facilitates the
redeeming of the mortgage under favorable conditions where the mem
ber is able to do so. The executive council is instructed in all cases
to see that the property forming the security of the loan be insured
in a company which the executive council itself selects. ( a )
a See Rules of the United Society of Boiler Makers and Iron and Steel Ship Builders,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, pp. 172-176.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
769
During the year 1903 fourteen loans ranging from £170 to £500
($827 to $2,433), aggregating £4,050 ($19,709) and averaging thus
£289 ($1,406), were made from the superannuation loan account.
On December 31,1903, there were 37 balances of loans outstanding,
aggregating £9,470 ($46,086) . ( a )
It is provided by the rules of the Associated Iron Molders of Scot
land that superannuated members 11 shall not receive from the funds
either loans or advances upon their superannuation or funeral benefit,
and they shall not be eligible either to hold office in the society or to
vote at any of its meetings. And any superannuated member wish
ing to go foreign will be allowed to do so, he making arrangements in
his branch for his benefit being sent him monthly. But if at any time
it be found that a superannuated member is working at the molding
or against the interest of this or other trades, either at home or abroad,
he may be fined or excluded, and thus forfeit all benefits, should a
district general meeting, with the consent of executive council, agree
to do so.” (*6)
ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS.
A general tendency has been observable in Great Britain as well
as on the Continent of Europe and' in the United States to centralize
trade unions and extend organizations from small clubs to large
national associations. In their earlier years the British trade unions
were usually circumscribed by the limits of the town; but during the
last century, especially during the last fifty years, they have over
stepped local lines and become national. For some time the local unions
held out against the tendency to nationalize, and they restricted
employment to members of the trade in the particular town in which
the organization held sway. These local bodies, however, were unable
to withstand the influences of the time, and the formation of national
unions sapped the strength of the local bodies, which one after another
succumbed and joined the national organizations.
Both in Great Britain and in the United States at the present
time unions are for the main part national organizations with local
branches. Strikes now extend from the city to the nation as they
had formerly extended from the shop to the city. To conduct a strike
it is necessary that the national union have national funds, and that
the expenses of the strike be incurred by the united workmen, and
not by the workingmen or the local of each town. As a consequence,
the national organizations not only control the financing of strikes,
but they also assume the right to declare strikes on and off. It is
found intolerable to permit a local union to involve the national
a Report of the United Society of Boiler Makers, 1903, p. 220.
&See Rules of the Associated Iron Molders of Scotland, rule 28, clause 6, p. 57.
770
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
organization and with it the national funds in a strike without the
consent of the whole body. The militant activities of trade union
ism are therefore almost entirely conducted by the national organ
ization.
In the matter of friendly benefits this tendency has not been so
strong. At the present time, however, a well-marked movement from
the local to the national administration of friendly benefits is apparent
and the locals, while actually administering the benefits, are subject
to the control and supervision of the national organization.
Unlike the purely militant policy, however, the administration of
benefits depends largely upon the discretion of the bodies dispensing
them. It is absolutely essential that friendly benefits be adminis
tered by officials intimately acquainted with all conditions of the
special case. No matter how detailed the rules governing the dispo
sition of the. funds, the question must invariably arise whether the
case comes within these rules. To pass upon this problem, intimate
local knowledge is necessary. Before paying out-of-work benefit, it
should be well established whether the man is unemployed through
his own fault, through the attitude of the employer, or through the
condition of trade. The answer to these questions can best be given
by the local authorities, who are familiar not only with the man
applying for such benefits and his former employer, but also with
local trade conditions. To detect malingering or feigned sickness and
to prevent imposition upon the sick funds, it is necessary to exer
cise the utmost care b y persons directly on the spot. Insurance and
friendly benefit societies have found this out as a result of their own
experience. The Prudential Assurance Company abandoned sick pay,
because, “ After 5 years’ experience we found we were unable to cope
with the fraud that was practiced,” ( a ) and the various friendly
societies have been successful in administering sick pay only in so far
as the direct administration has been local.
The Foresters and Odd
Fellows, which preserve the autonomy of each lodge, have the lowest
rate of sickness, while the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society, “ the largest
and most efficient of the centralized friendly societies having no
branches at all, and dispensing all benefits from the head office,” has
a “ rate of sickness habitually far in excess of the experience ” of the
others. (6)
“ Centralized societies,” according to Rev. J. Frome Wilkinson,
“ will never be able to avoid being imposed upon; not so, however, a
well-regulated branch of an affiliated society with its machinery in
good working order.” ( b )
The experience of trade unions has thus proved that in the ad
ministration of friendly benefits it is essential for the rules of the entire
a See Report o f the R oyal Commission on Friendly Societies in 1873, quoted in W eb b ’s
Industrial Democracy, London, 1S02, p. 101.
b See W ebb’s Industrial Democracy, p. 101.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
771
organization to be uniform and prescribed by the national body. On
the other hand, the actual administration of the rules, especially in
case of sick benefits, must be left to the local bodies.
At the beginning, trade unions with benefit features had great diffi
culty in securing uniform bookkeeping in the various branches of
their locals. The men in charge of the local funds were usually work
ingmen without commercial experience and during the earlier years,
before a body of regularly trained local officials was formed, the diffi
culty of securing anything like intelligible' reports from the organiza
tions was especially great.
“ The state in which several of the branches have sent in their
accounts reflects great discredit on the society,” says an early report
of the Steam Engine Makers. “ We feel assured that these errors do
not arise from the want of competent persons among us to manage
these matters, but from the want of care in electing officers.” ( a)
This complaint was made in 1842, but not long afterwards conditions
changed for the better, and by the time the report for 1844 was made
a considerable improvement was acknowledged by the secretary of
the organization.
Another difficulty was found in the lax administration of the rules
by the local officials. Sometimes the man asking for relief was a friend
or neighbor of the man dispensing it, and not infrequently the rules
were waived and the benefit given in violation of the constitution of
the society. “ It will be found,” says the report of the Steam Engine
Makers’ Society for 1842, “ that there are several items in the present
report that the rules and regulations of our society do not sanction,
therefore they can not give general satisfaction. No officer can find
a rule that allows him to lend the society’s money, and paying for
beds for those not in benefit from the funds is also contrary to the rules,
therefore these things must not be practiced.”
This criticism is almost universal. “ I am, however,” says the
secretary of the Navvies’ Union, “ obliged to call attention to the lax
manner in which some branches (that hold their own funds) enforce
the rules as to payment of sick benefit. The right of branches to call
upon the center to make up the benefits due to members when their
own funds fall short is doubtless responsible for this.” (5)
The rules were often disregarded even by the officials themselves.
“ Even when the committee have openly declared that a turn-out
(strike) has been wholly unjustified by the circumstances of the case,
and contrary to the rules, the men have been allowed to draw their
subsistence from the union.” (c)
« See Yearly Account, 1842, of the Steam Engine Makers’ Society, p. 93.
b Thirteenth Annual Statement (1903) of the Navvies, Builders, Laborers, and General
Laborers’ Union, p. 2.
c See Character, Object, and Effects of Trades Unions, anonymous, London, 1834, p. 64.
772
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The officials charged with the administration of the benefit funds
complain repeatedly of the practice of fraud, more or less extended
according to the intelligence and esprit de corps of the members.
Many opportunities present themselves for drawing upon the funds
without justification.
“ It is essential/7 says the Bristol, West of England and South
Wales Operatives7 Trade and Provident Society, “ that every member
should realize it is his duty to see that the funds of his lodge are not
abused and that no member receive sick pay to which he is not entitled.
In addition, it should be remembered there is nothing mean or shabby,
but on the contrary there is much that is manly and commendable in
reporting to lodge secretaries those members who are on the sick
funds illegally or who are not carrying out the provisions of the
general rule whilst on the funds.77( a)
The temptation is especially great in bad times for the unions to
disregard their own rules, and to grant benefits in deserving cases con
trary to the established precedents of the organization.
During the year 1903 the rise in the price of cotton had the effect of
throwing idle many of the mills of Lancashire. As a result demands
upon the unions for out-of-work benefits grew apace, and many
organizations broke their rules in order to provide against increasing
distress.
“ One of the most regrettable features in connection with these
organized stoppages/7 says the general secretary of the Southeast
Lancashire Card and Blowing Room Operatives7 Association, “ and
one which we think will one day bring deep repentance, has been the
reckless and inconsiderate manner in which the members of some
societies, from whom better things might justly have been expected,
have dealt with the finances of their societies. Rules which have been
made to give each member that security to his rights and interests in
the society to which they are justly entitled, and by means of which
large sums have been accumulated for defensive purposes, have been
ruthlessly mutilated and set aside for a kind of ruffianism, or each man
for himself and the devil take the hindermost kind of policy. The
worst part about this kind of business is that once the thing is started
no one can tell when or where it will stop.77 (6)
Even the Card and Blowing Room Operatives7Association, which
did not to any great extent break its rules, largely increased its
out-of-work benefit to a point where the expenditure on that account
was over three times as great as that of the previous year, with the
result of a deficit for the entire year. The temptation of the union
a Bristol, W est of England and South Wales Operatives’ Trade and Provident Society, in
its financial statement, December, 1903 and 1904.
b See Southeast Lancashire Card and Blowing R oom Operatives’ Association, Fifteenth
Annual Report and Balance Sheet, 1903, pp. 4, 5.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
773
leaders to give a twist to the rule in order to relieve cases of distress is
very great and the officials frequently feel called upon to apologize for
their apparent niggardliness. “ We hope that we shall not be accused
of being indifferent to the difficulties and hardships which we know
have had to be endured by many families whilst the mills have been
working little more than half time.” (a)
The elaboration of formal systems of benefit features requires a high
degree of organization and the establishment of rules of general appli
cation, entering into every detail of the trade life of each of the mem
bers. The present systems were developed after the work of many
years. The founder of the benefit system of the Amalgamated
Society of Engineers, Mr. William Allan, had “ adapted the elaborate
constitution and financial system of an old-established society to the
needs of a great national amalgamation. In long hours of patient
labor in the office he had built up an extremely methodical, if some
what cumbrous, system of financial checks and trade reports, by which
the exact position of each of his tens of thousands of members was at
all times recorded in his official pigeonholes. The permanence of his
system is the best testimony to its worth. Even to-day the Engineers’
head office * * * retains throughout the impress of Allan’s tire
less and methodical industry. Excessive caution, red-tape precision,
an almost miserly solicitude for the increase of the society’s funds
were among Allan’s defects.” (**6)
The administrative rules of the various societies are established
with the purpose of seeing that justice is done toward all members.
It would be impossible to give more than a general idea of the manner
in which the funds are safeguarded by a hundred organizations.
Perusal of these rules shows conformity in the main to certain definite
standards, with but slight variations in the different bodies.
In order to give some insight into the method of administering the
benefit funds and of preventing abuses, an abstract of the rules of a
typical organization is presented. The rules selected are those of the
Associated Shipwrights’ Society.
These rules provide that all applications for benefits must be made
in writing to the secretary. For this purpose simple blank forms are
prepared on which the applicant writes his name, address, the date of
application, the place where he worked, the cause of his disability, and
the date at which the disability began. The application must be
presented with the member’s pence book in order to show that he is
in good standing. While a member is receiving a sick or accident
benefit, he is supplied with a sick form, which must be signed each
week by the visiting surgeon, as well as by the sick visitor appointed
a See Southeast Lancashire Card and Blowing R oom Operatives’ Association, Fifteenth
Annual Report and Balance Sheet, 1903, p. 5.
&See W ebb’s History of Trade Unionism, 1902, p. 216.
774
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
by the society. The applicant for relief is expected to furnish the
fullest information possible and to be present at the committee meet
ing if required and if able to do so.
The application for sick, accident, superannuation, or funeral bene
fit must be made to the secretary within three days after the date from
which benefit is claimed. In case of the failure of the applicant to
report on time, payment will begin with the second day previous to
date of application. When the branch or district has secured the
services of a medical adviser, the secretary must notify the one belong
ing to the branch or district in question to visit the member. In case
the member is able to visit the surgeon, he is required to do so at least
once a fortnight, or as often as necessary, in order to secure a certificate
of unfitness for work; otherwise he receives no benefit.
The committee is expected to scrutinize the application of each
member, as well as the medical certificate and all other accompanying
evidence, and if not satisfied this committee has the power to demand
further medical or other evidence, and if thought desirable to send a
physician to visit the applicant. The rules specifically state that no
member shall be paid until the committee is fully assured of the jus
tice and legality of the claim. When the committee is satisfied it
authorizes the treasurer to make payment after deducting all arrears
of contributions, fines, and levies, and all money of any sort due from
the member to the society.
When members reside or work outside the district or at a distance,
they are expected to make application to the secretary, inclosing their
pence book and the medical certificate within fourteen days from the
date of such certificate and every two weeks during the illness. In all
these cases the benefit is paid from the date of the certificate. No
member is entitled to receive any sick benefit for “ any day that he
has worked a part of,” nor are members allowed to receive benefit for
any period less than 3 working days. A claim for sick benefit b y any
member residing in the United Kingdom is considered to have lapsed
when not presented within one month. Upon the recovery of the
member he immediately notifies the secretary in writing, but the
member retains his sick form until the full amount due to him is paid,
after which he is obliged to return the sick form, duly signed by the
surgeon, and acknowledge in full the sum sent him.
One of the hardest benefits to administer is the unemployed or
out-of-work benefit, which frequently involves questions of consider
able difficulty. A member is entitled to unemployed benefit when he
is thrown out of work under circumstances satisfactory to his local and
when he has continued out of work for 6 consecutive days. The pay
ment, moreover, is construed to begin from the fourth day after sign
ing the vacant book and may continue for 20 weeks, but no further
sums may be paid for’ unemployment during the next 12 months.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
775
The pay for the first 10 weeks is at a higher rate than for the last 10
weeks. Even after the lapse of the 12 months a member may not
again receive benefit of any character unless he has worked at least 4
weeks in a trade and received the current rate of wages, and he may
not receive the higher rate of benefit unless he has had 12 months clear
of this unemployed benefit. Unemployed benefit is not paid for less
than 3 days, the first 3 days’ payment being made at the end of the
sixth day after the unemployed man first signs the vacant book.
The rules of the society define unemployment with considerable
exactness. An unemployed member must be one who is willing to
work, but can not find employment. He is not considered unem
ployed and is not entitled to receive out-of-work benefit if he left work
of his own accord, if he was dismissed for irregularity, if he absented
himself without leave (except for sickness), if he was intemperate, if
his conduct was imprudent, or if his unemployment resulted from a
“ captious and voluntary self-dismissal.” A member unable to work
by reason of accident, illness, or any disability which would entitle him
to sick benefit may not receive out-of-work or idle benefit. If a mem
ber out of work and in receipt of unemployed benefit becomes sick, he
is removed from the unemployed benefit and placed on the sick roll,
and the unemployed benefit is stopped until he is again able to resume
work if work is offered. A member does not receive unemployed
benefit for the usual holidays of the city or trade, nor for the special
holidays given by the firm with which he may be connected. The
rules provide, however, that persons in receipt of unemployed benefit
before the holidays may have the benefits continued during the
holidays.
In order to prevent fraud, the society provides that the applicant
for the unemployed benefit must, within 48 hours, state in writing to
the secretary the cause of his being unemployed and, similarly, must
give notice within 48 hours of his resumption of work.
The vacant book in which the men sign is a book of uniform pattern
in all the local unions. It is kept at some known place which is deter
mined by the local. During the period of unemployment a member
residing within 3 miles of this place must sign his name daily at some
time between 9 a. m. and 5 p. m. or forfeit one days’ allowance. If he
resides from over 3 to 7 miles from the place, he may sign at such
intervals as the local determines, but not less than twice a week.
If a member is traveling from one district to another in search of
employment, he may receive the benefit in the local visited by signing
the book.
No member is entitled to the sick benefit or the funeral benefit until
12 months from the time that he has paid his initiation fee. If only
6 months have elapsed, he may receive half this benefit. Members
receive the sick benefit when they are unable to follow their usual, or
776
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
any other employment through accident or disease, provided the dis
ability has not been brought on by intemperance or other improper
action on their part.
Strict rules are prescribed for members while in receipt of benefit.
A member who refuses to be visited while sick receives no benefit, and
if a visitor has any doubt as to the illness of the member on benefit
the committee has the power to send a physician. No member in
receipt of a sick benefit is permitted to be out of his residence later
than 9 p. m. from April to September, inclusive, or later than 7 p. m.
from October to March, inclusive. A fine is levied for disobedience to
this rule, and upon the third offense the donation is stopped. A mem
ber on the sick list is also fined if found in a state of intoxication. In
case a change of residence is necessary for improving the health of a
sick member he may leave the town, provided recommendation to that
effect is made by the society’s surgeon of the district; but notice must
first be given to the secretary, who reports the removal at the com
mittee meeting. During his absence from the city a member must
report on the state of his health to the secretary at least once in 2
weeks, and the statement must be attested by the medical attendant
of that place, as well as by two respectable householders.
The difficulty of administering the out-of-work benefit has in many
cases been increased by the fact that a number of unions make
no sharp division between the out-of-work and the strike benefit.
The former is paid both to men out of work for other causes and to
men on strike or locked out. The confusion of these two benefits
and the usual results to which it has led is illustrated by the history
of “ the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, which was formed for
the express purpose of bringing about a uniform trade policy under
the control of a central executive. It was intended to secure this
result by providing that strike pay should be awarded only by the
central executive, leaving the branches to dispense the other benefits
prescribed by the rules. But unfortunately this strike pay amounts
only to 5s. [$1.22] a week, it being assumed that the member leaving
his work wiff also be receiving the out-of-work donation of 10s. [$2.43]
a week, awarded by his branch. This confusion of trade with friendly
benefits has resulted in a serious weakening of the authority of the
central executive in matters of trade policy.” ( a )
The men who were dissatisfied with conditions in any establishment
simply dropped their tools and received an out-of-work benefit,
although no such cessation of work was advised by the central body,
and in some cases a local walkout of .this sort led to complications
involving a number of locals. The out-of-work benefit is capable
of proper administration only when it is kept entirely separate and
distinct from the strike benefit.
a See W ebb’s Industrial Democracy, London, 1901, p. 94.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
777
The funeral benefit is paid only upon the filling out of an application
and the production by the relative, nominee, or trustee of the deceased,
of a registrar’s certificate as required by law. The amount of the
benefit differs for different scales of membership. On the death of
the member no relative or claimant may make further demands
upon the organization, and in case a funeral benefit has already
been paid at the death of the wife of a member this sum is deducted
from the funeral benefit paid at the death of the member himself.
The committee does not pay funeral benefit until entirely convinced
of the death of the member for whom payment is to be made. It is
intended also that the money so paid shall be actually devoted to
the interment of the member, and if the committee have any doubts
“ respecting any party claiming funeral money itself, they may
appoint a member or members to defray the funeral expenses to the
extent of the sum specified.” If a member dies at sea or in a foreign
country, his nearest relative or other lawful claimant may be paid
the funeral benefit, provided the deceased has qualified himself accord
ing to the rule. In this case, however, the claimant must produce
a certificate of the decease with the date thereof, and any arrears
may be deducted from the sum so paid out.
If a member is married at the time of his entering the association
or joining the benefit, he must, if he desires funeral money on the
death of his wife, attend the committee meeting of the local and enter
in a book kept for that purpose his own name, his wife’s name, and the
state of her health. If she is above 35 years of age at the time, a
medical certificate of health must be produced. If she is above the
age of 50 at the time of his joining the association, or if she is above
the age of 50 upon her marriage, the member is not to be entitled to
funeral money upon her death. Upon the marriage of any member,
he must within 4 weeks thereafter attend a committee meeting of his
local and register his wife’s name, her age, and the state of her health.
The various locals or districts are entitled to appoint a medical adviser
to examine all candidates for admission when proposed, if such exami
nation is deemed necessary by the committee. This medical adviser
may not receive' more than Is. 6d. (37 cents) per patient. He visits
sick members and those suffering from accident who are unable to
come to him and who live within a radius of 2 miles from the rooms of
the local, and he must do this once a fortnight, or oftener, if required.
The medical adviser is not required to give the member medical treat
ment unless so requested by the member himself, who thus becomes
responsible for all charges, the duties of a medical adviser or surgeon
being merely to certify to the condition of a member, which he must
do once a fortnight. When the surgeon suspects that any member
is feigning sickness or is “ malingering,” he is expected to take such
measures as he may deem wise to secure detection, and, upon his
778
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
suspicions being verified, he must report the same to the secretary,
who in turn lays it before the committee. Where the committee
feels unable to decide upon the merits of the case, it presents it to
the members and forwards the case with instructions and particulars
to the executive committee, who is instructed to act thereupon. The
districts are entitled to make arrangements for the medical adviser
to prescribe’ for their members, and to furnish them with medicines
and medical appliances, but such arrangements must be special, and
the expense must be borne by the members themselves and not be
charged to the organization. The association, however, is chargeable
with the Is. 6d. (37 cents), which is paid for the inspection of the
patient and the certification of his condition.
A member who has paid all fines and money due the society and has
obeyed the rules of the organization may receive a superannuation
benefit if he has arrived at the age of 55 and is unable to follow his
ordinary employment, either through old age or other infirmities not
improperly contracted. He must have been a member for the space
of 20 consecutive years. The amount of this benefit depends upon
the period during which he has been a member, and it varies from a
minimum for members of 20 years’ standing to a maximum for mem
bers of 35 years’ standing or over.
The superannuated member is at liberty to do any light work of
which he is capable, but only after he has first received the permission
of the local. He is to give the committee such information as may
be required as to the amount of his earnings in this new position.
A superannuated member may receive no money for accident, unem
ployment, sickness, or other cause, but on death his beneficiaries may
receive the funeral benefit.
The superannuation benefit is not granted until an application
has been made through the local to which the member belongs to the
executive committee of the organization. The application is accom
panied by a full statement by the local of the cause, with a recom
mendation, and the application must contain the name of the
applicant, his registered number, the date of his admission, aiid certifi
cates of at least three surgeons, stating his inability to follow his ordi
nary employment. The executive committee, upon the receipt of this
application and the certificates, considers the case fully, and, if deemed
necessary, provides for a new medical examination of the applicant.
The application for superannuation is not considered while the mem
ber is in receipt of any other benefits from organizations, and super
annuated members are not permitted to hold any of the principal
offices of the society. The superannuated members are allowed to
return to the trade if they pay the regular contribution, but if, after
such reemployment, they lose their position they are not paid out-ofwork benefit, but are returned to the superannuation benefit.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
779
The administration of friendly benefits is a matter partly of racial
characteristics, partly of education in trade-union ethics. For a long
time British unions, though having branches in Scotland, Canada,
Australia, and even in the United States, found it difficult to maintain
locals in Ireland, owing to the fact that Irish branches did not adminis
ter their finances according to the rules of the English societies. Irish
locals not only struck without securing consent, but also were often
guilty of financial irregularities of many sorts. In certain cases in the
thirties and forties, locals had to be dissolved because of inexact and
improper methods of administering relief.
In 1840 the Operative Stone Masons were obliged to report the dis
solution of their Irish locals, because “ however much a separation
may be regretted, we feel convinced that until they are thrown more
on their own resources, they will not sufficiently estimate the benefits
derivable from such an institution to exert themselves on its behalf/7(°)
The Typographical Association was also compelled to give up its
Irish branch at Waterford, and refused to entertain any more pro
posals for new Irish branches. Similar instances occurred in the
history of the tailors and other societies.
As late as 1896 the Shipwrights7 Society was obliged to close its
Dublin branch, because it failed to receive correct reports, and because
the money intended for out-of-work benefits was improperly expended.
The high benefits granted by British unions were made possible by
the large weekly contributions exacted from their members. The
income of the unions is derived not only from weekly contributions,
but from entrance fees, fines, profits from the sale of reports, books,
membership cards, etc., rent of property, interest on funds, etc. An
other source of income is from special levies and extra contributions
for general or specific purposes. This revenue is increased in times of
strikes or depression in trade, when the fiscal demands naturally
increase.
Trade unions with benefit features contend that while benefits cost
money, the increased wages resulting from the action of unions
strengthened by them enables the workingman to defray the increased
expenses.
It may be stated by some, “ I can not afford to pay the weekly con
tribution of a shilling [24.3 cents], and, therefore, however willing I
may be to help I am unable to do it.77 May we point out in answer
to such a question that the whole object of asking your cooperation
is with a view to raise our wages to a figure worthy of our trade?
Divided as we are, w e can not do so, but by being united we can; if
then, we can by unity raise our wages by the very modest sum of 2s.
[48.7 cents] per week, you will be Is. [24.3] cents in pocket by the
transaction-; besides, you will be able to participate m the benefits
a See W ebb’s Industrial Democracy, p. 84.
780
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
of the union, details of which you will find upon this cordial invita
tion. (a)
The cost of administration of a trade union is more or less constant,
or, at all events, largely independent of the amount of contributions.
“ There is not a trade union in the K ingdom /’ says a report of the
Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners, “ that has so
low a proportion (of operating expenses) as this, but that is because
there are none that pay so large a contribution.” Much is said of the
high percentage of administration; “ but if men will insist on a small
subscription, the percentage for management must be high.” That
the cost of maintaining a two penny union (4 cents per week) is 50
per cent does not necessarily mean extravagance. “ What it does
mean is that for all practical purposes the members might as well keep
their 2d. [4 cents] in their pockets as pay a sum which does little more
than pay for the cost of collecting it.”
The cost of administration per member is thus considerably larger
in the nonbenefit than it is in the benefit organizations. A large part
of the cost of administering a union’s affairs is entirely independent of
whether or not the work of the union is extensive and whether or not
large sums of money are given in benefits.
The administration of trade-union benefits necessarily involves a
certain clash of opinion between the officials and many of the mem
bers. The tendency among trade-union members is to seek the high
est possible benefits with the lowest possible or impossible expense in
dues. The object of the officials, on the other hand, is to maintain
contributions at a point that will enable the union to meet all its obli
gations and to accumulate a surplus. As a consequence there is a
continual conflict upon this point between the officials and the mem
bers of the union. “ There is no one more anxious than I,” says the
secretary of the Plumbers’ Association, “ to give members the full
value for their money, but the tendency has been to give benefits out
of proportion to the contributions. The consequences are that
instead of us accumulating a sound, substantial reserve fund we are
constantly in danger of bankruptcy.” (6)
In the opinion of the secretary, contributions had not been increased
sufficiently to meet increased benefits or payments. (c) As a conse
quence the union finances were not considered to be in good condition.
The secretary envies societies whose invested funds are paying from
£500 to £700 ($2,433 to $3,407) interest annually. “ A large balance
at the bank has its influence in preventing disputes. Employers can
ascertain our financial position, therefore we ought to try to increase
the amount.”
a See Invitation to Nonmembers to Join the Amalgamated Union of Cabinetmakers,
Liverpool, 1903 or 1904.
b See R eport of the Plumbers’ Association, 1895, p. 5.
c Idem. n. 10.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BBITISH TEADE UNIONS.
781
The conflict between the officials, seeking to keep the dues up, and
the union, seeking to keep the dues down, frequently results in a loss
of members and sometimes in secession. According to the report o f
the plumbers for 1852, many lodges seceded in consequence of high
contributions. (a)
The argument is summed up in the yearly report for 1852. “ Dur
ing the past year some few lodges have expressed a desire for a return
to the old scale of payments, also adding that, in consequence of the
present increased scale being adopted, some two or three members
have left their lodges. These communications are invariably worded
thus: € We think that the old rate of payment was sufficient, because
we have always been able to pay our equalization/ etc. Were it not
for the necessity of fully stating the facts to the members in this
report, such statements would be too absurd to be worthy of an
answer. When the present increased scale was proposed, it was with
the view of effectually warding off the bankruptcy that must have
inevitably fallen to the lot of the society, but for the present rate of
contributions and improved system of management. If the present
payments were more than sufficient to meet existing benefits, it would
be more judicious to raise the sick pay in proportion rather than lower
the contributions.” ( b )
Until 1876 the superannuation benefit of the Steam Engine Makers'
Society was granted by the local branches, and up to that time many
members were superannuated at an extremely early age. The
ruinousness of the policy, however, gradually became evident, and in
1876 the council of the society, after certain extreme cases came to its
notice, claimed the right to fix the conditions for the bestowal of the
superannuation benefit. Since that date, the right has been exercised
by the central organization.
In the report for the year 1903 the executive of the National Union
of Dock Laborers attributes the increase of the funds of the union and,
subsequently, of its strength, to the greater economy of the local
unions. “ This [increase in funds] has largely been brought about
by the reduction of the expenditure and the loyalty in general of the
branches in acting as far as possible under existing circumstances with
this object in view.” (c)
A comparison of the branches showed that they expend from a
minimum of 69 per cent to a maximum of 114 per cent of their
income; and while some of these expenses were confessedly due to
exceptional circumstances, the f fact was emphasized that on the
average expenditure too nearly approached the income. The great
trouble with this organization of unskilled workmen, as of other*&
a See Report for 1852, reproduced in the Report for 1895, p. 5.
&Idem, pp. 3 ,4 .
c Report of Executive, National Union of D ock Laborers, 1903, p. 6.
12951— N o. 64— 06------ 13
782
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
organizations, was the lowness of the dues and the consequent high
percentage cost of administration.
“ We must also consider,” continues the report, “ that even under
ordinary circumstances (and there is no union, even a laborers’ union,
so costly to administer as ours in the Kingdom) it takes just as
much to administer a three penny [6-cent] contribution as a shilling
[24-eent] contribution. And so the higher the contribution the more
opportunity there is to lay up funds.” ( a )
FINANCES OF TRADE UNIONS.
D IF F IC U L T Y OF O B T A IN IN G FU N D S.
The great drawback to the development of benefit features in Brit
ish, as in other trade unions, is the difficulty o f securing funds. “ No
trade union is subsidized; the funds arise from the contributions of
members.” (5) Trade unionists vote for increased benefits, but it is
difficult to persuade them to vote at the same time for increased con
tributions. Trade union reports teem with complaints of the unwilling
ness of the members to increase their dues. “ My private opinion,”
says the secretary of one of the British trade unions in a letter, “ of
the great majority of trade unionists, and I have had thirty-five years’
experience, is they do not treat the society in the same proportion as
the society treats them. For instance, in the last twenty-five years
the wages of our members have increased eight or nine shillings [$1.95
or $2.19] per week, but the contributions to the society remain the
same. Indeed, I can go further and say that our society was estab
lished seventy-one years ago, when wages were about eighteen shil
lings to £1 [$4.38 to $4.87] per week, and the contribution was six
pence [12 cents] per week. It is the same now, although wages are
more than double.” (c)
The contributions of dues of the members provide the main source
of income of most of the organizations. During the 46 years from
1858 to 1903, the Associated Blacksmiths’ Society, for example,
received in all £186,240 ($906,337), of which 88.8 percent was derived
from ordinary contributions, only 2.1 per cent from entrance fees, 3.4
per cent from interest on funds, and the rest from levies, accident
grants, trade levies, and miscellaneous income. ( d )
In a number of organizations, additional sums of money in excess of
the weekly dues are secured b y special and general levies. Thus,
a Report of Executive, National Union of D ock Laborers, 1903, p. 7.
&Prize Essay on Trades Unions, b y Ithuriel, Glasgow, 1875, p. 19.
c See letter of George H. Clarke, Secretary of the Manchester Unity of Operative Brick
layers’ Trade, Accident, Siek, and Burial Society, of Great Britain and Ireland, October 12,
1904.
d See the Forty-sixth Financial Report of the Associated Blacksmiths’ Society, Glasgow,
1904, p. 17.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
783
while the weekly contribution of the Friendly Society of Iron Founders
has, during the 49 years from 1855 to 1903, been steadily fixed at Is.
(24 cents) per week, or £2 12s. ($12.65) per year, the total receipts of
the society have been largely in excess of the income from this source.
Keports have brought in an average of 7d. or 8d. (14 or 16 cents) a
year, and the accident, auxiliary, special, benevolent, emigration, and
general fund levies, have raised the total contribution per member to
an amount which, during the last 49 years, has averaged 43 per cent
in excess of the weekly contributions. In 1872 accident levies of
10s. 6d. ($2.56) per member were raised, and levies of Is. to 3s. (24 to
73 cents) have not been unusual. Auxiliary levies from 6d. (12 cents)
to 9s. lOd. ($2.39) per year have been frequently made, and general
fund levies have ranged from 8d. (16 cents) per year to £2 12s.
($12.65).
The following table shows the character of the receipts of the organi
zation during the last 49 years, and gives some intimation of the extent
to which the organization, composed of men receiving high wages, can
secure additional funds by means of levies :(a)
PER CAPITA INCOME OF THE F R IE N D L Y SOCIETY OF IRON FOUNDERS FROM EACH
SPECIFIED SOURCE, 1855 TO 1903.
Year.
1855............
1856............
1857............
1858............
1859............
I860............
1861............
1862............
1863............
1864............
1865............
1866............
1867............
1868............
1869............
1870............
1871............
1872............
1873............
1874............
1875............
1876............
1877............
1878............
1879............
1880............
1881............
1882............
1883............
1884............
1885............
1886............
1887............
1888............
1889............
1890............
1891............
1892............
1893............
Contri
bution.
$12.65
12.65
12.65
12.90
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.90
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.90
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.90
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.90
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.65
12.90
12.65
12.90
12.65
12.65
12.90
12.65
Auxili
ary
levies.
Special
levies.
$0.24
.24
.24
$0.37
.37
.33
.37
$0.03
.24
.37
.37
.37
1.22
.37
.12
.49
.37
.49
.73
1.22
.12
.12
Reports. Accident
levies.
$0.08
.08
.08
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.24
.12
.12
.12
.12
.12
.12
.12
.12
.12
.12
.12
.12
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.61
2.56
.70
.85
.85
.49
1.46
.49
.85
.12
.49
1.46
.79
.18
2.19
.24
.24
.12
.12
.18
.18
.24
General
fund
levies.
$1.58
$0.08
.04
.49
.24
.24
Emigra
tion
levies.
.02
.89
.37
Benevo
lent
levies.
.04
.10
.08
.08
.08
.08
.08
.08
.08
.08
.08
$0.28
1.02
.04
.61
2.11
.57
.97
11.19
12.65
10.34
5.52
' .16
4.79
11.72
6.45
4.75
4.99
9.05
11.92
7.16
3.16
3.16
3.16
3.23
6.21
Total.
$13.10
13.34
13.33
13.75
14.49
13.50
&13.57
14.36
618.17
15.21
14.96
13.58
13.74
25.30
6 25.73
23.48
18.90
15.53
13.96
13.88
13.34
18.95
13.82
13.95
20.56
24.57
19.55
18.39
15.18
12.81
17.80
22.75
24.98
20.46
615.98
6 40.80
16.16
16.71
19.50
« See Annual Report Friendly Society of Iron Founders, 1903, p. 43.
6 This is not the correct total of the items shown. The figures given are the equivalent of those shown
in the source quoted.
784
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
P E R CAPITA INCOME OF THE F R IE N D L Y SOCIETY OF IRON FOUNDERS FROM EACH
SPECIFIED SOURCE, 1855 TO 1903—Concluded.
Contri
bution.
Year.
1894............
1895............
1896............
1897
1898
1899............
1900............
1901
1902
1903............
Reports. Accident
levies.
$12.65
12.65
12.65
....................
12.65
....................
12.90
12.65
12.65
....................
12.65
....................
12.65
12.65
$0.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
.16
a Extra dispute levy.
$0.49
.24
.37
.30
Auxili
ary
levies.
a$2.39
a. 49
o.41
o.26
.24
.24
.12
.24
o.06
d. 24
6 Extra donation.
Special
levies.
Benevo Emigra
tion
lent
levies.
levies.
$0.12
.12
.04
.10
.29
c$1.10
c Allied trades levy.
General
fund
levies.
6 $1.46
6 2.92
6.10
6.06
$8.44
11.68
8.60
6.33
6.45
6.33
4.81
3.16
5.11
6.33
Total.
$23.64
25.47
22.06
21.35
23.83
19.32
17.90
16.41
18.33
19.68
d Parliamentary levy.
The following table from the Eighty-eighth Quarterly Report of the
Associated Shipwrights’ Society (p. 24), shows the dates and frequency
of accident bonus levies:
ACCIDENT BONUS LEVIES OF THE ASSOCIATED SH IPW R IG H TS' SOCIETY. 1894 TO 19C4.
Number of levy.
Second.............................................................. ...................................................
Third.....................................................................................................................
Fourth..................................................................................................................
F ifth......................................................................................................................
Seventh.................................................................................................................
Eighth......................... 1.......................................................................................
Ninth....................................................................................................................
Eleventh...............................................................................................................
Twelfth.................................................................................................................
Thirteenth............................................................................................................
Fourteenth...........................................................................................................
Fifteenth __...........................................................................................................
Sixteenth..............................................................................................................
Date due.
Amount per
member.
June 23,1894
Sept. 29,1894
June 30,1895
June 20,1896
Dec. 19,1896
Sept. 25,1897
Sept. 24,1898
Mar. 28,1899
Dec. 30,1899
June 30,1900
Apr. 20,1901
Nov. 30,1901
June 28,1902
Mar. 21,1903
Sept. 19,1903
Mar. 19,1904
$0.06
.12
.12
.12
.18
.24
.24
.16
.12
.37
.12
.24
.24
.18
.18
.30
In Volume I X of the work on the Life and Labor of the People in
London, edited b y Charles Booth, assisted by Ernest Aves, a careful
analysis of the benefits afforded by London aid societies has been
made.
The subscriptions to the various societies range from 2d. to 2s. 3d.
[4 to 55 cents] per week. Out of 167 that have been analyzed, from
2d. to 6d. [4 to 12 cents] is paid in 108 societies; from 7d. to Is. [14 to
24 cents] in 47; from Is. to 2s. [24 to 49 cents] in 10; and in two cases
2s. [49 cents] is exceeded. The most common subscription is 6d. [12
cents], which is paid by 37 societies, while 3d. [6 cents] is paid b y 24;
2d. [4 cents] b y 23; 4d. [8 cents] by 20; Is. [24 cents] b y 15, ana 9d.
[18 cents] b y 13. The larger and more important societies pay some
what the larger subscriptions on the average, 72 per cent of those with
a membership of 200 or less paying 6d. [12 cents] or less per week, as
compared with 57 per cent or those with more than 200 members who
pay this amount. ( a)
a Life and Labor of the People in London, Vol. I X , London, 1897, p. 249.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS,
785
The income per member of the organizations has continually
tended to increase. The per capita annual income of the Amalga
mated Society of Engineers was £2 3s. 6fd. ($10.60) in 1855 and £3
10s. l^d. ($17.06) in 1887. The per capita revenue of the Iron
Founders increased from a little less than 42s. ($10.22) in 1855 to
over 76s. ($18.49) in 1887. The income of the London Compositors
increased from over 12s ($2.92) in 1855 to over 32s. ($7.79) in 1887.
The same is true of practically all organizations. With each decade
a stronger tendency manifests itself to increase the amount of mem
bers’ contributions.
The increase in dues of British trade unions is indicated by the
development of the Steam Engine Makers’ Society. Until the year
1839 contributions to the society were Is. (24 cents) per month, but
at that date they were raised to a minimum of 2s. 3d. (55 cents) per
month, making an advance of 125 per cent. In 1851 rates were again
raised, this time to 3s. (73 cents) per month, and in 1889 once more to
Is. (24 cents) per week or 4s. 4d. ($1.05) per month.
The system of contributions and benefits is complicated by differ
ences in the work or processes of the various members and by con
sideration for their varying incomes. When a union is composed of
different classes of operatives earning different salaries, it is frequently
necessary to make a rough adjustment between contributions and
benefits on the one hand and the earning power of the employees on
the other. Thus, for example, a small union, the South-East Lan
cashire Card and Blowing Room Operatives’ Provincial Association,
with a combined membership in 1903 of 3,015, had its membership
divided into four classes: The back tenters, ring-frame tenters, frame
tenters, and males, who, when they were working full time, paid 4d.,
6d., 9d., and Is. (8, 12, 18, and 24 cents), respectively, and who
receive benefits of from 3 to 10s. ($0.73 to $2.43) in the case of general
strikes, lockouts, and victimization; from 4 to 10s. ($0.97 to $2.43)
in case of accident; and £4 ($19.47) for funeral allowance.
The complexity of the system of contributions and its adjustment
to the paying ability of its members is further illustrated in this small
union by the establishment of different rates in proportion to the
length of time the employee works. Thus, if engaged less than 35
hours or over 10 hours per week he pays, roughly speaking, one-half
of his ordinary rate, whereas, if not working at all or if working less
than 10 hours a week, the rate of contribution is Id. (2 cents) for all
classes.
786
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The following table shows the rates of pay of the benefits for the
various classes of employees of this organization:
SCALE OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND B E N E FITS PER W E E K OF THE SOUTHEAST LAN
CASHIRE CARD AND BLOW IN G ROOM OPE R ATIV E S’ PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION.
If
If
If
work- work
stop
Occupation.
ing ped
or or
hours 10
or a toup35 work
ing 9
full
week. hours hours
Back tenters. $0.08 $0.04 $0.02
Frame tent
ers..............
.02
.18
.08
Males............
.24
.12
.02
Ring-frame
tenters......
.12
.02
.06
Amalgama
tion benefits.
Benefits from local funds.
Contributions.
Fires, Fires,
fail
Strike, Strike,
fail
ures,
victim, victim, Acci Acci
dent
ures, break
or
or
dent
pay break
lock
lock
(sec downs, downs,
pay
out
out
etc.,
(first ond
etc.,
pay
Pay
pay
13
13
(gen weeks)
(sec
(indi
weeks)
ond 6
vidual) eral) .
weeks). weeks).
(EL
Fu Perma
neral nent Fatal
allow acci acci
ance. dent. dent.
$0.97
$0.73
$0.97
$0.49
$0.73
2.92
3.65
1.95
2.43
1.95
2.43
.97
1.22
1.95
2.51
.97
1.22
19.47
19.47
243.33
291.99
48.67
73.00
1.46
1.22
1.22
.73
.97
.49-
19.47
121.66
24.33
$0.37 $19.47
$97.33 $24.33
W O R K IN G E X P E N S E S .
About 20 per cent of the entire expenditure of British trade unions
is devoted to working and miscellaneous expenses. This percentage
•varies from time to time, the amount devoted to these purposes
averaging 19.8 per cent for the 100 principal unions during the 10
years from 1892 to 1901, but ranging between 13.8 per cent in 1893
and 25.4 per cent in 1899. During the last 5 years the percentage
of the fund devoted to these purposes has increased, so that at the
present time it may be said to constitute from 20 to 25 per cent of
the entire expenditure. These more or less constant and independent
items of expense are likely to increase very largely with the poorer
organizations and to decrease with the wealthier oganizations.
Thus, in the metal, engineering, and shipbuilding trades, which are
the organizations paying the largest benefits, the percentage of work
ing expenses from 1892 to 1901 was the slightest, amounting only to
12.4; and in the mining and quarrying, textile, clothing, printing
and allied trades the percentage of the expenditure devoted to working
and miscellaneous expenses was less than for the average trade. The
greatest expenditure for this purpose is to be found in the general
labor and miscellaneous trade unions and in the transport trades,
in none of which are high contributions or large benefits the rule.
The working and miscellaneous expenses of the 100 principal unions
for the year 1901 amounted to £378,846 ($1,843,654) for a member
ship of 1,161,226, or an average of 6s. 6£d. ($1.59) per member per
year, or of l^d. (3 cents) per member per week. This amount of
expenditure is somewhat higher than the average for the last 10
years.
787
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
Statistics, however, show that the cost of administration for the
British unions is not great and that the money contributed for the
purpose of paying benefits is not diverted to the payment of salaries
or other expenses.
A C C U M U L A T E D FU N D S.
The strongest British unions have accumulated large funds in order
to provide for the payment of their benefits. These funds are of course
absolutely essential, owing to the fact that the demands made by an
insurance system increase with the years as a result of the advancing
age of the men insured. In 1903 the Amalgamated Engineers had
accumulated funds equal to 1.5 times their annual revenue. The 36
largest unions, including the engineers, have accumulated funds equal
to revenue for 2 \ years. Of these, in 1903 the accumulated funds
of the boiler makers was equal to 2.2 times the amount of income;
of the cotton spinners, 4.6 times the income; of the railway servants,
4.2 times the income, and of the Northumberland miners, 5.6 times
the income. The mining organizations, which, as a rule, have large
dues and small benefits, generally also have accumulated large funds.
The following table shows the total accumulated funds of the 17 most
wealthy trade unions in the United Kingdom in the year 1900, with
the per capita amount of accumulated funds of each. The wealthiest
organization in proportion to its membership was the Amalgamated
Cotton Spinners, with funds amounting to £18 11s. Id. ($90.29) per
member. Three other organizations had per capita funds of £10
($48.67), or less than £18 ($90.29); 3 other unions, funds of £8
($38.93), or less than £10 ($48.67); 4 other unions, with funds of
£6 ($29.20), or less than £8 ($38.93); 4 other unions, with funds of
£5 ($24.33), or less than £6 ($29.20); while of these seventeen unions
the union with the smallest accumulated funds per capita had a
balance of £4 12s. 8fd. ($22.56) per member. (a)
ACCUMULATED FUNDS OF 17 PRIN CIPAL TRAD E UNIONS IN THE UNITED
KINGDOM, 1900.
