Full text of Monthly Labor Review : April 1923, Volume XVI, Number 4

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CO NTENTS.
Special articles:
Pgae.
Effectiveness of mechanical elevator interlocks in prevention of accidents,
by Clayton W. Old, vice president of the Shur-Loc Elevator Safety Co.
(Inc.), New York City................................................................................ 1-10
Organization and policies of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, by Paul S.
Taylor............................................................................................................ 11-20
Industrial relations and labor conditions:
West Virginia—Economic condition of the negro.......................................... 21-23
South Australia—Labor conditions in 1921.................................................... 23,24
Prices and cost of living:
Retail prices of food in the United States.....................................
25-45
Retail prices of coal in the United States...................................................... 46-49
Comparison of retail price changes in the United States and foreign
countries....................................................................................................
49-51
Index numbers of wholesale prices in February, 1923..................................
52
Arizona—Reduction of cost of living by company stores.............................
53
Nevada—Retail prices of food, 1921 and 1922...............................................
54
Germany—Budget of a Berlin workman’s family, last six months of 1922..
55
Wages and hours of labor:
Wages and hours of labor in the automobileindustry in 1922....................... 56-58
Wages and hours of labor in sheet mills in 1922............................................. 58-62
Connecticut—Wage rate for unskilled labor..................................................
63
Nevada—Wages and hours of labor.................................................................
63
New York State—Average earnings in factories in January, 1923................
64
China—Wages of bakers in Hongkong........ ..................................................
64
Denmark and Norway—Termination of eight-hour worldng-day agreement
65
in Denmark and of agreements in Norway................................................
France—Wages in the leather and printing industries in Paris, 1922..........
66
Germany—Production and wages in a steel works, 1913 to 1921.................. 66-68
Great Britain—Working hours and production in the engineering and ship­
building industries....................................................................................... 68-70
Minimum wage:
Recent minimum wage reports—
Massachusetts:
Report of minimum wage investigating committee.................... 71-74
Activities of wage boards, 1922......................................................... 74-76
North Dakota............................................................................................ 76-78
Labor agreements, awards, and decisions:
Paterson industrial conference plan............................................................•. 79, 80
Electrotypers—Chicago................................................................................... 81-83
Railroads—Decisions of Railroad Labor Board—
Engine, train, and yard service.................................................. ........... 83, 84
Railroad signalmen................................................................................... 84, 85
Clothing industry—Decisions—Stoppages...................................................... 85, 86
Netherlands—Collective agreements, 1921..................................................... 86-88
Women in industry:
Chicago and St. Louis—Women in the candy industry................................ 89-91
Nevada—Employment of women....................
91
in


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IV

CONTENTS.

Housing:
Page.
Denmark—New housing loan law................................................................... 92, 93
Formosa—Government loans for housing...............................................
93
India—Government housing for the working classes in Bombay...... ..........
94
Employment and unemployment:
Employment in selected industries in February, 1923.......................... — 95-100
Index of production in selected basic industries, 1913 to February, 1922. 100,101
Employment and earnings of railroad employees, January and December,
1922, and January, 1923....................................-.................................... 101,102
103
Extent of operation of bituminous coal mines, February 3-24, 1923............
Recent employment statistics—
Illinois.......................................................................................................
104
Iowa....................................................................................................... 104,105
Minnesota.....................................................
105
Nevada......................................................................................................
106
California—Regularizing employment in the building trades in San Francisco..............................................................................................................
106
New York State—Increased employment as indicated by gains in building
activity......................................- ..................................................... ...........
107
Unemployment in foreign countries........................................................... 107-117
Germany—New regulation of unemployment relief................................. 118,119
Great Britain and Northern Ireland—Report of employment exchanges...
119
United Kingdom—Volume of employment in January, 1923.................... 119, 120
Industrial accidents and hygiene:
Effects on workers of exposure to arsenic trichloride................................ 121-123
Adequate records of lost time from sickness in industry........................... 123,124
California—Safety in mines........................................................................ 124, 125
New York—Industrial accidents to children............................................. 126-128
Germany—Lead poisoning in the manufacture of ceramic transfer pic­
tures ......................................................................................................... 129,130
Workman’s compensation and social insurance:
Compensable occupational diseases under Federal employees’ compensation
act: Ruling by Comptroller General and its suspension by joint resolution of Congress......................................................................................... 131-133
Washington (State)—Amendments to workmen’s compensation law...........
133
Finland—Accident insurance, 1908 to 1919................................................ 133-135
Germany—Amendment of workmen’s insurance code and of insurance law
for salaried employees.............................................................................. 135-138
Great Britain—Workmen’s compensation, 1921............................................................ 138-141
Medico-legal examinations and the workmen’s compensation act— 141,142
Labor laws and court decisions :
Powers of the United States Railroad Labor Board (Pennsylvania Railroad
case)........................................................................................................... 143-146
Collective agreement affecting production in window-glassindustry........ 146-148
Indiana—Unconstitutionality of law providing penalty for nonpayment of
wages.......................................................................................................... 148,149
Iowa—Picketing and secondary boycott to enforce unionization............. 149,150
Labor organizations :
Nevada—Labor unions....................................................................................
151
France—National Congress of Confédération Générale du Travail........... 151-154
Netherlands—Trade-union movement in 1921........................................... 154-156
Scandinavian countries—Membership of trade-unions in 1921................ 156-158


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CONTENTS.

C V

Strikes and lockouts:
page_
Massachusetts—Strikes and lockouts in 1922.................................................
159
Conciliation and arbitration:
Conciliation work of Department of Labor in February, 1923, by Hugh L.
Kerwin, Director of Conciliation............................................................. 160,161
Cooperation:
Labor banks in the United States............................................................... 162,163
Developments in cooperation at home and abroad—
Arkansas....................................................................................................
163
Iowa...........................................................................................................
163
Minnesota.............................................................................................. 163,164
New Hampshire........................................................................................
164
Belgium...............
164
France.......................................................................................................
165
Great Britain......................................................................................... 165,166
Sales of European cooperative wholesale societies, 1921...............................
166
Profit sharing:
Bibliography on profit sharing and labor copartnership............................ 167-179
Immigration:
Statistics of immigration for January, 1923, by W. W. Husband, Commis­
sioner General of Immigration................................................................. 180-185
What State labor bureaus are doing:
Minnesota.........................................................................................................
186
Nevada.......................................................
186,187
New York.........................................................................................................
187
Publications relating to labor:
Official—United States................................................................................ 188,189
Official—Foreign countries......................................
189-192
Unofficial...................................................................................................... 192,193


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
vol.

xvi—n o .

WASHINGTON

4

April, 1923

Effectiveness of Mechanical Elevator Interlocks in Prevention of
Accidents.1
By

Cl a y t o n

W.

Ol d ,

Vice President of the Shur-Loc Elevator Safety Co. (Inc.),
New York City.

HE subject assigned for this paper is “ Mechanical elevator
interlocks—Their effectiveness/’ being an inquiry as to the
extent to which the mechanical interlock reduces or eliminates
the hazards surrounding the use of the elevator-shaft door.
What are these hazards? Under what conditions, under what
class or set of circumstances, are men injured or killed at the elevator
door ? An answer will give the basis for an orderly reply to this
inquiry. At the last appearance of the writer before the American
Society of Safety Engineers, he quoted the result of a careful inquiry
into and analysis of the 1,122 fatal elevator accidents which had
occurred on the elevators of Chicago and of Manhattan during ap­
proximately 11 years preceding. Each case having been studied
directly from the coroner’s record, the data and averages derived
were and are still of unusual importance. From them it should be
possible to draw very definite conclusions as to the safety measures
necessary to prevent their recurrence.
The first thing learned was that of these 1,122 tragedies, 953
or 85 per cent occurred at the shaft door. The remaining 15 per
cent occurred within the shaft: Men engaged in construction work
dropped from scaffolding; others, on top of the car, were crushed by
the “ overheads,” or in the pit by the descending car or counter­
weight, etc. With these this paper has nothing to do, save with one
fairly infrequent type to which reference will be made later.
It was next found that of the 632 victims of fatal shaft-door accidents
in Manhattan, 292 (46 per cent) fell into the shaft and 340 (54 per
cent) were crushed while entering or leaving the car. In Chicago,
where a total of 321 fatal accidents occurred, 169 persons (53 per
cent) were killed by falling into the shaft and 152 (47 per cent) were
crushed. The average is practically 50 per cent for each of the two
types of accident.
Here is something to start on. It is apparently about equally
important, if the shaft door is to be made safe, that men be pre­
vented from falling into the shaft and from being crushed between
the car and the doorsill or lintel.

T

1 Paper read at joint meeting of the engineering section of the National Safety Congress and the American
Society of Safety Engineers, New York, Feb. 18, 1923.


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M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

Accidents Caused by Falling into the Shaft.

do so many men manage to fall into elevator shafts and
HOWunder
what conditions are they crushed ? An analysis shows
that there are three outstanding conditions responsible for the first
type of accident. They are given in the order of their importance:
( a ) The operator fails to latch the door or, even though he closes it
entirely, the latch fails to hold and the door rebounds and stands
slightly open. The impatiently waiting passenger, pulling it open,
looks down the shaft to see where the car is. The descending ele­
vator hits him on the head and down the shaft he goes. From the
number of such cases reported, and their similarity, it is evident that
people seldom look up the shaft under such circumstances but usually
down.
It is astonishing also how many cases are reported of people who,
in the dark, mistake the elevator door for another door, open it, and
walk into the shaft. This usually happens where swing doors are
used. The following illustration is taken from the Trenton, N. J.,
Times: “ Mrs. Elizabeth Insman last night walked into the elevator
shaft at St. James Hospital where she was a patient, sustaining in­
juries which caused her death. She mistook the door for that which
led to the bathroom.”
(6)
The elevator on the up trip, starting too quickly, throws the
entering passenger backward onto the landing. He, attempting to
regain his balance, pitches down the shaft. A case of this kind
occurred about three years ago on the service elevator of the Gotham
Hotel in this city (New York). A serving maid was thus thrown
backward, and a passenger standing on the very front edge of the car
leaned outward to pull her in and was himself crushed to death be­
tween the car and the door lintel. The maid was found dead at the
bottom of the shaft.
(c) An employee in a building authorized to carry a key to the
elevator doors believing, mistakenly, that the elevator is standing
at a certain floor, unlocks and opens the shaft door and walks into—
space. Some one has taken the car to another floor. This is called
the “ key door accident.” In a recent paper read by the writer before
the American Society of Safety Engineers, 23 such cases were quoted,
among them being the superintendent of the new A. T. & T. Building,
the superintendent of the McGraw Building, and the watchman of
the Equitable Building, all of this city. Such accidents are very
frequent.
Before leaving this particular phase of the subject, mention should
be made of the so-called “ safety gate” of the factory elevator. The
reference is not to the self-closing vertical gate, which is a veritable
death trap, but to the common hand-operated wood-slat up-and-down
substitute for a decently protective, fully inclosing door. It slides in
wood guides and not only warps, twists, and tilts so that its latch
seldom engages, but it can not be effectively protected by any known
type of interlock, electrical or mechanical. It is the regular practice
of factory hands to lift these gates not only to look up and down the
shaft but also to jump on and off the passing car. You all know this
to be the case, yet to the amazement of safety engineers the insurance
companies continue to urge the use of such gates and illustrate them


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ELEVATOR INTERLOCKS IN ^PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS.

3

in their safety handbooks. Seldom does a week pass that the clipping
bureaus fail to report fatal accidents for which these gates are directly
and solely responsible. A typical one is quoted from the Gloversville (N. Y.) Leader. “ Hanson raised the gate of the elevator and
was just stepping on the platform when a workman on an upper floor
set the elevator in motion. Its upward movement released the gate,
which struck him on the head and knocked him down the shaft.”
On a recent trip through the factory towns of New York State the
writer fairly threw up his hands at what he saw. Without an excep­
tion the users of wooden “ safety gates” (and 9 out of 10 use them)
were advised to save their money rather than to spend it in an attempt
to safeguard such gates with interlocks. A code will be incomplete in­
deed if it fails to include a prohibition of the further use or extension
of this type of guard.
So much for the “ falling into the shaft” accident.
Accidents Caused by Crushing.

A CCIDENTS by “ crushing” are found to be of almost equal im* * portance. The cause being the starting of the car before the
door is closed, the remedy is, of course, to prevent the operator
from so doing. All types of safety equipment, whether or not they
prevent the other hazards mentioned, are primarily designed to cover
this one.
Causes frequently contributory to accidents of this kind are the auto­
matic and the semiautomatic gates. The former are those gates
which gradually open as the car approaches the floor level and close
as the car leaves. The latter must be manually raised and are
held up by a latch which is tripped by the car as it ascends, the
gate then falling to a closed position. Both types of gate are veritable
mantraps, and their use should be prohibited by law. The trouble
is, of course, that the victims of the very large number of accidents
due to the use of these gates jump on or off the car as it passes and,
not being quick enough, are caught and crushed. Often, too, the gate,
in falling, catches the passenger and holds him while the car crushes
him. In illustration, the following case of an accident at the Woolworth Store, Chicago, is quoted from the Tribune: “ Donald Meade, a
clerk, couldn’t understand why the elevator was so slow. He opened
the safety gate and looked up the shaft. The descending car pushed
down the gate, pinned him to the floor and crushed him to death.”
Again, at the Sorg Paper Mill, Middletown, Ohio, as reported in the
press: “ Arp was riding on the elevator with his helper. When the
third floor was reached, an automatic gate dropped, striking Arp on
the head. Before he could regain his feet the floor of the elevator
reached the third floor and his life was crushed out.”
The National Safety Council recently issued an illustrated bulletin
(No. 545) urging special caution with gates of this type.
Frequent accidents are also due to the use of power-closed doors
actuated usually by pneumatic pressure. Read the report of the
fatal accident at Cincinnati’s largest hotel: “ As he reached the eleva­
tor door the automatic doors began to close. He rushed to the door
and thrust his arm through it in an attempt to get on the descending
car. In another instant his body had jerked through the narrow


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M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

aperture, and his head was struck by the top of the car,” The
manager said, “ The door closed automatically and he forced his way
between them.” Two fatal accidents of this kind occurred in the
Marbridge Building, New York City, in the same year (1920). In
both cases the victims were caught and held by the doors and crushed
by the descending car.
A general criticism applying to all devices which close doors by
power or air, unless they include an effective interlock, is that they
actually encourage the operator to start his car sooner than he would
without them. He no longer has to wait to close the door. Why
should he ? It will close anyhow. The result is as you see.
The Hazard of Tripping.

ER hazard is that of tripping. It is important that
eiBvaiws be brought approximately level with the landing
before the door can be opened. One reason is that if they are not,
people trip and, falling, sprain their wrists, ankles or other muscles
or bones. A man so injured is prevented from carrying on his usual
occupation if he be a worker, and becomes a burden on somebody—
usually the insurance company—until he recovers.
Such accidents not being reported in the city records or, as a rule,
in the press, statistics regarding their frequency and seriousness are
not obtainable, but, as an indication, quotation is made from a
communication received from the assistant superintendent of the
Travelers Insurance Co. on this point:
Fatal elevator accidents reaching the casualty companies are relatively infrequent

in comparison with those involving only partial disability. Of them a very large
number, frequently involving extended disability, are due to stumbling and tripping
on entering or leaving the car. Our experience is that the hazard is greatly reduced
by interlocking devices which make it compulsory for the car to come approximately
level with the floor before the doors can be opened.

In an opening paragraph reference was made to one type of ac­
cident happening inside the shaft with which we, of the interlock
tribe, are concerned. Once in a while some person, standing on the
front edge of an elevator, faints or loses his or her balance (for it
usually is a woman), falls forward and is crushed. Such accidents
are comparatively infrequent but they can and should be prevented
by a properly interlocked inner car gate. Such an accident hap­
pened recently in a New York skyscraper, all the shaft doors of which
(but not the car gate) were protected by mechanical interlocks.
Requisites of an Effective Interlock,

"TrilS hasty study is completed. A summary of the functions
*•
which it has been found that an effective interlock should per­
form in order to eliminate all the hazards which surround the use
of the elevator-shaft door shows that—
(1) It should prevent the car from being started until the door at
which it is standing is fully closed.
(2) It should prevent its movement until the door is securely
locked.
(3)
It should not depend, for the locking of the door, on the con­
ventional door latch, but should include a lock, substantial in its


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ELEVATOR INTERLOCKS IN PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS.

5

parts and so connected with the interlocking part of the equipment
that, when the car is at the landing, the act of unlocking the door—not
opening, but unlocking—renders the car inoperative.
(4) It should permit the unlocking of the door from the hall only
when the car is standing immediately within and approximately at
the same level.
(5) It should, in normal use, permit the unlocking of the door from
the hoistway side only when the floor of the car is within a prede­
termined distance of that of the landing.
(6) It should prevent the movement of the car when the inner
collapsible car gate is open.
(7) It should not be easily disconnected or put out of commission;
it should be so substantial in construction as to stand the heavy
usage of elevator service without undue depreciation, and it should
provide constant and uninterrupted protection.
(8) Every interlock should be provided with a release, the purpose
of which is to render the interlock inoperative in case of emergency.
Comparative Merits of Mechanical and Electromechanical interlocks.

QUPPQSE a person be placed in the position of a designing engineer
intrusted with the production of an interlock. If the result of the
work is a device which fills all the above requirements, then there has
been produced a 100 per cent safe interlock. If it fails in one, two, or
three points which analysis and experience have shown to be essential
to complete safety, its percentage drops in exact proportion to the
importance of the conditions remaining uncovered. Shall the device
be made mechanical or electromechanical ?
Those of the mechanical school, with both types to choose from,
have deliberately elected to be on the mechanical side because they
are convinced that only thereby can they produce, guarantee, and
sell 100 per cent safety. A good mechanical interlock, simply and
sturdily made, its parts ample in cross-sectional area and of materials
adapted to the hard usage they will receive, will not only cover every
condition requisite to safety; but should last as long as the elevator
itself. Moreover, and particularly, such an interlock can not be
readily tampered with or put out of commission. The electrician of a
building, of course, infected with criminal speed mania and restive
under the retardation essential to safety, can and sometimes does
put them out of business.
The writer has intimated that only with a mechanical interlock can
such results be assured. Had his assigned subject for to-day been a
comparison between the electromechanical and the mechanical inter­
lock he would give you the record of both types in this city as con­
firming his intimation. He does not, however, so conceive it.
There is moreover a more serious purpose in appearing before you.
An examination yesterday of the electromechanical interlocks on
the 4 elevators and 56 doors of the Film Building at Forty-ninth
Street and Seventh Avenue showed that not one was in operative
condition. All doors were without protection. On the other hand,
it was observed recently that 17 out of the 41 mechanical interlocks
on the elevators and doors of the second largest hotel in Richmond,
Va., were so broken, worn, and twisted that they were completely


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M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

out of commission. The 17 doors were without protection and could
even be opened from the hall.
A cheaply, flimsily made mechanical interlock is no better, nay,
worse, than a well-made electromechanical interlock.
Note now that the interlocks in both of these installations would
have conformed to the requirements of a code enumerating the func­
tions performed in common by mechanical and electromechanical
interlocks. It follows that if lives are to be saved by interlocks,
required by codes, something more than definitions is necessary.
I t may seem strange, but from the point of view of the finan­
cial interest of the company represented by the writer, and also
of one interested in the public welfare, the adoption of an elevator
safety code by a city or State is always regarded as an irreparable
calamity.
All over the country the safety movement is making headway.
The owners of public buildings and of manufacturing establishments,
actuated by a desire to save life, are voluntarily safeguarding their
elevators. "With such a motive, they carefully and deliberately
investigate the various devices offered them and finally purchase,
not the cheapest they can buy, but the best they can find. This
gives a market to the manufacturer who makes the best he knows,
not the cheapest he can turn out.
On the other hand, it is announced, let us say, in a given city that
a compulsory code is about to be adopted. Public hearings are held.
The building owners appear in indignant protest against the iniquitous
imposition of what they call “ an enormous and useless expense.”
The writer very well remembers seeing the official representative of the
building owners of New York tear his hair as he shouted to the aidermen, “ Five million dollars, gentlemen—$5,000,000 for a lot of useless
junk.”
The owners are unable, however, to stem the tide of civic (and
political) virtue, and a committee is appointed to confer with the
city fathers, with the result that the proposed interlock law finally
emerges from committee with the addition of the significant words
“ or an electric contact.” It is passed, and ail elevators must be
equipped within a year.
Comparative Merits of the interlock and the Electric Contact.

lSJOTE now the difference between an interlock, mechanical or
electromechanical, and an electric contact. Interlocks inter­
connect the locking of the door with the control of the elevator.
The car can not move until the door is not only closed, but locked.
Both functions are embraced in and performed by the same device.
Electric contacts, on the other hand, are simply switches which shut
the power off until the door is closed, or nearly closed. The latch
may be completely worn out or broken off. The two are entirely
unrelated.
Well, the irate building owner, on the 1st of the eleventh month
calls in his electrician and asks: “ What do these interlocks cost?”
The reply is: “ Thirty-five or forty dollars a door.” “ Not on your
life,” says the owner; “ how about these contacts ?” “ Oh, we can get
them for a couple of dollars apiece.” “ Go to it,” says the owner.


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And lie does. Now, the probability is that within a month one or
more of these $2 contacts will burn out. The electrician must now
short-circuit the contact line and, opening the boxes from top to
bottom of the shaft, examine each switch until he locates the one
which has burned out. This is no small job. Is he altogether to
be blamed if, when it happens too often, he switches them off perma­
nently? Reference can be made by city, street, and number, to
several thousand doors in this condition. Is it asking a question of
too broad implication to inquire why our city inspectors permit such
conditions to continue ?
It is believed that the only hope for elevator safety in our cities lies
in the creation of some situation which will ultimately bring about the
adoption of a universal, nonpolitical code similar to the boiler and
electrical codes and the nonpolitical enforcement of the same.
The present situation, however, must be faced. On public de­
mand, city and State ordinances are being enacted, and will continue
to be, until most of the cities are covered. Can anything be done
to insure their integrity and to see that the equipment, after it is
installed, is kept in use ? If not, then the two societies represented
here had far better leave the elevator safety movement to take its
own course than to urge the cities into action which will involve the
building owners in expense of “$5,000,000, gentlemen, for useless
junk.”
Two years ago the situation would have been pronounced hopeless,
but two things have since happened which offer hope.
Everyone here recognizes that for elevator safety he must have
interlocks, not electric contacts. It will be recalled, however, that refer­
ence was made a little while ago to good and bad interlocks. Two
years ago in this room when the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers Code was under discussion the writer gave it as his opinion
that however well that code might define the functions of the inter­
lock it would be of little practical value unless some competent body,
such as the Bureau of Standards or the Underwriters’ Laboratory,
were appointed to test the various devices offered as conforming to
its requirements, so that the good and serviceable might be approved
and those of inferior design and construction condemned. The sug­
gestion was rejected.
Do you know what has since happened in Baltimore ? An epidemic
of elevator accidents having occurred, the public demanded a safety
ordinance. The building owners, finally seeing the light, consented,
but on one condition—that the Bureau of Standards should not only
assist in drawing the code but thereafter thoroughly test and approve
all apparatus which they should later be called upon to install. This
was arranged.
The code in the main is a good one, but faulty in one particular.
Contacts instead of interlocks are authorized for one limited class of
doors. This should be changed, otherwise further accidents are
bound to follow. The Bureau of Standards should not have con­
sented to this departure from conservative practice, but should have
refused the commission rather than put its seal on the establishment
.of so dangerous a precedent.
_
#
'
With respect to the testing of equipment, however, an important
step forward has been taken, and the results will be watched with


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MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

great interest. The course of Baltimore should be widely advertised
by your societies, and all cities should be urged to follow" it except in
the important particular mentioned, which should be promptly and
widely condemned.
Let us now look forward, say three years. By that time the ele­
vators of Baltimore will all have been equipped. Who will say that the
interlocks will be maintained in operative condition ? Those of the
mechanical school believe that within a few months many a cross
wire will have been run across the terminals of the electromechanical
interlocks, rendering them inoperative. Some of the mechanical
interlocks will also have been manhandled into inaction. To deny
either would be contrary to observation and experience. What then ?
Most anything. Death, possibly.
The writer was speaking recently to an inspector of one of our
largest insurance companies. A man was killed on an elevator of a
new building in this city, only two blocks from his office. Being
advised immediately by phone, the inspector grabbed his hat and ran
to the building. Calling the electrician, he took the elevator to an
upper floor. Opening the door, which was equipped with a thor­
oughly well-made interlock, he put the controller over and up shot
the car. He turned to the electrician and asked, “ What do you
know about this?” “Absolutely nothing,” was the reply. “ Well,”
said the inspector, “'let’s take a look at the machine.” When they
reached the top floor the electrician ran up the stairs to the machine
room. The inspector, running after him, arrived just in time to see
him pull a jumper off the board and shove it into his pocket. “'Now
how about it? ” said the inspector; and after many threats the elec­
trician admitted that the short-circuiting wire had been there for
several weeks. During this period both city and insurance inspec­
tions had doubtless been made, but this minor (!) condition had not
been noted, or at least no protest had been made against it.
“An exception” do you say? Listen. Three years ago the writer
submitted to the Bureau of Standards a list, by street and number,
of over 2,000 elevator doors in New York City which, having been
equipped with safety devices of various kinds and makes, were
found just previously, on a hurried inspection, to be absolutely
without protection. There is not the least doubt that 10 times
that many could be located without much trouble.
A good code is important, but unless you can find some way to
make certain that the interlocks you specify are kept in use you
might just about as well save your trouble. The elevator men of
our buildings, in the main faithful and efficient, are, after all, but
human and when an interlocking equipment requires too frequent
attention they are all too apt to side-step it by putting it permanently
out of commission. Many of them also are too fond of speed in
the service of their elevators and resent the retardation essential
to safety.
The electrician of an uptown loft building where, at the end of the
day, many big paper boxes must be brought down for shipment,
told the other day of his simple method of getting home early.
“ I turn ’em off between 5 and 6,” he said, “ or 1 wouldn’t get home
till midnight.”
“ Turn ’em off” during the rush hour!


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ELEVATOR INTERLOCKS IN PREVENTION OF ACCIDENT'S.

9

Well, who is going to make these men keep in operation the inter­
locks which you propose to make their bosses buy? The city in­
spectors? Never. With brilliant exceptions, for which we are
duly thankful, it is a forlorn hope. Must this be proved ? Listen,
then, to the following from rule 14 of the present elevator code of
New York City, passed July, 1918: “ In future installations pas­
senger elevator car gates shall be equipped with an approved device
or devices that will prevent the operation of the car while the car
gates are open.” Such devices being called for, it is the duty of the
city elevator inspectors to see that they are thereafter continuously
maintained in operative condition. As a matter of fact, the cargate contacts of elevators in the following buildings, all erected
since 1918, were last week and, for the most part have been for many
months and in some cases for years, either short-circuited or blocked
up and entirely inoperative: Garment Centre Building, Bar Asso­
ciation Building, Ford Building, Gilbert Building, Arcade Building,
132 West Thirty-sixth Street, 244 Madison Avenue, and many
others, the list of which might be continued almost indefinitely.
Conclusion.

writer is here for only one reason: Because he has been told
uhat the insurance companies have at last been awakened and
are going, unitedly, to get into the game. If they do, and you can
secure their cooperation as you have it in the enforcement of your
boiler and electric codes, you can safely go ahead. If not, it is really
not worth while.
Their inspectors are everywhere. Not an elevator but they
have their eyes on it. They have a way of writing out a little slip
and leaving it with the owner intimating that if a certain dangerous
condition is not fixed up within two days the insurance will cease.
That is what counts.
Turn this army of watchers loose on your interlocks with the same
instructions they now have on cables and safeties and you will
see a drop in the death rate that will make the country, from coast
to coast, sit up and take notice. With such a record as the basis
of popular appeal, the politicians will not dare to resist your demands
for a real code without any jokers attached.
At present the insurance companies blow neither hot nor cold
with respect to elevator shaft-door safety. Having no basis for
common, uniform action, each of them gets up its own set of recom­
mendations, which it prints, distributes, and urges but can not
enforce. If the rules of one are more drastic than those of another,
or more vigorously enforced, the all-powerful broker simply takes
the insurance of the entire building away from that company and
places it with another. His job is to get the most indemnity—
not safety—for his client, at the least cost. When the accident
happens it is the insurance company that stands the damages, not
he. Some of these brokers handle enormous volumes of business
and it is a very serious matter to lose their trade.
Why should this matter of elevator safety, any more than that of
boilers, be made the football of politicians ? The statistics certainly
do not warrant it. Thirteen States have adopted the American


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MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler Code and in those States
every insurance inspector knows his job and does it. The other day
the chief inspector of one of our largest companies was asked what
would happen if he had 10 different boiler codes to enforce in 10
cities. “ Riot and confusion,” was his reply.
There is another aspect of the present situation which possibly
only those who sell interlocks have the opportunity to observe.
This is shown in the following illustration:
Just the other day there was occasion to tell the owner of a
building now being erected that the equipment of his elevators
with a good interlock would eliminate about 85 per cent of their
danger to life and limb. “ Such being the case,” he replied, “ to
what extent would it reduce the cost of my insurance?” When
he was told “ not a cent,” he said, “ Evidently the insurance com­
panies, who ought to know, do not altogether agree with you.
Good day.” He is now having a contact installed on the inner
gate of each of his elevators, this being in full compliance with the
requirements of our splendid New York safety code. These con­
tacts will probably be blocked up as soon as the elevators are in
service, so that he can get more speed out of his cars—and there
you are again.
The writer has been in the elevator-safety game many years
and has hundreds of times known building owners deliberately and
conscientiously to refuse to interlock their elevators and doors on
the ground of the apparent lack of confidence of the insurance com­
panies in all interlocks as evidenced by their refusal to reduce their
premiums on their account. Money talks louder than words.
It is not the purpose here, however, to urge or even to suggest that
these rates be reduced; we are told that even the present rates
do not pay. All that is wanted is to see interlocks included in
standard door equipment just as safety valves are a part of the
boiler equipment. Can you imagine the owner of a power plant
asking for a reduced rate because he provides safety valves on his
boilers ?
The big thing for your associated societies to do is to collaborate
in the production of a sound and safe elevator code which the
associated insurance companies—every one of them—will be willing
to adopt as the basis of their practice. Your great influence should
then be brought to bear from the East to the Pacific to have the
cities and States adopt the code and incorporate it unchanged, with­
out rider or joker, into their laws.
The present American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code
would serve well as a guide for your study in the preparation of
one more fully protective. Its interlock sections are excellent,
but their protective intent is nullified by frequent mention of electric
contacts. Contacts are not interlocks and all reference to, and
recognition of, them should be eliminated.
Finally, an official testing and approving requirement intrusted
to the Bureau of Standards should be made a part of the entire
scheme of operation. If it is not, the use of cheap and inferior
equipment will still make possible the accidents which you seek
to prevent and in so doing will destroy the confidence of the public
in your work. Lacking this, your campaign will fail.


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sailors ’

tnsrioN

of the pacific .

11

Organization and Policies of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific.“
By

P aul

S.

T aylo r.

HE Sailors’ Union of the Pacific is, and always has been, the
backbone of the International Seamen’s Union of America
(I. S. U. A.). Its treasury, its Journal, its leaders, have borne
and continue to bear the brunt of the fight of the seamen’s move­
ment of this country.
Notwithstanding, or rather partly because of, the smaller number
of sailors on the Pacific coast, permanent organization of seamen
appeared there somewhat earlier than along the Atlantic. And even
to-day, despite the fact that the Eastern and Gulf Union has enrolled
as many as 19,000 members at one time, in contrast with some 6,500
on the Pacific (in 1919), the latter union exhibits the greater vitality
and remains the bulwark of the International Seamen’s Union. The
comparative isolation of the Pacific coast (now largely removed by
the Panama Canal); the comparative fewness of its ports, which re­
sults in bringing the sailors together for social intercourse more fre­
quently; the great importance of its coastal lumber trade, unexposed
to outside competition; and the fair degree of racial homogeneity of
its sailors, have made possible the successful organization of sailors on
the Pacific coast, and largely explains why the vitality of the organi­
zation may be expected to continue. To these factors should be
added the remarkable leadership which the organization has pro­
duced, and the fact that the same man has been secretary of the union
for the past 35 years.

T

Organization.

'“THE Coast Seamen’s Union, founded in 1885, developed a unique
type of organization, which is continued in the Sailors’Union of
to-day.1 Like most unions of shore workers, the Sailors’ Union is
based on craft lines, only members of the deck department of vessels
being eligible. But unlike shore unions, it is not made up of inde­
pendent locals. There is but one Sailors’ Union for the entire Pacific
coast, a centralized craft union with headquarters at San Francisco
and branches at ports along the coast where crews are most commonly
shipped.
The difference between headquarters and the branches is principally
in the amount of authority possessed. The headquarters are the seat
of the main offices of the union and are where the records are kept.
Committees from headquarters ordinarily conduct the negotiations for
agreements with shipowners. Branches are conducted by agents,
elected by vote of the entire union membership, just as the other
union officers are elected. Agents and branches are under the im­
mediate j uris diction of headquarters meetings. They are chiefly useful
as a means of controlling the shipping of men in ports up and down
the coast, and of providing a rendezvous for union seamen where they
can meet, discuss union problems, and vote upon matters submitted
a This article is taken from a book by Paul S. Taylor on the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, which is in
process of publication by the Ronald Press Co.
i
The Sailors’ Union of the Pacific was formed in 1891 by the amalgamation of the Coast Seamen’s Union,
composed chiefly of sailors on sailing vessels, and the Steamshipmen’s Protective Union, founded in 1880
by sailors on the steam vessels, many of whom were also members of the Coast Seamen’s Union. The
separate history of the two unions was marred by frequent jurisdictional disputes, the desire to eliminate
which was the chief reason for amalgamation.

38784°—23------2

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

to the entire membership. They also aid in keeping up the member­
ship of the union by collecting dues and by inducing nonunionists to
join. Branches have no power to call strikes, although members may
vote in the branches on strikes or any other matters referred to the
general vote of the union.
Most important of all in centralizing authority in the headquarters
at San Francisco is the fact that the headquarters meeting possesses
an absolute veto on the acts of the branches, and no action taken
or rule adopted by a branch is valid until indorsed by the meeting
at headquarters.3
The reason for this peculiar organization lies in the fact that the
seaman is the most migratory of all workers. His calling takes him
everywhere. In whatever port his voyage ends he must seek em­
ployment on another vessel. Obviously, any organization claiming
jurisdiction over him must be coextensive with his field of employ­
ment. Among industrial workers this condition of successful
organization is satisfied by the local union. Among the migratory
agricultural laborers and lumberjacks, the universal I. W. W. makes
headway where the local fails. Among sailors the centralized craft
union has developed, with an unrestricted exchange of membership
between bona fide seamen’s unions of other coasts and nations.
In many ways, however, the sailors conduct their activities upon
an industrial, rather than a craft, basis. This is accomplished
through affiliation with the International Seamen’s Union of America,
which is, in effect, an industrial union. The Sailors’ Union volun­
tarily cooperates with the Marine Firemen’s Union, and the Marine
Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union of the Pacific. This cooperation is
informal and verbal, but close, because based upon community of
interests and the fact that they are all members of the International
Seamen’s Union of America. The three unions, whose members
work together on the same vessels, collaborate in their demands on
the owners. They negotiate together and strike together, although
the final agreements between the owners and each union are separate.
Likewise their representatives have fought together for the same
legislation improving the status of seamen.
The Sailors’ Union also cooperates with the Atlantic and Lake
Unions, especially the former. These unions also are affiliated with
the International Seamen’s Union. The cooperation in this case is
not in making agreements with the owners, but in helping to unionize
the crews of vessels coming from or going to the other coast. This
mutual service is especially valuable in time of strikes. In 1921,
when the Shipping Board and shipowners from all coasts stood to­
gether for a wage reduction, the seamen of all coasts likewise united
in striking to oppose it.
The legislative policies of the sailors have always been carried on
in the name of the International Seamen’s Union of America, which
was itself founded in 1892 by the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific. The
successes of this policy are registered in the Maguire Act of 1895,
the White Act of 1898, and the seamen’s act of 1915.
The Sailors’ Union has always prided itself upon the democracy
of its organization. There is no standing executive committee which
2 Sailors’ Union. Constitution and by-laws, 1922, Art. XVH, sec. 1.


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SAILORS UHIOISr OF THE PACIFIC.

13

passes on matters of policy and brings its recommendation to the
meeting to be ratified. Matters must be threshed out in open meet­
ing, or referred to a committee elected by the meeting to consider
the particular proposal. The only regular committees are the
banking, finance, and auditing committees, and an emergency
committee composed of the officers, who act only when an urgent
difficulty arises before a meeting can be called and whose actions
are subject to review or change by the headquarters meeting.3
This democracy gives all shades of opinion, including rebellious
elements, the opportunity of airing their views and often hinders the
expeditious transaction of business, but this is considered preferable
to greater concentration of authority in the hands of a small group
of officers. Until 1922 a chairman was elected at each meeting of
the union. This was partly in the interests of democracy in the
conduct of meetings and partly for the purpose of training as many
members as possible in parliamentary procedure. As a matter of
practice, however, the selection of presiding officer was generally
made from the same group of 15 or 20 men who were most familiar
with parliamentary rules, for it was difficult to induce inexperienced
members to accept the position. Following the recent insurgent
movement within the union, when the contests over the position
of chairman for the evening were many and bitter, and when one of
those elected was later found not to have been in good standing, the
chairman has again been made a permanent official, elected at the
same time as the other officers of the union.
The secretary is the executive officer of the union. In their re­
spective localities the branch agents exercise a similar office.4 The
patrolmen, assigned to regular districts about the harbor, perform
functions similar to those of walking delegates, ascertaining whether
the crews of vessels in the harbor are members of the union in good
standing, endeavoring to build up the membership of the union, and
preventing the shipping of nonunion seamen. They also visit mem­
bers who are sick in the hospital each week.5 When the union had
agreements with the owners, the patrolmen appointed from among
the crew of each outbound vessel a member to act as ship’s delegate.
The duty of the ship’s delegate was, when overtime was worked, to
compare the time with the officer in charge, after knocking off.6 Tie
also acted as representative of the men in presenting grievances to
the officers.
Benefits.

A LTHOUGH the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific is not a benevolent as-

sociation but primarily a labor organization of the business union
type, it performs no inconsiderable services for its members which it
classes as u benefits.” 7 Reading rooms are maintained where members
may gather to read or to discuss matters of common interest. Each
member in good standing receives a copy of the Seamen’s Journal,
until 1922 published weekly. Since the internal troubles of 1921 over
the question of industrial unionism, the Seamen’s Journal has been
3 Sailors’ Union.
4 Idem, Art. XV,
6 Idem, see. 6.
6 Sailors’ Union.
7 Sailors’ Union.

Constitution and by-laws, 1922, Art. XVIII.
sees. 2 and 5.
Wages and working rules, 1919, see, 16.
Constitution and by-laws, 1922, Art. XXIV; also Art. XXV.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

transferred to the International Seamen’s Union of America, which
now issues it as a monthly publication. While this is classed as a
“ benefit,” and is one in a sense, still, the Journal is first and foremost
the publicity weapon of the union. _The value of its services can
hardly be overestimated in maintaining the morale of the union in
times of stress, in welding the members of the craft together for com­
mon purposes, in providing a channel for the dissemination of informa­
tion and news affecting the seamen and organized labor in general, in
expanding the organization of seamen, and in providing publicity for
the cause of the seamen. A shipwreck benefit to aid members who
have lost clothing in shipwrecks, fire, or similar accidents during the
course of their employment is maintained for all members in good
standing. Its purpose is not to provide complete insurance against
loss, but merely to enable the shipwrecked sailor to buy sufficient
clothes to go to sea again. This feature is as old as the Coast Seamen’s
Union, when the shipwreck fund was maintained on the basis of a
voluntary contribution of 25 cents, and later $1, per year.8 At the
present time the shipwreck benefit, like all the other benefits, is
included in the SI per month dues. The maximum that can be paid
under the benefit is now $75. Deceased members, if in good standing
at the time of death, and if death occurs at or near headquarters or
any branch, are buried by the union, the expense not to exceed $85.
Members sick in hospitals are entitled to $1 per week for hospital
supplies. Members who have been admitted to Sailors’ Snug Harbor
are entitled to transportation to New York. During strikes members
out of employment for more than two weeks as a result of the strike,
who report to the union daily and perform such duties as may be
required of them are entitled to a strike benefit of not more than $5
weekly.
The Sailors’ Union has frequently extended financial aid to other
bodies of organized labor in trouble, although it has never asked
money for itself. Its minutes are filled with records of donations
to unions of all kinds, from bakers to steel workers, from longshore­
men to their fellow seamen in the International Seamen’s Union.9
Membership.

IWjEMBERSHIP in the Sailors’ Union is limited to practical sailors
1 who are either American citizens or are eligible to citizenship.
Candidates are required to pass an examination in seamanship to
determine their rating. If they do not qualify as able seamen, they
may be admitted as ordinary seamen. But the policy of the union
is to advise such men to sail as ordinary seamen until they can
qualify as able seamen and join the union as such. The initiation
fee is kept at the low figure of $5, and the dues at $1 a month, in order
that no one may be kept out for financial reasons. In 1920 the sea­
men on the Pacific coast were practically 100 per cent organized, the
union having a membership of 6,500.10
The union follows various methods of securing members. As
already stated, it is one of the regular duties of the patrolmen to
8 Coast Seamen’s Union. Minutes, Jan. 17, 1887.
» The largest single donation was $25,000 to the Great Lakes seamen’s unions. (Sailors’ Union. Minutes,
For the 17-year period 1891 to 1908, donations averaged slightly over $1,000 per year,
w Seamen’s Journal, San Francisco, Jan. 14, and Mar. 10,1920.

Feb. 11,1911.)


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sailors ’ uxtox

OF

t h e p a c if ic .

15

ascertain whether the members of the crews of all vessels are members
of the union. If not, they attempt to induce them to become so.
When “ scabbing” becomes frequent and the patrolmen can not pre­
vent it (or during a struggle with the shipowners), the device known
as “ dummies” or “ the oracle” is sometimes resorted to.11 This
practice is essentially the same as a sudden strike in any shore
occupation.
The closed shop is enforced wherever possible. At such times as
it is in force, men desiring to sail come to the union office voluntarily
and apply for membership. When union men find themselves aboard
ship with nonunion men, they persuade the latter to join. If that
fails (when the union is strong) they threaten to leave. This usually
has the desired effect, for the captain does not wish to lose his crew,
and unless the nonunion man does join he is likely to find himself out
of a job.
If it is not possible to maintain the closed shop, union men are
commonly allowed to sail with nonunion men with a view to persuad­
ing the latter to join the union and also to keep clown the number of
nonunion men sailing.
Organizers are sometimes sent out by the union to build up the
membership. There are none on the Pacific at the present time, but
when they are sent out, they serve in much the same way as the
patrolmen, using the particular methods that seem best adapted to
the situation.
In the winter of 1920-21 the union conducted a school in seaman­
ship. It had difficulty, however, in arousing the interest of members,
and on that account, and because of the strike which followed in May,
1921, the idea has not been revived.
Efforts for Remedial Legislation.

HPHE Sailors’ Union has constantly sought the aid of legislation to
maintain and protect the craft. The provisions of the seamen’s
act, which fix a three years’ apprenticeship for able seamen 12 and
stipulate that 65 per cent of the deck crew must be able seamen, are
obviously intended to maintain seamanship as a skilled craft, and to
prevent the displacement of able seamen by ordinary seamen or by
landsmen. Legal protection against foreign sailors, particularly
Asiatics, is aimed at in the provision that 75 per cent of the crew of
each department must be able to understand any order given by the
officers.
These provisions have not proved especially helpful to the sailors
in practice. Of course, they were passed primarily to secure safety
of life and property at sea. The fact that the safety argument is
not touched upon here does not mean that it is to be ignored or
even discounted. On the contrary, every fresh marine disaster
11 This practice is described by Andrew Furuseth in the “ oracle circular,” Seamen’s Journal, San Fran­
cisco, Feb. 15,1922:
. . . . .
“ The vessel is ready and the master orders the lines cast off. You cast your duds on the wharf and then
follow the duds. The vessel is delayed. She must find another crew. This crew may do the same thing
or go up the coast and leave her there. She is again delayed. How long will the shipowners stand for that,
especially in passenger vessels.”
12 Except for graduates of school ships conducted under rules prescribed by the Department of Commerce,
who may become able seamen after one year’s sea experience and the passing of an examination prescribed
by the Department of Commerce, or seamen of 18 months’ experience who pass the examination prescribed
by the Department of Commerce.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

seems to reinforce the contentions of those who insist on a high
standard of seamanship among the crew.
The seamen have persistently appealed for the repeal of laws
binding them to involuntary servitude, for the maritime and statu­
tory laws governing seamen have left them in a legal status which
was distinctly not free. While the worker ashore has been con­
cerning himself with the right of the group to strike, the sailor has
had to start farther back and against great odds to secure the right of
the individual to quit work when the vessel is in safe harbor. This
was a necessary legal preliminary to the establishment of successful
trade-unionism among sailors.
The seamen, as already indicated, have placed much reliance on
Government aid through legislation. But the laws which they
have sought are those which repeal old restrictions, or grant new
freedom, or which enforce upon shipowners minimum standards of
quarters, food, or crew requirements. Anything that smacks of
State socialism, or even Government ownership of the merchant
marine, the sailors abhor. As far back as 1894 the Sailors’ Union
went on record against the “ collective ownership of the means of
production and distribution.” And to-day it opposes Government
ownership or operation of ships. It takes the view that Govern­
ment ownership of ships means Government ownership of the sea­
men; that the Government as shipowner will be its own inspector
and supervisor and determine its own safety and manning rules; 13
and that when the seaman strikes, he will be striking against the
Government. The strike of 1921, broken by the United States
Shipping Board, demonstrated the helplessness of the men when
struggling against the Government, and has only confirmed them
in their opposition to Government ownership.
It is a fact, most frequently observed in the case of the tariff,
that the workers in an industry commonly support the owners in
seeking Government aid for that industry. In view of this, the
opposition of American seamen to ship subsidies has seemed strange.
Although the sailors favor a large American merchant marine they
oppose ship subsidies as a means of establishing one, using the argu­
ments generally urged against giving financial aid from the public
treasury to any group of citizens. But there seem to be two especial
reasons which explain the seaman’s opposition. In the first place,
although the higher American seaman’s wage is urged as a reason
for the subsidy, the ships on the Pacific which would receive the
subsidy carry oriental and not American seamen. u
Thus American seamen would not be beneficiaries of an act for
which their higher wages are prominently held forth as a reason.
In the second place, the subsidy proposals, since they are urged
largely for nationalistic reasons, usually provide that ships receiving
the subsidy shall carry a certain proportion of naval reserve men.
This feature is strenuously objected to, because it is regarded as but
an entering wedge for the introduction of an i n s c r i t maritime like
that of France. With such a system, seamen are under naval regu18 Seamen’s Journal, San Francisco, Mar. 31, 1920.
14 When the Hanna-Frye ship subsidy bill was before the Senate in 1906, an amendment was introduced
providing that “ n o subvention, compensation, or subsidy provided for in this act shall be applied to any
steamship or other ship that carries any Chinese as part of its deck force or crew.” This was defeated by
a vote of 47 to 17. (Congressional Record, 59th Cong., 1st sess., pp. 2532-2533.)


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UNION OF THE PACIFIC.

17

lations. Seamen fear that if this is introduced as a voluntary
scheme, only a step is needed to make it compulsory, and in either
case it means the death blow to the seamen’s movement. To train
merchant seamen for naval service in time of war, the sailors recom­
mend short enlistment periods of six months, or at most a year,
without any following period in the reserve. Nor does a proposal to
exclude Chinese seamen from vessels of American registry, provid­
ing that the Government shall pay the difference between American
and Chinese wages, meet with any greater favor. When such a,
measure was introduced in the House in 1904 the union promptly
protested, declaring that such legislation for protecting American
seamen should be on the grounds of principle, not of financial profit.15
The sailors fear that such a scheme would be the means of lowering
wages, first on the subsidized ships, then on other vessels.
Relations with Shipowners.

rTvHE feeling between shipowners and seamen is not too friendly.
For a number of years shipowners have complained, especially
on the Pacific coast, of the power of the Sailors’ Union. The sailors
for their part believe the owners to be the most “ rapacious” and
u grasping” of employers. However, the union policy is to enter
into working and wages agreements with the shipowners wherever
possible on satisfactory terms.
The working and wage agreements of the union have been princi­
pally with the Shipowners’ Association of the Pacific Coast. This is
because the strength of the union membership has always been in the
coasting lumber schooners, the owners of which are banded together
in that association. With some of the larger steamship lines informal
verbal agreements have been maintained, but none with the Pacific
American Steamship Association, the organization with which most
of the large steamship lines are affiliated.
The division of economic interest between the owners of the lumber
schooners and the owners of the larger steamship lines is the key to
the strength of the union on the Pacific coast. The owners of the
lumber schooners are almost wholly lumbermen, for whom the inter­
ruption of transportation means stoppage of profits on the coastwise
lumber trade, as well as loss of freights and laying up of ships. The
lumber-carrying trade is practically free from outside competition.
One reason for this is the peculiar type of vessel which has been
developed for carrying lumber on this coast. Another is the compara­
tive isolation of the coast. Furthermore, the lumber schooners
require the best tjqoe of sailors, men who are strong physically and
skilled in stowing lumber most advantageously, who will waste a
minimum of space and will see to it that, when loaded, the ship is
properly trimmed and the cargo secured to prevent shifting. This
difference of interest among shipowners has manifested itself through­
out the history of the union, down to the present time, and it will
probably exist for a long time in the future. I t is no mere accident
that the men in the lumber schooners have always been the chief
strength of the union; that the first agreements were made with the
owners of lumber vessels, back in the sailing-ship days, and that in
w Sailors’ Union. Minutes, Feb. 23, 1904.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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18

MONTHLY LABOR.-REVIEW.

the strike of 1921 the Shipowners’ Association of the Pacific Coast
broke away from the other shipowners to offer separate terms and a
higher wage scale.
The agreements between union and shipowners have customarily
been made to run for the period of one year and thereafter until
canceled by 30 days’ notice in writing. They have provided for the
exclusive employment of union crews.
Certain difficulties have arisen from time to time in carrying out
the union agreements. The owners complain of the fact that although
the agreement set a certain wage scale, individual sailors at ports
where men w'ere scarce refused to sail at the union rate, but demanded
higher wages, which the owners were forced to pay. The union did
not deny this, but stated that it was unable to compel the men to
sail at union rates if they were not individually willing to do so. To
exercise compulsion, they said, would result in involuntary servitude.
Since the union disciplines men who ship at rates below the union
scale, the owners felt this position to be untenable and a violation
of the spirit of the agreement.
A further difficulty experienced in carrying out agreements has
been the practice sometimes indulged in of signing on, and then
backing out at the last moment, perhaps causing the owner delay
and making it difficult to find a union crew. This practice has been
condemned as an offense against the union, punishable, for the first
offense, by a fine of not less than $5. For the second, the offender is
liable to expulsion.
Not only do individual members make it difficult for the union to
carry out its agreements at times, but the branches themselves
sometimes defy the authority of headquarters, ignore the union wage
scale as fixed by agreement, and strike for higher wages. This
difficulty, although it has arisen in the past with branches in the
United States,16 has, in recent times, been confined chiefly to the
branches in British Columbia. The reasons for this independence
of the Canadian branches appear to be national prejudice against
authority of a headquarters in the United States, differences in ports
and territory served, differences in temper of the shore unions with
which the branches are affiliated, and differences in ownership of the
vessels manned.
The union follows a conservative strike policy, using that weapon
only as a last resort. No strike can be declared except by a twothirds vote of the union, including both headquarters and branches.
In case of a possible strike or lockout, no branch can take binding
action without authority from headquarters.17 In addition to these
constitutional precautions of the Sailors’ Union, the International
Seamen’s Union maintains district grievance committees, composed
of two representatives from each affiliated union, whose duty it is to
adjust grievances between unions and their employers.18 Although
the early history of the Sailors’ Union was marked by almost annual
strikes, since 1900 (except for the unauthorized action of a few
16 See, for example, Coast Seamen’s Union. Minutes, Nov. 1,1886; and Report of the Commissioner of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of California on the San Pedro strike, Dec. 24, 1887, reprinted in the Sea­
men’s Journal, Dec. 28, 1887.
17 Sailors’ Union. Constitution and by-laws, 1922, Art. XVII.
18 International Seamen’s Union of America. Constitution, 1917, Art XJV


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 710]

SAILORSf- UFTIOFT OF THE PACIFIC.

19

branches referred to above), it has engaged in only three strikes—in
1901, 1906, and 1921.
The union opposes sliding scales of wages based upon freights upon
the ground that freights are beyond its control,19 and that the amount
of wages paid is, after all, of little moment to the shipowner so long
as his competitor pays no less. It has been found that wages form
but a small percentage of the operating costs of vessels;20 and the
seamen believe that the profits made by shipowners are large enough
to enable them easily to pay good wages. Until 1917, wages of
sailors varied with the type of vessel and the run in which it was
engaged, being higher in steamers and coastwise vessels and lower in
sailing ships and off-shore runs. On the lumber schooners wages
varied also with the port. Outside or open-roadstead ports usually
carried a $5 differential over vessels loading in inside or protected
ports. In 1917, at the request of the union, these differentials were
abolished. But since 1921 the union has had no agreement with the
owners and the old differentials are reappearing.
Relations with Harbor Workers.

/'CONTRASTING sharply with the cordial relations existing be^
tween the various seamen’s organizations is the distrust with
which the harbor workers are regarded by the Sailors’ Union.21
Throughout the history of the Coast Seamen’s and Sailors’ Unions,
bitter jurisdictional fights have been waged with the longshoremen,
particularly along the north Pacific coast. The seaman believes that
the harbor workers are usurpers of work which rightfully belongs to
him, a usurpation at which the stevedore, rigging boss, and other
shore contractors for work on vessels have connived.22
The seaman’s claim to the work of the vessel in the harbor goes
back to the days of imprisonment for desertion, when he could be,
and was, sent to jail for refusing to do that very work. But to the
argument of right and law, the sailors’ spokesmen adds the following
argument of advantage to the shipowner and to the Nation: Only
when the work of keeping the vessel and all her gear in fit condition
at all times is given to the seamen will skill in seamenship be devel­
oped. To the Nation, the significance of this is that sea power lies
in the skill of the Nation’s seamen. To the shipowner, a skilled crew
means a ship well cared for and well navigated, which can be repaired
19 Sailors’ Union. Minutes, Nov. 28, 1901.
29 Edward N. Hurley, in The New Merchant Marine, states that wage costs are about 12 per cent of op­
erating costs.
The views here stated are those which are expressed by Andrew Furuseth. His policy towards the
longshoremen has been quite consistently followed by the union. However, as he himself says, members
and the union itself have tried a more conciliatory policy. In 1921 there was a strong group within the
union which threatened to reverse the Furuseth policy. This group was defeated, and many of its mem­
bers were expelled from the organization. Nevertheless there is still strong sentiment particularly among
the younger sailors for closer affiliation with the harbor workers.
22
“ xhe stevedore knew perfectly well that the seamen while on the vessel were a hindrance to him in
getting such rates as he thought he ought to have, and he told the longshoremen that they ought to drive
the seamen out of the vessels in order that the rates might be higher, the pay of the longshoremen better,
and their work more steady. Of course the 1ongshoremen understood and agreed. They insisted that they
must do all the 1oading and discharging. The rigging boss and his employees acted in the same way and
from the same motive.
When the steam began to be used the repair-shop owner and his men acted in the same spirit and from
the same reason. And so on with every kind of work to be done. The painter wants all the painting, the
sailmaker all the canvas work, the machinists all the work in the engine room, the steam fitter all the pipe
fitting, the boiler maker all the repairing on boilers. The boiler scaler wants all the scaling, the carpenter
refuses the seaman the right to calk the hatches, and so on. ” ( Furuseth, Andrew: Second Message to Sea­
men, 1919, p. 15.)


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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20

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

by her own crew in any port of the world. Employment of the crew
in discharging and loading means economy because of the high wage
of the irregularly employed longshoremen and insures that men will
be present to start loading or discharging immediately upon the
arrival of the vessel in port.23
In the lumber trade the shipowners have quite consistently sup­
ported the seamen against the longshoremen, probably in recogni­
tion of the soundness of the economy argument.
The longshoremen not only favor the formation of a federation of
transport workers (shore and marine), both local and national, but
wish to unite “ all watercraft organizations into one big militant
body,” 24 a policy to which the Sailors’ Union is bitterly opposed.
The leaders of the seamen have opposed federation of shore and
marine workers, refusing to subscribe to any arrangement which binds
their union to strike except of its own volition. It is felt also that
such federation is sought for the advantage of the shore workers,
not of the seamen. In view of the long jurisdictional struggle of 15
years ago over the “ Longshoremen, Marine, and Transport Workers”
title, when the longshoremen claimed jurisdiction over all seamen
aboard ship, except those of the deck department; the resolutions
of longshoremen against the passage of the seamen’s bill; and their
protests against the repeal of the Oregon fugitive seamen’s law
penalizing with three months’ imprisonment those who aided a
seaman to desert, the seamen feel that the problems peculiar to
themselves must not be intrusted in any way to the workers ashore.
The spokesman of the seamen feels that in order to secure legal
freedom for sailors, his union must work alone. This legal freedom,
it is felt, will be a means not only of improving his economic position,
but also of raising his social standing, of raising him in the estimation
of himself and others, and of restoring him to an honorable calling with
the same rights and privileges as free workers ashore.
23 Furuseth, Andrew: Second Message to Seamen, 1919, pp. 2, 3, 7, 15-17.
24 International Longshoremen's Association. Proceedings of Pacific district convention ,1912, pp. 13,40.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

IN D U S T R IA L R E L A T IO N S A N D L A B O R C O N D IT IO N S .

Economic Condition of the Negro in West Virginia.

TIE first annual report of the West Virginia Bureau of Negro
Welfare and Statistics contains considerable information concerning the changes in the colored population of the State, its
industrial status, condition as to home ownership, and the lines along
which special efforts are being made to improve the situation. The
bureau was created by an act of the West Virginia Legislature in
1921, in response to a growing feeling that there was need of some
agency to promote the economic and social condition of the colored
people of the State, to aid those newly arrived from other States to
adapt themselves to West Virginia conditions, and to promote har­
monious relations between the races. It was pointed out that while
there are numerous agencies supported by public funds or private
philanthropy to promote the Americanization of foreigners, there
was a great lack of assistance for the colored worker newly arrived
from conditions almost as different from those of his new environ­
ment as if he were an immigrant instead of merely a migrant. This
assistance, it was hoped, the newly created bureau would supply.
The negro population of the State, the report points out, has risen
from 17,980 m 1870 to 86,345 in 1920, an increase of 380 per cent.
The greater part of this increase has occurred since 1900, the increase
for the last decade, 22,172, being more than the total negro popula­
tion of 1870. More marked even than this increase is the change in
occupation. In 1870 the negroes of the State were predominantly a
farming people, “ homogeneous, intelligent, not markedly excluded
from the general life and engaged in occupations which made for
thrift and a sound social order.” Most of this native population has
left the State and its place has been taken by negroes from more
southern States, who have been brought in for mining and con­
struction enterprises and who have not the old-time relations with
the whites. Nevertheless, the tradition of harmony and reciprocal
good will remains, and intense and bitter race feeling has not de­
veloped in West Virginia.
A study of the occupational distribution of the colored population
showed that the negroes were largely employed in mining. In 1920,
according to the census, the male colored population of the State,
aged 21 or over, numbered 29,826; in 1921, according to the figures
published by the bureau, 20,781 were engaged in mining. Un­
doubtedly many of those so employed were under 21 years of age,
nevertheless it is apparent that mining overshadows all other in­
dustries of the State in the employment of colored labor. To learn
the standing of colored workers with their employers, questionnaires
were sent out to practically all coal companies doing business in the
State asking for details as to occupations in which negroes were


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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22

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

employed, their efficiency as compared with workers of other races,
and if none were employed, the reasons.
That the negro is an important factor in the mining of coal and has made good in the
occupation in which in round numbers 21,000 of his race are engaged is shown by the
answers of 111 coal company officials reporting for 256 operations which employ 6,483
negroes or more than one-third of the negroes working in the coal mining industry of
the State, and 19 per cent of all negro males in the State 16 years of age and over.
The answers of a majority of the officials show that the negro worker in the coal fields
compares favorably in efficiency, regularity, and loyalty with the workers of other
races so employed.
The 46 officials who do not employ negroes assign the following reasons: 14, no
negroes in section in which mines are located; 12, no negroes applied; 10, “ no reason” ;
6, prefer native white labor; 2, not interested in negro labor; 2, negroes do not make
good workmen.
The reports show that all of the largest producing companies in the State employ
negroes, many of them working more than 50 per cent of that race, and that the negro
is highly satisfactory.

The bureau, the report is careful to state, “ has not taken sides in
the controversy between the coal operators and the union miners
except to advise the negro miners in union fields against lawless­
ness.” It has, however, considered it only fair to take measures to
protect the negroes introduced during the strike from summary dis­
missal when peace is made.
I t came to the attention of the State bureau of negro welfare and statistics that many
negroes were being placed upon mining operations which had not heretofore employed
members of that race. The director held conferences with some of the owners and
managers of the plants affected and secured agreements with them that however the
strike is settled the negro miners now being employed would be retained, or, if they
voluntarily leave the employment of the companies or are discharged for cause, that
their places be filled by other negroes, if they are available. In case the operator can
not secure other negroes to take the places made vacant, before employing men of other
races to take the places vacated by negroes, that the State bureau of negro welfare and
statistics be requested to supply qualified negroes.

An attempt was made to learn how extensively negroes were em­
ployed in some other industries of the State, but as the inquiry was
made in what proved to be the dullest period of the business depres­
sion, in November and December, 1921, no conclusive results were
looked for. The chief purpose of the attempt was to bring the
question of the negro in industry before business men, and to open the
way for the employment of colored workers as business revived.
Along this line it is believed progress was made.
In the replies to our questionnaire, few of the heads of industries refused to consider
the employment of negroes, and since business conditions have improved we have had
several inquiries from companies engaged in the industries above mentioned concern­
ing various phases relating to the employment of negro labor, and in some cases we
have been requested to secure workers of that race.

During the year covered, the bureau began an active campaign to
promote the purchase of farms and homes by negroes. Approxi­
mately 95 per cent of the negroes coming to West Virginia, it is said,
come from the farms of southern States, but, settling in coal-mining
towns, they have no opportunity either to secure farms for themselves
or to work as farm laborers when not employed in the mines.
They know nothing about the farming possibilities of this State and practically
nothing has been done toward enlightening them. In the communities in which most
of them work, they can not buy a lot for a home because it is not for sale, and many
hundreds of them think that this condition exists throughout the State. When the
mines are shut down because of business depression, hundreds of negroes go to southern


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[714]

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR CONDITIONS.

23

States and work upon the farms. An effort is being made to divert this stream of work­
ers to the farm land of this State. If this can he done, it will not only add to the fixed
productive population of the State but will keep a large body of workers convenient
to the industries. When business resumes, after the periodical shutdowns, operators
can locate workers near at hand without the necessity of sending to Virginia, North
Carolina, Alabama, and other southern States for them. The money received by these
negroes from the industries of this State will be used to develop the farm resources of
the State.

A campaign to promote home and farm ownership was carried on,
as a direct result of which 107 negroes purchased tracts in West Vir­
ginia ranging from 10 to 60 acres of land, and 187 bought 237 lots in
different sections of the State. Some 35 of the 107 purchasing farms
made small crops that same year, while the others were busied in
clearing the land and getting it ready for cultivation. As the census
report for 1920 showed only 504 negro farmers in the State, a decrease
of 204 within the decade, it is evident that this campaign has already
effected a decided change in the trend.
A large majority of these purchasers did not own a foot of land before, and they now
take pride in the ownership of a piece of land. The aggregate cost of the tracts of land
and lots is $104,216. It is probable that a much larger number of persons purchased
lots and homes as a result of the activities of this office in creating sentiment for home
ownership.

A study of the housing situation in Charleston, as it affects the col­
ored residents, includes a number of details. A colored population of
2,148 adults and 752 children occupied 681 houses, of which 45.8 per
cent were held by colored owners. There were, on an average, 4.2
persons per home, which is somewhat less than the average, 5.1, given
by the census of 1920 for the homes of the city as a whole. Of the
adults occupying these homes, 75 per cent were wage earners.
The houses occupied by the owners are larger, less crowded, and kept in a better state
of repair than those occupied by tenants. Rents have more than doubled during the
past five years. More than 80 per cent of the negro tenants are paying from 25 per cent
to 200 per cent more rent now than the same houses rented for five years ago, and not­
withstanding thefactthatwageshavegonedownin all occupations followed by negroes,
there are only two cases of reduction in rent reported for the entire city, while on the
other hand, there have been more than 20 increases.

The sanitary condition of the houses seems unusually good, this
condition perhaps being aided by the fact that nearly all are “ de­
tached and with ample light and ventilation . ” About three-fourths
had bathtubs with hot and cold water supply. The yards and walls
were found to be generally clean, and the plumbing in good con­
dition. The streets and alleys are well kept, and the general health
of the colored population is good. “ Infant mortality among the
negroes of this city is lower than the average for cities of this size.”

Labor Conditions in South Australia in 1921.

CCORDING to a recent report1 on general labor conditions in
the State of South Australia there were, in 1921, 1,981 fac­
tories employing 1,459 employers working at their trades
and 21,792 employees. The 48-hour week prevailed in a majority
of trades though working weeks of from 40 nours to 60 hours were

A

1South Australia. Chief inspector of factories. Report for year ended Dec. 31,1921. 18 pp. No. 48.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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MONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW.

found in a few trades. Tlie average weekly wage for males was
£4 15s. 7d. ($23.26, par), representing an increase of 10.39 per cent
over the average wage rate of 1920, while the average weekly wage
rate for females was £2 Is. 6d. ($10.10, par), representing an increase
of 8.26 per cent over the rate for the preceding year. The cost of
food, groceries, and housing accommodations in "the same time fell
16 per cent. During the year the industrial code amendment act,
19.21, was passed, which provided for a revision of the living wage
every six months instead of every 12 months as formerly. In
accordance with this provision the daily living wage for males of
13s. 3d. ($3.22, par) was reduced on April 11, 1922, to 12s. lid .
($3.14, par). On August 11, 1921, the basic wage for females was
increased to 35s. ($8.52, par) per week.
Seventy-four industrial boards were appointed in 1921 to supersede
the former wages boards, I t was hoped, the report states, that the
new system of industrial boards would prove a great improvement
on the old system of wages boards, and while this is the case in many
respects there is still room for improvement.
Licenses issued to aged, slow, and infirm workers during the year
numbered 189 and those to inexperienced workers 132, the number
of the latter showing a decrease from the 1920 figure. The number
of accidents reported was 109 as compared with 151 during 1920.
Many of the accidents, however, are not reported, so the figures do
not cover all the accidents which really occurred. First-aid outfits
were being installed in many factories and the report suggests that
it would be advantageous to everyone concerned if employers install­
ing these outfits would arrange for some of their employees to take
training in first-aid in order that they may be able to render assist­
ance in case of need. Much is being done, especially since the
1 ' ‘ i of the industrial code of 1920, to promote safe and sanitary
conditions. Apprenticeship is receiving more and more
attention. During the year 1921, 257 probationers’ licenses were
issued and 170 indentures received.
The report contains also several appendixes showing for different
industries the number of workers employed, wages, accidents, and
overtime.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[7163

P R IC E S A N D C O S T O F LIV IN G .

Retail Prices of Food in the United States.

HE following tables are based on figures which have been
received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from retail dealers
through monthly reports of actual selling prices.1
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food on
February 15, 1922, and on January 15 and February 15, 1923,
as well as the percentage changes in the year and in the month.
For example, the price of strictly fresh eggs per dozen was 48.4
cents on February 15, 1922; 55.7 cents on January 15, 1923; and
46.2 cents on February 15, 1923. These figures show a decrease
of 5 per cent in the year and 17 per cent in the month.
The cost of the various articles of food,2 combined, showed an
increase of four-tenths of 1 per cent in February, 1923, as compared
with February, 1922, but a decrease of 1 per cent in February,
1923, as compared with January, 1923.

T

T able 1 .—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SPECIFIED FOOD ARTICLES AND PER CENT

OF INCREASE OR DECREASE FEBRUARY 15, 1923, COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 15,
1922, AND JANUAR Y 15, 1923.
(Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers.)

Average retail price onArticle.

Unit.
Feb. 15,
1922.

Jan. 15,
1923.

Feb. 15,
1923.

C e n ts .

C e n ts .

C e n ts .

Per cent of increase
( + ) or decrease
( - ) Feb. 15,1923,
compared with—
Feb. 15,
1922.

Jan. 15,
1923.

Sirloin steak.............
Pound............
35.2
37.2
37.1
+5
- 0 .3
Round steak............
30.2
----- do..............
31.6
+4
3L5
- 0 .3
Rib roast...................
-----do..............
26.5
27.5
27.5
+4
0
Chuck roast..............
-----do..............
18.9
19.6
19.5
-1
+3
Plate beef..................
-----do..............
12.8
12.9
12.8
0
-1
Pork chops...............
-----do..............
29.3
29.3
28.7
-2
-2
Bacon.......................
.,. -do.............
37.9
39.8
39.4
-1
+4
Ham..........................
46.5
. . . .do.............
45.1
45.0
-3
- 0 .2
Lamb, leg of.............
35.4
___do.............
36.3
36.0
-1
+2
Hens..........................
__ do..............
36.9
34.5
35.5
-4
+3
Salmon, canned, red
32.9
__ do..............
31.3
31.3
—5
0
Milk, fresh................
13.2
13.7
13.7
Q uart..............
+4
0
Milk, evaporated__
15-16-oz. c a n ..
12.1
12.1
11.6
+4
0
Butter......................
45.9
59.1
57.7
Pound............
+26
-2
Oleomargine.............
28.3
28.9
__ do..............
29.0
+2
+0.3
N ut margarine.........
26.7
__ do..............
27.5
26.7
-3
0
1 In addition to monthly retail prices of food and coal, the bureau secures prices of gas and dry goods
from each of 51 cities and for electricity from 32 cities. These prices are published at quarterly intervals
i n the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w .
2 The following 22 articles, weighted according to the consumption of the average family, have been
used from January, 1913, to December, 1920: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, lard, hens, flour, corn meal, eggs, butter, milk, bread, potatoes, sugar,
cheese, rice, coffee, and tea. The remainder of the 43 articles shown in Tables 1 and 2 have been included
in the weighted aggregates for each month, beginning with January, 1921.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[717]

25

26

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

T able 1.—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SPECIFIED FOOD ARTICLES AND PER CENT

OF INCREASE OR DECREASE FEBRUARY 15, 1923, COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 15,
1922, AND JANUARY 15, 1923—Concluded.

Average retail price on—
Article.

Cheese..................................................
Lard.....................................................
Vegetable lard substitute...................
Eggs, strictly fresh.............................
Eggs^ storage.......................................
Brea<I...................................... - ...........
Flour....................................................
Corn meal.............................................
Rolled oats.........................................
Corn flakes...........................................
Wheat cereal........................................
Macaroni..............................................
Rice......................................................
Beans, navy ....................................
Potatoes...............................................
Onions..................................................
Cabbage................................................
Beans, baked.......................................
Corn, canned........................................
Peas, canned........................................
Tomatoes, canned...............................
Sugar, granulated...............................
Tea.......................................................
Coffee....................................................
Prunes..................................................
Raisins.................................................
Bananas...............................................
Oranges................................................

Unit.
Feb. 15,
1922.

Jan. 15,
1923.

Feb. 15,
1923.

C e n ts .

C e n ts .

C e n ts.

Pound.............
....... do..............
....... do..............
Dozen.............
__do.................
Pound.............
....... do..............
....... do............ .
....... do..............
8-oz. pkg.........
28-ozrp£g.......
Pound. . . .......
....... do..............
....... do..............
....... do..............
....... do..............
....... do..............
No. 2 can........
....... do..............
....... do..............
....... do..............
Pound............
____ do..............
....... do..............
....... do..............
....... do..............
Dozen.............
....... do..............

All articles combined 1.............

32.9
15.9
21.7
48.4
39.1
8.6
5.1
3.9
8.9
10.3
26.2
20.2
9.3
8.3
3.3
10.9
5.7
13.3
15.9
17.8
13.4
6.4
67.8
35.6
18.8
24.8
36.8
48.5

37.3
17.4
22.3
55.7
40.0
8.7
4.9
4.0
8.8
9.7
25.0
19.9
9.5
10.9
2.1
5.1
4.0
13.1
15.3
17.5
12.7
8.3
68.7
37.0
20.0
18.9
37.1
46.8

37.5
17.4
22.4
46.2
42.4
8.7
4.9
4.0
8.7
9.7
24.8
19. 8
9.4
11.3
2.1
5.3
4.7
13 1
15.4
17.4
12.8
8.7
68.9
37.5
19.9
18.7
37.3
47.1

Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Feb. 15,1923,
compared with—
Feb. 15,
1922.

Jan. 15,
1923.

+14
+9
4-3
5
4-8
4-1
—4
4-3
—2
—6
—5
_2
+i
4-36
—36
—51
—18
—2
—3
—2
—4
+36
+2
+5
+6
-2 5
+1
-3

4-1
o
4-0 4
17
+6
0
0
o
1
o
1
1
1
+4
o
4-4
4-18
0
4-1
—1
4-1
4-5
4-0.3

+0.4

+i

—i
—i
+i
+i
-i

1 See note 2, p. 25.

Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of speci­
fied food articles on February 15, 1913, and 1914, and on February
15 of each year from 1918 to 1923, together with the percentage
changes in February of each of these specified years compared with
February, 1913. For example, the price per pound of bread was 5.6
cents in February, 1913; 6.2 cents in February, 1914; 9.5 cents in
February, 1918; 9.8 cents in February, 1919; 11.1 cents in February,
1920; 10.6 cents in February, 1921; 8.6 cents in February, 1922; and
8.7 cents in February, 1923. As compared with the average price
in February, 1913, these figures show the following percentage in­
creases: 11 per cent in February, 1914; 70 per cent in February, 1918;
75 per cent in February, 1919; 98 per cent in February, 1920, 89 per
cent in February, 1921; 54 per cent in February, 1922; and 55 per
cent in February, 1923.
s
The cost of the various articles of food, combined, showed an
increase of 47 per cent in February, 1923, as compared with January,
1913.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[718]

27

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD,

T able 3 .—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SPECIFIED FOOD ARTICLES AND PER CENT

OF INCREASE OR DECREASE, FEBRUARY 15, OF CERTAIN SPECIFIED YEARS COM­
PARED WITH FEBRUARY 15, 1913.
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers.]

Per cent of increase (+ ) or decrease
(—) Feb. 15 of each specified j^ear
compared with Feb. 15,1913.

Average retail price Feb. 15—
Article.

Unit.

1913 1914 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1914 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923
C ts . C ts .

Sirloin steak..........
Round steak.........
Rib roast...............
Chuck roast...........
Plate beef..............
Pork chops............
Bacon.....................
Ilam .......................
Lamb.....................
Hens......................
Salmon (canned),
red.
Milk, fresh............
Milk, evaporated..
Butter...-'..............
Oleomargarine. . . .
N ut margarine__
Cheese. .1..............
Lard.......................
Vegetable
lard
substitute.
Eggs, strictly fresh.
Eggs, storage.........
Bread.....................
Flour.....................
Corn meal.............
Rolled oats............
Corn flakes............
Wheat cereal.........
Macaroni...............
Rice.......................
Bears, navy.........
Potatoes..............
Onions...................
Cabbage.................
Beans, baked........
Corn, canned.........
Peas, canned.........
Tomatoes, canned.
Sugar, granulated.
Tea........................
Coffee.....................
Prunes...................
Raisins...................
Bananas................
Oranges.................

