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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
JAMES J. DAVIS, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ETHELBERT STEWART, Commissioner
MONTHLY
LABOR REVIEW
VOLUME 28
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NUMBER 4
MAY 1 1 1929
'— ----—
EMtlgD,,states
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1929
C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lic a tio n is is s u e d p u r s u a n t t o th e
p ro v is io n s o f th e s u n d r y c iv il a c t (41 S ta t s .
1430) a p p ro v e d M a r c h 4 , 1921.
A D D IT IO N A L C O P IE S
OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY B E PEOCUEED FEOM
THE SU PEEINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS
U.S.G O V EE NM EN T PEINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D . C.
AT
15 C E N T S P E R C O PY
SUBSCEIPTION PEICE P E E Y E A E
U nited S tates, Canada, M exico, $1.50; Othee Counteies , $2.25
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C o n te n ts
Special a rtic le s :
p
Old people’s hom es m a in ta in e d by various n a tio n a lity g ro u p s_______
1 -7
P riv a te ben ev o len t hom es fo r th e a g e d _____________________________
7-2 6
Salaries of school-teachers in colonial A m erica______________________ 27-31
V acations w ith p a y u n d e r collective ag re e m e n ts______________________ 31 -3 4
Public-service re tire m e n t sy stem s in th e U n ited S tates, C an ad a, a n d
E u ro p e ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 34-44
S ta b ility of em p lo y m en t in th e p a p e r a n d pulp, a n d slau g h terin g a n d
m eat-p ack in g in d u strie s__________________________________________ 44-48
F ed eral legislation concerning railro a d em ployees_____________________4 8-75
L abor tu rn o v e r:
L a b o r tu rn o v e r in A m erican fa c to rie s___________________________
7q
In d u s tria l relatio n s an d lab o r c o n d itio n s:
N ew Jersey— C ollection of wage claim s by D e p a rtm e n t of L a b o r___ 77 , 78
T hirty-five y e a rs’ service w ith th e sam e c o m p an y ___________________
78
G reat B ritain — E m p lo y ers’ rep ly to in d u stria l conference p ro p o s a ls._ 78, 79
P roductivity of lab o r a n d in d u s try :
E ffects of v a rie ty a n d u n ifo rm ity of w ork upon o u tp u t__________ ___ 80 -8 2
S u m m ary of U n ited S ta te s C ensus of M a n u factu res fo r 1927________82 -8 4
G reat B ritain — O u tp u t, costs, a n d proceeds of coal-m ining in d u s try . _ 84, 85
W omen in in d u s try :
M innesota— W ages a n d hours of w om en in m u n icipalities, 1926 to
1928--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 86,87
T exas— C ost of liv in g a n d w om en’s w ages___________________________ 88 89
H ealth and re c re a tio n :
H e a lth conditions am o n g A m erican a n d C a n ad ian in d u stria l p o p u la
tio n s in 1928______________________________________________________ 90-92
O ccupational d e rm a titis_______________________________________
92,93
G re a t B rita in — In d u s tria l diseases u n d er th e w o rk m en ’s com pensation
a c t-------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 93, 94
P a rk recreatio n are a s in th e U n ited S ta te s— R ev ised d a ta fo r ce rta in
c itie s-----------------------------------------------------------In d u s tria l a c cid en ts:
A ccident p rev en tio n in building c o n stru c tio n ________________________ 96, 97
W ashington— R educing fa ta litie s in th e logging in d u s try ____________
97
W orkm en’s co m p en satio n a n d social in su ra n c e :
W orkm en’s com pensation in th e U n ited S tates, as of J a n u a ry 1, 1929. 98-117
I. A. I. A. B. C .: E lectio n of p resid en t a n d change in 1929 c o n v en tio n . 117-118
R ecen t com pensatio n re p o rts—
118
K e n tu c k y _____________________________________________________
O klahom a_____________________________________________________
118
C an ad a— Old age pen sio n s_______________________________________ 119-121
G erm any— Seasonal u n em p lo y m en t relief__________________________
121
G reat B ritain — A ccidents a n d com p en satio n p a y m e n ts in in d u s try . 122, 123
Court d e c is io n s:
C o u rt decisions relativ e to th e lo n g sh o rem en ’s a c t _______________ 124, 125
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hi
IV
CONTENTS
W orkers’ education a n d tra in in g :
Page
A pprenticeship in th e fo u n d ry tr a d e s ____________________________ 126-128
D istric t of C olum bia— Passage of v o catio n al re h a b ilita tio n a c t__ 129, 130
S o u th Africa— Progress of a p p re n tic e sh ip ------------------------------------ 130, 131
In d u s tria l d isp u te s:
S trikes a n d lock o u ts in th e U n ited S ta te s in F e b ru a ry , 1929--------- 132-136
C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r in F e b ru ary , 1929__ 136-139
Fam ily allow ances:
France— C reatio n of com m ission on fam ily allow ances__________ —
140
G erm any— Social or fam ily allow ances___________________________ 140-142
W ages an d h o u rs of la b o r:
W ages a n d hou rs of la b o r in th e hoisery a n d u n d erw ear in d u stry , 1926
an d 1928______________________________________________________ 143-153
Wrage changes u n d e r re c e n t ag re e m e n ts---------------------------------------- 154, 155
E arn in g s of stea m railro a d em ployees, 1927 a n d 1928------------------- 155-158
A verage a n n u a l earnings of w age earn ers in m an u fa c tu rin g in d u stries,
1899 to 1927____________________________ ________________________
159
C an ad a— Wrages a n d h o u rs of labor, 1927 a n d 1928_______________ 159-163
G reat B ritain — S h o rt tim e in th e co tto n -sp in n in g in d u s try ------------163
T ren d of em ploym en t:
S um m ary for F e b ru a ry , 1929_______________________________________
164
E m p lo y m en t in selected m a n u fa c tu rin g in d u stries in F e b ru a ry , 1929_ 165-176
E m p lo y m en t in coal m ining in F e b ru a ry , 1929___________________ 176, 177
E m p lo y m en t in m etalliferous m ining in F e b ru a ry , 1929---------------- 177, 178
E m p lo y m en t in p ublic u tilitie s in F e b ru a ry , 1929--------------------------178
E m p lo y m en t in w holesale a n d re ta il tra d e in F e b ru a ry , 1929-------- 179, 180
E m p lo y m en t in ho tels in F e b ru a ry , 1929_________________________ 180, 181
E m p lo y m en t on steam ra ilro a d s in th e U n ite d S ta te s ------------------- 181, 182
C hanges in em p lo y m en t a n d p a y rolls in v ario u s S ta te s ---------------- 183-187
W holesale an d re ta il p ric e s :
R etail prices of food in th e U n ited S ta te s_________________________ 188-206
R etail prices of coal in th e U n ited S ta te s-------------------------------------- 206-208
C om parison of re tail-p rice changes in th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d in foreign
co u n tries______________________________________________________ 208-210
Index nu m b ers of w holesale prices in F e b ru a ry , 1929-------------------- 211-213
T re n d of m e a t p ro d u c tio n a n d con su m p tio n in th e U n ite d S ta te s ._ 213, 214
C an ad a— W holesale price index n u m b er changed to 1926 b a s e ______
215
C ost of liv in g :
C a n a d a — C hanges in cost of th e fam ily b u d g et, 1921 to 1928------ 216, 217
Im m ig ratio n an d e m ig ra tio n :
S tatistics of im m ig ratio n for Ja n u a ry , 1929_______________________ 218, 219
P u blications re latin g to la b o r :
Official— U n ited S ta te s___________________________________________ 220, 221
Official— Foreign co u n trie s------------- --------------------------------------------- 221, 222
U nofficial________________________________________________________ 222-224
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T h is Issu e in B rief
I acations with pay are provided for in 71 of the trade agreements
received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics since 1926. The length
of service usually required in order to be eligible for a vacation with
pay is one year, and the length of vacation varies from 6 to 15 davs
Page 31.
J
Pension systems for Government employees in the United States,
Canada, and Europe show striking variations in the age and service
requirements established. In the systems of the United States,
retirement on pension is permitted at ages ranging from 50 or under
to 70 years, in Canada it is optional at 65, and this is also the com
monest age in the European countries studied, only two countries
having as high a requirement as 70 years for all employees. Service
requirements show a similar diversity. See page 34.
. The average annual earnings of wage earners in manufacturing
industries in 1927 were $1,299, according to the biennial Census of
Manufactures for 1927, the results of which have just been announced
by the United States Department of Commerce. Corresponding
averages for earlier years were for 1925, $1,280, for 1923, $1,254,
and for 1914, $590. Page 159.
A verage hourly earnings ^in the hosiery and underwear industry in
1928 were
cents, an increase of one-tenth of 1 cent per hour
over 1926, according to the biennial survey recently made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. As the average hours o f labor per week
remained unchanged (51.3), the full-time weekly earnings increased
but slightly, being $22.78 in 1928, compared with $22.73 in 1926.
Compared with 1913, hourly earnings increased 167.2 per cent and
full-time weekly earnings 146.1 per cent. Page 143.
The care of the aged in homes maintained by private organizations
and by various nationality groups is described in this issue, in contin
uation of the series of studies of this subject now being made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pages 1 and 7.
Colonial law in New England provided for public schools, but teachers
were hard to get at the very low wages offered. Wages were paid
partly by the town and partly by a per capita tuition fee. In the
very early days the best paid teachers averaged less than $100 a year,
while the women who taught the “ dame schools” for the youngest
children received as low as 10 shillings ($1.67) a year. The southern
colonies did not undertake public education during the colonial
period. Schooling was largely in the hands of indentured servants,
and sometimes even of “ transported felons.” Schoolmasters of this
class were not required or expected to be “ models of excellence,” or
persons of social standing. Page 27.
There are notable tendencies toward, extending the benefits of work
men s compensation legislation to new districts, to new employments,
and to more employees, toward allowing more equitable awards,
v
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
VI
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
toward more liberal inclusion of injuries for which an award is granted
and to improve the administration of the various acts. A resume of
the development, analysis, and comparison of the workmen’s com
pensation laws of the 43 States and 4 Territories, and the three acts
of Congress, as of January 1, 1929, is presented on page 98.
Meat consumption per capita in the United States showed a decrease
in 1928, according to figures given out by the United States Bureau
of Animal Industry. The per capita consumption of all kinds of
meat in 1928 is estimated at 138 pounds, as against 139.7 in 1927
and 149.7 in 1924. The most conspicuous change in meat-consump
tion habits has occurred in the case of beef and pork. The consump
tion of beef formerly exceeded that of pork but for a number of years
considerably more pork than beef has been used. Page 213.
The constitutional power of Congress to pass labor legislation affecting
railroad employees, and the existing Federal legislation on this sub
ject, are analyzed on page 48 under the following headings: Contract
of employment, hours of labor, wages, employers’ liability for injuries
to employees, labor disputes, safety and health, and housing. Though
Congress has potential power to legislate concerning railroad em
ployees engaged in interstate commerce, much of the labor legislation
affecting railroad workers is still State legislation.
Serious accidents in the logging industry of the State of Washington
have shown a progressive reduction during the past five years due to
the intensive campaign carried on by the safety division of the State
labor department. In 1928 there were 175 fatal and permanent total
disability cases reported as compared with 225 such cases in 1924,
while the number of compensable claims were correspondingly
reduced. Page 97.
The best health record among the 18,000,000 industrial policyholders
of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. was established in 1927.
That this record was not maintained in 1928 was due to two influ
enza outbreaks which resulted in a large increase in the mortality
rates from pneumonia and heart disease. The death rates from tuber
culosis and a number of other diseases of major importance, however,
were lower in 1928 than ever before. Page 90.
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MONTHLY
LABOR REVI EW
OF U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
VOL. 28, N O . 4
W A SH IN G TO N
APRIL, 1929
Old P eo p le’s H o m es M a in ta in ed by N a tio n a lity G rou ps
[This and th e succeeding article form p art of a stu d y recently m ade b y the B ureau of L abor Statistics
on th e general subject of th e provision for the care of th e aged in th e U nited States. Articles on homes for
the aged m aintained b y fraternal an d b y religious organizations and on the present statu s of S tate old-ag8
pension system s appeared in th e M arch, 1929, Labor Review.]
HERE are known to be 39 homes for the aged supported by
nationality groups. In several instances the home is sponsored
by a fraternal organization.
Of the 35 homes for which some data were obtained, 2 are run by
groups of British birth or ancestry, 2 by Bohemians (Czechoslovaks),
3 by Hollanders, 1 by French, 12 by Germans, 1 by Mexicans, 12 by
Scandinavians (Norwegians, Danes, Swedes), 1 by Scotch, and 1 by
Swiss.1 The location of one Scandinavian home is unknown. The
other 34 homes are located as follows:
T
B ritish :
N um ber
Illin o is______________________
1
New Y o rk __________________
1
C zechoslovak:
Illin o is______________________
2
D u tc h :
Illin o is_______ :______________
1
M ichigan ___________________
1
N ew Je rse y _________________
1
F rench:
New Y o rk __________________
1
G e rm a n :
C alifornia___________________
1
Illin o is______________________
1
In d ia n a _____________________
1
K e n tu c k y ___________________
1
M a ry la n d ___________________
1
M a ssach u setts______________
1
G erm an— C ontinued.
N um ber
1
M issouri____________________
New Je rse y _________________
2
New Y o rk __________________
2
O hio________________________
1
M exican:
1
A rizo n a_____________________
S c a n d in a v ia n :
Illin o is______________________
2
M a ssa c h u se tts______________
1
M in n e so ta_____:_____________
5
New Y o rk __________________
2
W isconsin___________________
1
S cottish:
Illin o is______________________
1
Sw iss:
New Y o rk __________________
1
The 34 homes from which data as to capacity were obtained can
accommodate 2,024 old people; the average number in residence,
however, aggregates only 1,850. The groups sponsoring 31 of these
homes spent for their maintenance last year nearly $600,000, the cost
for 3 homes being not reported. The details for the various national
ity groups are shown in the table following.
i All Jew ish homes were classified in this s tu d y as “ religious p h ilan th ro p ic” ; for d a ta on these see L abor
R eview for M arch , 1929.
*
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[691]
1
2
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 1 .—N U M B E R O F A G E D P E O P L E IN H O M E S OF S P E C IF IE D N A T IO N A L IT Y
G R O U P S, A N D C O ST O F O P E R A T IO N F O R O N E Y E A R
Inm ates
N um ber
of homes
reporting
N atio n ality group
B ritish
______________________ D zech OSlnv a lr
D utch
------ -----------------------Branch
___________ ________________
German
__ __ -- - __ - — - - -M exican
_ __ _________ _____
Scandinavian
______
_ _ __ - __ _
Scottish
_ __ __ ___ ___ -------Swiss_______________ ____ _______________ - .................
Total
__________________________
Average
num ber in
residence
C apacity
of home
A nnual
cost of
operation
2
2
3
1
12
1
11
1
1
90
100
280
15
930
12
507
50
40
90
74
255
15
875
12
453
37
39
$39, 515
24, 690
73,077
3,214
i 267, 744
11, 750
138, 079
25, 685
15, 000
2 34
2,024
1,850
s 598,754
* y IJUJ-UCS.
2 N o t including 1 home which did no t report on these points.
331 homes.
Most of these homes are institutions of moderate size, housing
fewer than 50 persons each. Only 13 of the whole group are filled
to capacity, however. The table below shows for the various na
tionality groups the homes having classified numbers of residents:
T able 2 .—H O M E S O F S P E C IF IE D N A T IO N A L IT Y G R O U P S, C L A S S IF IE D B Y A V E R A G E
N U M B E R OF R E S ID E N T S
N um ber of ho mes, wil h classifi ed num t jer of
resid ents
N ationality group
Less
th a n
25
25
and
under
50
50
and
under
75
1
2
1
1
B ritish
D titch
____ -
G erm an _ _ _____________________________
Scandinavian
___
Scntti^h
Sw iss------------------------------------------------------T o ta l_______________________________
1
2
1
4
8
75
and
under
100
100
and
under
200
T otal
200
and
over
1
1
5
2
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
15
5
2
3
1
2
2
3
1
12
i 11
1
1
1
1 34
1 N o t including 1 home w hich did no t report on this point.
The Swiss Home for the Aged, at Mount Kisco, N. Y., was the
first of these homes to be established; it has been in existence since
1873. More than 75 per cent of these homes have been in opera
tion a decade or more. The following table shows the age distribu
tion of the homes:
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[692]
3
OLD PEOPLE’S HOMES— NATIONALITY GROUPS
T able 3 .—A G E D IS T R IB U T IO N O F H O M E S F O R A G E D O F S P E C IF IE D N A T IO N A L IT IE S
N um ber in existence
N atio n ality of sponsoring group
2 and
5 and 10 and 25 and 50 years
under under under under
and
T otal
5 years 10 years 25 years 50 years over
B ritish , ____________ _
Czechoslovak. _____________________ ______ _____
D utch _
__ _______ _
French _ ________
G erm an __ ______ ___________ _ _
_ _ _ _
M exican. ___ _________________________________
Scandinavian, ________________ _ ___
Scottish_____________________________
Swiss _ ___________________________ _____________
T otal
_________________
_________________
1
1
1
i
1
2
4
2
1
1
3
1
2
2
3
1
12
1
1 11
1
1
1
1 34
1
2
8
5
1
2
12
13
1 N o t including 1 home no t reported.
Terms of Admission
I n m o s t instances the first requirement for admission to these
homes is that the applicant be of the same nationality as the group
sponsoring the home, or of that descent. Of the 32 homes reporting
on this point, 23 make this requirement and one adds that the
applicant must also “ understand the Swedish language.” The presi
dent of the British Old People’s Home, in Hollywood, 111., writes
that the home association is very lenient in this respect, and more
than 20 per cent of the residents are Americans. In one home, a
Norwegian institution not included above, while there is no hard
and fast requirement in this respect, applicants of Norwegian birth
or descent are given preference.
•
In a number of instances the home is sponsored or supported by
an organization, fraternal or otherwise,2 and in these cases the ap
plicant must usually be a member of that organization. Thus, the
Fritz Reuter Altenheim, at North Bergen, N. J., requires that
applicants must be recommended by a society which is a member
of the Plattsdeutche Volksfest-Verein.
In general the applicant must be of good moral character and in
as good physical condition as could be expected, having regard to
his age; and in some instances the application must be accompanied
by a physician’s certificate to that effect. Some homes specify that
the person desiring admittance must not be “ afflicted with any
chronic disease, physical or mental.”
Two Scandinavian homes in Wisconsin make the following pro
vision in this connection:
Persons suffering from in sa n ity , contagious, repulsive, an d in cu rab le diseases
will n o t b e a d m itte d as m em bers of th e hom e. In case a n y one of th e resid en ts
of th e hom e, in th e opinion of th e b o a rd or d ire c to rs, should becom e in such
degree diseased in m in d or body, t h a t th e co n d itio n of h e a lth w ith in th e hom e
or co m fo rt of th e o th e r m em bers w ould suffer th e re b y , such p a tie n t sh all be
tra n sfe rre d to a m ore fittin g place, in case th e p h y sician s shall counsel such
step. T he associatio n shall n o t be h eld responsible fo r su ch p erso n ’s su p p o rt
a fte r th e ir rem oval; th e re shall be no o bstacle, how ever, p re v e n tin g th e b o a rd
of d irecto rs fro m ren d erin g such s u p p o rt as th e y d eem rig h t a n d pro p er.
2 Some of these organizations are: H olland U nion Benevolent Association, St. A ndrew Society, D augh
ters of th e B ritish Em pire, In d ep en d en t O rder of Vikings, Ind ep en d ent O rder of Svithiod, Swiss Benevo
lent Society, French Benevolent Society, Sociedad del Socorro, Aftenro Society, P lattsd eu tch e VolksfestVerein, etc.
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[693]
4
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Two homes (one German and one French) admit persons of both
sexes but not as married couples, while all the rest not only take in
both sexes but married couples as well. The Scottish Old People’s
Home, at Riverside, 111., says in this connection :
T h e sep a ra tio n of aged m a rrie d couples is one of th e trag ed ies of life. In
th e S co ttish Old P eo p le’s H om e provision is m ad e t h a t such couples m ay e n jo y
each o th e r’s com panionship. * * * I t is un u su al, p erh ap s, fo r a m a n a n d his
wife to be in a hom e fo r th e aged a t th e sam e tim e . U sually i t is th e loss of
a h u sb an d or a wife w hich m ak es i t necessary fo r th e su rv iv o r to seek refuge
in a hom e of th is kind . B u t th e re are cases of aged m a rrie d couples ap p ly in g
for adm ission to such in s titu tio n s . T h e u su al cu sto m is to se p a ra te th e m on
th e ir adm ission, th u s a d d in g to th e ir cares a n d b u rd en s.
I t w as th e th o u g h t t h a t a n aged couple w ho h a d sh ared to g e th e r th e jo y s a n d
sorrow s of life, who h a d to g e th e r b o rn e th e h e a t a n d b u rd e n of th e d a y , m ig h t
be to g e th e r in th e tw ilig h t of th e ir lives to enjoy each o th e r’s com panionship
t h a t caused th e builders of th e S co ttish Old P eople’s H om e to m ake provision
fo r su ch cases.
Age.—All the 34 homes reporting on this point set an age limit on
admission, below which admission is refused. In 1 home this age is
set at 50 years, in 7 at 60 (1 of these takes women at 55), in 1 at 62,
in 22 at 65 (2 of these take women at 60), and in 3 at 70 years.
Admission fee.—Only seven of the homes require no admission fee.
In the other 27 varying amounts are required: In 1 home $200; in
1 home $300 to $500; in 11 homes $500; in 2 homes $800; and in
4 homes $1,000. In 6 homes the fee varies with the financial means
of the applicant, and in another case it is required that if the resident
has sons they must pay the home $30 per month as long as the
parent remains in the home. One German home in California has
a scale of admission fees based upon the age at the time of admission.
The rate varies from $2,500 for persons 80 years of age at time of
entrance to $4,500 for persons 65 years at time of entrance; for
persons over 80, special terms are made by agreement. One home
has no fixed admission fee; persons having property must turn this
over to the home, this entitling them to life care. In other cases
a weekly rate of $7 (less, if the applicant is unable to pay) is charged.
Some of the homes which require a fixed admission fee also take
free, in certain cases, persons who are unable to pay the required fee
or reduce the entrance fee in such cases. In some cases the home
has certain endowed rooms which are set apart for the use of indigent
persons. Two homes in Illinois have a number of endowed rooms;
in one of these, which has 50 rooms, 25 are endowed.
Property.—In general these homes are maintained for persons who
have little or no property or an amount which is insufficient for
support. (One home takes only persons who are “ homeless and
forsaken.” ) Since the homes are operated on a semiphilanthropic
basis, 19 require that what property or income the applicant has must
be made over to the home at time of admission. Six of these, how
ever, pay the resident the income from, or a certain rate of interest
upon, all turned over in excess of the admission fee.
Other requirements.—Six homes (two Dutch, three German, and
one Czechoslovak) make religious requirements. The two Dutch
homes require that the applicant be a member of a specified church,
the Czechoslovak home that he be a Roman Catholic, while two of the
German homes require that the applicant be a Protestant, and the
third that he be a Christian.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
re94]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
S c o t t is h
o l d p e o p l e 's
Ho m e ,
r iv e r s id e .
III.
OLD PEO PLE’S HOMES— NATIONALITY GROUPS
5
Benefits Provided
G e n e r a l l y , a n a t t e m p t is m a d e in th e s e h o m e s to m a k e th e i n s t i t u
tio n se e m a s h o m e lik e a s p o ssib le .
Of the 35 homes, 33 provide medical care for residents, 1 does not
do so, and 1 did not report on this point. In most instances the
home has a regular physician who is on call for any services needed,
besides making periodical visits; while in 8 homes there is a resident
physician. Nineteen homes have a resident nurse (in 1 case two
nurses), and in another home the matron is a nurse. Two institu
tions have a hospital or infirmary in connection with the home.
In 20 cases, an effort is made to provide recreation for the old
people who are spending the remainder of their lives at the home.
In two other cases the residents find recreation in the garden and
grounds. One home makes a practice of celebrating the birthdays
of the residents, another gives concerts for them, a third provides
entertainments and excursions of various sorts, and a fourth gives
picnics for their benefit. One home has theatricals every Saturday
afternoon besides occasional concerts. In one home motion pictures,
reading, arid music form the recreation of the old people who are
living there; while in another recreation is supplied by piano, organ,
victrola, and radio and the home has a sun parlor which the residents
enjoy.
Allowances for “ pin money” are made by three homes, one does so
“ in special cases,” and another “ if necessary.” As already men
tioned, six homes pay the residents interest on any property that
they may have turned over to the home in excess of the required
admission fee. Two of these homes pay interest at the rate of 3 per
cent, one at 4 per cent, and two at 5 per cent.
Duties of Residents
T h e h o m e s are about evenly divided on the question of requiring
that the inmates give their services in prescribed duties. Beyond
asking, as all homes do, that the residents be peaceable and courteous,
17 homes require no assistance from the old people though in 4 of
these cases volunteer work is welcomed. Sixteen homes require
that the inmates perform such light duties around the institution as
they are able to or as may be asked of them.
Support of the Home
F in a n c e s are generally a constant problem with homes run by
private philanthropy and most of these homes are no exception to this
rule. One home reports that—
T h e m ain ten an ce of th e h om e h as been a c o n sta n t stru g g le ev er since th e open
ing of its h o sp itab le doors. In sp ite of th e m o st rigid econom y a n d th e u tm o st
efficiency in m an ag em en t, th e en d of each fiscal y ear h as show n a deficit. T he
aged m en a n d w om en in th e hom e h a v e n e v er fe lt th e financial strin g en cy , how
ever. T hey h ave alw ays been cared fo r as te n d e rly as if th e re were u n lim ited
fu n d s a t th e disposal of th e m an ag e m en t.
Various means are resorted to, in the attempt to provide funds.
The entrance fees of the residents are generally by no means suffi
cient to cover the expense of operation. Therefore, tag days, bazaars,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[695]
6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
concerts, card parties, etc., are often given by the sponsoring asso
ciation; contributions from the charitably minded are, of course,
always welcome. Where the home is sponsored by an organization
the membership fees from the organization help to swell the income
of the home.
In a number of instances, also, the home is endeavoring to raise
an endowment fund the income from which will help to cover the home
expenses. The Scottish Old People’s Home at Riverside, 111., the
British Old People’s Home at Hollywood, 111., and the Norwegian
Old People’s Home of Chicago, are among the homes which are
endeavoring to improve the financial stability of the home by building
up a large endowment fund.
Cost of Operation
P e r c a p it a cost of operation varies considerably in these homes,
ranging from $201.47 _to $979.17, and averaging $340.78 for the
group. The low and high figures and the average cost, by nationality,
are shown in Table 4.
T able 4 —P E R C A P IT A C O ST OF O P E R A T IO N O F H O M E S F O R A G E D O F V A R IO U S
N A T IO N A L IT Y G R O U P S
Per capita cost
Per capita cost
N a tio n ality group
N atio n ality group
Low
B ritish______
Czechoslovak- _ _
D u tch
___ _ __
French 1
G erm an. _______
M exican 1________
$320. 00
237.43
240. 00
214. 27
204. 08
979.17
High
$484. 85
420. 00
398. 71
214. 27
650. 76
979.17
Average
$439. 06
333. 65
286. 58
214. 27
342. 38
979.17
Low
High
Average
Scandinavian
Scottish L - _____
Swiss 1 __________
$201. 47
694.19
384. 62
$536.12
694.19
384. 62
$304.81
694.19
384. 62
All homes___
201.47
979.17
340. 78
1 1 home.
As is seen, the highest average per capita cost of operation in this
group is that of the Mexican home. Since detailed data as to items of
expenditure are not available for this home, the reason for this high
figure can not be ascertained. The lowest average cost was that in
a Scandinavian home.
The bureau has data as to operating expenses of four of these
homes operated by nationality groups. These are shown in detail in
the table below. These figures do not tell the whole story, however,
since contributions of food—vegetables, fruit, canned stuff—and
even of household supplies and furnishings often form a considerable
item in the upkeep of the home. The expenses given do not include
in any case permanent additions to the home (such as the erection of
a new wing), as it was felt that an outlay for such a purpose
was not properly chargeable under current expenses for any one year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[696]
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
T
able
5 .—O P E R A T IN G
E X P E N SE S OP H O M ES FO R
N A T IO N A L IT Y G R O U P S
AGED
B ritish
B ritish Old
People’s
Home,
Holly
wood, 111.1
Item
Salaries and w ages__________ . .
Groceries an d m e a t s . . . _____
C lothing_______________ _
L a u n d ry an d s u p p l i e s . .. _____
Telephone an d telegraph __________
H eat, light, a n d pow er___________
W ater a n d ice
...
D rugs a n d m edical supplies. ______
M edical a n d hospital care . _
Printin g and office supplies ___
Repairs to equ ip m en t and structures.
Replacem ents
. _
T r a n s p o rta tio n ..____
R ecreation___ ____
Insurance ___ ___
Taxes. _ . .
M iscellaneous ___
T o tal.
$7, 801. 35
6, 878. 80
21.27
765. 80
399. 85
3, 912. 35
428. 38
525. 23
970. 50
2, 059. 96
' 376.89
336. 45
16.29
660. 53
13.89
3 1,474.85
. ..
Allowances or interest to in m ates..
C ost per in m ate per year (excluding allowances).
1 D ata are for 15 m onths.
OF
j
7
S P E C IF IE D
Scandinavian
V ictoria
Home,
Ossining,
N . Y.
D anish
Old
People’s
Home,
Chicago,
111.
$2, 746. 57
2,127. 74
$3, 736.05
6,212.29
300.14
66.05
743. 69
59. 75
60.00
110.30
346.12
87. 57
357. 35
52.13
2,320. 94
498.40
401. 62
D anebo
H om e for
Aged,
M inneapo
lis, M inn.
$1, 902.15
2,432. 20
104. 47
118. 58
1, 023. 93
25.84
233. 67
124.09
448. 01
351.81
273.19
920. 57
947. 00
2 170. 69
95. 76
216. 00
3 546. 98
3 241. 54
30.00
144. 58
318. 98
26, 642. 39
7,461. 36
16,177. 08
7, 258. 31
99. 35
327. 91
172. 24
298.45
294.13
578. 90
302. 43
2 Includes $128.36 for “ Christm as cheer. ”
3 Includes cost of burials.
P rivate B en ev o len t H om es for th e Aged
are many homes for the aged which are not sponsored by
any definite organization but which are dependent upon private
THERE
philanthropy. The bureau has reports from 350 such homes. The
number of homes from which reports have been received are shown,
by States, in the statement below:
N um ber
of homes
A la b a m a ________________________
C alifo rn ia_______________________
C o lo rad o ________________________
C o n n e c tic u t_____________________
D elaw are________________________
D istric t of C o lu m b ia _____________
F lo rid a __________________________
G eorgia__________________________
Illin o is__________________________
In d ia n a _________________________
Io w a ____________________________
K a n sa s________________
K e n tu c k y _______________________
L ouisiana________________________
M a in e ___________________________
M a ry la n d _______________________
M a ssa c h u se tts___________________
M ich ig an ________________________
M in n e so ta _______________________
M isso u ri_________________________
1
14
2
7
1
3
2
3
15
8
6
3
2
6
11
3
65
13
5
6
N um ber
of homes
N e b ra sk a ________________________
N ew H a m p sh ire _________________
N ew Je rs e y ______________________
N ew Y o rk _______________________
N o rth C aro lin a__________________
O hio_____________________________
O regon__________________________
P e n n sy lv a n ia ____________________
R h o d e Is la n d ____________
S o u th C a ro lin a __________________
T en n essee_______________________
T ex as____________________________
U ta h ____________________________
V e rm o n t_________________________
V irg in ia_________________________
W ash in g to n ______________________
W est V irg in ia____________________
W isconsin_______________________
2
12
10
62
1
19
l
26
6
2
3
8
i
3
2
3
3
10
Total___________________350
These homes have accommodations for more than 13,000 persons.
The average number in residence, however, totals only some 12,188.
The number of homes, capacity, average number living there, and
the annual cost of maintenance are shown, by States, in the table
following.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[697]
8
T
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
able 1
.— N U M B E R O F IN M A T E S O F P R IV A T E B E N E V O L E N T H O M E S F O R T H E A G E D ,
B Y ST A T E S
Inm ates
N u m b er
Average
of homes
reporting C apacity num ber
in
of home
residence
State
Ala.hq.mR,
___________________ _____
California,
_ ______________________________ ___
Colorado
____________ ___ ______________ ___ C onnecticut
__ _____________ - - __
D elaware
_________ -- ___ - - _______
D istrict of C olum bia __ _
________
FI or icfr
________________________
Georgia
___ _ ___ _ ______ __ _ _____ __ _
Illinois
___________________________________________
Indiana
______ _ _ '__
_____
____ -- Iow a
___ _____
- __ _
- - ___ ___ _
K ansas __________
_ ______ __ ____ _ _________
K entucky
__ _ _ _ _ ____ ____ __ - __________
L ouisiana.
____
_______ ________ _______ ______
M aine
_
_ _ _ __ _ ___ _ ____ _
__
M arylan d ___
_ __ _ _____ ___ • ______ _____ ___
M assach u setts.. _ _ _ _ _____ _______ - _______
M ichigan
_ ___
_ _ _______
__
M innesota _
____ _
- ________________ _
M issouri.
___ _ _
_ ________ - _______ __ __
N ebraska
-- -- -- - ___ ___
N ew H am pshire
-.
___
_ ____
N ew Jersey__
__ - _____ _ __ _____
________ _.
N ew York
_ _ _ ______________________ _____
N o rth C arolina. _
___ _
_______________ _
Ohio
______ _ -__ - ______________ -Oregon
____ _____ _ _ _
_ _____________ ___
Pennsylvania
-________ _____ ___
R hode Islan d __ ___ ____
__- ______ _______ ______
South Carolina
_
____ _____ ____ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tennessee
_ ____________________ ____
Texas
__ _ _ ____ ___ _ - - - _________
U tah
. . ____________________________
V erm ont___ _____ _ __ _ _ _______
__ ____ _______
V irginia_____ ____ ____ ____
____ __ _ _______
W ashington
_______ __________________________ _______
W est Virginia _ _ __
_____ _ _ __ __ _ _____
W iscon sin ___ ________________ _______________________
T o ta l___
__________________________________
1 10 homes.
2 Includes children in 1 case.
2 5 homes.
4 No data.
®2 homes.
612 homes.
i 4 homes.
8 57 homes.
9 3 homes.
i° 9 homes.
ii 8 homes.
]2 46 homes.
A nnual
cost of
operation
1
14
2
7
1
3
2
3
15
8
6
3
2
6
11
3
65
13
5
6
2
12
10
62
1
19
1
26
6
2
3
8
1
3
2
3
3
10
35
849
191
156
45
88
93
126
711
177
103
90
25
316
230
195
1,582
466
235
218
70
244
494
3,121
25
668
68
1,196
249
118
119
134
22
53
43
141
103
401
25
785
152
148
(4)
86
93
103
698
165
78
85
20
277
206
192
1,421
413
218
216
70
213
io 371
2,997
25
595
68
1,165
228
113
118
127
22
53
43
132
75
392
$3, 892
1 217, 364
2 178,122
8 64, 641
(9
« 27, 207
30,988
« 20,845
286, 512
70, 083
2 30, 657
28, 625
10,000
8 53,114
130, 313
« 61, 982
8 754, 755
e 163, 708
9 65, 636
8 58,109
25, 908
1 98, 082
ll 163, 739
I2 875, 915
3, 500
is 167, 417
29, 376
I4 443,904
« 75, 262
12, 215
34, 652
18 46, 002
8, 000
« 19,143
24,918
s 36, 200
40,148
ll 141, 764
350
13, 200
« 12,188
li 4, 502, 698
is 14 homes.
ii 22 homes; includes children in 1 case,
is 6 homes.
18 348 homes,
ii 284 homes.
The above table shows a margin between the number which can
be cared for and the number actually being cared for. Of the 348
homes reporting on both points, 201 or more than half were filled to
capacity. The remainder were not entirely filled. This is rather a
surprising disclosure in view of the need. Whether this is due to the
financial requirements of the homes, the unwillingness of old people
to leave their accustomed surroundings, the horror many people
have of “institutions,” or other causes, is not clear.
Eighty per cent of the homes studied are of moderate size, shelter
ing fewer than 50 persons each, and slightly more than half have
fewer than 25 residents. Only 18 have 100 residents or more.
The age of some of these homes was somewhat surprising, and shows
that concern for the welfare of old people who are unable to care for
themselves and may have no one to care for them is no new develop
ment. Three of these homes are more than 100 years old, having
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[698]
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
9
been established in 1815, 1817, and 1822, respectively; 77 have been
in existence 50 years or more, and nearly 70 per cent have been in
operation for a quarter of a century or longer.
Kind and Character of Persons Admitted
Two h o m e s take only “ indigent widows/’ one requires that the
applicant be a person of good character and disposition and also that
she be a person of refinement, one takes only “ worthy and needy”
women, and one only “ homeless” and friendless persons of good char
acter. One admits only sailors who have sailed for five years under
the American flag, another only “ decrepit and worn-out sailors,” and
a third “ aged women of the sea,” i. e., the destitute, sick or infirm
mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, or widows of seamen. One home
is maintained only for persons “ who have labored in art, music, edu
cation, or any of the various professions,” a second for “ artists, liter
ary, scientific or professional men reaching their old age without
means of support,” and a third for retired music teachers who have
taught in the United States for 25 years. One is open to “ any re
spectable member of the theatrical profession on the speaking stage.”
One home, established under the terms of a will, for “ aged and re
spectable white bachelors and widowers,” specifies that—
A pplicants m u s t be te m p e ra te , of good h a b its generally, a n d of a reaso n ab le
a n d am iable sp irit an d of good c h a ra c te r a n d re p u ta tio n . P reference will be
given to th o se w ho h av e been su sta in in g m em bers of so ciety , c o n trib u tin g to
th e business or g eneral p ro sp e rity of th e co m m u n ity , a n d h a v e occupied p o si
tio n s of som e resp o n sib ility in business or professional life, a n d are possessed of
social qualifications t h a t w ould c o n trib u te to th e h ap p in ess of th e o th e r m e m
bers.
A somewhat similar requirement is that of an Illinois home, also
established by will:
T h e ap p lic a n t m u st be a m an , who, in th e tim e of his stre n g th , w as a self-sus
ta in in g m em ber of society, c o n trib u tin g to th e business o r g eneral p ro sp e rity of
th e co m m u n ity , w ho h as occupied a p o sitio n of som e resp o n sib ility in business
or professional life a n d w ho, in th e tim e of his p ro sp e rity , c o n trib u te d to th e
w an ts of th o se less fav o red . H e m u st be te m p e ra te , of good h a b its g enerally,
of a reasonable an d am iable sp irit, a n d of good c h a ra c te r a n d re p u ta tio n . H e
m u st su b m it references to e stab lish such good nam e.
Another home of similar foundation, which asks neither admission
fee nor transfer of property, but requires that the residents have
sufficient means to provide clothing and personal expenses, or that
they have relatives who can do so, urges that “ members who have
interests or occupations outside of the home should keep up these
interests.”
A Kansas home is maintained for “ aged women who have never
been public paupers, and who ought not to be treated as such,”
while a Pennsylvania home admits only “ disabled, aged or infirm and
deserving American mechanics.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[699]
10
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Terms of Admission
I n g e n e r a l , all homes require that the applicant for admission be
in fairly good health, so that constant personal care will not be
necessary, and of good moral character. One home makes the follow
ing requirements for admission:
Section 1. T h ere shall be an admission fee of $500.
E very m ale a p p lic a n t m u st be 68 y ears old a n d u p w ard s. E ach fem ale a p p li
c a n t m u s t be 65 y e ars old a n d u p w ard s. E ach a p p lic a n t m u s t be a citizen of
th e U n ited States'; m u s t h a v e been a re sid e n t of th e B orough of B rooklyn, of th e
city of N ew Y ork, fo r five years n e x t p reced in g th e ap p lic a tio n , m u s t fu rn ish
sa tisfacto ry testim o n ia ls as to re sp e c ta b ility of c h a ra c te r a n d prev io u s h isto ry ;
m u st be a P ro te s ta n t a n d a c c e p t th e B ible as th e ru le of fa ith . E ach m u s t b rin g
from one of th e m ed ical ad v iso rs of th e h o m e a certificate of p h y sical fitness,
an d on en te rin g th e hom e sh all execute a n d d eliv er th e ag reem en t a n d assign
m e n t prescribed b y th e b o ard .
Another home was founded under the terms of the will of a wealthy
resident of the city which provided as follows:
And w hile no one is to be excluded on a c co u n t of religious opinions or th e
d en o m in atio n of C h ristia n s w ith w hich she m ay h av e been co nnected, preference
is to be given to th o se of A m erican b ir th a n d to th o se w ho h a v e n o t been th e
recipients of public c h a rity b u t h a v e resp e c ta b ly su sta in e d a stru g g le w ith disease
or m isfo rtu n e, till such a refuge as th e hom e will be a p p re c ia te d a n d en jo y ed by
th em .
Sex.—In general, old ladies seem to be better provided for, in the
way of homes for their declining years, than do old men. Of the 350
homes reporting, 195 take women only, whereas only 22 restrict
admission to men only (one home warns that “ no one who has a wife
need apply”)- Eleven homes take individuals of both sexes (but not
as married couples), while 122 homes admit not only both sexes but
couples. There are a number of homes established for the primary
purpose of caring for married couples, but these generally also receive
single or widowed aged of either sex or both sexes.
Age.—Practically all of these homes set a specified minimum age
of admission. The most common age so set is 65 years, nearly half
(162) of the homes having this minimum; while about one-fourth (92)
set 60 years as the age below which admission is refused. In 2 homes
the age of admission is 45 years; in 3 homes, 50 years; in 1 home, 54
years; in 2 homes, 55 years; in 1 home, 56 years; in 1 home, 62 years;
in 1 home, 63 years; in 2 homes, 66 years; in 2 homes, 67 years; in
6 homes 68 years; in 28 homes, 70 years; and in 1 home 73 years.
There is no fixed age of admission in 42 homes.
Admission jee and other monetary requirements.—One of the interest
ing facts developed by this study has been the relatively small pro
portion of homes which are filled to capacity. It is possible that the
monetary requirements are to some degree responsible for this. Of
the 350 private homes reporting, all but 73 require an entrance fee
varying from $70 to $5,076. (Twenty-three of the homes which re
quire no admission fee are boarding homes to which the resident is re
quired to pay a specified rate per week or month.) The statement
following shows the requirements as to entrance fees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[700]
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
T
able
11
2 .—A D M IS S IO N F E E S O F P R IV A T E B E N E V O L E N T H O M E S F O R T H E A G E D
Fee
$70____________________________________
$100___________________________________
$150_______________________________
$200___________________________________
$250___________________________________
$250-$1,000 8____________________________
$300________________________________
$300-$400 5_____________________________
$300-$500____________________________
$350___________________________________
$360___________________________________
$400______________________________
$400-$600 s_____________________________
$450___________________________________
$500___________________________________
$500-$750 3_______________________ „____ _
$540-$5,076 8____________________________
$600___________________________________
$600-$1,000 3 __
$650___________________________________
N um
ber of
homes
i1
29
3
22
12
l
4 50
J
1
7
1
« 18
1
1
' 72
1
1
8 15
3
i
Fee
$700 .
$750____
$800____
$800-$1,400_____
$950________
$975________________
U p to $1,000
$1,000._
$1,200-.
$1,500
$2,000..
______
$3,150.
Fee varies—
According to age
According to means
O th er_____
N o fee__ .
T o tal. _
N um
ber of
homes
2
5
»6
1
1
i
1
10 21
1
3
2
1
1
1
8
1
h 73
350
1 Plus $150 for burial.
2 Plus $100 p er year a n d burial fee in 1 case.
a According to age.
4 Plus $800 after completion of probation in 1 case; plus $150 for burial in 1 case; plus $200 for burial in
1 case.
6 Per year.
6 Plus weekly charge in 1 case.
7 Pins $145 for burial in 1 case and $100 in another.
8 $700 if nonresident of county in 1 case.
8 Plus $100 for burial in 1 case.
!0 M ay be waived in 1 case; option of paying w eekly board in 1 case.
11 Includes 23 boarding homes; $150 for burial in 1 case.
As the above table shows, $300, $500, and $1,000 are the most com
mon amounts required as entrance fees. More than half of the homes
charge $500 or less. It must be remembered in this connection that,
with the exception of the boarding homes and the few instances in
which an additional amount is required to cover burial expenses, the
entrance fee is the only monetary requirement unless the applicant
has property. An elderly person who enters one of these homes at,
say, 60 years, paying his fee of from $70 to $5,076, is entitled to receive
therefor care for the rest of his life whether he lives 1 or 20 years longer.
Nearly one-seventh of all these homes make no monetary requirement
whatever.
One endowed home which charges an admission fee of $500 puts
this money into a special fund “ used for the benefit of worthy aged
men in need of assistance. There is no charge for maintenance in the
home.”
Seven homes require the resident to furnish her own room and one of
these requires also that she bring with her when she enters the home a
supply of clothing sufficient to last two years.1 Clothing must also
be supplied by the residents in two other homes. One home expects
i Some homes even specify th e articles. A typical list is as follows:
O utfit for entrance into Aged W om en’s Home: 6 sheets, 8 pillow cases, 2 w hite spreads, 1 pair blankets,
1 good dress for sum m er, 1 good dress for w inter, 2 everyday dresses, 1 w rapper, 1 hat, 2 pair gloves, 2 pair
shoes, 1 w arm w inter w rap, 1 light sum m er w rap, 2 petticoats, 3 u n d er vests, 6 chemise (if used), 6 pairs
draw ers, 6 handkerchiefs, 6 nightgowns, 6 pairs stockings, a n d 8 towels.
O utfit for entrance in to Aged M en ’s Home: 6 sheets, 8 pillow cases, 1 pair blankets, 2 w hite spreads, 8
towels, 6 shirts, 12 collars, 4 night shirts, 3 undershirts, sum m er, 3 undershirts, w inter, 3 pair drawers, w in
ter, 3 pair drawers, sum m er, 6 pairs stockings, 6 handkerchiefs, 1 best cloth suit, 1 new everyday suit, 1 over
coat, 1 b ath robe, 2 p air shoes, 2 pair gloves, 2 hats, 1 pair slippers, and three neckties. (B edding a nd u n d e r
w ear are required to be new.)
41195°— 29----- 2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the residents to supply their own bed linen, towels, and look after their
own laundry.
Other homes specifically forbid the resident to bring any furniture
of his or her own into the home^ though sometimes concession is made
in the case of a favorite chair or other article.
Some homes which charge admission fees nevertheless have a cer
tain number of endowed rooms to which persons may be received
who are without means to pay the required admission fee. One
home in Massachusetts has 10 rooms all or partially endowed.
There are four so-called “ widows’ homes” which are not homes
for the aged in the same sense as the other homes. In most cases
housekeeping quarters are supplied free or at a nominal rental, and
heat, light, water, etc., are also supplied; but the resident is required
to provide her own food, clothing, and other necessaries. One of
these homes is located in Louisiana, one in New Jersey, one in New
York, and the fourth in South Carolina.
As noted in the table above, some of the homes offer the incoming
resident the option of becoming a life resident or of paying board
by the week. Others accept no life members, but are boarding homes
only. The rates charged in the 23 boarding homes reporting are as
shown below. In cases where a range is reported, the rates vary
according to the financial means of the boarder or the accommoda
tions provided.
N um ber of
P e r w eek:
homes
$4____________________________________
' $ 7 ______________________________________________________
2
P e r m o n th :
$10 _____________________________________________________
1
$ 12 -$ 2 0 ________________________________________________
1
$15_____________________________________________________ 31
$20 _____________________________________________________
1
$30_____________________________________________________
1
$3 0 -$ 4 5 _ _______________________________________________
41
$35_____________________________________________________
1
$40____________________
1
$40-$60________________________________________________
1
$40 a n d u p _____________________________________________
1
$50_____________________________________________________
3
$60_____________________________________________________
1
$65_____________________________________________________
1
$75-$ 100_______________________________________________
1
R a te n o t re p o rte d ______________________________________
4
T o ta l____________________________________________
23
These private homes are usually maintained for persons of no means
or those whose income or property is insufficient for full support.
Since the entrance fee is in most cases inadequate ito cover the cost
of operation per inmate, a common requirement is that upon en
trance or at death the life resident must make over to the home
any pension, property, insurance, or other possession which he has
at that time or may thereafter acquire. The money thus received
helps to cover the deficit incurred on those who are without prop
erty of any sort as well as those who are unable to pay the entrance
fee.
2 If able; otherwise nothing.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3 P ayable in advance.
[ 702]
4 According to room occupied.
21
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
13
Of the 350 homes from which data were obtained, 193 require
relinquishment of all property or income at the time of entering the
institution, 3 require that part of the property or income shall be
given up, and 5 that the possessions (in 1 case personal effects only)
shall revert to the home upon the death of the resident. Of these,
however, 75 pay the resident the income from or a specified rate of
interest upon all property in excess of the entrance fee.
Other requirements.—Five homes admit only citizens of the United
States, 63 “ Americans” only, 23 white people only, 14 negroes only,
1 admits all nationalities and races except Mexicans and dark races,
and 1 all but negroes, 1 white Americans only, 1 home each gives
preference to French, Dutch, or English people, and 1 home each
admits only Gentiles, English-speaking persons, Jews, and Germans.
Only 74 homes have religious requirements. Of these, 65 require
that the applicant be a Protestant, 2 that he be a Christian, and 1
each that he be a Baptist, Catholic, Jew, Lutheran, Presbyterian,
or member of a specified local church. One home specifically excludes
Christian Scientists and Catholics.
Residence requirements are fairly common. Fifty-two homes re
quire residence in the city for specified periods ranging from 1 to 20
years; 13, residence in the county from 1 to 10 years; and 5, residence
in the State from 1 to 10 years. One home each requires that the
applicant be a citizen of the city, State, or city or county, and 1
that he shall have resided in the city or county for 10 years.
Duties of Residents
S o m e s e r v i c e is required of the residents in 212 of these private
homes. Light duties, or such tasks as the inmates are able to per
form, are required in 107 homes; in 68 homes the residents must care
for their own rooms, if possible (in one case mending also). One
home requires that they iron their own clothes, one that they do any
errands necessary, one that they set the tables for meals. “ Reason
able” services are required in one home; another requires that the
residents do whatever is necessary (but in practice they are seldom
asked to do anything), and another that they do “ whatever they
can do” to help. In one home a few residents have special duties
assigned to them, in another duties in kitchen or garden, and in two
homes about 4 hours’ assistance a day is required from those who
are able, one of these paying therefor at the rate of 10 cents an hour.
One home reports that its inmates are all too infirm to be of service
around the building. There are no service requirements in 116 insti
tutions, but in 24 of these the old people are allowed to help in such
ways as they desire.
Among the requirements of one home is that its residents refrain
from religious discussions. “ They shall not obtrude their religious
ideas upon nor in the presence of any other member who does not
care to hear them or is annoyed thereby.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Benefits Provided
B o a r d , room, clothing, laundry,5 etc., are almost universally pro
vided. (Exceptions were noted above.)
Medical care.—While most homes require that the applicant be of
good health at the time of admission, medical care and nursing are
usually provided in case the resident becomes ill after admission.
Thus of the 350 homes, 328 provide the necessary medical care and
another does so if the entrance fee is all paid. In some instances the
home engages the services of a physician by the year and he visits
the home regularly; in other cases he comes only when called. In
some places the physicians donate their services, and there are in
stances where the home has a panel of physicians all of whom donate
their services. Thirty-three homes have! one or more resident physi
cians (one has 2 and one 5 resident physicians). In 229 homes there
are one or more resident nurses (30 have two nurses, 16 have three,
4 have four, 1 has five, 1 has six, 1 seven, 1 eight, and 1 “ several”).
One home usually has a resident nurse and 1 expects to have one in
the future. In three homes the matron is a nurse. In 12 homes a
nurse is called in whenever her services are necessary.
Nine homes have a regular hospital or infirmary department in
connection with the home. One of these, a home which cares for
more than 100 persons, reports that its hospital is “ fully equipped
and regularly operated,” that it has an operating room, clinic, 4 sixbed wards, and 14 private rooms.
It is, as already stated, an almost universal requirement of homes
for the aged that at the time of admission the applicant shall be in
a fair state of health, having regard to his advanced years, so as not
to require constant care. One Massachusetts home, however, admits
persons “of either sex who may be afflicted with incurable malady,
and who have no relatives responsible for their support,” provided
the malady is not “ malignant, mental, or contagious.” Another home,
in New York, restricted to professional and scientific men, also takes
invalids.
Several homes, one of which is a Chicago home with an emergency
room and dormitory for ill residents but no hospital of its own, pro
vide that “ any member of the home family who requires a major
surgical operation, or treatment or detention in a general or special
hospital, may be removed to such hospital, as the case may be, and
may there be given required surgical or medical treatment without
expense to the member.”
One home points out that a large part of the cost of operation of
the home is due to the cost of nursing service, “ which a fourth of
our number receive, and which often covers a period of many years
in each case.”
The difficulties encountered along this line by one home and the
way these are met are described as follows:
Illness am ong our beneficiaries has im posed a heav y b u rd e n on th e w orkers
an d has ad d ed g reatly to th e expense. Sixteen of o u r m en h av e been in hosp itals,
som e of w hom , discharged as in cu rab le, w ere rem oved in am bulances. F o r oth ers,
who could n o t be a d m itte d , because th e y w ere in cu rab le, even th o u g h em erg ently sick, care outsid e a h o sp ital had to be p lan n ed . Tw elve m en died d u rin g
th e year, m an y of w hom w ere long b edridden.
f Though some homes limit the laundry work to a specified number of pieces per person per week.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[7041
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ward
h o m e fo r a g ed and r e spe c t a b l e b a c h el o r s and w id o w e r s ,
Ma p lew o o d ,
n
.
j
.
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HOSPITAL BUILDING AT MYRON STRATTON HOME, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
15
I t is p ro b ab ly m ore difficult to o b ta in p ro p er care for th e helpless aged in a
hom e w ith rig h t sta n d a rd s th a n fo r an y o th e r class of th e sick. P rices a re p ro
h ibitive, a n d m a n y nu rsin g hom es refuse to consider th e p a tie n t w ho req u ires
n ig h t a n d d a y care. E a rly in th e y e a r th e problem becam e so a c u te t h a t th e
hom e^visitor, a tra in e d nurse, prev ailed u p o n a young w om an w ith som e h o sp ita l
experience to use, fo r o u r old m en, h er hom e, estab lish ed fo r well, p a y in g guests.
T he first p a tie n t w as b ro u g h t to h e r from th e h o sp ital on a stre tc h e r. N ow we
have seven p a tie n ts in th is house, w here th e y are su rro u n d ed by b rig h tn ess a n d
w a rm th a n d w here th e y receive k indly, in tellig en t care. T h is hom e, how ever,
could n o t be m ain tain ed if th e v isito r did n o t sta n d back of it, re a d y to resp o n d
to an y em ergency a n d to h elp ease th e b u rd en should it becom e to o great.
H elpless age p resen ts, on th e whole, to o g re a t a p ro b lem fo r th e n u rsin g hom e
o r for fam ily care. H om es h av e been disorganized a n d fam ilies ex h a u ste d in
th e effort to care fo r th ese b ed rid d en ones. Y et n o t one h o sp ita l in B oston,
even in th e group carin g fo r chronics, will a d m it a m an helpless m erely from
old age or w ith palsy o r a n old hem iplegia. F o r all o th e r age g roups th e re is
h o sp ital accom m odation, even th o u g h in a d e q u a te to m e e t th e n eed , b u t for
th ese th e re is no place. A lthough in th e d ay s of th e ir y o u th a n d s tre n g th th e y
m ay h av e done th e ir p a rt in th e c o m m u n ity , e stab lish in g hom es a n d firesides
of th e ir ow n; y e t b ro u g h t to d ependency b y illness a n d loss of k in d red , th e re
a w aits th e m only th e alm shouse, ev er d read ed , isolated, a n d fa r from th e ir friends
a n d all th e ir old associations.
One of the most beautiful 'homes studied, which was established
in 1917 under the terms of a will, makes the following statement:
T h e hom e is ab so lu tely free. N o adm ission fee is req u ired . A ny m em ber
wffio has n o t sufficient incom e to p ro v id e fo r his clo th in g a n d p erso n al expenses
will be furnished w ith sufficient fu n d s th erefo r. T h e hom e p ro v id es fo r each
m em ber a single bedroom a n d la v a to ry , to g e th e r w ith b o ard a n d la u n d ry
service. H e also has th e use of th e public room s, consisting of lounge, lib rary ,
sm oking room , billiard room , a n d recreatio n room s. T h e services of a nurse
a n d visiting physician a re fu rnished to m em bers w ith o u t charge.
Recreation.—An attem pt to provide entertainment for the aged
guests is made in 244 homes by either the home officials or by various
outside groups, such as churches, clubs, etc., which have become
interested in the home. The kinds of entertainment vary from the
simplest sort of recreation afforded by the home grounds, porches,
etc., to an elaborate program of entertainment. Radio programs
form a very popular recreation; 28 homes specify these as one of
the amusements of the residents. Music from other sources—by
piano, victrola, graphophone, etc.—is a recreation feature mentioned
in 18 reports; 2 homes give regular concerts and 1 gives musicales.
In 42 homes special entertainments are given for the enjoyment of the
old people. Automobile or carriage rides are furnished in 16 homes,
outings in 2, and occasional trips in one.
Games of various sorts, such as card games, billiards, pool, croquet,
quoits, etc., form part of the recreation in 11 homes, while 1 home
gives card parties for the old people. The recreations furnished by
one include receptions, concerts, lectures, garden parties, and even
an annual ball, and those of another pool, billiards, and other games,
a good library, and motion pictures. In one home the recreations
include plays given at the home for the old people.
One large home, which also takes children, has a community
building in which the social life of the residents centers. Here in
the theater or the gymnasium are given motion pictures once a week,
frequent concerts, plays by the children, entertainments by the
children’s band and orchestra, and basketball and other games. The
superintendent states that the activities in this building have “ prac-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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16
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
tically eliminated the desire or need of the residents, young or old,
to visit the city for entertainment.”
Another endowed institution has a library and smoking room,
swimming pool, pool and billiard tables, bowling alleys, shuffleboaid,
and other games, such as chess, checkers, cards, etc., and a dance hall.
Motion pictures are shown at the home, and during the season mem
bers have a yacht trip once a week on the bay on which the estate
fronts.
j
Other recreations enumerated in one or more reports include par
ties of various sorts, reading and literature, motion pictures, church
services, “ vacations,” picnics, “ social affairs,” “ spreads/’ teas, etc.
In some instances recreational affairs occur only occasionally, in
others amusements are a regular feature. Some reports which do not
specify the kinds of amusements report, however, that these are of
“ all kinds,” “ plenty,” “ frequent,” “ many,” “ much,” “ usual,”
“ numerous,” etc.
.
.
Some of the printed reports contain interesting information as to
what is done for the entertainment of the aged people in these homes.
Thus, according to the 1927 report of a home in Chicago, in May,
1926, $10 was donated for ice cream and cake, two persons sent flowers,
and an entertainment was given; in July $50 was donated for ice
cream and the Fine Arts Players presented a play; in September
10 gallons of ice cream was donated; in October a dancer and a group
of musicians from a local theater gave a performance at the home;
in November the Fine Arts Players again gave a play; in December
an orchestra appearing at a local theater gave a program at the
home, and the Camp Fire Girls gave an entertainment; arid in
January, 1927, there was a motion-picture show, flowers, and two
concerts.
One home starts each month with a birthday party, celebrating all
the birthdays that occur that month, “ and these are particularly
popular because the old ladies themselves provide most of the enter
tainment, recitations, and dancing, particularly the dancing.”
Another home reports as follows:
I t is a n established cu sto m t h a t tw o ladies in tu r n shall h av e in te re st for a
m o n th in th e life here, calling u p o n th e old ladies in th e ir room s to see t h a t th e y
are m ade com fortable a n d reaso n ab ly h a p p y in th e ir old age, lending a listening
ea r to th e ir io v s a n d sorrow s.
.
.
, . ,,
T he outside w orld is th o u g h tfu l of th is hom e too, as is evidenced b y th e v arious
concerts, readings, a n d su p p ers fo r th e w eek-day e n te rta in m e n ts given b y lite ra ry
societies, school children, a n d ch u rch o rganizations, a n d by th e services held m
th e hom e on S un d ay a ftern o o n s co n d u cted by m in isters a n d lay m en ot th e
various denom inations.
One home has a “ pleasure fund” from which trips to various places
are financed.
.
f
Religious services are a very common feature and a numbei o
homes have a chapel in the home where such services are held.
One home which holds no religious services at the home, but v i n e i
is open to the visits of ministers and church workers, gives every
resident desirous of attending service street-car tickets for the puipose.
Money benefits— In 78 homes the inmate not only receives board,
lodging, laundry, etc., but he also gets monetary benefits. Iniee
homes pay the residents a weekly allowance one ot $1 per wee**.,
and two an amount not specified. Monthly allowances are paid by
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[706]
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
17
25 homes: 1 home each makes its residents a monthly allowance of
25 cents, 75 cents, $1.50, $2, $4, and $5; 2 homes of 50 cents per month
(in 1, also $1 at Christmas); 3 homes make an allowance of $3,
5 of $1 per month, and 9 others an allowance whose amount was
not specified. One home gives the old people $5 per year and one
$6 per year. Thirteen homes give such amounts as are “ necessary/’
1 does so “ upon request,” and 4 occasionally do so. Spending or
pocket money or small amounts for personal needs are given in nine
cases (one of these also gives an extra amount at Christmas time).
One home makes an allowance from the resident’s pension or from
the property which he turned over to the home. Five homes make
occasional gifts of money to the residents (in one case only once a
year), and one home has a special fund for needy residents. Ten
other homes report that they pay monetary benefits to residents, but
these reports give no details. In four homes residents are paid for
any services performed.
As already stated, 75 homes pay over to the resident all or part of
the income received from any property which he may have turned
over to the home or a certain rate of interest upon the property.
Eleven homes pay the resident all of the income from his property
and two others one-half of such income. Two homes pay interest
at the rate of 2 per cent, 3 at the rate of 3 per cent, 14 at the rate of
4 per cent (1 of these only on amounts over $750), 8 at the
rate of 5 per cent, and 2 at the rate of 6 per cent. Twenty-nine
other homes also pay interest but fail to state at what rate; one home
pays interest on all property over $100, another on bank accounts,
another on cash, and another on $50 of the entrance fee.
Special Activities
A f e w h o m e s , all in Massachusetts, in addition to operating the
home, also give outside assistance to needy persons who are partially
self-supporting. One home makes a monthly allowance “ to indigent
women in their own homes, when worthy of such help.” Another
regards as “ an important element of its work” its assistance to women
“ who though old and infirm, still retain enough energy and deter
mination to want to stay in their own homes. Small sums ranging
from $4 to $10 per month are now given to 44 women, and could be
given to many more in pitiful need, if there were ampler funds.”
A third maintains what it describes as a “ field service” for this
purpose. It reports as follows:
T he field service of th e H om e fo r Aged M en is an in ten sely h u m a n service.
M ore th a n 200 ap p licatio n s were received d u rin g th e p a s t y ear. T h ey so u g h t
adm ission to th e hom e, financial aid, h elp in solving difficult situ a tio n s o r help
in securing care for th e sick a n d helpless. T he problem s v aried, b u t all show ed
th e p a th o s a n d th e difficulties of th e aged m an a n d th e few c o m m u n ity resources
for helping him . So few are th e resources t h a t we have been c o n sta n tly called
u pon for advice b y tho se who did n o t know w here else to tu rn . T o a g ratify in g
degree we were able to disclose a helpful solution, a n d m an y conferences resu lted
in th e e n tire responsibility being assum ed by fam ily o r relativ es. E ig h teen nam es
were ad d ed to th e list of outside beneficiaries a n d tw elve vacancies in th e hom e
were filled.
O ver $11,000 was raised b y th e se cretary to su p p lem e n t th e g ra n ts given by
th e hom e. T his w as o b ta in e d from relativ es, friends, churches, a n d p riv a te
funds; all th e n a tu ra l sources of aid being called upon. F o r c e rta in of o u r cases
aid w as so u g h t a n d received from th e overseers of th e pub lic w elfare, whose
sy stem of o u td o o r relief fo r th e aged m a rk s a step fo rw ard in p ublic aid.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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18
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
F inancial aid to th e aged, w ith o u t supervision, is n o t alw ays wise. M an y can
n o t handle th e ir funds, fo r w hich reason th e y g e t in to all kin d s of difficulties;
a n d often relativ es a n d frien d s will n o t aid th e in d iv id u al, feeling t h a t th e m oney
will n o t be wisely sp e n t; b u t th e y will c o n trib u te to a carefully th o u g h t o u t plan.
Because of th is th e se cretary h as h an d led th e fu n d s fo r tw o -th ird s of o u r bene
ficiaries, p la n n ed th e ir b u d g ets a n d d isbursed th e g ra n ts held fo r th e ir benefit.
T his service in v o lv ed m a n y e x tra h o u rs of tim e a n d th o u g h t, b u t th e re cam e
o u t of i t th e know ledge th a t th e m oney w as sp e n t for th e ir needs; t h a t th e y h ad
sh elter a n d w a rm th a n d food, care, a n d m edical a tte n tio n in illness, a n d a m argin
for happiness.
T he a m o u n t expend ed in th e care of th e aged should be re g u lated b y th e need
of th e in d iv id u al a n d n o t by a fixed sum . I t often ta k e s a long tim e to p lan a
b u d g et; again, th e needs of th e beneficiaries m ay change because of illness, or
because of im p ro v ed h e a lth due to care given a t a tim e of need. F o r th ese reasons
g ra n ts h av e been increased or decreased from tim e to tim e, as ch anging conditions
arose. B y keeping a balance on h a n d for th e beneficiary i t h as been possible to
m eet em ergencies quickly.
A larg er n u m b er of outside beneficiaries h as been cared for d u rin g th e p a s t
y ear th a n fo r several years. T he to ta l reach ed sev en ty . \\ ith changing in d u s
tria l conditions th e p ro b lem of th e aged will u n d o u b te d ly grow m ore acute.
People n o longer w ork fo r them selves as th e y used to do. M en of 45, w ith o u t
regular positions, are going in to th e in d u s tria l discard. L arge p la n ts will n o t
ta k e th e m on. T his decreases th e w age-earning y ears a n d th e chance of saving
for th e fu tu re , a n d causes old age to be looked fo rw ard to w ith dread .
T he H om e fo r Aged M en, a pioneer in outside care, m ay well be p ro u d of th e
fa c t t h a t its com m ittee h as ev er been read y to respond to th e needs of these
beneficiaries, a n d to c arry each one till th e end.
Another New England association does not maintain a home but
gives financial assistance to some 50 aged women in their own homes
or arranges to board them in private homes.
In a Philadelphia home there is a toy shop given to the home by a
private citizen of the city. In this shop some 50 of the old men who
live in the home find interest and employment for their spare time,
being paid 10 cents an hour for work done here. During 1927, these
aged men made 4,300 toys, which the home sold for $8,098.
As mentioned elsewhere, a California home is planning the erec
tion of a workshop where the able-bodied residents may occupy them
selves.
A home in Milwaukee has an occupational therapy department
for the old people who wish to keep busy. Articles made in this
department are sold and the proceeds are returned to the residents
who made them.
Another home which requires no services of its residents, but does
believe that busy people are happiest reports as follows:
All o u r aged are given o p p o rtu n ity to earn if th e y so desire. M o d erate w ork
is encouraged, alth o u g h n o t in sisted upon, fo r we find_ t h a t th o se w ho w ork
enjoy b e tte r h e a lth a n d a re h ap p ier. T h e w ork consists in care of law ns, roads,
p o u ltry , help in storeroom , cafeteria, lau n d ry , sewing, etc. M an y p la n t gar
dens, th e p roduce being b o u g h t b y th e hom e a t m a rk e t ra te s. S everal have
sm all stra w b e rry p atc h e s a n d sell in tow n, m ak in g a n ap p reciab le incom e. One
aged m an builds to y sailing bo ats. So a large m a jo rity are b u sy especially
those in th e housekeeping cottages.
Location and Home Plant
T h e p h y s i c a l situation and location of the homes differ widely.
Some have extensive grounds, a well-furnished and well-equipped
building, and a favorable location; others are struggling along in
cramped quarters which no longer are well suited to their purpose
and with inadequate means. Mainly the condition of the home
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[708]
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
19
plant reflects the financial condition of the home association. Some,
located in what was at the time of establishment a very desirable
place, find themselves in a part of town no longer attractive.
One interesting home is that of the Mariners’ Family Asylum, on
Staten Island, N. Y. This is a home maintained for aged dependent
relatives of men who have served in the merchant marine. The
home was established in 1843. In 1854, at the instance of a group
of women, the State of New York set aside for the home 6 acres of
land belonging to the State Hospital for Sailors and donated $10,000
from the money accumulated through the seamen’s head tax. Later,
when the hospital was sold to the Federal Government for a marine
hospital, the home and its site were exempted from the sale, and
$68,000 of the net profits from the sale was given to the home. This
sum has been increased from time to time through gifts and bequests,
and the income from it now covers about 50 per cent of the mainte
nance charges. The home is housed in a plain, square building of
rather forbidding aspect, “ with, its back door where its front door
should be; because when the home was built, Tompkins Avenue was
farmland and the entrance was by a pleasant winding road up from
the shore.” Despite its severe exterior, however, “ it is cozy and
homelike within,” and a constant effort is made to overcome the
handicaps of the building.
Another case in point is th at of a home in New York City. The
present building was erected in 1902 “ on a piece of property th at was
in every way desirable,” being located in a residential quarter of the
better sort. During the 27 years the home has been in existence
the character of the neighborhood has completely changed. The
home now is a bleak-looking building with elevated trains hemming
it in on two sides, and these “ keep windows rattling and the air filled
with dust.” The building and land are valued at $203,763, and the
home has been the beneficiary of two legacies of $100,000 and $200,000.
These will be applied to the cost of erection of a new home in a bet
ter and quieter location. I t is hoped also th a t endowments can be
obtained for some of the rooms in the new building.
Other homes show a steady development for the better. One such
home in Boston opened the year before the New York home just
described, ' ‘starting with nothing,” passed through successive stages
from a small rented house on an obscure street to the present attrac
tive building, which with land and furnishings is valued at $231,891.
As already stated, many of these homes are most attractive and
homelike, and a conscious effort is made to keep them so. One such
home occupies the former residence of the founder, who bequeathed
her home and^ $55,000. The grounds occupy an entire city block
and are beautified by flowers, trees, and shrubs. A large garden
keeps the home supplied with fresh vegetables and small fruits, the
surplus being canned for use during the winter.
Another home writes as follows:
_T h e old gentlem en, w hile th e y h a v e to ab id e by th e ru les of th e m a tro n , are
given p ractically ev ery leew ay so t h a t th e y m ay sp en d th e rem ain in g y ea rs in
peace a n d c o n te n tm e n t, i t being th e w ish of th e fo u n d ers t h a t th e gentlem en
h av e all of th e com forts b u t none of th e anno y an ces. T h ey a re p e rm itte d to
ta k e long w alks, v isit in th e c ity , a tte n d th e ir ow n ch u rch hom e, su p p lied w ith
a sm all a m o u n t of spen d in g m oney each m o n th , in ev ery w ay m ad e to feel t h a t
th e y are <^|d gentlem en h av in g all of th e com forts for th e ir d eclining years.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[709]
20
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
One home, in California, is worthy of special mention for several
rather unusual features. This institution is surrounded by a 15acre lemon and orange grove and commands a view of the mountains,
ocean, and bay of San Diego. This home was started with the idea
of forming a colony of old people of both sexes. There is a central
building with sleeping rooms, reception rooms, library, chapel, smok
ing rooms, and the general office. There are also 22 bungalows of
from 2 to 4 rooms each, varying in design and price. The whole
institution houses 110 persons. The minimum entrance fee is
$1,500, entitling to a room in the main building. Those who are
able to pay more receive better accommodations. A resident who
pays a fee of $1,650 is assigned to a room in a cottage having two
rooms with bathroom. A fee of $1,750 to $2,000 entitles to room
and private bath, and one of $2,500 to $3,000 to a suite of sitting
room, bedroom, and bath. These prices are, of course, out of the
question for the average superannuated wage earner, but ideal for
old people with some means.
The home states its position thus:
I t should be u n d ersto o d t h a t th e asso ciatio n w a n ts to m ak e i t possible for
th e aged to receive ev ery possible care a n d co m fo rt a t th e m in im u m cost, b u t
does n o t encourage th o se w ho h a v e m eans to believe t h a t th e y can e n te r on th e
sam e te rm s as th o se w ho h a v e less.