Name.
Total
funds.
Amalgamated Society of Engineers............................................................................. $1,978,378
Coachmakers (United Kingdom )........ ........................................................................
158,808
Associated Blacksmiths..................................... ..........................................................
83,305
Iron F ounders...............................................................................................................
520,949
Assistant Shipwrights...................................................................................................
470,445
Steam Engine Makers........................ ............................... ..........................................
255,574
Flint, Glass Makers............ ...........................................................................................
58,267
United Pattern Makers.... ............................................................................................
152,229
London Society of Compositors...................................................................................
358,622
Boiler Makers.................................................................................................................. 1,681,030
Locomotive Engineers and Firemen...........................................................................
432,452
Associated Iron M olders..............................................................................................
327,773
Journeymen Curriers.....................................................................................................
50,568
Power Loom Carpet Weavers......................................................................................
54,588
Operative Lace Makers..................................................................................................
191,516
Yorkshire Glass Bottle Makers....................................................................................
214,442
Amalgamated Cotton Spinners......................................................................*.............
1,660,060
a See Amalgamated Engineers’ Monthly Journal, December, 1901, p. 3.
Amount
per
member.
$22.56
24.37
28.39
28.38
25.69
29.84
24.17
33.05
31.77
35.26
43.23
45.62
50.61
45.14
56.98
75.49
90.29
788
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
From the point of view of trade purposes, the accumulated funds
of the organizations are very real, just as real as though there were
no counterbalancing obligations, since, if necessary, the unions can
draw upon these funds for strikes or for any other purpose desired.
From an insurance point of view, however, it must be recognized that
the engagements entered into by the unions, if they were legally
binding, which they are not, would constitute a liability that for the
greater number of unions would be greater than the assets. In other
words, it is probable that no insurance society would take over the
funds of a trade union, if, at the same time, it were obliged to assume
legal responsibility for the obligations put upon the society by its
rules for the payment of benefits.
From an immediate point of view, however, the assets of the union
are real and its liabilities voluntary.
These funds have rapidly increased during the last decade. During
the 10 years from 1892 to 1901, while the membership of the 100
different unions increased 30 per cent, their accumulated funds
increased 159 per cent. The membership increased during this period
from 895,487 to 1,161,226, while the accumulated funds increased
from £1,605,067 ($7,811,059) to £4,161,916 ($20,253,964).
A remarkable instance of this growth in wealth is furnished by the
Glass Bottle Makers of Yorkshire, a small but wealthy organization.
Their accumulated funds were reduced from £26,088 ($126,957) in
1892 to £12,166 ($59,206) in 1893, but from that period on the growth
was rapid, especially during the period from 1893 to 1901, when the
membership increased from 2,440 to 2,901, or 19 per cent, while the
accumulated funds increased from £12,166 ($59,206) to £46,525
($226,414), or 282 per cent.(a)
The accumulated funds of the Derbyshire Miners have also increased
with great rapidity during the last 10 years. The accumulated
funds in 1893 amounted to £683 ($3,324), and in 1903 to £157,213
($765,077). (*)
The rapid increase in the accumulated funds of the unions is illus
trated by the financial history of the Amalgamated Union of Cabinet
Makers. With a membership of 2,769 in 1903, it has vastly increased
its average funds per member during the last decade. From 1846 to
1867, inclusive, the accumulated funds of the organization only twice
averaged as much as 9s. ($2.19), and from 1868 to 1896, inclusive, the
average funds ranged from below 4s. (97 cents) to 37s. 9d. ($9.19).
During the last 7 years, from 1897 to 1903, inclusive, its accumulated
funds increased to a point far in excess of any formerly obtained— in
1902 being almost 12 times as great as 15 years before.
o See report of the Glass Bottle Makers of Yorkshire, 1901.
&See report of the Derbyshire Miners Association, 1903.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
789
The following table shows the average membership funds per mem
ber of the Amalgamated Union of Cabinet Makers during the 58 years
from 1846 to 1903:
MEMBERSHIP AND ACCUMULATED FUNDS OF THE AMALGAMATED UNION OF
CABINETM AKERS. 1846 TO 1903.
[From the Seventieth —nnual Report of the Amalgamated Union of Cabinetmakers, 1903. Liverpool,
1904, p. 31.]
Year.
Mem
bers.
Funds.
1846.............................
1847.............................
1848.............................
1849.............................
1850.............................
1851.............................
1852.............................
1853.............................
1854.............................
1855.............................
1856.'...........................
1857.............................
1858.............................
1859.............................
I860.............................
1861.............................
1862.............................
1863.............................
1864.............................
1865.............................
1866.............................
1867.............................
1868.............................
1869.............................
1870.............................
1871.............................
1872.............................
1873.............................
1874.............................
657
704
536
491
455
456
486
616
647
593
584
523
458
475
528
546
530
561
780
886
1,116
1,170
977
830
1,028
1,160
1,449
1,644
1,985
$501.54
348.05
367.04
429.16
566.44
697.49
691.17
569.49
636.16
550.10
579.55
1,476.96
1,373.05
217.95
137.28
968.98
1,027.02
954.26
1,456.55
1,013.50
2,425.36
2,471.80
4,276.68
5.046.09
5.251.09
6,508.02
9,837.66
13,338.36
18,001.07
Average
per
mem
ber.
$0.76
.49
.68
.87
1.24
1.53
1.42
.92
.98
.93
.99
2.82
3.00
.46
.26
1.77
1.94
1.70
1.87
1.14
2.17
2.11
4.38
6.08
5.11
5.61
6.79
8.11
9.07
Year.
Mem
bers.
Funds.
1875.............................
1876.............................
1877.............................
1878.............................
1879.............................
1880.............................
1881.............................
1882.............................
1883.............................
1884.............................
1885.............................
1886.............................
1887.............................
1888.............................
1889.............................
1890.............................
1891.............................
1892.............................
1893.............................
1894.............................
1895.............................
1896.............................
1897.............................
1898.............................
1899.............................
1900.............................
1901.............................
1902.............................
1903.............................
2,144
2,614
2,588
2,595
1,945
1,743
1,850
1,825
1,477
1,427
1,319
1,195
1,126
1,109
1,213
1,350
1,374
1,386
1,406
1,474
1,580
1,860
2,068
2,094
2,288
2,452
2,518
2,588
2,769
$18,876.71
12,220.55
11,090.69
8,196.36
1,744.96
2,613.39
3,560.29
4,769.25
5,069.48
4,504.64
2,100.53
1,769.18
1,808.57
2,654.74
5,727.14
3,723.64
5,172.54
7,185.04
6,420.80
7,782.47
8,054.84
13,072.12
22,641.89
24,902.71
33,542.75
39,353.36
42,799.49
47,790.47
50,920.25
Average per
mem
ber.
$8.80
4.68
4.29
3.16
.90
1.50
1.92
2.61
3.43
3.16
1.59
1.48
1.61
2.39
4.72
2.76
3.76
5.18
4.57
5.28
5.10
7.03
10.95
11.89
14.66
16.05
17.00
18.47
18.39
ACTUARIAL BASIS OF TRADE-UNION INSURANCE.
As has been shown earlier in this report, trade unions in their friendly
benefits endeavor to provide definite payments in the event of accident,
unemployment, loss of tools, and during sickness, old age, etc. To
some extent the union relies upon special levies or taxes on its mem
bers for securing funds to carry out the payment of the benefits, though
it chiefly depends upon the uniform contributions paid by the mem
bers either weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Theoretically and, as a
rule, actually, these contributions are not increased as the members
.advance in age, but are fixed either at a definite sum for all members
or at a sum that varies according to the member’s age at admission
into the organization.
The liabilities of the trade union, however, increase as the age of the
member insured increases. Therefore, if contributions are to be ade
quate for the insuring of a member, he must, during hie earlier life, pay
more than he receives in all from the union, and there must be an
excess of contributions from the members’ overpayments so great as
to result, by its accumulation and the interest thereupon, in the forma
790
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
tion of a fund sufficiently large to make up the deficit between the
expenditure for the members when they grow older and the income
from the same members. In other words, when the members are
young, they must pay contributions in excess of the sums returned to
them in benefits, and this excess, invested and put at interest, must
be sufficient to eke out the contributions in later years when payments
to members increase.
Even in the absence of sufficient actuarial data, it may be seen that
the burden of trade-union benefits upon many British unions is
increasing at so rapid a pace as to threaten an eventual insolvency
unless benefits are reduced or contributions increased. This is con
firmed by the mass of evidence presented in another part of this report,
showing the rapid increase in the various benefits, especially in the
superannuation benefit, both absolutely and relatively to the number
o f members. The disquietude manifested by trade-union officials and
members seems to be entirely warranted. With each year it becomes
increasingly evident that the burden of insurance is growing heavier,
and the suspicion of actuarial unsoundness in the unions is becom
ing more generally recognized.
From the beginning critics of the benefit unions have predicted
their failure.
“ T h e y ”
(the unions), says James Stirling, in a book appearing
after the investigations of 1867-1869, “ must succumb to the financial
difficulties inherent in their nature.;r(a)
Members, it is admitted, are attracted at first by the promise of
lavish benefits, “ but, on the other hand, the fulfillment of these prom
ises to old members so exhausts the funds as to repel new ones; and
the older the society, and the more lavish its promises, the greater
will be the difficulty of recruiting its ranks.” (**6)
“ Nor will it lessen his (the young man’s) reluctance to be told that,
in case of a total exhausion of the society’s funds, its treasury can be
replenished by extraordinary levies on himself and his fellows.” (c)
“ As might be expected,” says an earlier author, “ the members are
constantly falling into arrears with their subscriptions, and then, by
the rules, they are disabled from receiving allowances if they should
be thrown out of work. But the union in such cases can not in general
refuse to support them, as otherwise they declare they shall be com
pelled to take work for any wages that are offered, and the object
sought by the association, that of keeping up the price of labor, would
be defeated.” (d)
a See Trade Unionism, with Kemarks on the Report o f the Commissioners on Trades
Unions, by James Stkhng. Reprinted from the second edition, 1869 (Glasgow, 1889), p. 43.
&Idem, pp. 43, 44.
c Idem, p. 44.
d See Character, Object, and Effects of Trades Unions, Anonymous, London, 1834, p. 26.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
791
The same point of view is taken by contemporary writers. In
his discussion of the life and labor of the people of London, Mr. Booth
says:
Since trade unions, in common with limited companies, building
societies, or other corporate undertakings, have no guarantee against
insolvency, they sometimes fail to meet their liabilities. In important
societies this rarely happens, and although few could stand the test
of an actuarial valuation with regard to those of their liabilities that
could be thus calculated, the past experience of trade unions provides,
with few exceptions, a good financial record. In some cases a read
justment of benefits has been found necessary, but, on the whole, in the
elasticity of the special levy, a financial expedient has been found by
means of which times of exceptional stress have been successfully met.
It would not be possible, even if desirable, to investigate from an
actuarial point of view the exact status of each or even one of the 100
principal unions in the United Kingdom. Such an investigation not
only would be foreign to the purpose of this article, but would necessi
tate an amount of special knowledge not possessed by the author.
Moreover, the fundamental facts by which the solvency or the insol
vency of the unions would be determined are not known even to the
unions themselves. The most important fact, the average age of the
members of each organization, is unknown, and other data necessary
to the solution of the question are unattainable. It has been possible,
however, to obtain certain facts bearing upon the rate of morbidity and
mortality in friendly societies, with a membership somewhat similar
to that of trade unions, as well as other material bearing upon the age
at admission of members of trade unions, the age at death, the age at
death of superannuated members, and other data relating to the prob
able drain made by the benefits upon the finances of the organizations.
Statistics of sickness have been gathered during the last 30 years
from the experience of the great friendly societies of the United King
dom. The sickness and mortality figures embodied in the experience
of the Manchester Unity, 1866 to 1870, and of the Foresters, 1870 to
1875, have been supplemented by a report issued in 1896, which gives
the sickness and mortality experience of all friendly societies in the
United Kingdom for the years 1856 to 1880. ( a)
From this report it will be seen that the average duration of sickness
of friendly society members increases slowly during the first 20 years,
or from 20 to 40 years of age, and thereafter with constantly increas
ing duration. A man entering a friendly society at 20 will not average
more than 1 week of sickness per year for the ensuing 11 years. Not
until he attains the age of 49 does he average 2 weeks of sickness, and
not until he attains the age of 56 does he average 3 weeks of sickness.
After 50, however, the rate of increase is fairly rapid. At the age of
o Special Report on Sickness and Mortality experienced in Registered Friendly Societies
(deduced from the Quinquennial Returns made b y Registered Friendly Societies for the
years 1856 to 1880, inclusive), together with certain monetary tables based thereon b y
the Actuary to the Friendly Societies. (H . C. 303,1896.)
792
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
60 he averages 4£ weeks of illness, at the age of 70 the average is 12J
weeks, at the age of 80 it is 25 weeks, while at the age of 90 nis illness
amounts to 44.95 weeks; or, in other words, is practically continuous
throughout the year.
As applied to trade-union experience these statistics are not entirely
valid. Very few members of trade unions are capable of exercising
their trade after 70, and only a very small proportion are regularly
employed after 60. The figures of the friendly societies, however, show
marked increase in the average rate of sickness from the age of 30 to
60, and these figures are to some degree applicable to trade unions.
From 1856 to 1875 Welsh males in friendly societies had an annual
sick rate amounting to 1.08 weeks at the age of 30 and 4.17 weeks, or
almost four times as high, at the age of 60. During the period from
1876 to 1880 males in friendly societies in England and Wales had a
sick rate of 0.96 weeks at the age of 30 and 4.32 weeks at the age of
60, or over four times as high at the later as at the earlier age.
From 1856 to 1875 the sickness of females in these societies in
England and Wales was 1.22 weeks per year at the age of 30 and 3.49
weeks at the age of 60. A somewhat similar proportion existed
among the males of the Manchester Unity from 1866 to 1870 and
among the males of the Foresters from 1870 to 1875,the sick rate at
the age of 60 being over four times the sick rate at the age of 30 in
both organizations.
The following table shows the morbidity and mortality experience
of friendly societies and the increasing liabilities to sickness and death
with increased age. The table is copied from the Labor Gazette of
January, 1897, p. 3. It is based on the Report of the Chief Registrar
of Friendly Societies in 1896 and compares the results of this investi
gation with the results obtained from the experience of the Man
chester Unity and the Foresters.
ADJUSTED R ATES OF SICKNESS AND M O R TA L IT Y ACCORDING TO THE TABLES OF
THE CHIEF R E G ISTR A R OF F R IE N D L Y SOCIETIES, THE MANCHESTER UNITY,
AND THE FORESTERS.
Weeks of sickness per member per annum
according to table of—
Chief Rej
Societies.
Age.
Males.
Man
chester Forest
ers.
Unity.
Females.
England England
Wales,
and
Males,
and
Wales, Wales,
1856186618761875.
18561870.
1880.
1875.
20.............
30.............
40.............
50.............
60.............
70.............
80.............
90.............
1.07
1.08
1.38
2.06
4.17
14.74
32.99
43.78
0.89
.96
1.37
2.18
4.32
12.24
25.07
44.95
1.01
1.22
1.74
2.43
3.49
12.42
19.45
40.19
0.65
.86
1.15
1.96
3.98
10.38
20.72
Deaths per 100 members per annum
according to table of—
Chief Rej
Societies.
Males.
Males,
18701875.
Wales,
18561875.
0.85
.91
1.27
1.95
3.87
10.37
21.50
0.79
.95
1.08
1.66
2.90
6.28
15.32
31.60
Man
chester Forest
ers.
Unity.
Females.
England England
and
Males,
and
Wales, Wales,
1866187618561870.
1880.
1875.
0.70
.71
1.07
1.73
3.40
7.23
14.34
27.10
0.77
.86
1.09
1.20
2.45
6.14
14.39
31.44
0.58
.80
1.12
1.67
3.11
6.74
13.94
26.92
Males,
18701875.
0.73
.81
1.21
1.87
3.37
7.20
14.19
26.41
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
793
It is a matter of common observation, however, that the sick rate
differs among various friendly societies, although the character of the
population, the nature of their trade, and the hygienic and other con
ditions of the neighborhood are the same.
There is what may be called a personal equation in friendly socie
ties as regards the administration of benefits. Some organizations
are very much stricter than others in the application of their rules.
The same applies to trade unions. Different organizations vary in
their determination of what constitutes sickness, and there is a dif
ference not only in character of these rules, but in the strictness or
laxness with which they ’are administered or enforced.
Data are to be found upon the mortality at different ages of mem
bers of friendly societies. These data are derived from the experi
ence of the Manchester Unity, 1866 to 1870; and the Foresters, 1870
to 1875; as well as from the Report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly
Societies for Welsh males, for English and Welsh females, 1856 to
1875, and for English and Welsh males, 1876 to 1880. ( a)
According to these data the death rate for English and Welsh males,
which is the most representative figure, averages 0.70 per cent at the
age of 20, 0.71 per cent at the age of 30, 1.07 per cent at the age of 40,
and 1.73 per cent at the age of 50. From this age the annual death
rate increases very rapidly, being 3.40 per cent at the age of 60, 7.23
at the age of 70, 14.34 at the age of 80, and 27.10 at the age of 90.
The death rate is over 50 per cent greater at the age of 40 than at
30, almost two and a half times as great at 50 as at 30, and almost five
times as great at 60 as at 30. The table, however, seems to show an
abnormally low death rate for males at 30 as compared with that of
males at 20, the Manchester Unity showing 0.80, the Foresters 0.81,
and the Welsh tables (from 1856 to 1875) 0.95.
In addition the average age of the members of friendly societies is
undoubtedly increasing. In 1887,17 per cent of the members of the
Unity were over 50 years of age. By 1897, the percentage had in
creased to 19.92 per cent.
The increased average age of the members is further indicated by
the more advanced age at which they are dying. During the period
from 1878 to 1887, inclusive, the average age of members of the Asso
ciated Iron Molders of Scotland at the time of their decease was each
year less than 50 years. From 1888 to 1902, however, the average
age at death, with the exception of one year was over 50 years, and
with the same exception was in each case 52 years or over. The aver
age age at death during the 12 years from 1878 to 1889, inclusive, was
a Special Report on Sickness and Mortality Experienced in Registered Friendly Societies
(deduced from the Quinquennial Returns made by Registered Friendly Societies for the
years 1856 to 1880, inclusive), together with certain monetary tables based thereon by the
Actuary to the Friendly Societies. (H. C. 303,1896.)
794
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
47.1 years, and the average age at death during the 13 years from
1880 to 1892 was 53.2 years. This is not the true average of all deaths
during the year, but what is approximately the same, the average of
the yearly averages. The following table shows the number of deaths
of members and of members7 wives from 1878 to 1902, and the aver
age age at death:
DEATHS OF MEMBERS AND W IVES OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATED IRON
MOLDERS OF SCOTLAND, A N D A VERAG E AGE AT DEATH, 1878 TO 1902.
[From the monthly report of the Associated Iron Molders of Scotland, January, 1904, p. 267.]
Apprentice mem
bers.
Members.
Members’ wives.
Nu“ ber |Average
deaths. | “ Se-
Number
Average
of
age.
deaths.
Number
Average
of
age.
deaths.
Year.
1878......... .....................................................
1879...............................................................
1880...............................................................
1881...............................................................
1882___________________________________
1888______________________________ ____ 1........... .
1884...............................................................
1885...............................................................
1886...............................................................
1887...............................................................
1888...............................................................
1889...............................................................
1890...............................................................
1891...............................................................
1892...............................................................
1893...............................................................
1894....................................................; ..........
1895..................... * .......................................
1896...............................................................
1897...............................................................
1898................................................................
1899................................................................
1900................................................................
1901................................................................
1902___________________________________
1
Avfirfl.ee-.
1
1
18
44
49
41
28
55
60
56
30
47
50
50
52
65
84
68
68
73
69
73
67
78
95
101
100
84
47
46
44
44
43
49
48
48
48
43
53
52
52
48
54
54
53
54
54
55
53
54
53
54
54
35
46
43
48
27
40
43
30
47
42
52
46
34
60
51
60
56
54
48
62
50
65
59
48
76
36
43
36
37
38
37
37
39
42
38
43
40
43
42
44
46
44
48
43
43
46
44
50
42
45
18
64
50
49
42
1
1
'________
1
i
1
i
1
!
1
1
1
The average age of 149 members of the Bristol, West of England and
South Wales Operatives7 Trade and Provident Society dying during
the year 1903 was only 35 years and 9 months. The average period
of membership of these members was only 5 years and 3 months.
The following table shows the distribution of these 149 members,
according to the number of years of their membership:
A V E RAG E LENGTH OF M EM BERSHIP OF 149 MEMBERS OF THE B R ISTO L, WEST OF
ENGLAND AND SOUTH W ALES O PE R A T IV E S’ TR AD E AND PRO V ID E NT SOCIETY
WHO D IE D IN 1903.
Members Average length of
Classified period of who
died
membership.
membership.
in 1903.
Under 1 year...........
I to 2 y e a r s ...........
2 to 2 \ years............
2$ to 3 years............
3 to 3£ years. „.........
3§ to 4 years............
4 to 5 years..............
4
15
14
9
12
9
21
Years.
0
1
2
2
3
3
4
Months.
10
6
3
9
3
9
6
Members Average length of
Classified period of who
died
membership.
membership.
m 1903.
5 to 6 years............
6 to 7 years............
7 to 10 years...........
10 to 13 years.........
13 to 17 years.........
17 to 21 years.........
Over 21 years.........
19
12
11
10
6
3
4
Years.
5
6
8
11
14
10
27
M onths.
6
5
0
3
7
11
9
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
795
The average age of 24 members of the United Pattern Makers’
Association who died during the year 1903 was 36^ years; 12 were
under 30 at the time of their death; 3 were 30 or under 40; 4 were 40
or under 50; 3 were 50 or under 60; and 2 were over 60. The age of
the oldest member dying during the year was 63. (*)
During the year 1903, 95. members of the Steam Engine Makers’
Society died at an average age of 51J years. During the same year
62 wives of members died at an average age of 51J years.
During the 47 years from 1856 to 1902 there died 352 members of
the Steam Engine Makers’ Society, who had been receiving superan
nuation benefits. The average age of these members at the time of
their death was 69 years and 2 months. Only 2 members were under
55, and 15 members, or 4 per cent of the whole, were between 55 and
60 years of age. Many of the members died between the ages oi 60
and 75; 78 were 60 or under 65 years of age at the time of death; 83
were 65 or under 70, and 101 were 70 or under 75 years of age;
47 members died at an age of 75 or under 80 years; 23 at 80 or
under 85 years; 2 members at 85 or under 90 years, and 1 member at
90 or under 95 years. In other words, 5 per cent died below the
age of 60 and 21 per cent above the age of 75. The remaining
members, constituting 74 percent of the whole, died between the
ages of 60 and 75.
Despite the advanced age of the members who died in receipt of
superannuation benefit, the average period during which the 352
members received this benefit was only 5 years, 7 months, and 1 week.
Sixty-two members, or almost 18 per cent, died within 1 ye&r of the
time when they were superannuated, and only 17 members, or 5 per
cent, lived 15 years or over after being superannuated.
The following table shows the distribution of deceased members
of the Steam Engine Makers' Society according to the length of
time elapsing between their superannuation and their* decease : ( b)
DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE STEAM ENGINE M AKERS’ SOCIETY WHO RECEIVED
SUPERANNUATION BEN EFITS, B Y LENGTH OF TIME SUPERANNUATED, 1856 TO
Length of time superannuated.
Under 1 y e a r..........
1or under 2 years..
2 or under 3 years..,
3 or under 4 years..,
4 or under 5 years..,
5 or under 6 years..
6or under 7 years..
7 or under 8 years..,
8or under 9 years..,
9 or under 10 years..
10or under 11 years.
11or under 12 years,
Members.
62
40
30
28
33
21
20
22
18
18
14
10
Length of time superannuated.
Members.
12 or under 13 years...............................
13 or under 14 years...............................
14 or under 15 years...............................
15 or under 16 years...............................
16 or under 17 years........ .......................
18 o r under 19 years__________ _______
19 or under 20 years........ .......................
20or under 21 years...... .........................
21or under 22 years...............................
22 or under 29 years...............................
7
5
7
2
4
3
2
2
3
1
T ota l..............................................
352
a See the Thirty-second Annual Report of the United Pattern Makers’ Association, 1903,
p. 125.
&The Seventy-ninth Annual Report of the Steam Engine Makers’ Society, 1903, p. 25.
796
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
Of the members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers 1,036
died during the year 1903. The average age at death of these mem
bers was 52} years; the average age at death of 450 female depend
ents was 43 years.
The following table shows the number of deaths and average age at
death of these members and of the female dependents, by cause of
death:
NUM BER OF DEATHS AND AVERAG E AGE AT DEATH OF MEMBERS OF THE AMAL
GAMATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS AND OF FEMALE DEPENDENTS, B Y CAUSE OF
DEATH , 1903.
Males.
Disease or cause of
death.
Accident...........................
Aceteemla [acetonaemia].
Appendicitis....................
A sthm a...........................
A sphyxifl..................... .....
Asthenia.........................
Aorta disease...................
Brain disease...................
Bright’s disease..............
Bladder disease................
Cerebral disease..............
Heart disease..................
Kidney disease................
Liver disease...................
Esophagus disease..........
Stomach disease..............
Blood poisoning..............
Bowel obstruction...........
Bronchitis........................
Cancer...............................
Catarrh....... .....................
Cholera.............................
Carcinoma........................
Childbirth........................
Cellulitis...........................
Chronic alcoholism.........
Consumption...................
Convulsions.....................
Cystitis.............................
Debility............................
DecLy................................
D iabetes..........................
Diarrhoea.........................
D ropsy................. ...........
Dysentery........................
Drowned..........................
Diphtheria.......................
Endocarditis....................
Enlarged prostate...........
Enteric fever....................
Ent.ftrit.is
Erysipelas........................
1
39
3
3
29
23
37
30
64
64
5
7
34
63
41
2
1
68
3
15
25
56
57
49
28
123
58
58
56
56
61
48
59
49
64
63
8
2
14
6
20
3
8
69
22
1
1
17
1
1
24
2
5
13
57
9
3
11
2
20
1
1
1
14
1
2
Males.
Females.
Av Num Av
Num erage
ber.
ber. erage
age.
age.
66
68
63
57
44
48
40
74
71
61
73
44
58
60
29
40
30
37
22
30
34
47
2
1
3
42
60
45
20
1
58
4
46
2
6
45
40
13
53
54
50
10
57
4
3
22
39
53
3
48
2
21
20
54
56
50
9
19
57
34
9
1
36
24
5
11
4
1
8
67
53
26
24
45
54
1
1
x
1
49
3
35
27
27
Disease or cause of
death.
Epilepsy..........................
Exhaustion.....................
Epithelioma....................
Fever...............................
Fracture..........................
Found dead.....................
Gangrene.........................
Gallstones......................
Gastritis..........................
Hemorrhage....................
Hemiplegia.....................
Hepatitis.........................
Hernia.............................
Influenza.........................
Insanity..........................
Jaundice..........................
Locom otor ataxia..........
Meningitis.......................
Mitral disease.................
Morbus cordis.................
Metritis...........................
Nephritis.........................
Neuritis...........................
Operation........................
Paralysis.........................
Peritonitis.......................
Phthisis..........................
Pleurisy...........................
Pulmonary congestion..
Pneumonia......................
Rheumatism...................
Rheumatic fever............
Sarcoma..........................
Sclerosis..........................
Shock...............................
Smallpox.........................
Suicide.............................
Testicle, growth in ........
Tuberculosis...................
Tum or.............................
Uraemia...........................
Particulars incomplete..
Females.
Av Num Av
Num erage
erage
ber.
age. ber. age.
2
20
6
1
1
37
60
10
4
2
1
51
5
5
4
26
52
74
53
66
53
26
43
52
1
4
1
65
52
53
56
12
1
2
56
53
27
54
36
37
55
45
49
61
40
58
56
44
36
52
58
40
9
42
5
87
6
15
70
4
1
2
2
2
2
11
42
2
1
20
1
7
T otal...................... 1,036
22
37
69
55
52|
10
1
48
29
37
2
2
6
55
55
51
49
2
1
1
52
1
2
24
37
3
4
27
9
62
1
4
29
3
1
1
1
18
9
3
40
49
55
37
35
33
43
48
48
26
37
69
46
1
39
38
54
450
43
4
The following table shows the average age at which members of the
Steam Engine Makers7 Society died during the 28 years ending in
1903:
797
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS,
NUMBER OF DEATHS OF MEMBERS OF THE STEAM ENGINE M AKERS’ SOCIETY,
B Y AGE AT DEATH, 1876 TO 1903.
Deaths of members in each age group.
Year.
20 to 30.
31 to 40.
41 to 50.
8
9
11
51 to 60.
61 to 70.
Over 70.
9
5
5
5
9
5
3
4
9
2
1
1876............................
1877............................
1878............................
1879............................
1880............................
1881............................
1882............................
1883............................
1884............................
1885............................
1886............................
1887............................
1888............................
1889............................
1890............................
1891............................
1892............................
1893............................
1894............................
1895............................
1896............................
1897............................
1898............................
1899............................
1900............................
1901............................
1902............................
1903............................
17
9
18
19
26
,17
12
15
12
9
8
20
10
10
14
15
24
18
19
15
T otal...............
307
8
6
10
6
7
12
11
10
8
15
10
13
10
12
12
12
13
10
6
15
13
11
7
4
5
5
12
4
9
11
4
11
10
5
11
13
9
11
11
12
16
13
9
14
11
12
12
9
11
11
14
7
15
12
10
8
9
15
6
9
17
13
13
11
16
12
21
2
4
4
2
3
4
5
4
16
16
17
17
22
13
18
13
21
20
19
29
17
283
363
391
344
5
9
1
11
6
10
9
10
11
14
18
9
16
14
15
14
15
16
19
3
4
10
2
7
8
5
6
8
10
11
8
17
8
16
16
44
52
45
42
40
40
53
53
49
44
66
64
57
73
69
67
80
67
68
9
18
78
62
84
92
94
13
15
84
115
95
177
1,865
8
10
9
12
22
20
Total
deaths.
88
Average
age at
death.
46
41*
44
43*
45*
491
m
m
46
50*
47*
47*
51
50
49
52*
49
47*
49*
52*
50
52*
49*
51*
50
50*
50*
51*
The average age at death has gradually risen. The average of
the yearly averages was 45.5 years from 1876 to 1882, 48.7 years
from 1883 to 1889, 50.1 years from 1890 to 1896, and 50.8 years from
1897 to 1903.
The following table shows the age at death of the wives of members
of the Steam Engine Makers’ Society from 1881 to 1903 inclusive:
NUMBER OF DEATHS OF W IVES OF MEMBERS OF THE STEAM ENGINE M AKERS'
SOCIETY, B Y AGE AT DEATH, 1881 TO 1903.
Deaths of wives of members in each age group.
Year.
20 to 30.
1881............................
1882............................
1883............................
1884............................
1885............................
1886............................
1887............................
1888............................
1889............................
1890............................
1891............................
1892............................
1893............................
1894............................
1895............................
1896............................
1897............................
1898............................
1899............................
1900............................
1901............................
19C2............................
1903............................
T otal...............
31 to 40.
51 to 60.
61 to 70.
Over 70.
9
2
5
6
5
11
9
6
9
8
6
5
8
8
12
11
16
11
4
8
7
6
3
8
10
6
11
8
10
13
12
8
11
6
8
12
12
6
7
11
10
10
10
5
15
11
15
8
8
9
169 |
210
202
5
7
4
6
6
8
6
9
5
2
5
9
6
7
8
7
12
5
11
10
11
12951— No. 64—06---- 14
41 to 50.
7
5
8
7
4
9
5
9
15
7
7
14
10
7
11
4
5
2
9
5
3
6
5
8
4
10
16
4
4
4
2
4
2
4
1
4
8
5
6
3
5
5
12
6
5
11
11
5
12
12
10
224
169
125
17
13
10
19
14
17
12
11
5
11
13
13
13
Total
death.
35
28
33
35
45
52
29
41
39
36
37
47
53
49
49
52
60
49
73
64
60
71
62
Average
age at
death.
49*
39*
43
46*
43
47*
47*
45*
46
51*
47*
48*
49*
51
45f
50*
49*
53
50f
49*
57
48*
51*
1,099 ................
798
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The following table shows the age at death of superannuated mem
bers of the Steam Engine Makers7 Society:
NUMBER OF DEATHS OF SUPERANNUATED MEMBERS OF THE STEAM ENGINE
M AKERS’ SOCIETY, B Y AGE AT DEATH , 1903.
Age at death.
50 or
55 or
60 or
05 or
70 or
75 or
under 55..........................................
under 60...........................................
under 65...........................................
under 70..........................................
under 75...........................................
under 80...........................................
Members.
Members.
Age at death.
2
80 or under 85..........................................
85 or under 90........ - ...............................
90 or under 95..........................................
23
101
T otal..............................................
552
15
78
83
47
2
1
The following table shows the number and age of superannuated
members of the Amalgamated Society of Operative Lace Makers on
June 30, 1904.
NUMBER OF SUPERANNUATED MEMBERS OF THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF
OPE R ATIV E LACE MAKERS, B Y AGES, JUNE 30, 1904.
Age group.
From
From
From
From
From
65 to
70 to
75 to
80 to
85 to
69
74
79
84
89
Total
Superannu
ated mem
bers.
18
56
30
10
4
118
The following tables compiled by Mr. Paul Thompson, treasurer of
the Typographical Association, in connection with the superannua
tion scheme of that society, give comprehensive details for that organi
zation. The first table shows for the years 1881 to 1903 the number of
members, rate of increase in membership, death rate per 1,000 mem
bers, and average age at death, number of persons dying above the age
of 60 and average age of these members at death, and number of per
sons on the superannuation fund with their average age on joining the
fund. The second table shows the income and expenditure of the
superannuation fund from 1881 to 1903. ( a)
a Typographical Association 109th Half Yearly Report from June 28 to December 26,
1903, Manchester, 1904, pp. 24, 25.
799
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BEITISH TRADE UNIONS,
STATISTICS OF M O R TA LITY AND SUPERANNUATION OF MEMBERS OF THE T Y P O
GRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION, 1881 TO 1303.
Membership of
association.
Year.
Total.
1881..
1882..
1883..
1884..
1885..
1886,.
1887..
1888..
1889..
1890..
1891..
1892..
1893..
1894..
1895..
1896..
1897..
1898..
1899..
1900..
1901..
1902..
1903..
5,362
5,678
5,932
6,170
6,551
7,059
7,498
7,741
8,388
9,016
10,262
11,313
12,027
12,544
13,593
13,906
14,405
15,075
15,854
16,179
16,600
17,243
17,698
Deaths of mem
bers 60 years of
age or over.
Total deaths.
Per cent
of in
crease.
Rate per Average
Num
1,000
age at
ber. members. death.
(a)
5.89
4.47
4.01
6.18
7.75
6.22
3.24
8.36
7.49
13.82
10.24
6.31
4.30
8.36
2.30
3.59
4.65
5.17
2.05
2.60
3.87
2.64
71
63
65
65
65
75
90
91
79
119
107
96
135
108
144
140
136
146
177
161
144
154
82
13.56
11.20
11.05
10.76
10.05
10.77
12.24
11.88
9.63
13.71
10.94
8.76
11.38
8.66
10.69
10.15
9.66
9.85
11.31
10.02
8.78
9.07
10.40
41.56
44.25
44.23
42.89
41.17
43.84
45.53
43.49
43.00
44.48
43.21
46.46
44.42
49.54
43.43
45.62
45.03
47.42
45.39
47.65
46.53
47.99
49.28
Superannuated members.
Num
ber.
Average
age at
death.
Num
ber,
Octo
ber 1.
Per cent
of in
crease.
11
14
11
10
7
14
19
13
18
16
22
23
27
31
24
25
23
37
30
37
23
41
44
68.54
65.36
69.00
67.40
70.43
69.21
69.22
67.15
67.56
68.31
69.09
70.35
69.44
69.94
68.50
70.04
68.04
69.43
70.16
70.08
69.65
69.58
69.59
35
42
46
49
64
69
74
82
88
94
100
115
136
149
164
205
223
' 234
250
293
328
348
365
20.00
9.52
6.52
30.61
7.81
7.25
10.81
7.32
6.82
6.38
15.00
18.26
9.56
10.07
25.00
8.78
4.93
6.84
17.20
11.95
6.10
4.89
Average
age on
joining,
superan
nuation
fund. (&)
67.35
64.75
68.50
63.60
66.21
63.29
65.50
62.09
64.06
65.32
65.94
64.38
65.62
64.63
65.71
65.84
65.72
66.00
64.83
64.28
64.84
63.85
65.02
a Calculated half yearly and the results added to obtain rate for year.
&Not including special grade members. The -average age on joining of the 81 special grade members
who have been placed on the fund since 1891 was 55.12 and the average age at death of the 35 who died
prior to December 26,1903, was 57.40.
INCOME AND E X P E N D IT U R E OF THE SUPERANNUATION FUND OF THE T YPO
GRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION, 1881 TO 1903.
Income—
Year. From sub From oth
scriptions. er sources.
(«)
1881..
1882..
1883..
1884..
1885..
1886..
1887..
1888..
1889..
1890..
1891..
1892..
1893..
1894..
1895..
1896..
1897..
1898..
1899..
1900..
1901..
1902..
1903..
$5,587
5,767
5,908
5,956
6,107
6,205
6,842
7,407
9,295
10,585
11,923
17,276
17,276
21,291
24,284
26,060
26,401
28,342
29,374
30,089
31,097
31,798
32,163
$414
618
735
706
813
827
813
1,173
968
1,022
1,119
1,411
1,207
1,489
1,679
1,820
1,839
2,531
2,633
2,964
3,168
3,543
3,601
!
Total.
$6,001
6,385
6,643
6,662
6,920
7,032
7,655
8,580
10,263
11,607
13,042
18,687
18,483
22,780
25,963
27,880
28,240
30,873
32,007
33,053
34,265
35,341
35,764
Expenses.
Per
Per
cent of Superan
of
nuation cent
in
in
crease. payments. crease.
6.41
4.04
0.29
3.87
1.62
8.86
12.08
19.63
13.09
12.37
43.28
<*1.09
23.25
13.97
7.39
1.29
9.32
3.67
3.27
3.67
3.14
1.20
$2,998
3,402
3,781
4,214
5,236
5,723
6,546
7,013
7,840
8,375
8,954
10,190
12,030
13,023
14,979
19,632
22,036
23,938
24,907
28,201
32,902
36,076
38,577
13.47
11.16
11.45
24.25
9.29
14.37
7.14
11.80
6.83
6.91
13.80
18.05
8.25
15.02
31.06
12.25
8.64
4.05
13.23
16.67
9.64
6.93
Balance on hand at
end of year.
Amount.
(6)
$21,573
24,556
27,403
c26,844
28,523
29,832
30,941
32,508
34,980
38,314
42,596
51,093
57,546
67,303
81,597
89,845
96,386
103,316
110,635
115,487
116,850
116,115
113,302
Per
cent of
Per income
in
cent of used
pay
in
ments.
crease.
13.83
11.59
<*2.04
6.25
4.59
3.72
5.06
7.60
5.93
11.18
19.95
12.63
16.96
21.24
10.11
7.28
7.19
7.08
4.39
1.14
<*.63
*>2.42
49.96
53.28
56.92
63.26
75.67
81.38
85.51
81.74
76.39
72.16
68.66
54.53
65.09
57.17
57.69
70.41
78.03
77.54
77.82
85.32
96.02
102.08
107.87
« Beginning with 2 cents per member per weeV, the subscription was increased in 1889 to 3 cents, and at
the commencement of 3892 to 4 cents.
6 The difference between income and expenditure applied to the balance on hand from year to year
does not produce in every case the amounts shown, which are the equivalents of the amounts given in
the source quoted.
c An investment of $2,676.58 was lost this year.
d Decrease.
800
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
Still another indication of the increasing average age of the mem
bers of trade unions is the increasing death rate.
The following table shows the increase in the death rate among
the Iron Holders of Scotland during the period from 1878 to 1902.
In the first quinquennial period, from 1878 to 1882, the death rate
was 8.9 per thousand; from 1883 to 1887 it was 8.6; from 1888 to
1892 it was 10.7; from 1893 to 1897 it was 10.6, and from 1898 to
1902 it was 12.8.
M EMBERSHIP AND DEATH R A TE (AS MEASURED B Y NUMBER OF DEATH BENEFITS)
OF THE ASSOCIATED IRON MOLDERS OF SCOTLAND, 1878 TO 1902.
Year.
Mem
bers.
Deaths Death
during rate
per
year.
1,000.
1878....................................
1879....................................
1880....................................
1881....................................
1882....................................
4,784
4,519
4,664
4,954
5,369
Average, 1878-1882.
4,858
43
8.9
1883....................................
1884....................................
1885....................................
1886....................................
1887....................................
5,644
5,831
5,611
5,636
5,455
60
56
30
47
50
10.6
9.6
5.3
8.3
9.2
44
49
41
28
55
9.2
10.8
8.8
5.7
10.2
Average, 1883-1887..
5,635
49
8.6
1888....................................
1889....................................
1890....................................
5,360
5,992
6,198
50
52
65
9.3
8.7
10.5
Year.
1891....................................
1892....................................
Average, 1888-1892.
1893....................................
1894....................................
1895....................................
1896....................................
1897....................................
Death
Mem Deaths
rate
bers. during
per
year.
1,000.
6,121
6,268
84
68
13.7
10.8
5,988 |
64
10.7
6,345
6,546
6,612
6,761
6,896
68
73
69
73
67
10.7
11.2
10.4
10.8
9.7
Average, 1893-1897.
6,632
70
10.6
1898....................................
1899....................................
1900....................................
1901....................................
1902....................................
7,232
7,363
7.184
7,300
7,422
78
95
101
109
85
10.8
12.9
14.1
14.9
11.5
Average, 1898-1902 .
7,300
94
12.8
Another important fact bearing on the actuarial condition of the
unions is the average age of the members at the time of their admis
sion to the organization. This age is kept low by restrictions which
prevent older men from joining as “ full ” members and by other rules
establishing lower entrance fees or lower weekly dues for younger
men.
801
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS,
The following tables present the ages at admission for “ full,”
“ trade,” and “ trade protection” members of the Amalgamated
Society of Engineers for 1903:
FU LL MEMBERS OF THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS, B Y OCCUPATIOl
AND AGE A T ADMISSION TO FU LL M EMBERSHIP, 1903.
Age at admission.
Brass Cop Turn
finish perers. smiths. ers.
Fit
ters.
434
525
161
98
66
49
38
42
43
25
21
16
17
8
13
15
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
3
863
1,386
495
309
246
188
197
158
143
110
91
82
64
48
54
45
51
32
27
31
13
9
15
3
12
20 years........................
12
21 years........................
11
22 years........................
3
23 years........................
2
24 years........................
3
25 years........................
3
26 years........................
1
27 years........................
28 years........................
1
29 years........................
1
30 years........................
1
31 years........................
32 Y e a r s _________ ________
33 years........................ 1...........
34 Y e a r s _________ ________ 1________
35 years........................
36 years........................
37 years........................
38 years........................
39 years........................
40 years........................
41 years........................
42 years........................
43 years........................
44 years.........................
45 years........................
8
14
6
2
1
4
2
2
3
1
Total adm itted.
Average age.......
38
22i
48
24
Apprentices.................
4
2
1
2
1
1
2
1,603 4,672
23|
23f
380
541
Pat
MilK
tern
wrights. Smithsi mak
ers.
11
23
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
35
50
18
10
14
9
15
12
9
10
16
6
3
7
2
5
2
2
1
1
1
Ma
chine
join
ers.
30
27
10
3
2
1
3
5
4
4
1
Ma
chin
ists.
Total.
4
5
1
1
1
2
1
60
68
49
29
39
28
18
24
37
28
17
20
23
18
18
12
13
9
5
8
3
4
1
1
1
1,457
2,109
746
455
373
285
275
246
241
180
148
125
109
84
89
78
71
48
43
45
22
16
17
11
15
2
1
2
3
2
1
2
1
54
24
231
25i
96
23
15
22
533
26|
7,290
23f
1
19
22
3
43
1,015
TR AD E MEMBERS OF THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS, B Y OCCUPATION
AND AGE AT ADMISSION TO TR AD E M EMBERSHIP, 1903.
Age at admission.
30 years........................
31 years........................
32 years........................
33 years........................
34 years........................
35 years........................
36 years........................
37 years........................
38 years........................
39 years........................
Total adm itted.
Average age.......
Brass Cop
finish per- Turn
ers. smiths. ers.
Fit
ters.
Pat
tern
Mill
wrights. Smiths. mak
ers.