C ts .

C ts.

C ts . C ts . C ts . C ts .

Pound. 23.9 25.3 33.4 41.2 40.6 38.3 35.2 37.1 +6
. . .do__ 20.6 22.9 31.4 38.8 37.2 34.2 30.2 31.5 +11
. . . d o . . . 18.8 20.0 26.3 32.6 31.5 29.3 26.5 27.5
. . . d o . . . 14.9 16.4 22.7 27.9 25.1 22.0 18.9 19.5 +10
. . . d o . . . 11.3 12.4 17.7 21.9 18.4 15.6 12.8 12.8 +10
. . . d o . . . 18.9 21.0 33.6 37.9 37.7 32. 7 29.3 28.7 +11
. . .d o .. . 25.5 26.5 48.4 55.3 50.3 44.7 37.9 39.4 + 4
. . .d o .. . 25.4 26.5 43.8 51.8 50.7 48.2 46.5 45.0 + 4
. . .d o .. . 18.5 18.9 31.4 36.4 39.0 34.2 35.4 36.0 + 2
. . .d o .. . 20.7 22.1 36.2 39.6 44.7 42.9 36.9 35.5 +7
. . .d o .. .
429.1 131.7 137.6 39.1 32.9 31.3
Quart.. 8.9 9.1
(2)
Pound. 41.2 35.8
. . .d o .. .
. . .d o .. .
. . .do__ 22.2 23.6
. . .d o .. . 15.4 15.7
. .d o .. .

13.4 15.5
16.4
57.9 57.2
39.2
35.9
34.9 40.9
33.0 32.1
33.8

Dozen.. 31.5 36.5
. . .d o .. . 23.5 32.6
Pound. 5.6 6.2
. . .d o .. . 3.3 3.3
. . .d o ... 2.9 3.1
. . .d o .. .
(8)
(9
Pound.
. . .do__ 8.6 8.7
. . .d o .. .
. . .do__ 1.5 1.8
__d o .. .
__d o .. .
(6)
G)
(5)
(5)
Pound. 5. 5 5.2
. . .d o .. . 54.3 54.5
.. .d o .. . 29.8 29.6
. . .d o .. .
. . .d o .. .
Dozen..
. . .d o .. .

62.7 50.6 68.5 47.9 48.4 46.2 +16
54.7 46.8 59.4 44.4 39.1 42.4 +39
9.5 9.8 11.1 10.6 8.6 8.7 + 11
0
6.6 6.7 8.1 6.5 5.1 4.9
7.0 6.0 6.5 5.0 3.9 4.0 +7
8.4 10.1 10.4 8.9 8.7
14.1 14.1 14.0 10.3 9.7
25.1 29.3 30.0 26.2 24.8
19.4 20. 0 21.3 20.2 19.8
11.8 14.3 18.3 10.5 9.3 9.4 +1
18.1 13.7 12.2 8.6 8.3 11.3
3.2 3.1 6.0 2.6 3.3 2.1 +20
4.9 4.3 9. 3 3.9 10. 9 5.3
4.3 9.3 3.6 5. 7 4.7
18.6 16.9 15.3 13.3 13.1
19.6 18.6 17.1 15.9 15.4
19.2 19.1 18.2 17.8 17.4
17.0 15.2 12. 2 13.4 12. S
10.6 10.7 18.8 8.9 6.4 8.7 - 5
60.8 68.4 71.4 71.5 67.8 68.9 +0.4
30.4 36.6 49.1 37.5 35.6 37.5 - 1
16.5 20.3 29.0 22.5 18.8 19.9
15.0 16.2 25.6 31.9 24.8 18.7
35.0 41.0 41.0 36.8 37.3
46.8 53.4 45.3 48.5 47.1

16.7 15.4 13.2 13.7 +2
16.2 14.7 11.6 12.]
72.6 56.5 45.9 57.7 -1 3
43.4 35.4 28.3 29.0
36.1 32.3 27.5 26.7
43.3 38.4 32.9 37.5 +4
32.3 20.7 15.9 17.4 +2
38.1 25.9 21.7 22.4

All articles combined.6

+5
1 Both pink and red.
215-15 ounce can.
8 8-ounce package.

387S40—23-----3

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

+ 40 + 72 +70
+52 +88 +81
+ 4C + 73 +68
+52 + 87 +68
+57 +94 +63
+78 +101 +99
+90 +117 +97
+72 +104 +100
+70 +97 +111
+75 +91 +116

+47 +55
+47 +53
+41 +45
+27 +31
+ 13 +13
+55 +52
+49 +55
+83 +77
+91 +95
+78 +71

+51 +74 +88 +73 +48 +54
+41 +39 +76 +37 +11 +40
+57 +84 + 95 +73 +48 +69
+114 +108 + 110 +34 +3 + 13
+99 +61 +117
+133 +99 +153
+70 +75 + 98
+ 100 + 103 + 145
+ 141 + 107 + 124

+52
+ 80
+89
+97
+72

+37 +66 + 113 + 22

+54
+66
+54
+55
+34

+47
+80
+55
+48
+38

+8 +9

+ ii§ +107 +300 +73 + 120 +40

+93 +95 + 242 +62 + 16 +58
+ 12 +26 +31 +32 +25 +27
+2 +23 +65 +26 +19 +26

+67 + 79 + 108 +63 +46 +47

428-ounce package.
6 No. 2 can.
6 See note 2, page 25.

[719]

+60
+66
+56
+48
+38
+ 73
+ 75
+90
+ 85
+ 107

28

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,

Table 3 shows the changes in the retail price of each of 22 articles of
food 3 as well as the changes in the amounts of these articles that could
be purchased for $1, each year, 1913 to 1922, and in February, 1923.
T able 3 .—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SPECIFIED ARTICLES OF FOOD AND AMOUNT

PURCHASABLE FOR 81, IN EACH YEAR, 1913 TO 1922, AND IN FEBRUARY, 1923. '
Sirloin steak. Round steak.
Year.

Rib roast.

Chuck roast.

Plate beef.

Pork chops.

Aver­
Aver­
Aver­
Aver­
Aver­
Aver­
age Amt. age Amt. age. Amt. age Amt. age Amt. age Amt.
retail for SL retail for $1. retail for$l. retail for $1. retail for$l. retail for $1.
price.
price.
price.
price.
price.
price.
P e r lb .

1913................... SO. 254
1914................... ,. 259 ;
1915................... . 257
1916................... .273
1917................... .315
1918..
.389
1919....... ........... .417
1920................... .437
1921................... .388
1922.................
.374
1923: February. .371

L bs.

Bacon.
P e r lb .

1913................. $0.270
1914................. .275
1915.................. .269
1916....... .
.287
.410
1917.................
1918................... .529
1919................... .554
1920................... . 523
1921................... .427
1922................... .398
1923: February. .394

L bs.

P e r lb .

L bs.

P e r lb .

1913................... 80.017
1914................... .018
1915................... .015
1916................... .027
1917................... .043
1918................... .032
1919................... .038
1920................... .063
1921................... .031
1922................... .028
1923: February. .021

P e r lb .

P e r q t.

L bs.

P e r lb .

L bs.

L b s.

P e r lb .

3.7 $0.158
.156
3.7
3.8
.148
3.4
.175
2.6
.276
2.1
.333
1.9 .369
1.8
.295
2.0
.180
2.0
.170
2.2 .174

Q ts .

P e r lb .

L bs.

L bs.

P e r lb .

P e r lb .

6.3 $0. 213
. 218
6,4
6.8 . 208
5.7
.236
3.6
.288
3.0
.377
2.7
.411
3.4
.447
5.6
.397
5.9
.360
5.7
.355

L bs.

L b s.

L bs.

L bs.

P erdz.

4.7 SO. 345
.353
4.6
4.8
.341
4.2
.375
.481
3.5
2.7
.569
2.4
.628
2.2
.681
2.5
.509
2.8
.444
2.8 .462

P e r lb .

30.3 $0,030
29.4
.032
23.8
.033
22.7
.034
14.3 .058
14.9 .068
13.9
.064
12.3
.085
17.2 .045
19.6
.039
20.4 .040

L bs.

4.8
4.5
4.9
4.4
3.1
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.9
3.0
3.5

Butter.

D ozs.

P e r lb .

2.9 «0.383
2.8
.362
2.9
.358
2.7
.394
2.1
.487
1.8
.577
1.6
.678
1.5
. 701
2.0
.517
2.3
.479
2.2 .577

Corn meal.

L bs.

P e r lb .

8.3 $0.210
7.9
.220.
8.3
. 203
7.8
.227
6.4
.319
4.9
.390
5.0
.423
5.5
.423
7.0
.349
7.8
.330
7.8
.287

Eggs.

Flour.
P e r lb .

P e r lb .

6.3 $0.121
6.0
.126
6.2
.121
.128
5.8
4.8
.157
3.8
.206
.202
3.7
3.8
.183
4.7 .143
.128
5.1
.128
5.1

17.9 $0.033
15.9 .034
.042
14.3
13.7 .044
10.9
.070
10.2
.067
.072
10.0
.081
8.7
.058
10.1
.051
11.5
11.5 .049

Coffee.

18.2 $0. 298
16.9
.297
15.2 .300
.299
12.5
.302
10.8
10.3
.305
8.8
.433
5.2
.470
12.5
.363
13.7
.361
11.5
.375

L bs.

Hens.

Bread.

11.2 $0.056
11.2
.083
11.4
.070
11. 0 .073
.092
9.0
7.2
.098
6.5
.100
6.0
.115
.099
6.8
7.6
.087
7.3
.087

P e r lb .

5,1 $0.160
4.9
.167
5.0
.161
4.7
.171
4.0
.209
.266
3.3
3.1
.270
.262
3.0
3.4
.212
3.6
.197
3.6
. 195

Lard.

Sugar.

58.8 $0.055
55.6
.059
66.7
.066
37.0
.080
23.3
.093
.097
31.3
26.3
.113
15.9 .194
32.3
.080
35.7
.073
47.6
.087

P e r lb .

4.5 $0.198
4.2
.204
4.3
.201
.212
4.1
.249
3.4
.307
2.7
2.6
.325
.332
2.5
2.9
.291
.276
3.1
3.2
.275

Milk.

4.5 $0.089
4.4
.089
4.3
.088
3.9
.091
.112
3.0
2.8
.139
2.3
.155
2.4
. 167
2.9
.146
3.0
.131
2.7
.137

Potatoes.

L bs.

Ham.

3.7 $0,269
3.6
.273
3.7
.261
3.5 .294
2.4
.382
1.9 .479
1.8
.534
1.9
.555
2.3
.488
2.5
.488
2.5
.450

Cheese.

1913................. $0.221
1914................... .229
1915.......... ...... . .233
1916................... .258
1917................... .332
1918............ ...... .359
1919................... , 426
1920................... .416
1921................... .340
1922................... .329
1923: February. .375

P e r lb .

3.9 $0. 223
.236
3.9
3.9
.230
.245
3.7
.290
3.2
.369
2.6
2.4 .. 389
.395
2.3
.344
2.6
2.7
.323
2.7
.315

L bs.

L b s.

2.6
2.8
2.8
2.5
2.1
1.7
1.5
1.4
1.9
2.1
1.7

Rice.
P e r lb .

33.3 $0.087
.088
31.3
.091
30.3
29.4
.091
17.2 . 101
14.7 . 129
15.6
.151
15.4
.174
22.2 . 095
25.6 .095
25.0 .094

L bs.

11.5
11.4
11.0
h n
9.-fi
7 8
6.6
5.7
10.5
10.5
10.6

Tea.
P e r lb .

3.4 SO. 544
3.4
.546
3.3
.545
3.3
.546
.582
3.3
3.3
.648
2.3
.701
2.1
.733
.697
2.8
2.8
.681
2.7
.689

L bs.

1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.7
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.5

8 Although monthly prices of 43 food articles have been secured since January, 1919, prices of only 22
of these articles have been secured each month since 1913.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 720]

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD.

29

Index Numbers of Retail Prices of Food in the United States.

IN TABLE 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
1 the retail prices of each of 22 food articles,4 by years from 1907 to
1922, and by months for 1922,5 and for January and February, 1923.
These index numbers, or relative prices, are based on the year 1913
as 100 and are computed by dividing the average price of each com­
modity for each month and each year by the average price of that
commodity for 1913. These figures must be used with caution.
For example, the relative price of rib roast for the year 1920 was 168,
which means that the average money price for the year 1920 was
68 per cent higher than the average money price for the year 1913.
The relative price of bacon for the year 1919 was 205 and for the year
1920, 194, which figures show a drop of 11 points but a decrease of
only 5 per cent in the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing the
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. From
January, 1913, to December, 1920, 22 articles have been included in
the index, and beginning with January, 1921, 43 articles have been
used.4 For an explanation of the method used in making the link
between the cost of the market basket of 22 articles, weighted accord­
ing to the average family consumption in 1901, and the cost of the
market basket based on 43 articles and weighted according to the
consumption in 1918, see M o n th ly L abor R e v ie w for March, 1921
(p. 25).
The curve shown in the chart on page 31 pictures more readily to
the eye the changes in the cost of the family market basket and the
trend in the cost of the food budget than do the index numbers
given in the table. The retail cost of the food articles included in
the index has decreased since July, 1920, until the curve is brought
down in February, 1923, to approximately where it was in April,
1917. The chart has been drawn on the logarithmic scale,6 because
the percentages of increase or decrease are more accurately shown
than on the arithmetic scale.
4 See note 2, p. 25.
6 For index numbers of each month, January, 1913, to December, 1920, see Monthly L abor R eview
for February, 1921, pp. 19-21.
6 For a discussion of the logarithmic chart see article on “ Comparison of arithmetic and ratio charts,”
by Lucian W. Chaney, Monthly L abor R eview for March, 1919, pp. 20-34. Also, “ The 'ratio’ charts,”
by Prof. Irving Fisher, reprinted from Quarterly Publications of the American Statistical Association,
June, 1917, 24 pp.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

t721]

T abtf 4 _INDEX NUMBERS SHOWING CH\NG ES IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES, B \
Table 4 .-IN D E N NUMBERS b^ X R S , lW7 TO 192^ BY MONTHS FOR 1922, AND FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 1923.

CO

o

[Average for year 1913=100.]

Year and month.

[722]

1907 .
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913........................
1914........................
1915............ ...........
1916........................
1917........................
1918........................
1919........................
1920........................
1921........................
1922: Av. for year.
January..........
February........
March..............
April...............
May.................
June................
. July.................
August............
September___
October...........
November___
December.......
1923: January.......
February__


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Com Rice. Pota­ Su­
Sirloin Round Rib Chuck Plate Pork Ba­ Ham. Lard. Hens. Eggs. But­ Cheese. Milk. Bread. Flour. meal.
toes. gar.
ter.
steak. steak. roast. roast. beef. chops. con.

71
73
77
80
81
91
100
102
101
108
124
153
164
172
153
147
139
139
141
143
148
151
154
154
152
151
147
145
146
146

68
71
74
78
79
89
100
106
103
110
130
165
174
177
154
145
136
135
138
141
146
150
153
153
151
148
144
141
142
141

76
78
81
85
85
94
100
103
101
107
126
155
164
168
147
139
135
134
136
138
141
142
144
142
142
141
139
138.
139
139

100
104
101
107
131
166
169
164
133
123
119
118
121
122
124
126
127
125
125
124
123
121
123
122

100
104
100
106
130
170
167
151
118
106
106
106
107
107
107
107
106
104
104
106
105
105
107
106

74
76
83
92
85
91
100
105
96
108
152
186
201
201
166
157
138
140
149
157
164
161
164
167
173
174
157
140
140
137

74
77
83
95
91
91
100
102
100
106
152
196
205
194
158
147
139
140
144
147
147
150
150
150
150
151
151
149
147
146

76
78
82
91
89
91
100
102
97
109
142
178
199
206
181
181
164
173
185
188
191
193
194
189
180
177
172
169
168
167

81
80
90
104
88
94
100
99
93
111
175
211
234
187
114
108
97
101
109
107
108
109
109
109
109
111
111
111
110
110

.81
83
89
94
91
93
100
102
97
111
134
177
193
210
186
169
173
173
177
177
177
173
168
164
164
163
159
158
162
167

84
86
93
98
94
99
100
102
99
109
139
165
182
197
148
129
145
140
92
92
97
99
104
108
130
157
187
193
161
134

98
100
94
93
103
127
151
177
183
135
125
118
120
120
118
117
117
119
115
122
133
143
157
154
151

100
104
105
117
150
162
193
188
154
149
149
149
149
145
139
141
143
144
145
154
161
166
169
170

87
90
91
95
96
97
100
100
99
102
125
156
174
188
164
147
153
148
146
143
140
140
144
146
147
149
151
154
154
154

100
113
125
130
164
175
179
205
177
155
157
154
155
155
157
157
157
155
155
155
155
154
155
155

95
102
109
108
102
105
100
104
126
135
211
203
218
245
176
155
148
155
161
161
161
161
158
155
148
145
145
148
148
148

88
92
94
95
94
102
100
105
108
113
192
227
213
217
150
130
130
130
130
130
127
130
130
130
130
130
130
133
133
133

100
101
104
105
119
148
174
200
109
109
107
107
107
108
109
110
110
110
110

no

109
109
109
10S

105
111
112
101
130
135
100
108
89
159
253
188
224
371
182
165
194
194
182
171
176
206
212
153
135
129
124
124
124
124

105
108
107
109
117
115
100
108
120
146
169
176
205
353
145
133
113
116
118
122
120
129
138
147
144
144
147
151
151
158

Cof­
fee.

100
100
101
100
101
102
145
158
122
121
120
119
119
120
120
121
121
121
121
122
122
123
124
126

All
Tea. articles
com­
bined.

100
100
100
100
107
119
129
135
128
125
126
125
124
124
125
125
125
126
125
125
126
126
126
127

82
84
89
93
92
98
100
102

101

114
146
168
186
203
153
142
142
142
139
139
139
141
142
139
140
143
145
147
144
142

o
H
M
F

Kj

F
i>
w
ow
w
<3

TREND IN THE RETAIL COST OF ALL ARTICLES OF FOOD, COMBINED, FOR THE UNITED STATES, BY MONTHS, JANUARY, 1914, TO FEBRUARY, 1923.
[1913=100.]

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD,

[723]

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,

32

Retail Prices of Food in

51

A V E R A G E retail food prices are shown in Table 5 for 39 cities
2 * mary 15, 1923. For 12 other cities prices are shown for the
not scheduled by the bureau until after 1913.
T able 5 . - AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL

[The prices shown in this table are computed from reports sent monthly to the bureau by retail dealers.

Baltimore, Md.

Atlanta, Ga.

Birmingham, Ala.

Article.

Unit.

C ts .

C ts.

C ts.

C ts.

C ts.

C ts.

Sirloin steak .................
Round steak...................
Rih> rnast,
nh nrdr roast
Ríate Reef
............

Pound.........
... .do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........

22.6
20.5
17.0
13.0
9.8

32.6
29.7
25.7
17.6
11.6

33.2
29.8
25.3
19.0
11.9

32.7
29.5
25.8
18.8
11.2

20.7
19.0
17.3
14.7
11.6

32.9
29.6
26.7
18.8
12.8

35.8
32.6
29.0
19.5
13.3

35.7
32.8
29.1
19.5
13.0

24.9
20.1
19.3
15.6
10.0

32.0
28.6
23.3
17.8
11.5

33.2
29.4
25.9
20.0
12.3

33.6
29.3
25. 8
20.3
12.4

Rork chops......................
Bacon, sliced...................
Ham sliced.....................
Ramh, leg of...................
H en s .............................

....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... d o .. . . . .
....... do..........

19.5
30.0
28.5
20.0
20.0

28.9
36.7
45.0
34.0
32.4

28.2
36.1
45.5
35.9
31.1

27.6
35.8
45.0
35.9
31.1

17.3
21.3
30.0
18.0
19.8

28.7
31.6
52.0
35.8
39.1

30.3
35.3
4S.5
37.8
36.6

28.5
34.5
50.9
37.9
38.4

19.4
31.3
30.0
18.8
19.3

28.0
38.9
45.9
35.8
31.9

28.4
41.3
46.3
36.7
31.4

28.8
40.7
45.5
36.3
31.4

Salmon, canned, r ed .. . .
Milk fresh ...................
Milk evaporated...........
Butter
...................
Oleomargarine................

27.7
31.3 28.9 29.1
....... do..........
Quart........... ÍÓ.Ó 17.5 16.7 16.7 8.8 12.0
10.6
14.3 13.9 14.0
15-18-oz. can
Pound......... 41.7 48.2 58.1 58.1 42.3 51.1
26.9
32.4 32.0 32.0
....... do..........

26.4
13.0
11.9
64.1
25.8

32.6 30.3 30.0
26.6
13.0 10.3 20.0 19.0 19.0
12.7 13.2 13.4
11.9
63.0 44.0 4S.0 60.0 60.7
33.5 33.3 33.3
25.8

Nnt margarme
Cheese .............. - ........
Bard
......................
Vegetable lard substitute
Eggs, strictly fresh.........
Eggs, storage...................
Bread .............................
Rlonr
.......................
Corn meal........................
Roller) oats

26.8 26.1 26.9
28.0 26.7 26.3
....... do..........
....... do.......... 25.0 32.6 37.3 36.5 23.3 33.3 37.1 37.5 23. Ó
....... do.......... 14.8 17.4 17.8 18.0 13.5 15.7 17.0 16.7 15.4
20.0 21.9 21.6
21.9 19.8 20.1
....... do..........
Dozen.......... 28. Ó 43.2 50.0 42.7 27.1 52.5 55.8 46. S 28.8
41.0 35.0 23.0 37.5 37.5 36.8 25.0
....... do.......... 25.0
Pound......... 6.0 ió .i 9.1 9.1 5.4 8.6 8.4 8.4 5.0
. . . . .do.......... 3.6 5.6 5.3 5.3 3.2 4.9 4.6 4.5 3.8
....... do.......... 2.4 2.7 3.2 3.3 2.4 3.1 3.1 3.1 2.1
8.8 8.9 8.4
10.1 9.2 9.1
__do..........

Wheat cereal
Ma.earoni .......................
Ri ce.................................
Beans, n avy....................

8-oz pkg
28-oz. pkg__
Pound.........
....... do..........
....... do..........

Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922
1913 1922
Feb. 15—

C ts.

Rot,at,oes.......................... ....... do..........
__do..........
Oni on s
__do..........
r,ahha ge
No. 2 c a n .. .
Rea™'5 haked
Bor™ ea rn ed ................. ....... do..........

C ts.

C ts.

C ts.

10.1 9.6 9.7
26.8 26.0 25.9
22.0 21.3 21.1
8.6 8.9 8.7 8.7
10.1 12.6 13.0
2.0

4.2 3.0 3.1
11.3 6.9 7.0
6.2 5.3 6.8
13.4 13.6 13.5
16.1 15.9 16.0

C ts .

29.5
31.2
16.0
20.7
41.9

30.1
37.8
17.8
18.6
51.8

31.1
37.2
17.5
19.2
45.7

29.3 42.2
9.1 8.8
5.8 5.8
2.8 3.1
9.8 9.6

8.9
5.8
3.0
9.6

10.4
27.8
19.0
8.2 9.1
9.6

9.5 9.1 8.9
25.0 23.9 23.6
20.1 19.4 19.2
9. Ó 9.1 8.9 9.0
8.1 10.9 11.0
1.7

C ts.

10.1 9.9
26.6 27.0
19.7 19.6
9.3 9.1
11.6 11.7

3.4 2.1 2.1 1.9 4.3 3.2 3.2
11.1 5.1 5.9
11.2 5.7 6.0
5.7 5.2 5.8
5.2 4.5 6. C
14. t 14.6 14.4
12.3 12.4 12.3
16.6 15.7 16.2
15.5 15.0 15.1

Ppaq panned
Tomatoes, canned..........
Sugar, granulated..........
Tea
........................
Coffee.............................

....... do..........
....... do..........
Pound......... 6. C
....... do.......... 60. C
....... do.......... 32.0

17.0
13.5
6.Í
86.3
35.8

17.8
12.9
8.7
89.4
37.0

17.7
13.2
9.1 5.0
91.1 56. C
36.9 25.2

16.7
12.2
5.7
66. ?
31. f

16.3
11.6
7.5
65.8
32.7

19.9
16.3
13.0
11.9
8.0 5.3 6.4
66.7 61.3 SO. 1
33.1 28.8 36.0

20.1
11.5
8.4
82.4
37.4

20.4
11.6
8. 8
82.0
37.5

Rrnnes
Rai si np ........................
Bananas.
Oranges..........................

....... do..........
....... do..........
Dozen..........
....... do..........

18.6
25.6
25.7
38.6

20.9
20.3
24.1
37.5

20.3
20.1
25.3
39.2

1S.1
23.5
29.2
47.3

18.5
16.6
27.6
47.6

18.1
16.3
28.]
47.5

20.7
25. ■:
33.8
43.2

20.7
20.5
34.2
37.8

20.7
20.1
33.6
39.1

.....

1

1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, but in most of the other cities
included in this report it would be known as “ porterhouse” steak.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[724]

33

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD.

Cities on Specified Dates,

for February 15, 1913 and 1922, and for January 15, 1923, and Febsame dates with the exception of February, 1913, as these cities were
ARTICLES OF FOOD IN 51 CITIES, ON SPECIFIED DATES.
As- some dealers occasionally fail to report, the number of quotations varies from month to month.]
Bridgeport,
Conn.

Boston, Mass.

Buffalo, N.

Y.

Butte, Mont.

Charleston, S. C.

Feb. 15—
1913

Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan Feb.
Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1922 1923. 1923. 1922. 1923 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923 1923.

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts.

C ts .

C ts.

C ts

134.5 155.5 1 59.8 1 59.4 38.9 43.5 43.4
32.4 45.7 46.4 45.8 34,4 36.6 36.5
23.4 33.6 35.8 35.7 30.5 33.5 33.0
17.0 22.8 22.8 23.0 20.8 23.4 23.3
15.2 15.0 14.8 9.7 10.5 10.5
20.6
24.6
28.3
21.8
22.8
8.9
38.9
22.9
15.3
37.5

1.7

......
......
5.4
58.6
33.0

C ts .

C ts .

32.6
26.7
25.4
18.2
11.9

36.2
29.8
26. i
20.1
12.3

C ts .

C ts .

36.3
29.9
27.1
20.0
12.1

29.1
25.6
24.2
17.2
12.3

C ts .

28.1
25.0
22.5
16.0
11.3

C ts

C ts .

27.9
24.5
22.3
16.0
11.1

21.0
20.0
19.3
15.0
11.4

C is .

C ts .

34.3
31.8
27.9
20.9
15.5

34.5
31.4
28.6
21.8
14.3

34.1
30.9
27.3
20.7
14.3

23.0
23.0
26.7
21.3
21.4

31.8
34.0
45.0
39.5
38.9

30.5
37.9
43.5
44.4
36.9

29.1
37.4
41.9
40.6
36.0

C ts .

31.5
35.4
52.8
38.5
40.1

31.8
38.4
50.6
39.6
39.7

31.7
37.6
49.9
37.8
39.6

28.9
41.8
55.8
36.1
40.1

30.1
46.2
53.5
37.5
38.7

29.7
45. C
53.8
38.1
39.0

19.3
20.3
24.0
17.5
20.0

30.6
31.6
47.4
30.6
36.9

31.0
34.1
45.9
32.2
35.5

30.1
33.2
45.6
32.0
36.1

28.2
48.3
52.9
28.0
35.4

29.6
46.8
51.8
31.0
30.5

27.0
45.9
50.0
29.5
30.5

32.6
13.5
12.4
45.7
32.1

29.0
14.5
12.5
59.6
30.7

29.2
14.5
12.6
59.8
31.0

32.9
12.0
12.1
45.8
24.7

30.3
15.0
12.3
56.9
27.3

30.1
15.0 8.Ò
12.5
57.9 4L 2
27.0

28.7
15.0
10.6
45.9
27.3

27.5
13.0
11.8
60.0
27.6

27.6
13.0
11.9
58.4
28.0

37.1
14.0
12.1
44.3
27.5

36.8
14.2
12.3
56.5
30.5

36.8
27.6 27.0 27.1
14.2 11.7 IS. 7 18.0 18.0
12.3
11.5 12.0 12,0
55.7 39.8 43.6 57.5 56.1
30.5
28.6 28.2 28.2

28.5 26.0
33.8 •38.5
16.2 18.1
22.4 24.3
65.2 71.2

26.0
38.4
18.2
24.1
60.0

24.3
32.9
14.9
20.8
59.5

27.3
37.4
17.3
23.2
75.0

27.8
26.6 25.5 26.1
37.8 2Ì.5 31.9 35.8 36.4
17.3 13.9 14.9 16.6 16.6
21.6
20.1 21.3 21.1
58.7 3Ì.Ò 53.4 60.3 50.5

30.7
35.6
20.3
24.9
54.2

30.3
38.3
21.4
26.7
66.5

31.2
28.0
37.9 21. Ò 30.1
20.9 14.8 16.8
26.7
21.0
60.9 32.5 48.3

42.7 45.0 44.4 42.4 22.2 36.8 37.8 36.1
8.4 8.4 8.5 8.5 5.6 8.6 8.3 8.3
5.4 5.2 4.8 4.9 2.9 4.7 4.3 4.3
4.5 7.1 6.5 6.4 2.5 3.7 3.6 3.7
8.6 9.0 8.4 8.3
7.6 7.8 7.8

40.0
9.6
5.6
4.2
7.3

40.0
9.7
5.4
3.9
6.9

33.1 23.8 41.2 37.0 37.0
9.7 6.2 9.5 9.5 9.5
5.3 3.7 6.0 5.9 6.0
3.8 2.3 2.9 3.0 3.0
6.7
9.5 9.5 9.5

9.3 9.2
24.9 25.2
21.7 21.8
9.0 9.1
10.7 11.2

12.1
30.3
22.8
9.4
8.9

11.9
28.8
22.2
9.8
9.5

11.9
28.8
22.2
9.6
10.3

10.8
25.3
20.2
5.5 6.6
9.5

2.7 1.7 1.7
11.4 5.1 5.2
4.9 2.6 3.6
11.2 11.2 11.1
15.2 14.6 14.6

1.8
10.4
6.3
19.4
18.0

1.2
3.7
3.1
17.9
15.7

1.2
4.1
3.8
17.7
15.7

2.0

16.6
8.4
78.3
45.8

15.1
9.7
80.0
45.0

15.1
11.8 10.5 10.8
10.3 5.0 6.0 7.8 7.9
80.0 50.0 74.6 71.4 70.7
45.0 26.0 31.5 32.6 32.7

25.2 42.8
5.9
8.5
3.7
5.8
3. Ö 4.9
8.5

9.2

C ts .

20. S
18.3
17.0
14.7
10.7

45.6
8.4
5.5
4.5
8.4

10.9
26.1
24.0
10.4
8.1

10.0 9.8 10.2 9.5 9.6
25.0 25.2 25.3 24.0 24.4
23.1 23.6 24.2 23.7 23.8
11.0 10.6 9.4 10.4 10.4
10.5 10.5 8.9 11.4 11.4

9.7
25. 6
22.5
9.3 9.1
8.0

3.2
11.4
7.0
14.7
19.0

2.2
6.1
5.0
14.5
18.6

2.4
6.5
6.8
14.2
19.0

3.3 2.2 2.3
11.1 5.1 5.7
6.5 4.3 4.6
11.9 12.0 12.2
18.5 18.4 18.9

1.4

21.6
13.4
6.0
68.1
41.6

21.4
14.1
8.2
68.4
42.8

21.4
12.8
8.7
69.0
42.8

19.9
12.9
6.0
57.0
34.6

20. 5
12.6
7.9
57.1
34.6

21.3
17 1
12.9
13.1
8.1 5.3 6.0
57.0 45.0 58.4
35.3 29.3 33.3

13.0 13.2
8.0 8.6
61.2 61.2
34.9 35.3

19.7
23.0
45.6
50.8

21.4
18.4
53.3
53.6

20.6
18.0
53.3
53.3

18.9
25.0
35.0
50.8

19.9
18.3
36.7
47.7

19.7
18.1
36.7
48.7

18.9
17.6
46.8
51.5

18.7
22.1
44.4
54.7

8 Per pound.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[725 ]

19.0 19.5 20.6 20.4
17.5 27.9 20.8 21.2
46.5 215.3 2 15.3 2 15.5
51.2 51.2 42.7 40.8 .......

28.0
36.0
18.6
20.6
52.4

10.0
25.0
20.5
6.3
11.5

28.0
36.6
18.8
20.7
43.4

10.0
25.0
20.5
6.3
12.0

3.9 2.7 2.6
12.3 5.2 5.5
5.4 3.8 3.8
11.6 11.6 11.5
14.7 14.6 14.6

18.9
24.9
36.5
37.3

19.8
18.5
38.1
30.8

19.8
18.6
36.9
33.3

34

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
T able 5.—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL

Chicago, 111.

Cincinnati, Ohio.

Cleveland, Ohio.

Article.

Unit.

C ts.

C ts.

C ts.

Sirloin steak....................
Round steak...................
Rib roast.........................
Chuck roast..... ..............
Plate beef........................

20.9
18.6
18. 1
13.9

34.3
27.2
28. 1
18.2
11.0 11.5

38.1
29.3
29.3
19.4
12.3

C ts.

C ts.

C ts .

Pound.........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... d o .____

37.6
28.9
29.2
18.8

21.3
19.1
18.6
13.9

30.7
27.0
26.1
16.5
12.0 11.6 13.7

33.0
29.5
27.1
17.7
14.2

33.2
29.9
27.5
17.7
14.3

22.3
18.8
18.0
14.7

Pork chops......................
Bacon, sliced...................
Ham, sliced..... ...............
Lamb, leg of................ .
Hens................................

....... do..........
....... do..........
.....d o ..........
....... do..........
....... do..........

16.3
29.0
29.5
19.1
19.4

26.9
44.5
47.4
35.8
35.5

25.6
44.4
46.4
34.0
31.1

24.8
44.3
46. 6
34.2
34.0

19.2
24.0
26.0
16.6

27.3
34.0
45.0
34.3
34.0

27.0
33.5
45.4
34.2
36.7

18.3
24.3
32.0
18.7

Salmon, canned, red___
Milk, fresh....... ...............
Milk, evaporated............
Butter.. f ........................
Oleomargarine................

__ do..........
33.3
Quart.......... 8.0 12.0
15-16-oz. can
10.7
Pound......... 39.9 42.8
....... do..........
24.1

32.2
13.0
11. 2
58.3
25. 2

Nut margarine................
Cheese..............................
Lard.................................
Vegetable lard substitute
Eggs, strictly fresh.........

....... do..........
23.7 24.0 24.5
....... do.......... 25.0 35.0 39. 8 40. 4 21. 6
....... do.......... 14.7 15.2 17. 0 16. 4 13.7
....... do..........
21.9 22.8 23.0
Dozen.......... 27.3 48. 4 56. 5 45. 8 27.6

Eggs, storage...................
Bread...............................
Flour...............................
Corn meal........................
Rolled oats......................

....... do.......... 22.6 37.7 38.5 35.2 19.0
Pound......... 6.1 8.9 9. 7 9. 7 4.8
. ....d o ......... 2.8 4.7 4.2 4.2 3.4
....... do.......... 2.9 5.1 5.4 5.4 2.5
....... do..........
8.2 8.1 8.2

Corn flakes.......................
Wheat cereal..................
Macaroni..........................
Rice.................................
Beans, navy....................

8-oz. pkg__
28-oz. p k g...
Pound.........
....... do..........
....... do..........

10.0 9.6 9.6
25.5 23.9 24.2
18.5 18.0 18.1
9.0 9.8 10.1 10.1
8.0 11.2 11.4

9.9
25.3
18.0
8.8 8. 8
7.1

9.4
23. 8
16.5
89
10. 5

Potatoes..........................
Onions.............................
Cabbage...........................
Beans, baked..................
Corn, canned...................

....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
No. 2 c a n .. .
....... do..........

1.2

1.4

3.4

2.0

Peas, canned...................
Tomatoes, canned..........
Sugar, granulated...........
Tea...................................
Coffee...............................

....... do..........
15.6
....... do..........
13.7
Pound......... 5.Ò 5.9
....... do___ __ 53.3 64. 4
....... do.......... 30.0 34. 4

15.9
13.5
7.7
69.2
36.2

17.2
12.9
8.2 5.2 6.3
70. 0 60. 0 71. 9
37.6 25.6 30.7

16.3 16.4
12.4 12.4
8.0 8.5 5.5
68.1 70.1 50. 0
32.0 32.2 26.5

17.7
13.6
6.4
63. 7
35.7

17.1 17.3
13.6 13.7
8.2 8.5
69.3 69.1
39. 8 40. 2

Prunes.............................
Raisins............................
Bananas..........................
Oranges............................

....... do..........
....... do..........
Dozen..........
....... do..........

20.7
19.4
38.1
51.8

19.2
37.8
51.8

20.1

19.9
18. 7
38. 2
42.3

17.3
23.1
45. 8
48.5

19.7
19.1
48.5
49.7

Feb 15—

Feb. 1 5 Feb 15—
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922
1913 1922
C ts .

C ts.

3.0
9.6

1.9
4. 8
5.0
12.5 13.0
14.6 14.3
6.0

19.4
25.5
35.7
49.7

C ts.

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

27.4
35.8
44.9
33.6
20.6 36.9

28.4
40.1
46.2
34.1
36. 3

28.2
39.9
46.0
33.6
37. i

32. 2
29.1 27.9 27.9
31.8
13.0 8.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 8.8 11.0
11.4
10.4 11. 5 11.6
10. 6
56.4 42.3 43.5 59.0 56.8 43.6 48.8
25.6
28.2 29.6 29.7
28.3

29. 4
14.0
11. 7
61.6
29. 6

29 4
14.0
11. 7
60.2
29 4

26.6
32. 5
16. 2
21.5
50.3

27.4
36. 4
17 9
23.5
Gl. 2

27 5
36 3
17 8
23.7
47 6

37.0
5. 5 8. 0
3. 2 5.1
2.8 3.5
8.3

41.6
7. 9
4. 7
3.8
8. 6

37.8
79
4.7
3.8
85

9. 4
10.7 9.9
23.3
25.3 24. 7
16.0
19. 6 21.1
8.9 8.5 8. 9 9 0
10.8
7.4 10. 2

21.1

1.9
5.0
5. 6
13.0
14.4

28.2
31.0
47.4
33.8
22.6 37.5

27.1
34.3
14.0
20.7
41.9

27.4
38. 0
15. 6
22.3
51.3

36.6
8. 4
4. 6
2.8 2.9
8. 5 8. 7

8. 5

5.0

10.8

5. 2
3. 8
11.0 11.5
15.6 14.0
5. 3

15.8
13.6

19.2
22.4
37. 5
42.6

30.2 34.2 33.7
24.9 28.0 28.0
22.6 24.6 25.3
17.6 19.3 19.3
10.6 11.3 11.3 11.0

27.6
38. 4 23. 0
15. 4 15.8
23.3
39. 2 31. 8
29.0
8. 5
4. 5
3.0
8. 7

1.9
5.1
4. 4

1.4

11.6

14.1

19.9
18.3
38.1
41.3

99
24.4
90

11. 2

3.3 2.1 2.2
10.6 4. 7 4. 8
6.0 3. 9 4JS
12.0 12. 7 12.7

16. 5 16.1 15.9

19.3
18. 8
48.9
49.7

1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ rump” in this city, but in most of the cities
included in this report it would be known as “ porterhouse” steak.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[726 ]

35

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD,
ARTICLES OF FOOD IN 51 CITIES, ON SPECIFIED DATES—Continued.
Columbus,
Ohio.

Dallas, Tex.

Denver, Colo.

Detroit, Mich.

Fall River, Mass.

Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Feb. Jan. Feb
Jan. Feb.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
15,
!5,
1922. 1923. 1923 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.
C ts .

C ts.

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

19-6
18.3
17.6
15.4
11.8

33.7
30.8
26.5
21.2
14.6

33.7
30.8
26.5
20.5
14.5

28.5
23.4
22.1
15.9
9.8

28.6
23.7
21.1
16.3
9.6

29.0
23.5
21.1
16.2
9.7

22.8
18.2
18.2
14.5
10-3

C ts .

33.7
29.2
25.6
19-4
12.8

22.5
18.4
15.9
14.5
9.1

C ts .

34.4
29.6
26.1
19.8
13-5

33.0
29.5
25.6
19.7
15.8

C ts .

31.3
26.2
24.8
18.4
12.5

32.5
25.2
24.7
17.7
11.1

35.0
27.5
25-5
18.3
11.9

35.7 131.0
27.5 24.0
26.0 22.6
18.7 17.0
11.7

25.5
33.5
45.5
34.0
35.0

27.6
36.6
44.5
36.9
32.0

26.3
38.3
45.3
34.7
33.0

20-4
36.0
28-8
20.5
18.7

32.5
42.6
54.2
37.5
31.1

29.7
40.4
50.0
40.0
29.1

27.5
39.7
50.0
44.2
30.8

16.5
26.3
27.0
15.5
20.0

26.5
41.7
52.5
31.4
30.3

27.2
42.6
49.2
33.9
28.4

26.6
42.5
48-8
34.7
29-3

16.8
22.4
24.0
16.7
20.0

29.5
37.4
53.5
36.9
36.7

28.6
39.6
47.4
37.2
34.6

28.0
39.8
48.6
36.9
36.3

27.3
37.4
46.8
36.9
43.8

28.4
38.7
47.0
38.6
43.2

27.5
38.1
46.8
38.1
42.2

32.9
11.0
11.0
44.6
25-3

31.6
12.0
11.9
58.6
27.2

31.6
32.5 31.1 31-6
36.5
12.0 10.0 12.0 15.0 15.0 8.4 9.8
12.1
13.8 13.3 13.5
11.5
57.1 39.0 45.2 55.5 56.5 40.0 37.2
28.7
27.8
29.8
27.5
27.6

33.8
11.8
11.6
54.2
28.2

33.2
31.2
11.8 8-8 13.0
11.7
10.9
53.1 40.4 44.4
28.0
26.6

30.0
14.0
11.8
60.5
28.1

30.4
32.7
14.0 9.0 14.0
13.4
11.6
58.3 38.4 44.4
28.6
28.7

30.5
14.0
13.1
56.3
30.7

31.1
14.0
13.6
56.8
30.0

25.0
30.4
13.7
21.6
39.7

25.6
36.8
15.3
22.1
54.0

30.3
26.1
36.9 20. Ò 33.8
15.2 16.0 19.0
20.4
22.4
41.5 26.3 44.6

26.9
37.5
17.2
23.0
62.2

27.2
30.0
37.0 23.6 33.8
17.1 14.8 15.2
23.4
21.8
48.5 37.7 66.4

29.0
37.4
16.8
23.0
83.8

27.7
37.6
16.7
2.3.0
68.3

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

29.6
37.1
20.4
29.8
44.5

C ts .

C ts.

28.2 28.0 28.3
29.4
36.9 26.1 35.4 38.7 38.9 21.3
20.6 16.3 17.7 19.1 19-3 15.9
20.8
23.6 21.9 21.9
41.2 29-Ö 43.5 49.0 42.3 31.2

25.9
31.3
15.7
20.5
50.7

C ts .

17.7
24.8
28.7
19.0
24.8

15.9
13.8
6.5
77.4
35.1

15.1
13.5
8.2
76.7
36.5

35.0 38.7 32.5 24.8 39.5 40.2 37.0 25.0
9.1 9.0 8.9 5.3 8.2 8.2 8.2 5.6 8.6 8.6 8.6 6.2
4.8 4.8 4.7 2.7 4.0 3.8 3.9 3.2 4.8 4.4 4.4 3.3
3.3 3.6 3.5 2.5 2.9 3.4 3.2 2.7 4.0 4.4 4.3 3.4
9.7 9.0 8.9 .......
10.5 10.6 10.4 ....... 9.3 8.9 8.8
9. 7 9.1 9.1
10.6 9.9 9-9
11.1 10.8 10.8
10.1
25.8 24.1 24.0
24.4
26.6 26.5 25.9
25.8 25.1 24.7
19.2 19.1 19.0
21.0 20.5 20.8
19.0
21.3 21.5 21.8
10.4 9.3 11.0 10.2 9.9 8.6 9.3 9.5 9.4 8.4 9.1 9.9 9.6 10.0
7.2 10.5 10.9
9.1 11.5 11.9
11.0 ....... 9.6 11.2 11.6
1.9 2.0 4.4 3.3 3.3 1.1 2.7 1.7 1.5 1.3 2.6 1.3 1.3 1.8
10.3 4.7 4.9
11.0 6.8 7.2
11.5 3.7 3.8
5.9
5.2 2.4 3.3
6.3 3.9 4.6
5.8 5.1 5.4
5.1
11.7 12.1 12.3
14.9 14.3 14.4
13.2
15.9 14.3 14.8
15.0 14.6 14.4 ....... 14.8 15.2 15.0
12-5 ..... 16.9 17.3 17.0
17.7 16.2 16.2
16.5 17.1 16.8
21.8 21.4 21.1
14.5
13.4 12.9 13.1
12.2 13.1 12-9
14.3 13.8 13.9
13.1
8.8 5.9 6.6 9.0 9.5 5.4 7.1 8.9 9.3 5.1 6.1 8.0 8.6 5.3
76.7 66.7 88.9 91.4 92.7 52.8 69.8 68.3 68.3 43.3 60.4 66.5 66.5 44.2
36.6 36.7 40.4 42.0 42.7 29.4 34.9 36.4 35-9 29-3 35.3 37.8 38.0 33.0

19-5
24.4
37.7
46.2

21.3
19.1
39.1
43.5

20.8
18.5
41.8
45.6

7.9
4.8
3.1
8.8
9.5
25.9
19.7
10.4
7.7

37.6 35.0
7.9 7.7
4.6 4.6
3.2 3.0
9.9 9.0
9.8
24.8
19.6
10.0
10.7

3.2 1.8
11.9 5.5
6.3 4.4
13.1 13.4
13.1 12.6

5.6
3.3
2.6

21.6
26.1
34.4
57.3

a Per pound.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

23.3
19.8
33.6
51.9

23.3
19.8
34.2
51.2 .......

19.9 21.1 21.1
25.3 20.0 19.7
213.4 2 13.8 213.8
49.2 48.7 51.0

18.8
23.4
32. 1
47.9

20.3
17.9
33.7
50.8

19.8
17.4
34.4
50.3

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

>51.6 155.9 155.8
39.5 41.5 41.8
26.4 27.3 27.2
19.5 20.2 20.1
12.2 12.5 11.5

42.6
9.7
5.1
6.4
10.2

45.1 43.1
9.1 9.1
5.1 5.0
6.0 5.8
9.6 9.7

11.8
27.2
23.7
9.6
8.2

10.0
27.5
24.0
9.9
10.9

3.4
11.8
7-8
13.7
16.6

2.3 2.3
6.1 5.8
5.3 6.6
13.1 13.4
16.6 16.3

18.2
13.6
6.5
53.9
39.1

18.2
13.2
8.4
57.2
38.4

9.9
27.7
24.0
10 3
10.8T

18.2
13.1
8.8
57.2
39.2

18.5 18.3 18.4
25.4 19.3 19.3
2 10.4 2 10.9 210. 7
45.3 47.9 50.9

86

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
T able 5 .—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL

Houston, Tex.

Indianapolis, Ind.

Jacksonville, Fla.

Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Feb. Jan. Feb.
15, 15,
15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.

Artielfi.

Unit.

C ts .

C ts .

Sirloin steak..............................
Round steak.............................
Rib roast...................................
Chuck roast..............................
Plate beef.................................

Pound.........
....... do...........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........

30.4
30.0
23.2
20.4
15.7

30.3
29.2
24.7
20.3
15.5

30.0
29.2
24.2
19.9
15.9

Pork chops...............................
Bacon, sliced............................
Ham, sliced..............................
Lamb, leg of.............................
Hens__ ~ .................., .............

....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do__ .
....... do..........
....... do..........

29.6
48.4
48.9
35.0
31.0

27.2
46.2
46.2
34.3
32.3

27.4
45.9
46.2
35.0
34.5

Salmon, canned, red................
Milk, fresh................................
Milk, evaporated.....................
Butter.......................................
Oleomargarine................. .......

....... do..........
Quart...........
15-16-oz. can.
Pound.........
....... do..........

32.2
16.5
12.3
42.9
29.6

Nut margarine.........................
Cheese.. T..................................
Lard............................ .............
Vegetable lard substitute.......
Eggs, strictly............................

__ do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
Dozen..........

27.8
31.1
16.8
22.2
40.2

Eggs, storage..........................
Bread......................................
Flour.........................................
Corn meal.................................
Rolled oats.............................

__ do.......... 32.5 34.2 33.3 24.0
Pound......... 7.0 7.2 7.2 5.1
....... do.......... 5.1 5.1 5.1 3.2
....... do.......... 3.5 3.7 3.6 2.6
....... do.......... 9.3 9.0 8.9

Corn flakes................................
Wheat cereal............................
Macaroni...................................
Rice...........................................
Beans, navy................ .............

8-oz. pkg__ 10.5 9.7 9.7
28-oz Lpkg__ 25.2 24.5 24.3
Pound......... 20.3 20.4 20.2
....... do.......... 7.8 7.8 7.8
....... do.......... 9.0 10.4 10.3

9.8
26.5
19.1
9.2 9.6
7.8

P o t a t o e s ...............................
Onions......................................
Cabbage....................................
Beans,“baked............................
Corn, canned..........................

....... do.......... 4.1 3.4 3.5
____ do__ __ 10.2 5.6 5.8
....... do.......... 4.9 4.6 4.1
No. 2 can__ 13.8 13.6 13.6
....... d o ....... 13.9 13.8 13.9

1.3

Peas, canned................... .......
Tomatoes, canned...................
Sugar, granulated....................
Tea............................................
Cofiee........................................

....... do..........
....... do...........
Pound.........
. . . . .do..........
....... do..........

18.3
13.1
6.1
71. £
30.8

19.4
12.1
8.0
70.2
32.7

15.7 15.4
19.0
11.9
14.3 13.8
8.9 5.9 6.6 8.7
69. 8 60. 0 75.7 76.1
34.4 31.3 36.6 37.9

15.2
18.8
13.9
13.1
9.1 6.1' 6.7
77.5 60.0 89.8
38.5 34.5 38.2

16.0
10.9
8.3
84.0
40.1

16.0
11.6
8.4
84.4
40.1

Primes......................................
Raisins.............. .......................
Bananas....................................
Oranges.....................................

....... do__ __
....... do..........
Dozen........
....... do..........

19.3
24.7
29.1
47.7

20.4
19.4
28.1
45.2

20.1
19.1
28.6
45.2

21.1
19.6
30.3
44.9

21.2
20.2
24.3
29.5

21.1
20.3
26.3
30.9

C ts .

C ts.

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C is .

C ts .

C ts.

C ts .

33.5
27.8
24.8
17.1
11.3

33.6
27.3
25.7
17.5
11.5

29.5
37.3
43.0
35.5
34.1

28.6
36.1
44.1
35.8
33.9

23.5
20.8
16.5
14.6
11.2

32.6
30.8
23.5
20.2
14.1

34.4
32.2
24.6
21.1
14.1

34.4
32.8
24.7
20.9
14.0

25.8
20.3
22.5
14.3
10.3

33.1
28.0
25.8
17.0
9.9

18.0
28.0
29.5
17.7
21.0

28.1
36.3
49.7
37.9
34.6

27.0
3S. 1
47.8
40.0
31.5

27.6
37.1
48.8
40.0
32.4

23.0
25.6
26.3
19.5
22.0

29.5
35.9
47.7
38.3
35.4

30.7
15.8
12.8
56.3
33.0

31.0
39.5
15.8 8.0 11.0
12.9
10.9
53.9 41.8 44.4
28.2
32.5

36.1
12.0
11.6
57.8
28.9

36.1
32.0 30.5 30.5
12.0 12.5 17.7 17.7 17.7
12.7 12.5 12.6
11.6
55.5 43.8 47.9 59.3 58.9
28.9
27.7 29.2 29.1

29.5
36.5
19.0
19.2
40.9

29.0
27.5 26.3 26.5
33.3 29.0 28.7
36.8 21.0 33.6 38.6 38.5 22.5 31.6 37.0 36.3
18.9 15.0 13.9 14.7 14.7 15.3 16.1 17.4 17.8
18.6
21.0 23.3 23.4
21.5 21.4 21.0
36.5 29.0 39.3 50.0 40.3 32.5 48. C 53.8 41.2
8.6
4.8
2.8
7.9

35.0 34.0
8.4 8.4
4.7 4.7
3.0 3.1
7.8 7.8
9.1
25.1
18.6
10.2
11.4

9.2
24.9
18.5
10.1
11.4

2.9 1.5 1.4
11.0 4.9 4.9
5.7 4.1 4.2
13.4 13.3 13.8
14.9 13.2 13.1

20.1
26.8
30.0
45. S

'21.1
19.8
30.3
44.2

3.7
2.8

40.0 40.7
10.4 10.6 10.6
6.1 5.7 5.7
3.0 3.1 3.2
10.6 9.5 9.8

11.4 9.7 9.9
27.4 23.8 23.8
19.6 19.6 19.6
6.6 9.1 8.8 9.0
9.6 11.4 11.3
2.2

4.0 2.9 2.9
11.7 6.1 6.5
4.4 4.8 4.9
12.6 12.2 11.7
17.5 16.1 16.1

18.6
25.3
28. 3
34.0

1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin’' in this city, but in most of the other cities
included in this report it would be known as “ porterhouse” steak.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[728]

37

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD.
ARTICLES OF FOOD IN 51 CITIES, ON SPECIFIED DATES—Continued.
Kansas City. Mo.

Little Rock, Ark.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Louisville, Ky.

Manchester, N. H.

Feb. 15—

Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Feb. 1 5 Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.
C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C t s ■ C ts .

C ts .

29.5
26.8
22.8
17.0
13.4

32.8
27.8
27.7
18.4
13.2

C ts . C ts . Cts.
32.4 20.1 29.5
26.9 18.0 27.1
28.2 17.1 22.1
18.0 13.3 17.5
13.2 11.4 13.1

29.8
27.6
23.2
16.9
13.3

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

32.0 22.8
29.4 20.4
26.4 18.6
18.8 16.0
14.0 12.4

33.6
27.2
28.2
17.7
13.3

C ts .

32.3
29.7
26.8
19.5
14.1

30.0 134.0 149.9 150.8 151.8
27.0 27.6 41.5 41.4 42.1
23.7 18.4 25.8 25.6 25.9
17.4 15.8 20.0 20.7 20.7
13.4
15.4 14.7 14.6

C ts .

24.9 19.0
41.2 34.0
45.0 28.8
31.5 18.8
31.4 17.6

28.9
40.3
48.1
35.9
29.0

30.0
41.5
45.9
35.6
29.2

29.4 24.4
40.9 33.8
46.9 35.0
36.1 19.2
30.9 28.3

37.7
50.1
58.5
31.2
44.6

37.1
50.8
58.8
33.7
40.1

35.8 17.4 25.1
48.7 26.6 31.8
58.7 26.1 42.4
33.0 17.6 36.3
40.5 21.5 34.6

22.5
34.1
40.1
34.3
32.0

22.3
34.3
41.3
34.3
33.8

18.2
22.2
27.2
17.8
23.0

26.5
31.9
43.4
35.3
44.3

27.6
34.5
39.7
35.5
42.1

27.5
34.1
40.2
26.4
42.0

32.0 __
13.3 1Ó.Ò
12.6
58.4 45. Ó
26.9

33.2
13.3
12.6
46.6
31.0

30.8
15.7
13.2
57.7
30.6

31.4
15.7 ÎÔ.Ô
13.1
55.7 43.5
30.6

44.1
14.0
10.3
55.4
31.3

38.9
15.0
10.8
60.3
31.1

37.8
30.0
15.0 8.8 9.0
12.1
10.8
57.1 43.2 46.1
31.9 . . . . 27.8

29.6
13.0
12.1
59.4
27.8

32.0
28.8
12.0 8.0 13.0
12.0
13. 5
55.7 41.8 48.9
29.1
28.4

29.4
13.0
13.7
61.7
27.5

29.8
13.0
13.6
61.1
28.5

27.3
38.1 21.7
17.5 15.0
21.8
40.0 25.0

29.6
33.4
17.8
21.7
38.2

28.7
38.8
19.6
19.7
47.6

28.8
39.2 19.5
19.5 17.9
20.1
40.7 26.0

28.7
36.4
17.0
21.7
38.4

28.8
38.1
19.7
22.8
51.1

29.0
27.3
38.5 20.8 30.5
19.3 15.2 14.2
22.7
22. 8
38.4 25.0 39.8

26.5
37.3
14.6
22.7
47.1

25.4 22.7 22.0
26.8
37.4 21.3 33.4 37.6 38.0
14.4 16.0 16.2 17.3 17.4
23 1
21 9 20.1 20.6
36.0 34.6 59.9 67.7 55.6

C ts .

C ts .

21.9
20.0
16.7
13.8
10.5

33.6
28.0
23.3
16.7
11.2

34.7
28.8
23.7
17.1
10.5

34.7 23.8
28.8 19.4
23.7 18.4
17.2 15.0
10.5 12.0

17.3
28.4
27.5
16.3
16.1

25.7
42.6
50.9
31.5
31.6

25.3
41.2
44.8
31.8
29.2

32.7
8.7 14.0
12.0
41.5 44.1
....... 28.4

32.3
13.3
12.5
60.0
26.9

28.2 27.0
21.5 34.2 37.6
16.1 16.5 17.4
23.7 21.9
25.4 41.5 46.6

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

17.0 40.0 37.0 35.0
45.0 40.0
35.0
5.9 6.4 8.2 8.2 6.Ò 8.4 8.2 8.2 6.2 9.0 8.8
3.0 4.7 4.6 4.6 3.6 5.5 5.3 5.3 3.6 4.7 4.9
2.6 4.7 4.5 4.4 2.4 2.7 3.0 3.0 3.4 3.9 4.7
8.3 8.4 8.4
10.2 10.5 10.3 . . . . 9.7 10.4

C ts .

20.1 31.0 35.0 27.0 25.0 44. S
8.4 8.4 5.9 8.0
8 . 8 5.7 8.6
4.8 3.6 5.4 5.4 5.5 3.4 5.4
4.2 2.2 2.1 2.8 2.9 3.6 5.0
9.5
8.5 8.4 8.4
8.6

43.2 41.2
8.4 8.4
5.2 5.2
4.7 4.6
8.6 8.8

10.1 9.9 9 9
10.0 9.8 9.8
10 4 9.7 9,6
9.8 9.2 9.3
26.9 26.1 25.6
26.8 25.6 25.6
25.3 23.6 23.4
25.1 24.6 23.9
22.0 21.0 20.7
22.1 21.5 21.5
17.2 15.6 15.8
18.6 16.6 16.4
8.7 8.9 9.1 9.5 8.3 8.2 8.1 8.2 7.7 9.6 10.0 9.6 8.1 8.8 8.5 8.2
8.7 11.3 11.6
8.7 12.5 12.3
7.4 10.2 10.5
8.3 9.5 9.6

10.2 9.6 9.7
26.9 26.0 25.3
25.5 24.5 24.9
8.5 8.8 8.8 8.9
7.8 10.9 11.1

1.4

1.4

3.1 2.1 2.1 1.7 3.5 2.4 2.4 1.0 3.4 2.4 2.2 1.5 2.6 1.6 1,6
11.2 5.3 5.5
11.5 5.9 5.9
10.2 5.8 5.8
11.1 5.1 5.4
5.7 3.9 5.1
3.6 3.6 3.8
5.8 5.3 5.9
5.9 4.4 5.2
13.6 14.4 14.4
13.4 13.3 13.6
14.6 13.3 13.1
12.5 11.7 11.7
13.3 13.6 13.8
16.0 15.9 15.7
18.2 16.3 16.4
15.8 13.9 13.9

14.5 15.2
14.1 13.3
5.6 6.7 8.7
54.0 76.8 80.0
27.8 35.9 38.2

__

_

15.5
13.3
9.4 5.5
80.0 50.0
38.9 30.8

19.5 20.6 20.7
28.3 21.1 20.8
<11.5 412.9 413. 0
53.2 46.3 48.4

19.4
14.3
7.2
90.2
38.9

18.4
12.8
9.2
91.8
40.5

18.2
19.4 19.0 18.7
17.0
n s. 6 215.7 215.4
12.9
13.3
9.4 5.4 6.3 8.4 9.3 5.2 6.5
91.8 54.5 66.6 70.2 69.5 60.0 77.6
41.2 36.3 36.7 39.8 39.0 27.5 33.5

15.4
11.0
8.1
71.0
35.3

15.4
22.2 20.5 20.6
11.2
319.5 319.4 320.1
8.6 5.4 6.5 8.6 9.0
71.0 45.0 57.2 56.4 56.4
35.1 32.0 38.5 38.8 39.0

19.4
25.2
35.5
41.5

20.4
19.1
37.1
38.0

20.1
18.5
38.6
40.0

21.0 20.4 21.0
25.0 20.7 20.7
49.0 410.1 410.1
49.6 50.4 50.8

sNo. 2Jcan.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3.1 1.9 2.1
11.2 4.9 5.2
6.2 4.1 4.3
15.7 14.6 14.9
18.9 17.6 17.5

17.1 20.0 19.6
25.0 18.3 17.9
410.9 411. 3 411.3
36.2 38.2 34.1
3 No. 3 can.

[ 729 ]

4 Per pound.

19.5 19.6 19.1
24.1 18.5 18.4
4 9.9 410. 4 410.4
53.3 50.1 51.0

38

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
T able 5 .—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL

Memphis, Tenn.

Minneapolis, Minn.

Milwaukee, Wis.

Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922
1913 1922
Feb. 15—

Article.

Unit.

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

Sirloin steak......... ..........
Round steak...................
Rib roast.........................
Chuck roast.....................
Plate beef.......................

Pound.........
....... do...........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........

20.0
16.8
18.2
13.9
10.2

27.5
24.2
22.3
15.4
11.9

30.2
26.4
22.4
16.4
12.2

30.1
26.3
22.6
17.0
12.7

20.5
18.5
17.3
15.0
10.8

33.6
29.5
26.0
20.7
13.0

35.8
31.2
26.2
20.5
12.5

35.5
31.1
26.4
21.3
12.4

20.0
18.0
17.7
14.5
8.7

27.8
24.6
22.1
16.3
9.2

29.9
25. 1
23.4
18.1
9.5

30.2
24.9
24.0
18.4
9.4

Pork chops......................
Bacon, sliced...................
Ham, sliced.....................
Lamb, leg of...................
Hens.................................

....... do..........
....... do...........
....... do..........
....... do...........
....... do__ ...

18.6
29.1
26.4
20.4
19.6

23.8
36.1
45.4
35.1
31.9

23.2
38. 2
45.4
35.5
29.0

22.5
37.3
44.6
35.3
30.4

15.3
26.3
26.8
19.5
18.8

27.3
39.6
44.7
38.2
34.7

27.8
40.4
43.5
36.6
30.9

26.8
40.6
44.0
36.1
32.7

16.8
25.0
27.5
15.0
19.0

26.4
40.7
46.6
31.7
32.9

27.2
42.6
45.8
33.2
29.2

26.9
42.5
45.6
33.0
31.4

Salmon, canned, red___
Milk, fresh.......................
Milk, evaporated............
Butter.............................
Oleomargarine................

33.1
40.0 36.1 37.2
....... do...........
Quart.......... 16.6 15.0 15.0 15.0 7.0 9.0
13.1 11.9 12.4
11.1
15-16-oz. can.
Pound......... 42. i 42.9 55.5 55.3 40.2 43.4
29.9 30.0 28.3
25.0
....... do..........

32.9
10.0
11.3
57.6
26.6

32.9
10.0 7.0
11.4
56.0 39. i
26.7

38.5
10.0
11.7
40.3
26.8

36.9
11.0
12.5
55.6
26.4

37.4
11.0
12.5
54.2
26.4

Nut margarine................
Cheese..“ ........................
Lard.................................
Vegetable lard substitute
Eggs, strictly fresh.........

24.9
....... do..........
28.7 26.2 24.6
....... do........... 20.0 30.6 37.4 36.8 22.7 30.0
....... do.......... 15.2 15.3 15.7 15.7 15.1 16. 0
20.8 20.3 21.7
21.3
....... do...........
Dozen.......... 29.3 44.4 49.5 40.2 29.0 44.5

25.2
35.9
17.1
22.5
51.0

25.3
25.5
35.8 20.8 30.8
17.4 15.2 14. y
22.1
22.5
42.5 28.1 45.2

24.9
36.0
17. C
23.2
49.9

24.9
36.7
17.0
23.2
43.1

Eggs, storage...................
Bread...............................
Flour...............................
Corn meal........................
Rolled oats......................

....... do........... 20.0
Pound......... 6.0
....... do........... 3.6
....... do........... 2.1
....... do..........

8.4
5.1
3.8
7.9

33.6
9. C
4.6
4.0
8.7

29.5
9.0
4.7
3.8
8.5

Corn flakes.......................
Wheat, cereal..................
Macaroni..........................
Rice.................................
Beans, navy....................

8-oz. pkg__
28-oz. pkg__
Pound..“ . ..
....... do...........
....... do...........

10.1
25.2
17.9
8.6 9.3
8.6

10.2
25.0
17.6
9.3
10.3

10.2
24.9
17.6
9.7
11.2

Potatoes..........................
Onions.............................
Cabbage...........................
Beans, baked..................
Corn, canned...................

....... do.......... 1.6 3.6 2.5 2.5
....... do..........
11.1 5.C 4.8
....... do..........
4.5 4.2 4.7
No. 2 can .. .
14.5 13.3 13.0
....... do.......... ....... 14.8 14.3 14.5

Peas, canned-.. .
Tomatoes, canned..........
Sugar, granulated...........
Tea...................................
Coffee...............................

....... do...........
17.7
....... do...........
13. 1
Pound......... 5.5 6.7
....... do........... 63.8 86. t
....... do........... 27.5 37.6

17.6
12. 8
8.3
82. i
37.1

17.5
12.8
8.8 5.4
82. i 50. C
37.2 27.5

Prunes.............................
Raisins.............................
Bananas..........................
Oranges............................

....... do..........
....... do..........
Dozen..........
....... do..........

20.2
18.7
33.1
41.2

19.7
18.5
34.4
39.8

i Whole.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

C ts .

9.3
5.6
2.5
9.6

41.2 31.0 22.0 35.0 34.8 32.2 21.7
9.1 9.0 5.6 8.4 8.9 8.9 5.7
5.4 5.5 3.1 4.7 4.3 4.3 2.9
2.9 2.9 3.3 3.8 3.9 3.8 2.4
7.4 7.0 7.0
9.1 9.2

10.4 9.5 9.5
26.5 24.9 23.8
17.3 17.8 18.3
7.5 7.8 8.2 7.8
8.3 11.4 12.0

20. i
26.6
30.0
46.0

a No. 3 can.

[730]

9.6
25.2
17.7
9.0 9.6
7.7
1.2

9.2
24.3
17.9
10.1
11.0

9.1
24.0
17.5
10.0
11.5

2.8 1.4 1.4
10.6 4.8 5.3
5.9 2.5 3.8
11.4 11.7 11.7
14.9 15.0 15.2
15.1
14. 1
6.2
68.4
31.9

15.1
13.6
7.9
69.8
34.0

1.0

2.8 1.5 1.5
10.9 4.9 4.6
6.2 3.1 3.8
14.8 13.8 13, 8
14.1 13.6 13.6

15.3
13.4
8.2 5.6
70.2 45. C
34.1 30.8

15.7 15.8 15.8
14.8 14.6 14.9
6.6 8.4 9.3
63.1
65.5
40.1 41.3 41.3

18.9 20.9 22.1
19.5 19.9 20.4
25.4 18.5 18.2
24.9 19.4 19.2
311. 1312.7 312.5
310.1 310.4 310.3
51.4 49.0 49.2___ 52.1 52.5 49.7
3 Per

pound.

39

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD,
ARTICLES OE FOOD IN 51 CITIES, ON SPECIFIED DATES—Continued.
Mobile, Ala.

Newark, N. J.

New Havea, Conn.

New Orleans, La.

New York, N. Y.

Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Feb. Jan. Feb.
15, 15,
15,
15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15. 15, 15,
1922. 1923- 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.
C ts .

C ts.

C ts.

C ts.

C ts .

C ts.

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

41.4
38.5
33.4
21.6
12.3

44.6
36.3
32.0
21.0
13.4

48.5
39.8
33.9
24.7
14.2

48.1
39.3
33.3
24.5
14.7

19.5
17.5
18.8
13.8
10.8

29.4
26.8
26.3
18.5
16.0

C ts .

43.0
39.9
34.4
21.6
12.4

30.0
26.2
23.0
17.6

C ts-

37.6
36.8
31.7
20.3
11.7

32.3
28.5
27.6
20.6
16.8

31.0
28.1
26.7
19.8
16.3

24.7
23.1
21.1
15.1
14.0

38.8
37.2
34.0
20.9
18.1

40.5
38.6
35.1
21.5
17.9

39.9
38.3
34.7
21.2
17.8

19.6 29.2 30.2
22.0 33.6 37.9
118.6 130.1 127.0
20.8 37.8 38.3
21.8 37.5 37.8

29.9
37.8
127.1
37.2
37.9

18.4
26.2
30.0
18.8
22.2

27.6
39.5
51.5
35.4
40.9

29.4
41.5
52.7
37.3
40.0

27.6
41.0
51.3
36.8
39-2

20.1
29.5
26.0
20.1
20.7

30.6
39.5
46.0
39-1
36.7

32.0
41.6
43.0
39.7
36.2

30.8
41.1
42.3
39.4
39.3

19.8
23.1
27.8
16.5
20.4

32.3
36.1
52.6
35.0
36.8

32.2
38.6
49.8
34.9
35.9

31.7
37.7
47.2
34.9
36.6

36.1
28.5
16.0 9.Ó 15.0
11.3
11.9
59.1 38.7 44.2
28.6
29.6 —

32.9
15.0
12.2
56.4
30.8

37.3 37.8 37.7
32.5
15.0 ÌÒ.Ó 14.7 14.0 14.0 9-Ó
11.2 11.8 11.8
12.2
56.7 4Ì.8 46.8 59.5 58.8 41.5
27.8 30.4 30.2 . . . . .
31.0 —

30.3
15.0
10.4
45.8
27.2

28.9
16.0
11.7
60.9
28.6

28.3
15.0
11.8
58.0
28.7

27.0 28.0 28.0
25.5
26.1 27.7 27.3
28.1
26.0 26.0 25.9
39.0 24.5 33.5 38.2 38.8 22.0 33.1 37.4 38.6 22.0 31.8 37.7 37.2 20.0 33.1
18.0 15.7 15.3 17.0 16.6 14.7 15.3 17.0 17.0 14.7 14.5 16.7 16.9 15.7 16.0
20.0
22.5 23.1 23.2
19.8 21.6 21.7
20.2 22.2 22.3
18.0
37.8 43.0 58.5 68.4 57.1 38. Ö 61.1 75.4 62.1 29.1 44.2 49.5 39.7 38.0 58.0

24.8
36.6
17.4
23.2
64.2

25.1
37.5
17.8
23.2
55.0

C ts.

C ts .

C ts.

C ts.

28.9
28.6
25.5
19.0
15.8

30.8
29.6
26.5
19.7
15.8

30.8
29.8
26.0
19-8
15.4

31.1
41.5
44.6
32.8
37.3

35.0
41.0
45.4
36.1
36.0

35.0
41.0
44.6
34.4
35.5

31.9
15.0
11.9
49.4
29.3

30.0
15.0
12.9
61.1
30.5

29.0
30.0
15.0 9.0 17.0
10.6
12.9
60.4 44.0 45.6
28.6
30.7 —

29.1
31.4
16.5
21.9
40.8

28.1
39.9
17.8
18.8
50.0

25.2
24.8
19,6
16.8
11.6

29.7
17.5
11.9
62.4
29.2

C ts.

C ts.

C ts .

17.2
13.1
6.7
71.4
34.6

15.8
12.3
8.5
76.7
34.7

25.3 43.6 43.2 40.6 24.8 40.3 43.2 40.9 23.0
8.6 5.6 8.5 8.5 8.5 6.0 8.4 8.1 8.1 5.1
5.4 3.5 5.0 4.7 4.7 3.2 5.1 4.8 4.7 3.8
3.2 3.6 5.6 6.0 6.0 3.2 5.9 5.8 5.8 2.6
9.0 8.7 8.7 .......
7.3 8.3 8.1
8.9 —
9.9 9.5 9.5
9.2 8.9 8.9
9.3
25.4 24.4 24.4
25.9 25.2 24.8
23.8
22.1 22.2 22.3
21.6 21.5 21.4
20.2
8.4 9.0 8.5 8.7 9.1 9.3 9.1 10.0 9.7 7.4
8.0 10.7 11.4 .......
7.8 10.5 10.6
12.5
2.6 2.5 3.7 2.5 2.7 1.7 3.3 2.3 2.4 1.9
11.4 6.3 5.9
10.3 5.4 5.9
5.4
6.8 4.1 4.4
6.3 4.2 4.4
3.8
12.7 12.2 12.4
12.7
11.3 11.1 10.8
14.1
18.1
17.5 17.7 .......
15.5 14.8
14.8
21.4
21.5
20.9
16.6
17.9 16.8
15.8
2 22.7 2 21.4 2 21.8
11.8 11.6 12.0
12.4
5.2
6.0
8.1
8.3 5.3
7.7
7.8
5.6
8.9 5.3
76.4 53.8 49.8 51.2 51.2 55.0 54.7 58.0 57.6 62.1
26.4
38.0
38.9
39.6
34.8
33.8
32.6
33.3
37.3 29.3

16.7
25.3
25.9
45.0

20.6
19.7
26.7
43.5

19.7
20.2
27.1
38.2

30.0 43.0
8.4 8.6
5.2 5.3
3.0 3.2
10.2 8.9
10.2 9.3
25.9 23.8
20.0 20.2
8.4 8.5
9.0 11.7
3.6 2.9
11.4 5.2
3.9 3.6
13.2 12.5
16.3 14.8

16.6
21.1
40.0
53.4


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

18.0
17.2
37.5
48.5

17.8
16.4
35.7
49-4

17.9
23.6
34.6
49.9

19.5
18.1
33.1
49.1

[731 ]

19.4
18.0
32.7
50.5

C ts.

26.0 43.4
7.7 6.0 9.0
5.8 3.2 5.1
3.1 3.4 5.4
8.7 ....... 7.8
9.2
9.5
25.3
23.9
8.5 ....... 21.2
8.6 8.0 9.0
8.5
10.9

8.8 8.7
23.9 23.2
20.6 20.3
9-3 9.6
11.1 11.5

4.1 2.7 2.7 2.5 4.2
10.8
10.1 4.7 4.8
5.0 4.0 4.2 ....... 5.2
12.2
12.5 13.0 13.1
14.5
13.9 13.4 13.4 —

2.8 2.8
5.6 5.5
3.6 4.5
11.6 11.7
14.9 15.0

34.7 39.8
8.0 7.7
5.8 5.7
2.8 3.2
9.0 8.6
9.9 9.5
24.9 23.9
9.7 8.5
8.2 8.6
7.6 10.5

42.1 41.9
9.7 9.7
4.9 4.0
5.5 5.9
7.9 8.7

16.9
13.1
6.0
70.9
31.1

17.2
11.8
7.7
71.4
32.5

17.2 ..... 16.1
12.0 ...__ 12.2
8.4 4.9 5.4
71.7 43.3 49.8
33.0 27.5 31.7

16.5
11.0
7.7
51.1
33.3

16.5
11.2
8.0
52.0
35.4

18.3
25.4
20.0
46.3

20.3
18.8
23.0
47.3

20.2 •••••
19.0 . . . . .
23.0 .......
48.8 —

18.6
17.5
42.9
51.3

18.5
17.0
43.1
53.7

18.0
23.4
44.1
55.0

40

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 5 .—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL

Norfolk, Va-

Omaha, Nebr.