I t is th e policy of th e asso ciatio n to b u ild a co m m u n ity of in te llig e n t aged
people w ho w ill ta k e a n a c tiv e in te re s t in m ak in g th e hom e all th e p ro m o ters
p lan to m ak e it, to m ak e te rm s t h a t a re co n siste n t w ith th e ir m ean s a n d to
th e in te re s t of th e hom e, w ith o u t ta k in g all th e y h av e a n d ro b b in g th e m of
independence; ra th e r i t is th e desire of th e m a n a g e m e n t t h a t each m em b er will
ta k e p rid e in th e gro w th of th e e n terp rise a n d v o lu n te e r to do all he or she can
to m ak e th e hom e in ev ery re sp e c t all it should be.
Another feature of the home is what is called the "insurance
plan”—i. e., any person who makes a contribution to the home has
that amount placed to his credit on the books, to be applied toward
the payment of the entrance fee, if he should desire to enter the
home after reaching the age of eligibility.
In addition to the present plant, the home plans the erection of a
workshop for those who wish to keep up their practice in various
industries, an assembly hall, and a home newspaper.
Another home with the cottage system is a rather remarkable
home in Colorado. This home makes no financial requirements of
any kind. I t was established under the will of a very wealthy
resident of the city where it is located, who left an estate oi several
millions, the real estate of which alone now brings in an income to
the home of from $100,000 to $125,000 per year. This home has
accommodations for 210 persons, including about 90 children.
The buildings devoted to the care of the aged include a central
"service building” with kitchen, dining room, laundry, and servants’
quarters; 10 housekeeping cottages for married couples; 15 fiveroom cottages for single persons, and an infirmary. There are also
11 bedrooms in the "community building,” which are occupied by
the aged residents. The cottages for the single each have four
bedrooms, a living room, and bathroom. Residents in these take
their meals in the central service building, unless unable to go to
the dining room, in which case meals are taken to them.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[710]
P arl or
Double
at
F re de r ic ka Ho m e
be dr oo m at
2 0 -1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C ol burn
f or t h e
m e m o ri a l
Ho m e
Ag e d , C hula Vi s t a . C a l i f .
for
Ag e d , N ew R o c h e l le , N. Y.
lilT T
DINING ROOM OF ISABELLA HOME, DETROIT. MICH.
R e s i d e n t ' s Be droo m
20— 2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
at
P r e s s e r Ho m e
for retire d
M us ic T e a c h e r s , P hi l ad e lp h ia ,
pa.
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
21
As to the results of the cottage system, the superintendent reports
as follows:
If doing th e m o st good is to be g auged by th e m o st h ap p in ess conferred, a n d
I w ere asked w hich d e p a rtm e n t evinced th e g re a te st a p p reciatio n , I w ould
u n h e sitatin g ly answ er “ T h e 10 c o ttag es fo r m a rrie d fo lk s.” H ere w e have
p rovided for th e aged h u sb a n d a n d wife w ho m ay h av e lived ffigether 40 or 50
years a h av en of refuge. T hese old couples h a v e been ta k e n fro m in a d e q u a te
shelter, sc a n ty clothing, a n d insufficient food— no longer ab le to earn , save
possibly a n occasional odd jo b , a n d p laced in a m o st co m fo rtab le b rick co ttag e,
steam h e a te d , w ith am p le p rovision of food a n d clothing, a n d all a n x ie ty for
th e fu tu re rem oved. One of th e m a n y h a p p y experiences I h a v e a n d t h a t
assures m e o u r w ork is a lto g e th e r “ w o rth w h ile ” is th e w ay in w hich th e se old
couples “ p erk u p ” in a few w eeks a fte r th e ir a rriv a l a t th e hom e.
The community building, used by all the residents young and old,
was erected and equipped in 1925 at a cost of $157,000. It contains
a theater with stage, motion-picture machine, dressing rooms, and
seating capacity of 816 persons; a gymnasium; manual-training
room; the superintendent’s office; a sewing room; a small library
room; and the 11 bedrooms, with a large living room, already men
tioned.
Other buildings on the home grounds (which comprise 98 acres6)
include the children’s dormitories, steam plant, laundry, creamery,
and carpenter shop. Many hundreds of trees have been planted on
the grounds mainly from the home’s own nursery in Cheyenne Canyon.
The total cost of buildings and equipment (including grading, plant
ing, sidewalks, etc., but not initial cost of the land) is $1,000,000.
This home owns and operates its own trolley line running from
the home to the terminus of one of the city street-car fines. This fine
transports the children at the home to school, and serves also for the
hauling of the home’s coal supply from the lignite mines north of the
city.
Another interesting home is the Sailors’ Snug Harbor on Staten
Island, N. Y. This institution was founded by a resident of New
YVrk City. His will, drawn up June 1, 1801, by Alexander Hamilton,
left his entire estate for the establishment of a home for “ aged,
decrepit, and worn-out sailors,” to be known as the Sailors’ Snug
Harbor. The estate consisted mainly of a farm of about 20 acres on
what is now, roughly, the area bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues
and Sixth and Tenth Streets, New York City.
Litigation delayed the establishment of the home. In 1831, how
ever, the present site on the banks of Kill Van Kull, a part of New
York Harbor, was purchased. The first building was erected in
1831-32. During the year following 50 sailors were admitted, and
since then more than 6,000 seamen have received care there. The
home accommodates about 875 persons and there are usually about
850 in residence.
The home and grounds are described as follows:
T he grounds com prise a b o u t 150 acres, some 60 of w hich are laid o u t in law ns,
flower beds, a n d fine sh ad e trees. On th is p a rt of th e grounds sta n d a ll th e
buildings, costing several m illions of dollars. T h e rem a in d e r of th e grounds
com prises th e farm a n d a th ic k ly w ooded piece of ground, to w hich th e in m a te s
h av e free access.
T he buildings, of w hich th e re are m ore th a n 30, are th e chief featu res of th e
in s titu tio n ; th e 8 m ain buildings used fo r d orm itories a n d m ess halls being con6 The in stitu tio n also owns a farm th e size of which was not reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[711]
22
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
n ected w ith corridors of stone a n d brick as one building. T he room s are all
b rig h t a n d cheerful, w ell h e a te d , a n d v e n tila te d , lig h ted b y elec tricity , fu rnished
w ith every com fort, a n d k e p t scrupulously clean. T h e n u m b e r of o ccu p an ts to
a room varies from one to five, m o st of th e room s h av in g b u t tw o.
T he fullest lib erty is allow ed th e in m a te s co n sisten t w ith good o rd e r a n d a
due regard fo r th e p eace a n d co m fo rt of th e co m m u n ity . I t is th e in te n tio n of
th e b o ard of tru ste e s t h a t th e in s titu tio n shall be a hom e w here o u r w o rn -o u t
and disabled sailors m ay sp en d th e ir declining y ears in peace, com fort,_a n d selfrespect, a n d it is th e a im of its officials to faith fu lly c a rry o u t th is in te n tio n .
T he in stitu tio n is th e h e ritag e of th e p resen t a n d fu tu re generations of A m erican
sailors, a n d it is faith fu lly m an ag ed as such by th e b o ard of tru stees.
Support of Home
A g o o d many of these private homes have been established by the
will of a deceased person, leaving, often, a residence or a sum of
money (or both) to be used as an endowment. As many of these
homes were established a great many years ago when prices were
much lower than at present and the purchasing power of the dollar
greater, what was at that time a sufficient endowment has_ become
inadequate to meet the growing needs of the home and additions to
the endowment have had to be sought or funds secured from con
tributions, etc. True, there are a few_ instances (mainly, however,
of homes in existence only a comparatively few years) in which the
home reports that all expenses are met by the endowment established
by the will of the founder.
A number of homes, whether or not originally endowed, have made
a special effort to build up the endowment or permanent fund and
now have considerable sums to their credit. One home which cares
for 46 aged people reports a permanent fund of $59,736; another
caring for 110 old people an endowment of $200,000; another caring
for 33 aged women, a permanent fund of $300,000; another with 70
residents, permanent funds of some $345,000; another caring for 45
old men, one of $437,090, and still another caring for 150 aged of
both sexes, one of $585,294.
Even in those homes which charge entrance fees, these are insuffi
cient to make the home self-supporting and recourse has to be had
to other means to raise the additional sums needed. Some homes
are members of the community chest in their city. Others make a
general appeal for funds periodically or when needed. In some cases
local churches, women’s clubs, young people’s associations of various
kinds, or other organizations have become interested in the home
and contribute in various ways. Donations of foodstuffs, supplies,
furnishings, etc., from individuals and organizations often form a
considerable item of the home’s income. Tag days, bazaars, card
parties, etc., are other means relied upon to increase the funds.
One home for dependents of seamen in the merchant marine receives
aid from the various steamship lines, from collections at Sunday
Services and concerts given during the voyage, from marine associa
tions, etc.
Several homes report having a farm in connection with the home on
which are raised the vegetables and small fruits consumed in the
home. One home has a farm of 45 acres, another of 49 acres, a
third of 78 acres, and a fourth of 120 acres. Four others mention
farms but do not state their acreage.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1712]
PRIVATE BENEVOLENT HOMES FOR THE AGED
23
Cost of Operation
T h e r e is a wide range of per capita costs among this group of homes.
One home had an average expenditure of only $118.30 per person,
while many homes spent $1,000 or more per resident, the highest
expenditure being $2,290 per person. The average per capita cost of
operation of the private benevolent homes was $468.75. The range
of per capita cost and the average, by States, are shown in the table
below:
T
able
3 .—P E R
C A P IT A C O ST OF O P E R A T IO N O F P R IV A T E H O M E S F O R A G E D , BY
STATES
Per capita cost
State
Low
A labam a L _ __________ $155. 68
California_____________ 183. 33
Colorado 1____________ 442.09
C onnecticut___________ 480.00
D istrict of C olum bia___ 375.00
F lorida_______________ 315.38
G eorgia_______________ 173.43
Illinois__________ _____ 300. 00
In d ia n a _______________ 291. 00
Iow a_______________ . . . 241. 22
K ansas_______________ 250. 00
K e ntuck y_____________ 166. 67
Louisiana_____________ 170. 26
M aine________________ 314. 29
M ary lan d _____________ 330. 86
M assachusetts______ . . . 200. 00
M ichigan_____________ 250.00
M innesota____________ 350.00
M issouri_____________ _ 250. 00
N ebrask a_____________ 263.60
P er capita cost
High
Aver
age
$155. 68
929.10
442. 09
608.14
988.80
374. 57
260. 87
656. 34
666.67
1,759. 29
425. 78
772. 73
350. 00
1, 928. 20
428. 57
1, 514. 57
1,078. 00
400. 00
646.60
450.00
$155. 68
383. 36
442. 09
538. 68
566. 81
333. 20
214. 90
488. 10
424. 75
444. 30
336. 76
500. 00
256. 59
632. 59
350.18
632.12
410. 30
386. 09
398. 01
370.11
-
State
Low
A ver
age
High
N ew H am p sh ire___
$320. 00 $872.47
New Jersey___
______ 211.54
625. 00
N ew Y o r k ___
264. 71 2, 290. 00
N o rth Carolina L ____ 140. 00
140. 00
Ohio_ ___ __ __ _ _ 187. 00
700. 00
Oregon >__ ________ _ 432. 00
432. 00
P ennsylvania_________ 232. 56 1,126. 54
R hode Isla n d _________ 435. 48
681. 82
South Carolina 1_____
195. 47
195. 47
Tennessee _ _______
233. 33
344. 26
Texas______
_ ___ __ 118. 30
811.78
U tah 1________________ 363. 64
363. 64
V erm ont___________ __ 517. 88
555. 56
Virginia_______________ 187. 50
811. 78
W ashington___________ 457. 14 1,050. 00
W est Virginia_________ 349. 89
722. 72
W isconsin_________ _
250.00
756. 00
All homes___
118. 30 2, 290. 00
$557.28
394. 03
519. 83
140. 00
402. 44
432.00
419. 58
541. 45
195. 47
293. 66
414.43
363. 64
546. 94
579.49
489.19
535. 31
463. 28
468. 75
1 1 home.
Detailed figures showing the expenditure during one year for each
item were furnished by 35 homes. These data are shown in the
table below:
T
able
4 .—IT E M IZ E D C O ST OF O P E R A T IO N O F PR IV A T E H O M E S FO R A G E D F O R
ONE YEAR
Item
Home for
Old
Friendless, People’s
New
Home,
H aven,
Chicago,
Conn.
111.
Aged
W om en’s
and Aged
M en’s
Homes,
B altim ore
M d.
M ount
Pleasant
Home,
Boston,
Mass.
Salaries and wages _
$8,053. 32 $24, 790. 69 $13, 710.47 $10, 307. 66
Groceries and m eat _
_____
5, 300. 33 23,400. 62 13,082. 48
7, 068. 36
C lothing_______
___ __ _
69.05
L a u n d ry ______ __
_ _
83.70
Telephone an d telegraph______
______ _
183. 43
98.43
H eat, light, and pow er____ _________ ______
1 2, 711. 91 11, 386. 62
4, 964. 59
2, 668. 30
W ater and ice________ _ ________
60. 90
388.88
D rugs and medical supplies________ _______
714. 87
M edical and hospital care________
1,008.12
4, 915.10
2, 536. 65
_______
P rinting a n d office supplies. _______
938.00
206. 60
619.08
Repairs to equipm ent an d stru ctu res__
2,354.34
5, 325. 39
6,042.17
48. 77
R eplacem ents...........................
1, 763.25
5, 270. 02
2,199.64
256.10
T ran sp o rtatio n ......................... ................
R ecreation________________ __
574. 87
Insurance________________ ____
273.64
460. 54
(2)
Taxes __________________________
M iscellaneous______________ _______ ___
3 347.40 3 2, 783. 82 3 1, 743.05
1,875. 53
T o ta l................................................................... 21, 538. 67 79,351.03 43, 368. 69 26, 328. 30
Allowances or interest to in m a te s ___________
703. 98
Cost per in m ate (excluding allow ances).......... .
538.47
529.01
305.41
572. 35
1 Includes insurance.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2 Included w ith heat, light, and power.
1713]
Cambridge
Homes
for Aged
People,
C am
bridge,
M ass.
$9, 322. 99
8, 528. 53
104. 03
3, 485. 84
177. 90
102. 02
1, 704. 21
112. 06
69.60
3 1, 278.10
24,885. 28
460.84
3 Includes cost of burials.
24
T
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
able
4 .—IT E M IZ E D O O ST O F O P E R A T IO N O F P R IV A T E H O M E S F O R A G E D F O R
O N E Y E A R —C ontinued
M alden
H om e for H om e for
Home for H om e A ,“
Aged
Aged
Aged
People,
W omen,
M
assa
Persons,
chusetts W orcester, W inches
M alden,
Mass.
ter, M ass.
Mass.
Item
H om e for
Aged of
Grafton
C ounty,
Woodsville,
N . II.
$5, 727. 55 $13,491. 36 $12,907. 80
6,039. 53
7, 580. 62
3,701.92
499. 25
$5,321. 37
1,476.17
61.39
1, 332. 67
38.28
251. 61
3, 903. 86
93.50
1,072. 93
188. 67
763. 33
3 2,407. 24
552. 69
1, 320.16
479. 68
441. 66
23.40
25.00
339. 38
3 637. 23
1, 671. 27
2, 307. 24
3 100.00
170. 80
12, 790.42
32,157. 74
27,495. 63
8, 879.19
3, 913. 31
491.94
714. 62
2, 281.05
723. 57
328. 64
493. 29
559.04
Old
Ladies’
Home,
A uburn,
N . Y.
B ethany
Home,
Ossining,
N . Y.o
Vassar
Seabury B rothers’
M emorial H om e for
Aged
Home,
M en,
M t.
Vernon,
Pough
keepsie,
N . Y.
N . Y.
______________________ $9,318.84
Salaries and wages
Groceries and m eats ,
_____ 4,196.01
fro th in g
T,anndry
rP£>}pphnne and telegraph
H eat light, and power
__________ ________ 4,161.69
_________
"Water and ice
D rugs and medical supplies. _ ______________
Medical and hospital care
200.00
Printin g and office supplies
63.00
R epairs to eq u ip m en t and structures _ _______ 2, 790. 23
301.00
R eplacem ents
.
___________________
Tra n sport,ati on
Recreation
_ __________________
178.09
Insurance
Taxes
326. 71
M iscellaneous_____________________ ________
$3, 596.05
1, 220. 24
$8,006. 00
7, 778. 69
- ________ ___
21, 535. 57
Allowances or interest to inm ates
Cost per inm ate (excluding a llo w a n c e s)._____
512. 75
Salaries and wages _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______ _
Groceries and m eats________________________
ninthin g
rTelopsone and telegraph
TTeat,; light, and power
____________________
W ater and ice
D rugs a n d medical supplies
M edical a n d hospital care
P rinting and office supplies
Pepairs to equipm ent and stru ctu res_________
R pplaeem en ts
_ ___________
Insurance
M iscellaneous
_ __________________
_______________________
T o tal___________ __________ ______
Allowances or interest to inm ates
Host per inm ate (excluding allowances)________
Item
T otal
__________
2,835. 60
145. 62
1, 616. 55
1, 201. 63
133.02
986. 57
55.60
253.60
58. 02
78.95
274.06
380. 79
$4, 832. 23
4,124. 41
66. 10
22. 35
66. 23
. 398. 28
240.43
170. 00
45.10
375.75
246. 72
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
39.96
41.58
306.15
66.80
Old
Ladies’
Home,
Pough
keepsie,
N . Y.
$8,929. 37
7,909.93
3, 690. 65
187. 84
688. 50
137.93
377.95
279. 68
281. 53
1,317. 99
3, 249. 88
59. 25
388. 20
3 782. 20
3 368.91
3 572. 22
7,922. 99
22,430. 44
10,956. 51
23,460.63
448. 61
521. 74
510.01
1,710. 29
460.33
760. 55
(0
3 Includes cost of burial.
° D esignation adopted, a t request of home, to avoid identification.
b C ost p er in m a te no t com puted; figures include also care of children in d a y nursery.
[714]
$864.00
933. 29
3.50
71.68
34.42
1,356.13
25
PR IV A TE B EN EV O LEN T HOMES FOR THE AGED
T
able
4 .—IT E M IZ E D C O ST OF O P E R A T IO N OF P R IV A T E H O M E S F O R A G E D F O R
O N E Y E A R —C ontinued
Item
Sam ari
tan
Home for
Aged,
New
York
C ity
Isabella
Home,
New
York
C ity
Associa
tion for
Relief of
Respecta
Syracuse
Home for H om e B ,a ble Aged
Aged,
a nd In d i
Syracuse, N ew Y ork
gent
N . Y.
Females,
New
York
C ity
$8, 515. 31 $19,142.85 $12, 230. 25
Salaries and wages. __ ___________________
8, 386.43
Groceries and m eats_________________________ 5, 645. 85 16,440.08
Clothing
. _____________
1, 272.04
L aundry
___________
162. 00
Telephone and telegraph
______
7, 096.17 * 3, 812.15
H eat, light, and power _____________ ___ . . 1, 269. 03
W ater and ice
(2)
220.43
1, 594. 22
D rugs and medical supplies. __ _
. ___
331. 25
M edical and hospital care
390.44
134. 62
1, 255. 65
284. 61
. _________
P rinting and office supplies____
650. 18
1,025. 98
Repairs to equipm ent and structures. _______
643. 85
656.08
477.97
R eplacem ents _ _________________ _______
T ransportation
20.80
Recreation
757. 39
701.69
Insurance__
_
____________________
1, 518.42
Taxes
s 496. 23
M iscellaneous. .................................................. ....... « 1, 067. 35 3 2,191. 39
$2, 788.10
2, 586. 38
$27,102.95
20, 261.91
132.26
965.15
158.42
2, 328. 58
25.60
120. 01
473.95
45.98
414.50
54.00
180. 46
3,890.33
4,437. 22
« 212.00
253. 73
3 546. 72
3 3, 333. 11
_ __ __________________________
18, 676. 54
50, 350.17
29, 364. 00
7, 805. 62
62, 505. 74
Allowances or interest to inmates
Cost per inm ate (excluding a llo w a n c e s)._____
177. 75
583. 64
359. 64
515.16
269.16
520.88
Total
Item
M orrow
ariners’ GreenOld
for MFam
ily
point
M emorial
Ladies’ Home
Aged
Asylum,
Home
for
Home
for
Home,
M en,
Stapleton,
Aged,
Aged,
Schenec Brooklyn,
Brooklyn,
S
taten
Sparta,
tady,
N . Y.
N. Y.
Wis.
N. Y.
Island
Salaries and wages_________________ ____ ___ $6,156. 58 $19,938. 02
___ ___ _
Groceries and m eats. ________ .
5, 150. 76 16,812. 55
C lothing..... ...
...............
191. 31
L au n d ry
_______
Telephone a n d telegraph
88. 72
7,318. 71
H eat, light, and pow er. ____ __________ ____ 3, 222.86
W ater and ice__
. _ ______________
D rugs and m edical supplies. _______________
227.46
M edical and hospital care
150. 50
1, 252. 50
Printing and office supplies
4, 693. 50
Repairs to equipm ent a n d stru ctu res. __
1,355. 23
770. 12
2, 202. 56
R eplacem ents.
. . _______ ______
T ransportatio n
_____
__ ___
Recreation
1, 675. 40
Insurance. .
. _ ________________ .
Taxes
__ ___ _____ ______ ___ ____
572. 04
3,367. 30
M iscellaneous. _____________________________
$4,389. 59
4,110. 72
$2,470. 00
1, 270. 56
$3, 096.10
1,899.80
3, 208.45
85.25
557.98
27. 35
26.35
645. 56
1,393.43
184. 60
449.08
363.89
324. 23
229. 30
631.84
155.84
T o tal_________________________________
17, 885. 58
57, 260. 54
13,102.19
5, 664.36
6, 753. 37
Allowances or interest to in m ates__
Cost per inm ate (excluding allowances)_______
496. 82
525.33
485. 27
404.60
321. 59
“ D esignation adopted, a t request of home, to avoid identification.
2 Included w ith heat, light, and power.
«Includes cost of burials.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[715]
4 Includes water.
5 Christm as expenses.
26
T
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
able
4 .—IT E M IZ E D C O ST O F O P E R A T IO N O F P R IV A T E H O M E S F O R A G E D F O R
O N E Y E A R —C ontinued
Old
Home for H om e for
Ladies’
Aged
Aged
H ome,
W omen, W omen,
Paterson,
N ewark,
Jersey
City, N. J.
N . J.
N . J.
Item
Nazarene Old M a n ’s
Home for
Home,
Aged,
P hiladel Philadel
phia, Pa. phia, Pa.
$3, 424,00
24, 298. 25
1,951.14
89. 26
117. 53
6,503.25
748.39
467. 16
503.00
471. 59
11,798.63
2,371.81
Salaries a n d w a g es.
_ _ _ _______
__ $8,362.34
8, 565.11
Groceries and m eats___________ _____ __ __
C lothing
________ ________ _
L aun d ry
14.89
Telephone and telegraph
__ _________ __
6,497. 57
H eat, light, and power
________ ___ ____
W ater and ice
226. 83
D rugs and m edical supplies.
_ ____ ______
M edical and hospital care
230. 69
P rin tin g and office supplies
485. 36
______
Repairs to equipment, and structures
Replacem ents _ ___________________________ 2,293. 03
19. 00
T ransportation
R.eerea ti on
Insurance
______________ _______ ______
596. 51
Taxes
3 1, 084. 50
M iscellaneous...................................... - ................ -
$5,627.14
8,027. 26
$4,911. 30
2,912.19
14.85
$3, 627.00
2,272.34
109. 57
2,361.48
1, 280.46
74.60
218.61
204. 22
193. 65
107. 51
2,176. 43
878. 68
177. 67
238.32
42.20
520.35
456.77
42.25
102. 67
740.00
61. 52
3 539. 16
961. 80
469.95
177.16
34,49
31,813. 54
- - ______ 28,375. 83
20, 026. 61
11,430. 24
7,423.15
55, 239.15
500. 67
372. 57
228. 60
247.44
1, 707.69
323.04
T otal
_________ __ - . --
Allowances or interest to in m ates. _
Cost per in m ate (excluding allow ances).
300. 00
363. 79
_____
H ayes
M echan
ics’
Home,
Philadel
phia, Pa.
Item
Indigent H om e for
W idow s’
Aged
Theresa P ro testan t
M en
and
and
for
and
Elizabeth Home
Single
Aged,
W om en’s Couples,
Home,
M ilw au
Provi
Racine,
Home,
kee, Wis.
Wis.
Philadel
dence,
R . I.
phia, Pa.
Salaries and wages
__ _________________ $10,683. 36 $16,148.07 $17,940. 50 $2, 753. 27
1,829.68
____ ________________ 12,676. 73, 18,126.42 13, 845.36
Groceries and m eats
240.17
129. 01
2, 396.49
Clothing
_____________
191. 25
L au n d ry
_
_ _ _ _ _______________
Telephone and telegraph
177. 23
139.94
4, 794. 55 6 1,084.99
5,037. 67
___ __ 2, 348. 34
H eat, light, a n d power
31.47
W ater a n d ice
D rugs and medical supplies
187.96
208.00
M edical and hospital care
859.84
87.63
154.40
221.18
P rin tin g an d office supplies. .
__ _______
1,118.31
268. 62
_____
4,639.10
Repairs to eq u ip m en t a n d stru c tu re s.
1, 380. 64
169.
37
1,719.99
682.
65
1, 513. 71
R eplacem ents
__ _ _ _ ___________
T ransportation
_
_ _
_____
774.
78
60.24
Recreation
________ _ _ __ ___ ________
120.00
869. 26
535. 78
Insurance
__. . .
______
_____ . .
133. 27
104. 88
______ _____
Taxes
_ __
__ _
237. 70
1,365. 30 3 7, 154.40
M iscellaneous___________________________ ___ 3 2, 326.81
$18, 278. 58
14, 772.47
T otal
._
. ____
37.20
173. 87
6, 610.46
342.13
699. 71
291.10
2,488.43
2,482. 62
1,755. 36
127. 25
1,439.82
32, 673. 04
49,141.15
48, 969. 60
6, 684. 53
49,499.00
466. 76
' 1, 251.03
434. 88
404. 98
532. 28
383. 37
445. 64
358. 69
Allowances or interest to inm ates _
__
Cost per inm ate (excluding allowances)_______
6 Includes w ater and telephone.
3 Includes cost of burials.
The increase in per capita cost of operating even a large home is
shown by the following figures supplied by a home which cares for
150 old people:
A pril 30—
19181919192019211922-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P er capita cost
- - $357.
406.
436.
469.
__ 45S.
30
02
84
46
96
A pril 30— C ontd.
1923________
1924
1925 _
1926
1927________
[716]
Per capita cost
____$399. 17
___
534. 50
____ 521. 90
____ 555. 75
____ 565. 62
S alaries of S ch ool-T each ers in C olon ial A m erica
Schools in Massachusetts
CHOOL-TEACHERS in early America had neither the social nor
the economic status which attaches to the profession nowadays.
When Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a law in 1647 requiring
towns of 50 householders “ to appoint one within their towne to teach
all such children as shall resort to him to write and read,” the towns
experienced considerable difficulty in finding teachers who were will
ing to undertake the task at the wages offered. Competence was a
secondary consideration. Wages, under the law, were to be paid
“ either by ye parents or masters of such children, or by ye inhabi
tants in general, by way of supply. ”
Most towns combined these methods of payment, and appropriated
a small sum of money from the town treasury, or barter in stated
amounts, to pay the schoolmaster, while the pupils paid him a tuition
fee in addition.
Dedham, Mass., had a “ free school” supported wholly out of tax
funds before the colonial law was passed, and paid the schoolmaster
£20 ($66.80) per annum. There was, however, no uniformity in the
salaries paid to schoolmasters by the different towns. _At the same
time that Dedham was paying £20, Essex was paying only £14
($46.75) and Watertown £30 ($100). The salary paid at Watertown
continued practically the same until about 1720, when it was raised
to $120.
Woburn also paid at the rate of £30 a year for a number of years
after its school began really to function; but the town seems to have
had a struggle to establish one. The first effort was made in 1685,
when a teacher was employed at £5 ($16.70) per annum to teach all
the children who applied. None applied, and the schoolmaster
received only £1.10 ($5). Fifteen years later a school was run for
four months, and the teacher was paid £9 ($30) for his services.
After that the salary varied; it was £30 “ and horse kept” in 1709,
and £21.15 ($72.50) and board in 1714. School terms were irregular
for years, and the salary fluctuated with them. After 1750, when
currency had been stabilized and the town had grown large enough
to support a school, the rate settled to £40 “ lawful money” ($133.60)
for an 11-month term.
Dedham, in 1695, raised the salary of its teacher to £25 per year
($83.50), “ whereof eight pounds is to be paid in money, the other
£17 in corne, Rye at 4s. per bushell and Indian corne at 3s. per
bushel!.” The next year the town voted to pay the schoolmaster
entirely in money. Thereafter, although the amount increased as
currency depreciated, the actual value of the various rates remained
at about $83.50 throughout the first half of the eighteenth century.
Among the towns whose teachers were paid by both the town and
the pupils were Cambridge and Northampton, each of which paid
only £10 ($33.40) out of the public funds toward the teacher’s salary.
S
41195°—29---- 3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[717]
27
28
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Northampton pupils paid, in addition, “ ffowre pence per week for
such as are in the Primer and other English books, and sixpence per
week to learn the Accidence [Latin grammar], wrighting and Casting
accounts.” This system was changed in 1687 by the provision that
while the pupils were still to pay tuition, whatever the teacher lacked
of £40 for his year’s work would be made up by the town. With the
necessity for pressure upon delinquent parents thus removed, their
payments dwindled to such an extent that the town finally voted to
allow “ the scholers to go free.”
While the towns were inclined to laxity in school maintenance, the
colonial authorities were persistent in enforcing the school law, and
many town records show instances in which the town is ‘‘presented
for violations, frequently through inability to secure a teacher.
Framingham, for example, voted in 1716 “ to have a moving school
in the four quarters of the town.” Mr. Goddard was engaged to
teach four weeks in each place for £15 ($50), taking pupils in his own
home at the expiration of that time at 6d. (8.4 cents) each per week.
The plan was not successful, apparently, for the town’s records show
that two years later the town was “ presented” before the general
court for having no school, and a committee reported that “ after the
utmost diligence” it had been unable to obtain a schoolmaster.
Another committee was appointed and instructed to obtain one,
“ and that forthwith. ” It was also instructed “ to go first to Captain
Edward Goddard and see upon what terms he will serve the town;
if he will serve as cheap or something cheaper than another” the
committee was to engage him for a year.
In the New Haven and Connecticut colonies schools were established
almost at once, parents paying a stated sum for each child. At
Guilford this fee was 4s. (67 cents) per quarter for each pupil. The
New Haven colonial court ordered in 1657 that each town not already
maintaining a school should open one and pay one-third of the cost
of operation, the rest to be carried on a per capita basis by the families
using it.
Plymouth Colony leased its fisheries on the cape coast and gave the
proceeds to the support of the public schools. In the period between
1684 and 1693 the rental averaged £30 a year.
The salary of President Rogers of Harvard as fixed by the court
in 1682 was £100 ($334) in money and £50 in commodities, while
each of his assistants received £50 in money.
The rules of the Dorchester school in 1645 required that school be
kept from 7 o’clock in the morning until 5 in the afternoon seven
months in the year, and from 8 to 4 in the winter months. There
was a midday intermission from 11 to 1 except on Monday, when it
was required that—
T h e m a s te r shall call his scholars to g e th e r betw een 12 a n d 1 of th e clock to
exam ine th e m w h a t th e y h a v e learn ed , a t w hich tim e he shall ta k e no tice of a n y
m isdem eanor or o u tra g e t h a t a n y of his scholars shall h av e c o m m itte d on th e
S ab b a th , to th e end t h a t a t som e c o n v en ie n t tim e due ad m o n itio n a n d correction
m ay be ad m in istered .
The women who taught the “ dame schools” received salaries that
were modest in the extreme, generally amounting, in the earliest
period, to 10 shillings ($1.67) a year. To be sure, these schools were
usually held in the women’s homes, and were casual affairs, so far as
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[718]
SALARIES OF TEACHERS IN COLONIAL AMERICA
29
instruction was concerned. Later, when the dame school was taking
care of the youngest children and leaving the schoolmaster freer to
carry on the “ grammar school,” the relative importance attached to
the two classes of teachers is suggested by the action of the overseers
of the town of Manchester, Mass., who in 1736 voted half of the
school appropriation of £50 “ to be expended to supporte four schoole
dames to keep a free schoole” in various parts of the town, while the
remaining £25 was “ to be expended to supporte a school master to
keep a free schoole in the schoole house in Manchester in fall and
winter season.” Twenty years later the pay of the Manchester
school dames was even less, as £12 ($40) was assessed “ to be distrib
uted to Three Schoole Mistresses in Three different parts of ye
Town.”
Before the Revolutionary period the dame school had been absorbed
into the town school, and woman teachers were taking over the
town schools for the summer term, to leave the men free for farm
work. They were still teaching for materially less pay than the men
received in the same school, although of course the summer school
was not attended by the older boys. In 1773, Lydia Warner taught
school in Northfield, Mass., for 18 weeks in the summer, at 5s.
(83 cents) a week.
New York Schools
D u r in g the period of Dutch control in New York the m atter o f
schools received early attention, and teaching was largely in the hands
of the clergy.
In a State history (Scudder’s American Commonwealths) it is
reported that—
In 1650 W illiam V estens w as se n t from A m sterd am as sch o o lm aster a n d
consoler of th e sick. A com m on school w as m a in ta in e d a t th e tim e w ith a
succession of teachers. In 1652 D om ine S am uel D risius, w ho p reach ed in D u tch ,
F ren ch , a n d E nglish, w as se n t * * * a t a salary of fo u rte e n h u n d re d a n d
fifty guilders [$580], a n d D om ine G ideon S ch aats, a t a salary of e ig h t h u n d re d
guilders [$320] cam e o u t to R ensselaerw yck as p reach er a n d schoolm aster.
In 1658 a p e titio n w as su b m itte d to th e A m sterd am c h am b e r fo r a m a s te r of
a L a tin school (a t Jam a ic a , L ong Islan d ) a n d th e n e x t y e a r * * * a p ro
fessor cam e o u t in t h a t cap acity , b u t he gave w ay in 1661 to D om ine A egidius
L uyck, w hose re p u ta tio n drew pupils from fam ilies as fa r aw ay as V irginia a n d
th e C arolinas.
The school system which the Dutch had founded and fostered came
very close to collapse under English rule in the colony, the repre
sentatives of which were “ occupied with other things.”
Schools th e re w ere, b u t so poorly su p p o rte d t h a t o u r h isto ria n S m ith testifies
t h a t a fte r he w as b o rn , “ such w as th e negligence of th e d ay , t h a t a n in s tru c to r
could n o t find b read fro m th e v o lu n ta ry , co n trib u tio n s of th e in h a b ita n ts .” I t
w as high tim e to care for th e y o u th of th e Province, fo r its p o p u la tio n h a d becom e,
in 1731, 50,289. Y et a n a c t passed in 1732 “ to encourage a pu b lic school in th e
city of N ew Y o rk ” w en t no fu rth e r. * * * T h is school w as free to all pupils.
The professional opportunities offered by the Latin schools of New
York City were promising enough in 1737 to prompt one resident to
write to his pastor in Ireland that “ if your sons would come here they
would get more in one year teaching a Latin school than you yourself
will get for three years’ preaching.”
An early act of the legislature after New York became a State was
to appropriate $50,000, “ of which the interest was to be applied, in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1719]
30
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the ratio of the population, with like sums raised by local tax, in the
payment of wages of teachers in the common schools.”
Southern Teachers
P u b l ic schools did not develop in the south during the colonial
period. Planters often sent their sons back to England for their
schooling, but when instruction was undertaken at home, it was
either through private tutors, or by groups of families combining to
engage a teacher for the purpose of taking care of the educational
needs of their children. These teachers were almost entirely
indentured servants, bound to servitude for a certain number of
years in consideration of their passage money to America, and their
maintenance during the period of service. Sometimes a servant
schoolmaster was given a sum of money—£5, £6, or possibly £10—
at the expiration of his term. As presented by Karl Geiser, a student
of the colonial indenture system, the schoolmaster of this class was
not a “ model of excellence.”
I n fa c t, he w as n o t supposed to be, a n d his c h a ra c te r w as usually in keeping
w ith his re p u ta tio n . T oo o ften th e ir m oral sta n d a rd w as low, th e ir h a b its
dissolute, a n d th e ir m eth o d s a n d discipline extrem ely crude. T h a t sob riety
w as a t a p rem iu m am o n g th is class m ay be in ferred from th e follow ing a d v e r
tise m e n t: “ W an ted , a sober p erson t h a t is cap ab le of tea c h in g a school; such
a person com ing well reco m m en d ed m ay find en co u rag em en t in said e m p lo y .”
Jonathan Boucher, a Maryland rector who tutored Washington’s
stepson, makes the statement, after an investigation of the matter,
that “ at least two-thirds of the little education we receive are derived
from instructors who are either indented servants or transported
felons.” Geiser finds “ no evidence that convicts were thus em
ployed in Pennsylvania, but the servant formed no small proportion
of the teaching force of the colony.” He continues:
I n none of th e m iddle colonies a t th is tim e d id th e te a c h e r occupy a n exalted
position. H e w as reg ard ed as a n u n p ro d u c tiv e lab o rer. A g ricu ltu ral lab o rers
or a rtisa n s w as w h a t th e colony w a n te d a n d needed m ost, a n d th e y were n early
alw ays sold a t a hig h er price th a n th e schoolm asters.
The diary of John Harrower, an English bookkeeper who “ being
reduced to the last shilling I hade, was obliged to go to Virginia
for four years as a schoolmaster for Bedd, Board, washing, and five
pounds during the whole time,” gives a fair idea of the way the
system worked. He arrived at Fredericksburg, Va., in April, 1774,
and after two weeks spent in search of a master he was bought by
Colonel Daingerfield, a planter living “ about 7 miles below the
Toun of Fredericksburgh,” on the Rappahannock. He was given
“ a neat little house at the upper end of an Avenue of planting at
500 yds from the Main House, where I was to keep the school and
Lodge myself in it.”
The next day, April 27—
A b o u t 8 A M th e C olonel d elivered his th re e Sons to m y C harge to te a c h th e m
to read , w rite a n d figure, his old est son E d w in 10 y ears of age, in tre d in to tw o
syllables in th e spelling book, B a th o u re st his second son six y ears of age in th e
A lp habete an d W illiam his th ird son 4 y ears of age does n o t know th e le tte rs.
* * * M y School H oures is from 6 to 8 in th e m o rn in g ; in th e forenoon from
9 to 12, an d from 3 to 6 in th e aftern o o n .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[720]
VACATIONS WITH PAY— COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS
31
The diary continues:
M u n d ay , Ju n e 20th. T h is m orning e n tre d to school P hilip a n d D o ro th ea
E d g e’s C hildren of M r B enjam in E dge P la n te r.
T u esd ay , 21st. T h is d ay M r S am uel E dge P la n te r cam e to m e a n d begged me
to ta k e a son of his to school who w as b o th deaf a n d dum , a n d I consented to tr y
w h a t I could do w ith him .
When he was not busy teaching he acted as bookkeeper and pur
chasing agent for his master, and when in town in the latter capacity
he occasionally picked up such additional jobs as writing “ a love
letter from Mr. Anderson to one Peggie Dewar at the Howse of Mr.
John Mitchel at the Wilderness.” An entry dated April 23, 1776,
two years after he entered service, reads:
A t noon rode in to T ow n, g o t th e N ew spapers a n d se ttle d w ith M r P o rte r for
teach in g his tw o sons 12 m o n th s w hen h e v e rry g enteely allow ed m e £ 6 [$20] for
th em , besides a p rese n t of tw o silk v ests a n d tw o p a irs of N an k een B reeches la st
sum m er, a n d a G allon of R u m a t C h risten m ass, b o th he a n d M rs P o rte r being
ex tream ly well satisfied w ith w h a t I h ad e done to th em .
Harrower’s difficulty in finding a purchaser after he had landed,
while the boat builder, two coopers, and a barber who sailed with him
sold readily, substantiated the statement of Boucher, a contemporary,
that “ school masters did not find so ready a sale or bring such good
prices as others.”
United States
C l i f t o n J o h n s o n , author of Old Time Schools and School Books,
sums up conditions in the district schools throughout the country
generally from the beginning of the Republic until well into the
nineteenth century:
T h e u su al sum p aid to a m a ste r w as te n or tw elve dollars a m o n th , th o u g h a
w ealth y d is tric t m igh t, in excep tio n al cases, give tw e n ty dollars to re ta in a m an
of c u ltu re a n d experience. W om en e a rn e d from fo u r to te n dollars. E v e n a fte r
th e m iddle of th e n in e te e n th c e n tu ry th e sta n d a rd p a y fo r a w om an te a c h e r in
m a n y d istric ts w as one do llar a w eek. A “ qualified w om an te a c h e r” in a C on
n e c tic u t to w n in 1798 received a w eekly stip e n d of sixty-seven cents, a n d som e
m asters of t h a t p eriod were p a id no m ore. B esides th e m oney rem u n e ra tio n , th e
d is tric ts b o ard ed th e teac h ers. O therw ise th e salary w ould h a v e loom ed m uch
larger, a n d th e to w n a p p ro p ria tio n w ould h a v e q u ick ly m elted aw ay. T he
teac h er “ bo ard ed r o u n d ” am ong th e hom es of th e pupils, spending a t each house
a le n g th of tim e p ro p o rtio n ed to th e n u m b er of school children in th e fam ily.
T h e custom w as com m on u n til a fte r 1850.
Vacations With Pay Under Collective Agreements
with pay are provided for in 71 of the trade agree
ments received by the bureau since 1926. The length of service
V ACATIONS
usually required in order to be eligible for a vacation with pay is
one year, and the length of vacation varies from 6 to 15 days.
These agreements cover locals of bakers; brewery workers; commer
cial telegraphers; electrical workers; hotel and restaurant employees;
marine firemen, oilers, and water tenders; meat cutters; railway
clerks; retail clerks; sailors; stenographers, bookkeepers, and typists;
street-railway employees ; telephone operators ; teamsters and chauf
feurs; train dispatchers; typographical workers; and yardmasters.
Teamsters and chauffeurs.—The agreements of 22 locals of teamsters
and chauffeurs provide for vacations with pay. Ten of these agree
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merits provide for a vacation of one week after one year’s employment
with the same firm. One of these provides that if the employee re
signs at end of the year without having taken his vacation he shall be
paid for one week and commissions; one stipulates that the employee
is to reciprocate by giving the employer the equivalent of 1 week of 54
hours by working overtime, either on week days at time and one-half
or on Sundays at double time; two further provide that employees
with less than one year’s service may take 1 day’s vacation for each
month, not exceeding 6 days. Ten agreements provide for two weeks’
vacation with pay after one year’s employment with the same em
ployer. Six of these agreements provide that if the employee is dis
charged or resigns before he takes his vacation he shall be paid two
weeks’ wages; two of these also pay the commission that the employee
would be entitled to on his route; one provides for the payment of
$110 to the employee when his vacation begins and, also, that loss of
time through sickness or injury shall not be considered an interruption
to continuous employment, and that the men shall not lose their right
to a vacation through the amalgamation of two or more firms. Two
other agreements have the following provisions:
A t th e end of 52 w eeks’ c o n tin u o u s service, em ployee shall be g ra n te d 10 d a y s’
v acatio n w ith pay . If em ployee q u its o r is d ischarged or em ployer can n o t give
th e v acatio n he shall be p a id fo r th e 10 days.
A fter six m o n th s’ em p lo y m en t 8 d a y s’ v a catio n , a fte r one y ear 15 d a y s’ v a c a
tio n . E m ployee w ill be p a id w hen b eginning v a c a tio n full a m o u n t d u e a t ra te of
one d a y ’s p a y for each d a y ’s v acatio n . N o one shall be excused from ta k in g
v acation. T im e from O ctober to April.
Railway clerics.—The provisions for vacations with pay in the agree
ments of the railway clerks with four railroads differ as to length of
service required and period for which vacations are granted and are,
on the four roads, as follows:
[R oad 1.] T hose in em ploy of c o m p an y one y e a r to h av e 6 w o rk in g -d ay s’ v a c a
tio n ; in service tw o years, 9 w ork in g -d ay s; in th e service five years, 12 w orkingdays.
[R oad 2.] H eads of d e p a rtm e n ts g ra n tin g v a catio n s w ill give clerks who on
Ja n u a ry 1st have been in th e service co n tin u o u sly one y e a r a n d less th a n tw o
years, one w eek o r 6 w o rk in g -d ay s; th o se in th e service tw o y ears a n d less th a n
th re e years, 10 d ay s or 9 w o rk ing-days; th o se in th e service th re e y ears a n d over,
2 w eeks o r 12 w orking-days.
[R oad 3.] A t offices w here th re e or m ore clerks are em ployed, em ployees who
h av e been continuously in th e service fo r one y e a r shall be allow ed 10 w orkingdays p e r an n u m w ith p a y . W hen in th e ju d g m e n t of th e m a n a g e m e n t it is n o t
p ra c tic a l to allow v acatio n s to a n em ployee, said em ployee shall, in lieu of his v a c a
tio n , be p a id in ad d itio n to his re g u lar com pen satio n , th e e q u iv a le n t to 10 d a y s’
p ay a t his reg u lar ra te .
[R oad 4.] W hen it is p racticab le to allow v acatio n s w ith o u t e x tra expense to
th e ra ilro a d a n d keep u p c u rre n t w ork, v acatio n s w ith p a y w ill be g ra n te d — one
y ear a n d less th a n th re e years, 6 d ay s; th re e y ears a n d less th a n five years, 10
d ay s; five years or over, 12 days.
Yardmasters.—Agreements of yardmasters with three railroads pro
vide that: “ Yardmasters who have been in that capacity for one year
or more will be allowed 14 days’ vacation each year, with pay, in
addition to the two rest days per month without loss of pay.”
Train dispatchers.—Train dispatchers’ agreements with 12 rail
roads call for a paid vacation of 12 working-days per year for trick,
relief, and extra train dispatchers who have held regular assignments
oh six days per week for one year or more.
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33
Street-railway employees.—Agreements with seven street-railway
companies provide for vacations with pay. One company grants seven
days’ vacation at full pay for each year to the platform men after six
months of continuous service, and 14 days’ vacation with pay each
year to transfer men; another company grants two weeks’ vacation
with pay to clerks after one year’s service, and if for any reason the
vacation can not be granted, two weeks’ pay in lieu of vacation; two
companies grant 10 days’ vacation to all members in the service of the
company over one year. Two other companies have the following
provisions:
Billing clerks, cashiers, a n d bookkeepers shall be given one w eek’s v a c a tio n
w ith p ay . I t is un d ersto o d th a t th ese em ployees will d ouble u p to allow v aca
tions.
All m em bers of association in em ploy of th e c o m p an y one y e a r sh all be g ra n te d
one w eek’s v acatio n each y ear, beginning J a n u a ry 1, 1929, w ith p a y a t fla t ra te
of th e ir reg u lar classification. T im e of v ac a tio n to be a rra n g e d w ith o u t d e trim e n t
to service. All collectors shall be given tw o w eeks’ v a catio n w ith pay .
Electrical workers.—Agreements of electrical workers with four
power companies have the following provisions:
E m ployees u n d e r th e se rules on m o n th ly salaries w ith o u t o v ertim e p a y shall
be en title d to a w eek’s v a catio n w ith p a y each y ear, p ro v id ed th e y h a v e been
em ployed b y th e com p an y for a p eriod of a t le a st one year, a n d tw o weeks if e m
ployed tw o years or m ore.
All m en in em ploy of com pany Ja n u a ry 1 of a n y y ear who reg u larly w orks
seven days a w eek sh all be e n title d to 14 contin u o u s d a y s’ v a c a tio n w ith p a y , tim e
to be betw een M ay 1 a n d D ecem ber 1.
N ine h ours shall co n stitu te a d a y ’s w ork for all forem en p ro v id in g w eath er a n d
ru n n in g conditions of th e cars p e rm it, also a 10-day v a c a tio n w ith p a y , y early,
a n d tw o d ay s off each m o n th .
S torage b a tte ry m en a n d tro u b le d isp atch ers allow ed 15 co n tin u o u s d a y s’
v acatio n w ith p a y each year.
Typographical workers.—Agreements of typographical workers with
three newspapers provide for vacations with pay. One provides for
one week’s vacation during the summer with full pay, providing the
remaining force will use every effort to get out the edition regularly,
while two provide for two weeks’ vacation each year with pay. _A
large number of typographical workers enjoy vacations each year with
pay through verbal agreements with the newspaper proprietors.
Stenographers, bookkeepers, and typists.—Three agreements of sten
ographers, bookkeepers, and typists provide for vacations, one of
which provides for two weeks’ vacation with pay each year. The
following provisions appear in the other two agreements:
A ny person ta k in g em p lo y m en t six m o n th s p revious to th e beginning of th e
v a catio n period shall be e n title d to tw o w eeks’ v ac a tio n w ith p a y ; th o se ta k in g
em p lo y m en t th re e m o n th s previous to th e beginning of th e v a c a tio n p eriod shall
be e n title d to one w eek’s v a c a tio n w ith pay .
O ne w eek’s v acatio n w ith p a y a fte r six m o n th s’ em p lo y m en t. T w o w eeks’
v a c a tio n w ith p a y a fte r one y e ars’ em p lo y m en t. A ny em ployee disch arg ed a fte r
M ay 1st to receive salary in lieu of v acatio n . N otice of discharge can n o t be given
d u rin g v acatio n or d u rin g th e tw o w eeks preceding th e vacatio n .
Retail clerks.—The agreements of three locals of retail clerks provide
for a vacation of one week with pay after being in the employ of the
same employer for one year.
Brewery workers.—Agreements of two locals of brewery workers
provide for vacations with pay for a part of their employees. One
provides that watchmen shall receive one week’s vacation with pay
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
during the year. The other local provides that engineers shall work
seven days per week with every alternate Sunday off and shall have
either one day per month or one week per year without deduction in
pay. Stablemen shall be given a vacation of one day per month or
two weeks per year without reduction in pay.
Meat cutters.—Three agreements of meat cutters, covering five
locals, provide for one week’s vacation with pay after one year’s
employment with the same firm.
Telephone operators.—The agreement of the telephone operators
provides th a t all operators in the employ of the company for one
year shall be granted a vacation of one week with full pay, and
after two years or more in the employ of the company shall be
granted a vacation of two weeks with full pay.
Telegraphers.—The commercial telegraphers’ agreement with the
United Press Associations contains the following provision:
T w o w eeks’ v a catio n w ith full p ay , to be ta k e n b etw een M ay 1 a n d O ctober
1, shall be g ra n te d an n u a lly to all leased-w ire a n d m ach in e o p erato rs, except
S a tu rd a y n ig h t o p erato rs, of one y e a r’s c o n tin u o u s service. All v a catio n s shall
be ta k e n a t th e tim e a llo tte d by chief o p erato rs, or o p e ra to r to secure his own
c o m p eten t s u b s titu te accep tab le to th e d is tric t chief o p erato r.
Car jerry workers.—The agreement of the Sailors’ Union of the
Great Lakes and the Marine Firemen, Oilers, and Water-tenders’
Union of the Great Lakes provides that members of these unions
employed on car ferries operating on the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers,
who are regularly assigned will be allowed 15 days off each year with
out deduction in pay.
Ice cream, hotel, and restaurant workers.—Two agreements, one of
ice cream workers, members of the bakery workers’ union, and one
of hotel and restaurant employees, grant 10 days’ vacation with pay
after having been employed one year or longer.
Public-Service Retirem ent System s in the United States, Can
ada, and Europe
N THE summer of 1927 the Bureau of Labor Statistics undertook
an inquiry into retirement systems for public-service employees
in the United States, supplemented by a brief survey of retire
ment systems for Government employees in Hawaii, in Canada,
and in European countries. The data concerning foreign systems
were secured by the courtesy of the State Department from the
Governments concerned. For the United States a field survey was
carried on during the summer and early fall_ of 1927, information
being obtained through personal interviews with the administrative
officers, through consultation of official records, and from published
reports. Much of this material has already appeared in the Labor
Review in articles published between August, 1927, and October,
1928, dealing with the systems prevailing in different countries, or
covering different classes of employees. All of it has now been com
bined in a bulletin (No. 447), published in December, 1928. The
following pages give a brief summary of the material of this bulletin.
I
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PUBLIC-SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
*35
State and Municipal Retirement Systems in the United States
C o n s i d e r a t i o n s of time and expense forbade an exhaustive study
of the systems of the United States. Taking the country as a whole,
there are literally hundreds of these. Police and firemen’s pension
plans are found in almost every city; retirement schemes for teachers,
while not quite so general, are still very common; and numerous
other groups of public employees have their own pension plans.
Naturally, there is much sameness in these systems; any attempt
to make a complete survey would involve endless duplication of
detail with no compensating advantage. A study of state-wide
systems and of municipal systems in cities having a population of
400,000 and over would, it was thought, include practically all types
of pension plans, and would also give some idea of the relative advan
tage of the different kinds of systems.
At the time the study was undertaken six States had retirement
plans applying to all employees not included in some recognized
pension system. Twenty-one States and the District of Columbia
had plans which included—or might include—all teachers in the
public employ. Eighteen cities, according to the estimate of the
Census Bureau, had in 1927 a population of 400,000 and over. The
proposed survey would therefore include plans maintained by 46
agencies, covering employees ranging from laborers to high adminis
trative, executive, and professional officers, and this, it was felt,
would be a sufficiently wide inquiry to cover all significant variations
of the plans now in use.
As a study of these plans from an actuarial standpoint would be
a formidable task in respect to both time and cost, it was decided to
learn for each system such facts as the kind of employees covered;
the differences made between different classes; the source of funds
and the division of cost between employers and employees; the con
ditions under which retirement on pension or allowance is permitted;
what provision, if any, is made for dependents of deceased employees;
the practice in regard to pensions for disability; the average age and
years of service of those retiring; the income and expenditures of the
system for the latest year reported upon; and such other matters as
might throw light upon the advantages or disadvantages of a given
plan. In practice it was not possible to secure all these data for all
systems. In fact, in very few cases were records so kept that reliable
information could be gained on all the points desired, so attention
was concentrated upon the most important items.
Basic Classification of Retirement Plans
There are two particulars in which retirement plans differ funda
mentally—the source of the funds by which they are maintained and
the method by which provision is made for meeting the liabilities
incurred. As to the first, plans may be contributory or noncontribu
tory; as to the second, they may be managed upon either the cash
disbursement or the actuarial reserve plan.
Under the joint contributory system each employee contributes,
regularly, usually by means of a deduction from his salary or wages,
a fixed amount or a specified percentage of his compensation, while
the employing agency either makes fixed regular contributions or
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
undertakes to appropriate sufficient funds, as needed, to keep the
system in operation; under the noncontributory system the whole
cost is borne by one side, usually the employer. Noncontributory
plans are unusual, and do not seem to be gaining in favor. Among
the approximately 70 systems described in detail in the bulletin
there are only 7 in which the employees do not contribute to the
funds of the system and only 2 in which the employing agency
makes no contribution. The Maine and Connecticut State employ
ees’ systems, the Rhode Island State teachers’ system, the Detroit
system for municipal employees, and the Detroit, New York, and
San Francisco systems for firemen are noncontributory systems so
far as employees are concerned, while the Michigan and Montana
State retirement systems for teachers are the only ones in which the
employing agencies do not contribute toward the maintanance of the
plans.
Cash Disbursement and Actuarial Reserve System
Under the cash disbursement system benefits are paid from what
ever funds are in hand, without much reference to the future. _During
the early years of a system’s operation the employees’ contributions
are often more than sufficient to meet all needs, but gradually the
growing pension roll demands heavier and heavier annual payments,
the contributions of the employees are progressively inadequate to
the situation, and the employing agency is called upon for rapidly
increasing annual contributions.
Under the actuarial reserve system a fund is established, and the
employer, like the employee, pays into this regular contributions.
The rate of contribution is so calculated for both sides that the fund
receives annually an amount which, put at compound interest, will
be sufficient to pay each employee when his time for retirement comes
the share of the retirement allowance due for one year’s services, and
also to pay one year’s share of such other benefits as the system may
provide. The employing agency usually assumes responsibility for
benefits due for services given before the plan was adopted and makes
regidar contributions to liquidate this accrued liability. Ordinarily
such plans provide for an actuarial review of the situation at stated
intervals, with a stipulation that, if the review shows a need for it, the
rate of contribution may be revised.
The actuarial reserve plan is a comparatively recent development
and is still far from general. There is a good deal of opposition to it
in many places, for which it is rather difficult to find a definite reason.
Probably part of the objection is due to the fact that such systems
require careful and systematic operation, while the cash disburse
ment systems may be installed and operated for some time with little
consideration of any kind. Naturally, those which are so installed
and operated are likely to come to grief, and examples of this were
found in the present survey. If, however, the employing agency has
undertaken to make what appropriations are needed, it may be a long
while before the increasing demands create active dissatisfaction and
lead to a recasting of the system, and meanwhile the plan may be held
up as an example of the success of a cash disbursement system, free
from the red tape and tiresome formality of an actuarial reserve
system.
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PUBLIC-SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
37
In some cases the objection is due to a belief that the actuarial
reserve systems are less favorable to the employees than the other
form. In one city the charge was definitely brought that under these
systems the employee contributes too much and receives too little.
The argument ran that contributions are based on the life expecta
tion at the age fixed for retirement, and that this life expectation is
calculated from the mortality tables of insurance companies, which
in turn are based upon the experience of the companies. But insur
ance companies deal only with selected cases; applicants are subjected
to a rigid physical examination and rejected if they fall below a pre
scribed standard. Naturally, among such a selected group the life
expectation at any given age would be greater than in a miscellaneous
group, such as the retirants of a teachers’ or municipal employees’
system, so that contributions based upon insurance experience are
unduly high; that is, the average retirant dies before he has received
the actuarial equivalent of the contributions to his credit. As yet
the actuarial systems are rather too new for this objection to have
been either disproved or verified; it seems, however, as if the provi
sions for reviewing the system at stated intervals with the possibility
of revising the rates of contribution, if desirable, should meet the
difficulty, provided it exists.
Inclusiveness of Systems
Another point of difference is in the inclusiveness of retirement
systems. Originally such plans were formed only for a particular
group, whose risks were the same, and for whom uniform provisions
could easily be adapted. As the desirability of having retirement
systems became apparent, the number of such groups increased until
there might be 9 or 10 systems among the employees of one muni
cipality, or as many different teachers’ systems as there were cities in
a State. Unfortunately, even this duplication of systems did not
provide for all employees, and in the same city some groups might
be enjoying a prosperous retirement plan, others might have no such
protection at all, and still others be covered by an expensive and illmanaged system. In an effort to meet this situation, the inclusive
plans were formed, designed to cover all the employees of a State,
or a city, thus avoiding duplication of effort and unnecessary expense,
and insuring to all employees ¿he protection of a strong, well-planned
and thoroughly solvent system. When such an inclusive system is
introduced, usually groups already covered by a retirement system
are given their choice of coming in or remaining under their own
plan, and there is a good deal of diversity in the attitude of the
groups toward such an offer. Generally, the police and firemen
cling to their own systems; in Baltimore the firemen and in Boston
both police and firemen have been brought into the general system,
but elsewhere they have remained outside. The teachers vary from
place to place, but on the whole seem to prefer their separate organi
zations. The Chicago teachers present an interesting argument in
favor of this. The municipal employees, they point out, are largely
men, and the municipal system has been planned with a view to
their needs, but the teachers are largely women. Men’s dependents
are usually younger than themselves while women’s dependents are
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
apt to belong to a generation older than themselves. The provision
for dependents, therefore, which is attractive to men is wholly unin
teresting to women; of what use is a “ child’s annuity” to an unmar
ried woman, supporting an aged aunt or an invalid parent? If the
teachers should go into the general system, they would be helping
to support a plan which is not adapted to their peculiar needs, as their
own system is; therefore they prefer to remain under their own.
On the whole, however, where a well-planned State or municipal
system has been inaugurated, there seems an increasing tendency for
it to become all-inclusive. Sometimes an outside group comes in as
a whole, bringing with it the funds of its own system, as well as its
liabilities; sometimes it is arranged th a t those in the service at a
given time shall remain under their own system, the benefits it pro
vides being guaranteed to them, but th at all newcomers shall enter
the general system. Thus, in most cities in which a municipal
system has been installed, there are a number of dying systems;
they will remain more or less in force until those who were in the
service when the municipal system came into being have passed out,
while their successors are covered by the general plan.
Benefits
A retirement allowance or pension, usually based on age and
length of service, but sometimes on only one of these factors, is of
course common to all the systems. There is a good deal of diversity
as to these qualifications. Among the police and firemen, where full
physical strength and agility may be required for good service, there
are obvious reasons for setting an early age for optional retirement,
but the situation is different where clerical and administrative groups
are concerned. Practically all the systems made retirement com
pulsory by 70, though some of them provided for extensions in the
case of unusually well qualified employees. An age for optional
retirement was common, ranging in the different systems from 50 or
under to 65. Among 41 systems, not including police and firemen’s
plans, 14 had only a service requirement, with no reference to age;
in 3 the age for optional retirement was set at from 50 to 58, in 16
at 60, in 5 at 62, and in 3 at 65; in several of these an earlier age was
set for women. Few of these systems kept any record of age at
retirement, but in general the officials believed that employees
tended to hold on to their jobs as long as possible, and that unless
physical incapacity intervened they remained in the service con
siderably beyond the age for optional retirement.
The service qualification also presents considerable variation. In
some of the actuarial reserve systems, there was neither age nor
service requirement; the amount of the allowance to be drawn by
the employee depended partly upon his length of service and partly
upon his age at retirement, and he might use his own discretion about
withdrawing, unless he should become incapacitated for service,
when retirement would become compulsory. Where a service
requirement was imposed, it varied from 10 to 40 years, 25 years
being the commonest period, and 30 the next in order.
Other benefits are allowances for disability directly due to the
performance of duty, allowances for ordinary disability, refund of
contributions in case of separation from the service before reaching
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PUBLIC-SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
39
pensionable status, provision for dependents in ease of the death of
an active member or pensioner, and, in a few cases, a separation allow
ance for those who, after a certain length of service, are dismissed
for some cause not involving their own fault or delinquency. Not
many systems have all these benefits, the particular ones included
depending largely upon the kind of employees covered. In police
and fire departments, for instance, death or serious injury resulting
from the performance of duty is a constant possibility, and disability
allowances and provision for dependents are of almost as much impor
tance to a man as the normal retirement allowance. These benefits,
therefore, are found in nearly all the police and fire systems, and
sometimes they are worked out very elaborately. In some cases the
employee’s contribution is calculated to cover his own risk of ordi
nary disability and part of the allowance to his widow, if he dies
from natural causes, while the employing agency provides the whole
of the special allowance for duty disability and for the widows and
children of those dying as a result of injuries received in the service.
Among teachers and clerical employees, on the other hand, the
service involves little or no risk of this character, and the systems
are less likely to include such benefits. It is unusual for teachers’
systems, for instance, to make provision for dependents, and when
they do it is apt to be confined to a choice given the retirant upon
withdrawal between taking the full allowance to which he is entitled,
with the understanding that at his death the whole matter is closed,
or of taking a reduced allowance which, in case of his death, is to be
continued to some beneficiary he has named.
On the whole, the tendency among the newer systems is to include
more benefits than are found, in the early systems, and especially to
make some provision for dependents. The return of contributions,
commonly with interest and sometimes with compound interest, is
frequent among the newer systems. The omission of this provision
is sometimes defended on the ground that the worker in making his
contributions is really paying for insurance. If he should be injured
or die during his service, lie would receive an allowance, or his de
pendents would receive some compensation. He has this protection
so long as he remains in the service, and if he retires before the time
when he would receive a retirement allowance, he has no claim for
anything further. The separation allowance is not common, but
seems to have grown in favor recently. It is intended to prevent
hardship in cases where a faithful and competent employee finds,
after he has served for years, that a reorganization of the service has
abolished his position, or that a reduction of the force has become
necessary and that he is laid off in consequence, or that some other
cause for which he has no responsibility has left him without a position.
Federal Employees’ Retirement System
T h e r e t i r e m e n t system applying to the employees of the Federal
Government is a compulsory contributory system, the employees
contributing a percentage of their salaries, and there being an implied
assumed responsibility by the Government for the difference between
what the employees pay and the actual cost of the benefits, and also
for the cost of benefits allowed to annuitants or pensioners for service
rendered prior to the inauguration of the system.
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The system covers all civil-service employees and certain other
specified classes of employees of the Federal Government and regular
annual employees of the District of Columbia municipal government.
Contributions.—The employees contribute 3)^2 per cent of their
basic salaries, this being deducted from their salaries.
Retirement benefits.—The annuity for old-age and for disability re
tirement is computed by multiplying the average annual basic salary
(not to exceed $1,500) for the last 10 years of service by the number
of years of service (not to exceed 30) and dividing the product by
45. The maximum allowance specified in the law is $1,000, but the
actual maximum is $999.96, as the law also specifies that the annuity
shall be fixed at the nearest multiple of 12.
In case of separation from the service before becoming eligible for
retirement, the employee’s contributions are returned to him, with
interest.
Conditions of retirement.—Employees must have reached the age of
70 and have rendered at least 15 years’ service to be eligible to retire
ment with an annuity, except that letter carriers, post-office clerks,
sea-post clerks, laborers, and mechanics may retire at age 65, and
railway postal clerks and employees in extrahazardous occupations
and those employed in the Tropics may retire at age 62. Retirement
is compulsory at these ages but 2-year extensions may be granted
by the head of the department; after August 20, 1930, no employee
may be continued in the civil service more than four years beyond
the age of retirement. For a disability retirement annuity, the
employee must have had 15 or more years of service and be totally
disabled for useful or efficient service by reason of disease or injury.
For retirement benefits on being involuntarily separated from the
service employees must be 45 years of age or over and have had at
least 15 years’ service, and the separation must not be by reason of
misconduct or delinquency.
There is no provision in the law for dependents of employees.
Administration.—The administration of the retirement system is in
the Commissioner of Pensions under the direction of the Secretary of
the Interior.
Retirement System of the Territory of Hawaii
T h e r e t i r e m e n t system of the Territory of Hawaii, established
January 1, 1926, is a joint contributory system, established upon an
actuarial basis. It applies to all the employees, including teachers,
of the Territorial government, and is open to county and city em
ployees also, membership being compulsory for all except those in
the service when the act establishing the system was passed, with
whom it was optional.
Contributions.—The employees contribute a percentage of their
salaries, determined by sex, occupational group, and age at entrance.
For general employees, the rates for men range from 4.06 to 7.15
per cent and those for women from 4.58 to 8.06 per cent, while for
teachers the rates for men range from 3.76 to 6.23 per cent and those
for women from 4.50 to 7.73 per cent.
The government’s contribution, calculated as a percentage of the
aggregate pay roll, consists of a normal contribution to cover its
share of the cost of benefits earned by that year’s service and a de-
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PUBLIC-SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
41
ficiency contribution to meet the accrued liability, the contributions
fixed for the first two years of operation being 3.06 and 2.91 per cent,
respectively, of the pay roll.
Retirement benefits.— The normal service-retirement allowance is
one-seventieth of the average annual salary for the last 10 years of
service multiplied by the number of years of service. For those em
ployed after January 1, 1926, the employee’s contributions, it is
expected, will pay half of this and the Territory pays the other half;
for those in the service before that date the government pays the whole
cost of the years of prior service.
The ordinary disability benefit is nine-tenths of what the service
allowance would be for the same period of service, the minimum
being 25 per cent of the average final salary, unless the retirant
entered the service after age 40, when it is nine-tenths of what he
would have received had he remained in the service till age 60.
The accidental or duty disability benefit consists of an annuity
bought by retirants’ accumulated contributions and an allowance
from the government equal to two-thirds of his average final salary.
In case of death from ordinary causes the decedent’s contributions
are returned with interest and the Government pays the beneficiaries
a lump sum equal to 50 per cent of the decedent’s last year’s salary.
If death is from an accident occurring in the discharge of duty the
widow, children under 18, or dependent parents receive a pension of
50 per cent of the decedent’s average final salary.
If an employee leaves the service for any cause other than death or
retirement his contributions are returned with interest. If he should
be dropped from the service without his fault, after 20 years’ service,
he is entitled to a discontinued-service allowance, payable at age 60,
equal to a service-retirement allowance based on years of service ren
dered and salary at the time of being dropped. Several options are
offered at time of retirement, allowing a smaller personal allowance
and certain benefits to designated beneficiaries.
Conditions for retirement.—Service retirement is permitted at the
age of 60 and is compulsory at 70. An ordinary disability benefit is
granted after a minimum of 10 years’ service. There is no age or
service requirement for the accidental or duty disability benefit and
the accidental-death benefit, but for the ordinary death benefit one
or more years of service is required.
Administration.—The retirement system is administered by a board
of trustees, consisting of the treasurer and the auditor of the Terri
tory of Hawaii, ex officio, a member elected by the membership of
the system, and two citizens of Hawaii, not employees, one of whom
must be a responsible officer of a bank in the Territory or must have
had similar experience.
Retirement System for Employees of the Dominion of Canada
T he p r e s e n t Canadian retirement system for civil-service em
ployees is a contributory one. It applies to all permanent civilservice employees with annual salaries of $600 or over, whose duties
prevent them from engaging in any other substantially gainful
occupation.
Contributions.—Employees pay 5 per cent of their salaries for the
first 35 years of service, no further contributions being required, the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
42
Government contributing whatever additional sums may be necessary
to maintain the system.
Retirement benefits.-—The superannuation allowance is one-fiftieth
of the average salary of the last 10 years multiplied by the years of
service (not exceeding 35). The retiring allowance granted on occur
rence of disability or abolition of office is equal to the superannua
tion allowance the employee would be entitled to if he had attained
age 65. On voluntary withdrawal or dismissal, without retirant’s
fault, contributions are returned without interest. Provision is
made for widow’s, children’s, and dependents’ allowances.
If 10 years’ service has not been rendered, a gratuity not exceeding
one month’s pay for each year of service is granted oil occurrence of
disability or on abolition of office, and a gratuity not exceeding the
amount of contributions without interest is paid when employee is
required to retire on marriage; a gratuity is also granted to the
dependents of a deceased contributor.
Conditions jor retirement.—Superannuation retirement is optional
at age 65 and compulsory at 70, but extensions up to 75 may be
granted. Ten years’ service is required for superannuation and dis
ability retirement allowances, but gratuities are given in certain
instances where 10 years’ service has not been rendered.
Administration.—The system is administered by the department of
finance.
Public Service Retirement Systems in European Countries
T h e s t u d y of foreign public service retirement systems covers Aus
tria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great
Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Of
these 12 systems those of Belgium, Great Britain, and Germany, for
officials, provide pensions for which the Government pays the entire
cost. In the other countries mentioned the system is in the nature of
social insurance, even though often called a pension system, the em
ployees paying a part, usually 50 per cent, or all of the cost.
Employees covered.—In most of these countries the systems cover
not only employees in Government offices but also those in Govern
ment establishments and corporations. The Netherlands system
also covers provincial and municipal employees, and in Norway such
employees may be brought under the system by special decree.
Contributions.—In the following countries the employees contribute
a percentage of their salaries and the Government pays the remainder
of the cost: Austria (2.8 and 3.2 per cent, according to length of
service), Czechoslovakia (not more than 5 per cent), Denmark (3
per cent), Italy (6 per cent), Norway (10 per cent), and Sweden (3
to 6 per cent). In France the employees contribute 6 per cent of
their salaries and the Government 9 per cent, while in Switzerland
the employees pay 5 per cent and the Government pays 7 per cent
and in addition the employees contribute 4 and the Government 5
monthly payments of any salary increase. In the Netherlands the
employees contribute 3 per cent of their basic salaries and the Govern
ment 10 per cent to the employees’ pension fund, and the employees
and the Government each contribute 5)^ per cent of such salaries to
the widows’ and orphans pension fund. Employees in Germany
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PUBLIC-SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
43
other than officials contribute from 1 to 10 marks per month, varying
with salary.
Conditions for retirement.—Most of these countries fix both an age
and a service requirement for retirement. The most common age
set is 65 years—Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Italy, Nether
lands, and Norway (for females) fixing this age. Austria, France,
and Great Britain set the age at 60, and Sweden at 67, while only
two—Denmark and Switzerland—have as high an age limit as 70 for
all employees, Norway having that age requirement only for male
employees. There is no age requirement in Italy after 40 years’
service and in Switzerland after 50 years’ service for males and 35
years’ service for females.
In Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, for male employees, Great
Britain, Netherlands, and Sweden 10 years of service is required for
retirement; in Denmark, 2 to 30 years; in Germany, for female
employees, 5 years; in Norway, 10 to 30 years; in Italy, 20 years;
and in Belgium and France, 30 years. Frequently longer service is
required for maximum benefits.
In case of disability there is no service requirement, except that in
France 15 years’ service are required where the disability was caused
outside the service, and in the Netherlands 7 years’ service are
required when the disability is not serious, permanent, or total.