3
2
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
5
3
2
3
4
1
3
3
10
36
26
36|
5
33
1
Ma
chine
join
ers.
i
i
1
1 1
j
1
1
.......... 1...........
1
1
34
Ma
chin
ists.
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
7
17
35
Total.
5*
4
8
3
6
5
7
3
13
5
59
35*
802
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
TRADE-PROTECTION MEMBERS OF TIIE AMALGAM ATED SOCIETY OF EN GIN EERS,
B Y OCCUPATION AND AGE AT ADMISSION TO TRAD E-PR O TE C TIO N M EM BERSHIP,
1903.
Age at admission.
26 years........................
28 years........................
29 years........................
31 years........................
34 years........................
40 years.... ....................
41 y e a r s ......................
42 years........................
43 years........................
44 years........................
45 years........................
46 years........................
47 years........................
48 years........................
49 years........................
50 years........................
51 years........................
52 years........................
53 years........................
54 years........................
55 years.......................
56 years........................
57 years........................
58 years........................
60 years........................
61 years........................
62 years........................
64 years........................
Total adm itted.
Average age.......
Brass Cop
finish per Turn
ers. smiths. ers.
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
2
2
1
Pat
tern
Mill
wrights. Smiths. mak
ers.
Ma
chine
join
ers.
2
1
1
1
i
1
17
5
12
4
6
15
14
8
13
14
13
12
18
4
6
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
4
m
2
m
22
m
174
47*
1
39
47*
285
47*
2
1
1
6
4
1
8
3
3
2
2
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
4
1
5
45*
32
49*
3
2
1
2
5
1
1
2
3
47
4
52f
Total.
2
1
1
1
1
22
9
18
7
16
20
26
22
13
22
21
16
23
6
18
5
2
1
5
2
1
3
1
1
3
4
Ma
chin
ists.
2
1
.
1
Fit
ters.
From these tables it is seen that the average age of admission to
full membership is low. The average age at admission of 7,290
full members in 1903 was only 23f years. Of this number, 3,566,
almost one-half, were of the age of 20 or 21, and only 923 members,
or less than 13 per cent, were of the age of 30 or over. The number
of admissions rapidly diminishes with each year of age. Only 368
members, about 5 per cent, were admitted at the age of 35 or over
and only 83 members, a little over 1 per cent, at the age of 40 or over.
Only 2 members were admitted at the age of 45.
The entire number of trade members admitted was only 59 or less
than 1 per cent of the number of full members. The ages of admis
sion of these trade members ranged from 30 to 39 years.
The average age at admission of trade-protection members was
47 J years. Six members out of a total of 285 were admitted below
the age of 40, and 7 members were admitted at the age of 60 or over,
the oldest member admitted coming in at the age of 64 years.
As may be seen from these tables, the proportion of trade and
trade-protection members to full members is very small, amounting
to a total of 344, as compared with 7,290 full members.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
803
The following table shows the age at which 159 members were
admitted to the United Kingdom Society of Coach Makers in 1904:
MEMBERS OE THE UNITED KINGDOM SOCIETY OF COACH M AKERS, B Y AGE OF ADMIS
SION, 1904.
[From the 224th Quarterly Report and Journal of the United Kingdom Society of Coach Makers,
August, 1904, p. 3.]
Age of admission.
20 years
25 years
30 years
35 years
of
of
of
of
age
age
age
age
or
or
or
or
under........................
under.......................
u n d e r.....................
under.......................
Members.
Age of admission.
52 , 40 years of age or under.......................
57 45 years of age or under.......................
19 Under Rule 6.........................................
11 Under Rule 7.........................................
Members.
4
5
4
7
159
Only one parliamentary investigation has been made into the
actuarial conditions of trade unions. It was conducted in the years
1867 to 1869 by Robert Tucker, actuary to the Pelican Insurance
Company, and Alexander Glenn Finlaison, actuary to the Commis
sioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. The unions exam
ined were the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and the Amalga
mated Society of Carpenters. The researches, and especially those
of Mr. Finlaison, were extremely thorough, and are published in the
Eleventh and Final Report of the Commissioners Appointed to
Inquire into the Organization and Rules of Trades Unions and Other
Associations, 1869, Appendix, pp. 193 to 203. Mr. Tucker examined
the rules of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners,
and found that for the sickness, superannuation, and death benefits,
quite apart from any other benefits or expenses, the contribution of
Is. (24 cents) per week was entirely inadequate. The cost of insur
ance, on the assumption that the sick benefit would cease at 65
years of age and the superannuation benefit commence at that
period, was figured out by Mr. Tucker upon the basis of the experi
ence of the friendly societies, and he reached the conclusion that the
monthly contributions payable until the age of 65 for (1) an allow
ance of 12s. ($2.92) per week in sickness up to the age of 65, (2) a
superannuation allowance from the age of 65 of 8s. ($1.95) per week
to those entering up to 40, and 7s. ($1.70) per week to those enter
ing above 40, and (3) a payment of £12 ($58.40) at death, should be
as follows:
804
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF XABOE.
ESTIMATED M ONTHLY COST OF INSURANCE OF MEMBERS OF THE AMALGAMATED
SOCIETY OF CARPENTERS AND JOINERS UP TO A LIM IT OF 65 Y EA R S OF AGE,
ACCORDING TO AGE AT E N T R Y .
Total.
Age at entry.
25.....................................................................................
30.....................................................................................
35.....................................................................................
40.....................................................................................
45.....................................................................................
Superan Death.
Sickness. nuation.
$0.31
.34|
.37|
:St
$0.52f
.69
.93*
1.31*
1.66*
$0.09*
.10|
.12f
.15|
.19|
Per
month.
Per
year.
a $0.94*
a 1.14
1.43*
1.89
2.32*
$11.31
13.68
17.22
22.69
27.92
« This is not the correct total according to the items shown, but is the equivalent of the figures
given in the source quoted.
He further stated that in the case of members entering at 30 years
of age or over, a contribution of Is. (24 cents) per week, or £2 12s.
($12.65) per year would not provide sufficient funds to pay the
above benefits, and not one-half the necessary amount where mem
bers enter at the age of 45.
The cost of this insurance was also figured out upon the assump
tion that the superannuation benefit would begin at the age of 60
instead of 65. The results are contained in the following table, and
show the amount of contributions necessary to pay for (1) 12s. ($2.92)
a week for sickness up to 60, (2) a superannuation allowance of 8s.
($1.95) a week for those entering up to 35, 7s. ($1.70) a week for those
entering from 35 to 42, and 5s. ($1.22) a week to those entering
from 42 to 45, and (3) a death benefit of £12 ($58.40).
ESTIM ATED M ONTHLY COST OF INSURANCE OF MEMBERS OF THE AM ALGAM ATED
SOCIETY OF CARPEN TERS AND JOINERS UP TO A LIM IT OF 60 Y E A R S OF AGE,
ACCORDING TO AGE AT E N T R Y .
Total.
Age at entry.
25................................................................................v .
30.....................................................................................
35.....................................................................................
40.....................................................................................
45.................................................................. ..................
Superan Death.
Sickness. nuation.
$0.29*
. 31*
137*
.41*
$0.90*
1.21*
1. 66*
2.10
2.29*
$0.10
.12*
.14*
.17
.22*
Per
month.
$1.29*
1.65*
2.15
2.64*
2.93
Per
year.
$15.57
19.83
25.80
31.74
0 37.59
a This is not the correct total according to the items shown, but is the equivalent of the figures
given in the source quoted.
Upon this assumption it was shown that the contributions of the
members, which amounted to only £2 12s. ($12.65) per year, would
be absolutely inadequate.
‘Moreover, in making these calculations Mr. Tucker assumed that
there were no managing expenses and no expenditures for other pur
poses than the three benefits, sickness, superannuation, and death.
He found that of the income of the society only slightly over 50 per
cent was applicable to the payment of sick allowance, funeral, and
supeiannuation benefits; 20 per cent of the entire income of the
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
805
union being devoted to working expenses, and the rest to disburse
ments under the headings of accident, emigration, trade privileges,
etc. In other words, only one-half of the total income received was
applicable to the payment of benefits for which the entire income of
the society was, according to the calculation of Mr. Tucker, inadequate.
“ These fa cts /’ says the actuary, “ contain conclusive evidence
of the inadequacy of the contribution of Is. [24 cents] per week to
provide such of the benefits held out to the members as come within
the scope of an ordinary friendly society.” It is important, he says,
in adjusting the contributions necessary to provide for pensions,
that these pensions should not be supposed to begin later in life
than they actually do. According to the rules, any member who
has attained the age of 50, and has been 12 years a member, is
entitled to a pension. Assuming that the members would secure
their pensions at the earliest time permitted to them, Mr. Tucker
calculates the necessary dues for the purpose of securing this income,
and these dues amount to from two to four times the amount actually
demanded by the rules of the organization.
The calculations of Mr. Finlaison are very much more detailed.
After an analysis of the rules of the unions showing the possible
extent of the cost of the benefits, the actuary calculates the prob
able income of the society. The argument of the union officials
that any inadequacy in the income may be made up by special
levies does not appear to him to be valid.
The rule concerning levies is not very clear or decisive. It states
that the council may consult the members on the propriety of raising
a contingent fund, a benevolent fund, or a fund for granting assist
ance to other trades. But no levies are to be enforced unless carried
by a majority of votes. Again, a large class of members is exempt
from payment of levies. He says:
It is not apparent that, under the above rule, levies can be made
expressly for the purpose of supplementing deficient contributions
unless the provision for a contingent fund may be interpreted to be
applicable, if necessary, to this object. But, in any event, for a
levy the consent of the majority is indispensable, and the reluctance
to self-taxation is proverbial. There is no trace in the annual
receipts of the society of any recourse to the practice. Even admit
ting that it might be overcome on a few occasions, there is a strong
robability that a persistence in the infliction of levies would speedily
ring about a break-up of the society, through the inducement
given to the younger members to form new associations and to leave
the old and chargeable members to shift for themselves. From a
dread of this result, permanent reliance can never be placed on a
system of levies raised in aid of insufficient regular contributions.
E
Another argument advanced by the officials of the union was that
many of its members would secede, and that many policies would
lapse, and that from these lapses and secessions a certain amount of
806
BULLETIN OF THE BUBEAU OF LABOB.
income would accrue to the union. Mr. Finlaison takes this factor
into consideration and allows it to enter into the calculation. Many
reasons— such as caprice, displeasure, distaste, retirement, removal
to remote places of employment, expulsion for contravention of
rules, etc., he deems possible causes for withdrawal; but the
greatest cause of all is inability to keep up necessary payments.
The influence of secession in benefit societies is so clear, and its
occurrence so regular, that in these organizations it assumes u all the
features of a law.” The forces, however, which lead toward the
removal of persons act, “ for obvious reasons, with the greatest
power at the younger ages; and, although the ratio of their com
bined effect diminishes with advancing age, it does not quickly dis
appear, but continues to exert an influence up to the period when
the benefit of a provision for old age generally commences.”
The percentage of probable secessions from trade unions is com
puted for different ages by Mr. Finlaison upon the basis of the seces
sions in friendly societies. At the age of 18 there is an average
annual loss of 2.714 members per hundred; at the age of 23, of
2.841; at the age of 28, of 1.995; at the age of 33, of 1.661; at the age
of 38, of 1.026; at the age of 43, of 0.824; at the age of 48, of 0.570;
at the age of 53, of 0.520; at the age of 58, of 0.451. On the basis of
mortality alone, there would be 52,489 survivors at the age of 60 for
every 100,000 members entering at the age of 18, but taking into
account secession as well as mortality, there would be but 29,297
members at the age of 60 for every 100,000 members entering at
the age of 18. It is assumed, however, by Mr. Finlaison, that
secession from trade unions is less than would appear from the books
of the union. He says:
There is much reason to surmise that a very large proportion of
those who secede from their clubs rejoin them at an early oppor
tunity. The expediency of such a course makes its pursuit more
than probable. It is in evidence that this is also the belief of the
general manager of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and
Joiners, for he deposes that it is a common occurrence in all trade
societies for the members to rejoin three and four times over. Under
these circumstances, one individual perhaps having supplied two
or three examples of desertion, the actual net permanent secession
will be much less than that which is set down in the gross.
In some cases men are put down as lapsed members when they
have not paid their entrance fees and therefore have not been
admitted, or have had other disqualifications rendering them
ineligible.
Upon the basis of these figures, however, and upon the basis of an
average age at admission of 26-| years, which was the average age
for 3,639 members admitted to the Amalgamated Society of Engi
neers in 1866, and upon other data presented in great detail in the
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
807
testimony of Mr. Finlaison, ( a ) he makes the following estimate of
the assets and liabilities of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
for the year 1866:
Liabilities:
T o present
T o present
To present
To present
value
value
value
value
of
of
of
of
the weekly allowance in sickness........... SI, 569,991
future pensions in superannuation......... 7, 949,846
sums at death.............................................
736, 448
pensions in course of paym ent................
217, 474
------------------- $10,473,759
Assets;
B y present value of contributions payable..............................
B y tangible assets of contributions payable............................
5,404,092
721,123
-------------------
6,125,215
Deficiency..............................................................................................................
4, 348,544
This deficiency of £893,567 ($4,348,544) is exclusive of a probable
charge of £645,224 ($3,139,983), so that the total deficiency, as fig
ured out by him, amounted to over £1,500,000 ($7,299,750).
It is frequently stated by trade unions with benefit features that
the predictions of the actuaries have not been realized, and that,
despite the forebodings of these gentlemen, the unions have been
enabled not only to pay their benefits, but to accumulate an everincreasing surplus. Mr. Tucker did indeed predict that “ It is impos
sible to avoid the conclusion that if the society continues to be
conducted upon its present footing, although a continued influx of
new members may defer the period, the Amalgamated Carpenters
and Joiners’ Society must ultimately become bankrupt, a result which
can not fail to be attended with very great disappointment and hard
ship to many of the members,” and further added that “ inasmuch
as the engineers, etc., society has been longer in existence than the
carpenters’ society, it will probably be the first to collapse. ” (&) No
definite time, however, was stated for the recognition by these
organizations of their further inability to continue paying their bene
fits. In answer to a question by the Earl of Litchfield, (c) Mr. Tucker
expressly said that no way existed by which an idea could be formed
of the. ability of a society to meet its liabilities, except by a valuation
of the assets. He stated that if in a certain-number of years it was
found that all payments had been made and that the reserve fund
had increased regularly, it would not be possible without a formal
valuation of the assets to assert from the mere expiration of time,
and the mere accumulation of a reserve fund, and the discharge of
the guaranteed payments of the society that the organization wTas
a See Eleventh and Final Report of the R oyal Commissioners Appointed to Inquire into
the Organization and Rules of Trades Unions and Other Associations, Vol. II, Appendix,
London, 1869, p. 201.
*>Idem, p. 194.
< Idem, question 6428, p. 204.
808
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
solvent. ( a ) In answer to a question of Mr. Hughes, he admitted if
one of these societies had lasted for 100 years and had fulfilled all
its engagements as to payments, and there was a constantly increas
ing reserve fund, that then “ he would have some confidence in it.”
But he would not necessarily have confidence in it if it lasted 30
years and accumulated an increasing reserve fund.
It seems clear therefore that the continual payment of benefits by
the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and the Amalgamated Soci
ety of Carpenters for a period of almost 40 years following the
publication of the calculations reached by the actuaries does not in
any way invalidate the results reached by them. Consequently, the
question as to the solvency or insolvency of the British Trade Unions
as they now exist is still open.
In the April, 1901, issue of the Amalgamated Engineers’ Monthly
Journal Mr. J. Turnbull, of the Woolwich Third Branch of the Society,
endeavored to arrive at an estimate of the future cost of the super
annuation benefit to the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. As
suming that if 20,000 members would in 40 years produce 1,000
members requiring weekly 10s. ($2.43) each, or £500 ($2,433) in all,
then the same society, working on the same lines, would with double
the members require double the amount of benefits. Mr. Turnbull,
on these lines, made a rough estimate of the probable cost of the
superannuation benefit for the forthcoming 20 years.
At the beginning of the year 1861 the Amalgamated Society had
20,935 members; 40 years later, in January, 1901, there were 1,114
members in receipt of 10s. ($2.43) superannuation benefit, or £557
($2,711) weekly. These 1,114 superannuated members were mem
bers in 1861. In 1871 there were 34,711 members, or 66 per cent
more than in 1861. Upon this basis Mr. Turnbull assumes that the
number of superannuated members in 1911 will amount to 66 per
cent more than in 1901, and the cost would equal £925 ($4,502} per
week, while from 1901 to 1921 he estimates an increase of 113J
per cent on the cost in 1901, bringing the expenditure for superan
nuation to £1,189 ($5,786) per week.
In the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, however, smaller bene
fits of 9, 8, and 7s. ($2.19, $1.95, and $1.70) are paid to members of
35, 30, and 25 years’ standing, respectively. Upon this basis the
cost of the benefit, according to the numbers on superannuation in
January, 1901, would amount to £86,312 ($420,037), while the esti
mated cost of the benefit in 1911 would be £125,580 ($611,135) and
in 1921 £163,072 ($793,590).
The important fact, however, is not the total cost of the benefit,
but the cost of the benefit per member. “ What is the ultimate cost
a Eleventh and Final Report of the R oyal Commissioners Appointed to Inquire into
the Organization and Rules of Trades Unions and Other Associations, Vol. II, Appendix,
London, 1869, question 6424, p. 204.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
809
per member? is the next, perhaps even the first, question that arises,
and it is a question that no one can with any degree of safety answer.
It so entirely depends on the future increase or even— God forbid—
decrease in the number of members. This, as I said in 1885, is ‘ too
entirely problematical' for us to reason upon with the degree of cer
tainty that we can with regard to the liabilities we have or are
already incurring. We can only hope to prosper at least as well in
the future as in the past.” ( a)
From the end of 1860 to the end of 1870 the membership of the
Amalgamated Society of Engineers increased 65.8 per cent. From
1870 to 1880 it increased 28.8 per cent. From 1880 to 1890 it in
creased 52 per cent, and from 1890 to 1900 it increased 29.1 per cent.
The average of these decennial increases was 43.9 per cent. From
1860 to 1880 the increase was 113 per cent, and from 1870 to 1890,
as well as from 1880 to 1900, the increase was 96 per cent.
The rapid increase in the charges for superannuation has caused
the subject of the financial stability of the unions to be seriously dis
cussed. The question of superannuation arises frequently in the
journals of the various trade unions, and many letters from mem
bers of unions attest the widespread interest in this subject. More
over, in January, 1901, an investigation on the subject of the prob
able charges of the superannuation benefit was made by Isaac Mitchell,
a member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, now general
secretary of the Federation of Trade Unions.
In a letter dated December 22, 1900, and published in the Journal
of* the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, the following question is
asked: “ A man joins our society at 30 years of age, and at 55 he is
entitled to claim superannuation at the rate of 7s. [$1.70] per week.
Suppose he pays at the rate of Is. 6d. [36J cents] per week— £3 18s.
[$18.98] per year for 25 years. What does our society lose on this
member, supposing he never claims sick or donation benefit? As a
basis for calculation I submit the following: A pension of 7s. [$1.70]
per week, to commence at 55 years of age, for a man aged 30 would
cost about £5 [$24.33] per year, or 2s. [49 cents] per week, premi
ums not returnable if death takes place.”
The tendency of the trade unions to launch into ambitious schemes
of insurance without consulting mortality tables might easily be
duplicated in the case of friendly societies and other organizations
having even greater responsibility. From the beginning, especially
at the very beginning, friendly societies were organized in an unsys
tematic manner, and not infrequently they have been conducted so
as to involve eventual insolvency. These societies usually began
their existence with a preponderating proportion of young men and
a See Amalgamated Engineers’ Monthly Journal, April, 1901, Correspondence, pp. 19-21.
810
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
with a large apparent surplus. As the organizations grew older,
however, and the average age of the members rose, sickness, perma
nent infirmity, and death became more common, and the charges
rapidly increased. A critic of friendly societies says: uUnsound cal
culations, bad managements, and fraud have, with a deplorable fre
quency, caused such institutions to fail. The number of societies
that have existed long enough to bring the sufficiency of their con
tributions to the test of experience bears a lamentably small propor
tion to the number that have become insolvent. ” ( a)
W ith the -progress of decades, the actuarial position of the friendly
societies has not greatly improved.
In the report of the Treasury Committee on Old Age Pensions is
an interesting table compiled b y the chief registrar of Friendly Soci
eties, which deals with 28 friendly societies having a total member
ship of 2,214,620. Of the 21,293 branches or lodges of these societies,
12,448, or 58 per cent, were actuarially unsound at the last valuation.
In the Manchester Unity, which is b y far the most stable of the large
societies, 55.14 per cent of the lodges have an actuarial deficiency.
In 31 per cent of the lodges the proportion of assets to liabilities is
less than 90 per cent. In the Stepney district 26 lodges out of 46
have been proved by the Unity’s actuaries to have deficiencies.
The 1897 quinquennial valuation of the Ancient Order of Foresters
reveals a worse condition of affairs. Of the 3,973 courts, 3,038, or
nearly 76 \ per cent, show estimated deficiencies, and the proportion
would have been greater had not the valuation in 1,180 courts been
based upon the assumption that the funds will in future realize com
pound interest at a higher rate than 3 per cent. (*
6)
The trade union with insurance features, however, possesses one
advantage over other friendly societies. The men receiving benefits
are to a greater or less extent selected risks. u The unions offer
their advantages, not discriminately, but to every young, healthy,
skilled workman of good character; his election is not a matter of
course.”
“ A society composed of picked men must show a better average
and obtain a higher profit— i. e., have larger benefit funds at its com
mand.” (c)
The problem of the actuarial situation of the unions arises largely
as a consequence of the growth of the superannuation benefit. It is
this benefit which increases most rapidly with the rising age of the
members, and the coming burden of which throws the greatest shadow
upon union solvency. The majority of trade unions have promised
more than, according to actuarial figures, could have been offered
« See A Treatise on Friendly Societies, by Charles Ansell, etc., pp. 3, 4.
&See The Case for State Pensions in Old Age, b y George Turner, Fabian Tract No. 73,
London, 1899, pp. 7, 8.
c Trade Unions Defended. A review of the evidence laid before the R oyal Commission
b y W m . Romaine Callendar, Manchester, 1870, p. 4.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
811
legitimately, with the result that the cost of the benefit has increased
with the passage of the years, and the younger members have been
taxed for the benefit of the older and the later for the benefit of the
earlier members. Deficits have been paid out of capital instead of
out of earnings, and the unions have been saved from dissolution
only by the rapid extension of the societies and the increase in
membership.
The cost of the superannuation benefit of the Engineers, for
instance, already amounts to £1 ($4.87) a year, or nearly 5d. (10
cents) per week, and this high cost has been reached despite the
rapid increase in membership during the last 15 years. Without
this increase there would have been a much higher cost per member.
As the membership tends to become stationary or the rate of growth
begins to decline, the demands for superannuation will grow with
rapidity and the proportion of dues devoted to the fulfillment of past
obligations will tend to increase.
The applicant for membership in the old societies will eventually
find that he must pay a sum in excess of what would insure him
according to actuarial tables and very much in excess of the imme
diately advantageous rates that would be offered or promised to
him b y new societies which, like the old societies, make the mistake
of promising too much. The diversion of new members from the
old to the new societies which will naturally follow the charging of
the lower dues by the latter will increase the demands upon the
benefit funds of the old societies because of the resulting increase
in the average age of the men insured. The problem is further com
plicated by the competition among kindred unions for the adherence
of the same men.
It is claimed by the defenders of the liberal benefit features of
trade unions that the unions possess two resources which will save
them from bankruptcy, viz, the making of increased levies and the
payment of decreased superannuation benefits. As a matter of fact
there can be no bankruptcy, no failure to meet legal and enforcible
obligations, since in insuring its members the trade union does not
assume any- legal or binding obligations. If a British trade union
were to do away entirely with all its insurance features and simply
repudiate at once all claims to sick, superannuation, accident, and
‘death benefits, it could not be claimed to have become bankrupt in
the legal or ordinary sense of the word, because it is under no legal
obligations to pay them.
The point at issue is not whether such repudiation amounts to bankruptcy, for it does not, but whether repudiation, complete or partial,
is probable. Increased dues will not always meet the exigency, since
they will eventually force the younger men out of the organizations
or prevent fresh blood from entering them, The cutting down from
812
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
the promised benefit is a partial repudiation and the excessive levy
upon the old men who are bound to the organization by their hopes
of speedily becoming superannuated is also a partial repudiation. ( a)
To a certain extent the interests of the unionist as an individual
may, and probably do, conflict with his interests as a member of the
union. As an individual he has naturally an interest in paying
small dues, as a unionist he has an interest in having large funds
accumulated in the treasury of the organization. It is possible
that a unionist may receive in the form of benefits less than the
amount he has been promised, and still receive more than he could
obtain for money expended in any other way. It may also happen
that though he eventually secures smaller benefits than he could
obtain from some other insurance organization, it may be still to his
interest to make this money sacrifice for the sake of securing, through
the additional funds,‘ increased wages or better labor conditions.
The question of the relation between the insured workman and the
insuring trade union is extremely difficult, involving as it does the
entire question of union policy. It can not, therefore, be judged
simply and solely upon a purely actuarial basis.
INFLUENCE
OF
FRIE N D LY BENEFITS
UNION POLICY.
UPON
TRAD E-
IN F L U E N C E UPON M E M B E R S H IP .
Benefit features in connection with trade unions have a great influ
ence in attracting members to the unions. The prospect of relief in
case of sickness, accident, unemployment, or disability, and the
promise of funeral benefit in. case of death, attract many workmen
who would not be drawn solely by the union’s trade policy. This
seems to be especially true in the case of the skilled and dangerous
trades.
Benefit features have a still greater influence in holding members.
After contributing toward the accumulation of a large fund for a
number of years, the member becomes identified with the organization.
He feels that he has an equity in the fund and a moral claim to any
benefit he may receive, and he is perfectly willing to'contribute to
the support of any other member in need of help. These considera
tions hold him to the union.
The tendency of benefit features to strengthen the bonds of the
unions is especially noticeable after strikes. Organizations without
benefit features are likely to go to pieces after an unsuccessful strike,
a The word “ repudiation” is here used in the absence of a better one. The word, how
ever, is too strong, since the promise of the insurer is not absolute, but conditional upon the
ability of the union to pay, and this condition is perfectly clear and well known. Repudi
ation is used, therefore, merely in the sense of a failure to meet anticipated and promised
obligations, without any moral significance whatever.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BBITISH TEADE UNIONS.
813
while those with large benefits and great accumulated funds survive
without serious loss of members. An instance is the great engineer
ing strike ot 1897. The Amalgamated Society of Engineers paid out
hundreds of thousands of pounds in this strike, but the organization
lost only 9.1 per cent of its members, and by 1902 had regained its
former numerical strength. According to one member of the society,
there would have been a loss of over five times as many members
had it not been for the benefit features.
This influence of benefit features in attracting members is especially
noticeable as regards the skilled and better paid occupations. The
maintenance of high dues necessary to a system of high benefits has,
on the other hand, the effect of excluding many less skilled and lower
paid men. Moreover, young men, even though they may be in the
class of skilled occupations, are not always willing to enter societies
requiring high dues. They do not see the necessity of providing for
death and superannuation, which seem far off, and they do not like
the idea of paying dues to be applied to the payment of old obliga
tions.
In addition to these considerations which limit the membership,
the very theory of trade unionism is in itself restrictive of member
ship. The purpose of trade unions is to protect the wages of all
men having certain qualifications, and the requirement of these
qualifications results in the exclusion of members who do not possess
them.
The policy of admitting members regardless of age always results
in an increase in the payments of sick, funeral, and superannuation
benefits, because of the entrance of old members who most need these
benefits. This causes a drain upon the funds and necessitates such
high dues that young men will not enter. Trade unions with liberal
benefits have therefore been compelled to establish a maximum age
and to assure themselves regarding the health of candidates for
membership.
Thus the rules of the Steam Engine Makers’ Society provide that
“ no person shall be admitted a member of the society who is over 35
years of age, unless he has been a member of the society previously
for at least seven years consecutively, in which case such candidate
can be admitted up to the age of 40 years. All candidates joining
the organization at an age above 30 are obliged to provide a certifi
cate of age at their own cost or some satisfactory proof.” ( a)
In this union the initiation fee increases rapidly with the age of the
member, rising from 8s. ($1.95) at 21 years of age to 80s. ($19.47),
or ten times as much, at 40 years of age. The dues are also higher
for members admitted above the age of 30 years, being Is. (24 cents)
a Rules of the Steam Engine Makers’ Society, 1889, p. 3.
12951— N o. 64— 06----- 15
814
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
per year for each year of age above 30 in addition to the ordinary
dues of Is. (24 cents) per week. Thus a member entering at 35 years
of age pays 5s. ($1.22) per annum in addition to the 52s. ($12.65)
ordinary dues. Candidates, however, may pay the extra dues in a
lump sum of 10s. ($2.43) for each year they exceed the age of 30, if
they prefer.
Even the out-of-work benefit in its application has a tendency to
restrict the admission of members who might not be capable of earn
ing the standard wage in the industry. The council of the Amalga
mated Society of Engineers reports that it “ has frequently to exer
cise an unpleasant duty by excluding members/7 and on one occasion
it moved that a man be not admitted to trade benefits because he
was suffering from epilepsy. From the report of the proceedings of
the council from July 1, 1888, to December 31, 1890 (page 3), the
following statement is taken regarding the exclusion of members:
The admission of such candidates under clause 6, rule 16, has
always been a matter upon which great diversity of opinion has been
held, because, if not eligible for sick-benefit purposes, it is obvious
that such will in all probability render them scarcely fit to compete
with others in the workshop, and, as a matter of course, they are more
frequently on donation benefit than they otherwise would be if free
from bodily ailment, and therefore branches should be very careful
in exercising their power to receive such.
E FFEC T ON C O N SER VATISM , P E R M A N E N C Y , A N D STR EN G TH OF
UNIONS.
The accumulation and holding of funds for the future needs of an
organization tend to promote conservatism, strength, and perma
nency. The promise of future benefits binds the members to the
organization, and this bond becomes stronger each year. There is a
hesitancy to use the fuiids accumulated for benefit purposes in sup
porting disputes, and antagonistic employers reckon upon the possi
bility of many unionists assuming a lukewarm or hostile attitude
toward an aggressive policy. The older members of the unions are
more interested in the benefit funds than in the improvement of labor
conditions, and in unions of the conservative type the older men are
likely to have more influence than is warranted by their numbers.
The argument was made by Mr. Allan, of the Amalgamated Engi
neers, in a parliamentary report, that the large accumulation of trade
funds “ only made the members of his society so much the more
anxious not to waste their money in injudicious conflicts with their
employers.77
The statement is even made that many unions tend to become mere
benefit societies. The Kidderminster Carpet Weavers had, Decem
ber 31, 1903, a capital of over £11,000 ($53,532), or more than £10
($48.67) per member. Over four-fifths of the expenditure of the
organization for that year was for superannuation, sick, and funeral
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
815
benefits, the principal element of expenditure being superannuation,
with 8 per cent of the members on the superannuation rolls. The
claim that benefit unions are merely large benefit societies and not
trade unions is vigorously denied, however, by the unions themselves.
The Amalgamated Society of Engineers claimed in 1891 that they
had during the preceding 40 years assisted 300 other societies,
some of them to the extent of thousands of pounds, and that during
the preceding 14 years they had disbursed £61,000 ($296,857^ on
nonunionists.
While ultra-conservative unions may not be greatly strengthened
as trade unions by the accumulation of benefit funds which they are
unwilling to use for trade purposes, the fact still remains that, as com
pared with unions having no benefits, a union with strongly developed
benefit features is strong not only in time of peace, but also in time
of industrial warfare. The more militant unions are sooner or later
forced to adopt certain benefit features and ask for higher dues, in
spite of their objections to being hampered by such features. Thus
the socialistic unions in Germany, Austria, and other countries began
with determined opposition to benefit features, but have gradually
been converted to a recognition of the necessity of establishing bene
fits. However radical the views of the members, it comes to be
recognized as necessary that, in their intercourse with antagonistic
forces, they be conciliatory, conservative, and opportunistic.
There is always a large class of unionists who are vitally inter
ested, some for selfish, but the majority for unselfish reasons, in the
maintenance of the unions as such, and these, sooner or later, become
equally interested in the maintenance of benefit features as a means
to that end. Their object is not so much direct benefit to individual
members as ultimate benefit to the organization itself. We find it
generally recognized that union benefits add strength to the organi
zations as such.
On the other hand, unions without any benefit features at all have
a tendency to be rash and inconsistent. Having no fund to lose,
they are willing to engage in strikes not warranted by conditions or
by prospects of success. Forty years ago English employers feared
that large accumulated funds might be used primarily if not exclu
sively for militant purposes, but history has not justified the fear.
The fact is, as already suggested, that benefit unions tend to become
more conservative each year under the influence of their older and
more conservative members and the increasing demands upon their
funds. But while unions with large funds are conservative and hesi
tate to engage in strikes, the industrial conflicts in which they do
become involved are likely to be of great duration and intensity.
There is nothing to prevent them from drawing upon these funds,
and this they do rather than lose the struggle.
816
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
E FFECT OF B E N E F IT S UPON S K IL L E D A N D U N S K IL L E D
WORKMEN.
Opponents of trade-union benefits claim that tney separate the
skilled from the unskilled workmen and cause antagonism between
these classes. To some degree, at least, the line of demarcation
between the two classes of workmen is revealed by the existence of
benefit and nonbenefit unions. When a union maintains itself by
high dues and initiation fees, the tendency is to force out the less
skilled men who are unable to pay these dues, and they are compelled
to remain unorganized or to form a new union. It is claimed on the
one side that such benefit features emphasize the “ corporate egotism”
of the richer unions. The representatives of the latter contend, on the
other hand, that the funds are used in large measure to assist weaker
unions, and that the prosperity of the organizations depends upon
the maintenance of a reserve fund, based on high dues and connected
with large benefits.
The exclusion of the less skilled men from the union of skilled
workers in the same trade, however, emphasizes the trade form of
organization rather than the industrial form. B y the trade union in
the narrow sense is meant an organization of men engaged in sub
stantially the same process or operation, or, in other words, exercising
the same trade. By industrial organization, on the other hand, is
meant the union of all men in an industry, regardless of the processes
each performs. Large benefits are not incompatible with the indus
trial organization, as shown in the case of the Amalgamated Society
of Engineers, but they are favored by the formation of groups along
trade lines and composed of men receiving substantially the same
income and exercising the same trade.
As a general thing, the sick, funeral, and accident benefits of unions
of unskilled laborers are small, while out-of-work and superannuation
benefits in such unions have been proved to be practically impossible.
What applies to unions of unskilled workers is also true of unions of
women. The conclusion can not be avoided that the payment of
large benefits tends to emphasize trade lines and to sharpen jurisdic
tion disputes, and that there would be much greater mobility within
the unions and more ease of movement from one union to another if
these benefit funds did not exist.
The question of the benefit features of trade unions is intimately
connected with that of the efficacy of the whole trade-union movement,
and in England a marked difference is making itself felt between
benefit unions and unions without large benefits. The payment of
benefits, however, is perhaps itself rather a sign than an independent
fundamental cause of a certain tendency. This tendency is the crea
tion and intensification of a difference in interest between skilled
and unskilled workers. It is impossible to foretell how marked this
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
817
difference will become, but evidences exist of a serious initial sepa
ration in policy and programme. The cause must be sought not in
the payment of benefits, which is itself merely a consequence, but in
the fundamental industrial conditions of the time.
E FFE C T UPON A M A LG A M A TIO N OF UNIONS.
Related to the effect of trade-union benefits upon the skilled and
unskilled classes of workmen is their influence as a hindrance to
amalgamation. One of the difficulties encountered upon the for
mation of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers in 1850 was the
variation in amount of benefits paid and dues required by the com
ponent societies. This, however, did not prevent a partial, amalga
mation, and the difficulties were reduced by the fact that the funds
of the 3 unions involved were practically identical. “ Each had
about 22s. [$5.35] per member, * * * and it was, therefore,
proposed simply to pool the three funds, and require any other society
to find an equal amount according to membership.” O
The inelasticity of trade unions having benefits was illustrated
in 1888 in correspondence between the Amalgamated Society of
Engineers and the Steam Engine Makers' Society. The former
society proposed amalgamation, but this was rejected by the latter
in a letter purporting to show that the burden upon the Engineers,
especially for superannuation, was far greater than that upon the
Steam Engine Makers. It was pointed out that, while the percent
age of Engineers receiving superannuation had increased from 2.1
to 2.8 per cent from 1880 to 1886, the percentage of Steam Engine
Makers had increased only from 1.4 to 1.7 per cent. The cost per
member for the superannuation benefit amounted in 1887 to 14s.
($3.41) for the Engineers and to only 6s. 9d. ($1.64) for the Steam
Engine Makers. Continuing, the secretary of the Steam Engine
Makers' Society said:
We can not help but ask what will be the result to your society 10
years hence if superannuation increases at the same rate as the fig
ures shown for 1875. The responsibility on this account is serious
to those in authority, but our council and the members generally
have too much judgment to share your 15s. 10 Jd. [$3.86](*6) per mem
ber per annum, as they feel the responsibility sufficient to meet the
6s. 9d. [$1.64] per member now required of us.
Enough, however, has been saia of finance, but we think it will
clearly show that we have a fair knowledge of the main question,
and it will prove a gulf that can not be bridged over, and that alone
will keep the two societies apart, unless your younger members
come over to us and participate in the lighter payments.
a See Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Jubilee Souvenir, 1901, p. 20.
&The official returns give the amount per member as 14s. ($3.41), as stated above.
818
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
In reply to this letter the Amalgamated Society of Engineers did
not meet the main issue— namely, that the cost of superannuation
was greater for their society than for the other society, but de
fended its own solvency as follows:
We well remember some years ago the great actuaries, Messrs.
Neilson and Finlaison, stating in 1868 that we (the A. S. E.) were
insolvent, yet we are worth more per member to-day than we were
at that time, and have since increased our benefits.
The influence of trade-union benefits upon the solidarity of the
working classes is extremely difficult to analyze. The separation of
members of a given industry into groups paying different dues and
receiving different benefits necessarily results in more or less distinct
lines of cleavage. The high dues and high initiation fees requisite
for the payment of large benefits necessarily exclude from the bene
ficial effects of organization many unskilled men in the same industry,
or even in the same trade. Moreover, the natural difference in the
policy to be pursued by wealthy and more or less exclusive benefit
organizations on the one hand, and by larger but poorer, aggressive,
militant organizations on the other, tends to accentuate the already
existing difference in policy, and in sentiments created by the eco
nomic conditions themselves.
Yet the mere existence of a fund to be distributed in friendly
benefits not infrequently permits otherwise impossible expressions
of sympathy and steady grants of aid on the part of one union to
another.
E FF E C T UPON D ISC IP L IN E .
One of the most important advantages of benefit features from
the point of view of the trade union is the discipline it permits the
organization to maintain. When a member has paid dues to an
organization for some time and as a consequence has secured a cer
tain equity in its large funds, threatened expulsion for violation of
the rules would compel him to obey and follow the will of the major
ity. While expulsion is not frequent, the fear of it always acts as a
deterrent from disobedience of the rules and makes possible the
imposition of fines and other punishments.
Various authors opposed to trade unions, who wish to show the
attitude of the community toward benefit features, vigorously
object to this form of discipline by trade unions.
In a series of anonymous letters written to the Times from Novem
ber 18, 1901, to January 16, 1902, under the title of The Crisis in
British Industry (republished, with additions, in Trade Unionism
and British Industry, London, Murray, 1904), the arguments brought
to bear during the last half century are repeated. Hundreds of men,
it is stated, joined the unions partly under compulsion, partly
BENEFIT FEATUBES OF BBITISH TBADE UNIONS.
819
because of the benefits “ that seemed to be assured to them.” Many
of these men, after paying for twenty years or so, are in the position
of being obliged either to “ obey some order of the union— such as
one to leave the service of a respected employer— or else be driven
out of the union, and thereby forfeit the whole of the benefits for
which he has been subscribing for twenty years, and all the provision
he has been making for old age. Whether or not a trade union has
any right to do this sort of thing is a question that must be left to
those who are learned in the law; but one thing certain is that a
workingman can not be expected to fight out the matter with his
union, and in some very shameful cases that have occurred the men
have seen no alternative but to surrender to the despotic com
mands of the union officials.” ( a)
It is in this power of expulsion, with consequent loss of benefits for
which a man may have been paying for 10, 20, or 30 years, that the
great hold exercised by the more autocratic of the officials over the
members of a trade union mainly consists. It deprives the men, too,
of all freedom of action, however clearly they may see that it would
be to their own advantage and to that of the trade they are in to
agree to the improved methods and conditions desired by their
employers. (*6)
This opposition to benefits on their diciplinary side seems to be
limited to people outside the unions, and is apparently not felt by the
great mass of unionists liable to such discipline.
THE ACCUM ULATION OF D E FE N SE FU N D S.
In the question of trade-union policy, the unions with large benefits
and large dues are usually set over against organizations with small
benefits and small dues. So far as an effective method is concerned
for obtaining increased wages and improved conditions of labor,
there could be no stronger combination than high dues and low
benefits. At the - same time, only among workingmen already
strongly organized is such a policy feasible.
The history of the cotton spinners' organizations has demonstrated
that high dues are not necessarily connected with large benefits.
The Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners, etc.,
of Lancashire, etc., for example, has, by means of high dues and
the payment of small benefits, continually increased its surplus, so
that at the present time it has in its treasury a sum equal to $100
per enrolled member. Unlike benefit organizations, large dues here
indicate great militant power. The object for which a large surplus
is collected is not disguised by the cotton spinners.
a See Trade Unionism and British Industry, by John Murray, London, 1904, pp. 38, 39.
&Idem, pp. 218, 219.
820
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR
There are no workmen in the Kingdom that pay such a high scale
of contributions for such a low scale of benefits. This is done in
order that there may be a good margin for fighting purposes, as
money can not be spent by the hundred thousand unless it is there to
spend. Low contributions and large benefits have ruined half the
trade unions in the country, and are sapping the usefulness of most
of the other half. If there were less sentimental talk about moral
force and a little more practical recognition of the power of material
wealth, the bulk of the workers of the country would not long be
groveling under the heels of unscrupulous exploiters of their labor. ( a )
As a result of the policy of the Cotton Spinners, the funds of the
organization have rapidly increased. In 1894 it had a cash balance of
£112,830 ($549,087). “ This brings us within measurable distance of
the position we occupied at the end of 1892, which was the best we
ever had.” (**6) From 1894 to 1901 the accumulated funds increased
by 236 per cent, and, as compared with the year 1893, the accumu
lated funds of the organization in 1901 had increased by 566 per cent
although membership actually declined. In the eight years from
1893 to 1901 there was a net gain of £321,892 ($1,566,487). In
other words, during those 8 years each of the members put aside, as
in a savings bank, almost £17 8s. 5d. ($84.78), to be used by the
union for such purposes as it thinks proper.
The following table shows the membership, income, expenditure,
and accumulated funds of the Amalgamated Association of Cotton
Spinners during the years 1892 to 1901, inclusive:’
MEMBERS, INCOME, E X P E N D IT U R E ,. AND ACCUMULATED FUNDS OF THE AMAL
GAMATED ASSOCIATION OF OPE R ATIV E COTTON SPINNERS, 1892 TO 1901.
Year.
1892.....................................................................................
1893.....................................................................................
1894.....................................................................................
1895.....................................................................................
1896.....................................................................................
1897.....................................................................................
1898.....................................................................................
1899.....................................................................................
1900.....................................................................................
1901.....................................................................................
Number of
members.
18,303
19,327
18,615
18,234
18,009
17,760
17,813
18,151
18,384
18,474
Income.
$439,591
582,194
479,107
405,861
408,888
417,064
407,243
371,849
363,800
439,562
Expendi
Accumu
ture.
lated funds.
$615,048
690,654
206,933
214,656
181,866
239,544
196,470
156,813
274,383
256,221
$385,373
276,914
549,087
740,292
967,314
1,144,834
1,355,607
1,570,643
1,660,060
1,843,401
The general statement may be made that in the textile trades the
tendency is toward the accumulation of large funds, the organizations
charging large dues but paying small benefits. To a much less
extent this is also true of the miners’ organizations, in which dues
are not high, but benefits are reduced to the lowest possible amount,
so as to permit the accumulation of funds.
a See Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners, etc., of Lancashire and
Adjoining Counties, annual report year 1894, Manchester, pp. 9 ,1 0 .
&Idem., p. 9.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
821
The Coalville and District Miners’ Association appears to be accu
mulating its funds for the event of a strike.
The association is still in a sound financial position, but we wish to
point out, that although the total amount of funds appears large,
when we come to examine our position in case of strike, we do not
find that we have too much money in hand, considering that children
have to be provided for; and taking past experience as a guide, it
would take about 13s. [$3.16] per member per week, which would
give us 12 weeks’ strike pay.(°)
A T T IT U D E
OF T R A D E UNIONS TO W ARD B E N E F IT SYST E M S
NOT U N D E R UNION CONTROL.