Peoria, 111.

Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
Feb. Jan. Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1922. 1923. 1923.

Article.

Unit.

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

Sirloin steak.....................
Round steak.....................
Rib roast............; .............
Chuek roast......................
Plate beef..........................

Pound.........
....... do..........
....... do.........*
....... do..........
....... d o.........

36.0
29.4
29.0
19. 8
13.2

36.3 36.3
30.4 29.6
29.3 29.2
19.0 18.7
13.4 13.8

23.0
19.2
16.7
13.5
9.5

32.0
27.3
24.1
18.7
10.4

33.8
29.6
24.9
18.8
10.7

33.2
29.3
24.6
18.9
9.8

Pork chops........ ..............
Bacon, sliced.....................
Ham, sliced......................
Lamb, leg of.....................
Hens..................................

....... do..........
.......do...........
.......do...........
....... do..........
....... d o .......

26.5
32.9
40. 0
37.5
37.2

28.3
36.4
40. 8
37.5
36.8

28.1
37.0
38.5
37.6
37.2

16.5
25.5
27.0
16.5
16.9

27.2
45.0
50.0
35.1
32.1

25.7
45.6
49.1
34.6
27.6

Salmon, canned, red........
Milk, fresh........................
Milk, evaporated..............
Butter...............................
Oleomargarine..................

__ do...........
Quart...........
15-16-oz.can.
Pound.........
....... do...........

30.4
17.0
11.1
46.5
28.6

29.8
17.0
11.3
58.5
28.3

29.7
17.0
11.2
56.9
30.0

33.1
11.0
11.9
42.3
29.1

Nut margarine.................
Cheese......... .....................
Lard..................................
Vegetable lard substitute.
Eggs, strictly fresh...........

....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do...........
....... do...........
D ozen...__

28.1
31.2
15.9
20.3
50.2

27.7
35.2
16.4
1S.0
46.1

27.7
35.3 22.9
16. 4 16.4
17.7
42.6 25.0

Eggs, storage.....................
Bread....... . .......................
Flour.................................
Corn meal..........................
Rolled oats........................

__ do. .........
Pound.........
.......do...........
....... do...........
....... do...........

38.3
7.3
5.0
3.1
8.2

38. 0 35.7
8.1
7.9
4.8
4.8
3.4
3.6
8.1
7.9

Corn flakes........................
Wheat cereal.....................
Macaroni...........................
Rice...................................
Beans, n avy......................

8-oz. pkg__
28-oz.~ pkg...
Pound.........
....... do...........
....... do...........

10.1
26.0
19.6
9.9
8.5

9.5
24.8
19.6
10.1
10.5

9.6
24.3
19.8
9.7
10.7

Potatoes............................
Onions...............................
Cabbage.............................
Beans, baked___
Corn, canned.....................

....... do..........
....... d o ...___
....... do...........
No. 2 can__
....... do..........

3.5
10.7
5.3
10.6
15.2

2.3
5.2
4.1
10. 6
15.0

2.3
5.5
4.2
10.3
14.9

Peas, canned.....................
Tomatoes, canned............
Sugar, granulated...........
T ea ....................................
Coffee.................................

....... do...........
....... do..........
Pound.......
. . . . .do..........
....... do...........

20.7
12.4
6.1
74.8
37.0

18.3
12.1
7.7
76.4
37.6

18.3
12.3
7.9
75.4
37.8

Prunes..............................
Raisins..............................
Bananas............................
Oranges.............................

....... do...........
. . . . .do..........
Dozen........
....... do.........

18. 8 19. 2 19.4
24.9 17.9 18.0
33.6 33.9 34.2
43.3 39.1 41.2

C ts .

8.2
40.0

5.2
2.9
2.4

8.5
1.3

5.7
56.0
30.0

C ts.

C ts .

29.6
28.0
22.1
18.1
11.7

30.7
29.1
23.1
19.2
12.4

30.4
29.1
23.1
18.4
12.5

25.9
45.6
48.8
34.8
30.4

26.4
39.3
47.7
34.6
33.3

26.1
41.1
45.4
32.8
27.8

26.0
41.1
45.4
33.9
28.9

33.5
11.0
11.5
56.6
28.9

33.5
11.0
11.9
52.9
28.7

33.7
11.7
11.5
41.4
28,1

32.7
10.8
11.9
55.0
29.2

32.7
10.8
11.9
54.4
29.5

28.1
32.3
18.0
22.5
41. G

27. 5
36.5
19.2
22.7
43.9

27.4
36.6
18.9
22.5
38.2

27.5
33.0
15.6
22.5
39.1

27.3
37.9
17.1
23.2
48.6

27.1
37.3
17.1
23.7
38.7

32.0
9.8
4.2
3.3
9.8

36.3
9.8
4.2
3.6
9.6

36.3
9.8
4.2
3.6
9.6

25.0
9.4
5.0
3.6
9.1

35.9
8.0
4.7
3.7
8.9

28.0
8.0
4.7
3.7
9.1

10.7
25.9
19.4
8.7
8.8

10.2
24.7
20.4
9.1
11.6

10.2
24.3
19.8
9.4
11.8

10.3
27.8
20.5
9.1
8.2

9.9 10.0
26.2 26.4
20. 0 19.5
9. 8 9.5
12.0 12.3

3.0
11.8
6.3
14.5

1.6
4.4
3.6
15.4
16.9

1.6
4.4
4.2
15.4
16.6

2.9
10.9
5.8
13.2
15.1

1.7
1.7
5. 2 5.6
4.0
4. 5
13.5 13 3
14.2 13.8

16.5
14.2
6. 4
70.6
37.9

16.9
13.8
8. 5
74.1
41.1

17.1
13.9
8.7
74.2
40.9

16.6 16.9
13.9 13.9
6. 8 8.9
61.4 61.1
32.9 36.1

17.1
14.3
9 2
61.1
36.7

22.3
20 1
4 11. 3
43.6

22. 1
20 1
411 1
48.2

20.1 20.4 20.3
27. 8 20 7 20. 8
410. 5 4 12. 5 412.6
50.4 50.4 51. 5

C ts .

22.0
28. 5
4 10.4
48.4

1 The steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, but in most of the other cities
included in this report it would be known as “ porterhouse” steak.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 732]

41

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD,
ARTICLES OF FOOD IN 51 CITIES, ON SPECIFIED DATES—Continued.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Feb. 15—

Jan. Feb.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Portland, Me.

Portland, Oreg.

Providence, R . I.

Feb. 15—

Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
15.
15, 15,
15,
15,
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923. 1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913
1913 1922
1913 1922
1922 1923. 1923.
C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

12S.3 142.9 147.6 147.2
23.4 33.9 37.0 36.8
21.4 29.7 31.8 31.9
16.5 18.5 19.3 19.8
11.3 10.2 9.9 9.8

C ts .

C ts.

C ts .

C ts .

24.8
21.4
20.6
15.6
11.0

38.1
31.6
28.9
19.7
11.0

41.7
34.5
31.0
21.3
11.4

41.2 151.7 153.5 155.3
34.6 40.2 43.6 43.4
30.8 27.3 27.9 28.3
20.8 18.2 18.3 18.5
11.1 13.1 13.7 13.8

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

22.4
19.5
18.7
15.8
12.4

C ts .

28.2
25.5
24.0
17.2
12.7

27.4
24.5
23.4
16.3
12.2

27.8 138.2 160.8 1 65.1 1 64.6
24.5 2S.2 44.4 46.6 45.6
23.4 23.0 33.9 35.7 35.4
16.4 17.4 24.6 25.3 25.3
12.6
15.7 15.7 15.9

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts.

C ts.

C ts .

C ts .

31.2
34.8
52.1
38.9
39.2

31.8
38.2
50.5
38.1
38.7

30.3
37.6
51.1
38.2
38.9

20.0
27.2
29.0
21.5
25.3

29.3
38.3
51.1
38.5
42.0

30.6
42.3
52.4
38.4
41.2

29.9
41.4
52.3
38.1
42.5

29.8
35.5
48.8
36.7
43.2

29.8
38.3
47.2
37.0
40.5

28.9
38.2
47.0
36.2
40.6

19.2
27.5
28.8
17.0
22.0

31.4
43.2
45.6
31.1
35.1

32.6
44.1
46.8
34.1
32.5

30.6
44.1
46.8
34.4
31.6

18.4
21. S
28.5
20.0
22.8

32.3
34.5
55.2
40.5
43.2

31.9
37.2
52.9
41.2
40.6

30.8
37.2
52.3
39.4
40.8

28.0
8.0 11.0
11.6
47.1 53.8
....... 26.6

27.0
12.0
12.2
66.2
29.3

27.1
12.0 8.8
12.3
62.8 43. i
29.0

29.6
12.0
10.7
46.7
26.1

28.8
14.0
11.7
61.2
27.8

28.2
14.0
11.8
59.7
28.0

29.1
13.0
12.2
49.0
32.4

28.5
14.0
13.3
62.6
29.9

28.6
14.0 9.7
13.4
61.3 43.5
30.1 —

41.4
11. S
11.6
46.3
29.7

38.2
12.6
12.0
53.9
29.8

36.8
12.6 9,0
12.0
53. S 41.0
27.8 .......

32.5
13.8
12.2
44.3
29.6

31.5
15.0
12.5
58.3
29.9

31.3
15.0
12.4
58.5
29.9

26.2 26.2 26.0
27.8
39.3 24.5 33.1 38.1 38.3
16.1 15.1 13.5 15.2 15.4
20.1 22.3 22.2
22.8
50.5 29.2 50.4 57.0 49.7

28.2
34.4
15.5
22.3
58.5

27.7
38.3
17.8
21.8
66.7

27.4
28.6 27.5 28.0
28.7
38.8 21.3 35.6 39.3 39.3 22.7 32.7
17.9 17.9 18.5 20.3 20.0 15.0 15.2
24.2 25.1 24.7
22.3
22.0
53.8 32.5 36.6 44.7 36.5 39.0 62.3

27.5
36.2
17.1
23.1
72.8

27.7
36.5
170
23.1
62.7

19.1
23.4
29.0
18.6
21.3

26.8 27.5
25.0 35.0 39.3
14.4 14.5 16.3
20.0 22.7
30.1 53.6 59.9

24.0 39.7 41.3 38.8 25.0
4.8 8.8 8.5 8.5 5.4
3.2 5.0 4.8 4.8 3.1
2.8 3.7 3.8 3.6 2.7
..... 8.0 7.9 8.0 .......
9.9 9.0 9.1
.......... 25.3 24.3 24.5 ....0
21.2 21.2 21.1
9.8 10.3 10.2 10.2 9.2
....... 8.3 11.3 11.6 .......
2.1 3.9 2.4 2.6 1.6
10.3 4.9 5.0
...........
5.8 3.7 4.1
........... 11.7 11.5 11.4
....... 15.2 14.8 14.9
16.5
12.3
4.9 5.6
54.0 60.4
25.0 29.5

.....

16.6
23.2
34.0
48.7

16.2
12.5
7.5
59.4
32.6

16.4
12.3
7.5
59.2
32.9

17.9
18.5
33.6
48.0

17.6
18.2
33.4
48.6

37.6 39.4 35.5 45.6 44.6 43.0 25.0
8.1 8.5 8.5 9.1 9.3 9.3 5.6
4.9 4.7 4.6 5.1 5.1 5.1 2.9
4.0 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.5 4.5 3.5
9.3 S. 7 8.4 6.9 6.8 6.9
10.0 9.5 9.7 10.5 9.7
26.3 24.6 24.6 26.3 25.0
20.9 20.0 19.9 24.2 24.1
9.7 9.5 9.3 10.3 10.4
7.5 10.9 11.3 8.1 11.0

9.7
24.5
24.1
10.5
11.1

8.4
4.3
3.6
9.3

40.0 40.0 25.4
9.4 9.4 6.0
4.5 4.5 3.4
3.6 3.6 2.9
9.3 9.4

12.1 11.4 11.3
29.1 27.7 27.4
17.5 19.9 18.7
8.6 9.6 9.1 9.1
7.9 9.6 9.8

8.9
5.6
3.8
9.3

44.8 39.4
8.7 8,8
5.4 5.2
4.0 4.0
9.3 9.5

10.0
27.2
22.7
9.3 9.8
8.0

9.9 9.9
25.1 24.8
22.5 22 2

3.1 2.0 2.0 2.9 2.0 2.2 0.7 2.4 1.4 1.4 1.7 3.0
10.4 5.2 5.5 11.4 5.2 5.8
9.3 3.9 4.3
11.3
5.1 4.0 4.3 4.1 3.2 3.5
5.3 3.5 4.3
6.5
12.6 12.8 12.5 15.3 15.4 15.4
17.7 16.8 16.4
12.8
14.9 13.6 13.8 16.4 16.1 16.2 ....... 18.0 16.9 16.9 ....... 18.1
15.5 16.0 16.0 20.1 19.9 20.0
18.6 16.7 16.4
20.2
13.2 12.4 12.3 222.2 223.1 222.8
315.2 316.0 315.9
13.8
5.8 6.3 8.3 8.6 6.1 8.4 8.7 6.2 6.7 8.6 9.1 5.1 6.1
58.0 75.8 75.1 76.0 57.0 57.1 58.6 55.0 62.5 64.6 64.3 4S.3 58.5
30.0 35.6 35.7 36.1 38.9 40.4 40.5 35.0 36.9 36.9 36.9 30.0 39.4

2.3 2.3
5.5 5.7
3.9 5.6
12.5 12.8

__

19.9
26.0
40.7
46.9

2 No. 3 can.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

20.6
18.4
43.8
49.4

20.4 17.6 19.3 18.9
18.4 23.6 .19.1 18.6
43.4 110.2 111.3 111.4
49.7 54.2 49.1 53.1 —
8 No. 2J can.

14.8 14.1 14.6
24.6 19.0 18.8
413.3 415.4 415. 5
49.6 45.0 41.1
4 Per pound,

18.9
23.5
35.1
54.6

9.7 9.6
11.2 11.1

17.5 17.5
20.4
13.4
8.1
59.7
41.0

20.1
13.8
8.5
60.1
41.2

20.4
18.4
33.6
52.3

20.2
18.1
34.4
53.3

42

M O NTH LY LABOE REVIEW.
T able 5 .—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL

Richmond, Va.

Rochester,
N. Y.

St. Louis, Mo.

Article.

Unit.

C ts ;

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

Sirloin steak.............................
Round steak
Rib roast
Chunk roast
................
Plate beef

P ound.........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do ..........
....... do..........

21.8
19.6
18.9
14.3
11.4

36.9
31.9
29.7
21.3
16.4

37.4
32.3
28.9
21.3
15.4

37.4
32.2
28.9
21.8
15.5

34.4
28.6
25.9
20.5
11.5

36.7
31.1
28. 2
22.3
12.1

36.2
31.3
27.9
21.7
12.0

22.8
20.4
17.6
14.2
10.2

31.5
29.2
26.7
18.9
13.1

33.6
30.9
26.6
18.0
13.1

33.3
30.8
26.5
17.7
12.9

Pork oh ops
Bacon sliced
Ham sliced
. ____ __
{,amb, log of.............................
H ens....... .................................

....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do ..........
....... do..........

18.4
23.4
23.3
18.7
20.0

28.9
33.9
39.8
40.6
37.5

28.9
35.6
39.7
42.4
35.2

28.4
35.4
39.3
42.1
36.1

31.6
31.4
45.1
35.7
40.9

32.1
35.2
45. 8
36.9
38.7

31.3
35.1
44.5
37.8
40.0

17.1
23.0
26.7
17.8
17.4

24.3
34.8
44.5
34.4
33.2

24.2
37.7
41.6
33.6
29.7

23.5
37.6
42.4
34.6
32.7

Salmon canned red
Milk, fresh . .
................
Milk, evar)orated......................
R utter...
.......................
Ol pom a rga ri n p

33.5 30.9 31.4
.d o ..........
Q uart........... 10.0 14.0 14.0 14.0
13.2 13.2 13.0
15-16-oz. can.
P ound......... 43.4 53.2 65.4 64.6
31.7 29.6 29.6
....... do..........

30.9
13.5
12.0
45. 7
29.3

29.0
13.5
12.0
59.4
29.7

32.2
28.8
13.0 8.0 10.0
12.1
10.1
58.9 40.4 45.6
26.5
30.2

31.6
13.0
11.5
60.7
26.9

31.4
13.0
11.5
58.9
27.2

T'Jnf. margarine
............
Cheese .
Lard
..........................
Vegetable lard substitute
Fgg-s, strictly fresh..................

28.1 27.9 27.9
....... do..........
....... do.......... 22.3 33.1 38.2 38.1
....... do.......... 15.0 17.2 17.6 17.7
21.8 22.2 22.2
. .d o .........
Dozen.......... 26.8 54.4 49.4 46.7

27.6
33.9
15.5
20.9
53.4

26.1
36.5
17.0
19.8
70.5

25.0 25.0 24.5
26.2
37.3 20.8 31.2 36.2 36.5
17.2 13.2 12.4 13.9 13.8
20.3 22.1 22.3
19.4
52.3 24.4 43.3 48.4 41.3

Feb. 15—
Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
15, 15,
15, 15, 15, 15, 15,
1923.
1923.
1922.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922
1913 1922
Feb. 15—

C ts.

....... do.......... 20.0 42.8 39.3 40.0 35.4 39.6 37.6 20.0 38.0
P ound......... 5.4 9.1 9.1 9.1 8.1 8.0 8.0 5.5 9.6
....... do.......... 3.3 5.2 5.0 5.0 4.9 4.9 5.0 3.0 4.5
....... do.......... 2.0 3.9 4.0 3.9 4 9 4.8 4.8 2.1 2.6
7.9
10.4 9.2 9.4 6.9 7.8 7.5
....... do..........
9.2
9.7
9.9
9.7
9.7
9.6
10.7
8-oz.
p
k
g
_
_
Corn flakes
25.1
28.3 24.2 24. 2 25.1 24.7 24.8
Wheat cereal............................ 28-ozrpkg...
18.2
21.3
19.0
19.4
21.
8
21.3
21.3
P ound.........
Macaroni
Ri ce
................... ....... do.......... 9.8 11.8 11.3 10.8 9.3 9.3 9.4 8.6 8.4
7.6
9.5 11.1 11.8 8.1 10.5 11.2
....... do..........
Rpans navy
....... do.......... 1.7 4.5 3.0 2.7 2.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 3.3
Potatoes .
11.6
10.9 5.7 5.9 9 9 4.1 5.1
....... do..........
O n io n s
4.8
6.6 4.2 5.3 4.7 2.8 3.1
....... do..........
O ahhage
11.2
12.4 11.8 11.8 11.3 11.4 11.4
Beans, baked............................ No. 2 c a n ...
14.8
15.7 15.5 15.5 15.8 16.1 16. 3
....... do..........
Corn can n ed

■Eggs, storage.
................
Bread
.............................
Flour
.......................
Corn meal
............................
Rolled oats

37.1 35.0
8.9 8.9
4.2 4.1
3.0 3.0
8.2 8.4
8.9 8.8
23.5 23.3
19.5 19.5
8.9 8.5
10.7 11.3
2.0
5.3
3. 7
11.3
14.7

2.0
5.4
4.5
11.0
15.1

19.6
....... do..........
13.4
____ do..........
6.6
5.3
P
ound.........
Sugar, granulated....................
Tea .
...................... ....... do.......... 56.0 79.8
27.4
35.7
_
_
.d
o
...........
Coffee........................................

19.1
12.3
8.4
78 5
37.1

19.1
12.2
8.4
78.5
38.4

19.3
12.5
6.0
60. 3
33.3

18.7
13.0
7.9
62.2
34.8

16.5 16.5
18.9
13.4 11.2
13.1
8.1 5.1 6.1 8.0
62. 3 55.0 69.0 66.8
35. 9 24.3 33.1 34.8

16.6
11.2
8.6
65.9
35.0

21.3
24.1
38.8
41.3

21.5
18.5
38.8
42.0

21.5
18.5
38.1
42.6

18.9
25. 6
41.1
50.3

20.0
17.7
42.1
51.5

20.3
17.7
43.7
51. (

22.
17.8
29.1
44.7

21.9
17.9
28.3
47.6

P eas canned
T o m a to e s c a n n e d

Prunes
Raisi ns
R an anas

Oranges

....... do..........
....... do..........
Dozen..........
....... do..........

] No. 2J can.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[734]

.....

19.1
24.9
31.9
46.1

43

BETAIL PRICES OF FOOD.
ARTICLES OF FOOD IN 51 CITIES, ON SPECIFIED DATES—Continued.
St. Paul, Minn.

Feb. Jan. Feb.

Salt Lake City, Utah.

San Francisco, Calif. Savannah Ga.

Feb. 15—

Feb. 15—

Jan. Feb.

Scranton, Pa.

Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
Jan. Feb.
15, 15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923. 1922. 1923. 1923.
1923.
1923.
1913 1922
C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

33.5
26.3
27.4
19.4
10.8

26.5
23.1
21.6
17.1
11.8

26. G
22.8
20.8
16. 1
11.5

26. a 20.3

23. C
21.1
16.3
11.8

19. C
20.7
14.6
12.5

30.3
27.5
28. C
18.5
14.7

C ts .

32.8
25.9
27.1
19.1
10.3

22.6
19.5
19.2
15. C
11.5

C ts .

30.8
25.3
24.2
18.1
9.9

29.7
26.7
28.4
17.9
14.4

29.6
26. 6
28.6
17.7
14.2

30.0
25.0
23.6
16.3
13.5

29.7
24.4
22.2
14.8
13.2

29.7
24.4
21.9
14.8
12.6

26.5
40.0
45.5
33.2
33.3

26.3
40.4
42.9
31.7
27.4

25.6
39.8
42.7
31.9
28.8

21.4
32.0
29.0
17.9
23.9

30.2
37.7
43.3
29.3
34.8

28.0
38.0
43.1
30.9
30.2

28.1
38.1
42.9
31.1
30.8

23.0
32.8
30.0
17.2
23.8

36.6
53.3
52.5
32.7
42.8

36.0
51.6
52.4
36.5
41.2

35.6
51.5
52.8
34. 0
41.6

26.5
33.7
39.8
36.7
32.9

26.3
34.9
36.9
38.3
31.8

26.3
34.4
36.8
39.2
31.1

36.6
10.0
12.0
39.7
27.8

34.4
11.0
11.9
55.0
28.5

36.5
9.0
11.4
44.2

33.8
10.0
11.2
54.6
30.0

27.6 28.2 28.1 37.8
32.8
10.0 ió.ó 13.0 13.0 13.0 18.0
11.5
10.6 10.7 10.9 10.5
51.0 40. 7 53.7 60.3 58.0 46. 5
29.8 29.0 29.0 32.5

27.0
31.6
15.4
24.4
44.9

26.8
37.1
17.9
24.3
48.2

34.8
11.0 8.9
12.1
53.0 38.6
28.8 .......
26.8
37.4 24. 2
17.9 18. 1
24.3
40.9 31.4

29.5
27.8
17.7
24.8
43.0

28.2
31.6
20.4
26.2
41.5

27.5
31.6 20.0
20.3 17.6
26.4
33.0 25. Ô

8.4
5.2
3.7
9.8

36.6
9.4
4.9
3.6
9.3

32.5 23.3
9.4 5.9
4.8 2.5
3.7 3.4
9.4

45. 0 32.7
9.4
9.8
3.2
3.4
3.7
3.5
9.9
9.3

10.7
26.0
IS. 5
9.1
8.9

9.9
25.7
18.8
9.4
10.6

9.9
25.4
18.8
9.4
11.6

12.8
27.3
20.9
8.6
8.7

11.8
26.2
20.7
9.2
10.1

11.4
25.4
20.4
9.2
10.5

2.8
9.7
6.1
14.3
15.4

1.4
3.8
3.5
14.6
14.7

1.5
4.2
3.8
14.4
14.7

1.0

2.1
11.0
6.3
17.7
15.0

1.2
3.1
2.9
16.0
14.0

1.2
3.2
3.1
15.6
13.8

16.3
14.1
6.6
64.2
40.4

16.9
14.1
8.8
66.2
39.5

16.8
14.1 . . .
9.3 6.2
67.3 65.7
39.8 35.8

15.2
12.5
7.5
80.9
44.3

15.7
13.4
9.0
82.0
44.1

15.3
12.9 __
9.5 6.3
82.3 50. 0
44.2 32.0

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

8.2

19.8 2 1 .1 21.5
27.2 19.5 19.5
211.9 2 12.4 2 12.4
55.4 60.5 60.5

16.6
25.3
2 16. 1
45.1

C ts .

9.6
3.4
3.7
9.3

18.5 18.7
19.0 18.7
2 14. 7 2 15.0
47.3 43.4

C ts .

C ts .

5.7
3.3
3.4

8.5
1.5

27.7
36.3
18.1
22.6
35.8

28.7
37.8
19.7
25.2
46.1

28.7
37.6
19. 4
25.2
35.7

20.0 42.0
8.5 9.0
5.1 5.2
4.9 4.7
10.0 9.5

9.1)
5.2
4.7
9.4


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C is .

21.8
18.0
18.8
14.6
10.0

45.0
34.6
32.8
23.6
11.6

47.0
37.5
34.8
24.7
11.3

46.4
37.2
34.6
24.1
11.1

32.6
42.1
52.7
42.8
45.7

31.6
42.5
54.0
42.5
40.9

30.6
41.7
54.4
42.5
41.5

38.1
13.0
12.0
45.0
28.0

36.5
13.0
12.3
57.4
30.3

36.9
13.0
12.3
57.2
30.7

18.5
24.6
25.8
20.0
22.7
•
36.7 36.1
18.0 18.0 8.8
11.6 11. 9
60.3 59.8 40. Ó
32.2 32.4

29.3
36.6
17.5
18.7
51.8

29.9
28.3 25.5 25.5
36.2 18.8 31.8 35.8 36.1
18.0 15.8 16.9 17.7 17.7
18.0
22.4 21.4 22.4
39.8 32.5 56. 6 65.9 53.9

32.0 41.1 36.7 23.5 39.0 41.2 37.0
8.0 8.4 8.7 5.5 9.6 8.7 8.7
5.5 5.5 5.6 3.5 5.7 5.4 5.3
2.6 2.8 2.8
6.9 5.8 6.2
9.0 8.3 8.6 ..... 10.3 9.8 9.5

11.7 10.6 10.6 9.3 9.1 9.1
25.4 24.2 24.0 26.3 23.9 23.3
12.7 14.4 14.6 19.0 17.7 17.9
8.9 9.4 9.2 8.0 8.0 8.1 8.5
7.5 9.5 9.9 9.2 11.6 11.9 .......
3.4 2.3 2.3 3.6 2.5 2.5 1.7
8.8 3.6 3.9 11.6 5. 8 6.2
6.4 4.5 4.5
15.6 i s . 0 14. 9 12.7 12.7 12.3
17.1 16.7 16.7 15.5 14.7 14.3 .......
18.0 17.7 17.8 16.7 16.6 17.0
1 14.1 114.6 114.6 12.7 10.3 1 1 .0
6.2 8.3 9.1 6 . 0 8.0 8.3 6. i
55.3 58.5 58.5 69.3 67.8 66.6 52.5
34.4 35.7 36.4 30.8 33.1 34.3 31.3
16.9 18.6 18.0 18.1 2 0 .0 19.5
18.9 18.7 23.7 18.0 17.8
35.0 34.3 34.3 a s . 2 a s . 9 33.8
52.3 45.3 43.4 41.2 38.2 38.3

2 2 .6

2 Per pound.

38784 °— .23-

31.3
31.3
18.0
20.3
39.8

C ts .

L735]

10.7 9.9 9.8
28.0 25.9 26.8
23.5 23.0 23.0
9.8 9. 7 9.7
9.6 11.6 11.8
3.1 2.1 2.1
10. 6 5. 3 5.8
6.0 3.8 4.4
12.9 12.5 1 2 .1
17.5 16.4 16.4
17.7
13.1
6.6
61.0
38.0

17.6
13.2
8.2
60.3
39.4

17.6
13.3
8.3
60.6
39.4

17.5
25.6
35.6
53.3

18.9
19.5
33.2
49.7

18.5
19.2
33.2
49.1

44

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

T able 5 .—AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OE THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OP FOOD IN

51 CITIES, ON SPECIED DATES—Concluded.

Springfield, 111.

Seattle Wash.
Article.

Unit.

Sirloin steak...................
Round steak...................
Rib roast.........................
Chuck r oast.....................
Plate beef___ ________
Pork chops......................
Bacon, sliced...................
Ham, sliced.....................
Lamb, leg of...................
Hens....... ..........„.............
Salmon, canned, red___
Milk, fresh....... ’ .............
Milk, evaporated....... .....
Butter.............. ...............
Oleomargarine................
Nut margarine................
Cheese..............................
Lard.................................
Vegetable lard substitute
Eggs, strictly fresh..........
Eggs, storage................
Bread....... T...... ..............
Flour...............................
Corn meal........................
Rolled oats......................
Corn flakes......................
Wheat cereal................
Macaroni................
Rice.................................
Beans, n avy...................
Potatoes..........................
Onions.............................
Cabbage.........................
Beans, baked...........
Corn, canned.................
Peas, canned...................
Tomatoes, canned...........
Sugar, granulated...........
Tea...................................
Coffee...............................
Prunes............................
Raisins...........................
Bananas..........................
Oranges...................

Pound.........
....... do..........
....... d o .____
....... do..........
....... d o .........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
Quart..........
15-16-oz.can
Pound.........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do..........
....... do...........
Dozen..........
__ d o ........
Pound.........
....... do..........
....... do..........
__ do..........
8-oz. pkg__
28-gz. pkg__

Feb. 15— Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. 1 5 - Jan. Feb.
15,
15, 15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1922. 1923. 1923. 1913 1922 1923. 1923.
1913 1922 1923. 1923.
C ts .

Pound

Washington, D. C.

22.0
20.0
18.4
15.0
11.4
23.4
30.0
29.2
18.3
24.3
9.1
42.6
21.6
17.9
30.0
22.5
5.4
3.0
3.1

C ts .

30.0
26.4
23.3
17.1
13.7
33.0
47.0
49.3
31.4
36.0
31.5
13.0
10. 7
47. 8
29.0
29.4
33. 8
17.0
23.7
39.0
8.1
4.6
3. 7
8. 4
12.3
27. 4
18. 9
10. 5

....... do.......... 7.7
....... do..........
al
....... do.......... .09
2.6
__ do ____
9. 9
..do __
5. 2
No. 2 c a n .. .
16.7
....... do..........
17.8
....... do..........
18.2
....... do.......... 6.1 i 15.6
Pound......... 50.0 6.9
....... do__
28.0 62.8
....... do..........
38.6
do
17.7
__do
25.0
Dozp/n__
2 15.1
do
49,4

C ts .

29.7
26.0
23.9
16.3
13.2
33.6
47.5
49.8
33.6
32.2
31.2
13.0
11.1
57.6
28.8
28.6
36.2
19.1
24.7
42.8
40.0
8.6
4.7
4.0
8.5
11.8
26. 4
18.7
10.9
10.1
1.6
4.6
3. 9
14.9
17.0
19.2
i 15.5
8.9
66.5
39.0
18.1
18.6
2 15. 7
44.2

1 No. 2| can.

C ts .

C ts .

29.8 30.1
25.8 29.4
23.9 21.0
16.3 17.8
13.0 12.0
34.0 25.8
47.9 37.2
49.4 44.8
33.4 36.7
31.3 32.8
31.2 34.9
13.0 12.5
11.2 12.4
55.5 44.3
28.8 28.9
28.5 27.6
36.0 34.3
19.1 14.7
24.1 22.0
37.1 41.1
30.0
8.6
9.6
4.7
5.3
4.2
4.0
8.6 11.0
11.8 10.7
25.3 28.0
17.8 20.2
10.8
9.4
10.8
79
1.6
3.1
4.7 12.8
6.0
4.9
15.4 13.2
17.2 15.3
18.9 17.6
i 15.7 14.9
6.9
9.6
66.2 74.3
39.1 35.8
18. 5 19.5
18.6 25.7
2 15.6 2 9.6
43.4 51.0

C ts .

C ts .

C ts .

C ts.

C ts.

C ts .

30.8 30.3 25.9 41.1 41.8 42.3
30.2 29.7 21.8 33.9 34.7 35.1
21.8 22.5 20.0 31.7 32.7 33.5
18.3 17.8 15.6 22.3 23. 1 22.8
12.0 12.1 10.7 12.2 12.2 12.1
25.2 24.5 19.3 33.1 33.4 31.8
38.7 38.9 23.3 35. 5 38 9 38.8
41.8 42.1 28.2 53.8 54.5 54.2
37.2 37.9 21.0 41.9 42.1 40.5
28.3 30.4 21.3 41.5 39.9 40.3
30.5 28.0 27.9
32.1 32.4
11.1 11.1 9.0 14.0 14.0 14.0
11.9 11.6 11.7
12.8 12.7
58.5 57.1 44.0 48.5 63.3 61.9
27.3 28.5 27.9
28.6 28.4
26.8 26.9
27.3 26.8 27.0
38.9 39.1 23.5 35.8 38.1 39.0
17.2 16.9 14.4 15.3 17.1 16.9
23.7 23.5
21.5 23.2 23.3
50.4 40.2 36.3 56.0 57.9 50.5
41.6 40.0
38.5 39.0 20.5
9.3
9.3i 5.5 8.6 8.2 8.2
5.1
5.0 3.7 5.4 5.2 5.2
4.5 2.5 3.6 3.7 3.8
4.7
9.6 9.2 9.2
10.6 10.4
9.8
9.7
10.0 9.4 9.4
26.0 26.0
26.0 25.1 24.7
19.9 19.8
21.8 22.0 22.3
9.8 9.6 10.0 10.5 10.5
9.8
8. 4 11.5 11.7
11.4 11.9
2.0
1.9 1.5 3.9 2.4 2.5
5.7
5.2
12.0
5.1
6.4 4.1 6.0
4.4
4.8
13.4 13.3
11.6 12.0 12.0
14.6 14.3
15.0 14.4 14.8
16.4 15.9 16.0
17.8 17.9
14.6 14.4 5.2 13.3 11.3 11.9
9.0
9.3 57.5 6.3 7.8 8.0
71.8 71.1 28.8 71.8 75.4 76.1
37.2 38.0
31.6 34.8
20.8 22.0 22.0
21.0 21.9
24.4 19.6 18.7
21.0 20.9
40.0 37.5 37.9
2 11.5 2 11.4
52.4 58.2
48.1 46.4 46.3

2Per pound.

Comparison of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities.

n r ABLE 6 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
1 in the retail cost of food 7 in February, 1923, compared with the
average cost in the year 1913, in February, 1922, and in January
1923. For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the one-year
and the one-montli periods. These cities have been scheduled by
the bureau at different dates since 1913. These percentage changes
are based on actual retail prices secured each month from retail dealers
and on the average family consumption of these articles in each city.8
i For list of articles, see note 2, p. 25.
s The consumption figure used from January, 1913, to December, 1920, for each article in each city is
iven in the M onthly L abor R e v ie w for November, 1918, pp. 94 and 95. The consumption figures which
ave been used for each month beginning with January, 1921, are given in the M onthly L abor R eview
for March, 1921, p. 26.

g


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 736]

RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD.

45

Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have perfect
reporting cities. For the month of February 99 per cent of all the
firms reporting in the 51 cities sent in a report promptly. The fol­
lowing were perfect reporting cities; that is, every merchant in the
following-named 39 cities who is cooperating with the bureau sent in
his report in time for his prices to be included in the city averages:
Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Butte, "Charleston,
Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis,
Jacksonville, Kansas City, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Man­
chester, Memphis, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Haven, New Orleans,
Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Me.,
Portland, Oreg., Providence, Richmond, St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt
Lake City, San Francisco, and Scranton.
The following summary shows the promptness with which the
merchants responded in February:
RETAIL PRICE REPORTS RECEIVED DURING FEBRUARY.
Geographical division.
United
States.

Item.

Percentage of reports received........ .............
N umber of cities in each section from which
every report was received.......................

North
South
North
Atlantic. Atlantic. Central.

99

99

99

39

10

6

South
Central. Western.

99.2

98

99

6

6

11

T able 6 .—PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN THE RETAIL COST OF FOOD IN FEBRUARY,

1923, COMPARED WITH THE COST IN JANUARY, 1923, FEBRUARY, 1922, AND WITH
THE AVERAGE COST IN THF, YEAR 1913, BY CITIES.

City.

Percentage Percentage
increase increase
February, February,
1923, '
1923,
compared compared
with year
with
1913.
February,
1922.

Percentage
decrease
February,
1923,
compared
with
January,
1923.

Atlanta..............
Baltimore...........
Birmingham__
Boston................
Bridgeport.........

40
48
46
47

il
1
1
2
4

1
1
0.4
1
2

Buffalo...............
Butte..................
Charleston.........
Chicago..............
Cincinnati..........

49

il
1
12
3
Cl

2
1
2
1
2

4
2
1
3
1

2
2
h4
2
2
2
04
2
2
0.4
1
4
2
1
1

Cleveland...........
Columbus...........
Dallas.................
Denver...............
Detroit...............

45
47
38
41
42
31
46

Fall River..........
Houston.. . . . . . .
Indianapolis___
Jacksonville.......
Kansas C ity .....

37
36
39

0
1
1 0.3
12
2

Little Rock........
Los Angeles.......
Louisville______
Manchester........
Memphis______

37
34
32
44
35

3
il
1
10.3
11

47

City.

Milwaukee.........
Minneapolis.......
Mobile................
Newark....... ....
New Haven.......
New Orleans__
New York.........
N orfolk..............
Omaha...............
Peoria.................
Philadelphia__
Pittsburgh.........
Portland, Me__
Portland', Oreg..
Providence........
Richmond.........
Rochester...........
St. Louis............
St. Paul..............
Salt Lake C ity ..
San Francisco...
Savannah...........
Scranton............
Seattle................
Springfield, 111..
W a sh in g to n ,
D. C................

1 Decrease.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[737]

Percentage Percentage
increase increase
February, February,
1923,
1923,
compared compared
with year
with
1913.
February,
1922.
42
42
40
44
43
49
37
45
44
30
50
53
42
21
37
49
34
50

1
2
1
0.2
1
0
1
10.2
12
13
0.4
4
3

Percentage
decrease
February,
1923,
compared
with
January,
1923.
1
0.4
2
4
2
2
3

1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
0.4

2
2
12
1
1
1
12
0
1
12
1
13

2
1
2
1
2

11

1

3

1
1
3

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

46

Retail Prices of Coal in the United States.”

HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
February 15, 1922, and on January 15 and February 15, 1923,
for the United States and for each of the cities included in the
total for the United States. Prices for coal are secured from the
cities from which monthly retail prices of food are received.
In addition to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are
shown for Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those
cities where these coals form any considerable portion of the sales
for household use.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds used. The coal dealers in each city are asked to quote
prices on the kinds of bituminous coal usually sold for household use.
The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers, but do not
include charges for storing the coal in cellar or coal bin where an
extra handling is necessary.

T

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL PER TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE, ON FEBRUARY 15, 1922, AND JANUARY 15 AND FEBRUARY 15, 1923.
1923
Feb. 15, 1922.

City, and kind of coal.

Jan. 15.
United States:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........
...........................................
Chestnut
..................................................
Bituminous...................................................................

$14.920
14. 994
9. 706

$15. 427
15.456
11.179

Feb. 15.

$15. 549
15. 531
11.137

Atlanta, Ga.:
10.442
10.481
7.481
Bituminous....................................................................
Baltimore, Md.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
i 16.250
116.250
i 15.000
Stove ......................................................................
i 16. 250
i 16. 250
i 14. 750
Chestnut..................................................................
10.700
11. 000
7.850
B iluminous...........
..............................................
Birmingham, Ala.:
8.407
8.357
6. 720
Bituminous....................................................................
Boston, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16.000
16.000
15.000
Stove ...
........................................
16.000
16.000
15.000
Chestnut..................................................................
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16.375
15.750
13.000
Stove ....................................................................
16.375
15. 750
13.000
Chestnut..................................................................
Buffalo, N. Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
13.238
13. 238
12. 875
Stove........................................................................
13. 238
13.238
12. 875
Chestnut . . .
........................................
Butte, Mont.:
11.154
11. 494
11. 519
Bituminous ......
........................................
Charleston, S. C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
117.000
i 17. 000
i 17. 000
Stove ....................................................................
i 17.100
i 17.100
i 17.100
Chestnut..................................................................
12.000
12.000
12.000
Bituminous....................................................................
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16.180
16.180
15.410
Stove.......... ............................................................
16.050
16. 050
15.380
Chestnut..................................................................
10.790
10. 980
8.500
Bitum inous..................................................................
Cincinnati, Ohio:
9. 638
9.423
6.667
Bituminous....................................................................
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds
a Prices of coal were formerly secured semiannually and published in the March and September issues of
the M onthly L abor R eview . Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published monthly.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[738]

RETAIL PRICES OE COAL.

47

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OP COAL PER TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE, ON FEBRUARY 15, 1922, AND JANUARY 15 AND FEBRUARY 15, 1923—Continued.
1923
Feb. 15, 1922.

City, and kind of coal.

Jan. 15.
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
Chestnut.................................................................
Bituminous...................................................................
Columbus, Ohio:
Bituminous...................................................................
Dallas, T ex .:
Arkansas anthracite—
Egg..........................................................................
Bituminous...................................................................
Denver, Colo.:
Colorado anthraciteStove, 3 and 5 mixed.............................................
Furnace, 1 and 2 mixed........................................
Bituminous............................................. ......................
Detroit, Mich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e......................................................................
Chestnut.................................................................
Bituminous...................................................................
Fall River, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove .....................................................................
Chestnut.................................................................
Houston, T ex.:
Bituminous...................................................................
Indianapolis, Ind.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
Chestnut.................................................................
Bituminous...................................................................
Jacksonville, Fla. :
Bituminous...................................................................
Kansas City, Mo.:
Arkansas anthracite—
Furnace...................................................................
Stove, or No. 4 .......................................................
Bituminous...................................................................
little Rock, A rk.:
Arkansas anthracite—
Egg ........................................................................
Bituminous...................................................................
Los Angeles, Calif.:
Bituminous...................................................................
Louisville, K y .:
Bituminous....................................................................
Manchester, N. H .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e......................................................................
Chestnut.................................................................
Memphis, Tenn. :
Bituminous....................................................................
Milwaukee, Wis. :
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove .......................................................................
Chestnut.................................................................
Bituminous...................................................................
Minneapolis, Minn. :
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
Chestnut..................................................................
Bituminous....................................................................
Mobile, Ala.:
Bituminous....................................................................
Newark, N. J.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove ......................................................................
Chestnut.................................................................
New Haven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
Chestnut..................................................................
New Orleans, La.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove .......................................................................
Chestnut..................................................................
Bituminous....................................................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[739]

Feb. 15.

$14.375
14.438
8.033

$15.750
15. 750
11.322

$15. 750
15. 750
11.364

7.207

9. 848

9.895

IS. 250
15.423

IS. 125
15.375

18.125
15.375

15.917
15. 917
10. 230

17. 250
17.250
10. 692

17.333
17.333
10. 685

14.563
14.563
8. 656

16.000
16.000
11. 893

16.250
16.250
11. 893

15. 250
15.000

16. 500
16.083

16.417
16.083

12. 000

12. 833

12.833

15. 625
15. 667
7. 420

15.750
15.750
9. 610

15.750
15.750
9.623

13. 000

15.000

15.000

17. 214
18.125
8. 688

16.929
17. 750
8.900

16.929
17.875
8.883

15.000
12.375

15.000
12.500

15.000
11.833

19.000

16. 500

16.500

6. 769

10.182

10.182

16.000
16.000

18.000
18.000

18.000
18.000

7.786

9.411

9. 411

15.980
15.950
10.357

16. 650
16. 625
12.716

16.634
16.614
12.759

17. 750
17. 750
11.775

17. 710
17.670
13.913

17.980
17.930
13.588

10.063

10.929

11.000

12.833
12.833

12. 792
12.792

12.833
12.833

14. 000
14. 000

15.333
15.333

15.750
15. 750

17. 500
17. 667
10.313

21. 500
21.500
11.208

21.750
21. 750
11.208

M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

48

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF COAL PER TON OF 2,000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE, ON FEBRUARY 15, 1922, AND JANUARY 15 AND FEBRUARY 15, 1923—Continued,
1923
Feb. 15,1922.

City, and kind of coal.

Jan. 15.

Feb. 15.

*

New York, N. Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
$14.450
$15. 000
$13.142
Stove........................................................................
13.142
14. 900
14.450
C hestnut..................................................................
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16.000
17. 000
Stove........................................................................
14.000
14. 000
16. 000
17. 000
Chestnut..................................................................
12. 429
Bitum inous....................................................................
9.233
13.381
Omaha, Nebr.:
11. 857
11.938
11.774
Bitum inous...................................................................
Peoria, 111.:
6.393
7.167
7.042
Bitum inous....................................................................
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite...............................................
i 14. 094
i 15.094
i 15.125
Stove........................................................................
* i 14.094
i 15.094
115.125
Chestnut..................................................................
Pittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
i 15. 750
i 17.000
Stove........................................................................
i 15.667
Chestnut..................................................................
i 17.000
117.750
6.781
8.321
Bitum inous....................................................................
8.156
Portland, Me.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
15.843
Stove........................................................................
15. 843
15. 843
15. 843
15.843
Chestnut..................................................................
15.843
Portland, Oreg.:
12.890
14.522
Bitum inous....................................................................
14.522
Providence, R. I.:
Pennsylvania an th racitestove.......................................................................
215.000
2 16.420
2 15. 800
215.000
2 15. 800
2 16.400
C hestnut..................................................................
Richmond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
14. 250
Stove........................................................................
16. 500
16.500
14. 250
C hestnut..................................................................
16. 500
16. 500
Bituminous........................................................... ........
9. 846
13.100
13.300
Rochester, N. Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
13.450
13.450
13. 450
Chestnut..................................................................
13.450
13.450
13.450
St. Louis, Mo.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16.063
Stove........................................................................
16.583
16. 563
Chestnut. ................................................................
16. 250
16.583
16. 563
Bitum inous....................................................................
7.013
8.355
8.276
St. Paul, Minn,:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
17. 750
17.667
17. 667
Chestnut..................................................................
17. 750
17.642
17.642
B itum inous...................................................................
12.129
13.931
13.894
Salt Lake City, Utah:
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ixed.........................................
19.125
20.000
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed.............................................
20.000
20.000
Bitum inous....................................................................
9.000
9.172
8.759
San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico anthracite—
Cerillos egg..............................................................
27.250
26.750
26.750
Colorado anthracite—
Egg...........................................................................
26.250
24,250
24.250
Bitum inous....................................................................
19.250
17.900
17.900
Savannah, Ga.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
3 17.100
3 17.000
3 17.050
Chestnut..................................................................
3 17.100
3 17.000
3 17.050
Bitum inous....................................................................
3 12.267
314.083
313.667
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
5 Fifty cents per ton additional is charged for ‘binning.” Most customers require binning or basketing
the coal into the cellar.
3 All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made.
This additional charge has been included in the above prices.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[740]

49

RETAIL PRICES OF COAL.

AVERAGE R E T A IL PRICES OE COAL P E R TON OF 2.000 POUNDS, FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE, ON F E B R U A R Y 15, 1922, AND JANUARY 15 AND FEB R U A R Y 15, 1923—Concluded.
1923
City, and land of coal.

Feb. 15, 1922.
Jan. 15.

Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
Chpstnut..................................................................
Seattle, Wash.:
Bitum inous....................................................................
Springfield, 111.:
Bitum inous....................................................................
Washington, D. C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................................................................
Chestnut..................................................................
Bitum inous.................................................................. .

Feb. 15.

$9.700
9.700

$9. 817
9.825

$9. 817
D. 317

410.107

4 10.271

410.289

4.450

5.325

4.925

i 14.814
114.621
1 9.112

1 15. 871
i 15.871
i 11.335

i 15.943
115.943
i 10.931

1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
4 Prices in zone A. The cartage charges in zone A were as follows: February, 1922, $1.75; January, 1923,
$1.25 to $2.25; and February, 1923, $1.25 to $1.75. These charges have been included in the averages.

C om p ariso n of R e ta il P ric e C h an g es in th e U n ited S tates an d Foreign
C ountries.

HE index numbers of retail prices published by several foreign
countries have been brought together with those of this bureau
in the subjoined table after having been reduced to a common
base, namely, prices for July, 1914, equal 100. This base was selected
instead of the average for the year 1913, which is used in other tables
of index numbers compiled by the bureau, because of the fact that in
some instances satisfactory information for 1913 was not available.
For Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden,
and the city of Rome, Italy, the index numbers are reproduced as
published in the original sources. With three exceptions all these
are shown on. the July, 1914, base in the source from which the infor­
mation is taken. The index numbers for Belgium are computed on
April, 1914, as the base period, those for Germany on the average of
October, 1913, January, April, and July, 1914, while those for Rome
are based on the first half of 1914. The index numbers here shown
for the remaining countries have been obtained by dividing the index
for each month specified in the table by the index for July, 1914, or
the nearest period thereto, as published. As shown in the table, the
number of articles included in the index numbers for the different
countries differs widely. These results should not, therefore, be con­
sidered as closely comparable with one another. In a few instances,
also, the figures here shown are not absolutely comparable from
month to month over the entire period, owing to slight changes in
the list of commodities included at successive dates.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 741]

50

M O NTH LY LABOE EEVIEW .

IN DEX NUMBERS OF RETAIL PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CERTAIN OTHER
COUNTRIES.
[July, 1914=100.]

Year and
month.

United
States: 22
foodstuffs,
Belgium:
to De­
56 articles Canada:
cember, Australia:
29 food­
food­ (variable);
1920; since 46
stuffs;
59 cities. 60 cities.
th at time 30stuffs;
towns.
Not
43 food­ Weighted.
Weighted.
weighted.
stuffs;
51 cities
(variable).
Weighted.

France: Family
budget, 13 articles.
Germany:
Denmark:
Family
Family
food
Cities over
food
budget;
10,000
budget;
5
persons.
5 persons. population Paris only. Weighted.
Weighted. (except Weighted. (Revised.)
Paris).
Weighted.

July, 1914....
July, 1915....
July, 1916....
July, 1917....
J u ly ,1918....
July, 1919....

100
98
109
143
164
186

100
131
130
126
131
147

i 100

100

105
114
157
175
186

100
128
146
166
187
212

100
s 123
3 141
3 184
s 244
3 289

100
120
129
183
206
261

2 100

1920.
July...............
August..........
Septem ber...
October.........
November ...
December—

215
203
199
194
189
175

194
194
197
192
186
184

453
463
471
477
476
468

227

253

3 388

373
373
407
420
426
424

1,267
1,170
1,166
1,269
1,343
1,427

1921.
January........
February___
March............
April.............
May...............
June..............

169
155
153
149
142
141

186
184
181
173
168
165

450
434
411
399
389
384

195
190
178
171
165
150

276

410
382
359
328
317
312

1,423
1,362
1,352
1,334
1,320
1,370

Ju ly ...............
August..........
September. . .
October.........
N ovember. . .
December__

145
152
150
150
149
147

161
158
154
149
146
143

379
384
386
391
394
393

148
154
159
155
149
148

236

306
317
329
331
326
323

1,491
1,589
1,614
1,757
2,189
2,357

1922.
January.........
February---March............
April.............
M ay...............
Ju n e..............

139
139
136
136
136
138

142
140
141
143
146
146

387
380
371
367
365
366

149
143
142
138
138
137

197

319
307
294
304
318
307

2,463
3,020
3', 602
4,356
4,680
5,119

July...............
August..........
Septem ber...
October.........
N ovem ber..
December__

139
136
137
140
142
144

148
149
149
146
145
146

366
366
371
376
384
384

138
141
139
138
139
140

184

297
289
291
290
297
305

6,836
9,746
15,417
26,623
54,982
80; 702

221

215
213
206

1 April, 1914.
2 Average for October, 1913, January, April, and July, 1914.
8 Quarter beginning month specified.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3 450

200

3 429
3 363

3 350
«348

3 323
3 315
3 312
3 314

51

COMPARISON OF RETAIL PRICE CHANGES.

IN D E X NUMBERS OF RETAIL PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CERTAIN OTHER
COUNTRIES—Concluded.

Year and
month.

Great
Italy:
Nether­
New
South
Britain:
Family lands: 27 Zealand:
Norway: Africa:
18
21 food­
food
food­
Family
food­
59
food­
budget;
stuffs;
stuffs;
food
stuffs
stuffs;
600
5 persons; Amster­ 25 towns. budget.
9 towns.
towns.
Rome.
dam.
Weighted. Weighted.
Weighted. Weighted. Weighted. Weighted.

J u ly ,1914__
J u ly ,1915___
July”1916___
July, 1917....
July, 1918....
J u ly ,1919....

100
132£
161
204
210
209

1920.
July...............
August..........
September. . .
October.........
N ovem ber...
December----

100
95
111
137
203
206

8 100

258
262
267
270
291
282

1921.
January.........
February___
March............
April.............
May...............
Ju n e..............
July...............
August..........
September. . .
October.........
N ovem ber...
December__
1922.
January........
February___
March............
April.............
M ay...............
Ju n e..............
July...............
August..........
September. . .
October.........
N ovem ber...
December__

8 160

210

100
112
119
127
139
144

318
322
324
341
361
375

217
219
223
226
220
208

167
171
173
177
176
179

319
333
336
340
342
342

8178

278
263
249
238
232
218
220
226
225
210
200
195

367
376
386
432
421
409
402
416
430
452
459
458

199
200
199
193
189
186
185
184
184
173
159
154

178
175
169
169
167
166
164
163
161
156
152
150

334
308
300
300
292
290
292
297
290
288
281
268

8 166

8 136

185
179
177
173
172
170
180
175
172
172
176
178

469
463
446
455
455
454
459
463
472
482
477
476

152
154
148
141
140
141
144
144
145
148
141

147
145
141
144
145
143
144
141
139
139
139

257
245
238
234
230
227
283
232
228
220
216
215

121
119
119
121
120
118
116
116
117
119
120
118

*

8 Quarter beginning m onth specified.
4January-June.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

6 Year 1913.
«Year.

100

279
289

8 100
8 107
8 111
8124
8125
8136

8 151

8128

Switzer­
Sweden:
land: 9
21 articles; groups of
44 towns.
food­
Weighted. stuffs.
Not
weighted.
100
7 100
8 124
7 119
8142
7 140
177
268
310 ..................
297
308
307
306
303
294

262

283
262
253
248
237
234
232
234
228
218
211
202

243
237
234
231
212
210
214
209
206
200
198
192

190
189
185
182
178
179
179
181
180
178
170
168

189
179
177
167
158
157
158
158
156
157
160
160

7 Previous month.
8 August.

246

M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.

52

Index N u m b ers of W h o lesale P rices in F ebruary, 1923.

SLIGHT rise in the general level of wholesale prices in February,
as compared with the preceding month, is shown by information
gathered by the United States Department of Labor through
the Bureau of Labor Statistics in representative markets of the
country. The Bureau’s weighted index number, which includes 404
commodities or price series, stands at 157 for February, or one point
higher than in January.
Metals and metal products averaged considerably higher than in
the month before, due to advances in iron and steel, copper, lead, and
tin. The increase in the group as a whole approximated 4^ per cent.
Building materials also continued upward, with an increase of 2 per
cent over the level of January. Smaller increases were recorded for
the groups of cloths and clothing, chemicals and drugs, and miscella­
neous commodities. In the last-named group there were appreciable
advances in bran and millfeed middlings, linseed meal, manila rope,
and rubber.
Farm products, on the contrary, showed a slight decline in average
prices, due to decreases in cattle, hogs, sheep, eggs, hay, hides, and
milk, which more than offset increases in grains, cotton, potatoes,
and wool. Fuel and lighting materials, as a result of continued
declines in bituminous coal and coke, averaged 2f per cent cheaper
than in January. The groups of foodstuffs and house-furnishing
goods showed no change in the general price level.
Of the 404 commodities or series of quotations for which comparable
data for January and February were collected, increases were shown
in 165 instances and decreases in 89 instances. In 150 instances no
change in price was reported.

A

IN D EX NUMBERS OF W HOLESALE PRICES, BY GROUPS O F COMMODITIES.
[1913=100.]
1922

1923

Commodity group.
February.
Farm products................................................................................
F oodst............................................................................................
Cloths and clothing........................................................................
Fuel and lighting............................................................................
Matais and rnetal products.....
...............................................
Building materials..........................................................................
Chemicals and drugs......................................................................
House-furnishing goods.................................................................
Miscellaneous..................................................................................
All commodities..............................................................................

131
135
174
191
110
156
123
177
117
141

January.
143
141
196
218
133
188
131
184
124
156

February.
142
141
199
212
139
192
132
184
126
157

Comparing prices in February with those of a year ago, as measured
by changes in the index numbers, it is seen that the general level has
risen over 11 per cent. Metals and metal products show the largest
increase, 261 per cent. Building materials follow next with an
increase of 23 per cent. Cloths and clothing have increased 14| per
cent, fuel and lighting 11 per cent, and farm products 83 per cent in
price in the year. Food articles, chemicals and drugs, house­
furnishing goods, and miscellaneous commodities all show smaller
increases compared with prices of a year ago.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 744]

RETAIL PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.

53

R ed u ctio n of C o st of L iving b y C o m p a n y Stores in A rizona.

ERTAIN features of what is called the “ new idea of operating a
company store for the benefit of the workers instead of the com­
pany ’7are outlined in a letter written by Mr. Hy wel Da vies,United
States commissioner of conciliation for the copper industries of the
West, to Dr. Charles P. Neill of the Coal Commission. During the war,
it is stated, the question of cost of living in the isolated mining camps
of Arizona became a serious matter, and it was to reduce the cost of
living to employees that the new type of company store came into
being.
The company places a valuation on its mercantile investment,
covering the store building, warehouses, equipment, and stock of
merchandise. This amount is entered on the company’s books as a
mercantile investment, bearing, usually, 6 per cent interest plus 4
per cent to provide a sinking fund. The goods are sold “ at prices
that compare with the best prices made by local merchants. It is
generally admitted that the company store goods are superior in
quality.”

C

The average n e t profits on all sales after all operating expenses have been paid vary
from 1 2 } t o 18 per cent, and th e annual sales of over $400,000 yield $50,000 to $60,000
profit. The only charges against th is n e t profit are th e two item s of in terest and
sinking fund, w hich leaves a balance of $35,000 to $45,000 to be d istrib u ted to th e
em ployees as dividends on th e ir store purchases. This div id en d is paid sem iannually
to all em ployees of record on Jan u ary 1 and Ju ly 1, and due to th e fact th a t no dividend
is paid to employees who leave th e com pany’s em ploym ent betw een these dates, and
no d ividend is paid to any outsider who trades in th e com pany stores, th e actual
dividend paid to employees of record is generally equal to th e n e t percentage profit
on th e sale of goods, viz., 1 2 } to 15 p er cent.
These dividends have proved to be th e nucleus of a savings fund in hundreds of cases,
and have contributed no little tow ard b etter working relations betw een th e company
and its employees, as well as m aterially helping to reduce th e labor turnover.
1
I t has also developed keener com petition, as th e local m erchant realizes th a t he has
to m eet a com pany store com petition th a t appeals to th e patronage of th e worker who
has been m ade a co-beneficiary in th e final results of th e store operation. This has c u t
out the tendency of profiteering on th e p a rt of th e local m erchant, and as th e company
stores do not undersell b u t m erely m eet his prices, he still has an opportunity to live
b u t his success depends upon m erit.

Some of the larger companies do not operate a store. It is stated
that in a number of cases, however, the company has given its credit
to the workmen’s committees “ so that they could purchase staple
goods in carload lots and dispose of same in unbroken packages to
their fellow workers at cost plus freight.” In one case which is cited,
by this means the price of flour was reduced from $11.50 per barrel to
$6.40 f. o. b. cars on the company’s sidetrack. This in turn reduced
the local sales price from $11.50 to $7.50 in all the stores. The com­
pany did this as an emergency measure and not as a continuing policy.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 745]

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,

54

R e ta il P rices of F o o d in N e v a d a , 1921 an d 1 9 2 2 .1

HE following table shows the average retail prices of various
articles of food in Nevada on June 15 and December 15, 1921,
and 1922, and also the average retail prices for each of these
years:

T

AVERAGE R E TA IL PRICES OF FOOD IN NEVADA, 1921 AND 1922.
1922

1921
Article.

Unit.
June 15.

Dec. 15.

Year.

June 15.

Dec. 15.

Year.

C e n ts .

C e n ts .

C e n ts .

C e n ts .

C e n ts .

C e n ts .

Sirloin steak.............................
Round steak............................
Rib roast..................................
Chuck roast..............................
Plate beef.................................

P ound__
. . .d o .........
. . .d o .........
__do..........
__d o .........

34.5
29.8
28. 6
22. 5
16.9

29.4
25.0
23.4
17.9
13.0

33.0
25.8
26.9
21.1
15.6

32.1
27.9
25.9
20.5
15.1

30.6
26.9
25.4
19.1
15.3

32.0
26.9
25.3
19.9
15.1

Pork chops...............................
Bacon........................................
H am ..........................................
L am b............ ...........................
H ens..........................................

.. .d o .........
__do..........
.. .d o .........
__do..........
.. .d o .........

35.4
52.1
53.7
31.6
40.3

31.8
45.9
46.7
26.1
33.9

34.8
51.0
52.8
29.5
39.2

34.7
50.1
54.9
33.4
39.1

34.2
49.2
51.7
31.7
37.1

34.2
49.6
53.3
31.4
37.9

................
Salmon, canned
Milk, canned............................
B utter
.............................
Oleomargarine .......................
Cheese.......................................

.. .d o .........
16-oz c a n ..
P ound__
__do..........
__do..........

30.6
15.7
46. 4
31.6
37.7

30.1
14.7

32.7
15.5
53.5
32.8
38.1

29.6
13.0
49.2
31.9
35.6

24.9
13.9
58.3
31.8
38.2

29.2
13.4
52.4
31.4
36.6

32.7
36.0

L ard ..........................................
Vegetable lard, substitute__
Eggs, fresh................................
Flour.........................................
Corn m eal.................................

.. do.........
.. .d o .........
Dozen.......
P ound___
.. .d o .........

22.6
25.9
37.9
6.8
7.0

19.9
26.0
67.1
4.5
6.2

23.0
27.1
49. 8
6.8

20.9
27.8
38.8
4.6
5.8

21.4
27.8
62.7
4.4
5.2

21.0
28.2
48.3
4.6
5.6

Rolled oats...............................
Com flakes...............................
W heat c e re a l..........................
Macaroni...................................
Rice...........................................

.. .d o .........
8-oz...........
28-oz.........
P ound__
.. .d o ..........

9.0
14.8
33. 8
13. 0
9.6

8.1
15.0
33. 7
13.7
10.2

15.1
34.1
14.2
10.1

7.6
14.5
31. 1
12.9
10.4

7.7
14.5
30.2
12.7
10.2

7.9
14.0
31.7
13.4
10.2

Beans, n a v y ............................
Potatoes....................................
Onions......................................
Cabbage....................................
Beans, canned..........................

.. .d o .........
.. .d o .........
.. .d o .........
__do..........
2-lb. c a n ..

9.7
3.2
4.7
6.4
20.4

10.1
3.1
7. 5
5.4
20.0

9.9
3.2
5.6
5.6
20.9

10.9
3.2
7.8
6.2
20.0

11.5
1.8
5.2
4.8
19.1

10.8
2.7
7.0
5.7
20.0

Com, canned............................
Peas, canned............................
Tomatoes, canned .................
Sugar, granulated....................
Tea.............................................

.. .d o .........
__do..........
__do..........
P ound. . . .
__do ..........

19.9
21.1
16.2
10.2
60.7

19.2
20. 3
18.1
8.7
61.4

10.7
21.3
17.4
10.0
59.8

19.6
21.3
18.9
9.3
64.5

17.6
19.5
17.4
10.2
60.5

19.1
20.3
18.3
9. 5
62.0

Coffee........................................ . . .d o .........
P runes...................................... __do..........
Bananas.................................... Dozen
Oranges..................................... l...d o ..........

35.7
17.9
60.0
68.8

36.2
17.0
52.8
73.5

46.1
17.5
56.7
71.4

37.3
21. 6
62. 7
86.8

34.9
19.7
53.1
86.8

35.9
20.0
54.6
84.7

1 Nevada. Commissioner of Labor, Biennial report, 1921-22. Carson City, 1923, pp. 94 and 95.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[746]

RETAIL PRICES AUD COST OF LIVING.

55

B udget of a B erlin W o rk m an ’s F am ily , L ast S ix M onths of 1 9 2 2 .1

BULLETIN recently issued by the intelligence service of the
German trade-unions (Gewer~kschaftlicher Nachrichtendienst)
contained the following household budget of a Berlin work­
man’s family of three persons for the six months ending December,
1922:

A

BUDGET OP A BERLIN WORKMAN’S FAMILY OF THREE PERSONS, JULY 1 TO
DEC. 31, 1922.
[1 mark at par=23.8 cents.]
Total.
Item.

Rent............................
Heat and light...........
Food...........................
Clothing 4...................
Shoes6........................
Shirts, underwear,
etc.4..........................
Toilet articles............
Beverages, tobacco,
etc............................
Household furnish­
ings..........................
Miscellaneous expenditures..............

July.

M a rk s.

August.

M a rk s.

Septem­
ber.

October.

M a rk s.

M a rk s.

Novem­
ber.

3 fa rk s.

Decem­
ber.

Per
Amount. cent.

M a rk s.

M a rk s.

U,849.60
725.00
5,428.90
2,497.65
'930.00

78.10
1,047.50
6,070.35
320.00
15.50

122.65
132.00

491.25
174.00

280.00
104.00

915.00
286.50

676.00
631.00

5,600.00
707.00

3 8,078.90
2,034.50

763.40

2.950.00

2,251.00

1,213.00

2,063.50

10,023.00

19,263.90

6.9

8.819.00

72.50

80.00

535.00

4,125.00

13,631.50

4.9

152.50
231.00
2,967.20 1,642.15
9,547.35 15,154.40
9,745.00
386.75
36.00

221.30
1.437.80
23,850.00
32,077.25
400.00

177.50 2 2,710.00 1.0
7.553.00
15,372.65 5.5
55,028.00 3 115,179.80 40.7
9.666.00 354,303.90 19.3
25.00
1,793.25
.7
2.9
.8

1,685.75 1,374.05
5,512.50 7,280.60 11,362.80 23,541.50 350,757.30 17.3
Total................. 14,134.95 21,339.75 331,118.80 26,838.65 373,249.55 116,446.00 3 283,127.70 100.0

1 Includes renovation of two rooms.
be2m a^i^Janum -yhar86S iOT housing are included only in part; payment for such charges will have to
3 This total is not the correct sum of the items, but is as given in the original table.
1 Expenditures were relatively small because most of the clothing was made at home.
6 The family was well provided with shoes, therefore no new shoes were bought during the 6 months

n n n p r tpv ipw

°

The preceding table illustrates clearly the enormous rise of the
cost of living in Germany during the last six months of 1922 and
what proportion the principal items of expenditure form of the total
household expenses. In December, 1922, the total expenditures
were 8.2 times as large as in July, 1922, and those for food 10.1
times as large. The expenditures for rent, heat, light, and food
formed 47.2 per cent of the six months’ budget so that only 52.8
per cent was left to meet all other requirements.
1 Metallarbeiter-Zeitung, Stuttgart, Jan. 27, 1923.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[747]

W AGES AN D H O U RS O F LABOR.

Wages and Hours of Labor in the Automobile Industry in 1922.

VERAGE earnings per hour, average full-time hours per week,
and average full-time earnings per week in 1922 are here
presented for employees in the automobile industry in the
United States. The compilation includes establishments engaged in
the production of passenger cars, trucks, bodies, and parts. The
averages were computed from individual hours and earnings of
56,309 employees.
The data were taken by agents of the bureau directly from the pay
rolls and other records of 49 representative establishments located
in Michigan, Ohio, New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and
Illinois, which States, according to the United States census of 1919,
contain 92 per cent of the total number of wage earners in the auto­
mobile industry in the country. The number of wage earners for
which averages are shown in the table following is 16 per cent of the
total wage earners in the industry.
The automobile industry is comparatively new. In 1899 it was
so unimportant that data concerning it were reported by the United
States census as part of the carriage and wagon industry. Since 1899
its increase has been most phenomenal. The number of wage earn­
ers in the industry by years since 1899, according to the United
States census, was 12,049 in 1904, 75,721 in 1909, 127,092 in 1914,
and 343,115 in 1919. The number of wage earners in 1919 is more
than 28 times the number in 1904. The average annual earnings
per wage earner as computed from the United States census data
increased from $594 in 1904 to $643 in 1909, to $802 in 1914, and to
$1,431 in 1919.
The great majority of wage earners in the industry are pieceworkers
with their average earnings per hour dependent therefor upon the
number of pieces or jobs completed in a given period of time. Since
1899 the industry has passed through a period of many experiments
and radical changes. Improved organization and the development
and installation of improved machinery have greatly increased the
output of the establishments and the average output per man per
hour.
The data summarized in the following table were drawn from a
representative pay roll of each establishment canvassed. I he data
were taken from the July records of 1 establishment; the August
records of 2 establishments; the September records of 5 establish­
ments; the October records of 24 establishments; the November
records of 14 establishments; and the December records of 3 estab­
lishments. The great mass of the data, therefore, is as of October
and November, 1922.
I t will be observed at the end of the table below that averages are
shown for 54,930 male employees in 49 establishments and for 1,379

A

56

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[ 748]

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.

57

females in 29 establishments; that the average earnings per hour of
males in all occupations is SO.662 and of females $0,438; that the
average full-time hours per week for both males and females are
approximately 50 ; and that the average full-time earnings per week
of males in all occupations are $33.19 and of females in all coccupations, $22.05.
Studying the several occupations it is seen that the average earn­
ings per hour of males (apprentices excepted) range from $0,495 for
laborers to $0,931 for varnishers, stripers, and letterers, and of
females from $0,352 for inspectors to $0,680 for “ other skilled em­
ployees.”
Average earnings per hour for each occupation were computed by
dividing the total earnings of all employees in the occupation by the
total hours worked by all employees in the occupation. Likewise,
average full-time hours per week were found by dividing the total
full-time hours per week of all employees by the total number of em­
ployees. Average full-time earnings per week were computed by
multiplying the average earnings per hour by the average full-time
hours per week.
The days of operation in the 12 months ending October 31, 1922,
of 48 of the 49 establishments covered in 1922 range from 104 to 307,
and the average is 283 days; 1 establishment did not begin opera­
tions until January 1, 1922. The difference between the average
days of operation and a possible full time of 313 days was due to
the following conditions: Two establishments did not operate any
Saturday; 15 establishments were closed by lack of orders, business
depression, or receivership from 2 to 203 days; 11 establishments
were closed for inventory, the loss of time ranging from 2 to 16 days;
2 establishments were closed by lack of materials from 11 to 13 days;
48 establishments were closed "for holidays from 5 to 8 days; and 8
establishments were closed for other causes from 1 to 6 days.
AVERAGE FULL-TIME HOURS PER WEEK, EARNINGS PER HOUR, AND FULL-TIME
EARNINGS PER W EEK IN THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY, BY OCCUPATIONS AND
SEX, 1922.
Number Number Average
Average
of estab­ of em­ full-time earnings
lish­
hours
ments. ployees. per week. per hour.

Occupation'and sex.

Apprentices, male...................
Assemblers, axle and frame, male...
Assemblers, chassis, male.................
Assemblers, final, male..............
Assemblers, final, female...............
Assemblers, motor, male......................
Assemblers, motor, female...................
Bench hands, machine shop, male__
Bench hands, machine shop, female........
Blacksmiths, skilled, male.......................
Blacksmiths, general, male..................
Body builders, male.......................................................
Boring-mill operators, male...........................................
Drill-press operators, male.............................................
Drill-press operators, female..........................................
Gear-cutter operators, male...........................................
Grinding-machine operators, male...............................
Grinding-machine operators, female............................
Hardeners, male..............................................................
Helpers, male..................................................................
Helpers, female................................................................
Inspectors, male..............................................................
Inspectors, female...........................................................
Laborers, male................................................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[749]

19
37
41
46
7
41
2
35
4
34
34
26
30
42
5
30
38
2
29
43
1
44
7
47

300
1,127
1,357
3,108
170
2,147
2
2,176
14
388
656
1,604
392
3,443
44
497
2,574
3
667
1,042
7
2, 808
197
5,982

52.5
49.6
50.2
50.3
49.1
50.0
.52. .5
50.0
49.6
50.0
49.6
50.7
50.2
49.6
51.4
50.2
50.0
52.9
51.7
50.8
44.5
50.1
51.2
50.2

Average
full-time
earnings
per week.

SO. 385
.675
.647
.672
.621
.661

$20.21
33.45
32.48
33.82
30.52
33.03

.670
.546
.810
.698
.718
.701
.644
.447
.678
.710
.572
.676
.531
.381
.608
.352
.495

33.47
27.10
40.54
34.62
36.41
35.22
31.96
22.99
34.07
35.47
30.28
34.97
26.95
16.95
30.45
18.03
24.86

58

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

AVERAGE FULL-TIME HOURS PER WEEK, EARNINGS PER HOUR, AND FULL-TIME
EARNINGS PER WEEK IN THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY, BY OCCUPATIONS AND
SEX, 1922—Concluded.
Number Number Average Average
of estab­ of em­ full-time earnings
hours
lish­
ments. ployees. per week. per hour.

Occupation and sex.

Average
full-time
earnings
per week.

50.5
49.5
52.0
50.0
50.0
50.7
50.7
50.6
49.3
50.4
49.4
50.6
50.2
50.0
49.0
50.5
50.7
50.2
50.5
51.2
50.0
50.8
51.8
49.4
50.6
50.8
50.9
49.5
49.0
49.9
49.1

SO. 385
.689
.463
.715
.659
.394
.733
.723
.738
.756
.715
.618
.688
.399
.748
.442
.780

19
18
37
25
37
3
47
10

46
2,950
12
1,291
1,591
14
2,114
177
165
564
1,096
480
1,673
10
101
505
779
1,304
666
489
3,097
1,410
18
182
202
762
501
1,659
15
3,611
120

.610
.633
.769
.778
.468
.595
.438
.931
.870
.710
.680
.644
.471

$19,46
34.13
24.07
35.78
32.94
19.98
37.17
36.56
36.40
38.08
35.31
31.29
34.56
19.95
36.65
22.32
39.53
32.92
30.80
32.43
38.47
39.55
24.26
29.40
22.14
47.26
44.27
35.15
33.34
32.13
23.15

49
29

54,930
L379

50.1
50.3

.662
.438

33.19
22.05

Laborers, female..............................................................
Lathe operators, male....................................................
Lathe operators, female..................................................
Machinists, male.............................................................
Milling-machine operators, male...................................
Milling-machine operators^ female................................
Painters, general, male.... ..............................................
Paint sprayers, male.......................................................
Planer and shaper operators, male...............................
Polishers and buffers, male...........................................
Punch-press operators, male.........................................
Sandblasters, male.........................................................
Screw-machine operators, m ale....................................
Screw-machine operators, female............... ..................
Sewing-machine operators, male..................................
Sewing-machine operators, female...............................
Sheet-metal workers, skilled, male..............................
Sheet-meta 1workers, genera 1, m ale..............................
Testers, final and road, male.........................................
Testers, motor, male................................................... -.
Toolmakers, male...........................................................
Top builders, m ale.........................................................
Top builders, female.......................................................
Trim-bench hands, male................................................
Trim-bench hands, female.............................................
Varnishers, stripers, and letterers, m ale.....................
Varnish rubbers, male....................................................
Other skilled employees, male......................................
Other skilled employees, female...................................
Other employees, male..................................................
Other employees, female................................................