Retirement allowances.—The service allowances paid vary with
length of service, salary, or amount of contributions. In the follow
ing countries a proportion of the last annual salary or income from
service is paid: Austria, 78.3 per cent (maximum); Denmark, twotenths to forty-sixtieths; Germany, for officials, 35 to 80 per cent;
and Switzerland, 15 to 70 per cent. In other countries the propor
tion is of the average salary or income from service for a certain
number of years multiplied by the years of service, the _average
salary taken being for the last three years in Great Britain (men,
one-eightieth plus lump sum; women, one-sixtieth), Italy (onefortieth of first 4,000 lire and one-sixtieth of the remainder) and
the Netherlands (1.75 per cent; maximum, 70 per cent of basic salary),
and for the last five years in Belgium (one-sixtieth). Noiway pays
from 54 to 66 per cent of the highest annual salary, and the other
countries pay specified amounts.
The disability allowance is equal either to the full service allowance
(as in Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Germany, for
employees, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland), or to a part of the
salary (as in Great Britain, full salary; maximum, £300; Netherlands,
30 to 70 per cent; Germany, for officials, 35 per cent (maximum);
France, one-third to three-fourths, or full service pension; and in
Italy, one-fortieth for each year of service).
Provisions jor s u r v iv o r s In all of these countries provision is made
for the widow and children of a deceased employee. In Belgium they
are provided for by special funds, established and regulated by law.
In Great Britain a gratuity may be granted the widow and orphans
on the death of an employee in the discharge of duty. In other
countries a certain percentage of the deceased employee’s pension is
allowed his dependents, generally 50 per cent for the widow and
from 10 to 100 per cent for the orphans, as a rule varying with the
number of orphans. In Denmark, however, the orphans are granted
4 1 1 9 5 ° — 29-
-4
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44
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
a specified sum, and in Sweden the amount paid the orphans is
determined by the pension board, the total of the widows’ and
orphans’ pensions not to exceed the pension of the deceased.
Administration.—The retirement systems of these countries is
either by a special board under a Government department, usually
the treasury or the department of social welfare (in Austria, Belgium,
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, Norway,
and Sweden), or by an independent State or national insurance office
(in Germany), or under a Federal council (in the Netherlands and
Switzerland).
Stability of Em ploym ent in Paper and Pulp and Slaughtering
and M eat-Packing Industries
HESE studies of the paper and pulp industry and of the slaugh
tering and meat-packing industry have been made for the pur
pose of measuring the degree of regularity of employment and to as
certain whether employment has improved during recent years. The
plan of analysis is the same as that employed in similar studies of
various industries previously published in the Labor Review, as
follows: Railroad industry, August, 1928; iron and steel industry,
November, 1928; men’s clothing industry, January, 1929; automobile
industry, February, 1929; leather industry and boot and shoe industry,
March, 1929.
The basic data for the study are derived from monthly reports
made to the Bureau of Labor Statistics by most of the important
manufacturing plants, as part of the general employment survey made
monthly by the bureau and covering almost 12,000 plants in various
lines of industry. As these reports give only the number of employ
ees of all kinds without separation by occupational groups, the pres
ent analysis must disregard occupational differences and treat the
employees of a plant as a unit.
The method here employed for the measurement of stability is
that of the relationship of average monthly employment during the
year to the number of employees in the month of maximum employ
ment. Thus, if during 1928 a particular plant had a monthly aver
age of 90 employees and the maximum number in any month was
100, then the stability of employment may be fairly said to be 90
per cent. In other words, if the 100 men needed to fill the positions
at the busiest season had no other opportunity for work, then each
man would have an opportunity of 90 per cent of full-time employ
ment. Of course, this is rarely quite true, but it is often substantially
true; and, in any case, the method offers a fairly accurate measure of
the degree in which a particular establishment has attained a condi
tion of stable employment. On the other hand, failure of an estab
lishment to obtain a good level of stability in one or all occupations
must not necessarily be attributed to faulty management. Many
factors over which the management has little or no control may
affect the stability of employment. Nevertheless, an employment
stability of or very near to 100 per cent is the desirable goal.
T
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STABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT
Paper and Pulp Industry
T h e p e r c e n t a g e s of full-time employment (computed as described
above) are presented for each of the years 1923 to 1928 for 91 paper
and pulp mills, among which are mills manufacturing various kinds
of pulp and paper, including paper board.
The establishments are arranged in the table in descending order
according to the favorableness of their showing in 1928.
The average for all the plants studied is over 90 per cent for the six
years. As to some individual plants, the stability rates are very good,
among which are plants Nos. 1, 2, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 21, and 25.
These plants had a good stability of employment for all the years
shown. Other individual plants had good employment stability for
all the years except one or two, when the rate fell below the average,
while very few of the plants show a consistently poor rate.
The improvement is readily seen by an examination of the last
portion of the table. In 1923, 61.6 per cent of the plants had a sta
bility rate of 90 or over, and in 1928, 82.5 per cent of the plants
had a rate of over 90 per cent.
T
1 .—
able
PER
CENT
P la n t
N o.
O F F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E P A P E R A N D P U L P
IN D U S T R Y
1923
S ta te
2
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
W is ^ n n s in
___________________ - O h io
_________________________________
P e n s y l v a n ia
__________ - —
__________________
NTe w Y o r k
AT a s s a e h 11 s e t t s
_____ ________ ____
______ __ _______- ______________ do
T C an s a s
_____ ___________________
N e w Y o rk
_ _ _ _______________
W is c o n s in
__ __________________
A fi e h i g a n
_____ __ __________ - N e w -Te r s e y
_ _______________________
N e w H a m p s h ir e
_
______________
W is c o n s in
_ __ ___________
AT a s s a o h n s e t t s
__ _ _____________
P e n n s y lv a n ia
- - ____________
______________ __________
O h io
N e w V o rk
____ __
___________
A T a s s a o h n s e tts
_ __ _______________
AT i n n e s o t a
_____ ______________
O h io
___
__ ____ —
N e w W o rk
__ __________________
AT a s s a o h n s e t t s
_____________ _____
V ir p in ia
____
____________ '
A T in n e s o tii
__ _
__________
AT a s s a o h n s e t t s
______
_____ ____
(io
__
-________
N e w Y o rk
-____________
A T ieh ig n .n
___
__
p e n n s y lv a n ia ,
_ _ _ __ ----------AT a s s a o h n s e t t s
_________ ___________
A T ic h ig a n
__ __ _________
AT a s s a o h n s e t t s
_
__ ____________
il o
__ _____ __ ____________
V erm o n t
_ _ _ __ _____ — - AT a s s a e h 11 s e t t s
_
________________
M is s is s ip p i
-- - ______ __
N ew Yo rk
_____ _____ ____ __
do
______ ___________________ —
AT a s s a e h 11 s e t t s
_____________________
do
_ __ __
____ - ----------do
_ _ ________________________ —
do
____________________________ - A T ie h ig a n
___________________ __________
W est V irginia.......................................................
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9 2 .5
9 8 .7
9 1 .3
7 6 .4
9 6 .2
9 0 .5
8 4 .6
9 6 .7
8 9 .1
9 5 .0
9 5 .3
8 7 .2
9 1 .9
9 4 .0
9 5 .9
9 5 .8
9 7 .5
9 5 .4
8 2 .2
9 5 .5
9 5 .1
9 1 .2
9 5 .3
9 0 .8
9 6 .8
88. 2
9 3 .4
8 2 .8
9 7 .5
9 3 .8
93. 1
9 4 .0
9 5 .4
9 1 .0
8 9 .1
91. 1
8 8 .6
9 3 .0
76. 1
8 7 .6
9 1 .7
8 4 .1
8 2 .8
9 4 .4
1924
9 6 .3
9 6 .9
7 9 .9
90. 1
9 5 .2
8 9 .8
8 8 .0
9 9 .2
9 1 .4
9 1 .7
9 6 .9
9 5 .3
5 6 .4
9 2 .9
8 5 .9
9 6 .7
9 5 .7
9 4 .9
8 9 .5
8 8 .9
9 7 .4
9 5 .0
8 8 .5
9 2 .9
9 5 .5
9 6 .9
9 4 .7
8 6 .9
9 5 .8
9 5 .0
9 3 .0
8 6 .5
9 8 .7
8 8 .2
8 8 .9
8 6 .4
8 6 .2
9 4 .0
8 6 .8
9 6 .9
9 2 .9
9 2 .4
75. 2
8 8 .0
1925
9 8 .0
9 4 .6
8 6 .1
9 2 .8
8 8 .0
8 8 .0
8 6 .1
9 4 .3
7 4 .8
9 3 .7
9 8 .4
9 5 .2
8 9 .6
9 3 .6
9 0 .9
96. 1
9 6 .4
8 7 .8
9 0 .7
8 8 .4
9 6 .1
9 8 .3
9 7 .5
9 2 .0
9 4 .1
9 6 .5
9 1 .6
9 5 .2
9 6 .5
9 1 .0
9 4 .6
9 7 .6
9 8 .1
9 4 .7
9 4 .3
9 2 .5
9 5 .5
8 5 .4
90. 1
9 3 .7
8 8 .2
9 1 .7
8 7 .5
9 5 .3
1926
9 8 .5
9 4 .2
8 2 .9
9 4 .8
9 5 .1
8 9 .1
9 2 .0
9 7 .0
8 9 .6
9 4 .6
9 6 .9
9 0 .9
9 5 .9
98. 2
9 6 .4
9 5 .2
9 7 .6
9 2 .4
8 4 .9
9 6 .0
9 7 .4
8 8 .2
9 5 .2
8 9 .9
9 2 .3
9 5 .0
9 2 .6
9 0 .4
9 6 .7
9 3 .0
9 8 .6
91. 1
9 7 .0
8 7 .3
9 1 .8
9 1 .3
9 4 .9
9 4 .8
8 7 .5
9 4 .3
9 4 .6
9 5 .0
92. 5
9 0 .7
1927
9 8 .8
9 4 .0
8 2 .0
9 5 .2
9 2 .6
9 1 .2
9 5 .6
9 4 .9
8 7 .8
9 7 .7
9 7 .6
9 7 .6
8 2 .9
9 8 .6
9 7 .3
9 7 .9
9 7 .0
9 4 .0
8 5 .6
8 7 .2
9 7 .4
9 7 .4
9 8 .3
9 5 .2
9 2 .8
9 6 .2
9 6 .6
9 5 .5
9 7 .6
9 0 .6
9 7 .9
9 3 .6
9 7 .4
9 2 .8
9 3 .0
9 2 .3
9 2 .1
9 4 .4
9 3 .0
9 2 .5
91. 3
91. 5
80. 4
9 4 .3
1928
9 8 .8
9 8 .8
9 8 .7
9 8 .2
9 8 .1
9 8 .0
9 7 .8
9 7 .8
9 7 .7
9 7 .6
9 7 .6
9 7 .6
9 7 .6
9 7 .4
9 7 .3
9 7 .0
9 7 .0
9 6 .4
9 6 .4
9 6 .2
9 6 .1
9 6 .0
9 5 .9
9 5 .9
9 5 .7
95. 5
9 5 .4
9 5 .4
95. 2
9 5 .1
9 4 .8
9 4 .8
94. 5
94. 5
9 4 .4
94. 4
9 4 .4
9 4 .3
9 4 .3
9 4 .3
94. 2
9 4 .0
9 4 .1
9 3 .8
46
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able
1
.— P E R C E N T
P la n t
No.
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62
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64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
O F F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T IN
IN D U S T R Y —C ontinued
State
1923
New Jersey . __ ____ _
_____
P en n sy lv an ia____________ _____________
\e rm o n t_ _
__
M ain e .,
___
____.
M assachusetts______________________
___ _
Ohio
N ew Y ork______ ___ . . . _____________
M assachusetts
...
_ _______ _
Ohio
_ ____
. .
. _____ _
M assachusetts . . . ._ ______
._ . . . .
M aine. _ ___ _______ ._ _________ _
N ew York _
. . .
___do___ _ ____________________ _______
In d ia n a _____
. . _
C onnecticut _
___ . . . _____ . . _ __
_. __ _______ . . .
P en n sy lv an ia__
M ic h ig a n _____
______ __ ___ _
. _
Ohio_________
________ _____ ______
W isc o n sin ... ___________________________
M aine____ . . .
. . .
O h i o ___ ___ . _______
M aine________ . .
_ ___ ____
W isconsin. _
..
. . . ___
M aine
. ..
...
...
M assach u setts.. . .
W a sh in g to n .. _ _ _ _ _____ . . .
_____
N ew Jersey —
. _.
.
. . . _____
O h io .. . . ________________________ .
N ew Y ork . .
.
.....
W isconsin ...........................
M aine.
______
___ . . . _ _______
N ew Jersey .. ______
_____
______
M assachusetts
...
O h io ... _____ _________________ ______
N ew Y o rk .. .
_______
_ _ ....
V erm ont . .
.
____
__ _ ____
M aine. . .
... . _
....
N ew Y ork _
..
_ . ______
N ew H am pshire— . . . . . . ________
W isconsin
...
________ .
M innesota . _______
_________
N o rth C a ro lin a ... _____ . . .
...
M ichigan______ . . . _______ _____
W isconsin.
. . . . _ ...
M ich ig an .. . _____ _ .
___
O hio.
. . .
N ew Y o rk .. _____
____________
Average _________ _______
H ighest _______ _____
Lowest . . . _____
Per cent of plants w ith em ploym ent stability of—
95 per cent and o ver.
.....
90 to 94.9 per c en t______ . . .
85 to 89.9 per cent __ _ . . . .
80 to 84.9 per cent
U nder 80 per c en t__ __ _____
1924
TH E PA PER AND
1925
1926
1927
PULP
1928
93.4
93. 1
79. 1
97.6
97.5
95.5
81.3
91. 7
92. 5
85.5
82.4
97.0
88.9
83.7
90.8
96. 0
94. 1
92. 3
88. 1
97.6
90. 2
90.0
86.4
86.9
96. 7
94. 2
89.5
92.8
89.8
95.9
84.9
86.6
88.8
83.4
90.8
97.5
88.5
82.0
95.2
92.2
90.0
84.3
74.4
82.0
72.8
85.0
96.0
95.6
97.3
94.1
94.9
89.4
95. 7
83.6
92.9
90. 4
87.9
95.0
95.1
87.3
93.2
90.6
95.9
93.6
90.7
87.5
92.2
77.0
84.3
86.0
84.4
9516
93.3
80.4
87.8
92.4
97.3
85.4
85.7
78.8
77.4
90.3
92.8
92.6
82.3
93. 2
89.7
84.4
93.3
80.7
83.9
68.6
97.1
95.7
90.9
95.8
92.6
98. 1
96.3
97. 1
91.9
94.7
90.9
93.8
87. 7
97.8
95.9
99. 5
90.4
92.1
97.9
91.1
91.2
97.3
88.8
92.2
87.5
98.3
95.8
95.0
87.3
96.8
96.5
94.7
85.8
95.2
82.8
92.4
97.4
94.0
88.2
82.6
96.7
85.1
82.8
91.5
75.4
80.5
69.3
94.3
96.5
95.4
96.9
93.2
96.5
99.1
85.9
92.8
94.3
88.5
88.1
96.4
97.8
92.7
85.9
88.1
92.2
94.0
93.6
87.2
95.6
88.0
93.4
84.0
93.8
91.6
87.2
93.9
92.5
93.5
93.9
90.2
93.5
94.3
97.5
87.4
87.8
92.2
84.4
94.2
85.9
93. 1
93.3
89.7
92.4
77.8
79.6
90.5
98. 2
96.3
96. 2
95.0
94. 5
92.7
92. 5
95.0
93. 1
87.7
95.3
97.3
94.5
85.1
96.1
93.3
94.9
95.8
94.6
94.3
91.0
91.0
90.4
99.7
93.1
96.0
89.7
82.0
95.9
95.2
88.4
89.8
85.8
96.3
94.8
97. 5
88.6
82.8
92.9
92.0
77.8
90.0
87.2
80.4
78.6
88.2
87.5
93.7
93.7
93.6
93.6
93.6
93.2
93.2
93.1
92.9
92.9
92.8
92. 5
92.5
92.5
92.2
92.2
92. 1
91.8
91.8
91.7
91.7
91.5
91.5
91.3
91.3
91.2
90.9
90.3
90.2
90.1
90.1
89.7
89.7
89.6
89.1
88.6
88.0
87.4
86.8
86.6
82.8
82.7
82.0
81.1
80.8
80.0
73.4
90.4
98.7
72.8
90. 1
99. 2
56.4
92.1
99.5
69.3
92.2
99.1
77.8
92.6
99. 7
77.8
92.8
98.8
73.4
28.6
33.0
18.7
14.3
5.5
29.7
28.6
25.3
8.8
7.7
36.3
37.4
18.7
4.4
3.3
27.5
46. 2
19.8
4.4
2.2
38.5
38.5
14.3
6. 6
2.2
33.0
49.5
9.9
6.6
1.1
Slaughtering and Meat-Packing Industry
T h e p e r c e n t a g e s of full-time employment (computed as beforo
described) are presented for each of the years 1923 to 1928 for 72
slaughtering and meat-packing establishments.
The establishments are arranged in the table in descending order
according to the favorableness of their showing in 1928.
The averages as worked out indicate that in this industry, as a
whole, employment is fairly stable, although the table does not dis
close any appreciable improvement in stability during the years 1923
to 1928. Few of the individual plants studied have a consistently
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[736]
47
STABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT
good rate of stability. In plants Nos. 1, 6, 17, and 29 employment
has been fairly good for the whole 6-year period. Many of the plants
maintain a low rate of stability of employment/
T
able
P lan t
No.
3 .—P E R C E N T O F F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D
M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y
Location 1
1923
1 Brooklyn, N . Y ________ _
2 Buffalo, N . Y ________
3 M innesota
_____________ _
4 N ew Y ork, N . Y _________
5 W ichita, K a n s __________ __ _
6 P ittsb u rg h , P a _________________
7 Buffalo, N i Y _ _______________
8 N ew Y ork, N . Y _____ ____ ______________
9 B altim ore, M d . _____________ _
10 D etroit, M ich ________________ _ _ _
11 N ew Y ork, N . Y __________________ . . .
12 Buffalo, N . Y .
- ___________ . __ . . .
13 South St. Joseph, M o _______________ _ _
14 Los Angeles, Calif ____________ . . .
15 Chicago, 111.. _______ _______ . . . .
_________ _
16 _ _ _do___________
17
do_ __ _ ___________ __
18 K a n sa s.. ___________________________ .
19 Oregon. ___
_ ___________ ___ .
20 K ansas C ity , K a n s____________________
21 ‘ Chicago, 111... .
___________ . . . . . .
22 Los Angeles, C a l i f _______ _
23 W ashington___ _______ . ____ ___
24 O maha, N e b r.. _______. . . .
25 K ansas C ity, K a n s_______ _____ . . . .
26 P ittsb u rg h , P a ________________ ______ _
27 Chicago, 111 .
_____
. . . .
28 K ansas C ity, K a n s _______ . . .
29 Chicago, 111 ..
_______________ . . . . _
_________ . . . .
30 St. Louis, M o
31 O klahoma C ity, O kla _____________
32 Illinois.
. .
_________ ___________
33 Kansas C ity, K a n s____________ ____ _ _
34 Philadelphia, P a ____________________
35 M assachusetts ______________________
36 Indianapolis, In d _____ _________ _
37 F o rt W orth, Tex __ . _________________
38 Cleveland, O hio. _____ _______________
....
________ _____
39 Omaha, N ebr
_______ . . .
40 N o rth D akota .
41 Chicago, 111____ . . . ______ . . . . . . .
42 Iowa . _________ ____ ______________
43 South St. Joseph, M o _____ __________
44 Oklahom a C ity, Okla ______________ _
45 St. Louis, M o . . _____________ ______
. . . .
....
46 Chicago, 111.. . . . .
do .. . . . ______________ . _
47
48 O maha, N e b r. ___________ _ _______ _
49 C onnecticut . . . ___ . . . . . _______ _
50 T e x a s ____________ . . . . . . _____ ____ _
51 F o rt W orth, T e x __ __________________ _
52 Los Angeles, Calif
: .
... ..
53 Cleveland, Ohio____________ _ . .
54 D etroit, M ic h . . . .
.
. . . . .
Indianapolis, Ind__ _ _ .
_____ _
. _
56 W ichita, K ans __________ . .
57 W ashington. . . . . ________ . . . . .
58 M ilw aukee, W is ______________ .
59 M in n eso ta .._ ______________ ___
___ . . . . . .
60 Denver, Colo
61 M assachusetts _________ . .
62 Sioux C ity , Iow a ________ . . . . _
63 Iow a .
. ____________________ .
64 ___do____ ____ _
______ ___ _ ___ _ __ _
65 California ___
____________________ _
66 Sioux C ity , Iow a . ___ ______________ .
67 Texas___________________ ______________
68 Boston, M ass______________________
69 Wisconsin
_____ _ _ _________ .
70 D enver, Colo______________ ______
95.4
91.6
75.2
88.2
88. 1
95.5
91.8
95.6
85.1
93.4
68.0
92.0
95.6
89.3
90.9
80.3
93.8
85.2
91.3
93.0
83.7
94.4
88. 1
94.6
89.0
75.8
92.8
91. 6
95. 7
90. 6
91. 3
89.6
93. 0
95. 7
88.8
85.3
80.2
86.9
94.2
88.6
70.8
93.2
85.3
83. 5
96. 3
84.2
92. 9
89.2
85.7
94.6
80. 8
93.0
84.2
80.9
83.8
89. 7
82. 4
78.3
84.6
94. 6
91. 8
92.4
79. 1
83. 1
89. 5
92.7
91.2
83. 3
74.5
95.6
1924
97.4
95.1
82.5
88.8
88.6
98.3
94.6
92.7
96.6
85.7
94.1
88.9
84.0
91.2
83.6
78.2
91.4
94. 6
92.7
88.3
67. 7
88. 6
90.4
71.5
91. 7
86.2
91. 2
90.0
95.4
96. 2
80.9
89.4
81. 9
93. 8
87. 8
83.1
83.5
77.0
93. 4
88. 5
64.4
96.4
89. 2
82.3
96.0
84. 2
91 0
95. 2
86.8
90. 2
89.1
88.0
81. 0
85.7
91.4
91.1
87.1
79. 4
84. 4
91. 5
87. 6
94. 8
87. 9
77.4
84.4
93.0
91.3
83. 7
76. 2
91.0
1925
91. 3
94. 0
85.6
96. 5
96.0
92.0
94. 1
94.2
97.4
89.5
91. 3
92.2
86.9
79.5
90.8
75.0
94. 3
91.1
90. 3
83.0
91.1
92.2
89.2
87. 9
92.4
88.1
88. 3
92. 8
96. 7
84. 3
96. 3
85. 4
88. 9
92. 7
83.4
75. 0
88. 3
87.2
93. 0
91. 5
83.8
88.4
87.6
90.9
94.1
66. 7
' 92 4
87.6
84. 4
96.8
90.3
92.0
80. 2
80.4
82.1
86.1
73. 6
79. 8
88.8
88.1
79. 7
83. 3
82. 7
78. 5
88. 1
87. 6
78. 6
79. 7
80.4
89.8
1 W here th e c ity location of th e p la n t m ight identify it only th e S tate is shown.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[737]
1926
97.4
89.7
85.6
96.8
85.5
96.0
89.5
96.8
94.6
97.3
95.6
95.8
94.0
93.1
94.9
73.1
94.4
83.6
93.4
83.5
96.9
97.0
87.1
95.7
95. 6
83.3
90.3
92. 5
95.4
93. 7
94.3
92.7
92.9
95. 7
96.3
97.0
92.5
89.5
92.0
92.6
90.6
89.0
89.9
94.3
94.1
83.6
94.0
94. 3
95.3
95.6
94. 7
93.0
89.9
89.8
82.7
92.1
83. 6
87.8
85.3
88.1
91.8
86.4
84.5
75. 9
84. 0
87.9
85.6
87.6
79. 9
83.8
1927
96.0
93. 3
89. 7
95.3
93. 6
96.1
95.0
77.9
91. 5
96. 8
93.6
89.3
97.6
97.7
82. 9
89.1
97.1
85.5
89.1
88.3
97.9
96. 7
92.1
97. 5
93. 5
93.4
89.6
95.1
95. 7
95. 6
93. 3
94.2
89.0
95. 9
84.1
83.2
91. 5
85. 6
94. 3
88.8
94.4
95.0
94.4
93.8
91. 5
90.1
94. 5
93.7
92.6
92.5
93. 8
93. 7
89.1
88.3
88. 6
87.9
84. 5
84. 5
82. 2
93. 0
92. 6
88.9
87.5
77.9
90. 3
84.5
87.9
92.2
85.4
79.4
1928
97. 2
97.1
97.1
97.0
97. 0
96.8
96.5
96.4
96.3
96.1
96.0
95. 7
95. 3
94. 3
94. 2
93. 6
93 4
93. 4
93. 3
93.3
93. 2
93. 2
92. 9
92 8
92. 8
92. 8
92. 7
92. 4
92. 3
92. 3
92. 2
92.1
92.1
92. 0
91. 9
91 7
91. 6
91. 6
91. 4
91.1
91.0
90.1
89. 8
89. 8
89. 4
88. 7
88. 6
88.6
88.2
88.2
87. 2
86.7
86. 7
86.7
86.4
86.2
85.7
85. 5
85.2
84.8
84.8
83.6
83.2
82.6
82.0
81. 6
80.6
79.1
78.1
77.9
48
T
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
able
3 .—P E R C E N T O F F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D
M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y —C ontinued
P la n t
No.
71
72
1923
Location
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
89.1
90.2
83.6
85.0
69. 5
73.4
80.4
70.9
78.8
80.1
77.4
75.5
A verage- ________
_ . . . ______
H ighest _ _______________ ----- _
-_ -_______
L o w e s t______
88.2
96.3
68.0
87. 7
98. 3
64.4
87. 2
97.4
66.7
90.3
97.4
70.9
90.6
97.9
77.9
89.9
97.2
75.5
Per cent of plants w ith em ploym ent stab ility of—
95 per cent and over
..
___
90 to 94.9 p er cent
_ _ -- - - - ____
85 to 89.9 per cen t____________________
80 to 84.9 p er c en t___ _ . .
U nder 80 per c en t__ ________ ___ . . . _
11.1
36. 1
25.0
18. 1
9.7
12. 5
30.6
20. 4
19.4
11.1
8. 3
31.9
27.8
15.3
16. 7
23.6
33.3
23.6
13.9
5.6
22.2
36. 1
25.0
11. 1
5.6
18.0
40.3
23.6
11.1
6.9
K ansas C ity, K an s.
_________
Io w a. _________________________ _ _ __
Federal Legislation Concerning Railroad Employees
Constitutional Powers
the Federal Constitution (art. 1, sec. 8, par. 3), Con
gress has been given power to legislate on the subject of com
U NDER
merce between the States (interstate commerce). As all powers
not given to the Federal Government by the Constitution have been
reserved to the States, the States have therefore retained power over
their local, or intrastate commerce.1 The States, however, can not
exercise this power in such a way as to place a direct burden, upon
interstate commerce.2 It has been further held that if the State had
the power over interstate commerce in a particular case in the
absence of Federal legislation, the only question that would arise
would be whether or not Congress had acted and, if so, whether the
State legislation were void as being repugnant to the act of Congress.2
State legislation is valid as long as Congress is silent on the subject
but ceases to exist as to interstate commerce when Congress acts.3
With these fundamental propositions in mind, the present discussion
proceeds on the basis that if Congress has acted on a particular
subject within its sphere of control over interstate commerce the
State can not act; but where Congress has not acted the State can
act, provided, of course, no direct burden is placed on interstate
commerce. As the subject is a large one it has for convenience been
divided into the several subjects under which labor legislation is
usually discussed.
Employees Engaged in Interstate Commerce
T h e p o w e r of Congress over interstate commerce enables it to
pass legislation affecting employees engaged in such commerce.
Several cases have arisen under the employers’ liability act in which
it was necessary to decide when an employee is engaged in interstate
commerce. As many employees are engaged in work of an interstate
1 U nited States C onstitution, A m endm ent X .
2 T he M innesota ra te cases, 230 U. S. 352; see discussion, pp. 396, 397.
3 N apier v. A tlantic Coast Line, 272 U . S. 605; Erie R. R . Co. v. N ew Y ork, 233 U. S. 671; Second em
ployers’ liab ility cases, 223 U . S. 1.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[738]
FEDERAL LEGISLATION— RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
49
and intrastate nature, the question is often a difficult one. In passing
statutes affecting employees engaged in interstate commerce, Con
gress may, in effect, regulate employees who are engaged in intra
state commerce most of the time. If they are engaged in interstate
commerce any of the time they are subject to the power of Congress
while so engaged and if the employments can not be separated the
Federal legislation will control.
In deciding whether a particular employee was engaged in inter
state commerce the Supreme Court of the United States laid down
the following rules:4 The employee is engaged in interstate commerce
while engaged in (1) interstate work, (2) intrastate work so closely
connected with interstate commerce as to be a part of it, (3) intra
state and interstate work with no interval of time between the com
merces, separating the duties, (4) intrastate and interstate work
which could not be separated in duty and responsibility.4
Contract of Employment
I t is n o t within the power of government, State or Federal, under
our Constitution, to compel any employer to employ or continue in
his employment a particular employee or compel any person against
his will to perform personal services for another. Every person has
the right to be employed by whom and upon such terms as he agrees
to, and an employer may employ whom he chooses upon such terms
as he agrees to. An employee may quit his employment whenever
he pleases for any reason and the employer may likewise discharge
an employee whenever he pleases and for any reason. These prin
ciples, however, are subject to the rights of the parties to damages
or other relief when a specific contract has been entered into and its
terms broken and are also subject to legal restrictions and laws for
the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the employees
and the public.5
The States may require of an employee certain physical or mental
standards (such as that he must not be color blind or illiterate or
both)6 and may provide for the examination and licensing of em
ployees,7 but these requirements must have a reasonable relation to
the duties to be performed and must not be arbitrary.8
Neither the Federal Government nor any State can make it a
criminal offense to discharge an employee because of his member
ship in a union.5 The United States Supreme Court has^ said that
labor associations are organized for the general purpose of improving
or bettering the conditions and conserving the interests of its mem
bers as wage earners, “ an object entirely legitimate and to be com
mended rather than condemned.” 9 Collective bargaining between
4
Pedersen ». D elaw are, L ackaw anna & W estern R ailw ay Co., 229 U . S. 146; Southern R ailw ay Ço. »
P u c k e tt, 244 U . S. 571; E rie R ailroad Co. ». Collins, 253 U . S. 77; Philadelphia & R eading R ailroad Co
». D i D onato, 256 U . S. 327; Southern Pacific R ailroad Co. ». In d u strial A ccident Commission, 251 U. S
259; Philadelphia, B altim ore & W ashington R ailroad Co. ». Sm ith, 250 TJ. S. 101; Kmzell ». Chicago, M il
w aukee & St. P a u l R ailw ay Co., 250 U. S. 130; W alsh». N ew Y ork, N ew H aven & H artford R ailroad Co.
223 U. S. 1; Norfolk & W estern R ailw ay ». E arnest, 229 U. S. 114; St. Louis, San Francisco & Texas R ail
w ay ». Seale, 229 U . S. 156; N o rth C arolina R ailroad ». Zachary, 232 U. S. 248; Shanks ». Delaware, Lacka
w anna & W estern R ailroad, 239 U . S. 556; Delaware, Lackaw anna & W estern R ailroad ». Y urkonis, 238
U. S. 439; B altim ore & Ohio Southw estern R ailroad Co. ». B urtch, 263 U . S. 540.
T1 T-> ,,
6 A dair ». U nited States, 208 U. S. 161; Coppage ». K ansas, 236 U. S. 1; Penna. Federation ». P . R. R .
Co 267 TJ S 203
e See L abor Laws of th e U nited States, B ui. No. 370 of th e U. S. B ureau of L abor Statistics, p. 1230.
1 Sm ith ». A labam a, 124 U . S. 465; N ashville, etc., R y . ». A labam a, 128 U . S. 96.
8 Sm ith ». Texas, 233 U. S. 630.
6 A dair ». U n ited States, 208 U . S. 161,178.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[739]
50
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the railroads and their employees is apparently provided for in the
railway labor act of 1926, which provides for mediation and arbi
tration of disputes between the railroads and their employees but
does not provide for compulsion.10
Congress has not acted in this field of legislation except in an
attempt to make it a criminal offense to discharge an employee
because of union membership, which act was held unconstitutional,9
and by the passage of the railway labor act of 1926. The States
may act in the absence of Federal legislation, and in the absence of
any special legislation concerning the employment of railroad workers
the general law of the State concerning contracts of employment
controls.
Hours of Labor
P r io r to March 4, 1907, the several States of the Union had the
power to pass legislation regulating the hours of labor of persons
engaged in interstate commerce by rail as well as those engaged in
intrastate commerce. On that date Congress passed a law limiting
the hours of service of certain employees engaged in interstate com
merce by rail. This act, which was amended on May 4, 1916, is
now the law and reads as follows:11
S e c t i o n 61. C a rr ie rs a n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n su b je c t to p r o v is io n s o f c h a p te r; “ r a il
r o a d ” a n d “ e m p lo y e e s ” d e fin e d . — T he provisions of th is c h a p te r shall a p p ly to
an y com m on carrier o r carriers, th e ir officers, ag en ts, a n d em ployees, engaged
in th e tra n s p o rta tio n of passengers o r p ro p e rty b y ra ilro a d in th e D istric t of
C olum bia o r a n y T e rrito ry of th e U n ite d S ta te s, o r fro m one S ta te o r T errito ry
of th e U n ited S ta te s o r th e D istric t of C o lu m b ia to a n y o th e r S ta te o r T errito ry
of th e U n ited S ta te s or th e D istric t of C olum bia, or fro m a n y p lace in th e U n ited
S ta te s to a n a d ja c e n t foreign c o u n try , o r fro m a n y place in th e U n ite d S tates
th ro u g h a foreign co u n try to a n y o th e r place in th e U n ited S ta te s. _ T h e te rm
" r a ilr o a d ” as used in th is c h a p te r sh all include all bridges a n d ferries used o r
o p erated in connection w ith a n y railro a d , a n d also all th e ro a d in use by a n y com
m on c a rrie r o p eratin g a railro a d , w h eth er ow ned or o p e ra te d u n d e r a c o n tra c t,
agreem ent, o r lease; a n d th e te r m " e m p lo y e e s” as used in th is c h a p te r shall
be h eld to m ean persons a c tu a lly en gaged in or co n n ected w ith th e m o v em en t
of a n y tr a in . (M arch 4, 1907, ch. 2939, sec. 1, 34 S ta t. 1415.)
S ec . 62. H o u r s o f service l im ite d . — I t shall be un law fu l for a n y com m on carrier,
its officers o r agents, su b je c t to th is c h a p te r to req u ire or p e rm it a n y em ployee
su b ject to th is c h a p te r to be o r re m a in on d u ty fo r a longer p erio d th a n 16 con
secutive hours, a n d w henever a n y su ch em ployee of su ch com m on c a rrie r shall
have been co n tinuously on d u ty fo r 16 h o u rs he shall be relieved a n d n o t req u ired
o r p e rm itte d ag ain to go on d u ty u n til he h as h a d a t le a s t 10 consecutive hours
off d u ty ; a n d no such em ployee w ho h as been on d u ty 16 ho u rs in th e aggregate
in a n y 24-hour period shall be re q u ire d o r p e rm itte d to co n tin u e o r ag a in go on
d u ty w ith o u t h av in g h a d a t le a s t 8 co n secu tiv e ho u rs off d u ty : P ro v id e d , T h a t
no o p erato r, tr a in d isp a tc h e r, o r o th e r em ployee w ho b y th e use of th e te leg rap h
o r telephone d isp atch es, re p o rts, tra n sm its , receives, or- d elivers o rd ers p e rta in in g
to o r affecting tr a in m o v em en ts sh all be re q u ire d o r p e rm itte d to be o r rem ain
on d u ty fo r a longer p erio d th a n 9 h o u rs in a n y 24-hour p erio d in all tow ers,
offices, places, a n d sta tio n s co n tin u o u sly o p e ra te d n ig h t a n d d ay , n o r for a longer
period th a n 13 hours in all to w ers, offices, places, a n d sta tio n s o p e ra te d only du rin g
th e d a y tim e , ex cep t in case of em ergency, w hen th e em ployees n a m e d in th is
proviso m ay be p e rm itte d to be a n d rem ain on d u ty fo r 4 a d d itio n a l h o u rs in a
24-hour p eriod on n o t exceeding th re e d a y s in a n y w eek: P r o v id e d fu r th e r ,
T h e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission m ay a fte r full h earin g in a p a rtic u la r case
10 M ay 20, 1926, 44 S tat. 577. U . S. Code, T itle 45, secs. 151-163, p articularly sec. 152.
11 M arch 4, 1907, 34 S tat. 1415, as am ended M ay 4,1916, 39 S tat. 61. See U. S. Code, T itle 45, secs. 61-64i
B alt. & Ohio R . R . v. In d . Com. C om m ., 221 U. S. 612.
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a n d for good cause show n e x ten d th e p eriod w ith in w hich a com m on carrier shall
com ply w ith th e provisions of th is proviso as to such case. (M arch 4, 1907,
ch. 2939, sec. 2, 34 S tat. 1416.)
S e c . 63. P e n a lty ; s u i t s th erefo r; e x c e p tio n s f r o m o p e r a tio n o f a c t — A ny such
com m on carrier, o r an y officer or a g e n t thereof, req u irin g o r p e rm ittin g a n y em
ployee to go, be, o r rem ain on d u ty in vio latio n of th e n e x t preceding section of
th is c h a p te r shall be liable to a p e n a lty of n o t less th a n $100 n o r m ore th a n $500
for each a n d ev ery violation, to be recovered in a su it o r su its to be b ro u g h t by
th e U n ited S tates d is tric t a tto rn e y in th e d istric t c o u rt of th e U n ited S tates h a v
ing ju risd ictio n in th e locality w here such v iolations shall h av e been c o m m itted ;
a n d it shall be th e d u ty of su ch d is tric t a tto rn e y to b rin g such su it u p o n sa tis
facto ry in fo rm atio n being lodged w ith him , b u t no such su it shall be b ro u g h t
afte r th e ex p iratio n of one y e a r from th e d a te of such vio latio n ; a n d i t shall also
be th e d u ty of th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission to lodge w ith th e p ro p er
d is tric t a tto rn e y in fo rm atio n of a n y such v iolations as m ay come to its know ledge.
In all prosecutions u n d e r th is c h a p te r th e com m on c arrie r shall be deem ed to
h ave know ledge of all a c ts of all its officers an d ag en ts: P ro v id e d , T h a t th e p ro
visions of th is c h a p te r shall n o t a p p ly in a n y case of ca su a lty o r unav o id ab le
accid en t or th e a c t of G od; n o r w here th e delay w as th e re su lt of a cause n o t know n
to th e carrier o r its officer o r a g en t in charge of such em ployee a t th e tim e said
em ployee le ft a term in a l, a n d w hich could n o t h av e been foreseen: P ro v id e d
fu r th e r , T h a t th e provisions of th is ch a p te r shall n o t a p p ly to th e crews of w reck
ing o r relief tra in s. (M arch 4, 1907, ch. 2939, sec. 3, 34 S ta t. 1416; M ay 4, 1916,
ch. 109, sec. 1, 39 S ta t. 61.)
S e c . 64. E n fo r c e m e n t b y In te r s ta te C o m m erce C o m m is s io n . — I t shall be th e
d u ty of th e In te rs ta te C om m erce Com m ission to execute a n d enforce th e p ro
visions of th is ch ap te r, a n d all pow ers g ra n te d to th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om
m ission are hereby ex ten d e d to i t in th e execution of th is c h ap te r. (M arch 4,
1907, ch. 2939, sec. 4, 34 S ta t. 1417.)
Congress having acted on the subject of limiting the hours of labor
of certain employees engaged in interstate commerce by rail, the power
of the States to regulate the hours of labor of these employees has
ceased to exist.12 On September 3, 5, 1916, the act of Congress
known as the Adamson Law, making eight hours the standard of a
day’s work for the purpose of computing the wages of certain em
ployees, was approved and reads as follows: 13
S e c t i o n 65. E s ta b lis h m e n t o f e ig h t-h o u r d a y . — E ig h t h o u rs shall, in c o n tra c ts
for lab o r a n d service, be deem ed a d a y ’s w ork a n d th e m easure or sta n d a rd of a
d a y ’s w ork for th e pu rp o se of reckoning th e com pensation fo r services of all
em ployees w ho are now or m ay h e re a fte r be em ployed by a n y com m on carrier
by railro ad , except ra ilro a d s in d e p en d e n tly ow ned a n d o p e ra te d n o t exceeding
100 m iles in len g th , electric s tre e t railro ad s, a n d electric in te ru rb a n railroads,
w hich is su b ject to th e provisions of c h a p te r 1, T itle 49, T ra n sp o rta tio n , a n d w ho
are now or m ay h ereafte r be a c tu a lly engaged in a n y ca p a c ity in th e o p eratio n
of tra in s used for th e tra n s p o rta tio n of persons or p ro p e rty on railro a d s, ex cept
railroads in d ep en d en tly ow ned a n d o p erated n o t exceeding 100 m iles in len g th ,
electric s tre e t railroad s, a n d electric in te ru rb a n railro ad s, from a n y S ta te o r
T e rrito ry of th e U n ited S ta te s or th e D istric t of C olum bia to a n y o th e r S ta te or
T errito ry of th e U n ited S ta te s or th e D istric t of C olum bia, or from one p lace in a
T e rrito ry to a n o th e r place in th e sam e T e rrito ry , o r from a n y place in th e U n ited
S ta te s to a n a d ja c e n t foreign c o u n try , or from a n y place in th e U n ite d S ta te s
th ro u g h a foreign c o u n try to a n y o th e r place in th e U n ite d S ta te s: P ro v id e d ,
T h a t th e above exceptions shall n o t a p p ly to railro a d s th o u g h less th a n 100 m iles
in len g th w hose p rin cip al business is leasing or fu rnishing te rm in a l or tra n sfe r
facilities to o th e r railro ad s, o r a re them selves engaged in tra n sfe rs of fre ig h t
betw een railro a d s or betw een railro a d s a n d in d u stria l p la n ts. (S ep tem b er 3, 5,
1916, ch. 436, sec. 1, 39 S ta t., 721.)
S e c . 66. P e n a lly f o r v io la tio n . — A ny person violatin g a n y provision of th e
preceding section shall be g u ilty of a m isdem eanor a n d u p o n convictio n shall
be fined n o t less th a n $100 a n d n o t m ore th a n $1,000, or im prisoned n o t to exceed
one y ear, or b o th . (S eptem ber 3, 5, 1916, ch. 436, sec. 4, 39 S ta t. 722.)
u E rie R. R. Co. v. N ew Y ork, 233 TJ. S. 671; N o rth ern Pacific R ailw ay Co. v. W ashington, 222 XJ. S. 370.
n 39 S tat. 721. See U. S. Code, T itle 45, secs. 65, 66. W ilson v. N ew , 243 U . S. 332.
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Wages
T h e n e a r e s t the Congress ever came to fixing wages of railroad
employees was by the passage of the Adamson Act of September 3,
5, 1916, already mentioned, which made eight hours the standard in
computing the wages of employees. The constitutionality of this
law was upheld in the case of Wilson v. New, upon the grounds that
it was an “ hours of labor” law.14 Laws have been passed providing
for the settlement of disputes between the railroads and their em
ployees through mediation and arbitration but not through compul
sory arbitration.10 The compulsory fixing of wages does not appear
to be looked upon with favor by the Supreme Court of the United
States.15
Laws regulating the time and place of payment, medium of pay
ment, method of computation, deductions, priorities, liens on and
attachment of wages, have been subjects which have received the
attention of the legislatures of the States. These are general laws
and very often affect employers and employees generally in the States
but in many cases are limited to certain industries or types of em
ployers. This type of legislation may be made applicable to railroads
and their employees. As these laws only indirectly affect interstate
commerce and place no direct burden upon that commerce the
legislation has been upheld as applicable to employees engaged in
interstate commerce.16
Employers’ Liability for Injury to Employees
T h e c o m m o n - l a w liability of employers for injury to their em
ployees is based upon the negligence of the employer. At common
law it was considered the duty of the employer to use reasonable
care in protecting his employees while they were engaged in the per
formance of their work. He was required to provide a safe place to
work, to furnish safe tools and appliances, and to conduct his business
in a safe manner and to select competent fellow servants. The non
performance of the duties devolving upon the employer, when it
resulted in injury to an employee, rendered him liable to a suit for
damages based on negligence.17
Under the common-law theory, the employee assumed the ordinary
risks of the employment. He also assumed the risk involved where
an abnormal danger existed of which the employee was aware but in
spite of which he continued to work. If the employee was negligent
and if without such negligence the accident would not have happened,
the employer was relieved of liability. If the negligence of a “ fellow
employee” caused the accident, and the employer had exercised rea
sonable care in his selection, the employer was not held liable.
These three common-law defenses, “ assumption of risk,” “ con
tributory negligence,” and the “ fellow-servant rule,” very often
relieved the employer of responsibility for injuries to employees.17
10 M ay 20, 1926, 44 S tat. 577. U. S. Code, T itle 45, secs. 151-163, p articularly sec. 152.
14 See discussion in W ilson v. N ew, 243 U. S. 332 an d see also F t. Sm ith and W . R . R. Co. v. M ills, 253
U . S. 206.
15 A dkins v. C hildren’s H ospital, 261 U. S. 525; Wolff Packing Co. v. In d u strial C ourt, 267 U. S. 552.
16 Erie R. R. Co. v. W illiams, 233 U. S. 685.
h Commons a n d Andrews: Principles of L abor Legislation, p. 426.
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In 1906 Congress passed an employers’ liability act, but this law
was held unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court
because it affected “ any” employee, whether engaged in interstate
or intrastate commerce, and was therefore an exercise of power beyond
the authority granted to Congress by the Constitution.18 On April
22, 1908, the second employers’ liability act was approved and it was
later held constitutional.19 It applies to employees engaged in inter
state commerce, and as amended in 1910 modifies the common law
under which employees engaged in interstate commerce by rail can
hold liable their employers for injuries incurred while engaged in their
employment.
The effect of the Federal employers’ liability act was briefly stated
in a recent case as follows: 19
T h e F ed eral em ploy ers’ lia b ility a c t, su p ra, re la tin g to th e liab ility of com m on
carriers b y ra ilro a d to th e ir em ployees suffering in ju ries w hile engaged in in te r
s ta te com m erce, a b ro g a te s th e com m on-law ru le u n d e r w hich th e negligence of a
fellow se rv a n t is a b a r to recovery, its effect bein g to m ak e th e negligence of a
fellow se rv a n t th e negligence of th e em ployer. I t elim in ates c o n trib u to ry negli
gence as a b a r to recovery, b y p ro v id in g as a ru le of c o m p a ra tiv e negligence th a t
dam ages shall be dim inished b y th e ju ry in p ro p o rtio n to th e a m o u n t of negli
gence p ro x im ately a ttrib u ta b le to th e in ju re d em ployee, a n d elim in ates e n tirely
th e defense of c o n trib u to ry negligence in cases w here th e v io latio n b y th e carrier
of a n y [Federal] s ta tu te e n a c te d fo r th e safety of em ployees p ro x im a te ly co n
tr ib u te d to th e in ju ry . I t does n o t, how ever, ch an g e th e ru le t h a t a n em ployee
sh all be held to h av e assu m ed th e risk of his em p lo y m en t, ex cep t w here th e re
is a v io latio n by th e carrier of a [Federal] s ta tu te en a c te d fo r th e safety of em ployees
t h a t p ro x im ately co n trib u te d to th e in ju ry o r d e a th of such em ployee. T he
risk of his em p lo y m en t t h a t th e em ployee assum es is th e o rd in a ry , usual, obvious,
a n d u n av o id ab le dan g ers a n d perils n a tu ra lly in c id e n t th e re to , so fa r as th ese
are n o t a ttrib u ta b le to th e em p lo y ers’ negligence. T h e defense of a ssu m p tio n
of risk, like t h a t of c o n trib u to ry negligence, is b a sed u p o n th e know ledge a n d
ap p reciatio n of th e se rv a n t of th e d a n g er cau sin g th e accid en t, a n d know ledge
is p resu m ed as reg ard s th e u su a l a n d o rd in a ry risks. T h e risk re su ltin g fro m th e
negligence of th e em p lo y er w ill also be assum ed b y th e em ployee w hen, w ith
know ledge th ereo f a n d a p p re c ia tio n of th e d a n g er resu ltin g th erefro m , he con
tin u e s his e m p lo y m en t w ith o u t o b jectio n , a n d is th e re a fte r in ju re d b y reason
of su ch negligence, a n d know ledge of th e negligent co n d u c t a n d resu ltin g d an g er
w ill be p resum ed w hen su ch co n d u c t a n d d an g er a re so p a te n t, open, obvious, or
a p p a re n t t h a t a n o rd in a ry careful p erso n u n d e r th e circu m stan ces w ould observe
a n d ap p re c ia te th em . B u t if th e em ployee h a d no no tice o r know ledge of th e
p eiil, or b y th e exercise of reaso n ab le a n d o rd in ary care he could n o t h av e know n
of it, he can n o t be h eld to h av e assu m ed th e risk. [C itatio n s dropped.]
The statutes of 1908 and 1910, as found in the code of 1926, title
45, chapter 2, are as follows:
S e c t i o n 51. L i a b i l i t y o f c o m m o n c a rrie rs b y r a ilr o a d , i n in te r s ta te or fo r e ig n
co m m e rc e, f o r i n j u r i e s to e m p lo y e e s f r o m n e g lig e n c e .— E v e ry com m on c a rrie r b y
railro ad w hile engaging in com m erce b etw een a n y of th e several S ta te s or T e r
ritories, o r betw een a n y of th e S ta te s a n d T errito ries, o r betw een th e D istric t of
C olum bia a n d a n y of th e S ta te s o r T errito ries, or b etw een th e D istric t of C olum
bia o r a n y of th e S ta te s o r T errito rie s a n d a n y foreign n a tio n or n atio n s, shall
be liable in dam ages to a n y person suffering in ju ry w hile he is em ployed b y such
carrier in such com m erce, or, in case of th e d e a th of such em ployee, to his o r h er
personal re p re se n ta tiv e ,'fo r th e benefit of th e su rv iv in g w idow o r h u sb a n d a n d
children of such em ployee; a n d , if none, th e n of such em ployee’s p a re n ts ; a n d , if
none, th e n of th e n ex t of k in d ep e n d e n t u p o n such em ployee, fo r such in ju ry or
d e a th resu ltin g in w hole or in p a rt fro m th e negligence of a n y of th e officers,
a g e n ts, or em ployees of such carrier, o r by reaso n of a n y d efect or insufficiency,
18 Jun e 11, 1906, 34 S tat. 232, held unconstitutional in th e em ployers’ liability cases, 207 U . S. 463.
« A pr. 22, 1908, 36 S tat. 66. A m ended A pr. 5, 1910, 36 S tat. 291. U. S. Code, T itle 45, secs. 51-59, held
constitutional second em ployers’ liab ility cases, 223 TJ. S. 1. B altim ore & O. S. W . R. Co. v. Carroll,
163 N . E . 99, 102. Suprem e C ourt of In diana, Oct. 2, 1928.
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d u e to its negligence, in its cars, engines, ap p lian ces, m ach in ery , tra c k , ro a d
bed, w orks, b o ats, w harves, or o th e r e q u ip m en t. (A pril 22, 1908, ch. 149, sec.
1, 35 S ta t. 65.)
S ec . 52. C a rr ie rs i n T e r r ito r ie s or other p o ss e s s io n s o f U n ite d S ta te s . — E v e ry
com m on carrier b y ra ilro a d in th e T errito ries, th e D istric t of C olum bia, th e
P a n a m a C an al Zone, o r o th e r possessions of th e U n ite d S ta te s shall be liab le in
dam ages to a n y perso n suffering in ju ry w hile he is em ployed b y su ch c a rrie r in
a n y of said ju risd ictio n s, or, in case of th e d e a th of su ch em ployee, to h is o r h er
p ersonal re p re se n ta tiv e , fo r th e benefit of th e su rv iv in g w idow o r h u sb a n d a n d
children of such em ployee; a n d , if none, th e n of such em p lo y ee’s p a re n ts; an d ,
if none, th e n of th e n e x t of k in d e p e n d e n t u p o n such em ployee, fo r such in ju ry
o r d e a th resu ltin g in w hole o r in p a r t from th e negligence of a n y of th e officers,
agents, o r em ployees of su ch carrier, o r b y reaso n of a n y d efect o r insufficiency,
due to its negligence, in its cars, engines, appliances, m ach in ery , tra c k , ro ad b ed ,
w orks, b o ats, w harves, or o th e r e q u ip m en t. (A pril 22, 1908, ch. 149, sec. 2, 35
S ta t. 65.)
S ec . 53. C o n tr ib u to r y n e g lig e n ce ; d i m i n u t i o n o f d a m a g e s.- —In a ll a ctio n s h ere
a fte r b ro u g h t a g a in st a n y su ch com m on carrier by ra ilro a d u n d e r or by v irtu e
of a n y of th e provisions of th is c h a p te r to reco v er d am ages fo r perso n al in ju ries
to a n em ployee, o r w here su ch in ju ries h a v e re su lte d in his d e a th , th e fa c t th a t
th e em ployee m ay h a v e been g u ilty of c o n trib u to ry negligence shall n o t b a r a
recovery, b u t th e dam ag es shall be dim in ish ed by th e ju ry in p ro p o rtio n to th e
a m o u n t of negligence a ttrib u ta b le to such em ployee: P r o v id e d , T h a t no such
em ployee w ho m ay be in ju re d o r killed shall be h eld to h av e been g u ilty of con
trib u to ry negligence in a n y case w here th e v io latio n b y such com m on c a rrier of
a n y s ta tu te e n acted fo r th e sa fe ty of em ployees c o n trib u te d to th e in ju ry or d e a th
of su ch em ployee. (A pril 22, 1908, ch. 149, sec. 3, 35 S ta t. 66.)
S ec . 54. A s s u m p t i o n o f r i s k s o f e m p lo y m e n t. — In a n y a ctio n b ro u g h t a g a in st
a n y com m on c arrier u n d e r o r by v irtu e of a n y of th e provisions of th is c h a p te r
to recover dam ages fo r in ju ries to , or th e d e a th of, a n y of its em ployees, such
em ployee shall n o t be h eld to h a v e assu m ed th e risk s of his em p lo y m e n t in a n y
case w here th e v io latio n b y such com m on carrier of a n y s ta tu te e n a c te d fo r th e
safety of em ployees c o n trib u te d to th e in ju ry or d e a th of such em ployee. (April
22, 1908, ch. 149, sec. 4, 35 S ta t. 66.)
. S ec . 55. C o n tra c t, r u le , r e g u la tio n , or device e x e m p tin g f r o m lia b i l it y ; s e t- o ff .—
A ny c o n tra c t, rule, reg u la tio n , o r device w h atso ev er, th e p u rp o se or in te n t of
w hich shall be to enab le a n y com m on carrier to ex e m p t itself from a n y liab ility
created by th is ch a p te r, shall to t h a t e x te n t be void : P r o v id e d , T h a t in a n y
ac tio n b ro u g h t a g a in s t a n y such com m on c a rrie r u n d e r o r b y v irtu e of a n y of
th e provisions of th is c h a p te r, such com m on c a rrie r m ay se t off th e re in a n y sum
i t h a s c o n trib u te d or p a id to a n y in su ran ce, relief benefit, or in d e m n ity t h a t m ay
h av e been p aid to th e in ju re d em ployee o r th e person e n title d th e re to on a c c o u n t
of th e in ju ry o r d e a th fo r w hich said a c tio n w as b ro u g h t. (A pril 22, 1908, ch.
149, sec. 5, 35 S ta t. 66.)
S ec . 56. A c tio n s ; lim it a t io n ; c o n c u r r e n t j u r i s d i c t i o n o f c o u rts; re m o v a l o f case m
S ta te c o u rt. — No ac tio n shall be m a in ta in e d u n d e r th is c h a p te r unless com
m enced w ith in tw o y ea rs from th e d a y th e cause of a c tio n accrued.
U n d er th is c h a p te r a n a c tio n m ay be b ro u g h t in a d is tric t c o u rt of th e U n ite d
S tates, in th e d is tric t of th e residence of th e d e fen d an t, or in w hich th e cause of
actio n arose, or in w hich th e d e fe n d a n t shall be doing business a t th e tim e of
com m encing such actio n . T h e ju risd ic tio n of th e c o u rts of th e U n ite d S ta te s
u n d e r th is c h a p te r shall be c o n c u rre n t w ith t h a t of th e c o u rts of th e several
S tates, a n d no case arisin g u n d e r th is c h a p te r a n d b ro u g h t in a n y S ta te c o u rt
of c o m p e te n t ju risd ic tio n shall be rem o v ed to a n y c o u rt of th e U n ite d S tates.
(A pril 22, 1908, ch. 149, sec. 6, 35 S ta t. 66; A pril 5, 1910, ch. 143, sec. 1, 36
S ta t. 291.)
S ec . 57. W h o in c lu d e d i n te r m “ c o m m o n c a r r i e r — T h e te rm com m on ca r
r i e r ” as used in th is c h a p te r shall include th e receiver or receivers o r o th e r p e r
sons o r co rp o ratio n s ch arg ed w ith th e d u ty of th e m a n a g e m e n t a n d o p eratio n
of th e business of a com m on carrier. (A pril 22, 1908, ch. 149, sec. 7, 35 S ta t. 66.)
S ec . 58. D u t y o r l i a b i l it y o f c o m m o n c a rrie rs a n d rig h ts o f e m p lo y e e s u n d e r oth er
a cts n o t i m p a i r e d . — N o th in g in th is c h a p te r shall be h eld to lim it th e d u ty or
liab ility of com m on c arriers o r to im p a ir th e rig h ts of th e ir em ployees u n d e r
a n y o th e r a c t o r a c ts of C ongress. (A pril 22, 1908, ch. 149, sec. 8, 35 S ta t. 66.)
S ec . 59. S u r v iv a l o f r ig h t o f a c tio n o f p e rso n i n ju r e d .— A ny rig h t of a ctio n
given by th is c h a p te r to a person suffering in ju ry shall su rv iv e to his or h e r per-
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sonal re p resen tativ e, for th e benefit of th e su rv iv in g widow or h u sb a n d a n d
children of such em ployee, an d , if none, th e n of such em ployee’s p a re n ts; an d ,
if none, th e n of th e n ex t of kin d e p e n d e n t u pon such em ployee, b u t in such
cases th e re shall be only one recovery for th e sam e in ju ry . (A pril 5, 1910, ch.
143, sec. 2, 36 S ta t. 291.)
For a modification of the defense of assumption of risk, see page 66,
quotation from the United States Code, Title 45, chapter 1, section 7.
Congress having acted on the subject of the liability of the rail
roads to their employees for injuries incurred while such employees
were engaged in interstate commerce, the States are without power
to act on this subject. Employees injured while engaged in intra
state commerce and not covered by the Federal liability act are cov
ered by the laws of the respective States. Employees injured while
engaged in work of such a local nature as not to be covered by the
Federal employers’ liability act may have either a right of action for
damages against the employer under a State law based on negligence,
or a claim for compensation under a State workmen’s compensation
act.
Labor Disputes
I n 1926 Congress_ passed the railway labor act.20 The measure is a
recognition of organizations of employers and their employees, respectively, all disputes to be “ considered, and, if possible, decided, with all
expedition, in conference between representatives designated and
authorized so to confer” by the two parties in interest. Such repre
sentatives are to be designated “ as may be provided in their corporate
organization or unincorporated association, or by other means of
collective action.”
. Four bodies are provided for in the act, two of them, at least poten
tially, being permanent, while two others may be formed on occasion.
The primary action is to be taken by a board of adjustment which
may be created “ by agreement between any carrier or group of
carriers, or the carriers as a whole and its or "their employees.” In
other words, such board may represent a system, combination of
systems, or all railroads in the country represented by any organiza
tion, and the employees of such units. No term is provided, but
apparently such body or bodies may be continuing. The second
agency is governmental, consisting of five members appointed by
the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to be
known as the Board of Mediation. Terms are five years, the term
of one member expiring each year. Thirdly, boards of arbitrators
may be created on the agreement of the parties for particular occa
sions, but with a degree of continuing function for purposes of con
struing their own findings. A fourth provision relates to an emer
gency board, simply to investigate and make report, to be appointed
by the President in case of threatened serious interruption of inter
state commerce, as it may appear to the Board of Mediation.
The composition of these groups varies, the boards of adjustment
consisting exclusively of representatives of the parties in interest,
being their own appointees. The governmental Board of Mediation
must contain “ no person in the employment of or who is pecuniarily
or otherwise interested in any organization of employees or any
20 M ay 20, 1926, 44 S tat. 577, U. S. Code, T itle 45, sees. 151-163.
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carrier.” The boards of arbitration will equally represent carriers
and representatives of employees, the two (or in case of a board of
six, the four) to select the remaining arbitrator or arbitrators; while
the emergency board is to be independent and disinterested.
Nothing savoring of compulsory service or compulsory arbitration
is countenanced by the act; but once a conclusion is reached by the
processes therein provided for, it is to be final and binding on the
parties, and, by making use of the provisions of the act with reference
to filing in the clerk’s office of a district court, such court enters
judgment on the award, “ which judgment shall be final and con
clusive on the parties.” Appeals may be taken from arbitral awards
to district courts, and on up to the Supreme Court of the United
States.
The point of greatest interest is the experiment of the two parties
in formulating an agreed basis of conduct, the same being authenti
cated by an act of Congress; while the provisions as to validity and
enforcement are an effort to solve a problem that has presented one of
the chief difficulties in the way of collective agreements. I t is for
tunately true that in a great majority of cases the parties have con
formed to the agreements made; but disputes as to construction, and
occasional breaches of faith in respect of such agreements have indi
cated the desirability of legal status and judicial enforcement, both of
which this act provides.
The statute as found in the code of 1926, title 45, chapter 8, is as
follows:
S e c t i o n 151. D e fin itio n s , n a m e o f a c t .— W hen used in th is a c t a n d fo r th e
purposes of th is a c t:
F irst. T h e te rm " c a r r ie r ” includes a n y express co m p an y , sleeping-car com
p an y , a n d a n y carrie r b y railro a d , su b je c t to th e in te rs ta te com m erce a c t, in
clu d in g a ll floating e q u ip m e n t such as b o ats, barges, tu g s, bridges, a n d ferries;
a n d o th e r tra n s p o rta tio n facilities used b y o r o p e ra te d in co nnection w ith a n y
such carrier b y railroa d , a n d a n y receiver or a n y o th e r in d iv id u a l o r b o d y , ju d icial
or otherw ise, w hen in th e possession of th e business of em ployers o r carriers
covered b y th is a c t: P ro v id e d , how ever, T h a t th e te rm " c a r r ie r ” sh a ll n o t in
clude a n y s tre e t, in te ru rb a n , o r su b u rb a n electric railw ay unless such a railw ay
is o p eratin g as a p a r t of a g en eral steam railro a d sy stem of tra n sp o rta tio n , b u t
shall n o t exclude a n y p a r t of th e g eneral steam ra ilro a d sy stem of tra n s p o rta
tio n now o r h ere a fte r o p e ra te d by a n y o th e r m o tiv e pow er;
Second. T h e te rm " A d ju s tm e n t B o a rd ” m eans one of th e b o ard s of a d ju s t
m e n t pro v id ed for in th is a c t;
T h ird . T h e te rm " B o a rd of M e d ia tio n ” m eans th e B oard of M ediation
c reated b y th is a c t;
F o u rth . T h e te rm "c o m m e rc e ” m eans com m erce am ong th e several S tates
or betw een a n y S tate , T e rrito ry , or th e D istric t of C olum bia a n d a n y foreign
n atio n , o r betw een a n y T e rrito ry or th e D istric t of C olum bia a n d a n y S ta te ,
or betw een a n y T e rrito ry a n d a n y o th e r T e rrito ry , o r b etw een a n y T e rrito ry
a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia, o r w ith in a n y T e rrito ry o r th e D istric t of C o lu m
bia, or betw een p o in ts in th e sam e S ta te b u t th ro u g h an y o th e r S ta te or a n y
T e rrito ry or th e D istric t of C olum bia o r a n y foreign n atio n .
F ifth . T h e te rm "e m p lo y e e ” as used h erein includes ev ery person in th e
service of a c a rrie r (su b ject to its co n tin u in g a u th o rity to supervise a n d direct
th e m a n n e r of re n d itio n of his service) w ho p erfo rm s a n y w ork defined as th a t
of a n em ployee or su b o rd in a te official in th e orders of th e I n te r s ta te C om m erce
C om m ission now in effect, a n d as th e sam e m a y be am e n d e d o r in te rp re te d by
orders h e re a fte r e n te re d b y th e com m ission p u rs u a n t to th e a u th o rity w hich
is h ereb y conferred u pon it to e n te r orders am en d in g or in te rp re tin g su ch exist
ing orders: P ro v id e d , how ever, T h a t no o ccu p atio n al classification m ad e b y o rd er
of th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission sh all be c o n stru ed to define th e c ra fts
according to w hich railw ay em ployees m ay be organized b y th e ir v o lu n ta ry
action, nor shall th e ju risd ictio n or pow ers of such em ployee org an izatio n s be
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reg ard ed as in a n y w ay lim ited or defined b y th e provisions of th is a c t or by th e
orders of th e com m ission.
Sixth. T h e te rm “ d istric t c o u r t” includes th e Suprem e C o u rt of th e D istric t
of C olum bia; a n d th e te rm “ circu it c o u rt of a p p e a ls” includes th e C o u rt of
A ppeals of th e D istric t of C olum bia.
T his a c t m a y be cited as th e railw ay lab o r act. (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 1,
44 S ta t. 577.)
S e c . 152. G e n era l d u tie s . — F irst. D u ty of carriers a n d em ployees to se ttle dis
p u tes. I t shall be th e d u ty of all carriers, th e ir officers, agents, a n d em ployees to
ex ert ev ery reasonable effort to m ak e a n d m a in ta in ag reem en ts concerning ra te s of
pay, rules, a n d w orking conditions, a n d to se ttle all disputes, w h e th e r arising
o u t of th e ap p licatio n of su ch ag reem en ts or otherw ise, in o rd er to av o id an y
in te rru p tio n to com m erce or to th e o p eratio n of a n y c a rrie r grow ing o u t of an y
d is p u te betw een th e c a rrier a n d th e em ployees thereof.
Second. C on sid eratio n of d isp u tes b y rep resen tativ es. All disp u tes betw een
a carrier a n d its em ployees shall be considered, an d , if possible, decided, w ith
all expedition, in conference betw een re p re se n ta tiv e s d esig n ated a n d au th o rized
so to confer, respectiv ely , b y th e carriers a n d b y th e em ployees th ereo f in te re ste d
in th e dispute.
T h ird . D esignation of rep resen tativ es. R ep resen tativ es, fo r th e purposes of
th is a c t, sh all be desig n ated b y th e resp ectiv e p a rtie s in such m a n n e r as m ay be
p ro v id ed in th e ir c o rp o ra te o rg an izatio n o r u n in co rp o ra te d association, or b y
o th e r m eans of collective actio n , w ith o u t in terference, influence o r coercion
exercised b y e ith e r p a rty over th e self-organization o r d esignation of re p re
se n ta tiv e s b y th e other.
F o u rth . C onference of re p re se n ta tiv e s; tim e ; place; p riv a te agreem ents. In
case of a d isp u te betw een a carrier a n d its em ployees, arising o u t of grievances
or o u t of th e in te rp re ta tio n o r a p p licatio n of ag reem en ts concerning ra te s of
p ay , rules, or w orking conditions, i t shall be th e d u ty of th e d esig n ated re p re
s e n ta tiv e o r re p resen ta tiv e s of su ch carrier a n d of such em ployees, w ith in te n
d ay s a fte r th e receip t of no tice of a desire on th e p a r t of e ith e r p a r ty to confer
in resp ect to such d isp u te, to specify a tim e a n d p lace a t w hich su ch conference
shall be h eld : P r o v id e d , (1) T h a t th e place so specified sh all be situ a te d u p o n th e
ra ilro a d line of th e c a rrie r involved unless otherw ise m u tu a lly ag reed u p o n ;
an d (2) t h a t th e tim e so specified sh all allow th e d esig n ated conferees reasonable
o p p o rtu n ity to reach su ch p lace of conference, b u t sh all n o t exceed tw e n ty
d ay s from th e receip t of such n o tice: A n d -provided fu r t h e r , T h a t n o th in g in th is
p a ra g ra p h sh all be co n stru e d to supersede th e provisions of a n y a g reem en t (as
to conferences) th e n in effect betw een th e p arties.
F ifth . M an n er of dealing w ith c e rta in disputes. D isp u tes concerning changes
in ra te s of p ay , rules, o r w orking conditions shall be d e a lt w ith as p ro v id e d in
section 6 a n d in o th e r provisions of th is a c t re la tin g th e re to . (M ay 20, 1926,
ch. 347, sec. 2, 44 S ta t. 577.)
S ec . 153. B o a r d s o f a d ju s tm e n t. — F irst. C reatio n of b o ard s of a d ju s tm e n t;
ag reem en ts a n d th e ir provisions. B oards of a d ju s tm e n t shall be c reated by
ag reem en t betw een a n y carrier or g ro u p of carriers, or th e carriers as a whole,
a n d its o r th e ir em ployees.
T h e ag reem en t—
(a) S hall be in w riting;
(b) S hall s ta te th e gro u p or g roups of em ployees covered by such a d ju s tm e n t
b o ard ;
(c) S hall pro v id e t h a t d isp u tes b etw een a n em ployee or group of em ployees
a n d a ca rrie r grow ing o u t of grievances or o u t of th e in te rp re ta tio n or ap p lic a
tio n of ag reem en ts concerning ra te s of p a y , rules, o r w orking conditions, shall be
h an d led in th e u su al m a n n e r u p to a n d including th e chief o p e ra tin g officer of
th e c a rrie r d esig n ated to h a n d le such d isp u tes; b u t, failing to re ach a n a d ju s t
m e n t in th is m an n er, t h a t th e d isp u te shall be referred to th e d esig n ated a d ju s t
m e n t b o a rd b y th e p a rtie s, o r b y e ith e r p a rty , w ith a full s ta te m e n t of th e facts
a n d all su p p o rtin g d a ta bearing u p o n th e d isp u te;
(d) S hall pro v id e t h a t th e p a rtie s m a y be h e a rd e ith e r in person, b y counsel,
o r o th e r re p re se n ta tiv e , a s th e y m a y resp ectiv ely elect, a n d t h a t a d ju s tm e n t
b o ard s shall h e a r a n d , if possible, decide p ro m p tly a ll d isp u tes referred to th e m
as p ro v id ed in p a ra g ra p h (c). A d ju stm e n t b o ard s shall give d u e no tice of all
hearings to th e em ployee or em ployees a n d th e carrier o r carriers in v o lv ed in
th e d isp u te;
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(e) Shall stip u la te t h a t decisions of a d ju s tm e n t b o ard s shall be final a n d
binding on b o th p a rtie s to th e d isp u te ; a n d it shall be th e d u ty of b o th to ab id e
by such decisions;
(f) Shall s ta te th e n u m b e r of re p re se n ta tiv e s of th e em ployees a n d th e n u m b er
of rep re se n ta tiv e s of th e c a rrie r or carriers on th e a d ju s tm e n t b oard, w hich
n u m b er of re p resen tativ e s, resp ectiv ely , shall be eq ual;
(g) Shall provide fo r th e m e th o d of selecting m em bers a n d filling vacancies;
(h) S hall pro v id e for th e p o rtio n of expenses to be assum ed by th e respective
p a rtie s;
(i) S hall stip u la te t h a t a m a jo rity of th e a d ju s tm e n t b o a rd m em bers shall be
c o m p eten t to m ake a n aw ard , unless otherw ise m u tu a lly ag reed ;
(j) S hall s tip u la te t h a t a d ju s tm e n t b o ard s shall m eet reg u larly a t such tim es
a n d places as d esignated ; a n d
(k) Shall pro v id e fo r th e m e th o d of advising th e em ployees a n d carrier or
carriers of th e decisions of th e b o ard .
Second. S e ttle m e n t of d isp u te s b y m u tu a l a n d v o lu n ta ry ag reem en t. N o th in g
in th is a c t shall be co n stru e d to p ro h ib it a n in d iv id u al carrier a n d its em ployees
from agreeing u p o n th e se ttle m e n t of d isp u tes th ro u g h such m ach in ery of con
tr a c t a n d a d ju s tm e n t as th e y m ay m u tu a lly estab lish . (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347,
sec. 3, 44 S ta t. 578.)
Sec .' 154. B o a r d o f m e d ia tio n . — F irst. B o ard of m ed ia tio n ; cre a tio n ; com po
sitio n ; te rm of office; q u o ru m ; salary of m em b ers; q u alificatio n s; rem oval.