The policy of trade unions with benefits is opposed to any system
of compulsory State insurance which would involve a levying of con
tributions b y the State.
The friendly societies and the trade unions, to which the working
classes owe so much, naturally view with some apprehension the
creation of a gigantic rival insurance society, backed by the whole
power of the Government. The collection of contributions from
millions of ill-paid households is already found to be a task of great
difficulty, intensified by every depression of trade or other calamity.
For the State to enter into competition for the available subscrip
tions of the wage-earners must necessarily increase the difficulty of
all friendly societies, trade unions, and industrial insurance com
panies, whose members and customers within the United Kingdom
probably number, in the aggregate, from eleven to twelve millions of
persons. (**6)
The attitude of the unions toward systems of relief, pensions, etc., or
toward any other benefits conferred by employers upon the working
man, depends upon the spirit in which these plans are conceived and
the probable result of such action. If the plan compels the pros
pective beneficiaries to become members of an organization opposed
to the union, or if the favor granted takes the place of increased wages,
or if the grants of benefits permit favoritism or discrimination on
the part of the employer, or if they compel a permanent and unin
terrupted service under a given employer, they are naturally looked
upon with disfavor, as tending to weaken the power and authority of
the union over its members, and as taking away from the members
the power to strike. Moreover, when, by accepting such pensions,
the workingman is obliged to surrender his legal remedies, there is
also objection to it.
The unions object to any organization under the direction, control,
or guidance of the employers, especially when the men are obliged to
a See report and balance sheet of the Coalville and District Miners, Association, June 30,
1904.
&See Report b y Mr. Henry Broadhurst in Report of the R oyal Commission on the Aged
Poor, 1895, pp. xcix and c.
822
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
contribute, since this practically amounts to an involuntary deduction
from their wages. On the other hand, they do not object to a gra
tuitous, uniform payment, or grant of pensions and relief.
A D V E R T IS IN G OF B E N E F IT S .
In order to secure the adherence of new men, trade unions con
stantly advertise their benefits by direct appeals to nonmembers. In
these appeals they dilate upon the benefits in which they are the
strongest. Speaking of the superannuation benefit, an address of
the executive council of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
states:
It is impossible to overrate the importance of this benefit, or the
feeling of security and independence it inspires, when we know we
can look forward to a comparative competency in our old age. We
would earnestly impress on the minds of those who are still not yet
with us in our constant and disciplined efforts to raise our social
status as a class, and improve our condition as workingmen, to come
within our ranks, and to assure them that if they will only calculate,
on life tables and trade experiences, the financial benefits to be
derived from union with us, they will find them far in advance of any
other possible means of insurance, whether in health or in sickness,
in work or out, in misfortune or trouble, and in common brother
hood. (°)
This is an age of advertising. And why should not trade unionism
advertise its claims before the world ? To begin with, we have a provi
dent benefit, or out-of-work fund. Compared with some unions this
may seem small, but works out well on the average. The sick and
funeral funds are worthy of a nonmember’ s attention. ( b)
u We have certainly advertised the society considerably during the
past year,” says the Society of Locomotive Engineers, “ and have every
reason to believe the expense is well warranted.”
The sum of £962, 3d. [$4,681.63] has been paid to the members
entitled, which is an increase of £105, 17s., la. [$515.14] over last
year. Here again the decision of the companies to compel men to
retire at a certain age, while they are still fit for duty, tells upon our
members and our funds; but, nevertheless, the interest to the fund,
£1,072 [$5,217] more than covers the expenditure, without touching
the capital, by £110 [$535]. (c)
Again we read
It must be gratifying to all our members to know, that our society
is based on such principles as will enable us to bestow as much benefit*&
a Address from the executive council of the Amalgamated Society o f Engineers to their
fellow-workmen throughout the United Kingdom , the British colonies, and foreign countries.
September 17,1888, p . 3. This pamphlet was brought up to date and republished Novem
ber 24, 1890.
&See Advantages of Trade-Unionism, b y J. Birrell, Typographical Circular, Manchester,
October, 1904, pp. 14,15.
c Associated Society of Locom otive Engineers and Fireman, Annual R eport and Balance
Sheet for 1903. Leeds, 1904, pp. 3 ,5 .
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
823
on our members as any other society, and that we are free from the
difficulties with which they have at present to contend— i. e., being
compelled, for want of funds, to levy extra contributions on their
members, to meet their ordinary demands. ( a)
This advertising of benefits indicates most clearly the importance
attached to benefits b y the average member. As a rule, the benefits
in case of accident, sickness, or permanent disablement appeal to the
men much more strongly than the less apparent though equally real
advantages offered them b y the union in regard to wages, hours of
labor, and conditions of work. The unions compare their scales
of benefits and their charges of contributions with one another in
endeavoring to show that their own contributions are low and their
payments high. The effect of this competition is often vicious. The
unions competing for membership, upon the growth of which, in the
long run, their success must depend, are likely to promise more
insurance than in the end they can grant for the sum paid by the
members. The result is eventual disappointment and a scaling down
of benefits, or an increase in dues.
An example of union advertising of benefits is provided by four
pictures on the cover of the Monthly Journal and Trade Circular of
the United Builders' Laborers' Union. The one marked “ accident"
presents two fellow-workmen carrying off an injured union man who
has fallen from the scaffolding. The second picture, “ sickness,"
shows a unionist in bed attended b y a doctor and nurse. In the third,
entitled “ compensation," a building laborer appears who has been
injured and for whom relief has been secured under the Workmen's
Compensation Act. The fourth, “ disablement," shows a union mem
ber in his home; he has lost a leg and his wife is receiving a bag of
money from the union official.
This advertising frequently results from the competition of two
unions for the same men. The parliamentary report for 1825 repro
duces a pamphlet in which a sailor named Harry is asked what he
thinks of the new union. “ Think of it! I think very little of it,
Tom. I like the Seamen's Union, as they call it, much better; and
if I do enter one I will enter the latter. The new one only proposes
4s. [97 cents] during the winter months and 3s. [73 cents] in summer
per voyage; and only 3s. [73 cents] per month and no benefits for its
members either for shipwrecks or deaths. The Seamen's Union pro
poses 5s. [$1.22] in winter, 4s. [97 cents] in summer, and the monthly
wages in proportion, and should their members be shipwrecked and
lose all their clothes, they are paid 5s. [$1.22], or if a member dies his
a See the Yearly Account of the Income and Expenditure of the Journeyman Steam
Engine and Machine Makers’ Friendly Society, year ending February 29, 1840, Man
chester, 1840.
824
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
widow receives £5 [$24.33], and several other benefits they are enti
tled to ” («)
This competition, by means of the advertisement, of benefits to
secure new members is found even among the unskilled trades. “ We
have practically been forced,” says the National Union of Gasworkers and General Laborers of Great Britain and Ireland, “ into this
position in consequence of several laborers’ unions offering many
benefits, with a view to inducing members to join them, but I am
convinced that these unions can not pay the benefits offered if they
are to do any real fighting for higher wages, shorter hours, and better
conditions of employment for their members. This union has always
been recognized as a fighting union, as we believe in getting more
material advantages than merely being a rate-saving institution, but
still I can not close my eyes to the fact that this keen competition
which is going on has been the means of enticing a number of members
from our organization.” ^)
LIM IT A T IO N OF SP H E R E OF F R IE N D L Y B E N E F IT S .
The friendly benefits of trade unions are of great importance to the
organizations and of still greater importance to the members receiv
ing such aid. Benefits have enabled unions to accumulate large
funds and have prevented tens of thousands of workingmen from
becoming burdens upon society. Relief has been provided to numer
ous workingmen who would otherwise have suffered as a result of
unemployment, sickness, accident, or old age, and the widows and
orphans of deceased members have been prevented from becoming
public charges.
Trade-union benefits, however, do not solve the problem of work
ingmen^ insurance, nor do they even attempt to do so. The entire
number of unionists forms but a small proportion of the working
classes of the country, and the number of unionists eligible to most
benefits forms only a relatively small proportion of the unionists
themselves. The out-of-work benefit very far from measures the full
extent of unemployment. The sickness and the accident benefit aid
only a small proportion of workingmen stricken with illness or injury.
The death benefit provides relief to the wives and orphans of only a
small proportion of the workingmen who die each year, while the
number of workingmen receiving superannuation benefit is almost
negligible when compared to the total number of aged workingmen
or even the total number of workingmen becoming aged paupers.
The friendly benefits of trade unions are of considerably less
importance than those of friendly benefit societies. On December 31,*&
a See Minutes of Evidence before Select Committee on Combination Laws, 1825, p. 110.
&National Union o f Gas Workers and General Laborers of Great Britain and Ireland
quarterly balance sheet from March 26,1904, to June 25,1904, London, p. 5.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
825
1898, the number of members belonging to the registered provident
societies in Great Britain and Ireland amounted to 11,152,156 and
the funds to £36,868,631 ($179,421,193). Of these funds £31,676,397
($154,153,186), or almost six-sevenths, belonged to the ordinary
friendly societies and the branches of registered orders, with a mem
bership of 5,281,269. ( a)
The following statement shows the total membership of registered
friendly societies in Great Britain and Ireland for the year ending
1898:
SUMMARY OF REGISTE R E D PROVIDEN T SOCIETIES IN GREAT B R IT A IN AND
IR E LA N D , DECEMBER 31, 1898.
Friendly societies.
Number of
members.
Funds.
Ordinary friendly societies.......................................................................................
Branches of registered orders...................................................................................
Collecting friendly societies......................................................................................
Medical societies.........................................................................................................
Benevolent societies...................................... ...........................................................
2,725,533
2,555,736
5,555,827
293,477
21,583
$64,092,846
90,060,340
23,517,717
332,275
1,418,015
T otal.................................................................................................................. ! 11,152,156
!
179,421,193
Payments for the out-of-work benefit do not measure the total
amount of unemployment. A certain period of membership, usually
lasting 12 months, is commonly required before a member may
receive unemployed benefit. Moreover, the unemployed benefit is
limited in time, and does not start immediately, while others out of
employment may be relieved by the superannuation and other bene
fits instead of b y the unemployed benefit. Moreover, “ many of the
strongly organized trades distribute the loss of employment among
all their members, instead of allowing some to become wholly unem
ployed, working short time instead of allowing a reduction of the
number employed.” (6)
The benefit features of unions do not more than touch the social
problem. They are entirely without the reach of the unskilled, and
even a large proportion of the skilled workingmen fail to receive
them. The great body of nonunionists are of course excluded from
participation in benefits, and the entire amounts paid are small in
proportion to the working-class population.
The sick, accident, funeral, and superannuation funds of the British
unions do not begin to compare with the pensions paid by the German
Government. Insurance funds are necessarily limited to a larger or
smaller class of skilled workmen; whereas, on the Continent insurance
is universal, instead of special, and applies as far as possible to the
entire population.*&
a See Report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for year ending December 31,
1899, Part A , p. 36.
&The Problem of the Unemployed, by John A . Hobson, second edition, revised, London,
1904, p. 16.
826
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
The limited extent to which trade-union insurance affects the work
ing classes may be seen by comparing the number of persons receiving
such aid within a community to the whole body of workmen. Accord
ing to an investigation made by B. Seebohn Rowntree, the city of
York, in the year 1899, held only 2,539 unionists, or only 3.3 per
cent of the entire population of the city. Of these men only “ about
1,700 pay for sick and funeral benefits through their trade unions,”
or about 2 per cent of the entire population. The number of persons
receiving sick and funeral benefits from friendly societies was con
siderably greater, amounting to 10,662. This figure includes females
and juvenile members. Even taking into consideration duplications, '
about 7,000 persons in the city of York received aid from one or more
friendly societies, as compared with only 1,700 paying contributions
for sick and funeral benefits to trade unions. ( a)
As a result of very careful calculation, Mr. Charles Booth came to
the conclusion that in London 147,300 trade unionists out of about
489,500 employed males over 20 years of age were occupied in the
trades enumerated by him; and he comes to the conclusion that,
including other trades not enumerated, there is “ a grand total of from
177,00(3 to 180,000, equivalent to 13J per cent of the adult male pop
ulation of London; to 14J per cent of the total of those who are occu
pied; and to 3J per cent of the total population.” (5)
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Webb, writing in 1894, gives the same percent
age for the metropolitan area of London, which includes a population
of over five and one-half millions.
THE S U P E R A N N U A T IO N
B E N E F IT A N D
OLD A G E .
TH E
PRO B LE M
OF
While the superannuation benefit brings relief in certain cases, it
does not begin to solve the problem of the dependence of workmen in
their old age.
This question of the poverty of workmen is one of the most serious
problems in modern society. In some countries, such as Germany,
Denmark, and New Zealand, at least a partial solution has been
attained b y the payment of Government pensions. In other nations
an attempt has been made to arrive at a solution b y the encourage
ment of saving in Government institutions, and the payment of oldage pensions or deferred annuities to workmen after a certain age.
In no country has this latter policy resulted in an extended payment
of pensions to workmen.
In England trade unions paying superannuation benefits have
endeavored to adjust the difficulty for their own members. It is rec
a See Poverty, a Study of Tow n Life, b y B. Seebohn Rowntree, London, 1801.
b l i f e and Labor o f the People in London, b y Charles Booth, assisted b y Ernest A ves;
Volume I X , London, 1897, p. 242.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
827
ognized that, except in a few cases, the problem can not be solved by
individual saving. The average workman, especially among the
unskilled, is not able to accumulate a sufficient sum to take care of
himself in old age, and the amount he saves, if not lost or spent for
other purposes, usually defrays expenses involved in the first serious
illness affecting himself or members of his family.
In 1891 there were 1,372,601 persons over 65 years of age in Eng
land and Wales. During the year ending Lady Day, 1892, there were
376,427 persons over 65 years of age who accepted relief under the
Poor Law, this total not including those who received medical assist
ance only. While there were probably some duplications in this list,
the total was without doubt much less than it would have been had
it included those enduring the greatest privation, if not actual starva
tion, rather than accept poor relief. The royal commissioners in the
report upon the aged poor stated, “ there are also many aged poor who
are destitute so far as their own resources are concerned, but who are
kept off the rates by the assistance of friends and by private charity.
Such persons must sometimes endure great privation in their effort to
avoid application for official relief, and they form a class quite as
deserving of consideration as others who are actually numbered in
the return as paupers.” ( a)
According to these statistics, 2 out of every 7 persons in England
and Wales over the age of 65 were in 1892 in receipt of poor relief,
exclusive of those receiving medical assistance only. The percentage
among the workingmen is much larger. According to Mr. Booth, in
his Analysis of the Poor Law and Census Returns, two-fifths of the
total population of England, consisting of agricultural laborers,
unskilled town workers, and women wage-earners, provide 80 per cent
of the pauperism of the country. Two-thirds of all who survive to
old age are forced to apply to the Poor Law. It is among these classes,
moreover, that trade unionism is weakest. At the same time they
furnish the smallest numbers of recruits for the friendly societies.
During the last 17 years the number of paupers in receipt of relief
has not increased in England and Wales so rapidly as the pop
ulation. On January 1, 1903, there were 833,005 paupers in receipt
of indoor and outdoor relief, or 2.5 per cent of the population. The
number of paupers decreased steadily from 825,509 in 1888 to. 754,485
in 1892. It then increased, reaching 827,217 on January 1, 1896.
From this point it declined to 789,689 in 1901, from which it has
again ascended.
The number of paupers fluctuates naturally with good and bad
times, rising in bad times and falling in good times. The percentage
o f paupers was smaller, however, in 1903 than it was in 1888. Dur
ing this period there was an increase of indoor at the expense of out
o See Report of Royal Commission on Aged Poor, 1895, p. xiii.
828
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
door relief. Considerably more paupers received indoor and consid
erably fewer outdoor relief in 1903 than in 1888.
The development in Scotland and Ireland was similar; and it is a
noteworthy fact that the entire number of paupers in the United
Kingdom, on a given winter day in 1903, was less than 0.3 per cent
greater than on a given winter day in January, 1888.
Of the entire number of individuals in receipt of relief in England
and Wales during the year 1892, excluding vagrants and lunatics,
401,904 out of 1,573,074, or almost 26 per cent, were 65 years of age
or over. The burden of poverty falls with exceptional heaviness upon
persons over 64 years of age. ( a)
Out of every 10,000 persons in England and Wales below the age
of 65, 424 were in receipt of outdoor relief; and out of every 10,000
persons of the age of 65 or over, 2,928, or almost 30 per cent, were in
receipt of this relief. Of the total number of paupers, 59 per cent
were females and 41 per cent males. Somewhat similar results were
obtained for Ireland. Out of every 10,000 persons below the age of
65, 680 were in receipt of indoor and outdoor relief; and out of every
10,000 persons of the age of 65 or upward, 2,687, or almost 27 per
cent, were in receipt of such relief. (*6)
The census of 1901 for England and Wales indicates to a certain
extent the burden imposed upon trade unions by the superannuation
benefit. Of the entire population of England and Wales in that year,
7.4 per cent were of the age of 60 or over. The percentage of males
of this age was 6.8 per cent, the actual number being 1,071,519. A
large proportion of these resided in the urban sanitary districts, from
which the great mass of trade unionists are recruited, 6 per cent of all
the male residents of this region, or 718,284 in all, being males of 60
years or over.
Of all the males in the urban sanitary districts, 13 per cent were
50 years of age or over. In all districts, of all the males 20 years or
over, 24.9 per cent were of the age of 50 or over.
The proportion of members of the trade unions in receipt of super
annuation benefit is in all cases still very much less than the propor
tion of males 60 years of age or over to males 20 years of age or
over in the entire urban sanitary districts; or in other words, less
than 10.6 per cent.
The benefit features of trade unions must, therefore, be considered,
not in the aspect of the ultimate solution of the problem of working
men’s insurance, but from the point of view of trade-union policy.
It is possible that at some future time English workingmen may
secure their sick, old age, accident, and invalidity insurance from
the Government, although the insurance of the workingmen while
a See Poor Law (Indoor and Outdoor Relief), parliamentary paper No. 265, of 1892.
&See Poor Law (Indoor and Outdoor Relief), parliamentary paper No. 360, of 1892.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
829
out of work must undoubtedly remain for the immediate future a
trade-union matter. The out-of-work benefit, which was one of the
first to be taken up, will thus probably be among the last to be
surrendered. Of all the friendly benefits it is most intimated
connected with trade-union policy.
L E G A L A S P E C T O F T R A D E -U N I O N B E N E F I T S .
Up to the year 1824 the very existence of trade unions was illegal.
Consequently such funds as were collected by them for the relief of
members, or for any other purpose, were without the protection of
the law. Even after the legalization of the unions in 1824, no pro
tection was accorded the funds of the organizations, and until 1854,
no attempt was made to secure such protection. In that year, through
the efforts of trade-union representatives, a clause was introduced
into a bill for the regulation of friendly societies, by which security
was supposedly obtained for the insurance funds of trade unions
through deposit of the rules of the society with the registrar of friendly
societies and with the justices of the peace.
The apparent protection thus accorded, however, proved to be
unreal, and in 1866 a decision by Lord Chief Justice Cockburn in the
case of Hornby v . Close revealed the fact that union funds, whether
or not destined for the insurance or other protection of union mem
bers, were at the mercy of any embezzler or defaulting secretary.
“ The Court of Queen’ s Bench (Cockburn, C. J.; Blackburn, Mellor,
and Lush, J. J.) unanimously held that justices were right in dis
missing a complaint against a defaulting member of 1 a society of
which one of the objects was the relief of sick, disabled, and aged
members, and the burial of dead members, but of which one of the
main objects was that of a trades union, and the support of members
when on strike/ on the ground that this last purpose was
‘ illegal.’ ” (°)
In a subsequent case, Farrer v . Close, decided in 1869, it was held
by two of the judges “ that the purposes of a society which included
the support of strikes and were therefore illegal as being in restraint
of trade, were those of a trade union and not of a friendly society,
and that the justices were, therefore, right in dismissing” the charge,
while two other judges held that strikes were not necessarily illegal,
that there was no evidence that the funds had been applied to the
maintenance of illegal strikes, that the rules of the organization did
not establish a restraint of trade, and that the organization was not
therefore illegal. The appeal was dismissed, however, owing to
the equal division of the court. (*6)
a See Trade Union Law, Cohen and Howell, p. 48.
&See Trade Union Law, Cohen and Howell, pp. 51, 52.
12951— N o. 64— 06------ 16
830
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The recognition by the trade unions of the insecurity of the funds
of their organizations, finally led to successful attempts upon their
part to secure legislation. A recent decision, however, has now left
the unions again at the mercy of their subaltern officials who can
default or embezzle with impunity.
In 1868 an act was passed, entitled “ An act to amend the law relating
to larceny and embezzlement/’ the chief object of which was to pro
tect partners in a joint or copartnership concern. The bill was no
sooner passed than a trade-union case was tried under it. The act
allows officials and members of trade unions to be tried under this
act and condemned, whether the trade union is registered or not.
But it does not permit the recovery of the money or property. At
present, trade unions not registered under the trade-union acts of
1871 and 1876, may sue defaulting treasurers under the act of 1868,
but can not recover money or property.
The main protection for the benefit and other funds of British
trade unions is based on the provisions of the trade-union acts of
1871 and 1876. B y these acts, “ the real or personal estate of any
branch of a trade union shall be vested in the trustees of such branch,”
or “ the trustees of the trade union if the rules of the trade union so
provide.”
All unions which have been formed by the amalgamation of local
unions, are enabled to create large central funds for the payment of
benefits and other purposes, as well as for reserve funds for special
purposes. Under the acts of 1871 and 1876 provision is made for
the appointment and removal of trustees, for the registration of unions
in more than one county, and for the establishment of jurisdiction
in cases of offenses, etc.
In order to obtain the right to be registered, and thus secure the
privilege of suing to recover funds from defaulting treasurers, the
unions must deposit their rules, which rules must provide detailed
information as to benefits, fines, and. forfeitures, and the conditions
under which the rules may be amended. Provision is also made in
the law for the investment of funds and for the appointment of
trustees, other officials, and committees for this purpose.
In the beginning, a large part of the trade-union funds were placed
in the post-office savings banks, but, as the amount of these funds is
now too large, the unions are seeking other fields of investment.
The law permits investment with practically no restriction except
in the amount of land purchased, which may not exceed' more than
1 acre for each branch of the union.
In 1893, a law was passed entitled “ The Trade Union (Provident
Funds) Act, 1893,” by which the funds of trade unions devoted to
provident purposes were exempted from the income tax. This
exemption had already been secured for industrial and provident
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS.
831
societies, charitable institutions, loan societies, and building societies,
but although since 1850 trade unions were also furnishing provident
benefits on a considerable scale, the exemption did not extend to
them. According to this act, the expression “ provident” benefits
“ means and includes any payment made to a member during sickness
or incapacity from personal injury, or while out of work; or to an
aged member by way of superannuation, or to a member who has
met with an accident or has lost his tools by fire or theft; or a pay
ment in discharge or aid of funeral expenses on the death of a member
or the wife of a member; or as provision for the children of the de
ceased member, where the payment in respect whereof exemption
is claimed is a payment expressly authorized by the registered rules
of the trade union claiming the exemption.” ( a)
The peculiar status of benefit features of trade unions is established
by section 4 of the Trade Union Act of 1871. This section provides
that “ nothing in this act shall enable any court to entertain any
legal proceedings instituted with the object of directly enforcing or
recovering damages for the breach of any of the following agree
ments.” Among these agreements are “ any agreement for the pay
ment by any person of any subscription or penalty to a trade union,”
and “ any agreement for the application of the funds of a trade union
to provide benefits to members.” It is expressly stipulated, how
ever, that “ nothing in this section shall be deemed to constitute any
of the above-mentioned agreements unlawful.”
According to this act the union can not be compelled under any
circumstances whatsoever, to pay benefits to members or to fulfill
any agreement, into which it may have entered, to do so. In two
Scotch cases (M’Kernan v . United Operative Masons’ Association,
1 R., 4th series, 453, and Shanks v . the same, ibid., p. 823), the court
was unanimous that these words prevented it from entertaining an
action against a trade union for compensation for an accident to a
member. W ith regard to the question as to whether there was
.anything in the section to prevent an injunction, issued against the
trustees of a branch, prohibiting it from applying funds for purposes
other than those specified in the rules, the courts have not been
unanimous. (6)
Under the law as it stands at present the union can not sue a mem
ber for nonpayment of dues, fines, or penalties, but must proceed
against him by means of exclusion or some other punishment. What
is still more important, a member who has been paying his contribu
tions regularly for no matter how long a period is not entitled under
a See The Trade Union (Provident Funds) A ct, 1893, in Trade Union Law and Cases,
Cohen and Howell, London, 1901, p. 187.
b See Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants for Scotland v. The Motherwell Branch
~f the Society, 1880; Duke v. Littleboy, Cohen and Howell, Trade Union Law, p. 59.
832
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
the law to sue for the recovery of this benefit. The union incurs no
legal obligation to pay such benefits, and it therefore follows that the
union may at its will and pleasure increase, decrease, or absolutely
abolish any benefit, no matter how long the custom of paying it has
been observed. It also follows that the union may devote money
intended for the payment of benefits to any other legal purpose which
it desires, and there is no redress nor remedy for the person who fails
to recover, even when funds are set aside for a special purpose, as in
the case of superannuation reserve funds. No power resides in the
hands of a member or group of members to prevent the regularly
elected officials of the organization from expending this money for
another purpose foreseen by the rules of the union.
The trade union is forbidden, by the Friendly Societies Act of 1896,
to “ insure or pay upon the death of a child under five years of age any
sum of money which, added to any amount payable on the death of
that child by any other society or branch, exceeds £6 [$29.20], or on
the death of a child under ten years of age any sum of money which,
added to any amount payable on the death of that child by any other
society or branch, exceeds £10 [$48.67]. ” No trade union, moreover,
shall “ pay any sum on the death of a child under 10 years of age
except to the parent of the child, or to the personal representative of
the parent.”
Until the recent Taff Vale decision it was believed that the funds
of trade unions were entirely exempt from attachment arising from
suits brought by members of the organization or by others. “ The
danger of any member having power to take legal proceedings, to
worry them b y litigation and cripple them by legal expenses, or to
bring a society within the scope of the insolvency and bankruptcy
law, became very apparent. The junta easily realized, when their
advisers explained the position, that mere legalization would place
the most formidable weapon in the hands of unscrupulous employers.
To avoid this difficulty Mr. Harrison proposed the ingenious plan of
bringing the trade union under the Friendly Societies Acts, so far as,
regards the protection of its funds against theft or fraud, whilst
retaining to the full the exceptional legal privilege of being incapable
of being sued or otherwise proceeded against as a corporate entity. ” ( °)
Since the Taff Yale decision this exemption from liability has been
construed as nonexistent, and the unions are now endeavoring to
secure additional legislation to safeguard their accumulations.
a See W ebb's H istory of Trade Unionism, new edition, 1902, pp. 254, 255.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS,
833
The following tables show, for a series of years, the expenditures
for various benefits of several of the more important unions in the
United Kingdom:
E X P E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOU S BEN EFITS B Y THE UNITED SOCIETY OF B O ILE R
M AKERS AND IR O N SH IPBU ILDERS, 1867 TO 1903.
[From the Annual Report of the United Society of Boiler Makers and Iron Shipbuilders for 1903,
pages xiv and xv. In some instances the benefits per member given in this table differ slightly
from the results of a division of the yearly amount by the number of members. The averages
given, however, are the equivalents of the figures given in the source quoted.]
Expenditure for—
Number
of
Year. mem
bers.
1867..
6,405
1868..
7,311
1869..
6,298
1870..'
7,261
1871..
8,893
1872.. 11,523
1873.. 13,137
1874.. 14,715
1875.. 16,191
1876.. 17,469
1877.. 19,660
1878.J 18,584
1879.. 16,988
1880.. 17,688
1881.. 20,676
1882.. 27,408
1883.. 28,477
1884.. 28,730
1885.. 28,212
1886.. 26,776
1887.. 25,100
1888.. 26,545
1889.. 29,993
1890.. 32,926
1891.. 36,996
1892.. 39,004
1893.. 38,238
1894.. 39,228
1895.. 39,629
1896.. 40,776
1897.. 42,178
1898.. 43,905
1899.. 47,417
1900.. 47,670
1901.. 48,113
1902.. 48,370
1903.. 48,582
Sickness.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$22,420* $3.19
19,748
2.88
3.23
20,361
19,218
2.83
20,984
2.83
20,848
2.03
1.82
22,493
27,622
1.88
41,570
2.81
46,436
2.76
47,653
2.50
56,748
3.05
59,230
3.48
2.87
50,865
2.11
42,869
53,906
2.25
65,761
2.30
88,517
3.08
92,064
3.26
85,062
3.17
83,533
3.33
73,781
2.78
2.44
73,470
89,261
2.71
97,676
2.64
107,438
2.75
124,889
3.26
3.04
118,548
3.43
135,936
115,521
2.82
120,412
2.84
130,067
2.96
2.94
139,192
147,129
3.08
171,374
3.55
202,198
4.18
4.56
221,873
Funeral.
Total.
$4,721
4,594
5,538
5,178
5,645
5,738
6,901
7,767
9,344
9,232
9,387
10,400
11,577
11,003
11,602
12,779
17,495
17,797
17,782
16,746
16,668
14,390
19,432
22,430
24,011
24,342
25,890
26,673
25,252
23,773
26,994
28,712
32,163
34,937
33,399
36,572
35,404
Per
mem
ber.
$0.64
.67
.88
.77
.66
.56
.56
.53
.60
.55
.49
.55
.68
.62
.55
.52
.61
.62
.63
.62
.62
.54
.64
.68
.65
.63
.67
.68
.63
.52
.64
.65
.68
.73
.69
.76
.73
Surgeons.
Total.
$5,937
5,095
4,769
5,236
6,171
8,112
9,582
10,945
12,205
13,315
14,278
14,400
12,449
11,899
13,310
16,381
18,347
18,970
18,172
16,746
16,420
17,023
20,045
22,683
24,045
25,379
25,364
26,620
24,610
28,070
29,481
29,282
32,508
33,837
36,737
36,314
37,784
Per
mem
ber.
$0.80
.74
.76
.77
.76
.79
.78
.74
.81
.79
.51
.78
.73
.67
.52
.67
.64
.66
.64
.62
.62
.64
.66
.68
.65
.65
.66
.68
.62
.68
.70
.66
.68
.71
.76
.75
.78
a Included with home donation.
Home donation.
Travel.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$51,322
10,979
7,305
8,628
6,609
2,462
5,309
13,592
53,741
63,454
60,568
95,033
103,374
53,911
2,146
3,436
2,112
$6.93
1.60
1.16
1.27
.81
.24
.43
.92
3.48
3.77
3.18
5.37
6.08
3.04
.11
.12
.07
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(<*)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
)a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
\a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$2,073
1,251
1,367
749
530
647
472
1,567
4,536
23,145
10,979
8,254
52,237
40,728
8,585
136
15,432
278,388
208,875
181,423
107,866
34,800
16,965
55,206
88,215
171,870
224,360
235,427
187,020
170,211
172,347
86,877
55,410
66,131
118,480
275,113
350,008
$0.28
.18
.22
.11
.06
.06
.04
.11
.29
1.36
.58
.44
3.07
2.30
.41
.005
.54
9.69
7.40
6.77
4.30
1.40
.56
1.68
2.39
4 41
5.87
6.03
4 71
4.17
414
1.99
1.17
1.22
2.46
5.69
7.21
834
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
E X P E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BEN EFITS B Y THE U NITED SOCIETY OF BOILER
MAKERS AND IRON SH IPBU ILDERS, 1867 TO 1903—Concluded.
Expenditure for—
Year.
1867...............................
1868...............................
1869...............................
1870...............................
1871...............................
1872...............................
1873...............................
1874...............................
1875...............................
1876...............................
1877...............................
1878...............................
1879...............................
1880...............................
1881...............................
1882...............................
1883...............................
1884...............................
1885...............................
1886...............................
1887...............................
1888...............................
1889...............................
1890...............................
1891...............................
1892...............................
1893...............................
1894...............................
1895...............................
1896...............................
1897...............................
1898...............................
1899...............................
1900...............................
1901...............................
1902...............................
1903...............................
Superannua
tion.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$2,467
3,129
4,034
5,577
6,706
5,801
5,460
5,781
5,572
5,193
5,932
6,443
7,689
8,959
11,217
12,526
13,612
15,018
16,400
19,846
22,663
23,938
24,415
24,732
24,693
25,350
26,678
27,432
30,274
32,620
36,095
38,197
64,087
69,640
76,078
89,349
102,917
$0.33
.46
.64
.83
.79
.56
.44
.39
.,35
.30
.31
.34
.45
.50
.55
.52
.46
.52
.58
.74
.90
.91
.82
.75
.65
.65
.69
.70
.76
.80
.85
.87
1.35
1.46
1.58
1.86
2.12
Fares to jobs.
Total.
$156
146
63
175
146
574
686
618
521
535
565
608
297
895
1,202
1,470
1,723
822
706
652
725
1,095
2,200
1,270
1,202
3,280
1,119
565
735
852
1,479
1,796
1,032
1,105
2,404
1,372
1,513
Per
mem
ber.
$0.02
.02
.01
.03
.02
.06
.06
.04
.04
.03
.03
.03
.02
.05
.05
.06
.06
.03
.02
.02
.03
.04
.07
.04
.03
.08
.03
.01
.02
.02
.03
.04
.02
.02
.05
.03
.03
Bonuses.
Total.
$681
195
1,168
1,071
1,168
1,095
876
73
1,947
5,353
7,300
8,760
978
5,747
6,132
6,570
8,030
11,509
7,713
14,152
8,833
15,037
15,354
9,894
10,122
20,780
33,822
24,381
43,823
21,802
35,146
26,206
25,014
20,439
20,439
24,688
38,990
Per
mem
ber.
$0.09
.03
.18
.16
.14
.11
.07
.01
.13
.31 '
.45
.47
.06
.32
.28
.27
.28
.40
.27
.53
.35
.56
.51
.30
.27
.53
.88
.87
1.11
.53
.83
.59
.53
.43
.42
.51
.80
Disputes.
Total.
$3,908
326
131
282
6,609
4,190
1,367
5,158
22,678
14,556
67,182
33,900
34,596
19,899
3,460
8,039
13,519
27,053
17,485
8,205
5,504
22,060
21,656
6,156
7,212
11,777
8,847
7,173
21,963
13,860
29,987
5,786
4,273
161
6,857
1,114
5,908
Per
mem
ber.
Balance
at end of
year.
$0.53
$7,266
.05
4,248
.02
25,564
.04
44,621
.83
68,004
.41
122,290
.11
190,660
253,477
.40
1.47
249,223
.86
220,633
3.54
181,425
1.72
138,788
2.03
44,747
1.12
113,361
.17
244,675
.33
395,863
.27
528,237
.94
292,314
.62
186,471
.31
106,553
.22
121,669
.82
258,062
.73
491,012
.19
724,396
893,660
.18
944,447
.29
.23
839,729
766,702
.18
.55
749,667
.34
854,363
.72
901,640
.13 1,145,803
.09 1,417,757
.004 1,681,030
.15 I 1,932,850
.02 | 2,020,028
.12 1,933,188
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS,
835
AVERAG E NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON B E N E F IT , AND INCOME AND E X P E N D IT U R E
OF THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS, 1851 TO 1903.
[From the Fifty-third Annual Report of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers for 1903, pages xl
and xli. In some instances the benefits per member given in this table differ slightly from the result
of a division of the yearly amount by the number of members. The averages given, however, are
the equivalents of the figures given in the source quoted.]
Average members on each benefit.
Year.
1851..............................................
1852..............................................
1853..............................................
1854..............................................
1855..............................................
1856..............................................
1857..............................................
1858..............................................
1859..............................................
1860..............................................
1861..............................................
1862..............................................
1863..............................................
1864..............................................
1865..............................................
1866..............................................
1867..............................................
1868..............................................
1869..............................................
1870..............................................
1871..............................................
1872..............................................
1873..............................................
1874..............................................
1875..............................................
1876..............................................
1877..............................................
1878..............................................
1879..............................................
1880..............................................
1881..............................................
1882..............................................
1883..............................................
1884..............................................
1885..............................................
1886..............................................
1887..............................................
1888..............................................
1889..............................................
1890..............................................
1S91..............................................
1892..............................................
1893..............................................
1894..............................................
1895..............................................
1896..............................................
1897..............................................
1898..............................................
1899..............................................
1900..............................................
1901..............................................
1902..............................................
1903..............................................
Number
of
members
at end of
year.
11,829
9,737
10,757
11,617
12,553
13,405
14,229
15,194
17,790
20,935
22,862
24,234
26,058
28,815
30,984
33,007
33,325
33,474
33,539
34,711
37,790
41,075
42,382
43,150
44,032
44,578
45,071
45,408
44,078
44,692
46,101
48,388
50,418
50,681
51,689
52,019
51,869
53,740
60,728
67,928
71,221
70,909
73,526
75,510
79,135
87,313
91,944
83,564
84,957
87,672
90,943
93,252
95,403
Unemployed.
Per
month.
193
823
87
158
441
434
529
1,499
610
256
724
1,590
1,412
658
560
808
2,209
2,777
2,619
1,466
510
397
465
674
1,077
1,627
2,118
2,974
5,879
2,646
1,630
889
1,177
2,591
3,240
3,859
3,292
2,239
1,208
1,126
2,156
4,879
5,924
6,454
4,969
2,708
13,612
6,851
2,056
1,785
2,357
3,716
3,839
Per cent
of total
at end of
year.
1.6
8.5
.8
1.4
3.5
3.2
3.7
9.9
3.4
1.2
3.2
6.6
5.4
2.3
1.8
2.4
6.6
8.3
7.8
4.2
1.3
1.0
1.1
1.6
2.4
3.6
4.7
6.5
13.3
5.9
3.5
1.8
2.3
5.1
6.3
7.4
6.3
4.2
2.0
1.7
3.0
6.9
8.1
8.5
6.3
3.1
14.8
8.2
2.4
2.0
2.6
4.0
4.0
Sick.
Per
month.
171
145
164
177
210
225
247
358
307
329
388
435
508
524
555
554
632
690
703
732
740
698
711
785
862
906
934
987
1,098
1,005
1,042
1,069
1,117
1,168
1,275
1,291
1,287
1,345
1,352
1,551
1,783
1,732
1,798
1,800
2,049
1,893
2,160
1,845*
2,045
2,114
2,042
2,150
2,208
Superannuation.
Per cent
of total
at end of
year.
1.4
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.7
1.7
1.7
2.4
1.7
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.8
1.8
1.7
1.9
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.0
1.7
1.7
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.4
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.2
2.3
2.5
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.6
2.2
2.3
2.2
2.4
2.4
2.2
2.3
2.3
Per
month.
11
26
35
38
42
53
58
77
110
125
130
139
168
196
251
250
280
330
368
408
416
414
437
449
487
541
604
696
799
928
1,029
1,162
1,235
1,338
1,405
1,480
1,553
•1,641
1,755
1,871
1,967
2,100
2,312
2,430
2,604
2,774
3,006
3,193
3,438
3,602
3,849
4,225
4,386
Per cent
of total
at end of
year.
0.1
.3
.3
.3
.3
.4
.4
.5
.6
.6
.6
.6
.6
.7
.8
.7
.8
.9
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.5
1.8
2.1
2.2
2.4
2.4
2.6
2.7
2.8
3.0
3.1
2.9
2.8
2.8
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.2
3.3
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.5
4.6
836
BULLETIN OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
A VERAG E NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON BE N E FIT AND INCOME AND E X P E N D IT U R E
OF THE AMALGAM ATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS, 1851 TO 1903—Concluded.
Annual income.
Total.
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
* 1903
$107,584
256,007
120,694
135,182
145,202
158,161
169,831
166,060
208,447
255,949
273,171
281,201
301,596
345,794
376,536
404,907
419,760
405,112
401,029
415,254
444,170
512,817
534,385
576,953
584,097
584,982
589,893
602,867
658,277
623,141
644,840
605,432
655,269
766,396
703,886
846,464
918,820
971,996
893,738
892,852
923,530
1,195,538
1,290,664
1,306,027
1,445,151
1,692,895
2,722,164
2,193,463
1,577,291
1,623,245
1,688,875
1,719,879
1,764,408
Chief sources of income.
Contribu Entrance Interest
Per
fines,
member. tions,
fees.
on funds.
and levies.
$8.09
15.68
10.28
10.71
10.60
10.80
10.87
9.93
10.67
11.11
10.99
10.73
10.79
11.03
11.15
11.12
11.61
11.23
11.24
11.27
10.89
16.37
11.67
12.26
12.23
12.06
11.96
12.16
13.92
13.11
13.10
11.57
12.01
14.19
12.85
15.59
17.06
16.45
13.69
13.14
13.05
16.86
17.56
17.30
18.26
19.38
29.60
26.25
18.56
18.51
18.56
18.44
18.52
$95,666
152,759
110,562
124,354
133,074
144,778
155,426
150,832
189,784
237,514
251,316
261,248
281,172
317,763
345,400
367,109
383,495
380,930
377,392
390,955
411,750
472,766
496,300
529,242
538,551
538,838
539,106
552,275
613,452
585,995
603,976
560,504
605,899
719,356
664,341
810,944
885,041
884,160
831,534
819,275
852,708
1,140,805
1,235,609
1,260,200
1,389,123
1,610,403
2,150,701
1,843,343
1,520,387
1,544,335
1,593,034
1,611,814
1,638,142
$10,940
2,433
9,373
8,015
8,400
7,835
8,210
8,239
13,237
16,595
12,809
11,344
11,894
16,171
14,955
16,293
10,064
7,757
9,037
12,079
20,707
23,705
17,544
15,295
14,692
13,213
12,205
12,911
10,142
13,198
16,439
21,593
20,911
14,103
15,028
13,237
12,546
18,050
37,920
44,300
29,311
19,164
22,546
16,828
20,624
37,141
28,002
16,517
21,836
23,247
24,449
21,870
22,955
Annual expenditure.
Total.
$662
$55,906
229,816
749
521
60,792
79,752
1,669
2,701
113,608
4,540
121,502
5,300
146,866
6,161
251,676
3,153
176,922
4,127
142,238
6,818
208,963.
7,689
309,339
7,047
303,572
9,694
250,712
13,412
239,296
17,802
294,170
14,600
482,080
12,322
531,952
11,066
510,637
8,278
384,643
8,458
279,395
12,492
308,487
18,741
320,581
24,357
391,700
26,824
458,215
531,461
28,990
29,180
587,898
30,630
715,215
1,195,203
27,379
19,622
674,638
17,719
565,940
17,018
496,242
20,347
599,626
19,967
838,011
17,987
911,554
13,831
880,661
12,035
853,409
13,067
759,578
16,103
645,502
21,213
748,171
25*325
934,519
26,693 • 1,307,025
23,5^8
1,372,859
21,807
1,370,037
20,006
1,356,274
21 198
1,207,379
30,513
3,359.827
16,536
2,031,554
16,347
1,095 284
39,151
1,139,705
54,636
1,268,380
69,898
1,457,030
1,491,602
82,570
| Contri
1
butions
per mem
ber to
General
Federa
Per
tion of
member. Trade
Unions.
$4.72
23.60
5.65
7.11
9.05
9.06
10.27
16.57
9.95
6.79
9.14
12.76
11.66
8.72
7.73
8.91
14.47
11.02
15.23
11.08
7.39
7.51
7.56
9.07
10.41
11.93
13.04
15.75
27.12
15.10
12.28
10.29
11.95
16.53
17.62
16.89
16.45
14.13
10.63
11.01
13.12
18.43
18.67
18.14
17.13
13.82
36.54
24.33
12.89
13.00
13.56
15.26
15.63
$0.39
.37
.32
.34
837
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS
E XP E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BENEFITS B Y THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF
ENGINEERS, 1851 TO 1903.
[From the Fifty-third Annual Report of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers for 1903, pages lxiii
and lxiv. In some instances the benefits per member given in this table differ slightly from the lesult
of a division of the yearly amount by the number of members. The averages given, however, are
the equivalents of the figures given in the source quoted.]
Expenditure for—
Year.
Mem
bers.
Donations, etc.
Total.
1851..
1852..
1853..
1854..
1855..
1856..
1857..
1858..
1859..
I860..
1861..
1862..
1863..
1864..
1865..
1866..
1867..
1868..
1869..
1870..
1871..
1872..
1873..
1874..
1875..
1876..
1877..
1878..
1879..
1880..
1881..
1882..
1883..
1884..
1885..
1886..
1887..
1888..
1889..
1890..
1891..
1892..
1893..
1894..
1895..
1896..
•1897..
1898..
1899..
1900..
1901..
1902..
1903..