5
41
3
41
39
3
47
34
21
28
27
32
34
1
11
27
32
35
41
38
40
36

All occupations, male.....................................................
All occupations, female..................................................

5

Wag es and Hours of Labor in S h eet Mills in 1922.

HE United States Department of Labor, through the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, presents herewith summary figures on
wages and hours of labor in representative sheet mills of the
United States.
As shown by a combination of the data for the principal productive
occupations the average earnings per hour in this branch of the
iron and steel industry in 1922, as compared with 1920, show a de­
crease of 36 per cent; as compared with 1913, an increase of 47 per
cent; and as compared with 1910, an increase of 75 per cent. The
changes in average full-time weekly earnings in a general way fol­
lowed the changes in hourly earnings.
Average customary full-time hours decreased 1 per cent between
1910 and 1920, with slight variations in intervening years.
Index numbers for customary full-time hours, hourly earnings, and
full-time weekly earnings in the principal productive occupations of
the industry combined, are shown below, based on the figures of 1913—
that is, 1913 = 100.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[750]

59

WAGES AiSTD HOURS OF LABOR.

IN DEX NUMBERS OF WAGES AND HOURS IN SHEET MILLS, PRINCIPAL PRODUCTIVE
OCCUPATIONS COMBINED.
[1913=100.]
CustomaryEarnings
full-time
per hour.
hours
per week.

Year.

102
102
101
100
100
101
104
99
100
101

1910...................................
1911...................................
1912...................................
1913...................................
1914...................................
1915...................................
1917...................................
1919...................................
1920...................................
1922...................................

Full-time
weekly
earnings.

84
91
93
100
101
92
178
193
229
147

85
92
04
100
101
92
183
195
240
156

In the table that follows are shown the most significant facts con­
cerning average hours and average earnings for each of the principal
productive occupations in the sheet mills in the period from 1910 to
1922. Data for 1922 were obtained from 14 plants. In 1917 only
8 plants were covered. In certain years data were not collected.
The index numbers above are computed from a combination of the
data for the principal occupations here shown.
While the increase in hourly earnings in 1922 over 1913 is 47 per
cent for the combined occupations as a whole, the figures naturally
vary for the several occupations. Rollers show an increase of only
28 per cent, while shearmen’s helpers show 156 per cent above 1913.
Laborers are 87 per cent higher than in 1913 but 34 per cent lower
than in 1920.
The table below also shows index numbers for customary full-time
hours per week, earnings per hour, and full-time weekly earnings for
each occupation concerning which data are available back to 1913,
the base year. In addition percentage distribution is made of
employees in the several occupations according to customary full-time
hours per week.
AVERAGE CUSTOMARY FULL-TIME HOURS PER WEEK, AVERAGE EARNINGS PER
HOUR, AND AVERAGE FULL-TIME WEEKLY EARNINGS IN SHEET MILLS IN THE
UNITED STATES, BY OCCUPATIONS, 1910 TO 1922.
[1913=100.]

Occupation
and year.

Num­ Aver­
age
Num­ ber
full­
of time
ber of em­
plants. ploy- hours
per
ees. week.

Aver­
Aver­ age
full­
age
earn­ time
ings week­
per
ly
hour. earn­
ings.

Index numbers
of—
Full­
time
hours
per
week.

FuHEarn­ time
ings week­
per
ly
hour. earn­
ings.

Per cent of employees whose fuUtime hours per week were—
Over
Over
Over
72
60
48 48
and and 60 and 72 and 84
un­
un­
un­ un­
der
der
der. der
84.
60.
72.

P a i r h e a te r s .

1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1917
1919
1920
1922..................

9
9
9
13
15
15
8
h

13
14

210
255
249
336
399
354
276
382
521
576

38784°—23-----5

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

42.7 80.466
42. 7 .502
42. 7 .517
42. 8 .543
42. 8 .540
42. 8 .518
43.7 1.038
43.4 1.046
43. 4 1. 386
.880
43.3

819.89
21.42
22.06
23. 23
23.10
22.17
45.48
45.40
60.13
37.84

100
100
100
100
100
100
102
101
101
101

[751]

86
92
100
99
95
191
193
255
162

86
92
95
100
99
95
195
195
259
163

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

60

MONTHLY LABOE BEVIEW.

AVERAGE CUSTOMARY FULL-TIME HOURS PER WEEK, AVERAGE EARNINGS PER
HOUR, AND AVERAGE FULL-TIME WEEKLY EARNINGS IN SHEET MILLS IN T H E
UNITED STATES, BY OCCUPATIONS, 1910 TO 1922—Continued.
[1913=100.]

Occupation
and year.

NumNum­ ber
of
ber of em­
plants. ploy­
ees.

Average
fulltime
hours
per
week.

Index numbers
of—
Aver­
Aver- age
age
full­
Full­
earn­ time Full­
ings week­ time Earn­ time
per
ings
week­
ly
per
hour. earn­ hours
ly
per hour.
earnings. week.
iugs.

Per cent of employees whose full­
time hours per week were—
Over
Over
Over
48 48
72
60
and and 60 and 72 and 84
un­ un­
un­
un­
der. der
der
der
60.
72.
84.

' '
R o l le r s .

1910 ..............
1911
1912 ............
1913 .
1914 .
1915 ..............
1917 .
1919 ................
1920..................
1922..................

9
9
9
13
15
15
8
11
13
14

215 42.7 $1.242 852.98
259 42.7 1.380 58. 89
252 42.7 1. 416 60.41
335 42.8 1.476 63.21
394 42.8 1. 431 61.20
348 42.9 1.280 54.80
276 43.7 2. 591 113.47
342 43.5 2.536 110.32
464 43.4 2. 976 129.10
501 43.8 1.894 82.84

100
100
100
100
100
100
102
102
101
102

84
93
96
100
97
87
172
202
128

84
93
96
100
97
87
ISO
175
204
131

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

R o l le r s , lev e lhanded.

1920 ................
1922..................

44
39

42.7
44.5

1.516
1.071

64.73
47.66

6
8
10
10
10
11
11

115 42.7
171 42.7
264 42.9
233 42.9
271 43.0
437 42.8
487 42.9

.474
.503
.555
.461
1.010
1.092
.721

20.21
21.48
23.77
19.77
43. 43
46.80
30.90

100
100
100
100
101
100
100

94
101
110
92
201
217
143

94
100
111
92
202
218
144

100
100
100
100
100
100
100

9
9
9
13
15
15
8
11
13
14

215
399
353
276
367
528
590

42.7
42.7
42.7
42.8
42.8
42.8
43.7
43.5
43.4
44.3

.558 23.82
.603 25. 71
.616 26.29
.642 27.49
.648 27. 73
.619 26. 51
1.285 56. 27
1.289 56.07
1. 584 68. 69
.994 43.80

100
100
100
100
100
100
102
102
101
104

87
94
96
100
101
96
200
201
247
155

87
94
96
100
101
96
205
204
250
159

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
1:10
100
100

9
9
9
13
15
8
11
13
14

215
258
252
336
399
350
276
407
552
589

42.7
.544 23.19
42.7
.537 25.03
.603 25.71
42.7
42.8
.629 26. 92
42.8
.636 27.23
42.8 .595 25.49
43. 7 1.256 54.92
43.6 1.199 52.28
43.4 1.532 66.43
43.3
.962 41.57

100
100
100
100
100
100
102
102
101
101

87
93
96
100
101
95
200
191
244
153

8«
93
96
100
101
95
204
194
247
154

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

9
9
9
13
15
15
8
11
13
14

210
255
249
336
399
354
276
398
642
743

42.7
.387
.418
42.7
42.7
.429
42.8
.448
42. 8 .484
42.8
.475
43.7
.946
43.5
.981
43.4 1.225
43.3
.791

100
100
100
100
100
100
102
102
101
101

86
93
96
100
108
106
211
219
273
177

86
93
96
100
108
106
216
223
277
179

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

5
3

100
100

R o l l e r ’s h e lp e r s
o r f in i s h e r s .

1912..................
1913..................
1914..................
1915..................
1919..................
1920..................
1922..................
R o u g h ers.

1910..................
1911..................
1912..................
1913..................
1914..................
1915..................
1917..................
1919..................
1920..................
1922..................

252

C a tc h e rs.

1910..................
1911..................
1912..................
1913..................
1914..................
1915..................
1917..................
1919..................
1920..................
1922..................
M a tc h e r s .

1910..................
1911..................
1912..................
1913..................
1914..................
1915..................
1917..................
1919..................
1920..................
1922..................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

16. 53
17. 83
18.30
19.16
20. 70
20.34
41.39
42.67
53.12
34.06

[752]

WAGES AUD HOURS OF LABOR

61

AVERAGE CUSTOMARY FULL-TIME HOURS PER WEEK, AVERAGE EARNINGS PER
HOUR, AND AVERAGE FULL-TIME WEEKLY EARNINGS IN SHEET MILLS IN THE
UNITED STATES, BY OCCUPATIONS, 1910 TO 1922—Continued.
[1913=100.]

Occupation
and year.

Aver­
Num­ Aver­
age
age Aver­
age
fullNum­ ber
full­
of
earn­
time
ber of em­ time ings week­
plants. ploy­
hours per
ly
per ¡hour. earn­
ees. week.
ings.

Index numbers
•of—
Full­ Earn­ Full­
time
time
week­
.•hours ings
per
ly
per hour.
earn­
week.
ings.

Per
ti
Over

48 48
and and
un­ un­
der. der
60.

D o u b le r s .

1910..................
1911................
1912...............1913.................
1914..................
1915........ ..........
1917..................
1919..................
1920..................
1922..................

9
9
9
13
15
15
8
11
13
14

210
252
2.46
336
399
354
276
437
658
731

42.7 $0.372 *15. 86
.401 17.10
42.7
.412 17.58 :
42.7
42. ¡8 .429 18. 34
; 19.75
42.8 : .462 ■
42.8
.453 : 19. 42
.906 39. 57
43.7
.921 39. 97
43.4
43.4 , 1. 206 52.32
.775 33.42
43.3

9
9
9
12
14
14
8
11
13
14

215
259
253
307
364
324
276
332
424
499

42.7
42.7
42.7 :
42.8 i
42. 8
42.9
43. 7 :
43.-5
43.4
43.3

.883 1 37.68
.911 38.88
. 949 40.51
.993 • 42.50
.966 j 41. 34
.868 37.19
1.879 82.36
1.849 80.43
2.151 93.29
1.380 59.74

2
2
2
3
8

14
56
34
15
94
90

42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
43.9
43.3

.707
.762
.686
1.316
1.661
.995

11
12
13

174
215
208
230
309
275
216
286
367
454

42.7
42.7
42.7
42.9
42.8
42.9
43.2
43.1
42.7
42.8

.377
.436
.439
.483
.485
.458
.859
.926
1. ¡40
.727

16.07
18.59
18. 71
20.70
20.73
19. 60
37.21
39. 91
48. 68
31.13

7
'7
7
■8
10
10
7
11
8
12

85
104
105
114
136
115
•149
221
122
190

46.0 i
44.9
44.9
42.9
42. 9
43.0
43.5
43.3
43.5
43.3

.689
.722
.768
.814
.860
.827
1.399
1.463
1.891
1.173

30.79
32.86
34.67
34.90
36.84
35.48
60.90
63. 35
82.22
50. 82

100
100
100
100
100
100
102
101
101
101

■87
93
96
100
108
106
211 '
215 1
281
181

86
93
96
100
108
106
216
218
285
182

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
102
102
101
101

89 :
92
.96
100
.97
’87
189
186
217
139

89
91
95
100
97
88
194
189 ;
220
141

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
108
•97
186 >.
235
141

100
108
97
186 i
237
137 ‘

100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
.100
100
100
101
100
100
100

78
90
91
100
100
95
177
192
236
151

78 ;
90
90
100
100
95
180
193
235
150

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

10.7
105
105
100
100
100
101
101
101
101

>85 •
89
94
100
106 ■
102
172
180
232
144

88
94
99
100
106
102
175
182
236
146

86
90
90
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

S h e e t h e a te r s .

1910............. .
1911.................
1912..................
1913................
1914................
1915....... ...........
1917............. .
1919..................
1920_____ ___ ;
1922..................
S h e e t h e a te r s ,
le v e l-h a n d e d .

1913..................
1914..................
1915..................
1919..................
1920.......... ...... 1
1922..................

3

;

;

30.17
100
32.65
100
29. 27 100
100
56.19
71.45 401 ;
41.33 ; 101

S h e e t h e a te r s ’
h e lp e r s .

1910.............. .
1911..................
1912............. .
1913..................
1914..................
1915............. .
1917.................
1919..................
1920..................
1922............. .

8
8
8
10
13
13
«

S h earm en .

1910.................
1911..................
1912..................
1913................
1914..................
1915____ _____
1917..................
1919..................
1920..................
1922..................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[753]

Over
Over
60
72
and 72 and 84
un­
un­
der
der
72.
84.

62

M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW,

AVERAGE CUSTOMARY FULL-TIME HOURS PER WEEK. AVERAGE EARNINGS PER
HOUR, AND AVERAGE FULL-TIME WEEKLY EARNINGS IN SHEET MILLS IN THE
UNITED STATES, BY OCCUPATIONS, 1910 TO 1922—Concluded.

Num­ Aver
age
Num­ ber full­
Occupation ber of of time
em­
and year.
plants. ploy­ hours
per
ees. week.

Index numbers Per cent of employees whose full­
of—
time hours per week were—
Aver­
Aver­ age
age full­
Full­
Over
Over
Over
earn­ time Full­
72
60
ings week­ time Earn­ time 48 48
and
and
and
ings
week­
per
ly
84
60 un­ 72 and
un­
un­
un­
per
hour. earn­ hours
ly
per hour. earn­ der. der
der
der
ings. week.
72.
84.
ings.
60.

S h e a r m e n ’s
h e lp e r s .

1Q10
7Q11
1Q19
1Q12

1914

1Q15
1Q1 7
1Q1Q
1Q90

1922

6
6
6
7
9
9
6
11
7
12

62 46. 4 $0.261 $11. 99
83 44. 9 .308 13. 59
.290 12. 88
77 45.1
111 42. 9 .251 10. 77
128 42 9
282 12 09
146 43. 8 .242 10. 59
120 43. 2 .533 23.06
196 43. 7 .682 29. 80
155 43. 7 .983 42. 91
265 43.4 .642 27.69

108
105
105
100
100
102
101
102
102
101

104
123
116
100
112
96
220
272
392
256

126
120
100
112
98
214
277
398
257

84
90
90
100
100
95
100
98
100
100

7
7
7
6
9
9
6
10
6
11

138
167
180
168
200
180
175
266
198
415

12.57
12.35
13.04
12. 56
12.06
11. 93
28.70
28.60
52.13
31.23

101
100
101
100
94
96
95
96
97
96

98
99
104
100
101
98
237
235
426
262

100
98
104
100
96
95
229
228
415
249

86
89
87
88
100
96
100
99
100
100

hi

16
10
10
2

3
2

O pen ers.

1Q10

1Q11
1Q19
1Q13
1Q14
1Q15
1Q17
1Q1Q
1Q90

1Q22

46.0
.274
45. 2 . 275
45. 8 .289
45. 4 .279
42. 8 .282
43.6
.273
43. 3 .662
43.6
.656
44. 0 1.188
43.5 .731

14
11
13
12
2

2

1

Openers,

le v e l handed.

1
4

1Q20
1Q22

40 42.7
45 42.7

1.114
.608

100
100

47.57
25.30

P i c lc le r s .

1Q10

1911
1912
1913
1914
1915...
1919
1920
1922..................

4
5
5
8
9
9
7
7
11

50
58
39
71
121
126
67
65
106

70. 8
71.2
71.7
68.1
69. 6
69. 8
68.3
51. 5
65.9

.181 12.75
.177 12.54
. 186 13.23
.216 14. 49
.211 14. 55
.209 14. 44
.600 40. 98
. 792 41.13
.508 33. 51

104
105
105
100
102
102
100
76
97

84
82
86
100
98
97
278
367
235

88
87
91
100
100
100
283
284
231

77
8

10
9
13
7
4
3
24
6
5
8 7

41
32

7

11
7
6

90
16 69
15 56
8 73
8 81
6 84
70
17 2
42 5

31

20
10

39
30

9

12

64
53
54
37
26
32
73
8 51
10 20
29 31

13
25
26
13
32
30
26
13
11
8

16
16
15
28
26
18
2
28
22
32

1

7
15

....

F eed ers.

5
8

1920
1922..

41 56. 8
119 61.4

.704
.500

39.39
30. 66

L aborers.

1910 ................
1911.............
1912.............
1913..........
1914........
1915...........
1917

1919
1920..................
1922..................

9
9
9
13
15
15
8
9
ii
13


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

347
361
354
351
378
394
656
270
866
808

63.1
63.6
63. 5
64.9
65.9
65.0
61. 8
64. 5
59. 5
65.2

.164 10.35
. 166 10.54
.169 10.72
. 190 12. 28
. 188 12. 37
. 188 12. 21
.331 20. 46
.462 29. 80
.536 32.01
.356 23.06

97
98
98
100
102
100
95
99
92
100

[754]

86
87
89
100
99
99
174
243
282
187

84
86
87
100
101
99
167
243
261
188

4
5
4
17
10
10
32

1
4
3
8
5

3
2
1
2
1

WAGES AND H OUES OF LABOE.

63

Wage Rate for Unskilled Labor in Connecticut.

HE Manufacturers’ Association of Connecticut (Inc.), in its
publication, Connecticut Industry, for March, 1923, gives
some data concerning the course of hourly rates for common
labor in that State.

T

According to a survey made by the association in cooperation w ith the secretaries
of local associations in 12 industrial districts of the State, the average hourly hiring
rate for unskilled or common male labor now averages 35 cents. The minimum
hourly hiring rate is 20 cents and the maxim um hiring rate is 40 cents. In the prin­
cipal industrial districts it is safe to say that the average hourly hiring rate is between
35 cents and 40 cents per hour.
D uring the peak period hiring rates for common labor in 12 m anufacturing districts
averaged 46.7 cents per hour. D uring the year 1914 the average rate was 19.1 cents
per hour. From the year 1914 to the peak period common labor hirin g rates advanced
144.5 per cent. B y A p ril, 1922, the rate was reduced to an average of 30.7 cents per
hour, or 60.7 per cent above the 1914 average. Between A p ril, 1922, and February,
1923, the hiring rates advanced to an average of 35 cents per hour, or 14 per cent.
Based on an average hourly rate of 35 cents, the rates as of February, 1923, are 83.2
per cent above the 1914 level.

Wages and Hours of Labor in Nevada.

HE following summary of employees, wages, and hours of labor
in the industries of Nevada is that published in the fourth
biennial report of the commissioner of labor of that State,
1921-1922.

T

AVERAGE DAILY WAGE AND HOURS OF LABOR OF EMPLOYEES, BY INDUSTRIES.

Industry.

Average
days
Number Average
Average Average Average
pay for worked
of em­ ofage
wages
hours
em­
October,
in
Oc­
ployees. ployees. per day. per day. 1921.
tober,
1921.

Farming and stock raising.....................................
Mines, mills, and quarries......................................
Manufacturing industries.......................................
Railroads_.7................................................
Trades and merchandise........................................
Public service.........................................................
Professional service.................................................
Hotels, cafés, and saloons.......................................
Telegraph and telephones......................................
Transfers and garages.............................................
Laundries, dyers, cleaners......................................

3,845
4,658
1,024
5,706
2,369
1,478
162
970
227
385
187

34.1
38. 5
36.1
35.3
34.1
36.7
32.3
37.9
28.8
32.0
33.8

$2.44
5.24
5.34
3.64
4. 80
5.18
4.25
3. 46
3.99
5. 54
4.05

9.3
8.0
8.0
8.1
8.0
7.5
8.3
8. 3
7.9
8.4
8.5

$65.77
118. 32
133. 40
138. 84
125. 84
136. 95
113. 02
98.45
105. 82
143.68
100.35

27.0
26.4
24.7
24.7
25.9
25.6
26.7
28.6
25.6
26.2
23.7

All industries.................................................

21,011

35.4

4.41

8.4

119.94

25.9

Total number of firm s reporting.......................................................... 2, 540
Average number of regular employees............................................... 22,157
Number of employees used in busy season....................................... 32, 677
Minimum number of regular employees............................................ 16, 714


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[755]

64

M O N TH LY LABOE. REVIEW.

Average Earnings in New York State Factories in January, 1923.

VERAGE earnings declined slightly in January, 1923, in the
New York State manufacturing industries, according to a
recent press release from the State industrial commissioner.
The reduction for all industries taken together was 18 cents. Aver­
age weekly earnings, however, in January, 1923, were $1.76 above
those in January, 1922.

A

An unusually large number of wage rate increases was reported in January, some as
high as 20 per cent. A general increase was granted in the printing establishments in
New Y o rk C ity , and in the glove factories up-State, and scattering increases were
reported, especially in the metal working industries. The wage increases affected
over 27,000 employees. Wage rates were reduced in the fur garment factories, as
usual in January. No im portant decreases in wage scales have been reported in
several months.
The average w eekly earnings for a ll m anufacturing industries combined were
$26.22 in January. The highest average earnings in any industry were those of $34.39
in the printing and publishing industry. Average w eekly earnings of $30 or more
were also reported in the iron and steel m ills, the automobile and railw ay equipment
factories and railw ay repair shops, in the fur industry, the breweries, the gas and
electric plants, and, on account of the busy season, in the women’s clothing factories.
Average w eekly earnings were less than $20 only in the kn ittin g m ills, the silk m ills,
the men’s shirt and collar factories, the miscellaneous sewing industries, the laundries,
and the cigar and cigarette factories.

In January most of the sewing trades are busy. The women’s
clothing factories reported the largest gain in weekly earnings ($2.88)
during that month of the present year. The greatest decline in any
industry in average weekly earnings was in the fur industry. The
heaviest general reduction, however, took place in the industries
furnishing the basic building materials, especially brick and cement.

Wages of Chinese Bakers in Hongkong.

CONSULAR report dated January 2, 1923, gives the wage in­
creases of workers in Chinese bakeries in Hongkong which
were agreed upon as a result of a partial strike among these
workers in December.
The wages, given in Hongkong currency ($1=51.51 cents, par),
were to be increased 45 per cent for workers receiving monthly wages
ranging from $2 to $5 on a stipulated date, 35 per cent for wages
from $6 to $10, 25 per cent for wages from $11 to $20, 20 per cent for
wages from $21 to $30, and 15 per cent for wages of $31 per month
and over. The minimum wages of small boys were fixed at $2 per
month.

A


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WAGES A1STD HOUES OF LABOR.

65

Termination oi Eight-Hour Working-Day Agreement in Denmark and
of Agreements in Norway.
Denmark.

CCORDING to Arbejdsgiveren, January 5, 1923 (pp. 2, 3), the
Danish Employers’ Association has given notice to the Con­
federated Trade Unions of the termination on April 1,1923, of
the eight-hour working day agreement concluded May 17, 1919, and
extended April 4, 1922, by joint agreement between the two organi­
zations.1
The reason given for this action is the resolution adopted in Octo­
ber, 1922, by the Confederated Trade Unions at their general meeting
stating that “ a general meeting can not conclude agreements con­
cerning wages and working conditions on behalf of the unions affili­
ated or without their consent.” According to the employers’ notice
the confederation still retains the right to conclude agreements on
other questions of general interest, as, for example, the maximum
working-day. The employers’ association believes that the same
considerations which led to the unions being given free scope with
regard to wages should lead to their being given control with regard
to all other questions respecting agreements, including working
hours.
According to a report from the American legation at Copenhagen
under date of December 30, 1922, the expiration of the collective
agreement regarding the eight-hour day will have no practical effect
on labor conditions in Denmark in 1923 as in practically all of the
trades the agreements have been extended to the spring of 1924.
The agreements are all based on the eight-hour working day.

A

Norway.

A RBEJDSGIVEREN, February 2, 1923 (Copenhagen), states that
the Norwegian Employers’ Association has notified the National
Federation of Trade Unions of the termination of all arbitration
awards and agreements which expire May 1 of this year. This is
effective among others for the bakeries, breweries, mineral-water
factories, mills, and wood manufactures. The employers have also
terminated a number of agreements with leather and fur trades, the
bookbinders, and carton factories. May notices affect 15,000 workers
and notices issued a month ago for the April agreements affect 40,000
to 50,000 workers.
1See Monthly

L

abor


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

R eview ,

July, 1922, p. 177.

[757 ]

66

M O NTH LY LABOE REVIEW.

Wages in the Leather and Printing industries in Paris, 1922.

HE Bulletin du Ministère du Travail, October-November-December, 1922 (pp. 420, 421), gives the wages in the saddlery and
leather and printing industries in Paris and the Department
of the Seine which were fixed by the interadministrative commission
of the civil and military administrations after consultation with the
joint commissions of employers ànd employees. The wage agree­
ment in the saddlery and leather goods industries which was ap­
proved April 26, 1922, established for the skilled workers (cutters,
finishers, saddle makers, and saddle sewers) an hourly wage of 3
francs (57.9 cents, par), which includes the cost-of-living bonus.
A similar agreement was reached by the civil and military interadministrative commission and the joint committees of employers
and employees in the printing industry. For overtime worked by
compositors, proof readers, and printers, the increases in the hourly
rate amounts to 33 per cent for the first two hours, 50 per cent for
the two hours following, and 100 per cent thereafter.
The following table shows the hourly rates and the cost-of-living
bonus for the different occupations in the printing trades, effective
July 8, 1922, and for unskilled workers in the saddlery and leather
industry:

T

HOURLY WAGES IN PRINTING AND IN SADDLERY AND LEATHER INDUSTRY, IN
PARIS AND THE SEINE, 1922.
[Franc at par=19.3 cents.]

Industry and occupation.

Hourly
rate.

P r in tin g .

S a d d l e r y a n d le a th e r .
F ran cs.

Finishers, assistant........................
Hammerers....................................
Laborers.........................................
Foot-machine operators, fem ale..
Power-machine operators, female.
Trimmers........................................
Sewers.............................................
Warehouse girls.............................
Shop girls.......................................

Industry and occupation.

1 2.25
1 2.40

12.10

12.35
12. 25

U . 80

11.60
i l . 45
1 0. 70-1. 50

Hourly
rate.
F ran cs.

Compositors................................................
Proof readers..............................................
Pressmen....................................................
Platen-machine m en.................................
Feeders and layers-on...............................
Receivers....................................................
Pressmen, lithograph................................
Transfer makers, lithograph.....................
Stitchers and binders, male......................
Stitchers and binders, female...................

2 2.50
2 2.50
3 2.50
3 2.25
2 2.00
2.80
13 . 70
13 . 70
13 . 05
11.85

i Including cost-of-living bonus.
2 Plus cost-of-living bonus of 0.70 franc.
3 Plus cost-of-living bonus of 0.70 franc, except for workers under 18 years of age, 0.25 franc.

^
Production and Wages in a German Steel Works, 1913 to 1921.

HE annual reports of the German factory inspection service for
the year 1921 throw some light on the much discussed ques­
tion as to how the eight-hour day has affected production in
the iron and steel industry. The report, for instance, of the chief
inspector for the district of Düsseldorf contains a table1 which
shows the movement of production and wages in a large iron and
steel works during the period 1913 to 1921, giving data as to the
average number of workers employed each month, the number of
shifts worked per month, the amount of the monthly pay roll, the

T

i Germany. [Statistisches Reichsamt.]
Jahresberichte der Gewerbe-Aufsichtsbeamten
Bergbehörden für das Jahr 1921. Berlin, 1922. Vol. I, pp. 525-528.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[758]

und

WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOE.

67

total monthly production of iron and steel, the average wage rate
per hour, shift, and month, the increase of wages expressed in index
numbers, the labor cost per metric ton of steel, and the per capita
production of steel-per shift and month. Part of these data are
reproduced in the following table:
WAGES AND PEE CAPITA OUTPUT OF A LARGE GERMAN STEEL WORKS, 1913 TO
OCTOBER, 1921.
[1 mark at par=23.8 cents; 1 metric ton=2,204.6 pounds.]
Hourly
wage rate.

Month and
year.

19131.................
19141.................
1915 1.................
19161.................
19171.................
19181.................
1919 i.................
1920:
January__
February..
March...'...
April..........
May............
June...........
July............
August___
September.

Pro­
duc­
tion
Labor
of
Num­
cost
steel
ber of
per
per
work­
metric work­
ers. Amt. Index
of er per
num ­ ton
ber. steel. shift
(met­
ric
tons).
M k s.

7,377 0.52
6,618 .52
5,101
.55
6,075 .62
6,776 .81
6,977
.99
7,983 2.42
8,724
8,225
8,057
7,672
8,210
8,528
8,821
8,668
8,828

M ks.

100
100
106
119
156
191
466

14.03 0.372
12.90 .403
13.86 .394
15.36 .400
22.79 .353
30.19 .329
96.17
.177

3. 34 642 135.56
4. 23 813 140.40
4.06 780 201.05
5. 60 1080 200.50
6.79 1305 233. 22
6. 56 1262 238.04
6. 47 1242 237. 97
6. 53 1256 271.24
6. 46 1242 249.98

.196
.241
.162
.224
.233
.220
.218
.192
.206

Hourly
wage rate.
Month and
year.

Labor
Num­
cost
ber of
per
work­
metric
ers. Amt. Index
ton
of
num ­ steel.
ber.

Pro­
duc­
tion
of
steel
per
work­
er per
shift
(met­
ric
tons).

1920:
October__ 8,835
N ovember. 8,928
December.. 9,023

M ks.

6.56
7.06
6.88

1262 231.14 0.227
1358 224. 35 .252
1323 232. 68 .237

Average.. 8,543

5.92

1138 217. 81

.217

7.03 1352 318.94
7.01 1348 213. 08
7.06 1358 225. 28
6.86 1319 237. 67
7.18 1381 241.70
6.91 1329 224.14
7.09 1363 232. 83
7. 37 1417 227.10
8.43 1621 258. 03
8.62 1658 294.94

.176
.263
.251
.231
.238
.247
.243
.260
.261
.268

1921:
January__
February..
March........
April..........
May............
June...........
July............
August.......
September.
October__

6,448
8,556
8,580
8,427
8,248
8,327
8,345
8,531
8,702
8,839

M ks.

f 1 Monthly average.

From the preceding table it will be seen that in the steel works in
question the per capita production of steel reached its highest level
during 1914, the first year of the war, with 0.403 metric ton per
shift per worker. After the termination of the war the per capita
production per shift fell to 0.177 ton in 1919. This decrease was in
the first place due to the introduction of the 8-hour day in place of
the 10-hour day, and, secondly, to the general decrease of working
intensity and zest for work as an after-war effect. In March, 1920,
the per capita production reached its lowest level (0.162 metric ton),
owing to political disturbances (the Kapp coup d’état) and general
strikes. Since then production has improved considerably, the
, upward turn being especially pronounced in 1921. In October, 1921,
; the production of iron in the plant investigated amounted to 59,880
: metric tons as compared with a monthly average of 45,303 for 1920,
! and that of steel had during the same period increased from 50,363
I to 68,639 metric tons. In the case of iron the increase in production
i was thus equivalent to 32 per cent and in that of steel to 36 per cent.
' I t should, moreover, be considered that the number of workers
employed in the plant in October, 1921, was only 3 | per cent in
excess of the average number of workers employed in 1920. A com­
parison of the iron and steel production of the plant in October, 1921,^
with the average monthly production for the year 1913, the last year

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[759]

68

MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.

before the outbreak of the war, shows that in October, 1921, the
plant produced 59,880 metric tons of iron and 68,639 metric tons of
steel, as against 64,487 and 71,931 metric tons, respectively, in 1913.
The production of iron in October, 1921, thus amounted to 93 per
cent of pre-war production and that of steel to 95 per cent.
During the period 1913 to 1921 the average hourly rate of wages
of workers in the above plant had increased from 0.52 to 8.62 marks,
or by 1558 per cent. The labor cost per metric ton of steel had
risen from 14.03 to 294.94 marks during the same period.
The chief factory inspector making the report under review states
that a definite opinion on the influence of the 8-hour day upon pro­
duction can not yet be formed. On the basis of experiences during
the last few years employers generally declare that it is impossible
to expect the same per capita output in an 8-hour day as in a 10-hour
day. They contend that the shortening of the working-day by two
full hours is too great to make up by more intensive work for the
consequent decrease in production. The same inspector points out,
on the other hand, that production could be greatly increased by
improved working methods and more modern plant equipment. In
support of this assertion he states that a speedometer factory, through
improved machinery and partial introduction of the Taylor system,
has achieved threefold production in spite of a decrease of its working
force from 200 workers to 80.

Working Hours and Production in British Engineering and Ship­
building Industries.1

T THE beginning of 1919 the British engineering and shipbuilding
trades adopted a 47-hour working week and a one-break day.
Shortly afterwards a demand was made for a further reduction
of the length of the working week to 44 hours. This the employers
opposed as economically impossible. As a result of their opposition
the demand was withdrawn and a joint committee, consisting of six
representatives of employers and six representatives of trade-unions,
was appointed “ to investigate the economic relation of production
to hours of work, and, in this connection, the methods of manufac­
ture in the shipbuilding and engineering industries in this [England]
and other countries.” Information was secured in four ways: (a )
Questionnaires; (b ) visits to works in June and July, 1920, when
business was apparently good; (c) continental visits in April and
May, 1921; and (d ) visits to works in August, 1921, when trade was
decidedly bad.
The report based upon these sources of information was published
during 1922 and was signed by the representatives appointed by the
Engineering and National Employers’ Federation, Shipbuilding Em­
ployers’ Federation, and the Unions’ Negotiating Committee. Infor­
mation was collected on a number of factors influencing production,
including, in addition to hours, overtime and timekeeping, systems

A

1 Joint investigation committee appointed by the Engineering and National Employers’ Federation, the
Shipbuilding Employers’ Federation, and the Unions’ Negotiating Committee. Report on working hours.
London, 1922. 92 pp.
*


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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.

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of payment and efficiency of production, canteens, first-aid equip­
ment, welfare, number of employees, foreign trade and competition,
equipment and plant, horsepower available, proportion of manual
workers employed on machines, etc.. The report presents only the
facts found, no attempt being made to draw any deductions.
The first two sections of the report contain information on the
shipbuilding and engineering industries during 1913 and 1919 obtained
from the replies to the questionnaires.
Time Worked.

TN BOTH the engineering and shipbuilding industries the 53-hour
1 week, with the two-break system, generally prevailed in 1913.
In 1919 the working week had been reduced to 47 hours and the onebreak system was almost universally used.
The following table shows the average working hours per em­
ployee per week during the years 1913 and 1919 and the average
number of days lost each year on account of holidays, authorized
and unauthorized:
WORKING HOURS PER WEEK AND HOLIDAYS PER YEAR IN SHIPBUILDING AND
ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES, 1913 AND 1919.
Shipbuilding.

Engineering.

Item.
1913
Average working hours per week:
Timeworkers..................................................
Pieceworkers.........................................................
All employees.............................................................
Overtime....................................................................

1919

1919

48.42
42. 49

43.83
40.98

49.6
48.9

44.8
44.3

45.90
i 4.07

42. 50
i 2.88

49.5
4.5

44.7
1.9

54.0

46.6

15.5
.7

17.5
2.7

Total time worked.......................................................
Days lost oh account of holidays—
Authorized.......... .................................................
Unauthorized............................................................

1913

16.75
3.35

18.24
6.29

1 Per cent of normal day-shift hours.

Efficiency in Production.

TN THE shipbuilding industry out of 36 firms replying to the ques* tionnaire 34 report having in operation systems of payment by re­
sults. A number of examples were cited of comparisons of output
where men were paid by time or by results and in each case the actual
number of hours consumed was much greater on the time than on the
piecework, resulting in a limitation of output. The report discussing
this relationship says:
A considerable number of cases are reported of delay to pieceworkers due to wait­
ing for other workers who work on time. This applies to joiners and carpenters, who
work on time, holding up other departments. In one case it is stated that pattern­
makers working on time are responsible for delay in foundries, which in turn, hold
up the machine shop. A number of cases are mentioned where output is restricted,
due to the fact that assistants are paid on time. In one case it is mentioned that
pieceworkers make habitual payments to their assistants in excess of their standard
remuneration. When blacksmiths had changes from time to piece work, their assist­
ants shared in earnings in a certain ratio, and, as a consequence, output has increased
from 50 to 100 per cent.


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Firms making returns on the efficiency of production reported that
the tonnage launched per employee decreased from 17.9 tons in 1913
to 10.7 tons in 1919 while the' tonnage repaired per employee de­
creased from 103.8 tons in 1913 to 60.4 tons in 1919.
As regards payment by results and efficiency of production in the
British engineering trades the report says:
Payment by results.—Some system or other of payment by results is in operation to
varying extents in practically all firms. Firms mention a number of cases where
piecework would have been introduced but for objections raised by the trade-unions
concerned, and this applies particularly to patternmakers and foundrymen.
Between 1913 and 1919 there have been a certain number of cases of changes from
time-work to piecework. As a rule the change has been made on the initiative of the
employers, but in some of the cases the application came from the workpeople. The
result has been an increase in earnings and output.
It is reported that in a number of cases the efforts of the pieceworkers have been ham­
pered through the fact that their assistants are not being paid by results, and in every
case where it has been found possible to introduce payment by results for the assist­
ants the result has been satisfactory. In most cases where it has been tested, it has
been found that a system of individual payment by results is better than a system of
collective payment by results.
Efficiency of production.—The efficiency of production in 1919 was adversely af­
fected by a great number of factors, including the change over from war products and
war conditions to peace products and peace conditions; shortage of supplies of all
kinds and in particular of castings, owing to the molders’ strike; shortage of certain
classes of workpeople, notably patternmakers, molders, coremakers, sheet-metal
workers, boilermakers and apprentices; shorter working hours; stoppage of overtime;
decrease of effort; limitation of production; sectional strikers; and Government
control.

Considerable space is devoted, in sections 3 and 4 of the report, to
information collected during the visits of the committee to individual
industries in the United Kingdom in the summer of 1920, and to
industrial establshments in Belgium, Germany, and Holland in the
spring of 1921. The reports are too detailed to be treated in a brief
review. Owing to the depression in the engineering and shipbuild­
ing industries of the United States the members of the committee,
to their regret, did not think it advisable to visit American industries
and stated, in the introduction to their report, that without a visit
to the United States they regarded their work as incomplete.


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Recent Minimum Wage Reports.
Massachusetts.
R e p o r t of M in im u m W a g e In v estig atin g C o m m itte e .

HE Massachusetts Legislature of 1922, by a resolve of June 2
(ch. 43), established a special commission to investigate
problems relating to unemployment, and also “ the question
of the operation and administration of the minimum wage law,” in­
cluding its effect on industries affected and employees therein,
whether the law should be changed from one of recommendation
only to one of mandatory effect, whether it should be otherwise ex­
panded or amended, or whether it should be repealed. This com­
mission organized on July 21, 1922, and has now made its report in
typewritten form. The subjects were taken up separately, the mini­
mum wage being first investigated.
The report presents first a history of the enactment of the law, fol­
lowing “ a thorough and exhaustive study of the wage situation so
far as it affected_ women and minors.” This study was made by a
commission appointed by the governor in 1911, which recommended
the enactment of a law creating a minimum wage commission whose
findings should be of mandatory effect. As the law was enacted in
1912 the mandatory provision was omitted, but the influence of
public opinion was made available through advertising employers
who refused to comply with the wage decree. Subsequent amend­
ments established certain compulsory requirements, as for posting
the notices of the commission’s decrees, and the keeping of wage
records in prescribed detail, such records to be open to inspection by
the commission and its agents.
The constitutionality of the law was challenged, but upheld by the
supreme court of the State.

T

D uring the period the law has been in operation 24 occupations em ploying women
have been investigated. Wage decrees fixin g m inim um rates for women and girls
have been rendered for 16 different occupations, em ploying 70,000 to 80,000 women
employees. In many instances wage boards have been reconvened for the purpose
of revising the decrees to meet the change in the cost of liv in g . Approxim ately
$161,000 has been spent during the 10 years the act has been in effect. T h is repre­
sents very nearly the total expense of adm inistration.

Besides its own investigations, the commission reproduces a com­
prehensive review of the wage boards and their work, prepared and
published by the Department of Labor and Industries.
The recommendations of the commission are prefaced by the
statement that the law, in operation since 1912, has not had a fair
trial under normal industrial conditions. In view of this conclusion
the commission “ recommends that the minimum wage law be con-


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72

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

tinned in its present form until such time has elapsed as will demon­
strate whether or not the legislation has justified its mission.” It is
believed that in a comparatively short time data will be available so
as to render possible a decision as to “ what efficacious results have
followed its operations.” The period during which the effects of the
law were studied has been one of generally prevailing conditions of
industrial activity. “ The scale of -wages paid in the various indus­
tries in which women and minors are employed, appears to be suffi­
ciently high to guarantee an adequate wage.”
Much testimony was offered in opposition to the law and in favor
of its repeal; but “ it is significant that much of this testimony has
been given by those representing industries not affected by this law.”
The commission felt that small employers, and particularly proprie­
tors of stores outside of Boston, had been “ the most seriously
affected by the law of any.” A few instances of loss of employment
on account of wage decrees were brought to the attention of the
commission. Another point that was impressive was the divergence
of opinion expressed by persons who had been members of the Mini­
mum Wage Commission or had served on minimum wages boards.
“ Some have advocated continuing and making the law mandatory;
others have expressed their disapproval of the measure and recom­
mend its repeal.”
As a matter of general policy, “ the majority of the commission
believe that it is not a wise policy for the Commonwealth to attempt
to regulate by legislation the wages of any class of workers in industry.
The successful development of our industries justifies the conclusion
that the greater freedom allowed to prevail and the less interference
by legislative restrictions, the better.”
' However, the Massachusetts law “ does not establish wages in
private employment,” but only creates the machinery for a con­
ference of representatives of employers, employees, and the public
by which a recommended wage can be determined. A former
member of the minimum wage commission of the State was quoted
as admitting the end sought to be one “ greatly to be desired,”
though he believed that “ a minimum wage applied by law in any
form is wrong in principle and will not accomplish the object
sought, and if it produces any results at all toward that end, will do
so at the expense of the law-abiding employer and to the apparent
benefit of his unscrupulous competitor.” Further, this former
commissioner said that his own experience indicated that the law
was “ neither the panacea its zealous friends imagine nor the menace
its frenzied enemies assert.” Decrees followed by inspections
“ unquestionably improved conditions under some employers.”
The effect of posting a notice, or of an anticipated pay-roll examination
influences employers to “ examine and revise their pay-roll columns.
Add to these gains the not inconsiderable benefit to an industry of
having a group of fair-minded employers and employees exchange
freely across the table their own problems and grievances in the pres­
ence of disinterested representatives of the public, and you have
summed up, I believe, about all the benefits accruing from the law.”
Difficulties of administration were referred to, including the problem
of efficiency of the employee. Some employers object that the law
does not “ provide for the employee lacking in ability and below


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normal efficiency/’ but it is pointed out that the law authorises a
special license to be issued in cases of physically defective workers,
permitting employment at a lower wage. More difficulty was found
with the situation arising from local differences in cost of living.
“ The proprietors of small stores in country districts maintain, and
with some justification, that the cost of living is less outside of cities,
and therefore women clerks should not receive the same scale of
wages paid in the department stores of large cities.” The establish­
ment of different scales in the same occupation in different localities
“ would add to the complexity of administration,” and the inquiries
made by the commission as to the practice and experience of other
States does not indicate a favorable attitude toward such distinctions.
In summing up, the majority report states that “ while there is
evidence that the condition of women working has been improved,
the good results accruing from the law have not been sufficient to
justify the commission in recommending at this time an extension
of its provisions.” Continuance of the law “ for a period of possibly
five years” is recommended, with instructions to the Department
of Labor and Industries to secure in the meantime “ such information
and facts as will make it possible to determine more accurately
whether the legislation is justified or required.” The unpopularity
of the law among most of the employers in the Commonwealth was
indicated by an “ almost united opposition.” This, of course, handi­
capped the commission in administering the law; while the situation
of different employers renders the penalty of advertising noncompiiance of uncertain effect. “ In some cases, advertising an employer
may penalize him severely; in other occupations advertising may
not affect an employer appreciably.”
Apart from the matter of extension, the only recommendation
made by the commission is that the law be amended so as to restrict
the membership of boards to one representative of the public and
such number of representatives of employers and employees as will
bring the total up to not more than seven. This recommendation
was made for the purpose of economy and a more ready arrival at
decisions than is probable where larger bodies are brought together.
A minority report was submitted, signed by one member, who,
while agreeing with the recommendation as to the number of members
to serve on wage boards, was “ firmly convinced that the benefits
which have followed as a result of the operation of the law in Massa­
chusetts fully justify not only a continuation of the law, but an
amendment to it, making it mandatory.” As the law now stands
“ it encourages the unscrupulous employer to ignore a decree; while
the more honorably inclined emplojmrs comply.” The impartial
enforcement through mandatory legislation would “ in my opinion
assure the success of the act.” I t was pointed out that in every
other jurisdiction having legislation of a like character provision is
made for enforcement “ in the same manner as for the enforcement
of any law.” Testimony and evidence submitted led “ to the con­
clusion that no injurious effects on business have resulted from the
operation of the present minimum wage law. Minimum wage
legislation has passed the experimental state. Experience justifies
the conclusion that the law is now a practicable and necessary
measure.”


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Reference was made to the number of persons appearing in oppo­
sition to the law “ who are not affected in the least degree by its pro­
vision.” Their attitude is said to be significant “ of a disposition
to ignore the rights of women workers.” Attention is called to the
testimony of an employer of women in large numbers, his annual
pay roll being around $2,000,000, Mr. Edward A. Filene. His opin­
ion was that “ high wages can not be maintained unless you have a
minimum wage law. Wages tend to go down toward the scale set
by the meanest standards, the most short-sighted employers.”
This report concludes with the recommendation of an amendment
making the law mandatory, “ and giving to the commission charged
with its administration and enforcement the moral support and
encouragement which it merits and deserves.”
A c tiv itie s of W a g e B o a rd s , 1 9 2 2 .

During the year for which this report was made the Minimum
Wage Commission of Massachusetts had arranged for nine wage
boards, which were in session during the year; these include two
boards whose sittings began in 1921—men’s furnishings and retail
stores. The other boards were for the brush, women’s clothing,
men’s clothing and raincoat, paper box, muslin underwear, and
laundry occupations. Part of these were reconvened boards, though
those in the brush industry and for paper boxes were new boards
called to revise existing rates. The paper box board was called on
petition of the employers and the men’s furnishings board on peti­
tion of the employees; other boards were called together by the com­
mission on its own initiative.
Accounts have been given currently of the results of these boards,
the latest being that establishing a rate in the brush industry, which
is noted in the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w for March, 1923. In
summarizing the result of the year’s work, and of having several
boards in session at the same time, the commission reports that
“ greater uniformity in their findings has been brought about.” Of
the eight boards that reported early in the year, six submitted deter­
minations that varied only 50 cents with respect to the cost of living
and the minimum rate. The reports of two boards were rejected
as giving too wide a variation from the findings of the majority.
In five cases the findings were unanimous or practically so, while
in three there were dissents, in two cases by employee representatives
and in one by both employer and employee representatives. Of
the six reports accepted by the commission, four increased former
rates, to which should be added the later report of the second brush
board, which also increased the earlier rate, but not in the amount
reported by the first board. In the paper box and. women’s clothing
occupations prior existing rates were decreased. Some of the rates
increased had stood for a number of years, while those decreased
were of more recent establishment.
Inspections have been made under 12 decrees, 6 being completed
at the time of this report, while the others were still in process.
Inspectors secured wage records for 42,316 women and girls in 2,422
establishments in the cities and towns of the State. In a number of
cases additional visits were made to adjust conditions of noncom-


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pliance and to interview applicants for special licenses. There were
4,465 cases unsettled at the close of the period covered by this report,
somewhat more than 10 per cent of the entire number for whom
wage records were secured. “ The majority of these noncompliances
came under the laundry and retail store decrees and form approxi­
mately one-fourth and one-seventh, respectively, of the women em­
ployed in the laundries and retail establishments inspected. ”
In 1,743 establishments employing 36,641 women the decrees
were found to be fully complied with at the time of the inspection,
while in 679 establishments 5,675 cases of noncompliance were found.
Besides these, 168 cases came over from the previous year, of which
93 have been adjusted, leaving 75 unsettled—61 in paper box fac­
tories and 14 in office buildings. Of the 1,210 cases adjusted, 1,033
were disposed of by a raise in wages or an arrangement of the work
that enabled the employees to earn more money. In 71 cases women
voluntarily left employment and 10 women were discharged. Special
licenses were issued in 11 cases and 85 are recorded as of special
license type, or covered by the commission’s piece rate ruling.
A comparison between the wage records of 82 retail stores before
the decree became effective and after, which “ indicates increases
averaging $2 per week for women, representing 64.9 per cent of those
employed in these establishments, with increases promised for 609
women, and 3,037 cases pending adjustment,” shows that the greater
part of the pending cases come under decrees where the inspection .
has not been completed and that “ many of these will doubtless be
adjusted” by the customary routine procedure. “ However, the
cases of noncompliance found at the time of inspection and those
still pending at the close of the fiscal year are larger both in number
and proportion than for any previous corresponding period.” This
is said to be in part due to the fact of substantial increases over obso­
lete rates by some of the decrees, but mainly “ to the attitude with
respect to the minimum wage of some employers and some organiza­
tions of employers.” Some objected to the principle of the minimum
wage, and others deferred compliance pending the report of the
recess commission on unemployment and minimum wage and the
action of the legislature thereon. However, the majority of the
employers in all occupations covered “ have voluntarily complied
with the provisions of the decrees.”
A short table is submitted showing the increases in wages paid
retail store employees following the decrees effective June 1, 1922.
The old rate was $8.50 per week, while the new one made a sharp
advance to $14. It is obvious, however, that few of the employees
were receiving the minimum rate fixed under the old decree. The
table shows the result of a partial inspection, but 82 establishments
with 8,514 women being covered. It was found that wages had
been advanced in 1,340 cases. In 736 the amount was $2 and less
than $2.50, and in 491, $1 and less than $1.50. There were but 60
cases in which the amount was $2.50 or more, 18 being found in which
the increase was $4. A tabular summary of the inspections for 1922
showed complete compliance in the candy industry, in knit goods,
and in wholesale millinery, though of these it must be said that the
rates in wholesale millinery ($11) and in candy making ($12.50) are
below the current standards that are being established. But 3
3S7S4°—23-----6

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cases of noncompliance were pending in minor confectionery lines
and 29 in the corset industry. As already stated, retail stores (3,037)
and laundries (790) show the greatest degree of noncompliance. The
inspection in retail stores was not complete at the time of this report.
An interesting comparison is available in a table presented showing
the rates of wages of women and minors in 1920 in those industries
in which no minimum wage decree has been established. These
wages represent the period of highest returns, before the business
depression of 1921 and 1922. The number of women employed in
the industries noted ranged from 49,651 in cotton goods, 30,396 in
boots and shoes, and 24,248 in woolen and worsted goods (no industry
noted in which fewer than 500 women were employed) to 545 in
sporting and athletic goods, and 560 in combs and hairpins, except
those made from metal and rubber. In boots and shoes 13.3 per
cent of the women at full-time work were receiving less than $14
per week, while in cotton goods but 5.5 per cent received less than
this amount. In woolen and worsted goods the number was but 3.8
per cent, while in paper and wood pulp, of 4,034 employees but 2.8 per
cent received less than $14 weekly. On the other hand, of the group
making combs and hairpins, except those made from metal and
rubber, 55.2 per cent were in this group, in patent medicines, etc.,
52.5 per cent, and felt goods 51.8 per cent.
Of 45,165 minors under 18, 23,746 received less than $15 per week.
Of these, 18,725 received less than $14 and 9,953 less than $12
weekly.
North Dakota.

T H E minimum wage law of North Dakota is administered by a
•* department of the workmen’s compensation bureau, which
office has issued a report on the subject of minimum wage, covering
the period from July 1, 1920, to June 30, 1922.
Initial difficulty was experienced in the establishment of wage
rates in this State by reason of defective organization of the bureau.
Orders formulated were made the object of injunctive proceedings
to prevent their enforcement, certain telephone companies and the
laundrymen’s association bringing the action. The basic constitu­
tionality of the law was not questioned by the court, but the orders
were held to be invalid because when adopted there was not a full
board present. Though the attack was limited to designated orders,
the ruling made it impossible for the bureau to attempt to enforce
any order issued under like circumstances. In view of the industrial
changes, rendering the rates inappropriate, the bureau decided not
to appeal from the decision of the trial court, but “ rather to start
investigations with a view to establishing a new standard of wages
for the year 1922.” It was also found that “ considerably over 50
per cent of the employers were paying minimum wages established
by the bureau” in those employments which were not involved in
the action against the bureau, and even in those employments repre­
sented by the petitioners many independent companies were com­
plying with the wage orders.
While the bureau finds that there is still considerable opposition
to the law, a number of employers still insisting that such laws will
force women out of industry, “ it has been encouraging for this


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department to see that this group has appreciably decreased; and
that in spite of the bureau’s inability to enforce its orders, an appre­
ciation of minimum wage legislation and the benefits to be derived
therefrom, not only by employees but also by the employers, has
already begun to develop.” No basis was found for the argument
that minimum wage and hours legislation will force women out of
industry. Two obstacles to such a result stand out, first that women
are particularly fitted by temperament and ability to certain classes
of work; and, second, that even with the shortened working-day and
an adequate minimum wage schedule established male labor is still
more expensive to the employer. The bureau finds no such problem
of congestion as exists in the large cities. Only three cities of the
State can be classed as “ even of moderate size, according to eastern
standards,” so that the problem is one of towns and villages. Yet,
in many of these are found a “ surprisingly large number of girls and
women who are entirely dependent upon their own resources for
their maintenance,” whose welfare is equally as important, and for
whom legislation “is as vital and necessary as it is, for instance, in
Massachusetts or Wisconsin.”
One of the difficult problems the bureau faces is not connected
directly with the matter of wages, but is the enforcement of the
eight-hour law, applicable to women employed in towns having a
population of 500 or more. It undertakes, however, to secure
standards of maximum working hours in towns not affected by the
eight-hour law. In such places “it has not been considered by
employers to be excessive to require their employees to be at their
place of business 10, 12, and in telephone exchanges 24 hours a day,
subject to call.” Admitting the employer’s contention that the
employee does not “ work” all the time, the necessity of “ being on
the job” offers a condition of hardship which demands amelioration
and adjustment. “It is clearly a situation in which all must co­
operate for the good of society, and the employer, the public, and
the employee must be considerate of each other and grope their way
to a more desirable standard for the common good.”
Following the decision of the court above noted, the bureau
decided upon “ a thorough investigation in regard to working condi­
tions, hours of employment, and the cost of living for women in
the State.” To this end the cooperation of the Women’s Bureau
of the United States Department of Labor was requested, and the
industrial assistant of that bureau went to North Dakota to direct
a cost of living survey. Investigations were made in 27 towns and
cities, including a total of 594 women; of these, 171 were mercantile
employees with an average weekly wage of $18.43; 113 telephone
operators with an average of $14.50; 94 laundry employees, $13.81;
91 hotel and restaurant employees, $10.73 and board; 23 hotel and
restaurant employees, $7.93 and board and room; 10 hotel and
restaurant employees, $15.63; 47 factory employees, $15.11; and 45
office employees, $23.11.
The median wage of all women receiving full money wages was
$16.15 per week as compared with the average of $11.11 found at
the time of the first report of the department. The number receiving
money wages only was 480, of whom but 3, or 0.6 per cent, received
less than $10 per week. The largest group, 110, or 23 per cent of


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the total, received $20 per week and over, while 103, or 21.5 per
cent, received $14 and less than $16 per week. One hundred and
forty, or 29 per cent, received from $16 to $20. Of those receiving
$16 and over, 165 were office and mercantile employees, 29 were
laundry workers, 26 telephone operators, and 20 factory workers.
A detailed analysis of cost of living is given, showing room rents
for women living" alone, for those with more than one in a room,
and for those doing light housekeeping; also for women at home,
showing cost of room and board; cost of board is also shown for
women not at home, as well as laundry expenses, clothing costs,
and sundry expenses. A further analysis is made on the basis of
the amount of wages earned. It was found that single rooms ranged
in price from under $10 per month (for 18 women) to over $18 (for
8), the largest group (30) paying $10 but under $11, while 25 paid
$12 but under $14. Where there was more than one woman in a
room 9 paid under $7 each and 5 paid over $15 each. The largest
number (22) paid $10 and not more than $12 per month, 13 others
paying $7 but under $8, and 12, $8 hut under $10.
Rooms for light housekeeping range from under $10 per month
in 18 cases to over $18 in 8 cases. Eight women were found to be
paying $12 to $14 and 8 others $14 to $16; 7 others paid $10 to $12.
Expenditures for food by these women ranged from less than $13
(for 2 women) to more than $24 (for 17); 14 women paid from. $20
to $24, and 10 from $17 to $18 per month. Laundry expenses of
102 women having their entire work done outside showed a median
cost of $1.14 per week. Of the 594 women interviewed 453 incurred
expenses for doctor, dentist, or oculist at an average annual cost in
all of $59.95. Doctor bills averaged $64.40 in 234 cases, a “ probably
phenomenal” record on account of the epidemic of influenza.
Clothing costs are shown for each group of workers, ranging from
$187.65 per year for chambermaids to $361.68 for office workers,
showing an average for all classes of $277.82. Of the women inter­
viewed, 20 per cent contributed toward the support of others, several
caring for two or more children, while 10 were the sole support of a
dependent mother.
The average weekly expense for all items ranged from $19.61 for
mercantile workers and $19.43 for office employees to $9.71 for
maids, etc., waitresses spending an average of $11.56, laundry
workers $16.88, factory employees $17.41 and telephone operators,
$18.08.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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L A B O R A G R E E M E N T S , A W A R D S , A N D D E C ISIO N S.

Paterson Industrial Conference Plan.

HERE are in Paterson, N. J., 574 establishments engaged in the *
manufacture of silk, having an invested capital of $69,188,327
and employing an average of 21,836 wage earners.1
Industrial unrest has become chronic in this industry—unrest on
the part of the workers, which has resulted in frequent and bitter
sporadic strikes, and unrest on the part of the manufacturers which
has led to the removal by some of them of their plants from Paterson,
and the avowed intention of others to do so. This dissatisfaction was
augmented last spring and summer by the controversies over the
working week and wages. There was at that time a move by some
employers for an increase in hours from 44 to 48 on the ground that
it was impossible to compete with Pennsylvania manufacturers oper­
ating on a 48 or 54 hour week. Tins move was in some instances accom­
panied by wage decreases. Later in the summer there was a strike
of the broad-silk weavers for an increase of 20 per cent in their wages.
In an attempt to determine and eliminate the causes which have
led to the constant recurrence of such conditions in the Paterson silk
industry, the plan of an industrial relations conference for discussion
of the pressing problems confronting the industry was launched last
December, with the cooperation of manufacturers, workers, and the
citizens of Paterson.
The scheme provided for a conference board of 75 members, 25 to
be selected by the silk manufacturers, 25 by the organized and unor­
ganized workers, and 25 to represent the public. Five members of
the citizens’ group were chosen by the workers, 5 by the manufac­
turers, and the remaining 15 by a committee of three business men’s
organizations of Paterson—Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club,
and the Kiwanis Club.
The purpose of the conference is the discussion, in a conciliatory
and cooperative spirit, of the economic factors affecting the industry,
without recommendation, in order that differences may be thoroughly
understood by both manufacturers and workers without commitment
by either side to a definite policy. There is to be no voting.
The functions of the conference are mediatory only. The intent
is not to discuss any form of arbitration or any system of the settle­
ment of industrial disputes or any way to reach agreements, but by
discussion and investigation to determine the causes of the peculiar
conditions and evident unrest in the silk industry.
The unwieldiness of so large a body is mitigated somewhat by the
appointment of a permanent steering committee, called the program
committee, consisting of five representatives of manufacturers, five
representatives of workers, and six citizens, two from each of the

T

1U. S. Census Bureau. Census of Manufactures, 1919.


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M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.

business men’s organizations interested. The chairman of this com­
mittee is elected at each meeting, from the citizens’ group. This
committee makes all plans for the meetings, including the arrange­
ment of the flexible program of subjects to be discussed. Matters to
be discussed are to include all questions of working conditions in the
silk trade, and methods for bringing about a better understanding m
the industry.
. .
„
The following set of principles have been adopted by the conference:
All thought or idea of compulsion is entirely eliminated in the promotion or work­
ings of this “ conference.”
. . .
, .
,
. , ,. ,
A.t the “ conference” there shall be no decisions reached on controversial subjects
by voting. In other words, no voting is to be done during the conference on any
subject in discussion.
,
,
x ,, .
,,
It is not the object of the “ conference to reach agreements, in the generally
accepted use of the term as applied in industrial relations, but rather by understand­
ings and mutual consent accepting certain conclusions. . . .
It is not intended at this “ general conference” to devise or institute a plan of per­
manent industrial arbitration.
.
. . .
•
,
,,
The purpose of this “ conference” is to bring about an intensive discussion oi all the
points or subjects properly coming before it in as clear and straightforward a way as
possible, without unnecessary heat or passion, and without discrimination. If it is
desired &general survey of the silk industry may he instituted in Paterson and elsewhere, all this to be done in a helpful spirit of cooperation whereby the best interests
of all mav be served to the end that the silk manufacturer and silk worker, with the
assistance of the citizens’ group, by a natural and mutually acceptable process certain
conclusions can ho reached which will lay the foundation for a better understanding
and appreciation of each others ideas, opinions and rights, and that more harmonious
relations may exist which will be generally of benefit to the entire community.

This plan was originated by Commissioner Williams of the con­
ciliation service of the United States Department of Labor and has
been sponsored throughout by that department^
Approximately 5,000 of the silk workers in hiew Jersey are
organized: 3,000 of these are members of the Associated Silk
Workers Union. About 2,000 belong to the United Textile Workers
Union. The United Textile Workers have agreed to the plan. The
Associated Silk Workers have- refused to join. It was the purpose of
tlic originator of the plan to form some scheme oi representation of
the unorganized silk workers. To date, however, this has not been
accomplished, and only 2,000 of the more than 20,000 workers in the
city are represented in the conference.
The first meeting of the conference was held in January. Un­
fortunately, perhaps, for the immediate success of the plan the sub­
ject chosen for this meeting—the limitation of looms—is one of the
most vital and controversial problems in the industry at the present
time.
.
.
,. .
The ultimate result of the scheme is of course problematical.
Undoubtedly, the plan takes cognizance of a fundamental need in
the Paterson silk industry—the need for mutual understanding and
the establishment of a common basis on which industrial relations
can be stabilized. If the plan should fail, as a plan, it is quite possible
that its influence may be felt in hastening a more general recognition
of the need.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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LABOE AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS.

81

Electrotypers—Chicago.

HE renewed and revised agreement concluded December 31,
1922, by and between the Chicago Employing Electro typers’
Association and Chicago Electro typers’ Union No. 3 of the
International Stereotypers’ and Electro typers’ Union establishes a
uniform or flat scale for all members of the union and eliminates the
premium plan of wage payment heretofore prevailing in the industry
in Chicago. The wages of both journeymen and apprentices are
increased over the basic scale in the previous contract. A new section
provides that if men are to be laid off, a definite schedule must be
arranged that provides an equal period of time oft for journeymen
and apprentices, excepting foremen.
The new agreement, the arrangement of which evidences the effort
of the printing trades unions to evolve a standard form of contract
follows in full:

T

Identification.

This agreement made this 31st day of December, 1922, by and between the Chicago
Employing Electrotypers’ Association of Chicago and vicinity, hereinafter called the
party of the first part, and the Chicago Electrotypers’ Union No. 3, International
Stereotypers’ and Electrotypers’ Union, hereinafter called the party of the second
part.

Mutual agreement.

This agreement is entered into for the purpose of preventing misunderstandings
between both parties; to establish a wage scale, working hours and worldng conditions,
to prevent lockouts, boycotts, and strikes, and to provide for conciliation and arbitra­
tion, if necessary.

Duration.

The duration of this agreement shall be from the 1st day of January, 1923, for the
period of one year and four months to the 30th day of April, 1924.

Scale of wages.
1.
The scale of wages to be paid to the members of the party of the second part
shall be:
2.
From January 1 to April 30, 1923, $55; from May 1, 1923, to August 31, 1923, $57;
from September 1, 1923, to April 30, 1924, $59.
3.
For the purpose of establishing a uniform or flat scale for all members of the
party of the second part, and thereby eliminating the premium evil now prevailing
in the industry in this jurisdiction, both parties to this contract agree that the scale
of wages herein set forth shall be the actual wage for which journeymen members
of the" party of the second part shall be employed and paid during the periods above
set forth, and premiums now being paid are not to be added to the scale of wages
as set forth in this contract, or to the wages now received. It is understood, however,
that all members of the party of the second part now receiving premiums in excess of
the scale of wages herein established shall not be reduced.

Working hours.
The parties hereto covenant and agree that 44 hours shall constitute a week’s work.
The working schedule to be regulated within the stipulated hours—8 a. m. to 5 p. m.
each day, except Saturday to be between 8 a . m. and not later than 12 o’clock, noon.

Overtime.
1.
All overtime to be paid at the rate of time and one-half for the first three and onehalf hours after the regular schedule of hours, and double time thereafter. On Sat­
urday, work after 1 p. m. shall be paid at double time rate. Overtime shall be con­
strued to mean any time over the regular schedule of hours. When members of the
party of the second* part are required to work before the regular starting time, double


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M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

time shall be paid. When members of the party of the second part are required to
work 1J hours or more overtime they shall be allowed 30 minutes for lunch with
pay.
2.
No foreman shall be permitted to work overtime without at least one other
journeyman working with him for such department where such overtime may be
required.

Holidays.

1. Sundays and legal holidays shall be paid at double time rate. Legal holidays
as recognized by both parties are: New Year’s Day, Decoration Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas.
2. No work shall be permitted on Labor Day.

Short time.
1. If men are to be laid off, a definite schedule must be arranged that provides an
equal period of time off for journeymen and apprentices, excepting foremen.
2. When working short hours, no distinction shall be drawn in the schedule of
hours between the molding department and the finishing department, both depart­
ments to start at the same hour and cease labor at the same hour of the day.
3. In the event that men are to be laid off, such men shall be notified not later
than 12 o’clock, noon, on the day previous to the day said lay off is to take effect.

Apprentices.
1. The number of apprentices shall be based upon the total number of journeymen
regularly employed in each department.
2. Any foundry giving regular employment to three journeymen in the finishing
department shall be allowed one apprentice, two apprentices for eight journeymen,
and an additional apprentice for the next five journeymen.
3. Any foundry giving regular employment to three journeymen in the molding
department shall be allowed one apprentice, two apprentices for eight journeymen,
and an additional apprentice for the next five journeymen.
No more than three apprentices to be employed in either the finishing department
or in the molding department of any one foundry.
5. All apprentices must appear before the executive board of the union for exami­
nation as to their qualifications before being recorded.
6. All apprentices must serve a probationary period of six months to demonstrate
their fitness to become registered apprentices, and then serve the remaining period,
of which not less than two years must be served at the bench or press.
7. Apprentices shall receive the following scale of wages per week of 44 hours:
First year................................................................................................. $18.00
Second year............................................................................
24. 00
Third year............................................................................................... 30. 00
Fourth year.............................................................................................. 36. 00
Fifth year................................................................................................. 42. 00
8. Only in cases where journeymen are unable to work overtime shall apprentices
be permitted to work beyond the ratio as established in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the
apprenticeship section.
9. The employer and the executive board of this union, after the first six months
of the boy’s apprenticeship, shall mutually determine his fitness to continue as an
apprentice.
10. All apprentices shall serve an apprenticeship of five years under instruction
and shall not be less than 16 nor over 30 years.
11. Should an apprentice leave his position without the consent of his employer
and the union, he shall forfeit all rights to finish his apprenticeship in any foundry
within the jurisdiction of the party of the second part until after his term has expired.
12. Any duly registered apprentice who loses his position through no fault of his
own shall be given the first apprenticeship vacancy occurring in any shop.

Jurisdiction.
1. All leveling, straightening, revising, correcting, chiseling, repairing of plates,
mounting inserts into folders, pamphlets or book form blocks, registering, trimming,
shaving, beveling, mortising, sweating on, routing, curving and squaring shall be
performed by journeymen or their apprentices.


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LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS.

83

2. All molding in lead composition and all that pertains to it, keeping molding
composition and solution in condition, cutting down, putting on connections, build­
ing, coating, hanging in and taking out cases, removing shells from case or lead mold,
trimming, aciding, tinning and backing up shells, backing up all plates for solid or
cored base, locking and unlocking all forms and cuts shall be performed by journey­
men or their apprentices.

Notice.
All employees must give one day’s notice to employer before leaving position, and
the employer must give one day’s notice to discharge an employee for an indefinite
period, such notice to be given not later than 9 a. m.

General conditions.
1. The party of the second part reserves to its members the right to refuse to execute
all struck work received from or destined for unfair employing electrotypers or
etereotypers.
2. It is agreed between the parties hereto that negotiations for a new contract can
be opened by either party 30 days previous to expiration of present contract.

Arbitration.
1. The parties hereto covenant and agree to submit to arbitration any question of
dispute that may arise, but in no case shall the laws of the Chicago E1ectrotypers’
Union No. 3, International Stereotypers’ and Electrotypers’ Union as ratified by this
agreement, nor the International Stereotypers’ and Electrotypers’ Union laws, be
subject to arbitration.
2. All question of dispute arising out of or concerning this contract, and all ques­
tions arising between any of the members of the party of the first part and his em­
ployees covered by this agreement, shall be taken up and disposed of by an arbitration
committee, to consist of two members from each party, appointed by the respective
presidents of each party. The said arbitration committee to select a fifth member
to act in case of a tie vote.
3. Arbitration shall be held within 10 days after written request therefor has been
made by either party to this agreement.
4. In all cases in dispute the conditions are to remain as they were previous to
dispute arising, pending the finding of arbitration.
5. All verdicts, opinions, and findings shall be presented in writing to both parties
interested, and duly attested by said arbitration board within three days after the
last testimony or evidence has been taken.
6. Should any dispute or contention arise between the parties hereto over whether
a dispute is arbitrable that either party sees fit to present for conciliation or arbitra­
tion, such question shall be immediately presented to an arbitration board, and the
selection of arbitrators to determine the question shall be formed in accordance with
paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the arbitration section of this agreement.

Railroads—Decisions of the Railroad Labor Board.
Engine, Train, and Yard Service.

R

ECENT decisions (Nos. 1554 and 1558) of the Railroad Labor
Board virtually remand for direct negotiation, to the carriers
and employees involved, those disputes submitted to the board
in dockets 1, 1300, and 1900, which had not already been withdrawn.
Submissions in docket No. 1 pertained to the request upon the part
of the employees in engine, train, and yard service for the establishment
of certain rules and working conditions. This case involved the
engineers, firemen, and endnemen, trainmen, conductors, and switch­
men, and practically one-hundred and fifty railroads and their sub­
sidiary lines. Nearly all the carriers of the country subsequently
submitted to the board, in dockets 1300 and 1900, controversies invoiv
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MONTHLY LABOE BEVIEW.

ing requests for reductions in rates of pay and a revision of rules and
working conditions affecting the above-mentioned classes of employees.
Hearings were not held on these controversies in 1922 because of
the fact that the parties had resumed their efforts to negotiate agree­
ments. In the majority of cases agreements were reached by direct
negotiation. The board set January 15 for hearing of those cases on
dockets 1300 and 1900 in which no agreement had been reached. By
January 15 the disputes on 95 per cent of the railway mileage of the
country had been withdrawn, and only 18 carriers were involved in
decision No. 1554, handed down on February 5.
Agreements reached by direct negotiation generally continued in
effect the existing rules and rates for the period of one year, the date
of expiration of the agreement varying on the different roads from
September 1, 1923, to January 1, i924, and thereafter subject to 30
days’ written notice by either party of desire to negotiate changes.
Since the rates and rules involved in the disputes on the 18 carriers
involved were practically identical with those that had been extended
by voluntary agreement on the carriers which concluded agreements,
the board was of the opinion that it would be a disturbing factor in the
present railway labor situation under the circumstances to establish
rates and conditions on a few roads at variance with those prevailing
on more than 95 per cent of the railway mileage of the country.
On tlie other hand, the right of each carrier to act upon its own initiative in the sub­
mission of such a dispute is recognized by the board.
It is therefore the judgment of the Railroad Labor Board that it is to the best interest
of all concerned that a decision of these disputes upon their merits should not be ren­
dered at this time, but that the cases should not be dismissed. Holding them on the
docket will give both parties the benefit of all the evidence they have respectively
filed, which could be supplemented by additional evidence if desired by either party
and deemed advisable by the board.
The action of the Railroad Labor Board here taken must not be construed m any
manner or degree to indicate its position one way or the other upon the merits of the
questions at issue, or in any sense as an invitation to other carriers to join in these
disputes.
.
.
.
Decision.—It is therefore decided that the disputes between the carriers and organi­
zations named herein shall be held on the docket of the Railroad Labor Board until
some date subsequent to October 1, 1923, when they will be taken up for further con­
sideration and decision, unless in the meantime agreements have been reached.

In view of the fact that the controversies involved in docket No. 1
were closely related to those postponed in dockets 1300 and 1900, the
board, in decision No. 1558, handed down on February 5, disposed
of them in a similar manner, holding them on the docket until some
date subsequent to October 1, 1923, when they will be taken up for
further consideration unless in the meantime agreements have been
reached.
Railroad Signalmen.

T^HROUGH the intervention of the Railroad Labor Board the raih
* road signalmen did not strike with the shopmen last July, but
remained at work pending a rehearing of their case. Decision No.
1538 of the board, effective February 1, 1923, is the result of this
rehearing. This decision affects 42 carriers, with their subsidiary
lines and their employees in the railway signal service.


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LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS.

85

Tlie signalmen, represented by the Brotherhood of Railroad
Signalmen of America, asked for the restoration of the wage schedule
in effect prior to July 1, 1921, made effective by decision No. 2 of
the board, and for the elimination of certain inequalities in the
hourly wage rate on certain western roads. The wages of this class
of employees as determined by decision No. 2 had been decreased by
approximately 8 cents an hour by decision No. 147 and a further 5
cents an hour by decision No. 1074.
The board denied the request for increases on the ground that the
changes (since decision 1074 was issued) in the cost of living and the
scale of wages paid for similar kinds of work in other industries, as
well as the other elements contained in Title III of the transportation
act were not sufficient to justify any changes in the wages of this
class of workers. The board removed the inequalities by increasing
the rate of some 500 signal maintainers from 68 cents to 72 cents
per hour, which the majority of signal maintainers were receiving.
The request of the signalmen for the restoration of the eight-hour
day with time and one-half for overtime, which decision No. 707 denied
this class of workers, was granted by the board together with the
following new proviso establishing the six-day week:
Employees necessary to the continuous operation of the carrier and who are regularly
assigned to such service will be assigned one regular day off in seven, Sunday if possible,
and if required to work on such regularly assigned seventh day off duty will be paid
at the rate of time and one-half time; when such assigned day off duty is not Sunday,
work on Sunday will be paid for at straight-time rate.