T h ere is h ereb y estab lish ed , as a n in d e p e n d e n t agency in th e executive b ra n c h
of th e G o v ern m en t, a b o a rd to be know n as th e B o ard of M ed iatio n a n d to be
com posed of five m em bers a p p o in te d by th e P re sid e n t, b y a n d w ith th e ad v ice
a n d co n sen t of th e S en ate. T h e te rm s of office of th e m em bers first ta k in g
office sh all expire, a s d esig n a te d b y th e P re sid e n t a t th e tim e of n o m in atio n ,
one a t th e e n d of th e first y ear, one a t th e end of th e second y ear, one a t th e en d
of th e th ird year, one a t th e en d of th e fo u rth y ear, a n d one a t th e en d of th e
fifth y ear, a fte r J a n u a ry 1, 1926. T h e te rm s of office of all successors shall
expire five y ears a fte r th e e x p ira tio n of th e te rm s fo r w hich th e ir predecessors
w ere a p p o in te d ; b u t a n y m em b er a p p o in te d to fill a v a can cy o ccurring p rio r to
th e e x p iratio n of th e te rm fo r w hich his predecessor w as a p p o in te d sh all be
a p p o in te d only fo r th e u n expired te rm of his predecessor. V acancies in th e
b o ard shall n o t im p air th e pow ers n o r affect th e d u tie s of th e b o a rd n o r of th e
rem aining m em bers of th e b o ard . A m a jo rity of th e m em b ers in office shall
c o n stitu te a q u o ru m fo r th e tra n sa c tio n of th e business of th e b o ard . E ach
m em b er of th e b o ard sh all receive a salary a t th e ra te of $12,000 p e r an n u m ,
to g e th e r w ith necessary tra v e lin g expenses a n d su b sisten ce expenses, o r p e r diem
allow ance in lieu thereo f, su b je c t to th e provisions of law ap p licab le th e re to ,
w hile aw ay from th e p rin cip al office of th e b o ard on business re q u ired by th is a c t.
N o p erson in th e em p lo y m en t of or w ho is p ecu n ia rily o r o therw ise in te re ste d
in a n y org an izatio n of em ployees o r a n y carrier shall e n te r u p o n th e d u tie s of
o r c o n tin u e to be a m em b er of th e b o ard .
A m em ber of th e b o a rd m ay be rem o v ed by th e P re s id e n t fo r inefficiency,
n eglect of d u ty , m alfeasance in office, o r ineligibility, b u t fo r no o th e r cause.
Second. C h a irm a n ; p rin c ip a l office; deleg atio n of pow ers; o a th s; seal; re p o rt.
T h e b o a rd shall an n u a lly d e sig n ate a m em b er to a c t as c h airm an . T h e b o a rd
shall m a in ta in its p rin cip al office in th e D istric t of C olum bia, b u t i t m ay m eet
a t a n y o th e r place w henever i t deem s i t necessary. T h e b o a rd m a y d esig n ate
one o r m ore of its m em bers to exercise th e fu n ctio n s of th e b o ard in m ed iatio n
proceedings. E ach m em b er of th e b o a rd shall h a v e pow er to a d m in iste r o a th s
a n d affirm ations. T h e b o a rd sh all h a v e a seal w hich shall be ju d icially n oticed.
T h e b o ard shall m ak e a n a n n u a l re p o r t to C ongress.
T h ird . A p p o in tm en t of ex p e rts a n d o th e r em ployees; salaries of em ployees;
expenditures. T h e b o a rd m a y (1) a p p o in t such ex p erts a n d a ssista n ts to a c t in
a con fid en tial ca p a c ity a n d , su b je c t to th e provisions of th e civil service law s,
such o th e r officers a n d em ployees, a n d (2) in acco rd an ce w ith th e classification
a c t of 1923 fix th e sala ry of su ch ex p erts, a ssista n ts, officers, a n d em ployees, a n d
(3) m ak e such ex p en d itu res (including e x p en d itu res fo r re n t a n d p erso n al services
a t th e s e a t of g o v ern m e n t a n d elsew here, fo r law books, perio d icals, a n d books
of reference, a n d fo r p rin tin g a n d b inding, a n d in clu d in g e x p en d itu res fo r salaries
a n d co m pensation, necessary tra v e lin g expenses a n d expenses a c tu a lly in cu rred
for subsistence, a n d o th e r necessary expenses of b o ard s of a rb itra tio n , in ac
cordance w ith th e provisions of section 7) as m ay be necessary for th e execution
of th e fu n ctio n s vested in th e b o ard , o r in th e b o ard s of a rb itra tio n , a n d as m ay
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be: pro v id ed for by th e C ongress from tim e to tim e. All ex p en d itu res of th e
b o ard shall be allow ed a n d p aid on th e p re se n ta tio n of item ized vouchers th erefo r
a p p ro v ed b y th e ch airm an . (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 4, 44 S ta t. 579.)
S e c . 155. F u n c tio n s o f B o a r d o f M e d ia tio n . — F irst. D isp u tes w ith in ju risd ic tio n
of B oard of M ediation. T h e p artie s, o r e ith e r p a rty , to a d isp u te betw een an
em ployee o r group of em ployees an d a carrier m a y in voke th e services of th e B oard
of M ediation created by th is a c t, or th e B oard of M ediation m ay proffer its services,
in a n y of th e follow ing cases:
(a) A d isp u te arisin g o u t of grievances or o u t of th e in te rp re ta tio n or ap p lica
tio n of ag reem en ts concerning ra te s of p a y , rules, o r w orking conditions n o t
a d ju s te d b y th e p a rtie s in conference a n d n o t decided b y th e a p p ro p ria te a d ju s t
m e n t board;
(b) A d isp u te w hich is n o t se ttle d in conference betw een th e p arties, in resp ect
to changes in ra te s of p a y , rules, o r w orking conditions;
(c) A ny o th e r d isp u te n o t decided in conference b etw een th e p arties.
In e ith e r e v e n t th e said b o ard shall p ro m p tly p u t itself in com m u n icatio n
w ith th e p a rtie s to such contro v ersy , a n d shall use its b e st efforts, b y m ed iatio n ,
to bring th e m to agreem en t. If such efforts to b rin g a b o u t a n am icab le a d ju s t
m e n t th ro u g h m ed iatio n shall be unsuccessful, th e said b o a rd shall a t once
en d eav o r as its final re q u ired actio n (except as p ro v id ed in p a ra g ra p h th ird of
this section a n d in section 10 of th is a c t), to induce th e p a rtie s to su b m it th e ir
contro v ersy to a rb itra tio n in accordance w ith th e provisions of th is a c t.
Second. In te rp re ta tio n of agreem ent. In a n y case in w hich a co n tro v ersy
arises o v er th e m eanin g o r th e ap p licatio n of a n y a g reem en t reach ed th ro u g h
m ed iatio n u n d e r th e provisions of th is a c t, e ith e r p a rty to th e said ag reem en t,
or b o th , m a y ap p ly to th e B oard of M ediation for a n in te rp re ta tio n as to th e
m eaning or ap p licatio n of such agreem ent. T h e said b o ard shall u pon receip t
of such re q u e st n otify th e p a rtie s to th e co n tro v ersy , a n d a fte r a h earin g of b o th
sides give its in te rp re ta tio n w ith in th irty days.
T h ird . D u ties of b o ard w ith resp ect to a rb itra tio n of d isp u tes; a rb itra to rs ;
acknow ledgm ent of ag reem en t; n otice to a rb itra to rs ; reconvening of a rb itra to rs ;
tra n s fe r of records of o th e r boards. T h e B oard of M ed iatio n sh all h av e th e
follow ing d u ties w ith re sp e c t to th e a rb itra tio n of d isp u tes u n d e r section 7 of
th is a c t:
(a) On failure of th e a rb itra to rs n am ed by th e p a rtie s to agree on th e rem ain in g
a rb itra to r o r a rb itra to rs w ith in th e tim e s e t b y section 7 of th is a c t, i t shall be
th e d u ty of th e B oard of M ediation to n am e such rem ain in g a rb itra to r o r a rb i
tra to rs . I t shall be th e d u ty of th e b o a rd in n am in g such a rb itra to r o r a rb itra to rs
to a p p o in t only th o se w hom th e b o ard shall deem w holly d isin te re ste d in th e
co n tro v ersy to b e a rb itra te d a n d im p a rtia l a n d w ith o u t b ias a s betw een th e
p a rtie s to such a rb itra tio n . Should, how ever, th e b o a rd n am e a n a rb itra to r
or a rb itra to rs n o t so d isin terested a n d im p a rtia l, th e n , u p o n p ro p e r in v estig atio n
a n d p re se n ta tio n of th e facts, th e b o ard sh all p ro m p tly rem o v e such a rb itra to r.
If a n a rb itra to r nam ed b y th e B oard of M ediation, in acco rd an ce w ith th e
provisions of th is a c t, shall be rem oved b y such b o ard as p ro v id ed by th is a ct,
or if such an a rb itra to r refuses o r is u n ab le to serve, i t shall be th e d u ty of th e
B oard of M ediation, p ro m p tly , to select a n o th e r a rb itra to r, in th e sam e m an n er
a s p ro v id ed in th is a c t fo r a n original a p p o in tm e n t b y th e B o ard of M ediation.
(b) A ny m em ber of th e B oard of M ediation is au th o riz e d to ta k e th e acknow l
ed g m en t of an ag reem en t of a rb itra tio n u n d er th is act. W hen so acknow ledged,
or w hen acknow ledged b y th e p a rtie s before a n o ta ry p ublic or th e clerk of a
d is tric t c o u rt or a circu it c o u rt of ap p eals of th e U n ited S ta te s, such a g reem en t
to a rb itra te shall be delivered to a m em b er of said b o ard , or tra n s m itte d to said
board, to be filed in its office.
(c) W hen a n a g reem e n t to a rb itra te h as been filed w ith th e B oard of M edia
tio n , o r w ith one of its m em bers, as p ro v id ed by th is section, a n d w hen th e
said b o ard , o r a m em b er th ereo f, h as been fu rn ish ed th e n am es "of th e a rb itra to rs
chosen b y th e p a rtie s to th e con tro v ersy , i t shall b e th e d u ty of th e B oard of
M ed iatio n to cause a no tice in w ritin g to b e serv ed u p o n said a rb itra to rs , n o tify
ing th em of th e ir a p p o in tm e n t, req u estin g th e m to m e e t p ro m p tly to n am e th e
rem aining a rb itra to r or a rb itra to rs necessary to co m p lete th e b o a rd of a r b itr a
tio n , an d advising th e m of th e period w ith in w hich, as p ro v id ed b y th e ag re e m e n t
to a rb itra te , th e y a re em pow ered to n am e such a rb itra to r o r a rb itra to rs .
(d) E ith e r p a rty to a n a rb itra tio n desiring th e reconvening of a b o ard of
a rb itra tio n to pass u p o n a n y co n tro v ersy arising over th e m ean in g o r ap p lica
tio n of a n aw ard m a y so n o tify th e B o ard of M ed iatio n in w riting, s ta tin g in
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such notice th e q uestio n or q uestions to be s u b m itte d to such reco n v en ed b o ard .
T h e B o ard of M ed iatio n sh all th e re u p o n p ro m p tly co m m u n icate w ith th e m em
bers of th e b o a rd of a rb itra tio n , o r a su b co m m ittee of su ch b o a rd a p p o in te d for
such purp o se p u rs u a n t to a p rovision in th e ag re e m e n t to a rb itra te , a n d arra n g e
for th e reconvening of said b o a rd o r su b co m m ittee, a n d sh all n o tify th e resp ectiv e
p a rtie s to th e co n tro v ersy of th e tim e a n d place a t w hich th e b o ard , o r th e su b
com m ittee, w ill m e e t fo r h earin g s u p o n th e m a tte rs in c o n tro v ersy to be su b
m itte d to it. N o evidence o th e r th a n t h a t co n ta in e d in th e record filed w ith th e
original aw ard shall be received o r considered b y su ch reco n v en ed b o a rd o r su b
com m ittee, except su ch evidence as m ay be necessary to illu s tra te th e in te rp re
ta tio n s suggested b y th e p arties. If a n y m em b er of th e o riginal b o a rd is u n ab le
or unw illing to serve on su ch reco n v en ed b o a rd o r su b co m m ittee th ere o f, a n o th e r
a rb itra to r shall be n a m e d in th e sam e m a n n e r a n d w ith th e sam e pow ers a n d
duties as such original a rb itra to r.
(e)
T he In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission, th e B u reau of L ab o r S tatistics,
a n d th e custodian of th e records, respectively, of th e R ailro a d L a b o r B oard, of
th e m ediators d esign ated in th e a c t a p p ro v e d J u n e 1, 1898, p ro v id in g fo r m ed ia
tion an d a rb itra tio n , know n as th e E rd m a n A ct, a n d of th e B o ard of M ediation
an d C onciliation crea te d b y th e a c t a p p ro v e d J u ly 15, 1913, p ro v id in g for m ed ia
tion, conciliation, a n d a rb itra tio n , know n as th e N ew lands A ct, are h ereb y
au th o rized an d d irec te d to tra n sfe r a n d deliver to th e B oard of M ed iatio n created
by th is act any an d all p ap ers a n d d o cu m en ts heretofore filed w ith o r tra n sfe rre d
to th em , respectively, b earin g u p o n th e settlem en t, a d ju s tm e n t, o r d ete rm in a tio n
of disputes betw een carriers a n d th e ir em ployees or upo n m ed ia tio n o r a rb itra tio n
proceedings held u n d e r o r p u rs u a n t to th e provisions of a n y a c t of C ongress in
respect to such d isp u te s; a n d th e P re sid e n t is a u th o riz e d to re q u ire th e tra n sfe r
and delivery to th e B o ard of M ed iatio n , c reated by th is a c t, of a n y a n d all such
pap ers a n d d ocum en ts filed w ith o r in th e possession of a n y ag en cy of th e G o v ern
m en t. T h e P resid en t is a u th o riz e d to d esig n ate a c u sto d ia n of th e records a n d
p ro p e rty of th e R ailro ad L ab o r B o ard , u n til th e tra n sfe r a n d d eliv ery of such
records to th e B o ard of M ed iatio n a n d th e disposition of su ch p ro p e rty in such
m a n n e r as th e P resid e n t m ay d irect. (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 5, 44 S ta t.
580.)
S ec . 156. P ro c e d u r e i n c h a n g in g ra tes o f p a y , ru le s, a n d w o r k in g c o n d itio n s . C arriers a n d th e re p re se n ta tiv e s of th e em ployees sh all give a t le a st th ir ty d a y s’
w ritte n notice of a n in te n d e d change affecting ra te s of p a y , rules, o r w orking
conditions, a n d th e tim e a n d p lace fo r conference betw een th e rep re se n ta tiv e s
of th e p a rtie s in te re ste d in such in te n d e d changes shall be ag reed u p o n w ith in
te n d ay s a fte r th e re c e ip t of said notice, a n d said tim e sh all be w ith in th e th irty
days p rovided in th e notice. S hould changes be re q u e ste d from m ore th a n one
class or associated classes a t ap p ro x im a te ly th e sam e tim e, th is d a te for th e
conference shall be u n d e rsto o d to a p p ly only to th e first conference fo r each class;
it being th e in te n t t h a t su b se q u e n t conferences in resp ect to each re q u e st shall
be held in th e o rd e r of its rec e ip t a n d shall follow each o th e r w ith reasonable
p rom ptness. In ev ery case w here such notice of in te n d e d change has been
given, or conferences a re being held w ith reference th e re to , o r th e services of th e
B oard of M ed iatio n h av e been req u e ste d by e ith er p a rty , or said b o a rd h as p ro f
fered its service, ra te s of p a y , rules, or w orking conditions shall n o t be a lte re d b y
th e carrier u n til th e c o n tro v ersy h as been finally a c te d upon, as re q u ire d b y sec
tio n 5 of th is a c t, b y th e B o ard of M ediation, unless a p erio d of te n d ay s h a s
elapsed a fter te rm in a tio n of conferences w ith o u t re q u e st fo r o r proffer of th e
services of th e B oard of M ediation. (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 6, 44 S ta t. 582.)
S ec . 157. A r b i tr a ti o n . — F irst. Subm ission of c o n tro v ery to a rb itra tio n . W h en
ever a controversy shall arise betw een a carrier or carriers a n d its o r th e ir em p lo y
ees w hich is n o t settle d e ith er in conference b etw een rep rese n ta tiv e s of th e p a rtie s
or by th e a p p ro p ria te a d ju s tm e n t b o a rd or th ro u g h m ed iatio n , in th e m a n n e r
pro v id ed in th e preceding sections, su ch co n tro v ersy m ay, by a g re e m e n t of th e
p a rtie s to su ch co n tro v ersy , be s u b m itte d to th e a rb itra tio n of a b o a rd of th re e
(or, if th e p a rtie s to th e co n tro v e rsy so stip u la te , of six) p erso n s: P ro v id e d ,
how ever, T h a t th e fa ilu re o r refu sal of e ith e r p a r ty to su b m it a c o n tro v ersy to
a rb itra tio n sh all n o t be co n stru e d a s a v io latio n of a n y legal ob lig atio n im posed
u pon such p a r ty b y th e te rm s of th is a c t o r oth erw ise.
Second. M an n er of selecting b o a rd of a rb itra tio n . Such b o a rd of a rb itra tio n
shall be chosen in th e follow ing m a n n e r:
(a)
I n th e case of a b o a rd of th re e th e c a rrier or carriers a n d th e re p re se n ta
tiv e s of th e em ployees, p a rtie s resp ectiv ely to th e ag reem en t to a rb itra te , shall
each n am e one a rb itra to r; th e tw o a rb itra to rs th u s chosen shall select a th ird
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a rb itra to r. If th e a rb itra to rs chosen by th e p arties shall fail to n am e th e th ird
a rb itra to r w ithin five d ay s a fte r th e ir first m eeting, such th ird a rb itra to r shall
be nam ed by th e B oard of M ediation.
(b)
In th e case of a b o ard of six th e c a rrie r or carriers a n d th e re p resen tativ es
of th e em ployees, p a rtie s respectively to th e ag reem en t to a rb itra te , shall each
nam e tw o a rb itra to rs ; th e fo u r a rb itra to rs th u s chosen shall, b y a m a jo rity v ote,
select th e rem aining tw o a rb itra to rs . If th e a rb itra to rs chosen b y th e p a rtie s
shall fail to nam e th e tw o a rb itra to rs w ith in fifteen d a y s a fte r th e ir first m eetin g ,
th e said tw o a rb itra to rs , o r as m an y of th em as h av e n o t been n am ed , shall be
nam ed by th e B oard of M ediation.
T h ifd . B oard of a rb itra tio n ; o rg an izatio n ; co m p en satio n ; procedure, (a)
N otice of selection or failu re to select a rb itra to rs . W hen th e a rb itra to rs selected
by th e respective p a rtie s h a v e agreed u pon th e rem ainin g a rb itra to r or a rb itra
to rs, th e y shall n o tify th e B o ard of M ed iatio n ; an d , in th e e v e n t of th e ir failure
to agree u pon a n y o r upo n all of th e necessary a rb itra to rs w ith in th e period
fixed by th is act, th e y shall, a t th e ex p iratio n of such period, n o tify th e B oard
of M ediation of th e a rb itra to rs selected, if an y , or of th e ir failu re to m ak e o r to
com plete such selection.
(b) O rganization of b o a rd ; procedure. T h e b o ard of a rb itra tio n shall o rg an
ize a n d select its ow n ch airm an a n d m ak e all necessary rules fo r c o n d u ctin g its
hearings: P ro v id e d , how ever, T h a t th e b o ard of a rb itra tio n shall be b o u n d to give
th e p a rtie s to th e con tro v ersy a full a n d fa ir hearing, w hich shall in clu d e a n
o p p o rtu n ity to p resen t evidence in su p p o rt of th e ir claim s, a n d a n o p p o rtu n ity
to p resen t th e ir case in person, by counsel, or by o th e r re p re se n ta tiv e as th e y
m ay respectively elect.
(c) D u ty to reconvene; questions considered. U pon notice from th e B oard of
M ediation t h a t th e p a rtie s, or e ith e r p a rty , to an a rb itra tio n desire th e recon
vening of th e b oard of a rb itra tio n (or a su b co m m ittee of such b o ard of a rb itra
tio n a p p o in te d for such p urpose p u rs u a n t to th e ag reem en t to a rb itra te ) to pass
u pon a n y co n tro v ersy o ver th e m eaning o r ap p licatio n of th e ir a w ard , th e board,
o r its su bcom m ittee, shall a t once reconvene. N o questio n o th e r th a n , o r in
a d d itio n to , th e questions rela tin g to th e m eaning or ap p licatio n of th e aw ard,
su b m itte d by th e p a rty o r p a rtie s in w riting, shall be considered b y th e recon
vened b oard of a rb itra tio n , or its subcom m ittee.
Such rulings shall be acknow ledged by such b o ard or su b co m m ittee th ereo f
in th e sam e m anner, a n d filed in th e sam e d istric t co u rt c lerk ’s office, as th e
original aw ard and becom e a p a rt thereof.
(d) C om petency of a rb itra to rs.
N o a rb itra to r, except th o se chosen by th e
B oard of M ediation, shall be in co m p eten t to a c t as a n a rb itra to r because of his
in te re st in th e contro v ersy to be a rb itra te d , o r because of his co nnection w ith
or p a rtia lity to e ith er of th e p a rtie s to th e a rb itra tio n .
(e) C om pensation a n d expenses. E ach m em b er of a n y b o ard of a rb itra tio n
c reated u n d er th e provisions of th is a c t n am ed by e ith er p a rty to th e a rb itra tio n
shall be com pensated by th e p a rty n am in g him . E ach a rb itra to r selected by
th e a rb itra to rs or nam ed by th e B oard of M ediation shall receive from th e B oard
of M ediation such com pensation as th e B oard of M ed iatio n m a y fix, to g e th e r
w ith his necessary tra v e lin g expenses a n d expenses a c tu a lly in c u rre d for su b
sistence, w hile serving as a n a rb itra to r.
(f) A w ard; disposition of original a n d copies. T h e b o ard of a rb itra tio n shall
furnish a certified copy of its a w ard to th e respective p a rtie s to th e co n tro v ersy ,
a n d shall tra n s m it th e original, to g e th e r w ith th e p ap ers a n d proceedings a n d a
tra n s c rip t of th e evidence ta k e n a t th e hearings, certified u n d e r th e h a n d s of
a t least a m a jo rity of th e a rb itra to rs , to th e clerk of th e d is tric t c o u rt o f th e
U n ited S ta te s for th e d is tric t w herein th e co n tro v ersy arose or th e a rb itra tio n
is e n tered in to , to be filed in said clerk ’s office as h ere in a fte r pro v id ed . T h e said
b o ard shall also fu rn ish a certified copy of its aw ard , a n d th e p a p ers a n d pro ceed
ings, including testim o n y re la tin g th e re to , to th e B oard of M ed iatio n , to be filed
in its office; a n d in a d d itio n a certified copy of its a w a rd shall be filed in th e office
of th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission: P ro v id e d , how ever, T h a t such a w a rd
shall n o t be co n stru ed to dim inish or ex tinguish a n y of th e pow ers o r d u tie s of
th e In te rs ta te C om m erce Com m ission, u n d er th e in te rs ta te com m erce a c t, as
am ended.
(g) C om pensation of a ssista n ts to b o ard of a rb itra tio n ; expenses; q u a rte rs.
A b o ard of a rb itra tio n m ay , su b ject to th e ap p ro v a l of th e B oard of M ediation,
em ploy a n d fix th e com pensation of such a ssista n ts as it deem s necessary in
carry in g on th e a rb itra tio n proceedings. T h e co m pensation of such em ployees,
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to g e th e r w ith th e ir necessary tra v e lin g expenses a n d expenses a c tu a lly in cu rred
for subsistence, w hile so em ployed, a n d th e necessary expenses of b o ard s of a rb i
tra tio n , shall be p aid b y th e B oard of M ediation.
W henever p racticab le, th e b o ard shall be supplied w ith su itab le q u a rte rs in
a n y F ed eral building lo cated a t its place of m eetin g or a t a n y place w here th e
b o ard m a y co n d u c t its proceedings o r delib eratio n s.
(h)
T estim o n y before b o a rd ; o a th s; a tte n d a n c e of w itnesses; p ro d u c tio n of
docu m en ts; subpoenas; com pulsion of w itnesses; fees. All te stim o n y before said
b oard shall be given u n d e r o a th or affirm ation, a n d a n y m em b er of th e b o a rd shall
have th e pow er to a d m in iste r o a th s o r affirm ations. T h e b o ard of a rb itra tio n , or
any m em b er th ereo f, shall h a v e th e pow er to re q u ire th e a tte n d a n c e of w itnesses
a n d th e p ro d u ctio n of such books, p ap ers, c o n tra c ts, agreem en ts, a n d d o cu m en ts
as m ay be deem ed b y th e b o a rd of a rb itra tio n m a te ria l to a ju s t d e te rm in a tio n of
th e m a tte r s s u b m itte d to its a rb itra tio n , a n d m a y fo r t h a t p u rp o se re q u e s t th e
clerk of th e d is tric t c o u rt of th e U n ite d S ta te s fo r th e d is tric t w herein said a rb itra
tio n is being co n d u c te d to issue th e necessary subpoenas, a n d u p o n su ch re q u e st
th e said clerk or his d u ly a u th o riz e d d e p u ty shall be, a n d h e h e reb y is, a u th o rized ,
an d i t shall be his d u ty , to issue su ch subpoenas. In th e e v e n t of th e failu re of
a n y person to com ply w ith a n y su ch subpoena, or in th e e v e n t of th e c o n tu m acy of
a n y w itness a p p earin g before th e b o ard of a rb itra tio n , th e b o a rd m a y in v o k e th e
aid of th e U n ited S ta te s c o u rts to com pel w itnesses to a tte n d a n d te s tify a n d to
p roduce such books, p ap ers, c o n tra c ts, agreem en ts, a n d d o cu m en ts to th e sam e
e x te n t a n d u n d e r th e sam e c o n d itio n s a n d p en a ltie s as p ro v id e d fo r in th e a c t to
reg u late com m erce a p p ro v e d F e b ru a ry 4, 1887, a n d th e a m e n d m e n ts th e re to .
A ny w itness ap p e a rin g before a b o a rd of a rb itra tio n sh all receive th e sam e fees
a n d m ileage as w itnesses in c o u rts of th e U n ite d S tate s, to be p a id by th e p a rty
securing th e subpoena. (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 7, 44 S ta t. 582.)
Sec. 158. A g r e e m e n t to a rb itra te ; f o r m a n d c o n te n ts; s ig n a tu r e s a n d a c k n o w l
e d g m e n t, re v o c a tio n . — T h e a g reem en t to a rb itra te —
(a) Shall be in w ritin g ;
(b) Shall stip u la te t h a t th e a rb itra tio n is h a d u n d er th e provisions of th is a c t;
(c) Shall s ta te w h eth er th e b o ard of a rb itra tio n is to consist of th re e or of
six m em bers;
(d) Shall be signed b y th e d u ly accred ited re p re se n ta tiv e s of th e carrier or
carriers a n d th e em ployees, p a rtie s resp ectiv ely to th e a g reem en t to a rb itra te ,
a n d shall be acknow ledged b y said p a rtie s before a n o ta ry p ublic, th e clerk of a
d is tric t c o u rt o r circu it c o u rt of ap p eals of th e U n ited S tates, or before a m em ber
of th e B o ard of M ediation, an d , w hen so acknow ledged, shall be filed in th e office
of th e B oard of M ed iatio n ;
(e) S hall s ta te specifically th e q u estio n s to be su b m itte d to th e said b o ard for
decision; a n d th a t, in its a w a rd or aw ard s, th e said b o ard shall confine itself
stric tly to decisions as to th e q u estio n s so specifically su b m itte d to it;
(f) S hall pro v id e t h a t th e questions, o r a n y one o r m ore of th em , su b m itte d
by th e p a rtie s to th e b o a rd of a rb itra tio n m ay be w ith d ra w n from a rb itra tio n on
notice to t h a t effect signed by th e d uly accred ited re p re se n ta tiv e s of all th e p a rtie s
a n d served on th e b o a rd of a rb itra tio n ;
(g) Shall stip u la te t h a t th e sig n atu res of a m a jo rity of said b o a rd of a rb itra tio n
affixed to th e ir aw ard shall be c o m p eten t to c o n stitu te a v alid a n d b inding aw a rd ;
(h) Shall fix a perio d from th e d a te of th e a p p o in tm e n t of th e a rb itra to r or
a rb itra to rs necessary to com plete th e b o a rd (as p ro v id ed fo r in th e agreem ent)
w ith in w hich th e said b o a rd shall com m ence its hearings;
(i) Shall fix a p erio d from th e beginning of th e hearin g s w ith in w hich th e said
b o ard shall m ak e a n d file its aw a rd : P r o v id e d , T h a t th e p a rtie s m ay agree a t
a n y tim e u p o n a n extension of th is p eriod;
(j) Shall pro v id e fo r th e d a te fro m w hich th e a w ard shall becom e effective an d
shall fix th e period d u rin g w hich th e a w ard shall co n tin u e in force;
(k) Shall pro v id e t h a t th e aw a rd of th e b o ard of a rb itra tio n a n d th e evidence
of th e proceedings before th e b o ard re la tin g th e re to , w hen certified u n d er th e
h an d s of a t le a st a m a jo rity of th e a rb itra to rs , shall be filed in th e clerk ’s office
of th e d is tric t c o u rt of th e U n ite d S ta te s fo r th e d is tric t w herein th e co ntroversy
arose o r th e a rb itra tio n w as e n te re d in to , wffiich d is tric t shall be d esig n ated in
th e ag reem en t; an d , w hen so filed, such a w a rd a n d proceedings shall c o n stitu te
th e full a n d com plete reco rd of th e a rb itra tio n ;
(l) Shall provide t h a t th e aw ard , w hen so filed, shall be final a n d conclusive
upon th e p a rtie s as to th e facts d eterm in ed by said aw ard a n d as to th e m erits
of th e contro v ersy decided;
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63
(m) Shall provide t h a t an y difference arisin g as to th e m eaning, o r th e a p p lic a
tion of th e provisions, of a n aw ard m ad e by a b o a rd of a rb itra tio n shall be referred
back for a ruling to th e sam e board, or, b y ag reem en t, to a su b co m m ittee of such
b o a rd ; a n d t h a t such ruling, w hen acknow ledged in th e sam e m an n er, a n d filed
in th e sam e d is tric t c o u rt clerk ’s office, as th e original aw ard , shall be a p a r t of
an d shall have th e sam e force a n d effect as such original a w a rd ; a n d
(n) Shall provide t h a t th e respective p a rtie s to th e a w ard will each fa ith fu lly
execute th e sam e.
T he said agreem en t to a rb itra te , w hen p ro p erly signed a n d acknow ledged as
herein provided, shall n o t be rev o k ed b y a p a rty to such a g reem en t: P ro v id e d ,
how ever, T h a t such a g reem en t to a rb itra te m ay a t a n y tim e be rev o k ed an d
canceled by th e w ritte n ag reem en t of b o th p arties, signed b y th e ir d u ly accred ited
rep resen tativ es, a n d (if no b o ard of a rb itra tio n h as y e t been c o n stitu te d u n d er
th e agreem ent) delivered to th e B oard of M ediation o r a n y m em b er th ereo f;
or, if th e b o ard of a rb itra tio n h as been c o n stitu te d as p ro v id ed b y th is act,
delivered to such b o a rd of a rb itra tio n . (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 8, 44 S ta t.
584.)
S e c . 159. A w a r d a n d ju d g m e n t th ereo n ; effect o f act o n i n d iv i d u a l e m p lo y e e .—
F irst. Filing of aw ard. T he aw ard of a b o ard of a rb itra tio n , h av in g been acknow l
edged as herein provided, shall be filed in th e clerk’s office of th e d is tric t c o u rt
desig nated in th e agreem en t to a rb itra te .
Second. C onclusiveness of aw ard ; ju d g m e n t. An aw ard acknow ledged an d
filed as herein p rovid ed shall be conclusive on th e p a rtie s as to th e m erits an d
facts of th e controversy su b m itte d to a rb itra tio n , a n d unless, w ith in 10 days
a fte r th e filing of th e aw ard , a p e titio n to im p each th e aw ard , on th e grounds
h erein after s e t fo rth , shall be filed in th e clerk’s office of th e c o u rt in w hich th e
aw ard h as been filed, th e c o u rt shall e n te r ju d g m e n t on th e aw ard , w hich ju d g
m e n t shall be final a n d conclusive on th e p arties.
T h ird . Im p e a c h m e n t of aw ard ; grounds. Such p e titio n fo r th e im p each m en t
or co n testin g of an y aw ard so filed shall be e n te rta in e d b y th e c o u rt only on one
or m ore of th e follow ing grounds:
(a) T h a t th e aw ard p lain ly does n o t conform to th e su b sta n tiv e req u irem en ts
laid dow n b y th is a c t fo r su ch aw ards, or t h a t th e proceedings were n o t su b
sta n tia lly in conform ity w ith th is a c t;
(b) T h a t th e aw ard does n o t conform , n o r confine itself, to th e stip u la tio n s of
th e ag reem en t to a rb itra te ; or
(c) T h a t a m em ber of th e b o a rd of a rb itra tio n ren d erin g th e a w ard w as g u ilty
of frau d or co rru p tio n ; or t h a t a p a rty to th e a rb itra tio n p ra c tic e d fra u d o r cor
ru p tio n w hich fra u d or c o rru p tio n affected th e re s u lt of th e a rb itra tio n : P ro v id e d ,
how ever, T h a t no c o u rt shall e n te rta in a n y such p e titio n on th e g ro u n d t h a t a n
aw ard is in v alid fo r u n c e rta in ty ; in su ch case th e p ro p er rem ed y shall be a su b
m ission of such aw ard to a reconvened bo ard , o r su b co m m ittee th ereo f fo r in te r
p re ta tio n , as pro v id ed b y th is a c t: P ro v id e d , f u r t h e r , T h a t a n aAvard c o n tested
as herein provided shall be co n stru ed liberally b y th e co u rt, w ith a view to fa v o r
ing its v alid ity , a n d t h a t no aw ard shall be s e t aside fo r triv ia l irre g u la rity or
clerical error, going only to form a n d n o t to substance.
F o u rth . E ffect of p a rtia l in v a lid ity of aw ard. If th e c o u rt shall d eterm in e t h a t
a p a r t of th e aw ard is in v a lid on som e g round o r grounds d esig n ated in th is sec
tio n as a ground of in v a lid ity , b u t shall d eterm in e t h a t a p a r t of th e a w a rd is
valid, th e c o u rt shall se t aside th e e n tire aw ard : P ro v id e d , how ever, T h a t if th e
p a rtie s shall agree th e re to , a n d if such v alid a n d in v alid p a rts are sep arab le, th e
c o u rt shall se t aside th e in v alid p a rt, a n d o rd er ju d g m e n t to sta n d as to th e
valid p a rt.
F ifth . A ppeal; record. A t th e ex p iratio n of te n day s from th e decision of th e
d istric t c o u rt u p o n th e p e titio n filed as aforesaid, final ju d g m e n t shall be en tered
in accordance w ith said decision, unless du rin g said te n d ay s e ith e r p a rty shall
appeal th erefro m to th e circuit c o u rt of appeals. In such case only such p o rtio n
of th e record shall be tra n sm itte d to th e ap p ellate c o u rt as is necessary to th e
pro p er u n d erstan d in g a n d consideration of th e q uestions of law p resen ted b y said
p e titio n a n d to be decided.
Sixth. F in ality of decision of circu it c o u rt of appeals. T he d e te rm in a tio n of
said circu it c o u rt of ap p eals upon said q uestions shall be final, an d , being c e rti
fied by th e clerk thereo f to said d is tric t co u rt, ju d g m e n t p u rs u a n t th e re to shall
th ereu p o n be e n tered b y said d istric t court.
S eventh. Ju d g m e n t w here p e titio n e r’s co n ten tio n s are su stain ed .
If th e
p e titio n e r’s co n ten tio n s are finally sustain ed , ju d g m e n t shall be en te re d settin g
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
aside th e aw ard in whole or, if th e p a rtie s so agree, in p a rt; b u t in such case th e
p a rtie s m ay agree u p o n a ju d g m e n t to be en te re d disposing of th e su b je c t m a tte r
of th e controversy, w hich ju d g m e n t w hen en te re d shall h av e th e sam e force a n d
effect as ju d g m e n t e n te re d u p o n a n aw ard.
E ig h th . D u ty of em ployee to re n d e r service w ith o u t co n sen t; rig h t to q u it.
N othing in th is a c t shall be co n stru e d to req u ire a n in d iv id u a l em ployee to ren d er
lab o r o r service w ith o u t h is co n sen t, n o r shall a n y th in g in th is a c t be co n stru ed
to m ake th e q u ittin g of his la b o r o r service by a n in d iv id u a l em ployee a n illegal
a c t; nor shall a n y c o u rt issue a n y process to com pel th e perfo rm an ce by a n in d i
vidual em plovee of su ch la b o r o r service, w ith o u t his consent. (M ay 20, 1926,
ch. 347, sec. 9, 44 S ta t. 585.)
S ec . 160. E m e r g e n c y bo a rd . — If a d isp u te b etw een a carrier a n d its em ployees
be n o t a d ju s te d u n d e r th e foregoing provisions of th is a c t a n d should, in th e
ju d g m en t of th e B oard of M ed iatio n , th re a te n su b sta n tia lly to in te rru p t in te r
s ta te com m erce to a degree such as to d ep riv e a n y section of th e c o u n try of
essential tra n sp o rta tio n service, th e B oard of M ediation shall n o tify th e P resi
d en t, w ho m ay th ere u p o n , in his d iscretion, c re a te a b o a rd to in v e stig a te a n d
re p o rt respecting such disp u te. Such b o ard shall be com posed of su ch n u m b e r
of persons as to th e P re sid e n t m ay seem d esirab le : P ro v id e d , how ever, T h a t no
m em ber ap p o in te d sh all be p ecu n iarily o r otherw ise in te re ste d in a n y o rg an iza
tio n of em ployees o r a n y carrier. T h e com p en satio n of th e m em b ers of a n y
such b o ard shall be fixed b y th e P resid en t. Such b o ard sh all be c re a te d se p a r
ately in each in stan ce a n d it sh all in v e stig a te p ro m p tly th e fa c ts as to th e
d isp u te a n d m ake a re p o rt th e re o n to th e P resid en t w ith in th i r t y d ay s from th e
d a te of its creation.
T here is hereby au th o riz e d to be a p p ro p ria te d such sum s as m ay be necessary
for th e expenses of such board, including th e c o m p en satio n a n d th e necessary
trav elin g expenses a n d expenses a c tu a lly in cu rred fo r subsistence, of th e m em
bers of th e board. All ex p en d itu res of th e bo ard shall be allow ed a n d p a id on
th e p re se n ta tio n of item ized vouchers th e re fo r a p p ro v ed b y th e ch airm an .
A fter th e creation of such b o a rd a n d for th ir ty d ay s a fte r su ch b o ard h as m ad e
its re p o rt to th e P resid en t, no change, except by ag reem en t, sh a ll be m ad e by
th e p arties to th e co n tro v ersy in th e conditions o u t of w hich th e d isp u te arose.
(M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 10, 44 S ta t. 586.)
S ec . 161. E ffe c t o f p a r tia l i n v a l i d it y o f a c t. — If a n y provision of th is a c t, or th e
ap p lication th ereo f to a n y person o r circum stance, is h eld in v alid , th e rem ain d er
of th e a c t, a n d th e a p p licatio n of such provision to o th e r persons o r circu m
stances, shall n o t be affected th e re b y . (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 11, 44 S ta t.
587.)
S ec . 162. A p p r o p r i a t io n . — T h ere is h ereb y a u th o riz e d to be a p p ro p ria te d such
sum s as m ay be necessary fo r e x p en d itu re b y th e B o ard of M ed iatio n in c a rry
ing o u t th e provisions of th is a c t. (M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 12, 44 S ta t. 587.)
S ec. 163. R e p e a l o f p r io r le g is la tio n ; e x c e p tio n . — T itle I I I of th e tra n s p o rta
tio n a c t, 1920, a n d th e a c t a p p ro v e d J u ly 15, 1913, p ro v id in g fo r m ed iatio n ,
conciliation, a n d a rb itra tio n , a n d a ll a c ts a n d p a rts of a c ts in conflict w ith th e
provisions of th is a c t are h ereb y repealed, except t h a t th e m em bers, secre ta ry ,
officers, em ployees, a n d a g e n ts of th e R ailro ad L ab o r B oard, in office u p o n th e
d a te of th e passage of th is a c t, shall receive th e ir salaries fo r a p erio d of 30 d ay s
from such d a te , in th e sam e m a n n e r as th o u g h th is a c t h a d n o t been passed.
(M ay 20, 1926, ch. 347, sec. 14, 44 S ta t, 587.)
Safety and Health
C o n g r e s s has from time to time since 1893 passed acts providing
for safety appliances and inspections.21 These acts may be divided
into two groups—the safety appliance acts, which set forth in the
statute specific requirements as to particular safety devices; the boiler
inspection act, which was limited to the inspection of boilers, but by
amendments it was made the duty of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission not merely to inspect, but to prescribe rules and regulations
al M ar. 2, 1893, 27 Stat. 531, TJ. S. Code, T itle 45, secs. 1-46; Apr. 1, 1896, 29 Stat. 85; M ar. 2, 1903, 32 Stat.
943; Feb. 23, 1905, 33 S tat. 743; Ju n e 30, 1906, 34 Stat. 838; M ay 27, 1908, 35 Stat. 325; M ay 30, 1908, 35 Stat.
476; Apr. 14, 1910, 36 Stat. 298; M ay 6, 1910, 36 Stat. 350: Feb. 17, 1911, 36 S tat. 913; June 7, 1924, 43 Stat. 659;
M ar. 4, 1915, 38 Stat. 1192.
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FEDERAL LEGISLATION— RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
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by which the fitness of engines for service shall be determined. _As to
the first group, the safety appliance acts, Congress has not manifested
an intention to occupy the entire field of regulation of equipment and
therefore »State legislation in this field which does not conflict with the
safety appliance acts is valid and enforceable.22 _ As to the second
group, the boiler inspection acts, Congress has manifested an intention
to occupy the entire field by delegating general power to the Interstate
Commerce Commission.22 ‘ The general powers conferred on the com
mission extend to the design, construction, and the material of every
part of the locomotive and tender and of all appurtenances and there
fore whether or not the commission has seen fit to exercise its author
ity to the full extent conferred, and “ because the standard set by the
commission must prevail, requirements by the States are precluded,
however commendable or however different their purpose.” 22 As to
the locomotive and tender and appurtenances, relief must be sought
from the Interstate Commerce Commission. The acts, as found in
the United States Code, Title 45, Chapter I, are as follows:
1. D r iv in g -w h e e l b ra k e s a n d a p p l ia n c e s f o r o p e ra tin g t r a i n b r a k e s y s te m .—
I t shall be unlaw ful for a n y com m on carrier engaged in in te rs ta te com m erce by
railro a d to use on its line a n y locom otive engine in rn o v in g in te rs ta te traffic n o t
eq uipped w ith a pow er driving-w heel b ra k e a n d applian ces fo r o p e ra tin g th e tra in b rak e system , or to ru n a n y tra in in such traffic t h a t h as n o t a sufficient n u m b e r of
cars in i t so equipp ed w ith pow er o r tr a in b rak es t h a t th e engineer on th e loco
m o tiv e draw ing such tr a in can co n tro l its speed w ith o u t re q u irin g brak em en to use
th e com m on h an d b rak e for th a t purpose. (M arch 2, 1893, ch. 196, sec. 1, 27
S ta t. 531.)
S e c . 2. A u to m a tic c o u p le rs. — I t shall be unlaw ful for a n y com m on e a rn e r e n
gaged in in te rs ta te com m erce b y ra ilro a d to h a u l o r p e rm it to be h au led or used
on its line a n y car used in m oving in te rs ta te traffic n o t eq u ip p ed w ith couplers
coupling a u to m atica lly b y im p act, a n d w hich can be u n co u p led w ith o u t th e necessitv of m en going b etw een th e ends of th e cars. (M arch 2, 1893, ch. 196, sec. 2,
2 7 'S ta t. 531.)
. 7.
S e c . 3. R e fu s a l o f i n s u ffic ie n tly e q u ip p e d cars f r o m c o n n e c tin g lin e s . — W hen a n y
person, firm , com pan y , o r c o rp o ratio n engaged in in te rs ta te com m erce by ra ilro a d
shall h av e equipped a sufficient n u m b e r of its cars so a s to com ply w ith th e p ro
visions of section 1 of th is c h a p te r, i t m a y law fully refuse to receive fro m c o n n ect
ing lines of ro ad o r sh ip p ers a n y cars n o t e q u ip p ed sufficiently, in acco rd an ce w ith
th e first section of th is c h a p te r, w ith such pow er o r tr a in b rak es as will w ork a n d
readily in terch an g e w ith th e b rak es in use on its ow n cars, as req u ired b y th is
ch ap te r. (M arch 2, 1893, ch. 196, sec. 3, 27 S ta t. 531.)
S e c . 4. G ra b i r o n s o r h a n d h o ld s f o r s e c u r ity i n c o u p lin g a n d u n c o u p lin g cars.
U n til otherw ise ord ered b y th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission, it shall be u n
law ful fo r a n y ra ilro a d co m p an y to use a n y ca r in in te rs ta te com m erce t h a t is n o t
p ro v id ed w ith secure grab irons or h a n d h o ld s in th e ends a n d sides of each cai for
g reater secu rity to m en in coupling a n d uncoupling cars. (M arch 2, 1893, ch.
196, sec. 4, 2 7 'S ta t. 531.)
.
, .
7 , ,
S e c . 5. S t a n d a r d h e ig h t o f d ra w b a rs f o r f r e ig h t ca rs; n o n c o m p ly in g ca rs e xc lu d e d
f r o m tra ffic . — N o fre ig h t cars, e ith e r loaded or unlo ad ed , shall be u sed in in te r
s ta te traffic w hich do n o t com ply w ith th e p rescribed sta n d a rd as to h e ig h t of
d raw b ars. (M arch 2, 1893, ch. 196, sec. 5, 27 S ta t. 531.)
S e c t io n
S e c . 6 . F a ilu r e to e q u ip ca rs a s p ro v id e d ; d u t y o f d is tr ic t a tto r n e y s a n d in te r s ta te
c o m m e rc e c o m m is s io n ; e x c e p tio n s f r o m o p e r a tio n o f p r o v is io n s .
A ny com m on
carrier engaged in in te rs ta te com m erce b y ra ilro a d using a n y locom otive engine,
ru n n in g a n y tra in , o r h au lin g or p e rm ittin g to be h a u le d o r used on its line
car in v iolation of a n y of th e preceding provisions of th is c h a p te r, sh all be liable
to a penalt}^ of $100 fo r each a n d ev ery such v iolation, to be recovered m a su it
or su its to be b ro u g h t b y th e U n ited S ta te s d is tric t a tto rn e y in th e d is tric t c o u rt
of th e U n ited S ta te s h a v in g ju risd ictio n in th e lo cality w here such v io latio n shall
h av e been c o m m itte d ; a n d i t shall be th e d u ty of such d is tric t a tto rn e y to b rin g
such suits u pon d u ly verified in fo rm atio n being lodged w ith h im of su ch viola22 N apier v. A tlantic Coast Line, 272 IT. S. 605, 613.
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tio n h av in g occurred; a n d it shall also be th e d u ty of th e In te rs ta te C om m erce
C om m ission to lodge w ith th e p ro p er d istric t a tto rn e y s in fo rm a tio n of a n y such
violations as m ay com e to its know ledge: P r o v id e d , T h a t n o th in g in th is c h a p te r
co n tain ed shall a p p ly to tra in s com posed of four-w heel cars o r to tra in s com
posed of eight-w heel s ta n d a rd logging cars w here th e h e ig h t of su ch c ar from to p
of ra il to cen ter of coupling does n o t exceed 25 inches, o r to locom otives used in
h au lin g su ch tr a in s w hen such cars or locom otives are exclusively used fo r th e
tra n s p o rta tio n o f logs. (M arch 2, 1893, ch. 196, sec. 6, 27 S ta t. 532; A pril 1,
1896, ch. 87, 29 S ta t. 85.)
S ec . 7. A s s u m p t i o n o f r i s k b y e m p lo y e e s . — A ny em ployee of a n y com m on car
rie r engaged in in te rs ta te com m erce b y ra ilro a d w ho m ay be in ju re d b y an y
locom otive, car, o r tr a in in use c o n tra ry to th e provision of th is c h a p te r shall
n o t be deem ed th e re b y to h av e assum ed th e risk th e re b y occasioned, a lth o u g h
continuing in th e em p lo y m en t of such carrier a fte r th e un law fu l use of such
locom otive, car, o r tr a in h a d been b ro u g h t to his know ledge. (M arch 2, 1893,
ch. 196, sec. 8, 27 S ta t. 532.)
S ec . 8. P r o v is io n s o f c h a p te r e x te n d e d . — T he p receding provisions a n d re q u ire
m en ts of th is c h a p te r sh all be held to a p p ly to com m on carriers b y ra ilro a d s in
th e T errito ries a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia a n d shall a p p ly in all cases, w h eth er
or n o t th e couplers b ro u g h t to g e th e r a re of th e sam e k in d , m ak e, o r ty p e ; a n d th e
provisions a n d req u irem e n ts re la tin g to tra in b rak es, a u to m a tic couplers, g ra b
irons, a n d th e h eig h t of d ra w b a rs shall be h eld to a p p ly to all tra in s, locom o
tives, te n d e rs, cars, a n d sim ilar vehicles used on a n y ra ilro a d engaged in in te r
s ta te com m erce, a n d in th e T errito ries a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia, a n d to all
o th e r locom otives, ten d e rs, cars, a n d sim ilar vehicles used in c o n n ectio n th e re
w ith, excepting th o se tra in s, cars, a n d locom otives ex em p ted b y th e pro v irio n s
of section 6 of th is ch a p te r, o r w hich are used u p o n stre e t railw ays. (M arch
2, 1903, ch. 976, sec. 1, 32 S ta t. 943.)
S ec . 9. N u m b e r o f ca rs to be o p e ra ted w ith p o w er or t r a in b ra k e s; in c r e a s e o f
n u m b e r . — W henever, as p ro v id ed in th is ch ap te r, a n y tr a in is o p e ra te d w ith
pow er o r tr a in b rak es n o t less th a n 50 p er c en tu m of th e cars in su ch tr a in shall
h av e th e ir brak es used a n d o p e ra te d by th e engineer of th e locom otive draw in g
such tr a in ; a n d all p o w er-b rak ed cars in such tr a in w hich a re asso ciated to g e th e r
w ith said 50 p e r cen tu m sh all h a v e th e ir b rak es so used a n d o p e ra te d ; an d , to
m ore fully ca rry in to effect th e o b jects of said c h a p te r, th e In te rs ta te C om m erce
C om m ission m ay , from tim e to tim e, a fte r full hearing, in crease th e m in im u m
percen tag e of cars in a n y tr a in re q u ire d to be o p e ra te d w ith pow er o r tr a in b rak es
w hich m u s t h av e th e ir b rak es used a n d o p e ra te d as afo resaid ; a n d failu re to
com ply w ith a n y such re q u ire m e n t of th e said In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission
shall be su b je c t to th e like p e n a lty as failu re to com ply w ith a n y req u ire m e n t
of th is section. (M arch 2, 1903, ch. 976, sec. 2, 32 S ta t. 943.)
S ec . 10. F o rm e r d u tie s , r e q u ir e m e n ts , a n d lia b ilitie s c o n tin u e d u n le s s s p e c ific a lly
a m e n d e d . — N o th in g in sections 8 a n d 9 of th is c h a p te r sh all be h eld or co n stru ed
to relieve a n y com m on carrier, th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission, or an y
U n ited S ta te s d is tric t a tto rn e y from a n y of th e provisions, pow ers, d u ties, lia
bilities, o r req u irem en ts hereinbefore se t o u t, a n d all of such provisions, pow ers,
d uties, req u irem en ts, a n d liab ilities shall, ex cep t as specifically am en d e d b y sec
tions 8 a n d 9, a p p ly th e re to . (M arch 2, 1903, ch. 976, sec. 3, 32 S ta t. 943.)
S ec . 11. S a f e t y a p p lia n c e s re q u ir e d f o r ea ch c a r; w h e n h a n d b ra k e s m a y be
o m itte d . — I t sh all be unlaw ful for a n y com m on carrier su b je c t to th e provisions of
th is c h a p te r to h au l, or p e rm it to be h a u le d o r used on its lin e a n y c a r su b je c t
to th e provisions of th is c h a p te r n o t eq u ip p ed w ith applian ces h erein p ro v id ed
fo r to w it: All cars m u s t be e q u ip p ed w ith secure sill step s a n d efficient h an d
b rak es; all cars req u irin g secure lad d ers a n d secure ru n n in g b o ard s sh all be
eq u ip p ed w ith such lad d ers a n d ru n n in g boards, a n d all cars h av in g lad d ers shall
also be eq u ip p ed w ith secure h an d h o ld s or g rab irons on th e ir roofs a t th e to p s
of such lad d ers: P ro v id e d , T h a t in th e loading a n d h au lin g of long com m odities
requiring m ore th a n one car, th e h a n d b rak es m a y be o m itte d on all save one of
th e cars w hile th e y are th u s com bined for such purpose. (A pril 14, 1910, ch.
160, sec. 2, 36 S ta t. 298.)
S ec . 12. S a f e t y a p p lia n c e s , a s d e sig n a te d by c o m m is s io n , to be s ta n d a r d s o f e q u ip
m e n t; m o d ific a tio n o f s ta n d a r d h e ig h t o f d r a w b a r s. — T h e n u m b er, dim ensions, loca
tio n , a n d m an n er of ap p lic a tio n of th e ap p lian ces p ro v id ed for b y sections 4 an d
11 of th is c h a p te r as desig n ated b y th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission shall
rem ain as th e sta n d a rd s of e q u ip m e n t to be used on all cars su b je c t to th e p ro
visions of th is ch a p te r, unless chan g ed by an o rd er of said In te rs ta te C om m erce
C om m ission, to be m ade a fte r full h earin g a n d for good cause show n; a n d failure
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to com ply w ith a n y such re q u ire m e n t of th e In te r s ta te C om m erce C om m ission
shall be su b ject to “a like p e n a lty as failu re to com ply w ith a n y re q u ire m e n t of
th is ch ap te r. Said com m ission is h ereb y given a u th o rity , a fte r hearing, to m odify
o r change, a n d to prescribe th e sta n d a rd h e ig h t of d ra w b a rs a n d to fix th e tim e
w ith in w hich such m odification or change shall becom e effective a n d o b lig ato ry ,
a n d p rio r to th e tim e so fixed i t shall be u n law ful to use a n y c a r o r vehicle in
in te rsta te o r foreign traffic w hich does n o t com ply w ith th e s ta n d a rd now fixed
or th e sta n d a rd so prescribed, a n d a fte r th e tim e so fixed i t sh all be un law fu l
to use a n y ca r o r vehicle in in te rs ta te or foreign traffic w hich does n o t com ply
w ith th e sta n d a rd so p rescribed by th e com m ission. (A pril 14, 1910, ch. 160,
sec. 3, 36 S ta t. 298.)
S e c . 1 3 . P e n a lty f o r u s in g car n o t e q u ip p e d a s p ro v id e d ; h a u lin g ca r f o r r e p a ir s
w h ere e q u ip m e n t becom es d efective; l ia b ility f o r d e a th or i n j u r y o f e m p lo y e e ; u s e o f
c h a in s i n s te a d o f d ra w b a rs.-— A ny com m on carrier su b je c t to th is c h a p te r using,
hauling, or p e rm ittin g to be used o r h au led on its line, a n y c a r su b je c t to th e
req u irem en ts of th is c h a p te r n o t eq u ip p ed as p ro v id ed in th is c h a p te r, sh all be
liable to a p e n a lty of $100 fo r each a n d ev ery such v io latio n , to be reco v ered as
provided in section 6 of th is c h a p t e r P ro v id e d , T h a t w here a n y c a r sh all h av e
been pro p erly equipp ed , as p ro v id ed in th is c h a p te r, a n d such e q u ip m e n t shall
have becom e' defective o r insecure w hile such car w as being used b y su ch carrier
upon its line of railro a d , such c a r m a y be h au led from th e p lace w h ere su ch
e q u ip m en t w as first discovered to be d efective or insecure to th e n e a re s t a v ailab le
p o in t w here such ca r can be rep aired , w ith o u t liab ility fo r th e p e n a ltie s im p o sed
by th is section o r section 6 of th is ch ap te r, if such m o v e m e n t is necessary to
m ak e such rep airs a n d such re p a irs c an n o t be m ad e ex cep t a t su ch re p a ir p o in t;
a n d such m o v em en t o r h auling of such ca r shall be a t th e sole risk of th e c arrier,
a n d n o th in g in th is section shall be co n stru ed to relieve such c a rrie r fro m liab ility
in a n y rem edial actio n fo r th e d e a th o r in ju ry of a n y ra ilro a d em ployee caused
to such em ployee b y reason of or in connection w ith th e m o v e m e n t o r h au lin g
of such car w ith eq u ip m e n t w hich is defective o r insecure o r w hich is n o t m a in
ta in e d in accordance w ith th e req u ire m e n ts of th is c h a p te r; a n d n o th in g in th is
proviso shall be co n stru ed to p e rm it th e h au lin g of d efective cars by m ean s of
chains in stead of draw b ars, in rev en u e tra in s o r in association w ith o th e r cars
t h a t are com m ercially used, unless su ch defective cars c o n tain liv esto ck or
“ p e rish a b le ” freight. (A pril 1 4 , 1 9 1 0 , ch. 1 6 0 , sec. 4 , 36 S ta t. 2 2 9 .)
S e c . 14. L i a b i li t y f o r u s in g ca r w ith defective e q u ip m e n t, e xcep t a s s p e c ifie d .—
E x c e p t th a t, w ith in th e lim its specified in th e p receding section of th is c h a p te r
th e m o v em en t of a ca r w ith d efective o r insecure e q u ip m e n t m ay be m ad e w ith
o u t in cu rrin g th e p e n a lty p ro v id ed b y th e s ta tu te s, b u t shall in a ll o th e r resp ects
be unlaw ful, n o th in g in sections 11, 12, a n d 13 of th is c h a p te r sh all be h eld or
co n stru ed to relieve a n y com m on c a rrier, th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission,
or a n y U n ited S ta te s a tto rn e y fro m a n y of th e provisions, pow ers, d u tie s, lia
bilities, o r req u irem e n ts heretofore s e t o u t in th is c h a p te r; a n d , ex cep t as afo re
said, a ll of such provisions, pow ers, d u ties, req u irem en ts, a n d liab ilities shall
ap p ly . (A pril 14, 1910, ch. 160, sec. 5, 36 S ta t. 299.)
S e c . 15. E n fo r c e m e n t b y c o m m is s io n . — I t shall be th e d u ty of th e In te rs ta te
C om m erce C om m ission to enforce th e provisions of th is c h a p te r as to e q u ip m e n t
of each ca r w ith safety ap pliances a n d all pow ers hereto fo re g ra n te d to said
com m ission a re hereb y exten d ed to i t for th e pu rp o se of such enforcem ent.
(A pril 14, 1910. ch. 160, sec. 6, 36 S ta t. 299.)
S e c . 16. A p p li c a ti o n o f p r o v is io n s to c o m m o n c a rrie rs a n d veh icles s u b je c t to
“ s a fe ty a p p lia n c e a c ts .” — T h e provisions of sections 11, 12, 13, 14, a n d 15, as to
th e eq u ip m en t of cars w ith th e d esig n ated safety ap p lian ces a p p ly to every
com m on carrier a n d ev ery vehicle su b je c t to w h a t a re com m only kn o w n as th e
“ safety ap p lian ce a c t s ” s e t o u t in th e first nine sections of th is ch ap te r. (A pril
14, 1910, ch. 160, sec. 1, 36 S ta t. 298.)
S e c . 17. L o c o m o tiv e s to be e q u ip p e d w ith s a fe ty a sh p a n s . — I t shall be un law fu l
for a n y com m on carrier engaged in in te rs ta te or foreign com m erce b y railro a d
to use a n y locom otive in m oving in te rs ta te o r foreign traffic o r fo r a n y com m on
carrier by railro a d in a n y T e rrito ry of th e U n ited S ta te s or th e D istric t of C olum
b ia to use a n y locom otive, n o t eq u ip p ed w ith a n a sh p a n w hich can b e d u m p ed
o r em p tied a n d cleaned w ith o u t th e necessity of a n y em ployee going u n d e r
such locom otive. (M ay 30, 1908, ch. 225, secs. 1, 2, 35 S ta t. 476.)
S e c . 1 8 . P e n a lty f o r v io la tio n a n d a c tio n s th erefo r; d u tie s o f d is tr ic t a tto r n e y s
a n d o f c o m m is s io n . — A ny such com m on carrier using a n y locom otive in vio latio n
of th e provisions of th e p receding section shall be liable to a p e n a lty of $200 for
each a n d every such v iolation, to be recovered in a su it or su its to be b ro u g h t by th e
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U n ite d S ta te s d is tric t a tto rn e y in th e d is tric t c o u rt of th e U n ite d S ta te s h a v in g
ju risd ictio n in th e locality w here su ch violatio n shall h av e been c o m m itte d ; an d
i t sh all be th e d u ty of su ch d is tric t a tto rn e y to b rin g such su its u p o n d u ly verified
in fo rm atio n being lodged w ith him of such vio latio n h av in g o ccu rred ; a n d it
shall also be th e d u ty of th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission to lodge w ith th e
p ro p e r d is tric t a tto rn e y s in fo rm atio n of a n y such v iolations as m a y com e to its
know ledge. (M ay 30, 1908, ch. 225, sec. 3, 35 S ta t. 476.)
S ec . 19. E n fo r c e m e n t b y c o m m is s io n . — I t shall be th e d u ty of th e In te rs ta te
C om m erce C om m ission to enforce th e provisions as to sa fe ty a sh p an s, a n d all
pow ers heretofore g ra n te d to said com m ission a re h ereb y ex ten d e d to i t for th e
purpose of such enforcem ent. (M ay 30, 1908, ch. 225, sec. 4, 35 S ta t. 476.)
S ec . 20. W h o in c lu d e d i n th e te r m “ c o m m o n c a r r ie r ” . — T h e te rm “ com m on
carrier ” a s used in sections 17 a n d 18 of th is c h a p te r sh all include th e receiver
o r receivers o r o th e r persons o r co rp o ratio n s ch arg ed w ith th e d u ty of th e m a n a g e
m e n t a n d o p eratio n of th e business of a com m on carrier. (M ay 30, 1908, ch. 225
sec. 5, 35 S ta t. 476.)
’
S ec . 21. P r o v is io n s n o t a p p lic a b le to lo co m o tives o n w h ic h a sh p a n s n o t n e c e s
s a r y . — N o th in g in th e provisions of sections 17 to 20, inclusive, shall a p p ly to
a n y locom otive u p o n w hich, b y reaso n of th e use of oil, elec tricity , o r o th e r such
agency, a n ash p a n is n o t necessary. (M ay 30, 1908, ch. 225, sec. 6, 35 S ta t. 476.)
S ec . 22. I n s p e c t i o n o f lo co m o tives a n d a p p u r te n a n c e s ; d e fin itio n s . — W hen used
in sections 23 to 34, inclusive, th e te rm s “ c a rrie r” a n d “ com m on c a rr ie r” m ean
a com m on c a rrie r b y railro a d , o r p a rtly b y railro a d a n d p a rtly b y w ate r, w ith in
th e c o n tin e n ta l U n ited S ta te s, su b je c t to c h a p te r 1 of T itle 49, tra n sp o rta tio n ,
as am en d e d , excluding stre e t, su b u rb a n , a n d in te ru rb a n electric ra ilw ay s unless
o p erated as a p a r t of a general ra ilro a d sy stem of tra n sp o rta tio n . T h e te rm
“ ra ilro a d ” a s used in said sections sh all include a ll th e ro ad s in use b y a n y
com m on carrier o p era tin g a railro a d , w h e th e r ow ned o r o p e ra te d u n d e r a con
tr a c t, ag reem en t, or lease, a n d th e te rm “ em p lo y ees” a s used in said sections
shall be held to m ean persons a c tu a lly engaged in o r co n n ected w ith th e m o v e
m e n t of a n y tra in . (F e b ru a ry 17, 1911, ch. 103, sec. 1, 36 S ta t. 913; Ju n e 7,
1924, ch. 355, sec. 1, 43 S ta t. 659.)
S ec . 23. U se o f u n s a f e lo co m o tiv es a n d a p p u r te n a n c e s u n l a w fu l ; i n s p e c tio n a n d
te s ts . — I t shall be unlaw ful fo r a n y c a rrie r to use o r p e rm it to be used on its line
a n y locom otive unless said locom otive, its boiler, te n d e r, a n d all p a rts an d
a p p u rte n a n c e s th ereo f a re in p ro p e r co n d itio n a n d safe to o p e ra te in th e service
to w hich th e sam e are p u t, t h a t th e sam e m a y be em ployed in th e a c tiv e service
of such c a rrie r w ith o u t u n n ecessary p eril to life o r lim b, a n d unless said loco
m otive, its boiler, te n d e r, a n d all p a rts a n d a p p u rte n a n c e s th ereo f h av e been
inspected from tim e to tim e in acco rd an ce w ith th e provisions of sections 28, 29,
30, a n d 32 a n d are able to w ith s ta n d such te s t o r te s ts a s m a y be p rescrib ed in
th e rules a n d reg u latio n s h e re in a fte r p ro v id ed for. (Jun e 7, 1924, ch. 355, sec. 2
43 S ta t. 659.)
S ec . 24. C h i e f in s p e c to r a n d a s s is ta n t c h ie f in s p e c to r s ; a p p o i n tm e n t a n d
s a la r ie s . — T h ere shall be a p p o in te d b y th e P resid e n t, b y a n d w ith th e advice
a n d co n sen t of th e S en ate, a chief in sp e c to r a n d tw o a ss ista n t chief in sp ecto rs
of locom otive boilers, w ho sh a ll h a v e g eneral su p e rin te n d e n c e of th e in sp ecto rs
h e re in after p ro v id ed for, d ire c t th e m in th e d u tie s h ereb y im posed u p o n th e m ,
an d see t h a t th e re q u ire m e n ts of th is c h a p te r as to th e in sp e c tio n of locom otives,
th e ir boilers, ten d ers, a n d so fo rth , a n d th e rules, reg u latio n s, a n d in stru c tio n s
m ade o r given h ereu n d er are observ ed b y com m on carriers su b je c t h ereto . T he
said chief in sp ecto r a n d his tw o a ssista n ts shall be selected w ith reference to th e ir
p ra c tic a l know ledge of th e c o n stru c tio n a n d rep a irin g of boilers, a n d to th e ir
fitness a n d ab ility to sy ste m a tiz e a n d c a rry in to effect th e p ro v isio n s hereof
re la tin g to th e in sp ectio n a n d m a in te n a n c e of locom otive boilers. T h e chief
in sp ecto r shall receive a sa la ry of $6,000 p e r y e a r a n d th e a ss ista n t chief insp ecto rs
shall each receive a sala ry of $5,000 p e r y e a r; a n d ea c h of th e th re e shall be p a id
his tra v e lin g expenses in c u rre d in th e p erfo rm an ce of his d u ties. (F e b ru a ry 17,
1911, ch._103, sec. 3, 36 S ta t. 914; J u n e 7, 1924, sec. 6, 43 S ta t. 659.)
S ec ._ 25. O ffices; leg a l, te c h n ic a l, ste n o g r a p h ic , a n d c le ric a l h e lp . — T h e office of
th e chief in sp ecto r shall be in W ash in g to n , D. C ., a n d th e In te rs ta te C om m erce
C om m ission shall p ro v id e su ch legal, tech n ical, sten o g rap h ic , a n d clerical help
as th e business of th e offices of th e chief in sp e c to r a n d his said a ssista n ts m ay
req u ire. (F e b ru a ry 17, 1911, ch. 103; sec. 3, 36 S ta t., 914; Ju n e 7, 1924, ch. 355,
sec. 3, 43 S ta t. 659.)
S ec . 26. I n s p e c t i o n d is tr ic ts ; a p p o i n tm e n t a n d a s s ig n m e n t o f d is tr ic t in s p e c to r s ;
s a la r ie s a n d e x p e n se s; e x a m in a tio n s o f a p p lic a n ts ; d is q u a lific a tio n s . — Im m ed iately
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a fte r his ap p o in tm e n t an d qualification th e chief in sp ecto r shall d ivide th e
te rrito ry com prising th e several S ta te s a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia in to 50
locom otive boiler in sp ectio n d istricts, so a rran g ed t h a t th e service of th e in sp ecto r
ap p o in te d for each d is tric t shall be m o st effective, a n d so t h a t th e w ork req u ire d
of each in sp ecto r shall be su b sta n tia lly th e sam e. T h ereu p o n th e re sh all be
ap p o in te d b y th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission 50 in sp ecto rs of locom otive
boilers. Said in sp ecto rs sh all be in th e classified service a n d shall b e ap p o in te d
a fte r co m p etitiv e ex am in a tio n according to th e law a n d th e rules of th e C ivil
Service C om m ission governing th e classified service. T h e chief in sp e c to r shall
assign one in sp ecto r so a p p o in te d to each of th e d istric ts h erein b efo re n am ed .
E ach in sp ecto r shall receive a salary of $3,600 p er y e a r a n d his tra v e lin g expenses
w hile engaged in th e perfo rm an ce of his d u ty . H e shall receive in a d d itio n th e re to
an a n n u a l allow ance fo r office re n t, sta tio n e ry , a n d clerical assistan ce, to be
fixed by th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission, b u t n o t to exceed in th e case
of a n y d is tric t in sp ecto r $1,000. In o rd er to o b ta in th e m o st c o m p e te n t in sp ecto rs
possible, i t shall be th e d u ty of th e chief in sp e c to r to p re p a re a list of qu estio n s
to be p ro p o u n d ed to a p p lic a n ts w ith resp ect to c o n stru ctio n , re p a ir, o p eratio n ,
te stin g , a n d in sp ectio n of locom otive boilers, a n d th e ir p ra c tic a l experience in
such w ork, w hich list, b eing ap p ro v e d b y th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission,
shall be used b y th e C ivil Service C om m ission as a p a r t of its e x am in atio n . N o
person in te re ste d , e ith e r d irectly o r in d irectly , in a n y p a te n te d a rticle re q u ired
to be used on an y locom otive u n d e r supervision or w ho is in te m p e ra te in his
h a b its shall be eligible to h old th e office of e ith e r chief in sp ecto r o r a ss ista n t or
d is tric t in sp ecto r. (F e b ru a ry 17, 1911, ch. 103, sec. 4, 36 S ta t. 914; Ju n e 7,
1924, ch. 355, sec. 4, 43 S ta t. 659.)
S ec . 27. A p p o i n t m e n t a n d a s s ig n m e n t o f a d d itio n a l in s p e c to r s . — W ith in th e
ap p ro p ria tio n s th e re fo r a n d su b je c t to th e provisions of th e p receding section,
th e I n te r s ta te C om m erce C om m ission m ay a p p o in t, from tim e to tim e , n o t
m ore th a n 15 in sp ecto rs in ad d itio n to th e n u m b e r au th o riz e d in such section, as
th e needs of th e service m ay req u ire. Any in sp ecto r a p p o in te d u n d e r th is p ro
vision shall be so assigned by th e chief in sp ecto r t h a t his service will be m o st
effective. (Ju n e 7, 1924, c h . 355, sec. 4, 43 S ta t. 659.)
S e c . 28. R u le s a n d i n s tr u c tio n s a s to i n s p e c tio n . — R ules a n d in stru c tio n s fo r th e
inspection of locom otive boilers w hich h a v e been m ad e b y a c a rrie r su b je c t to
th is c h a p te r an d ap p ro v ed b y th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission are ob lig ato ry
on such c arrier u n til ch an g ed in th e m a n n e r h e re a fte r p ro v id ed , a n d a vio latio n
th ereo f sh all be p u n ish ed as p ro v id ed in section 34. A c a rrie r m ay fro m tim e
to tim e ch an g e such rules a n d in stru c tio n s, b u t such ch an g e shall n o t ta k e effect
a n d th e new rules a n d in s tru c tio n s be in force u n til th e sam e sh all h a v e been
filed w ith a n d a p p ro v e d by th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission. T h e chief
in sp ecto r shall also m ak e all n eedful rules— regulations, a n d in s tru c tio n s n o t in co n
siste n t h erew ith fo r th e c o n d u c t of his office a n d fo r th e g o v e rn m e n t of th e
d is tric t in sp ecto rs: P r o v id e d , how ever, T h a t all such rules a n d in stru c tio n s shall
be ap p ro v e d b y th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission before th e y ta k e effect.