$24,873
11,829
9,737
227,120
10,757
12,760
21,237
11,617
59,751
12,553
62,306
13,405
68,910
14,299
15,194
172,225
77,197
17,790
38,158
20,935
99,637
22,862
24,234
190,358
158,906
26,058
*79,932
28,815
68,472
30,984
33,007
110,869
283,440
33,325
33,474
316,220
291,893
33,539
34,711
159,169
60,135
37,790
74,832
41,075
75,732
42,382
102,649
43,150
44,032
153,587
219,168
44,578
45,071
265,078
367,674
45,408
729,639
44,078
44,692
302,273
194,743
46,101
48,388
112,139
171,554
50,418
303,232
50,681
382,843
51,689
420,758
52,019
391,549
51,869
266,392
53,740
144,696
60,728
163,145
67,928
71,221
289,318
646,782
70,909
661,873
73,526
688,439
75,510
79,134
530,191
323,311
87,313
91,944 1,368,348
588,233
83,564
227,738
84,957
213,596
87,672
278,198
90,943
93,252
423,527
424,597
95,403
Per
mem
ber.
Sickness.
Total.
$13,670
$2.10
19.72
18,439
1.19
19,695
1.83
20,595
24,551
4.75
25,754
4.65
4.82
29,102
11.33 * 32,985
4.34
39,389
1.82
40,981
4.36
47,770
52,787
7.85
61,221
6.11
2.77
66,243
2.21
67,085
66,729
8.23
75,708
8.51
9.44
82,692
86,512
8.70
88,546
4.59
90,011
1.59
1.82
90,337
87,704
1.78
97,398
2.38
109,472
3.49
113,107
4.91
5.88
113,180
117,059
8.10
16.55
129,030
6.76
117,779
4.22
124,933
2.32
127,853
3.42
133,576
5.99
141,489
7.41
150,263
9.24
148,243
7.55
151,533
156,507
4.96
2.38
150,823
179,832
2.40
4.06
203,230
9.12
195,633
211,985
9.00
9.12
201,103
229)694
6.70
215,961
3.70
14.88
205,201
207,182
7.04
226,117
2.68
239,106
2.43
3.04
232,249
4.54
236,809
236,303
4.45
Superannua
tion.
Accident.
Funeral.
Per
mem
ber.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
Total.
$1.16
1.73
1.83
1.77
1.96
1.92
2.03
2.17
2.21
1.96
2.09
2.18
2.35
2.30
2.17
2.02
2.27
2.47
2.58
2.55
2.38
2.20
2.07
2.26
2.48
2.53
2.51
2.58
2.93
2.64
2.71
2.65
2.66
2.79
2.90
3.26
2.92
2.91
2.48
2.64
2.85
2.75
2.88
2.66
2.90
2.47
2.23
2.47
2.66
2.73
2.56
2.54
2.48
$584
1,874
2,448
2,521
2,847
3,475
4,370
7,052
10,263
11,534
11,869
12,916
15,110
18,989
25,228
25,462
29,111
34,664
39,200
43,769
43,516
44,363
46,120
50,758
54,062
61,016
67,440
76,443
86,283
101,992
114,480
128,042
138,676
148,521
158,687
165,223
175,987
186,596
195,487
208,179
215,201
230,614
253 832
269 760
287,075
310,225
334,621
363 469
385,680
407,842
439,878
466,050
493,556
$0.05
.17
.23
.22
.23
.26
.30
.47
.58
.55
.52
.53
.58
.66
.81
.77
.87
1.03
1.17
1.26
1.15
1.08
1.09
1.18
1.23
1.36
1.50
1.68
1.96
2.28
2.48
2.66
2.76
2.93
3.07
3.63
3.41
3.46
3.22
3.06
3.02
3.25
3.45
3.57
3.63
3.55
3.64
4.35
4.54
4.65
4.84
4.99
5.17
$1,703
1,703
973
487
1,460
2,190
5,596
6,813
2,920
4,380
3,407
5,840
8,760
5,353
8,760
7,786
4,867
4,867
7,786
7,786
3,407
5,353
8,760
6,326
8,760
5,353
10,706
7,300
8,760
9,246
12,166
8,760
7,300
10,220
8,760
7,056
9,003
14,857
10,594
9,198
7,597
9,533
19,466
9,246
13,140
9,782
13,578
12,862
6,847
10,735
7,747
10,220
17,519
$0.15
.17
.09
.04
.12
.16
.39
.45
.17
.21
.15
.28
.33
.19
.28
.23
.15
.15
.23
.22
.09
.13
.21
.15
.20
.12
.24
.16
.20
.21
.26
.18
.15
.20
.17
.15
.17
.27
.17
.14
.11
.11
.26
.12
.16
.11
.15
.15
.08
.12
.08
.11
.19
$4,122
4,852
6,346
6,302
6,326
7,597
7,752
11,441
12,395
11,543
14,590
14,750
17,485
19,096
23,783
25,885
25,705
24,571
27,252
28,187
30,197
30,528
31,958
32,528
38,392
36,689
37,273
38,319
35,949
31,890
38,265
37,219
41,949
40,163
42,285
43,219
43,901
45,653
45,205
56,607
58,690
55,415
63,148
54,023
60,223
62,286
61,975
65,221
67,888
69,635
69,717
67,347
62,802
Per
mem
ber.
$0.38
.46
.59
.54
.51
.57
.54
.76
.69
.55
.64
.61
.67
.66
.77
.79
.77
.73
.81
.81
.80
.75
.76
.76
.87
.82
.83
.84
.82
.71
.83
.77
.84
.80
.82
.95
.85
.82
.75
.83
.82
.78
.86
.71
.76
.73
.67
.78
.80
.80
.77
.72
.66
838
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
E X P E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BEN EFITS B Y THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF
ENGINEERS, 1851 TO 1903—Concluded.
Expenditure for—
Benevolent
fund.
Year.
Total.
1851.................................
1852.................................
1853............................A .
1854.................................
1855.................................
1856.................................
1857.................................
1858.................................
1859.................................
I860.................................
1861.................................
1862.................................
1863.................................
1864.................................
1865.................................
1866..1...........................
1867.................................
1868.................................
1869.................................
1870.................................
1871.................................
1872.................................
1873.................................
1874.................................
1875.................................
1876.................................
1877.................................
1878.................................
1879.................................
1880................................. '
1881.................................
1882.................................
1883.................................
1884.................................
1885.................................
1886.................................
1887.................................
1888.................................
1889.................................
1890.................................
1891.................................
1892.................................
1893.................................
1894.................................
1895.................................
1896.................................
1897.................................
1898.................................
1899.................................
1900.................................
1901.................................
1902.................................
1903 ...............................
m i
720
1,348
866
511
1,533
1,338
1,917
5,285
7,426
5,329
3,991
4,141
10,945
14,726
11,441
8,088
6,039
6,507
6,988
9,280
13,320
18,274
19,383
19,899
31,039
16,901
9,986
9,397
11,169
16,045
20,245
16,356
12,429
10,020
9,976
11,305
11,504
21,087
28,698
28,693
18,527
12,959
10,385
13,548
10,833
10,565
12,278
15,806
17,918
Per
mem
ber.
$0.08
.06
.10
.06
.04
.09
.07
.09
.22
.28
.19
.13
.13
.33
.44
.34
.23
.16
.16
.17
.21
.30
.41
.43
.44
.70
.38
.22
.19
.22
.31
.39
.35
.24
.19
.16
.17
.17
.29
.39
.38
.24
.15
.11
.16
.13
.12
.13
.14
.19
Amount of fund at end of year.
Assistance to
others.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$1,440
5,231
706
973
1,280
939
12,779
6,740
2,175
1,937
1,363
3,110
2,278
6,618
2,920
$0.13
.45
.06
.07
.09
.06
.72
.32
.10
.13
.05
.11
.07
.19
.09
243
1,869
146
1,445
3,377
7,100
17,480
8,833
7,373
13,047
100,133
21,140
2,482
1,893
23,238
100,148
47,074
1,577
2,954
540
9,344
27,681
44,125
21,198
23,690
7,631
79,582
133,522
582,578
166,201
26,318
6,847
12,298
3,772
11,616
.01
.06
.01
.04
.08
.17
.40
.20
.16
.29
2.27
.47
.06
.04
.46
1.95
.91
.04
.06
.01
.15
.41
.62
.29
.32
.10
1.00
1.53
6.33
1.99
.31
.08
.13
.04
.12
General fund.
Total.
$105,629
34,568
86,686
98,316
173,710
210,271
233,335
147,716
179,243
292,954
357,192
329.052
328.052
423,131
561,194
672,129
609,593
480,173
370,712
401,327
566,102
770,434
977,792
1,163,043
1,287,880
1,339,002
1,339,602
1,224,778
686,743
633,005
710,301
818,547
866,847
792,113
579,748
543,485
608,896
772,654
1,020,893
1,165,572
1,154,584
1,043,107
904,459
783,964
830,116
1,236,854
512,318
586,186
974,800
1,359,633
1,665,553
1,808,137
1,952,481
Superan
nuation
and
Per
mem reserve
fund.
ber.
Total.
$8.92
2.69
8.06
8.47
13.84
15.68
15.61
13.58
12.59
14.69
18.12
20.36
18.29
14.35
10.98
11.56
14.98
18.76
23.07
26.95
29.24
30.04
29.72
26.97
15.58
14.16
15.41
16.92
17.19
15.63
11.21
10.45
11.74
14.38
16.81
17.16
16.21
14.71
12.30
10.38
10.49
14.18
5.57
7.02
11.47
15.51
18.31
19.38
20.46
$56,451
114,401
172,946
249,970
338,600
426,637
520,034
618,743
730,500
850,762
979,223
$960,910
898,365
1,003,062
ol,488,576
850,918
1,012,823
1,494,834
1,978,376
2,396,053
2,658,899.
2,931,704
o This is not the correct total of the figures shown for the general fund and the superannuation reserve
fund, but is the equivalent of the amount given in the source quoted.
839
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BBITISH TRADE UNIONS,
E X P E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BENEFITS B Y THE AMALGAMATED UNION OF
CABINETM AKERS, 1876 TO 1903.
[From the Seventieth Annual Report of the Amalgamated Union of Cabinetmakers for 1903, pages
6 and 7.]
Expenditure for—
Out of work.
Year.
Travel.
1876..........................
1877..........................
1878..........................
1879..........................
1880..........................
1881..........................
1882..........................
1883..........................
1884..........................
1885..........................
1886..........................
1887..........................
1888..........................
1889..........................
1890..........................
1891..........................
1892..........................
1893..........................
1894..........................
1895..........................
1896..........................
1897..........................
1898..........................
1899..........................
1900..........................
1901..........................
1902..........................
1903..........................
Clause 1. 6Classes
and 7.
$986
1,578
2,193
2,975
1,778
1,081
1,153
951
1,114
968
707
370
253
197
233
183
301
338
247
228
121
123
251
256
447
703
640
645
$3,686
7,194
10,685
15,631
8,668
7,318
7,173
5,117
7,020
8,416
6,860
5,523
4,083
2,886
2,394
4,091
4,900
5,823
6,141
5,686
3,220
3,026
3,347
3,632
6,117
8,403
8,597
9,673
$7,920
4,189
1,480
1,681
191
344
480
80
223
565
90
879
538
95
4,886
664
322
1,378
363
288
853
436
2,084
344
505
1,864
314
1,364
Sick
ness.
$4,771
5,973
5,998
5,842
4,219
4,317
4,430
4,554
3,477
3,305
2,898
2,975
2,543
2,283
2,776
3,503
3,705
3,93.4
3,163
4,272
3,688
3,809
4,422
5,105
5,407
5,025
5,720
5,073
Super
Funeral. annua
tion.
$1,404
1,658
1,947
2,097
1,818
1,561
2,201
1,250
1,023
994
793
1,109
1,125
1,157
1,285
959
871
1,382
1,334
1,190
1,239
1,146
1,138
1,343
1,866
1,560
1,314
1,217
$854
1,034
1,517
1,578
238
62
63
63
63
105
228
276
360
618
791
894
1,382
1,488
1,635
1,897
2,574
3,013
Insur
ance.
Emigra Total.
tion.
$156
70
302
383
126
387
782
102
502
451
66
36
348
451
158
982
352
266
83
1,201
1,706
262
204
219
696
727
673
1,100
$7
36
10
163
139
100
221
202
129
78
51
134
12
105
32
27
5
24
19
24
32
66
48
36
122
202
$19,784
21,732
24,132
30,350
17,177
15,170
16,503
12,256
13,488
14,777
11,465
11,026
8,902
7,237
11,795
10,519
10,706
13,402
11,715
13,502
0 11,639
9,696
12,860
12,453
16,721
0 20,213
19,954
0 22,584
a This is not the correct total of the items shown, but is the equivalent of the amount given in the
source quoted.
E X P E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BEN EFITS B Y THE NATIO NAL AMALGAMATED
SOCIETY OF OPE R ATIV E HOUSE AND SHIP PAINTERS AND DECORATORS, 1887 TO
1903.
[From the Eighteenth Annual Report of the National Amalgamated Society of Operative House and
Ship Painters and Decorators, page 22.]
Expenditure for—
Year.
1887...........
1888...........
1889...........
1890..........
1891...........
1892...........
1893...........
1894...........
1895...........
1896...........
1897...........
1898...........
1899...........
1900...........
1901...........
1902..........
1903...........
Unem
ployed.
$2,149
6,511
6,973
7,247’
8,086
12,848
17,116
20,819
27,081
19,531
22,474
23,233
22,686
35,558
53,576
58,627
60,754
Sick
ness.
$3,157
1,993
2,334
2,824
3,819
4,362
5,156
5,651
5,793
6,322
7,299
8,384
10,013
14,475
14,136
15,018
16,095
Superan Benevo
Funeral. nuation.
lent
grants.
$1,767
792
1,074
1,253
1,733
2,759
2,205
2,360
3,156
2,956
2,883
3,467
3,996
4,868
5,200
5,254
5,003
$1,197
824
875
802
840
1,061
1,181
1,150
1,097
1,088
1,372
1,688
1,770
2,028
1,877
1,905
2,466
$13
127
154
122
185
314
342
442
456
652
689
759
1,420
1,499
1,528
1,692
2,123
Grants
to other
trades.
$58
34
83
24
122
185
158
99
184
424
716
.423
484
80
384
277
34
Trade
privi
leges.
$59
373
121
674
916
1,905
5,092
5,435
780
1,048
2,753
1,692
3,064
8,740
8,740
8,852
7,165
Perma
nent and
partial
disable
ment.
$292
146
146
292
706
292
292
243
1,071
243
779
1,582
2,312
1,655
3,552
2,093
4,161
Total.
$8,692
10,800
11,760
13,238
16,407
23,726
31,542
36,199
39,618
32,264
38,965
41,228
45,745
68,903
88, §93
93,718
97,801
840
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
E X P E N D IT U R E S FOR VARIOU S BEN EFITS B Y THE U NITED KINGDOM SOCIETY OF
COACH MAKERS, 1867 TO 1903.
[From the Two Hundred and Twenty-first Quarterly Report and Journal of the United Kingdom
Society of Coach Makers for November, 1903, pages 52 and 53. In some instances the benefits per
member given in this table differ slighly from the result o f a division of the yearly amount by the
number of members. The averages given, however, are the equivalents of the figures given in the
source quoted.]
Expenditure for—
Year. Mem
bers.
Travel.
Unemployed. Superannua
tion.
Accident.
Funeral.
Balance.
Per
Per
Per
Per
Per
Per
Total. mem Total. mem Total. mem Total. mem Total. mem Total. mem
ber.
ber.
ber.
ber.
ber.
ber.
1867..
1868..
1869..
1870..
1871..
1872..
1873..
1874..
1875..
1876..
1877..
1878..
1879..
1880..
1881..
1882..
1883..
1884..
1885..
1886..
1887..
1888..
1889..
1890..
1891..
1892..
1893..
1894..
1895..
1896..
1897..
1898..
1899..
1900..
1901..
1902..
1903..
5,266 $22,702 $4.31
5,508 24,537 4.45
5,719 22,503 3.93
5,801 23,218 4.00
6,008 17,734 2.95
6,404 12,400 1.94
6,807
9,446 1.38
7,041
9,645 1.37
7,251
8,772 1.21
7,652 12,651 1.65
7,973 15,075 1.89
8,183 18,055 2.21
6,908 26,869 3.89
4,989
7,426 1.49
4,544
5,291 1.16
4,534
.95
4,323
4,572
3,930
.86
4,552
4,981 1.10
4,560
6,808 1.49
4,540
8,620 1.90
4,688
6,164 1.31
4,790
6,581 1.32
4,985
.76
3,810
5,367
631
.18
5,486
835
.15
5,477
1,584
.29
5,577
1,366
.24
5,591
1,850
.33
5,651
.12
700
6,191
745
.11
6,446
659
.10
6,445
596
.09
6,668
441
.07
6,839
452
.07
7,075
487
.07
7,506
914
.12
7,661
755
.10
$2,175 $0.42
3,222
.57
.56
3,231
4,049
.69
4,044
.67
3,402
.53
.64
4,399
7,636 1.08
8,110 1.12
12,549 1.64
22,701 2.84
27,880 3.41
49,976 7.23
9,538 1.91
9,318 2.05
7,982 1.76
8,530 1.87
9,433 2.07
13,571 2.97
16,756 3.69
13,332 2.86
15,883 3.32
13,467 2.70
11,794 2.20
11,562 2.10
16,923 3.09
17,983 3.22
19,193 3.43
18,473 3.26
12,131 1.96
13,385 2.00
12,390 1.92
12,088 1.81
13,557 1.98
18,509 2.62
24,351 3.24
28,085 3.67
$4,117 $0.78
4,774
.86
5,820 1.01
6,526 1.13
6,672 1.07
6,273
.98
6,477
.95
6,979
.99
8,641 1.19
10,435 1.36
12,751 1.60
13,131 1.60
13,561 1.96
8,723 1.74
9,636 2.11
11,470 2.53
11,723 2.56
13,128 2.88
14,682 3.22
16,107 3.55
17,631 3.70
19,175 4.00
19,326 3.88
19,577 3.65
18,036 3.28
18,988 3.46
19,275 3.46
21,049 3.77
22,859 4.05
23,635 3.82
23,813 3.72
24,784 3.84
25,502 3.82
25,557 3.74
26,967 3.81
28,435 3.79
32,095 4.19
$1,270 $0.24
.22
1,236
730
.13
1,460
.25
1,236
.20
1,484
.23
1,217
.18
2,190
.31
1,217
.17
1,227
.16
2,699
.33
1,244
.15
533
.08
209
.04
1,830
.40
122
.03
608
.13
487
.11
492
.11
740
.16
369
.08
377
.08
492
.10
1,046
.19
415
.08
681
.12
268
.05
243
243
730
989
487
27
730
501
1,217
$8,570 $1.63
6,935 1.26
7,159 1.25
6,322 1.09
8,585 1.32
7,874 1.23
8,190 1.20
8,049 1.14
8,955 1.23
7,684 1.00
9,222 1.16
8,949 1.09
8,229 1.19
3,751
.75
4,122
.91
4,439
.98
4,849 1.06
4,438
.98
5,094 1.12
4,880 1.07
5,207 1.11
5,234 1.09
4,849
.97
5,090
.76
7,570 1.38
5,517 1.00
5,718 1.02
5,833 1.04
.05
4,360
.77
.05
5,183
.86
.11
5,932
.92
.15
5,229
.81
6,227
.07
.93
.005 7,378 1.12
6,074
.07
.86
5,514
.07
.73
6,628
.16
.86
$34,731
27,265
23,777
21,668
26,241
39,799
57,964
72,780
88,226
85,668
72,891
53,455
$6.60
4.95
4.16
3.73
4.28
6.21
8.51
10.34
12.17
9.85
9.17
6.36
7,410
18,210
30,503
42,553
50,027
48,244
40,620
37,057
31,240
32,448
42,758
54,786
64,673
69,376
71,699
77,988
95,695
111,499
129,975
144,177
159,053
166,917
162,456
150,267
1.48
3.99
6.73
9.32
11.00
10.58
8.94
7.90
6.52
6.39
7.95
9.98
11.81
12.44
12.83
13.80
15.46
17.30
20.17
21.62
23.26
23.59
21.64
19.61
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS
841
E XP E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BEN EFITS B Y THE GENERAL UNION OF O PERATIVE
CARPENTERS AND JOINERS, 1864-65 TO 1903.
rFrom the Seventy-sixth Annual Report of the General Union of Operative Carpenters and Joiners for
1903, page 8.]
Expenditure for—
Year.
Mem
bers.
1864-65............................................
1865-66............................................
1866-67............................................
1867-68............................................
1868-69............................................
1869-70............................................
1870-71............................................
1871-72............................................
1872-73............................................
1873-74............................................
1874-75............................................
1876.................................................
1877.................................................
1878.................................................
1879.................................................
1880.................................................
1881 ...............................................
1882.................................................
1883.................................................
1884.................................................
1885.................................................
1886.................................................
1887.................................................
1888.................................................
1889.................................................
1890.................................................
1891 ...............................................
1892.................................................
1893.................................................
1894.................................................
1895.................................................
1896.................................................
1897.................................................
1898.................................................
1899.................................................
1900.................................................
1901.................................................
1902.................................................
1903.................................................
6,986
9,490
9,700
9,311
8,463
8,008
7,432
8,686
9,295
9,701
10,885
11,841
11,879
10,928
8,927
4,420
2,815
2,042
1,946
1,750
1,734
1,640
1,634
1,561
1,623
2,485
2,564
3,645
6,177
6,900
5,841
5,669
6,129
6,684
7,462
7,727
7,302
6,968
6,566
Strikes.
$6,260
10,109
11,106
1,880
5,825
11,662
1,611
3,395
11,026
4,823
1,820
2,386
57,463
40,832
9,168
1 2fB
81
2
31
179
78
55
64
20
343
8,599
1,407
2,243
1,487
676
5,041
2,958
2,900
3,844
4,004
6,904
1,219
1,334
Out of
work.
$4,682
2,397
15,526
16,177
19,647
27,506
20,683
6,449
7,081
6,054
6,090
5,767
11,465
33,904
60,884
28,430
12,566
6,432
5,422
4,435
6,472
6,025
4,425
5,104
3,042
2,303
2,630
3,474
4,763
7,314
9,833
4,256
3,785
3,336
4,079
9,145
13,217
14,516
13,691
Sick and
superan Accident. Funeral.
nuation.
$5,046
9,312
11,641
13,105
16,458
14,428
19,105
11,436
15,046
15,081
27,462
20,397
21,450
32,130
27,290
11,359
9,147
7,262
6,917
6,327
6,375
5,992
5,861
5,427
5,472
6,826
6,811
6,110
6,762
7,239
9,310
9,119
9,325
11,115
11,527
12,349
12,241
12,764
14,261
$146
973
1,460
1,460
730
1,217
243
973
973
5,353
4,137
2,920
2,433
2,190
487
243
730
487
243
1,460
1,217
365
1,217
1,703
2,433
1,338
$1,363
3,611
3,523
4,390
4,399
4,195
4,818
2,910
4,828
4,409
7,796
5,801
5,937
6,803
6,073
3,952
2,521
2,219
2,297
1,421
1,450
1,489
1,852
1,324
1,562
1,995
1,635
1,411
1,168
19
1,869
1,956
2,093
1,664
2,341
2,633
2,375
1,893
2,438
Tools.
$492
900
623
2,087
1,285
861
436
444
1,025
1,272
2,249
2,886
3,175
2,566
1,403
703
280
173
358
445
220
86
115
71
111
410
148
266
329
427
554
876
877
1,025
1,378
1,344
1,956
1,213
1,128
842
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
INCOME AND E X P E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BEN EFITS B Y THE ASSOCIATED
BLACKSMITHS’ SOCIETY, 1858 TO 1903.
[From the Forty-sixth Financial Report of the Associated Blacksmiths’ Society for 1903, page 20.
In some instances the benefits per member given in this table differ slightly from the result of a
division of the yearly amount by the number of members. The averages given, however, are the
equivalents of the figures given in the source quoted.]
Expenditure for—
Year.
Number Income
each
Branches.
of
members. year.
Sickness.
Total.
1858..
1859..
1860..
1861..
1862....
1863..
1864..
1865..
1866..
1867..
1868..
1869..
1870..
1871..
1872 (o)
1873..
1874..
1875..
1876..
1877..
1878..
1879..
1880..
1881....
1882....
1883..
1884..
1885..
1886..
1887..
1888..
1889..
1890..
1891..
1892..
1893..
1894..
1895..
1896..
1897..
1898..
1899..
1900..
1901..
1902..
1903..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
4
5
8
12
14
16
27
28
29
32
30
30
30
30
30
36
37
38
41
41
43
43
44
44
44
47
48
48
47
44
41
42
42
43
44
44
44
44
45
45
45
47
47
49
51
51
300
458
856
1,040
1,142
1,196
1,598
1,815
2,214
2,034
1,532
1*509
1P 0
1,613
1,731
1,964
2,014
2,113
2,194
2,295
2,258
2,118
2,002
2,088
2,363
2,757
2,653
2,335
2,091
1,628
1,628
2,077
2,300
2,379
2,343
2,317
2,390*
2,462
2,767
2,874
2,948
2,986
2,933
3,004
2,978
2,879
$2,543
2,645
4,794
6,758
7,802
7,462
9,658
11,305
15,280
15,008
11,011
10,614
11,383
12,006
17,416
14,012
15,089
16,176
16,321
16,639
16,354
16,312
16,778
16,813
18,389
22,908
21,659
22,519
19,484
19,657
18,890
22,314
25,847
26,489
27,238
26,325
28,135
29,530
30,822
34,851
36,462
35,338
37,437
37,596
37,728
36,542
$253
656
1,003
1,852
2,036
2,432
2,687
3,502
3,804
3,916
3,641
3,212
3,584
3,758
4,841
3,342
3,749
4,501
4,841
5,055
5,378
5,225
4,913
4,903
5,041
5,838
7,215
6,248
5,199
5,211
4,882
5,237
5,711
7,686
6,950
7,153
6,718
8,027
6,786
8,265
8,184
8,903
9,898
9,922
9,076
9,859
Per
mem
ber.
$0.84
1.43
1.17
1.77
1.78
2.04
1.68
1.93
1.72
1.92
2.36
2.13
2.25
2.33
2.79
1.70
1.86
2.13
2.21
2.21
2.52
2.46
2.44
2.35
2.39
2.39
2.77
2.99
2.48
3.20
3.36
3.06
3.14
4.18
3.78
3.88
3.58
4.12
3.15
3.69
3.53
3.72
4.14
4.05
3.70
4.11
Accident.
Per
mem
ber.
Total.
$0.13
.22
.84
$111
236
964
251
.16
760
421
752
939
902
313
955
734
406
870
451
452
.34
.20
.49
.62
.56
.19
.55
.37
.20
.41
.20
.20
867
454
581
.42
.19
.21
i
l
427 j1 .19
1
487
b.21
487
6.20
487
6.18
487
6.17
1,460
487
487
487
6.50
6.16
6.16
6.17
a Covering 16 months.
&Average per member not given in source quoted. Computed on basis of number of members shown.
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS,
843
INCOME AND E XP E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BEN EFITS B Y THE ASSOCIATED
BLACKSMITHS' SOCIETY, 1858 TO 1903—Concluded.
Expenditure for—
Year.
Superannua
tion.
Total.
1858...............................
1859...............................
I860...............................
1861...............................
1862...............................
1863...............................
1864...............................
1865...............................
1866...............................
1867...............................
1868...............................
1869...............................
1870...............................
1871...............................
1872(5).........................
1873...............................
1874...............................
1875...............................
1876...............................
1877...............................
1878...............................
1879...............................
1880.........: ....................
1881...............................
1882...............................
1883...............................
1884...............................
1885...............................
1886...............................
1887...............................
1888...............................
1889...............................
1890...............................
1891...............................
1892...............................
1893...............................
1894...............................
1895...............................
1896...............................
1897...............................
188...............................
1899..............................
1900...............................
1901..............................
1902...............................
1903..............................
$97
195
190
224
507
703
853
917
976
1,071
974
902
983
1,085
1,182
1,332
1,411
1,525
1,624
1.672
1,730
1,781
1.672
1,626
1,881
2,400
2,691
2,850
Per
mem
ber.
$0.05
.09
.08
.11
.25
.33
.36
.33
.37
.46
.46
.54
.60
.51
.51
d. 56
<*.60
<*.66
d.68'
<*.68
<*.63
d. 62
d. 57
d. 54
d .64
d .80
<*.90
<*.99
Idle and trade.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$i,094
250
538
1,372
549
181
a 819
a 14,112
0 9,365
3,177
1,363
1,079
851
1,662
593
3,620
3,095
3,152
9,760
9,113
17,155
3,416
1,652
1,172
2,746
18,240
19,901
14,227
9,689
3,588
2,669
2,393
4,287
11,458
15,379
18,491
12,098
7,640
11,762
6.910
4,338
6,633
5.911
7,963
10,835
$2.38
.29
.52
1.20
.46
.11
.19
6.38
4.60
2.07
.76
.67
.53
.76
.30
1.79
1.46
1.43
4.25
4.04
8.10
1.70
.79
.50
.99
6.86
8.52
6.81
5.95
2.21
1.28
1.11
1.90
4.91
6.64
7.74
4.91
2.70
4.09
2.34
1.45
2.45
1.97
2.92
4.06
Funeral.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$49 $0.16
117
.25
.05
39
.22
239
.41
467
360
.30
.23
379
944
.52
866
.39
997
.49
.52
793
.47
725
.48
759
486
.30
1,041
.60
735
.38
642
.31
871
.40
1,061
.49
.67
1,533
.46
978
827
.39
604
.29
1,158
.55
905
.43
.54
1,309
1,256
.48
1,124
.48
1,122
.53
964
.58
1,002
.52
.57
963
903
.50
.64
1,183
1,202
.65
871
.48
939
.50
.66
1,290
871
.41
1,436
.64
1,635
.70
.54
1,280
1,411
.54
.71
1,752
.52
1,265
.61
1,475
Working and
miscellaneous
expenses, etc.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$433 $1.44
808
1.76
817
.95
1,175
1.12
1,627
1.42
1,513
1.26
2,102
1.31
2,107
1.16
3,474
1.57
3,312 • 1.63
4,100
2.68
2,484
1.64
1.66
2,619
2,536
1.57
2.42
4,198
1.93
3,800
3,839
1.91
3,534
1.66
1.64
3,601
3,862
1.68
3,974
1.76
3,674
1.73
3,831
1.91
1.86
3,879
4,038
1.75
1.52
4,180
1.79
4,760
1.56
3,638
3,282
1.57
1.96
3,187
2.00
3,258
4,120
1.99
1.64
c 3,775
c 4,152
1.74
1.93’
c 4,517
c 5,542
2.39
c 4,498
1.90
1.64
c4,093
1.71
c 4,728
2.12
c6,109
1.64
c4,840
<>5,393
1.80
c 5,163
1.76
1.79
<>5,401
1.68
« 5,015
1.87
/5,374
Balance
at the
close of
each
year.
$1,808
1,778
4,352
7,070
8,406
11,014
15,072
19,005
11,269
8,266
6,814
8,705
11,145
15.207
19,926
24,734
27,567
30,872
33,990
29,772
26,493
15,700
19.207
22,858
28,784
36,121
25,333
15,870
10.550
10,254
15,431
23,671
32,135
39,983
41,196
37,051
32,373
34,580
42,814
48,102
59,503
72,929
83,305
94.550
105,242
110,387
a Including extra benefits paid during the Clyde lockout and the Dumbarton dispute.
5 Covering 16 months.
c Not including expenditures for benevolent and contingent fund.
d Average per member not given in source quoted. Computed on basis of number of members shown.
« Not including $539 expended for benevolent and contingent fund.
/N o t including $517 expended for benevolent and contingent fund.
844
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
E X P E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOU S BEN EFITS B Y THE AM ALGAMATED SOCIETY OF R A IL
W A Y SERVANTS OF ENGLAND, IR E LA N D , SCOTLAND, AND W ALES, 1872 TO 1903.
[From the Report and Financial Statements of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of
England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales for 1903, page 23.]
Expenditure for—
Year.
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
Mem
bers.
17,247
15.830
14,254
13,018
13,440
12,815
13,543
11,516
8,589
6,878
6,321
8,077
8,460
9,052
9,609
10.830
12,080
19,585
26,360
29,820
30,228
33,826
40,735
38,119
44,709
85,928
54,426
59,819
62,023
55,943
53,453
52,355
Legal
assist
ance.
$730
813
1,901
2,096
2,243
2,389
2,356
895
3,916
2,648
2,402
1,906
1,516
1,844
5,575
1,719
921
5,273
5,247
2,726
3,811
6,168
3,629
4,088
4,527
9,761
9,552
12,201
52,525
65,214
18,471
Unem
ployed.
$519
569
2,242
3,939
2,971
3,117
4,419
6,380
3,824
2,853
2,335
1,802
2,081
2,510
2,685
10,065
3,435
2,918
4,959
8,576
27,562
24,558
14,363
15,657
13,214
15,177
79,478
14,030
15,649
15,723
15,347
15,737
Protec
tion.
Total
funds at
Superan
end
of
nuation Orphans.
each
and
year.
death.
a $4,891
235
770
533
794
362
1,335
34,439
4,387
2,244
32,819
20,400
7,036
48,718
11,158
11,001
12,306
66,394
60,224
12,015
29,942
7,228
5,443
120,400
$97
142
732
1,512
3,033
5,655
9,797
9,948
23,656
4,058
4,885
6,297
6,833
7,029
4,8T*
7,835
8,859
9,336
12,507
12,526
14,663
15,925
12,876
13,673
16,262
15,743
17,957
16,084
18,347
19,393
22,494
6 $394
6880
6 491
6 493
6 372
824
2,021
2,907
3,274
3,850
5,625
7,140
8,163
9,300
10,642
11,126
13,979
17,569
18,511
20,719
24,767
25,794
27,326
33,025
33,234
40,785
41,996
43,228
44,177
$12,503
24,471
45,712
59,582
78,642
91,080
108,873
117,370
126,595
119,352
132,254
179,731
208,535
247,163
271,106
302,630
358,826
397,902
477,474
538,159
588,004
597,950
682,963
772,438
870,339
963,190
969,908
1,091,993
1,192,563
1,285,236
1,359,929
1,356,989
a Specially raised by levy.
6 These sums were remitted by the general secretary to the Derby Orphanage, exclusive of remittances
by branches.
845
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS
E X P E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BEN EFITS B Y THE LONDON SOCIETY OF COMPOSI
TORS, 1848 TO 1903.
[From the Fifty-sixth Annual Report of the London Society of Compositors for 1903, pages 28 and 29.
In some instances the benefits per member given in this table diner slightly from the result of a
division of the yearly amount by the number of members. The averages given, however, are the
equivalents of the figures given in the source quoted.]
Expenditure for—
Year.
Members.
Strikes.
Total.
1848..
1849..
1850..
1851..
1852..
1853..
1854..
1855..
1856..
1857..
1858..
1859..
I860..
1861..
1862..
1863..
1864..
1865..
1866..
1867..
1868..
1869..
1870..
1871..
1872..
1873..
1874..
1875..
1876..
1877..
1878..
1879..
1880..
1881..
1882..
1883..
1884..
1885..
1886..
1887..
1888..
1889..
1890..
1891..
1892..
1893..
1894..
1895..
1896..
1897..
1898..
1899..
1900..
1901..
1902..
1903..
1,100
1,500
1,800
1,950
2, 100
2, 600
2, 350
2,300
2,000
2'250
2,600
2,550
2,650
2 ,550
2,170
2,555
2,600
2,'800
3,335
3,290
3,320
3,300
3,350
3,500
3,700
3,700
3,800
4,200
4,445
4,480
4,700
4,930
5,100
5,300
5,660
5,850
6,175
6,435
6,585
7,025
7,400
7,955
8,910
9,350
9,798
10,151
10,011
10,280
10,558
10,780
11,079
11,415
11,287
11,355
11,244
11,270
Per
mem
ber.
$627
80
34
57
330
58
139
125
309
3,430
2,632
345
1,407
26
1,566
1,501
1,186
481
852
3,781
2,673
2,183
8,835
1,478
19,807
2,256
3,117
429
3,209
1,192
1,766
8,276
1,118
2,601
3,474
3,217
2,802
5,852
6,448
3,617
2,234
3,040
2,542
8,362
5,373
8,109
5,825
4,335
4,824
1,994
1,395
6,486
1,598
9,996
5,840
1,702
$0.57
.05
.02
.03
.16
.02
.06
.05
.15
1.52
1.01
.13
.53
.01
.72
.58
.45
.16
.25
1.15
.78
.66
2.64
.42
5.35
.61
.82
.10
.72
.26
.38
1.66
.22
.49
.61
.55
.45
.91
.98
.50
.30
.38
.28
.89
.55
.80
.58
.42
.46
.18
.13
.57
.14
.88
.52
.15
Unemployed.
Total.
$906
915
973
857
1,132
460
251
3,556
ll 161
973
1,687
973
973
5,035
3,299
1,917
5,182
7,950
8,762
12,095
11,278
13,073
19,062
8,869
6,144
5,331
6,125
4,129
10,832
12,418
15,884
25,881
24,322
24,260
23,363
20,148
19,492
25,636
26,485
23,084
26,981
25,250
26,956
51,773
57,942
57,744
80,704
58,062
51 6^5
49,058
46,o42
62 871
77,226
76,850
75,360
76,921
12951— N o. 64— 06------17
Per
mem
ber.
$0.82
.61
.54
.44
.54
.18
.11
1.54
.58
.43
.64
.38
.37
1.97
1.52
.75
1.99
2.84
2.63
3.68
3.17
3.96
5.69
2.53
1.66
1.44
1.61
.98
2.43
2.77
3.38
5.25
4 77
4 57
4.13
3.41
3.15
3.98
4.02
3.28
3.64
3.17
3.02
5.54
5.92
5.69
8.06
5.65
489
455
421
5.51
6.84
6.77
6.70
6.82
Emigration.
Total.
$1,217
1,703
487
487
Travel.
Per
mem
ber.
Total.
$0.47
.72
.21
.24
<
550
1,132
930
990
594
503
268
355
1,321
954
1,124
1,012
1,066
978
930
1,294
861
730
1,387
672
866
1,552
1,455
1,037
820
623
852
754
404
1,426
1,285
2,117
3,085
.15
.30
.25
.26
.14
.11
.06
.07
.26
.18
.21
.18
.18
.16
.14
.19
.12
.10
.17
.08
.09
.16
.14
.10
.08
.06
.08
.07
.04
.13
.11
.19
.27
$175
249
210
244
153
142
196
188
370
318
309
324
215
370
494
331
297
279
316
448
343
422
446
1,133
1,045
394
442
409
392
479
499
311
324
289
181
336
265
555
258
367
296
419
428
1,566
1,786
1,926
2,515
1,758
1,523
893
979
910
1,018
2,085
1,576
1,432
Per
mem
ber.
$0.16
.16
.12
.12
.07
.05
.08
.08
.18
.14
.12
.13
.08
.14
.22
.13
.11
.10
.09
.13
.10
.13
.13
.32
.28
.10
.11
.10
.09
.11
.10
.06
.06
.05
.03
.06
.04
.08
.04
.05
.04
.05
.05
.17
.18
.19
.25
.17
.14
.08
.09
.08
.09
.18
.14
.13
Superannuation.
Total.
$743
1,468
1,986
3,031
3,391
3,361
4,285
4,781
4,788
5,303
5,668
5,330
5,730
5,911
6,696
8,167
8,247
9,179
9,200
9,126
9,869
15,383
16,217
18,763
22,796
27,590
32,103
Per
mem
ber.
$0.16
.31
.40
.59
.64
.59
.73
.77
.74
.80
.81
.72
.71
.66
.71
.83
.81
.92
.90
.87
.92
1.39
1.42
1.66
2.01
2.45
2.85
846
BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
E X P E N D IT U R E FOR V ARIOU S B E N E FITS B Y THE LONDON SOCIETY OF COMPOSI
TORS, 1848 TO 1903—Concluded.
Expenditure for—
Funds.
Funeral.
Grants.
Fire.
Management.
Year.
Total.
1848.
1849.
1850.
1851.
1852.
1853.
1854.
1855.
1856.
1857.
1858.
1859.
1860.
1861.
1862.
1863.
1864.
1865.
1866.
1867.
1868.
1869.
1870.
1871.
1872.
1873.
1874.
1875.
1876.
1877.
1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
1888.
1889.
1890.
1891.
1892.
1893.
1894.
1895.
1896.
1897.
1900.
1901.
1902.
1903.
Per
mem
ber.
Total.
Per
mem
ber.
$24 o$0.05
.12
303
$389
1,864
1,625
2,555
1,802
2,844
2,509
2.745
3,533
2.745
4.088
4,797
4,540
4,821
4,114
4,739
5,184
5,874
4,701
4,826
6,216
6,685
6,361
8,090
9,137
8,703
6,992
8,729
8,198
7,564
9.089
10,627
11,709
10,940
12,295
11,427
23
104
.005
.04
19
.005
22
.005
$0
.02
.01
178
25
150
139
217
49
21
.04
.005
.03
.03
.04
.005
253
46
277
125
134
19
366
16
89
417
190
156
8
46
.04
.005
.06
.02
.02
1
.04
.01
.04
.02
.02
.005
.03
.005
Total.
$303
195
706
657
49
2,360
72
4,104
817
669
542
463
440
975
788
761
474
630
460
786
2,458
2,025
2,365
4,377
912
2,979
4.433
1,579
966
947
1,038
1,114
1,164
1,286
366
186
146
2,076
4,297
4.252
1,027
1,151
1,928
1,870
1,810
10,510
11,446
2,624
1,202
2,102
2,978
2,543
Per
mem
ber.
$0.20
.11
.36
.31
.02
1.00
.02
1.61
.30
.26
.25
.18
.17.
.34
.23
.23
.14
.19
.14
.22
.66
.54
.62
1.04
.20
.66
.94
.32
.19
.18
.10
.19
.19
.20
.05
.03
.02
.26
.48
.45
.11
.11
.19
.18
.17
.97
1.03
.23
.11
.18
.26
.23
Total.
$1,149
1,136
1,212
1,696
1,542
3,625
2,081
4,305
4,240
3,502
3,831
3,747
3,530
3,408
4,237
3,697
3,722
3,639
5,387
4,373
3,782
4,077
5,970
4,021
5,235
4,162
5,018
5,567
5,072
0,758
7,637
8,791
7,375
9,265
6,903
6,611
7,601
6,830
8,695
7,824
7,962
9,784
11,715
15,490
17,710
17,371
14,015
11,496
12,515
10,346
11,933
11,503
10,561
11,924
12,189
12,173
Per
mem
ber.
Total.
$1.04
.76
.67
.94
.73
1.39
.88
1.87
2.12
1.56
1.47
1.47
1.33
1.33
1.95
1.44
1.43
1.30
1.61
1.33
1.14
1.23
1.78
1.15
1.41
1.12
1.31
1.32
1.14
1.51
1.62
1.78
1.44
1.74
1.22
1.12
1.22
1.06
1.32
1.11
1.07
1.23
1.31
1.68
1.80
1.71
1.40
1.12
1.19
.96
1.07
1.01
.94
1.05
1.08
1.08
$1,148
2,379.
4,792
6,912
9,065
10,967
11,912
11,048
11,203
13,261
12,775
11,998
14,632
13,784
12,107
13,952
17,794
20,690
25,176
22,642
22,806
21,654
15,939
21,817
21,540
32,250
42,245
55,950
65,966
68,191
69,017
52,207
50,506
49,957
52,874
60,416
70,590
77,468
85,686
98,312
110,431
123,765
143,987
129,085
105,624
115,647
118,640
157,842
217,263
265,430
312,137
339,935
358,621
359,088
352,376
351,602
Per
mem
ber.
$1.04
1.54
2.66
3.54
4.31
4.22
5.06
4.80
5.60
5.89
4.91
4.70
5.52
5.40
5.58
5.46
6.84
7.39
7.55
6.88
6.87
6.54
4.76
6.23
5.82
6.08
11.12
13.32
14.84
14.73
15.57
10.58
9.90
9.42
9.34
10.33
11.43
12.03
13.01
13.99
14.92
15.56
16.16
13.82
10.78
11.39
11.85
15.35
20.58
24.62
28.18
29.78
31.77
31.62
31.34
31.20
a Based on the total members shown this average is too large, but it is the equivalent of the
amount given in the source quoted.
847
BENEFIT FEATURES OF BRITISH TRADE UNIONS,
E XP E N D IT U R E
FOR
VARIOU S BEN EFITS B Y THE
SOCIETY, 1853 TO 1903.
STEAM
ENGINE
MAKERS*
[From the Seventy-ninth Annual Report of Income and Expenditure of the Steam Engine Makers*
Society for 1903, pages 46 and 47. In some instances the benefits per member given in this table
differ slightly from the result of a division of the yearly amount by the number of members. The
averages given, however, are the equivalents of the figures given in the source quoted.]
Expenditure for—
Year.
Mem
bers.
1853................................
1854................................
1855.................................
1856.................................
1857................................
1858................................
1859................................
1860.................................
1861................................
1862.................................
1863................................
1864................................
1865................................
1866................................
1867................................
1868................................
1869................................
1870................................
1871................................
1872................................
1873................................
1874................................
1874................................
1875.................................
1876................................
1877................................
1878................................
1879................................
1880................................
1881................................