Where practicable, employees assigned to the maintenance of a
section who do not return to home station daily and employees regular­
ly assigned to perform road work are allowed one day off in seven—
Sunday if possible—without deduction in pay therefor.
A labor member of the board filed a dissenting opinion on that
part of the decision denying a general wage increase to signalmen, on
the ground that changes in the scale of wages paid for similar kinds
of work in other industries as well as in the relation between wages
and the cost of living justify, in his opinion, a general increase.

Clothing industry—Decisions—Stoppages.
Rochester.

FIRM in the Rochester men’s clothing market complained of a
three days’ stoppage resulting in a loss of production of 32
coats for each worker. The case came to the impartial chair­
man of the market decision. He directed that the workers involved
make up the loss immediately by working 'overtime at straight-time
pay, the union and the firm in conference to arrange the necessary
details in the carrying out of the decision.1

A

i Case No. 866. Feb. 16. 1923.


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M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

Chicago.

A SOMEWHAT similar case2 arose in the Chicago men’s clothing
market wherein the firm requested the trade board to discipline
the workers responsible for the stoppage of an entire floor.
In this case the board was convinced that the shop chairman was
responsible for the stoppage and that he refused to order the workers
back to work when told by the deputy of the union to do so. The
board directed his discharge together with that of another worker,
who, the board was convinced, was a party to the prearranged plan
to call the stoppage, and assisted in bringing it about. With respect
to the dismissal of the shop chairman the board says:
Although his offense is in the capacity, primarily, of shop chairman, he has held
that position for two years and would retain a measure of influence though removed
as shop chairman. That influence would not be in the best interests of the workers
[or] of the firm.

With respect to the conflicting and false testimony in this case
the decision says further:
It has not been the practice of the trade board to take action against witnesses for
testifying falsely unless they were testifying in their behalf. If testimony on behalf
of others has appeared false or inconsistent, it has been discounted or thrown out. How­
ever, in this case the testimony of one [of the workers] is so much at variance with
other testimony and so contradictory in itself that the board can not permit it to pass.
The board will not take further action, but it expects the union to make clear [to the
workers] that the organization will not countenance false testimony.

Collective Agreements in the Netherlands, 1921.“

HE Central Statistical Office of the Netherlands publishes every
two years statistics on the extent of collective bargaining in
that country. The statistics recently published for the year
1921 indicate a considerable decrease in the number of collective
agreements in force at the end of 1921 as compared with 1919 and
in the number of establishments and workers covered by them.
The falling off in collective bargaining was chiefly due to the unfavor­
able economic situation and to the fact that a number of the most
important national collective agreements were allowed to lapse with­
out renewal, owing to differences between employers’ and workers’
organizations.
The extent of collective bargaining by industry groups in 1921 as
compared with 1919 is shown in the following table:

T

2 Trade board case No. 253 (new series), Feb. 3, 1923.
a Netherlands. Central Bureau voor de Statistiek. Overzicht van den omvang en den voornaamsten
inhoud der eoliectieve arbeidsovereeQkomsten op 1 Januari 1922. The Hague, 1922. 49 pp. Statistiek
van nederland, No. 356.


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LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS.

E X T E N T OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN T H E NETHERLANDS AT T H E END OF 1919
AND 1921, BY INDUSTRY GROUPS.
Collective Establishments
agreements.
covered.

W orkers covered.

Industry group.
1919

1921

Pottery, glass, etc..............................................................
Diamond cutting...............................................................
Printing, paper, etc..........................................................
Building and construction...............................................
Chemical industry.................................................. ; ___
Woodworking.......................................................... .........
Clothing...........................................................................
Art industries.....................................................................
Leather...............................................................................
Mining, peat digging, etc..................................................
Metal working..............................................................
Textile industry................................................................
Gas works..........................................................................
Food industries...............................................................
Agriculture........................................................................
Fishing...............................................................................
Commerce..................................................................
Transportation...................................................................
Insurance...........................................................................
Professions.....................................................................

20
2
9
237
5
266
45
4
7
10
80
11

25
2
5
67
5
177
128
4
3
11
32
3
1
92
63
3
31
48
2

Total.........................................................................

978

138
53
1
35
52
2
1

1919

1921

27
451
1,627
8,508
13
987
1,408

4,491
11,450
20,002
55,366
744
14,753
20,301
160
7,117
1,794
62,718
12,293

2,749
3,864
56
51
262
2

69
125
1,559
8,335
7
830
898
4
73
342
1,016
4
1
2,490
3,810
65
40
1,290
2

1

32,847
15,185
1,337
705
37,999
59

22, 507

20,887

273,587

257,552

20

248
109
2,0.54
101

1

702

1919

1921

42,508
11,948
600
943
6,930

10,289
8; 438
20,452
67,979
431
10,939
16,187
53

381
30,779
3, 106
353
35

According to the preceding table the number of collective agree­
ments in force at the end of 1921 was 702, covering 20,887 establish­
ments, and 257,552 workers. The corresponding figures at the end
of 1919 were 978, 22,507, and 273,587. The number of agreements
in force has therefore decreased by 276, the number of establishments
covered by 1,620, and the number of workers covered by 16,035.
The relatively large decrease in the number of agreements was due
to the nonrenewal of a number of lapsed agreements and also to
greater consolidation in the conclusion of new agreements. The
decrease of over 16,000 in the number of workers covered is due to the
fact that the national agreement covering the metal-working in­
dustries and two agreements with textile workers were allowed to
lapse. The lapsed agreements in these two industry groups covered
71,600 workers. This great loss was, however, partly offset by great
increases in the mining (26,100) and transportation (32,100) groups.
On the average each collective agreement in force at the end of
1921 covered 30 establishments and 368 workers, as against 24
establishments and 295 workers at the end of 1919. Of the agree­
ments in force at the end of 1921, 74.5 per cent were concluded by one
or more unorganized employers, while only 25.5 per cent were con­
cluded by employers’ organizations. The latter kind of agreements
covered, however, 96.5 per cent of all the establishments and 83.9
per cent of all the workers operating under collective agreement.
The number of national collective agreements in force at the end of
1921 was 22 (31 at the end of 1919). They covered 13,424 establish­
ments (10,688 in 1919) and 128,353 workers (157,864 in 1919).
The table below shows the extent to which specified provisions
have been incorporated in collective agreements.


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M O NTH LY LABOS REVIEW .

PROVISIONS OF COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS, AND NUM BER OF ESTABLISHM ENTS
AND W ORKERS COVERED.

Provision of agreement.

Period of v alidity:
1 year and under............
Over 1 year to 2 vears__
Over 2 to 3 years ..
5 vears and over.............
Indefinite period............
Svstem of wage paym ent:
Both tim e and piece
work.............................
Piecework only................
Time work onlv..............
Pay for overtime:
No provision....... ...........
No extra p a y .................
E xtra pay of—
Less than 25 per cent.
2n to 50 per pent
Over 50 per cent......
Special provisions
Pay for niglit work:
E xtra pay of—
50 per cent or less. . .
51 to 75 per cent.......
Over 75 per cent......
Special provisions...........
Pay for work on Sundays
and holidays:
E x tra pay of—
75 per cent or less—
Over 75 per cen t......
Special provisions...........

Num­
ber of
agree­
ments
con­
tain­
ing
speci­
fied
pro­
vision.

Num­ Num­
ber of
of
estab­ ber
lish­ work­
ers
ments cov­
cov­
ered. ered.

167,400

618
40
8
2
31

398 5,988 103,918
383
11
131
286 14,946 153,026
99
15

3,213
1.712

31,691
8,777

12
164 2,116
530 14 667 1S2,544
450
4 ’isi
42 1 213 31,874
135 10,833 121,424
21
109 1,832
149 1,205 17,526
314 15,855
10

Provision of agreement.

Maximum hours per week:
Less th an 45....................
45......................................
45J to 47J.--.....................
48Î....................................
48J to 50...........................
50J to 55...........................
Over 55............................
Vacations:
Duration—
1 to 5 days................
6 to 11 days..............
12 d^ys and over__
Pay—
Full p a y ...................
Full pay plus special
allowances............
Settlement of disputes by
board of arbitration...........
Prohibition of strike or lockout during life of agreem ent....................................
Restriction on right of discharge..................................
Minimum standard of production................................

Num­
ber of
agree­
ments
con­
tain­
ing
speci­
fied
pro­
vision.

Num­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments
cov­
ered.

Num ­
ber of
work­
ers
cov­
ered.

19
139 1,158
453 10,284 168, 336
19 '252 35, 683
18
241
1, 592
20
89 7 ,660
175 4,349
19
15
186
20
236 2,943
270 5,863
100
27

36,886
83,079
6,249

428

6,438

95.223

73

2,185

25,750

416 18,007 231,377
311 13,481 163,439
218

8,378 101,148

4

20,484

12
838 6,106
507 13.194 176,213
26
889 33,669

Other provisions found in varying numbers of agreements relate
to the coverage of the agreement, special allowances to workers dur­
ing sickness, notice of discharge or quitting work, number of appren­
tices, shop rules, use of alcoholic beverages, working for third parties
during the wrorking hours or in spare time, limit of hours of overtime,
family allowances, revision of wages during the life of the agreement,
home work, etc.


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[750]

W OM EN

IN

IN D U S T R Y .

W om en in th e C a n d y Industry in C h ic a g o an d St. Louis.

BULLETIN (No. 25) has recently been issued by the Women's
Bureau, giving the results of a study of hours, wages, and work­
ing conditions of women in the candy industry in Chicago and
St. Louis. The study was begun in the middle of February, 1921,
and ended in April, 1921. Data were gathered concerning 31 fac­
tories in Chicago and 19 in St. Louis, employing, respectively, 2,070
and 632 women. The investigators secured information from em­
ployees and employers, and took wage data directly from the pay rolls.
Individual yearly earnings for a number of women in each establish­
ment were recorded on 52-week schedules, and earnings for a current
week in 1921 and for a representative week during the slack season
in 1920 were also taken. In the nativity of the workers there was a
marked difference between St. Louis and Chicago, only 5.8 per cent
in the first city against 34.3 per cent in the second being foreign born.
In both cities young workers predominated, 35.8 per cent in Chicago
and 47.6 per cent in St. Louis being under 20. However, 29.7 per
cent in Chicago and 22.8 per cent in St. Louis were over 30 years old,
and workers were found in every age group up to 60 years and over.
In both cities close to one-fourth of the women had had five years or
more of experience in the trade. Of the women reporting on con­
jugal condition, 62.6 per cent in Chicago and 75.8 per cent in St.
Louis were single; 27.5 per cent in Chicago and 14.3 per cent in St.
Louis were married, “ while 10 per cent in round numbers in both
Chicago and St. Louis were widowed, separated, or divorced.”
The study was made in a time of industrial depression, and the
candy industry showed the effects of the hard times. Emplojmes had
been laid off, in many cases wage rates had been cut, and part-time
operation was common. In spite of this condition, a number of the
Chicago establishments had recently lengthened their scheduled work­
ing week.

A

Although by the beginning of 1921 the industrial depression was crippling the indus­
try, and although such a condition would seem incompatible with an increase in the
working schedule, 22 of the plants had abandoned the 44-hour week for a longer weekly
schedule, as the following summary shows:
8 factories increased from 44 hours to 50 hours.
1 factory increased from 44 hours to 49f hours.
1 factory increased from 44 hours to 49 hours.
11 factories increased from 44 hours to 48 hours.
1 factory increased from 44 hours to 47J hours.
1 factory increased from 4fi| hours to 48 hours.
Despite the adoption of such schedules a number of the plants were not putting them
into force, but because of the need for restricted production were operating even less
than 44 hours weekly by cutting down the number of working days a week. Evidently
these factories were planning to use the new schedules when business in the industry
again became normal.

Wages and earnings showed the results of the depression. Nor­
mally the time at which this investigation was made is the second
busiest of the year, since it includes the preparation for the Easter
trade, but in spite of this many factories were running only three or
four days a week. Attendance and production bonuses had been dis­
continued, and ‘‘pieceworkers who formerly had been able to earn


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1781]

89

90

M O NTH LY LABOE BE VIEW .

$20 to $30 or more a week were obtaining at the time of the investi­
gation not more than one-half of these amounts and even less.” The
median weekly earnings for 1,832 women reporting in Chicago were
$14.65, the range being from a median of $13.75 for packers and wrap­
pers to $26.20 for forewomen, and $17.45 for dippers. In St. Louis
the median earnings for 579 women were $11.90, the range being from
$10.80 for machine operators to $20.30 for forewomen and $12.85 for
dippers. The distribution by earnings groups in the two cities was as
follows:
NUM BER AND P E R CENT OP WOMAN CANDY W ORKERS IN CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS
CLASSIFIED BY WAGE GROUP.
Chicago.

St. Louis.

Weekly earnings.
Number.

Per cent.

Number.

Under $5.......................................................................
$5 and under $10...............................................
$10 an d under $12...........................................................
$12 an d under $15........................................................
$15 an d under $18.............................................................
$18 and under $20......................................................
$20 and over..........................................................

97
298
168
413
433
155
268

5.3
16.2
9.2
22.5
23.6
8.5
14.6

38
123
133
153
74
29
29

6.6
21.2
23.0
26.4
12. 8
5.0
5.0

Total.........................................................................

1,832

100.0

579

100.0

Per cent.

St. Louis, with 50.8 per cent of the workers earning less than $12
a week, stands conspicuously below Chicago, which has only 30.7
per cent of its workers in this earnings group. This appears even
more clearly when the median earnings by occupation are compared
these being as follows:
MEDIAN EARNINGS OP WOMAN CANDY W O R K ER S IN CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS, FOR
ONE W E EK IN 1921.
Occupation.

Chicago. St. Louis.

Forewomen......................................
$26. 20
Dippers....................................................
16.90
Machine operators...........................
14.50
Packers and wrappers...............................
12.90
All other occupations reported.................. 14. 55
All occupations.........................

14.35

$20.30
12.80
10. 70
10.80
11.00
11.45

In regard to hours, as well as in the matter of wages, the Chicago
workers were likewise better off than those in St. Louis. The Illinois
law permits a 70-hour week for women in factories, while the law
of Missouri permits only a 54-hour week. Nevertheless, none of the
Chicago factories visited had more than a 50-hour week for their
women employees, and 22 establishments, employing almost twothirds (65.1 per cent) of the women studied had a week of 48 hours
or less, while in St. Louis 7 of the factories, employing more than half
of the women, had a 54-hour week, and only 4, employing 17.6 per
cent of the women, had a week of 48 hours or less. In Chicago 37.8
er cent of the women for whom hours were reported were in factories
aving a 9-hour day, while in St. Louis 75.2'per cent had a 9-hour
day. “ A Saturday half holiday was customary in 26 of the 31
Chicago plants and in only 3 of the 19 St. Louis plants.”
On the whole, conditions of hazard and strain were not frequent
in the candy industry. Complaint was sometimes heard from the

E


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[782]

91

W OMEN IN INDUSTRY.

dippers who were required to work in uncomfortably cold rooms.
“ Women in 22 plants worked in a temperature below 66°, the mini­
mum given by some managers as necessary for the preservation of
the product. The lowest temperature reported, 50°, was obviously
too cold for health or comfort.” The matter of seating had not,
apparently, been given sufficient consideration.
In 25 plants there was an insufficient number of seats for the women; in 39 the only
seats provided were stools or benches without backs, while in 8 plants women were
seen sitting on boxes and cans. In a number of instances women who could have
performed their work equally well while sitting were compelled to stand all day,
since no seats were available or the seats provided were not adjustable to work tables.

Also, in spite of the fact that workers in a food product need the
most effective aids to cleanliness, only 14 of the 51 plants visited
supplied for the workers’ use hot water, soap, and individual towels,
“ essential features of sanitary washing facilities.”
Hospital rooms
were found in seven plants and a nurse or a doctor was in attend­
ance daily in seven.
Employment of Women in Nevada.

HE occupational distribution of woman workers, their average
age, and certain statistics on wages and hours are given in
the following tabular statement from the fourth biennial
report of the commissioner of labor of Nevada, 1921-1922:

T

AVERAGE DAILY WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR OF WOMAN W ORKERS
OCCUPATIONS.

Occupation.

BY

Daily wage.
Average
Number
Average Average days
of
Average
hours pay for worked
woman
age.
worked October,
in
workers.
Highest. Lowest. Average. per day. 1921. October,
1921.

Bookkeepers...................
Cooks.................
Cashiers........................
Clerks.....................
Chambermaids..............
Deputies..........................
Farm ers..................
Housekeepers........................
Ironers...............................
Janitresses..............................
Laundry workers..............
Matrons..............................
Maids....................................
Mangle hands.....................
Managers................................
Nurses..................................
Operators, telephone and
telegraph..............................
Stenographers........................
Saleswomen.............................
School teachers......................
Waitresses..............................
All others........................

125
145
16
172
40
13
46
17
21
29
46
10
55
28
56
41

26.4
37.5
24.6
27.8
37.1
28.1
32.1
36.7
31.4
41.4
33.6
38.0
39. 1
33.0
35.3
34.7

$6.00
5.33
5. 77
5. 79
3.00
6.67
3.00
3.83
4.00
5.00
5.84
8.00
5.00
5.00
19.25
5.83

$0.50
.80
2.88
.58
1.17
3.46
.75
.66
1.25
.25
2.35
2. 45
.83
2.50
2.31
1.50

$3.37
2.28
5.07
3.21
2.20
4.71
2.06
1.86
2.74
1. 51
3.13
3. 65
2.02
3.23
6.85
3.31

7.3
9.1
7.6
7.5
7.1
7.5
8.7
7.8
8.0
3.3
8.0
10.3
7.5
8.0
7.3
10.3

$99. 08
65. 45
131.66
86.12
62. 44
161.92
46. 07
56.01
65.68
30. 81
73.18
100.10
53. 73
68.09
158.33
93.19

26.4
28.1
26.0
28 9
30.2
25.6
21.9
29. 9
24. 5
23.1
23.1
30.5
28.8
22.1
22.9
28.1

102
156
205
565
137
189

25.6
24.4
30.7
29.7
29.4
29.9

6.86
7.38
7.69
10.96
4.00
10.00

1.00
1.25
.77
3.25
.50
.38

3.15
3.96
2. 85
5.27
2.42
2.77

7.9
7.3
7.9
6.3
7.9
7.0

83.33
103. 52
72. 51
132. 69
64.14
71.53

25.5
25.6
25.7
25. 2
26.9
27.2

Total and average.........

2,214

30.1

3.63

7.6

93.14

26.1

Nevada is reported as having few child wage earners. This fortu­
nate situation is attributed to compulsory school attendance laws
requiring pupils to complete 12 grades unless “ special circumstances
warrant a different rule in the interest of the child,” to the prohibition
of child labor under 16 in certain industries, and to the absence from
the State of many child-employing industries.
38784°—23---- 7

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[783]

H O U SIN G .

N ew Housing Loan L aw of Denm ark.1

D

ENMARK on December 23, 1922, enacted a new law governing
loans for building purposes whereby financial assistance in the
construction of houses is provided for until December 31, 1924.
Under the laws effective from September, 1920, to May, 1922,
about 22,000,000 kroner ($5,896,000, par) was appropriated for
State aid, with an equal municipal grant, and a State loan of approxi­
mately 25,000,000 kroner ($6,700,000, par), but it eventually became
impossible both for the State and the municipalities to continue the
large cash grants. However, public aid was considered necessary
because of the expected decrease in the present high building costs
(the index number being about 175 late in 1922 as against 100 in
1914), as buildings put up without public aid would be unable to
compete in rental rates with those erected later. Furthermore, it
was felt that a cessation in building activities would be disastrous
because of the housing shortage in Copenhagen and the larger munici­
palities, aside from the unfortunate effect on the unemployment
problem.
Under the new law* the policy of joint contributions by the State
and municipality for meeting the extraordinary housing needs is
continued, but direct State and municipal grants are not made.
One of the main provisions of the law is that second mortgage loans
may be made from the State housing fund for the construction of
dwellings. The loan draws 5 per cent interest annually and is pay­
able like an annuity in the course of about 36 years, payments on
interest and principal amounting to 6 per cent annually. In addi­
tion a small payment amounting to about one-fifth of 1 per cent
annually is made toward a reserve and amortization fund. The
first and second mortgage loans together may not exceed 85 per
cent—in exceptional cases 90 per cent—of the cost. The builder is
required to furnish the remaining 15 per cent. The Government
loan must not amount to more than 40 per cent of the total esti­
mated cost of the building.
A loan is granted only when the municipality concerned gives
security for one-half the amount of the loan. An exception is made
where dwellings are to be occupied by tenants from some other
municipality.
Ready money is provided by the issuance of 5 per cent State bonds
through the Mortgage Bank of the Kingdom of Denmark which are
sold in the open market by the borrower.
The State housing fund and the technical adviser under the Min­
istry of the Interior decide who shall receive loans. The total sum
to be loaned by the State is determined semiannually by the Minister
1 Denmark. Indenrigsministeriet. Meddelelser fra Socialraadets Sekretariat, Christiania, January,
1923, pp. 19-25.

92

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[784]

HOUSING.

93

of the Interior, the Minister of Finance, and the parliamentary com­
mittee on finance. Whether the building project receives a State
loan depends upon the reasonableness of the estimated cost, its tech­
nical advantages or disadvantages, its rentability, and the housing
need in the community. The use of Danish material to as large an
extent as possible is required. While such buildings will be subject
to some control as to house rents and giving notice, the State in order
to encourage building does not claim part of the profits in any eventual
sale at a gain.
The State loan fund must give its approval before a new owner can
take over a loan but it is assumed that consent will be given unless
special reasons make it inadvisable.
The State may make special arrangements when required with
regard to an extension of time or remission of interest or payments.
Aid may be granted regardless of whether the builder is a building
association, a municipality, or a private person. A board of 10
members, on which the building trades employers and workers, the
municipalities, and associated building and loan societies are repre­
sented, will be appointed by the Minister of the Interior to see that
the estimated building costs are kept within reasonable limits.

Government Loans for Housing in Formosa.

HE United States consul at Taihoku, Japan, under date of January
4, 1923, includes in his monthly resume data concerning Gov­
ernment loans for housing purposes in the island of Formosa
(Taiwan). To help solve the housing problem, the Government
offers loans at 6^ per cent to individuals or associations wishing to
buy or build for housing purposes. A sum of 800,000 yen ($398,800,
par) is set aside for this use. Applications for the loans must be
made at city or prefectural offices in the island and are thence trans­
mitted to the Government officials in Japan. Here they are investi­
gated and approved or rejected. Those which are approved are sent
to the Bank of Taiwan (Ltd.), in Taihoku, which is the local agent
for the Industrial Bank of Japan, and through this the loans are
made. They must not exceed 60 per cent of the appraised value of
the security offered, whether this be land or building, and are to be
repaid within 20 years by annual installments. Preference is given
to the smaller applicants who desire to build homes for themselves.
Loans will be made to building associations, provided at least onethird of their capital is paid up before their application.

T

The purpose of the Government in making these loans at such exceptionally lowinterest is to utilize for the benefit of the inhabitants of Taiwan money deposited in
poet offices in Taiwan. Each year the Government arranges with the treasury
authorities in Tokyo concerning an allotment of the “ low interest funds” to Taiwan.
For this allotment the Industrial Bank of Japan issues bonds, which are bought by
the Treasury Department of Tokyo.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[785 ]

94

M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

Government Housing for the Working Classes in Bombay.

HE Labor Gazette, the official organ of the Bombay Labor
Office, contains in its issue for December, 1922, an account of
the formal opening of the Bombay industrial housing scheme
consisting of 20 chawls, or blocks, containing 1,600 tenements. This
scheme is an example of a governmental enterprise in which dwellings
have been constructed both more cheaply and more rapidly than was
deemed possible when the original plans were adopted. The housing
of the working classes in Bombay had long been a matter of public
concern, but little progress was made in grappling with it until the
Government undertook an extensive program for the improvement
of Bombay and its suburbs, which included the provision of 50,000
one-room tenements for the workers. In a public address in 1920,
outlining the plan, Sir George Lloyd, the Governor of Bombay,
frankly declared that these tenements could not be provided on an
economic basis:1

T

Sir George Lloyd rightly said that “it will be quite clear to anyone conversant with
the conditions of industrial life in Bombay that it is impossible to expect a return from
the rent of these buildings which would meet the expenses incidental to a capital
expenditure of this amount, much less the return of a profit.” In other words, the
Bombay Government is prepared to spend the general taxpayers’ money for the benefit
of the poor.
The Governor of Bombay says that the scheme outlined by him will result in the
loss to Government of 13| lakhs of rupees ($1,350,000, par) year after year. The
cardinal principle underlying the scheme is that the Government should be prepared
to be out of pocket to some extent, and that the people’s money should be spent on
the project without expectation of a return for the outlay.

The program called for the construction of 625 chawls or blocks of
tenements, each containing 80 one-room tenements, of which it
was hoped that 15 chawls would be ready for occupancy during the
year 1921-22. The work of construction was hindered by delay in
obtaining the necessary land, the first plot not being secured until
March, 1921, so that the fact that by December, 1922, chawls con­
taining 1,600 tenements were opened for occupancy shows the speed
of construction. In the opening address, it was pointed out that the
management hoped to improve on its record. The chawls are con­
structed of concrete. The design provides for a skeleton framework,
consisting of columns, beams, floors, and roofs, and these are poured
in position. All other parts are constructed in standard sizes, and
brought, ready-made, to the site. As a result of these and other
economies, the cost of each block has been brought down from the
original estimate of Rs. 124,500 ($28,262, par) to Rs. 99,500 ($22,587,
par) and “ further efforts are being and will continue to be made to
reduce the time and cost of building.” At the time of the opening,
it was stated, “ the rate of progress has now reached the equivalent
of one chawl every five working-days.” As each chawl contains 80
rooms, and each room is expected to house a family, provided it does
not number more than five persons, the management feels that
rapid progress is being made in relieving the housing shortage.
1 Social Service Quarterly (Bombay), October, 1920, pp. G5, 67. Housing Reform in Bombay.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[786]

EM PLO Y M EN T AND U N EM PLO YM EN T.

Employment in Selected Industries in February, 1923.

HE Bureau of Labor Statistics received and tabulated reports
as to the volume of employment in February, 1923, from 4,848
representative establishments in 43 manufacturing industries,
covering 1,924,372 employees whose total earnings during one week
amounted to $48,618,824.
Identical establishments in January reported 1,881,109 employees
and total pay rolls of $46,265,468. Therefore in February, as shown
from these unweighted figures, for the 43 industries combined there
was an increase over January of 2.3 per cent in the number of em­
ployees and an increase of 5.1 per cent in the total amount paid in
wages.
Increases in the number of employees in February as compared
with employees in identical establishments in January are shown in
32 of the 43 industries and decreases in 11. The largest increase,
17.3 per cent, is shown in the fertilizer industry, followed by agri­
cultural implements with 12.3 per cent, and automobiles with 9.1
per cent.
The largest decreases in employment are shown in slaughtering
and meat packing and in car building and repairing, being 4.4 per
cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively.
Increases in the total amount of pay rolls in February as compared
with January are shown in 34 of the 43 industries, leaving only 9
industries with decreased pay rolls. This reflects the end of the
inventory season, which in January was largely responsible for the
fact that only 12 industries showed increased pay rolls.1
The automobile industry leads in increased pay-roll totals with
20.8 per cent, followed by agricultural implements with 15.1 per cent,
the fertilizer and women’s clothing industries each with 9.1 percent,
automobile tires with 8.9 per cent, and hardware with 8.4 per cent.
The pottery, hosiery, silk, foundry, baking, carriages, iron and steel,
men’s clothing, piano, and stove industries show gains ranging from
6.7 per cent to 5.6 per cent.
The slaughtering and meat-packing industry shows the largest
decrease in pay-roll totals, 7.2 per cent, while chewing and smoking
tobacco decreased 6.4 per cent and carpets 5.2 per cent.

T

1
The greater number of industries with increased pay-roll totals in February is further illustrated by
the table showing changes in per capita earnings. In February 28 of the 43 industries show increases in
per capita earnings as compared with only 10 industries which showed such increases in the January
report.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[787]

95

96

M O NTH LY LABOE EE VIEW .

COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHMENTS DURING ONE
WEEK IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 1923.

Industry.

Agricultural implements.............
Automobiles..................................
Automobile tires...........................
Baking...........................................
Boots and shoes............................
Brick................. ............................
Car building and repairing..........
Carpets.................- ............. .
Carriages and wagons...................
Chemicals......................................
Clothing, men’s.............................
Clothing, women’s........................
Cotton finishing............................
Cotton manufacturing..................
Electrical machinery, apparatus,
and supplies...............................
Fertilizers......................................
Flour.............................................
Foundries and machine shops...
Furniture.......................................
Glass..............................................
Hardware......................................
Hosiery and knit goods...............
Iron and steel................................
Leather..........................................
Lumber, millwork.......................
Lumber, sawmills.........................
Millinery and lace goods.............
Paper boxes...................................
Paper and pulp.............................
Petroleum.".. .t .............................
Pianos and organs........................
P ottery.........................................
Printing, book and job................
Printing, newspapers...................
Shipbuilding, steel.......................
Shirts and collars..........................
Silk.................................................
Slaughtering and meat packing..
Stamped ware...............................
Stoves.......................... ..................
Tobacco, chewing and smoking..
Tobacco, cigars and cigarettes—
Woolen manufacturing..............

Estab­
lish­
ments
report­
ing for
Janu­
ary and
Febru­
ary.

Amount of pay roll in
one week.

Number on pay
roll in one week.
Per
cent of
change.

Per
cent of
change.

Janu­
ary.

Febru­
ary.

+12.3
+9.1
+4.8
+4.9
+ .9
- .6
- 2 .5
- 1 .7
+L1
+2.0
+2.4
+4.8
- 1 .3
+ .4

$434,076
6,005,614
1,241, 740
645, 853
1,927, 499
344, 155
2,318,498
469, 469
59,087
488, 882
1,307,889
396, .065
3.53,998
2,201,491

$499,768
7,254, 714
1,351,647
684, 634
1,951,883
339, 000
2,307,070
445, 080
62, 529
498, 454
1,383,044
432,107
355,649
2,205,895

+15.1
+ 20.8
+ 8.9
+6.0
+ 1.3
-1 .5
— .5
- 5 .2
+5. 8
+2.0
+ 5.7
+9.1
+ .5
+ .2

73,239
+ 2.6
7,770 + 17.3
-1 .1
7,889
114,399
+3.9
29, 055 + 1.6
31,676
+ 1.7
20, 954 + 1.6
+ 1.2
49,657
223,615
+2.9
+ 1.4
27,687
23, 80.1 + 1.2
66,303
+ 2.6
7,254
+3. 8
13,397
+ .6
52,822
+ 1.5
43, 712 + 1.2
6,798
+ .9
11,184
+2.8
21,792
+ .3
39,108
- .7
15, 555 - .1
27,768
+1.3
42, 460 +2.2
85, 259 - 4 .4
13,657
- .2
12, 003
+ 1.6
1,912
- .1
32,081
- .6
67,077
+ 1.5

1,771,148
110, 913
19.8, 577
2,983, 022
648,678
742, 246
450, 212
798,014
5,968, 489
631,174
533, 939
1,172,585
146,162
255, 886
1,274,084
1,352, 895
173, 720
251, 542
717,678
1,417,661
409,693
408,105
806, 322
2,188, 944
272, 252
300, 022
32,615
586,614
1,466,960

1,838,701
121,006
195, 849
3,167, 969
657, 490
748, 927
487, 807
849, 836
6,308, 584
654,486
545,133
1,208, 953
150,497
259, 110
1,305,468
1,355, 756
183, 588
268, 303
719, 454
1,422,895
407,688
408,973
858, 547
2,031,674
276,632
316, 748
30, 542
563,689
1,495,045

+3.8
+9.1
- 1 .4
+6.2
+2.9
+ .9
+ 8.4
+6.5
+5.7
+3.7
+2.1
+3. 1
+3.0
+ 1.3
+2.5

Janu­
ary.

Febru­
ary.

54
181
76
169
153
193
118
24
34
96
143
149
25
157

18,007
206,704
44, 688
25, 980
85,183
14,995
87,159
17, 436
2,640
19,683
49, 503
14,218
15,986
126,970

20,230
225, 572
46, 811
27, 259
85,911
14,907
84,974
17,132
2,748
20,082
50, 700
14,900
15,784
127,478

91
81
94
283
156
107
31
136
187
127
178
243
47
134
177
41
24
50
134
173
25
110
132
85
32
52
11
170
165

71,396
6,624
7, 976
110,105
28, 597
31,146
20, 616
49,088
217,303
27,316
23, 526
64,600
6,986
13,321
52,032
43,183
6,736
10, 878
21,730
39,369
15, 564
27,405
41, 556
89,143
13,678
11,811
1,913
32,282
68,076

+ 5.7
+6.7
+ .2
+ A
- .5
- .3
+6.5
- 7 .2
+ 1.6
+5.6
- 6 .4
- 3 .9
+ 1.9

Comparative data relating to identical establishments in 13 manu­
facturing industries for February, 1923, and February, 1922, appear
in the following table.
In this yearly comparison the number of employees increased in
11 industries and decreased in 2.
The largest increases were 47.3 per cent in the automobile industry,
45.2 per cent in car building and repairing, and 31.8 in the iron and
steel industry.
Hosiery and knit goods and men’s clothing show slight decreases.
The entire 13 industries show increased pay rolls in February,
1923, as compared with February, 1922. The iron and steel in­
dustry shows a gain of 84.6 per cent, the automobile industry of
79.2 per cent, car building and repairing of 47.4 per cent, cotton
finishing of 31.8 per cent, and woolen manufacturing of 23.9 per
cent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1788]

EM PLOY M ENT

AND

97

UNEM PLOYM ENT.

COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHMENTS DURING- ONE
WEEK IN FEBRUARY, 1922, AND FEBRUARY, 1923.

Industry.

Automobiles..................................
Boots and shoes............................
Car building and repairing..........
Clothing, men’s.............................
Cotton finishing............................
Cotton manufacturing..................
Hosiery and knit goods................
Iron and steel................................
Leather..........................................
Paper and pulp.............................
Silk.................................................
Tobacco, cigars and cigarettes__
Woolen manufacturing................

Amount of pay roll
Number on pay
Estab­
in one week.
roll in one week.
lish­
ments
report­
ing for
Per
Per
Febru­
cent of
cent of
ary,
change.
change.
February, February,
1922,
Febru­
Febru­
1922.
ana
ary, 1922. ary, 1923.
1923.
Febru­
ary,
1923.
43
74
56
43
17
61
76
108
32
48
43
54
23

93,285
56,338
38,756
29,471
12,164
58,586
30,495
119,463
11,470
23,068
17, 523
15,020
23,654

137,407
57,435
56,265
29,320
13,877
60,628
30,172
157,430
12,394
24,568
17,647
16,125
26,373

+47.3
+ 1.9
+45.2
- .5
+ 14.1
+3.5
-1 .1
+31.8
-bS. 1
+ 6.5
+ .7
+7.4
+ 11.5

$2,517,473
1,283,304
1,025,960
813,674
234,596
979,461
504,723
2,364,429
248,900
534,670
366,641
253,036
499,905

$4,511,689
1,329,886
1,512,704
875,015
309, 207
1,075,469
507,686
4,365,120
278,776
607,233
385,064
282, 256
619,383

+79.2
+3.6
+47.4
+7.5
+31.8
+9.8
+ .6
+84.6
+ 12.0
+ 13.6
+ 5.0
+ 11.5
+23.9

COMPARISON OF PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN FEBRUARY, 1923, WITH THOSE IN
JANUARY, 1923.

Industry.

Automobiles...................................
Hardware.........................................
Hosiery and knit goods.................
Pianos and organs.........................
Silk..................................................
Clothing, women’s ........................
Automobile tires.............. .............
Stoves.............................................
P o tte r y ................... .....................
Clothing, men’s ..............................
Iron and steel.................................
Agricultural implem ents..............
Leather...........................................
Foundries and machine shops----Car building and repairing...........
Cotton finishing..............................
Stamped ware................................
Carriages and wagons.-..................
Furniture........................................
Electrical machinery, apparatus,
and supplies
Baking.............................................

Per cent of in­
crease ( + ) or
decrease (—)
in February,
as compared
with January.
+10.7
+6.6
+5.2
+4.7
+4.2
+4.1
+3.9
+3.9
+3.8
+3.3
+2.7
+2.4
+2.3
+2.2
+2.1
+ 1.8
+1. 8
+ 1.7
+1.3
+1.2
+ 1.0

Industry.

Printing, newspapers......................
Lumber, mill work..........................
Paper and pulp................................
Paper boxes......................................
Boots and shoes...............................
Lumber, sawmills............................
W oolen manufacturing....................
Chemicals..........................................
Printing, book and job...................
Cotton manufacturing.....................
Flour.................................................
Shipbuilding, steel.........................
Glass..................................................
Millinery and lace goods................
Brick.................................................
Petroleum........................................
Shirts and collars.............................
Slaughtering and meat packing__
Tobacco, cigars and. cigarettes. . . . .
Carpets..............................................
Tobacco, chewing and smoking__
Fertilizers.........................................

Per cent of in­
crease ( + ) or
decrease ( —)
in February ,
as compared
with January,
+1.0
+0.9
+0.9
+0.7
+0.4
+0.4
+0.4
-0 . 1
-0 .1
- 0 .2
-0 .3
-0 .4
- 0 .8
- 0 .8
- 0 .9
- 1 .0
- 1 .5
- 3 .0
-3 .3
-3 .5
-6 .3
-7 .0

The amount of full-time and of part-time operation in February,
1923, in the establishments reporting as to their operating basis, is
shown in the following table by industries.
A combined total of the reports in the 43 industries shows that
84 per cent of the establishments reporting were on a full-time basis,
14 per cent on a part-time basis, and 2 per cent were not in operation.
A similar total of the reports received in January showed that 81
per cent of the establishments reporting were on a full-time basis,
in February from 90 to 100 per cent of the establishments reporting


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[789]

98

m o n t h l y labor r e v ie w .

in 22 of the 43 industries were working full time, while in January
only 16 industries were working 90 per cent or over of full time.
Women’s clothing, pottery, and fertilizers show largely increased
full-time operation and iron and steel plants reported a gain of 2
per cent in full-time operation.
FULL AND PART TIME OPERATION IN MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS IN
FEBRUARY, 1923.
Establishments reporting.
Industry.
Total.

25
133
70
119
97
152
100
18
30
64
81
51
21
322
44
76
72
177
93
88
21
82
137
77
123
215
31
100
122
35
12
45
86
120
17
71
103
53
23
27
8
122
142

Agricultural implements....................................
Automobiles.........................................................
Automobile tires............................. ...................
Baking..................................................................
Boots and shoes...................................................
Brick....................................................................
Car building and repairing.................................
Carpets................................................................
Carriages and wagons........................................ .
Chemicals.. . ....................................................... .
Clothing, men’s ..................................................
Clothing, women’s .............................................
Cotton finishing.................................................. .
Cotton, manufacturing...................................... .
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies.
Fertilizers............................................................
Flour...................................................................
Foundries and machine shops..........................
Furniture............................................................
Glass....................................................................
Hardware............................................................
Hosiery and knit goods.....................................
Iron and steel.....................................................
Leather................................................................
Lumber, mill work.............................................
Lumber, sawmills.........................................
Millinery and lace goods....................................
Paper boxes........................................................
Paper and pulp..................... ...........................
Petroleum......... . ................................................
Pianos and organs..............................................
Pottery................................................................
Printing, book and job......................................
Printing, newspapers.........................................
Shipbuilding, steel...................................... .
Shirts and collars................................................
Silk.......................................................................
Slaughtering and meat packing........................
Stamped ware.....................................................
Stoves..................................................................
Tobacco, chewing and smoking........................
Tobacco, cigars and cigarettes..........................
Woolen manufacturing......................................

Per cent
operating
full time.
92
92
71
97
87
59
95
100
90
92
86
96
81
97
95
76
28
86
95
57
100
79
71
84
87
71
74
84
93
80
100
73
95
100
94
94
93
92
91
59
75
82
97

Per cent
operating
part time.
4
8
23
3
12
29
4
10
8
14
4
19
3
5
17
72
14
0
31
21
21
14
11
24
26
15
5
20

Per cent

4
1
6
1
13
1

7

13
8
1
2
5
1
2

27
5
6
6
7
6
9
37
25
17
3

2
4
1

Wage changes effective between January 15 and February 15 were
reported by 252 establishments in 40 of the 43 industries here con­
sidered. All these changes were increases except one—a decrease of
2.5 made by a newspaper printing establishment.
The greatest number of increases reported in any one industry,
28, was in foundries and machine shops, followed by 21 in sawmills,
and 20 in iron and steel works. Car building and repairing and
furniture establishments each reported 13 advances, and brick and
leather plants each 11, followed by woolen manufacturing plants
with 10.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[790]

99

EM PLOYM ENT AND U NEM PLOYM ENT.

WAGE ADJUSTMENTS OCCURRING BETWEEN JANUARY 15 AND FEBRUARY 15, 1923.

Industry.

A g ricu ltu ra l im p le ­
ments..........................

Automobiles.

Automobile tires.
Baking.................
Boots and shoes.
Brick..................

Car building and re­
pairing........................

Carpets........................
Carriages and wagons..

Chemicals.............
Clothing, men’s . . .
Clothing, women’s

Electrical machinery,
apparatus, and supplies

Fertilizers...................
Flour..............................
Foundries and machine
shops..........................

Per
Numof
bo r of Per cent cent
total
estab­
of
employ­
lish­ increase. ees af­
ments.
fected.

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
4
1

10.3
10
9.5
7.5
11.1
10
6
5
10
10
0
10
10
9
10-15
18
12.5
10
5
5

1
4
4
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

15
12.5
12
11.1
11.1
10
8
10
12
10
7
2. 5-5
(2)
10
10
8.2
6
8
5
15
10
10
3.5
1

12
5
5
14
2
100
9
24
7
3
6
25
10
85
30
7
100
49
33
41
19
16
26
4

1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

16-20
12.5
10
5
5
1
(3)
20
20
7
12

11
6
25
70
7
24
100
100
55
69
10

1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

20
16
13
13
11
10
10
10
10
10
10
9.4
6.5
6

20
5
14
3

1 Not reported.
2 2J to 5 cents per hour increase.
3 3 cents per hour increase.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1
14
6
50
22
4
7
65
100
3
2
16
12
3
2
100
84
100
100
0)

0)

0)

100
23
17
12
5
H
9
75

Industry.

Foundries and machine
shops............................

Per
Num­
of
ber of Per cent cent
tu tal
of
estab­
employ­
lish­ increase.
ees af­
ments.
fected.

1
3
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
10
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

5. 5
5
5
5
5
5
3.5
2
(*)
(3)
12
Furniture........................
10
10
9
9
6.2
6.1
6
5-15
4
(D
0)
16
Glass................................
13
5
3
3
10
Hardware........................
8.2
10
Hosiery and knit goods..
5
5
Iron and steel.................
12.5
12
11.6
11
10
8
8
7
6
5-10
5
10
Leather...........................
1
8.3
8
Ï
1
8
8
1
1
7
1
7
1
7
5-8
1
0
1
4
1
1
10
Lumber, mill work.........
10
1
10
1
1
5-10
5
1
5
1
1
(5)
1
(6)
1
(2)
10
Lumber, sawmills..........
7
1
10
1
10
1
10
1.
10
1
8
1
8
2
8
5
1
1 5 cents per hour increase.
150 cents per day increase.
! 25 cents per day increase.

[791]

4
100
93
11
10
7
7
95
100
100
24
6
4
21
4
17
16
3
15
4
7
C1)

64
100
88
100
(‘)
3
25
12
91
46
10
54
100
3
100
100
25
50
100
38
25
34
24
77
30
13
100
90
20
65
8
47
100
50
16
9
95
3
100
100
88
100
90
81
46
30
100
90
58
95

100

M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW .

WAGE ADJUSTMENTS OCCURRING BETW EEN JANUARY 15 AND FEBRUARY 15, 1923—
Concluded.

Industry.

Lumber, sawmills..........

Millinery and lace goods.
Paper boxes....................

Paper and pulp............
Petroleum.....................
Pianos and organs........
Pottery..........................
Printing, book and job.

Printing, newspapers..

Per
Num­
of
ber of Per cent cent
total
of
estab­
employ­
lish­ increase. ees af­
ments.
fected.
4
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
1

5
(5)
(«)
(4)
(0
15
7
20
12
11.5
10
10
10
10
7.2
13
12
7
6
3.8
8
5
4.5
3-10
13
10
10
10
7
6.5
3.5
10.6
4
7 2.5

42
100
97
93
100
11
13
67
35
13
16
11
10
4
3
100
100
100
100
88
8
10
24
18
17
55
6
3
20
7
70
28
7
23

Industry.

Shipbuilding, steel.........
Shirts and collars...........
Silk...................................
Slaughtering and meat
packing........................
Stamped ware.................
Stoves..............................

Tobacco, cigars and
cigarettes......................

Woolen manufacturing..

Num­
ber of Per cent
estab­ • 0f
lish­ increase.
ments.

Per
cent of
total
smployees af­
fected.

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

10
10
7
6.5
10
10
8
6

88
100
22

1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2

6
14.5
11.5
15
10
10
7.3
5-16. 6

3
7
15
17

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

12
12
10
7
10
10
10
10
8
5-10
5-8
5
4.8
(8)

72
47
16
54
23

100

49
24

100

67
60
100

55
59
9
7
3
92
11

37
100

71
28

6 25 cents per day increase.
7 Decrease.
8 $1 to $2 per week increase.

i Not reported.
* 5 cents per hour increase.
6 50 cents per day increase.

Index of Production in Selected Basic Industries, 1913 to
February, 1923.

HE following index numbers of production in the United States
have been issued by the Federal Reserve Board. These figures
are a combination of the production figures for each of 22
industrial commodities. The items included are pig iron, steel in­
gots, flour, cotton, wool, sugar, animals slaughtered (4), lumber,
bituminous coal, anthracite coal, copper, slab zinc, sole leather,
newsprint paper, cement, crude petroleum, and tobacco (3).
Cotton is measured by consumption, and wool by machinery
active. The figures for animals slaughtered cover hogs, cattle,
calves, and sheep slaughtered under Federal inspection. Tobacco
includes cigars, cigarettes, and manufactured tobacco and is meas­
ured by revenue stamps sold.
In the construction of the index the production of each commodity
was weighted by both the value added to it in all processes of manu­
facture, and by the number of men working upon it in all stages of
manufacture as shown by the census of 1919. The series of relative
numbers for each of the commodities were corrected to allow for
regular seasonal changes, thus eliminating the effect of such move­
ment from the final index.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[792]

101

EM PLOYM ENT AND U NEM PLOY M ENT.

The monthly average for 1919 is taken as the base, or 100. While
the commodities entering into the index are few in number it is
believed that the index will be of much service.
It will be observed that 1923 opens with a volume of production
greater than at any other time since May, 1917, thus indicating
more employment in these industries than for a period of nearly six
years. February, 1923, shows a production 63 per cent greater than
July, 1921, the low-water mark of production in the period reported.
INDEX OF PRODUCTION IN BASIC INDUSTRIES—COMBINATION OF 22 INDIVIDUAL
SERIES CORRECTED FOR SEASONAL VARIATIONS, 1913 TO FEBRUARY, 1923.
[Reported by Federal Reserve Board. Monthly average, 1919=100.]
1913

1914

January........................ 102.6
February....... ............... 100.2
March. ........................ 94.6
April............................. 100.7
May............................... 99.0
June.............................. 95.3
July............................... 96.4
August.......................... 92.9
September.................... 96.2
October......................... 97.4
November..................... 91.7
December..................... 91.7

89.9
92.7
93.8
93.1
88.6
94.0
89.4
82.5
85.5
81.7
77.1
77.5

1915

1916

1917

1918

1919

1920

1921

1922

1923

78.1 112.1 118.8
88.5 116.2 113.8
87.2 113.9 116.1
90.9 110.8 119.4
89.9 113.6 122.6
95.2 114.2 117.8
97.3 109.0 112.0
96.1 112.4 111.3
102.8 113.3 110.2
104.0 116.6 116.0
108.5 120.7 118.2
116.5 116.0 111.7

104.0
105.3
111.6
115.0
115.1
110.3
115.9
114.7
111.7
106.2
106.3
108.0

107.3
100.3
96.2
98.8
92.9
92.9
101.6
103.4
104.6
101.1
97.9
103.3

115.8
114.8
114.5
107.6
105.4
106.8
104.9
102.1
101.7
99.0
95.3
89.6

83.9
84.3
81.0
78.6
76.7
76.7
74.1
78.5
79.1
82.7
85.6
83.3

86.5
90.5
94.9
85.3
92.1
94.2
94.8
93.9
99.9
106.9
115.5
115.6

120.7
120.6

Employment and Earnings of Railroad Employees, January and
December, 1922, and January, 1923.

HE following tables show the number of employees and the
earnings in various occupations among railroad employees
in January, 1923, in comparison with employment and earn­
ings in January and December, 1922.
These tables are in continuation of those given in the M onthly
L abor R e v ie w for December, 1922, and March, 1923.
The figures are for class 1 roads—that is, all roads having oper­
ating revenues pf $1,000,000 a year and over.

T

COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS OF RAILROAD EMPLOYEES IN
JANUARY, 1923 WITH JANUARY AND DECEMBER, 1922.
[From monthly reports of Interstate Commerce Commission. As data for only the more important occu­
pations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sum of the items shown under the respective
groups.]
Professional, clerical, and general.

Month and year.
Clerks.

Stenogra­
phers and
typists.

Total.

M aintenance of w ay and structures.

Laborers
(extra gang
and work
train).

Track and
roadway
section
laborers.

Total.

N u m b e r o f e m p l o y e e s a t m id d l e o f m o n th .

January, 1922..................
December, 1922...............
January, 1923..................

160,088
167,989
167,780

24,188
24,538
24,712

267,749
281,324
280,175

26,310
36,345
35,114

157,859
175,955
171,363

294,901
336,672
326,783

$11,292,823
11,883,581
12,274,376

$26,944,728
29,335,680
29,955,984

T o t a l c o m p e n s a t io n .

January, 1922.................. $20,028,069
December, 1922............... 20,792,662
January, 1923................... 21 013,980


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$2,865,767
2,850,009
2,900,003

$35,227,524
36,745,836
36,943,092

[7 9 3 ]

$1,875,416
2,503,090
2,589,461

102

m o n t h l y labor r e v ie w .

COMPARISON OP EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS OF RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
JANUARY, 1923, WITH JANUARY AND DECEMBER, 1922—Concluded.

IN

Maintenance of equipment and stores.

Carmen.

Machinists.

Skilled
trades
helpers.

Common
Laborers
laborers
(shops, en­ (shops,
en­
gine houses, gine houses,
power
power
plants, and plants, and
stores).
stores).

Total.

N u m b e r o f e m p l o y e e s a t m id d l e o f m o n th .

January, 1922..................
December, 1922...............
January, 1923..................

109,709
133,674
132,311

54,594
65,359
66,286

96,675
135,871
136,620

48,486
61,190
63,253

470,973
574,250
580,324

$3,797,359
4,951,332
5,205,802

$59,407,104
77,476,636
78,755,708

43,287
51,341
52, 820

T o t a l c o m p e n s a t io n .

January, 1922.................. $15,395,224
December, 1922............... 19,225,517
January, 1923.................. 19,409,896

$8,196,498
11,684,552
11,958,617

$10,430,411
15,842,979
15,940,584

$4,096,261
5,090,296
5,217,408

T ransportation, other than train, engine, and yard.

Station
agents.

Truckers
Crossing
Telegraph­ (stations,
ers, tele­ warehouses, and bridge
flagmen and
phones, and
and
gatemen.
towermen. platforms).

Total.

T ran sp or­
ta tio n
(y a rd m a sters, sw itch
ten d ers,
and h os­
tlers).

N u m b e r o f e m p l o y e e s a t m id d l e o f m o n th .

January, 1922..................
December, 1922...............
January, 1923..................

31,568
31,502
31,560

32,428
42,109
38,884

26,164
27,519
27,507

22,279
21,693
21,682

194,890
212,707
207,924

22,973
25,849
26,130

$1,712,046 $23,102,019
1,562,170 25,039,483
1,561, 866 24,594,358

$3,926,457
4,639,848
4,678, 857

T o t a l c o m p e n s a t io n .

January, 1922..................
December, 1922...............
January, 1923..................

$4,683,035
4,721,556
4,738,961

$3,778,903
4,059,998
3,995,218

$2,918,974
3,673,806
3,436,804

T ran sp ortation, train and engine.
-

brake- Yard brake- Road engi­
Road con­ Road
men and
men and
neers and
ductors.
flagmen. yard helpers. motormen.

Road fire­
men and
helpers.

Total.

N u m b e r o f e m p l o y e e s a t m id d l e o f m o n th .

January, 1922..................
December, 1922...............
January, 1923..................

32,995
38,295
38,211

68,836
79,907
79, 777

43,858
54,785
55,062

40,005
46,911
47,251

42,291
49,282
49,243

285,270
341,751
342, 062

$7,008,877
9,356,228
9,418,099

$50,133,897
67,726,794
68,298,003

T o t a l c o m p e n s a t io n .

January, 1922..................
December, 1922...............
January, 1923..................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$7,004,924
9,173,407
9,203,831

$10,222,590
13,985,498
14,040,334

$6,578,427
9,185,794
9,329,220

[794]

$9,492,278
12,628,860
12,715,171

103

EM PLOYM ENT AND U N EM PLO Y M EN T.

Extent of Operation of Bituminous Coal Mines, February 3-24, 1923.

ONTINUING a series of tables which have appeared in previous
numbers of the M onthly L abor R e v ie w , the accompanying
table shows for a large number of coal mines in the bituminous
fields the number of mines closed the entire week and the number
working certain classified hours per week from February 3, 1923, to
February 24, 1923. The number of mines reporting varied each week,
and the figures are not given as being a complete presentation of all
mines but are believed fairly to represent the conditions as to regu­
larity of work in the bituminous mines of the country. The mines
included in this report ordinarily represent from 55 to 60 per cent of
the total output of bituminous coal. The figures are based on data
furnished the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the United States
Geological Survey.

C

WORKING TIME IN BITUMINOUS COAL MINES IN THE UNITED STATES, BY WEEKS,
FEBRUARY 3 TO FEBRUARY 24, 1923.
[The mines included ordinarily represent from 55 to 60 per cent of the total output. Prepared by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics from data furnished by the United States Geological Survey.]
Mines—
Num­
ber of
Week mines
ending— re­
port­
ing.

Closed
entire
week.

W orking W orking Working W orking Working
Working Working
8 and
24 and
16 and
32 and
40 and full time
less than less
than less than less than less than less than of 48 hours
8 hours. 16 hours.
24 hours. 32 hours. 40 hours. 48 hours. or more.

Per
Per No. Per No. Per No. Per No. Per No. Per
Per
No. cent.
No. cent.
cent.
cent.
cent.
cent.
cent. No. cent.
Feb. 3 ...
10...
17...
24...

2,468
2,481
2,513
2,411

146 5.9
152 6.1
212 8.4
221 9.2


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

233 9.4
218 8.8
281 11.2
285 11.8

797
740
757
732

32.3
29.8
30.1
30.4

595
571
511
511

[7 9 5 ]

24.1
23.0
20.3
21.2

303
322
306
245

12.3
13.0
12.2
10.2

161 6.5
195 7.9
182 7.2
172 7.1

122 4.9
161 6.5
140 5.6
131 5.4

I ll
122
124
114

4.5
4.9
4.9
4.7

104

m onthly

la b o r r e v ie w

.

Recent Employment Statistics.
Illinois.

HE following figures showing changes in volume of employment
in Illinois from December 15, 1922, to January 15, 1923, are
taken from the Employment Bulletin of January, 1923, pub­
lished by the State Department of Labor:

T

COURSE O F EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHM ENTS IN 13 INDUSTRIAL
GROUPS IN ILLIN O IS FROM DECEM BER 15, 1922, TO JANUARY 15, 1923.

Number
of estab­
lishments.

Industry.

Percentage
Number of
of change
employees, Dec. 15,1922,
Jan. 15, 1923.
to
Jan. 15, 1923.

Stone, clay, and glass products....................................................
Metals, machinery, and conveyances..........................................
Wood products...............................................................................
Furs and leather goods..................................................................
Chemicals, oils, paints, e t c ..............._..........................................
Paper . . .
.................................................................
Printing and paper goods..............................................................
Textiles......
.........................................................
Clothing, millinery, and laundering............................................
Food, beverages, and tobacco.......................................................

76
350
128
61
58
8
130
21
127
207

10,659
130,214
14,681
14,717
10,865
617
14,879
4,959
29;112
40; 882

- 3 .6
+ 1.1
- .1
+ 1.2
+ .8
+ 1.0
- .3
0.0
- 1 .4
-2 .6

Total manufacturing industries..............- .........................
Public utilities .................................................................. - ..........
Coal mining....................................................................................
'Building and contracting..............................................................

1,169
66
64
191

271,585
71,710
18,001
8,509

-1 .0
- .1
+ 1.3
- 3 .8

Grand total...........................................................................

1,490

369,805

- .1

Statistics on the activities of the Illinois free employment offices
in the first and last months of 1922 are given below:
COMPARISON O F S U PPLY AND DEMAND FOR LABOR IN F R E E STATE EMPLOY­
MENT OFFICES IN T H E FIR ST AND LAST MONTHS OF 1922.
January,
1922.

Item .
Registrations..................................
Help w anted..................................
Referred..........................................
Reported placed............................

22,624
9,^32
10,067
8,049

December,
1922.
22,845
17 356
16,657
13,168

The number of building permits in January, 1922, in 12 Illinois
cities was only 705, compared with 1,223 in December of that year
and 1,451 in January, 1923. The estimated cost of the work repre­
sented by these permits was $9,028,672 in January, 1922; $35,450,657
in December, 1922; and $20,066,102 in January, 1923.
Iowa.1

AIN in employment in 10 industrial groups in Iowa in December,
^
1922, as compared with January, 1922, and in January, 1923,
as compared with January, 1922, are shown in the following state­
ment:
1 Iowa. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Iowa Employment Survey, Des Moines, January, 1923, p. 1.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[796]

105

EM PLOYM ENT AND U N EM PLO Y M EN T.

PERCENTAGE OF GAIN IN EMPLOYMENT IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES IN IOWA IN
DECEMBER, 1922, AND JANUARY, 1923, AS COMPARED WITH JANUARY, 1922.
Percentage of gain.
Industry.

December
over
January,
1922.

January,
1923, over
January,
1922.

Food and kindred products.....................................................................
Textiles................. I .................................... .................................
Iron and steel work................................................................................................
Lumber products..........................................................................................
Leather products.......................................................................................
Paper products, printing and publishing............................................................
Patent medicines, chemicals, and compounds........................................
Stone and clay products.... ................ T................................................
Tobacco and cigars....... ................................................................
Various industries..........................................................................................

19.7
7.2
110.0
30.0
29.9
9.1
17.3
86.1
9.0
15.4

19.0
13.1
113.8
31.0
36.6
12.4
18.4
85.8
9.4
12.6

Total..................................................................................................

33.1

45.7

There was a total gain of 2 per cent in January, 1923, over Decem­
ber, 1922, in 11 industrial groups.
In 12 Iowa cities, each with a population of 10,000 or over, the
total building permits in January, 1922, numbered 260 with a valu­
ation of $404,945, while in the corresponding month of the present
year there were 409 such permits with a valuation of $1,257,991.
Minnesota.

WAS unprecedentedly difficult during February to secure men
IT for
the lumber camps in the northern section of Minnesota, ac­
cording to a recent statement received from the Minnesota Industrial
Commission. I t was also exceptionally difficult to induce men to
take jobs on farms, although hundreds of men reported daily at the
Twin City offices in search of employment. In this connection the
commissioner in charge of the public employment offices of the State
declares that the situation is not easy to understand, especially when
lumbermen and farmers are paying higher wages this year than in
the preceding year, unless the condition is attributed to watchful
waiting on labor’s part for early employment in road and building
construction work.
The State free employment bureaus in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and
Duluth reported for February, 1923, 4,271 persons referred to posi­
tions and 3,497 verified placements. In the same month in 1922,
3,060 applicants were referred to positions and there were 2,299
verified placements. The number of persons registered for employ­
ment in the three cities in February, 1923, was 5,728, which was
1,457 in excess of the number referred to positions, despite the fact
that there were over 500 unfilled orders for workers on farms and in
lumber camps in the three bureaus at the end of the month.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[797]

106

m onthly

la b o r r e v ie w

.

Nevada.1

'T H E activities of employment agencies in Nevada for the last
three years are shown in the following table:
STATISTICS OF FEE-CHARGING EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES IN NEVADA, 1920, 1921, AND
1922.

Year.
Male.
1920.............................................
1921.
........................
1922 (11 months).......................

Fees
refunded
(position
not
secured).

Number of persons
engaged.

4,305
1,728
2,008

Female.
5
12

$105.00
274.00
129.00

Fees
refunded
(for
cause).
$39. 00
29.50

Expenses
refunded.

$5.84
18.88
102.79

Fees
charged.

$6,328.55
2,653.50
2,844.50

The farming industry of the State is recorded as having been
“ forced to supreme retrenchment” in the matter of labor employ­
ment in 1921. Building activities are reported as above normal in
the biennium 1921-1922. Employment in transportation is said
to be above pre-war numbers and the interstate haulage, indicative
of “ healthy business.” The present situation seems to promise
improvement in farm, mining, and transportation employment in
1923.
Regularizing Employment in the Building Trades in San Francisco.

HE Industrial Association of San Francisco, which has been
conducting a campaign for the open shop, gives in its official
organ, The American Plan, for January, 1923, some details
concerning its assistance to workers whom, in pursuance of the
campaign, it has brought into the city. This account incidentally
casts some light on the amount of time lost by building workers for
lack of an intelligent coordination of employment demands. Hunt­
ing for jobs and inability to work because of weather conditions
cause a loss of time which, in the face of the growing scarcity of
skilled workers, is damaging to the industry as well as to the workers.
How this loss was diminished or entirely prevented is briefly de­
scribed below:

T

The representatives of our inspection and employment department also keep accu­
rately informed as to the exact time when jobs will be completed and when new
jobs will be commenced. Thus we are able to keep the men employed continuously,
as we transfer them from one job to another, instead of forcing them to lose a half
day or a day in going to the employment department. In this way we take up the
“ slack, ” and have been able to carry on a given amount of work with fewer mechanics
than would otherwise have been possible, as in the past most mechanics have lost
at least two days a month in going about to secure jobs. For example, 200 men in
the plastering craft, forced to look for jobs in the old way, would mean the loss of
3,200 man-hours in a month—enough time lost to have completed two six-story build­
ings. Again, when the bricklayers and plasterers who were working in the open
were laid off on account of the rain, representatives of the association’s inspection
and employment department found jobs for them immediately on inside work. In
many cases the men did not lose even an hour, as they were taken from job to job in
machines.
1 Nevada. Commissioner of Labor. Biennial report, 1921-1922. Carson City, 1923, p. 98.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[798]

EM PLOYM ENT AND UNEM PLOY M ENT.

107

Increased Employment in New York State, as Indicated by Gains in
Building Activity.“

HE plans for industrial buildings outside of Greater New York
for 1922 are indicative of still further improvement in employ­
ment conditions, since not only will the construction work
afford employment, but the buildings constructed will afford greater
accommodations for industry. These plans represent an expendi­
ture of approximately $6,400,000 above the amount for 1921, the
total for the 513 plans in 1922 being $15,730,167 and for the 379
plans in 1921, $9,334,221. The aggregate estimated expenditure for
new construction represented by the 1922 plans was $14,000,000; by
the 1921 plans, $8,390,000. July was the record month of 1922, the
plans submitted in that month calling for expenditures of nearly
$3,000,000. _
P r o g r e s s i n b u i l d i n g i n p r i n c i p a l c i t i e s .—The estimates for author­
ized building work in the 10 largest cities of New York in November
amounted to $60,430,976, which sum is $5,000,000 above the esti­
mates for building work in the preceding month. The November
figure exceeds that of any previous month in 1922, except June and
March. There are no signs of a slackening of the present unusual
building activity or even of the customary seasonal decline in the
filing of plans for new enterprises. The estimated cost of authorized
building was $12,000,000 higher in November, 1922, than in Novem­
ber, 1921. ‘‘The total estimated value of building work for 11
months of 1921 was over $450,000,000 for 11 months of 1922, more
than $600,000,000. An increase in the estimates for building work
may mean a larger amount of work to be done or a rise in the cost of
materials and labor—-or possibly both of these factors. The average
cost for the 1922 building season did not greatly differ from that of
1921.

T

Unemployment in Foreign Countries.1

INCE the last publication in the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w (Jan­
uary, 1923, pp. 125-134) of data on unemployment in foreign
countries the situation as regards the state of employment has
in most countries taken a turn for the worse. It is extremely diffi­
cult to give a sound and accurate survey of economic and employ­
ment conditions in Europe at the present time. The data contained
in the present article refer in most instances to December, 1922,
without reference to the developments during January, which alter
considerably the significance of economic progress during the months
immediately preceding. In general, during 1922 the countries in
western Europe were working back to normal peace-time conditions
in industry and commerce. Unemployment generally decreased, pro­
duction was greater, consumption of foodstuffs and raw materials
was increasing, and stocks correspondingly diminishing.. However,

S

« New York. Industrial Commissioner. The Industrial Bulletin, Albany, December, 1922, pp. 64
and 66.
1 Except where otherwise noted the sources from which this article is compiled are shown in the table
on pp. — and —.

38784°—23-----S

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[799]

108

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

in spite of general improvement in economic conditions, unemploy­
ment, the most distinct sympton of the present economic world crisis,
although diminishing in some countries, becomes at times more acute
in other countries.
Briefly summarized, the situation in the individual countries at the
latest date for which data are available is as follows :
G r e a t B r i t a i n .—The employment situation in Great Britain is given
in detail on pages 119 and 120 of this issue of the M o n t h l y L a b o r
R e v ie w .
G e r m a n y .—The Reichs-Arbeitsblatt of February 1, 1923, in its sum­
mary of employment conditions in December, 1922, states that the
end of the year brings with it regularly a marked drop in employment.
This was clearly so in December, but at the same time certain other
causes were at work which were independent of the season. The in­
ferences to be drawn from the various sets of statistical data relating
to the labor market are not uniform in character. On the whole, em­
ployment appeared to be not so good, but in individual industries,
such as the metal-working, electrical, and chemical industries, it was
still satisfactory. Employment was less favorable, without being de­
cidedly bad, in the textile industry. In the building trades, the food
industries, and especially in the tobacco industry it was bad, as it was
also to a somewhat lesser degree in the leather industry and in the
printing trades.
Reports 2 from 1,653 typical establishments employing 1,316,000
workers show that employment on January 15, 1923, was good or fair
in 74 per cent (as against 80 per cent on December 15, 1922) of the
reporting establishments, and bad in the remaining 26 per cent (20
per cent on December 15, 1922). The prospects for the immediate
future are considered good by 27 per cent of the reporting estab­
lishments, fair by 38 per cent, and bad by 32 per cent, 3 per cent of
the establishments expressing no opinion.
Unemployment statistics published in the Reichs-Arbeitsblatt of
of February 1, 1923, indicate a considerable increase in the number
of totally unemployed persons who received unemployment dona­
tions, their number having risen from 42,860 on December 1 to 82,427
on January 1, or by 92 per cent. Male recipients increased by almost
exactly 100 per cent and female by 60 per cent.
Returns from trade-unions also indicate a further increase of
unemployment in December. Out of 6,455,475 organized workers
covered by the statistics, 182,955, or 2.8 per cent, were out of work
on the last day of the month, as against 2 per cent at the end of
November. Reports from 37 federations (covering 5,600,000 mem­
bers) on short-time work show that 492,711 members, or 8.7 per
cent, were on short time in December, as against 7.5 per cent in
November. The proportion of short-time workers was greater
among women and girls (18.6 per cent) than among men (5.1 per
cent).
At public employment exchanges 733,243 applications for em­
ployment were registered during December as against 797,348 in
November, a decline of 8 per cent. The vacancies reported by em­
ployers, however, were 22 per cent less in number than in the pre-

2 Reichs-Arbeitsblatt, Berlin, Feb. 16,1923, p. 61.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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EM PLOY M ENT AND U NEM PLOY M ENT.

109

ceding month, with the result that for every 100 vacancies for men
there were 219 applicants (as against 175 in November), and for
every 100 vacancies for women 155 applicants (as against 148 in
November).
F r a n c e .—In France unemployment is almost nonexistent, the
total number of unemployed receiving benefits from departmental
or municipal unemployment funds being only 2,690 on February 15,
1923, as against 91,225 in March, 1921, when unemployment was
at the highest level in France. Unemployment funds exist now in
31 (approximately one-third) of the departments in France, in addi­
tion to 233 municipal funds. Of this total of 264 funds there are
now only 41 (6 departmental and 35 municipal funds) in operation,
thus indicating a general industrial improvement throughout the
country, as compared with a year ago.
A cable from the American commercial attache at Paris, dated
February 9, 1923 (Commerce Reports, February 19, 1923), states
that developments in the Ruhr are the outstanding factor in the
French economic situation. Activity in iron and steel, the industry
groups most immediately affected, has been cut down by inability to
secure coke. A falling off is also noticed in the leather, cotton, and
wool industries. It was estimated that on February 1 a total of
approximately 15,000 workers were idle.
I t a l y .—According to a report received by the British Ministry of
Labor from the British commercial secretary at Rome, 381,968 per­
sons were reported to be totally unemployed on January 1, 1923, as
compared with 354,238 on December 1, 1922. In addition, 42,558
were partially unemployed on January 1 as against 43,140 at the
beginning of December.
A report from the American consul at Rome, dated January 19,
1923, states that unemployment has steadily increased in Italy
during the last three months of the year, but unemployment always
increases with the approach of winter in the predominatingly agri­
cultural Provinces of Veneto, Emilia, Abruzzi, and Pugiia. A
slight decrease in unemployment for the entire year is, however,
observable in the Provinces which are both agricultural and indus­
trial, such as Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany, Venezia Giulia, Lazio,
Umbria, and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Unemployment
maintained itself at a stationary level in Lombardy, Venezia Tridentina, Marche, Campania, Basilicata, and Calabria.
B e l g i u m .—Official unemployment statistics for Belgium indicate
that there is relatively little unemployment in that country, and
that the number of unemployed at the end of December was prac­
tically the same as at the end of November. A joint report of the
American commercial attaché and the American consuls at Ghent
and Antwerp, dated February 17, 1923 (Commerce Reports, Febru­
ary 26, 1923), states, however, that the Belgian business situation
presents many of the characteristics of an artificial boom period.
The temporary removal of German competition is helping all in­
dustries, and the situation, although outwardly favorable, is there­
fore based on fundamentally unhealthy factors.
Since the occupation of the Ruhr the Belgian iron and steel in­
dustry is greatly handicapped, for it is dependent upon foreign de­
liveries of coking coal for about one-third of its supply. Hence,


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reduced coke production is cutting down the number of blast fur­
naces in operation. Imports of coke are now subject to license, and
projects of rationing domestic coke are now under consideration.
The Belgian machinery and automobile industry are temporarily
paralyzed by exchange developments.
An upward tendency of raw flax prices is noted, but high prices
prevent buying on the part of local spinners. Cotton spinners are
generally not in the market during the present exchange crisis, on
account of uncertain yarn prices. While the future of flax and
cotton textiles is uncertain, mills generally have sufficient stocks
and orders to insure operation for about two months.
Plate-glass plants are operating to full capacity and are accepting
no new orders. Special glass and mirror plants are fully occupied.
Window glass manufacturing is handicapped by rising production
costs. Nineteen furnaces are now in operation, and the oriental and
American demand is active. The table and cut glass market is
much improved, with decreased German exports aiding Belgian
business.
The shipping situation has not materially changed, although some
German traffic to Antwerp is being diverted to Dutch and German
ports. The diamond industry has improved, and practically all
cutters are working at full capacity.
T h e N e t h e r l a n d s .—According to official statistics the per cent of
unemployed among members of unemployment funds was 15.8
on December 30, as against 12.5 on December 2. Unemployment
was most extensive in the building trades, metal working, agri­
culture, transportation, woodworking, the diamond industry, tobacco
industry, and among factory workers.
Some of the industries of the Netherlands, especially the leather,
shoe, clothing, and tobacco industries, complain of heavy foreign com­
petition and therefore demand a higher protective tariff or even an
embargo on imports. In the shipbuilding industry many workers
had to be discharged during the last few months owing to lack of
new orders.
S w i t z e r l a n d .—Unemployment again slightly increased in Switzer­
land during January. The number of totally unemployed persons,
inclusive of those erriployed on emergency relief works, rose from
53,463 at the end of December to 56,275 at the end of January.
Considered by occupational groups there was an increase in the num­
ber of unemployed in the following groups: Textile industry (888),
unskilled workers (778), woodworking and glass industries (253),
building trades, building materials, and painting (662), commerce
(212), hotels (194), agriculture and gardening (169), domestic service
(155), clothing and leather industries (120), forestry and fishing (86),
transportation (75), mining (60), chemical industry (35), printing
trades and paper industry (12). The principal decreases in unem­
ployment were reported by the metal-working, machinery, and elec­
trical industries (399), the professions (219), the watch and jewelry
industries (205), and the foodstuff and beverage industries (54).
As totally unemployed were also counted 12,264 persons employed
on emergency relief works. The number of actually unemployed
was therefore only 44,131 (37,988 men and 6,143 women). Of this
number 23,853 received unemployment donations.


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EM PLOYM ENT AND UNEM PLOY M ENT.