(F e b ru a ry 17, 1911, ch. 103, sec. 5, 36 S ta t. 914.)
Sec . 29. D u tie s o f d is tr ic t in s p e c to r s ; in s p e c tio n a n d r e p a ir s b y c a rrie rs; n o tic e
to c a rrie r o f c o n d itio n o f b o iler; a p p e a l to c h ie f in s p e c to r a n d r e e x a m in a tio n ; f u r t h e r
a p p e a l to c o m m is s io n . — I t shall be th e d u ty of each in sp e c to r to becom e fam iliar,
so fa r as p racticab le , w ith th e c o n d itio n of each locom otive boiler o rd in arily
housed or rep aired in his d is tric t, a n d if a n y locom otive is o rd in arily housed o r
rep aired in tw o or m ore d istric ts, th e n th e chief in sp ecto r o r a n a ss ista n t sh all
m ak e such division b etw een in sp ecto rs as will a v o id th e necessity fo r d u p licatio n
of w ork. E ach in sp e c to r shall m ak e su c h perso n al in sp ectio n of th e locom otive
boilers u n d er his care fro m tim e to tim e as m ay be necessary to fully c a rry o u t th e
provisions of th is c h a p te r, a n d as m ay b e c o n sisten t w ith his o th e r d u ties, b u t he
shall n o t be req u ired to m ak e such inspections a t s ta te d tim es o r a t reg u lar
in terv als. H is first d u ty shall be to see t h a t th e c arriers m a k e in sp ectio n s in
accordance w ith th e rules a n d reg u latio n s estab lish ed or a p p ro v ed b y th e I n te r
s ta te C om m erce C om m ission, a n d t h a t c arriers re p a ir th e defects w hich such
inspections disclose before th e boiler o r boilers or a p p u rte n a n c e s p erta in in g
th e re to are ag ain p u t in service. T o th is end each c a rrie r su b je c t to th is c h a p te r
shall file w ith th e in sp e c to r in charge, u n d e r th e o a th of th e p ro p e r officer o r
em ployee, a d u p lic a te of th e re p o rt of each in sp ectio n re q u ire d b y su ch ru les a n d
reg u latio n s, a n d shall also file w ith such in sp ecto r, u n d e r th e o a th of th e p ro p er
officer or em ployee, a re p o rt show ing th e re p a ir of th e defects disclosed b y th e
inspection. T h e rules a n d reg u latio n s hereinbefore p ro v id ed fo r sh all prescribe
th e tim e a t w hich such re p o rts shall be m ade. W henever a n y d is tric t in sp ecto r
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shall, in th e perform an ce of his d u ty , find an y locom otive b oiler or a p p a ra tu s
p e rtain in g th e re to n o t conform ing to th e re q u ire m e n ts of th e law o r th e rules
a n d regulations estab lish ed a n d ap p ro v e d as hereinbefore s ta te d , h e shall n o tify
th e carrier in w ritin g t h a t th e locom otive is n o t in serviceable co n d itio n , a n d th e re
a fte r such boiler shall n o t be used u n til in serviceable c o n d itio n : P r o v id e d , T h a t
a c arrier, w hen notified b y a n in sp e c to r in w ritin g t h a t a locom otive b oiler is
n o t in serviceable co n d itio n , b ecause of defects s e t o u t a n d d escribed in said
notice, m ay w ith in five d a y s a fte r receiving said notice, a p p eal to th e chief
inspector b y te le g ra p h o r b y le tte r to h av e said boiler reexam ined, a n d upon
receip t of th e ap p eal fro m th e in sp e c to r’s decision, th e chief in sp e c to r shall assign
one of th e a ss ista n t chief in sp ecto rs o r a n y d is tric t in sp e c to r o th e r th a n th e one
from w hose decision th e a p p eal is ta k e n to reex am in e a n d in sp e c t said boiler
w ith in 15 d a y s fro m d a te of n otice. If u p o n such ree x a m in a tio n th e boiler is
fou n d in serviceable co n d itio n , th e ch ief in sp e c to r sh all im m ed iately n o tify th e
carrier in w riting, w hereu p o n su ch boiler m ay b e p u t in to service w ith o u t fu rth e r
d elay ; b u t if th e reex am in atio n of said boiler su sta in s th e decision of th e d is tric t
in sp ecto r, th e chief in sp e c to r sh all a t once n o tify th e c a rrie r ow ning o r o p eratin g
such locom otive t h a t th e a p p e a l from th e decision of th e in sp e c to r is dism issed,
a n d u p o n th e receip t of su ch n o tice th e c a rrie r m ay , w ith in 30 d ay s, a p p eal to
th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission, a n d u p o n such ap p eal, a n d a fte r hearing,
said com m ission shall h a v e pow er to revise, m odify, o r se t aside su ch a c tio n of
th e chief in sp ecto r a n d declare t h a t said locom otive is in serv iceab le c o n d itio n
a n d au th o riz e th e sam e to be o p e ra te d : P r o v id e d f u r t h e r , T h a t p e n d in g e ith e r
ap p eal th e re q u irem en ts of th e in sp e c to r shall be effective. (F e b ru a ry 17, 1911,
ch. 103, sec. 6, 36 S ta t. 915.)
S e c . 30. P o w e r s a n d d u tie s o f in s p e c to r s , a n d p r o v is io n s o f c h a p te r a p p lic a b le to
a ll p a r ts o f lo co m o tiv e a n d te n d e r ; e x a m in a tio n s o f in s p e c to r s .— T h e chief in sp ecto r
a n d th e tw o a ss ista n t chief in sp ecto rs, to g e th e r w ith all th e d is tric t inspectors,
a p p o in te d as hereinbefore p ro v id ed , shall in sp ect a n d shall h a v e th e sam e pow ers
a n d d u ties w ith resp ect to all th e p a rts a n d a p p u rte n a n c e s of th e locom otive
a n d te n d e r t h a t th e y h a v e w ith resp ect to th e b oiler of a lo co m o tiv e a n d th e
a p p u rte n a n c e s th ereo f, a n d th e provision as to th e e q u ip m e n t of locom otives
shall a p p ly to a n d include th e e n tire locom otive a n d te n d e r a n d a ll th e ir p a rts
w ith th e sam e force a n d effect as it applies to locom otive boilers a n d th e ir a p p u r
ten an ces. All in sp ecto rs a n d a p p lic a n ts fo r th e p o sitio n of in sp e c to r shall be
exam ined to u ch in g th e ir qualificatio n s a n d fitness w ith re sp e c t to th e a d d itio n a l
d u ties hereb y im posed. (M arch 4, 1915, ch. 169, sec. 2, 38 S ta t. 1192.)
S e c . 31. A n n u a l re p o r t o f c h i d in s p e c to r . — T h e chief in sp e c to r sh all m ak e a n
a n n u a l re p o rt to th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission of th e w ork done du rin g
th e y ear, a n d shall m ak e su ch reco m m en d atio n s fo r th e b e tte rm e n t of th e service
a s he m a y desire. (F e b ru a ry 17, 1911, ch. 103, sec. 7, 36 S ta t. 916.)
S e c . 32. R e p o r t b y c a r r ie r to c h ie f in s p e c to r a s to a c c id e n t; p re s e r v a tio n o f d is
a b led p a r ts ; in v e s tig a tio n a n d r e p o r t th e r e u p o n .— In th e case o f a c c id e n t resu ltin g
from failu re from a n y cause of a locom otive boiler o r its a p p u rte n a n c e s, re s u lt
ing in serious in ju ry o r d e a th to one or m ore persons, a s ta te m e n t fo rth w ith
m u s t be m ad e in w ritin g of th e fa c t of su ch accid en t, b y th e c a rrie r ow ning or
o p eratin g said locom otive, to th e chief in sp ecto r. W h ereu p o n th e fa c ts con
cerning such ac c id e n t shall be in v e stig a te d b y th e chief in sp e c to r o r one of his
assista n ts, o r such in sp ecto r as th e chief in sp e c to r m a y d e sig n ate fo r t h a t purpose.
A nd w here th e locom o tiv e is d isab led to th e e x te n t t h a t i t c an n o t be ru n by its
ow n steam , th e p a r t o r p a rts affected b y th e said a c c id e n t sh all be p reserv ed by
said c a rrie r in ta c t, so fa r a s possible, w ith o u t h in d ra n c e o r in terfe ren ce to traffic
u n til a fte r said inspectio n . T h e chief in sp e c to r o r a n a ss ista n t o r th e d esig n ated
in sp ecto r m ak in g th e in v e stig a tio n sh all exam ine o r cause to b e exam ined th o r
oughly th e boiler or p a r t affected, m ak in g full a n d d e ta ile d re p o rt of th e cause of
th e a c cid en t to th e chief in sp ecto r. (F e b ru a ry 17, 1911, ch. 103, sec. 8, 36
S ta t. 916.)
S e c . 33. R e p o r ts b y c o m m is s io n o f in v e s tig a tio n s . — T h e I n te r s ta te C om m erce
C om m ission m ay a t a n y tim e call u p o n th e chief in sp e c to r fo r a re p o rt of a n y
a c cid en t em b raced in th e p reced in g section, a n d u p o n th e re c e ip t of said re p o rt,
if i t deem s it to th e pub lic in te re st, m ak e re p o rts of such in v estig atio n s, sta tin g th e
cause of accid en t, to g e th e r w ith such reco m m en d atio n s a t (as) i t deem s proper.
Such re p o rts shall be m ad e pu b lic in such m a n n e r as th e com m ission deem s
p roper. N eith er said re p o rt n o r a n y re p o rt of said in v e stig a tio n n o r a n y p a rt
th ereo f shall be a d m itte d a s evidence o r used fo r a n y p u rp o se in a n y su it or
actio n for dam ages grow ing o u t of a n y m a tte r m en tio n ed in said re p o rt o r in v es
tig atio n . (F e b ru a ry 17, 1911, ch. 103, sec. 8, 36 S ta t. 916.)
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B e c . 34. P e n a lty f o r v io la tio n s b y c a rrie r; d u t y o f d is tr ic t a tto r n e y to s u e th e r e fo r;
c h ie f in s p e c to r to give in fo r m a t io n . — A ny com m on carrier v io latin g th e provisions
of th is c h a p te r re latin g to locom otives, th e ir boilers, te n d e rs, a n d so fo rth , or
an y ru le or reg u latio n m ad e u n d e r such provisions o r a n y law ful o rd e r of a n y
in sp ecto r shall be liable to a p e n a lty of $100 fo r each a n d ev ery su ch v io latio n ,
to be recovered in a su it or su its to be b ro u g h t by th e U n ite d S ta te s a tto rn e y in
th e d is tric t c o u rt of th e U n ite d S ta te s h a v in g ju risd ic tio n in th e lo cality w here
such v iolation shall h a v e been c o m m itte d ; a n d i t shall be th e d u ty of su ch a tt o r
neys, su b je c t to th e d irectio n of th e A tto rn e y G eneral, to b rin g such su its upo n
d uly verified in fo rm atio n being lodged w ith th e m , resp ectiv ely , of su ch v iolations
h av in g o ccurred; a n d i t shall be th e d u ty of th e chief in sp e c to r of locom otive
boilers to give in fo rm a tio n to th e p ro p e r U n ite d S ta te s a tto rn e y of all v iolations
com ing to his know ledge. (F e b ru a ry 17, 1911, ch. 103, sec. 9, 36 S ta t. 916.)
Sec . 35. I n v e s tig a tio n a n d re p o rt b y c o m m is s io n o n b lo c k -s ig n a l s y s te m s a n d
a p p lia n c e s f o r a u to m a tic co n tro l o f tr a i n s ; e vid en c e . — T h e I n te r s ta te C om m erce
C om m ission is d irected to in v e stig a te a n d re p o rt on th e use of a n d necessity for
block-signal system s a n d ap p lian ces fo r th e a u to m a tic co n tro l of railw ay tra in s
in th e U n ited S tates. F o r th is p u rp o se th e com m ission is a u th o riz e d to em ploy
perso n s w ho are fam iliar w ith th e su b je c t, a n d m a y use such of its ow n em ployees
as a re n ecessary to m ak e a th o ro u g h ex am in atio n in to th e m a tte r.
I n tra n s m ittin g its re p o rt to th e C ongress th e com m ission shall recom m end
such legislation as to th e com m ission seem s ad v isab le. _
T o c arry o u t a n d give effect to th e provisions of th is section th e com m ission
shall h av e pow er to issue subpoenas, a d m in iste r o ath s, exam ine w itnesses, re
q u ire th e p ro d u ctio n of books a n d p ap ers, a n d receive d epositions ta k e n before
an y p ro p e r officer in a n y S ta te o r T e rrito ry of th e U n ite d S tates. (Ju n e 30,
1906, N o. 46, 34 S ta t. 838.)
Sec . 36. I n v e s tig a tio n a n d te s tin g b y c o m m is s io n o f a p p lia n c e s or s y s te m s to
p ro m o te s a fe ty . — T he In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission is au th o riz e d , a t its dis
cretion, to in v estig ate , te s t e x p erim en tally , a n d re p o rt on th e use a n d need of
an y appliances o r sy stem s in te n d e d to p ro m o te th e sa fe ty of railw ay o p eratio n
w hich m ay be fu rn ish ed in co m p leted sh ap e to such com m ission for su ch in v e sti
g atio n a n d te s t e n tire ly free of co st to th e G o v ern m en t. F o r th is p u rp o se th e
com m ission is a u th o riz e d to em ploy p ersons fam iliar w ith th e su b je c t to be in v es
tig a te d a n d te s te d , a n d m ay also m ak e use of its re g u la r em ployees for such p u r
poses. (M ay 27, 1908, ch. 200, sec. 1, 35 S ta t. 325.)
Sec . 37. I n s p e c t i o n o f m a i l c a rs. — All in sp ecto rs em ployed for th e en fo rcem en t
of th e provisions of th is c h a p te r as to sa fe ty ap p lian ces shall also be re q u ired to
m ak e ex am in atio n of th e c o n stru ctio n , a d a p ta b ility , design, a n d co n d itio n of all
m ail cars used on a n y railro a d in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d m ak e re p o rt th e re o n , a
copv of w hich re p o rt shall be tra n s m itte d to th e P o stm a ste r G eneral. (M ay
27, 1908, ch. 200, sec. 1, 35 S ta t. 324.)
Sec . 38. M o n t h ly re p o rts o f ra ilr o a d a c c id e n ts ; d u t y o f c a rrie r to m a k e . — I t shall
be th e d u ty of th e g eneral m an ag e r, su p e rin te n d e n t, or o th e r p ro p e r officer of
ev ery com m on carrier engaged in in te rs ta te or foreign com m erce by ra ilro a d to
m ak e to th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission, a t its office in W ash in g to n ,
D. C ., a m o n th ly re p o rt, u n d e r o a th , of all collisions, d erailm en ts, o r o th e r acci
d en ts resu ltin g in in ju ry to persons, e q u ip m e n t, o r ro a d b e d arisin g from th e
o p eratio n of such railro a d u n d e r such rules a n d re g u la tio n s as m ay be p rescrib ed
by th e said com m ission, w hich re p o rt shall s ta te th e n a tu re a n d causes th ereo f
a n d th e circum stances co n n ected th e re w ith : P ro v id e d , T h a t h e re a fte r a ll said
carriers shall be relieved fro m th e d u ty of re p o rtin g accid en ts in th e ir a n n u a l
financial a n d o p eratin g re p o rts m ad e to th e com m ission. (M ay 6, 1910, ch.
208, sec. 1, 36 S ta t. 350.)
Sec . 39. P e n a lty f o r f a i l u r e to m a k e r e p o r t. — A ny com m on carrier failing to
m ake th e re p o rt pro v id ed for in th e p receding section w ith in 30 d ay s a fte r th e
en d of a n y m o n th shall be deem ed g u ilty of a m isdem eanor, a n d u p o n co nviction
th ereo f b y a c o u rt of c o m p e te n t ju risd ic tio n shall be p u n ish ed b y a fine of n o t
m ore th a n $100 fo r each a n d ev ery offense a n d for ev ery d ay d u rin g w hich it
shall fail to m ake such re p o rt a fte r th e tim e h erein specified for m ak in g th e sam e.
(M ay 6, 1910, ch. 208, sec. 2, 36 S ta t. 350.)
Sec. 40. I n v e s tig a tio n b y c o m m is s io n o f a c c id e n ts; c o o p e r a tio n w ith S ta te c o m m is s io n s ; re p o rts o f in v e s tig a tio n s . — T h e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission shall
h av e a u th o rity to in v e stig a te all collisions, derailm en ts, or o th e r accid en ts re s u lt
ing in serious in ju ry to p erson o r to th e p ro p e rty of a ra ilro a d occu rrin g on th e
line of an y com m on carrier engaged in in te rs ta te or foreign com m erce b y railro a d .
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T he com m ission, or a n y im p a rtia l in v e stig a to r th e re u n to a u th o riz e d by said
com m ission, shall have a u th o rity to in v e stig a te such collisions, d erailm en ts, o r
o th e r accidents aforesaid, a n d all th e a tte n d in g facts, conditions, a n d circu m
stances, a n d for t h a t p u rp o se m a y subpoena w itnesses, a d m in iste r o ath s, ta k e
testim o n y , a n d req u ire th e p ro d u c tio n of books, p ap ers, orders, m em o ra n d a ,
exhibits, a n d o th e r evidence, a n d shall be p ro v id ed b y sa id carriers w ith a ll re a
sonable facilities: P ro v id e d , T h a t w hen su ch accid en t is in v e stig a te d b y a com
m ission of th e S ta te in w hich it occurred, th e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission
shall, if convenient, m ak e a n y in v estig atio n i t m ay h av e prev io u sly d eterm in ed
upon, a t th e sam e tim e as, a n d in connection w ith , th e S ta te com m ission in v e sti
gation. Said com m ission shall, w hen i t deem s i t to th e pu b lic in te re st, m ak e
rep o rts of such investig atio n s, sta tin g th e cause of accid en t, to g e th e r w'ith such
recom m endations as i t deem s proper. Such re p o rts shall be m a d e p ublic in
such m a n n e r as th e com m ission deem s p ro p er. (M ay 6, 1910, ch. 208, sec. 3,
36 S ta t. 351.)
S ec . 41. R e p o r ts n o t e vid en ce i n s u its f o r d a m a g e s. — N e ith e r said re p o rt n o r a n y
re p o rt of said in v estig atio n n o r a n y p a r t th ereo f shall be a d m itte d as evidence
or used for a n y purpose in a n y su it or a ctio n fo r d am ages grow ing o u t of an y
m a tte r m en tio n ed in said re p o rt or in v estig atio n . (M ay 6, 1910, ch. 208, sec. 4,
36 S ta t. 351.)
.
S ec . 42. F o r m o f r e p o rts. — T h e In te rs ta te C om m erce C om m ission is au th o rized
to p rescribe fo r such com m on carriers a m e th o d a n d form fo r m ak in g th e rep o rts
hereinbefore provided . (M ay 6, 1910, ch. 208, sec. 5, 36 S ta t. 351.)
S ec . 43. T e r m s “ in te r s ta te c o m m e r c e ” a n d “fo r e ig n c o m m e r c e ” d e fin e d . — T h e
te rm “ in te rs ta te com m erce,” as used in sections 38, 40, shall include tr a n s p o rta
tio n from a n y S ta te or T e rrito ry o r th e D istric t of C o lu m b ia to a n y o th e r S ta te
or T e rrito ry o r th e D istric t of C olum bia, a n d th e te rm “ foreign com m erce,” as
used in said sections, shall include tra n sp o rta tio n from a n y S ta te or T e rrito ry
or th e D istric t of C olum bia to a n y foreign c o u n try a n d from a n y foreign c o u n try
to a n y S ta te o r T e rrito ry or th e D istric t of C olum bia.
(M ay 6, 1910, ch. 208,
sec. 7, 36 S ta t. 351.)
S ec . 44. M e d a ls o f h o n o r f o r p e r s o n s sa v in g liv e s o n ra ilro a d s.- —T h e P resid en t
of th e U n ited S ta te s is au th o riz e d to cause to be p re p a re d bronze m edals of
honor, w ith su ita b le em b lem atic devices, w hich shall be b estow ed u p o n a n y
persons w ho shall h e re a fte r, b y ex trem e d arin g , en d a n g e r th e ir ow n lives in sav
ing, o r endeavoring to save, lives from a n y w reck, d isaster, o r g rav e accid en t, or
in p re v e n tin g o r endeav o rin g to p re v e n t su ch w reck, d isaster, or g rav e accid en t,
upon a n y railro a d w ith in th e U n ite d S ta te s engaged in in te rs ta te com m erce:
P ro v id e d , T h a t no aw ard of said m ed al shall be m ad e to a n y p erso n u n til suffi
cien t evidence of his d eserving shall h av e been fu rn ish ed a n d p laced on file, u n d e r
such reg u latio n s as m a y be p rescribed b y th e P resid en t of th e U n ited S tates.
(F eb ru ary 23, 1905, ch. 744, sec. 1, 33 S ta t. 743.)
S ec . 45. R o se tte s a n d r ib b o n s.— T h e P re sid e n t of th e U n ite d S tates is a u
th o rized to issue to a n y p erso n to w hom a m ed al of ho n o r m ay be aw ard ed u n d er
th e provisions of th e p reced in g section a ro s e tte o r k n o t, to be w orn in lieu of
th e m edal, a n d a rib b o n to be w orn w ith th e m ed al; said ro se tte o r k n o t a n d
ribbon to be each of a p a tte rn to be prescrib ed by th e P re sid e n t of th e U n ited
S ta te s: P ro v id e d , T h a t w henever a rib b o n issued u n d e r th e provisions of th is
c h a p te r shall h av e been lost, d estro y ed , or ren d ered u n fit fo r use w ith o u t fa u lt or
neglect on th e p a r t of th e p erson to w hom it w as issued, a new rib b o n shall be
issued to such person w ith o u t charge th erefo r. (F e b ru a ry 23, 1905, ch. 744,
sec. 2, 33 S ta t. 743.)
S ec . 46. P a y m e n t o f e x p e n s e s . — T h e a p p ro p ria tio n s for th e en fo rcem en t a n d
execution of th e provisions of th e a c ts to p ro m o te th e sa fe ty of em ployees a n d
trav elers u pon railro a d s a re h ereb y m ad e a v ailab le for c a rry in g o u t th e p ro
visions of th e tw o preceding sections. (F e b ru a ry 23, 1905, ch. 744, sec 3, 33
S ta t. 743.)
Following the decision in the Napier case by the Supreme Court of
the United States on November 29, 1926, the Interstate Commerce
Commission issued orders requiring cab curtains on engines in certain
States (Wisconsin R. R. Commission v. A. & R. R. R. Co., M ay 7,1928,
No. 19299) and requiring automatic fire doors (Public Utilities Com
mission of Ohio v. Pennsylvania R. Co., February 21, 1929, No.
20247).
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FEDERAL LEGISLATION— RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
73
The United States Public Health Service has issued interstate
quarantine regulations affecting the health of railroad passengers and
employees and providing for the protection against the spread of
disease by requiring sanitary drinking cups, running water, toilet
facilities, and setting up standards of heat.23
The States may act, in the absence of action by Congress, to pro
tect the health and safety of railroad employees, except as to the
locomotive and tender and as specifically provided for in the safety
appliance acts, and probably except as to the general field covered by
the powers over health conferred on the Public Health Service.23
The full-crew laws of the several States requiring a stated minimum
of employees on trains have been held constitutional by the United
States Supreme Court.24 For existing State laws on this subject see
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 370, ‘‘Labor
laws of the United States.”
Several States have laws requiring the railroads to supply “ car
sheds” or shelters for the protection of car repairmen or other rail
road workers.25 The statutes of Minnesota and Missouri have been
held unconstitutional in the lower Federal courts on the ground of
indefiniteness, but not upon grounds that it was a direct burden upon
interstate commerce or beyond the power of the States to require
shelter.26
Housing
L e g i s l a t i o n affecting real estate and housing is primarily a matter
of local concern. With the development of commerce between the
States and the control of the commerce by the Federal Government,
the question of the extent of the Federal power in this regard becomes
as important as it is interesting. Congress has not acted on the sub
ject of the housing facilities of railroad workers in or near railroad
terminals or repair shops. Often the States leave the matter of
health and sanitation to the municipal or local authorities. As a
result, in some cases apparently no legal health standards exist or are
enforced. The movement of a railroad terminal or repair shops from
a settled community to a rural or undeveloped district may be suffi
ciently serious to justify State or Federal action as to health or sani
tary standards.27 Mr. Justice Brandeis referred to this possible situ
ation in a recent c'ase before the Supreme Court of the United States.28
The Supreme Court has held that a State law may be valid which
prohibits any important change in local transportation conditions
without application to a State commission, although the ultimate
authority to determine whether the change could or should be made
may rest with the Federal commission.29 If the removal would result
23 IT. S. P ublic H ealth Service, In te rsta te Q uarantine R egulations of th e U nited States, revised edition,
M ay, 1921. N ote th e law§ quoted in th a t publication giving a u th o rity to issue the regulations.
24 Chicago, Rock Island <fe Pacific R y. Co. v. A rkansas, 219 U. S. 453; St. Louis & Iron M ou n tain R y.
v. Arkansas, 240 U. S. 518.
25 F or a list of law s see “ L abor Law s of th e U n ited States.” B ureau of L abor Statistics, B ulletin No.
370, p. 1231.
26 Chicago & N o rth W estern R y. Co. v. R ailroad and W arehouse Commission of M innesota, 280 Fed.
387; W abash R y. Co. v. O’B ryan, 285 Fed. 583. For decisions on this point see U. S. B ureau of Labor
S tatistics, B ulletin N o. 391, p. 139, a n d B ulletin No. 344, p. 227.
27 O klahom a A cts of 1917, ch. 225, see U. S. B ureau of L abor Statistics, M o nthly L abor Review, Sep
tem ber, 1928, p. 78. See also W isconsin Stats., 1925, sec. 192.81. Acts of 1925, ch. 312, a nd M o n tan a Acts
Of 1921, ch. 159.
28 Lawrence ». St. Louis-San Francisco R y ., 274 U. S. 588, idem , again before the Suprem e C ourt in Jan.
2, 1929, 49 Sup. C t. 106.
29 W estern & A tlantic v. Public Commission, 267 U. S. 493; see also note 28. See also Intern atio n al <fc
G reat N o rth ern R y. Co. v. A nderson Co., 246 U . S. 424.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
in improved service and in economy of operation, it was held to be
the duty of the State commission, under the Oklahoma law, to au
thorize the removal unless thereby the health of the employees of the
railway or of their families was imperiled.28
I t is interesting to note that in 1920 a resolution was passed by the
Senate requesting the Interstate Commerce Commission to investigate
and report upon the living conditions of trainmen who are compelled
to wait over between trips at terminals of railroads, and also to in
vestigate the feasibility on the part of the railroad companies of
furnishing suitable accommodations at the terminals.30 Under this
resolution the Interstate Commerce Commission-addressed queries to
a large number of railroads, and the replies were compiled into a
report which is known in the files of the Interstate Commeice Com
mission as Docket No. 11191. The report indicated that many rail
roads had furnished club-room facilities and excellent sleeping accom
modations in some places. Apparently they did this as a personnel
matter. The States have in some instances acted on this subject,31
but no action has been taken by the Federal Government.
Summary
T h e a b o v e analysis distinguishes between the powers of the
Federal and State governments. Briefly summarizing: The power of
the Federal Government over interstate commerce is supreme. A
State statute imposing a direct burden upon such commerce is void.
A State statute may place an indirect burden upon such commerce
in the absence of Federal legislation, but once the Federal Govern
ment acts upon a subject the State legislation ceases to exist.
The above analysis points out the fields of legislation upon which
Congress has acted and in which therefore the State power has ceased
to exist. The State laws which are within the constitutional power
of the State to enact and which relate to employees in general em
ployments, may include railroad employees in the absence of Federal
laws. The field of legislation is as wide as to employees engaged in
intrastate commerce as to other employees within the States. This
field of legislation left open to the States is therefore the following:
The law regulating_ the employment contract is the law of the State
except as provided in the railway labor act of 1926 for the prevention
and settlement of labor disputes. The State can not regulate the
hours of labor of persons covered by the Federal acts, but may,
within constitutional limitations, regulate the hours of other railroad
employees. As to wages, the general wage legislation of the several
States is effective except for the provisions of the Adamson law fixing
eight hours as the basis for computing the wage. Congress has with
drawn the subject of employers’ liability for injuries to interstate
employees from State control by the enactment of the Federal em
ployers’ liability act. Labor disputes are also now fully provided for
by the railway labor act of 1926. Beyond the specific requirements of
28 Lawrence v. St. Louis-San Francisco R y ., 274 U . S. 588, idem , again before th e Suprem e C ourt on
Ja n . 2, 1929, 49 Sup. C t. 106.
80 Congressional Record, vol. 59, p. 1613, Senate Res. 267.
81 In re Railroad E q u ip m en t, decided b y th e Arizona Corporation Commission Ju ly 18, 1927, Public
U tility R eports, an n o tated volume, 1927, E . p. 224, order on p. 239.
*
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FEDERAL LEGISLATION----RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
75
the safety appliance acts and the general control oyer the engine and
tender given to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the power
given to the United States Public Health Service, the States are free
to enact legislation for the protection of the safety and health of
railroad employees. Housing also is a matter of State legislation at
the present time.
Legislation passed by the States applying generally to employees
within the States as well as legislation applicable solely to railroad
employees is summarized, digested, or reprinted in Bulletin No. 370
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “ Labor laws of the United States
with decisions of courts relating thereto,” and its supplements (Bui.
' No. 403 for 1925, Bui. No. 434 for 1926, and Bui. No. 470 for 192732).
Some States have given power to industrial commissions or to State
public utility commissions to make regulations concerning employees
and enforce them. The statutes granting this power are included in
the bulletins above mentioned.
82
See also M o n th ly Labor Review, September, 1928, p. 78; O klahoma Laws, 1917, eh. 225; Virginia Acts,
1920, ch. 281.
4 1 1 9 5 ° —-29------ 6
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LABOR TURNOVER
Labor Turnover in American Factories
HE following report on labor turnover in American factories,
covering the year 1928 and the first two months of 1929, was
compiled by the Policyholders’ Service Bureau of the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Co.:
Manufacturing operations, as indicated by labor turnover, have
continued more active so far during 1929 than in the first two months
of 1928. This is shown by accession and quit rates which are almost
double those of the corresponding months of the previous year; also
by the fact that lay-offs were 4.2 per cent of the average number on
pay roll in January, 1929, or less than one-half of the January, 1928,
figure. The preliminary lay-off rate for February, 1929, was 4.9 per
cent, or only a little more than one-half of the previous February rate.
Since the middle of last year both accession and quit rates have
been higher, month by month, than those of the preceding year.
Meanwhile lay-off rates have declined continuously from 8.3 per cent
in May, 1928, to 4.2 per cent in January, 1929. It is rather a striking
fact that since January, 1928, accession rates have almost continu
ously increased and lay-off rates have declined, the chief exception
being in November and December when manufacturing operations
fell off for seasonal reasons. Judging from these turnover records,
manufacturing activity during the early part of 1929 more nearly
resembled the situation existing in 1925 rather than that of more
recent years.
T
A V E R A G E T U R N O V E R R A T E S D U R IN G 1928 A N D 1929 IN
F A C T O R IE S i
S E L E C T E D A M E R IC A N
[Each m o n th ’s rates are stated on an equivalent annual basis]
Accession rate
T otal sepa
ration rate 2
V oluntary
q u it rate
Lay-off rate
1928
1928
Discharge
rate
M onth
Jan u a ry _____ _____________
F e b ru a ry ___________________
TVTarch
April
M ay
June
July
Aii gnat.
Septem ber
October
N ovem ber
D ecember
Y early average.
1928
1929
1928
1929
3 3 .4
31. 6
3 5 .9
40. 0
47. 2
41. 3
46. 9
55. 7
56. 9
5 7 .1
5 0 .1
3 8 .1
5 8 .6
3 6 0 .8
2 7 .8
27. 6
3 2 .8
38. 2
41. 5
39. 5
3 8 .0
42. 3
50. 6
41. 9
35. 3
2 9 .2
3 6 .2
3 3 9 .1
4 4 .5
37. 1
1 5 .7
1 5 .1
20. 1
2 6 .0
28. 2
2 7 .1
27. 2
31. 9
40. 3
3 1 .9
25. 6
20. 1
2 5 .8
1929
2 6 .7
3 2 8 .0
8 .5
7 .9
8 .4
7 .1
8 .3
7 .5
5 .9
5 .1
5 .0
4 .7
4. 8
4 .7
6. 5
1929
4 .2
3 4. 9
1928
3 .6
4 .6
4 .3
5 .1
5 .0
4 .9
4 .9
5 .3
5 .3
5 .3
4 .9
4 .4
1929
5 .3
3 6. 2
4 .8
1 N ow num bering over 300. T h e form of average used is th e unw eighted m edian of com pany rates,
except for th e to ta l separation rate, w hich is the sum of th e m edian rates for v o luntary quits, lay-offs, and
discharges.
2 A rithm etic sum of q u it, lay-off, and discharge rates.
3 Prelim inary; subject to revision.
76
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR
CONDITIONS
Collection of Weige Claims by New Jersey Departm ent of Labor
N THE fiscal year ending June 30, 1928, the Bureau of Employ
ment of the New Jersey Department of Labor received 1,392
wage claims involving $82,125.74.1 This was an increase of 50 per
cent in the number of claims received as compared with the preced
ing year, and an increase of over 100 per cent as compared with the
number in the fiscal year 1925-26.
As a result of the bureau’s efforts 59 per cent of all proper claims,
including bankruptcies, were collected in the fiscal year 1927-28, the
payments aggregating $21,464.71. In this year the average claim
amounted to $59 as compared with $50.87 in the previous year.
In the four years in which the bureau of employment has been col
lecting claims its officials have found that this work has not only been
of value to laborers whom they have aided in recovering wages but it
has cleared up many cases of supposed injustice and brought about
better feeling on both sides. Many individuals make claims for wages
“ with the fixed idea that their employer has unjustly refused to pay
such claims.” In a substantial number of cases the bureau has “ suc
ceeded in convincing the worker of the impropriety of that attitude.”
The bare statistics on the collection of wage claims do not disclose the
many adjournments of court hearings, the numerous informal hearings
held at the bureau to ascertain the real facts in the case, or the amount
of correspondence and the number of field visits required to bring
about the reported results.
I
D u rin g th e y e a r i t has been necessary to re s o rt to th e c o u rts on 17 claim s
a g a in st 10 em ployers a fte r all o u r efforts h a d failed to re su lt in th e se ttle m e n t
called for by th e facts. Of th ese claim s, seven w ere p a id in th e a m o u n t of
$301.75 a fte r c o u rt hearin g a n d th e re u p o n th e charges w ere d isco n tin u ed . Tw o
cases w ere discontinued, inv o lv in g $529, w hen i t w as d e m o n stra te d th e d e fe n d a n t
w as n o t responsible. O ne case, in v olving $53.75, w as lo st w hen th e c o u rt held
t h a t th e em p lo y m en t h a d n o t been in th e em p lo y er’s business. O ne case resu lted
in a p e n a lty of $25 on a claim fo r w ages of $34. H ow ever, th e c o u rt suspended
th e p a y m e n t of th e fine a n d la te r th e co nviction w as rev ersed on a te c h n ic a lity
of failu re to provide w ritte n n otice to th e em ployer. Six cases rem ain u n trie d ,
involving $993.05, as th e em ployers h av e d isap p eared .
Quite a number of the defects of the act of 1899 in forcing wage
payments were eliminated in 1928 (Public Laws, 1928, ch. 150) by
the enactment of a provision “ which requires in the main that wages
must be paid every two weeks, in lawful money of the United States,
in full, as earned up to within 12 days of such payment.” The fine
for the first violation is $50 and for other violations $100. Final
jurisdiction in such cases is given to district courts and police courts,
i N ew Jersey. D ep artm en t of Labor. T he In d u strial Bulletin, Septem ber, 1928, pp. 54-55.
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MONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW
which makes it no longer necessary to secure a grand jury indictment.
‘'Failure to pay any fine or judgment is to be followed by sentence in
the county jail up to 100 days, or by execution on goods or chattels.”
An exception is made in the case of "agricultural workers, water men
and persons, firms, or corporations who can prove a paid-up cash capi
tal of $200,000.” There is no longer a time limit for prosecutions.
According to the report of the Bureau of Employment, these various
new provisions should make for a more rapid action in cases against
"fly-by-night” employers and, to some extent at least, for a more
effective enforcement of legitimate wage claims than has previously
been possible against "dead beats” and other employers of labor who
have up to the present been able to evade the force of the civil meas
ures which it has been possible to provide for the relief of the workers
in these matters.
The experience in 1927-28 in the face of some development of the
small claims divisions of district courts seems to indicate that "these
courts are not meeting this problem.”
Thirty-Five Years’ Service with the Same Company
HE 1929 yearbook published by Swift & Co. (Chicago, 111.) states
that there are now 279 employees who have service records of
35 years or more with that company. The 1926 yearbook listed
164 such employees; in 1927, 29 names were added; in 1928, 45; and
in 1929, 41.
T
English Employers” Reply to Industrial Conference Proposals
A
N ARTICLE in the Labor Review for March, 1928 (p. 32),
L described the formation of a body to confer on industrial mat
ters, composed on one side of a group of large employers, and on the
other of representatives of the executive council of the Trade Unions
Congress. The September, 1928, issue of the Review carried a sum
mary (p. 53) of the preliminary report made public by this conference,
of which the most important feature was an invitation to the organized
employers and organized employees of the country to unite in forming
a national industrial council, which should meet quarterly to consult on
wide questions concerning industry and industrial progress, should set
up joint conciliation boards for action in case of industrial disagree
ments, and should establish and direct machinery for continuous
investigation into industrial problems. In addition there were recom
mendations concerning trade-union recognition, victimization, and the
rationalization of industry. The report was signed as a whole, neither
side making reservations nor presenting minority reports.
These recommendations were issued early in July. The tradeunions at once began to vote upon them, and at the annual meeting
of the Trade Unions Congress, held in September, the report was
formally accepted and the recommendations indorsed by a large
majority. The employers’ organizations took longer in reaching a
decision, and meanwhile the informal conference continued its sessions.
On February 13, 1929, at a joint meeting of the two organizations of
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR CONDITIONS
79
employers, the following response to the report was drawn up and
sent to the secretary of the Trade Unions Congress.
T h e N a tio n a l C onfederation of E m p lo y ers’ O rganizations a n d th e F e d eratio n
of B ritish In d u strie s w ould w elcom e a n o p p o rtu n ity of a conference w ith y o u r
general council, a t w hich th e y could exam ine th e q u estio n of th e confederation
an d y o u r general council, a n d of th e fed eratio n a n d y o u r g en eral council, w ith in
th e lim its of th e ir resp ectiv e re p re se n ta tiv e cap acities a n d pow ers, usefully
co nsulting to g e th e r u p o n m a tte rs of com m on in te re st to B ritish in d u stry .
A t th is conference th e y could explain th e difficulties w hich s ta n d in th e w ay
of co n su ltatio n w ith y o u r council th ro u g h a n a tio n a l in d u stria l council, as p ro
posed in th e M elc h e tt-T u rn e r re p o rt of Ju ly 4 last.
T h e co n federation a n d th e fed eratio n are, a s you know , d is tin c t a n d se p a ra te
bodies— th e confederatio n dealing w ith lab o r q uestions a n d th e fed e ra tio n w ith
econom ic a n d com m ercial q uestions— an d , as th e re su lt of th e m o st careful
co nsideration of th e in te rim rep o rt, each o rg an izatio n , w ith in its own province,
h a s reach ed th e conclusion t h a t i t can n o t a c c e p t th e rep o rt.
.Throughout th e con sid eratio n of th e w hole m a tte r, how ever, th e confederation
a n d th e fed eratio n h a v e been conscious of th e im p o rta n c e of doing ev ery th in g
in th e ir pow er to fu rth e r th e pro m o tio n of in d u stria l peace in B ritish in d u stry ,
a n d th e co rd ial in v ita tio n ex ten d e d to y o u r gen eral council to m e e t re p re se n ta
tiv es of th e co n federatio n a n d of th e fed eratio n is m ad e in th e h ope t h a t th e
discussions will be su ch as to help fo rw ard a b e tte r m u tu a l u n d e rsta n d in g in
in d u s try generally.
t h e confederation a n d th e fed eratio n th erefo re hope t h a t y o u r council will
see its w ay to ac c e p t th is in v ita tio n , a n d suggest t h a t a jo in t m eetin g of th e
th re e bodies should be a rra n g e d fo r som e m u tu a lly co n v en ie n t d ate.
I t was announced that the General Council of the Trade Unions
Congress would consider, at their regular meeting on February 27,
their reply to this letter, but as yet no report has been received of
their action. Meanwhile, the Melchett-Turner conference is c o n
tinuing its meetings, and is expected to make public within a short
time a report on the subject of unemployment, which it has had under
consideration since last July.
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PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR AND
INDUSTRY
Effects of Variety and Uniformity of Work upon Output
STUDY made by the Industrial Fatigue Research Board of
Great Britain1 of the effects of variety and uniformity of work
upon output in light repetitive work shows not only the results ob
tained by changes of work but also throws some light upon the de
grees of variety which may be expected to be most effective.
Former investigations have shown that certain forms of repetitive
handwork can not be performed at a uniformly high level during an
unbroken work period of four or five hours but that the work is
retarded and increases in variability abut the middle or toward the
end of the period, while at the same time voluntary stoppages tend
to become more frequent. As these changes in the work curve were
considered to be due to boredom and fatigue, the effects of rest
periods in correcting this condition have been investigated and have
been found to produce goods results. Investigations of the effect of
changes of activity prior to the present study have shown that there
is little benefit from such a change unless the substituted task is
easier than the operation it replaces. It has also been shown that
improvement is most marked when the substituted activity is
decidedly different from the one it takes the place of, and that fre
quent changes in work or long periods of unvaried work are almost
equally unfavorable and organized change periods are to be pre
ferred to irregular interruptions throughout the day.
The operations which formed the basis of this study were^ soap
wrapping, handkerchief folding, bicycle-chain assembling, tobacco
weighing, cigarette making, and assembling cartridge cases. In
each of these processes a preliminary survey was made to show to
how great an extent existing conditions offered facilities for comparing
the effects of variety and of uniformity. As it was found that these
processes had little in common as regards the number, nature, and
duration of changes in the form of work and as the number of opera
tives observed in each process was small, the results are regarded
as illustrative of the effect of specific conditions only, rather than as
of affording evidence of a more general nature.
In the study a complete record of the output of each employee
was obtained, together with the number, nature, length, and time ol
occurrence of stoppages. The results obtained in these preliminary
inquiries suggested two distinct problems for investigation, namely,
the determination of the length of work period which will produce
the best results before changing to another form of activity and the
A
1
G reat B ritain. In d ustrial F atigue Research Board. T h e com parative effects of variety and uniform ity
in w ork, b y S. W y att and J. A. Fraser. London, 1928.
80
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PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY
81
determination of the most suitable type of work for the alternating
process. In general the investigation showed that when the form
of work is changed at specified times output is increased and a
steadier rate of working maintained, but this result is dependent
upon the nature of the alternating activities, the frequency of the
change periods, and the type of work.
Of the industries investigated, the bicycle-chain process, tobacco
weighing, and cigarette making showed the most favorable results
from changing the form of work. The changes in each case involved a
very different work process; and it was considered probable, there
fore, that the dissimilarity in the alternating processes was mainly
responsible for the increased output. In the handkerchief-folding
process a different style of folding was adopted for the alternate
work, and as the essential movements (folding and smoothing) were
practically the same in the two operations there was very little
difference observed in the output although the operatives were
unanimous in preferring the varied method of folding. It was con
cluded, therefore, from the results of changing the work during
alternating periods in these different industries, that the extent of
the difference involved in changing from one form of activity to
another is a factor of considerable importance.
An uninterrupted work period of from one and one-half to two
hours before an alternate process was introduced was found to give
the highest output, more frequent changes being found to be asso
ciated generally with a production below the maximum. In the soap
wrapping process, for example, a series of operations, none of which
lasted more than 15 minutes, and which were widely different from
each other and in volved numerous changes in posture, were found to
give a lower output than when the work was more uniform. The
unfavorable effects of too many changes in the work operations noted
in this instance agree with the findings of an earlier study, and it
seems, therefore, that changes in the form of work must not be too
numerous if a high degree of efficiency is to be attained.
In cartridge assembling a test was made of the effect of light
repetitive work compared with work involving effort and accuracy of
movement. This test showed that the duration of the most produc
tive period depends upon the kind of task performed and must be
shortened when the operation causes fatigue. Light repetitive work
causes a local rather than a general fatigue and a desirable change of
activity is one which utilizes comparatively unused part's of the body
mechanism. In most industrial departments, it is stated, there are
operations of a widely different nature which might be arranged so
as to provide the workers with a certain amount of variety in their
work. This also would do away with the boredom consequent to
continuous unvaried activity.
Contrary to the generally accepted belief that operatives accus
tomed to uniformity in the methods and conditions of work are un
willing to change to a more varied form of procedure, the study
shows that workers who have had experience with both uniform and
varied work processes generally prefer that which gives them greater
variety.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Following is a summary of the conclusions which were reached as
a result of the study:
U n ifo rm ity in th e m e th o d of pro ced u re is generally less p ro d u c tiv e a n d con
ducive to g reater irreg u la rities in th e ra te of w orking th a n are varied form s of
w ork.
T h e hig h est o u tp u t is o b ta in e d w hen th e form of a c tiv ity is changed a fte r
one a n d one-half or tw o h o u rs of u n v aried w ork.
M an y changes are d e trim e n ta l to o u tp u t because of th e ir in terfe ren ce w ith th e
swung of wmrk.
I n ad d itio n , th e re is a c e rta in a m o u n t of evidence to show t h a t—
I n re p e titiv e w ork of a fatig u in g n a tu re , changes in th e form of a c tiv ity should
be relativ ely m ore freq u en t.
A high degree of resem blance b etw een th e a lte rn a tin g form s of a c tiv ity ,
a lth o u g h su b jectiv ely satisfy in g , is n o t conducive to increased o u tp u t.
Summary of the United States Census of M anufactures for 1927
Department of Commerce announces in a recent press release
that, according to data collected at the biennial census of manu
T HE
factures taken in 1928, the value of products (at factory prices) of
manufacturing establishments operating in the United States in 1927
aggregated $62,713,947,403, as against $62,668,259,591 reported for
1925, $60,529,574,115 for 1923, and $43,618,565,920 for 1921. Be
cause of a change in the method of compiling the data for the paper
and wood-pulp industries, the figures for 1925 and earlier years are
not strictly comparable with those for 1927. After making the
necessary adjustments to take account of the change in question,
the percentages of increase or decrease in aggregate value of products
for the periods specified are as follows: 1925 to 1927, two-tenths of 1
percent decrease; 1923 to 1925, 3.5 per cent increase; 1921 to 1927,43.4
per cent increase. The rate of increase from 1921 to 1927 is, of
course, abnormal, but it is of interest as an indication of the extent
and the rapidity of the recovery from the industrial depression of
1921.
The small indicated decrease in the value of products between
1925 and 1927 does not, however, imply an actual decrease in the
quantity of products manufactured, inasmuch as the price of most
manufactured commodities declined somewhat during the period in
question. In fact, it is practically certain that the production of
the manufacturing industries of the country, if it could be measured
in some common quantitative unit, would be found to show
a moderate increase. Further evidence in support of this assump
tion is found in the rates of increase in the horsepower of engines,
motors, etc., in use in manufacturing establishments—8.1 per cent
for the period 1923 to 1925 and 9.1 per cent for 1925 to 1927.
There was a slight decrease in the number of wage earners em
ployed in 1927 as compared with 1925, the rate of decrease being
only four-tenths of 1 per cent, following a decrease of 4.5 per cent
in the preceding period, 1923 to 1925.
Because of the fact that the products of many manufacturing
establishments are used as materials by other establishments, the
aggregate value of products as given above is considerably in excess
of the total value of finished manufactured products in the form in
which they reach the ultimate consumer. A very much better
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83-
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY
measure of the actual value created by manufacturing processes is
the “ value added by manufacture/’ namely, the difference between
the cost of materials, fuel, mill supplies, containers, etc., and the
factory value of the finished products. This “ value added” aggre
gates $27,585,792,755 for 1927, an increase of 3 per cent as com
pared with $26,771,373,163 for 1925, and of 6.7 per cent as com
pared with $25,845,658,960 for 1923.
Combined summary statistics for all manufacturing industries for
the past four census years are given in Table 1, herewith; and Table
2 presents, for 1927 and 1925, summary statistics for 16 industry
groups. The figures for 1927 are preliminary and subject to such
correction as may be found necessary after further examination of
the returns.
T able 1.—C O M B IN E D
S U M M A R Y F O R A L L M A N U F A C T U R IN G
T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S , 1921 TO 1927
IN D U S T R IE S ,
FO R
[The figures for 1925 and earlier years, as presented in this table, differ from those heretofore published
because of th e exclusion here and th e inclusion in th e preceding reports of d ata for poultry killing and
dressing. T h e figures for 1923 and 1921, as here presented, also differ from th e corresponding figures as
given in th e 1925 report, because of th e inclusion here and th e exclusion from th e former report of d ata
for the coffee-roasting and spice-grinding industry, d ata for this in d u stry having been compiled for 1921,
1923, and 1927, b u t no t for 1925. No d ata for establishm ents reporting products under $5,000 in value
are included in th is table. T h e exclusion of such d a ta has no m aterial effect on th e statistics w ith the
exception of th e item “ N um ber of establishm ents.” T h e am ount of m anufacturers’ profits can n o t be
calculated from th e census figures, for th e reason th a t no d a ta are collected in regard to a num ber of item s
of expense, such as interest on investm ent, rent, depreciation, taxes, inssurance, and advertising. T he
com parability betw een th e 1925 and the 1927 figures for cost of m aterials and value of products is affected
som ew hat by th e fact th a t th e m anufacture of paper and wood pulp w as treated as a single in d u stry a t
th e census for 1925 and as tw o industries a t th e census for 1927. T h e estim ated m arket value of wood
p ulp m ade and consum ed in th e sam e establishm ents was no t included in the cost of m aterials nor in the
value of products of th e com bined paper and pulp in d u stry for 1925, b u t was included in the 1927 value of
products for th e w ood-pulp in d u stry and in th e 1927 cost of m aterials for th e paper industry. T his esti
m ated value, as reported for 1927, was $168,554,754]
Per cent
of increase
(+ ) or de
crease (—)
1927
Item
N um ber of establishm ents.
W age earners (average for
year)1------------- ---------Wages
--P aid for contract w o rk ___
C ost of m aterials, factory
supplies, fuel, and purchased pow er.
___
M aterials and su p
plies
___________
Fuel a n d power . . . .
Value of p ro d u c ts ._______
Value added by manufact u r e 5. . .
________
H o rse p o w e r______
191,863
1925
187, 224
1923
196,182
8, 381,511
8, 776, 646
8, 351, 257
$10, 848, 782, 433 $10, 727,337, 625 $11, 007,851,450
$625,144,196
$601,356,183
(2)
1921
1925
to
1927
1921
to
1927
196,098 + 2.5
- 2 .2
6, 944, 315 - . 4 +20.3
$8, 200, 359, 380 +1.1 +32.3
$450, 977, 664
$35,128,154, 648 $35, 896,886,428 $34, 683, 915,155 $25, 291, 734, 235
(3)
(3)
$33, 230, 822, 278
(4)
(4)
(4)
$1, 897, 332, 370
(4)
(4)
(4)
$62, 713,947,403 $62, 668, 259, 591 $60, 529, 574,115 $43, 618, 565, 920
w
W
$27, 585, 792, 755 $26, 771, 373,163 $25,845, 658, 960 $18, 326,831, 685 + 3 .0 +50.5
+9-.1
33, 092, 222
35, 766, 944
39, 032, 014
(2)
1 N o t including salaried employees.
2 N o t called for in schedule.
3 Because of th e fact th a t th e figures for cost of m aterials and value of p roducts for 1925 and earlier years
are not strictly comparable w ith those for 1927, no percentages of increase or decrease are given for those
item s for th e periods 1925-1927 and 1921-1927. T h e adjusted rates of increase are given in th e first paragraph
of th e text, together w ith an explanation of th e lack of com parability of the figures.
4 N ot reported separately.
¿ Value of products less cost of m aterials, factory supplies, fuel, and purchased power.
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84
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 3.—S U M M A R Y F O R 16 IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S, F O R T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , 1927
A N D 1925
[The figures for 1925 for “ All industries ” and for “ Food and kindred products, ” as presented in this table,
differ from those heretofore published, because of th e exclusion here and the inclusion in th e 1925 report
of d ata for th e p o u ltry killing a n d dressing in d u stry . T h e figures for th e “ Textiles and th eir products, ”
“ L um ber and allied p ro d u c ts,” “ Leather a n d its m an u factu res,” “ R ubber p ro d u c ts,” a nd “ Miscel
laneous in d u stries” for 1925 differ som ew hat from those heretofore published, because of th e transfers
of establishm ents m anufacturing certain classes of products from one group to another]
In d u stry group
um ber
Cen N
estab
sus of lish
year
m ents
w
Wage
earners
(average
for the
year)
Wages
Value of
products 1
$823, 387, 583 $10, 999, 789, 550
791, 049, 484 10, 373, 082, 162
8, 964,143, 064
1, 760,168, 290
1, 654, 814, 276
9,126,154,902
Food and kindred products_______________ 1927
1925
Textiles and their p roducts_______________ 1927
1925
Iron and steel and th eir products, no t in1927
eluding m achinery -------------------------1925
L um b er and allied products______________ 1927
1925
L eather and its m anufactures_____________ 1927
1925
R ubb er p ro d u cts. ___________________ - 1927
1925
P aper, printing, and related industries____ 1927
1925
Chem icals and allied p roducts_________ . . 1927
1925
Stone, clay, and glass p roducts___ ________ 1927
1925
M etals and m etal products, other th a n iron
a nd steel
__ _
_______________ - 1927
1925
1927
Tobacco m anufactures_______________
1925
M achinery, not including transportation
equ ip m en t____ _____ . . . __ __
___ 1927
1925
M usical instrum ents and phonographs____ 1927
1925
T ran sp o rtatio n equipm ent, air, land, and
w ater_________________________________ 1927
1925
R ailroad repair shops___________ . . . ____ 1927
1925
M iscellaneous industries______________ . . . 1927
1925
49, 786
47, 947
26,845
24,450
679,158
662, 010
1, 692, 473
1, 628, 283
6, 346
6, 068
20,163
21,926
4,263
4,243
516
509
28,404
26, 553
8, 939
8, 871
8, 673
8,478
835,091
851, 270
866, 581
921, 266
316, 421
314, 025
141, 997
148, 382
555, 040
536, 766
394, 817
381,075
350, 397
353, 036
1, 264, 406, 082
1, 284, 339,157
929, 789, 682
978, 472, 291
364, 229,059
355,346, 411
198,073, 743
191, 089, 638
858,336,931
805,516, 245
534, 947, 864
506, 386,054
464, 272,991
467,012, 428
6,199, 252,444
6, 461, 668,061
3,457,427,173
3, 689,126, 705
1, 868, 320, 020
1, 763, 709, 361
1, 225,077,114
1, 257, 997, 707
4, 638, 571, 773
4,143, 684,899
6, 404, 914, 348
6,438, 027,055
1, 612, 548, 765
1, 640, 651, 985
6, 658
6,924
2,156
2, 623
270, 665
275, 292
129, 299
132,132
380, 365, 227
380, 781, 402
105, 250, 631
111, 558,170
2, 668, 696, 686
2, 833, 769, 702
1,163, 768, 379
1,091, 000,981
12,038
11,807
431
461
886, 344
858, 843
42, 985
46, 980
1, 287, 777, 619
1, 225, 359,140
60, 761,435
62, 501,841
5, 367, 014, 850
5, 020, 281,100
226, 362,120
231, 686, 552
2, 537
2, 778
2, 309
2,363
11, 799
11,223
494,905
559, 578
428, 291
457, 755
268, 793
254,818
803, 297, 856
908,487, 563
648,908,452
668,191, 768
364, 808,988
336,431, 757
4, 702, 378,136
5,451, 753, 433
1, 289, 695,158
1, 332, 679, 079
1, 925,987, 823
1, 812, 985,907
All industries____________ __________ 1927
1925
191,863
187, 224
8, 351, 257
8, 381, 511
10,848, 782, 433
10, 727, 337, 625
62, 713,947, 403
62,668, 259, 591
1 See prefatory note to Table 1 for com parability of 1925 and 1927 figures.
Output, Costs, and Proceeds of the English Coal-Mining
Industry
Ministry of Labor Gazette (London) gives, in its issue for
February, 1929, some data concerning the coal-mining indus
THE
try, based upon a report prepared by the mines department, cover
ing the quarter ending September 30, 1928. The figures deal with
mines producing about 96 per cent of the total quantity mined during
the quarter.
During the three months covered, 53,552,053 tons of salable coal
were mined. After deducting coal used at the mines and coal sold to
the miners at special rates, 49,460,446 tons were disposable commer
cially.
T h e n e t costs, a fte r d ed u ctin g th e proceeds of m in e rs’ coal, a m o u n te d to
£35,481,422 [$172,670,340], e q u iv a le n t to 14s. 4.17d. [$3.49] p e r to n . T h e p ro
ceeds of com m ercial disposals a m o u n te d to £32,161,851 [$156,515,648], eq u iv a-
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PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY
85
le n t to 13s. 0.06d. [$3.16] p e r to n . T h ere w as th u s a d eb it balance of £3,319,571
[$16,154,692], or Is. 4 .l i d . [33 cents] p er to n . An an aly sis b y d istric ts shows
th a t th e d eb it balances ran g ed from 8.57d. [17 cents] in S o u th D erbyshire,
L eicestershire, C annock C hase, a n d W arw ickshire to 2s. 7.77d. [64 cents] in
L ancashire, C heshire, a n d N o rth S taffordshire.
T h e n u m b er of w orkpeople em ployed w as 859,259, a n d th e n u m b er of m a n
sh ifts w orked w as 50,679,567. T h e av erag e o u tp u t p er m an -sh ift w orked was
21.13 h u n d red w eig h t, th e av erag e fo r th e d istric ts ran g in g from 16.73 h u n d re d
w eight in L ancashire, C heshire, a n d N o rth S taffordshire to 23.69 h u n d red w eig h t
in N o rth D erbyshire a n d N o ttin g h am sh ire. T h e av erag e earnings p er m an -sh ift
w orked were 9s. 3.25d. [$2.26], ranging from 7s. 3.95d. [$1.78] in N o rth u m b e rla n d
to 10s. 4.84d. [$2.53] in N o rth D erb y sh ire a n d N o ttin g h am sh ire. T hese earnings
do n o t include th e valu e of allow ances in kind.
T h e n u m b er of m an -sh ifts lost w hich could h av e been w orked (including
absences due to sickness or accident) w as 3,258,835.
The following table shows comparative figures for the three quar
terly periods of 1928 for which data are now available:
SA LES, E M P L O Y E E S , A N D E A R N IN G S OF C O A L -M IN IN G IN D U S T R Y , F O R S P E C IF IE D
Q U A RTER YEARS
Q uarter ending Q uarter ending Q uarter ending
M ar. 31, 1928
June 30, 1928
Sept. 30, 1928
Proportion of in d u stry covered-------------------- per cent—
A m ount of salable coal m in e d --. __________ -.-tons__
C redit (—) or debit (+ ) balance per to n 1 ____________
N um ber of workpeople em ployed— ______ — ___ — _
O u tput per m an-shift w orked________hundredw eight, Earnings per man-shift w orked______________________
97
61,833, 281
—$0.19
921,448
21.24
$2.29
i C alculated on the q u a n tity of coal disposable commercially.
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97
55,034, 291
—$0. 35
890,863
20.98
$2. 25
96
53, 552,053
—$0. 33
859, 259
21. 13
$2.26
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
Wages and Hours of Women in M innesota M unicipalities, 1926
to 1928
STUDY of the wages of 39,273 woman employees in Minnesota
in the biennial period ending June 30, 1928, was made by the
A division
of women and children of the industrial commission of the
State. The figures were taken from the inspection reports of the
investigators of the division. Of the 39,273 woman wage earners
included, 27,109 (69 per cent) were at work in Minneapolis and
12,164 (31 per cent) in other municipalities, including St. Paul and
Duluth. Among the comparisons in the statistics presented below,
attention is called to the following:
The largest percentage of working women (35.2) in Minneapolis is
found in the clerical group, while the next highest percentages are in
manufacturing other than clothing (25.6) and in domestic and personal
service (14.8).
These same proportions do not obtain in other municipalities com
bined, 32.4 per cent being found in manufacture (exclusive of clothing)
and only 21.3 per cent in clerical work, 20.9 per cent in mercantile
occupations, and 14.4 in domestic and personal service.
Nearly 58 per cent of the women investigated in Minneapolis were
working less than 48 hours per week, whereas only 39.1 per cent of
the women employed in the other municipalities combined had as
favorable a week.
While in Minneapolis 71.9 per cent of the women covered were
receiving $15 or over per week, in the other municipalities taken
together only 45 per cent were receiving such wages.
Various other comparisons may be easily made from the accompany
ing tables.
T able 1.—N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O P W O M E N E M P L O Y E D IN V A R IO U S IN D U S T R IE S
IN M IN N E A P O L IS A N D IN O T H E R M IN N E S O T A M U N IC IP A L IT IE S IN B IE N N IU M
E N D IN G J U N E 30, 1928
M inneapolis
O ther m unicipalities
In d u stry
N um ber
M anufacturing (other th a n clothing) ________________
C lothing m anufacturing
_____ _ _ _
____
M ercantile (trad e )_______ _________ _ _
_______
P rin tin g a n d p u b lis h in g .,,_____. . . _______ _
T ran sp o rta tio n __________ _____ _
__
_
L aundries _ . ______________________ _ . . . _______
C lerical_____ ___________
_____ _
.
D om estic and personal______
. . . ___ _____
Professional- ________ _________
, . ________ . .
M iscellaneous____________________
Total
_____ _____ . . .
86
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Per cent
N um ber
Per cent
6,953
1,289
2,578
153
1,301
1,042
9, 554
4,000
83
156
25.6
4.8
9.5
.6
4.8
3.8
35.2
14.8
.3
.6
3, 939
263
2,544
105
495
359
2,592
1, 756
34
77
32.4
2.2
20.9
.9
4. 1
2.9
21.3
14.4
.3
.6
27, 109
100.0
12,164
100.0
87
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
T able 2 —P E R C E N T O F W O M E N E M P L O Y E D F O R S P E C IF IE D W A G E S P E R W E E K
IN V A R IO U S IN D U S T R IE S IN M IN N E A P O L IS A N D
M U N IC IP A L IT IE S IN B IE N N IU M E N D IN G J U N E 30, 1928
IN
OTHER
M IN N E S O T A
Per cent whose w eekly wages were—
In d u stry
U n
der
$8
$8,
un
der
$10
$10,
un
der
$12
$12,
un
der
$15
$15,
un
der
$18
$18,
un
der
$20
$20,
un
der
$25
$25 Wage
and
not
over given
0.3
2.3
0.6
.2
1.0
.7
4.0
.6
3.0
.5
.3
4.4
1. 2
1.3
.7
.3
1.4
1. 2
5.8
.3
2.3
.8
10.4
3.6
8.3
21.9
24.0
27.1
15. 7
42.4
36.8
7.8
30.8
3. 6
30.8
33.8
27.0
38.2
35.3
42.5
39.2
19. 6
31.8
12. 1
21. 8
23.1
13. 0
13.8
18.3
10.6
17.2
26. 5
9.0
3.6
13.5
9.2
10.0
8.3
20.3
2. 2
2.5
25. 1
6. 5
8.4
10.9
6.3
9.9
5.3
8. 5
1.3
1.0
15. 7
4.0
44.6
7. 1
4.0
1.8
21.7
.7
1. 1
.6
3.3
20.4
29. 1
19.9
13.9
9. 1
2.8
3.2
1.5
4.0
1.9
3.2
.6
.9
3. 1
1.9
3.0
1. 7
2. 9
5.3
1.7
.6
3.4
7.7
15.2
6.5
10.5
8.9
7.5
17.0
3.3
3. 0
7.8
.6
8. 8
1.6
7.6
.8
.8
13. 6
1. 7
73.5
2.8
1.5
1.3
19. 5
26.7
23.6
23. 5
21. 9
16.6
18.9
29.9
22.0
2.9
7.8
1.9
11.8
5.9
4. 8
1.8
6. 7
17.9
3.6
11. 8
5. 2
9. 1 46. 1
2.3 32.3
10. 5 45. 1
2.9 47.6
15.4 35.8
11. 1 42. 1
2.0 12. 4
11.6 49. 1
8.8
24.7 10.4
2.8
2.1
25.1
9.0
6.8
4. 2
M inneapolis
M anufacturing (other th a n clothing)................ .
C lothing m anufacturing__________ _______ _
M ercantile (trade)
______ ____ ____________
P rin tin g and publishing____________________
T ransp o rtatio n
____________________
Laundries
__________________________
C lerical______________ . . . . . .
_________
Domestic and personal
. . . . _____________
Professional . . . . . . . .
_______________
M iscellaneous________________ ____________ _
All industries_____________ ___________
0.8
14.8
1.1
.7
.7
Other municipalities
M anufacturing (other th a n clothing)_________
Clothing m an u factu rin g ._ _ . . _________
M ercantile (trad e)___
__________________
P rintin g a n d publishing
T ransportation .
___ . _________________
Laundries . . _____________________ _______
C le ric a l____ _____ _____________________
D om estic and personal_____ _
__________
Professional
M iscellaneous
.
. . _________________
All in d u stries_________________ _____ _
8.4
38.0
12.3
10.6
5.9
2.2
24.7
3.8
T able 3.—P E R C E N T O F W O M E N E M P L O Y E D F O R S P E C IF IE D H O U R S P E R W E E K IN
V A R IO U S IN D U S T R IE S IN M IN N E A P O L IS A N D IN C E R T A IN O T H E R M IN N E S O T A
M U N IC IP A L IT IE S , IN B IE N N IU M E N D IN G J U N E 30, 1928
Per cent whose hours per week were—
In d u stry
52,
Un48,
54,
56,
58,
62
40,
44,
der under un d er under under under under under and
52
54
58
62
over
44
48
56
40
M inneapolis
M anufacturing (other th a n c lo th in g ).................
C lothing m anufacturing _______ ____ ___ __
M ercantile (trade)
__________________
P rin tin g and publishing
T ransp o rtatio n
_ _______________
Laundries
_
_ ____________________
Clerical
__________ __ _______
Dom estic and personal____ _________________
Professional
__________________
M iscellaneous
__________________
All industries__________ ______________
51.3
24. 1
45.0
20.9
85.2
62.5
8.2
33.6
10.8
26.3
3.6
.3
4.4
1.5
.9
7.5
2. 1
.6
.5
5.8
.7
7.4
.5
11.0
.2
10.9
.1
3.2
3.9
.8
.7
1.0
8.2
6.0
12.2
.1
.7
12.7
17.2
62. 7
16.0
36.9
74. 2
28.1
66.7
12.3
13.9
40.5
11.7
6.0
21.8
0.1
4.8
9. 2
.5
5.5
36.7
6.6
14. 5
3.9
11.5
4.5
8.8
15.5
33.3
33.2
3.0
2.9
2.4
.8
.2
3.7
6.1
5.7
1.9
11.9
2.2
11.5
7. 2
32.4
37.7
1.6
.8
2.3
2.9
1.8
2.2
20.6
3.6
23.5
10.4
19.1
63. 1
23.0
47. 6
15.4
29.5
43.8
15.2
5.9
22. 1
38.7
22.1
47.6
42.9
47. 5
52.9
18.8
21.1
32.4
24.7
13.9
1.9
8. 1
2.9
1.2
10.9
1.4
8.6
2.9
3.9
10.4
2.7
3.5
1.9
3.8
.6
2.1
13.0
3.0
1.3
0. 1
.8
o. 6
1.2
1.9
3.0
(3.3
.8
1.3
10.5 ” j.4
.3
.1
1.6
11.1
6.6
6.5
1.4
.3
13.7
6.9
6.2
26.0
34. 1
8.2
6.7
2.1
4.6
3.1
.6
7.0
3.3
2.9
0.7
0.4
1.4
Other municipalities
M anufacturing (other th a n clothing)..................
Clothing m a n u fa c tu rin g ___ ______________
M ercantile (trade)
_____________________
Printin g and publishing
T ran sp o rta tio n ___ ______ __________________
Laundries
„
_____ _
_____
Clerical
___________________
- ....
D om estic and personal___ . .
Professional
M iscellaneous
_________
All industries___________ ____________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[777]
5.2
88
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Cost of Living and W omen’s Wages in Texas
N MAY and June of 1928, the Texas Bureau of Labor Statistics
collected d a ta 1 showing the cost of living, reduced to its bare
essentials, for young women, intended particularly to apply to
those “ who have been thrown entirely on their own resources and
who have no source of income other than their wages and who must
provide their own living quarters and in every way care for them
selves.” It was realized that a large number of employed women,
especially among the younger workers, live with their parents or other
relatives, or have some other form of assistance in making their way,
but it was believed that the number of those dependent solely upon
themselves was increasing and that it was worth while to look into
the relation between women’s wages and the cost of living. A
questionnaire was sent out to the various welfare associations in the
large cities engaged in promoting especially the interests of young
women, including a number of girls’ cooperative homes. Questions
were asked as to the cost of only the indispensable necessities of life,
which, it was decided, were room and board, clothing, laundry, car
fare, and incidentals. No account was taken of such items as medical
and dental service, insurance, contributions to church and charity,
savings, amusements, or tuition for self-improvement; such items, it
was felt, should be included in every girl’s budget, but in this case it
was desired to get the cost of only absolute necessaries.
I
F o r th e five p rim a ry ite m s t h a t p ro v id e m ere existence fo r th e w orking girl
th e re w as a rem ark ab le u n a n im ity in th e answ ers received, v a ria tio n s being
in d icated only w ith th e d ifferen t sectio n s of th e S ta te w here g en eral liv in g costs
necessarily v a ry . T h e general av erag e of all re p o rts show s th e follow ing re s u lts :
C ost of room a n d b o a rd p e r m o n th , $31.07; clo th in g , $15.11; la u n d ry , $2.73;
car fare, $4; in cid en tals, $6.40; to ta l, $59.31. T h u s is show n on th e m o st a c c u ra te
a n d tru s tw o rth y a u th o r ity t h a t fo r m e re st existence ev ery w orking girl m u s t
spen d $59.31 p e r m o n th , o r a p p ro x im a te ly $15 p e r week.
A comparison of this total with the findings of an earlier investiga
tion as to the wages of women showed th at in numerous cases the wage
rates did not measure up to the actual needs thus revealed.
A b u lletin issued b y th e d e p a rtm e n t on F e b ru a ry 1, 1928, b ased u p o n official
re p o rts of w ages p aid to w om en in in d u s try , show s t h a t in th e 1,365 e stab lish m en ts
re p o rtin g w ere em ployed 11,425 w om en. Of th is to ta l, 5,416 w ere show n to be
earn in g $15 p e r w eek o r over, leav in g 6,006 earn in g less th a n $15 p e r w eek. T h u s
it w as show n t h a t m ore th a n half, a p p ro x im a te ly 52 p er cen t, of w om en w orkers
w ere earn in g less th a n $15 p e r week.
Quite apart from this inquiry, the department undertook during the
year a survey of Texas industries, securing data as to the number of
employees, both wage earners and office workers, character of organi
zation, number of wage earners (by months), classified weekly wages,
and number of days in operation. The reports received covered 2,150
establishments, with a total of 124,493 employees, of whom 101,605
were wage earners and 22,888 were office employees. Women formed
approximately 24 per cent of the total number, constituting 23 per
cent of the wage earners and 28 per cent of the office employees. The
following table shows the wage distribution of the women in each of
these groups;
1Texas. Bureau of Labor Statistics. T e n th biennial report, 1927-28, pp. 39-41
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[778]
89
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O P W O M E N W A G E E A R N E R S A N D O F F IC E E M P L O Y E E S IN
S P E C IF IE D W A G E G R O U P S
Wage earners
Office employees
Wages per week
N um ber
U nder $ 5 _____ __ ______________________________ _______________
$5 and un d er $10 ______________________________ ________ _____
$10 and u nder $ 1 5 ________ ________ _____ ______________________
$15 and under $ 2 0 . . . ....................................................................... . .
$20 and o v e r ___________ __________________________ _________
Total
................................ ......... .. .....................................