1882................................
1883................................
1884................................
1885................................
1886................................
1887................................
1888................................
1889................................
1890................................
1891................................
1892................................
1893................................
1894................................
1895................................
1896.........................
1897................................
1898................................
1899................................
1900............... •...............
1901................................
1902................................
1903................................
1,313
1,529
1,662
1,867
(a)
1,776
1,958
2,050
2,107
2,190
2,213
2,394
2'521
2,712
2,843
2,873
2,805
2,819
3,063
3,392
3,527
3,701
6 3,768
3,871
3,938
4,124
4,247
4,071
4,134
4,387
4,591
4,762
4,910
5,062
5,079
5,080
5,165
5,500
5,822
5,965
6,100
6,328
6,680
7,085
8,118
8,565
8,113
8,202
8,566
8,976
9,303
9,651
!
Travel.
Per
mem
ber.
$129 $0.10
.08
123
.35
579
918
.49
890
.50
1,036
.58
1,920
.98
953
.46
.30
643
.62
1,362
.91
2,019
l' 183
.50
.16
413
.19
526
.23
675
1,627
.56
.46
1,304
.46
1,295
.14
431
234
.07
.08
299
.09
330
6 327 6.09
.14
567
672
.16
.17
743
1,612
.38
.17
709
685
.16
.14
609
.08
365
.09
451
421
.08
782
.15
.08
408
.09
449
802
.15
.08
456
.05
303
.07
432
537
.09
.06
375
641
.09
793
.11
.09
725
.09
751
.09
777
502
.06
456
.05
.06
586
.06
606
654
.08
Unem
ployed.
$404
499
2,136
3,809
3,629
6,397
9,024
2,151
2,556
7,890
11,785
5,141
2,691
2,840
6,016
15,955
16,366
12,851
4,447
2,643
3,597
5,742
6 2,740
6,859
10,540
14,425
25,512
40,887
16,699
12,130
7,168
9,134
14,900
23,780
28,337
29,144
14,032
6,324
6,258
10,748
25,865
38,251
40,149
29,244
14,531
86,627
42,962
12,397
9,996
15,612
26,549
27,035
Per
mem
ber.
$0.30
.32
1.28
2.04
2.03
3.55
4.61
1.05
1.21
3.60
5.33
2.15
1.06
1.04
2.11
5.55
5.83
4.61
1.45
.78
1.02
1.55
6.72
1.77
2.67
3.50
6.00
10.04
4.04
2.76
1.56
1.92
3.03
4.69
5.58
5.73
2.71
1.15
1.07
1.80
4.24
6.04
6.01
4.13
1.79
10.11
5.29
1.51
1.17
1.73
2.85
2.86
Super
annua
tion.
$51
107
60
278
350
280
487
764
979
1,171
1,240
1,262
1,580
1,561
1,868
2,165
2,304
2,184
2,145
61,373
2,853
3,637
3,515
3,746
4,233
5,287
6,306
6,790
6,537
6,419
7,000
7,387
8,343
8,772
8,847
9,502
10,113
11,329
12,801
13,776
15,615
16,231
16,669
17,351
18,255
19,463
19,987
21,458
22,307
Per
mem
ber.
$0.03
.06
.05
.14
.17
.13
.22
.34
.41
.46
.46
.44
.55
.55
.67
.70
.67
.62
.58
6.36
.74
.92
.85
.88
1.04
1.28
1.43
1.48
1.37
1.30
1.38
1.45
1.64
1.70
1.61
1.63
1.69
1.86
2.02
2.06
2.20
2.00
1.94
2.13
2.23
2.27
2.23
2.31
2.31
Per
mem
ber.
Contin
gent.
i
$809
861
679
1,077
5,963
588
344
439
611
405
674
666
5,115
560
589
883
892
3,370
295
116
1,299
1,991
47,460
16,144
55
259
192
442
87
.
$0.21
.22
.16
.25
1.46
.14
.08
.09
.13
.08
.13
.13
1.00
.11
.11
.15
.15
.55
.05
.02
.18
.24
5.54
1.99
.005
.03
.02
.04
.005
a Not reported.
6 This report, 1874, was for seven months only, the financial year having previously ended on May 31,
1874, but to comply with the Trades Union A ct the accounts had to close on December 31 in each year.
848
BULLETTH OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
E XP E N D IT U R E FOR VARIOUS BENEFITS B Y THE STEAM ENGINE M AKERS' SOCIETY,
1853 TO 1903.
[From the Seventy-ninth Annual Report of Income and Expenditure of the Steam Engine Makers'
Society for 1903, pages 46 and 47.]
Expenditure for—
Year.
1853...........................................
1854...........................................
1855...........................................
1856...........................................
1857...........................................
1858...........................................
1859...........................................
1860...........................................
1861...........................................
1862...........................................
1863...........................................
1864................................. ..........
1865...........................................
1866...........................................
1867...........................................
1868...........................................
1869...........................................
1870...........................................
1871...........................................
1872...........................................
1873...........................................
1874...........................................
1874...........................................
1875...........................................
1876...........................................
1877...........................................
1878...........................................
1879...........................................
1880...........................................
1881...........................................
1882...........................................
1883...........................................
1884...........................................
1885...........................................
1886...........................................
1887...........................................
1888...........................................
1889...........................................
1890...........................................
1891...........................................
1892...........................................
1893...........................................
1894...........................................
1895...........................................
1896...........................................
1897...........................................
1898...........................................
1899...........................................
1900...........................................
1901...........................................
1902...........................................
1903...........................................
Per Disabled Benevo Miscella
Per
Per
neous or mem
Sickness. mem Funeral. mem compen
lent
working ber.
ber.
ber.
sation.
grants. expenses.
$2,779 $2.11
2,730
1.78
3,756
2.26
3,713
1.99
3,148
1.76
1,467
.81
4,201
2.14
4,893
2.38
4,443
2.11
4,425
2.02
4,901
2.22
5,905
2.47
5,458
2.16
6,305
2.32
7,078
2.49
7,136
2.48
7,833
2.79
7,562
2.71
7,096
2.31
7,612
2.24
7,408
2.09
6,971
1.88
6 4,441 61.18
9,094
2.35
9,295
2.36
8,578
2.08
10,325
2.43
11,170
2.74
11,016
2.66
10,947
2.49
10,799
2.35
12,325
2.59
13,158
2.68
13,188
2.60
13,225
2.60
13,281
2.61
13,568
2.63
13,638
2.48
17,044
2.93
17,710
2.97
17,091
2.80
16,827
2.66
16,178
2.42
19,798
2.79
17,475
2.15
19,614
2.29
20,760
2.55
22,302
2.72
21,428
2.50
21,820
2.43
23,136
2.48
24,243
2.51
$730
657
1,095
779
900
195
1,022
1,711
1,411
1,071
1,202
1,022
1,874
1,606
1,898
2,652
2,750
2,433
2,117
2,312
2,343
2,823
61,752
2,823
2,944
3,382
2,906
3,003
2,870
2,823
3,236
3,382
3,236
3,236
4,283
3,626
3,723
4,920
4,613
5,022
5,927
5,397
5,343
5,694
5,022
6,635
6,588
7,436
6,706
6,277
8,517
7,271
$0.55
.43
.66
.42
.51
.17
.52
.83
.67
.49
.54
.43
.74
.59
.66
.93
.98
.87
.69
.68
.66
.76
6.46
.72
.75
.82
.68
.74
.69
.64
.70
.71
.66
.64
.84
.71
.72
.89
.79
.84
.97
.85
.80
.74
.62
.77
.81
.89
.78
.69
.91
.78
$487
32Q
973
1,460
973
1,947
1,460
973
1,460
1,460
973
1,460
1,460
2,433
1,947
973
1,460
973
973
6 487
487
973
2,433
584
1,460
487
1,606
1,947
973
973
973
487
487
973
2,287
2,433
243
487
487
487
1,460
1,947
2,433
973
1,217
1,217
973
$39
159
258
225
184
191
201
218
159
6 147
404
456
519
632
1,034
326
268
200
230
355
350
343
236
411
273
353
328
443
603
667
399
316
426
421
224
285
346,
460
544
$2,259
4,190
5,170
3,263
3,448
3,744
5,322
5,355
4,643
4,729
5,134
4,642
4,818
4,854
5,069
5,330
5,416
5,701
5,196
6,229
7,353
6,241
6 4,308
6,542
6,196
6,548
6,938
7,352
6,799
6,989
7,151
7,170
7,390
7,365
8,323
7,775
8,266
8,766
8,911
9,236
9,359
9,339
9,404
9,911
11,170
13,298
12,271
12,024
11,663
11,921
12,389
13,687
$1.72
1.88
2.82
1.75
1.90
2.05
2. 72
2.61
2.21
2.15
2.32
1.94
1 91
1.79
1.78
1.85
1.93
2.05
1.69
1.84
2.08
1.68
6 1.15
1.69
1.57
1 59
1.63
1.80
1.64
1.59
1.56
1.51
1.50
1.45
1.64
1.53
1.60
1.59
1.53
1.55
1.53
1.48
1.41
1.40
1.37
1.55
1.51
1.47
1.36
1.33
1.33
1.28
6 This report, 1874, was for seven months only, the financial year having previously ended on May 31,
1874, hut to comply with the Trade Union Act the accounts had to close on December 31 in each year.
RECENT REPORTS OF STATE BUREAUS OF LABOR STATISTICS.
CALIFORNIA.
E le v e n th
B i e n n i a l R e p o r t o f th e B u r e a u
o f C a lifo r n ia
fo r
th e
yea rs
1 9 0 8 -4 -
o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s
o f th e S ta te
W. V. Stafford, Commissioner.
140 pp.
The following subjects are presented in this report: Women and
children wageworkers, 7 pages; the apprentice system, 12 pages;
labor organizations, 43 pages; Chinese and Japanese in California, 7
pages; comparative statistics of occupations, 14 pages; number and
condition of the unemployed, 3 pages; shortening hours of labor, 2
pages; children of the wage-earner and higher education, 5 pages;
punitive, corrective, and charitable institutions, 8 pages; value of
property and products of California, 7 pages; the petroleum industry,
3 pages; State savings banks, 2 pages; labor laws and court decisions,
16 pages.
W omen and Children W ageworkers .— The facts on which this
report is based were gathered in September, 1904, in a canvass of San
Francisco and Oakland, and embraced the number and per cent of
women and children employed in various industries, hours of labor,
ages of children employed, violations of the laws relating to the
employment of children, etc., sanitary conditions of workrooms and
toilets, and extent to which seats were provided lor female employees.
In 163 establishments employing a total of 6,519 wageworkers, 3,687
were females; and of 396 children employed, 284 were 14 to 16 years
of age, 105 were 12 to 14 years of age, and 7 were under 12 years of
age. The lowest average number of hours of work per week was
found in dry-goods stores and the highest in candy stores and baker
ies; in 14 manufacturing establishments in which were employed 516
females and 75 children the average number of hours of labor per
week was 53. There was found but little violation of the laws
requiring sanitary workrooms and suitable toilets, while, on the con
trary, no employer was found who had fully complied with the pro
visions of the law as to the age limit of children employed.
T he A pprentice System .— Returns were received from 82 labor
unions and 28 employers relative to the rules governing apprentices.
The data embraced proportion of apprentices to journeymen, age
limit of apprentices, and length of apprenticeship, whether appren
tices work the same or more hours than journeymen, whether com
plete trade is taught, restrictions of labor organizations as to number
849
850
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
of apprentices, etc. Brief accounts are also given of the apprentice
systems in foreign countries and of trade schools in foreign countries
and the United States.
L abor Organizations.— A list of the labor organizations of the
State is presented, together with the address of each body. The list
shows 805 organizations, exclusive of 55 central labor bodies, depart
mental councils, etc., and .36 federal labor unions. The total mem
bership was estimated at 110,000. A s compared with the period
covered by the previous biennial report, the number of labor unions
throughout the State had increased 62.6 per cent. Date of organiza
tion, dues and fees, benefit features, wages and hours of labor, etc.,
of 6 maritime labor organizations are likewise given. These organi
zations, with headquarters at San Francisco, reported a membership
of 12,122, and they comprise men engaged in both the coastwise and
offshore trade of the Pacific Ocean.
Chinese and Japanese in California .— According to the census
returns there were in California, in 1880, 75,132 Chinese and 86
Japanese; in 1890, 72,472 Chinese and 1,147 Japanese, and in 1900,
45,753 Chinese and 10,151 Japanese. The number of Chinese has
been constantly on the wane, while the number of Japanese in 1904
was estimated at upward of 18,000. Deductions made from the
United States census of 1900 place in California at that date 41,843
Chinese over 10 years of age engaged in gainful occupations and 9,416
Japanese.
Comparative Statistics of O ccupations and N umber and Con
U nemployed .— These two presentations consist of
dition of the
reproductions from the last United States census of occupations.
The statistics relating to occupations and the unemployed for Cali
fornia are set out in comparison with those for the United States as
a whole.
Shortening H ours of L abor .— This inquiry, conducted through
correspondence with employers throughout the State, was made
during June, 1904. While the replies received were not sufficient to
furnish conclusive evidence on the subject of inquiry, nevertheless
they were valuable as showing the general tendency. Of the entire
number of establishments from which replies were received, 68.7 per
cent showed a decrease in the hours of work per day, and in no case
was there a decrease in pay. Of those showing a decrease in the
hours of work, more than 50 per cent recorded an increase in pay as
well. No change whatever was reported by 31.3 per cent of the
entire number of establishments.
L abor L aws and Court D ecisions.— This is a reprint of the labor
laws passed at the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth sessions of the State
legislature, the Federal eight-hour law, and decisions affecting labor
rendered by various State and Federal courts.
REPORTS OP STATE BUREAUS OP LABOR---- MAINE.
851
MAINE.
E ig h te e n th
S ta tis tic s
A n n u a l
R ep ort
fo r
S ta te
th e
Commissioner.
o f
o f
th e
M a in e
B u rea u
.
o f
1904.
I n d u s tr ia l
an d
L a b or
Samuel W. Matthews,
239 pp.
The subjects presented in this report are: Factories, mills, and
shops built during 1904, 4 pages; industrial development of Aroos
took County, 33 pages; the potato as a commercial crop, 42 pages; the
milling industry, 36 pages; central electric light and power stations,
28 pages; market gardening, 21 pages; railroads, 5 pages; strikes, 1881
to 1900, 5 pages; labor unions, 21 pages; twentieth annual conven
tion of the Association of Officials of Bureaus of Labor Statistics of
America, 9 pages; labor laws of Maine, 7 pages; report of the
inspector of factories, workshops, mines and quarries, 11 pages.
F actories, M ills, and Shops B uilt .— The returns show that in
91 towns 113 buildings were erected or enlarged, remodeled, etc.,
during the year, at a total cost of $1,175,500. These improvements
provide for 3,276 additional employees. The returns for 14 years,
1891 to 1904, are summarized below*
f a c t o r ie s , m il l s , a n d sh o p s b u il t o r e n l a r g e d
, e t c ., d u r i n g t h e y e a r s
1891 TO 1904.
Year.
1891............................................................................................
1892............................................................................................
1893............................................................................................
1894............................................................................................
1895............................................................................................
1896............................................................................................
1897............................................................................................
1898............................................................................................
1899...........................................................................; ...............
1900............................................................................................
1901............................................................................................
1902............................................................................................
1903............................................................................................
1904............................................................................................
Number Number
build
of towns. ofings.
86
89
81
48
75
62
74
64
103
114
94
91
96
91
110
114
108
55
102
77
95
72
138
167
121
129
124
113
Aggregate
cost.
$3,023,850
2,128,000
841,725
663,700
1,367,800
1.055.900
827,600
675,100
6,800,700
2,174,825
5,638,200
2,776,930
1.436.900
1,175,500
New em
ployees.
4,278
4,312
2,526
1,039
2,797
1,470
2,339
2,024
4,990
5,539
6,337
5,017
3,343
3,276
T he P otato as a Commercial Crop.— This is a historical and
statistical discussion of the potato as one of the principal food crops
of the world. Tables are given showing the volume of the potato
crop of the world as compared with the volume of each of the most
important cereal crops; also statistics of the potato crop of the
United States for each year from 1866 to 1903 and for the various
States from 1894 to 1904.
From 1899 to 1903 the potato crop of Maine increased from
9,813,748 bushels to 17,067,092 bushels, or an increase of 73.9 per
cent, while in the whole country the increase was from 228,783,232
bushels to 247,127,880 bushels, or 8 per cent. In the State during
the year 1,600,000 bushels were made into starch.
852
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
T he Milling I ndustry.— This part of the report is devoted to
the gristmill industry of the State and is presented by counties. It
is the first inquiry made on this subject, and represents about twothirds of the milling done. Statistics are presented showing the num
ber of mills in each county, kind of power used, horsepower, hands
employed, wages, and quantity and value of grain ground. Very
little grain is grown except in Aroostook County, and gristmills are
prospering only in the northern counties. Returns were received
from 92 mills. In 19 mills the proprietors did their own work, while
in the remaining 73 mills 178 hands were employed at wages rang
ing from $1.25 to $2.25 per day and averaging $1.76. The total
value of products amounted to $2,206,849.
Central E lectric L ight and Power Stations.— In 1904 there
were in the State 54 central electric light and power stations, 51
operated under private and 3 under municipal ownership. For the
year statistics were secured from 52 of the stations, showing capital
stock, value of plants, cost of materials, gross income, horsepower,
number of lights, miles of wire, etc., and number of employees and
rates of wages. Daily wages varied from $1.25 to $3.25.
R ailroads.— For the year ending June 30, 1904, there were 8,371
employees in the service of the 20 steam railroads operating in the
State. The amount paid in wages aggregated $4,551,084.52. The
average daily wages, including general officers, increased from $1.86
in 1903 to $1.90 in 1904, and, not including general officers, from
$1.82 in 1903 to $1.86 in 1904. The total number of days worked
b y employees of steam railroads was 2,327,137 in 1903 and 2,395,711
in 1904. The amount of wages paid by street railways for the year
ending June 30, 1903, was $553,500, and for the year ending June
30, 1904, $698,017. In 1903 there were 1,125 employees and in 1904
there were 1,229. Accidents on steam railroads for the year ending
June 30, 1903, resulted in 50 persons being killed and 326 persons
injured. For the year ending June 30, 1904, 38 persons were killed
and 259 were injured. On the street railways for the year ending
June 30, 1903, 7 persons were killed and 40 injured; for the year
ending June 30, 1904, 5 persons were killed and 51 injured.
Strikes , 1881 to 1900.— Under this head is given a brief synopsis
of the reports made b y the United States Bureau of Labor on strikes
occurring during the period 1881 to 1900 in so far as they related
to the State of Maine.
L abor U nions .— A list of the labor unions, b y industries and by
cities and towns, is given, together with the membership and the
name and the address of the secretary of each union. There were
257 unions in the State which reported in 1904, 83 more than reported
for the previous year. A list of State and central labor unions*is
also given.
REPORTS OF STATE BUREAUS OF LABOR---- MAINE.
853
R evised L abor L aw s .— Under this title the laws of the State
relating to labor are reproduced.
Child L abor .— In the report on factory inspection is a table
showing the number of children under 16 years of age (grouped
according to those between the ages of 16 and 15 years and those
under 15 years) at work in the cotton and woolen mills of the State
for the years 1902, 1903, and 1904. In 1902 the number of children
under 16 years of age at work in these industries was 719, of whom
234 were under 15 years of age; in 1903 there were 585 children at
work under 16 years of age, of whom 157 were under 15 years of age,
and in 1904 the number of children under 16 years of age so employed
was 749, of whom 323 were under 15 years of age.
VIRGINIA.
S e v e n th
fo r
A n n u a l R e p o r t o f th e B u r e a u
th e
sioner.
S ta te
o f
V ir g in ia
.
o f L a b or an d
1904.
I n d u s tr ia l S ta tis tic s
James B. Doherty, Commis
v, 197 pp.
The subjects presented in this report are: Industrial statistics,
117 pages; court decisions relating to labor, 35 pages; laws of vari
ous States relating to labor, enacted since January 1, 1903, 42 pages.
I ndustrial Statistics.— These statistics for the year 1903 are
presented in a series of tables for 18 industries, showing the value of
product, capital invested, amount paid for wages, rent, taxes, and
insurance, number of employees by sex and occupation, monthly pay
of persons employed on salary, daily wages paid in the different
occupations, wage changes, daily hours of labor, and the number of
days the establishments were in operation. For most of the indus
tries comparisons with 1901 are presented. Statistics are also pre
sented showing the operations of 6 gas works, 9 waterworks, and
34 railroads.
The following table shows for each of the 11 industries which
reported an output exceeding $1,000,000, the number of establish
ments, capital invested, value of product, and aggregate wages paid:
C APITAL IN VESTED, VALUE OF PRODUCT, AND W AGES PAID IN 11 INDUSTRIES, 1903.
Industry.
Boxes and baskets...............................................................
Breweries..............................................................................
Cigars, cigarettes, and cheroots.........................................
Cotton m ills.........................................................................
Flour mills............................................................................
Iron and machine works....................................................
Knitting mills......................................................................
Paper and pulp mills..........................................................
Printing, engraving, and bookbinding.............................
Tobacco manufactures........................................................
Trunks and bags..................................................................
Number
of
Capital
establish invested.
ments.
15
6
44
5
47
38
12
8
52
28
5
$408,417
1,344,833
868,139
4,090,408
1,303,084
9,269,967
469,050
1,160,000
834,174
2,287,985
403,728
Value of
product.
Wages
paid.
$1,713,510
1,148,649
4,376,844
3,093,979
3,328,009
16,075,813
1,953,480
1,363,762
1,392,333
6,051,382
1,483,970
$374,068
139,226
873.138
665,951
108,695
5,019,925
413,426
161,754
384,468
666,784
286.139
854
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The reports from the railroads operating in the State showed for
1903 the number of employees and the average daily wages paid in
each occupation. These are summarized in the following statement:
NUMBER AND A V E R AG E D A IL Y W AGES OF R A ILR O A D EM PLOYEES, 1903.
Average
daily
wages.
Number of
employees.
Occupation.
1,792
976
2,664
1,180
1,276
768
2,114
860
1,373
3,999
684
5,169
706
836
291
2,849
General clerks..............................................................................................................
Station agents....................................... ....................................................................
Other station man......................................................................................................
Enginemen...................................................................................................................
Firemen........................................................................................................................
Conductors..................................................................................................................
Other trainmen...........................................................................................................
Machinists...................................................................................................................
Carpenters...................................................................................................................
Other shopmen...........................................................................................................
Section foremen...........................................................................................................
Other trackmen..........................................................................................................
Switchmen, flagmen, and watchmen...........................................■............................
Telegraph operators..................................................................................................
Employees, floating equipment................................................................................
Other employees and laborers..................................................................................
$1.86
1.53
1.15
4.09
2.08
3.25
1.69
2.42
1.89
1.66
1.55
1.01
1.27
1.68
1.39
1.38
The railroad accidents in the State during 1903 resulted in 91
employees, 3 passengers, and 139 other persons being killed. The
following table shows the number of persons killed and the number
injured in railroad accidents in 1903:
R A ILR O A D ACCIDENTS IN V IR G IN IA , 1903.
Employees.
Cause.
Passengers.
Others.
Total.
Killed. Injured. Killed. Injured. Killed. Injured. Killed. Injured.
Movement of trains..............
Other causes..........................
83
8
802
1,426
3
116
139
209
3
225
8
1,127
1,429
T otal............................
91
2,228
3
116
139
212
233
2,556
Court D ecisions and L aws R elating to L abor .— These chap
ters consist of reproductions from Bulletins of the United States
Bureau of Labor.
WISCONSIN.
E le v e n th
B ie n n ia l R e p o r t
tis tic s , 1 9 0 8 -4 .
o f th e
B u rea u
o f L a b or
an d
Halford Erickson, Commissioner,
I n d u s tr ia l S ta
xvi, 539 pp.
This report consists of seven parts as follows: Factory inspection,
for the eighteen months ending August 30, 1904, 84 pages; bakery
inspection, for the year ending June 30, 1904, 37 pages; economic
aspects of factory legislation, 33 pages; sweating in the garment
making trades, 60 pages; manufacturers7 returns for 1903, 83 pages;
distribution and growth of manufacturing industries, 110 pages;
workmen’s compensation for industrial accidents, 131 pages.
E conomic A spects of F actory L egislation .— This part of the
report consists of a general discussion of factory legislation, present
REPORTS OF STATE BUREAUS OF LABOR---- WISCONSIN.
855
ing historical and statistical data for both Europe and the United
States. Special consideration is given to the subject of child labor.
For various manufacturing States are shown, for 1900, the legal age
requirements for working in factories and shops and the length of
time per year, and between what ages children are required by law
to attend school. Wages, hours of labor, sanitation, employers’
liability, etc., also receive consideration.
Sweating in the G arment-M aking T rades.— Under this title
are a general discussion of the sweating system and the results of
an investigation of the system in Wisconsin. This investigation
covered a period from September, 1903, to July 1, 1904, during
which time 840 establishments were visited, in 394 of which work
was in progress at the time of inspection. Of the 394 found in oper
ation, 217 were engaged in tailoring and 177 in the knitting industry.
Conditions of employment, hours of labor, methods of payment, and
earnings are presented in a series of tables. In the 217 establish
ments engaged in tailoring 350 males and 1,068 females were em
ployed. For 30 of the regular contract tailoring shops, employing
543 persons— 125 males and 418 females— data are presented showing
classified weekly earnings, as follows:
CLASSIFIED W E E K L Y EARNINGS IN 30 T A ILORIN G ESTABLISHMENTS, 1903.
Weekly earnings.
Males.
Under $2.00...........................................................................................................
$2.00 or under $3.00.............................................................................................
$3.00 or under $5.00.............................................................................................
$5.00 or under $7.00.............................................................................................
$7.00 or under $10.00...........................................................................................
$10.00 or under $12.50..................... ....................................................................
$12.50 or under $15.00.........................................................................................
$15.00 or under $20.00..........................................................................................
$20.00 or o v e r .. ................................................................ •................................
5
10
18
66
18
6
2
T otal...........................................................................................................
125
Females. Total.
1
15
183
170
49
1
15
188
180
67
66
18
6
2
418
543
Statistics relating to earnings per hour were obtained from 254
persons (21 males and 233 females) engaged in crocheting, and fin
ishing knit goods. Earnings ranged from 3 to 10 cents per hour,
and the average earnings were a little more than 6 cents per hour.
Statistics of M anufactures.— These statistics for 1903 are
based on returns from 1,245 manufacturing establishments, repre
senting 60 industries and 381 occupations. Data for each industry
are presented in two tables. In addition to the number of estab
lishments embraced in each industry, the tables show, first, the num
ber, sex, and occupation of wage-earners and of salaried employees,
average daily hours of labor, and total wages paid per day in each
occupation and class, together with the average wages paid per day
and per hour; second, classified weekly earnings, with the number
of males and females in each class, the number of persons employed
856
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
each month, and the average number for the year. The following
statement summarizes the principal items for 51 selected industries,
embracing 1,079 establishments:
Capital invested.............................................................................................. $137,865,842.00
Value of material used................................................................................... 114,977,291.00
Value of product............................................................................................ 223,455,472.00
Total wages and salaries paid.......................................................................
44,852,360.00
Average daily wages, males..........................................................................
1.81
Average daily wages, females................................................................. .
83J
Average daily wages, all employees.............................................................
1.66J
In the following table is shown, by classified weekly earnings, the
number of males and females employed in all establishments report
ing as to wages in detail:
PERSONS EM PLOYED IN 1903, B Y CLASSIFIED W E E K L Y EARNINGS.
Weekly earnings.
Under $5.00..........................................................................................................
$5.00 or under $6.00.............................................................................................
$6.00 or under $7.00.............................................................................................
$7.00 or under $8.00..............................................................................................
$8.00 or under $9.00.............................................................................................
$9.00 or under $10.00............................................................................................
$10.00 or under $12.00..........................................................................................
$12.00 or under $15.00..........................................................................................
$15.00 or under $20.00..........................................................................................
$20.00 or over.......................................................................................................
T o t a l ................................................................................................................................
Males.
4,450
1,590
3,676 •
5,425
4,967
20,338
16,541
14,578
9,634
2,598
83,797
Females. Total.
7,095
1,604
2,213
665
°18
420
180
134
39
3
11,545
3,194
5,889
6,090
5,185
20,758
16,721
14,712
9,673
2,601
12,571
96,368
D istribution and Growth of M anufacturing I ndustries.—
This subject is presented under five subtitles, as follows: Manufactur
ing generally in Wisconsin, by counties; in the State as a whole, by
industries; in the large cities; in cities and towns of less than 20,000
population, and outside of cities and towns; and summary tables.
In 1890 the amount of capital invested in manufacturing industries
was $246,515,404, in 1904 it was $365,848,374; the average number
of wage-earners in 1890 was 120,006, and in 1904 it was 151,531;
total wages paid in 1890 amounted to $42,958,267, and in 1904 to
$64,637,066; the value of products in 1890 was $248,546,164, and
in 1904 it was $405,663,408.
W orkmen ’ s Compensation for I ndustrial A ccidents.— A his
torical and general discussion of the subject of workmen’s compen
sation for industrial accidents in the United States and in Europe is
presented under this caption in six subdivisions, as follows: Employ
ers’ liability in England and the United States; the operation of
employers’ liability laws; State compulsory and voluntary compen
sation; private relief for injuries due to accidents; the principal
requisites of a proper scheme of compensation; the method of
reform.
REPORTS OF STATE BUREAUS OF LABOR-----WISCONSIN.
857
F ree E mployment Offices.— The work of the State free employ
ment offices for the fiscal years 1903 and 1904 is set forth in the
introduction to the bureau report. For the two fiscal years the
Milwaukee office reported that there were 9,676 applications for help
and that 9,316 positions were filled, and the Superior office that there
were 8,855 applications for help and that 8,125 positions were filled.
During 1903 two new offices were established, one in La Crosse about
July 1 and the other in Oshkosh about November 1. During the
first six months the La Crosse office was in operation it received 1,053
requests for help and secured positions for 868, and during the first
six weeks the Oshkosh office was in operation it secured positions for
117 persons.
RECENT FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS.
AUSTRIA.
V e r h d ltn is s e im
S c T m T i m a c h e r g e w e r b e .— Auf Grand der durchgefuhrten Vernehmung von Auskunftspersonen. Herausgegeben
vom K. K. Arbeitsstatistischen Amte im Handelsministerium.
1905. iv, 181 pp.
This report is supplementary to a report recently issued b y the
Austrian bureau of labor statistics, which gives the results of an
inquiry conducted b y a special commission in 1902, through direct
examination of 123 witnesses, relative to the conditions of labor and
production in the shoemaking industry in Austria, a digest of which
report will be found in Bulletin No. 61.
While the original report is mainly a record of the testimony of the
witnesses presented in the order in which they were examined b y the
commission, the present report summarizes the facts disclosed by this
testimony.
The three chapters into which this summary is divided deal
respectively with the economic conditions surrounding the employ
ers of labor with reference to production, trade conditions, markets,
competition, etc.; the working conditions of employees with regard
to apprenticeship, home, shop, and factory work, and the legal regu
lation of home work. The facts summarized in this report have
been considered in the above-mentioned Bulletin.
D ie
W oJ m u n g s- u n d
G e s u n d h e i t s v e r T i a l t n i s s e d e r S c T iu h m a c h e r .
Her
ausgegeben vom K. K. Arbeitsstatistischen Amte im Handelsministerium. 1906. iv, 182 pp.
D ie
In this report the Austrian bureau of labor statistics presents the
results of an investigation into the housing and health conditions of
home workers engaged in the shoemaking industry, conducted, in
1902 and 1903, in conformity with a recommendation made by the
permanent labor council at its session of July 6, 1901.
The report consists of an introduction; a copy of the schedule of
inquiry; a list of the localities with the number of persons in each
locality investigated, and a series of tables with textual analyses and
summaries relating to the conditions of workshops, dwelling rooms,
personal and family conditions, and vital statistics. The informa
tion relative to the conditions of shops, dwelling rooms, persons, and
858
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS---- AUSTRIA.
859
families was obtained by officials of the bureau through their personal
inspection of the premises and interviews with the persons investi
gated, the officials of the bureau being assisted in their investigation
by a medical expert, by representative master workmen and journey
men, and in some instances by the municipal authorities of the local
ities visited. The vital statistics were compiled from material
supplied by the ministry of the interior.
There were 751 shoemakers interviewed, of whom 463 were master
workmen and 288 were journeymen. Of the total number 198 were
in Vienna, and of the remaining 553 persons 65 per cent lived in cities
and 35 per cent in smaller towns and rural districts.
These 751 shoemakers occupied 723 dwellings in 705 buildings.
The shoemakers, together with the members of their families and
others living with them, aggregated 3,969 persons. There were alto
gether 1,526 rooms in these 723 dwellings, of which 219 were used
for kitchens only, 84 for workrooms only, 402 for bedrooms only, 70
for kitchens and workshops, 134 for kitchens and bedrooms, 283 for
bedrooms and workshops, and 334 for kitchens, bedrooms, and
workshops.
Of 705 buildings occupied by the shoemakers interviewed 450 were
in good repair, 185 were defective, and 70 were in very bad condition.
Thirty-six per cent of the buildings had no water supply. These,
however, were mostly in the smaller towns and rural districts. Two
per cent of the houses had no water-closets or privies. Where privies
and closets existed they were often inadequate, 16 per cent of the
water-closets and privies being used by more than twenty persons
each.
The greater number of habitations visited by the commission con
sisted of less than three rooms each; 28.1 per cent of the total consisting
of one room, 40.5 per cent of two rooms, 21 per cent of three rooms,
7.1 per cent of four rooms, 2.8 per cent of five rooms, and 0.5 per cent
of six rooms each.
The overcrowded condition in a large number of houses is illus
trated by the fact that 15 per cent of the workrooms and 29 per cent
of the bedrooms had less than 10 cubic meters (353 cubic feet) of air
space per person, 12 cases of the former and 29 of the latter being
reported in which the air space per person was less than 5 cubic
meters (177 cubic feet), in one instance being as low as 2.12 cubic
meters (75 cubic feet). By far the greater number of both work
rooms and bedrooms were poorly lighted and ventilated and were in
numerous cases in an unclean condition. Sleeping rooms were fre
quently found which contained no beds whatever, the occupants
sleeping on benches or chests or on the bare floors.
Of the 751 persons interviewed by the commission, 709 furnished
information regarding their earnings. Of this number 2.4 per cent
860
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
earned 5 crowns ($1.02) or less per week; 29.6 per cent earned 6 to
10 crowns ($1.22 to $2.03) per week; 49.8 per cent earned 11 to 20
crowns ($2.23 to $4.06); 8 per cent earned 21 to 30 crowns ($4.26 to
$6.09); 2.3 per cent earned 31 to 40 crowns ($6.29 to $8.12); 2.1 per
cent earned 41 to 50 crowns ($8.32 to $10.15); and 5.8 per cent earned
over 50 crowns ($10.15) per week. These earnings were frequently
augmented by the earnings of the wife and children, b y rentals from
tenants, subtenants, or lodgers, and in some of the rural districts by
earnings from farm labor.
Of the master workmen interviewed, 38.5 per cent carried insur
ance in sick-benefit funds of various kinds, their dues ranging between
0.40 crowns ($0.08) and 2.40 crowns ($0.49) per month. Of the
journeymen, 72.2 per cent belonged to sick-benefit funds, their dues
ranging between 0.18 crown ($0.04) and 0.51 crown ($0.10) per week
and 0.48 crown ($0.10) and 1.08 crowns ($0.22) per month, one-third
of which were usually contributed b y the employers.
BELGIUM.
I n d u s tr ie s d D o m ic ile e n B e lg iq u e .
Office du Travail, Minister©
de Tlndustrie et du Travail. Vol. VI. Les Industries de la Con
fection de V6tements pour Hommes et de la Cordonnerie a Binche.
U Industrie du Tissage de la Laine dans le Pays de Verviers et dans
le Brabant Wallon. LTndustrie du Tissage du Co ton en Flandre et
dans le Brabant. 1904. 298, 180, 117 pp. Vol. V II. LTndus
trie de la Bonneterie. LTndustrie de la Cordonnerie a Herve.
1905. 174, 92 pp.
L es
These volumes are a continuation of a series of publications issued
by the Belgium labor office embodying the results of inquiries into
the local conditions governing domiciliary industries. This investi
gation had its origin in a movement for the enactment of certain
legislation relative to the labor contract and embraces within its
scope a study of the physical, racial, economic, social, and moral con
ditions under which each industry is carried on. The subjects con
sidered are the origin and development of the industry, the degree to
which machinery is used, the forms of local and foreign competition,
capitalization, production, marketing, returns, employment and
idleness, sanitary conditions, organization of employers and of
employees, legislation, etc. The volumes are illustrated.
Volume V I relates to the making of men’s clothing and of shoes at
Binche, the weaving of woolen cloth in the vicinity of Verviers and in
W alloon Brabant, and the weaving of cotton in Flanders and Brabant.
Volume V II is devoted to the knitting industry in Belgium and to
shoemaking in Herve.
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS---- BELGIUM.
861
du
T r a v a il d e 1 8 9 5 a 1 9 0 5 .
Ministere de FIndustrie et du
Travail, Royaume de Belgique. Publiee a Foccasion de FExposition Universelle et Internationale de Li&ge en 1905. 247 pp.
I ! O ffic e
This volume is announced by the director general of the Belgian
labor office as serving a double purpose, namely, to commemorate
the completion of the first ten years of existence of the department
of labor, and to furnish a key to the department’s exhibits in the inter
national exposition at Liege. Carrying out these ideas, there is
given a history of the origin and objects of the office, the laws and
decrees that control and direct its activities, and the nature and results
of the work undertaken in accordance therewith. Summaries of
these results in the lines of statistical investigations, conciliation in
labor disputes, the inspection of factories, etc., are given, both in
tabular and graphic form, and a number of illustrations show methods
of guarding dangerous machinery and the equipment of workrooms
in factories, these summaries forming in part a description of the
material exhibited at Liege. A list of the publications of the depart
ment concludes the volume.
GREAT BRITAIN.
R ep ort
o f
th e
S a lv a tio n
A rm y
C o lo n ie s
in
th e
U n ite d
S ta te s
an d
a t
, E n g la n d , w ith S c h e m e o f N a tio n a l L a n d S e ttle m e n t. B y
Commissioner H. Rider Haggard. (Presented to Parliament b y
Command of His Majesty, June, 1905.)
H a d le ig h
The information contained in this report is based upon an investi
gation made by Mr. H. Rider Haggard. The suggestion of the
inquiry originated with the Rhodes Trustees and the expense of the
investigation was borne by them; the Commissioner was named b y
and acted under the instructions of the British Colonial Office.
Commissioner Plaggard was, on January 31, 1905, requested to
inspect and report to the Colonial Office upon the conditions and
character of the agricultural and industrial settlements which have
been established in the United States by the Salvation Army for the
purpose of assisting suitable persons in the great cities to settle o i l
the land and form agricultural communities.
The letter of appointment says:
It appears to the secretary of state that, if these experiments
are found to be successful, some analogous system might, with great
advantage, be applied in transferring the urban populations of the
United Kingdom to different parts or the British Empire.
Commissioner Haggard was requested to pay special attention t o
the class of persons taken by the Salvation Army, their training and
success as agricultural settlers, and the general effect upon character
and social happiness, and also to consider the financial aspect of the
12951—No. 64—06----18
862
BULLETIN OF THE BUEEAU OF LABOE.
experiments. The Commissioner was directed to proceed to Ottawa,
after inspecting the settlements, and discuss the subject with the
authorities there with a view to the application of the system in a
British Colony.
In pursuance of instructions, Commissioner Haggard visited the
Salvation Army land colonies at Fort Romie, Cal.; Fort Amity,
Colo.; Fort Herrick, Ohio, and Hadleigh, England. At the colonies
in the United States conferences were held with officers of the Sal
vation Army, the colonists were interviewed, and various sworn
statements of valuations and other statistics and documents were
secured.
SA L V A T IO N A E M Y F A R M COLONY A T FORT ROM IE, C AL.
Relative to the establishment of the Fort Romie colony, Col.
Thomas Holland, national colonization secretary of the Salvation
Army, says:
Just prior to the establishment of this colony or of any of our
colonies in the United States, this country was in a very demoralized
condition, in consequence of business depression. As a means of
relief, Commander Booth Tucker propounded his “ landless man to
the manless land” proposition, the essence of his plan being summed
up in the following manner, viz: “ put the waste labor on the waste
land by means of the waste capital, and thus convert this trinity
of waste into a unity of production.”
At the request of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce he,
Commander Booth Tucker, explained his plan to the members thereof,
who were so impressed with its practicability that they appointed a
committee of cooperation to assist the Salvation Army in the estab
lishment of a colony in the State of California. As a result of the
joint endeavors of Commander Booth Tucker and the Chamber of
Commerce committee, a small beginning was made in the Salinas
Valley on the land now known as Fort Romie.
Fort Romie has a gross area of 520 acres and is shortly to be added
to by a further purchase of 170 acres. It is situated about 150 miles
from San Francisco and 4 miles from Soledad, a station on the
Southern Pacific Railway. The soil is a rich light loam, but the
rainfall is slight and uncertain and irrigation is necessary.
The land was purchased for $26,000 and the colony founded in the
spring of 1898. Eighteen families, a total of about 75 people, most
of whom were “ out of works,” were selected in San Francisco and
settled upon the land. Of those 18 families all but one family
returned to the city. The land at that time was insufficiently and
irregularly irrigated; what is known as “ dry land” — that is, the soil
was more or less dependent upon rainfall to support its crops. The
three years following the settling of the colony were years of drought,
little could be grown, and the settlers found husbandry so unremunerative that they were glad to forsake it, even for the city tene
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS---- GREAT BRITAIN.
863
ments which they had left. The failure did not discourage the Sal
vation Army authorities. They arranged for further irrigation of
the land and in the spring of 1901 selected more settlers. With one
or two exceptions they were all poor men living in the Fort Romie
district, but persons accustomed to the land. To these men the land
was sold under contract in 20. acre lots at $100 per acre plus the cost
of any improvements, such as buildings.
Payments for the land were to be made in twenty equal annual
installments plus interest at 5 per cent per annum on the deferred
payments. Horses, stock, implements, etc., were sold to the colo
nists, payments to be made, in five equal annual installments plus
interest at 6 per cent per annum upon unpaid balances. A mort
gage or some analogous security was taken by the Army and it was
agreed that no title should be given until all payments were completed
and that any settler who neglected to fulfill his obligations could be
ejected after notice, and his property seized to satisfy his debt.
The Salvation Army has never foreclosed a mortgage on the Fort
Romie colony.
In most instances but a small proportion of the price of the land
has been paid, the reason being that the Salvation Army authorities
have thought it better for all concerned to allow the installments to
stand (subject to the 5 per cent interest), and allow the colonists to
invest in stock and to generally improve their conditions, so that
they may do better. The property is increasing in value and should
any one of the settlers wish to sell his “ equity” it would bring more
than the sum total of his obligations.
Commissioner Haggard says: “ Remarkable contentment, and,
indeed, gratitude was found to be characteristic of the settlers, nor
is this wonderful when it is remembered that these folk, nearly every
one of them, who, a few years ago were in the position of day laborers,
are now for the most part on the highway to considerable prosperity
and already possess happy homes, healthy families, pleasant sur
roundings, and a sufficiency upon which to live.”
Commissioner Haggard visited the colony in March, 1905, and per
sonally interviewed practically every family in the colony, and not
from one of them did he hear a grumble. He also visited the school
of 50 or 60 children, all well fed, well clothed, and healthy.
The Salvation Army is overwhelmed by scores of applications for
any vacant land, so extraordinary are the advantages that such a
system offers to people with no capital beyond their hands and their
families. Sufficient folk could at once be found in the United States
alone to settle 10,000 or 20,000 acres, if the money to carry out such
a scheme was available.
A cooperative store was established in May, 1904, the profits being
divided among the members.
864
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The Salvation Army places no religious pressure upon the colonists
and enforces no religious tests. The colonists represent various
religious denominations, including Protestants of sundry sects and
also members of the Roman Catholic faith.
The present number of colonists comprises 20 families. No colo
nist accepted since 1901 has left the colony. Two families withdrew
without putting in a crop and one man left in consequence of serious
ill health which rendered the climate unsuitable to him.
The colony is run as a business proposition and not as a charity.
The Army does not expect to make losses upon its colonization
schemes, which are undertaken in a spirit of philanthropy, it is true,
but with the object of inculcating the principles of self-support by
assisting indigent persons to become owners of homes and lands, and
independent and self-supporting citizens.
A person with some farming experience or some connection with
the land is better qualified as a colonist, but Col. Thomas Holland
says, “ It has been proved that men who were so ignorant of farm
life as not to know the difference between a plow and a harrow have
shown themselves to be among our most successful agriculturists.