Ill

The number of short-time workers decreased from 20,429 at the
end of December to 19,868 at the end of January. The principal in­
creases in the number of short-time workers were reported by the
textile industry (732) and the printing trades and paper industry
(493). In most of the other groups there was a decrease in shorttime work.
D e n m a r k .—The employment situation in Danish agriculture has
improved, but in industry unemployment again increased in Decem­
ber. Unemployment had steadily decreased up to the beginning of
October, when the number of unemployed persons had fallen to 30,719.
After that time it again increased to over 40,000 at the end of Novem­
ber and to 55,600 at the end of December. Corresponding to the
season unemployment was especially acute in the building trades.
Building trades workers formed 24.9 per cent of the unemployed at
Copenhagen and 34 per cent in the Provinces.
N o r w a y .—A report from the American assistant trade commissioner
at Copenhagen dated February 17, 1923 (Commerce Reports, March
5, 1923), states that, although all industries are now moderately
busy in Norway, the industrial situation in January remained unfavor­
able. The labor difficulties in Sweden are causing an increase in the
demand for Norwegian paper pulp, and a rise in the price of this
product. Fishing shows losses due to a serious drop in the Russian
market.
Unemployment about the middle of February was placed at 30,000,
as compared with 26,000 for January 14, while 15,000 men are being
employed on emergency works. Unless the labor court act is ex­
tended it seems that serious labor disputes can not be avoided, as
there is an evident intention in several industries to continue the
struggle against wage reductions.
S w e d e n .—During 1922 Sweden experienced a general increase in
production with a corresponding decrease in employment. The
lumber, wood pulp, and paper industries were in good condition at
the end of the year, with the iron industry improving slowly and
textiles recovering very rapidly. The machinery industry suffers
from German competition.
The State unemployment commission has recently submitted to
the Ministry of Social Welfare a report on its activities during 1922,
together with its program of relief for 1923. The report is sum­
marized in Sociala Meddelanden (No. 1A, 1923, pp. 32-35). The
report begins with a summary of the state of the labor market
during 1922, and the measures which have been taken by the public
authorities to alleviate unemployment. The crisis culminated at
the end of January, 1922, when there were 163,000 unemployed.
There was a marked improvement during the following months, but
even in April the unemployed numbered more than 100,000. As
the prospects for the future were also extremely uncertain, Parlia­
ment felt obliged to grant relief credits amounting to a total of
85,000,000 kronor ($22,780,000, par) for 1922, and 5,000,000 kronor
($1,340,000, par) for 1923. The state of the labor market, however,
improved, and it became evident that the improvement was not
merely a seasonal one but that a return to more normal conditions
could be anticipated. During the latter part of the summer the


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m o n t h l y labor r e v ie w .

number of unemployed fell to 35,000, the improvement being par­
ticularly marked in the lumber and building industries.
Under these circumstances and in consideration of the fact that
in the early months of the year the original relief program had been
considerably exceeded, the commission considered it wise to take
action to exclude from relief such labor as could find suitable occu­
pation during the summer months. This exclusion was continued
during the autumn months, owing to the steady improvement of
the labor market. The grant of unemployment relief has been con­
tinued only to those classes of workers among whom there is exten­
sive unemployment, in particular, miners, iron workers, machinists,
and commercial employees. Unmarried persons have been totally
excluded from relief by means of cash doles. As a result of the
restrictions imposed by the commission relief activities have been
considerably reduced. The maximum number receiving money relief
during the winter was 65,000, and of persons employed on relief
works, 31,000. During the late summer months the corresponding
figures were 2,000 to 2,500 and 20,000, respectively, and have not
since increased.
The commission points out that the aid granted by the State has
to an increasing extent taken the form of relief works. The work
done has been principally on roads—not less than 960 kilometers
(596.5 miles) have been built or repaired during 1922. A consid­
erable amount of work has also been done in the State forests and
on irrigation works, land settlement schemes, recreation grounds, etc.
The commission has endeavored to conform to the principle that the
work, besides being of public utility and located near the unem­
ployment centers (these factors have, of course, been decisive)
should be such as did not require highly skilled labor and could
be left unfinished if the number of unemployed decreased. The
total of 70,000,000 kronor ($18,760,000, par) expended by the State
during 1921 and 1922 on relief works of various kinds has, according
to the commission, been really usefully employed.
As regards its wage policy the commission states that during the
spring measures were taken to reduce the wages of relief workers
so as to fix a lower rate than that paid to unskilled workers in the
open labor market.
The expenditure of the commission during 1922 was 71,300,000
kronor ($19,108,400, par). A balance of 16,700,000 kronor
($4,475,600, par), plus the sum of 5,000,000 kronor ($1,340,000, par)
provided by the 1922 Parliament for 1923, is available for the present
year. Further, a sum of about 15,200,000 kronor ($4,073,600, par)
can be counted on in the course of six quarters as payment falls due
from municipalities, district road councils, etc., on the completion
of the various works.
On this basis and on the assumption that unemployment in Sweden
will continue gradually to decrease the commission is of the opinion
that it is not necessary to ask Parliament for any grants in aid of
unemployment relief during 1923. The commission has drawn up a
program of relief activities for the period January 1, 1923, to May 1,
1924. It calculates that the number of persons needing relief for
the first five months of 1923 will be about 24,000 and will gradually
decrease to about 6,000 during the corresponding period of 1924. In


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this case the expenditure up to May 1, 1924, should amount to about
29,400,000 kronor ($7,879,200, par). The commission considers that
by the latter date there will no longer be any necessity for its fur­
ther existence. The three labor members of the commission, how­
ever, consider the forecast of the majority too optimistic and dissent
from the recommendation not to ask Parliament for further credits
for 1923. They also consider that it will not be possible for the com­
mission to discontinue its activities until the question of unemploy­
ment insurance has been dealt with.
At the end of December, 1922, the total number of unemployed
was 45,900, of which 21,400 were in the cities and 24,500 in the coun­
try. This shows an increase of about 2,400, as compared with the
month of November. A total of 6,200 unemployed persons were in
receipt of unemployment doles on December 31, 1922; about 3,300
were employed on municipal relief works and about 13,800 on State
relief works.
F i n l a n d .—A report from the American consul at Helsingfors,
dated January 18, 1923, states that according to information fur­
nished by the Labor Bureau of Finland unemployment in that coun­
try is much less now than it was a year ago, although it was not very
great even at that time. It appears that the labor market in gen­
eral in Finland will be more satisfactory this winter than before and
that only the metal-working industries will experience difficulties.
Unemployment in harbor work can never be completely eliminated
in the wintertime, but this winter it is reduced to a smaller degree
than previously. Unemployment will probably be more serious in
the case of women, as it is more difficult for them to obtain work
than for men, who can engage in forestry work. Considerable unem­
ployment is expected in the Yiborg district, where only a small amount
of forestry work will be done.
C z e c h o s l o v a k i a .—Czechoslovakian industry suffered during 1922
from high wages and transport tariffs, which it was impossible to
reduce in proportion to the continued appreciation of the crown.
The resulting industrial depression continued throughout the year.
The domestic demand for goods was considerable, but actual trade
was hampered by high prices. These showed a downward tendency,
however, toward the latter part of the year. Czechoslovakia’s trade
with its best customers—Austria and Germany—was naturally cur­
tailed to a great extent on account of the high value of the Czecho­
slovak crown.
A report from the American trade commissioner at Prague (Com­
merce Reports, February 12, 1923), dated February 2, 1923, states
that the effects of the industrial stagnation were still felt in Czecho­
slovakia during January. Slight improvement, however, in the tex­
tile, leather, shoe, and cement industries was experienced as a result
of domestic replacement purchases. Further retrenchment was
apparent in the hollow glass, porcelain, and machine industries. No
general improvement in the export demand was evident, while
increased restriction of imports and semimanufactured products con­
tinued. Manufacturers are demanding a further reduction of coal
prices and freight rates.
Unemployment at the end of December amounted to 329,000 (the
official Czechoslovakian estimate is 200,000), against 267,000 on Novem-


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M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

ber 1. Wage reductions occurred in the following industries: Glove
and electrical, 20 per cent; sugar, 19 per cent; Bratislava building
trades, 15 per cent; sawmills and bakeries, 10 per cent.
A u s t r i a .—Austrian industrial conditions continued unfavorable
during January, with little improvement from the stagnation of
recent months, according to a report from the American trade com­
missioner at Vienna, dated February 9 (Commerce Reports, Febru­
ary 19, 1923).
Grounds for hope, however, are found in the revival of buying
during the month. The movement is not yet extensive enough to
afford manufacturers relief; efforts to reduce production costs suffi­
ciently to restore competitive ability have been largely unsuccessful,
and the regaining of essential foreign markets must depend on external
developments favorable to Austria.
The immediate effect of the Ruhr occupation is favorable to Austria,
because part of the orders originally filled by the manufacturers of
that region are now being given to Austrian manufacturers. Dis­
organization of German industry and transportation consequent to
the occupation, together with the present tendency of German manu­
facturers to quote in foreign currencies, also lessens keen German
competition, which has been depriving Austria of its neighboring
trade, particularly with the Balkan markets.
The number of unemployed in the Vienna industrial district in­
creased from 90,000 at the end of December to 101,000 at the end of
January, 23 per cent of this number being metal workers. Total
unemployment in Austria is estimated at 150,000. Extension of
unemployment in the near future is, however, not expected.
At the present time the Government allowance to an idle workman
is 10,000 kronen 3 daily, or 70,000 kronen per week. “ Anybody can
appreciate the distress of the unemployed on this allowance,” says
the Arbeiter-Zeitung, “ with one loaf of bread costing 6,750 kronen.”
The social democrats have demanded as a minimum allowance 18,000
kronen daily, while the Government party has intimated that it
would not object to an increase to 12,480 kronen daily. Since no
compromise has been reached, the allowance remains unchanged.
A u s t r a l i a .—The only recent information available is a cable to the
Commonwealth high commissioner in London, which states that the
per cent of unemployed trade-union members in the fourth quarter
of 1922 was 8.6, as compared with 9.6 per cent in the third quarter
and 9.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 1921.
C a n a d a .—Statements of employers compiled by the Dominion
Bureau of Statistics show that employment at the end of December
suffered the usual heavy decline peculiar to the season. The actual
shrinkage involved the release of a somewhat greater number of work­
e r s than that recorded during the corresponding period of the pre­
ceding year, but the percentage decline was not quite so large. The
curve of employment which gained steadily from the end of April
until the close of November, was considerably depressed at the close
of the month under review, although it did not reach as low a level
as in the corresponding month of the preceding year, when the index
fell to a point over 8 points lower. It is expected that early in Janu8 The par value of the krone is 20.3 cents, but at the present rate of exchange $1 will buy 70,000 kronen.


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EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

115

ary considerable revival will be indicated and that the curve will
before long resume its upward movement.
Reports were tabulated from 6;221 employers with an aggregate
pay roll of 733,067 persons, of whom 707,703 were actually working
on December 30, as compared with 779,758 in the last report. The
index number, which is based on the number of persons actually
at work, therefore, declined from 95.1 at the end of November to
86.3 for the period under review. At the close of December, 1921,
the index number had fallen to 77.9.
The only increases in activity as compared with the preceding
month took place in logging and retail trade; both gains indicated
seasonal activity. Substantial contractions were recorded in all
other industries, the losses in the manufacturing group, in con­
struction and transportation being especially heavy. Further
declines occurred in mining, while the communication and service
groups also showed some dullness.
Reductions in employment were reported in every district, those
in Quebec and Ontario being the most extensive. Firms in all
cities were forced to curtail operations. The decrease in employ­
ment in Montreal was especially pronounced, the temporary closing
of the railway car shops over Christmas and the New Year causing
large reductions in staff which were supplemented by important
losses in other branches of the manufacturing industries, notably
in textiles, tin, sugar, and tobacco factories, and in shipping and
stevedoring, in construction, and on the street and electric railways.
In Toronto large reductions in personnel were reported in garment,
biscuit, chocolate, confectionery, lead, tin, and box factories. In
construction industries, moreover, employment was much less and
further losses were registered by the street railways. Sawmills in
Ottawa reported another decrease; contractors also afforded less
employment, while telephone staffs were somewhat reduced owing
to the holidays. In Hamilton knitting mills, iron, steel, and tobacco
works reported the bulk of the decrease in employment. Biscuit,
confectionery, brick, and textile plants in Winnepeg recorded con­
siderable declines in activity, while the construction trades also
were slacker. In Vancouver the decreases were of a general charac­
ter; tanneries, sawmills, and shipyards showed a less favorable
employment situation and employment on building construction
and on the street railways also declined.
. A summary of the latest statistical reports on unemployment is
given in the following table:


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SUMMARY OF LATEST REPORTS ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Country.
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland.

Date.

Do........................ Jan. 31,1923.......

France........................ Feb. 15,1923.......

[ 808]

Do........................ Feb. 10,1923.......
Italy........................... Jan. 1,1923.........
Do........................
Belgium..................... Dec. 30,1922.......

Do........................ Dec. 31,1922.......
Dec. 30,1922.......

Do........................ December, 1922..
Switzerland............... Jan. 31,1923.......
Do........................
Denmark..................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Dec. 29, 1922___

Remarks.

Ministry of Labor Gazette, London,
February, 1923.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Do........................ Dec. 30,1922.......

Source of data.

Of the 1,493,036 having lodged their unemployment
books, 1,228,334 were males and 264,702 were females.
In addition, 60,147 persons, or 0.5 per cent of allinsured
persons, were systematic short-time workers entitled
to out-of-work donation. The per cent of totally un- .
employed workers on Dec. 18, 1922, was 12.2 per cent,
and that of short-time workers 0.5 per cent.
13.7 per cent of trade-union members... ....... do................................................. The corresponding per cent at the end of December, 1922,
was 14, and 16.8 at the end of January, 1922.
82,427 totally unemployed persons re­ Reichs-Arbeitsblatt, Berlin, Feb. Of the 82,427 persons receiving unemployment donations,
68,920 were males and 13,507 were females. On Dec. 1,
ceiving unemployment donations.
1, 1923.
1922, the total number was 42,860, the increase on Jan­
uary 1 is thus equivalent to 92 per cent.
The per cent of unemployed trade-union members was
__ do__
2.8 per cent of trade-union members__
2.0 at the end of the last week of November, 1922, and
1.6 at the end of December, 1921.
2,690 persons in receipt of unemployment Bulletin du Marché du Travail, Of the 2,690 persons in receipt of unemployment benefits,
2,393 were males and 297 were females. At the end of
Paris, Feb. 16,1923.
benefits from departmental and mu­
the preceding week the number of persons receiving
nicipal unemployment funds.
unemployment benefits was 2,665.
12,680 persons on the live register of em­ .......do................................................... Of the 12,680 persons on the live register of employment
exchanges, 9,168 were males and 3,512 were females.
ployment exchanges.
381,968 persons totally unemployed and Ministry of Labor Gazette, London, The corresponding figures on Dec. 1, 1922, were 354,238
totally unemployed and 43,140 short-time workers.
February, 1923.
42,558 short-time workers.
72,812 persons receiving unemployment ___ do................................................... The corresponding number on Dec. 1,1922, was 69,300.
benefit.
25,748 members of unemployment funds, Revue du Travail, Brussels, Jan­ The corresponding per cent on Dec. 2,1922, was the same.
The aggregate days of unemployment in December,
or 3.8 per cent of the total member­
uary, 1923.
1922, numbered 363,7661 as against 364,249 in Novem­
ship, were either wholly unemployed
ber, 1922.
or on short time.1
14,302 persons on live register of public ___ do................................................... The corresponding number at the end of November, 1922, :
was 17,913.
employment exchanges.
15.8 per cent of the members of unem­ Maandschrift, The Hague, Jan. 31, The corresponding per cent on Dec. 2, 1922, was 12.5.
1922.
ployment funds were unemployed.
119,321 applicants for employment at ___ do................................................... The corresponding number for November, 1922, was
115,383.
public employment exchanges.
56,275 totally unemployed (including Der Schweizerische Arbeitsmarkt, The corresponding figures for Dec. 31, 1922, were 53,463
totally unemployed (including 14,057 employed on
12,264 employed on relief works),
Bern, Feb. 15, 1923.
relief works) and 20,429 short-time workers.
19,868short-time workers.
23,853 persons received unemployment .......do................................................... The corresponding number on Dec. 31,1922, was 21,420.
donations.
20.3 per cent out of a total of 256,676 Statistiske Efterretninger, Copen­ The corresponding per cent at the end of the last week
of November was 15.2, and at the end of the last week
workers covered by returns of tradehagen, Jan. 20, 1923.
of December, 1921, 25.2.
unions and of the central employment
exchange were unemployed.

Jan. 22,1923....... 1,493,036 (number of unemployment
books lodged), representing 12.7 per
cent of all persons insured against un­
employment.

Germany.................... Jan. 1,1923.........

The Netherlands.

Number or per cent of unemployed.

I
Norway.

i

Dee. 27,1922.... 26,600 unemployed persons......................

Sociale Meddelelser, Christiania, N ov. The corresponding number on Nov. 25, 1922, was 25,600.
1, 1923.
Dec. 31,1922___ 12.9 per cent of trade-union members__ Ministry of Labor Gazette, London, The corresponding per cent on Nov. 30, 1922, was 10.6,
February, 1923.
and 18,3 on Dec. 31,1921.
Sweden.
. . . . . do . . . . . . . . . . 21.7 per cent of trade-union members__ Sociala Meddelanden, Nov. 2, 1923.,, The corresponding per cent on Nov. 30, 1922, was 17.2.
and 33.2 on Dec. 31, 1921.
Do..
.......d o ............... 45,900 persons unemployed (estimate ___ d o .,....................... . ......... .........
of State unemployment commission).
Dec. 30, 1922,... 1,293 unemployed (835 men and 458 Bank of Finland Monthly Bulletin At the end of the last week of November, 1922, the number
Finland.
women) registered at communal em­
of unemployed was 1,427, and 2,127 at the end of the
Helsingfors, November-December,
1922.
ployment exchanges.
last week of December, 1921.
Dec. 31, 1922..,. 200.000 persons totally unemployed........ Report of American consulate at This figure was furnished to the American consulate by
Czechoslovakia...
.. the Minister of Social Welfare. .
Prague, dated Jan. 8, 1923.
Dec. 15, 1922..,. 141.000 persons in receipt of State un­ Report of American consulate at The corresponding figure for November, 1922, was 95,445,
Do.................
employment donations.
ahd 17,500 for December, 1921,
Prague, dated Jan. 1, 1922.
Austria. . . . . . . . . .
Jan. 29, 1923,__ 150.000 persons totally unemployed (esti­ Report of American consulate at
mated).
Vienna, dated Jan. 29,1923.
Jan. 27, 1923.__ 98,824 persons on live register of public Arbeit und Wirtschaft, Vienna, The number of persons on the live register of public em­
Austria (Vienna).
Feb. 15, 1923.
employment exchanges.
ployment exchanges has increased by 21 per cent as
compared with Dec. 30, 1922, and by 412 per cent as
compared with Dec. 31,1921.
Do.
do
.do.,
82,813 persons in receipt of unemploy­
As compared With the corresponding number on Dec.
ment donations.
30, 1922, and Dec. 31, 1921, this figure represents an
increase of 26 and 788 per cent, respectively.
A ustralia...,.,........... Dec. Si, 1922.... 8.6 per cent of trade-union members,.... Ministry of Labor Gazette, London, The corresponding per cent for the preceding quarter
February, 1923.
was 9.6, and 9.5 for the fourth quarter of 1921.
C a n a d a ................. Jan. 1,1923...,,. 6.4 per cent of trade-üûion members___ Labor Gazette, Ottawa, February, The corresponding per cent on Dec. 1, 1922, was 6.2, and
1923.
15.1 on Jan. 1,1922.
1 Subject to revision.


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EMPLOYMENT AND 'UNEMPLOYMENT,

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

118

New Regulation of Unemployment Relief in Germany.1

HE German law on unemployment relief of November 1, 1921,
authorizes the Minister of Labor to order, with the approval of
the Reichsrat, changes in the maximum rates of unemploy­
ment donations. In view of the further depreciation of German
currency the Minister of Labor therefore has issued an order effective
January 29, 1923, which fixes the maximum rates per day of unem­
ployment donations as follows:

T

MAXIMUM DAILY RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT DONATIONS, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 29,
1922.
[1 mark at par=23.8 cents.]
Maximum rates per day, in localities of
class1—
Sex and age.

Males:
Over 21 years of age—
Not memhers of a, household....... ....................................
Members.of a household.....................................................
Tindor 21 years of ago,.................................................................
Females:
Over 21 years of age—
Not members of a household.............................................
Members of a household.....................................................
Under 21 years of age.................................................................
Family allowance:
For consort.................................................................................
For children and other dependent family members..............

A.

B.

C.

M a rk s.

M a rk s.

M a rk s.

D and E .

M a rk s.

720
500
250

650
450
230

580
400
200

510
350
170

550
330
200

500
300
180

450
270
160

400
240
140

330
250

300
230

270
200

240
170

1 The assignment of a locality to one of the 5 classes is governed by the salary law for civil service employ­
ees which assigns each locality to one of these classes in accordance with the cost of living in the locality.

The order provides that the combined family allowances drawn
by an unemployed person may not exceed double the amount of the
unemployment donation received by him.
The determination of the rates of unemployment donation is left to
the communes, but is is practically certain that no commune will fix
rates lower than the maximum rates shown in the preceding table.
In localities in which the cost of living is exceptionally high the com­
munal authorities may, with the approval of the Minister of Labor,
fix even higher rates for unemployment donation than the maximum
rates provided in the present order. The period during which an
unemployed person may draw unemployment donation is limited to
26 weeks. In cases of special distress the provincial president or the
State central authorities may, however, extend this period. During
the first week of unemployment no donation may be granted. Un­
employment donations may be paid only if the unemployment is due
to lack of work or other economic reasons. Persons quitting work
voluntarily are not entitled to unemployment donation. In such
cases donation may, however, be granted after four weeks of unem­
ployment.
Short-time workers are entitled to unemployment donation if
50 per cent of their weekly or fortnightly earnings do not equal the
sum paid during one or two weeks in unemployment donation to a
1 Metallarbeiter-Zeitung, Stuttgart, Jan. 27, 1923; Reichs-Arbeitsblatt, Berlin, Feb. 1, 1923.


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EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

119

person who is totally unemployed. In such cases they are entitled
to the difference between these two sums. Donations to short-time
workers are to be paid by the communal authorities, but on demand
of the latter they must be computed and paid by the employer.
Short-time workers need not be in needy circumstances in order to
be entitled to donations. If a short-time worker becomes totally
unemployed he is entitled to unemployment donation from the
first day of his unemployment, being thus exempt from the one-week
waiting-period requirement.

Report of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain and Northern
Ireland.

S REPORTED by the British Labor Gazette for February,
1923, the operations of the employment exchanges for the
five weeks ending January 8, 1923, are summarized as fol­
lows: The average daily number of applications from workpeople
during the period was 26,773; of vacancies notified, 2,773; and of
vacancies filled 2,355. This means over 91 applications for every
vacancy notified and over 11 applications for every vacancy filled.
Comparing the daily average of applications from workpeople for
January, 1923, and December, 1922, an increase of 8.8 per cent is
reported, while the daily average of vacancies notified shows a
decrease of less than 1 per cent and of vacancies filled an increase of
less than 1 per cent.
The average daily number of applications from adults was 24,232—
17,519 men and 6,713 women. There were 2,390 average daily
vacancies reported—1,564 for men and 826 for women. The aver­
age number of vacancies filled daily was 2,017—1,449 for men and
568 for women.
As regards juveniles, 33,229 applications were received from boys
and 34,667 from girls. The number of vacancies notified for boys
was 4,600, and 4,189 vacancies were filled. In the case of girls, 5,742
vacancies were notified and 4,944 were filled. Of the total vacancies
filled by juveniles, 20.6 per cent were filled by applicants who ob­
tained their first situation since leaving school.

A

Volume of Employment in the United Kingdom in January, 1923.

HE following statement as to the condition of employment in
Great Britain and Ireland in January, 1923, as compared
with January, 1922, and December, 1922, has been compiled
from figures appearing in the British Labor Gazette for February
1923. Similar information for October, 1922, was published in
the January, 1923, M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w .
Employment during January showed little general change as
compared with previous months, but was better on the whole at
the end of the month than at the end of December. It continued
good in the coal-mining industry, in steel-sheet manufacture, and

T


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

120

in the worsted industry, fairly good in the tinplate trade, and fair in
the woolen trade. In most of the other principal industries it was
still very slack; but further improvement was reported at iron and
steel works.
When the number of persons employed in January, 1923, is com­
pared with the number employed in December, 1922, the largest
increase, 32.2 per cent, appears for seamen, while iron mining
shows an increase of 5.4 per cent. Employment among dock
laborers during January was quiet and showed a small decline of
4.2 per cent as compared with the previous month. The cotton
trade showed a decrease of 2 per cent.
Comparing the earnings for January, 1923, and December, 1922,
the only increase shown, 2.6 per cent, was in the boot and shoe
trade. Decreases of 3.4 per cent, 2.7 per cent, and 2.1 per cent were
shown in the cotton, pottery, and brick trades, respectively.
When the number of persons employed in January, 1923, is com­
pared with the number employed in January, 1922, iron mining
showed the most important increase—70.6 per cent. An increase ol
26.5 per cent appeared for seamen and one of 22.1 per cent for iron
and steel. Respective percentage decreases of 8.7 and 5.9 appear
in the brick trade and dock and riverside labor.
The aggregate earnings of employees in January, 1923, when com­
pared with those for January, 1922, show an increase of 21.4 per
cent in the woolen trade and 7.7 per cent in the boot and shoe trade.
Brick shows a decrease of 13.8 per cent and pottery a decrease of
9.9 per cent.
VOLUME OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN AND IRE­
LAND) IN JANUARY, 1923, AS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER, 1922, AND JANUARY, 1922.
[Compiled from figures in the Labor Gazette, London, February, 1923.]

Industry, and basis of
comparison.

Per cent of
increase (+ ) or
decrease ( —) in
January, 1923, as
compared with—

Industry, and basis of
comparison.

Decem­ January,
ber,
1922.
1922.

Decem­ January,
ber,
1922.
1922.
Coal mining:
Average number of days
worked.
.....................
Number of employees..........
Iron mining:
Average number of days
worked...............................
Pig iron:
N umber of furnaces in blast.
Iron and steel works:
Number of employees .......
Number of shifts worked—
Tin-plate, steel, and galvanized
sheet trades: Number of mills
in operation..............................
Cotton trade:
Number of employees..........
Earnings of employees.........

6)
+0.5

+0.4
+6.6

- .0 8
+5.4

+.87
+70.6

+ 8.3

+ 103.3

+4.5
+6.0

+22.1
+34.0

-.2

+ 14.7

-2 .0
- 3 .4

+8.8
- 7 .0

Woolen trade:
Number of employees..........
Earnings of employees.........
Worsted trade:
Number of employees..........
Earnings of employees.........
Boot and shoe trade:
Number of employees..........
Earnings of employees.........
Brick trade:
Number of employees..........
Earnings of employees.........
Pottery trade:
Number of employees..........
Earnings of employees. - __
Dock and riverside labor:
Number of employees...........
Seamen:
Number of employees.........

1 No change


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Per cent of
increase (+ ) or
decrease ( —) inJanuary, 1923, as
compared with—

[ 812]

+ .8
-1 .9

+ 14.3
+21.4

+ .6
- 1 .0

+ 11.1
+ .9

+ .2
+2.6

+6.1
+7.7

+ •I
- 2 .1

-8 .7
-13.8

- .1
-2 .7

+ 2.0
- 9 .9

- 4 .2

—5.9

+32.2

+ 26.5

IN D U S T R IA L A C C ID E N T S A N D H Y G IE N E .

Effects on Workers of Exposure to Arsenic Trichloride.

HE results of a study of the conditions under which arsenic
trichloride is manufactured and of the hazards to which the
workmen are exposed are published in The Journal of Indus­
trial Hygiene, December, 1922 (pp. 346-364), and January, 1923
(pp. 410-423). The study, which involved extensive laboratory
research and factory investigation, dealt with the local caustic action
of arsenic trichloride, the absorption of the poison through the skin,
the results of inhaling its vapor, and measures for avoiding risks to
the workers.
The particular circumstance leading to this study occurred in
England during the war, when a workman employed upon the
commercial production of arsenic trichloride died following the
accidental spilling of some of this fluid over his right leg.
A post-mortem examination revealed a large amount of arsenic,
indicating that a soluble form of it had been freely distributed through
the body, probably by the blood and lymph. The presence of a con­
siderable amount in the lungs, which can not be explained in the
same way, indicates that shortly before death the patient had
inhaled air laden with arsenic. It was impossible to determine how
much was absorbed through the skin, although the patient’s death was
due to acute arsenicism. The general condition of the organs, however,
indicated that those engaged in the same work were exposed to very
material danger even in the absence of a similar accident.
Commercial arsenic trichloride, which is formed by distilling a
mixture of arsenic trioxide with sulphuric acid and sodium chloride,
is an oily, very mobile fluid, which emits fumes and evaporates very
rapidly when exposed to air. It is highly poisonous and has wellknown caustic properties. The crude arsenic trichloride from a
factory was used in all the experiments to ascertain its effects on
the workers, while in the study of the mode of diffusion in air both
the crude product and pure arsenic trichloride were used. The
resemblance between the results with the two products was so close
that it was considered that the effects observed were principally, if
not entirely, due to the arsenic trichloride.
The animal experiments, which included direct application of
undiluted arsenic trichloride to the skin and inhalation of air charged
with fumes of arsenic trichloride, proved that the arsenic is absorbed
by the tissues and is widely distributed throughout the body in a
very short time. When it is applied to the skin it kills the tissues
very rapidly, this action being somewhat retarded by washing the
part affecte«! within one minute of the time of application, although
the final result is not affected. Within a few hours after such
application arsenic can be recovered from most of the tissues or


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121

122

m onthly

la b o r r e v ie w

.

organs of the body, there being a tendency to accumulation in such
organs as the brain, liver, and kidneys. Inhalation of 1 part of arsenic
trichloride to 40,000 parts of air killed mice in 5 minutes, while an
ah’ stream which distributed the mixture unequally affected the
animals variously, some dying after a few hours while others appeared
to recover completely. All the animals which died from the effects
of the inhalation gave marked evidence of respiratory affection.
Experiments in regard to the evaporation of arsenic trichloride
showed that it is very diffusible and enters readily into various com­
binations, forming visible particles where the air contains moisture.
There is also evidence that when the air is unsaturated with water
there are invisible vapors present.
It is obvious that where the amount of air is unlimited there is enough moisture in
it to convert the invisible vapors of arsenic trichloride into visible fumes which are
not very distinct when the air is nearly dry, but which are very conspicuous when the
air is saturated with water. In very dry localities, however, arsenic trichloride might
diffuse indefinitely without any visible trace of its presence being noticed, except at
places where it came into contact with damp or wet surfaces (such as the mucous
membranes of men or animals), or with moist air, such as expired air.
I t is clear that the precipitate of oxychloride and allied products which form in the
air have a great tendency to cling to the surface of solid objects with which they come
in contact. This is one of the "reasons why the hair of persons working in arsenic
trichloride plants becomes so rapidly laden with arsenic. Arsenic trichloride is also
rapidly absorbed by animal tissues.

The study of actual factory conditions was made m a plant in
which the retorts and condensers were housed in a shed open on all
sides. The openings through which the retorts were filled were
located on a long upper platform and slightly below this was another
platform on which arsenic trioxide and chloride of sodium were
mixed. The retorts and furnaces were located below the upper plat­
form and a conduit leading from the bottom of each retort carried
the residue from the retort to trucks. A large tank was used for
storing the arsenic trichloride and close to this tank there were rows
of iron drums filled with the arsenic trichloride which were ready for
shipping.
The salt and the arsenic trioxide were mixed just before being
shoveled into the retorts, each of the men wearing a handkerchief oyer
the mouth and nose to protect himself from the dust. Irritating
fumes escaped in considerable amounts from various places about the
retorts. Test plates were placed in different positions and at various
distances from the retorts. The deposits on the plates showed that a
material amount of arsenic could be obtained from the air near any
of the retorts. Experiments as to protective measures showed that
“ special ventilating arrangements are needed to remove fumes which
arise when arsenic trichloride is necessarily exposed to the air in the
filling of drums or the sampling of their contents. Air containing
fumes so removed could be purified by a fine water spray before being
discharged in the atmosphere. All persons employed on this work
should wear some impervious general clothing, and only experience
can show whether they should not also wear suitable gas masks.”
The persons conducting the experiments were subjected to acci­
dental local and general exposure both in the laboratory and at the
factory, and the following effects which confirmed the conclusions
arrived at from the experiments were noted:


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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND HYGIENE.

123

* * * On two occasions small necrotic lesions of the epidermis were experienced,
which resembled those obtained experimentally with animals. Exposure to fumes
was followed by pharyngeal and laryngeal irritation, headache, giddiness, nausea
alternating with feelings of excessive hunger (gastric irritation), abdominal discom­
fort, pains in the thighs, legs, and feet, and edema of the feet. At the same time the
urine, which normally contained as a maximum 5 mmg. of arsenic trioxide per 100 c. c.
was found to contain 20 mmg.

Adequate Records of Lost Time from Sickness in Industry.

N ARTICLE by Dr, L. R. Thompson and D. K. Brundage in
the Nation’s Health, February, 1923 (pp. 99, 100), outlines
the need for complete reports and the careful analysis of
industrial morbidity statistics in order successfully to carry out
sickness prevention work in industry. As an example of the results
of analysis of such statistics, the fact that coal dust is harmless and
silica dust is dangerous as regards tuberculosis is cited, the study
of mortality rates having shown that the coal miner has a lower death
rate from tuberculosis than the average man, while that of the
worker in silica is higher than the average.
Industrial employment, even in the least hazardous industries, must
be considered to have some definite effect upon the workers. In
order to determine the effects of employment upon health and to
establish reasonable standards of protection it is necessary that the
sickness records of industrial establishments should be standardized.
Accurate comparison of the sickness records of different establish­
ments thus would become possible, allowing any individual estab­
lishment to judge of the effectiveness of its efforts in reducing or elimi­
nating its health hazards.
As a means of encouragement toward better recording of sickness,
the Tinted States Public Health Service lias been cooperating to a
limited extent, it is stated, in tabulating the data collected by
private establishments and in analyzing the results. A recent tabu­
lation of monthly reports from sick-benefit associations having a
waiting period of one week compares the sickness frequency of cer­
tain of the large associations with that of all of the associations for
the year 1921. Among 75,000 employees in industrial establish­
ments the average sickness and nonindustrial accident rate for dis­
ability of 8 consecutive days or over was 98 per 1,000 persons. The
lowest rate was 48 and the highest 349 per 1,000, indicating that
for those establishments whose rate was much above the minimum rate
there was an almost unlimited opportunity for reduction.
A case in point is that of a public utility company which was
found to have a rate of 143 cases per 1,000. In order to ascertain
whether the male or the female employees were causing this high rate
the cases were tabulated by sex. Ordinarily the female sickness
rate, it is stated, is about 50 per cent greater than the male rate,
but in this case the rate for the men was 46 per cent above the
average sickness frequency rate for males and that of the women 70
per cent above the average for females. In the classification of
sickness by causes, the diseases which occasioned the high rate for
the company proved to lie the respiratory diseases, excepting
pneumonia, and the health hazards which led to this high percentage

A

3S7S40—23-

-9


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MONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW.

of respiratory troubles were found to be sudden variations in tem­
perature, dampness, inorganic dust, and the use of acrolein amyl
acetate, benzine, methyl alcohol, sulphuric acid, and turpentine.
The commonly accepted estimate of time lost per person per year
is 8 days. The rate for a large company in Ohio having 1,300
office employees was 8.15 days for these employees during the year
ending January 31, 1921, which coincided with the annual rate for
the employees of the United States Public Health Service, based on
8 months’ experience. Another large company in Ohio, however,
had an average sickness rate of 1.5 days per person per year for its
6,000 office and factory employees. The company claimed an annual
saving of $120,000, estimating that every employee-hour saved
from sickness .was worth 40 cents to them. This reduction of
the morbidity rate, the writers believe, demonstrates the possi­
bility of, and the necessity for, the establishment of minimum rates
for different diseases and groups of diseases and of determining where
the excess disability occurs.
Another point of interest in the recording of sickness is the in­
fluence of length of service upon the sickness rate. The sickness
frequency rate for the workers in one establishment, whose service
had been five years or over, was found to be only one-fourth of the
rate for the group that had been employed less than three months,
suggesting that there is a correlation between sickness and labor
turnover which is yet to be determined.

S afety in M ines in C alifornia.

HE February, 1923, number of the California Safety News, a
publication of the State industrial accident commission, is of
particular interest because it contains the full report of the
governor’s special investigating committee on the Argonaut mine
disaster. Among the findings of this committee are the following:

T

The conditions which led to the fire resulting in the great loss of life were not exactly
in strict accord with modern and up-to-date methods. It would further appear that
attention to detail with regard to the training of men and the provision of safety
devices to be utilized by trained men, in cases of disaster or necessity, was lacking.
Also, that while the safety regulations according to law were perhaps complied with,
insufficient attention was given to the provision of fire-fighting appliances such as
could be used for the protection of life and property.
If the men directly in charge of the several shifts at the mine, viz, the shift bosses,
level bosses, and others, had been trained in the use of fire-fighting appliances under
conditions that might overtake them at any time, a better-directed effort could have
been made with a more satisfactory result than is shown by the record.
In the above conclusions this committee is dealing with the period from Sunday
night, August 27, 1922, when the fire started, until Wednesday, August 30, 1922, when
the rescue work was taken over by the operating committee of three, * * * who
were appointed with the unanimous approval of a large number of engineers of repute
and operators of mining properties on the mother lode, as well as from elsewhere.
This committee feels that as an operating committee directing the work of rescue,
together with the rescue teams, the United States Bureau of Mines and all of theii
assistants, they did everything that was possible under the circumstances to rescue the
entombed men. I t is, therefore, not the intention of this committee to deal with the
period covered as from Wednesday, August 30, * * * as they feel that every­
thing within the power of man and at the disposal of those in charge, together with
the rescue teams, was done in accordance with all the skill that could be directed
toward this work.


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It might further be said that the miners working in the headings driven for the
purpose of connecting the Kennedy mine with the Argonaut mine, should be com­
plimented on the work they performed because they evidently made four times more
progress for 24 hours’ work in hard ground than is made under normal conditions.

In the final paragraph of his letter of December 20, 1922, quoted
in the February issue of the Safety News, the dean of the California
College of Mining declares that—
The attention of the State legislature should be directed toward the inadequacy
of the existing budget for the industrial accident commission. Ample appropriation
should be made for the appointment of a sufficient number of capable mine inspectors,
whose duty it shall be to visit mines, advise with mine operators, correct infractions
of the mining law, and present, for the benefit of the mining industry of the State,
reliable reports for the stimulation and betterment of mining in California.
Mine Fire Control Orders.1

rTTIE California Industrial Accident Commission has adopted mine
fire-control orders, effective March 15, 1923. These orders were
formulated by committees of representative mine operators, of mine
employees, of the United States Bureau of Mines, of the California
Industrial Accident Commission, and of mining engineers for the
industry at large who have been working at the problem for some
four months.
A committee of nine mining men and two attorneys, appointed at
the close of a hearing on December 8, 1922,2 reported these orders
unanimously and they were adopted. The chief points of such orders
are here listed:
1. Fire drills and the organization of mine employees for fire prevention, fire control,
and rescue of underground men.
2. Control of mine ventilation by means of fire doors or bulkheads underground to
prevent smoke and gases cutting off the escape of men in the event of fire, in accord­
ance with plans to be approved by the industrial accident commission.
3. Protection of underground employees against the hazard of all exits becoming
impassable through fire or fire gases by fireproofing the main shaft and shaft stations
or maintaining a connection with an adjoining mine, or by mechanical control of the
air currents, or by the installing of a hoist in the second exit.
4. Fireproofing or protection of used mine openings and used underground shaft
stations that are inflammable.
5. Weekly inspection and report of underground fire hazards in workings, also
monthly reports of conditions in unfrequented portions of the mine.
6. Installation and regular testing of fire-fighting equipment in timbered mine shafts
and stations, unless the timber is protected against fire.
7. Posting of a diagram showing exits, fire-fighting and ventilating equipment, etc.
8. Maintenance of auxiliary telephone and compressed air lines in second exits. _
9. Maintenance of emergency fire-fighting equipment, including oxygen breathing
apparatus, and trained men to use it.
10. Under certain conditions the maintenance of refuge places for men who may be
trapped underground.
11. Use of stench warning through compressed air lines as a means of informing
underground workers of fire.
12. Installation of surface fire-alarm signals.
13. Fireproofing of inflammable material near electrical equipment, such as motors,
etc.
The superintendent of each mine must file with the industrial accident commission
such additional reports, plans, diagrams, and maps relative to fire protection and
prevention as may be required by the commission.
1 California. Industrial Accident Commission. Mimeographed report received Feb. 27, 1923.
2 See Monthly L aboh R e v ie w , January, 1923, p. 215.


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MONTHLY labor r e v ie w .

Industrial Accidents to Children in New York.

HE New York State Department of Labor has recently issued
a special bulletin (No. 116), prepared by the division of women
in industry, dealing with accidents suffered by children in­
dustrially employed during the year ending June 30, 1920. The
purpose of the study was primarily to add to the scanty body of
data concerning such accidents, and in addition it was thought that
it might suggest further methods of safeguarding children at work.
Under the New York law children under 14 may not be industrially
employed, and the employment of those under 18 is subject to certain
restrictions, these being more numerous for those under 16 than for
the older group. The material for the study was secured from the
records of the compensation cases. It is iimited to accidents to
children under 18 which entitled them to compensation, since it is
for these only that an accurate statistical record is kept. The study
is limited, therefore—

T

1.
To those groups of workers under 18 in industries covered by the compensation
law.
2. To those places of business subject to the law.
3. To those cases where the disability lasted more than two weeks.

This eliminates from consideration nearly all the children employed
in agriculture and all of those in domestic service, as well as office
boys and girls in certain industries, messengers, and errand boys and
girls, since these are not under the compensation law. Also it ignores
the great number of accidents in which the disability lasted less than
two weeks, a number which usually greatly exceeds those lasting for
more than two weeks. “ As, for example, for the year ending June
30, 1920, 345,672 industrial accidents were reported to the industrial
commission. Of this number, 51,099 were compensable.” In other
words, of the total number of accidents, only 14.8 per cent were com­
pensable. If this proportion holds for children, it is evident that the
study deals with but a small proportion of the accidents befalling
workers under 18.
The number of accidents studied is 1,817, which affected 1,804
children, 13 of the children having had during the year two accidents
apiece, each involving a disability of over two weeks. This is known
to be less than the actual number of compensable accidents occurring
during the year included. While the report was in preparation
reports came in from district offices of 166 additional compensation
accidents which had happened during the year, but which, since they
were still being handled, had not been sent in early enough to be
included in the study.
There is so little information available as to the number and dis­
tribution of working children that it was found impossible to compute
accident rates from the figures concerning accidents, or to compare
the relative hazard in different age, sex, and occupation groups.
The age
distribution of the children affected was as follows:
o
Number.

Under 14..............................................................................
9
14 and under 16.................
146
16 and under 18................................................................... 1, 662

Per cent.

0.5
8.0
91.5

Total................................................................................. 1,817
100.0
this and the following tabulations, 13 children who had two accidents
apiece are counted twice.
[SIS]
N o t e .—In


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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND HYGIENE.

- 127

The nine children under 14 were too young to be lawfully at work,
but were compensated on the ground that their illegal employment
gave a right to compensation. Attention is called to the fact that
only 8.5 per cent of the accidents happened to children under 16.
This means that 9 out of every 10 accidents were suffered by minors between 16
and 18 years of age. The proportion of 16 and 17 year old children who work, to those
under 16, is nothing like so high.

• Eighty-one per cent (1,472) of the accidents happened to boys,
only 345 befalling girls. Sixty-one per cent occurred in New York
City against 39 per cent in the rest of the State. Manufacturing oc­
cupations were responsible for nearly four-fifths (79 per cent); trans­
portation and public utilities, and trade accounted for 120 and 117,
respectively; construction had 76 to its discredit; and no other occu­
pational group showed as many as 50. Nearly three-fourths (74 per
cent) were injuries to the hands or arms, including thumb and finger
accidents; accidents to the lower extremities numbered 236; to the
head, face, and neck, 81; and to the trunk, 106, “ the injury being
due to strain in 47 of these cases.” Classified by nature of injury,
the accidents showed the following grouping:
Bruises and contusions............................................................................
Burns and scalds......................................................................................
Concussions.....................................................
Cuts and lacerations.................................................................................
Punctures..................................................................................................
Amputations.............................................................................................
Dislocations......... .........................................................................
Fractures..................................................................................................

413
68
3
607
122
228
10
270

Sprains and strains..............................................................................................

81

All others.................................................................................................

15

Total............................................................................................... 1,817

There were 10 compensated death cases during the year. Of the
victims, all of whom were boys, one was 15 years old, three were 16,
and six were 17. One of these deaths was due to machinery, one to
an automobile, four to falls, and four were elevator accidents.
It seems significant that 4 of these 10 deaths were due to elevator accidents, a type
of accident which, with proper diligence, ought to be made not “ difficult,” but im­
possible.

Classified by causes, the accidents were grouped as follows:
Machinery................................................................................................. 1,021
Vehicles....................................................................................................
112
Explosions, electricity, fires, and hot substances..................................
51
Poisonous and corrosive substances........................................................
10
Falls of persons.........................................................................................
151
Stepping on or striking against objects....................................................
39
Falling objects..........................................................................................
31
Handling of objects..................................................................................
280
Hand tools................................................................................................
68
Animals.....................................................................................................
3
Miscellaneous and unknown causes.........................................................
51
Total......................................................... .................................... 1, 817

By far the larger number of the machine accidents, 923, were due
to power-working machinery. Metal-working machines led in the
number of accidents, 392 being attributed to them. Presses of various
kinds seemed especially responsible for accidents. Elevator acci-


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

dents numbered 55, all of an extremely serious character, 4 causing
death. Only 11 of these accidents occurred to the operators. Fall­
ing as a cause of accidents ranks third; 74 of these falls were from
elevations, 7 were into excavations, pits, and shafts, and 70 were on
a level. The majority of the accidents due to vehicles occurred in
connection with automobiles and other power vehicles, and more than
half of the automobile accidents were caused by cranking. Under
the miscellaneous causes, the largest group, 36 accidents, resulted
from “ wrestling, sparring, and horseplay. In almost all of these
cases, a boy or girl would taunt or tease another and an accident
would result.”
One of the recommendations made as a result of analyzing these
accidents is that no child under 18 years of age be permitted to work
on a cutting or stamping machine in the metal industry, since so
large a number of accidents were found in connection with these
machines. Another relates to accidents occurring to children illegally
employed. Nine children, it is pointed out, met the accidents before
they were 14, and therefore before they could be lawfully employed.
Others were unlawfully employed in different ways.
It is impossible to state all the cases when a child was or was not employed illegally,
because much depends upon the interpretation of section 146 of the labor law, but in
addition to these 9 children who were under age, there were 19 children under 16
working on machines the operation of which, according to the law, was prohibited,
and 15 cases of injury where the child was cleaning a machine while in motion. Small
numbers in other occupations were working in violation of the law; for instance, one
boy of 15, who was acting as an elevator operator. Ought not the State of New York
to penalize the employer for employing a child illegally by the adoption of the treble­
compensation plan?

Under this plan, it is explained, children who are illegally employed
are to receive in compensation, if injured, three times the amount to
which they would have been entitled if legally employed. Twothirds of this amount shall be paid by the employer, who can not insure
against the risk, but if he is insolvent, the insurance company shall
be liable. If the child’s employment has been secured under an illegal
or fraudulent permit for which the employer is not responsible, the
compensation is not to be increased. This plan has been found
effective in Wisconsin in preventing illegal employment, and thereby
diminishing the likelihood of accidents. “ The Industrial Commis­
sion of Wrisconsin states that treble compensation has been the most
effective measure for the enforcement of the child-labor law which has
ever been used in Wisconsin.”
A further recommendation is that all who have to do with young
workers pay particular attention to training them in safe and careful
methods of handling their work and tools. Thirty-seven accidents
were due to strain in handling heavy objects, and 52 were caused by
dropping heavy objects. Of course, no growing child should be
pushing or lifting objects so heavy that injury may result, but a
knowledge of how to lift or push to best advantage and with least
effort may do much to prevent accidents. Training in how to handle
tools might also do much in preventing accidents.


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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND HYGIENE.

129

Lead Poisoning in the Manufacture of Ceramic Transfer Pictures in
Germany.

HE German Ministry of Labor has recently issued regulations
for the protection of workers who are engaged in the manu­
facture of transfer papers used in impressing patterns on pot­
tery. The colors used are largely lead colors, and while ordinarily
the preparation of the transfer papers is done under a hood with an
exhaust for removing the dust, a few colors, especially purple, are
dusted on the paper by hand, small pieces of cotton being used for
the dusting. The surplus of the lead compound is then removed by
careful wiping. Workers engaged in this process are exposed to
considerable quantities of lead-laden dust and the following regula­
tions, published in Reichsarbeitsblatt, January 1, 1923, have been
issued for their protection:

T

1,
Working rooms.—This section of the regulations provides that rooms in which
powdered lead compositions are used must be large enough to provide a minimum of
25 cubic meters (883 cubic feet) of space for each worker. They are to be separated
from other workrooms by solid walls; entrances to the rooms must be kept closed during
working hours and when the rooms are cleaned. The walls must have a hard, smooth
surface, and must be whitewashed at least once a year, provided they are not painted
with an oil paint. In the latter case, the paint is to be renewed as soon as it begins to
crack or peel. Floors must be smooth in order to permit easy removal of dust.
The workrooms are to be cleaned at least twice a day, and they must not contain
any equipment which is not necessary for the work in hand. Stocks of paper in ex­
cess of the daily requirement may not be stored in these rooms.
2.
Machines and equipment—All machinery used in preparing the pictures must
be provided with hoods and equipped with suction devices. As the dust is removed,
it must be conducted into a closed chamber, and must there be precipitated. The
utmost care is to be used when it is necessary to clean the hoods or the suction de­
vices. All brushes and cloths used in cleaning must be washed immediately after use.
Where it is not possible, in a certain operation, for an employee to work under a
hood, he must be furnished with a suitable device to protect his nose and mouth, and
these protectors must be kept where they are free from dust, and they must be cleaned
immediately after use.
3.
Dressing and wash rooms.—All persons handling lead-containing powders must be
provided with a place to dress and wash outside of the workroom. Their work clothes
must be kept separate from then street clothes. Facilities must be provided for the
workers to take a bath at least twice a month.
4 Outfitsjor workmen.—Workmen are to be furnished gratis with washable working
clothes which must close tightly at the wrists and at the neck. Furthermore, each
worker is to be supplied with a drinking glass, a brush for cleaning the finger nails,
and a towel.
5. Eating.—Workmen may not take food into the workrooms, nor may they eat or
drink there. They may not lunch in their working clothes, nor may they take their
meals in another part of the factory until they have freed then' hair from dust, care­
fully washed their hands and faces, and rinsed their mouths. It is recommended
that smoking, chewing, or snuffing tobacco while working be prohibited.
6. Selection and instruction oj the workmen.—It is recommended that the minimum
age for persons employed in handling lead-containing powders be placed at 20 years.
JSo worker may be employed for this type of work until he has had a physical examin­
ation and has been instructed by a physician as to the dangers of lead poisoning,
further, the employer must supply each workman with a memorandum upon the sub­
ject of the dangers of his occupation.
. 7. Medical supervision oj the workmen.—The factory is to be visited not less than once
m three months by a duly appointed physician, whose duty it shall be to examine all
workmen and to examine closely those who give indication of lead poisoning. Upon
the recommendation of the physician those workmen who are found to be suffering
from poison are to be relieved from this type of work until they are wholly recovered,
and those especially susceptible to lead poisoning are to be permanently excluded
from work requiring contact with lead compounds.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

The employer is obliged to keep a permanent record, either in the form of a book or
of a card index, of the physical condition of each workman and of the changes in the
personnel of the department. This record must be shown to the physician and to the
factory inspection official, upon request. The employer is responsible for the com­
pleteness and accuracy of all entries made in the book or on cards of record. The
record must contain the following information :
1. Name of the person keeping the record.
2. Name of the physician.
3. Family and Christian name, age, address, date of employment and of termination
of services of each worker, as well as the kind of work done by him.
4. Result of the examination made at the time of employment.
5. Date and nature of each illness, together with a statement of the physician as to
whether or not the illness was connected with lead poisoning.
6. Date of recovery.
7. Dates and results of the prescribed, regular examinations.


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W O R K M E N ’S C O M P E N S A T IO N A N D S O C IA L
IN S U R A N C E .

Compensable Occupational Diseases under Federal Employees’
Compensation Act.
Ruling by Comptroller General and its Suspension by Joint Resolution of Congress.

HE United States Employees’ Compensation Commission since its
creation in 1916 lias construed the terms of the law which it
administers to cover disability from disease as well as from
accident. The statute allows compensation for disability or death
of an employee “ resulting from a personal injury sustained while
in the performance of his duty,” and this language has been con­
strued to be applicable to diseases found to have a direct causal
relationship with the nature of the employment. By a ruling of
September 23, 1922, the Comptroller General held that compensa­
tion may be paid under the law only for such disability as is the
result of a personal injury of an accidental nature, or at least of a
personal injury which is referable to some particular event capable
of being fixed in point of time.
The matter was held under consideration for a time, and on Jan­
uary 13, 1923, a number of typical cases were submitted as illustra­
tive of the practice of the commission in its construction of the term
“ personal injury” where disease was found to be causally connected
with the employment; the final ruling of the Comptroller General
is dated January 29. The cases submitted included those of a rural
mail carrier frozen to death some time during the night of February
2, 1917; a T. N. T. worker who died of catarrhal jaundice, as the
physician reported, but whose death was found by the commission
to be due to poisoning contracted in the line of duty by the gradual
inhalation or absorption of poisonous fumes; a painter stricken with
cerebral hemorrhage, the diagnosis also indicating chronic interstitial
nephritis, and a finding of chronic lead poisoning; a Public Health
Service employee engaged in investigating spotted fever, who died of
that disease; and a postal employee with the American Expeditionary
Force in Siberia, who died of typhus fever, evidently contracted in
vermin-infested cars in which he was required to travel. In all,
11 cases were submitted.
Of these, only the death of the mail carrier by freezing was found
to have been compensable as due directly to injur}7, accidental or
fortuitous, and occurring within certain definite limits of time. It
was impossible to locate definitely the occurrence of the disabling
injury in the case of the T. N. T. worker, or of the painter dying of
lead poisoning, or of the entomologist contracting spotted fever, etc.
They were therefore held not to be covered by the act. The case of
the Health Service employee caused some additional discussion, as

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

the disease was found to have resulted from an accidental infec­
tion in line of d u ty /7 and the case was :of such character that the
exact time of the infection might perhaps be fixed but for the lack of
evidence, which alone prevented the exact day and hour from being
determined and reported.77
“

* * * The case therefore puts directly at issue the question whether the term

*1personal injury” as used in the compensation law contemplates and covers disease
resulting from accidental infection in line of duty.
If the intent of the law was to include among personal injuries cases of specific
germ infection, it is most improbable that the requirement that the day and hour of
the injury be shown would have been placed in the law. Clearly the time of injury
was the time of infection and not the time the symptoms developed. There might
be cases in which the exact time and means of infection are known, but I think such
cases would be the exception and not the rule. Congress can not have meant to
discriminate in favor of such cases. Furthermore, as hereinafter shown, the term
“ personal injury” as used in this law does not cover disease of this character. I
must conclude, therefore, that all such cases are entirely outside of the law, and that
there is no legal basis for an award of compensation in this case.

As to the postal employee who contracted typhus fever, “ there is
no contention that the disease was occupational, only that it was
caused by insanitary conditions under which he was required to
travel officially. The United States Government was in no way
responsible for this condition.77
The seriousness of this question is indicated by the fact that the
last annual report of the compensation commission presented more
than 300 cases of injury due to occupational disease as classified by
the commission. The ruling of the Comptroller General limiting the
statute to “ direct injury to bodily tissue through some accidental or
fortuitous happening definitely fixed in point of time, in contradis­
tinction to the gradual organic changes or functional disturbances
brought about by vocational or other diseases,77 will affect not only
such number of claimants or dependents as were involved in that
year, but the total number accumulated during the experience of the
act. His opinion concludes:
In view of tlie past practice of the commission in awarding and paying compensation
in cases of disease as well as of injury, and the practice of the accounting officers of
the Treasury in allowing such payments, this office is warranted in recognizing that
practice to the extent that all payments heretofore made shall be credited in accounts
of the disbursing officer of the commission. I also feel warranted in permitting pay­
ments to continue under awards which have already been made for the remainder
of the current fiscal year in order that time may be given for readjustment of the
several awards, and for congressional action if the law as construed by this office does
not carry out the will of Congress at this time. There should be no further awards
of compensation in cases similar to those decided adversely herein, and no further
payment in any such cases already awarded after June 30, 1923, unless such awards
and payments shall hereafter be specifically authorized by law.

To meet the situation resulting from this ruling, an amendment was
introduced in the House of .Representatives on February 6 proposing
to define the term “ injury77 so as to include, “ in addition to injury
by accident, any disease proximately caused by the employment.77
‘ This passed tíre House March 1, but the Senate Judiciary Committee
felt that the time was too short, before adjournment on the 4th, to dis­
cuss the principles involved in the amendment; but it “ seemed to
the committee rather inhumane to deprive of compensation those peo­
ple who were suffering from these diseases in cases which had been
already adjudicated.77 An amendment was therefore adopted pro-


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WORKMEN S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE.

133

viding that “ persons now receiving compensation upon an award
made by the Compensation Commission shall, until March 1, 1924,
be entitled to receive the amount awarded, unless the award so made
shall by the commission be set aside.”
This amendment has the effect of extending the period of benefits
to March 1 , 1924, instead of to June 30, 1923, as provided in the rul­
ing of the Comptroller General, the announced purpose being merely to
preserve the present status, “ in order to give the next Congress the
opportunity to consider whether or not they will adopt the policy”
heretofore carried out by the Compensation Commission, or whether
the rule of interpretation laid down by the Comptroller General will
stand.
Amendments to Workmen’s Compensation Law of Washington.

HE Legislature of Washington at its session of 1923 made a
number of changes in its compensation law, largely in the way
of increases in the amounts of compensation payable. A
summary of the changes made has been furnished the bureau, and is
reproduced herewith:

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1. The waiting period was reduced from seven to flat three days on all cases.
2. Time awards for single men raised from $30 to $35.
3.
Time awards for married men raised from $37.50 to $42.50; with one child, $52.50with two children, $60, and $5 for each additional child.
4. Orphan children raised from $10 to $25 per month, with limit of $75.
5.
Widow’s monthly pension increased from $30 to $35 per month; with one child,
$47.50; with two children, $55, and $5 for each additional child.
6.
Permanent total disability: Pension for married men raised from $30 to $40 per
month; with one child, $52.50; with two children, $60, and $5 for each additional
child. Single men raised from $30 to $35.
7.
Permanent partial disabilities increased 20 per cent, raising maximum from $2,000
to $2,400. _
8. Abolished separate classes in accident reserve fund.
9. Preference lien for industrial insurance premium.
10. Provides penalty for misrepresentation of pay roll.
11.
New elective adoption clause increasing coverage of act under certain stipu­
lated conditions.
12. Small changes in administration of medical aid law.
13.
Medical-aid contributions to be paid into one fund, consolidating five separate
medical-aid class funds.
14.
Merit rating law based solely upon compliance with all safety requirements and
experience. Where cost is 76 to 90 per cent, a 10 per cent credit;" 50 to 76 per cent,
a 15 per cent credit; 25 to 50 per cent, a 20 per cent credit; below 25 per cent, a 30
per cent credit.

Accident Insurance in Finland, 1908 to 1919.

HE operation of the accident insurance law of Finland, with
statistical data on accidents, compensation, fatalitjr rates,
etc., during the period 1908 to 1919 is summarized in Social
Tidskrift, No. 12, 1922 (pp. 842-850) , issued by the Ministry of Social
Affairs and the Labor Bureau (Socialministeriet och Sociaistyrelsen)
of Finland.
With the passage of the workmen’s accident insurance law on
August 18, 1917, effective in 1918, the scope of compulsory accident
insurance was considerably broadened. This law superseded the

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

employers’ liability law of December, 1895. The table following
summarizes the operations under the accident insurance law from
1908 to 1919.
OPERATIONS OF ACCIDENT INSURANCE LAW' OF FINLAND, 1908 TO 1919.
[Mark at par=19.3 cents.]
Total acci­
dents.

Year.

1908.............................
1909.............................
1910.............................
1911.............................
1912.............................
1913.............................
1914.............................
1915.............................
1916.............................
1917.............................
1918.............................
1919.............................

Fatal acci­
dents.

Invalidity an­
nuities.

Death annuities.

Num­
ber of Number
Num­
Num­
estab­ of fullber
ber
lish­
time
per
Ac­
per
ments workers.1 Actual
1,000 tual 1,000 Num­ Amount. Num­
num­
insured.
full­ num­ full­ ber.
ber. Amount.
ber. time
ber. time
work­
work­
ers.
ers.

3,099
3,599
3,614
3, 013
4,435
4,725
4,742
4,918
5,332
5,450
6, 976
9,529

97,494
92,515
99, 918
104, 202
110,369
115, 085
113, 342
105, 932
121, 535
121,693
117, 004
153,422

3, 252
2,874
3,160
3,469
3,873
4,259
3,767
3,672
4,353
3,205
3,441
8,228

27.2
29.8
25.8
27.7
30.5
31.8
27.8
29.0
30.3
22.4
24.6
46.3

39
52
53
81
70
84
63
70
102
81
75
146

M a rk s.

0.3
.5
.4
.7
.6
.5
.5
.6
.7
.6
.5
.8

331
296
275
327
326
337
356
333
410
465
337
167

31,138.95
30, 699.55
27,413. 51
35, 015. 40
29, 845.97
35, 414. 84
36, 972.56
33, 259. 83
43, 610.89
51,035. 05
54, 932.31
42,374. 97

M a rk s.

30
32
24
38
33
45
26
29
37
45
36
81

6,822.18
7,489.86
5,649.00
8j 000.00
7,488.00
10,293.00
6,120.00
6,742.48
8,352.00
9,828.00
34,721. 85
110,962.28

1 Not including State employees, full-time workers (22,636 in 1918 and 24,137 in 1919), and employees
(11 in 1918 and 42 in 1919) of a company in Hango.

The number of establishments insured was 28 per cent moie in
1918 and 74.8 per cent more in 1919 than in 1917. The decrease in
the number of insured full-time workers in 1918 was due to the
industrial stagnation which followed the revolution. The number of
full-time workers in 1919 was 26.6 per cent greater than the corre­
sponding figure for 1917. The effects of extending compulsory
insurance were shown in the accident figures for 1919, which increased
156.7 per cent over the 1917 figures and 129.3 per cent over the
average figure for the 10-year period 1908 to 1917. The number of
deaths in 1919 was 80.4 per cent more than in 1917 and 110.1 per
cent more than the annual average for the period 1908 to 1917. In
1918 compensation was paid in 597 permanent disability and 2,165
temporary disability cases. The corresponding figures for 1919 were
974 and 6,204. Of the total number of disabling accidents 78.4 per
cent in 1918 and 86.4 per cent in 1919 were temporary, i. e., lasting
for less than 120 days. The marked increase in the reported number
of accidents in 1919 was due to the fact that minor injuries were
probably more fully reported after the insurance applied to tempo­
rary disability and also because the waiting period decreased from
6 to 2 days.
Of the invalidity pensions awarded in 1918, 240, representing a sum
of 25,307.75 marks ($4,884.40, par), were for accidents which had
occurred in preceding years and were regulated by the old law. The
increases fixed according to the 1917 regulations are not shown in
the 1918 figures. The decrease in the number of terminated invalidity
pensions in 1919 is due to the fact that after the new law became


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w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a t io n a n d so c ia l

135

INSURANCE.

effective most of the injuries which resulted in permanent disability
were first classed as temporary and are not included in the table.
In 1918, 250 temporary invalidity pensions, totaling 45,469.90 marks
($8,775.69, par), were paid and in 1919 there were 859, amounting to
223,744.24 marks ($43,182.64, par).
The accident frequency rates per 1,000 full-time workers in specified
industries during the 12-year period under review are shown in the
table below:
ACCIDENT FREQUENCY RATES (PER 1,000 FULL-TIME WORKERS) IN SPECIFIED IN­
DUSTRIES IN FINLAND, 1908 TO 1919.
Industry.

1908

1909

1910

1911

1912

1913

1914

1915

1916

1917

1918

1919

Workshops...........................
Saw-mills..............................
Paper....................................
Textile..................................
Building trades....................
Land transportation...........
Agriculture..........................

37.0
42.8
35.6
13.9
10.3
8.5

33.8
41. 2
28.9
10.9
16.3
9.6

45.2
49.5
32.2
10.6

39.3
49.8
31.5
11.5
7.8
9.2

37.4
55.2
30.7
11.9
6.8
9.5

38.7
53.6
31.6
14. 9
13.6
8.6

36.9
41.1
29.5
9.9
37.1
8.3

37.9 63.9
50.6 52.0
30.8 24.7
11. 0 12.4
26.2 18.1
10.8 15.3

36.0
34.7
19.9
11. 1
29.9
8.2

34.6
60.3
34.6
15.2
22.2
12.3
13.4

78.2
102.8
77.2
24.2
49.9
14.9
24.4

6.9

Amendment of German Workmen s insurance Code and of Insurance
Law for Salaried Employees.1

N NOVEMBER 10, 1922, the Reichstag enacted a law amend­
ing both the workmen’s insurance code (R e i c h s v e r s i c h e r u n g so rd n u n g )
and the insurance law for salaried employees.2
The new law provides a number of essential changes in the basic
provisions of these two insurance laws. In the case of many salaried
employees the question whether they are subject to compulsory
invalidity and old-age insurance under the workmen’s insurance
code or under the insurance law for salaried employees was hitherto
very difficult of determination. The new law removes any doubt
in this respect. It also contains new regulations regarding benefits
and contributions, creates uniform insurance authorities and pro­
cedure for both branches of insurance, and although under the new
law insurance of manual and of nonmanual workers are still separate
branches of German social insurance, the law may nevertheless be
considered as an initial step toward the ultimate consolidation of
these two branches of insurance.
According to the new law all nonmanual workers belonging to the
following classes whose annual salary does not exceed 840,000
marks 3 are subject to compulsory insurance under the salaried
employees’ insurance system:
1. Salaried employees in managing positions.
2.
Officials, foremen, and other nonmanual workers in similar
higher positions.
3.
Office employees (in so far as they are not exclusively employed
as messengers, cleaners, etc.), inclusive of office apprentices and
clerks in workshops.

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1 Germany, Reiehsarbeitsministerium, Reichs-Arbeitsblatt, Berlin, Jan. 1, 1923, pp. 8-10; Korrespondenzblatt des Allgemeinen Deutschen Gewerkschaftsbundes, Arbeiterrechts-Beilage No. 12, Berlin, Dec.
9, 1922.
2 See U. S. Bureau of Labor Bulletin No. 96 for a full translation of the workmen's insurance code and
Bulletin No. 107 for one of the insurance law for salaried employees.
3 A decree of Dec. 21, 1922, has raised this limit to 1,200,000 marks.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

4. Clerks and apprentices and other nonmanual workers in com­
mercial establishments, pharmacists, and pharmacists’ apprentices.
5. Actors and musicians, irrespective of the standard of their
work from an artistic point of view.
6. Salaried employees in educational occupations, welfare work,
and nursing.
7. Captains, deck and engineer officers, pursers, pursers’ assistants,
and other salaried employees in similar positions in maritime and
inland navigation, irrespective of their training and education.
Members of the police and soldiers, if they request of their
superiors that they be insured under the salaried employees’ insur­
ance system, as well as independent teachers and educators, are also
subject to salaried employees’ insurance.
The new law does away with the obligation of certain classes of
persons to be insured under both insurance systems. Persons sub­
ject to compulsory insurance under the salaried employees’ insur­
ance system are no longer subject to invalidity insurance under the
workmen’s insurance code and vice versa.
The following persons are subject to compulsory insurance under
the invalidity insurance scheme:
1. Unskilled manual workers, journeymen, and domestic servants.
2. Home workers.
3. The crews of German seagoing vessels and the crews of vessels
engaged in inland navigation, with the exception of ships’ officers.
4. Helpers and apprentices in so far as they are not subject to
insurance under the salaried employees’ insurance scheme or are
exempted from insurance.
Members of the police force and soldiers, if they request that they
be insured under the invalidity insurance system, are also subject
to compulsory invalidity insurance. Such persons therefore may
choose under which of the two insurance schemes they shall be
insured.
Under both insurance schemes the insurability of persons is no
longer dependent on their completion of the sixteenth year of- age.
One who has ceased to be engaged in an employment subject
to salaried employees’ insurance and has paid dues for at least six
contributory months because of being subject to the insurance,
must continue the insurance voluntarily if he wants to retain for
himself the right to benefits.
Persons who exercise on their own account one of the occupations
subject to compulsory insurance under the salaried employees’
insurance scheme, or are only temporarily employed in such an
occupation, or serve in an employment for which only maintenance
is granted as compensation, or who teach for pay during their train­
ing for a selected occupation may insure themselves voluntarily
under the salaried employees’ insurance scheme.
The new law establishes 13 uniform salary and wage classes for
persons subject to insurance under either the salaried employees’
insurance system or the invalidity insurance system of the work­
men’s insurance code and also sets up new regulations concerning
the contributions for each of the two insurance schemes, as shown
in the following table:


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RATES OF CONTRIBUTION UNDER SALARIED EMPLOYEES’ AND WORKMEN’S INVA­
LIDITY INSURANCE SYSTEMS IN GERMANY, BY WAGE GROUPS.
[Mark at par=23.8 cents.]
Rate of contri­
bution.

Salary or wage group.

Per
Per
week: month:
WorkSala­
men’s
ried
inva­
em­
lidity ployees’
in­
in­
surance. surance.
M a rk s.

Under 7,200 marks......................
7,200 to 13,399 marks...................
14.400 to 28,799 marks..................
28,800 to 50,399 marks..................
50.400 to 71,999 marks.................
72.000 to 107,999 marks................
108.000 to 143,999 marks..............

Rate of contri­
bution.

10
20
30
40
50
65
85

M a rk s.

•

60
100
170
280
420
600
820

Salary or wage group.

Per
Per
week: month:
Work­
Sala­
men’s
ried
inva­
em­
lidity ployees’
in­
in­
surance. surance,
M a rk s.

144.000 to 215,999 marks..............
216.000 to 323,999 marks..............
324.000 to 431,999 marks..............
432.000 to 575,999 marks..............
576.000 to 719,999 marks..............
720.000 marks and over...............

110
145
180
225
270
320

M a rk s.

1,150
1,690
2,340
3,100
3,970
4,840

The contributions continue to be payable in equal parts by the
employer and the employed. They are to be paid by means of stamps
which are to be pasted on the insurance card issued to each insured
person. The employer has to pay the full amount of the weekly
or monthly contribution and is authorized to deduct the share of
the employee from the latter’s salary or wage.
The new law does away with the double payment of benefits.
Insured persons who have paid contributions during the full wait­
ing period under both insurance systems must choose whether they
wish to draw a retirement pension under the salaried employees’
insurance or an invalidity pension under the workmen’s invalidity
insurance. The choice of one or the other insurance system is
binding upon the insured person and his survivors.
No important change has been made in the provisions relating to
the duration of the waiting period.
The new law discontinues old-age pensions under the workmen’s
invalidity insurance system, or rather commutes these pensions into
invalidity pensions. It provides that each insured person who
has completed his sixty-fifth year of age or has become a permanent
invalid as the result of sickness or other infirmity shall receive an
invalidity pension.
The computation of retirement and invalidity pensions is now
being effected according to uniform principles, the sole difference
being that pensioners under the invalidity insurance system receive
a State subsidy of 50 marks per year and that, corresponding to the
larger contributions, the pensions are higher in the salaried em­
ployees’ insurance than in the invalidity insurance. Under both
insurance systems the retirement and invalidity pensions are com­
puted as follows: Under both systems the pensioner is allowed a
basic pension of 720 marks, to which in the case of workmen insured
under the invalidity insurance system there is added a State subsidy
of 50 marks. According to the number of contributions made and
the contributory class of the insured person a supplementary increase
is allowed which in the salaried employees’ insurance amounts for


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each contributory month in salary class 1 to 5.40 marks, rising to
792 marks in salary class 13. In the invalidity insurance the supple­
mentary increase amounts, for each contributory week, in wage class 1
to 0.72 mark, rising to 86.40 marks in wage class 13. If a person
in receipt of a retirement pension has children under 18 years of
age or orphaned grandchildren under 18 years of age, whom he
supports wholly or largely, the pension is increased by 960 marks
per year for each child or grandchild. In the case of invalidity
pensions a like increase is granted if the pensioner has children under
15 years of age.
The widows’ and the widowers’ pensions in the salaried employees’
insurance amount to two-fifths of the retirement pension and in the
invalidity insurance to four-tenths of the basic amount and supple­
mentary increases of the invalidity pension. In the salaried em­
ployees’ insurance the widow is favored as compared with the inva­
lidity insurance because she need not be an invalid in order to become
entitled to a pension.
Formerly half orphans received each one-fifth and orphans each
one-third of the widow’s pension under the salaried employees’
insurance. These shares have been doubled by the new law to twofifths and two-thirds, respectively. In the invalidity insurance
scheme no change has been made in this respect, each orphan receiving
as hitherto half the widow’s pension.
The new law provides for a cost-of-living bonus to each pensioner.
In the case of persons in receipt of a retirement, invalidity, widows’
or widowers’ pension this bonus amounts to 9,000 marks per year,
and in the case of persons in receipt of an orphan’s pension, to 4,500
marks. Aliens living outside of Germany are not entitled to pension
increases granted under the law nor to this bonus, unless the Minister
of Labor grants an exception m their case.
The business administration and procedure of the salaried em­
ployees’ insurance system has been changed by the new law to
conform to the provisions of the workmen’s insurance code.
Salaried employees who, on entering an employment subject to
insurance, have completed their thirtieth year of age and have
been insured with a private life insurance company for at least three
years may on their application be exempted from payment of
contributions to the salaried employees’ insurance system, if the
amount of the annual premium paid to the insurance company is at
least equal to the contributions which they would have to pay under
the new law.
The provisions of the new law relating to salaried employees’
insurance came into force on November 1, 1922, and those relating to
invalidity insurance on January 1, 1923.
W o rk m e n ’s C o m pensation in G re a t B ritain, 1921.

HE principal Secretary of State for the Home Office of Great
Britain has issued a pamphlet setting forth the operations of
the workmen’s compensation act, 1906, and the employers’
liability act, 1880, for the calendar year 1921. Statistics of compen­
sation paid include payments under the war addition acts of 1917 and

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1919, by which current or accruing awards were paid larger amounts,
for limited periods, than were provided for by the original act.
Statistics are presented for the “ seven great groups of industries in
which returns are called for from employers under section 12 of the
act.” These are mines, _quarries, railways, factories, docks, con­
structional work, and shipping. While these groups cover a large
proportion of the chief industries, “ they do not by any means cover
the whole field.” The act applies to commercial, clerical, and
domestic employments, besides the industries of building, road trans­
port, and agriculture, which are not embraced in the figures given.
The reports in the seven groups named covered 146,946 employers, of
whom 120,846 were included in mutual associations and insurance
companies which made the returns on behalf of the employers in­
cluded in or insured by them. Such returns covered 70.2 per cent
of the fatal cases and 69.3 per cent of the compensation in such cases;
also 72.4 per cent of the disability cases and 75.2 per cent of the
compensation therefor. Of the total amount of compensation,
£2,480,005 ($12,068,944, par), or 45 per cent, was paid by mutual
associations; £1,632,405 ($7,944,099, par), or 30 per cent, by insur­
ance companies, and £1,396,985 ($6,798,428, par), or 25 per cent, by
uninsured employers. Separate returns from employers numbered
26,100, of which 23,810 showed no cases of payment of compensation
under the act.
The number of persons under the act in the seven industries
included in the report during this year was 7,315,866, a reduction of a
little more than 1,000,000 from 1920, which latter figures were also
somewhat less than for 1919. The figure called for is the average
number employed throughout the year. Fatal cases during the year
numbered 2,385—more than 1,100 less than in 1920; while nonfatal
cases showed a falling off of more than 98,000, being 283,361 in 1921,
as against 381,986 in 1920. Payments for compensation in fatal
cases totaled £518,064 ($2,521,158, par), or an average of £217
($1,056, par) per case, £3 ($14.60, par) more than in 1920, and £56
($272.52, par) more than in 1914. The payments in nonfatal cases
totaled £4,991,331 ($24,290,312, par). The falling off in the number
of accidents in 1921 is explained by the increase of unemployment,
while the reduction in wages which took place in many important
industries is also influential. However, the “ total amount of com­
pensation paid in nonfatal cases is by no means commensurate with
the fall in the number of cases.” The number was reduced by 25.8
per cent, while the amount of compensation was but 4.4 per cent less.
Lump-sum settlements in 1921 averaged £73 ($355, par), as against
£62 ($302, par) in 1920, while the average amount in weekly payment
cases advanced from £11 ($54, par) in 1920 to £13 ($63, par) in 1921.
This increase was attributed to the depression in trade and consequent
lack of employment, which delayed the return to work of disabled
workmen either at full employment or at light work. This opinion
is borne out by the figures showing the period of duration of dis­
ability, which was longer in 1921 than in 1920.
The foregoing figures do not include administration or medical and
other expenses.