Per cent
N um ber
Per cent
0.3
390
7, 371
1 0 ,4 1 6
5 ,9 0 5
2 ,6 1 1
1 .5
2 7 .6
3 9 .0
2 2 .1
9 .8
20
152
741
1 ,6 7 5
3, 663
2 .4
1 1 .9
2 6 .8
26, 693
1 0 0 .0
6, 251
1 0 0 .0
58.6
It will be seen that among the wage earners a considerable majority
are working for less than the $15 a week which has been set as a mini
mum standard. As these represent wrage rates, the actual earnings,
affected by short time and irregular employment, may differ widely
from these figures. The office workers show a much better situation,
only 14.6 per cent, or less than one-sixth, of their number having wages
below $15 a week, as against approximately two-thirds of the wage
earners.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[779]
HEALTH AND RECREATION
Health Conditions Among American and Canadian Industrial
Populations in 1928
conditions, as shown by the death rate among the more
than 18,000,000 industrial policyholders of the Metropolitan
H EALTH
Life Insurance Co.,1 were nearly as good in 1928 as in the preced
ing year, when a new health record was established for this large
group, comprising about one-seventh of the total population of
the two countries. The death rate in 1928 was 8.6 per 1,000, which
was only 2.4 per cent in excess of that for 1927, but this slight rise
in the mortality rate was limited to the States east of the Rocky
Mountains, insured persons living in the western mountain and Pacific
Coast States and in Canada having a health record which surpassed
that of 1927. Health conditions generally would have been as good
in 1928 as in 1927 had it not been for two influenza outbreaks, one
in the spring and the other in November and December, both of which
resulted in a large increase in the mortality rate from pneumonia and
heart disease.
The great improvement which has taken place in health conditions
in recent years is shown by a comparison of the death rates now and
17 years ago. In 1928 there were 156,630 deaths among industrial
policyholders of the company, aged 1 year and over, but if the same
rate had prevailed in 1928 as in 1911, the deaths would have num
bered 227,636, or about 71,000 more than actually occurred. The
1928 death rate, therefore, was 31.2 per cent lower than in 1911.
The latest comparable mortality data for the general population are
for the year 1927, when the death rate for persons in the same age
range (1 to 74 years, inclusive) declined in the period from 1911 to
1927 only 16 per cent, while that for industrial policyholders for the
same period was reduced 33 per cent. The better health conditions
among the industrial policyholders represents a net saving of 36,368
lives for this group in the year 1927 alone, while the cumulative sav
ing over the entire period 1911-1927, over and above the saving
expected from the decline in the mortality of the general population,
was 314,763.
The expectation of life has increased considerably as a result of
the generally improved health conditions. Thus among the wage
earners and their families the expectation of life at birth was 56.42
years in 1927 as compared with 46.63 years for the two years 1911-12,
or a gain of 9.79 years in the 16-year period. For the general popu
lation the gain in life expectancy for the same period was only 6.06
years, the longevity of the wage-earning population having now
almost caught up with that of the general population.
i M etropolitan Life Insurance Co.
90
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Statistical B ulletin, Jan u ary , 1929.
[780]
HEALTH AND RECREATION
91
Several diseases of major health importance—typhoid fever, scarlet
fever, diphtheria, tuberculosis, diarrheal complaints, and puerperal
conditions—established lower death rates in 1928 than ever before,
but the outstanding improvement of the year was the further decline
in the mortality from tuberculosis. The death rate from all forms
of this disease in 1928 was 90 per 100,000, which was 4.1 per cent
below the former minimum of 93.8 established in the preceding year.
The decline in the tuberculosis death rate during the present decade
amounted to 34.7 per cent and since 1911 to 59.9 per cent. The
almost continuous decline in tuberculosis mortality since 1911 has
resulted in 192,366 fewer deaths among policyholders than would
have occurred if the 1911 death rate had prevailed. The decline in
the death rate from tuberculosis of the respiratory system, which
causes approximately nine-tenths of all the deaths from tuberculous
disease, amounts to 61 per cent since 1911, and its new minimum
rate of 79.4 per 100,000 is 4.3 per cent below the 1927 figure. The
reduction in the mortality from this cause has been greatest among
the white policyholders.
In addition to the marked improvement in the tuberculosis death
rate, the communicable diseases of childhood—measles, scarlet fever,
.diphtheria, and whooping cough—when considered jointly registered
a lower death rate than ever before, although there was a small
increase for measles. As regards the mortality from diphtheria, it
is considered that as the immunization of children with toxin-antitoxin
becomes more general the fatality rate from this preventable disease
may be expected to continue to drop. The decline in the death rate
from diarrheal complaints is regarded as due both to the policy of
health education among the policyholders by the company and to
the work of other agencies in the protection of food supplies, especially
milk.
Among the diseases which did not show improvement are diabetes,
which had a higher mortality in 1928 than ever before, and organic
heart disease, which with a death rate of 143.4 per 100,000 was
almost at the maximum. This rise in the death rate from cardiac
affections is among the most unfavorable health developments of the
year. The increase in 1928 to almost the highest figure recorded is
due in part only to the prevalence of influenza during part of the year,
as some of the highest rates occurred in months in which influenza
was not unusually prevalent.
The cancer rate, which has been increasing steadily, continues to
grow definitely worse. In 1928 the death rate for this disease was
76.4 per 100,000, the highest yet recorded. The efforts at cancer
control have had no apparent effects and cancer now holds third
place in the causes of death, being outranked by only heart disease
and tuberculosis.
There was a slight decline in deaths from alcoholism although the
rate for cirrhosis of the liver, which is closely associated with alcohol
ism, remained unchanged and there was a slight increase in the deaths
from wood and denatured alcohol. There were fewer violent deaths
in 1928 than in 1927, including cases of suicide, homicide, and acci
dents. The death rate for accidents was 61.3 per 100,000—a 4.1 per
cent decline, as compared with 1927 and a drop of 20.8 per cent
below the death rate for 1911. The fatalities from automobile
41195°—29
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[781]
92
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
accidents were higher than for any year since these records have been
kept, except 1927. The decline in 1928—0.5^ per cent—was very
small, but in view of the fact that there was an increase of more than
1,600,000 automobiles registered in the United^ States^ during the
year it seems probable that there has been some impression made at
last upon automobile fatalities as a result of the concerted efforts of
police, safety, and insurance interests.
Occupational Dermatitis
widespread occurrence of occupational dermatitis is shown
by a study made by the New York Bureau of Women in
THE
Industry, an account of which was published in the November,
1928, number of the Industrial Bulletin, issued by the State depart
ment of labor. The term “ industrial dermatitis’’ is used to cover
all skin irritations caused by any material or substance used in the
individual’s work and it may vary from a very mild case showing only
a slight reddening of the skin to a very severe generalized inflamma
tion of the skin covering the greater part of the body.
In the study data covering a group of 390 cases of dermatitis
directly traceable to industrial causes were secured from hospital
clinics and from the bureau of workmen’s compensation. These
cases were classified according to the length of time of disability and
it was found that 95, or 24.4 per cent, were reported as lasting more
than one year, although it was regarded as probable that these per
sons were not disabled the entire year, but that the figures cover one
or many recurrences of the affection in the course of the year. Of
the remaining cases 84, or 21.5 per cent of the total, lasted for a period
of one to three months, 64 cases, or 16.4 per cent, from four to six
months, and 58, or 14.9 per cent, of the cases from two weeks to one
month. This amount of lost time shows the seriousness of the con
dition both to the individual and the industry.
Dermatitis is generally not regarded seriously, since the individual
may not be made ill, but even if the affection does not actually inca
pacitate a person for work his efficiency is often seriously affected.
The hands and arms are the most frequent sites of the affection, as
they are usually the parts of the body which come in direct contact
with the irritant. The majority of the cases reported on here were
confined to the hands and arms, while 91 cases began on the hands
but spread to other parts of the body, and 30 cases were primary to
other parts of the body—in most cases the legs. Of the latter group,
there were two types of cases—those where the workers stood in water
and those where they got their overalls and shoes full of substance,
such as cement. The cases on the face all seemed to be the result of
carelessness on the part of the worker in carrying the irritating sub
stances to his face with his hands. Where the rash occurs on parts
of the body covered with the clothing there is a marked general ill
effect as the itching is liable to be more intense and the general
health may suffer as a result of the constant nerve strain or the loss
of sleep. With an itching rash also there is always the danger of a
secondary infection caused by the introduction of bacteria due to
scratching.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[7 8 2 ]
HEALTH AND RECREATION
93
There is a general impression th at dermatitis can be caused only
by coming into contact with very injurious substances, but this is
not true, as constant contact with substances ordinarily considered
harmless may cause marked irritation in some people. The deciding
factors in the development of dermatitis, therefore, are the character
of the substance, the sensitivity of the individual, and the manner
and length of exposure.
In the present series of cases there were 34 known agents causing
the dermatitis, the largest percentage of cases being caused by soap
and soap cleansers. The next large groups of cases were due to dyes
and lime. Lead; ink; flour, sugar, and cinnamon; oil; chromic acid;
methyl alcohol; and lotions followed in order of importance as causes of
dermatitis. A variety of substances were the causes of the remaining
cases, in many instances not more than one or two cases being reported
for a particular substance.
The great variety in the occupations is shown by the fact th at the
390 cases were classified in 16 large groups with a total of 110 occu
pations. The largest group (118 cases) was classified under house
work, but in addition to actual houseworkers there were included
porters and janitors, restaurant workers, building cleaners, etc. Of
the total number of cases, 120 occurred among women, and nearly
three-quarters of these cases occurred among houseworkers. Of the
other occupations in which women were affected, the largest group
of cases was found among stenographers, who contracted a derma
titis from the constant handling of carbon paper.
I t can easily be seen, the report states, th a t “ dermatitis not only
is a problem in industry a t present but is likely to become a greater
one in the future as the industries grow and new substances are added
to those already in use. Some individuals are more susceptible than
others to the various irritants. One worker might contract derma
titis after only a week’s exposure, while another might be exposed
for years and never contract it. One of the functions of a physician
is to determine which individuals are susceptible. These individuals
should not be placed at work with substances which are known to
produce dermatitis.”
In dustrial Diseases Under the British Workmen’s Compensation
A ct2
A N ORDER issued by the British Secretary of State, January
JL JL 1, 1929, consolidates and amends the earlier orders relating
to industrial diseases under the workmen’s compensation act. The
diseases which are now subject to compensation are poisoning
from arsenic, lead, benzene, and its homologues, dinitrophenol,
nitrous fumes, dope for airplane wings, manganese, tetrachlorethane,
carbon bisulphide, nickel carbonyl, African boxwood, or the sequelae
of any of these types of poisoning.
Dermatitis or ulceration of the skin produced by dust or liquids,
and ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose or mouth as a
result of dust inhalation are compensable, as are also epitheliomatous
cancer or ulceration of the skin, or ulceration of the corneal surface
2 Great B ritain. H om e Office. S ta tu to ry Rules and Orders, 1929, N o. 2.
In dustrial diseases. London, 1929.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[783]
Workmen’s Compensation.
94
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
of the eye due to tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil or paraffin or any
compound, product, or residue of any of these substances; chrome
ulceration or its sequelae; and scrotal epithelioma (chimney sweep’s
cancer). Cases of dermatitis, or ulceration of the skin or mucous
membranes are not compensable if the individual is thereby disabled
only for employment in the particular process in which the disease
has been contracted, unless it can be proved that the disease has
been contracted through long continued exposure to dust or liquids in
the industry in which he was engaged at the time of his disablement.
Compensation is paid for cataract in glassworkers or cataract
caused by exposure to rays from molten or red hot metal but the
maximum period during which a person suffering from cataract from
these causes is entitled to compensation is six months, or four months
if he has not undergone an operation for cataract. If, for medical
reasons, it is impossible to perform an operation within four months
from the date of disablement or the disability from the operation
lasts longer than six months from th at date, compensation may be
continued for as long as the judge, committee, or arbiter may direct.
In the mining industry compensation is payable for miner’s
nystagmus, whether occurring in miners or others and whether the
symptom of oscillation of the eyeballs is present or not, and for
subcutaneous cellulitis of the hand, knee, or elbow, or inflammation
of the synovial lining of the wrist joint and tendon sheaths. Com
pensation may be paid for telegrapher’s cramp, writer’s cramp, and
twister’s cramp, the last-named being caused by the twisting of cotton
and woolen yarns. In the case of writer’s cramp a person is not
entitled to compensation for more than 12 months, while a person
suffering from twister’s cramp may receive compensation if he is
totally disabled from following the occupation of twister but this
compensation shall cease as soon as he is able to earn at another
occupation a weekly sum equal to 75 per cent of the average weekly
earnings on which the compensation has been fixed, or at the expira
tion of six months, whichever is the earlier.
Other compensable diseases are glanders, compressed-air illness,
and inflammation, ulceration, or malignant disease of the skin and
subcutaneous tissues due to exposure to X rays or radioactive
substances.
Park Recreation Areas in the United States—Revised Data for
Certain Cities
communications have been received, by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics from the cities of Brownsville, Tex., Canton,
R ECENT
111., and Newark, N. J., correcting certain data regarding the park
areas of those cities as given in Bulletin No. 462 of the bureau,
entitled “ Park Recreation Areas in the United States,” published in
May, 1928.
The revised data for the three cities mentioned are as follows:
Brownsville, Tex.—Bulletin No. 462 credited Brownsville with only
4 acres of park space. Mr. B. E. Hinkley, park commissioner of
that city, in a communication to the bureau states that during recent
months that city has acquired additional park space totaling around
500 acres.
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HEALTH AND RECREATION
95
Canton, III.—Mr. F. A. Perkins, secretary-attorney of the Canton
Park district, advises the bureau that Canton, 111., is included in
Canton Park district, which has a park area of 135 acres, including
1 park of 110 acres, a recreation and athletic field of 18 acres, and
2 smaller parks.
Newark, N. J.—Mr. Carl Bannwart, of the department of parks
and public property, gives the following figures regarding the park
areas of that community:
Acres
C ity p a rk s (adm inistered b y th e d e p a rtm e n t of p a rk s a n d public
p ro p e r ty )___________________________ ____________________________
28.
P lay g ro u n d s (adm inistered b y N ew ark B oard of E d u c a tio n )________
45.
C o u n ty p a rk s w ith in c ity lim its (ad m in istered b y E ssex C o u n ty P a rk
C om m ission)____________________________________________________
892.
C o u n ty p a rk s o u tsid e c ity lim its (ad m in istered b y Essex C o u n ty
P a rk C om m ission)_______________ _______________________________
3, 0 0 0 .
C ity-ow ned w atersh ed (ad m in istered b y division of w a te r of th e d e
p a rtm e n t of public affairs; a v ailab le fo r lim ited re c reatio n al uses)__ 3 2 , 6 4 0 .
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70
00
62
00
00
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Accident Prevention in Building Construction
HE building industry has long been recognized as one of the most
hazardous industries but it is only recently that serious efforts
have been made to prevent accidents in building construction. It is
said that “ a man to a floor/’ and even in some cases three men to a
floor, used to be the expected toll in the construction of any high
building, and that even yet only a few of the progressive contractors
have come to realize how unnecessary such a heavy toll in human
life, with the consequent money loss, really is.
The erection of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel—a 26-story building
costing $5,000,000—in San Francisco, without a fatality or a serious
accident may be regarded, therefore, as establishing an outstanding
safety record for the industry.1
The full extent of the record established is shown by the numbers
employed and the amounts of material used. The building of the
hotel involved the erection of 2,500 tons of structural steel, the plac
ing of 600 tons of reinforcing steel, the pouring of 11,000 cubic yards
of concrete, and the laying of 1,100,000 bricks. Forty-two crafts
were represented among the employees, who averaged 385, with a
maximum of 550 men employed at one time. There was an excava
tion of 25,000 cubic yards to a depth of 47 feet below the sidewalk,
which required the exercise of special precautions in timbering and
the use of power shovels and in the construction of an incline for the
use of the 10-ton trucks. Special precautions were taken for the
protection of the public on the sidewalks and at the street-car stops,
including the construction of catch platforms on the building to
break the fall of any material dropped from above.
The measures used for the protection of the employees from accident
included the installation, after six stories of structural steel had been
erected, of passenger elevators with all necessary safety devices,
which were run by experienced operators. Employees were forbid
den to ride up and down loads, to slide up and down columns or ropes,
and to ride on material elevators. A temporary flooring was built on
four floors throughout the building, and in order to eliminate the
danger of men falling through openings from the structural steel
frame, the erection of the concrete forms was carried on as close to
the riveting gangs as possible. Planked floors were provided between
the riveting gangs and the carpenters working below to protect the
latter from falling objects, all floor openings and hatchways were
guarded with substantial fences, and scaffolding was fully guarded
with railings. Safety belts, goggles, and respirators were furnished
where needed, and sanitary conveniences and pure drinking water
were provided.
The safety organization included a safety patrol of foremen which
made daily inspections in addition to the inspections of the safety
engineer, and a safety committee organized by the safety engineer
among the foremen of the various crafts met once a week. Various
types of warning signs were placed throughout the job and safety
T
'W e ste rn C onstruction News, San Francisco, Feb. 25, 1929, p p . 100-102.
96
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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
97
bulletins were posted frequently on the bulletin boards. A first-aid
station took care of all minor injuries and the attendant made a daily
round, of the building for the purpose of dressing scratches, etc., for
which employees might not go to the first-aid station, thus preventing
serious infections. It was estimated that the first-aid station saved,
in loss of wages alone, the sum of $5,200 which would have been paid
to employees for the time spent in going to a doctor for dressings,
that the saving in insurance, due to the organized safety work,
amounted to $20,000 for all the contractors, and that the increase in
production was about 183^ per cent. The hotel was completed in a
little less than 14 months from the time wrecking for the building
began.
Reducing Fatalities in the Logging Industry of the State of
Washington
HE progress _made by the logging industry of the State of
Washington in reducing the number of serious and fatal acci
dents was the subject of a paper read by Martin J. Flyzik, super
visor of safety of the Washington Department of Labor and Industries,
T
at the Pacific Logging Congress held recently.
During the past five years the activities of the safety division of the
labor department have been extended to practically every logging
operation in the State for the purpose of increasing the mechanical
safeguards for the protection of employees in the industry and further
ing the safety education of both employers and workers. The result
of this campaign is shown in a progressive reduction in the number of
fatalities and cases of permanent total disability in the 5-year period,
1924-1928. In 1928 there were 175 fatal and permanent total
disability cases reported, as compared with 225 such cases in 1924,
while the number of compensable claims showed a corresponding
reduction.
The principal causes of fatal accidents were shown by a 10-year
survey of the fatalities occurring in the industry. Out of 1,722
fatalities occurring during this period, 1,211, or 70 per cent, were
found to be the result of five outstanding causes; 444, or 25.8 per cent,
occurred among fallers in falling trees, limbs, and snags; 342, or 19.9
per cent, among buckers in rolling logs; 167, or 9.7 per cent, among
the rigging crew from cables, lines, chains, and tongs; 140, or 8.1 per
cent, also among the rigging crew from logs coming in attached to
cables; and 118, or 6.8 per cent occurring in logging railroad collisions,
derailments, and from railroad cars. Fallers and buckers, who had
nearly 46 per cent of these accidents, are engaged in a line of employ
ment in which no mechanical safeguards can be provided to minimize
the danger or prevent accidents, and the reduction in the number of
accidents, therefore, depends almost altogether upon the alertness
and observance of good safety practices on the part of these workmen.
An analysis of the accident rates of the different firms shows that
64 per cent of the logging operations, by reason of their excellent
safety activities, were responsible for the improvement in the accident
figures, and it seemed, therefore, that if equally intensive safety pro
paganda and education were carried on in the remaining operations
the serious accidents could be reduced to a minimum.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[787]
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND
SOCIAL INSURANCE
Workmen’s Compensation in the United States, as of
January 1, 1929
adoption of workmen’s compensation for industrial in
juries in lieu of the rule of the employer’s liability for injuries
T HE
due to his negligence stands out in its effect on the status of the worker
as one of the most important legal-economic developments of modern
times. A right to relief based on the fact of employment, practically
automatic and certain, replaces the doubtful contest for a recovery
based on proof of the employer’s negligence and of the absence of the
common-law defenses.
Recognition of the Principle
A b r o a d , Germany in 1884 and Great Britain in 1897 and 1906
were influential in turning attention to the system of benefits for
injuries due to employment, not necessarily to a proved negligent act.
Laws of Maryland (Î902, 1910) and Montana (1909) were results of
early efforts to enact State laws, but without adequate regard for
either legal or economic principles. The first official recognition of
the principle by the Congress of the United States was the Federal
act of 1908, providing limited benefits for designated classes of
employees of the United States; though acts of 1882 (Life Saving
Service) and 1900 (Postal Service) had made some provision of this
nature for the services indicated.
Concurrently with these dates the subject came to attract quite
general attention from State legislatures. Investigative commis
sions began to be provided for as early as 1903 (Massachusetts) and
1905 (Illinois), but no legislative results followed. Later commis
sions in both these States, and two and even three commissions in
others, indicate the degree of caution with which the approach was
made to the subject of compensation legislation. The following tables
show the progress of action, both in the appointment of commis
sions and in the enactment of laws:
98
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE
T able
1 .— S T A T E S ,
E T C ., IN W H IC H C O M M IS S IO N S W E R E A P P O IN T E D
W H IC H C O M P E N S A T IO N LA W S W E R E E N A C T E D , B Y Y E A R S
Year
Y ear
commis compen
sation
sion was
was
appointed law
enacted
State, etc.
1919
1915
1912
1915
A labam a___________ A laska___________________
A rizona. __ ________________
1919
A rkansas___________________
C alifornia__________________
Colorado- _____________ __
1911
1907
C onnecticut-- _______ ______
1911
D elaw are . . -- _________ _
D istrict of C olum bia:
Public employees ___ _
P riv ate employees
___
Georgia _
_____
H aw aii____________________
Idaho
_
_ 1905
Illinois_______ __________
1913
In d ian a__________ _______ _
1911
Iow a
___
K ansas____________________
i 1915
K e n tu ck y _________________
Louisiana . . - 1912
M aine .
M aryland ____________
3 1913
M assachusetts___________ .1903
M ichigan
_
_
_
1911
M innesota_________________
3 1909
M issouri.......................................
1910
M o n tan a____ ____ __________
1911
1915
1913
1917
/
\
/
\
/
\
2 1910
1919
1928
1920
1915
1917
1911
1915
1913
1911
2 1914
1916
1914
1915
1912
1911
1912
1913
4 1919
1925
2 1909
1915
AND
IN
Year
Year
commis compen
sation
sion was
was
appointed law
enacted
State, etc.
1911
N ebraska _____
_____ N e v ad a .. __
__ _____ New H am pshire______ - . _
1910
New Jersey____________
New M exico..
1909
New Y ork______ _____ -1911
N o rth D a k o ta ____
_______
1910
Ohio__ _
------Oklahoma
__________ ___
O regon.__ _ _____
- - -. 3 1911
1911
Pennsylvania _____________
Philippine Islands__________
1913
Porto Rico.
____ _
R hode Island
South D akota _________ .
1913
Tennessee- _
------------1911
T ex as... ______ _
_
1915
U ta h ___ _ _
1913
V erm ont- .
.
1916
V irginia___ . _____________
W a s h in g to n ___ _
3 1910
3 1911
Vrest Virginia
____
1909
W isconsin. -- - - - - - _
W y o m in g ._ ___________ ___
U nited States:
Public employees _____
1910
__ ____
Longshoremen
f
\
/
\
1913
1911
1911
1911
1917
« 1910
1913
1919
1911
1915
1913
1915
1905
1927
1916
1912
1917
1919
1913
1917
1915
1918
1911
1913
1911
1915
f 1908
\ 1916
1927
* Rejected on referendum.
12 laws, 1 (compulsory) declared unconstitutional.
1V oluntary.
2 Law declared unconstitutional.
3A ppointed by th e governor.
T able 3.—N U M B E R O F W O R K M E N ’S C O M P E N S A T IO N C O M M IS S IO N S A N D LA W S,
BY YEARS
Y ear
1903_______
1905_______
1907_______
1908_______
IflflQ
1910_____
1911_______
Commis
sions
formed or
provided
for
1
1
2
States,
etc., en
acting
original
law
( ')
21
1
1
10
3
8
12
Year
Commis
sions
formed or
provided
for
1
7
1912
1913
1914____
1915
3
1
IQIfi
1917
1918_______
States,
etc., en
acting
original
law
4
7
2
9
1
5
1
Year
C ommis- States,
sions
etc., en
formed or acting
provided original
law
for
1919_______
1920_______
1927_______
1928_______
1
T otal.
40
4
1
2
1
50
2 U nited States.
1 Philippine Islands.
The 40 commissions above accounted for operated in 32 jurisdic
tions, while laws have been enacted by the legislatures of 43 States,
the Territories of Alaska and Hawaii, the Philippine Islands, and
Porto Rico, and by Congress for the civil employees of the Federal
Government, for the District of Columbia, and for longshoremen and
harbor workers. Not every law has been preceded by a commission,
therefore; but every commission except that of Arkansas, appointed
in 1919, has been followed by the enactment of a law, though in some
cases so remotely as to suggest a lack of any real connection between
the two events. Indeed, the United States commission considered
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
only a statute relating to railroad employees, as to whom no law has
yet been enacted. The year 1911 was marked by the creation of the
largest number of commissions as well as by the enactment of the
largest number of laws. B ut one investigative commission has been
appointed since 1916—th at of Arkansas—said to be to remove con
stitutional objections to a pending bill; only five have been created
since 1913, and it is obvious that the day of their usefulness is ended,
either as an aid in determining the desirability of compensation
legislation or of working out deviations from accepted standards so
as to meet supposed local peculiarities.
Progress of Legislation
R e f e r e n c e to th e fo re g o in g ta b le s d isc lo se s b o t h th e p r o g re s s
a n d e x t e n t o f c o m p e n s a tio n le g is la tio n . All la w s n o w o n t h e s t a t u t e
b o o k s h a v e e i th e r fo llo w e d th e in v e s tig a tio n s o f c o m m issio n s o r h a v e
b e e n e n a c t e d u n d e r c o n d itio n s m a k in g th e r e s u lts o f s u c h c o m m issio n s
a v a ila b le to th o s e in te r e s te d .
The first of the laws of this class is the elective compensation law
of New York, 1910, followed at the same session by a compulsory
law for hazardous occupations. The latter law was declared uncon
stitutional after a very brief term of existence, but after an amend
ment to the constitution a new law was passed which has been sus
tained by both the State and the Federal courts.
Of the 10 laws enacted in 1911, 7 provided for simple compensa
tion, 3 containing also provisions for insurance; while in 1912, three
States enacted compensation laws and one an insurance law; in 1913
seven States were added to the list, in five of which compensation
only was provided for, while in two there is also a system of insurance.
In 1914 compensation laws were enacted in two States, though in
one (Kentucky) the law was declared unconstitutional before the
time for it to take effect. Of the 10 new laws enacted in 1915 (1
taking the place of the unconstitutional statute of Montana), 9 pro
vided for compensation merely, while 1 established an insurance
system. A new compensation law was passed in Kentucky in 1916,
in lieu of the earlier law declared unconstitutional; this and a law of
Porto Rico which requires the insurance of the liabilities fixed by it
are the only new laws of the year, though important amendments
were made in Louisiana and New York. Indeed, practically every
year is marked by amendments whose tendency is in general to
strengthen the laws and enlarge their scope.
The extension of compensation legislation to five additional States
in 1917, one in 1918, four in 1919, besides the inclusion of public
employees of the District of Columbia, one in 1920, and the extension
of compensation to longshoremen in 1927 and to private employment
in the District of Columbia in 1928, marks the present bounds of com
pensation legislation. Of these, two of the laws of 1918, one in 1919,
and the Arizona law of 1925, provide for a State insurance system,
though in only one of them is this system exclusive. The Missouri
enactment of 1919 was rejected by a referendum vote, as was one of
1923. A new enactment (1925) was voted on in November, 1926;
it was adopted, coming into administrative effect November 16, 1926,
and as to compensation payments on January 9, 1927.
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE
101
The table below shows in chronological order the States, etc.,1
that have enacted compensation laws.
T
able
3 .—S T A T E S H A V IN G C O M P E N S A T IO N LA W S, W IT H T H E
E N A C T M E N T A N D C O M IN G IN T O E F F E C T
State
U nited States 1
W ashington__
'K ansas--..........
N e v a d a ..............
N ew Jersey.........
C alifornia--------N ew H am pshire.
W isconsin_____
Illinois_________
O hio___________
M assachusetts. ..
M ichigan---------R hode Islan d ---A rizona________
W est VirginiaO regon________
T exas__________
Iow a_____ _____
N ebraska______
M innesota_____
C onnecticut____
N ew Y ork 2____
M ary lan d ______
Louisiana......... ..
W yom ing______
In d ia n a ________
Approved
M ay 30,1908
M ar. 14,1911
___ do ______
M ar. 24,1911
A pr. 4,1911
A pr. 8,1911
A pr. 15,1911
M ay 3,1911
Ju n e 10,1911
Ju n e 15,1911
Ju ly 28,1911
M ar. 20,1912
A pr. 29,1912
Ju n e 8,1912
Feb. 22,1913
Feb. 25,1913
A pr. 16,1913
A pr. 18,1913
A pr. 21,1913
A pr. 24,1913
M ay 29,1913
Dec. 16,1913
Apr. 16,1914
Ju n e 18,1914
Feb. 27,1915
M ar. 8,1915
State
A pproved
Effective
M o n tan a 2_________
O klahom a_________
V erm ont___________
M aine_____________
C olorado.____ _____
H aw aii____________
A laska____________
Pennsylvania_____ _
K en tu ck y 2________
Porto R ico_________
South D a k o ta --------N ew M exico_______
U ta h ______________
Id ah o ______________
D elaw are__________
V irginia___________
N o rth D ak o ta______
Tennessee_________
D ist. of C olum bia »_.
A labam a__________
Georgia____________
M isso u ri3_________
U nited States:
Longshoremen____
P hilippines________
D ist. of C olum bia__
M ar. 8, 1915
M ar. 22, 1915
Apr.
, 1915
____do__
A pr. 10, 1915
A pr. 28, 1915
A pr. 29, 1915
June 2, 1915
M ar. 23, 1916
A pr. 13, 1916
M ar. 10, 1917
M ar. 13, 1917
M ar. 15, 1917
M ar. 16, 1917
Apr. 2, 1917
M ar. 21, 1918
M ar. 5, 1919
Apr. 15, 1919
July 11, 1919
Aug. 23, 1919
Aug. 17, 1920
A pr. 30, 1925
July
, 1915
Sept. , 1915
July
, 1915
Jan.
, 1916
, 1915
Aug.
Ju ly
, 1915
July 28, 1915
Jan.
, 1916
Aug.
, 1916
Ju ly
, 1916
, 1917
June
June 8, 1917
Ju ly
, 1917
Jan.
, 1918
Do.
Jan.
, 1919
Ju ly
, 1919
Do.
Do.
Jan.
, 1920
M ar.
, 1921
N ov. 16, 1926
M ar. 4, 1927
Dec. 10, 1927
M ay 17, 1928
July
, 1927
June 10, 1928
July
, 1928
Effective
Aug.
Oct.
Jan.
Ju ly
Ju ly
Sept.
Jan.
M ay
M ay
Jan.
Ju ly
Sept.
Oct.
Sept.
Oct.
Ju ly
Sept.
Ju ly
Ju ly
Oct.
Jan.
Ju ly
Nov.
Jan.
Apr.
Sept.
1,1908
1.1911
1.1912
1,1911
1,1912
3.1911
1.1912
1.1912
1.1912
1, 1912
1.1912
1.1912
1.1913
1.1914
1.1913
1.1914
17,1913
1.1913
1.1914
1.1914
1.1914
1.1915
1.1915
1.1915
D A T E O F T H E IR
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 Public employees only.
2 Earlier laws of M ontana (1909), N ew Y ork (1910), and K en tu ck y (1914), were declared unconstitutional.
3 T he law of M issouri was suspended aw aiting th e results of a referendum.
The dates given above are the dates of the actual inception of com
pensation methods in the various jurisdictions. As indicated by the
footnotes, earlier laws were enacted in a few States, but were never
really operative. The existing laws of a number of jurisdictions,
widely differing in some instances from those enacted at the dates
given above, are of more recent enactment; but the operation of a
compensation law has been continuous since the original act became
effective. There are, therefore, at present but five States in the south
eastern portion of the Union that are without compensation laws.2
Efforts have been made, and are continuing, to secure legislation in
some, at least, of these States.
Important fields of legislation lie outside of State control, however,
and Congress has delayed action in areas exclusively within its juris
diction. A group of workers that are dependent on Congress for
relief are those engaged in maritime employments. The longshore
men and harbor workers generally are localized, but for at least a
part of the time are within maritime jurisdiction. Two attempts
have been made to amend the Judicial Code so as to permit the ap
plication of local compensation laws, but the Supreme Court has held
both acts unconstitutional as attempting to remit to the divergent
statutes of the States a subject that requires uniform treatment at
the hands of Congress alone. In the meantime the act of 1915, 1920,
relative to seamen, was passed, but was promptly held not to apply
1In the discussion that follows the word “State” will be used to include all jurisdictions, Territorial
and other.
2N o rth Carolina. South Carolina, Florida, M ississippi, and Arkansas. T h e N o rth C arolina Legislature
passed a com pensation act a t its session in 1929, since th is article was w ritte n .
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
to longshoremen. (The Hoquiam (1918), 253 Fed. 627, 165 C. C. A.
253.) This construction prevailed for a number of years, until a de
cision of the Supreme Court on October 18, 1926, to the effect that
the act of 1920, relating to seamen, is applicable to longshoremen.
(International Stevedoring Co. v. Haverty, 47 Sup. Ct. 19.) This
decision relates to longshoremen only, and not to the very extensive
group of harbor workers, repair men, etc., who are also subject at
times to maritime jurisdiction.
In 1926 a bill to compensate longshoremen and harbor workers
generally was considered by both Houses of Congress, passing the
Senate June 3, 1926. It remained in the hands of the House Judi
ciary Committee until January 14, 1927, when the measure was re
ported out in an amended form. Subsequent amendments were made,
and the bill became a law March 4, 1927, in effect July 1, 1927, as the
exclusive remedy for the classes of maritime workers (crews and mas
ters of vessels being excluded) covered by the act. This act compen
sates occupational diseases as well as accidental injuries, pays 6 6 ^
per cent of wages as benefits (subject to a weekly maximum of $25),
and is administered by deputy commissioners appointed by the
United States Employees’ Compensation Commission, which formu
lates rules for the administration of the act.
In the exercise of its function as legislature for the District of
Columbia, Congress passed an act approved May 17, 1928, and
effective July 1 , 1928, extending the longshoremen’s and harbor
workers’ compensation act to private employments in the District
of Columbia.
Employees in interstate commerce are also dependent on Congress
for remedial legislation, which thus far consists only in a liberaliza
tion of the employers’ liability rule by acts of 1908 and 1910. Origi
nally applicable only to carriers by railroad, an act of 1915, amended
in 1920 (41 Stat. 988, 1007), extends to injured seamen the same
rights and remedies as are granted to railroad employees by these
acts. As above stated, a Federal commission made an extensive
study in 1911-12, of the subject of compensation for injured railroad
employees, reporting a bill which passed both Houses, but with amend
ments that were not agreed upon when the Congress expired. Occa
sional movements for a law have been made since 1912, but no bill
has ever been reported out.
Besides the statutory enactments noted above, there have been con
stitutional provisions made in a number of States, adopted with a
view to the removal or forestalling of objections to compensation
legislation on grounds of constitutionality. Thus the constitution of
Arizona, adopted on the admission of that State into the Union in
1910 (amended 1925), provides specifically for the enactment of a
compensation law. Amendments in favor of such legislation were
adopted in 1911 in California, in 1912 in Ohio (again amended in
1923), in 1913 in New York and Vermont, in 1914 in Wyoming, and
in 1915 in Pennsylvania. In Oklahoma alone, of all the States where
the question has been submitted to the people, was such an amend
ment rejected. This took place on August 1, 1916, the amendment
failing along with eight others submitted at the time. Of this it
has been said that the questions passed upon were rejected as a
whole on account of other facts than the attitude of the public
toward this particular subject.
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE
103
The importance of such amendments to the Constitution as pre
liminary to the enactment of compulsory laws has been greatly dis
counted by reason of decisions of the Supreme Court of the United
States upholding compensation laws of various types and form as
not in conflict with constitutional provisions; so th at in the absence
of specific limitations in the State constitution no bar appears to the
enactment of a compensation law compulsory in form and of general
application. However, in but two States (California and Illinois)
thus far has an original elective law been supplanted by a compulsory
one.
Nature of Laws
The rapid growth of compensation legislation, involving, as it has,
the almost simultaneous enactment of laws in a number of States,
has operated to prevent the adoption of any one form of law as a
type, so that, although a single fundamental principle underlies the
entire group of laws of this class, its expression and application pre
sent great diversity of details in the different States. This extends
not only to the primary factors of the scope of the laws and the
amount of compensation payable under them but also to the m atter
of making the laws compulsory or voluntary in their acceptance, the
securing or not securing the payments of the benefits, the mode of
securing where it is required, methods of administration, of election
or rejection, etc.
No fixed form of analysis or summary presentation can give in
complete detail the provisions of the laws under consideration. They
relate not only to the compensation of accidents but to accident
reporting, safety provisions, the enforcement of safety laws, the
establishment of insurance systems, premium rates, investments, the
scaling down of payments in cases of certain forms of negligence or
their increase under certain conditions, procedure in arbitration, forms
of appeal, and a great variety of subjects on which it would be impos
sible to generalize, and which can be discovered only by a reading of
the individual statutes. The adoption by a few States of laws gener
ally similar can be clearly recognized, but it is obvious th a t at the
present time it can not be said that any one type of law is predomi
nantly approved. However, it seems none the less certain th at the
welfare of both employer and employee, as well as the public interest
generally, would be served by the general adoption of uniform laws,
just and certain in their operations, and not dependent for their
acceptance on the personal views or interests of individuals or groups
of individuals.
I t is encouraging to note in this connection th at though there is
such diversity and a manifest disposition on the part of some admin
istrative and legislative bodies to regard variations as warranted by
local conditions, if not absolutely desirable, there are certain discov
erable tendencies to move in a common direction and thus approach
a common end. In several States amendments have been made at
every session of the legislature since the original enactment. The
following comparison of compensation and insurance systems will
give an idea of the scope, coverage, and effect of these laws.
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Comparison of Compensation and Insurance Systems
A l l t h e States of the Union had workmen’s compensation acts at
the beginning of the year 1929 except five (Arkansas, Florida, Mis
sissippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina). In addition to these
43 State acts, this article covers the four territorial acts (those of
Alaska, Hawaii, Philippines, and Porto Rico), the act for the Dis
trict of Columbia, for longshoremen, and for the United States civil
employees. These 50 acts will be referred to as “ State” acts for
convenience, though they apply to districts, Territories, or subject
matter not within the control of the States.
Insurance of the employer’s liability to pay compensation is recog
nized as an essential feature of the system in most of the States. This
may be effected through private insurance (stock or mutual com
panies), self-insurance (proof of solvency, with or without the giving
of a bond or other security), or by insurance in State funds, which
may be exclusive or competitive.
The following table shows for each compensation State, whether
compensation is compulsory or elective, and the forms of insurance
provided for by the various laws. This table relates only to private
employments; for while public employments are covered in whole
or in part in most States, and compulsorily in some where the law
is elective as to private employments, the subject is of less general
interest and complexity.
T able 4 .—C O M P E N S A T IO N A N D IN S U R A N C E S Y S T E M S
Insurance required in—
State
Com pensation
com pulsory or
elective
State fund: Exclu
sive or com petitive
P rivate companies or
by self-insurance
A labam a ___________________ _ __ - _ E lective_________
A laska____________________________ - . _ d o _______ ___
r Com pulsory 1____ C om petitive . _
A rizona- ___________________ ____ California_____________ __________
___do _____ ______ ___ d o _____ ______
Do.
__ d o ____ _
Colorado
.......................... E lec tiv e ... . . . . . .
Do.
Connecticut ________ ______ ___
- . ___ _do____
Do.
D elaware _ ........
_ __ . . ____ _ __ _ do __ ______
Do.
D istrict of C olum bia___ ____________ . C om pulsory____
Do.
Georgia___________________________ . E lectiv e.— ______
Do.
Com pulsory____
H aw aii__________ _
_ . ________
Do.
Idaho
................. _ ________ . _ _ do_ __ _____ C o m p etitive__
Do.
Illinois___ ______________ _ ________ ____d o ___________
Do.
I n d i a n a ___ _______ . ____ . . . . . _ E lective 2__ _ . .
Do.
Iowa_ - _____________ __________ . ____do ___________
Do.
Kansas _____________ . . _________ __do _____ ______
Do.
K e n tu ck y ___ _ ______ - - - - - _____ ___d o ___ __
Do.
_ d o _____ ___
Louisiana_______ - ____________
Do.
M aine
- _
____
____ ____d o. .
____
Do.
M aryland
_ ____ ____ _ - _____ C om pulsory
C om petitive.
Do.
M a s s a c h u s e t t s . __ _______ ________ Elective . _ _____
P rivate companies.
M ichigan . _______ _ _ _________ ___ d o _____ ___ _ C om petitive. _
M innesota . . . . . . . . . . . . _______ _ __ do______
Do.
M issouri __
___ do____
Do.
M o n t a n a . __ __ _ ________________ . __ do___________ C om petitive.
Do.
N ebraska_____ ________________ ____ ___ d o ____ ______
Do.
_ _ do_______
N evada __ _________
E xclusive. _
Self-insurance.
N ew H am pshire
___
____ _ _ d o ___ _ ___
N ew Jersey_________________ ________ __ do _ __ _
Either.
N ew M exico...
__________________
do
.. _ __
Do.
N ew Y o r k ___ . . _________________ Com pulsory . . . __ C om petitive
Do.
N orth D ak o ta_______________________ __ d o ____ _
E x clu siv e..
Ohio................................................................. ____d o ___
___ ____d o ......... ......... ... Self-insurance.3
1 As to employers.
2 Com pulsory as to coal mining.
3 Em ployers accepting th e act m u st furnish proof of solvency or give bond; no other provision as to
insurance.
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T
able
4 .—C O M P E N S A T IO N A N D IN S U R A N C E S Y S T E M S —C ontinued
_.....- s ig ia .
IEEE
Insurance required in—
State
Com pensation
compulsory or
elective
O klahoma
Oregon
_ _
_____
Pennsylvania _
_ _ _______
Philippine Islands
P orto Rico__ _ _
_ ___
R hode Isla n d .. _ _ _
_____________
South D akota
Tennessee _
Texas_____ _
_ _ _ _
U tah
V erm ont
V irginia.
_ _________________
W ashington
W est Virginia
W isconsin __
W yom ing
U nited States longshoremen’s a ct...........
C o m p u lso ry_____
Elective_________
_ _ d o ____ ____ _
C om pulsory____
_ __ do .............
Elective................. .
_ do____ _____ _
do___________
__ . d o ___ ______
C om pulsory____
E l e c tiv e ...______
___d o ____ _____
C om pulsory. __
Elective_____ ___
__ _ d o __ __
C o m p u lso ry ..
........ do_
~ ___
3 E m ployers accepting
insurance.
* Coal m ining only.
S tate fund: Exclu
sive or com petitive
P rivate companies or
b y self-insurance
E ither.
Exclusive............ .
C om petitive...........
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
C om petitive * ___
P riv ate companies.
C o m p etitive_____ E ither.
Do.
Do.
E x clu siv e..
___ d o . ___
Self-insurance.8
E ither.
Exclusive. _____!
C o m p etitive_____
Do.
the act must furnish proof of solvency or give bond; ho other provision as to
Of the 49 compensation acts listed in Table 4 (the United States
civil employees’ act is not listed), 17 are compulsory and 32 are
elective. A State fund insurance system exists in 19 of the States
listed (the Tennessee fund is limited to coal mining only). Of the
19 States having State fund insurance systems, 7 are exclusive, whereas
in 12 the State fund competes with private insurance companies.
The somewhat anomalous provisions of the Idaho statute seem to
contemplate an exclusive State fund, but with an option for selfinsurance and the deposit of a surety bond or guaranty contract as
one means of satisfying the industrial accident _board as to the
security of payments. The reports of the board indicate, however,
that the system is competitive in practice, and that approved private
companies are admitted to do business in the State.
A sort of State mutual system, supervised by the State but man
aged by the employers, is provided for in three States (Kentucky,
Massachusetts, and Texas), but these are in effect only private
competing organizations.
Scope or Coverage
No law undertakes to cover all employments. ^ Various exemptions
are made, the most important numerically being the exclusion of
agriculture and domestic service. Interstate commerce is exempt
because it is subject to the exclusive action of Congress, though its
law creates liability and does not provide compensation. Laws that
apply only to “ hazardous” or “ extrahazardous” employments ex
clude others, thereby distinguished as “ nonhazardous.” Casual em
ployments are usually exempted, and those not for gain frequently.
Hazardous employments.—States whose laws apply only to haz
ardous employment are 12 in number—Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana,
Maryland, Missouri (when there are less than 10 employees), Mon
tana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon,, Washington,
and Wyoming. Enumeration is made in the laws, but it is not com
plete in several, a blanket clause being used in some, while in others
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the commission or board may make additions. The principal in
dustrial employments, with the exception of interstate transporta
tion, are uniformly included in these lists.
Numerical exemptions.—Employers of less than a stipulated num
ber of employees are exempt from the operation of the laws of 23
States. Voluntary acceptance is generally provided for, as is the
case in regard to employments not classed as hazardous. The follow
ing table shows the list of States in which the number of employees
determines coverage:
TABLE 5 .—S T A T E S M A K IN G N U M E R IC A L E X E M P T IO N S , BY M IN IM U M
M ENTS
R E Q U IR E .
Em ployers are exem pt who have less th a n —
2 em ploy
ees
3 em ploy
ees
Oklahoma.
Arizona.
K entucky.
Ohio.
Texas.
U tah.
W isconsin.
4 employees
5 employees
Colorado.
Alaska.
N ew Mexico. C onnecticut.
N ew Y ork.1 Delaware.
Kansas.
N ew H am p
shire.
Tennessee.
6 employees
10 em
ployees
M aine.
R hode Is
land.
Georgia.
11 em
ployees
16 em
ployees
Vermont.
Virginia.
M issouri.
Alabam a.
i N um erical exem ption applies only in case of nonhazardous em ploym ents.
Agriculture and domestic service.—The exclusion of agriculture is
universal among the compensation laws of the United States except
in Hawaii and New Jersey; and of domestic service except in New
Jersey. In California employers and employees engaged in farm
work are presumed to have accepted the act unless either rejects
the act prior to an injury. Voluntary acceptance of the laws in these
occupations is quite generally provided for, though in some cases it
appears that their exclusion is intended to be absolute. Threshinggrain, etc., is specifically included in Kentucky, Minnesota, and
South Dakota (by a separate act).
Public employment.—Employees in the service of the State and its
subdivisions and municipalities are included generally in 30 States;
in several of these the inclusion is compulsory where the law is elec
tive as to private undertakings. The jurisdictions are: Arizona (if
receiving not over $2,400), California, Colorado, Connecticut, District
of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho (if receiving not over $2,400), Illinois,
Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Jersey (if receiving not over $1,200), New York, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Philippine Islands, Porto Rico, Rhode
Island, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and
the United States.
In 14 States there is a partial inclusion of public employees (Ala
bama, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont,
Washington, and Wyoming).
Public employees are excluded in five States (Alaska, Missouri,
New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Texas), though in Missouri and
Tennessee the law authorizes an affirmative acceptance of its pro
visions by the State, its counties, and municipal corporations.
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE
Other exclusions.—Employees whose employment is but casual and
(sometimes “ or”) not in the usual course of the employer’s trade or
business are quite generally excluded, while outworkers are men
tioned in a few laws. Exclusion of employees receiving above a
designated wage or salary is provided in a few States, as follows:
Hawaii ($36 per week), Missouri ($3,600 per year), North Dakota
(executive officers receiving more than $2,400 per year), Philippines
(121 per week), Rhode Island ($3,000 per year), and Vermont ($2,000
per year).
The abrogation of the common-law defenses in suits against non
electing employers does not apply to logging operations^ under the
law of Maine. Clerical and other occupations not subject to the
hazards of the employment are excluded in a few States.
Occupational Diseases
Few laws as originally enacted made specific provision for com
pensating occupational diseases. The dominant idea of accident has
given way by degrees, however, until at the present time compen
sation, either for occupational diseases generally or for designated
diseases of this class, is allowed under 17 of the 50 laws analyzed.
The Federal civil employees’ compensation act and that of North
Dakota include under the term “ injury” any “ disease proximately
caused by the employment,” while that of California compensates
for “ any injury or disease arising out of the employment.” The
other laws are generally more restrictive in their terms. The States
recognizing occupational diseases as entitled to compensation are
California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois (in
certain employments by separate act), Massachusetts (by court
decision), Minnesota (list), New Jersey (list). New York (list),
North Dakota, Ohio (list), Porto Rico (list), Philippines, Wisconsin,
and the United States under the Federal employees’ compensa
tion act and the longshoremen’s act. The law of Kentucky also,
by recent amendment, includes “ injuries or death due to the inhala
tion in mines of noxious gases or smoke, commonly known as ‘bad
air,’ and also shall include the injuries or death due to the inhalation
of any kind of gas.”
Election
,
In 22 of the 32 elective States, election is presumed in the absence
of active rejection, this presumption affecting both employer and
employee. In 10 States the employer must take positive action, but
if he acts the employee’s acceptance is presumed, except^ in Ken
tucky, where he must sign an acceptance. In 7 of these (Kentucky,
Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode
Island) acceptances are filed with designated State authorities, while
in the other 3 (Massachusetts, Texas, and West Virginia) the act of
insuring signifies election.
Inducement to election is offered by the abrogation of the commonlaw defenses where the employer rejects the law and by continuing
them in effect where a rejecting employee sues an employer who has
accepted it. Exceptions to this are the laws of New Jersey and
41195°—29----- 8
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Pennsylvania, which abrogate the defenses absolutely, without regard
to the acceptance or rejection of the act.
Suits for Damages
Actions for damages are generally forbidden where both parties
have accepted the act, but in New Hampshire (an elective State)
the employee may, after his injury, choose which remedy he will
pursue. Where under an elective law the employer has accepted the
act, a rejecting employee may sue, but the employer retains the com
mon-law defenses, except in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Upon
failure of an employer to provide the insurance required by the act
or his default in premiums, the employee may, in 28 States,3 bring
action for damages with the common-law defenses removed. Suit
may be brought also in 9 States 4 if there is “ intent” or “ deliberate
intent” on the part of the employer to injure, or if the injury is due
to his gross negligence or willful misconduct. No suits are permitted
in 16 States.5
Waiting Time
Most laws require a minimum duration of disability as a condi
tion to the payment of compensation benefits. This does not
apply to medical and hospital relief, which is to be provided at
once. Two States require no waiting time. Conflicting provisions
of the South Dakota statute call for 10 days’ waiting time on the one
hand, and for compensation from date of injury on certification of
disability on the other. In practice the latter provision is said to
prevail.
In several States the waiting time is compensated for if the dis
ability continues for a specified term; or a part may be taken up in
each of certain consecutive weeks until all is compensated for.
The following table shows the waiting time required in each State;
also the number of weeks of disability required for the payment of
compensation from date of injury, shown in the figure in parentheses
following the name of the State. A waiting period of one week is
the most common, being provided for by the laws of 35 States.
3 Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, D istrict of Colum bia, Indiana, Iowa, K entucky, M ary
land, M ichigan, M ontana, N ebraska, N evada, N ew Y ork, N o rth D akota, Ohio, O klahoma, Oregon,
P ennsylvania, Porto Rico, R hode Island, S outh D akota, Tennessee, U tah, W ashington, W est Virginia,
W yom ing, U nited States (longshoremen’s act).
4 Arizona, K entucky, M aryland, Oregon, P orto Rico, Texas, U tah, W ashington, a nd W est Virginia.
6
A labam a, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, K ansas, Louisiana, M aine, M assachusetts, M inne
sota, N ew Jersey, N ew Mexico, V erm ont, Virginia, and W isconsin.
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T
able
6 .— W
N o w aiting
tim e
Oregon.
South
D a k o ta.1
109
A IT IN G T I M E R E Q U IR E D B Y E A C H S T A T E , A N D T E R M R E Q U IR E D F O R
FU LL PA Y M EN T
3 days *
M aryland.
M issouri (4).
U tah.
W ashington.
U nited States:
Civil em ploy
ees.
1 week
5 days
Oklahoma.
10 days
Colorado.
A laska (8).
N ew Mexico.
A rizona (2).
Virginia (6).
California.
C onnecticut (4).
D istrict of C olum bia (7).
Georgia.
H aw aii.2
Id aho.8
Illinois (4).
Indiana.
Kansas.
K entucky.
Louisiana (6).
M aine.
M assachusetts (4).
M ichigan (6).
M innesota (4).
N ebraska (6).
N evada (1).
N ew H am pshire (1).
N ew Jersey (7).
N ew Y ork (7).
N o rth D akota (1).
Ohio.
Pennsylvania.
Philippine Islands.
Porto Rico.
R hode Island (4).
Tennessee (6).
Texas (4).
V ermont.
W est Virginia.
Wisconsin (3).
W yom ing (3).
U nited States: Long
shoremen (7).
2 weeks
A labam a (4).
D elaw are (4).
Iow a.4
M o n tan a (6).
1 B y ad m inistrative construction of conflicting provisions.
2 From first d ay of disability in case of partial disability, b u t no adjudication u n til after 2 weeks.
,3 O ne-third tak en u p in each of fifth, sixth, and seventh weeks of disability.
.
4 From date of injury in case of perm anent p artial disability; in other cases, one-third is taken u p
each of fifth, sixth, and seventh weeks of disability.
in
Compensation Scale
The amounts actually payable under the acts are determined by
three factors—the rate (usually a percentage of the wages), term, and
(in most States) a fixed maximum weekly or total payment, or both.
Per cent of wages.—In all but two States (Washington and Wyo
ming) the amount of compensation is based upon wages. A few
States, however, provide fixed lump sums or pensions for certain
injuries, but apply the percentage system to all others. In most of
the States the prescribed percentage remains uniform for all injuries.
A few States have varying percentages for different types of injuries,
and in several the percentage varies with conjugal condition and
number of children.
Using as a basis the rates for temporary total disability, it appears
that 50 per cent of the employees’ wages is allowed in compensation
in 15 States [Alabama (60 per cent if two or more children), Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois (65 per cent if three or more
children), Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon (40 to
66% per cent, according to number of dependents), Porto Rico,
Rhode Island^ Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia]; 55 per cent in 3
States [Idaho (increased 5 per cent for each child, total payments
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not over $16 weekly), Indiana, and South Dakota]; 60 per cent in 7
States (Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Nevada, Philippine Islands, Texas,
and Utah); 65 per cent in 7 States (Alaska, Arizona, California, Ken
tucky, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin); and 66% per cent
in 16 States (District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and the Federal
statutes for civil employees and for longshoremen).
Maximum term and amount.—It is obvious that the reduction of a
workman’s income by one-half or even by one-third, the most liberal
percentage provision, leaves a large proportion of his loss uncom
pensated. But the burden on the employer is restricted further (and
transferred necessarily to the injured employee and his family), since
the term of payment is not fixed by the period of disability in most
States, but by an arbitrary maximum ; death benefits likewise rarely
continue for the period of their probable need.
The table following shows for the various States the maximum
period and amount of benefits in case of death, permanent total dis
ability, and partial disability. The limitations are in many cases
more restrictive for temporary total disability than for permanent
total disability, though, where the latter is compensated for life,
the former is as a rule compensated during its continuance. In a
few cases the rates for temporary disability are higher than for
permanent disability. The provisions as to partial disability here
reproduced are distinct from those contained in the schedules found
in most laws.
T
7 —M A X IM U M P E R IO D S A N D M A X IM U M A M O U N T S O P C O M P E N S A T IO N PA Y
A B L E IN CA SE O F D E A T H , P E R M A N E N T T O T A L D IS A B IL IT Y , A N D P A R T IA L
D IS A B IL IT Y
able
D eath
Perm anent total
disability
P artial disability
Weeks
A m ount
Weeks
550
$5,000
9,000
State
Weeks
A m ount
A labam a__________________
A laska. _________ ____
A rizona________ _____ _
California_____________
C olorado............ ...... .............
$5, 000
9.000
D eath or remarriage.
5.000
3, 750
312
Life.
Life.
Life.
C onnecticut______________
D elaw are. . _____________
D istrict of C o lu m b ia ............
Georgia....................... ...........
H aw aii____ ____________
312
2 285
D eath or rem arriage.3
300
5.000
312
5.000
520
475
Life.
350
312
300
Id a h o . _________ ____ ___
Illin o is __________ ______
In d ia n a _______________
Iowa _ ....................... .........
K ansas_________________ . . .
400
K e n tu c k y ................
.
L ouisiana________________
M aine . . ____________
335"
300
300
416
500
M a ry la n d
__________ _______
M a s s a c h u s e tts ____ _____ _
300
300
4, 550
5,000
4.000
4.000
4.000
5 .0 0 0
6 ,4 0 0
! F o r l if e i f 70 p e r c e n t o r m o r e d i s a b l e d .
s T o o r p h a n s o r a b a n d o n e d c h i l d r e n , u n d e r 16.
3 M a x i m u m , $7, 500.
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Life.
Life.
500
400
416
416
400
500
Life.
500
A m ount
300
$7,200
D uring disability.
1 240
D uring disability.
5,000
3,120
4.000
7,500
5.000
5.000
520
285
D uring disability.
300
312
7,500
5,000
150
416
300
225
415
6 ,0 0 0
6 ,0 0 0
5,000
4, 500
335
300
300
D uring disability.
5,000
4 ,0 0 0
3,750
4,500
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE
T
7.—M A X IM U M P E R IO D S A N D M A X IM U M A M O U N T S O F C O M P E N S A T IO N P A Y
A B L E IN C A SE OF D E A T H , P E R M A N E N T T O T A L D IS A B IL IT Y , A N D P A R T IA L
D IS A B IL IT Y —-C ontinued
able
D eath
P erm anent total
disability
P a rtial disability
Weeks A m ount
Weeks
State
Weeks
A m ount
300
M ichigan _________________
M inneso ta__________________ D eath or rem arriage.3
300
M issouri __________________
400
M o n tan a __________________
350
N e b ra sk a ________________ _
D
eath
or remarriage.
N e v ad a ..........................................
500
Life.
4 300
500
Life.
Life.
N ew H am pshire _ ___ _____
N ew Jersey________ . . _____
N ew M exico--- __________
N ew Y ork __ __ __ .
N o rth D ak o ta______________
300
400
520
Life.
Life.
$3,000
3 300
300
D eath or remarriage.9
416
6. 500
Ohio . __________________ Oklahom a ____ __________ N o t covered.
D
eath
or
remarriage.
Oregon - ___________ . _
P e n n sy lv a n ia .. - . _________
3 300
Philippine Isla n d s__________
1,500
208
Porto Rico
_______________
R hode Island ______________
South D a k o t a . . . ___________
Tennessee__________________
Texas____________ _______ _
Life.
500
Life.
500
208
3,000
300
3,000
500
Life.
550
401
U tah
. . _____ __________
312
5,000
V erm ont . __ __________ .
200
3, 500
V irginia____ _____________
300
4. 500
W ashington
______ D eath or remarriage.
W est V irginia_______________ D eath or rem arriase.
Life.
260
500
Life.
Life.
W isconsin
. . .
. 5,600
W yom ing.._ ______________
5,600
U nited States:
Civil employees _____
D eath or remarriage.
Longshorem en___ _____ D eath or rem arriage.3
1, 000
400
360
3 M axim um , $7, 500.
4 T hen 25 per cent of annual earnings for life.
$9, 000
10, 000
500
300
100
150
300
260
300
500
150
15, 000
D uring disability.
6, 500
1,500
D uring disability.
300
104
300
208
3,000
5, 000
3,000
5 000
,
4.000
4,500
300
312
300
300
312
260
300
340
8,000
Life.
Life.
A m ount
7,500
$4 000
4,680
3,750
1,500
2,000
5,000
3,000
D uring disability.
1,500
D uring disability.
D uring disability.
7,500
3 To m inor dependents under 16.
6 M axim um , $15, 000.
There is quite apparent a tendency to recognize the greater eco
nomic loss in case of a permanent total disability than in case of
death. Death benefits continue under 11 laws 6 for life or until re
marriage, while under 21 acts 7 life benefits are paid for permanent
total disability. The significance of the latter provision is qualified
in a few States by the limitation on the total amount payable, as
S3,000 in South Dakota, and $5,000 in Maryland. The District of
Columbia and the longshoremen’s act have a maximum of $7,500.
The $10,000 fixed in Minnesota would be exhausted in 500 weeks at
the maximum allowed rate of $20 per week. A comparative liberality
in term of payment is affected by the maximum amount payable.
Except in two States,8 death benefits are a percentage of the em
ployees’ wages; in six there is the requirement that the total shall
not exceed three or four years’ earnings.9 Minimum periods are 208
weeks (Philippines), 260 weeks (Vermont), and 285 weeks (Delaware).
6 Arizona, D istrict of C olum bia, M innesota, N evada, N ew Y ork, N o rth D akota, Oregon, W ashington,
W est Virginia, U nited States (civil employees’ and longshorem en’s acts).
7 Arizona, California, Colorado, D istrict of Colum bia, Idaho, Illinois, M aryland, M innesota, M issouri,
N ebraska, N evada, N ew Y ork, N o rth D akota, Ohio, Oregon, South D akota, U tah, W ashington, W est
Virginia, U nited States (civil employees’ and longshoremen’s acts).
8 A laska and W yoming. See also W ashington.
6 Three years in California, K ansas, N ew H am pshire; four years in Illinois, South D akota, W isconsin.
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Thirteen States 10 pay for 300 weeks, seven 11 for from 312 to 360
weeks, and six 12 from 400 to 500 weeks. In Delaware, New Jersey,
and Pennsylvania payments to certain minors continue to the age of
16, regardless of the expiration of the period fixed.
Weekly maximum and minimum.-—Another leveling feature of
most laws is the establishment of a weekly maximum and minimum.
The former may prevent the higher paid employee from securing the
full proportion of his earnings that the percentage provision would
indicate, while the minimum named is often affected by the quali
fication that if the wages received are less than such minimum the
amount of the actual wages shall be paid as a benefit. The result
of the various restrictions has been computed as placing upon the
injured worker about 50 per cent of the burden of industrial acci
dents in the most favorable States and from 65 to 80 per cent in
those less favorable.
In most cases the actual maximum and minimum payments are
named, but in a few it is the basic wage that is noted, payments
being computable therefrom. No maximum or minimum provision
is fixed in two States (Alaska and Arizona). Fixed amounts depend
ing on the number of dependents are payable in Washington. Under
the provisions for temporary total disability the Philippines have a
maximum of $9 a week. Three States 13 have a maximum of $12,
twelve 14 of $15, fiv e 15 of $16, one 16 of $16.50, six 17 of $18, while
fifteen 18 permit amounts above $18 per week. Monthly maximums
are prescribed in Nevada ($72), Oregon ($97), Wyoming ($90), and
by the Federal civil employees’ law ($116.66).
Partial disability.-—Temporary partial disability is usually com
pensated for by the payment of a fixed percentage of the wage loss,
the term and amount, both weekly and total, being limited. The
term and maximum amount fixed by the various statutes are pre
sented in the table on page 110.
Permanent partial disabilities are dealt with in two ways—one by
paying a percentage of the wage loss, the other by payments for fixed
periods for specified injuries. The two methods exist side by side in
most States, all the laws but that of New Hampshire and the Federal
civil employees’ statute having schedules of greater or less fullness,
while injuries not included therein are compensated on a percentage
basis. In all but three States the schedule payments are weekly
amounts based on wages; while in these three (Alaska, Washington,
and Wyoming) the payments are fixed sums. In Wisconsin weekly
periods are fixed only for ‘‘lesser permanent partial” injuries, major
injuries being compensated on the basis of percentage of permanent
total disability.
10 A labam a, Georgia, In diana, Iowa, Louisiana, M aine, M ichigan, M issouri, New Jersey, N ew
Mexico, Pennsylvania, R hode Island, and Virginia.
11 Colorado, Connecticut, H aw aii, a n d U tah, 312 weeks; K entucky, 335; N ebraska, 350; Texas, 360.
13 Idaho, M ontana, Tennessee, 400 weeks; M ary lan d and Ohio, 416; M assachusetts, 500.
13 Colorado, N ew Mexico, Virginia.
14 A labam a, Delaw are, Georgia, Iowa, K entucky, M ontana, N ebraska, N ew H am pshire, Pennsylvania,
P orto Rico, South D akota, and V erm ont.
46 Idaho, R hode Island, Tennessee, U tah , W est Virginia,
i®Indiana.
47 K ansas, M aine, M aryland, M assachusetts, M ichigan, and Oklahoma.
18
Ohio, $18.75; Illinois, $19; W isconsin, $19.50; H aw aii, Louisiana, M innesota, M issouri, N ew Jersey,
N o rth D akota, a n d Texas, $20; California, $20.83; Connecticut, $21; N ew Y ork, the D istrict of Columbia,
a nd th e longshoremen’s act, $25.
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113
Schedule provisions may provide for payments in addition to the
period of total disability (healing period) or they may cover the
entire allowance for the injury other than medical aid. Such pay
ments are exclusive in 22 States,19 and are in addition to the healing
period in 25.20 In Massachusetts compensation is paid for the term
of total disability, and also for partial disability after the schedule
period; the same is true in Rhode Island, subject to a maximum term
of 300 weeks. In Maine the schedule payment is in lieu of temporary
total disability payments, but subsequent partial disability is compen
sated to extend not more than 300 weeks from the date of the injury.
In N ew York and under the District of Columbia act and the long
shoremen’s act the schedule payments are normally in lieu of all other
payments, but if the period of temporary total disability is pro
tracted beyond designated periods the schedule period is extended
correspondingly. In Georgia a uniform period of 10 weeks is allowed
as healing time.
The following table shows the number of weeks’ payments pro
vided by the laws of the several States for the injuries specified:
T
able
8 —N U M B E R OF W E E K S F O R W H IC H C O M P E N S A T IO N IS P A Y A B L E
S P E C IF IE D IN J U R IE S IN T H E S E V E R A L S T A T E S
FO R
Loss of—
State
Arm
(at
shoul H an d T h u m b
der)
A la.a
200
A riz.6 . . . . 260
c 246
Calif “
Colo.6. . . 208
C onn.6___
208
150
217
c 186
104
175
Sight H ear
L it
In M id
tle Leg (at Foot G reat O ther of
ing,
dex dle Ring
1
1
toe
toe
fin
hip)
fin fin fin
ger
ear
eye
ger
ger ger
60 35
65 39
c 42 c34
35 18
60 38
30
30
c 25
13
30
20
22
“25
25
15
17
c 16
9
20
175 125
217 179
6 206 6166
208 104
208 156
30
30
6 34
18
38
10
11
4
13
100
108
c 125
104
156
H ear
ing,
both
ears
87
150
260
35
52
139
156
52
60
35
200
150
312
115
D el.“
D . C .L . . .
G a.6
H a w a ii6__
Id a h o 6. . . .
194
312
200
312
200
158
244
150
244
150
60
75
60
60
30
35
46
35
46
20
30
30
30
30
15
20
25
20
25
12
15
15
15
15
9
194
288
175
288
180
135
205
125
205
125
30
38
30
38
15
10
16
10
16
6
113
160
100
128
100
111.6
In d .“
Io w a “. . . .
K ans.“
K y .a
225
250
225
210
200
170
200
150
150
150
70
60
40
60
60
40
40
30
37
45
35
35
25
30
30
25
30
20
20
20
20
20
15
15
15*
190
200
200
200
200
135
150
125
125
125
35
60
25
30
30
12
20
15
10
10
120
150
100
110
100
50
25
100
150
100
L a.“
M e./
M d .6_____
M ass. 0
M ich “____
200
150
200
50
200
150
125
150
h 50
150
50
50
50
12
60
30
30
30
12
35
20
25
25
12
30
20
18
20
12
20
20
15
15
12
15
175
150
175
50
175
125
125
150
50
125
20
25
25
12
30
10
10
10
12
10
100
100
100
50
100
50
100
_
° Paym ents u n d er this schedule are exclusive of or in lieu of all other paym ents.
6 Paym ents un d er this schedule are in addition to paym ents for tem porary total disability during the
healing period.
c Com pensation varies w ith occupation and age. Figures given are for laborer, 45 years of age.
d In lieu of other paym ents unless period of tem porary total disability exceeds fixed periods for each class
of injury.
• Paym ents u n d er this schedule are in addition to paym ents for tem porary total disability during the
healing period. 99 per cent of specific schedule to be paid employee. E m ployer m ust p ay 2 per cent
additional to specific in d em n ity fund.
/ P ay m en ts cover to ta l disability. P artial disability based u pon wage loss m ay be com pensated a t end
of periods given for no t over 300 weeks in all.
o
Paym ents u nder this schedule are in add itio n to paym ents for tem porary total and perm anent partial
disability.
h R ight h a n d 75 weeks.
19 A labam a, Alaska, California, D elaware, D istrict of Colum bia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, K entucky,
Louisiana, M ichigan, M issouri, M ontana, N ew Y ork, Oklahoma, P ennsylvania, Philippines, Tennessee,
Texas, W est Virginia, W isconsin, U nited States (longshoremen’s act).
20 Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, H aw aii, Idaho, Illinois, M aryland, M assachusetts, M inne
sota, N ebraska, N evada, N ew Jersey, N ew Mexico, N o rth D akota, Ohio, Oregon, Porto Rico, R hode
Island, S outh D akota, U tah , V erm ont, Virginia, W ashington, and W yom ing.
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T
able
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
8 .— N U M B ER
OF W E E K S F O R W H IC H C O M P E N S A T IO N IS P A Y A B L E
S P E C IF IE D IN J U R IE S IN T H E S E V E R A L S T A T E S —C ontinued
FO R
Loss of—
S tate
Arm
(at
shoul H an d
der)
Thum b
In M id
L it
Sight H ear
dex dle Ring
tle Leg (at Foot G reat O ther of
ing,
fin
fin fin fin
1
toe
toe
1
hip)
ger ger ger ger
eye
ear
M in n .6____
M o .'______
M o n t.“____
N ebr.6____
N e v J _____
200
232
200
225
260
175
175
150
175
217
60
60
30
60
65
35
45
20
35
39
30
35
15
30
30
20
35
12
20
22
N . J.*_____
N . M ex.6. . _
N . Y .d____
N . D a k .6- . .
O hio6. . . _-
230
150
312
234
200
175
110
244
195
150
65
30
75
45
60
40
20
46
2914
35
30
15
30
24=4
30
20
10
25
Okla.°____
Oreg.6. . . -.
P a.“
P. I.“_____
R. 1.» ___
250
416
215
208
100
200
329
175
160
80
60
104
60
40
25
35
69
35
30
18
S. D a k .6.
T en n .“ _ .
Tex.“ ._
U ta h 6.... .
V t.6______
200
200
200
200
170
200
150
150
150
150
140
1.50
50
60
60
30
40
60
W . V a.“ . .
W is.“ ____
240
200
U . S.*_____
312
244
15
22
9
15
17
H ear
ing,
both
ears
200
207
200
215
217
150
150
125
150
173
30
40
15
30
30
10
14
6
10
11
100
118
100
125
108
52
44
50
87
156
168
120
100
260
15
12
15
1534 131-1
20
15
175
140
288
234
175
125
100
205
136]^
125
30
15
38
19V2
30
10
8
16
7V?,
10
100
100
160
100
100
40
35
60
2934
160
135
150
156
30
39
30
25
13
20
35
20
20
10
15
26
15
10
9
175
381
215
190
100
150
277
150
130
70
30
43
10
17
25
10
5
100
173
125
84
80
35
35
45
20
25
35
30
30
30
15
20
30
20
20
21
12
15
20
15
15
15
9
10
15
160
175
200
180
170
175
125
125
125
125
120
125
30
30
30
15
20
30
10
10
10
6
10
8
100
100
100
100
100
100
80
40
35
28
25
20
15
20
16
240
140
40
25
16
8
132
75
46
30
25
15
288
205
38
16
160
156
416
40
208
150
150
43
50
170
52
200
o P a y m e n ts u n d e r th is schedule are exclusive of or in lieu of all oth er paym ents.
*>P ay m en ts u n d e r th is schedule are in ad d itio n to p ay m en ts for tem porary to ta l d isability during the
healing period.
d In lieu of other p ay m en ts unless period of tem p o rary to tal disability exceeds fixed periods for each class
of in ju ry .
o P aym en ts u n d er th is schedule are in a d d itio n to p aym ents for tem porary total and perm anent partial
disability.
• Longshoremen. In lieu of other p ay m en ts unless period of tem p orary to ta l disability exceeds fixed
period for each class af injury.
Medical Benefits
All compensation States now provide medical benefits. Under 13
laws 21 neither time nor amount is limited. The period is without
limit in 8 other States which limit the amount, while the time but
not the amount is limited in 11 States. However, time or amount
or both may be increased in the discretion of the commission in 20
States, so that there are but 8 States22 in which both items are abso
lutely restricted.