(Refers to colonists at Fort Amity, Colo.) This not only applies to
the men, but to their wives and children. In fact, on this line I
would like to say that after seven years’ experience with this work
I have yet to meet the first person, man, woman, or child, who had
been brought on to the colonies from the city, who had any desire to
return thereto. I do not except those who, after three years’ drought
on the Fort Romie colony, returned to San Francisco. They did not
return to the city because they were tired of the country, but because
the unfortunate abnormal natural conditions already referred to
made it impossible for them to remain, and naturally they went
to where they had associations and thought they might find
employment.”
It was the opinion of both Staff Captain Erickson and Staff Captain
Hamon that cheaper land, if good, such as can be obtained in many
parts of the world, would serve colonization purposes just as well,
and in some ways much better, since the debt which the settler
would have to assume would be so much less.
Commissioner Haggard’ s conclusions after visiting the Fort Romie
colony were as follows: “ It would be difficult to find a better instance
of the advantage of skillfully managed settlement for the benefit of
persons without capital than that which is offered by Fort Romie, in
California. Indeed, I doubt if such another one exists.”
“ The experiment has proved a great success.”
“ The lesson to be learned from this example is, that, given rirstclass and accessible land with really good facilities for irrigation and
given the Salvation Army or some similar body to manage it, from
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS-----GREAT BRITAIN.
865
charitable motives and not for profit; given, too, sufficient capital
and trained discretion on the part of the managers, the settlement of
persons of the class of the present colonists at Fort Romie can be car
ried on indefinitely with an excellent prospect of success.”
From statements made by Col. Thomas Holland and Staff Captain
Erickson, the Army incurred a loss of about $27,000 upon the first
settlement and have acquired a profit of about $6,000 upon the second
settlement. The net loss to the Army, therefore, was about $21,000.
The Salvation Army has expended for the purchase of land and for
the establishment and maintenance of the colony, $64,000; to this
should be added the $27,000 loss on the first settlement. Commis
sioner Haggard says: “ Under these circumstances I am of opinion
that the settlers should have been charged a somewhat higher price
for their land.”
The following is a statement of the financial condition of the Fort
Romie colony on March 29, 1905:
SWORN STATEMENT OF P R O PE R T Y OWNED B Y THE SALVATION A R M Y AND THE
MEMBERS OF THE SALVATION ARM Y COLONY A T FORT ROMIE, CALIFORNIA, W ITH
THE VALU E THEREOF AS A PPRAISED B Y W. H. H. METZ, SUPERVISOR OF MONTE
R E Y COUNTY, CALIFORN IA, AND W . H. BINGAMAN, R E A L ESTATE AND INSUR
ANCE B R O K E R , MARCH 29, 1905.
Land:
443 acres of irrigated land, including checking and leveling of same, worth at
nresent market prices, $145 per acre....................................................................
56‘acres nonirrigable land, worth $25, 21 acres occupied by canals and road
ways.........................................................................................................................
Total area, 520 acres/vaiued a t ...........................................................................
Irrigation system:
Plant, including engine, boiler, centrifugal pump, flumes, ditches, etc............ .
Trees:
Orchard and shade, shrubbery, small fruit, etc...................................................
Fencing:
About 18 miles of boundary and pasture fence, at $80; also wire netting....... .
Pens and corrals, e tc...............................................................................................
Buildings:
22 dwelling houses...........
Bams and outbuildings .
Store and ofuce building.
$64,235
1,400
$65,635
7,150
3,500
1,440
1,000
2,440
8,800
2,000
2,300
13,100
Water supply:
18 wells, 15 windmills, 10 water tanks, etc
3,380
Total value of land and improvements.
Live stock:
39 horses and colts.....................................
128 cows and heifers................................. .
155 stock cattle and calves...................... .
153 hogs...................................................... .
Poultry and bees...................................... .
3,000
3,200
2,335
765
425
Farming equipment:
Vehicles and harness..............................
Farm machinery and implements........
Cream separators...................................
Sundry tools and equipments..............
3,000
2,500
360
800
95,205
a 9,715
Crop:
Hay and crops on hand not harvested
Grand total.
6,660
1,700
113,280
a Error of $10, which has been copied from the original table and noted by Commissioner Haggard.
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
866
A statement is also presented showing the financial standing of
each of the Fort Romie colonists on April 1, 1905. An average for
the 20 colonists has been computed. The average assets per family
vrere: Land, buildings, and improvements, $3,527.75; live stock,
outfit, and crop, $853.75; a total of $4,381.50. The average liabili
ties were: Due Salvation Army October 1, 1904, $2,190.06; other
liabilities, $135.70; a total of $2,325.76. The average equity per
family was $2,055.74.
The table follows:
FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE COLONISTS, FORT ROMIE COLONY, ON A P R IL 1, 1905,
BASED ON VALU ATION S MADE B Y SWORN A P PR A ISE R S.
Liabilities.
Assets.
Name.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Land,
Live
buildings, stock,
out
and im
fit, and
prove
crop.
ments.
T. Bryant................. $4,020.00
E. Harding............... 3.675.00
Mrs. Johnson........... 2.600.00
W . G. Boswell......... 3.420.00
S. Handley............... 3.805.00
O. Lindstrand......... 4.450.00
A. James..................
3.650.00
T. D ay...................... 3.620.00
C. E. Baetschen___ 3.970.00
R . W. Mitchell......... 3.925.00
3.650.00
W . J. Scott..............
C. M. H odges.. . . . . . 3.280.00
C. M. Hume.............. 3.325.00
D. W. W iley............
4.060.00
J. F. Nelson............. 3.550.00
A. C. Carle................ 2.360.00
C. N. Handley.........
3.635.00
J. Vrieling................ 2.410.00
M. Matheson............ 6.700.00
A. R oddick..............
450.00
$1,300.00
1,200.00
300.00
325.00
2,600.00
900.00
275.00
1.725.00
1.350.00
1.500.00
1.500.00
m oo
300.00
Total..................... 70,555.00
Average................ 3,527.75
Total.
Due Sal
vation
Other
Army
Oct. 1, liabilities.
1904.
$2,008.31
3,087.14
1.625.54
2,796.13
2.641.54
955.76
3,047.07
2,960.66
2,908.52
3,035.16
3,222.18
2,645.98
2,535.06
2.229.88
2,373.77
1,628.74
2,238.87
1.860.89
100.00
$5,320.00
4.875.00
2.900.00
3.745.00
6.405.00
5.350.00
3.925.00
5.345.00
5.320.00
5.425.00
5.150.00
3,G80.00
3.625.00
4.060.00
5.350.00
2.585.00
4.635.00
2.685.00
6.700.00
550.00
17,075.00
853.75
87,630.00
4,381.50
43,801.20
2,190.06
1.800.00
225.00
1,000.00
275.00
Total.
450.00
450.66
$3,311 69
3,270.86
1.274.46
948.87
3.198.46
4,394.24
846.93
1,984.34
2,261.48
2,339.84
1,757.82
879.02
995.94
1.830.12
2,976.23
' 859.26
2.396.13
789.11
6,700.00
100.00
2,714.00
135.70
46,515.20
2,325.76
41,114.80
2,055.74
$517.00
565.00
31.00
400.00
150.00
50.00
170.00
155.00
94.00
97.00
35.00
$2,008.31
3,604.14
1.625.54
2,796.13
3.206.54
055.76
3,078.07
3,360.66
3,058.52
3,085.16
3,392.18
2,800.98
2,629.06
2.229.88
2,373.77
1,725.74
2,238.87
1.895.89
Colonists*
equicy.
The following table, with the exception of the column showing
colonists, equity, has been prepared from Commissioner Haggard’s
interviews with the Fort Romie colonists. Colonists’ equities are
from the preceding table.
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS— GREAT BRITAIN.
867
OCCUPATION AND CONDITION ON EN TER IN G THE COLONY AND IN A P R IL , 1905,
FOR EACH COLONIST, FORT ROMIE COLONY.
Colo
nist
num
ber.
1
2
3
4
5
c6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Former resi
dence.
Former occupation.
(a)
\a)
(»)
“ Squatter” ..............................
Husband had been farm er....
(»)
Worked on railroad...............
San Francisco. Car conductor.........................
(a)
G)
(«)
Dairyman
(hired)...................
(°)
San Francisco. S. A. officer and printer.........
Farming and working out___
(*)
(a)
Schoolmaster and farmer.......
(a)
(«)
(«)
(»)
(a)
Worked in factory..................
(a)
Farmer.....................................
Fort Amity,
(*)
Colo.
Neighborhood.
(*)
(a)
Worked in woods........ ...........
(°)
(«)
(a)
Num
Colonists'
ber of Capital on enter equity,
chil
ing colony.
April,
dren.
1905.
4
(*>
3
G)
G)
(&)
6
2
2
7
1
5
G)
8
(*)
4
<*)
6
(*)
(*)
2 horses, 1 cow,
and 1 calf.
Years
on col
ony.
4
6
$3,311.69
1,270.86
None..................
(*>)
$175.....................
(*)
$525.....................
None..................
$30 and team . . .
(d)
(*)
(*)
<*)
$30 in debt.........
(*)
(*)
1,274.46
948.87
3,198.46
4,394.24
846.93
1,984.34
2,261.48
2,339.84
1,757.82
879.02
995.94
1,830.12
2,976.23
859.26
2,396.13
789.11-
$4,650 ( / ) ............
None..................
6,700.00
100.00
(*)
G)
G)
G)
G)
4
8
4
4
4
4
2
2
2
1*
3
2
G)
a “ With one or two exceptions they were from the vicinity of Fort Romie.”
6 Not reported.
cThe only one remaining of the first lot of settlers.
d Small amount of stock.
* Came on account of ill health.
/ Paid cash for property.
SA L V A T IO N 1 A R M Y F A R M COLONY A T FORT A M I T Y , COLORADO.
Fort Amity is situated on prairie land in the valley of the Arkansas
River, 257 miles south and east of Denver and 12 miles west of the
Kansas line. It is on the main line of the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe Railroad. The land is rich alluvial loam. Among the sta
ple crops are sugar beets and Rocky Ford cantaloupes. The colony
possesses exceptional possibilities for dairying and hog raising.
Apples, peaches, cherries, and plums do well. Denver, Kansas City,
and other market towns make good outlets for the colony's goods.
The climate is a most desirable and healthful one, especially for
those suffering from weak lungs. Water for irrigation is obtained
from the Buffalo Canal. Fifty cents per acre is charged annually
by the water company for the maintenance of the canal.
Twenty acres of land are allotted to each colonist, every purchaser
being allowed to make his own choice of location. The price without
improvements in April, 1905, ranged from $50 to $75 per acre. The
Army makes a cash loan not to exceed $300 with which to erect a
house and barn. To colonists unable to purchase them a team of
horses, implements, cow, seed, etc., are furnished.
On land and buildings twelve years' time is allowed for payment.
For the first two years interest only is expected. Afterwards onetenth of total cost each year, with interest at 6 per cent per annum,
till the whole is paid. Loans for live stock and equipment are secured
by chattel mortgage and are payable in five equal annual installments
868
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
with interest at 6 per cent per annum. Work can usually be got by
those who desire it, to provide groceries, etc., till the first crop is
harvested.
In addition to selling 20 acres, the colony will also rent 20 acres to
ea@h family. The principal reason for renting out a portion of the
land is that it may be got into suitable condition to sell to a per
manent settler. In April, 1905, every acre of land fit for cultivation
was occupied by colonists or renters.
The colony at Fort Amity has a post-office. A schoolhouse has
been built at a cost of $2,500, and four teachers are employed. The
various stores located on the town sites turned more than $200,000
in 1904.
The colony is not intended for Salvationists only; in fact, the
majority of the residents are not members of the Army. The Salva
tion Army conducts two week-night meetings and several services
and a Sunday school on Sunday. These meetings are open to all who
wish to attend.
The colonists meet as often as practicable for the discussion of
topics relating to farming, irrigation, etc., and as often as circum
stances will permit farmers’ institutes are conducted by the faculty
of the State Agricultural College.
This colony was founded in April, 1898. Upon an invitation from
the Santa Fe Kailroad Company to inspect lands for settlement along
their lines, officials of the Salvation Army traveled from Chicago as
far as Arizona, inspecting different tracts of land, and finally selected
the tract on which the colony is situated.
The cost of the 1,760 acres was $47,000. The Army is paying
annual installments of a little over $3,000 and still owes about $20,000.
The first settlers were fourteen “ worthy poor” families selected
in Chicago during a time of great financial distress in that city. The
Army had to pay the transportation expenses of every family, save
one, and in some instances had to pay for the food which they con
sumed on the journey. Five heads of families had had no agricul
tural experience; the others had either been on farms or worked on
farms, but at the time they were taken they were city dwellers and
had been such for some time.
In April, 1905, when Commissioner Haggard made his visit, there
were upon the colony 38 settlers, of whom 6 were “ renters.” The
later settlers represented almost all classes of city labor, such as
street-car conductors, warehousemen, wagon drivers, and two or
three city carpenters.
The colony is formed almost entirely of folk from the city, the
exceptions being a few experienced men who were sandwiched in as
“ pace setters” and “ examples.”
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS---- GREAT BRITAIN.
869
When the first colonists arrived the land was covered by a heavy
native sod, which took almost three years to pulverize and sweeten.
The first year w r s , in consequence, devoted to breaking up land,
building houses, and constructing irrigation ditches, instead of engag
ing in the actual work of raising crops. It was necessary for the Army
to maintain the families during that period by cash loans of from $2
to $4 per week, the loans being charged against them.
Reasonable crops were obtained the second year, which, in connec
tion with such labor as could be procured off their farms, either for
the Army or for others, enabled the colonists to maintain themselves.
From the period referred to the settlers have been, generally speak
ing, self-supporting. That is to say, they have been able to maintain
their families without the aid of loans and have, moreover, added
considerably to their own holdings in the shape of buildings and
other improvements and in the accumulation of stock.
The settlers met with a difficulty in the matter of alkali, which
began to appear in certain parts after the land had been put under
cultivation. The difficulty is being dealt with by means of drainage
and will be, it is believed, entirely mastered.
The prosperity of the colonists has been very much retarded, owing
to the land not being under cultivation when the first settlers arrived
and to the appearance of alkali.
As to the prosperity of the colonists, Colonel Holland says: “ They
are making some payments on their places, improving their build
ings, dealing with this excessive moisture and alkali condition, and
are very confident that each year will see them in a more prosperous
state. They are certainly in a more flourishing condition than ever
they would have been had they remained in the city, where they
would have been the recipients of a living wage only, provided they
could still continue to earn it. Here they have not only lived— better
probably than they would have lived in the city— but most of them
have acquired proprietary interests in their holdings, which are des
tined to increase from year to year. I think I can say, therefore, that
they are in a comparatively prosperous condition.”
Since the establishment of the colony sixteen or eighteen families
have moved away. Various causes led up to this. Two or three
of them left because of ill health, either on the part of the men or
members of their family, and some of them thought they could do
better elsewhere as farmers. To illustrate: Several families moved
to the Canadian Northwest with the opening of free land there, and
in one or two other cases men who were mechanics took up small
agricultural holdings near large towns, in which they expected to
get some employment at their trades.
In almost every case, those who have left the colony satisfied their
indebtedness to the Army either by payment or by improvements,
870
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
which were transferred at an appraised value, or by the sale of their
holdings to other persons. In a number of instances settlers moved
away with considerable money as a result of their occupation of
holdings in the colony.
No difficulty was found in filling the places of those who departed,
the departing colonist himself usually succeeded without trouble
in finding a purchaser for what rights he had in his holdings. Colonel
Holland says: “ Instead of finding it difficult to get colonists to occupy
each vacant allotment, we are simply inundated with applications
from the most desirable of people, who plead with us to give them a
chance to acquire a home in the country.”
Relative to the Fort Amity colony, the following questions were
asked by Commissioner Haggard: “ Now, Commander (Booth
Tucker), I want you and Colonel Holland to tell me if you are satis
fied on the whole with your experiment, and whether you consider
that this experiment could be applied on a large scale, and if so,
under what conditions?”
Commander B ooth T ucker , replying, said: “ I am more than ever
satisfied as to the soundness of the general principles and am certain
that they can be applied to any extent should the necessary capital
be available. I consider it to be a sound business proposition. We
have learned by the mistakes we have made to avoid them in the
future. For instance, we have found that it was absolutely neces
sary to have a sufficiency of capital at the outset and not to depend
upon raising it as we went along.”
Commissioner H aggard. “ I s the Salvation Army sufficiently
satisfied with these experiments to be willing, in the event of the pro
vision of such capital, to undertake its application in the direction
of selecting suitable persons to place upon the land and to undertake
the management of such settlements on a large scale?”
Commander B ooth T ucker . “ I think we could safely do it. The
experience of this last seven years has furnished us with the qualified
managers for such an undertaking, which is, perhaps, one of the
most necessary conditions of success.”
Commissioner H aggard. VY ou say you could safely do it. Would
you, or rather the Salvation Army, be prepared to do i t ? ”
Commander B ooth T ucker . “ Yes; to any extent. Land is
abundant throughout the world. The people of the cities are hun
gering for the opportunity of getting at it. They only want leader
ship and business management. The only requisite that I see that
is absolutely not to be gotten over is a supply of the necessary capital.
Our experience goes to show that the man without money makes a
better average settler than the man with money, and it seems to me
a radical mistake that this and other countries should confine their
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS---- GREAT BRITAIN.
871
settlements to the man with money, and ignore the man whose capital
consists of brain and muscle, but who can be turned into a prosperous
‘home owner/ ”
The following is a statement of the financial condition of the Fort
Amity colony on April 1, 1905. The statement shows a net loss to
the Salvation Army during the seven years of $23,111.50. The Sal
vation Army established this colony on borrowed capital, the interest
rates being 5 and 6 per cent, and the amount of the interest, $25,162,
has been entered as loss. The land should have been sold to the
colonists at a price sufficient to cover all the items entered as loss.
SWORN STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION OF FORT A M ITY COLONY (NOT
INCLUDING- COLONISTS’ HOLDINGS) ON A P R IL 1, 1905, AS PE R VALUATIONS MADE
B Y J. S. M cM U RTRY, MANAGER OF H O L L Y B ANK, H O LLY, COLO.
ASSETS.
Land and improvements:
Entire colony, as per appraised valuation....................................................... $154,775.00
Less value of land, etc., sold to colonists......................................................... 66,53O.*O0
Sanatorium building...........................................................................................
Live stock and farming equipment......................................................................... a 30,564.00
Less value owned by colonists..........................................................................
28,364.00
Furniture and fixtures:
In staff quarters and office................................................................................
Colonists’ indebtedness to Salvation Army:
For land, buildings, outfit, loans, etc...............................................................
Sundry debtors...........................................................................................................
Cash on hand........................................................ .....................................................
Loss: Being net cost of management, including salaries of colony staff, in
structors, grants, and rebates to colonists, interest on loan, and all run
ning expenses of the colony for 7 years................................................................
$88,245.00
20,500.00
2,200.00
1,133.87
54,887.96
157.60
983.96
23, 111. 50
191,219.89
LIABILITIES.
Salvation Arm y National Headquarters, loan for the purchase of land and the
establishment and maintenance of the colony................................................... 169,853.52
Loans for sanatorium................................................................................................ 20,958.49
Sundry creditors........................................................................................................
190,812.01
407.88
191,219.89
<* Horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, and,bees, $10,872; vehicles, harness, farm tools, etc., $19,692.
The total appraised value of the land, with improvements thereon,
was $154,775, the value of that sold to colonists being $66,530.
The total value of the live stock and farming equipment was $30,564;
the value of that owned by the colonists being $28,364.
According to this statement, the colonists (probably including pur
chasing colonists and renting colonists) were indebted to the Salva
tion Army to the amount of $54,887.96.
A statement is presented showing the financial standing of each of
the colonists (not including renters) on April 4, 1905. An average
for the 32 colonists has been computed from the totals shown for
this table. As shown from this table the average assets per family
were: Land, buildings, and improvements, $2,141.56; live stock,
$333.50; farming equipment, etc., $552.88; a total of $3,027.94. The
average liabilities per family were: Amount owing to Salvation Army,
872
BULLETIH OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
$1,613.35; other liabilities, $222.10; a total of $1,835.45.
average equity per family was $1,192.49. The table follows:
The
FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE COLONISTS (NOT INCLUDING “ R E N TE R S” ) ON THE
SALVATION A R M Y COLONY AT FORT AM ITY, COLO., A P R IL 4, 1905.
Assets.
Name.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Land,
buildings,
and im
prove
ments.
Barkman.........
Coker...............
Childs..............
C ox..................
Cloughley........
D avy................
Doble...............
Erickson, E . . .
Erickson, C. A.
Frewing...........
Greenard.........
Grindrod.........
Gaylord...........
Harris..............
Hargreaves—
Inm an.............
Kephardt........
Manning..........
McAbee...........
Mitchell...........
Nicol................
Newman, H .. .
Newman, R . . .
Priebe..............
Pringle............
Stevens............
Sachtler...........
T h o m a s ...........
Waidner..........
Ziegler..............
Garrison..........
Romig..............
$1,560
2,640
2.700
1,860
1,925
2,585
1,835
1,680
2,340
2,440
2,900
1,715
1,885
2,210
2,685
2,112
4,060
2,381
a 2,755
1,049
2,108
3,085
1,575
1,875
1,850
2,395
1,870
2,790
1,765
1.700
500
1.700
T otal...........
Average..........
68,530
2,141.56
Live
stock.
Liabilities.
Farming
equip
ment,
etc.
$700
150
125
100
240
50
900
500
35
75
$175
750
3,050
80
150
350
190
315
750
100
800
200
250
300
325
145
135
175
200
85
700
225
260
300
170
100
350
450
250
325
200
1,400
1,192
200
175
100
90
4,275
1,380
70
175
145
150
2,585
115
305
1,277
10,672
333.50
17,692
552.88
Total.
Amount
owing
to Sal
vation
Army.
$2,435 $1,814.41
3.540 1,326.67
5,875 1.700.00
2,040 1,759.35
2,315 1,618.29
2,985
904.28
2,925 1,927.72
2,495 1.901.78
3,125 1,499.96
2,615 1,618.93
2,900 2,107.37
2,660 2,332.47
2,220 1.555.00
2,635 1.080.76
3,185 1,831.50
2,522 1,892.10
4,060 2.800.00
3,281 1,834.65
a 3,155 1.357.91
1,409
735.67
2,498 1,806.40
7,530 1.223.76
628. 49
3,055
. 2,295 2,437.22
# 2,475 1,185.88
764.84
2.540
2,270 2.160.91
5.700 1.723.79
2,080 2,328.27
3,405 1,798.54
2,969
934.00
1.700 1,036.32
yo, ©y*
3,027.94
51,627.24
1,613.35
Other
liabili
ties.
Total
Colonists’
equity.
$100 $1,914.41
$520.
1,326.67
2,213.
3.500.00
2,375.
1,859.35
180.
1,618.29
696.
904.28
2,080.
111 2,038.72
886.
10 1.911.78
583.
700 2,199.96
925.
1,618.93
996.
2,107.37
792.
25 2,357.47
302.
1.555.00
665.
1.080.76
1,554.
1,831.50
1,353.
62 1,954.10
567.
2.800.00
1,260.
1,834.65
1,446.
390 1.747.91 &1,407.
735.67
673.
35 1,841.40
656.
1,000 2.223.76
5,306.
1,000 1,628.49
1,426.
c 182.
2,477.22
1,185.88
1,289.
764.84
1,775.
125 2.285.91
c\5.
1,000 2.723.79
2,976.
25 2,353.27
c273.
384 2,182. 54
1, 222.
200 1,134.00
1,835.
1,036.32
663.
1,800
100
7,107 58,734.24
222.10 1,835.45
38,159.76
1,192.49
a Including stone quarry valued at $2,000.
6 This amount does not agree with the colonist’ s personal statement, given in the table which follows.
c In debt.
The following table, with the exception of the column showing
colonists’ equity, has been prepared from Commissioner Haggard’ s
interviews with the Fort Amity colonists. Colonists’ equities, except
equity for No. 19, are from the preceding table.
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS---- GREAT BRITAIN.
873
OCCUPATION AND CONDITION ON EN TERIN G THE COLONY AND IN A P R IL , 1905
FOR EACH COLONIST, FORT AM ITY COLONY.
Colo
nist
num
ber.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
30
31
32
Former residence.
Former occupation.
Num
Years
ber of Capital on enter Colonists'
on
equity,
chil
ing colony.
April, 1905. colony.
dren.
5
None (b)............
$520.59
6
4
9
$13 (b )................
$1,000..................
2,213.33
2,375.00
7
7
2 None (b )............
Chicago........................ Teamster....................
5 $800 (c )...............
Omaha.......................... Steamfltter or engineer:
1 None..................
Kansas City................. Salvation Army officer
4 $10 (&)................
Sioux C ity................... Tinsmith.....................
2 125(b)................
Chicago........................ Street-ear conductor..
4 $50 (b )................
Chicago........................ Tailor..........................
5 None (b)............
Chicago........................ Plasterer.....................
(a)
(a)
Physician or d o c to r ..
(«)
7 None (d) ............
St. Joseph, Mo.............. Worked in packing
house.
3 None..................
Chicago........................ Car conductor............
Cottonwood
Falls, Farming...................... None. •$1.50 and team
and wagon.
Kans.
Philadelphia................ Salvation Army officer
3 None (b)............
5
Farming......................
Team and
Kansas.........................
wagon.
(o)
(a)
Lived in vicinity......... Sheep raising..............
Alamosa, C o lo ............ Farming......................
10 Stock=$350.......
None
(b
)............
3
Alliance, Ohio.............. Grocery clerk..............
(a)
1 S tocks $200.......
Colorado......................
Chicago......................... Carpenter....................
4 $25......................
Chicago........................ .......d o ...........................
4 $50 (b).................
Chicago........................ Carpenter and con1 $600.....................
• tractor.
Cleveland..................... Laborer and Salva
1 $3 (b)..................
tion Army officer.
Hennessey, Okla......... Land agent.................
3 $1,700..................
(a)
Salvation Army officer
3 $150.....................
South Norwalk, Conn. Iron molder................
6 $25 (b).................
4 $300.....................
Chicago........................ Teamster and furni
ture mover.
Baltimore..................... Packer, p r o v i s i o n
1 None (b )............
house.
3 $125.....................
Sioux City, Iow a......... Grocery salesman.......
Syracuse, Kans............ Farmer........................
3 Team.................
(a)
Medicine Lodge, Kans. Blacksmith.................
3
180.65
696.71
Kansas City................. Meat washer in packing house.
Chicago........................ Painter........................
Chicago........................ Checker, railroad com-
(a)
h
2,080,72
886.28
583.22
925 04
996 07
792.63
302.53
4
3
7
6
7
1
1
665.00
1,554.24
(a)
1,353.50
567.90
(a)
1,260 00
1,446.35
/1,453.00
673 33
656 60
5,306.24
1,426.51
(«)
6
4
5
5
7
6
g 182. :2
4i
1,289.12
1,775.16
9 15.91
2,976.21
3
7
2
7
0273.27
4
1,222.46
1,835.00
663.68
3
1
(a)
a Not reported.
b Salvation Army paid car fare.
c From colonist's statement.
d Car fare paid by people interested in the case.
* Just bought.
/ This amount does not agree with that given in the preceding table.
a In debt.
S A L V A T I O N A R M Y C O L O N Y A T F O R T H E R R I C K , O H IO .
In the year 1899 Hon. Myron T. Herrick, ex-governor of Ohio, and
Mr. James Parmelee, a citizen of Cleveland, Ohio, presented to the
Salvation Army 280 acres of land situated in the township of Mentor,
about 20 miles from the city of Cleveland.
The Salvation Army first contemplated the establishment of a
settlement upon the model of those at Fort Romie and Fort Amity.
Eight or nine families were put upon the land. It was soon found,
however, as irrigation was not practiced, that each family required
more ground than was available.
Adjoining land was too valuable for the Army to add to its holdings,
and the settlement plan was given up. Of the families which had
already settled at Fort Herrick, one went to Fort Romie, one to
874
BULLETIN OE THE BUREAU OE LABOR.
Fort Amity, one remained at Fort Herrick, and others found farms
or employment in the neighborhood. Two sisters, who had a fine
farm in the locality, took one of the families into partnership with
them. Another landowner in the neighborhood sold to one of the
colonists a nice farm, with a comfortable house upon it, to be paid
for in installments.
Having abandoned the plan of using this place as a land settle
ment, it was decided to establish a small industrial colony of an
agricultural character. One of the objects of this colony is more or
less to “ agriculturize” certain of the city institutions of the Salvation
Army, it being intended to transplant at Fort Herrick, in process of
time, some of the semicharitable institutions of the Army, and thus
give to the inmates of those institutions the advantage of agricultural
employment and instruction. It is thought, also, that those who
may be suitable might afterwards be drafted to regular land settle
ments, and there started upon an independent career. Following
this plan, a home for inebriates has been established at Fort Herrick.
From January 1, 1905, to April 10, 1905, 60 inebriates, taken from
the cities, had passed through this home, and at the time of
Commissioner Haggard’s visit, April 10, 1905, all of them were in
good employment. Among the suggested causes of the change in
the habits of the inmates are: No drinking saloon within 9 miles of
the colony; the country air, which appears to take away their desire
for spirituous liquors; and the escape from city life, with its ever
present degradations and temptations.
Commissioner Haggard says: “ However these things may be, that
the inebriates’ home at Fort Herrick does a good work, there can be
no doubt. Thus, for example, one man there who a year ago was
taken from the workhouse, has, out of his small pay, now accumulated
a banking account, which amounts to $60.”
Major McFee, the manager, informed Commissioner Haggard that
he had applications from neighboring farmers for the next 20
inebriates that he could turn out as cured.
It is the purpose of the Army, when the funds are available, to
establish at Fort Herrick a home for children, with a view to their
being trained in agriculture. Further, a leading object of the colony
is to experiment on certain agricultural lines in order to gain experi
ence which can be made use of at the land settlements. For instance,
they now have a dairy. They are raising young pigeons for market,
also poultry, and a few pheasants, for which there is a great demand
in some parts of the country. An apiary has been started, and they
hope to manufacture beehives.
Thus, this colony is destined to form the natural connecting link
between the Army’ s city institutions and its land settlements. It
is intended to serve the same purpose as a number of similar insti
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS---- GREAT BRITAIN.
875
tutions which the Salvation Army has scattered through the world.
Such, for instance, as the u Prison Gate” homes at Colombo, Ceylon,
and Cape Town, Africa, where ex-criminals are trained in agriculture.
S A L V A T IO N A R M Y C O LO N Y A T H A D L E IG H , E N G L A N D .
The Hadleigh colony is situated on the banks of the Thames in
Essex, 4 miles from Southend, and 39 miles by road from London.
The Salvation Army purchased the land in 1890 at an average cost
of about £20 ($97.33) per acre. The place consisted of three unoc
cupied farms. The population in February, 1905, was over 500,
besides 200 persons who had been sent to the colony by the Mansion
House relief fund committee. As a result of the establishment of
this colony a village of 1,300 population has sprung up at Hadleigh.
The land for the most part is a stiff clay, overlying beds of the
London clay. It is poor and cold in character, yet of such land as
this has been formed the Hadleigh colony, with its 100 acres of fruit
trees, its upland and marsh pastures, its brick works, its chicken
farms, and its market garden. The colony’s total receipts for 1904
amounted to over £33,000 ($160,594.50).
The poor persons received upon the colony are of three classes:
1. Those who are introduced through the agency of the Salvation
Army Social Operations in various parts of England.
2. Those who are sent there by various poor law authorities, agree
ments having been made for the payment of varying sums on their
account for fixed periods, such sums running from 5s. ($1.22) to 10s.
6d. ($2.56) per week for periods of from three to twelve months.
3. Special cases introduced either by philanthropic societies or by
relatives or friends of persons desiring to receive the benefits of the
colony.
The result of the employment of this class of labor is to make the
working of the colony very expensive. The colony can not be con
sidered from the point of view of an ordinary commercial undertaking,
as it partakes largely of tlie nature of a charity. The annual deficit,
which in 1892 amounted to between £4,000 ($19,466) and £5,000
($24,332.50), is now very small, and when the brickworks, etc., are
ftdly developed there will probably be no annual deficit.
As in the case of those in the United States, this colony was started
without sufficient capital. The total capital invested in the colony
is about £130,000 ($632,645). The colony is mortgaged or other
wise forms the security for about £100,000 ($486,650), borrowed at
4 per cent per annum, to pay for the land and to start the various
industries, etc. The colony and the industries connected with it are
valued at over £200,000 ($973,300).
The stories told to Commissioner Haggard by the men and lads
on the colony concerning their past life were similar in substance.
876
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
Either they were out of work and were starving, or they were wan
dering about the streets, or they had “ gone to the bad.” In every
case the Salvation Army had picked them up, and they assured the
Commissioner that they were now happy and contented.
The men are, as far as possible, paid by piecework, and there have
been some in the colony who have taken in as much as 15s. ($3.65)
per week, in addition to their board and lodging. At the time of
Commissioner Haggard’ s visit one man was receiving 9s. ($2.19) a
week for clay digging, and another, working in the market garden,
7s. 3d. ($1.76) per week, in either case plus their board and lodging.
Both of these men came from a London Poor Law union. The
average man was paid about 3s. ($0.73) per week, in addition to
board and lodging.
Two hundred and fifty pigs and 19 cows are kept on the colony,
and on the poultry farm 2,500 stock birds are kept.
Near the residence of the manager of the colony is located a large
store. Here vegetables, etc., are brought, sorted, loaded into vans,
and sent to Southend, where the colony has its own market, in which
the produce is sold at wholesale rates to various dealers.
The “ citadel” or gathering hall seats about 400 persons. There
religious services are held, and every Saturday night a popular con
cert. Every colonist is expected to attend these gatherings, the
object being to provide entertainment which will induce men to keep
away from the public houses.
The relationship existing between the Army officials and other
religious bodies in the neighborhood is good. No pressure is brought
to bear upon any man to force him to conform to the religious prin
ciples of the Army.
Located at the colony is an inebriates’ home. Inebriates are taken
at a charge of from 25s. to 30s. ($6.08 to $7.30) per week. The Sal
vation Army authorities stated t o , Commissioner Haggard that from
60 to 70 per cent of the inebriates are permanently reclaimed after
an average period of 8 months’ treatment.
No policemen are on duty on the Hadleigh colony. Three years
have passed since a drunk and disorderly case against any colonist
was brought before the magistrates. This immunity from criifre
doubtless arises from the kind, but strict, discipline practiced in the
colony, the moral tone which has grown up there, and from the cir
cumstance that temperance is enforced. If by chance a man is
found to be drunk, he is warned, and should he repeat his offense he
is sent off the place. There is practically no need for any other form
of punishment.
Commissioner Haggard sums up as follows: “ The Hadleigh settle
ment is to my mind an instance of the extraordinary results which
can be attained by wretched men working on land that the ordinary
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS---- GREAT BRITAIN.
87T
agriculturist would also call ^wretched. Putting aside its most valu
able charitable and social uses, it shows what could be done with
much cold English soil if only sufficient capital and labor were applied.
to that soil.”
THE C A N A D IA N G OVERNM ENT A N D L A N D SE TTLEM ENTS.
Commissioner Haggard submitted to the Governor-General o f
Canada and his ministers a rough draft of his report upon the land
colonies. In view of the generally favorable report, the commissioner
asked whether the government of the Dominion was prepared to
donate a suitable tract of land for the purpose of the settlement o f
carefully selected families taken from among the poor of Great
Britain.
The report w~as considered satisfactory and the Canadian govern
ment, under the authority of His Excellency the Governor-General in
council, stated that it is prepared at any time to give 10 townships
(240,000 acres) for colonization purposes, the only consideration,
being that the liberal conditions of settlement prescribed by the laws*
of Canada be complied with.
The selection of the land is to be left entirely to the judgment o f
the commissioner appointed by the British Government; the Canadian
government will, however, deem it their duty to place at the disposal
of the commissioner the services of all their agents in the Northwest
Territories to assist in the selection of such land.
The prime minister further states that should the experiment be
successful he has no doubt that the Canadian government will b e
disposed to set aside other tracts of land under similar conditions.
The grant of 240,000 acres, allowing 160 acres per family, which.
is the ordinary Canadian homestead, would accommodate 1,500 fam
ilies, or, if the families average 5 persons, 7,500 souls.
The cost of the transportation and the settling of that number of
people in Canada, where the land is given, is estimated by Commis
sioner Haggard at approximately £200 ($973.30) per family.
Relative to the proposed Canadian settlements, Hon. Clifford
Sifton said: “ I have given a good deal of thought during the last few
days to your (Commissioner Haggard’ s) proposed scheme for placing;
deserving but impecunious people from, the cities of Britain upon
farms in Canada, and I am convinced that it offers the promise of
success. * * * Given the land and a practicable system of selec
tion and management, in regard to which you have the cooperation
of the Salvation Army, than which no agency can be more efficient,,
the only thing remaining is the capital. * * * I regard your
scheme as an embodiment of the truest and best form of imperial
patriotism, because it is building for the future by helping to give a,
solid British basis to the population of our Great West.”
12951— N o. 64— 06------19
878
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
The Canadian prime minister said: “ The government of Canada
is satisfied that if a proper class of settlers be secured, such a scheme
as you (Commissioner Haggard) have in mind ought to be completely
successful.”
COMMISSIONER H A G G A R D ’S SCHEME OF N A T IO N A L L A N D
SE TT LE M E N T.
The plan evolved by Commissioner Haggard for “ transferring the
ulban population o f the United Kingdom to different parts of the
British Empire ” may be outlined as follows;
1.
That a sufficient loan, or rather the interest on such loan, shall be
guaranteed by the British Government, or jointly by the British Gov
ernment and such colonies as are willing to cooperate.
It will be well worthy of consideration as to whether the large munic
ipalities and the Poor Law unions of the United Kingdom should not
be asked to assist. Probably this could best be done by promising a
fixed sum toward the expenses of any indigent family who might be
taken off their rates.
COMMISSIONER H AGGARD’ S A P PR O X IM A TE STATEMENTS R E LA T IV E TO
SUGGESTED SCHEME OF CANADIAN COLONIZATION.
[Estimated cost, converted into dollars, per family of five persons.
acres.]
Each family to be settled on 160
APPROXIMATE STATEMENT SHOWING COST, EXCLUSIVE OP LAND, OF SETTLING COLONISTS.
Cottages and barns.......................................................................................................... $340.66
Live stock.......................................................................................................................... 145.99
Implements and fencing..................................................................................................
97.33
Five months’ food or allowance.....................................................................................
97.33
Seed and feed....................................................................................................................
97.33
Transportation.................................................................................................................. 194.66
973.30
Yearly repayments by colonists on New Zealand plan of 6 per cent (including 1
per cent sinking fund).................................................................................................
APPROXIMATE STATEMENT SHOWING ANNUAL CHARGES, INCOME
PER FAMILY.
58. 40
AND PROBABLE SURPLUS
Loan for settlement (land free)......................................................................................$973.30
Annual charges:
interest on loan, at 3 per cent..................................................................$29.20
Sinking fund, 1 per cent............................................................................
9. 73
Management and general improvement, 1 per cent..............................
9.73
Failures, sundries, and bad debts, one-half of 1 per cent.....................
4. 87
Total.......................................................................................................................
Annual income:
Interest and sinking fund from settlers on loan, 6 per cent................. $58. 40
Installment on land at 12s. ($2.92) per acre, payable 32 years (al
though the land is given free by the Canadian government, it is
suggested that a small charge should be made to the settler of, say,
from 6s. to 12s. per acre, to form the nucleus of a colonization fund,
etc.).......................................................................................................... 14.60
53. 53
Total...................................................................................................................
Total surplus available for colonization fund...............................................
73.00
19.74
FOREIGN STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS— GREAT BRITAIN.
879
APPROXIMATE STATEMENT SHOWING SECURITY FOR LOAN (160 ACRES OF LAND PER
FAMILY).
Loan..........................................................................................................................................
Present value of unoccupied land, at £1 ($4.8865) per acre......................................
Security for loan:
Value of land when occupied, at £ 2 ($9.7330) per acre.................$1, 557.28
Value of buildings at cost of materials...............................................
340.66
$973.30
778.64
Total security........................................... ................................................................. 1, 897.94
Value of land in, say, 10 years, when the rest is colonized, at £ 5 ($24.3325) per
acre (allowing nothing for implements, live stock, and general im provem ents). . 3,8 93 .2 0
2. A permanent imperial officer should be appointed, to be known
as the superintendent of land settlements or by some similar title.
In him, as a trustee for the Government, the capital sums should be
vested; or, if it were thought more desirable, the money might
stand to the credit of a board whereof this superintendent was a
member.
One of the duties of this official should be to occasionally visit and
report upon all colonies that may be established. Further duties
should be to stand between the Government and the charitable bodies
which shall select the settlers; to receive from them and to check
their returns; to investigate any complaints made against them, and,
if found correct, to remedy same; to watch that they put no undue
religious or sectarian pressure upon the colonists, and to see that such
charitable bodies select the settlers fairly and judiciously from among
British subjects only. '
3. The Salvation Army is prepared to select city folk suitable for
agricultural settlers, move these settlers to the settlements, and
provide them with skilled instruction in local agriculture and with
the counsel and assistance needful to beginners in every path of
enterprise.
In this connection especial attention is called to Commander Booth
Tucker’s letter of April 24, 1905, replying to various questions asked
by Commissioner Haggard:
“ In the event of the provision of the necessary capital our organi
zation (the Salvation Army) will be prepared to undertake to any
extent its application in the selection of suitable persons to place upon
the land, and the management of such settlements on a large scale.”
“ Arrangements hav.e been made for the devolution of the leader
ship and the management of the Army of a nature which, so far as we
can foresee, must insure its permanence and that of its wTork upon the
present established lines and basis.”
“ In the case of the appointment by His Majesty’s Government of
a superintendent of land settlements or other similar officer we shall
be perfectly prepared to work with and under his supervision.”
“ The Salvation Army is prepared to undertake the work of land
settlement anywhere within the boundaries of the British Empire for
880
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
the sake of charity for the general good alone, charging against the
colonization funds only the actual salaries and out-of-pocket expenses
paid to or by the managers of the colonies, their directors and subor
dinates, together with the cost of the dwellings occupied by the said
managers and their assistants.”
“ The Salvation Army would expect no other pecuniary return or
remuneration of any sort for its labors in this cause.”
“ From the considerable knowledge which the leaders of our organi
zation possess as to the condition of the working classes and as to the
possibilities of colonization under wise management, we have every
confidence in the practicability of your proposals which you have
been good enough to explain to me. It is, so far as I am aware, the
first definite business-like proposal that has yet been advanced for
dealing on a large and scientific basis with what is universally admit
ted to be one of the most serious problems of the day.”
4.
As to safeguarding the repayment of the capital advanced and
the cost of starting such land settlements, it must be demonstrated
that the settlements can be made to pay their way upon a business
basis. Commissioner Haggard proposes that in a general way the
New Zealand Advances to Settlers Act be followed. Under that act he
states that up to March 31,1904, the advances made since about 1895,
when it began to operate, amounted to £4,009,520 ($19,512,329.08).
The securities for the net authorized advances were valued at £8,704,- ,
640 ($42,361,130.56), while the 1 per cent sinking fund in the hands of
the public trustee was £158,520 ($771,437.58).
The following table shows the payments due for every £100
($486.65) of the loan advanced. The capital lent and the interest at
5 per cent are repaid in 73 half-yearly installments; that is, 36|
years. To economize space, figures are shown for only the first 12
payments (6 years); the amount of the payment apportioned to inter
est continually decreases, while the amount credited on the principal
continually increases.
TABLE OF PRESCRIBED H A L F -Y E A R L Y INSTALLMENTS FOR E V E R Y ONE HUN
DRED POUNDS ($486.65) OF THE LOAN.
Half-year.
F irst.................................................................................................
Second..............................................................................................
Third................................................................................................
Fourth.............................................................................................
Fifth.................................................................................................
Sixth................................................................................................
Seventh............................................................................................
Eighth..............................................................................................
Ninth...............................................................................................
Tenth...............................................................................................
Eleventh..........................................................................................
Twelfth............................................................................................
Pre
scribed
halfyear
install
ment:
$14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
14.60
Apportioned
thus—
On ac
count of On ac
of
interest count
at 5 per princi
pal.
cent.
$12.17
12.11
12.04
11.98
11.92
11.84
11.78
11.70
11.64
11.56
11.48
11.42
$2.43
2.49
2.56
2.62
2.68
2.76
2.82
2.90
2.96
3.04
3.12
3.18
Balance
of prin
cipal
owing.
$484.22
481.73
479.17
476.55
473.87
471.11
468.29
465.39
462. 43
459.39
456.27
453.09
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING LABOR.
[Except in cases of special interest, the decisions here presented are restricted to those
rendered b y the Federal courts and the higher courts of the States and Territories. Only
material portions of such decisions are reproduced, introductory and explanatory matter
being given in the words of the editor.]
DECISIONS UNDER STATUTORY LAW .