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140

The following table shows the number of persons employed in each
industry, the amounts paid for compensation, and the average rate
per person employed.
PERSONS EMPLOYED, TOTAL COMPENSATION PAID, AND CHARGE PER PERSON
EMPLOYED, BY INDUSTRIES, 1921.
[Conversions on basis of £ at par — $4.8665.]

Total
compensation
paid.

Number of
. persons
employed.

Industry.

Charge per person
employed.
1920

1921

Shipping........................ ............- ........... ...... . . . . . . . . .
Factories........................................................................
Docks.............................................................................
Mines..
................................................................
Quarries.........................................................................
Constructional work.....................................................
Railways...................... .................................................

201,464
5,218,311
127, 844
1,109,023
62,722
86,444
510,058

$761,729
11,989,995
1,028,705
10,986,177
317,155
325,515
1,402,194

$4.01
2.25
7.16
9.06
4. 62
3.26
2.84

$3. 77
2. 29
8. 05
9. 92
5.05
3.77
2.76

Total....................................................................

7,315,866

26,811,470

3.49

3.67

The following brief table shows, for nonfatal accidents for the three
years, 1919 to 1921, the per cent of cases of accident and of industrial
(lisease, respectively, having each specified duration of disability
payments :
PER CENT OF CASES OF ACCIDENTS AND INDUSTRIAL DISEASES IN WHICH COMPEN­
SATION WAS PAID FOR EACH SPECIFIED PERIOD.
Per cent of cases receiving compensation for each period.
Industrial diseases.

Accidents.
Y ear.

4 and 13 and
26
26
4 and 13 and
Under under
under under weeks
under weeks Under
4
4
26
13
26
and
and
13
weeks.
weeks. weeks. weeks. over.
weeks. weeks. over.
1919.........................................................
1920.........................................................
1921.........................................................

59. 55
58.21
55.16

34.76
35.62
37.05

3.73
4.00
5. 28

1.96
2.17
2.51

36.56
31.70
31.26

33.22
30. 25
29.96

8.04
10.52
10.28

22.18
27. 53
28.50

A survey of all accident cases for which weekly payments are made
(i. e., not including lump-sum settlements) showed that compensation
was paid for less than two weeks in 8.87 per cent of the total number
of cases; for two weeks and less than 3, in 28.65 per cent; for 3
weeks and less than 4, in 17.64 per cent; for 4 weeks and less than
13, in 37.05 per cent; for 13 weeks and less than 26, in 5.28 per cent;
and for 26 weeks and over, in 2.51 per cent. An examination of the
brief table above shows a marked increase in the duration of disable­
ment in both accident and industrial disease cases, particularly the
latter. An explanation for this has already been noted.
Industrial disease cases occurred mainly in the mining industry,
chiefly due to nystagmus, beat hand and beat knee. The report
notes a striking growth in the number of cases of miner’s nystagmus
since 1908, the first full year after the disease was scheduled under the
act. The number of new cases advanced from 386 in 1908 to 1,375


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in 1911, 2,775 in 1914, 2,865 in 1920, falling off to 1,913 in 1921.
The aggregate number of cases, i. e., those continuing from previous
years, has shown an unbroken increase, reaching the maximum of
4,804 in 1921.
The number of applications for arbitration has almost uniformly
decreased since the year 1912, which is the first year for which
figures are shown. These represent disputes which call for outside
intervention, and the figures disclose an interesting tendency to
reach amicable adjustments. Thus in 1912 there were 11,042 appli­
cations for arbitration, falling off to 6,732 in 1915, 6,024 in 1918
5,331 in 1920, and 5,232 in 1921.
The employers’ liability act of 1880 offers a concurrent remedy at
the option of the injured worker. However, its practical disuse is
shown by the fact that while in 1912 there were 197 actions under
this law, there were but 85 in 1916, 63 in 1918, and 27 in 1921,

Medico-Legal Examinations and the Workmen’s Compensation Act,
Great Britain.

D

R. JOHN COLLIE, a medical examiner of wide experience under
the British workmen’s compensation act and in legal cases
generally, has brought out a second edition of his book, MedicoLegal Examinations and the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The
opening chapter discusses the psychological and moral effects of
legislation, under which head are presented the conclusions arrived
at from a large number of examinations with regard to the subject
of hysteria, morbid impressions, and malingering. Emphasis is laid
upon the part played in the development of such conditions and
symptoms by the suggestions and artifices of lawyers promoting
damage suits under the common law. The fact is also recognized
that many physicians are not qualified or are not disposed to handle
such cases with adequate discrimination and firmness. Numerous
illustrations are given of the result of conscious or unconscious devel­
opment of conditions resembling traumatic neurasthenia. However,
it was well recognized that “ by introspection and concentration of
attention many sensory impressions may be brought from beyond
the margin into the focus of consciousness.”
Practical suggestions are made to examining physicians in connec­
tion with such cases, emphasis being laid on the real difficulties under
which the injured workman suffers and the frequently deleterious
influences that surround him; also on the need of sustaining and
developing moral standards and self-respect of the injured man and
his family.
The position of the writer with reference to hernias differs somewhat
from that adopted by many of the industrial commissions of the
United States in regard to operations. “ One is loath to recommend
an operation for a radical cure, as some 15 to 20 per cent of attempted
radical cures are failures.” Pie states that “ with a perfectly fitting
truss anyone can do manual labor,” but continues: “ If, however, I
were an employer of labor, I should never employ anyone with a
hernia, even though he wore a truss, for workmen are careless and


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the day arrives when the truss does not fit. Strangulation may
occur, and the employer will be held to be liable. At entrance exam­
inations for the public service I always refuse men with rupture whose
work entails hard manual labor.”
The writer agrees with a large number of American authorities that
the cause of hernia is a congenital defect and that a traumatic rup­
ture, or even its actual development as a direct result of the occupa­
tion, is extremely rare. The question usually asked a medical witness
is said to be: “ Assuming that the hernia occurred whilst at work,
did his work accelerate the advent of the hernia?” I t is said that
the assumption begs the question, which should properly be: “ Did
the hernia occur at work, or was it occurring for months before, and
was its discovery but the final stage of a series of happenings?”
However, if the question must be answered as first stated, “ then the
only answer an honest man can give is, ‘Yes7; but it inevitably leads
to an injustice, for a lay arbitrator or jury at once decides fin the
applicant’s favor.”
The subject of contracting out is considered in this connection and
strongly recommended, though absolutely precluded by the British
statute of 1906. Employers discriminate without reason against
workmen with a limp or other suggestions of physical defect which
may not at all increase the liability to injury, while if a form of con­
tracting out were permitted they would probably be given oppor­
tunity to engage in desired employment. “ Why should not the State
arrange for the employment of men suffering from certain declared
disabilities, provided they contract to pay the extra cost (occasioned
by their defects) of insuring against their possible claims for injury?”
The number of illustrative cases adduced adds largely to the sug­
gestiveness of the discussion.
Succeeding chapters summarize the compensation laws of Great
Britain, discuss the intention and results of the present statute, and
suggest a number of amendments, particularly from the standpoint
of the medical referee. The concluding chapter discusses the altera­
tions in the compensation acts due to industrial and monetary changes
consequent upon the war. Some important recent decisions are also
discussed, the final section being devoted to the subject of military
malingering.


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Powers of the United States Railroad Labor Board (Pennsylvania
Railroad Case).

HE Supreme Court of the United States on February 19, 1923,
handed down a decision in the case (Pennsylvania Railroad Co.
v. United States Railroad Labor Board) involving the right of
the board to issue orders and findings, under the terms of the
transportation act of 1920 (41 Stat. 456, 469). The case was before
the court on appeal from the United States Circuit Court of Appeals
for the Seventh Circuit, the matter having originated in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In this
last-named court the railroad had sought to restrain by injunction
the publication of a decision of the board with regard to the election
of employee representatives in connection with a dispute between
the railroad and its employees. The injunction sought for was
granted. (287 Fed. 693; see M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w for June, 1922,
pp. 160-163.) In the court of appeals, however, this ruling was
reversed. (282 Fed. 701; see M o n t h l y L a b o r , R e v i e w for Septem­
ber, 1922, pp. 202-204.) This last position was upheld on the present
hearing (43 Sup. Ct. 278).
In the trial court various points had been raised, including the
constitutionality of the statute and the power of the board to intervene
on its own motion. The contentions of the board had been upheld
as to both of these points, and the higher courts ruled similarly; the
point in conflict therefore was rather as to the scope of the powers of
the board, which the trial court had limited. In the Supreme Court
decision, delivered by Mr. Chief Justice Taft, the case is stated quite
fully, showing the history of the situation as a consequence of national
control during the war, as well as giving an analysis of the portion
of the transportation act of 1920 specifically applicable. The
Director General of Railroads, under Federal control, had increased
wages and established rules and working conditions, but at the time
that his jurisdiction terminated further demands by the employees
through their various unions were pending and undetermined. On
the organization of the Labor Board created by the transportation
act, the board assumed jurisdiction of these demands, rendering a
decision as to wages on July 20, 1920, but postponing the matter of
rules and working conditions until April 4, 1921. I t then decided,
at the instance of the railroad companies, to remand the matter of
rules and working conditions to the individual carriers and their
respective employees, continuing the status holding over from the
control of the director general until July 1, 1921. As that date
approached it was found that “ some carriers in conference with their
employees had agreed upon rules and working conditions, and others
had not.” As to the latter, the old rules and working conditions were

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directed to be continued until a decision should be arrived at. In the
meantime the board had laid down certain principles or rules of
guidance under which it intended to operate, among them being
provisions as to representation of employees in the conferences that
might be held with employers.
The Pennsylvania Railroad System declined to comply with the
mode of selection indicated by the board, and the Federated Shop
Crafts of the Pennsylvania System, affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor^ objected to the ballot provided for by the
company and conducted its own election, resulting in a dual and
conflicting group of alleged representatives. The federation filed its
complaint against the company in accordance with the provisions of
the transportation act and, on hearing had, the board ordered a new
election, for which it prescribed rules and a form of ballot. The
company’s contention that the board had no proper jurisdiction
because there was no dispute was rejected, but the company under­
took to proceed in disregard of the board’s findings.
The law provides for an immediate transmission to the parties in
dispute of all decisions made by it and they “ shall be given further
publicity in such manner as the Labor Board may determine.” It
was the anticipated publication of the decision above noted that was
objected to, as being on a subject outside the purview of the board—
a position which the trial court had accepted. Mr. Chief Justice Taft
announced the purpose of the law as being “ to encourage settlements
without strikes, first by conference between the parties,” after which
adjustment boards might be resorted to or a national board appointed
by the President. The decisions of this board are not to be enforced
by process. “ The only sanction of its decision is to be the force of
public opinion invoked by the fairness of a full hearing, the intrinsic
justice of the conclusion, strengthened by the official prestige of the
board, and the full publication of the violation of such decision by
any party to the proceeding.” The function of the Labor Board is
to direct public criticism and the weight of opinion against the party
who is found by the board to deserve it.
Taking up first the contention that the board was without jurisdic­
tion until a dispute had been conferred upon without success, the
conclusion was announced that, though the act “ requires a serious
effort by the carrier and his employees to adjust their differences as
a first step in settling a dispute,” other provisions of the law author­
ize one party to invoke intervention, which was found to be the case
in the present instance. Conferences had been attempted, and the
matter was subsequently brought before the board by Federation
No. 90 of the shop crafts of the Pennsylvania System. As to this
federation, “ its name indicates, and the record shows, that the fed­
eration is an association of employees of the Pennsylvania Co. di­
rectly interested in the dispute.” The company had refused to con­
fer with the federation, claiming lack of proof that it represented a
majority of the employees in the craft affected; it also contended that
the federation is a labor union affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor, and the phrase “ association of employees” used in the act
was not intended by Congress to include labor unions. The court
found “ nothing in the act to impose any such limitation, if the organi­
zation in other respects fulfills the description of the act. Congress


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has frequently recognized the legality of labor unions, and no reason
suggests itself why such an association, if its membership is properly
inclusive, may not be regarded as among the organizations of em­
ployees referred to in this legislation.” If the Labor Board is with­
out jurisdiction to decide who may represent the employees as to
their grievances, and such matters must be determined in conference
held prior to any assumption by it of jurisdiction, this “ would give
either side an easy opportunity to defeat the operation of the act
and to prevent the Labor Board from considering any dispute. It
would tend to make the act unworkable. If the board has jurisdic­
tion to hear representatives of the employees, it must of necessity
have the power to determine who are proper representatives of the
employees.” The law specifically gives it power to “ make regula­
tions necessary for the efficient execution of the functions vested in it
by this title,” and this authorization was held to include the power
to determine who are proper representatives and “ to make reasonable
rules for ascertaining the will of the employees in the matter.” The
subject of representation is one of the most important ones in efforts
to secure harmonious relations. “ The act is to be liberally construed
to effect the manifest effort of Congress to compose differences be­
tween railroad companies and their employees, and it would not help
this effort to exclude from the lawful consideration of the Labor
Board a question which has so often seriously affected the relations
between the companies and their employees in the past, and is often
encountered on the very threshold of controversies between them.”
Another objection was that the board by its rules and decisions
“ compels the railroad company to recognize labor unions as factors
in the conduct of its business.” The company insists upon its right
to deal with individual representatives of its own employees, while the
employees, at least those who are members of unions, contend that they
are entitled to select their own representatives without restriction to
employees of the company, but that officers of their unions qualified to
deal with and protect their interests may lawfully be chosen. It was
said that “ this statute certainly does not deprive either side of the
rights clainied.” The law in question does not “ provide a tribunal
to determine what were the legal rights and obligations of railway
employers and employees or to enforce or protect them. Courts can
do that. The Labor Board was created to decide how the parties
ought to exercise their legal rights so as to enable them to cooperate
in running the railroad.” The board acts as a board of arbitration,
and by way of compromise. “ The only limitation upon the board’s
decisions is that they should establish a standard of conditions,
which, in its opinion, is just and reasonable.” The board can not
exercise any constraint upon either party in reference to its decisions
“ except the moral constraint, already mentioned, of the publication
of its decision.” The courts are not to pass upon the correctness of
the conclusion reached if the board “ keeps within the jurisdiction
thus assigned to it by the statute. * * * I t is not for us to ex­
press any opinion upon the merits of these principles and decisions
[embodied in the rules and decisions above referred to]. All that we
may do in this case is to hold, as we do, that they were within the
lawful function of the board to render, and not being compulsory,
violate no legal or equitable right of the complaining company.”


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The action of the district court was therefore found wrong in en­
joining the board from entertaining further jurisdiction and pub­
lishing its opinion—a decision which the court of appeals had rightly
reversed.
The question whether the Railroad Labor Board is a corporation
under the act, capable of suing or being sued without the consent of
the United States, was held not necessary to be considered, neither
that as to the board’s power to publish opinions in matters beyond
its jurisdiction.
Collective Agreement Affecting Production in Window-Glass Industry.

HE National Association of Window Glass Manufacturers,
through its wage committee, on or about September 16, 1922,
entered into an agreement with the wage committee acting
for and on behalf of the National Association of Window Glass
Workers. The manufacturers’ group comprises practically all pro­
ducers of hand-blown window glass, while the workers’ association is
said to be a union of all the skilled workmen in the hand-blown
window glass industry. The factories involved are located in various
States of the Union, the bulk of their product being sold and shipped
in interstate commerce. Besides agreements as to wages and work­
ing conditions, the contract divides all factories into two groups,
A°and B. Group A was to run for 16 weeks from September 25,
1922, to January 27, 1923, while group B factories were to run from
January 29, 1923, to June 11, 1923. This established what is called
a two-period system. No factory that ran in the fall could run in
the spring; no manufacturer could run through the year unless he
had two separate factories, one of which should be placed in group
A and the other in group B. Under a similar agreement of the pre­
ceding year “ an operator who desired to equip a second factory so
that he might continue production during the second period, was
compelled to build an entirely independent factory and not merely
an additional furnace and equipment, at a cost of $75,000.”
The United States brought this suit for the purpose of dissolving
and enjoining an agreement in restraint of interstate trade or com­
merce as curtailing the production of window glass, restricting its
distribution in interstate trade, and limiting the opportunity of
workers to follow their normal occupation. When the bill was filed
a motion was made for a preliminary injunction, but as all the de­
fendants appeared and answered, the “ motion was by agreement
converted into a final hearing, and the case submitted for a final
decree on the merits.”
The associations cited certain cases in support of their contention
that interference with manufacture or production alone is not inter­
ference with interstate trade or commerce. (Hammer v . Dagenhart,
247 U. S. 251, 38 Sup. Ct. 581 [see Bull. 258, p. 96], and others.)
Admitting the correctness of the principle within its field, it was said
to be inapplicable in the situation shown by the facts set forth in
the instant case. The purpose of the agreement and of the activity
under it was not to secure rates of wages or working conditions, but
there was an “ interference with interstate commerce, not merely

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147

ancillary and incidental” to the execution of a purpose and outside
of the real intent of the parties entering into the agreement. Their
action has a “ direct, material, and substantial effect upon the pro­
duction, distribution, and price of hand-blown window glass in
interstate trade or commerce,” so that an intent to effect these ends
“ must be inferred.” The agreement “ purposely and intentionally
made” must be regarded as representing the intention of the parties
to produce the consequences that necessarily follow.
The Clayton Act was held not to grant any exemption in the case,
its exemptions as regards labor organizations applying to the more
restricted field of mutual help and welfare, sought by legitimate
ends. Cases were cited construing the antitrust act in its applica­
tion to labor organizations, leading to the finding that the rule laid
down by these cases is that “ a combination or agreement having
for its object and purpose the restraint of or undue interference with
interstate trade or commerce is not a legitimate object of a labor
organization nor a lawful means of carrying out its objects.” The
activities of the workers’ association were chiefly responsible for
the conditions found. “ They seem to have assumed the entire bur­
den of enforcing vigorously and relentlessly” the terms of the agree­
ment.
The clear purpose and effect of the agreement was to keep one-half
of the furnaces idle during the first period while the others were work­
ing, the situation being reversed during the second period. The
idea came into being during the war, owing to the restraint placed
by the United States Government upon nonessential industries,
with a view to conserving fuel and labor. This restraint on produc­
tion was found to be advantageous to “ the workers if not to the
manufacturers,” and representatives of the former moved success­
fully to secure its continuance after the war. Arguments were ad­
vanced to support the claim that production is not diminished nor
prices enhanced, and that both the manufacturers and the workers
are benefited without injury to the public. However, Judge Westenhaver regarded it as inevitably true that this method of operation
results necessarily in restraint of the production of hand-blown
window glass. “ This is so obvious that testimony to prove it would
not strengthen one’s conviction.” Besides limiting the output, it is
obvious that the profits for the periods of 16 weeks and 18 weeks,
respectively, for the two groups must be great enough to pay over­
head expenses and yield returns on the capital invested. “ The
inherent and inevitable tendency of this situation is to induce manu­
facturers to market this limited quantity at a price higher than
would otherwise be required if the output were larger.” A third
conclusion, though vigorously disputed, was that this restraint of
manufacture and production would necessarily restrain interstate
commerce, not merely incident ally and indirectly, but necessarily and
directly.
The facts set forth above were said to bring the case “ within the
authorities which hold that interstate trade and commerce are un­
reasonably restrained and do not leave it within those authorities
which hold that manufacture only is directly affected.” A number
of cases are then cited with excerpts showing the application of the
principle to the case in hand, the conclusion being reached that “ the


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

present case falls clearly within the principles announced in the fore­
going cases.” Not only is the restraint found to be unreasonable and
illegal, but “ the necessary and inevitable effect is unduly to restrain
trade and commerce not only within but between the several States
of the Union.”
.
.
, ,
The contention that the restraints are reasonable, m view ot tne
conditions in the industry, was then considered. It was said to be
a dying industry since the invention of machines for blowing window
glass, the present number of skilled workmen not being sufficient to
run all plants continuously; and since the number of men actually
qualified can be employed during both periods, it was said there was
no unreasonable interference with production. The argument along
this line was said by Judge Wbstenhaver to show conclusively, as it
seemed to him, “ that this method of operation drives workers from
the industry.” I t requires removal from place to place instead of
affording a fixed abode where a family could be maintained without
the expense of removal or the alternative of separation for a part of
the year. Reference was made to a vote taken by the membership
of the workers’ organization “ urging the officials and committees of
their association to procure a return to one continuous period of
operation. The vote was two to one in its favor” ; while a somewhat
later ballot showed a proportion of four to one of the workers in
favor of abandoning the two-period system. The argument of
economic justification or noninterference therefore was rejected.
Other considerations were brought forward, but nothing affected the
conclusions reached as already indicated, and a decree for the Gov­
ernment was authorized, the decree to allow for a reasonable adjust­
ment period before becoming effective.

Unconstitutionality oi L aw Providing Penalty for Nonpayment of
Wages, Indiana.

HE State of Indiana has for a number of years had a law requir­
ing employers to pay wages earned at least twice a month,
imposing a penalty of 10 per cent of the unpaid wages for
each day they remained unpaid after becoming due. (Acts of 1913,
ch. 27; Burns’ Ann. Stats. 1914, secs. 7989a, 7989b.) _ This act was
challenged on the ground of its unconsitutionality in the case of
Superior Laundry Co. v . Rose, 137 N. E. 761, decided by the Su­
preme Court of Indiana, January 26, 1923. A driver of a laundry
wagon was discharged while his employer was indebted to him,
as alleged, in the amount of $72.16 for wages. Action was brought
claiming that the employer had refused to pay this, and asking
for a recovery with the penalty. The jury was instructed as to the
terms of the law and rendered a judgment in favor of the claimant
for the amount of his wages and a penalty amounting to $314.76, or
“ more than four times the amount of wages alleged to be due.”
The case was appealed to the supreme court of the State, which
discussed various wage payment laws of Indiana and other Slates.
I t was found that the statute under consideration embodied an
absolute prohibition of the right of the parties to make contracts,

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149

going beyond what might be regarded as a reasonable requirement
of law for the protection of workingmen who might be injuriously
affected by unduly delayed payments. Under this statute an
employee might demand more than was due, and if the employer
refused to pay, any actual balance due would be doubled within 10
days—a time too short for a legal determination, or even for ex­
tended negotiations; while “ if he should delay payment for 90
days, he would owe 10 times the original debt, under the provisions
of the statute, even though suit had not yet been commenced. ”
Of this it was said that the “ penalty is not proportioned to the
amount of wages withheld, but is without limit as to the time durin0,
which it shall continue to accumulate, or as to the total amount.”
This was said not to be equal protection of the law, by “ threatening
such dire consequences if he [the employer] shall litigate a claim for
wages and not be entirely successful that he may fear to refuse a
demand, even though convinced that it is unfounded and unjust.”
A law fixing a limited penalty and a reasonable attorney fee had
been held constitutional in the State, but the present statute per­
mits penalties which might be, “ and in this case really are, excessive
and oppressive. ” For the reasons stated the statute was declared
unconstitutional in so far as it seeks to impose a penalty for the
nonpayment of wages.
Picketing and Secondary Boycott to Enforce Unionization, Iowa.

HE Supreme Court of Iowa recently had before it a case involv­
ing the right of a proprietor to operate his barber shop without
interference by the local barbers’ union (Ellis v. Journeymen
Barbers’ International Union, Local No. 52, 191 N. W. 111). The
plaintiff, Ellis, was formerly a journeyman barber and a member of
the defendant local. Having decided to set up a business for him­
self, he could no longer retain his membership, but received a “ retir­
ing card” which recognized his former status and his right to be
reinstated at any time in the future when he might cease to be an
employer and again become a journeyman barber. At the same
time he agreed to maintain a union shop, both as to workmen and
rules and regulations, including hours and prices. The prices were
those in force during the war, and Ellis concluded that for his custom,
made up largely of laboring men, the prices were too high and the
hours not convenient to his patrons. His employees “ approved
and agreed to ” modifications as to prices and hours, and he under­
took to withdraw from the union in order to operate freely and
without contravening their rules.
Following this, picketing and attempts to persuade his employees
to leave him were engaged in by the union, his customers also being
approached to dissuade them from entering his shop. Sharp alter­
cations resulted, “ bordering at least upon a breach of the peace.”
Another line of action was an attempted boycott, both primary and
secondary, directed against Ellis, the union seeking the cooperation
of other employing barbers in the locality. This effort to involve
them led to Ellis’s including them as defendants, but the case against
them was dismissed, they not being considered participants in the

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

activities directed against him, though they had attempted b y
persuasion to induce him to accede to the demands of the union.
However, as they had no control over the acts of the union and
took no part in the picketing, the case against them was held to
have been properly dismissed. The trial court had granted an
injunction against the maintenance of the picket and the “ unlawful
interference with the legal rights of the plaintiff, [which] partook of
the nature both of a private nuisance and of a conspiracy.” The
claim that Ellis was a member of the union, and subject to its dis­
ciplinary regulations, was held to be without merit, since the union’s
oidy power over its members was by way of expulsion, and as Ellis
had withdrawn, not even that penalty could affect him. Recognizing
the legal status of a trade-union, and the “ wide and legitimate field
of activity which it may lawfully exercise in favor of its member­
ship,” it was said that “ tyranny through the exercise of sheer power
is not one of its prerogatives.” The action of the court below in
awarding the injunction against the union, and dismissing the action
against the other employing barbers was affirmed.


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L A B O R O R G A N IZ A T IO N S .

Labor Unions in Nevada.

ART I of the Fourth Biennial Report of the Commissioner of
Labor of Nevada, 1921-1922, contains a directory of the
labor organizations of the State, and among other statistics
the following table:

P

NUMBER AND MEMBERSHIP OF LOCAL UNIONS IN NEVADA, 1919 TO 1922 BY INDUS­
TRIES.
1919

1920

1921

1922

Industry.

Unions. Members. Unions. Members. Unions. Members. Unions. Members.
Railroads.................................
Mining......................................
Building..................................
Manufacturing........................
Miscellaneous 1 .......................

44
16
12
9
12

3,276
998
445
162
681

49
16
13
9
13

3,695
1,171
529
159
783

45
13
13
9
11

3,285
354
427
135
605

42
12
13
7
10

2,680
263
401
119
636

All industries................

93

5,562

100

6,337

91

2 4,808

84

4,099

} Barbers, clerks (retail), hotel and restaurant employees, meat cutters, musicians, street-car men, theat­
rical employees, laundry workers, and teamsters.
2 This total is not the correct sum of the items, but the figures are given as shown in the original report.

The mining industry is reported as being “ at present chaotic,”
from a labor organization viewpoint. The radical proclivities of
minorities “ tend to discredit organization efforts, on the one hand,
while on the other unionism seems to have its active and ardent
appeal to the underground employees of the State.” The problem
of organization is accentuated by the large proportion of mine
workers of nationalities not familiar with the traditions and past
progress of the miners’ unions.

National Congress of Confédération Générale du T ravail.1

HE national congress of the Confédération Générale du Travail
was held in Paris from January 30 to February 2,1923, this being
the first general meeting of the confederation since the congress
of Lille in July, 1921.2 The congress was attended by 700 delegates
representing 1,423 unions, 25 federations, and 34 departmental
unions. Practically all of the questions which have been interesting
French labor since the war were upon the program for discussion and
action, including social insurance, family allowances, the tax upon
wages, trade-union rights of civil employees, nationalization and

T

1 L’Information Sociale, Feb. 15 and 22, 1923. Industrial and Labor Information, Feb. 16,1923, pp. 6-15.
» See Monthly L abor R eview , October, 1921, pp. 37-40.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

monopolies, labor control, ana the 8-hour day. ^ Contrary to _the
methods pursued in previous congresses in which the discussions
were general, the majority of the questions wnich were up for con­
sideration were put in the hands of special committees which reported
their decisions, in the form of resolutions, to the congress lor final
discussion and action.
_
#
.
The question of labor unity, which has agitated the ranks oi labor
since the extremists in the federation seceded in December, 1921,
forming the C. G. T. Unitaire, was brought before the delegates on
the second day of the congress by a letter from the executive com­
mittee of the C. G. T. U. expressing the desire of this organization for
svndical unity and unity of action. The letter proposed that a con­
federal congress composed of delegates from the two organizations
should be called for the purpose of considering a program of national
and international action. While waiting for the actual coordination
of the syndical organizations the committee advocated common
action against the menace of war by all syndical organizations favoring
the class struggle. The committee to which this proposition was
referred for consideration decided upon a categorical refusal of the
demand for unity upon the basis offered by the C. G. T. U. because
of the adherence of this organization to the Moscow International.
The committee believed, however, that it was possible to secure
fundamental unity within regularly confederated syndicates, the
syndicates retaining all their rights on the condition that the decisions
of the congress should be respected. After long debate the congress
adopted a resolution in practical agreement with the decision of the
committee, basing its refusal to call a joint meeting of the two
organizations on the fact that since the C. G. T. remains the central
organization of the labor movement any steps toward unification of
the different groups should take place within the C. G. T. itself.
The committee on the 8-hour day presented a unanimous report
which the congress was asked to adopt without discussion. The
resolution urged the united action of all the syndicates to oppose
efforts to abolish the 8-hour day, which, it stated, had been
openly attacked and was in danger of being set aside for a long period
of time unless the working class should intensify by every means the
propaganda in favor of it. As one means of accomplishing this result
workers everywhere were urged to stop work whenever attempts are
made to impose unreasonable derogations and where discussion with
labor organizations of the conditions and rules governing these
exceptions is refused. An amendment insisting upon the fact that
the 8-hour day fills all the needs of national and international produc­
tion was accepted and the resolution adopted unanimously.
The congress also went on record as opposed to the transfer of
State monopolies such as transportation services, posts, telegraphs
and telephones, arsenals, etc., to private industry and declared for
the policy of ‘‘industrialized nationalization,” 3which was first advo­
cated by the economic council of the G. G. T. shortly after the form­
ation of the council in 1920. I t was decided to intensify the campaign
for nationalization and to endeavor to obtain financial control and
control of management immediately in all public services in order that
s See Monthly L abok R e v ie w , February, 1921, p. 194.


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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

153

modern methods of accounting might be instituted and political
influence eliminated. A resolution was also introduced protesting
against governmental refusal to recognize the right of Government
employees to belong to trade-unions.4
The congress declared that the problem of placement of workers
was intimately connected with that of foreign labor and that no solu­
tion of the latter problem could be expected without a methodical
and rational organization of the French labor market. The es­
tablishment of a system of closely associated employment offices
under a national bureau was advocated, these offices to be under the
direction of persons qualified in the scientific placement of workers.
While not opposing a certain amount of immigration, the confedera­
tion believed that better means of protecting the interests of national
labor should obtain and for that reason opposed the proposed law
which would take away from the Ministry of Labor the control of
foreign and colonial labor and transfer this department to a national
immigration office under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The custom of paying family allowances has grown rapidly in
France during the past two years and a special study of the question
has recently been completed by the C. G. T. The unions have op­
posed the practice of paying allowances according to the number of
children in the family on the grounds that the extra allowance affects
the basic wage and gives the employer an unfair advantage. In spite
of this fact, however, the confederation believes that while the nation
should be concerned with childhood and the family, this should prop­
erly be the duty of society and not of the employer. To secure this
protection^ to the family a scheme of social insurance covering al­
lowances for and care of children was outlined to which the em­
ployers should be compelled to contribute but which should be
manged by official committees composed of representatives of the
different interests.
In the matter of labor control the congress advocated labor and
syndical control of (1) hiring and firing; (2) syndical agreements con­
cerning wages, hours of labor, discipline, and all other questions re­
lating to the industry or trade concerned; (3) the application of
social laws and the rights of labor which have been juridically es­
tablished by usage.
A proposed social insurance law which would provide old-age, sick­
ness, invalidity, and maternity insurance was indorsed by the congress
although it was considered that unemployment insurance should be
included also. I t was proposed that social insurance should be one
of the principal claims of the working class at the labor demonstra­
tion on the 1st of May and that during the intervening period con­
stant propaganda should be directed toward the workers and the
public through the press and in public speeches in order to insure, if
possible, the enactment of the law.
For the purpose of insuring to the country a supply of skilled
labor a plan for a comprehensive system of apprenticeship was
drawn up which provided for extension of compulsory school attend­
ance to 14 years of age; modification of the programs of primary
education to give a more important place to the study of subjects
* Idem,

p. 192.


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154

relating to agricultural, commercial, or industrial occupations especially
in the last two years of school, and establishment of agreements be­
tween the national industrial, agricultural, and commercial federations
of employers and employees, fixing for each trade the number of
apprentices, wages, length of apprenticeship, and all the general
conditions affecting the employment of such workers. Under the,
plan there would be created a legal organization called the trade(
chamber ( c h a m b r e d e m e t i e r s ) , the function of which would be to(i
regulate and control apprenticeship regionally and locally. In this(
office there would be equal representation of employers and workers;
the general interests of industry and commerce would be represented (
by delegates from the chambers of commerce, those of the working
class by delegates from the labor exchanges or unions of syndicates,j
the civil authorities by inspectors of technical and labor education,
and technical and labor education itself by delegates from the direc­
tors of technical schools.
A general resolution protesting against the cost of living, the move­
ment to reduce wages, and the financial policy of the Government
was passed. It was stated that the workers did not so much object
to the principle of the tax upon wages as to the method of its appli­
cation.

Trade-Union Movement in the Netherlands, 1921.1

falling off in the Netherlands in the number of organized
THEworkers
that had set in in 1920 under the influence of unfavor­
able economic conditions continued also in 1921. The decrease in
1921 was, however, not so large as in 1920. The total number of
organized workers, which on January 1, 1920, was 683,468, had
fallen to 651,215 on January 1, 1921, and to 640,044 on January 1,
1922. The loss in membership suffered by workers’ organizations in
1921, which in round figures amounted to 11,000, was chiefly due
to a decrease in the number of female members, which fell from
50,702 to 43,976. The number of organizations, which at the
beginning of 1920 was 8,728, had risen to 9,201 on January 1, 1921,
and on January 1, 1922, had fallen again to 9,137. The great major­
ity (511,795) of the organized workers of the Netherlands are affiliated
with one of the five large central organizations in existence. The
following table shows the membership of these central organizations
at the beginning of 1920, 1921, and 1922:
i The Netherlands. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. Overzicht van den omvang der vakbeweging
op 1 Januari 1922 eninstellingen en financial van de vakvereenigingen in 1920. TheHague, 1922. Statistiek
van Nederland, No. 359.


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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

MEMBERSHIP OF CENTRAL TRADE-UNION ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS
AT THE BEGINNING OF 1920, 1921, AND 1922.
A ffiliated tradeunions on Jan.1—

Affiliated trade-union members on
Jan .1—
1922

Central organization.
1920

National Labor Secretariat of the Netherlands................................................................
419
Netherlandish Federation of Trade-Unions.. 2,217
Netherlandish Federation of Christian
Trade-Unions................................................. 1,253
Netherlandish Federation of Catholic TradeUnions............................................................ 1,927
General Federation of Netherlandish TradeUnions.............................................................
439
Total......................................................... 6,255

1921

1922

1920

1921

426
2,188

390
2,136

51,570
247,748

37,125
216,617

Per cent
of total
number
of or­
Number. ganized
workers
in the
Nether­
lands.
31,391
217,467

4.90
33.98

1,456

1,482

66,997

73,819

71,332

11.14

2,228

2,215

141,002

146,030

142,035

22.19

698

659

39,903

52,223

49,570

7.75

6,996

6,882

547, 220

525,814

511,795

79.96

According to the preceding table 298,428, or nearly three-fifths of
the organized workers affiliated with central organizations, were affili­
ated at the beginning of 1922 with one of the three nonsectarian
central organizations, the National Labor Secretariat, the Nether­
landish Federation of Trade-Unions, and the General Federation of
Netherlandish Trade-Unions. It should be noted here that steps
have been taken for an amalgamation of the latter two organizations.
The Catholic central organization has the next largest membership,
while the Christian (Protestant) federation occupies third place.
At the beginning of 1922 there existed in the Netherlands 300 local
trade-union councils with which were affiliated 2,644 trade-unions
with a total membership of 304,166.
Of the total trade-union membership (640,044) in the Netherlands
381,380 members were manual workers in private employment,
49,850 were nonmanual workers in private employment, and 208,814
were manual workers and salaried employees in public services.
The number of organized workers in the most important occupa­
tions at the beginning of 1921 and 1922 is shown in the following
table :
NUMBER OF ORGANIZED WORKERS IN THE MOST IMPORTANT
JAN. 1, 1921 AND 1922.

Occupation.

Diamond workers..........................
Printing trades...............................
Building trades...............................
W oodworkers..................................
Miners..............................................
Metal workers.................................
Textile workers...............................
Cigar makers...................................
Agricultural and dairy workers...
Transport workers, seamen, etc...

38784°—23-----11


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Number of or­
ganized workers
on Jan. 1—
1921

1922

10,026
18,062
77,421
16,203
8,895
46,966
24,622
20,354
35,465
40,951

8,699
17,721
73,242
15,139
9^390
51,416
23,532
17,208
33;538
41,709

OCCUPATIONS,

Occupation.

Number of or­
ganized workers
on Jan .1—
1921

Office and shop clerks, traveling
salesmen, etc................................
Railroad and street-car employees.
Teachers, instructors, etc..............
Officials' and civil service employees.........................................
Manual workers in public services.
Factory workers.................
Postal," telegraph, and telephone
employees....................................

[847]

1922

34,030
48,486
35,802

32,024
52,341
36,198

39,389
32* 990
35,987

39,515
31,552
40,003

21,142

19,197

156

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Nearly one-third (210,275) of the total number of organized
workers in the Netherlands resided in one of the four largest cities
(Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht), i. e., cities with
a population in excess of 100,000.
A few data as to the resources, receipts, and expenditures of the
central organizations, national federations, local unions, and tradeunion councils for the year 1920 are given in the following table:
FINANCIAL STATISTICS OF TRADE-UNION ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS,
1920.
[1 guilder at par=40.2 cents.]
National and local
unions.

Tradeunion
councils
Per
member.

Central
organizations.

Item.

Total.
Per cen 1, reporting_____ ______________ . . . . . . . . . ____

G u il d e r s .

G u il d e r s .

Resources .Tati. 1f 1920..... ..................................................
Resources Jan. 1,1921....... ...............................................
Receipts in 1920............................................. .....................
Contributions........................ ............................ .......
S trike assessments.................................................... .
Official organ................................ ...............................
Miscellaneous....... ........................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Disbursements in 1920.......................................................
Strike benefits .............................................................
Unemployment benefits..............................................
Siclr benefits
. . . _____________ _______
Death benefits
................. ................ ........ . . . ____
Other benefits...................... .........................................
Official organ
..
, - _____________ _
Propaganda
............................................ .
Salaries
................................................................
Administrative expenses..........................................
Refund to unions ...................................... ..............
Miscellaneous _
_________ __________

94

100
226,738
411,686
2,239,522
280, 606
1,743, 037
7,330
208,549
2,054,573
1,644,143
56,302
32,665
49,239
114,392
37,530
120,302

82
G u il d e r s .

6,115,105
8,169,622
15,668,145
12,277,242
1,902,855
144,975
1,343,073
13,610,944
3,824,485
136,671
945,515
141,669
97,444
1 . 182, 307
377,096
2,019, 045
1,255, 976
1,241,160
2,389,576

9.56
13.34
25.03
19. 61
3.04

G u iltie r s .

38,935
46,281
653,147
125,476
464,715

21.74
8.36

62,956
646,297
466,412

3.23

64,113
32,022
83,750

Membership oi Scandinavian Trade-Unions in 1921.1
Norway.

T THE end of 1920 the Norwegian trade-unions had 142,642
members. By the end of 1921 the membership had decreased
to 95,965 in 34 unions with 1,590 branches. This was a
decrease of 46,667, or 32.7 per cent, in membership and of 265 in the
number of branches.
The reduction in each of a number of unions was as follows:

A

MEMBERSHIP LOSS IN SPECIFIED NORWEGIAN TRADE-UNIONS DURING 1921.

Union.

Num­
ber.

General workers
15,160
Iron and metal workers.................. 6,428
Wood workers._ _
3,060
Transport workers.......................... 2,953
Seamen and stokers........................ 2,733

Union.

Num­
ber.

Railway men...................................
Paper workers.................................
Clothing workers............................
Forestry and agricultural workers.
Sawmill workers.............................

2,604
2,420
1,656
1,627
1,492

Per
cent.
48.5
30.7
35. 2
29.8
59.0

Per
cent.
30.3
21.6
49.7
72.7
26.3

1 The data ou which this article is based are from Meddelelsesblad, Christiania, No. 9-10,1922, pp. 135-138,
149, 152, 157; Fackforeningsrdrelsen, Stockholm, No. 1, 1923, p. 16; Sweden, Soeialstyrelsen, Sociala
Meddelanden, Stockholm, No. 11, 1922, pp. 928, 929.


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[8 4 8 ]

LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

157

Tlic total decrease in these 10 unions was 40,130. The only union
which showed an increase was the masons7 union with a member­
ship increase of 241. There were 424 wage change movements, affeetmg 69,020 workers, whicli^ in 207 cases caused work stoppages in­
volving 41,752 workers. 11uring the year 301 wage agreements were
made. 1he number of days lost because of labor disputes was
2,217,786 and the number lost through unemployment totaled about
4,000,000, or 49 days per member. Strike aid amounting to
3,746,009.89 kroner ($1,003,931, par), of which the national federa­
tion paid 1,380,013.50 kroner ($369,844, par), was paid out in 1921.
. * our hundred and thirteen workmen received wage increases dur­
ing 1921, amounting to 197,060 kroner ($52,812, par), or 477.14
kroner ($127.87, par) per worker. The agreements were extended
tor 9,594 workers. The wages of 35,256 workers were reduced by
23,961.U kroner ($6,422, par), or 79.65 kroner ($21.35, par) each,
to this, it is stated, must be added wage reductions on a sliding
scale estimated at about 2,586,671 kroner ($693,228, par) or a total
wage reduction for the year of about 26,500,000 kroner ($7,102,000,
par), I he wage reductions amounted to about 17 per cent for sea­
men, 15 per cent for tailors, 20 to 24 per cent for textile workers,
3 to 15 per cent for the graphic industries, 10 to 16 per cent for
electrochemical industries, 20 to 30 per cent for the glass industry
and 3 to 20 per cent in the metal industry.
For traveling and unemployment aid^ 27 unions paid out the
exceptionally large amount of 12,851,064 kroner ($3,444,085, par),
len unions paid out 447,503.16 kroner ($119,931, par) in sick benehts. ihe sick funds received 97,431.10 kroner ($26,112, par) in
refunds from public funds. Funeral benefits and insurance contri­
butions from 27 unions amounted to 398,438.63 kroner ($106,782,
par). Invalidity and other aid totaled 78,742.92 kroner ($21,103,
Pi)11 '
13,775,748.75 kroner ($3,691,901, par) were paid out
through the insurance funds in 1921. The affiliated unions had an
income of 20,204,997.59 kroner ($5,414,939, par) and expenditures
amounting to 21,869,806.08 kroner ($5,861,108, par), a deficit of
1,664,808.49 kroner ($446,169, par).
Denmark.

0 N

1, 1921, the Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions consisted of 52 unions with 2,260 branches and 244,372
members, of whom 200,304 were men and 44,068 women. This repre­
sents a decrease since 1920 of about 34,883 members.2
For an account of trade-unions in Denmark in 1921 see Monthly L abor R eview , November, 1922, p.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[849]

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

158

Sweden.

The table following shows the membership and the number of
branches of the Swedish trade-unions on January 1 of each year,
1920, 1921, and 1922:
MEMBERSHIP AND NUMBER OF BRANCHES OF SWEDISH TRADE-UNIONS ON JANUARY
1 OF EACH YEAR, 1920, 1921, AND 1922.
Number of
branches, Jan. 1—

Number of members,
Jan. 1—

Number of woman
members, Jan. 1—

Trade-union.

Woodworkers........................................
Tin and sheet-metal workers..............
Sawmill employees...............................
Painters..................................................
Tailors....................................................
Shoe and leather employees.................
Tobacco workers...................................
Bakers and confectioners.....................
Brewery employees...............................
Glove makers.........................................
Unskilled and factory workers............
Cooperage workers.................................
Foundry workers...................................
The associated unions..........................
Masons...................................................
Stone workers........................................
Miners.....................................................
Saddle makers and upholsterers.........
Bookbinders......................... - ...............
Road and waterworks employees----Transport workers.............................. .
Municipal workers................................
Tile makers..........................................
Slaughterhouse and meat shop em­
ployees ..............................................
Mercantile employees..........................
Hat makers.........................................
Lithographers......................................
Hairdressers.........................................
Metal workers......................................
Insurance officials...............................
Stokers..................................................
Typographers......................................
Loggers.................................................

1920

1921

250
53
262
72
106
55
10
58
42
6
384
25
147
81
79
86
43
30
28
53
116
132
20

245
52
294
77
107
60
10
58
44

1922

1920

244 19,282
49 1,579
294 20,932
76 4,205
101 7,280
55 7,786
10 4,331
60 6, 200
46 3,228
165
348 46,347
515
20
147 5,117
94 5,028
84 3,873
82 2, 817
39 3,598
29 1,025
28 3,198
49 1,937
122 12, 835
150 14,471
481
21

1921

1922

17,390 15,794
1,423 1,5GS
22, 230 21,535
4,168 4,381
8, 509 6,797
9,554 8,678
4,616 3,337
7,020 7,200
4,310 4,567

1920

1921

1922
46

127

9

"23'
5,590
3,276
3,817
2,569
1,406

4,155
2,863
2,672
2,650
1,385

4,677
51,187 37,573
445
484
5,548 5,081
907 1,031
5,507 5,447
3,967 3,952
2,721
2,696
3,257 3,405
94
889
133
1,094
3,598 3,159 2,118 2,384
2,193 2,235
775
13,179 11,689
821 1,257
16,005 16,430
11
7
515
530

2,959

149
134
53 1,655 1,901 2,068
86 7,358 7,367 6,390 1,769 1,708
364
405
424
511
547
9
15
895
765
828
15
66
66
846
875
865
27
249 69,019 69,701 62,357 2,544 3,014
41
209
194
229
9
25 2,406 2,765 2,079
533
7,320 7,180
93
1,722 2,705
69

165
1,352
300

Total........................................... 2,588 2,845 2,783 259,102 281,751 252,361 28,162 32,787

26,142

49
77
9
15
30
244
2
24

399
22
148
94
84
' 83
43
30
28
46
131
146
22
50
93
9
15
30
251
9
24
95
46

4,403
2,560
3,593
2,230
1,042
80
4,449

978
79
2,022

1

806
957
5

65
2,131
34
508

After the general strike in 1909 the membership decreased to
85,522 in 1912, after which an increase occurred which continued up
to 1921. In January of that year the membership was 281,751, but
it declined to 252,361 in January, 1922. The latest available figures
are for October 1, 1922, at which time the National Federation of
Trade Unions had 293,509 members, 33 unions, and 3,143 branches.
The Swedish trade-unions paid out 10,500,000 kronor ($2,814,000,
par) in unemployment aid during the period 1914 to 1921.
At the quinquennial Swedish Trade Union Congress, held at Stock­
holm August 28 to September 5, 1922, a proposal made by the metal
workers’ union to change the trade-unions to industrial unions was
adopted by 174 against 119 votes. This change is to be accomplished
by 1925. It was also resolved by a vote of 177 to 55 that the national
federation should not adhere to the Red International.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[850]

S T R IK E S

AND

LO CK O U TS.

Strikes a n d Lockouts in M assachusetts in 1922.

D

URING 1922 the total number of strikes and lockouts in Massa­
chusetts was 147, according to a typewritten report received
February 10, 1923, from the department of labor and indus­
tries of that State. These industrial disputes involved 36,400 em­
ployees. In 1921 there were 191 strikes and lockouts directly or
n directly affecting approximately 49,500 employees.
The question of wage increases was the main issue of the greater
number of the 1922 controversies, whereas in 1921 many of the
industrial disputes resulted from proposals to reduce wages.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

159

[851]

.vLori :
C O N C IL IA T IO N

AND

A R B IT R A T IO N .

C onciliation W ork of th e D e p artm en t of L a b o r in F eb ru ary , 192j .
By

H u g h L . K e r w i n , D ir e c t o r

op

C o n c il ia t io n .

HE Secretary of Labor, through the Division of Conciliation,
exercised his good offices in connection with 33 labor disputes
during February, 1923. These disputes affected a total of
60,654 employees. The following table shows the name and location
of’the establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the
nature of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy not
having reached strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned,
the cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of settlement,
the date of beginning and ending, and the number of workmen
directly and indirectly affected.

T

LABOR DISPUTES HANDLED BY T H E U N ITED STATES D EPA RTM EN T OF LABOR
THROUGH ITS DIVISION OF CONCILIATION, FEB R U A R Y , 1923.
Company or industry and location.
Union Ribbon Co., Paterson, N. J .
Federal Barge Line, Cairo, 111.........
Ladies’ Garment Workers, New
York City.
Studebaker Corp., South Bend, Ind.
Tailors’ Helpers, Youngstown, Ohio.
Roekport Granite Co., Rockport,
Mass.
Do............ ............................... .
Children’s and Ladies’ Garment
Workers, New York City.
Russell Stove Co., Massillon, O hio..
Slater & Sons, Webster, Mass.
Jute mills, Ludlow, Mass........
Molders, Evansville, In d ..... ............
Kletzel & Garfinkel, New York City.
Hermann Gabbe & Bros., Brooklyn,
N. Y.
Children’s clothing, Peekskill, N. Y.
Cloak & Suit, Philadelphia, P a.......

N ature of
controversy.

Craft concerned.

.do.

Working conditions.
(D
Unable to
Wage c u t............. .
adjust.
20 per cent cut; open Adjusted.
Quarrymen---__ do___
sdiop.
Do.
__ do........... Granite cutters---- 20 per cent wage cut;
open shop.
Do.
....d o .......... Garment workers. D e s ire d fo rm e r
agreement.
Open shop; working Pending.
....d o .......... Molders............
conditions.
Do.
Weavers.
.do.
Asked
5 cents an Adjusted.
Carders..
.do.
hour increase.
Do.
Working conditions
Molders.........
.do.
Pending.
Shirt makers.
.do.
Adjusted.
New
agreement.
Furriers.........
.do.
Pending.
Clothing workers.
.do.
Adjusted.
Cloak and suit Social shop..........
.do.
workers.
Do.
Controversy. Clothing m akers.. Working conditions.
Trimmers.
Tailors__

.do.
.do.

Hess-Snyder Co., Massillon, O hio.. ....... do.........
M. P . V. W. Granite Co., Stony .......do.........
Creek, Conn.
Threatened
Vacuum Oil Co., Bayonne, N. J —
strike.
F. S. Bowser Co., Fort Wayne, Ind. Strike.........
Mid West Casting Co., Middletown, ....... do.........
Ohio.
American Strawboard Paper Co., ....... do.........
Chicago, 111.
Interstate Iron & Steel Plant, East ....... do.........
Chicago, Ind.
Norristown Knitting Mills, Lans- ....... do.........
dale, Pa.
Sarnofi H at Co., New York City — Controversy.
J. & J. Dodson Mills, Philadelphia, Strike..........
Pa.
.do.
Garment industry, Chicago, 111.......
.do.
Susquehanna Coal Co., Nanticoke,
Pa.
.do.
Susquehanna Coal Co., Glen Lyon,
Pa.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Present
status.

Textile workers. . . 10 per cent wage cut. Adjusted"
Do.
P ilots..................... Asked $100 a m onth
increase.
Do.
Garment workers. Desired week w ork..

Strike.
....d o .

Jacob Seigel & Co. and B. Goldman
& Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
Bakeries, Portland, Oreg................. Strike.
Washington Tin Plate Co., Wash­ .......do.
ington, Pa.
.do.
Montell mine, Vale Summit, M d ...

160

Cause of dispute.

Bakers.......
Employees.

Discrimination...
Agreement..........

Pending.
Do.

Miners.

Adjusted.

Employees..

W ages (n a tio n a l
strike).
Open shop..............
Wages and condi­
tionsAsked increase.......

Machinists.
Molders__

Agreements, etc.
Working hours..

Paper m akers----

Violation of agree­
ment.
Asked increase on
tonnage.
Working conditions

Pending.
Unable to
adjust.
Do.

Molders.......
Quarrymen.

Employees...........
Textile w orkers..
H atters..
Weavers.
Garment workers
Miners..................
.do.

[852]

W ages................
Asked 25 per cent
increase.
Agreements.......
Working conditions
.do.

Pending.
Do.
Adjusted.

Adjusted.
Pending.
Do.
Adjusted.
Do.
Do.
Do.

CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.

ICI

LABOR DISPUTES HANDLED BY TH E UNITED STATES DEPA RTM EN T a e t APtnr>
THROUGH ITS DIVISION OF CONCILIATION, F E B E U A E ^ l o S S J d S t e d .
R
Workmen
affected.

Date of—
Begin­
ning.

Ending.

1921.
. Dec. 9

1923.
Jan. 15

40

27

1923.
. Jan. 22
. Feb. 7

Jan. 29
Feb. 21

60
30,000

40

- Feb. 8
- Feb. 12

Feb. 12

252
6

Feb.

5

175

...d o ....... Feb.

6

100

1923.
Feb. 7

Feb. 22

10,000

Feb. —
Feb. 2
Feb. 12
Feb. 5

Feb. 17
Feb. 12

75
40
137
100

Feb.
Feb.

1
2

Feb.
Feb.

Feb.

4

1922.
Apr. 1

2
6

Di­
Indi­
rectly. rectly.

75
3,000
75

100

450
2,800
59

85

150

1922.
Apr. 1

Feb. 12

60

1923.
Feb. 14

Feb. 15

700

150

1919.
Feb. 1
1923.
Feb. 14

25

1921.
Oct. 6

150

1923.
Feb, 15

Feb. 22

35

30

23

50

1922.
July —
1923.
Jan. 26

Feb. 26

185

200

Feb. 22

Feb. 22

3,500

1,500

Feb.

..do.......

1

. ..d o .......

1,400

1,650

1,400

1,650

On March 1, 1923, there were 47 strikes before the department for
settlement, and in addition 12 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. Total number of eases pending, 60.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[853]

C O O P E R A T IO N .

L a b o r B anks in th e U n ited States.

INCE the establishment of the Engineers’ Cooperative National
Bank at Cleveland in 1920, there has been a growing interest
in labor circles in the question of labor’s control of its own
funds.
I t was stated at the Third Cooperative Congress, at Chicago, in
October, 1922, that the Brotherhood bank has received requests for
information, with a view to establishing similar banks, from labor
groups all over the United States. In view of the general interest
the following table has been compiled showing the available informa­
tion concerning banks already operating and those whose organiza­
tion has been effected though they are not yet doing business.

S

LABOR BANKS IN THE UNITED STATES, ESTABLISHED AND PROJECTED.
{Compiled from Facts for Workers (Labor Bureau Economic News Letter), December, 1922, No. 3; and
Cooperative News Service of All American Cooperative Commission.]
.
Location.

Year
of establishment.

Organizing or controlling
body.

Name of bank.

Capital Reserves.
stock.

B a n k s i n e x is te n c e .

Washington, D . C . . . . 1920
Cleveland, Ohio......... 1920
Hammond, Ind.......... 1921
New York City...........
Chicago, 111................. 1922
Philadelphia, P a ........ 1922
San B ernardino,Calif. 1922
Tucson, Ariz..............

1922

Birmingham, Ala....... 1922
Three Forks, M ont. . .
Spokane, Wash..........

1922

Mount Vernon Savings
Bank.
Engineers’ Cooperative
National Bank.
Peoples’
Cooperative
State Bank.
Empire Trust Co.2.........
Amalgamated Trust &
Savings Bank.
Producers & Consumers’
Bank.
Brotherhood Trust &
Savings Bank.
Cooperative Bank &
Trust Co.
Federated Bank
&
Trust Co.

International Association of $160,000 $2,689,182
Machinists.
Brotherhood of Locomotive 1,000,000 15,547,402
Engineers.
50,000
....... do ......................................
250,000
....... do 2....................................
Amalgamated
Clothing
Workers of America.
Members of Central Labor
Union.
Railroad workers..................

200,000 1,291,411
155,831

770,000

Various labor groups............

70,000

262,000

State Federation of Labor
and locals of Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers.
First National B ank___ Various labor groups............
Brotherhood Coopera- Railroad unions.....................
tive National Bank of
Spokane.

125,000

0)

C1)
200,000

(U
40,000

B a n k s •p ro jected .

St. Louis, Mo..............
Harrisburg, Pa...........
Buffalo, N. Y .............
Cincinnati, Ohio.........
Minneapolis, Minn__

500,000
Order of Railway Telegraphers.
Fraternity Trust Co....... Railroad brotherhood and
200,000
other unions.
Central Labor Union............
Brotherhood of Railroad 1,000,000
and Steamship Clerks.
Transportation Brother- Railroad workers_________
hood’s National Bank.

1 No information available.
2 Not organized by labor, but Brotherhood has purchased an interest in this bank.

162


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(0

200,000

[S54]

163

COOPERATION.

LABOR BANKS IN THE UNITED STATES, ESTABLISHED AND PROJECTED—Concluded.

Location.

Year
of establishment

Name of bank.

Organizing or controlling
body.

Capital Reserves.
stock.

B a n k s p r o je c te d —Con.

Pittsburgh, P a...........
Los Angeles, Calif.. . .
Port Huron, Mich__
New York City..........
D o.........................
D o.........................
D o.........................

Brotherhood Savings & “ Labor leaders” ................... *500,000
Trust Co.
Locomotive Engineers'
Cooperative Trust Co.
Federation Trust C o.. . . Central Trades and Labor 1,000,000
Council, New York State
Federation of Labor.
International Ladies’ Gar­ 500,000
ment Workers’ Union.
Amalgamated C lo t h in g
Workers of America.

Developments in Cooperation at Home and Abroad.
Arkansas.

HE December 9, 1922, issue of Agricultural Cooperation states
that the farmers of Pope County, Ark., have gone into coopera­
tive tanning. The business is done through the Pope County
Cooperative Manufacturing Association. This society began business
on January 1 , 1922. The factory has a capacity of 30 hides a day.
For the present all net earnings are to be used for the purchase of
additional equipment.

T

Iowa.

D EC EN T figures collected by the United States Bureau of Agricul­
tural Economics and published in the November 18, 1922, issue
of its Agricultural Cooperation show that 435 farmers’ cooperative
buying and selling associations in Iowa had a business in 1921 of
nearly $58,000,000. The business done by the three principal types
of societies was as follows:
Number.

Grain associations............................................................. 150
Dairy products associations............................................. 121
Live-stock associations..................................................... 119

Business.

$27,700, 000
11.500.000
15.300.000

It is stated that practically all of the 512 associations do coopera­
tive purchasing for their members. The different lines of commodi­
ties purchased and the number of associations purchasing each line
are as follows: Building material, 85; containers (barrels, boxes,
crates, baskets, sacks, etc.), 342; feeds, 162; fencing, 301; fertilizers,
194; fuel, 229; hardware, 254; implements, 285; seeds, 162; spraying
material, 424.
Minnesota.

rT'H E number of cooperative creameries and cheese factories in
Minnesota and the per cent that these form of all creameries in
the State are given in the December 9, 1922, issue of Agricultural


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[855]

m o n t h l y labor r e v ie w .

164

Cooperation issued by the United States Bureau of Agricultural
Economics. The information is shown in the table below:
NUMBER AND OUTPUT OP COOPERATIVE AND ALL CREAMERIES AND CHEESE
FACTORIES IN MINNESOTA, 1906 TO 1921.
Cheese factories.

Creameries.

Cooperative associa­
tions.

Cooperative associations.
Year.

Total
number in
State.

1Q06
1907

72ft
79.2
7.n1

1909
191D
1Q11
1Q12
1913
1914.......................
1915.......................
1916.......................
1917.......................
1918.......................
1919.......................
1920.......................
1921.......................

796
750
814
864
852
850
855
848
841
823
811
830
831

Per cent
of total.

Number.

555
527
566
574
560
606
621
614
622
646
644
643
630
622
642
645

Total
Per cent'
cooperative number in
State.
product
forms of
total
product.

76.4
73. 0
75. 3
72.1
74.6
74; 4
71.9
72.1
73.2
75.6
75.9
76.4
76.5
76.7
77.3
77.6

61.3
60.8
60.3
61.6
63.3
63.7
65.1
67.1

69
63
70
71
67
83
83
78
80
87
81

Number.

32
30
38
36
39
49
52
47
59
69
69

Per cent
of total.

46.4
47.6
54.3
50.7
58.2
59.0
62.7
60.3
73.7
79.3
85.2

New Hampshire.

T H E New Hampshire Department of Agriculture has recently
issued a pamphlet1 giving the history and description of the
farmers’ buying and selling organizations now in operation in the
State. The report covers 11 buying and 8 marketing associations.
The average age of the buying associations is 4 years, the youngest
organization having been in existence 1 year and the oldest 13 years.
The lines handled include grain, feed, fertilizer, farm machinery,
and other farm supplies. The largest annual business done by
buying associations ranged from $10,000 to $300,000.
Belgium.

tTOR the year 1922 the sales of the Belgian Cooperative Wholesale
Society amounted to 72,403,234 francs ($13,973,824, par),
according to the February 1, 1923, issue of La Cooperation beige,
Brussels. This represents an increase of 6,998,163 francs ($1,350,645, par), or 44 per cent, over the sales of the preceding year.
At a recent meeting of Belgian cooperators the Belgian Women’s
Cooperative Guild was formed, which will carry on general prop­
aganda in favor of the movement and will aim especially at educat­
ing and interesting women in the principles of cooperation.
1 New Hampshire. Department of Agriculture. Farmers’ buying and selling organizations in New
Hampshire, by Lawrence A. Carlisle. Concord, 1922.


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165

COOPERATION.

France.

'"THAT the consumers’ cooperative movement of France has made
1 great progress since the war is shown in'an article in La Coopér­
ation beige, January 1, 1923. The development since 1917 is shown
in the following table:
DEVELOPMENT OF FRENCH CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT, 1917 TO 1921.
[Franc at par=19.3 cents.]
Retail societies.

Wholesale society.

Year.
Number.

1917
1918
1919
1920
1921

................................
................................
................................
................................
................................

Membership.

Sales.
F ran cs.

3,261
4,297

880,710
1,321,562

321,059,051
641,887,321

4,790

2,498,449

1,839,538,723

Sales.

Production.

F ran cs.

F ran cs.

31,467,607
59,510,504
121,406,362
145,771,042
152,600,512

3,797,553
24,280,850

In the February 1 issue of the same paper it is stated that as a
result of a “ cooperative week” held i n ‘December, 1922, during
which time a general membership drive was carried on, 201 societies
which have reported state that their membership has t>een increased
by 15,419, their share capital by 1,874,796 francs ($229,245, par),
and members’ deposits with the societies by 2,667,109 francs ($514,752, par). Sales have, of course, also increased.
The Cooperative Bank of France has also, as a result of “ cooper­
ative week,” received additional deposits from all parts of France,
amounting to 6,700,000 francs ($1,293,100, par).
Great Britain.

A N ACCOUNT of the condition of the agricultural cooperative
*"*■ movement in Great Britain in 1921, prepared by the registrar
of friendly societies, is given in the February, 1923, issue of the
Ministry of Labor Gazette (p. 46). In the account, dairy, breeding,
farmers’ and growers’, flax, threshing, and miscellaneous societies
have been grouped together under the term “ productive societies,”
and supply, egg and poultry, fruit and market-garden produce, and
agricultural wholesale societies are termed “ distributive societies.”
Reports• were furnished by 1,201 societies. Of these, 172 were
consumers’ cooperative societies having farming and dairying de­
partments and 1,029 were engaged almost wholly in agricultural
operations. Of the latter group the main business of 829 was the
distribution of seeds, implements, manures, etc., and of the remain­
ing 200 the preparation and sale of agricultural products, chiefly
butter and other dairy products. These 1,029 societies had a com­
bined membership of 162,374, a share, loan, and. reserve capital of
£3,820,000 ($18,590,030 par) and sales for the year of £16,632,000
($80,939,628 par). A combined loss of £153,000 ($744,575 par)
on the year’s business was sustained.


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166

M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW,

The following table shows the number of societies and sales oi each
type of organization for the year 1921 :
NUMBER OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND SALES FOR YEAR 1921,
BY TYPE OF SOCIETY.
[£ at par= $4.8665.]
Number of
societies.

Type of society.

Amount of
sales.

Distributive societies:
England and Wales.........................................................................................
Scotland............................................................................................................

621
208

£11,127,160
507,116

Total...............................................................................................................

829

11,634,276

Productive societies:
Special farming and dairying societies..........................................................
Farming and dairying departments of consumers’ societies......................

200
172

4,997,818
1,390,955

Total...............................................................................................................

372

6,388,773

Grand total....................................................................................................

1,201

18,023,049

Sales of European Cooperative Wholesale Societies, 1921.

HE following table, taken from the People’s Yearbook and
Annual of the English and Scottish Cooperative Wholesale
Societies (p. 80), shows the 1921 sales of the cooperative
wholesale society of each of 16 countries of Europe.

T

SALES OF COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE SOCIETIES IN 1921, BY COUNTRIES.
[At par, krone (Austrian, Czecho-Slovak and Hungarian)=20.3 cents; franc=19.3 cents; krone (Scandi­
n avian^ 26.8 cents; Finnish markka= 19.3 cents; mark= 23.8 cents; £=$4.8665; lira= 19.3 cents; florin=
40.2 cents; gold ruble=51.5 cents.]
Location of society.

Amount of business.

Austria (Vienna)..............
Belgium (Antwerp)...........
Czechoslovakia (Prague):
V. D. P ........................
German......................
Denmark (Copenhagen)..,
Finland (Helsingfors):
S .O .K .........................
O. T. K ........................
France (Paris)....................
Germany; ('Hamburg).......
Great Britain:
England (Manchester)
Scotland (Glasgow)__
Hungary (Budapest).........
Ireland (Dublin)................
Italy (Milan)......................
Netherlands (Rotterdam).
Norway (Christiania)........
Russia (Moscow)................
Sweden (Stockholm).........
Switzerland (Basel)...........


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Kr. 10,063,182,027
Fr. 65,973,396
Kr. 980,355,322
Kr. 459,422,672
Kr. 174,608,257
F. mks. 359,143,294
F. mks. 193,893,634
Fr. 152,600,512
Mks. 2,406,982,699
£81,941,682
£22,041,158
Kr. 1,889, 534,440
£1,118,718
L21,093,988
• FI. 14,215,538
Kr. 20, 966,222
Gold R. 120,000,000
Kr. 62,372,275
Fr. 144,419,697

[858]

P R O F IT SH A R IN G .

Profit Sharing and Labor Copartnership: A List of Recent References.1
Compiled by

Laura

A.

T h o m pso n , L ib r a r ia n ,

U. S.

D epartm ent

of

Labor.

United States.

Books and 'pamphlets.
B a s s e t , W illiam R .

When the Workmen Help You Manage. New York, The Century Co., 1919. 266
PP“ Why profit-sharing fails,” pp. 176-197.
B l o o m fie l d , D a n ie l .

Labor Maintenance; A Practical Handbook of Employees’ Service Work. New
York, The Ronald Press Co., 1920. 530 pp.
“ Financial aids—Profit-sharing, etc.,” pp. 369-381.

----- Selected Articles on Problems of Labor. New York, H. W. Wilson Co., 1920.
436 pp. (The handbook series.)
Articles by G. W. Perkins, Henry S. Dennison, and Charles W. Eliot on profit sharing, pp. 111-134.
B r o o k s, J o h n .

Labor’s Challenge to the Social Order; Democracy its Own Critic and Educator.
New York, The Macmillan Co., 1920. 441 pp.
The new “ Profit-sharing,” pp. 348-357.

W.
Profit Sharing, its Principles and Practice, a collaboration, by Arthur W.Burritt
. . . Henry S. Dennison . . . Edwin F. Gay . . . Ralph E. Heilman . . .
Henry P. Kendall . . . New York and London, Harper & Bros., 1918.

B u r r it t , A r t h u r

Contents .—I. Introduction.—II. Fundamental principles of profit sharing.—III. Profit shar­
ing to promote efficiency when the measurement of individual results is impracticable.—IV. Profit
sharing to promote efficiency when the location of the work makes close supervision impossible.—
V. Profit sharing to prevent waste.—VI. Profit sharing to promote stability of labor.—VII. Profit
sharing to promote industrial peace.—VIII. Profit sharing to promote effective management—IX.
Profit sharing to insure the continuance of effective management.—X. Profit sharing to promote
the spirit of cooperation.—XI. Scope and limitations of profit sharing as an inducement to effi­
ciency.—X II. Profit sharing for humanitarian purposes.—XIII. Methods of providing for the pro­
portion or amount of profits to be distributed.—XIV. The form of profit distribution.—XV. Methods
and restrictions in the distribution of stock and cash.—XVI. The basis of payment.—XVII. Other
questions of method.—XVIII. Conclusion. Appendices. Bibliography.

Ca l d e r , J o h n .

Capital’s Duty to the Wage-earner. A manual of principles and practice on
handling the human factors in industry. New York, Longmans, Green & Co.,
1923. 326 pp.
“ Profit-sharing; ownership-sharing; management-sharing,” pp. 213-233.
Cr o w t h e r , S a m u e l .

Common Sense and Labor. Garden City, N. Y., Doubleday, Page & Co., 1920.
284 pp.
Reprinted in part from various periodicals.
“ Wages and profit-sharing delusions,” pp. 77-110.
1 Supplementary to “ List of references (in English) on profit-sharing” in U. S. Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics Bulletin No. 208, pp. 173-188.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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167

168

:i : r MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

E mmet , B o r is .

Profit Sharing in the United States. Washington, 1917. 188 pp. (United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 208.)
Co n t e n t s —Introduction.—Profit-sharing plans.—Limited profit-sharing plans.—Bonus pians
commonly known as profit-sharing.—Discontinued plans.—E xtent to which objects sought by estab­
lishment of profit-sharing plans have been realized.
“ Establishments with profit-sharing plans in operation in 1916,” p. 10.
“ List of references (in English) on profit sharing,” pp. 173-188.

T.
America vs. Europe in Industry: A comparison of industrial policies and methods
of management. New York, The Ronald Press Co., 1921. 492 pp.

F arnham , D wight

“ Shop government and profit-sharing—English and German works,” pp. 477-480; “ An experience
with profit sharing,” pp. 481-484.

F eld , R ose G.

Humanizing Industry.

New York, E. P. Dutton & Co. [1920]. 390 pp.

“ Profit-sharing,” pp. 294-334.

Mrs. Ch arles M.
Profit-sharing: A solution of the problem between capital and labor as it appears
to one who is affiliated with neither. Des Moines. Published by Iowa Home­
stead, 1919. 8 pp.
J o n e s , E dw ard D.
The Administration of Industrial Enterprises with Special Reference to Factory
Practice. New York, Longmans, 1917. 442 pp.
H aul ,

“ Profit sharing,” pp. 253-264.

M e n d e l so h n , S ig m u n d .

Labor’s Crisis; An employer’s view of labor problems. New York, The Mac­
millan Co., 1920. 171 pp.
“ Profit sharing as a basis of insurance and pensions,” pp. 98-106.

Co., New York. Policyholders' Service Bureau. A
report on employees’ incentive or bonus plans. [New York, 1919.] (Mimeo­
graphed.) 27 1.

M etropolitan L ife I n su r an c e

N ational A ssociation

of

Corporation S chools .

Report of committee on profit-sharing and allied thrift plans.
(In National Association of Corporation Schools. Proceedings, 1920, pp. 461-536 ;
1921, pp. 52-73.)
N ational Civic F ed e r a t io n .

Profit sharing department.

Profit Sharing by American Employers; examples from England, types in France.
New York City, National Civic Federation [c 1920]. 423 pp.
Contents .—Introduction—Profit sharing: or, The worker’s fair share, address by George W .
Perkins.—Definition of profit sharing.—Percentage of profits.—Special distribution.—Exceptional
plans.—Production bonus.—Stock ownership plans.—Reported in the press, New Year, 1920.—
Abandoned plans.—Proposed plans.—Practice and theory.—The “ Road toward industrial peace,”
by Dr. Charles W . Eliot.—Wage-earners’ stock investm ent (from an article on the Democratization of
industry), by Ralph M. Easley .—A ttitude of the trade-unions.—Some French types.—Experience in
England.—Profit sharing; trade unionism; labor copartnership, by J. W. Sullivan.—Index.

N ational I n dustrial Co n fer en ce B oard .

Practical experience with profit sharing in industrial establishments. Boston,
Mass., National Industrial Conference Board, c1920. 86 pp. (Research report
No. 29.)
Analyzes the different types of profit-sharing plans. Appendixes give names of firms operating
each type.

W.
Profit sharing; or, The worker’s fair share. [New York?, 1919.] 39 pp.

P e r k in s , G eorge

Address before the National Civic Federation, September 11,1919.

N.
Mastering Power Production. The industrial, economic, and social problems
involved and their solution. New York, Engineering Magazine Co., 1921.
455 pp.

P olakov , W alter

“ Incentive paym ents, profit sharing, premium plans,” pp. 193-204.

L.
Profit-sharing. New York, 1919. 24 pp.

S chiff , M ortimer

“ Reprinted from the New York Times, October 5,1919.”


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189

PROFIT SHARING----LIST OF REFERENCES.

A. W. Co.
Management and executive control. Chicago, A. W. Shaw Co., 1919. 328 pp.

Shaw ,

“ Installing effective profit-sharing plans,” pp. 192-210.

B.
A Way to Bring About Harmony Between the Public, Capital, and Labor; the
Government a factor through national boards and commerce court, residuary
profits and day-labor incorporated. Chicago, Stearns Bros. & Co. [c1919], 7 pp.
T e a d , O r d w a y , and H . C. M etcalf .
Personnel Administration: Its Principles and Practice. New York, McGrawHill Book Co., 1920. 538 pp.
T a ft , O r en

The chapter on “ Payment plans and methods” includes brief discussion of profit sharing.
T ip p e r , H a r r y .

Human Factors in Industry; a study of group organization.
Ronald Press Co., 1922. 280 pp.

New York, The

“ Bonuses and profit sharing,” pp. 244-252,

U n ited T ypothette

of

A m erica .

Department of industrial relations.

Profit sharing and bonuses in 138 Chicago printing plants. Julv, 1921. Chicago,
1921. 15 pp.
W a t k in s , G ordon S.
An Introduction to the Study of Labor Problems. New York, Thomas Y. Crowell
Co. [° 1922] 664 pp. (Crowell’s social science series.)
“ Profit-sharing and labor copartnership,” pp. 498-518.

P.
As to Sharing Fairly. New York, 1920. 15 pp.

W h e e l e r , E verett

Reprinted from the Unpartizan Review, March-April, 1920.

C.
Applied Profit Sharing.

W in g , G eorge

Cleveland, Ohio, 1919. [2d ed.] 15 pp.

Includes account of plan of United States Steel Co. for its upper salaried men.

W isconsin U n iv er sity .

Bureau of commercial and industrial relations.

Audit of a gain-sharing wage plan. Madison, Wis., July 30, 1921. 7 1. (Mimeo­
graphed.) (Circular 8a.)
Basisis a combination of the Halsey premium plan and the Taylor differential piecework plan.
and P rofits , by C. W. Price, Orval Simpson, Dale
Wolf, Charles Woodward, F. J. Moss, W. R. Bassett, and others. Chicago, New
York [etc.], A. W. Shaw Co. [c1920]. 254 pp.

W orking Co n ditions , W ages

“ Advantages and disadvantages of profit-sharing,” pn. 155-171; “ A successful profit-sharing
plan,” pp. 172-180.

Articles in periodicals.
A bbott , L y m a n .