The provision is generally without cost to the workman, but in
Alaska the employer may deduct $2.50 per month, in Arizona and
Nevada, one-half the cost, not over $1 per month, and in Washing
ton one-half the cost, from the employee’s wages to maintain a
medical fund.
21 California, Connecticut, D istrict of Colum bia, Hawaii, Idaho, N ebraska, N ew Y ork, N o rth D akota,
P orto Rico, Philippines, W ashington, a n d U nited States (civil employees’ and longshoremen’s acts.)
22 A labam a, Colorado, M o ntana, N ew Mexico, R hode Island, South D akota, Tennessee, and V erm ont.
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115
The following table presents the facts in more detail:
T
able
9 .—M A X IM U M
State
P E R IO D S A N D A M O U N T S O P M E D IC A L
V A R IO U S C O M P E N S A T IO N LA W S
M axim um
am ount
M axim um
period
State
an da vs
1 year _______
__
90 days 1
XJnlim ited
RD days
Unlim ited
30 days 1
$100
2 U nlim ited.
2 U nlim ited.
U n lim ited .
30 days 1
U n lim ite d ___
d o ______
8 weeks 1 ____
30 days L ___
4 weeks. ___
TCa u s a s
6 0 d ay s. ____
Iapntnpky
9 0 days L . __
U n lim ite d __
T ìO O ÌR ÌA H A
30 days 1
M a ìt ip
U n lim ite d __
NTqryl Antl
2 weeks i _
NTacaulinsp.tts
90 days.
NTiu h i ga ti
M innesota
do .1 ____
60 days L ___
M issouri
6 m on th s_____
M ontana
N eb rask a. . ____ U n lim ite d ___
U nlim ited.
Al aTiatii A
Alaska
Ari 7,OT1 A
P ali forni a
Poi or rdo
P onti *1 ut ioni,
T)pl AWRrp.
hi a
G eorgia----------------H awaii
t(ialiti
Illinois
Tp il iA0 A
U nlim ited.
200
U nlim ited.
1 100
100
U nlim ited.
U nlim ited.
i 200
U nlim ited.
1 100
1 100
i 100
250
1 100
500
U nlim ited.
U nlim ited.
U nlim ited.
250
500
U nlim ited.
N evada
_______
N ew H am pshire___
N ew T ersey_______
N ew le x ic o _____
N ew Y ork_______
N o rth D ak o ta_____
O hio.
_____
Oklahoma
O regon_________ _
Pennsylvania___
P hilippines_______
Porto Rico _____
Rhode Islan d _____
South D a k o ta _____
Tennessee. ........ .
Texas. ---------------U ta h _____ ____ _
V erm o n t. .......... .
V irginia__________
W ashington _____
W est V ir g in i a .___
Wisconsin _______
W yoming .............
U nited States:
Civil employees
Longshorem en..
S E R V IC E
M axim um
period
6 m onths 1 -----
UNDER
M axim um
am ount
2 U nlim ited.
14 days______
U n lim ite d __
10 d a y s._____
U n lim ite d __
___do_ ____
____do_ ____
GO days 1
U nlim ited .
30 d a y s _____
U nlim ited.
___do_ _____
8 w eeks. _ ___
12 w eek s.. . . .
3 0 d a y s _____
4 w e ek s1.
U n lim ite d . . _
2 w eeks__ . . .
6 0 days______
U n lim ite d 2 .
____do_ ____
90 days 1 _____
U n lim ite d .. .
U nlim ited.
____ do...............
........ d o ..... .........
U nlim ited.
U nlim ited.
1 $100
150
U nlim ited.
U nlim ited.
1
1
1
1
200
100
250
100
U nlim ited.
U nlim ited.
150
200
100
U nlim ited.
1 500
3 50
U nlim ited.
U nlim ited.
800
U nlim ited.
300
1 A dditional service in special cases or a t discretion of commission.
2 Em ployees contribute.
2 Also hospital first 30 days, m axim um , $150.
Administration and Settlement of Claim
The desirability of an administrative agency charged specifically
with the supervision of the compensation laws is recognized by all
but seven States23 having such laws. In these States the agree
ments between the parties may be without supervision, or there may
be provision for approval by the court. Summary procedure is
generally directed, but a jury trial may be demanded in certain cases.
Appeals to courts, usually limited to questions of law, are provided
for in practically all jurisdictions.
Accident Reporting and Prevention
Nothing is more striking in connection with the subject of accident
reporting than its lack of uniformity. The importance of complete
reports, showing causes, nature, severity, and costs has been too little
recognized, even among those charged with the administration of the
laws; while the employer has been too prone to minimize or disregard
the occurrence of accidents except as an unfortunate incident and a
possible source of an action for damages. The necessity of securing
complete data for purposes of safety engineering, as well as for the
determination of fair and adequate insurance rates is, however, gain
ing recognition, but much yet remains to be done before actually
comparable reports from the various States are available.
23
A labam a (lim ited supervision b y com pensation commissioner), A laska, Louisiana, N ew H am pshire,
N ew Mexico, Tennessee, and W yom ing (fund is supervised b y S tate treasurer).
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Only 26 States 24 call for reports of all accidents, while 11 require
reports of those causing disability of one d a y 25 or more than one
day.26 Other periods prescribed are: More than two days, Penn
sylvania; one week, Georgia (or requiring medical, etc., aid) and
Khode Island; more than one week, Illinois; 10 days, Colorado; and
over two weeks, Alabama. In four States27 reports are to be made
as directed or required by the authorities. The States28 whose
compensation laws contain no provisions for reports of accidents
have other laws on the subject, limited, however, to coal mines,
except in Louisiana, which requires reports of accidents causing
disability of two weeks or more where women and children are em
ployed. In Tennessee, besides the reports by coal operators in the
State fund, mine operators generally and employers in mills, factories,
etc., must report, the former to the chief mine inspector, and the
latter to the division of workmen’s compensation.
Existing deficiencies in the compensation laws in regard to acci
dent reporting and prevention are offset to some extent by the fact
that most States, particularly those of industrial importance, have
inspection agencies for factories, mines, etc., which are charged with
duties of prevention, chiefly by way of enforcing safety statutes,
though some may also prescribe standards. Though some develop
ment appears in the direction of combining compensation adminis
tration with the enforcement of labor laws generally, the present
situation is one of distributed rather than consolidated responsibility.
However, the agency that administers compensation laws is also
given certain powers as to safety devices, at least of inspection, in 18
States.29
Nonresident Alien Dependents
The reopening of the question of discriminatory treatment of alien
nonresident dependents came with the enactment of compensa
tion laws. The rule had become almost universal under the liability
system, that they should have the same status as residents or citizens
of the States; but of the 22 State compensation laws on the statute
books at the close of the year 1913 nearly one-third (7) made dis
criminations unfavorable to such claimants, while in 1916, of 35
States nearly one-half (17) effected discriminations. At the pres
ent time, of 50 laws analyzed, 27 have provisions more or less dis
criminatory, so that an increasing tendency in the directon of less
favorable treatment is recognizable. This may be by way of exclusion
(5 States 30), reduced benefits (18 States 31), permitting commutations
to lump sums in reduced amounts (6 States32), restricting possible
24 Arizona, California (involving tim e loss or m edical aid), Delaware, D istrict of Colum bia, M aine,
M ary lan d , M assachusetts, M ichigan, M issouri, M ontana, N evada, N ew Jersey, N o rth D akota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, P orto Rico, S outh D akota, Tennessee (in coal mines in S tate fund), U tah, Virginia,
W ashington, W isconsin, W yoming, and U nited States (civil em ployees’ a nd longshorem en’s acts).
25 Connecticut, H aw aii, Idaho, M innesota, Philippines, and V erm ont (or requiring m edical aid).
28 In diana, Iow a, K entucky, N ew Y ork, a n d Texas.
27 Kansas, N ebraska, N ew H am pshire, a n d W est Virginia.
28 Alaska, Louisiana, a n d N ew Mexico.
29 Arizona, California, Colorado, H aw aii, Idaho, Ind ian a, M aryland, M ontana, N ew Jersey, N ew Y ork,
N o rth D akota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, U tah, V erm ont, W est Virginia, and W isconsin.
30 Alabam a, H aw aii, N ew Mexico, Philippines, a n d South D akota.
31 Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, D elaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, K ansas, K entucky, M aine, M ichigan,
M ontana, N evada, P ennsylvania, U tah , Virginia, W ashington, and W yoming.
32 D istrict of C olum bia, M aryland, N ebraska, N ew Y ork, O klahoma, and U nited S tates (longshore
m en ’s act).
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE
117
beneficiaries to persons of designated relationship, a provision that
may exist alone or in connection with reduced benefits (12 States 33),
or the presumption of dependency may be destroyed (California), or
excluding payments to beneficiaries in countries with which the
United States does not maintain diplomatic relations (Washington).
In 7 States,34 nonresident aliens are placed on the same footing as
residents, while in 10 35 they are not mentioned. In 4 of these latter
(Indiana, Massachusetts, North Dakota, and Rhode Island) they
have been included by administrative or court action, as is the case
with the Federal employees’ statute.
A number of States except residents of Canada from their dis
criminatory provisions, or declare such provisions subject to conflict
ing terms of any treaty, or deny all benefits to aliens whose national
laws would exclude citizens of the United States in like circum
stances.
The Supreme Court of Kansas held a provision of the State law
that limited benefits to $750 except to residents of Canada to be in
conflict with the treaty with Italy, and also with the equal protection
clause of the fourteenth amendment, so that it could not stand (Vietti
v. Fuel Co. (1921), 109 Kans. 179, 197 Pac. 881). An inferior court
of Pennsylvania found the law of that State restricting benefits to
two-thirds the normal award also in conflict with the treaty with
Italy, and therefore ineffective. The Supreme Court of the State
upheld the law, however (Liberate v. Royer (1924), 281 Pa. 227, 126
Atl. 257); and this decision was affirmed by the Supreme Court of
the United States (Idem (1926), 46 Sup. Ct. 373), on the ground that
the treaty dealt only with remedies for injuries and death due to
the employer’s negligence, a factor not involved in compensation
legislation; and as the act providing compensation is elective and
the workman had accepted, there was no conflict with the treaty in
question. A now abrogated provision of the law of New Jersey ex
cluded nonresident aliens, and was so enforced (Gregutis v. Waclark
Wire Works, 91 Atl. 98, 92 Atl. 354).
International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and
Commissions: Election of President and Change in 1929
Convention
in 1929 Mr. James A. Hamilton left the position of
industrial commissioner of the Department of Labor of New
EARLY
York, his place now being filled by Industrial Commissioner Frances
Perkins.
Mr. Hamilton being no longer connected with any active member
organization of the International Association of Industrial Accident
Boards and Commissions, under section 4 of Article VII of the con
stitution it became necessary for the executive committee to elect his
33
D elaware, D istrict of Colum bia, K entucky, M aryland, N ebraska, N ew Y ork, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
W ashington, W est Virginia, W yoming, a n d U n ited States (longshoremen’s act).
34 C onnecticut, Illinois, M innesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and W isconsin.
35
Indiana, Louisiana, M assachusetts, M issouri, N ew H am pshire, N ew Jersey, N o rth D akota, Porto
Rico, R hode Island, and Verm ont.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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118
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
successor as president. Commissioner Frances Perkins of New York
was duly elected and is now president of the association.
The executive committee has also voted to change the place and
dates of holding the sixteenth annual convention to Buffalo, N. Y.,
October 8-11, 1929.
Recent Compensation Reports
Kentucky
HE twelfth annual report of the Workmen’s Compensation Board
of Kentucky, for the year ending June 30, 1928, contains several
tables presenting compensation statistics for the State of Kentucky.
During the year covered by the report, 23,395 accidents were reported,
9,325 of which occurred in the coal-mining industry. Fatalities
numbered 173. Women were involved in 263 accidents and men
in 23,132.
During the period covered by the report 15,518 agreements involv
ing payment of compensation in the sum of $1,393,593.64 were ap
proved. In addition to the agreements the board awarded to injured
employees and dependents of deceased employees the sum of $370,691.17. The foregoing does not include the expenses of medical, sur
gical, and hospital treatment as provided by law. During the year
933 employers elected to operate under the provisions of the compensa
tion act, bringing the total number of employers who have accepted
the act between the date on which the law became effective and June
30, 1928, to 16,272.
Oklahoma
T h e t h i r t e e n t h annual report of the State Industrial Commission
of Oklahoma, covering the year ending August 31, 1928, contains
several tables presenting an analysis of accidents occurring in the
State of Oklahoma during the period covered by the report. Special
hearings conducted by the commission numbered 3,165, and orders
and awards made during the period 21,164, including medical orders
and approval of final payments. The commission operated during
the period on a total appropriation for all purposes of $54,482.10,
making an average cost per case of 93 cents.
During the period covered by the report, 58,317 cases were finally
disposed of and actually closed out. The aggregate time lost as a
result of the accidents covered by this report if reduced to one m an’s
time, would equal 4,342 years, being based on the actual time lost by
reason of temporary total disability and the time lost in specific in
juries according to the weighted table of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. Compensation
awarded amounted to $1,933,604 and the aggregate amount of medi
cal expense reported was $293,509. This does not include medical
expenditures made by the industries maintaining their own medical
staff.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 808 ]
119
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL ISNURANCE
Old-Age Pensions in Canada
HE old-age pension act which was passed in Canada early in
1927 provided for the maintenance of a pension system jointly
by the Dominion and the local government in any Province which
elected to take advantage of its terms. Up to the present time three
Provinces have accepted the act, which, following acceptance, became
effective in British Columbia in September, 1927; in Saskatchewan
in June, 1928; and in Manitoba in September, 1928. In 1927 the
Yukon Council passed an ordinance providing for the participation
of Yukon Territory in the scheme, but as yet no payment of pensions
within the Territory has been recorded. The Labor Gazette, pub
lished by the Canadian Labor Department, gives in its issue for
January, 1929, some statistics concerning pensions and pensioners
under the act, as of September 30, 1928. The terms of the law are
briefly summarized:
T
U n d e r th e old-age pensions a c t a pension is p a y ab le to a n y B ritish su b je c t of
70 y ears a n d up w ard s w ho is n o t in receip t of a n incom e of as m u ch as $365 a
y ear a n d w ho h as resided in C an a d a for th e 20 y ears preceding, a n d h as resided
in th e Province in w hich th e a p p licatio n is m ad e fo r th e 5 y e ars im m ed iately
preceding th e g ra n tin g of th e pension. T h e m ax im u m a m o u n t of pension p a y a b le
u n d e r th e a c t is $240 yearly . In cases w here pensioners h av e a p riv a te incom e
th e a m o u n t of th e ir old-age pension will be su b ject to a red u c tio n b y th e a m o u n t,
if an y , t h a t th e ir p riv a te incom e exceeds $125 a y ear. T h e a d m in istra tio n of
old-age pensions is in tru ste d to th e a u th o ritie s a p p o in te d b y th e respective
p ro v in cial governm ents.
1 . — N U M B E R OF O LD -A G E
P E N S IO N E R S , P E R C E N T O F P O P U L A T IO N ,
A N D A V E R A G E A N D T O T A L A M O U N T O F P E N S IO N S IN T H R E E P R O V IN C E S O F
CANADA
T able
Per cent pension
ers are of—
N um ber
of pen
sioners
Province
B ritish C olum bia
M anitoba
S askatch ew an ..
Total
________________
_______________ __ _________
____________________________
3,442
2,451
927
Total
popula
tion
Popula
tion
over 70
0. 59
.37
28.3
2 2 .1
7.5
.11
Total
am ount of
pensions
paid by
Province
Average
m onthly
pension
$629, 053
45, 343
37,033
$17. 43
18. 49
17. 98
711,429
6, 820
T'hree Provinces
The sex and conjugal condition of the pensioners is as follows:
T able 3 .—S E X D IS T R IB U T IO N OF P E N S IO N E R S , BY C O N JU G A L C O N D IT IO N
B ritish Columbia
Saskatchew an
M anitoba
Conjugal condition
Males
M arried
_________ - - - - - - - _____
Single
________ ____ - __ ______
Widowed
_____________ ______ _____
Living a p a rt............................... - ......................
T otal
..........................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Females
Females
M ales
756
557
599
151
343
127
875
34
682
129
478
2,063
1,379
1,290
[809]
Females
Males
327
54
780
293
61
180
1,161
536
140
16
235
2
1
391
120
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In British Columbia 109, and in Manitoba 157 pensioners were
inmates of charitable institutions. The average income of pen
sioners having income apart from the pension was $59 in British
Columbia and in Saskatchewan, and $64 in Manitoba. The great
majority were British subjects by birth, though a few had been
naturalized and a still smaller number had acquired that status by
marriage.
In considering these data it must be remembered that the time rep
resented is when the act had been in operation in British Columbia
for only one year, in Saskatchewan for three months, and in Manitoba
had only just been put into effect. It will be noticed that in all
three Provinces the average pension comes near to the maximum
allowable, being in British Columbia (which has the lowest average)
only $2.57 under the limit, and only $1.51 below it in Manitoba.
The proportion which the pensioners bear to the total population,
and to the population aged 70 and over is curiously small in Sas
katchewan, but no explanation is offered of the situation. In British
Columbia, they form 28.3 per cent of the population 70 and upwards.
In the recent investigation made by the National Civic Federation
in this country it was found that of 13,785 persons aged 65 and
over, excluding those in charitable institutions, 29.6 per cent had
no property at all, while 26.8 per cent depended wholly for support
upon children, other relatives, friends or charity. Unfortunately,
the age distribution of the Canadian pensioners is not given, so the
figures are not comparable.
Extension of Act to Northwest Territories
T h e o l d - a g e pension act of Canada, under the terms of which
pensions in the separate Provinces are established by agreement
between the provincial and the Dominion governments, contained a
clause providing that as soon as two of the Provinces adjoining the
Northwest Territories should have made such agreements the commis
sioner of the Territories might submit a scheme for payment of pen
sions within the Territories, and that as soon as such a scheme should
be approved it should stand, in all respects other than duration,
upon the same footing as an agreement made with one of the Prov
inces. Three Provinces adjoining the Territories—British Columbia,
Saskatchewan, and Manitoba—having made agreements with the
General Government for the establishment of pension systems, and
the commissioner of the Territories having submitted a plan, an
order in council was issued January 25, 1929, approving the plan
and establishing the system. The scheme is thus outlined in the
order, which is given in the Canadian Labor Gazette for February,
1929:
1. T h e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r is a u th o riz e d a n d d irected to p a y pensions
m o n th ly b y b an k check to persons of th e N o rth w e st T errito rie s who q ualify
th erefo r u n d e r th e provisions of th e old-age pensions a c t a n d reg u latio n s m ad e
th e re u n d e r; to keep su ch records a n d books of acco u n ts of receip ts a n d expend
itu re s a s m a y be necessary a n d to do all su ch o th e r a c ts a n d th in g s as a re inci
d e n ta l, conducive or necessary to th e p ro p e r a d m in is tra tio n of old-age pensions
in th e N o rth w est T errito rie s u n d e r th e provisions of th e said act.
2. E v ery person of th e N o rth w e st T errito ries who m ak es ap p lic a tio n fo r a
pension shall com plete su ch fo rm s a n d fu rn ish such evidence a n d proofs of
claim from tim e to tim e as m a y be re q u ired by th e D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE
121
3.
All sum s req u ired fo r th e p a y m e n t of such pensions shall be a d v an ced
from tim e to tim e on th e certificate of th e M in ister of F in an ce o u t of su ch
m oneys belonging to th e consolidated rev en u e fu n d of C an ad a n o t otherw ise
a p p ro p riated .
Seasonal Unem ploym ent Relief in G erm any1
HE German unemployment insurance act of July 16, 1927,2
which introduced a system of compulsory insurance for workers
and employees, included seasonal workers among the other classes
of workers insured against unemployment. Under this act the
Federal bureau for employment and unemployment insurance
had the right to formulate special provisions for the relief of seasonal
unemployment.
A report3 from Germany covering the first year’s operation of the
system stated that the inclusion of seasonal workers on the same basis
as permanent workers had resulted in certain abuses and an especially
heavy drain upon the insurance resources and that it was probable,
therefore, that there w^ould have to be a change in the regulations
governing this class of workers.
The original act provided that the special regulations dealing with
the relief of seasonal unemployment should consist either of prolonga
tion of the waiting period for such workers, or restriction of the period
during wThich they were entitled to benefit. Under the regulations in
effect up to the present time, only the first system had been put into
effect. While seasonal workers wrere subjected to a longer waiting
period, therefore, once they had established their right to benefit,
these benefits were continued during the normal period of 26 weeks.
The new act, which was to come into force on September 30, 1929,
provides that during the period from September 30 to March 31,
seasonal workers, while subject to the same waiting period as other
workers, will be entitled to unemployment benefit for six weeks only,
after which the insurance will be replaced by a system of relief.
This special relief will be granted only to persons who can prove they
are in need, and the cost of the relief will not be chargeable to the
insurance fund but will be met by the public authorities.
I t is considered probable that this change, wThich will remove one
of the worst risks from the insurance system, wall make it possible to
meet the demands on the system more successfully. The act has
been opposed, however, by representatives of the agricultural em
ployers who fear that the new provisions will aggravate the exodus
from the country and thus remove the supply of cheap labor wdiich it
has been the custom to secure among unemployed persons for the
seasonal occupations.
T
1 Intern atio n al L abor Office. In d u strial and L abor Inform ation, Geneva, Jan . 21, 1929, p. 81.
2 See L abor Review , O ctober, 1927, p p . 67-69.
3 See L abor R eview , Jan u a ry , 1929, p p . 91-93.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Accidents and Com pensation Paym ents in English Industry
HE report of the English Home Office upon compensation and
proceedings under the workmen’s compensation acts and the
employers’ liability acts during the year 19271 gives some figures
showing the comparative number of accidents in specified in
dustries for the period 1919 to 1927. The statistics apply to seven
groups of industries—mines, quarries, railways, factories, docks,
construction work, and shipping. The number employed in these
industries and the number of compensated accidents for the years
covered are as follows:
T
NUM BER
O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D O F A C C ID E N T S (F A T A L A N D N O N F A T A L ) IN 7
IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S
Accidents
Accidents
Y ear
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923......... __
N um ber of
employees
8 , 359,183
8,348,150
7,315,866
7, 205, 609
7,342, 311
Y ear
F atal
N on
fatal
T otal
3,293
3, 531
2,385
2,489
2,657
365,176
381, 986
283, 361
390,423
477, 378
368,469
385, 517
285, 746
392, 912
480,035
1924............ .
1925..........
1926..............
1927.............
X um ber of
employees
7, 512, 359
7, 541,014
7, 001, 795
7,403,222
F atal
N on
fatal
2,878
3,030
2,345
2,567
487, 442
473, 055
368, 563
455, 852
T otal
490, 320
476, 085
370,908
458,419
I t will be seen that while the total number of accidents has been
increasing the number of fatal accidents has decreased, both abso
lutely and relatively. The total amount paid in compensation for
fatal cases, however, has risen from £687,477 ($3,345,607) in 1919
to £763,271 ($3,714,458) in 1927, while the total amount of com
pensation for fatal and nonfatal cases rose during the same period
from £4,616,723 ($22,467,282) to £6,315,803 ($30,735,855). The
fatalities, which formed in 1927 less than 1 per cent of the compen
sated cases, account for 12.1 per cent of the total compensation paid,
the percentage division of compensation for fatalities being for ship
ping 22.9; for factories, 9.4; docks, 12.6; mines, 11.8; quarries, 17.3;
construction work, 14; and railways, 24.6.
The statistics as to industrial diseases which come under the terms
of the act show that in 1927 in the 7 industry groups compensation
amounting to £5,278 ($25,685) was paid for 25 fatal cases and
£548,492 ($2,669,236) for 17,079 cases of disablement. Among the
fatal cases were 6 of lead poisoning, 3 of anthrax, 3 of epitheliomatous
cancer, and 10 of scrotal epithelioma. A large proportion of the
cases of industrial disease occurred in the mining industry.
T h e m a jo rity of th e cases w ere due to m in e r’s n y stag m u s, b e a t h a n d , a n d
b e a t knee. C ases of m in e r’s n y stag m u s a c co u n ted fo r o v er 56 p er c e n t of th e
to ta l n u m b er of cases; a n d cases of th is disease to g e th e r w ith b e a t elbow a n d
inflam m ation of th e synovial lining of th e w rist jo in t a n d te n d o n sh e a th s n u m
bered 14,450, o r 90.3 p e r c e n t of th e to ta l n u m b er. Of th e rem ain d er, 1,029, or
6 p e r cen t, w ere cases of d e rm a titis p ro d u ced by d u s t or liquids; 275, o r 1.6 per
cent, w ere cases of lead poisoning; a n d 234, o r 1.4 p e r cen t, w ere cases of skin or
o th e r u lceratio n or cancer. T h e rem ain in g 116 cases, o r 0.7 p e r c en t, in cluded
67 cases of vario u s form s of in d u s tria l poisoning a n d 25 cases of a n th ra x .
1 G reat B ritain. H om e Office. Statistics of com pensation and proceedings under th e w orkm en’s com
pensation acts, and th e em ployers’ liab ility act, 1880, during th e year 1927. London, 1929. (C m d. 3249.)
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE
123
However, the number of new cases of the disease (1,802) reported
during 1927 was lower than for any year since 1919, with the excep
tion of 1926, a year in which the prolonged dispute in the coal indus
try rendered conditions so abnormal that the figures are hardly
comparable.
Under the scheme of compensation for silicosis for the refractories
industries (ganister mines and quarries and factories engaged in the
manufacture of silica brick and similar articles for lining furnaces)
compensation was paid during the year in 269 cases of disablement,
of which 234 were continued from former years and 35 were new.
Of these, 19 terminated fatally and compensation for death was paid.
At the end of the year there were 230 cases receiving weekly pay
ments under the scheme, of which 43 were cases of total and 187 of
partial incapacity. The total amount paid in compensation during
the year was £14,520 ($70,662), of which £3,245 ($15,792) was for
death claims and £11,275 ($54,870) for disablement.
41195°—29-----9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1813]
COURT DECISIONS
Court Decisions Relative to the Longsnoremen’s Act
WO cases have been decided in the Federal courts under the
Federal longshoremen’s and harbor workers’ compensation act
in which it has been held that a finding of fact of a deputy com
missioner, acting under the act, is final if supported by competent
evidence and the Federal courts have no authority to make an award
but their authority is limited to enjoining or affirming the award of
the commissioner, with the right in the court, if the award is enjoined,
to direct the commissioner to proceed to make a new award in accord
ance with law.
The facts in the first case 1 are as follows:
On December 22, 1927, one Alonzo V. Kimbel, while employed as
a repairman by the Obrecht-Lynch Corporation, was injured by a
heavy tank covering falling against his left leg, causing contusions
above and below the knee. As a result he required medical treat
ment and was confined to his bed for about one week. On January 6,
14 days after the injury, while he was no longer confined to his bed
but had not yet returned to work, he became suddenly ill, complained
of great difficulty in breathing, and died in 10 or 15 minutes, before
medical aid could be summoned. The widow of Kimbel filed, in due
course, a claim in the office of the deputy commissioner in Baltimore
for compensation pursuant to the provisions of the longshoremen’s
act. A hearing was had which resulted in a finding that Kimbel had
died from a pulmonary embolism resulting from the injury to his leg
and an award was made to the widow, in addition to compensation
for temporary total disability and funeral expenses. The employer
and its insurer contested the claim and brought an action in the
district court for the district of Maryland. An injunction was sought
and an attack was made upon the constitutionality of the act.
Section 921b of the act provides as follows:
T
I f n o t in accordance w ith law , a co m p en satio n o rd er m a y be su spended o r set
aside, in w hole or in p a rt, th ro u g h in ju n c tio n proceedings, m a n d a to ry o r o th e r
wise, b ro u g h t b y a n y p a r ty in in te re s t a g a in st th e d e p u ty com m issioner m ak in g
th e order, a n d in s titu te d in th e F ed eral d is tric t c o u rt fo r t h e ju d ic ia l d is tric t in
w hich th e in ju ry o ccu rred (or in th e Suprem e C o u rt of th e D istric t of C o lu m b ia
if th e in ju ry o ccurred in th e D istric t). T h e orders, w rits, a n d processes of th e
c o u rt in such proceedings m a y ru n , be served, a n d be re tu rn a b le anyw here in th e
U n ite d S tates.
T h e p a y m e n t of th e a m o u n ts re q u ired b y a n a w ard shall n o t be sta y e d p en d in g
final decision in a n y su ch proceeding unless u p o n a p p lic a tio n fo r a n in te rlo c u to ry
in ju n ctio n th e co u rt, on hearing, a fte r n o t less th a n th re e d a y s' n o tice to th e p artie s
in in te re s t a n d th e d e p u ty com m issioner allow s th e s ta y of su ch p a y m e n ts, in
w hole or in p a rt, w here irre p a ra b le dam ag e w ould otherw ise en su e to th e em ployer.
T h e o rd er of th e c o u rt allow ing a n y su ch s ta y sh all c o n ta in a specific finding,
based u p o n evidence s u b m itte d to th e c o u rt a n d id entified b y reference th e re to ,
t h a t su ch irre p a ra b le d am ag e w ould re s u lt to th e em ployer, a n d specifying th e
n a tu re of th e dam age.
The employer and its insurer contended that when an employer
invokes the remedy provided in section 921b, such employer is
1 O brecht-L ynch C orporation e t al. v. L indley D . C lark, d e p u ty commissioner, etc.
for the D istrict of M aryland. 30 Fed. (2d) 144.
124
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D istrict C ourt
COURT DECISIONS
125
entitled to have the proceedings reopened and the matter tried de
novo. The court saw fit to hear the case over again and thereby to
extend to the employer and its insurer rights in excess of those
actually accorded to them under the provisions of the act, but
decided in the favor of the widow, saying:
I t is to be n o ted t h a t section 921b provides, “ If n o t in accordance w ith law a
com pensation o rd er m ay be su spended o r se t aside, in w hole o r in p a rt, th ro u g h
in ju n c tio n proceedings, m a n d a to ry o r otherw ise, b ro u g h t b y a n y p a rty in in te re st
ag ain st th e d e p u ty com m issioner m ak in g th e o rd e r,” a n d so fo rth . W h a t do th e
w ords “ if n o t in accordance w ith la w ” m ean?
T h e c o u rt h as been referred to no w o rk m en ’s co m p en satio n a c t, S ta te or
F ederal, w hich uses th is precise language. H ow ever, i t is well se ttle d t h a t com
p en satio n law s of th is general c h a ra c te r w hich estab lish a d m in istra tiv e m ach in ery
for ap p ly in g s ta tu to ry m easures to th e fa c ts of each p a rtic u la r case, a n d w hich
provide for a hearing before a n a d m in istra tiv e trib u n a l, m a y lim it th e ju d icial
review to fu n d a m e n ta l a n d ju risd ictio n al questions. In sh o rt, a d m in istra tiv e
bodies w ith a u th o rity n o t essentially differen t from t h a t v ested b y th e a c t now
u n d er co n sid eratio n in th e d e p u ty com m issioner, a re recognized g o v ern m en tal
in stitu tio n s. S ta te in d u stria l com m issions a n d S ta te public-service com m issions
a re fam iliar exam ples.
' Pow ers a n d discretions of th is c h a ra c te r m ay be delegated to a d m in is tra tiv e
bodies o r even to a single indiv id u al. P ly m o u th C oal Co. v. P en n sy lv a n ia , 232
U. S. 531; H aw kins v. B leakly, 243 U. S. 210, a n d cases cited. T h e p ro p e r con
stru c tio n of th e lan g u ag e in q u estio n seem s to th e c o u rt to b e t h a t a s lo n g as
th e re is som e c o m p eten t evidence to su p p o rt th e finding of fa c t of th e com m is
sioner, su ch finding is final; t h a t is, w here th e finding is su p p o rte d b y ra tio n a l
a n d n a tu ra l inferences fro m p ro v e d facts, th e c o u rt will n o t d is tu rb su ch finding.
T his being tru e , i t follows t h a t hearin g s p ro v id ed b y section 921 b , sh o u ld be
confined to a review of th e te stim o n y p re se n te d to th e d e p u ty com m issioner.
In th e in s ta n t case, how ever, because of th e very re c e n t e n a c tm e n t of th is s ta tu te
a n d th e co n seq u en t lack of a u th o ritie s c o n stru in g its lang u ag e, th e c o u rt gave
th e co m p lain an ts th e benefit of th e d o u b t w hich i t h a d a t th e in c e p tio n of th e
h earin g resp ectin g th e p ro p e r co n stru c tio n to be p laced u p o n section 921b a n d
h e a rd th e m a tte r de novo.
T his d e p a rtu re from w h a t th e c o u rt now believes to b e th e p ro p e r procedure,
a fte r a n o p p o rtu n ity fo r m ore carefu l ex am in atio n of th e s ta tu te a n d p e rtin e n t
au th o ritie s, has, in fact, p ro v ed to be im m a te ria l because, as h e re in a fte r explained,
th e c o u rt finds t h a t its conclusion is n o t affected b y th e a d d itio n a l evidence h e a rd
b u t m ay be rested solely u p o n th e te stim o n y ta k e n before th e d e p u ty com m issioner.
The second case 2 involved an appeal by Lulu Howard, widow of a
deceased harbor worker, from an award of the deputy commissioner
under the longshoremen’s and harbor workers’ compensation act,
disallowing her claim for the disability and death of her husband.
The court held, after reading the record, that it found ample evidence
to sustain the commissioner’s conclusions that the death of Howard
was not caused by his injury and, this being so, the rejection of the
death claim by the commissioner could not be in law erroneous. The
court held, however, that the commissioner should have made an
award upon the claim of disability prior to the death of Howard.
With reference to the widow’s contention that the court should not
only enjoin the award of the commissioner but make an award, the
court said:
I th in k it very p lain t h a t C ongress h a d th e pow er to e n a c t th e law ju s t as i t
did e n a c t it. T h a t th e proceedings sh o u ld be b ro u g h t in e q u ity ju s t as specifi
cally p ro v id ed in th e a c t, a n d t h a t th is c o u rt h as no a u th o rity to m a k e a n aw ard ,
b u t its a u th o rity is lim ite d to en joining or affirm ing th e a w a rd of th e com m is
sioner, w ith th e rig h t in th e c o u rt, if th e aw a rd is enjoined, to d irect th e com m is
sioner to proceed to m ak e a new a w a rd in accordance w ith th e law.
a L ulu H ow ard et al. v. P . J. M onahan.
States D aily, Feb. 7, 1929.)
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[815]
(U nited
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Apprenticeship in the Foundry Trades
T THE thirty-second annual meeting of the American Foundrymen’s Association, held in Philadelphia in May, 1928, consider
able attention was given to training plans for apprentices in various
parts of the country.1 Reports were received of methods adopted
by large plants, capable of giving complete framing in all branches
of the industry, but more attention was devoted to the systems used
by smaller plants, acting together. These were felt by the apprentice
training committee to be of such importance that they had been made
the object of a special-training campaign.
A
T h e p o in t of a tta c k d u rin g th e p a s t 12 m o n th s h as largely cen tered aro u n d th e
local fo u n d ry m e n ’s associations. I t h as been recognized t h a t th e v a st m a jo rity of
o u r foundries are en tire ly to o sm all to e stab lish a p p re n tic e tra in in g on a n in d i
v id u al basis. R esults m u s t com e th ro u g h th e co o p erativ e efforts lau n ch e d by th e
local fo u n d ry m e n ’s or m an u fa c tu rin g groups w hich include th e fo u n d ry b ran ch .
Cooperative Plans
C e r t a i n features are common to all these plans. Usually they pro
vide for indenture of the apprentice, after a probationary period. A
definite plan of work is laid out designed to give the apprentice an
all-round training, the number of hours in each course and the condi
tions for passing from one stage to another being carefully defined.
Provision is made for classroom and technical training in related work,
and ordinarily, though not universally, this is given in the em
ployer’s time. Often the wage rate for each period of training is
prescribed. Most important of all is the establishment of some super
visory and coordinating agency to establish uniform standards, to
arrange for transfer of apprentices from one shop to another as need
arises, to act as general counsel for employers and apprentices alike,
to decide upon and supervise the course of training, and to perform
similar duties. Sometimes this agency is a committee of the local
foundrymen’s association, sometimes it is a group representing the
various interests affected, such as manufacturers, public schools and
civic bodies, or it may represent other combinations. Often a super
visor is employed to act as the agent of this committee and to be direct
ly responsible for administering the program adopted.
Classroom and Technical Training
A l l t h e plans provide for some training of this kind, which may be
given either in a plant school or in the public schools of the district.
The plant school presents obvious difficulties, except where large es
tablishments are concerned, but apart from this, cooperation with the
1A m erican F o u n d ry m en ’s Association. Proceedings of th e thirty-second annual m eeting, P hiladel
p h ia , P a ., M ay 14-18, 1928.
126
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W O RK ERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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public schools is felt to have distinct advantages. The report from
the Pittsburgh district emphasized the benefits of such cooperation:
In th e first place, th e schools p lay a v ita l p a r t in th e sy stem a n d th e school
a u th o ritie s are intensely in terested . T h ro u g h th e schools th e tra d e s h a v e been
b ro u g h t close to th e pup ils, a n d as a re su lt th e re h a s grow n u p in th e c o m m u n ity
a d is tin c t tra d e consciousness a n d a n ap p re c ia tio n of th e im p o rta n c e of in d u s try
in th e com m u n ity . B oys ta k e tra d e w ork seriously a n d th e tra d e s h av e a d ig n ity
in th e schools w hich could n o t easily be b u ilt u p u n d e r a n o th e r sy stem . Again,
by th is arra n g e m e n t i t is possible to m ak e a careful selection of boys fo r a p p re n tic e
train in g . _ T h e teac h ers h a v e th e b oys in th e ir care fo r a long perio d , a n d as th e y
h ave th e in d u stria l view p o in t th e y can m ak e ex trem ely in te llig e n t suggestions a n d
criticism s. F inally, th e w ork of th e a p p re n tic e is m o st carefully supervised.
Again, in Harvey, which is described as a typical manufacturing
city of approximately 18,000 inhabitants, the cooperation of the town
ship high school is cited as being an important factor in the plan, the
vocational director of the school acting as the district supervisor of
apprentices, and as a coordinator between the school and the various
plants.
Growth of Systems; Apprentices Needed
I n e s t a b l i s h i n g cooperative systems, the promoters found them
selves facing a double problem—to induce employers to give training
and to secure apprentices to take it. Wherever the first difficulty was
successfully solved, the second proved easy. Considering only co
operative schemes, in the Pittsburgh district in two years the number
of part-time apprentices, i. e., those working half time in the foundries
and half time in the schools, with a view to testing their aptitude for
the trades, has increased from 56 to 130, while the full-time apprentices
have increased from none at all to 52. In the Milwaukee district,
where the training activities have for years been in charge of an ap
prenticeship committee of the Metal Trades Association, the total
number of apprentices registered in 1921 was 460; in 1928 it had risen
to 905. In the Quad Cities,2 the number of apprentices in the second
year after a cooperative plan was adopted was 125, and the number
registered as applicants for training was 320.
The question, however, of training a sufficient number of apprentices
to make good the wastage of skilled men from the trades is complicated
by the failure of some employers to take part in the scheme. The
report from the Milwaukee district goes into this situation at some
length. A study of the locality has shown that about 15 per cent of
all emploj^ees in the shops are highly skilled mechanics, and that
members of this group spend, on an average, about 18 years in their
trade. On this basis the members of the metal trades association,
employing 2,833 highly skilled workers, of whom 156 may be expected
to leave the trades annually, should graduate at least 156 apprentices
yearly to keep up their supply. As their number of last-year appren
tices in 1928 was 147, it is apparent that so far as their own needs
were concerned they had very nearly met the current demand, though
nothing had been done toward making up the deficiency due to
former neglect of training, and the question of distributing the
apprentices according to the needs of the various trades had hardly
been touched. But outside of the association members, employers
were doing little or nothing to build up a body of skilled workers.
s D avenport an d B ettendorf, Iowa, an d M oline, Rock Island, and E a st M oline, 111.
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[S 1 7 ]
128
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T h e g re a te st ap p ren ticesh ip pro b lem w hich still rem ain s to be solved in th e
d is tric t is th e su p p ly of m echanics fo r m ach in ery build in g sh o p s w ho a re n o t
m em bers of th e associatio n a n d w ho h a v e done v ery little in th e m a tte r of a p p re n
ticeship, so t h a t a considerable p o rtio n of a p p re n tic e g ra d u a te s fro m th e m em b er
shops g rad u ally find th e ir w ay as m echanics in to p la n ts in w hich no effo rt is
m ad e to tr a in skilled m en. T h e to ta l e m p lo y m en t in m a ch in ery b u ild in g in d u s
tries of M ilw aukee, b o th m em b ers a n d no n m em b ers of th e M etal T ra d e s A ssocia
tio n , is in th e neighbo rh o o d of 30,000, of w hich a b o u t 5,100 a re hig h ly tra in e d
m echanics, a n d th e n o rm al loss of skilled m echanics p e r y e a r is a b o u t 280 or
one-eig h teen th p a r t of to ta l skilled m echanics. T h e n u m b e r of a p p re n tic e s in
shops n o t belonging to th e M etal T ra d e s A ssociation is negligible, a n d th e 147
ap p ren tice g ra d u a te s in association shops p er y ear is clearly in a d e q u a te to replace
th e n o rm al loss in th e d istric t of 280 m echanics a year.
Causes for Lack of Skilled Workers
T h e n e e d of a larger supply of skilled workers is discussed in a
number of the reports. It is a significant fact that, in commenting
on their scarcity, trade-union restrictions upon apprenticeship as a
contributory factor are not even mentioned. Two main causes are
noted—the reluctance of employers to train apprentices and the
reluctance of American boys to enter the shops. As to the first,
various causes are assigned. The employers charge that boys are
unsteady, that work done by them costs too much in the way of
wages, that after a training is partly completed the boy is likely to
seek a new employer who gets the benefit of the first employer’s
efforts, and that in many cases shops are too small and too specialized
to give training in more than one or two branches.
Most of these difficulties, the advocates of apprenticeship schemes
reply, are due to the employer’s own attitude; he employs a boy,
but makes little or no effort to train him, and then is surprised that
the boy grows tired of the situation.
O ne g re a t difficulty is th e fa c t t h a t m an y of o u r foundries p rovide no real
tra in in g p rogram . B oys a re engaged as ap p re n tic e s a n d are ex p ected to le a rn
th e fo u n d ry business, b u t th e y a re le ft v ery m u ch to them selves. N o a p p re n tic e
ship ag reem en t is d raw n u p , no p ro g ram of w ork la id o u t, no schedules of p a y are
provided, th e re is no a d e q u a te supervision, a n d no a tte m p t to a tt r a c t b oys o r to
m ake th e w ork p leasan t. I t is only n a tu ra l t h a t boys leav e a p p ren ticesh ip
u n d er th e se conditions.
It is admitted that a small, specialized shop can not by itself give a
satisfactory apprentice training, but through the cooperation of a
number of such shops, with a transfer of boys from one to another as
training advances, a complete and well-rounded course can be sup
plied. The practice of indenturing apprentices and providing for
their regular advancement from one stage to another at once prevents
them from deserting their employers, and takes away their strongest
incentive for doing so. “Many boys have actually been driven out
of the foundries because they were being exploited by being kept on
one kind of work too long, which condition the boy had sense enough
to know would lead to arrested development.”
In brief, the conclusion of those reporting on the various plans in use
was that boys could be attracted to the industry and kept there if they
were given a fair chance to learn the trade under reasonable conditions
and with reasonable prospects of advancement during the period of
training.
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WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
129
Passage of Vocational Rehabilitation Act for the District of
Columbia
N FEBRUARY 23, 1929, the President signed an act to pro
vide for the vocational rehabilitation of disabled residents of
the District of Columbia.3 The act is similar in many respects to
the Federal vocational rehabilitation act which became a law June
2, 1920. (41 Stat. 735.) That act did not include the District of
Columbia. The purpose of the present act was to provide for dis
abled residents of the District of Columbia not provided for in the act
of June 2, 1920. The act provides for cooperation of the United
States Public Health Service, the Federal Board for Vocational
Education, and the United States Employees’ Compensation Com
mission. The report of the Senate Committee on Education and
Labor 4 stated that “ it appears to the committee that this rehabilita
tion work, if set up and carried on in the District of Columbia, would
provide a national laboratory for research m discovering ways of
rehabilitating disabled persons, and thus enable the States to have the
benefit of these studies and investigations.”
The act provides as follows:
O
Section 1 . On a n d a fte r J u ly 1 , 1929, th e F ed eral B oard for V ocational
E d u c a tio n is a u th o rize d a n d d irected to p ro v id e fo r th e v o catio n al re h a b ilita tio n
a n d re tu rn to em p lo y m en t of a n y d isabled re sid e n t of th e D istric t of C olum bia.
Sec . 2. F o r th e purposes of th is a c t (1) th e te rm “ disabled re sid e n t of th e
D istric t of C o lu m b ia ” m eans a n y b o n a fide re sid e n t in th e D istric t of C olum bia
w ho, b y reason of a p h y sical d efect or in firm ity , w h e th e r co n g en ital o r a cq u ired
b y accid en t, in ju ry , o r disease, is o r m a y be ex pected to becom e to ta lly o r p a r
tia lly in c a p a c ita te d fo r re m u n e ra tiv e o ccu p atio n ; a n d (2) th e te rm “ v o catio n al
re h a b ilita tio n ” m eans th e ren d erin g of a n y such disabled re sid e n t fit to engage in
a re m u n e ra tiv e occupation.
Sec . 3. (a)T h e U n ited S ta te s P ublic H e a lth Service is a u th o riz e d a n d d irected
to co o p erate w ith th e F ed e ra l B o ard fo r V ocational E d u c a tio n in ca rry in g o u t
th e provisions of th is a c t, a n d th e b o ard m ay , in c a rry in g o u t such provisions,
o b ta in th e co operation of (1) a n y o th e r e sta b lish m e n t in th e E x e c u tiv e b ra n c h of
th e G o v ern m en t; (2) a n y d e p a rtm e n t o r agency of th e g o v ern m en t of th e D istric t
of C o lum bia; (3) a n y S ta te , T e rrito ry , or p olitical subdivision th ereo f; or (4) a n y
p riv a te agency o r person.
(b) T h e F ed eral B oard fo r V ocational E d u c a tio n a n d th e U n ite d S ta te s
E m ployees’ C om p en satio n C om m ission a re a u th o riz e d a n d d ire c te d to fo rm u la te
a p lan of cooperation for th e vocatio n al re h a b ilita tio n of civil em ployees of th e
U n ited S ta te s disabled w hile in th e perfo rm an ce of d u ty a n d wdio reside in th e
D istric t of C olum bia, a n d such b o ard m ay , in carry in g o u t th e provisions of th is
a c t, in so fa r as i t applies to such civil em ployees, c a rry o u t such p lan.
Sec . 4. T h e b o ard is a u th o riz e d to prescribe such rules a n d reg u latio n s as m ay
be necessary or ap p ro p ria te to c a rry o u t th e provisions of th is act.
Sec . 5. T h e F ed eral B o ard fo r V ocational E d u c a tio n is a u th o riz e d to m ak e
such ex p en d itu res (including e x p en d itu res fo r p erso n al services a t th e se a t of
G o v ern m en t a n d elsew here, for p rin tin g a n d binding, for tra v e lin g a n d subsistence
expenses, for th e p a y m e n t of tu itio n to schools, fo r th e co m p en satio n of tu to rs,
for th e p u rch ase of p ro sth e tic ap p lian ces a n d in stru c tio n a l supplies a n d e q u ip
m en t, a n d for th e p a y m e n t of necessary expenses of persons underg o in g v o catio n al
re h ab ilitatio n ) as m ay be necessary to c a rry o u t th e provisions of th is a c t.
Sec . 6. F o r th e pu rp o se of c a rry in g o u t th e provisions of th is a c t th e re is
autho'rized to be a p p ro p ria te d to th e F ed eral B o ard fo r V ocational E d u c a tio n a
su m n o t to exceed $15,000 for each fiscal y e a r: P ro v id e d , T h a t no such a p p ro p ria
tio n s of F ed eral fu n d s shall be av ailab le for ex p e n d itu re ex cep t w hen m a tc h e d by
eq u al ap p ro p riatio n s of D istric t of C olum bia fu n d s w hich are h ereb y a u th o rized .
3 Public 801, 70th Congress, H . R . 13251.
i See reports on H . R. 13251 in Senate, N o. 1663, second session, and in House, No. 1578, first session.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
130
S e c . 7. T h e b o ard shall su b m it to C ongress on or before th e first d ay of each
reg u lar session a re p o rt of all re h a b ilita tio n service p ro v id ed an d of all e x p en d itu res
m ade u n d er th is a c t d u rin g th e preceding fiscal y ear.
Progress of Apprenticeship in South Africa
EFORE the World War South Africa relied ^ on immigration
to keep up its supply of skilled labor, and it was not until
1922 that an act was passed designed to promote apprenticeship and
to secure such training as would develop good artisans. In its issue
for January, 1929, the Social and Industrial Review, the official
publication of the South African Department of Labor, gives a resume
of the act, and of the progress made under its terms.
The act provides for the formation of local apprenticeship com
mittees, composed in equal numbers of representatives of employers
and of employees, chosen by their respective organizations. LTnless
the employers and employees of a given locality and industry are
willing to give this cooperation, the act can not come into operation,
so that there can be no possible invasion of local rights and local
autonomy. It is the committee’s duty to make recommendations
concerning the trade or industry to which the act shall be applied,
the length of the apprenticeship term, the number of apprentices to
be permitted, rates of wages, courses of training, and educational
classes to be attended. Opportunity is given for criticism arid
defense of these recommendations, and thereafter the Minister of
Labor publishes his decision.
After a trade has been designated, it becomes illegal to employ a
minor within the area affected, otherwise than under a contract of
apprenticeship, which must be registered by the inspector of appren
ticeship, an official appointed by the Minister of Labor. Before
registering a contract, the inspector must consult the apprenticeship
committee of the trade and area concerned, and, with its approval,
may refuse to register a contract which is considered not to be for the
benefit of the apprentice. In 1924 the number of apprenticeship
committees was 13, but by the end of 1928 the number had increased
to 29, with a corresponding increase in the number of apprentices
registered. For the most part, the committees have jurisdiction
over only a given city or other limited area, but three, the committees
on national printing and on railways and the Government apprentice
ship committee, have jurisdiction over the whole of the Union.
The growth of the sj^stem since the coming into effect of the act is
shown in the following table:
B
J U V E N IL E S I N D E N T U R E D U N D E R A P P R E N T IC E S H I P C O N T R A C T S
C urrent registered contracts
In d u stry
1923
Printin g
____ _
___
_ _ - _
-- .
Building
_ _______________ _______
____
E ngin eerin g -_ _ - ______________ _ _______
_____
F u rn itu re
____ _ - - _____
__
Carriage b u ild in g ________________ ___
____ _ Baking
L eather__________________________ ______________
Total
______
__ .
___ _____ __
- ____
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1924
1925
1926
509
2,147
1,831
600
63
5,150
172
21
334
358
650
22
68
446
1,490
1,213
196
61
373
1,410
3,406
1927
530
2,560
2, 736
1,074
131
41
213
7,285
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
131
The detailed figures for 1928 are not given, but the number of con
tracts registered in that year reached 8,225. It will be seen that the
increase in number of contracts has been marked from 1925 onward.
A further evidence of the popularity the act has achieved is found in
the fact that a movement is under way to increase the number of
industries and trades to which it may be applied. As _originally
passed, it was to be applied to only 10 designated industries, but at
present nearly twice as many are proposed for inclusion in the list.
Conditions of Apprenticeship
T h e l e n g t h of the apprenticeship period is seven years in the print
ing industry, and with a few minor exceptions, five years in all other
trades. In other respects there has been little uniformity in appren
ticeship conditions in different trades and localities, but in 1927 a con
ference of apprenticeship committees was held, and as a result there
has been an effort to secure some agreement on conditions. The
principle of fixing the wages of apprentices on a percentage basis of
the journeyman’s rate of pay has been generally accepted and put
into effect wherever practicable. Educational and technical training
has been provided for, and a strong effort is being made to secure the
attendance of apprentices at technical classes during working hours
for half the compulsory period of apprenticeship.
The regulation of the number of apprentices permitted in a given
trade has been approached from a new angle. The act definitely laid
it down that while the apprenticeship committee^ should recommend
the number of apprentices to be employed in any industrial establish
ment, there should be no restriction with the object of limiting the
future number of journeymen. Fixing a ratio of apprentices to jour
neymen employed is therefore barred. Apart from its restrictive
effect, a ratio is regarded as undesirable.
I t is inflexible an d easily becom es in o p e ra tiv e in tim e of depression w hen
jo u rn ey m en are dism issed a n d th e services of a p p ren tices re ta in e d , ow ing to th e
provisions of th e ir c o n tracts. M oreover, a ra tio ta k e s no a c c o u n t of w h a t is
to -d ay reg ard ed as fu n d a m e n ta l, th e tra in in g of ap p ren tices. A ny em ployer
m a y engage ap p ren tices up to th e ra tio allowed, alth o u g h he m a y be u n ab le to
tr a in th e m efficiently.
To meet the situation, all committees have adopted a resolution to
the effect that no employer shall be permitted more apprentices than
he is able to train efficiently to the satisfaction of the Minister of
Labor, who consults with the committees upon the subject. This
arrangement has been found to work well, though disagreement and
friction sometimes rise between committees and individual employers
over the question of whether the latter is really able to train efficiently
the apprentices he wishes to take on. In such cases, provision is made
for appeal and for careful investigation of the situation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[821 ]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Strikes and Lockouts in the United States in February, 1929
ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for Feb
ruary, 1929, with comparable data for preceding months are
presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and
lasting less than one day have been omitted.
The bureau is dependent upon trade journals, newspapers, and
labor periodicals for notices of strikes. These reports are followed
up by correspondence and when necessary by personal visits of repre
sentatives of the Conciliation Service or of this bureau.
Table 1 is a summary table showing for each of the months, Janu
ary, 1927, to February, 1929, inclusive, the number of disputes which
began in those months, the number in effect at the end of each month,
and the number of workers involved. It also shows, in the last
column, the economic loss in man-days. The number of workdays
lost is computed by multiplying the number of workers affected in
each dispute by the length of the dispute measured in working-days
as normally worked by the industry or trade in question.
D
T able 1 .—IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D O F E \ C H
M O N T H , JA N U A R Y , 1927, TO F E B R U A R Y , 1929
N um ber of dis
putes
N um ber of w orkers in
volved in disputes
N um ber of
man-days
lost during
m onth
M o n th and year
Begining in
m onth
In effect
a t end of Beginning
in m onth
m onth
In effect
a t end of
m onth
192 7
J a n u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry _________
M arch _____________
37
65
74
18
45
67
K Q1 o
9, 756
13,142
2 287
5,717
8,182
58,125
115, 229
214, 283
A p r i l ____
M a y ____________________
Ju n e ____________
87
107
80
116
88
90? 4Hfi
9? ?45
18 9^7
1QQ 701
900 700
196,323
5, 265,420
5,136, 006
4, 863, 345
J u l y _______
A u g u st^ ..____ ___________
Septem ber_______________
65
57
57
63
53
58
33,994
8,150
19
199, 287
IQft AAA
196, 829
5, 308,123
4, 999, 751
4,945, 702
O c to b e r___
N ovem b er.—..................
D e c e m b e r________
50
27
28
58
51
54
13,024
5,282
4 ?S1
82,095
82, 607
81
2, 724,117
2, 040,140
2,129,153
J a n u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry . __________
M a r c h . _____________
43
47
34
62
61
63
18, 263
33, 602
7, 145
ft1 fi7fi
1OA ftftQ
7ft QfiO
2,135,092
2,155, 559
2,343, 415
A pril_______
M ay ____ _ ___________
Ju n e________________
62
72
40
70
74
64
14*1 «34
15,138
20,941
1QA QftO
IQfi OGA
1QA AOfi
4,884,430
3, 526, 608
3, 580, 719
J u ly _______
........ ..........................
A ugust
Septem ber............................ .
53
57
48
60
59
48
17 ???
&, 279
ft 041
1QA 1OO
19Q 910
fiQ fifiO
3, 365, 803
3, 577, 599
2, 605, 713
October . . .
N o v e m b e r .._______
D ecem ber________
49
43
43
39
36
615
37, 650
41,420
22
1,304, 647
1, 295,134
1,001,414
49
41
42
50
18, 704
1 92 8
30,190
19 2 9
Jan u ary i___
F ebruary i .............................................................. j
--- -------i
1Preliminary;
:
figures subject to revision.
132
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
958,839
914,576
43,010
[822]
133
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 2 gives, by industry, the number of strikes beginning in
December, 1928, and in January and February, 1929, and the number
of workers directly involved.
T able 2 .—IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN D E C E M B E R , 1928, JA N U A R Y A N D
F E B R U A R Y , 1929
N um ber of w orkers involved
in disputes beginning in—
N um ber of disputes begin
ning in—
In d u stry
Decem
ber
Jan u ary
7
3
■F eb ru
ary
Decem
ber
Jan u ary
11
432
10
412
114
115
95
1,026
295
15
3, 000
90
4,136
9, 325
1
1
A utom obile, carriage, and wagon w orkers.
B akery w orkers
_____
B uilding trades
_______________
T^am stprs and chauffeurs
C lothing w orkers. __
________________
F u rn itu re workers
TTospi f.a.l em pi oyees
L aund ry workers
T/eather workers
_ __
M etal trades
__ _ __________
M ine w orkers
__ ___________
M otion-picture operators, actors, and theatrip, al workers
_
______
P rin tin g and publishing
Slaughtering and m eat p a c k in g __
Textile w orkers________________________
M iseellaneons
2
11
2
1
1
4
2
20
12
1
1
5
3
1
8
8
3
1
1
1
15
2
5
22
49
22
41
2, 379
3, 420
25
409
10,156
59
12
117
905
800
1, 253
250
5, 346
14, 889
18, 704
45
1
T o ta l______________________ _____
F eb ru
ary
Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 3 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in
February, 1929, classified by number of workers and by industries.
T able 3 .—N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN F E B R U A R Y , 1929,
C L A S S IF IE D B Y N U M B E R O F W O R K E R S A N D B Y IN D U S T R IE S
N u m b er of disputes beginning in F ebruary, 1929, involving—
In d u stry
B uilding trades
_ _____________
Clothing workers
__ ______________
L eather workers
M etal trades
M ine w orkers
______________ _ _ __
M otion-picture operators, actors, a n d theii.tripal workers
Slaughtering and meat, packing
Textile workers
M iseellaneons
T o t a l __ ________________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6 and
under
20 and
20
100
100 and
workers
workers
under
500
workers
2
5
5
3
under
2
500 and
under
1,000 and
w orkers
under
5,000
workers
1
1
1
1
4
1
1,000
5,000
w orkers
and over
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
4
[ 82 B]
14
11
7
4
1
134
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
February, 1929, by industries and classified duration.
T a ble 4 .—N U M B E R O F IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN F E B R U A R Y , 1929, B Y
IN D U S T R IE S A N D B Y C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N
Classified d uration of strikes ending in F ebruary, 1929
In d u stry
Building tra d e s________________________
C lothing w orkers____________
F u rn itu re w orkers __________________
L a u n d ry workers _ ________________
L eather w orkers^,. _____
M etal trades ________
M ine w orkers_____ __
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical w orkers_________________
T extile workers _____ .
M iscellaneous________________________
T otal
______________________
one- 1 m onth 4 m onths 6 m onths 12 m onths
One-half Over
half and a n d less and less and less and less
m onth
less
th
an
th a n 2
th a n 5
th a n 7
th a n 13
or less
1 m onth
m onths m onths
m onths m onths
3
4
1
1
1
8
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
i
1
20
7
1
1
1
3
1
1
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Beginning in February, 1929
Electrical workers, building trades, New York.—A successful strike
was conducted by approximately 300 electrical workers, members of
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local No. 3,
New York City, from February 1 to February 6, against some 50
employers, members of the Building Trades Employers’ Association
of the city of New York. The workers demanded a working week of
five days instead of five and one-half and a daily wage of SI3.20 in
stead of $12 for journeymen and $8.80 instead of $8 for helpers.
On January 12 the employers’ association was advised by letter
from the electrical contractors’ association that by unanimous vote
of their membership the 5-day week was adopted to take effect Feb
ruary 1, with the “ present” weekly wage, making the daily wage
for journeymen $13.20 per day and helpers $8.80.
This action on the part of the electrical contractors’ association
was regarded by the building trades employers’ association as a
violation of its constitution and by-laws and of orders of the board
of governors. Charges were preferred by a member of the employers’
association, and all of the members of the electrical contractors’
association were cited to appear before the executive committee of
the employers’ association on January 23 and 25.
_On January 22, the electrical contractors’ association secured an
injunction against the building trades employers’ association, re
straining the latter from holding the hearings planned. This in
junction was dismissed on February 20 by another supreme court
justice.
On January 31, the building trades employers’ association obtained
an order restraining the Electrical Workers’ Local Union No. 3 and
the electrical contractors’ association from putting into effect the
5-day week and the raise in wages from $12 per day to $13.20 per day
for journeymen, and from $8 per day to $8.80 per day for helpers. On
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 2 4 ]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
135
the following day about 500 members of electrical workers’ Local
No. 3 struck on approximately 50 jobs of members of the employers’
association.
This second injunction was, in turn, vacated on February 6. On the
next day practically all of the striking members of electrical workers’
Local No. 3 returned to their jobs at the increased wage and with the
5-day week; and all of the members of the electrical contractors’
association sent in their resignations as members of the building trades
employers’ association.
Anthracite miners, Pennsylvania.—A sympathetic strike which in
volved 3,566 employees of the Glen Alden Coal Co. at its Woodward,
Pettebone, and Loomis collieries, located, respectively, at Kingston,
Luzerne, and West Nanticoke, began February 4 and lasted through
February 5. This development followed a strike of 547 employees of
the company at its Avondale Colliery because a few miners employed
in the Bennett vein of that colliery claimed they were not receiving
the proper rates for some new work.
The strike at the Avondale Colliery began January 30 and lasted
six days. The men returned to work on February 6 and took up
their claim in the manner prescribed in the agreement between the
anthracite operators and the United Mine Workers of America.
Textile workers, New Hampshire.—The plant of the Newmarket
Manufacturing Co., Newmarket, was closed down indefinitely on or
about February 19, following the presentation of demands by the
workers on February 18. According to a statement by the agent of
the company, as quoted in the press, a committee representing the
employees “ demanded an increase of 15 per cent in wages and other
changes which it was impossible for the management to grant. We,
therefore, shut down the plant and it will remain closed indefinitely.”
The workers held a meeting on February 24 and voted to go on
strike, which began February 25 with the picketing of the plant.
Approximately 1,100 workers are involved.
Anthracite miners, Pennsylvania.—Operations of the Panther Creek
collieries of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., involving 5,665 miners,
were suspended from February 21 to 23 inclusive, following a dispute
between the miners and the company over working conditions at No.
6 colliery at Lansford. The colliery, it was announced, had been
operating only six hours a day instead, of the required eight.
After a conference with the Federal mediator the miners on Feb
ruary 23 called off the strike, mining to be resumed on the following
Monday, pending the adjustment of differences in conference.
Shoe workers, Massachusetts.—A strike of shoe workers in Lynn,
involving approximately 2,000 workers and some 49 plants, began on
February 28 to enforce demands, including a new agreement, wage
increases, and union recognition, the strikers being members of what
is known as the independent unions.
About two-thirds of the strikers, according to press reports, re
sumed work on March 4, after the unions which ordered the strike
had signed agreements with the manufacturers. The strike was vir
tually ended by March 7, but a complete settlement was not reported
until March 14, when all of the 49 shops were operating on normal
schedules. The unions waived their demand for a 20 per cent increase
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[825]
136
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
in prices and, agreed to draw up a new price list and to submit it to
the manufacturers.
Shoe workers, Ohio.—The United States Shoe Co., Cincinnati, is
involved in a strike of its employees, numbering 546, which began
February 15, because of dissatisfaction with “ change of wage
payment^
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Continuing into February, 1929
Bituminous coal strike of April 1, 1927.—There appears to be
nothing to add to the statement in the preceding issue of the Review,
as no new developments have been reported.
Printers’ strike, Albany, N. Y.—An interesting development in
connection with the strike of printers in Albany, N. Y., on November
23, 1928, against the publishers of the Knickerbocker Press, Albany
Evening News, Albany Times-Union, and Albany Sunday Telegram
was the recent announcement to the effect that, although the places
of the strikers were filled and the papers published under what the
publishers described on December 11 as entirely normal conditions,
agreements, satisfactory to the former employees, have been entered
into with the publishers whereby, it is understood, they secured
substantially what they had demanded when the strike began. The
old employees were restored to their former positions by March 11.
Conciliation Work of the Department of Labor in February,
1929
By H
ugh
L. K
e r w in
, D
ir e c t o r
of
C
o n c il ia t io n
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised his good offices in connection with 40 labor disputes
during February, 1929. These disputes affected a known total of
23,520 employees. The table following shows the name and loca
tion of the establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred,
the nature of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy
not having reached the 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
workers directly and indirectly involved.
On March 1, 1929, there were 33 strikes before the department for
settlement and in addition 17 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 50.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 826 ]
L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O P L A B O R T H R O U G H IT S C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E , F E B R U A R Y , 1929
W orkers in
volved
D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and location
N atu re of
controversy
S. Lacher Co., N ew Y ork C ity ____ Strike____
E g y p tian Transportation Co., M ar
ion, 11 1 .
Controversy
[827]
Aleenon Boiler W orks, Pittsburgh, ____ do_____
Pa.
Star D yeing & Cleaning Co., St. S tr ik e __
Louis, Mo.
Cause of dispute
W orking conditions; recognition.
Asked 5-day week
Sym pathy w ith P lym outh
miners.
Textile carders___ Asked 173^ cents per hour increase; 67J^ cents per hour.
A uto m echanics. __ Proposed wage cut of 10 per
cent; jurisdiction of mechanics.
W orking conditions; union
Boiler m akers.
agreement.
Dyers and clean- Protest against discharge of 2
ers.
workers; refused overtim e
work.
Shovel m akers___ W orking conditions; union
contract; p lant closed.
M iners____
Failure to pay wages________
Bag and suitcase
makers.
Electrical workers
M iners
W yom ing Shovel W orks, W yo ------ do_____
ming, P a.
do
Lehigh & W yoming Coal M ining
Co., D u p o n t, Pa.
____do___ ______ Wage dispute ______________
Lehigh & W ilkes-Barre Coal Co., _ _ do
E ast W ilkes-Barre, Pa.
Textile workers
Proposed 10 per cent wage cut
R . & K . Silk Co., Paterson, N . J__
Cleaners and dyers Alleged discrim ination for
K ronicks Co., M inneapolis, Minn__ Lookout
union m embership.
Shoe workers __
Wage cut; alleged discriminaSchw artz & Benjam in Shoe Co., Strike
tion.
Brooklyn, N . Y.
Hosiery w orkers... Discharge of knitter for union
A llentow n Silk Hosiery Co., Allen
affiliation.
tow n, Pa.
Iro n and sheet m etal w ork, Chicago, ___ do____ __ Iron and sheet- Jurisdiction of iro n w o rk _____
m etal workers.
111.
do
M iners ________ Wage cut of employee_______
Lehigh Coal & N avigation Co.,
T am aqua, Pa.
do
Employees
W age cut _ _______________
H oude Shock Absorber Co., B uf
falo, N . Y.
B ay u k Cigar Co., Philadelphia, Pa_ Controversy Strippers________ Objection to conveyor system .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Present status and term s of settlem ent
A djusted. U nion m en to be employed; no w ritten agreem ent.
Pending
A djusted. R eturned w hen Plym outh
strikers returned.
A djusted. Increase granted as asked..
A djusted.
cut.
Accepted 10 per cent wage
A djusted. A greement concluded; no
discrim ination.
A djusted. P lan t sold; all returned
under new m anagem ent.
A djusted. P lant to reopen; no wage
cut.
A djusted. Change in operation. M iners to be paid.
A djusted. D istrict com m ittee to fix
terms.
Pending
____do __ _____ ____________________
Begin
ning
Ending
1929
Feb. 7
1929
Feb. 25
Feb.
Feb.
D i In d i
rectly rectly
20
8
300
2
4
Feb.
5
2 ,10 0
Jan. 31
Feb.
1
20
150
Feb.
4
M ar. 2
17
70
Feb.
7
Feb. 19
5
10
Jan. 28
Feb. 26
34
25
Feb.
4
'
Feb. 11
193
40
Feb.
2
Feb.
5
200
Jan. 31
Feb.
2
465
10
24
28
4
50
80
12
Feb.
Feb.
3
2
A djusted. Signed agreem ent w ith
union recognition.
Pending. Reinstatement refused
Feb.
9
A djusted. Settled b y arbitration;
work aw arded sheet-m etal workers.
A djusted. Em ployee reinstated in
former position, same wages.
U nable to adjust. (Others employed.)
Feb. 12
Feb. 13
Feb.
Feb.
Unclassified. R eturned before commissioner’s arrival; agreed on conditions; 12 girls discharged as agitators.
Feb. 23
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
do
Electrical w ork, N ew Y ork C ity __
_ do
Glen Alden Coal Co., K ingston and
Edw ardsville, Pa.
R iver M ills, Woonsocket, R . I ____ ____do_____
Craftsmen con
cerned
30
15
300
8
700
20
Feb. 15
Feb. 18
300
Feb. 11
Feb. 12
100
8
400
co
-d
L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OP L A B O R T H R O U G H IT S C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E , F E B R U A R Y , 1929—
C ontinued
C om pany or industry and location
C raftsm en con
cerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and term s of settlem ent
Begin
ning
Ending
Shoe workers
Proposed wage c u t. __
Adjusted. Signed agreem ent w ithout
wage cut.
Unable to ad ju st.
____ . . . . . . _
[ 828 ]
C lothing w orkers.. Wages; asked union working
conditions.
Quilters
W ithdraw al of wage guaranty. Unclassified. G uaranty restored; all
returned before commissioner’s arrival.
Satisfactory agreement
School buildings, Brooklyn, N . Y . ____do _____ Electrical workers N onunion labor em ployed___ Adjusted.
w ith electrical organization.
A djusted. R eturned; term s to be
Lehigh Coal & N avigation Co.,
_ do.
W orking conditions________
M iners
fixed by district committee.
P an th er Creek, Pa.
Shoe workers
U nited States Shoe Co., Cincindo
M ethod of com puting wages. _ Pending. (Very little chance of settlem ent.)
nati, Ohio.
Settled by arbitration;
Discharge; alleged in viola- A djusted.
Prem ier Coal Co., Jasonville, I n d .. Controversy. M iners.
m an reinstated.
tion of agreement.
_ . . . ___ _ . . . . .
W orking conditions
__ ___ P ending.
Glass M en ’s Club, Chicago, 111
Strike.
Glaziers
Unable to adjust. M ill closed for inN ew m arket M anufacturing Co., ____do
R ayon t e x t i l e A sked increase_____________
definite period.
N ew m arket, R. I.
workers.
N um ber of musicians em- Pending. A rbitration in progress . _
N ational T heater Players Stock Controversy M usicians
ployed.
Co., W ashington, D. C.
Perfect Circle Piston Ring Co., Strike. _ ___ A uto mechanical Installation of new efficiency A djusted. Satisfactory agreem ent as
system.
to schedules.
Hagerstown, Ind.
workers.
H arry Wolf Silk Co., Paterson, N . J. ____d o _____ Textile workers ___ Wages cut 14 per cent, or 1 A djusted. Compromised on J^-cent
cut per yard, 50-hour week, and 3cent per yard.
loom system.
O perators
Wages, working conditions, Pending _______ . .
_____________
Capitol, Olympia, and Palace Thea- __ _do_
and num ber to be employed.
ters, Altoona, Pa.
U nited Suit Case Co., Chicago, 111. ____do_____ L eather w orkers. _ Discharge of 2 m en for refusing U nable to adjust. Refuse to reinstate
men.
Sunday work.
Unclassified. Owner going out of
L o ck o u t__
Cigar m akers
Discharge of 2 men.
Jas. Porter Cigar Co., Milwaukee,
business.
Wis.
Eagle F oundry C-o., Belleville, 111.. C ontroversy Stove m o u n ters__ W orking conditions_________ Pending__ _____ ___________________
FRASER
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Feb. 16 __ do_
Feb. 19
D i
In d i
rectly rectly
7,000
99
16
1
15
4
12
100
Feb. 27
170
. . . d o ___
M ar.
1
50
. . . d o ___
Feb. 25
200
Feb. 21 __ do. __ 7,000
Feb. 16
200
500
Feb. 19
Feb. 28
36
Feb. 21
Feb. 7
Feb. 25
1,1 0 0
7
48
Feb. 13
Feb. 22
150
500
Feb. 23
M ar.