E mployers’ L iability — E mployment of Children— D angerous
A ppliances— Construction of Statute— S t e r l i n g v . U n i o n C a r
b id e
C om p a n y, S u p rem e
C o u rt o f M ich ig a n , 1 0 5
N o rth w estern R e p o r te r ,
.— This case involved the application of a statute relating to
the employment of children under 16 years of age, any employ
ment by which life or limb is endangered being thereby forbidden.
Sterling was under 16 years of age, and was employed by the Union
Carbide Company at putting sheets of metal through a corrugating
machine. While so engaged he attempted to remove a partly
detached corner from one of the sheets, and his hand was drawn into
the rollers and severely injured.
Damages were allowed in the circuit court of Chippewa County,
and, on appeal, by the supreme court of the State. Sterling testified
that he knew he was liable to get hurt if his fingers got caught in the
rollers, and that it was dangerous to reach toward the sheet when it
was nearly through, but that he did not at the time have the danger
in mind. He also testified that he was given no instructions as to the
operation of the machine.
The various questions involved were briefly touched upon in the
opinion of the court as given by Judge Montgomery, from whose
remarks the following is quoted:
p a ge
7 5 5
Upon the question of whether the employment of plaintiff at an
employment whereby his life or limb was endangered constitutes neg
ligence, there is no direct authority in this State. In Borck v . Michi
gan Bolt and Nut Works, 111 Mich. 129, 69 N. W. 254 [see Bulletin
No. 12, p. 640], recovery was denied, although the boy was under 14,
but it was stated in that case that there was no count in the declara
tion for negligence in employing the plaintiff. There, are, however,
numerous cases in this State which declare and apply the well-recog
nized rule that, where a statute requires an act to be done or abstained
from by one person for the benefit of another, an action lies in favor
of the latter for a failure to observe the requirements of the statute.
[Cases cited.]
881
882
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
It is insisted b y appellant’s counsel that the employment of the
plaintiff was not the proximate cause of the injury. Whatever view
may be entertained under statutes differently worded, we think it
entirely clear that the disregard of the inhibition of this statute, by
placing the plaintiff at work at an employment where his life or limb
was endangered, constituted the negligence or wrong of which plain
tiff has the right to complain, and that the casual connection between
that wrong and the injury to plaintiff is clear. (Perry v. Tozer
(Minn.) 97 N. W. 137 [see Bulletin No. 51, p. 448]; Marino v. Lehmaier, 173 N. Y. 530, 66 N. E. 572, 61 L. R. A. 811 [see Bulletin
No. 48, p. 1100].)
Closely connected with this question is that of assumption of risk.
This question we regard as settled {i. e., that in such cases the risk is
not assumed]. (See, also, Hall v. West & Slade Milling Co. (Wash.
81 Pac. 915 [see Bulletin No. 62, p. 32].)
The question of plaintiff’s contributory negligence was properly
submitted to the jury. The statute upon which this action is founded
clearly recognizes that a child under 16 years of age is immature in
judgment. It was doubtless with this in view that this statute was
enacted. The plaintiff was not instructed, and, vhen a condition
arose calling for prompt action on his part, he acted doubtless hastily,
and whether with such judgment as could be expected in a boy of his
years, acting without specific instructions, was properly a question
for the jury. (See Perry v. Tozer, and Marino v. Lehmaier, supra.)
E mployers’ L iability — M ining R ailroad— Construction and
Constitutionality of Statute — Minnesota Iron Company v. K line ,
Supreme Court of the United States, 26 Supreme Court Reporter, page
159.— This case was before the Supreme Court of the United States
on appeal from the Minnesota supreme court, in which judgment had
been awarded Kline on account of injuries received by him while in
the employment of the company named. The negligence of a fellowservant was the cause of the injury, but a statute of Minnesota
(G. S., Sec. 2701) makes railroad companies liable for such negligence,
with a proviso that liability does not attach where the injury is
received in the construction of a new road, or any part thereof, not
open to public travel or use. The road in question had a narrowgauge track, and was used by the mining company in stripping earth
from the surface of a mine.
The judgment of the State court was upheld by the United States
Supreme Court on grounds which appear in the following quotation
from the remarks of Mr. Justice Holmes, who delivered the opinion of
the court:
The supreme court of Minnesota construed the act to apply to this
case, and held it constitutional when so construed. Of course, if the
statute as interpreted is not within the prohibitions of the 14th
Amendment, we do not interfere with the construction adopted by the
State court. The State court held that the act was confined to the*
dangers peculiar to railroads, and did not discriminate against railroad
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING LABOE.
883
companies merely as such. It read the proviso as only exempting
incomplete roads, marking the time when the statute should take
effect, and not as confining it to roads intended for public travel.
Before us it was argued that when the statute was passed there were
no private railroads in the State, and that, if the proviso is taken to
mean what the court said, the discrimination is senseless and unjusti
fied ; whereas, if it be taken to confine the statute to public roads after
public travel has begun, the distinction may be maintained. We are
of a different opinion. Some time must be fixed when the law shall
begin to operate, and the time when the road is finished is a natural
ana proper time. There may be unavoidable and exceptional dan
gers before the track is finished and while cars are being run over it
for construction purposes, and the legislature might think it proper
that the servant should take the risk of these even if the negligence
of a fellow-servant cooperated, just as he takes the risk of the known
peculiar dangers when he sets about repairing the effects of an acci
dent. The fact that there may be also dangers like those on the
finished road does not prevent the legislature from considering the
situation as a whole and keeping the old rule on practical grounds
until the exceptional risks come to an end. It was assumed in argu
ment that the statute would not apply to a road like the present if it
were built in aid of the construction of a public railroad which was
not yet completed. We see nothing in the decision or the statute to
warrant the assumption, and therefore need not discuss what the
effect of such an exception would be. Of course, there is no objection
to legislation being confined to a peculiar and well-defined class of
perils, and it is not necessary that they should be perils which are
shared by the public, if they concern the body of citizens engaged in
a particular work. (Holden v . Hardy, 169 U. S. 366, 42 L. ed. 780,
18 Sup. Ct. Rep. 383.)
“ It was not argued that the statute was bad as interfering unduly
with freedom of contract. There is no doubt that that freedom may
be limited where there are visible reasons of public policy for the
limitation. (Holden v . Hardy, 169 U. S. 366, 391, 42 L. ed. 780, 790,
18 Sup. Ct. Rep. 383.) The constitutionality of the law, so far as it
merely does away with the exception as to the negligence of fellowservants from the general law of master and servant in the case of rail
roads, is not disputed. (Missouri P. R. Co. v . Mackey, 127 U. S. 205,
32 L. ed. 107, 8 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1161.) The whole case is put on the
proviso, and the argument with regard to that is merely one of the
many attempts to impart an overmathematical nicety to the prohibi
tions of the Fourteenth amendment.”
E mployers* L iability — Safe Place to W ork— M ine R egu
E vidence— A n d r i c u s ’ A d m i n i s t r a t o r
lations — I nspector’ s N otice—
v.
P in e v ille
C oal
C o .,
C ou rt
o f A p p e a ls
o f
K en tu ck y ,
90
S o u th w es ter n
.— In this case recovery was sought for the death
of Gus Andricus, occasioned, as was alleged, by defective ventilation
of the company’s mine in which he was employed. The judgment
was in favor of the defendant company in the circuit court of Bell
County, which judgment was, on appeal, reversed. Andricus and
R ep o rter,
p a ge
2 3 3
884
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
one Staples were Greeks and had been at work in the mine only part
of a day when they lost their lives on account of the foul gases in the
mine. The admissibility of certain depositions as evidence, as well
as of the notices served on the company by the State mine inspector,
was one of the questions in issue. On this point and on the effect of
the violation of a police regulation as determining liability the court
ruled as follows, Judge O’Rear delivering the opinion:
In addition to the testimony of the witnesses, appellant offered
certified copies of notices given by the State mine inspector to appellee
on June 24, 1902, and on October 4, 1902, condemning the ventilation
of the mine. The State mine inspector required, by these notices, that
the owners remedy the defects m ventilation as therein pointed out
and specified. The court rejected these copies. Nothing was done,
so far as the record shows, to comply with the State mine inspector’s
requirements in the matter. It was admitted that Andricus was
killed by foul gases in the mine. The defense was that the condition
was not because of appellee’s negligence, but was brought about by
Andricus’ own negligence in going back to work too soon after shoot
ings the coal, and before the gas caused by the shot could be dissipated
by ventilation or otherwise. Appellee’s mine foreman testified as a
witness for appellant. He, too, had been employed at that mine only
that day— the day of the death of the two Greeks. He had not had
time to learn, or had not learned, of the true condition of the mine, and
said nothing whatever to the decedent and his companion about its
condition. The next day the foreman did inspect it at that point,
and testified that the ventilation was entirely insufficient and the air
was bad. Upon this evidence, the circuit court granted a motion for
nonsuit, and peremptorily instructed the jury to a verdict for appellee.
If the testimony of A. L. Doran, appellee’s mine foreman above
alluded to, and which was embodied in his deposition read in the case,
was properly admitted, the motion for a peremptory instruction
should have been overruled. His testimony alone shows that the
mine was unfit, because of lack of ventilation, to be used. Appellee
knew of it, and, whether it did or not, it was bound to take notice of
it, and will be treated, at the suit of an employee injured or killed by
such failure to provide a reasonably safe place to work, as if it in fact
knew of it. It was actionable negligence to suffer the mine to be in
that condition when in use, and was furthermore negligence in the
operators to put men to work in it without apprising them of its
condition; for, unless the danger was known to the laborer, or was
an obvious one, necessarily falling under the workman’s attention in
the course of his employment, he was not bound to look for it, but
might rely upon the implied assurance and superior means of knowl
edge of his employer that the premises were reasonably safe and fit
for the purposes for which they were being used.
The deposition of Doran was taken in view of his contemplated
emigration. The notice was to take his deposition in this case. It
appears that there was another suit pending at the same time and in
the same court by the personal representatives of Mike Staples, the
fellow-workman of decedent in this case, and who lost his lire at the
same time and from the same cause. The caption of the deposition
shows that it was taken in Staple’s case. Dut it says it was taken
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING LABOR.
885
“ pursuant to attached n otice/’ which was stylod for and given in this
case. The clerk’s indorsement shows that the deposition was filed.
Presumably it was filed in this record, or it could not have been used
on the trial at all, save by consent; nothing appearing to the con
trary. As there was no exception filed, the objection to the reading
of the deposition was properly overruled, in any event. The same
person was administrator of both decedents, the same cause of death
was relied on, and the same negligence sued for in each case. The
same defendant was sued in each case. The parties appear to be
represented by the same counsel in each case. Depositions taken in
one case, that are relevant in the other, may be read in the other case,
if filed therein before the trial. (Kerr v . Gibson, 8 Bush, 129.)
Probably the most important matter of practice arising in the case
was the action of the circuit court in refusing to admit the certified
copies of the notices given by the State mine inspector to appellee
concerning the condition of the mine shortly before occurrence sued
for. W e are not advised of the basis of the court’s ruling. But we
deem the matter of enough importance and novelty to treat it in all
the aspects in which it has occurred to us. If it be claimed that evi
dence of an unsafe condition of the mine in June or October does not
tend to prove that the condition was unsafe in November, however the
point might be decided, it would not control; for there is evidence that
the condition is unsafe on 2d of November from a certain cause, and
it is a relevant fact to be proved that that condition existed October
4th, previous, as well as on June 24th, previous. The precise fault to
be shown is insufficient ventilation, a defect of plan. It is a relevant
fact, if not a necessaiy one, in certain aspects of the case, to show that
the plan was defective, and had been in operation and tested long
enough to have demonstrated the fact, and therefore was actually
known to the employers.
Perhaps the objection went to the very root of the matter, and was
based upon the assumption that the State mine inspector’s examina
tion and report could not of itself establish the fact; that the report
or notice was, indeed, only hearsay evidence, and not receivable in an
action of one injured by the condition found by the report as against
the mine owner; or that, at least, as might be assumed from a reading
of the statute, it was alone a police regulation, a breach of which was
indictable, and on the trial or which, by the terms of the statute, the
inspector’s report and inspection might have been received as evi
dence, and, indeed, were required to have been shown, before the penal
ties fixed by the statute could be imposed for a failure to comply with
them. Where a large number of persons are employed in an extrahazardous business, it is undoubtedly within the police power of the
State to regulate, or to require the employer to regulate, the condi
tions so as to safeguard the lives and health of the laborers. To that
end, it is competent, and, indeed, may be necessary, that suitable pro
vision should be made for inspection of the premises and appliances,
in order to compel a compliance with the statute, as well as to punish
its breaches. One object of such inspection is to ascertain the fact
whether the law is being observed and whether its requirements have
been complied with. This is on behalf of the public; not only the
State as a corporate and sovereign being, but of all the public who are
concerned in knowing the fact, for tne information and guidance
peculiarity of those who are the direct objects of the statute’s pro tec
886
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR,
tion. For the primary policy of the statute is to prevent injury to
the class named, either in their health or loss of their lives. This may
be done by requiring the owner or operator to remedy defects, as well
as by giving such notice to the laborers that they may keep away from
or otherwise protect themselves in the defective premises.
But the statute goes further, and provides a punishment for those
who violate it. The main object of the punishment is, of course, to
coerce its observance of the regulation by the persons punished and
by others witnessing his example. But all preventive statutes do
not entirely prevent the mischief at which they are aimed. This is
anticipated in the provision for a penalty for tne breach. The pen
alty imposed by the statute is not for rearess of the injury done, but
is to punish the wrong of failing to observe the law. Whether or
not the fine be imposed is a matter which concerns the body politic,
but is wholly beside the question of injury inflicted and the responsi
bility of the wrongdoer to the injured party for it. Whatever per
sonal liability accrues from a specific act of negligence, although such
negligent act may be embraced in the terms or the statute as a thing
prohibited, remains unaffected by the statute. In so far as the statute
creates new duties from the mine owner or operator to the laborer,
they attach upon the assumption of that relation by the parties, and
for a breach of such duties, where injury results to the laborer, an
action will lie therefor. The statute requires the owner or operator
of a coal mine to adopt certain methods for the safety of his em
ployees. One operating such a mine now assumes to his employees
that he will do so,, and his failure is a breach of the implied undertak
ing, and is per se an act of negligence toward the employee, although
before the statute it may or may not have been deemed negligence
of itself. One effect of the statute is the erection of a legislative
standard of duty or care, in addition to that imposed previously by
the common law. A breach of one is as clearly and as necessarily a
violation of the laborer’s right as would be a breach of the other.
[Cases cited.]
Besides, a statute of this State provides: “ A person injured by the
violation of any statute may recover from the offender such damage
as he may sustain by reason of the violation, although a penalty or
forfeiture for such violation be thereby imposed.” (Section 466, Ky.
St. 1903.) Chapter 88, Kjr. St. 1903 (sections 2722 to 2733a, inclu
sive), creates the office of inspector of mines. It defines his duties
with respect to examination of the condition of coal mines operated
in this State employing more than five men. By section 2731, Ky. St.
1903, it is made the duty of mine owners or operators to provide suit
able and efficient ventilation of their mines. Section 2724, Ky. St.
1903, empowers the mine inspector to visit and inspect the mines, and,
if found insecure or lacking in ventilation, so as to endanger the health
or safety of the persons employed therein, it is made his duty to so
notify the mine owner or operator* and to require him to remedy the
defects pointed out. Certain penalties and proceedings are allowed
for the failure of the mine owner or operator to comply with the
requirements which affect the general p u b lic.. Section 2725, Ky. St.
1903, provides, in addition: “ The inspector of mines * * * shall
keep a record of all the inspection made by him, and shall furnish a
certified copy of his report of the inspection of any mine inspected by
him to the commonwealth’s attorney of the district in which the mine
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING LABOR.
887
is situated, on application therefor, which copy shall be admissible in
evidence in any court in this commonwealth, and shall be prim a facie
evidence of the truth of recitals therein contained.” This section
means, not only that the copy furnished to the commonwealth's
attorney shall be receivable as evidence, but that all copies of such
reports, made and certified by the inspector of mines, shall constitute
such evidence. Certain officials are required by law to certify to cer
tain facts of concern to the public or members thereof, of which records
are made and kept. When so made, they establish the existence of
the conditions certified to, and are binding as to their verity till
impeached in the manner allowed by law. In this instance they
become established prima facie only, and may be rebutted. (Godfrey
v . Beatyville Coal Co., 101 Ky. 339, 41 S. W. 10.)
This rule does not
deprive the coal company of a trial, nor dispose of its property and
other rights without a hearing and day in court. It is competent for
the legislature to place the burden of proof in actions, by making offi
cial determination or certification prima facie true.
The court is of opinion that the circuit court erred in excluding the
copies of the mine inspector's notices, as well as erred further in giving
the peremptory instruction in the case.
Wherefore the judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded for
a new trial under proceedings consistent herewith.
E mployment of Children— E mployment Certificates— D is
of Statute .— C o l l e t t v . S c o t t ,
crimination — Constitutionality
S u p e r i o r c o u r t o f P e n n s y l v a n i a , c e r t i f i e d c o p y o f o p i n i o n .— This case
was before the superior court on appeal from the court of common
pleas of Luzerne County. In that court a judgment had been ren
dered in favor of the defendant, Scott, wdio was a borough common
school superintendent, and who had refused to issue an employment
certificate to the plaintiff, Collett, under the terms of the act of May
2, 1905, P. L. 344. Scott had not disputed the facts alleged, but
maintained that he could not constitutionally be held to the per
formance of the duties prescribed in the law in question, which con
tention was upheld by the court below, and on appeal, by the superior
court. (For the law in full see Bulletin No. 63, pages 263 to 266.)
Scott's defense consisted of three parts: First, that the law did
not include minors over 16 years of age in its provisions relative to
employment certificates; second, that as an officer of the State of
Pennsylvania he was protected by the constitution of that State from
an imposition of onerous duties for the performance of which com
pensation was denied, and, third, that the law in question was in
contravention of the provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution of the United States.
On these points Judge Rice, who delivered the opinion of the court,
spoke as follows:
The court below decided against the defendant upon the first two
propositions, and while his counsel do not in their printed brief ex
888
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
pressly assent to these conclusions, they have presented to us no
argument in opposition to them. Therefore, and also because we
all are of opinion that the court was right in sustaining the third
proposition, we do not feel called upon to discuss them with a view
to determining whether or not the case can be decided upon them
without consideration of the Federal question. In saying this we are
not to be understood as intimating a doubt as to the correctness of
the conclusions of the court upon the first two questions.
Conceding, for the purposes of the case, all that the learned coun
sel for the appellant has so forcibly and ably argued in support of the
claim that the legislature has power to prohibit the employment of
minors under a certain age in or about anthracite coal mines and the
power to prescribe certain educational qualifications as a condition
precedent to the right of minors who have reached the specified age
to be so employed, without imposing the same restrictions upon
minors before engaging in other employment, there remains the seri
ous objection, which has not been satisfactorily answered, that the
legislative provisions under consideration make a discrimination
between minors of the same sex and age, the same mental and phys
ical ability, the same experience in this avocation and the same edu
cational qualifications, permitting members of one class to obtain
employment certificates, without which no minor can be employed
at all, upon much easier terms than are required of members of the
other class. The first class consists of those who are able to produce,
in addition to the affidavit of parent, guardian or custodian, a cer
tificate of registration of birth, baptism or circumcision, as kept b y
any religious denomination, or a certificate of registration of birth
as kept by any public authority, or, in case of a foreign-born child,
a true copy oi passenger manifest, passport or other official record
on file in the office of the commissioner of immigration at the port of
arrival. The second class consists of those who are unable to pro
duce either of such certificates or copy of such official records. A
member of the first class may obtain an employment certificate, if he
can read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English
language, while a member of the second class, although the same
age as the member of the first class and perhaps older, not only (1)
must be able to read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in
the English language, but in addition to the affidavit of parent, guar
dian, or custodian, is required (2) to produce a statement of the prin
cipal teacher of the last school which he attended certifying that he
had received instruction in reading, spelling, writing, English gram
mar, and geography, and is familiar with the fundamental operations
of arithmetic to and including fractions, and (3) to produce such
evidence as will enable the common school superintendent to certify
that he regularly attended the public schools, or schools equivalent
thereto, during the year previous to applying for such school record
and for the period required by the compulsory attendance laws of
this Commonwealth. JProof that he is of the prescribed age, no mat
ter how convincing, will not take the place of these additional pre
requisites which a minor of the second class must show that he
possesses in order to obtain an employment certificate. Doubtless
the strict enforcement of these regulations applicable to this class
would exclude from employment in or about the mines a very large
proportion of minors of the second class under 14 years of age, and
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING- LABOR.
889
thus tend to prevent imposition on the part of such as to their age;
but it is equally apparent that it would make it impossible for great
numbers or minors between 14 and 21 years of age, who are able to
read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English lan
guage and who can prove conclusively that they are of the required
age, to obtain an employment certificate until they have undergone
school training for a considerable period in other branches of educa
tion. To require this to put them on an equal footing as to the
right to labor in or about anthracite coal mines with the minor who
is able to produce a certificate of registration of birth, baptism, or
circumcision, or copy of an immigration record is to deny them the
equal protection or the laws. The first section of the fourteenth
amendment does not prohibit classification of the subject of legisla
tion, and the application of different regulations to different classes.
Nor are the courts warranted in declaring a classification made by
the legislature to be in conflict with the section merely because, in
their judgment, it is unnecessary, unwise, or inexpedient.
But although it is primarily a legislative question, it is not beyond
the jurisdiction of the courts to inquire and determine whether the
attempted classification transgresses constitutional limitations of
legislative power. 1‘ While good faith and a knowledge of existing con
ditions on the part of the legislature is to be presumed, yet to carry
that presumption to the extent of always holding that there must
be some undisclosed and unknown reason for subjecting certain indi
viduals or corporations to hostile and discriminating legislation is to
make the protecting clause of the fourteenth amendment a mere rope
of sand, and in no way restraining State action.” (Justice Brewer
in Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe R. R. Co. v . Ellis, 165 U. S., 150.)
Arbitrary selection can never be justified by calling it classification.
Even in the most extreme cases in the appellant's brief it is expressly
or impliedly conceded that while every presumption possible in favor
of the validity of the legislative classification is to be made, yet where
it is apparent that it is not based on any reasonable ground, or any
difference which bears a just and proper relation to the subject with
reference to which the classification is attempted, but is a mere arbi
trary selection, it will not relieve the statute from the equality clause
of the fourteenth amendment. The learned judge below reached the
conclusion that the provisions of the act under consideration are, for
that reason, in conflict with that clause, but that section 1, which
makes it unlawful to employ any minor under 16 years inside of any
anthracite coal mine, or to employ any minor under 14 years in any
anthracite coal breaker or colliery, or around the outside workings
of any anthracite coal mines, and section 2, which prescribes the
remedy for violation of the provisions of section 1, are a valid and
constitutional exercise of the police power and are enforceable not
withstanding the invalidity of the other provisions of the act relative
to employment certificates. We concur in his conclusion, and do not
find that we can add anything further to what is clearly set forth
in the opinion filed by him in support of it.
The judgment is affirmed.
890
bullet ™
of the bureau of labor .
E mployment Offices— L icenses— Constitutionality of Stat
ute .—
P eo p le
e x r e l. A r m s t r o n g
v. W a rd en
o f
C ity P r is o n
o f N ew
Y ork,
, p a g e 1 1 .—
James J. Armstrong had been imprisoned on conviction for conduct
ing an employment office without securing a license therefor, and
sued out a writ of habeas corpus against the warden of the prison.
Armstrong’s contention was that the law, which, in brief, requires
persons keeping employment offices in which a fee for services is
charged in cities of the first and second class to first procure a license,
was unconstitutional. The appellate division of the supreme court
had decided adversely to Armstrong’s claims, whereupon he appealed
to the court of appeals, which also supported the statute. The opin
ion of the court was announced by Judge O’Brien, and is in part as
follows:
C ou rt
o f A p p e a ls
o f
N ew
Y orT c} 7 6
N o rth ea ste rn
R ep o rter
The relator [Armstrong] insisted in the courts below, and insists in
this court, that the statute upon which the commitment is based is
void, as in conflict with the State and Federal constitutions. It is
argued that it is in conflict with the equal rights clause of the four
teenth amendment of the Federal Constitution, since it applies only
to cities of the first and second class. But it seems to be well settled
in this court and in the Federal court that the equality within the con
templation of the fourteenth amendment does not necessarily include
a territorial equality, and that legislation which, though limited in
the sphere of its operations, affects alike all persons similarly situated
within such sphere, is valid. [Cases cited.]
The other objection made by the relator to the validity of the statute
presents a question which has been very much discussed in this court,
as well as m other courts, and that is that the statute interferes
with the relator’s right to carry on a lawful business without being
hampered by statutory regulations. The cases are abundant which
hold that the individual has the right to carry on any lawful business,
or earn his living in any lawful way, and that the legislature has no
right to interfere with his freedom of action in that respect, or other
wise place restraints upon his movements. But, of course, these cases
must all be understood as applying to laws that are not within the
police power. If the statute comes fairly within the scope of the police
power, it is a valid law, although it may interfere, in some respects,
with the liberty of the citizen, which of course, includes his right to
follow any lawful employment. A statute to promote the public
health, the public safety, or to secure public order, or for the preven
tion or suppression of fraud, is a valid law, although it may m some
respects interfere with individual freedom. All business and occupa
tions are conducted subject to the exercise of the police power. Indi
vidual freedom must yield to regulations for the public good. It may
be laid down as a general principle that legislation is valid which has
for its object the promotion of the public health, safety, morals, con
venience, and general welfare, or the prevention of fraud or immoral
ity. W e think that such is the character of the statute in question.
It was intended to regulate employment agencies in cities. The leg
islature has the right to take notice of the fact that such agencies are
places where emigrants and ignorant people frequently resort to
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING LABOR.
891
obtain employment and to procure information. The relations of a
person so consulting an agency of this character with the managers or
persons conducting it are such as to afford great opportunities for
fraud and oppression, and the statute in question was for the purpose
of preventing such frauds, and probably for the suppression of
immorality.
We think that the objections to the statute are not well founded,
that it is a valid law, and therefore the order should be affirmed.
I njuries Causing D eath — D amages— Joinder of Causes of
A ction.— N e m e c e k v . F i l e r a n d S t o w e U C o ., S u p r e m e C o u r t o f W i s c o n
N o r t h w e s t e r n R e p o r t e r , p a g e 2 2 5 .— Anna Nemecek sued in the
circuit court of Milwaukee County, under sections 4255, 4256, It. S.,
1898, to recover damages for the accidental death of John Nemecek,
and also to recover damages for the pain and anguish suffered by the
deceased as the result of injuries received by him while in the employ
ment of the above-mentioned company.
The company’s attorneys demurred to the joinder of the two causes
of action, which demurrer was overruled. From this action of the
court an appeal was taken to the supreme court of the State, in which
the ruling of the lower court was sustained on grounds which appear
in the following quotation from the remarks of Judge Winslow, who
spoke for the court:
s in , 1 0 5
The question whether these two causes of action may be properly
joined in the same complaint is now first presented to this court. It
is settled in this State that a cause of action for personal injuries sur
vives the death of the injured person; that it is to be prosecuted by
the personal representative; that the damages recovered in such
action are confined to those suffered by the deceased prior to his
death, and go into the general fund of the estate of the deceased; that
the action for the death is also to be prosecuted by the personal rep
resentative; that the damages in this latter action are limited to the
pecuniary loss sustained by the relatives of the deceased named in
the act, and must be paid over by the personal representative to such
relatives. We have Tbeen unable to perceive any good reason why
these two causes of action may not be properly joined. It is true
that this court has held that actions which do not affect the plaintiff
in the same capacity can not be joined in the same action. That,
however, is not the case [in this instance]. The plaintiff sues as
administratrix in both causes of action. The elements of damages
are different, the amounts of damages must be separately assessed by
special verdict, and the sums recovered must go into separate funds;
but, as was suggested in the Brown case, supra, none of these consid
erations involves any serious difficulties in the trial of the two causes
of action together. It would seem to be better for both parties to
dispose of the entire litigation in one action and upon one trial. The
law discourages rather than encourages multiplicity of actions.
There is little direct authority on the subject, but such as there is
favors this view.
Order affirmed.
892
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
DECISIONS UNDER COMMON LAW .
B oycott— Conspiracy— I nterference
for D amages .— P u r i n g t o n e t a l . v .
bility
with
B usiness— L ia
H in c h liff, S u p r em e
C ou rt
— George Hinchliff had
secured a judgment in the circuit court of Cook County, assessing
damages against Purington and others for interference with his busi
ness as manufacturer and seller of bricks. The persons sued were
members of an association known as the Brick Manufacturers7 Asso
ciation of Chicago. There was an agreement between this association
and the Masons7 and Builders7 Association restricting purchases of
bricks by the latter to such as were made by members of the Manufac
turers7 Association. Other facts appear in the opinion as quoted.
Damages were awarded in the circuit court of Cook County, which
judgment was affirmed by the appellate court, and, on this appeal, by
the supreme court of the State. In delivering the opinion of the court
Judge Wilkin used in part the following language:
o f Illin o is,
7 6
N o r th ea ste rn
R ep o rter,
p a ge
4 7 .
The appellate court recited the following facts as appearing from the
evidence:
“ The negotiations between the Masons7 and Builders7 Association
which led to the agreement complained of began in December, 1897,
with the appointment of a committee by the Brick Manufacturers7Asso
ciation, which obtained the appointment of a committee of the Masons7
and Builders7Association, and the two committees in conference for
mulated the agreement. This seems to have finally gone into effect
prior to October 1, 1898. The resolution of the Masons7and Builders7
Association adopted at the time of the appointment of its com
mittee of conference, provided, inter alia, that ‘ whereas, the brick
manufacturers now have an organization which takes in all of the brick
manufacturers of Cook County and vicinity, and believing that it is
established upon a sound and practical basis, and believing the system
will control the price of brick in the future,7 and 1 that an agreement
would greatly benefit and advance the interests of the Chicago Masons7
and Builders7Association and will strengthen the Brick Manufacturers7
Association as well,7therefore the committee be appointed, which was
accordingly done; that the substantial provisions of the agreement
thus made are, that the members of the Masons7and Builders7Associ
ation who sign the agreement agree to buy sewer, hollow, and common
brick only from such members of the Brick Manufacturers7Association
as have signed the agreement and are in good standing in said associ
ation, and the members of the Brick Manufacturers7 Association who
sign the agreement agree to give to the members of the Masons7and
Builders7 Association signing the agreement and in good standing a
trade discount from the trade price of one dollar a thousand brick.
On all brick sold to purchasers outside of the Masons and Builders7
Association the brick manufacturers agree to pay into their treasury
one dollar a thousand, the fund thus created to be divided every six
months equally, one-half to their own members who have signed and
are faithful members of the Masons7and Builders7Association. There
are provisions for enforcing the terms of the agreement by imposition
of fines and penalties, and it was to take effect on and after April 1,
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING LABOR.
89a
1898, within the limits of Cook County and north of the Joliet branch
of the Michigan Central Kailroad in Lake County, Ind. There is evi
dence tending to show that the plaintiff was the principal competitor
in Cook County of the members of the Brick M anufactured Associa
tion; that his plant had a capacity of from 50,000 to 60,000 bricks a day^
or about 15,000,000 bricks per year; that it was well equipped w nli
machinery, and ‘ the clay was all right.' It appears that plaintiff was
at one time a member of the Masons' and Builders' Association, and
that he made efforts to secure admission to the Brick Manufacturers'
Association without success. These associations and associates, the
brick manufacturers, the masons and builders, and the Bricklayers'
Union, employed business agents and secret service men, whose busi
ness it was to see that the rules formulated to make effective the agree
ment between them were observed by their membership. There is
evidence tending to show that after the agreement in question was in
active force and operation the plaintiff's business began to be inter
fered with by these agents and secret service men; that contractors
and owners who were purchasing and using plaintiff's brick were com
pelled to cease using them; that large orders and sales were canceled;
that one owner was compelled to pay a fine to the Masons' and Build
ers' Association before being permitted to complete with plaintiff's
brick a building which was under way; that workmen were directed
not to lay plaintiff's brick because he was not in the combination; and
there is evidence of particular cases in which such interference
occurred. In one case where, as the evidence tends to show, money
had to be paid to the Masons' and Builders' Association for the privi
lege of using plaintiff's brick to complete a job then under way, in
order to get the work completed, the association afterward returned
the money when threatened with legal procedure. The plaintiff testi
fies that the result of the combination and consequent interference
with his business was that his brick became ‘absolutely worthless.
There wasn't hardly a man in Chicago that would handle them. The
workmen all belonged to the union, practically, and the hod carrierswould not handle them, or the bricklayers wouldn't lay them.' H e
testifies that he was called on by the secretary of the Masons' and
Builders' Association, who told plaintiff ‘ that the joint committee o f
the master masons and brick manufacturers' crowd had just had ajoint session in the next room ' adjoining my office and had directed
him to inform me that they had requested me to sell no more brick in
the city of Chicago or Evanston. I told him they must be wrong—
that it was equivalent to asking me to quit business. He said: ‘ There
is no mistake on my part. The committee have just adjourned, and
the members are still in the next room.' I said ‘ Go back and tell
them they are a bigger lot of fools than I thought they were,' and I
made a similar request of them."
We think the foregoing finding as to the facts is sustained by the
proofs. The question of unlawful conspiracy to injure the business o f
another, and the necessary elements to constitute it, has been before
this court on other occasions. Our reports contain many well con
sidered cases on the subject. No person or combination of persons
can legally, by direct or indirect means, obstruct or interfere with,
another in the conduct of his lawful business, and any loss willfully
caused by such interference will give the party injured a right of action12951— No. 64— 06---------- 20
894
BULLETIN OF THE BUBEAU OF LABOR.
for all damages sustained. All parties to a conspiracy to ruin the busi
ness of another because of his refusal to do some act against his will or
judgment are liable for all overt acts illegally done pursuant to such
conspiracy and for the subsequent loss, whether they were active par
ticipants or not. [Cases cited.] Under the authorities above cited
and in view of the evidence as it appears in the record, there is evi
dence fairly tending to show that appellants were guilty of an unlaw
ful combination and conspiracy to maliciously injure the appellee’s
business. The court committed no reversible error in refusing to
instruct the jury to find for the defendants.
Complaint is also made of the rulings of the court in the admission
and exclusion of evidence and in giving and refusing instructions. All
of these alleged errors are based upon the theory that the appellants
were not guilty of an unlawful combination and conspiracy. In each
instance the evidence admitted tended to prove the allegations of the
declaration, and was therefore competent. The instructions given
announced the law of conspiracy as held in the foregoing decisions,
and those refused laid down a contrary rule.
We find no reversible error, and the judgment of the appellate court
will be affirmed.
B oycott— I njunction— Certainty — Constitutional R ights—
H a y d a , C o u rt o f A p p e a l o f C a lifo r n ia , 8 2 P a c ific R e p o r te r ,
.— Andrew Jordahl, proprietor of a restaurant in Eureka,
Cal., had secured an injunction in the superior court of Humboldt
County against .J. A. Hayda and others, members and agents of the
Cooks’ and Waiters’ Alliance, Local No. 220.
This injunction prohibited the commission by the defendants “ of
any acts or the use of any methods within or in the immediate vicinity
of the plaintiff’s said restaurant and premises, which will tend to hin
der, impede, or obstruct the plaintiff in the transaction of the business
of said plaintiff at said Fairwind restaurant in said premises, or hinder,
intimidate, or annoy the patrons or customers of plaintiff as they
visit said restaurant and premises and depart from the same, and
from annoying and intimidating persons who may desire to work in
plaintiff’s said premises.”
From this judgment the union appealed with the result that the
action of the lower court was upheld on grounds which appear in the
following quotation from the opinion of the court as given by Judge
Chapman:
J ord a h l v.
p a ge
1 0 7 9
Appellants (Hayda and his associates) contend that the words used
in the findings, such as “ threats,” acts of “ intimidation,” “ interfered
with,” “ driven away” or “ prevented,” as applied to the conduct of
defendants toward the patrons of plaintiff, imply force, and that “ the
evidence does not warrant a finding that implies that force was used.”
We do not think these words as used in the findings and judgment
imply that it was necessary to show physical force on the part of
defendants towards anyone. Persons might have been “ prevented”
from patronizing plaintiff, or “ driven away” from his place of busi
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING LABOR.
895
ness, or “ interfered with” in an attempt to go into or out cf his res
taurant, by conduct falling short of actual violence, and yet the
conduct might be of such character as to effect the object of defend
ants to the injury of plaintiff in a way which could not be adequately
measured in an action for damages.
W e are cited b y appellant to section 9, art. 1, of the constitution of
California, which guaranties the right to every person to “ freely
speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects,” etc. It is
argued that it is not unlawful for any person to go or stay away from
plaintiff’s restaurant, and hence there could be nothing unlawful in
any one of defendants requesting any patron of plaintiff’s restaurant
to remain away therefrom; that the motive of the person in making
the request is immaterial; and if the request can be made of one it
can be made of all patrons of plaintiff. Furthermore, if this may be
done verbally, it may be done in writing, and he may make the request
on a banner such as was used in front of plaintiff’s restaurant which
read: “ Boycott. Fairwind Restaurant, declared an unfair restau
rant by Cooks’ and Waiters’ Alliance, Local No. 220. Public is asked
not to patronize the place.” It is also argued that “ boycotting” is
not actionable per se, and so with “ picketing” and hence, as we infer,
not restrainable by injunction. We do not find it necessary to enter
upon a discussion of the right of labor to organize for mutual benefit
and self-protection. All sane thinking persons concede this right.
And it cannot be doubted that organized labor has the right to effect
its objects and purposes by all lawful means, lawfully exercised.
Nor are we called upon to lay down general rules by which labor
organizations should be governed in their relation to the business
interests of the country and to society. We are to deal alone with
the facts presented in his particular case, and the principles of law by
which they shall be governed.
While the right of free speech is guarantied to all citizens by the
constitution, there is also guarantied to them by the same constitu
tion the right of “ acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and
possessing and obtaining safety and happiness” (sec. 1, art. 1); and
it is a maxim of jurisprudence prescribed by the statute law of this
State that “ one must so use his rights as not to infringe upon the
rights of of another” (Civ. Code, Sec. 3514). These guaranties are
equally important to and equally necessary for the protection of all
classes of citizens. The difficulty in most cases is to apply the prin
ciples governing these correlated rights in particular cases as they
arise. Appellants concede that boycotting and picketing may
become “ objectionable by reason of the acts done, in prosecuting the
boycott or in picketing;” and, this much conceded, it follows that
they may be resorted to by such unlawful means and in such repre
hensible manner as to bring the persons therein engaged within the
restraining power of the courts. That a boycott was declared and
being enforced against plaintiff b y defendants is not disputed. One of
the defendants testified to its object as follows: “ We wanted to keep
people from patronizing Mr. Jordahl’s while he refrained from getting
a union card. We wanted to keep everybody from patronizing him
as much as we could. It did not matter who it was, everybody we
could keep from patronizing him we would do the best we could to
keep them away. If Mr. Jordahl had come in and acceded to our
terms, that minute the boycott would have been declared off, and
896
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
would have been kept on as long as he wouldn’t, had it not been for
the injunction of the court. The boycott would have been on now
if it had not been for the injunction of the court. I was a member of
the committee that had exclusive power to act in this particular mat
ter.” The evidence was conflicting as to the acts which the court
found amounted to intimidation or the patrons of plaintiff and to
an unwarrantable interference with the peaceable prosecution of his
business and to plaintiff’s pecuniary injury.
The well-settled
rule of the Supreme Court, and therefore must be followed by this
court, is, that the findings of the trial court will not be disturbed, but
must be accepted, where there is a substantial conflict in the evidence.
And under this rule the appellate court is not permitted to determine
where the preponderance of the evidence rests. If there was any sub
stantial evidence to support the findings we must hold it sufficient.
The responsibility of weighing the evidence is upon the trial court or
the jury, where the trial is by jury. Upon a careful examination of
the record we think there is sufficient to sustain the findings.
Appellants finally complain that the judgment should be reversed
because “ it is so indefinite and uncertain that it is impossible to ascer
tain therefrom what acts defendants are enjoined from performing.”
The court was not called upon, nor was it practicable to enumerate
the particular acts which in its opinion would be regarded as acts of
intimidation to customers or threats used for the purpose of diverting
patrons from plaintiff’s restaurant. Defendants are presumed to be
intelligent and law-abiding citizens, and, as such citizens, the court
was content to leave to them the determination of what particular
acts they could in future safely resort to without violation of its
directions. The meaning of the judgment is plain enough, and so
long as defendants keep within the intention expressed by the court
they will be within their rights so far as any violation of this judgment
may be involved.
Contracts to E mploy N one but M embers of L abor U nions—
L egality— J a c o b s v . C o h e n e t a l . , C o u r t o f A p p e a l s o f N e w Y o r k ,
N o r t h e a s t e r n R e p o r t e r , p a g e 5 .— This case involves the validity
of a contract restricting employment to members of a labor organi
zation. Morris and Louis Cohen, engaged in the business of tailor
ing, had made such a contract with the Protective Coat Tailors’ and
Pressers’ Union, Local 55, giving their note as security for the
fulfillment of the contract. Following a violation of the contract,
Jacobs sued as president of the union to recover on the note, and
was met by the defense that the agreement on which the note was
based was against public policy and void, being in restraint of trade,
and tending to hamper and restrict the freedom of citizens. Jacobs’s
counsel demurred to this defense as being insufficient in law. The
court at special term sustained the demurrer, from which ruling
Cohen appealed to the appellate division of the supreme court.
Here the judgment upholding the demurrer was reversed, and the
demurrer was overruled, but with permission to refer two questions
76
DECISIONS OF COURTS AFFECTING LABOR.
897
to the court of appeals, one of which reads as follows: “ I s a contract
made by an employer of labor, by which he binds himself to employ
and to retain in his employ only members in good standing of a
single labor union, consonant with public policy, and enforceable
in the courts of justice in this State ?” The second question related
to the sufficiency in law of the defense offered by Morris and Louis
Cohen. That particular portion of the contract under consideration
is here quoted:
That the party of the first part (meaning the makers’ firm) shall
not employ any help whatsoever other than those belonging to and
who are members or the party; of the third part (meaning a “ union”
of the firm’s employees) and in good standing, and who conform to
the rules and regulations of the said party of the third part, and the
said party of the first part shall cease to employ any one and all
those employees who are not in good standing, and who do not con
form to and comply with the rules and regulations of said party of
the third part, upon being notified to that effect by its duly creaentialed representatives. That the party of the first part shall not
engage any help whatsoever, even those who are members of the
party of the third part, without their first having produced a pass
card duly executed and signed by the authorized business agent of.
the party of the third part; said card to show that the bearer thereof
is a member in good standing of the party of the third part, and that
he has complied with the rules ancl regulations thereof in force at
that time.
The court was divided, four judges upholding the contract as
valid, while two judges concurred in a dissenting opinion, and the
seventh judge was absent. As the question is one of special interest,
both opinions are quoted from at some length. Judge Gray pre
pared the prevailing opinion, which is in part as follows:
If we refer to the prevailing opinion of the appellate division, it
appears that the question in this case was there regarded as within
our decision in Curran v . Galen, 152 N. Y. 33, 46 N. E. 297, 37 L. R.
A. 802, 57 Am. St. Rep. 496, and hence that the contract was unlaw
ful, because contrary to public policy. In this view I think the
learned justices below erred. Whatever else may be said of it, this
is the case of an agreement voluntarily made by an employer with
his workmen, which bound the latter to give their skilled services
for a certain period of time, upon certain conditions, regulating the
performance of the work to be done, and restricting the class of
workmen who should be engaged upon it to such persons as were
in affiliation with an association, organized by the employers’ work
men with reference to the carrying on of the very work. It would
seem as though an employer should be, unquestionably, free to
enter into such a contract with his workmen for the conduct of his
business, without its being deemed obnoxious upon any ground of
public policy. If it might operate to prevent some persons being
employed by the firm, or, possibly, from remaining in the firm’s
employment, that is but an incidental feature. Its restrictions were
not of an oppressive nature, operating generally in the community
898
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
to prevent such craftsmen from obtaining employment and from
earning their livelihood. It was but a private agreement between
an employer and his employees concerning the conduct of the busi
ness for a year, and securing to the latter an absolute right to limit
the class of their fellow workmen to those persons who shall be in
affiliation with an organization entered into with the design of pro
tecting their interests in carrying on the work, as, indeed, the agree
ment recites. Nor does the answer aver that it was intended thereby
to injure other workmen, or that it was made with a malicious motive
to coerce any to their injury, through their threatened deprivation
of all opportunity of pursuing their lawful avocation. To coerce
workmen to become members of the employees’ organization,
through such a contract, is not the allegation of something which the
law will necessarily regard as contravening public policy. The
allegation that its “ purposes are in restraint of trade,” or that “ they
hamper and restrict the freedom of a citizen,” or “ that they are
against public policy,” is the mere statement of a legal conclusion.
If the question were more correctly presented by some appropriate
allegation, I still would be of the opinion that the agreement is not
one which comes under the condemnation of the law. The right of
workingmen to unite and to organize for the protection of their
interests and welfare is not denied. It ha
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