Popular fallacies: That workmen ought not to share the profits, because they do
not share the losses.
Outlook, June 18, 1919, v. 122, p. 280.
B a ss e t , W. R.
Why profit-sharing is economically unsound.
Domestic Engineering, October 16, 1920, v. 93, pp. I ll, 112.
•-----The other side of profit-sharing.
System, August, 1919, v. 36; pp. 310, 313-319.
B lythe , J.
Sharing profits with bank employees.
Bankers’ Magazine, November, 1919, v. 99, pp. 603-607.
B u r k h a r d , P. L.
Analysis of profit-sharing plans.
Administration, April, 1921, v. 1, pp. 458-464.
—— Fallacy of employees’ profit-sharing as a reward for labor.
Industrial Management, July 1919, v. 58, pp. 42-45.
Cle m e n , R udolf A.
Trend in profit-sharing: What past development and present progress indicate
for this movement.
Factory, March 15, 1920, v. 24, pp. 810,811.
[861)

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

170
Crowther , S am uel .

Making partners of workers. Where stock ownership helps Workers to save.
Factory, June 1, 1920, v. 24, pp. 1701-1703.
■-----Wages and profit-sharing delusions.
World’s Work, October, 1919, v. 38, pp. 625-632.
D e n n is o n , H en ry S.
Address before the Economic Club of Boston, December 3, 1919.
Consensus (formerly National Economic League Quarterly), March, 1920, v.
5, pp. 16-27.
Urges the need of the scientific approach to the problem of profit sharing. Regards as essentials:
(1) Proper wage and working conditions before any profit-sharing plan is tried; (2) that technique of
management be of a high order; (3) management sharing.

R.
Is profit-sharing coming back?
Printers’ Ink, June 2, 1921, v. 115, pp. 57,58.
E liot , Charles W.
The road to industrial peace.
Nation’s Business, August, 1917, pp. 14-17.
D ick in son ,

“ Profit sharing is the best method of bringing to bear on the employee the same motives th at
govern the employer and giving him a sustained interest in his daily work.”

E mmet , B o r is .

Extent of profit-sharing in the United States; its bearing on industrial unrest.
Journal of Political Economy, December, 1917, v. 25, pp. 1019-1033.
Summarizes results of investigation made by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and published
as its Bulletin No. 208.
Reprinted in Commons, J. R.,

e d .;

Trade unionism and labor problems, 2d ser., pp. 249-262.

—— Will profit-sharing solve labor difficulties?
M onthly L abor R e v ie w , August, 1917, pp. 45-52.
Issued also as a reprint.

T.
Some experiences with profit-sharing.
Industrial Management, March, 1917, v. 52, pp. 757-767.
F is h , E. H .
Principles of employing labor.
Industrial Management, May, 1919, v. 57, pp. 373-377.

F arn ha m , D wight

Includes discussion of profit sharing. Summarized in Monthly L abor R eview , July, 1919, pp.
149-152.

E.
Where profit-sharing pays best.
System, February, 1920, v. 37, p. 277+.
------ What may we expect of profit-sharing in industry?
Mechanical Engineering, January, 1920, v. 42, pp. 26-27, and Iron Trade Review,
January 29, 1920, v. 66, pp. 347, 348.
H eilm an , R alph

Abstract of address presented at annual meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
New York, December, 1919.

E.
Profit-sharing—acceptability and possibilities.
Industrial Management, June, 1919, v. 57, pp. 437,438.
H u l ber t , E. D.
Pensions and profit-sharing.
American Bankers’ Association Journal, September, 1919, v. 12, pp. 131-134.

H olmes , G eorge

Synopsis of systems used by large banks in United States.

Is

P rofit -sh aring F air

to the

P ublic ?

Literary Digest, September 11, 1920, v. 66, pp. 145, 146.

K a uffm a n , A lfr ed .

Why share profits? What is the real purpose of profit-sharing?
Factory, May 15, 1920, v. 24, pp. 1536, 1537.
L ovejoy , A. O.
Profit-sharing and industrial peace.
International Journal of Ethics, April, 1921, v. 31, pp. 241-263.


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PROFIT SHARING--- LIST OF REFERENCES.

171

McE w e n , W illiam .

Equality in profit-sharing: A description of a new system based on three vital
elements: Wages, length of service, earnings.
Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record, December 20, 1919, pp. 17.
18,34.
’
Plan described is that worked out by Frank M. Hayes of the Detroit office of the Phoenix Mutual
Life Insurance Co.

F. II.
Interesting the employee in his work; plan by which employees become stock­
holders.
Paper, April 14, 1920, v. 26, pp. 24-28.

Macpherso n ,

Mills , F r eo .

Profit sharing and ownership.
Engineering and Industrial Management, August 21, 1919, v. 2, pp. 237-239.
M o r eh o u se , W. R.
Helping bank employees to help themselves through profit sharing.
Bankers’ Magazine, April, 1920, v. 100, pp. 553-556.
M oriarty , T. F.
Novel profit-sharing plan.
Factory, August, 1921, v. 27, pp. 254, 256.
P a r so n s , G eorge K.
A fair basis of profit sharing.
Industrial Management, February, 1918, v. 55, pp. 140-144; May, 1918,
v. 55, pp. 399^01.
P e r k in s , G eorge W,

The worker’s fair share.
Consensus (formerly National Economic League Quarterly), March, 1920,
. v. 5, pp. 3-15.
In the view of this author profit sharing of a genuine sort, with all the facts regarding the conduct
of a given concern made known, is a necessary means of getting at the worker’s fair share.

----- The worker’s share.
Nation’s Business, November, 1919, pp. 16, 17.
P rice , T heodore H.
“ Men are square.” A study of profit sharing and industrial democracy.
Outlook, December 31, 1919, v. 123, pp. 576, 577.
P rofit - sh aring P lan H eld P art

of

Contract

Law and labor, March, 1921, v. 3, pp. 68, 69.
Case of Orton & Steinbrenner Co.

v.

of

E mployment .

Miltonberger (129 N. E. 47 Ind.).

A.
Labor sharing in management and profit.
Catholic Charities Review, February, 1920, pp. 46-49; March, 1920, pp. 71-74.
S z e pe si , E.
Economic fallacies of profit sharing.
Textile World, July 3, 1920, v. 58, pp. 97+.
R y a n , J ohn

T ippe r , H.

How valuable are profit sharing plans.
Automotive Industries, January 23, 1919, v. 40, pp. 209, 210.
W o l f e , F. E.
A survey of profit sharing and bonuses in Chicago printing plants.
Journal of Political Economy, July, 1921, v. 29, pp. 521-542.

Descriptions of special schemes.
B loomfield

&

B loomfield .

Methods of compensation for department store employees. A survey by Industrial
Relations, Bloomfield’s Labor Digest. Boston, Bloomfield &Bloomfield, [°1921.]
16 1.
(Special economic supplement.)

Autographed from typewritten copy.

Includes description of commission, bonus, and stock participation plans of a number of large
department stores. Profit sharing in its technical sense was not practiced by any of the stores
covered in the survey.

38784°—23-----12

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MONTHLY LABOR BEVIEW.

172

Stock participation plans for employees; a survey by
Industrial Relations, Bloomfield’s Labor Digest. Boston, Bloomfield & Bloomfield,
[«1922.] 181.

B loomfield & B loomfield .

Detailed description of Studebaker copartnership plan, United States Steel Corporation, and
W. H. McElwain Co. plans and Dennison industrial partnership plan. Other plans charted at
end under four types.

B urritt , A rthur W.

Profit sharing: Its principles and practice.
pp.

New York, Harper & Bros., 1918. 328

Dennison, Ford, A. W. B urritt Co., Procter & Gamble, and other plans discussed in text.
Plans of following concerns printed as appendixes: A. W. B urritt Co., Simplex Wire & Cable Co.,
Farr Alpaca Co., Sears, Roebuck & Co., Spencer Wire Co., Minneapolis Bedding Co., National
Carbon Co., Thomas Devlin Mfg. Co., U. S. Rubber Co., Studebaker Corporation, American Rolling
Mill Co., Dennison Mfg. Co., Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.

Cleveland Ch am ber

of

Commerce .

Committee on labor relations.

Employees’ incentive plans in Cleveland industries; report of the committee on
labor relations of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. January 12, 1921.
[Cleveland, 1921.] 95 pp.
Contents.—Cleveland individual incentive plans: Aluminum Manufactures (Inc.), Columbia
Axle Co., Printz-Biederman Co., Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co., White Sewing Machine Co., Van
Dorn Iron Works Co.—Cleveland profit-sharing plans: Browning Co., Underwood Typewriter
Co , Willys-Overland Co., Cleveland Twist Drill Co., Astrup Co., W. S. Tyler Co.—Cleveland
limited profit-sharing plans: Cleveland Tractor Co., Hydraulic Steel Co., Kaynee Co., B. L. Marole
Co , Marshall Drug Co., National Woolen Co., Reliable Stove Co.—Cleveland stock sales plans:
American Steel & Wire Co., Cleveland Hardware Co., Ohio Bell Telephone Co., Cleveland Worsted
Mills, National Acme Co., Penton Pub. Co., Russ Mfg. Co., Standard P arts Co., Fuller & Smith.—
Cleveland bonus plans: Browm Hoisting Machinery Co., Cleveland Metal Products Co., Electric
Controller & Manufacturing Co., Lakewood Engineering Co., Sherwin-Williams Co., Stone Shoe
Co Warner & Swasey Co., Widlar Co., Nicola, Stone & Myers.—Discontinued incentive plans.—
Classified list of Cleveland firms having profit sharing, limited profit sharing, stock sales or bonus
plans .—Bibliography.
G rowth

of

P rofit -sh aring P rinciple A mong B a n k s

and

T rust Com panies ,

economic value of contentment, loyalty and cooperation among employees.
Trust Companies, August, 1919, v. 29, pp. 123-127, 214.
Describes profit-sharing plans of Guaranty Trust Co., Equitable Trust Co., and Columbia Trust
Co. of New York, Commercial Trust Co. of Philadelphia, Guardian Savings & Trust Co. of Cleveland,
and other banking concerns.

N ational Civic F e d e r a tio n .

Profit-sharing department.

Profit Sharing by American Employers; Examples from England, types in France.
New York, National Civic Federation [c1920], 423 pp.
Includes descriptions by name of large number of special plans. Consult index.

P e a r s o n , J ohn W.

Employee stock ownership plans of American corporations. Cleveland, n. d. 42 1.
Autographed from typew ritten copy.
, , Tr.
Describes the essential features of 50 plans in successful operation, including the International H ar­
vester Co., General Motors Corporation, United States Rubber Co., Procter & Gamble Co. and other
concerns in different branches of industry.

[A merican S a sh

and

D oor Co .]

A successful profit-sharing plan; a description of the profit-sharing plan of the
American Sash & Door Co. with the reasons for its success, by F. J. Moss.
(In Working Conditions, Wages and Profits. Chicago, A. Vv. Shaw Co., 1920,
pp. 172-180.)

[B a b s o n ’s S tatistical O r g anizatio n .]

An expert’s profit-sharing plan, by Horace II. Howe.
Survey, June 26, 1920, v. 44, p. 445.
[B a k er Ma nu facturing C o .]

Profit sharing in the Baker Manufacturing Co., by John S. Baker.
(In Commons, J. R., ed.: Trade Unionism and Labor Problems. 2d ser.
1921, pp. 263-269.)
From address before second annual industrial service conference a t Milwaukee, April 28, 1919.

Co. (Inc.).
Profit sharing and pension plan of the Brooklyn Edison Co., (Inc.).
Edison Electric Illuminating Co., 1919], 8 pp.

B rooklyn E dison

[B row ning Co .]

How my men help me manage, by Sheldon Cary.
Factory, May, 1919, v. 22, pp. 917-919.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[864]

[Brooklyn,

PROFIT SHARING--- LIST OF REFERENCES.
P lan

op

the

173

C urtis Com panies T hrough W hich E mployees B ecome S tock

Ow n ers.

National Association of Corporation Schools Bulletin, July, 1920 v 7 nn
324-327.
’
'
D e n n is o n Ma nufacturing Co., South Framingham, Mass.
Industrial partnership plan. [1919?] 8 pp.
Described also in Independent, September 11, 1920, p. 304; Nation, September 28, 1921, pp
352; Survey, June 12,1920, p. 378.
>
>r v

[D etroit S ulphite P ulp

&

351.

•

P aper Co .]

Building a pay roll of capitalists, by F. H. Macpherson.
System, May, 1920, p. 941.
D utchess B leachery ( I n c .).

Handbook of the partnership plan. Dutchess Bleacherv (Inc.), Waopingers
Falls, N. Y. [1920], 60 pp.
6
“ Published by the board of operatives, November, 1920.”

----- A successful employee parnership plan: how it has been developed and applied
at the Dutchess Bleachery (Inc.), by A. S. Myers.
Industrial Management, November, 1922, v. 64, pp. 289-295.
E astm an T ells A bout H is P lan

of

P rofit S haring

for

E m ployees .

New York Times, February 4, 1923, sec. 8, pp. 1, 7.
[F iresto ne T ire & R u b b e r Co .]
Stock subscription plan of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio.
Law and labor, June 1920, v. 2, pp. 161-163.
F irst W isconsin N ational B a n k .

Plan for profit sharing. Milwaukee, [1920?] 5 pp.
Co., Highland Park, Mich.
Bonus, investment, and profit-sharing plan. Extension to present profit sharing
[1919?] 6 pp.
----- A brief account of the educational work of the Ford Motor Co., Detroit 11919“?]
13 pp.
F ord M otor

Includes account of the profit-sharing scheme.

■
-----The so-called profit-sharing system in the Ford plant, by John R. Lee.
(In Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science, May. 1916
pp. 297-310.)
,y’
[H arvard K nitting M ills .]

Sharing losses as well as profits, by Charles N. Winship.
Factory, June 15, 1920, v. 24, pp. 1875-1878.
S e e a lso

Industry, January 22, 1921, p. 3.

----- Equal profit sharing with employees: Plan of Harvard Knitting Mills.
Textile World, February 7, 1920, v. 57, pp. 1156, 1157.
H ydraulic P r e sse d S teel Co.
Our complete plan of organization, by J. H. Foster.
Hydraulic Press, July, 1919, pp. 1-3.
[I nternatio nal H a rv ester Co .]

Biggest thing in profit sharing.
Literary Dig&st, August 21, 1920, v. 66, p. 16.
----- Details of Harvester stock distribution. Plan supersedes former profit-sharing
scheme.
Iron Age, September 2, 1920, v. 106, pp. 576, 577.
----- Extra compensation and stock ownership plan of the International Harvester
Co.
Law and Labor, March, 1922, v. 4, p. 82.
----- International Harvester makes partners of 40,000 employees. A profit-sharing
plan and a works council are its solution of labor problems, by E. Hungerford.
New York Evening Post, April 23, 1921, p. 11.
[Miller L ock P la nt .]

A tested profit-sharing plan, by Dale Wolf.
Industrial Management, December, 1918, v. 56, pp. 486-488.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

174

Co ., New Albany, Ind.
Profit-sharing plan of the New Albany Veneering Co., New Albany, Ind.
6 pp.

N e w A l b a n y V e n e e r in g

S tock P u r c h a s in g a n d P r o fit - s h a r in g P l a n
N e w H a v e n , Co n n .

of t h e

[1920.J

N e w H a v e n G a s L ig h t C o .,

Law and Labor, March, 1920, v. 2, p. 76.

[P roctor & G a m b l e C o .]

How we divide with our men, by William C. Proctor.
American Magazine, October, 1919, v. 88, pp. 34, 35.
Reprinted in Congressional Record, November 11, 1919, v. 58, pp. 7931-7933.

Co. to A id E m pl o y e e s to B ecom e S t o c k h o l d e r s .
American Gas Engineering Magazine, December 4, 1920, v. 113, p. 479.
[S quare D Co .]
'
„ n
Profit-sharing plan for executives; satisfactory experiment of the Square H Lo.,
by A. P. Ball.
Industrial Management, April, 1919, v. 57, pp. 296-298.
S w e e t , Ca u s e y , F o st e r & Co., Denver.
Profit-sharing plan: Adopted by resolution of the board of directors, April 1, 1919.
2d ed. Denver, Colo., 1919. 13 pp.
U n d e r w o o d T y p e w r it e r Co. ( I n c .), New York.
Profit-sharing plan, as presented to the employees of the Underwood i ypewnter
Co. (Inc.), 1916. 4 pp.
----- Profit-sharing plan. Announcements for 1918-1922.
----- Profit-sharing plan. Announcement of plan for 1919 payment. New York,
1920. 4 pp.
----- Profit-sharing plan. Instructions regarding the handling of record of service
cards. January 1, 1919. 4 pp.

P r o v id e n c e G a s

P ro fit S h a r in g , P e n s io n , a n d A n n u it y F u n d s
T r u s t C o ., of Cin c in n a t i , O h io .

of t h e

U n io n S a v in g s B a n k

and

Law and Labor, October, 1921, v. 3, pp. 243, 244.
Co. (Toledo Plant).
John N. Willys 50-50 profit-sharing plan, effective January 1, 1919.

W ill y s - O v e r l a n d

Described also in Automotive Industries, May 1, 1919, pp. 942-944.
Y o r k v ill e B a n k ,

New York City.

Profit-sharing plan for the employees of the Yorkville Bank, New x ork. August,
1919. 7 pp.

Y o u n g st o w n S h e e t & T u b e Co . A n n o u n c e s I s s u e

of

E m p l o y e e s ’ S to c k .

Iron Trade Review, October 21, 1920, v. 67, p. 1153.

Abandoned plans.
A bandoned P la ns.

.

.

(In National Civic Federation. Profit sharing by American employers. 1920,
pp. 310-344.)

A bandoned P la ns.

.

(In National Industrial Conference Board. Practical experience with profit
sharing in industrial establishments.

1920, pp. 21-30.)

D is c o n t in u e d P l a n s .

.

.

TT .

,

(In Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 208: Profit sharing m the Lmted

States. Washington, 1917, pp. 166-168.)
T u r n e r , J e n n i e M.
Profit sharing that failed.
.
(In Commons, J. R. ed. : Industrial Government.
135-146.)


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Lew xork, 1921, pp.

PROFIT SHARING— LIST OF REFERENCES.

175

Australia, Canada, New Zealand.
A u s t r a l ia .

Institute of Science and Industry. Advisory council.

Industrial cooperation in Australia. Melbourne, A. J. Mullett, 1920. 64 pp.
Bulletin No. 17.)
“

(Its

Profit sharing and share purchase schemes,” pp. 42-48.

W.
Examples of profit sharing and copartnership, by limited companies.
Canadian Chartered Accountant, January, 1922, v. 11, pp. 288-299.

Jordan, H erbert

M ic h e l l , H .

Profit sharing and producers’ cooperation in Canada. Kingston, The Jackson
press, 1918. _26 pp. (Bulletin of the departments of history and political and
economic science in Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, No. 26,
January, 1918.)
A detailed study of Canadian experiments in profit sharing, labor copartnership, and produc­
ers’ cooperation.

M.
Wages and prices in Australia: Our labor laws and their effects. Melbourne and
Sydney, G. Robertson & Co. [1917?] 144 pp.

Mu r ph y , H .

“ Profit sharing and cooperation,” pp. 67-81.
P r o fit S h a r in g

and

L a b o r Co p a r t n e r s h ip .

New Zealand Employers’ Federation Industrial Bulletin, April 5-October 6,1917;
August 5, 1919, pp. 2-4.
Series of articles setting forth merits and demerits of underlying ideas of profit sharing, with
particular reference to New Zealand conditions.
P ro fit S h a r in g

in

N ew Z ea la n d .

R oss

Copartnership, November, 1919, p. 95.
P r o fit -S h a r in g P l a n

of

& Glendining (Ltd.).

N a t io n a l C a s h R e g is t e r C o . (L t d .), [Toronto].

Labor Gazette (Canada), November, 1920, v. 20, p. 1417.
V alder, H.

Welfare copartnership.
New Zealand Employers’ Federation Industrial Bulletin, November 5, 1919,
pp. 9, 10.
France.
B r e m n e r , C. S.
Guise after the Great War. The Familistery phénix rising from its ashes.
Copartnership, May, 1922, pp. 66-68.
----- Hirelings or partners.
Fortnightly Review, November, 1919, v. 112, pp. 717-733.
Descriptive of the Familistère society at Guise founded by Godin
C e s t r e , Ch a r l e s .

Profit sharing in France.
Survey, August 16, 1920, v. 44, pp. 607, 608.
D e a so n , E dw ard.

Profit sharing and welfare work in France.
Copartnership, September, 1918, pp. 66, 67; October, 1918, pp. 74, 75.
S om e F r e n c h T y p e s .

(In National Civic Federation. Profit sharing by American employers. New
York, 1920, pp. 382-391.)

T rom bert, A lber t.

Profit sharing; a general study of the system as in actual operation, presented to
the congress of Bordeaux, on behalf of the Society for the Practical Study of
Profit Sharing, 23d-24th November, 1912 . . . tr. from the French and
pub. with the authority of the council of the society. London, P. S. King &
Son (Ltd.), 1920. 94 pp.


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M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

176

Great Britain.

Books and pamphlets.
A.
T ..
,T ,r , r ,
What we want and. whnrn we aro. Facts not phrases. London, rsew i ork [etc.J,
Hodder & Stoughton (Ltd.) [1921]. 221 pp.

A pp l e t o n , W illiam

“ Copartnership,” pp. 196-207.
B o w ie , J am es A .

,

,

Sharing profits with employees; a critical study of methods m the light oi present
conditions. London, New York [etc.], Sir I. Pitman & Sons (Ltd.), 1922.
222 pp. (Pitman’s industrial administration series.)
In the view of this author cash profit sharing has not justified itself on either of the two grounds
of sweetening social relationships or of promoting efficiency of production.
From the point of
view of increasing production it is incomparably inferior to an equitable system of payment by
results.” Advocates contributory copartnership.

BRACopartnership in mining. An address at Kingsway Hall, London^ November 26,
1918. Birmingham, Labor Copartnership Association, 1918. 15 pp. (Experi­
ments in profit sharing and copartnership No. 3.)
C a r p e n t e r , C h a r l e s C.
Industrial copartnership. 3d ed. London, Copartnership Publishers (Ltd .),
1921. 102 pp.
Contents .—Copartnership in industry.—Are trades-unionism and c^artnership incompat­
ible? „Copartnership and industrial efficiency.-—'The copartnership of the South Metropolitan
Gas Co.—Copartnership under war conditions.—Chronological notes on British profit sharing and
copartnership, 1829-1920. Compiled by Walter T. Layton.

C o p a r t n e r s h ip

and

P ro fit S h a r in g : S om e A d o pt e d S c h e m e s .

(In Employers’ Yearbook, London, 1920, pp. 130—138; Industrial Yearbook:,
London, 1922, pp. 771-776.)

Brief description of different schemes, including Lever Bros., Selfridge & Co., and Priestman
Bros. (Ltd.).
C o p a r t n e r s h ip . The organ of the Labor Copartnership Association and the Copart­

nership Tenants Housing Council. [London.] Monthly.
F a y , Ch a r l es

R.

.

Cooperation at home and abroad; a description and analysis with a supplement
on the progress of cooperation in the United Kingdom (1908—1918), ¿u ed.
London, P. S. King & Son, 1920. 447 pp.
“ Profit sharing: The workers society and the cooperative store,” pp. 255-268.

Board of agriculture and fisheries.
.
Final report of the committee on the production and distribution of milk. London,
1919. 89 pp. (Cmd. 483.)

G r e a t B r it a in .

Appendix A (pp. 44-47).—Particulars of copartnership profit sharing and bonus schemes.

----- Coal industry commission.'
Reports and minutes of evidence. London, 1919. 3v.

(Cmds. 359-361.)

Consult index under Profit sharing.

----- Ministry of Labor.
_
Profit sharing and labor copartnership. Report on profit sharing and labor copart­
nership in the United Kingdom. London, 1920. 244 pp. (Cmd. 544.)
The number of schemes reported as in existence October 31,1919, was 182, being the survivors
of 380 schemes started at one time or another since 1865. Report analyzes the different schemes in
force and includes a detailed account of certain abandoned schemes and the reasons for their dis­
continuance. For later statistics s e e Labor Gazette, September, 1921, pp. 460,461, October, 1922,
PP“ LjLst4of 'publications in the library of the intelligence and statistics department dealing with
profit sharing and labor copartnership,” pp. 215-227.
_
, . _
,
Reviewed in M onthly L abor R e v ie w , June, 1920, pp. 144, 145; in Quarterly Journal of
Economics (Ford), August, 1920, pp. 777-780; Industrial Management (Wallace), February 1,
1921, pp. 85-89.
L a b o r C o p a r t n e r s h ip A s s o c ia t io n , London.

Copartnership after the war;, a memorandum submitted February, 1917, to the
reconstruction committee appointed by H. M. Government. [London, 191/.]
15 pp.
Appendix gives a number of instances of successful schemes and their financial results.


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PROFIT SHARING----L IST OF REFERENCES.

177

London. Memorandum on labor copartner­
ship addressed by the Labor Copartnership Association to all joint bodies of employers
and employees and especially to joint standing industrial councils and interim
reconstruction committees. February, 1919. London [1919]. 4 pp.

L a b o r C o p a r t n e r s h ip A s s o c ia t io n ,

Copartnership claims (1) That the worker shall receive, in addition to the standard wages of the
trade, some share in the final profit of the business, or the economy of production; (2) That the
worker shall accumulate his share of profit, or part thereof, in the capital of the business; (3) That
the worker shall acquire some share in the control of the business in the two following ways:
(a) By acquiring share capital, and thus gaining the ordinary rights and responsibilities of a shareholder, (b) By the formation of a copartnership committee of workers, having a voice in the internal
management.

----- Report of proceedings in connection with the annual meeting of the Labor
Copartnership Association . . . London.
----- 36th report, for year ending December 31, 1921 (with notes up to June, 1922).
----- Speeches on profit sharing and labor copartnership, by Lord Robert Cecil, M. P.,
and Rt. Hon. J . R. Clynes, M. P., at the annual meeting, May, 1919. London, 1919.
24 pp.
L e v e r h u l m e , W illiam H. L., Baron.
The six-hour day and other industrial questions. London, G. Allen & Unwin.
(Ltd.), [1918.] 331 pp.
Section on copartnership, including account of Lever Bros, copartnership trust, pp. 59-137.
An abridged and rearranged American edition was published in 1920 under the title “ The six-hour
shift and industrial efficiency.” Reviewed in Monthly L aboe R eview , April, 1919, pc. 168-173.
M a n c h e s t e r G u a r d ia n C o m m ercial .

Practical profit sharing; a survey of existing schemes, at home and abroad,
reprinted from the Manchester Guardian Commercial. With an introduction
by Seebohm Rowntree. Manchester, Manchester Guardian (Ltd.), [1922]. 67
pp.
Contents .—Introduction.—Chap. I. Ninety years of profit-sharing .—II. British schemes.
III. Profit-sharing abroad.—Appendix: The Priestman scheme.
M u n d y , E r n e s t W.

Copartnership in industry. London, Industrial Reconstruction Council, 1919.
15 pp.

A lecture delivered before the Industrial Reconstruction Council.
O ’B r i e n , G e o r g e A . T.

Labor organization. London, Methuen & Co. (Ltd.), [1921]. 180 pp.
“ Profit-sharing and copartnership,” pp. 105-127.

S.
The human factor in business. London, New York [etc.], Longmans, Green &
Co., 1921. 176 pp.

R o w n t r e e , B e n ja m in

“ Profit sharing,” pp. 13-18.

T. C.
Messrs. J. T. & J. Taylor (Ltd.). An address by Mr. T. C. Taylor . . . at Kingsway Hall, London, November 12, 1918. [London ] The Labor Copartnership
Association 1918?]. 15 pp. (Experiments in profit-sharing and copartnership

T aylo r,

W alls, E r n e s t .

Progressive copartnership. London, Nisbet & Co. (Ltd.), [1921], 283 pp.
Contents .—Theory of copartnership.—Copartnership method.—Copartnership practice.—Copartnership origins.—Copartnership and the consumer.—Progressive copartnership.—Future of
copartnership.

F.
Factory management wastes: And how to prevent them. London, Nisbet &
Co. (Ltd.), [1919], 220 pp.

W h it e f o r d , J a m e s

“ Profit sharing,” pp. 181-201.

Articles in periodicals.
N.
A trade-unionist on copartnership.
Copartnership, October, 1921, p. 123.

B ar n es, G.

B

o w ie ,

J am es A .

Copartnership and the coal agreement.
Copartnership, February, 1923, pp. 19-21.


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M O NTH LY LABOR REVIEW.

C e c il ,

Lord R o b e r t .

_

'

.

Copartnership and profit sharing; the problem of industry and its remedy.
(In Employer’s Year Book, London, 1920, pp. 123-129.)
----- Profit sharing in agriculture.
Scottish Journal of Agriculture, April, 1920, v. 3, pp. 151-154.
(See also article in Wage Boards Gazette, v. 2, May 1, 1920, pp. 225, 226.
T h e C oal S e t t l e m e n t .

Copartnership, July, 1921, pp. 86-89.
Includes discussion of the profit-sharing feature of the settlement.
C o p a r t n e r s h ip

on

R a il w a y s .

Copartnership, October, 1919, p. 82; November, 1919, p. 90.

E m mott ,

Lord.

The place of copartnership in the world of production and distribution.
Copartnership, December, 1920, pp. 168-170.

E n g l is h W o r k m e n E n jo in T h e ir U n io n s prom E x p e l l in g T h e m B e c a u s e
P a r tic ipa t io n i n P r o fit -S h a r in g P l a n op L e v e r B r o s . (L td .).

op

Law and Labor, March, 1923, pp. 64, 65.
G r e e n i n g , E d w a r d C.

The progress of copartnership.
Copartnership, August, 1921, pp. 94, 95.
H a l s t e a d , R.
Worker’s copartnership and profit-sharing in the light of modern industrial
tendencies.
Copartnership, June, 1920, pp. 70, 71.
J o r d a n , H. W.
Profit sharing and copartnership by limited companies.
Caxton Magazine, April, 1920, v. 22, pp. 343-348.
M u n d y , E r n e s t W.
Copartnership and profit sharing.
Business Organization and Management, November, 1920, pp. 163-169.
Discusses some of the causes of failure of profit-sharing schemes.
N

P r o fit - s h a r in g P l a n A d o pt e d b y B r it ish S h ip b u il d in g F ir m .
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w , July, 1919, p. 278.

ew

N.
Copartnership versus labor unrest.
Nineteenth Century, May, 1918, v. 83, pp. 948-965.

P r ie s t l e y ,

P r o fit - s h a r in g

and

L a b o r Co p a r t n e r s h ip

in

G r e a t B r it a in .

International Labor Review, October, 1921, v. 4, pp. 114-126.
Summary of the report of the British Ministry of Labor.
P rofit S h a r in g

in

A g r ic u l t u r e .

Edinburgh Review, January, 1919, v. 226, pp. 1-18.
R o w n t r e e , B e n ja m in S.

The human side of business administration.
Atlantic Monthly, April, 1922, pp. 466-473.
Regards some arrangement for the financial interest of the worker in the profits of the industry in
which he is engaged as one of the five basic conditions necessary to secure industrial peace. S e e a ls o
his article entitled “ The way to industrial peace—from an English employer’s point of view” in
Academy of Political Science, New York, Proceedings, January, 1922, pp. 98-114.

F.
British plan of profit sharing; how gas companies should divide with their em­
ployees.
American Gas Journal, August 20, 1921, v. 115, pp. 165, 166.

S lN G T O N ,

"Wy l l ie , J a m e s .

Profit-and-loss sharing on the farm.
Journal of (British) Ministry of Agriculture, December, 1919, v. 26, pp.
910-913; June, 1920, v. 27, pp. 254-261.


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PROFIT SHARING--- LIST OF REFERENCES.

179

Other Countries.
C z ech o -S l o vak R e p u b l ic .

Laius, statutes, etc.

Act: Mines, allocation of profits, etc. . . . Act respecting the participation
of miners in the management of mines and the allocation to them of a share
in the net profits. Dated 25th February, 1920. [London, Harrison & Sons,
(Ltd.), 1920.1 (International Labor Office, Geneva. Legislative series, 1920,
Cz. 6).
(Translation.)
I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O f f ic e ,

Geneva.

Profit sharing and labor copartnership. Proposal of the Italian Catholic Party.
[Geneva, 1921.] 15 pp. (Studies and reports, ser. B, No. 10.)
I taly.

Laws, statutes, etc.

Decree: Mutual share funds . . . Decree enabling commercial societies and
other financial organizations to constitute a mutual share fund for the benefit
of the employees and workmen in the said undertakings, out of the profits
destined for the special reserve funds provided for in the decree of 7th February,
1916, No. 123. Dated loth September, 1918. [London] Harrison & Sons,
(Ltd.), [1919] 11. (International Labor Office, Geneva. Legislative series, 1919,
It. 1.)
(Translation.)
M a n c h e s t e r G u a r d ia n Co m m ercial .

Practical profit sharing; a survey of existing schemes, at home and abroad. Man­
chester, Manchester Guardian (Ltd.), [1922], 67 pp.
Chap. I ll on “ Profit sharing abroad” treats briefly of Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, and
Italy.
A N o r w e g ia n P l a n fo r P ro fit S h a r in g .
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w , February, 1921,

pp. 117-119.

T rom bert, A lber t .

Profit sharing; a general study of the system as in actual operation, presented to
the congress of Bordeaux, on behalf of the Society for the Practical Study of
Profit Sharing, 23d-24th November, 1912 . . . tr. from the French and
pub. with the authority of the council of the society. London, P. S. King &
Son (Ltd.), 1920. 94 pp. .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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IM M IG R A T IO N .

Statistics of Immigration for January, 1923.
B y W. W. H

u sb a n d ,

C o m m is s io n e r G e n e r a l

op

I m m ig r a t io n .

HE following tables show the total number of immigrant aliens
admitted into the United States and emigrant aliens departed
from the United States from July, 1922, to January, 1923.
The tabulations are presented according to the countries of last
permanent or future permanent residences, races or peoples, occu­
pations, and States of future permanent or last permanent resi­
dence. The last table (Table 6) shows the number of aliens admit­
ted under the per centum limit act of May 19, 1921, from July 1,
1922, to February 28, 1923.

T

T able 1 .—INWARD AND OUTWARD PASSENGER MOVEMENT, JULY, 1922, TO JANUARY,

1923.

Departures.

Arrivals.

Period.

Non­
Immi­ immi­
United Aliens
Emi­ Non­
Total
grant
Total
emi­ United
grant
States
States depart­
grant grant
de­
aliens aliens citizens
arrivals.
citizens.
ures.
ad­
aliens.
barred.
aliens.
ad­ arrived.
mitted. mitted.
41,241
42,735
49, 881
54,129
49,814
33,932
28,773

12,001
12,298
17,135
17,063
12,316
10,052
9, 480

22,279
31,407
54,766
34,678
21,251
16,720
15,645

1,191
1,537
1,528
1,558
1,612
1,541
1,569

76,712
87,977
123,310
107,428
84,993
62,245
55,467

14,738
10,448
7,527
7,192
7,077
8,157
4,232

16,096
9,051
9,734
10,645
10,202
10,673
7,270

53,069
21,364
18,668
19, 546
15,354
15, 761
16,120

83,903
40,863
35,929
' 37,383
32,633
34,591
27,622

Total....................... 300,505

90,345

195,746

10,536

598,132

59,371

73,671

J 159,882

292,924

July, 1922..........................
August, 1922.....................
September, 1922..............
October, 1922...................
November, 1922...............
December, 1922................
January, 1923...................

180


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[872]

181

IMMIGRATION,

T able 2 .—LAST PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF IMMIGRANT ALIENS ADMITTED AND

FUTURE PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF EMIGRANT ALIENS DEPARTED, JANUARY
1923, AND FROM JULY, 1922, TO JANUARY, 1923, BY COUNTRIES.
Immigrant.
Country.
January,
1923.'

Austria.............................................................................
Hungary...........................................................................
Belgium............................................................................
Bulgaria............................................................................
Czechoslovakia.................................................................
Denmark..........................................................................
Finland................................. ............................................
France, including Corsica...............................................
Germany..........................................................................
Greece................................................................................
Italy, including Sicily and Sardinia..........................
Netherlands......................................................................
Norway...... ..................... ........................ .......................
Poland............................................................... • .............
Portugal, including Cape Verde and Azores Islands..
Rumania.............................................................„...........
Russia....... .......................................................................
Spain, including Canary and Balearic Islands.............
Sweden.............................................................................
Switzerland......................................................................
Turkey in Europe........................................................
United Kingdom:
England.....................................................................
Ireland........................................................................
Scotland.....................................................................
Wales.........................................................................
Yugoslavia........................................... .............................
Other Europe...................................................................
Total Europe.........................................................

Emigrant.

July, 1922,
to January,
1923.

January,
1923.

July, 1922,
to January,
1923.

707
78
48
11
177
129
220
217
2,389
57
406
207
132
3,164
50
995
2,177
35
514
225
372

6,076
5,763
1,473
380
13,600
1,947
2,806
3,050
20, 248
3,136
42,088
1, 435
3, 928
23,100
2,199
10,562
13,404
680
6,765
2,503
2,624

10
18
32
12
39
76
15
70
37
258
1,070
20
39
152
69
44
60
126
35
28
1

1.54
716
420
129
1,556
332
218
982
1,114
2,241
18,47S
258
572
4,505
1,952
888
1,884
1,832
595
350
104

1,128
482
1,338
67
317
19

12.963
9,806
10,001
688
5,984
404

301
45
36
4
109
12

3,760
1,024
547
28
1,537
119

15,661

207,613

2,718

46,286

China.................
Japan..................
India..................
Turkey in Asia..
Other Asia.........

3S2
353
16
96
107

3,123
3,137
158
1,925
341

385
232
26
18
4

2,684
2,014
121
616
50

Total Asia

954

8,684

665

5,485

21
37

422
470
37
46,253
677
27,151
2,291
6,898
9

4
33
184
41
271
75
234
3

84
318
14
1,722
370
1,701
935
2,448
8

28,773

300,505

4,232

59,371

16,633
12,140

164,011
136,494

3,252
980

40,507
18,864

Africa.........................................................
Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand
Pacific Islands, not specified..................
British North America............................
Central America.......................................
Mexico.......................................................
South America.......................- ................
West Indies...............................................
Other countries.......................................

7,995
52
3,238
291
524

Grand total....................................
Male. . .
Female


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[8 7 3 ]

d.

182

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,

T able .3.—IMMIGRANT ALIENS ADMITTED AND EMIGRANT ALIENS DEPARTED, JANU­

ARY, 1923, AND EROM JULY, 1922, TO JANUARY, 1923, BY RACES OR PEOPLES.
Emigrant.

Immigrant.
Race or people.

January,
1923.

African ('blank')....................................................................
Armenian.............................................................................
Bohemian and Moravian (Czech)......................................
................
Bulgarian, Serbian, and Montenegrin. . .
Chinese.................................................................................
Croatian and Slovenian......................................................
Cuban............................
...............................................
Dalmatian, Bosnian. and "Herzegovinian _ _...................
D 111eh and FIamish .........
......................................
East Indian..........................................................................
English..................
....................................
Finnish
......................
French. . .
........................................
German....
.............................
Greek. . .
..............................................
............................................................
Hebrew. . .
Irish. . . .
.............................
Italian (north)
.....................................................
Italian (south)
......................................... .
Japanese. . .
_
....................................
Korean
...........................................
Lithuanian
.........................................................
Maevar. . .
.........................................................
Mexican
.....................................................
Pacific Islander
..........................
Polish. . . .
...................................................................
Portuguese
................................................................
Rumanian
.......................................................................
Russian.
............................................................
Ruthenian (Russian) .......................................................
Scandinavian (Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes!...........
Scotch
..............................................
Slovak
................................................................
Spanish
.........................................................
Spanish American
.........................................................
Syrian.. .
...................................................................
Turkish.................................................................................
W elsh. . .
...................................................................
West Indian .......................................................................
Other peoples.......................................................................

185
142
97
123
210
117
48
54
374
11
3,868
201
1,998
. 3,643
88
5,697
1,437
98
417
342
6
191
152
3,171

Total...........................................................................

28, 773

1,181
50
139
475
140
1,022
2,401
128
217
70
47
7
110
31

July, 1922,
to Janu­
ary, 1923.
3,664
2,060

January,
1923.

July, 1922,
to Janu­
ary, 1923.

39

1,764
2,571
3,973
819
496
3,165
107
28,114
2,279
13,022
33, 043
3,903
38,828
15,935
8,367
34,352
3,037
55
1,557
6,626
26,563
13
11,104
2,333
1,187
2,509
638
14, 535
16,212
6,020
2,063
991
1,009
212
843
712
474

35
104
395
10
43
9
56
25
424
18
111
76
276
23
78
161
923
235
4
11
24
269
1
146
73
42
66
2
155
82
4
177
61
17
1
3
33
20

719
58
1,267
1,393
2,649
181
511
126
696
94
5,422
262
1,291
1,528
2,298
338
1,112
1,961
16,665
1,993
35
1,043
823
1,627
3
4,347
2,025
824
1,001
19
1,696
827
321
2,186
759
533
84
48
408
198

300,505

4,232

59,371

T able 4 __IMMIGRANT ALIENS ADMITTED AND EMIGRANT ALIENS DEPARTED, JAN­

UARY, 1923, AND FROM JULY, 1922, TO JANUARY, 1923, BY OCCUPATIONS.

Emigrant.

Immigrant.
Occupation.

January,
1923.

July, 1922,
to Janu­
ary, 1923.

January,
1923.

July, 1922,
to Janu­
ary, 1923.

Professional:
Actors............................................................................
Architects......................................................................
Clergy.............................................................................
Editors...........................................................................
Electricians...................................................................
Engineers (professional)...............................................
Lawyers.........................................................................
Literary and scientific persons...................................
Musicians.......................................................................
Officials (Government)................................................
Physicians.....................................................................
Sculptors........................................................................
Teachers........................................................................
Other professional.........................................................

39
18
130
3
161
182
20
36
73
19
50
22
152
122

454
117
1,177
51
891
1,211
103
369
677
308
429
198
1,633
1,584

10
1
12
2
3
15
3
3
3
15
3
5
18
39

91
19
324
11
51
152
31
64
87
141
85
51
273
349

Total...........................................................................

1,027

9,202

132

1,729

}

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[874]

IMMIGRATION,

183

4 .—IMMIGRANT ALIENS ADMITTED AND EMIGRANT ALIENS DEPARTED JAN­
UARY, 1923, AND FROM JULY, 1922, TO JANUARY. 1923, BY OCCUPATIONS—Concld.

Table

Immigrant.
1

Occupation.

July, 1922,
to Janu­
ary, 1923.

January,
1923.'

184
100
155
16
3
136
23
675
4
17

1,687
1,237
1,235
100
12
1,188
' 184
5,147
20
170

10
14
6
2

941
211
198
23
36
20
280
17
104
282
304
96
254
56
14
56
400
146
24
24
31
91
56
13
93
157
40
15
426
14
24
32

8,388
3,107
1,159
169
421
164
1,396
165
903
1,772
2,855
1,865
2,132
284
153
468
3,021
1,063
90
209
217
381
369
120
1,374
2,512
336
147
4,134
97
138
246

H
28
114
3
22
329

94
231
1,059
34
113
2,524

3
4
9

364
5
7
17
2
12
17
254

30

12
382

January,
1923.
Skilled:
Bakers.......................................................
Barbers and hairdressers............................
Blacksmiths..............................................
Bookbinders.............................................
Brewers.........................................................
Butchers.......................................................
Cabinetmakers.............................................
Carpenters and joiners....................................
Cigarette makers.............................................
Cigar makers....................................................
Cigar packers................................................
Clerks and accountants...............................
Dressmakers...........................................................
Engineers (locomotive, marine, and stationary). . .
Furriers and fur workers...................................
Gardeners.........................................................
Hat and cap makers................................ ,. .
Iron and steel workers.............................
Jewelers..................................................
Locksmiths.................................................
Machinists................................................
Mariners...........................................................
Masons..........................................................
Mechanics (not specified)...........................
Metal workers (other than iron, steel, and tin).
Millers.......................................................
Milliners.................................................
Miners................................................
Painters and glaziers..................................
Pattern makers..................................................
Photographers......................................
Plasterers...............................................
Plumbers................................................................
Printers............................................................
Saddlers and harness makers........................
Seamstresses....................................................
Shoemakers............................................................
Stokers....................................................................
Stonecutters........................................................
Tailors..........................................................
Tanners and curriers....... ........................................
Textile workers (not specified).....................
Tinners.........................................................
Tobacco workers.............................................
Upholsterers.................................................................
Watch and clock makers...............................
Weavers and spinners....................................
Wheelwrights..................................................
Woodworkers (not specified).....................
Other skilled.......................................................
Total....................................................................

Emigrant.
July, 1922,
to Janu­
ary, 1923.

8

152
196
73
6
o
130

39

377

18

120
q
1 051
'193
S3
10
92
7
49
25

85
5
3
2
5
1
2
1
12
29
8
18
2
33
17
2
i
4
2
i
u
2
21

\

248
268
146
203
5
9
28
522
139
2
20
15
28
43
I
52
297
40

6,298

54,910

410

5,784

Miscellaneous:
Agents..............................................................
Bankers........................................................
Draymen, hackmen, and teamsters..............
Farm laborers.........................................................
Farmers...............................................................
F ishermen.............................................
Hotel keepers...........................................
Laborers.......................................................
Manufacturers..........................................
Merchants and dealers.......................................
Servants..............................................................
Other miscellaneous..................................................

117
9
39
982
732
177
11
3,268
19
636
2,171
1,302

624
67
318
14,617
7,277
834
105
42,764
206
5,827
36,472
10,880

11
7
6
51
131
3
3
1,973
5
185
161
189

77
51
34
615
1,261
39
25
25,400
54
1,755
2,409
2,140

Total.............................................................
No occupation (including women and children).........

9,463
11,985

119,991
116, 402

2,725
965

33,860
17,998

28,773

300,505

4,232

59,371

Grand total............................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

184

T able 5 .—FUTURE PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF IMMIGRANT ALIENS ADMITTED AND

LAST PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF EMIGRANT ALIENS DEPARTED, JANUARY,
1923, AND FROM JULY, 1922, TO JANUARY, 1923, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES.
Immigrant.
State or Territory.

January,
1923.

July, 1922,
to Janu­
ary, 1923.

AJahfvma,
...................................................................
A1aska.
.................................................................
Arizona
............................................................
Arkansas
....................................................
California.
...............................................................
Colorad o
..................................................
Conn p.cti mit
................................................................
j)p,]awarp.
.....................................................
District of Columbia
..................................................
P] ori ria ...................................................................
Georgia. __
...................................................................
Hawaii -- ...............................................................
Tdah o
............................................................
Illinois
......................................................................
Tnriiana .
...................................................................
Iowa
.............................................................................
Kansas _
............................................................
Kentucky.. - ..............................................................
Tunisian a.
_
.........................................................
Maine
........................................................
Maryl an <1
.....................................................
Massachn setts......................................................................
Michiaan.. ......................................................................
Minnesota ..........................................................................
AIi ssi ssi ppi ..........................................................................
Missouri
.....................................................
Montana ................................................................*..........
N ebraska ............................................................................
Kp.vatl a
............................................................
N pw VTarrmshi re
..............................................
New Jersey..........................................................................
New Mexico.........................................................................
New York ..........................................................................
North Carolina
...........................................
North Dakota......................................................................
Ohio
..........................................................................
Ok]akoma,
................................................
Oregon .
...................................................................
............ ...............................................
Pp.nnsy1vani a
..............................................
Phi li ppi no Islands
Porto Rico ..........................................................................
.....................................................
Rhode Island
ftoutb Carolina
........................................................
South Dakota......................................................................
Tennessee.............................................................................
Texas .................................................................................
Utah
...................................................................
V erm on t
...............................................................
Virginia................................................................................
Virgin Tsla.nds. .
..................................................
Washington..........................................................................
West Virginia......................................................................
Wisconsin.............................................................................
Wyoming.............................................................................

29
11
504
5
2,644
85
524
20
52
127
23
210
40
1,990
270
142
79
23
58
500
179
2,204
2,251
308
15
276
83
102
15
322
1,258
96
7,254
10
58
886
30
293
2,018

623
76
380
26

281
111
5,484
140
22,686
993
6,104
313
940
1,654
293
1,592
368
22,493
2,863
1,730
791
325
686
3,516
1,605
21,605
16,127
3,767
192
2,494
843
1,086
211
1,972
16,191
672
84,370
188
657
12,038
340
2,200
26,159
4
156
3,230
97
398
250
16,788
638
1,136
717
12
5,266
1,231
4,186
316

Total............................................... ...........................

28,773

300,505


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

24
342
10
30
17
1,970
79
130
72

Emigrant.
January,
1923.
4
7
28

July, 1922,
to Janu­
ary, 1923.

5
2
102
28
25
7

30
54
164
6
5,340
182
1,252
59
258
721
42
313
76
3,614
362
225
92
48
252
96
250
5,229
1,834
481
21
368
185
171
48
84
2,552
51
23,538
28
101
2,074
50
330
4,741
5
138
721
11
52
24
899
169
38
98
2
964
332
541
55

4,232

59,371

588
27
65
3
14
73
2
22
14
226
16
22
7
3
35
22
14
235
157
47
3
24
24
8
8
2
113
4
1,527
3
149
26
294
6
27
3
2
184
25

[S7G]
\

185

IMMIGRATION,

T able 6 .—STATUS OF THE IMMIGRATION OF ALIENS INTO THE UNITED STATES

UNDER THE PER CENTUM LIMIT ACT OF MAY 19; 1921, AS EXTENDED BY PUBLIC
RESOUUTiON NO. 55, SIXTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS, APPROVED MAY 11, 1922, JULY 1,
1922, TO FEBRUARY 28, 1923.

Country or region of birth.

Albania..........................................
Armenia (Russian)......................
Austria...........................................
Belgium.........................................
Bulgaria.........................................
Czechoslovakia..............................
Danzig...........................................
Denmark........................................
Finland........................................ .
Fiume.............................................
France............................................
Germany........................................
Greece.............................................
Hungary........................................
Iceland...........................................
Italy...............................................
Luxemburg...................................
Memel region.................................
Netherlands..................................
Norway..........................................
Poland...........................................
Eastern Galicia.............................
Pinsk region..................................
Portugal.........................................
Rumania........................................
Bessarabian region.......................
Russia............................................
Esthonian region..........................
Latvian region..............................
Lithuanian region........................
Spain........ .................................... .
Sweden.......................................... .
Switzerland................................... .
United Kingdom..........................
Yugoslavia.................................... .
Other Europe.................................
Palestine.........................................
Syria................................................
Turkey.............................................
Other Asia......................................
Africa...............................................
Atlantic Islands.............................
Australia.........................................
New Zealand and Pacific Islands.

Monthly
quota."
58
46
1,490
313
61
2,871
60
1,124
784
14
1,146
13,521
659
1.128
15
8,411
19
30
721
2,440
4,215
1,157
857
493
1,484
558
4,323
270
308
462
182
4,008
750
15,468
1,285
17
12
186
478
16
25
24
56
16
71,561

Admitted
Feb. 1-28,
1923.
1
771
3
61
27
303
203
9
206
2,540
4
10
7
238
693
363
516
319
1
13
192
3,687
13
133
1
1,154
393
4,443
95
1

24
1
16,425

Annual
quota.
288
230
7,451
1,583
302
14,357
301
5,619
3,921
71
5,729
67,607
3,294
5,638
75
42,057
92
150
3,607
12,202
21,076
5,786
4,284
2,465
7,419
2,792
21,613
1,348
1,540
2,310
912
20,042
3,752
77,342
6,426
86
57
928
2,388
81
122
121
279
80
357,803

Admitted
July 1 to
Feb. 28.
284
230
6,183
1,563
285
14,348
152
2,686
3,286
65
3,587
23,633
3,294
5,637
51
42,041
92
45
2,071
5,026
21,070
3,536
2,876
2,465
7,411
755
20,721
154
1,137
2,310
912
9,477
3,406
48,269
6,369
86
57
928
2,388
81
122
87
279
80
249,535

Balance
for year.1
2
I

1,226
I

15
147
2,918
631
5
2,088
43,811
( 2)
( 2)

24

( 2)

(2)

102

1,511
7,152
( 2)

2,176
1,275

( 2)
( 2)

1,972
355
1,194
394

(2)
( 2)

10,537
333
29,034
45

( 2)
( 2)

( 2)

(2)
( 2)
( 2)

33

( 2)

( 2)

106,980

1 After all admissions and pending cases have been deducted from the annual quota.
2 Exhausted for the year. Pending cases for which quotas have been granted cover differences between
annual quota and number already admitted.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[877]

W H A T S T A T E L A B O R B U R E A U S A R E D O IN G .

Minnesota.

A CCORDING to a statement recently received from the Industrial
* * Commission of Minnesota, its division of women and children
made during February five regular inspections of industrial estab­
lishments and 105 special investigations. Ten orders were issued for
the improvement of conditions. In the same month three court
cases were handled, and one conviction secured for the employment
of a child 7 years old as a theatrical performer. A fine of $50 was
imposed in this case.
The commission’s division of accident prevention has been en­
deavoring since the beginning of 1923 to make all employers, including
those with stores and offices, acquainted with the provisions of the
workmen’s compensation law. During January and February the
inspectors visited 2,475 stores and offices, this being the first time
that officials of the department have called upon employers engaged
in business of this character.
The division of accident prevention reports 1,860 inspections in
February, 1923. Among the establishments visited were 263 fac­
tories, 385 buildings, and 1,154 stores and offices. A total of 22,505
persons were employed in the establishments inspected. There were
625 orders issued during the month for the betterment of working
conditions.
Nevada.

TMIE fourth biennial report of the commissioner of labor of Nevada,
* 1921-22, deals, respectively, with the following subjects: (1)
Labor organizations; (2) wages and hours of labor; (3) employment
of women and children; (4) labor legislation; (5) mediation and con­
ciliation; (6) enforcement of labor laws; (7) miscellaneous investiga­
tions, including cost of living, employment agencies, and prison
labor; and (8) recommendations. Excerpts from certain parts of this
publication will be found in the several sections of this issue of the
M o n th ly L abor R e v ie w , which are devoted to the subjects treated
in such excerpts (see table of contents). Brief notes on other parts
of the report are given here.
A s s i g n m e n t o f w a g e c l a i m s .—An act was passed in 1921 which
amended chapter 56 of the Nevada statutes of 1919 and authorized
“ the State labor commissioner to take assignment and prosecute
actions for the collection of wages and other demands of persons who
are financially unable to employ counsel.”
Employers, especially those engaged in the raising of stock and in
agriculture, have been hard pressed in the last biennium to meet their
obligations. Some of the most important stock-raising companies
went into bankruptcy or had to reorganize after receiverships. As a
result, large numbers of workers lost considerable sums or were
delayed in getting their money. Mining also slumped and is only
now recuperating. In the interim numerous complaints were looked
into, and in a number of instances only a part of the wages due could
be secured. Oil development companies sprang up suddenly and
“ silently wilted, leaving behind unpaid wage claims.” As a result of
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these exploitations a great deal of the commission’s time was taken
up in the endeavor to obtain at least some return for the promises
upon which many employees had continued work for months before
making their complaints.
Substantially all of the more than 300 complaints presented were
for unpaid wages. When valid claims were submitted to alleged
employers without being satisfactorily adjusted through correspond­
ence, recourse was had to the district attorney for assistance.
The commissioner recommends that the law concerning false repre­
sentation in the matter of funds for the payment of wages (chap. 276,
Stat. of 1913) be amended “ by making the employment of a person
a bona fide presumption that the employer has funds with which to
ay such wages as may accrue, and in failure to do so establishes a
ona fide case of misrepresentation under the statute.”
So far as the commission’s records indicate, employers have applied
the hours of service law to the best of their knowledge. There have
been some insignificant infringements which were believed to be the
result of misunderstanding rather than deliberate intention.
P r i s o n l a b o r .—The average number of inmates in the State peni­
tentiary was 136 in 1919 and 122 in 1921. The county jails had
63 inmates in 1919 and 97 in 1921. Many prisoners in the State
penitentiary have certain duties in connection with the various
departments of that institution and an average of 15 do agricultural
work on the prison farm. The commissioner of labor reports, how­
ever, that there is no economically objectionable competition of
convict labor with free labor in the State of Nevada and there is but
little, if any, work done by prisoners except within the confines of
the penitentiary, “ where no industry has been developed.”
H o u s i n g a n d s a n i t a t i o n .—The commissioner has inspected each of
the highway road camps in the western counties and has recommended
that the State board of health be given authority to adopt, after
adequate hearings, regulations calling for minimum requirements in
housing and sanitation in such camps. More consideration was shown
for the health and comfort of the workers at the permanent camps
at quarries, farms, and mines. It is felt that the setting up of mini­
mum standards would result in greater attention to camp planning
and in the removal of numerous existing objections.

E

New York.1

HTHE amended elevator code, which was adopted by the New York
State Industrial Board December 28, 1922, and which became
effective March 1, 1923, is officially regarded as a great improvement
on the original code. The code prescribes rules for the construction,
guarding, equipment, maintenance, and operation of elevators, etc.,
in factories and mercantile establishments. Part 1 deals with powerdriven elevators and part 2 with hand-power elevators. The amend­
ments were the subject of careful consideration at public hearings
in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, and Syracuse. Copies
of the code may be obtained at the Department of Labor offices in
New York City and Albany.
1 New York. Industrial Commissioner. The Industrial Bulletin, Albany, December, 1922, p. 63.
I

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P U B L IC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G T O L A B O R .

Official—United States.
Ca lifornia .—Bouvet

of Education. Documents relating to vocational education.
Sacramento, 1922. 84 pp■ Bulletin No. 28-A.

All material contained in agreements entered into between the California State
Board of Education and the Federal Board for Vocational Education relative to the
administration of the Federal and State vocational education acts is included in this
bulletin. The material treated applies to the fiscal years 1922—
23 to 1926—27, inclusL e,
and has been published in this form for the purpose of familiarizing the public with
the entire (Federal and State) scheme for the promotion of vocational education in
California.
N e b r a s k a .—Board

for Vocational Education. Vocational education in Nebraska:
What it is and what it does. Lincoln, January, 1923. 28 pp. Bulletin No. 6 .
nius.

An illustrated account of the vocational training offered by the State during 192122 in agriculture, trades and industries, home economics, and vocational rehabilitation.
The enrollment in the vocational classes numbers some 8,200, and State aid amounted
to $71,374.90.
N e v a d a .—Commissioner

of Labor. Biennial report, 1921-1922. Carson City, 1923.

Ill pp.

Extracts from this report are published on pages 54, 64, 106, 151, 186, and 187 of
this issue of the M onthly L a bo r R e v ie w .
N e w H a m p s h ir e .—Department

of Agriculture. Farmers' buying and selling organizations in New Hampshire, by Lawrence A. Carlisle. Concord, 1922. 31pp. IUus.

Contains a brief history and description of the farmers’ buying and selling asso­
ciations now in operation in New Hampshire, together with a comparison of the
methods employed and a summary of the fundamental cooperative principles. Cer­
tain information from this report is given on page 164 of this issue of the M onthly
L a bo r R e v ie w .
N e w Y o rk .—Department

of Labor. Annual report for the 12 months ended June 30,
1921. Albany, 1922. 268 pp.

This publication is divided into seven parts, as follows: (1) Report of the industrial
commissioner; (2) report of the bureau of inspection; (3) report of the bureau of work­
men’s compensation; (4) report of State insurance fund; (5) report of the bureau of
industrial relations; (6) report of the bureau of research and codes; and (7) opinions
of the attorney general construing labor laws.
________ Proceedings of the sixth annual industrial conference of the State of Lew York,

Buffalo, N. Y., November 21-23, 1922. Albany, 1923. 188 pp.

A resume of this conference was published in the March, 1923, issue of the M onthly
L a b o r R e v ie w , pages 3 to 6.
________ Bureau of Research and Codes. Division of Women in Industry Children's
work accidents. [ Albany] January, 1923. 42 pp. Special bulletin No. 116.
A summary of this report is given on pages 76 to 78 of this issue of the M onthly
L a b o r R e v ie w .
N o rth D a k o t a .— Workmen's

Compensation Bureau. Minimum Wage Department.
Report, July 1, 1920, to June SO, 1922. [Bismarck, 1922.] 60 pp.

A d ig est of th is re p o rt a p p ea rs on pages 126 to 128 of th is issue of th e M onthly
L a b o r R e v ie w .


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of Negro Welfare and Statistics. Report, 1921-22. The
Negro in West Virginia. [Charleston, 1922.] 102 pp.
A su m m a ry of th is re p o rt is g iv e n on pages 21 to 23 of th is issue of th e M onthly

W est V ir g in ia .—Bureau

L a b o r R e v ie w .
U n it e d St a t e s .—Department

of Commerce. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com­
merce. Australia: A commercial and industrial handbook. Washington, 1922.
162 pp. Illus., folder. Special agents series No. 216.

A concise account of Australia,
labor conditions, unionism, wage
pension provisions, hours of labor,
------------------ Cotton and cotton

economically, socially, and politically, including
boards and arbitration courts, compensation and
etc.

goods in western Sweden. Washington, 1922.
vi, 60 pp. Special consular reports, No. 84•

The section on labor and wages contains information on Sweden’s factory legislation,
workmen’s insurance, efficiency of Swedish labor, wages in textile mills, and organiza­
tions of Swedish spinners and weavers.
—— Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Building permits in the prin­

cipal cities of the United States in 1921. Washington, 1923. 88 pp. Bulletin No.
318. Miscellaneous series.
------------------ Retail prices, 1913 to December, 1921. Washington, 1923. 226 pp.
Bulletin No. 315. Retail prices and cost of living series.
------------Bureau of Naturalization. Annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1922. Washington, 1922. 29 pp.

The eight sections of this report are headed respectively: (1) Work of the courts;
(2) clerks of courts; (3) field officers; (4) work of the bureau in Washington, includ­
ing naturalization and citizenship training; (5) personnel; (6) financial; and (7)
recommendations.
------------ Women’s Bureau. Women in the candy industry in Chicago and St. Louis:

A study of hours, wages, and working conditions in 1920-1921. Washington, 1923.
12 pp. Bulletin No. 25.

A summary of this study is given on pages 89 to 91 of this issue of the M onthly
L a b or R e v ie w .

----- Federal Board for Vocational Education.

Vocational rehabilitation, its purposes,
scope, and methods, with illustrative cases. Washington, January, 1923. 46 pp.
Bulletin No. 80. Vocational rehabilitation series, No. 7.
O fficial— F o reig n C ountries.

A u s t r a l ia (S o uth A u st r a l ia ). —Chief Inspector

December 31, 1921. 18 pp. No. 4 6 .

of Factories. Report for year ended

Certain information from this report is published on pages 23 and 24 of this issue
of the M onthly L a b o r R e v ie w .
------ (V ic to r ia ). —Government

Statist. Report on friendly societies for the year 1921.
Melbourne, 1922. xvii, 30 pp.

To the body of the report are appended valuations of the societies and summaries
of the returns furnished by the secretaries, dealing with the number of branches,
membership, sick and death benefit funds, etc.
Ca n a d a .—Department

of Labor. Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1922.
Ottawa, 1923. 116 pp.

Among the subjects discussed in this report are the industrial disputes investiga­
tion act, conciliation work, fair wages, employment service and unemployment
relief measures, technical education, joint industrial councils, and the International
Labor Conference.

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F in l a n d .—Statistislca

Centralbyrân. Statistisk ärsbok for Finland. Ny serie.
Tjugonde ârgângen, 1922. Helsingfors, 1922. xxi, 287 pp.

Statistical yearbook for Finland for 1922. Contains statistics of interest to labor
on accident insurance, wages, labor disputes, trade-unions, employers’ associations,
sickness benefit and funeral aid funds, industrial accidents, employment service,
etc.
F r a n c e .—Ministère

du Travail et de la Prévoyance Sociale. Direction du Travail
(8 e Bureau). Bulletin de Vinspection du travail et de l’hygiène industrielle. Vingtneuvième année. 1921. Paris, 1921. 322 pp. Numéros 1 à 6 .

This volume contains the text of laws, decrees, and circulars promulgated during
1921 on questions relating to labor and industrial hygiene in France. Several special
reports of labor inspectors are included dealing with occupational hazards and methods
of manufacture.
G e r m a n y ( R h in e P r o v in c e ). —Landesarbeits- und Berufsamt der Rheinprovinz zu

Düsseldorf. Verwaltungsbericht für die Zeit vom 1 . April 1921 bis 31. März 1922.
Düsseldorf [1922]. 48 pp.

The annual administrative report of the State employment and vocational guidance
office of the Rhine Province at Düsseldorf for the year ending March 31, 1922. This
is the central employment and vocational guidance office for the whole Rhine
Province. In the Rhine Province there exist 87 municipal or district employment
offices and 348 local employment offices, and 66 vocational guidance offices (6 inde­
pendent offices, 33 connected with employment offices, 25 connected with welfare
offices, and 2 connected with vocational guidance schools). All these offices are
subject to the State employment and vocational guidance office at Düsseldorf and
report to it on the state of the labor market and on their vocational guidance activi­
ties. The employment offices under the jurisdiction of the State employment office
at Düsseldorf reported for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1922, a total of 526,726
applicants for work, 475,467 vacancies, and 379,476 placements.
G r e a t B r it a in . —Home

Office. Statistics of compensation. and of proceedings under
the workmen’s compensation act, 1906, and the employers’ liability act, 1880, during
the year 1921. London, 1923. 27 pp. Cmd.1793.

A digest of this report appears on pages 138 to 141 of this issue of the M onthly
L a b o r R e v ie w .

----- Industrial Fatigue Research Board. Atmospheric conditions in cotton weaving.

London, 1923. x, 36 pp. Report No.

21.

Textile series No. 6 .

This study of atmospheric conditions in cotton-weaving sheds relates particularly
to the factor of air movement. The report suggests that the most important changes
to be made in the working conditions are the use of more suitable clothing on the
part of the operatives and the introduction of methods for artificially increasing the
air movement, since humidity which is unbearable in still air may be borne without
discomfort if the air coming in contact with the body is kept in a state of movement.
I n d ia .—Department of Industries. Conciliation and arbitration, by R. N. Gilchrist.
Calcutta, 1922. 237 pp. Bulletins of Indian industries and labor, No. 23.
This bulletin presents a survey of modern methods of dealing with industrial dis­
putes. A general survey of the development of effective machinery in all countries
is followed by a somewhat intensive discussion of methods adopted in Great Britain
and the Dominions together with a more general account of those adopted in other
countries.
I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O f f ic e .—International

Labor Conference. Appendix to the
report of the director to thefourth session, Geneva, 1922. Special report on the un­
employment inquiry. Geneva, 1922. 53 pp. (In French and English.)

A summary report as to the work so far done by the International Labor Office in
the special inquiry on the national and international aspects of the unemployment


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crisis and on the means of combating it which it is carrying on in pursuance of a reso­
lution of the Third International Labor Conference. The report is divided into
three chapters: (1) Extent of the crisis; (2) comparative study of remedies adopted
m the various countries; and (3) investigation of the causes of unemployment. Each
of the three chapters of the report is concluded with certain definite proposals which
were considered of immediate importance, both for the workers who suffer directly
from the hardships of unemployment, and for the employers who feel its indirect
results.

—International Labor Conference. Report of the
director to the fourth session, Geneva, 1922. Geneva, 1922. 326 pp. (In French
and English.)

I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O f fic e

. The four Parts of this publication on the International Labor Office deal respec­
tively with (1) problems of organization, (2) international labor legislation, (3) inter­
national information, and (4) relations and various activities. In concluding his
report the director declares that the success of the International Labor Organization
will depend on the capabilities and solidaiity of labor organizations, on valuable
aid from employers who are fully aware of the important service sane legislation may
render to industry, and on the attitude of Governments toward social progress.
Success will also depend, the director states, “ on the active vigilance, the tact and
prudence of the International Labor Office,” on the authority which it acquires
the confidence it inspires, and the security it affords. Above all, “ success will
depend on men’s faith in justice.”
Appendix I contains annual reports on measures taken b y various countries to
Appendix I I

give effect to conventions ratified by their respective Governments.
is a bibliography of the international labor organization.

Cassa Nazionale d'Assicurazione per gl’infortuni sul Lavoro. Bilancio Con­
suntivo dell esercizio 1921. Rome, 1922. 84 pp.
. r^ le financial report for the year 1921 of the Italian National workmen’s accident
insurance fund. The report will be discussed in an article in a subsequent issue of the
I ta ly .

M o nthly L a b o r R e v ie w .

Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. Overzicht van den omvanq der
mkbewegmg op 1 Januan 1922 en instellingen enfmanden van de vakvereeniginqen
m 1920. The Hague, 1922. [ Various paging.] Statistiek van Nederland No. 3 5 9 .

N etherlands.

A bulletin of the Central Statistical Office of the Netherlands givin g statistics of the
trade-union movement in the Netherlands. The first part of the bulletin is devoted
to general statistics as to the extent of the movement up to the beginning of 1922, and
the second part gives summary statistics of the financial condition of the trade-unions
during 1920. The most im portant data contained in this bulletin are reproduced in
the present issue of the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w , pages 154 to 156.

lPnJpart™ enTTVan Arbeid-] Overzicht van de verslagen der kamers van arbeid over
1921. The Hague, 1922. 28 pp.
A report on the activities of labor councils in the Netherlands during 1921.
Statistiske Centralbyrd. Norges Bergverksdrift 1921. Christiania 1922
19, 44 * pp. Norges Offisielle Statistikk, VII, 70.
Report on the mining industry in Norway in 1921. Contains reports from the
mining inspectors, showing wages and hours of labor, etc.
N orw ay.

(S tock ho lm ).— Statistiska Kontor. Bercittelse angaende Stockholms stads
arbetsjormedlmg jamte statistisk oversikt rorande verksamheten dr 1921. Stockholm
1922. 17*, 11 pp. Stockholms Stads Statistik. IX. Arbetsformedling.

S w eden

Report on the activities of the Stockholm public employment agency for the year
1921. During the year there were 134,488 applications for work, 49,973 vacancies and
39,226 places filled as against 61,085, 59,492, and 39,021, respectively, in 1920. Appli­
cations for work doubled in 1921 and vacancies decreased by 2,519.


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S w e d e n (S to ck ho lm ). —Statistisk

översikt av fabriksindustrien och hantverkerierna l
Stockholm är 1921. Arg. X X L Ny. följd 15. Stockholm, 1922. 10*, 6 pp.
Stockholms Stads Statistik. XII. Fabriker och hantverk.

Statistics on factory industries and trades for Stockholm for 1921. The number
of establishments reported was 798 which is a decrease of 53 since 1920 and the total
personnel decreased from 47,287 to 38,409 persons.
S w it zer la n d (Z ü r ic h ). —Statistisches

bis 1922. Zürich, 1922.

21

Amt. Vieh- und Fleischpreise in Zürich 1911
pp. Statistik der Stadt Zürich, Heft SO.

A Statistical study on the movement of live stock and meat prices in Zürich, Switzer­
land, during the period 1911 to 1922. According to this study the curve of the meat
prices followed on the whole that of the live stock prices, but as long as prices went
up the meat prices rose more slowly than the live stock prices, and when prices began
to fall the downward movement of the meat prices was slower than that of the live
stock prices. The price of beef reached its highest level in May, 1919, when the
index rose to 358 (average 1911-1913=100), veal was highest at the end of 1919 and
1920 when the index stood at 290, and pork was most expensive in June, 1918, when the
index was at 410. In June, 1922, the indexes for beef, veal, and pork stood at 179,
181, and 152, respectively.
of S o u th A f r ic a .— Unemployment Commission. Interim report, March, 1921.
Cape Town, 1921. 23 pp.
----------- Second interim report, May, 1921. Cape Town, 1921. 34 pp.
----------- [Final] Report. Cape Town, 1922. 41 pp.

U n io n

The final report of the unemployment commission of the Union of South Africa
gives as the principal causes of unemployment in South Africa (1) world conditions
and (2) the presence of the native, the proportion between the two races and the social
fabric naturally resulting therefrom. Among the subsidiary and contributory causes
noted are (1) Restrictions against the development of the mining industry; (2) the
closing down and contraction of local industries; (3) industrial disturbance? caused
by hasty and ill-considered strikes; (4) influx of unskilled whites from the country
to the industrial centers; (5) failure adequately to train the youth in skilled trades;
(6) insufficiency of local markets and the absence of adequate provision for transport
of the country’s products; (7) maintenance of high wages when world prices are falling
and “ going slow” on jobs; (8) early and improvident marriages; and (9) the presence
of the Asiatic trader. The majority report of the commission contains a number of
recommendations too lengthy for reproduction here.
U nofficial.

L'Italia economica nel 1921. Citta di Castello, 1922. xi, 460 pp .
[,Supplement to La Riforma Sociale, 1922.]

B a c h i , R icca rdo .

The thirteenth issue of the commercial, industrial, agricultural, financial, and
economic yearbook published by Riccardo Bachi. The present issue covers the year
1921. Of special interest to labor are the chapters dealing with prices, industrial
production, the labor market, unemployment, wages, migration, industrial and labor
policy, social insurance, and cooperative societies.

Medico-legal examinations and the workmen’s compensation act, 1906
as amended by subsequent acts. London, 1922. 151 pp. {Second edition.)

C o l l ie , J o h n .

This book is reviewed on pages 141 and 142 of this issue of the M o nth ly L a b o r
R e v ie w .


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J o in t I n v e st ig a t io n C o m m ittee a pp o in t e d b y t h e E n g in e e r in g a n d N ational
E m p l o y e r s ’ F e d e r a t io n , t h e S h ip b u il d in g E m p l o y e r s ’ F e d e r a t io n , and
t h e U n io n s ’ N eg o tia tin g C o m m it t e e . Report on working hours. London

Whitefriars Press, Ltd., 1922. 92 pp.

A review of this publication may be found on pages 68 to 70 of this issue of the
M onthly L a b o r R e v ie w .
P e o p l e s ’ Y ea r b o o k
S o c ie t ie s , 1923.

and

A nnual

of t h e

E n g l ish

and

S co ttish W h o l esa l e

Cooperative Wholesale Society {Ltd.), 1 Balloon St., Manchester,
England [1923]. 338 pp. Illus.

Contains a wealth of statistical and other information on reconstruction in Europe,
cost of living and the food supply, the labor movement, etc. Concerning the coop­
erative movement, which is naturally treated at length, a detailed account is given
of the various phases of cooperation, educational work, taxation, and the Cooperative
Party, in Great Britain, and of the movement in the various countries of the world.
The sales for 1921 of European cooperative wholesale societies, taken from the
yearbook, are given on page 166 of this issue of the M onthly L abor R e v iew .
District of Columbia minimum-wage cases: Supreme Court
of the United States, October term, 1922. Brieffor appellants. \Washington, D. C.
1923. 2 vols., xci, 1138 pp.]
By the diligence of Felix Frankfurter, of counsel, assisted by Mary W. Dewson,
research secretary of the National Consumers’ League, both of New York City, a mass
of data bearing on minimum-wage laws, their purposes, legality, and justification
from an economic standpoint is presented in support of the constitutionality of the
minimum wage law of the District of Columbia, held unconstitutional by the court
of appeals of the District, November 6, 1922. Decisions of the courts of various States
upholding such laws are cited at some length, and extended quotations are made from
the reports of various minimum-wage boards and commissions, offered in support of
such legislation as a proper exercise of the police power of the Government—in this
instance of Congress acting for the District of Columbia. The experience of Canada,
Great Britain, Australia, and other foreign countries is brought under review. A
considerable bibliography is included.
S t e p h e n s , F rancis H .

C. F. Studies in European cooperation. Lahore, Sunt. Govt. Printina
1922. 166, v pp.

S tr ic k la n d ,

Contains accounts of the cooperative movements of Holland, Belgium, Italy,
England, and the Punjab.
T u c k e r , D onald

S.


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The evolution of people’s banks. New York, 1922. 273 pp.

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