2
19
7
2
30
M ar.
5
25
50
72
Feb. 15
Feb. 25
---d o ___
Jan.
1
Feb. 22
Feb. 27
2
50
200
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Jim IQ
per day.
Feb. 18 M ar. 13
A
djusted.
All
union
workers
emLaborers’
wages
cut
and
nonBuilding _______
union ironworkers employed.
ployed.
Feb.
1 Feb. 19
A
djusted.
Continue
u
n
til
Feb.
1,
Asked
contract
for
1
year____
Stage hands
1930, on verbal agreem ent.
_
do_
___do_
___________________
_
___
. .. d o ___
___
do
_
_________________
_
O perators
Elootrinul
- Urk , N cw
o - York
cc n ca woi
01 C lit~
7 — C ontroversy. Electrical w orkers.
Central Construction Co., Scran- S trike____.
ton, Pa.
La Porte Theater, La Porte, I n d . .. T h rea te n e d
strike.
do
L a Porte and C entral Theaters, La
Porte, Ind.
do
Brooklyn Shoe Co., Brooklyn,
N . Y.
Levine Bros. Clothing Manufac- Strike
turers, C incinnati, Ohio.
Woonsocket Rayon Co., Woondo
socket, R. I.
CO
GO
in
/■ W orkers
volved
D uration
N atu re of
controversy
I—'■
C h ath am Sheep-Lined Clothing
Corporation, New York C ity .
Procter & G amble Soap Co., Staten
Island, N . Y.
41195°—29----- 10
Total.
Strike............ Clothing m ak ers..
C ontroversy
Painters, pipe fit
ters.
0
W orking conditions.
do
Unclassified. Satisfactory settlem ent
before commissioner’s arrival.
0
Feb. 14
0
Feb. 15
125
21, 343
2,177
1 N o t reported.
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
[829]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CO
O
FAMILY ALLOWANCES
Creation of French Commission on Family Allowances
HIGH commission on family allowances has been created in
the French Ministry of Labor, Hygiene, and Social Welfare
in accordance with a decree of January 26, 1929.1 The duty of this
new body is to give advice on questions concerning the application
of legislation relative to family allowances and in regard to the possible
extension and modification of such allowances.
The membership of the commission includes the minister of labor
(president), 4 senators, 8 deputies, 12 representatives of compensa
tion funds and of industries directly distributing family allowances,
12 representatives of the principal public administrations which are
called upon to pass on contracts for public works and supplies, 2
employer members, 2 members of the superior council of labor, the
director of the budget of the Ministry of Finance, the chief of the
bureau for the regulation of labor and wages in the division of labor,
and the clerk of that bureau (who is to act as secretary to the com
mission) .
By a second decree of the same date presidents or delegates of the
following organizations were designated to represent on the com
mission the compensation funds or industries directly disbursing
family allowances: The central committee on family allowances, the
Compensation Fund of the Paris Region, the Union of Compensation
Funds of the National Federation of Building and Public Works,
the Family Allowance Fund of Lyon and the Lyon Region, the
Family Association of Upper Rhine Industry, the Family Textile
Fund of Lille, the Nantes Region Fund of Institutions for Workers’
Families, the Council for the System of State Railways, the Union
of Metallurgical and Mining Industries, the Central Committee of
the Coal Mines of France, and a group of large novelty stores.
A
Social or Family Allowances in Germany
SUMMARY of rates of family-allowance payment appears in
the February 16, 1929, issue of Gewerkschafts Zeitung.
A These
rates apply for married workers in certain organized trades
in Germany at the end of 1928.
Social allowances are reported on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis.
Allowances per hour vary between 1 and 3 pfennigs for a wife and for
each dependent child. No indication is given that there is any
limit to the number of children for whom this allowance will be paid.
Weekly allowances range between 0.50 and 3 marks.
1La
Journée Industrielle, Paris, F eb .
140
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3 - 4 , 1929, p . 6.
[8 3 0 ]
141
FAMILY ALLOWANCES
In the metal trades such allowances are listed for 17 cities. In 10
of these localities married workers were allowed the same sum (per
capita) for wife or household as for children, in 6 the allowance was
greater for children than for wife, and in 1 a larger allowance was made
for wife than for children. In the chemical, tanning, paper, and
textile industry wife and child are allowed for at the same rate; and
in the brewing, milling, and railway industry family allowances are
paid at a fiat rate regardless of the number of dependents a married
worker may have.
The table below shows for specified industries and localities the
allowances paid.
F A M IL Y
A L L O W A N C E S P A ID
IN
S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S
GERM ANY
AND
L O C A L IT IE S IN
For w hom paid
R ate (in
marks)
[M ark a t par=23.8 cents]
In d u stry and locality
M etal in d u stry :
A achen____
K refeld____
A ugsburg, M unich, and N ürnberg.
B rem en and K iel_________ ______
G leiw itz________________________
K assel_______________ _______ ___
C o lo g n e ...______________________
M an n h eim ______________________
O snabrück____________ _____ ____
Siegen and S te ttin _______ _____ ___
Chem ical ind u stry :
M annheim _ _______
K arlsruhe___
Cologne. . . . _____________
_____
Freiburg . . . .
Aachen and Krefeld
Berlin, B randenburg, and F rankfort on th e O der.
Elberfeld and S t u t t g a r t _____
do_______
do
_do
do__
__do_ __ _____
_ _do_ ___ _________ ____
do__ .
Düsseldorf _
_______
D ortm u n d and E ssen. .
B:.elefeld_____
___
. 15
Per hour
0.012
.01
.0 2
.01
.0 2
.01
.01
.0 2
.0 2
.01
.015
.02
.01
______
Krefeld,
____do________ ________________
___ d o ____
___ do________
and ___ do _ ____
__ do_
Bielefeld, H am burg, M annheim , and Osnabrück.
Textile in d u stry :
B erlin__________________ ________________ ____
Frankfort on th e M ain ............................ ...............
Cologne_______ ____ _________ ________________
Dusseldorf, Elberfeld, and Essen.
___ __________
___ _________ ____________
Wife and each child under 14 years___
Wife and each child_________________
F am ily upkeep and each dependent
child.
Wife and each child under 14 years___
.do.
Krefeld.
Wife and each dependent child.
[831]
Per hour
0.02
.01
.025
___ do_______ ______ ________ _______
O snabrück___ _____ ______ ________ ___________
Per week
1.46
1.43
1.14
1.39
1.03
.80
.70
P er shift
0.18
. 16
. 15
do __
do _____
_ d o _____
K assel and F rankfort on th e M a in ____ _
B reslau and Gleiwitz . . .
T a nning and dyeing ind u stry :
D üsseldorf________
_______
P aper m anufacture:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0.10
Wife and each child_____
W ife___________________
Each ch ild............................
H ousehold______________
E ach child______________
H ousehold a n d each child.
Wife and each child_____
P er capita (wife or child)..
W ife___________ ____ _
E ach ch ild ______________
W ife___________________
Each child______________
Wife and each child_____
D ortm u n d , Dusseldorf, and Essen.
D üsseldorf, Elberfeld, Cologne,
Solingen.
B erlin and F rankfort on th e Oder
P er shift
Wife a n d each child______
H ousehold and each child..
Per week
1.00
.50
Per hour
0.01
.02
. 13
.02
.01
P er week
1.00
P er day
0.08
142
F A M IL Y
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
A L L O W A N C E S P A ID
IN S P E C IF I E D IN D U S T R IE S A N D
G E R M A N Y —C ontinued
L O C A L IT IE S IN
In d u stry and locality
For w hom paid
R ate (in
m arks)
Brewing ind u stry :
Aachen
_______ _ ________ _ ________ __
D o rtm u n d , Düsseldorf, Elberfeld, Essen, Cologne,
Krefeld, a n d Solingen.
Siegen
M illing industry:
-\flnhen, Cologne, and Düsseldorf _
D ortm und
Krefeld
P er week
M arried m en
. ________________
___d o ____ _ _______________________
3.00
2.85
_ ______________
2. 75
_do____ _ __ ___________________
___do___ _ __ ____________________
____do......
.......... ................................ .
2. 65
2. 60
2.55
_ _do_ _ ______ _
C om m unal occupations: All localities._
P er hour
Wife and each c h i l d ________________ 0.01-0.03
Railw ays: 411 localities
M arried w orkers ___________________
P e r day
i P ayable for each day th e w orker is entitled to his regular wage.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[832]
10. 27
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Wages ancl Hours of Labor in the Hosiery and Underwear
Industry, 1926 and 1928
^HE Bureau of Labor Statistics made a study of wages and hours
of labor of wage earners in the hosiery and the underwear
industries in 1928, the data for which were taken by agents of
the bureau directly from the pay rolls and other records, and cover
28,445 wage earners of 108 hosiery mills in 19 States and 15,056 wage
earners of 84 underwear mills in 15 States. The States included in
the study are those in which the industries are of material importance
in number of wage earners. According to the 1925 Census of M anu
factures, 96 per cent of the total number of wage earners in hosiery
and 95 per cent of the wage earners in underwear were employed in
the States included in the 1928 study.
The figures in Table 1 show, for specified years from 1910 to 1928,
the average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full
times earnings per week for hosiery and underwear combined because
segregation was not definitely made by the bureau prior to 1926.
Indesx numbers of these averages with the 1913 average taken as the
base, or 100 per cent, are also shown in the table.
The index numbers furnish continuous and comparable data one
year with another over the entire period from 1910 to 1928. The
indexes for each of the years from 1910 to 1914 and 1919 were com
puted from the averages of the combined data for the selected occu
pations only, with 1913 as the base, and are simple percentages.
The index numbers for each of the specified years from 1922 to 1928
were computed from the averages for all occupations combined by
increasing or decreasing the 1914 index for selected occupations in
proportion to the increase or decrease in the averages for all occupa
tions as between 1914 and the specified succeeding year.
Between 1926 and 1928 there was no change in average full-time
hours per week, the average for each year being 51.3 per week. Aver
age earnings per hour increased from 44.3 cents in 1926 to 44.4 in
1928 and average full-time earnings per week increased from $22.73
in 1926 to $22.78 in 1928.
Average full-time hours per week decreased from an index of 104.2
in 1910 to 91.3 in 1924, or 12.4 per cent, and increased to 92.4 in
1926 and 1928, an increase of 1.2 per cent over the 1924 index. The
decrease between 1913 and 1928 was 7.6 per cent. Average earnings
per hour rose steadily from an index of 82 in 1910 to 267.2 in 1928, or
225.9 per cent. The increase between 1913 and 1928 was 167.2 per
cent, Average full-time earnings per week increased steadily from
an index of 85.2 in 1910 to 246.1 in 1928, or 188.8 per cent. The
increase between 1913 and 1928 was 146.1 per cent. Full-time
earnings per week, however, did not increase in the same proportion
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[833]
143
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
144
as average earnings per hour because of the change from year to
year in the full-time hours per week.
T able 1 . — A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S W IT H IN D E X N U M B E R S , 1910-1928
Selected or all occupa
tions and year
Selected occupations:
1910__
1911______________
1912______________
1913______________
1914______________
1919______________
All occupations:
1914______________
1922______________
1924
1926_...........................
1928-............„.............
N um
ber of
estab
lish
m ents
Index num bers (1913 = 100)
of—
Average Average Average
N u m b er full-time
earnings full-time
of wage
earnings
hours
earners per
week per hour per week
F ull
F u ll
Earnings
tim e
tim e
per hour earnings
hours
per week
per week
15
62
62
69
82
61
13,132
13,885
16, 249
18,198
19, 396
16,073
57.6
57.4
56.4
55.3
54.6
52.1
$0.141
.144
.153
.172
.178
.315
$8. 10
8. 28
8. 62
9. 51
9. 70
16.44
104. 2
103.8
102.0
100.0
98.7
94.2
82.0
83.7
89.0
100.0
103.5
183.1
85. 2
87.1
90.6
100.0
102.0
172.9
82
107
143
190
192
29, 631
32,178
38, 549
45, 594
43, 501
54.8
51.0
50. 7
51.3
51.3
.172
.354
.409
.443
.444
9. 44
18. 05
20.74
22. 73
22. 78
91.9
91.3
92.4
92.4
213.0
246.1
266. 6
267.2
195.0
224.1
245.6
246.1
Tw o sets of averages are show n for 1914 for th e in d u stry —one for selected occupations and th e other for
all occupations. T h e averages from 1910 to 1914 for selected occupations only are com parable one year w ith
another, as are those for all occupations one year w ith another from 1914 to 1928.
Table 2 shows for 1926 and 1928 the number of establishments,
number of employees, average full-time hours per week, earnings per
hour, and full-time earnings per week, by occupations and by sex.
The data for 1926 are for 10,250 male and 20,296 female wage
earners, or a total of 30,546 in the hosiery industry, and the data for
1928 are for 9,401 males and 19,044 females, or a total of 28,445. In
the underwear industry the 1926 data are for 2,860 males and 12,188
females, or a total of 15,048 wage earners, and the 1928 data are for
2,805 males and 12,251 females, or a total of 15,056 wage earners.
The 1928 average full-time hours per week of males in the hosiery
industry ranged by occupations from 50.1 for knitters, footers, full
fashioned, to 55.8 for automatic knitters, and of females ranged from
49.8 for full-fashioned seamers to 53.5 for mock seamers. (In 1926
the data for mock seamers were included with the miscellaneous
group designated “ other employees,” but the number of females in
this occupation in 1928 was sufficient to warrant the showing of
figures for them separately.) In the underwear industry in 1928
average full-time hours per week for males ranged from 49.7 for cuff
and ankle knitters to 52.8 for winders, and of females ranged from
48.9 for hemmers to 50.7 for button sewers.
Average earnings per hour of males in the hosiery industry in 1928
ranged by occupations from 31.7 cents for transfer knitters to $1,546
for-knitters, footers, full fashioned, and of females ranged from 29.4
cents for transfer knitters to 56.1 cents for full-fashioned toppers.
In the underwear industry the average earnings per hour of males
ranged from 36.5 cents for winders to 72.8 cents for machine fixers,
and of females ranged from 27.8 cents for inspectors to 46.9 cents for
cuff and ankle knitters.
The average full-time earnings per week of males in the hosiery
industry in 1928 ranged by occupations from $17.05 for transfer knit
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[834]
145
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
ters to $77.45 for knitters, footers, full fashioned, and of females ranged
from $15.61 for transfer knitters to $27.99 for full-fashioned toppers.
In the underwear industry average earnings per week of males ranged
from $19.27 for winders to $36.47 for machine fixers, and of females
ranged from $13.93 for inspectors to $23.31 for cuff and ankle knitters.
Average full-time hours per week of males in all occupations in the
hosiery industry were 52.6 in 1926 and 52.4 in 1928, and of females
were 51.5 in 1926 and 51.9 in 1928. In the underwear industry the
averages of males were 51 per week in 1926 and 50.6 in 1928, and of
females were 50.1 in 1926 and 49.8 in 1928. For all males and females
combined, or the industry, the averages for hosiery were 51.9 in 1926
and 52.1 in 1928, and those for underwear were 50.3 in 1926 and 50 in
1928.
Average earnings per hour of males in all occupations in the hosiery
industry were 67.5 cents in 1926 and 72.4 cents in 1928, and in the
underwear industry were 47.7 cents in 1926 and 45.3 cents in 1928.
Average earnings per hour of females in all occupations in the hosiery
industry were 35.8 cents in 1926 and 36 cents in 1928, and in the
underwear industry were 35.2 cents in 1926 and 32.9 cents in 1928.
For all males and females together, or the industry, the averages for
hosiery were 47.2 cents in 1926 and 48.8 cents in 1928, and for the
underwear industry were 37.8 cents in 1926 and 35.4 cents in 1928.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in all occupations
in the hosiery industry were $35.51 in 1926 and $37.94 in 1928, and
in underwear were $24.33 in 1926 and $22.92 in 1928. Average full
time earnings per week of females in all occupations in the hosiery
industry were $18.44 in 1926 and $18.68 in 1928, and in underwear
were $17.64 in 1926 and $16.38 in 1928. For all males and females
in all occupations, or the industry, the averages for hosiery were $24.50
in 1926 and $25.42 in 1928 and for underwear were $19.01 in 1926 and
$17.70 in 1928.
T able 2.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN H O S IE R Y A N D IN U N D E R W E A R , 1926
A N D 1928, B Y O C C U P A T IO N A N D SE X
H o s ie r y
O ccupation
B oarders _
- ____________
Folders
Inspectors.
____ _ _ _ _ _ __ ___ ____
K nitters, footers, full fashioned
__
___
K nitters, leggers, full fashioned__________
K nitters, helpers, full fashioned__________
K nitters, a u to m a tic ._ ________ _________
K nitters, rib .______ ______________ _____
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sex
Y ear
M a le ____
___do_____
Fem ale__
___do_____
do ___
-__do_____
do __ __
___do_____
M ale ___
__ do_____
M a le ____
___do____
d o ____
-_ _ d o ____
do _
___do_____
Fem ale___
_ do__ ___
M ale_____
__ do__ __
Fem ale___
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
[835]
A ver Aver Aver
N u m N u m age
full age age full
ber of ber of
tim e
tim e
earn
estab em
earn
lish ployees hours
per ings per
per ings
hour
m ents
week
week
82
8U
32
38
82
76
100
106
27
39
28
39
16
33
36
42
24
30
43
40
27
1, 598
1,433
483
516
803
595
1, 988
1Ì897
696
749
1, 897
1,911
973
1,231
564
640
272
291
152
120
76
53.4
53.8
50.0
50.0
52.2
52.4
52.6
52.3
51.0
50.1
51.1
50.7
51.7
51.1
54. 4
55.8
51.6
52. 1
53.6
54.0
51.4
$0.481
.521
.479
.486
.343
.337
. 292
.313
1. 511
1.546
1. 286
1. 329
.355
.346
.448
.414
.399
.359
.365
.333
.352
$25. 69
28. 03
23. 95
24. 30
17.90
17.66
15. 36
16. 37
77. 06
77. 45
65. 71
67.38
18. 35
17.68
24. 37
23. 10
20. 59
18.70
19. 56
17.98
18.09
146
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN H O S IE R Y A N D IN U N D E R W E A R , 1926
A N D 1928, B Y O C C U P A T IO N A N D S E X —C ontinued
H o s ie r y —-C ontinued
O ccupation
K nitters, transfer _ ___
Loopers
____ _______ - ____
M achine fixers
__________________
M enders____
____________ . ............
Pairers or m aters _ _ _ _
______
____
Seamers, full fashioned
Seamcrs, mock
Toppers, full fashioned _
W elters
W inders
_ ___
__
__________
_ _____ _______
O ther employees_________ __________
_
All occupations. _ _________ __
N um N um
ber of
of
estab ber
em
lish
ments ployees
Aver
ver
age full Aage
tim e
earn
hours ings per
per
hour
week
Aver
age full
tim e
earn
ings per
week
Sex
Y ear
Fem ale___
M ale . ___
___do_____
Fem ale__
___do_____
___do ___
___do_____
Male___ __
___do_____
Fem ale__
_._do_____
__ do
-__do_____
do __ _
___do_____
_ do __ _
__ do_ _ __
___do_____
do _ _ __
-__do_____
M ale
-__do_____
Fem ale__
_--do_____
M ale
___do_____
Fem ale__
_ - d o _____
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
20
27
18
72
58
101
105
97
99
98
103
80
82
28
40
39
28
39
39
30
19
19
84
84
102
106
102
103
74
330
205
3, 058
2, 483
3, 753
3, 607
871
810
1, 362
1, 294
1, 301
1, 219
927
954
336
1, 372
lj 512
219
144
114
121
1,069
691
3, 055
2; 181
3, 613
3, 431
51.5
54.1
53.8
52.5
53.1
52.4
53.0
53. 6
53.7
50.8
51.4
51.8
52.2
50. 5
49.8
53. 5
50. 3
49.9
52. 2
53.4
53. 5
53.1
50.9
51.4
52. 7
52.6
50.3
51.5
$0. 342
.336
.317
. 298
.294
.371
.385
. 713
.760
.389
.387
.358
.367
. 515
.504
.306
. 563
.561
.325
.316
. 406
.337
.378
.366
. 397
.411
.279
.258
$17. 61
18.18
17. 05
15. 65
15. 61
19. 44
20. 41
38. 22
40.81
19. 76
19. 89
18. 54
19.16
26. 01
25.10
16. 37
28. 32
27.99
16. 97
16. 87
21. 72
17. 89
19. 24
18.81
20.92
21. 62
14.03
13.29
M ale .. . .
___do_____
Fem ale___
___do_____
M ale and
female.
-__do_____
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
105
108
105
108
105
10, 250
9, 401
20, 296
19, 044
30, 546
52. 6
52.4
51.5
51.9
51.9
. 675
.724
.358
.360
.472
35. 51
1928
108
28, 445
52.1
.488
25.42
73
76
69
76
43
48
52
54
61
68
12
12
84
84
61
66
43
46
80
83
32
28
5
8
67
364
369
365
376
229
284
429
455
121
157
31
41
3, 221
3,175
463
488
223
209
1, 056
1,314
55
42
6
9
393
446
275
198
229
223
50.2
50. 1
50 5
50.7
50 3
51.1
50.2
50.4
50 8
50.8
49.0
50.0
50. 3
50.2
50 4
50.3
49 2
48.9
50 0
50. 1
50 2
$0. 354
.340
338
.302
. 513
.448
.367
.344
. 550
.510
.432
.356
. 358
.341
. 365
50.2
49.7
52 0
52. 2
49.6
49. 7
. 379
.376
306
.278
550
. 538
.376
.469
534
.490
.379
.378
$17. 77
17.03
17 07
15. 31
25 80
22. 89
18.42
17. 34
27 94
25.91
21.17
17. 80
18 01
17.12
18 40
17. 25
18 65
18. 39
15 30
13: 93
27 61
26. 74
18.88
23. 31
27 77
25.58
18.80
18. 79
50M
! 728
35 78
3a 47
37.94
18. 44
18.68
24. 50
U n d e rw e a r
B uttonhole m akers.
B utto n sewers.
. _
________ „ .
___ ___ ____
C utters, hand; layers-up; and m arkers.
C utters, pow er__ _________________ _____
F inishers. . . . ___ ____________
Folders. __________ . . .
H em m ers
_ ...
. . . . .
_________________
____________________
Inspectors _____________ ____ ____
„ K nitters, cuff and a n k l e . . _____________ .
K nitters, web or tu b e ___
M a c h i n e fixers. _
_____________
__ _________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Fem ale___
___do_____
do ___ __
___do_____
M ale..
-_-do_____
Fem ale___
__..do_____
Male
___do_____
Fem ale___
__-do_____
_ do__
_--do_____
do
___do_____
do
___do__ __
do
_ do__
M ale
___do_____
Fem ale__
-_-do_____
Male
___do_____
Fem ale___
do __
A4 a le
___do_______
[836]
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
73
47
35
73
74
49.7
4Q Q
.343
717
147
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 3 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN H O S IE R Y A N D IN U N D E R W E A R , 1926
A N D 1928, B Y O C C U P A T IO N A N D S E X —C ontinued
U n d e a r w e a r — C o n tin u e d
O ccupation
Sex
. . . --------- Fem ale__
__ do_____
_ _____ _____ _ M ale..
___do____
Female ___
_ _do_____
M ale____
Press h a n d s___________________________
__ do_____
Fem ale___
__ do__ _
Seam ers-- _______ _____________________ __ do_____
__ do_____
Winders__ _____________________________ M ale—
__ do__ _
Fem ale___
_ do ___ __
O ther employees___ ______________ _____ M a l e , __
__ do_____
Fem ale___
___do_____
M enders —
Pressers__
_ _______ _
_ ______
All occupations
_______________
M ale_____
__ do__ __
Fem ale__
— do_
M ale and
female.
___do__........
Y ear
N u m N u m Aver- A ver
age full- age
ber of
of
tim e
estab ber
earn
em
lish ployees hours
per
per ings
hour
m ents
week
A ver
age full
tim e
earn
ings per
week
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
57
65
38
43
50
46
11
10
20
17
84
84
17
13
62
60
82
83
84
82
246
282
92
84
236
235
22
29
118
112
2,377
2,425
38
37
859
731
1.681
1,503
1,919
1, 832
50.3
50.3
50.3
50.9
50.3
50.3
50.3
50.9
49.6
49.1
50.2
50.2
55.7
52.8
50.0
49.3
51.0
50.1
49.8
48.2
$0. 311
.298
.455
.401
.346
.376
.392
.408
.287
.294
.374
.355
.458
.365
.398
.354
.420
.396
.314
.282
$15. 64
14.99
22.89
20.41
17. 40
18.91
19. 72
20.77
14. 24
14.44
18. 77
17.82
25. 51
19. 27
19. 90
17. 45
21.42
19. 84
15.64
13. 59
1926
1928
1926
1928
1926
85
83
85
84
85
2,860
2,805
12,188
12, 251
15,048
51.0
50.6
50.1
49.8
50.3
.477
.453
.352
.329
.378
24. 33
22.92
17.64
16. 38
19. 01
1928
84
15,056
50.0
.354
17. 70
Table 3 presents for each State or for each group of two States,
1928 average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full
time earnings per week of employees in 6 specified occupations in
the hosiery and 5 in the underwear industry.
In the hosiery industry the 4,298 males in the 6 occupations repre
sent 45.7 per cent of all the males, the 7,900 females represent 41.5
per cent of all the females, and the males and the females in them
represent 42.9 per cent of the total number of employees in all occu
pations in the mills that were included in the 1928 study. In the
underwear industry the 530 males in the 5 specified occupations repre
sent 18.9 per cent of the males, the 3,715 females represent 30.3 per
cent of the females, and the males and females together represent
28.2 per cent of the total number of wTage earners in all occupations
in the mills that were included in the 1928 study.
The purpose of this table is to show the variations in hours and
earnings in the different States. For example, the full-time hours
of boarders, male, the first occupation in the table, ranged from 48
in the State with the lowest to 57.4 in the one with the highest aver
age. The average for all States is 53.8. Average earnings per hour
ranged by States from 29.2 cents to 77.6 cents and for all States
averaged 52.1 cents. Average full-time earnings per week ranged by
States from $15.65 to $40.74, and averaged $28.03.
I t was necessary, in order to prevent identification of individual
mills, to combine the wage data for the mills in the hosiery industry
in Alabama and Louisiana, M aryland and West Virginia, Minnesota
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[837]
148
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
and Wisconsin, and in New Hampshire and Vermont; and for those
in the underwear industry in Connecticut and Rhode Island, Minne
sota and Wisconsin, and in New Hampshire and Vermont.
In a few large establishments data for only a representative part
of the total number of employees were taken and included in the
report, as the inclusion of all employees in such mills would have
tended to overweight and possibly impair the averages for the States
in which the large mills were located.
T able 3.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S F O R SIX S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S
IN H O S IE R Y A N D F IV E IN U N D E R W E A R , 1928, B Y S E X A N D S T A T E
H o s ie r y
N um ber N u m ber Average Average Average
of estab of em full-time earnings full-time
hours
lish
earnings
ployees per
week per hour per week
m ents
O ccupation, sex, and State
Boarders, male:
A labam a an d L ouisiana__ __________________
Georgia___________ _____ ______________ _____
Illinois____________ __________________
____
In d ian a ___ .
___
_ _____ _____ __
M ary lan d a n d W est V irginia_______ __ ___ _.
M assachusetts.__
___________
M ichigan__ __
____________________
M innesota an d W isco n sin ..
____ ___________
N ew H am pshire an d V erm ont________________
N ew Je rse y ... ______________________________
N ew Y o rk .. ___________________________ ____
N o rth C a r o lin a .________________________ . .
P en n sy lv an ia________________________________
T en n essee.. _____________ ____ __ _______
V irginia__________________________________ _
T o tal__________________________________ ___
Boarders, female:
A labam a an d L ouisiana____________ __ ._
Georgia____________________ ____ _ .
Illinois___ __________________ _____
In d ia n a ___ _____________________
M assachusetts_____________________ ______
M ichigan
___________________________
M innesota a n d W isconsin.. _____________
N ew Jersey____. . . _ _________________
N ew Y o rk .. ____________________ __ _
N o rth C arolina. __________ . . .
. ..
Pen n sy lv an ia_____ ____________ _______
T en n essee.. ________ _______________
V irginia__ ____ __________________________
.
2
7
3
2
2
5
2
6
6
1
2
12
16
12
3
7
375
392
203
25
54.0
55.0
57.4
50.0
53.6
48.0
51. 5
50.3
51.1
0
50.8
55.8
52. 5
54.5
53.6
$0. 300
.313
.335
.659
.484.744
.718
.507
.493
0
.504
.433
.776
.358
.292
$16. 20
17.22
19.23
32. 95
25.94
35.71
36.98
25.50
25.19
(0
25.60
24.16
40. 74
19.51
15. 65
81
1, 433
53.8
. 521
28.03
1
1
3
2
2
2
6
3
4
1
10
2
1
0)
0)
T o tal. ________________________ _______ ____
38
K nitters, footers, full fashioned, male:
Illin o is.. .
_____
____________
________ _. _____ ____ ______
Indiana .
M assachusetts ______ ____________ _ _
M innesota a n d W isconsin.. ___________ _
New Jersey_____________________________
N ew Y o rk .. _____________ _____ ________
Pen n sy lv an ia........... ........................................... .........
1
1
7
4
4
4
18
Total
__ ___________________________ _____
K nitters, leggers, full fashioned, male:
Illin o is.. . . . .
_ _____
In d ia n a ____ ____ _________ _______ . _
M assachusetts
_______ __________
M innesota and W isco n sin .. . ._
_______
N ew Jersey____ _______ _ _________ . . .
N ew York ____ _ __ __________ _ _ ___
P en n sy lv an ia_____ ________________________
T otal
_________________________ _____
1D ata included in total.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1838]
37
136
50
46
40
38
6
48
18
0)
0
39
0
0
0
0
. 285
.323
.387
.549
.483
.667
.568
0
.564
. 257
0
14.73
15.89
18. 58
27.89
24.01
31. 35
27.21
0
28. 03
13.90
0
516
50.0
.486
24.30
70
85
62
39
480
0
0
48. 2
49. 6
48. 5
48. 9
50.7
0
0
1. 636
1. 190
1.618
1.816
1. 577
749
50.1
1. 546
136
35
0
0
0
0
0
51. 7
49. 2
48.0
50.8
49.7
47.0
47.9
0
49. 7
54.1
0
18
18
15
12
133
55
52
1
1
7
4
4
4
18
0
0
207
241
205
141
1,065
0
0
48. 8
50.3
49. 8
49. 5
51.3
0
0
1.473
1.008
1.361
1. 563
1.354
39
1,911
50.7
1.329
0
0
78.86
59.02
78. 47
88.80
79. 95
77.45
0
0
71.88
50.70
67.78
77. 37
69.46
67.38
149
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 3.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S F O R SIX S P E C IF IE D
O C C U P A T IO N S
IN H O S IE R Y A N D F IV E IN U N D E R W E A R , 1928, B Y S E X A N D S T A T E —C ontinued
H o s ie r y — C o n tin u ed
N um ber N u m ber Average Average Average
of estab
earnings full-time
of em full-time
lish
hours
earnings
ployees per
week per hour per week
m ents
Occupation, sex, and State
K nitters, transfer, male:
Georgia _ _______________________________
M aryland and W est Virginia
_ _________
M ichigan
___ _____________________
Minnesota, and W isconsin
_ _ ____ _ _
N o rth Carolina _ _ ___________ ____ ________
T en n essee.. _________ - ___ _ _______ ____
V irginia_____________________________ _______
T otal
- ___________ _____
______
K nitters, transfer, female:
A labam a and L ouisiana_____________ _______
Georgia _____ _______________________________
Illinois
_____ ______________________________
___ _____________________
Indiana
M ary lan d a n d W est V irginia__________________
M ichigan
_
______________
M innesota and W isco n sin ._ ________________ _
New H am pshire and V e rm o n t-_______
__
N o rth Carolina _ ___ _______________________
P e n n s y lv a n ia _______________________________
Tennessee
______________________________
Virginia
_________________________________
T otal
___________ __________________
Loopers, female:
Ain,ham a, and L ouisiana_____________ _________
Georgia __ _________________________________
Illinois
_________________________
Indian a
___
____________________
M aryland and W est V irg in ia _________________
M assachusetts _____________________________
M ichigan
_ _________________________
M innesota and W isconsin
________________
____________
N ew H am pshire and V erm ontN ew Jersey
____________________________
N ew Y ork
_______________________________
N o rth Carolina. _____________________________
P ennsylvania. ______________________________
Tennessee___________________________________
V' rginia_____________________________________
T o tal
___ __________________ -- -- - -
M enders, female:
Alabama and L o u isian a______________________
Georgia
________________________________
Illinois
- ____________________ _____
Indiana
_ _______ - . ____________________
M aryland and W est V irginia__________________
M assac.hu setts
____________________
M ichigan
__________________ r _____
ATinnesota and W isconsin____________________
New H am pshire and V erm ont _______________
N ew Jersey
__________________________
N ew Y ork
________________________
N o rth Carolina
________________________
Pennsylvania _ __________________________
Tennessee
__ ___________________________
Virginia,
___________ _________
Total
1 F ia ta in c lu d e d in to ta l.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
____ _______ ____ ____
1
1
1
1
6
7
1
0
0
0)
0
42
137
0)
«
0
(0
C1)
55.0
53.9
0
0
(i)
0
0
$0.322
.306
0
0
0
0
0
$17. 71
16.49
0
18
205
53.8
.317
17.05
4
6
2
1
4
1
5
5
7
11
9
3
244
285
51
d )
163
«
143
49
211
677
516
99
55.0
55.3
51.7
0
54.3
0
49.7
49.6
55.2
51.6
53.7
53.4
.218
. 199
.266
.279
0
.395
.343
.240
.399
.257
.218
11.99
11. 00
13. 75
(i)
15.15
0
19. 63
17.01
13.25
20. 59
13. 80
11. 64
58
2,483
53. 1
.294
15. 61
4
7
5
3
-3
7
3
112
263
133
105
4
4
14
23
13
3
87
44
257
73
85
51
829
874
546
80
54.5
55.2
55.7
49.8
52.8
48.0
50.8
49.7
50.3
47.2
48.2
55.7
51.4
54.2
52.8
.211
. 250
. 256
.487
.291
.540
.550
.459
.368
.639
.651
.330
.521
.285
.241
11. 50
13. 80
14. 26
24. 25
15. 36
25.92
27.94
22.81
18. 41
30. 16
31.38
18. 38
26.78
15.45
12.72
105
3, 607
53.0
.358
20.41
4
7
5
3
3
5
3
6
3
14
24
13
3
18
46
85
69
37
46
5
124
38
80
51
115
379
187
14
53.8
54.9
52.8
49.7
54.2
48.0
50.7
49.5
49.8
47. 4
47.9
55.9
50.2
54.1
51. 2
.214
.235
.398
.419
.198
.434
.505
.400
.329
.500
.694
.257
.483
. 194
11.51
12.90
21.01
20. 82
10. 73
20. 83
25.60
19. 80
16.38
23. 70
33.24
14. 37
24. 25
11.90
9.93
103
1, 294
51. 4
.387
19.89
6
6
6
4
68
0
.220
150
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 3.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S F O R S IX S P E C IF IE D
O C C U P A T IO N S
IN H O S IE R Y A N D F IV E IN U N D E R W E A R , 1928, B Y S E X A N D S T A T E —C ontin u ed
U n d e rw e a r
N u m b er N u m ber Average
Average
of estab of em full-time Average full-time
earnings
lish
hours
earnings
ployees
m ents
per week per hour per week
O ccupation, sex, and State
B utton h o le makers, female:
C onnecticut an d R hode Island _ ...........................
Illinois _____________________________ _______
In d ia n a _____________________________ ______
M assachusetts______________ . . .
.
M ic h ig a n ___________________ ____ ______
M innesota a n d W isconsin . .
_____________
N ew H am pshire a n d V erm ont _______________
N ew Y ork
__ ______ _ _______________
N o rth C a r o lin a ______________________________
P en n sy lv an ia. _____________________________
Tennessee_________ ______ __________________
V irg in ia.____________ ____ ___________________
T o t a l __________________
_ ________
5
3
3
4
3
4
3
27
3
13
5
3
10
11
9
26
8
25
17
153
20
36
44
10
50.5
45.7
49.6
48.0
51. 1
48.6
49.8
48.6
53.9
52.5
54.9
51.1
$0. 438
.598
.378
.387
.336
.412
.435
.321
.211
.340
.259
.381
$22.12
27. 33
18. 75
18. 58
17.17
20. 02
21. 66
’ 15.60
11.37
17.85
14.22
19.47
_____
76
369
50.1
.340
17.03
Folders, female:
C onnecticut a n d R hode Isla n d ________. . . . . . . .
Illinois . . . ___________________________ _____
In d ia n a . _ __________________________________
M assachusetts___________________________ ____
___ ______
_
M ichigan _ _.
M innesota a n d W isconsin _______ . _______
N ew H am pshire a n d V erm ont . . . . . . . .
N ew Y ork _ .
. . _ _____ ____
___ .
N o rth C a r o lin a ____________________ . ______
P en n sy lv an ia.
____________________
_ _
T e n n e s s e e __ ____ ____________ _____ __ ______
V irginia____________________________ _________
5
3
3
3
3
3
3
25
4
6
5
3
19
23
12
40
16
45
15
156
27
50
71
14
52.5
45.3
50.8
48.0
51.5
48.3
49.1
48.8
54.2
51.6
54.8
50.7
.397
.420
.399
.412
.259
.426
.393
.361
.235
.307
.268
.318
20.84
19.03
20. 27
19. 78
13.34
20. 58
19. 30
17.62
12. 74
15.84
14.69
16.12
T o tal___________ ______________ ______ _ __
66
488
50.3
.343
17.25
K nitters, web or tube, male:
C onnecticut and R hode Island
_______
. .
Illinois ________________________ ________
In d ian a
____________________ ___________ .
M assachusetts . _____________ _ _ _______
M ichigan _. . . . _______________ _ ________
M innesota and W isconsin ________
N ew H am pshire a n d V erm ont
____ _____
_________
N ew Y ork _ . . .
N o rth Carolina .
_________ _
_____ _
P en n sy lv an ia. . . . _____________ _______
Tennessee_____________________
V irginia_____________________
5
3
3
3
2
3
3
23
4
17
4
3
13
8
18
42
2
9
38
152
25
75
49
15
51. 8
46. 2
50.5
50.3
72.0
52.5
49.4
50.0
57. 4
55.4
55. 8
51.7
.449
.561
.504
.580
. 558
.679
.493
.535
.353
.430
.414
.480
23.26
25.92
25. 45
29.17
40.18
35.65
24.35
26. 75
20.26
23. 82
23.10
24. 82
73
446
52. 2
.490
25. 58
34
9
19
30
29
4
54
49.5
45.2
(9
(9
51.5
48.8
48.6
55.0
51. 4
.359
.393
(9
(9
.370
.452
.427
. 144
.325
17. 77
17.76
(9
(9
19. 06
22.06
20. 75
7.92
16. 71
198
49.7
.378
18. 79
5
7
43
8
5
5
3
50.2
(9
52.5
(9
49.7
49.7
56.6
52.9
54.0
52.3
.490
(9
.346
(9
.480
.422
.258
.338
.320
.486
24.60
(9
18.17
(9
23.86
20. 97
14.60
17.88
17.28
25.42
84
50.9
.401
20.41
T otal . . _ __________________
___ _ . _
K nitters, web or tube, female:
C onnecticut and R hode Is la n d . ______
Illinois _______ . . . __________________
___________________
In d ian a
M assach u setts. _ _____________ ____
M ichigan . . ___________________
M innesota an d W isconsin _______
... . .
N ew Y ork _____________ _________
N o rth C aro lin a.. . . . __ ________ _____ _
P e n n s y lv a n ia _________________________
0
2
1
1
* 3
4
8
2
9
T o tal______________________________
35
Pressers, male:
C onnecticut and R hode Isla n d . _______ _
Illinois _____________________
In d ian a ___________ _______
M assachusetts_____________________________
N ew H am pshire a n d V erm ont __________
N ew Y o rk .. ________ _____________
N o rth C arolina__________ _________
P e n n sy lv a n ia ... ___________________
T ennessee________________________
V irginia........ ..............................................
3
1
2
i
3
20
3
5
2
3
Total
_____ ________________ ________
43
! D ata included in total.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[840]
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(9
(9
«
4
151
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T j b l e 3 _A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S F O R S IX S P E C IF I E D O C C U P A T IO N S
IN H O S IE R Y A N D F IV E IN U N D E R W E A R , 1928, B Y S E X A N D S T A T E —C ontinued
U n d e r w e a r — C o n tin u e d
N um ber N u m ber Average Average Average
of estab of em full-time earnings full-time
earnings
hours
lish
ployees per week per hour per week
m ents
O ccupation, sex, and State
Pressers, female:
____ ___
C onnecticut and R hode Tsland
Ind ian a
____________________
M assachusetts
____________ __
M ichigan
____________________
M innesota a n d "Wisconsin
_ _______ - _-N 0yy H am pshire and Vermont.
________
Voptr
________ __ _____ —
N orth C arolina
__________________
Pennsylvania
____________ ____
Tennessee.......... .......................................... - .............. -
2
13
3
$0.379
.450
.398
.286
.411
6
31
4
3
4
1
11
1
52.3
48.9
48.0
52.7
48.3
0)
48.9
0)
52.7
56.0
12
8
4
11
52
(>)
(')
39
67
0
.392
(0
.344
.347
$19. 82
2 2 . 01
19.10
15.07
19. 85
0
0
19.17
18.13
19.43
T o ta l__________________ ________ ___________
46
235
50.3
.376
18. 91
Seamers, female:
C onnecticut and R hode Is la n d _____ __________
Illinois
___ ________________
Ir diana
____ ___________ —
--M assachusetts_____________________________ _
M ichigan
____- _______ ___ - __jYlinnesota and W isconsin____ ______ _
N ew H am pshire and V erm ont_________ ____ _ ___ ___
N ew Voplr
N orth C arolina
___ ____
________ ________ ___- _
Penn sy 1van in
Tennessee
___________ _____ ___- — -V irginia----------------- ---------------------------------------
3
3
4
3
4
3
27
4
19
5
3
6
49
60
50
257
105
367
237
73
49.9
45.4
49.8
48.0
51. 5
48.5
49.5
48.7
54.2
52.6
54.8
51.6
.347
.556
.359
.393
.316
.480
.439
.346
.234
.350
.284
.270
17.32
25.24
17.88
18. 86
16. 27
23. 28
21. 73
16. 85
12 . 68
18. 41
15. 56
13.93
84
2,425
50.2
.355
17. 82
Total
- __ - ---------------------------- -
88
178
93
868
i D a ta included in total.
Table 4 shows for each sex, and for both sexes combined, average
full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per
week for all wage earners covered in the hosiery and in the underwear
industries in each State in 1926 and 1928.
. . .
Average full-time hours per week of males in the hosiery industry
ranged by States in 1926 from 48.5 for the State with the lowest to
57.1 for the one with the highest average and in 1928 from 48.5 to
55.9, and of females ranged from 47.1 to 55.2 in 1926 and from 47.4
to 55.5 in 1928. The averages for males and females combined, or
the industry, ranged by States from 47.6 to 55.2 in 1926 and from 48.1
to 55.6 in 1928. The averages for all males in all States were 52.6 in
1926 and 52.4 in 1928, and for females were 51.5 in 1926 and 51.9 in
1928, and for all males and females combined were 51.9 in 1926 and
52.1 in 1928.
.
. . .
Average earnings per hour of males in the hosiery industry m 1926
ranged by States from 28.6 cents to $1,268 and in 1928 from 34.7 cents
to $1,247, and of females ranged from 19.2 cents to 52.1 cents in 1926
and from 20.4 cents to 54.1 cents in 1928; The averages for the indus
try ranged by States from 21.5 to 79.7 in 1926 and from 22.2 to 80.2
cents in 1928. The averages for all males in all States were 67.5 cents
in 1926 and 72.4 cents in 1928, and for all females were 35.8 cents m
1926 and 36 cents in 1928, and for all males and females combined were
47.2 cents in 1926 and 48.8 cents in 1928.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in the hosiery industry
in 1926 ranged by States from $15.70 to $61.50 and in 1928 from $19.22
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 4 1 ]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
152
to $61.73, and of females ranged from $10.56 to $25.53 in 1926 and
from $11.14 to $26.02 in 1928. The averages for both sexes combined,
or the industry, ranged by States from $11.83 to $37.94 in 1926 and
from $12.12 to $38.98 in 1928. The averages for all males in all States
were $35.51 per week in 1926 and $37.94 in 1928, and for females
were $18.44 in 1926 and $18.68 in 1928, and for all males and females
combined were $24.50 in 1926 and $25.42 in !928.
Averages for employees in the underwear industry are also shown
in the table. The above method in explanation of hosiery may also
be applied to the figures for the employees in the underwear industry.
Between 1926 and 1928 many mills have changed from the manufac
ture of seamless to full-fashioned hosiery. This applies especially to
the averages for Massachusetts which were for the seamless type in
1926 and the full-fashioned type in 1928.
T
able
4 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S , 1926 A N D 1928, B Y S E X A N D S T A T E
H o s ie r y
Sex and State
N u m b er of
establish
m ents
1926
N u m b er of
employees
Average full Average earn Average full
tim e earnings
ings per
tim e hours
per week
hour
per week
1926
1928
1926
1928
1928
1926
1928
85
353
327
267
130
437
62
772
99
382
275
1,330
(l)
3,846
(0
923
113
9,401
54.9
55.0
57.1
50.3
(0
48.7
53.3
50.3
48.5
48.5
49. 3
55.0
51.4
52.4
51.8
54.7
52.8
52.6
54.4 $0. 286 $0. 359 $15. 70
.347 19. 14
55.4
.348
.412
.451 23. 53
55.9
.731 35.86
.713
49.9
.374
53.2
(0
0)
.449 1.152 21. 87
48.5
.563 30.01
.563
53.8
.858
.745 43. 16
50.8
. 482 24.01
.495
52. 4
49. 2 1.268 1.184 61. 50
49. 5 1. 172 1.247 57. 78
.404
. 420 22. 22
55.8
30. 12
.586
(0
(0
.869 43.44
.829
51.4
23. 47
.453
(!)
(0
.403 20. 62
.377
54.6
.370 18. 32
53. 1
.347
.724 35. 51
52.4
.675
$19. 53
19. 22
25. 21
36. 48
19.90
55.87
30.29
37. 85
25.26
58. 25
61. 73
23. 44
00
44. 67
0)
22.00
19. 65
37.94
646
4
906
7 1, 222 1,055
701
701
6
642
570
3
527
4
(>)
717
688
7
271
272
3
6 1, 654 1, 580
324
541
6
615
4
640
505
677
4
14 1, 932 2, 568
174
(0
0)
24 6, 825 6, 089
198
C1)
0)
13 2, 572 2,484
392
652
3
108 20, 296 19, 044
55.0
55.0
53.9
49.5
0)
48.0
50.4
49.4
48.3
47.1
49.0
55.2
49.9
50. 2
51.5
54.0
52.1
51.5
54.6
55. 1
54. 1
49.6
53. 6
48.0
50.8
49.7
50. 1
47.4
48. 1
55.5
0)
50.5
0)
54.1
52.8
51.9
. 192
.229
. 284
.415
(0
.323
.352
.434
.355
.506
.521
.276
.330
.442
.319
.249
.216
.358
.204
.207
.300
.412
.238
.436
.369
.408
. 334
. 531
.541
.286
(0
.453
0)
.248
.217
.360
10. 56
12.60
15. 31
20. 54
0)
15. 50
17. 74
21.44
17. 15
23. 83
25. 53
15.24
16. 47
22.19
16.43
13. 45
11.06
18. 44
11. 14
11. 41
16.23
20.44
12. 76
20. 93
18. 75
20. 28
16. 73
25.17
26. 02
15. 87
0)
22. 88
(0
13. 42
11.46
18.68
731
1,408
1,028
837
657
55.0
55.0
54.8
49.9
54.6
55.1
54.6
49.7
53.5
.215
.264
.324
.542
.222
.244
.352
.518
.268
11.83
14. 52
17. 76
27.05
12. 12
13. 41
19. 22
25. 74
14.34
1928
1926
MALES
A labam a and L o u isian a......... .
G eorgia_______ ____ _______ _
Illinois . _________________ . .
In d ia n a . . . . . ____________
M ary lan d a n d W est V irginia---M assach u setts________________
M ichigan _ . _ ___ _______
M innesota a n d W is c o n s in ..----N ew H am pshire a n d V e rm o n t..
N ew Jersey . _________________
N ew Y ork
_______________
N o rth C arolina _____________
Ohio . . .
_ __________ _ . . .
P en n sy lv an ia________________
R hode Is la n d __________
___
Tennessee__________________
V irginia............. ................... ...........
T o ta l. ------------------------FEMALES
A labam a and Louisiana_____ .
Georgia_____________________
Illinois
_____ __________
I n d i a n a ___ . .
. . _________
M ary lan d a n d W est V irginia...
M assach u setts.
____
. . ..
M ichigan___ . . . . .
M innesota a n d W isconsin. . . . .
N ew H am pshire a n d V e rm o n t..
N ew Jersey ___________________
N ew Y ork ________________ .
N o rth C arolina___________ .
O hio.
..
______ _____
P en n sy lv an ia_______ _____
R hode Is la n d _____________ .
Tennessee . ______
V irg in ia _______________ _____
T o ta l___________________
4
7
6
2
0)
3
3
5
6
4
4
15
3
23
3
14
3
105
4
7
6
2
(0
3
3
5
6
4
4
15
3
23
3
14
3
105
4
255
467
7
269
6
462
3
4
(0
321
7
34
3
789
6
215
6
371
4
4
328
14 1,258
41
(0
24 4,146
38
0)
13 1,091
165
3
108 10, 250
MALES AND FEMALES
A labam a a n d L ouisiana_______
Georgia _
________________
Illinois
_ ________________
Indiana
______
____ -M arylan d an d W est V irginia___
4
7
6
2
(0
4
7
6
3
4
1, 161
1,689
970
1,104
0)
i N o d ata collected in th is year.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[842]
0)
(0
0)
153
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T
able
4 —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S , 1926 A N D 1928, B Y S E X A N D S T A T E —
C ontinued
H o s ie r y — C o n tin u e d
Sex and State
N u m b er of
establish
m ents
N u m b er of
employees
Average full Average earn Average full
tim e hours
ings per
tim e earnings
per week
hour
per week
1926
1926
1928
1926
1928
7 1,009
3
306
6 2, 443
6
756
4 1,011
4 1,005
14 3,190
215
0)
24 10, 971
236
0
13 3, 663
3
817
1,154
333
2, 352
423
997
780
3, 898
(i)
9, 935
0)
3, 407
505
48.2
50.7
49.7
48.4
47.6
49.1
55.2
50.2
51.0
51.6
54.2
52.2
48.2 $0. 367 $0. 722 $17. 69
51.4
.378
.414 19.16
50.0
.580
.528 28. 83
50.6
.400
.373 19. 36
48.1
.797
.796 37. 94
48.6
.748
.802 36. 73
55.6
.334 18.11
.328
.382
19.18
0)
0)
50.8
.598
.625 30. 50
.345
17. 80
0)
0)
54.3
.290
.292 15. 72
52.8
.246
.252 12. 84
108 30,546 28,445
51.9
52.1
24. 50
25.42
86
86
191
66
127
113
1,191
162
0
323
257
106
2,805
51.0
58.0
48.9
50.2
48.3
51.7
50.1
49.6
50.8
0
51.8
52. 5
55. 1
0
51.0
50.2 $0. 490 $0. 539 $24. 99
.229
13.28
0
0
46.4
.530 25. 72
.526
50.7
.494 25. 10
.500
48. 5
.578 27. 34
.566
51.0
.477
.520 24. 66
48.9
.534 25.90
. 517
49.6
.482
.508 23.91
49.3
.480
.448 24. 38
54.3
.350
(>)
0
.431
22. 33
0
0
53.2
.448
.443 23. 52
55.2
.375
.336 20. 66
52. 2
.413
0
0)
50.6
.477
.453 24. 33
$27. 06
0
24.59
25.05
28.03
26. 52
26. 11
25.20
22. 09
19. 01
0
23. 57
18. 55
21.56
22. 92
751
512
121
0
185
358
484
307
1,386 1,371
668
461
970
932
634
501
4, 111 4, 111
478
0
373
0
1,844 1,869
661 1,034
317
0
12,188 12, 251
51. 2
56.7
45.8
47.6
48.0
51.8
48.5
49.4
49.8
0
49. 5
51.9
54. 1
0
50. 1
50.9
0)
45.6
49.4
45.9
51. 4
48.6
49.3
48.7
54.0
0
52.0
54.8
51.6
49.8
.361
. 189
.453
.355
.405
.294
.413
.354
.357
0
.344
.326
.266
0
. 352
.356
0
.446
.367
.370
.297
.424
.400
.315
.222
0
.317
. 260
. 261
.329
18. 48
10. 72
20.75
16. 90
19. 44
15.23
20.03
17.49
17. 78
0
17.03
16. 92
14. 39
0
17. 64
18.12
0
20. 34
18.13
16.98
15.27
20.61
19. 72
15. 34
11.99
(>)
16. 48
14. 25
13. 47
16. 38
872
609
149
0
252
444
596
393
1,657 1, 562
725
527
1,168 1,059
780
614
5,371 5, 302
640
0
471
0
2,150 2, 192
857 1, 291
423
0
15, 048 15, 056
51.2
56.9
46. 6
48.1
48.1
51. 8
48.8
49.4
50.0
0
50.0
52.0
54.3
0
50.3
50.8
0
45.8
49. 7
46. 2
51.4
48.6
49.4
48. 8
54.1
0
52.2
54.9
51.8
50.0
.381
. 197
.476
.386
.434
.309
.433
.381
.390
0
.364
.347
.293
0
.378
.390
0
.465
.397
.398
.327
.438
.422
.350
.257
0
.337
.276
.301
.354
19. 51
11. 21
22. 18
18. 57
20. 88
16. 01
21.13
18.82
19. 50
0
16. 02
18.04
15. 91
0
19. 01
19. 81
(D
21.30
19. 73
18. 39
16. 81
21.29
20.85
17.08
13.90
0
17.59
15.15
15.59
17.70
1928
1926
1928
1926
1928
males and fem ales —continued
M assach u setts______ _____ _
M ic h ig a n _ _ ___ _____ . . . - -M innesota and W isconsin_____
N ew H am pshire a n d V erm ont.N ew Jersey __________ _______
N ew Y ork . . ________________
N o rth C arolina_______________
O h io ,-.
.................................. .
P ennsylv an ia_____________ ___
R hode Isla n d _________________
Tennessee___________________ _
V irg in ia...........................................
T o ta l............................. .........
3
3
5
6
4
4
15
3
23
3
14
3
105
.472
.488
$34.80
21.28
26.40
18. 87
38. 29
38. 98
18.57
(i)
31. 75
0
15.86
13. 31
U n d e rw e a r
MALES
C onnecticut and R hode Island -Georgia___________ ___________
Illinois_______________________
In d ia n a .-- ..................... ...............
M assach u setts________________
M ichigan. _ ___ ____________
M innesota and W isc o n sin _____
N ew H am pshire an d V e rm o n t-N ew Vork
. . . . ___________
N o rth C arolina
___________
Ohio
__ __________________
P ennsylv an ia_________________
Tennessee____________________
V irginia............. ............................„
T o ta l............ ..........................
FEMALES
C onnecticut and R hode Isla n d —
G eorgia...- _________________ .
Illin o is _________ ______ ____
In d ia n a . ___________________
M assachusetts..................... ...........
M ichigan. . _ ___
_______
M innesota and W isconsin.— . . .
N ew H am pshire and V e rm o n t..
N ew Y o rk ____ ________ . . . . . .
N o rth C arolina___ _
_______
O hio_________________ _______
Pennsylvania ________ . ___
Tennessee ________________ _
V irginia. . ___________ _______
T o ta l___________________
MALE AND FEMALE
C onnecticut and R hode Isla n d —
Georgia. ________ ________
Illinois
_______________
In d ian a _ ____________________
M assachusetts . _________
M ichigan . .
. ..
M innesota and W isc o n sin ____
N ew Eiam pshire and V erm o n t. _
N ew Y o rk ____________________
N o rth C arolina_______________
O hio_________________________
P enn sy lv an ia. . ______________
Tennessee __ ............................
V irginia.............................................
T o ta l....... ............ .............
6
2
3
2
4
4
4
3
29
0)
3
22
3
0)
85
6
2
3
2
4
4
4
3
29
0)
3
22
3
0
85
6
2
3
2
4
4
4
3
29
0
3
22
3
0
85
5
0
3
3
4
3
4
3
27
4
0
19
5
3
83
6
0
0
3
3
4
3
4
3
27
4
19
5
3
84
6
(i)
3
3
4
3
4
3
27
4
0
19
5
3
84
121
28
67
112
271.
57
198
146
1, 260
(B
98
306
196
0
2, 860
97
1 N o d a ta collected in th is year.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[843]
0
154
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Wage Changes Under Recent Agreements
Railroad Telegraphers
ELEGRAPHERS on the Maine Central Railroad, through negotiations of their committee with the management, have secured
a wage increase of 2 ^ cents per hour. The increase included adjust
ments for several underrated positions.
Telegraphers on the Staten Island Rapid Transit Railway secured,
on January 22, an increase of 2 cents per hour for all positions. Cer
tain changes in the rules were also secured.
Negotiations with the management of the Delaware, Lackawanna
& Western Railroad have secured for telegraphers on that road*an
increase equivalent to 3 cents per hour, effective as of January 1, 1929.
Railroad Signalmen
T h e a g r e e m e n t of the signal employees and the Pennsylvania
Railroad provides for an increase of 4 cents an hour, effective Feb
ruary 1, 1929. Rates of pay established per hour are as follows:
Signal maintainers, from 82 cents to 94 cents; cable splicers, 86 cents;
signalmen, 82 cents; assistant signalmen and assistant signal maintain
ers, starting rate 59 cents, with increases each six months until rate
of 73 cents has been attained; helpers, 58 cents.
Signalmen on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe System secured an
increase of 3 cents per hour for all classes in the signal department,
effective February 1, 1929, and establishing the following hourly
rates of pay: Gang foremen, leading signalmen, and leading signal
maintainers, 83 cents; signalmen and signal maintainers, 78 cents;
assistant signalmen and assistant signal maintainers, starting rate of
55 cents, with 2 cents per hour increase each six-month period up to
69 cents; signal helpers, 53 cents.
Train Dispatchers
T r a i n dispatchers on the Central Railroad of New Jersey have
secured a wage increase, effective December 1, 1928, and setting the
rates for assistant chiefs at $285 per month, for trick dispatchers in
the offices at Jersey City and Mauch Chunk at $250, for trick men at
East Long Branch at $245, and for trick men working branch lines
at $220 per month.
The new agreement of the train dispatchers on the Duluth, South
Shore & Atlantic Railroad, effective January 1, 1929, establishes a
rate of $9.80 per day for trick train dispatchers and a proportionate
increase for chief and assistant chief dispatchers.
Negotiations of the train dispatchers’ committee with the Florida
East Coast Railway resulted in a wage increase, effective January 1,
1929, raising the rates for trick dispatchers from $9.70 to $10.16 a
day; this makes the current rate on this line $265 a month.
Mediation was resorted to for employees in this occupation on the
Seaboard Air Line, resulting in an increase of $12 a month for trick
dispatchers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 4 4 ]
WAGES AND HOTJKS OF LABOR
155
Street Railway Employees
T h e A m a l g a m a t e d Association of Street and Electric Railway
Employees was successful in securing from the Illinois Traction Sys
tem an agreement which provides for an increase of from 3 cents to
63^ cents per hour. The increase is retroactive to December 1, 1928.
Motormen and conductors employed by the Indianapolis Street
Railway have been granted an increase of 4 cents per hour, effective
February 24, 1929. This increase establishes a rate of 49 cents per
hour on 2-man cars and 54 cents per hour on 1-man cars. Bus
drivers of the People’s Motor Coach Co., a subsidiary of the Indian
apolis company, were granted an increase of 5 cents an hour, which
will give them 40 to 45 cents an hour.
Railway Clerks
T h e B o s t o n & Maine Railroad requested permission to decrease
the wages of its railway clerks. Under the provisions of the railway
labor act, a board of arbitration was created by agreement dated
July 5, 1928, as amended by a supplemental agreement dated Decem
ber 10, 1928.
The carrier selected as its arbitrator W. S. Trowbridge, and the
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks selected H D Ulrich. The arbitra
tors so selected having failed to agree upon the neutral member, the
United States Board of Mediation selected Fred L. Williams, of St.
Louis, Mo., as the neutral member of the board.
On February 19 the board made its awTard, refusing to make any
change in the existing rate.
Earnings of Steam Railroad Employees, 1927 and 1928
PIE Interstate Commerce Commission at the end of each calendar
year summarizes the wrage statistics of Class I steam railroads
in the United States, including switching and terminal companies.
The summary shows, by occupations, the average number of em
ployees at the middle of each month, the regular hours (straight time)
and overtime worked, and the total compensation. The aggregate time
is shown in days for a few occupations and in hours for other occupa
tions. The great mass of the employees fall in the latter group.
The summary for 1927 covered an average of 1,737,342 employees
and the summary for 1928, 1,680,187 employees. The averages
shown in the table below, drawn from such summaries, are obtained
by dividing the total compensation for each occupation by the aggre
gate time worked by the employees therein.
J.
4 1 1 9 5 °— 29—
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11
[S 4 5 ]
156
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
E A R N IN G S O F S T E A M R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S IN 1927 A N D 1928
1928
Average tim e
worked per
employee
Average (days or hours)
num ber
during year
of em
ployees
U nit Tim e
Occupation
1927
Aver*
age
earn
ings
per
day
Per
or
day or
hour
hour
Average
earnings—
Per
year
Executives, officials, and staff assistants
Executives, general officers, an d assistants____________
D ivision officers, assistants, a n d staff assistants---- -T otal __ ______ __ _ _
__________________
Professional, clerical, and general
A rchitectural, chemical, a n d engineering assistants (A)_
A rchitectural, chemical, a n d engineering assistants (B)_
Sub professional engineering and lab o rato ry assistants __
Professional a n d subprofessional legal assistan ts____ _
Supervisory or chief clerks (major d e p a r tm e n ts )______
Chief clerks (m inor departm ents) a n d assistant chief
clerks a n d supervising cashiers.
Clerks a n d clerical specialists (A )_________________ _
Clerks (B )________ _
___________________ . . . . _
Clerks (C )_________________________________________
M echanical device operators (office)__________
..
Stenographers an d secretaries (A ). .
___________ __
Stenographers a n d ty p ists (B )____
__ _ _ _____
Storekeepers, sales agents, a n d b u y ers_______ _______
T icket agents a n d assistant tick et a g en ts_______ _____
Traveling auditors or accountants- _ __ ___ _ _ _ ___
Telephone sw itchboard operators an d office assistants __
M essengers a n d office b o y s ____ _ _______ _ _ ___
E levator operators a n d other office a tte n d an ts ________
L ieutenants a n d sergeants of police. ___ ___________
P atrolm en ________ _____ _ __ __ _______________
W atchm en (w ithout police a u th o rity )_____ _
___
Supervising traffic agents___ . . ____________ ______
Traffic agents, advertising an d developm ent agents___
Fire prevention, smoke, a n d tim e service inspectors,
a n d office building superintendents.
C laim agents and claim investigators.. ______________
Real estate an d tax agents a n d investigators__________
Exam iners, instructors, a n d special investigators______
M iscellaneous trades workers (other th a n p lu m b ers)___
M otor vehicle an d m otor car operators____ __________
Team sters a n d stab lem en________________________ . .
Janitors and cleaners________________ ______________
Total:
D aily basis _ _ _ _____________________
H ourly basis______________________________
Maintenance of way and structures
R oadm asters and general foremen _. _ . . . __________
A ssistant general foremen ___
_ _ ___
___
Supervising m aintenance of w ay inspectors and scale
inspectors.
M aintenance of w ay inspectors..
________ ________
Bridge a n d building gang foremen____ ____ __________
Bridge a n d building carpenters________________ _ _
Bridge a n d building ironw orkers___________________
Bridge a n d building p ain ters_____________ . . --------M asons, bricklayers, plasterers, an d p lum bers_________
Skilled trades helpers
______________ __ . . . ----Regular apprentices. ___________ __ _. _________ . .
Portable steam equ ip m en t operators.
____________
Portable steam equipm ent operator helpers----------------Pum p in g eq u ip m en t operators
___________
Gang foremen (extra gang a n d w ork-train laborers)----Gang foremen (bridge a n d building, signal and telegraph laborers).
Gang or section foremen ________ ___ _ _ _ .
_ ----Laborers (extra gang and w ork-train)---- ------- --------T rack an d roadw ay section laborers--------- __. . ------M aintenance of w ay laborers (other th a n track and roadw ay) a n d gardeners a n d farmers.
G eneral foremen and supervising inspectors (signal,
telegraph, and electrical transm ission).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[846]
7, 570 D a y ...
9, 320 __do___
16, 890 ___do___
308 $7, 322 $23. 77
321 4, 136 12.90
315 5, 564 17. 66
3,212
4, 472
3,965
593
4, 984
12,937
D a y ...
___do___
___do___
___do___
___do___
___do___
304
301
304
307
307
304
13, 225
124, 371
17,864
, 097
3,697
20,979
3,172
1,671
1,898
5,029
, 261
1,321
2,406
5,282
2,972
1,761
7, 526
427
nour__
__do___
___do___
___do___
___do___
___do___
___do___
___do___
D a y ...
H o u r..
D a y ...
Hour__
D a y ...
H our
___do___
D a y ...
___do___
___do___
2, 349
2,396
2, 432
2, 207
2, 371
2, 271
2,480
2, 642
300
2, 295
308
2, 563
343
3, 203
3,082
306
304
317
1, 755
387
587
778
1,967
114
7, 678
___do___
___do___
___do___
H o u r..
___do___
___do___
___do___
300
299
318
2, 322
2, 533
2, 871
2, 509
3,039
2,315
1,695
2,807
2, 979
2, 317
2, 062
9. 99
7. 69
5. 57
9.15
9. 70
7.63
.878
$23. 45
12. 72
17. 35
9.86
7.58
5. 48
9. 25
9.50
7.48
.543
.622
.815
.652
.861
.838
8.81
.422
2. 35
.409
6.16
.570
.417
. 21
. 84
.854
.665
.529
.606
.794
.635
.843
.815
8.63
.414
2. 32
.406
6.04
.558
.412
. 11
8.74
7.89
2, 715
2, 924
2, 926
1, 756
1, 352
1, 714
958
9. 05
9. 77
9. 19
.756
.534
.597
.382
8.89
9. 62
9. 05
.750
.526
.620
.378
Day__.
306
H o u r.. 2,413
2, 322
1, 588
7. 58
.658
7.43
.640
3, 393 D a y ...
318
318
374 ___do___
349 H o u r., 2,468
3, 031
2,699
2,305
9.53
. 49
.934
9.46
8.40
.929
701
5, 438
21, 756
1,031
2, 746
2, 213
10, 277
40
2,644
960
4, 625
4, 266
489
___do___
___do___
___do___
___do___
___do___
___do__.
___do_-_
___do__ _
___do_—
___do_____do—
___do__.
___do_—
2,488
2, 502
2,412
2, 440
2, 337
2, 491
2, 395
2,453
2, 798
2,902
3,004
2,656
2, 562
2, 217
2, 079
1, 508
1, 840
1, 468
1,846
, 202
1,144
2,014
1,449
1,025
1, 726
2,081
1
.891
.831
.625
. 754
.628
.741
. 502
.466
.720
.499
.341
. 650
.813
.861
.822
.619
.746
.624
.738
.498
.452
. 717
.497
.340
. 644
.798
40, 038
62,145
207,174
8,053
___do_—
___do„_
___do___
__.do—.
2,521
2, 560
2,445
2,437
1,564
932
875
929
.620
.364
.358
.381
.610
.367
. 358
.377
318
3,107
8
6
53,171
218, 217
551
D a y ..
1,645
1,321
1,374
1,932
1,481
2,135
2, 214
2,643
967
723
1,048
, 111
1,826
1,284
3, 733
2, 690
2, 569
2
.686
12
12
8
8.10
8
9.77
9.63
157
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
E A R N IN G S O F S T E A M R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S IN 1927 A N D 1928-C ontinued
1927
1928
Average tim e
w orked per
employee
Average (days or hours)
num ber
during year
of em
ployees
Tim e
U nit
Occupation
Per
day or
hour
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
day
or
hour
$8.53
$8.43
Average
earnings—
Per
year
Maintenance of way and structures—Continued
A ssistant general foremen (signal, telegraph, and elec
trical transm ission) and signal and telegraph inspec
tors.
Gang foremen (signal and telegraph skilled trades labor).
Signalmen a n d signal m aintainers-----------------------------Linem en and gro u n d m en------------ ------------ 7 - - - : --------A ssistant signalmen and assistant signal m ain tain ers—
Signalm en and signal m aintainer helpers..........................
T otal:
D aily basis— ---------- --------- ----------------------H o u rly basis.................................. .......................
Maintenance of equipment and stores
G eneral forem en___________________________________
A ssistant general foremen a n d d ep artm en t foremen----G eneral foremen (stores)........................................................
Assistant; general foremen (stores) ..................... ..................
E q u ip m en t, shop, a n d electrical inspectors----------------M aterial a n d supplies inspectors. _............... .................. .
G ang foremen and gang leaders (skilled labor)— ............
B lacksm ith s____________________________ ___ _______
B oilerm ak ers..------- ---------------- ------ -----------------------C arm en (A )____:----------------------------------------------------C arm en (B )-------- --------- --------------------------------- ------ C arm en (C )------- --------------------------- -----------------------C arm en (D ) ---------------------------------- -----------------------Electrical workers (A )
------ ---------------- — - -----------Electrical w orkers (B) — ------------------------ ---------------Electrical workers (C )--------------------------------------------M ach in ists.-------------------------- --------------------------------M olders_______ . . . -------- ---------------------------------------Sheet-m etal workers— ------------------------------------- --Skilled trad es helpers...................... .............. .......................
H elper apprentices----------------------------------- --------------Regular apprentices-------------------------------- ---------------G ang foremen laborers (shops, engine houses, power
p lants, an d stores).
Coach cleaners-------------------------------------------------------Laborer s (shops, engine houses, a n d power p la n ts)-----C om m on laborers (shops, engine houses, power plants,
a nd stores).
Stationary engineers (steam )...... .........................................
Stationary firem en a n d oilers (steam and electrical
p la n ts).
Coal passers and w ater tenders (steam station boiler
rooms).
Total:
D aily basis_______________________________
H ourly basis--------------------------- ------ ----------
733
D ay—
2,549
2,515
2, 532
2,432
2,420
2, 430
1,981
1, 852
1,546
1,278
.953
.787
.731
.636
.528
.941
.781
.732
.619
.522
318
D a y ...
H o u r.. 2,482
2,966
1,099
9.33
.443
9.25
.439
3,674 . 11.14
9. 49
3,148
2,201
7.05
2,029
6.69
2, 633
8.47
2, 209
7. 22
2,682
.964
1,839
.811
1,931
.816
.782
1,835
1,784
.799
.728
1, 799
1,640
.727
2,013
.793
1,861
.732
1,825
.670
1,899
.800
1,709
.829
1,888
.798
1,348
.561
1,341
.596
.433
946
.616
1,637
11.09
9.53
6.95
6.65
8.52
7.05
.963
.810
.815
.781
.799
.725
.724
.792
.729
.668
.801
.837
.799
.559
.592
.438
.611
1,475 H o u r..
9,169
2, 690 __ do—
3,198 __ do _
3,670 ___do—
5,051
395,147
1,426
10, 703
302
185
1,498
1,809
10, 337
7,864
16,838
19, 659
3,874
74,452
1,927
7,247
2,806
278
55, 792
1,065
10, 954
101,122
5,405
10,975
3,850
299 $2,693
D a y ...
___do_—
__ do—_
__do__
___do
__do
H o u r..
__ _do
___do__
___do
— do
_ _do _
— do
_ do
__do
_ do
— do
— do__
_ _do
_ do
— do
_ .d o
— do—
330
332
312
303
311
306
2, 783
2, 268
2, 367
2,345
2,233
2,472
2, 256
2, 539
2,544
2, 722
2,373
2,062
2,366
2, 406
2, 250
2,185
2,658
12,189 — do—- 2,740
38,150 — do— 2, 797
52,598 — do— 2,381
1,160
1,144
974
.423
.409
.409
.421
.410
.407
2,423 — do— 2,861
5,034 — do— 2,867
1,983
1,605
.693
.560
.687
.558
523 — do— 2,868
1,420
.495
.491
15,923
445,362
326
D a y ...
H o u r.. 2,457
3,009
1,541
9.23
.627
9.23
.625
C hief train dispatchers, train dispatchers, and train
5,291
H o u r.. 2,607
3,342
1.282
1.253
Station agents (supervisory-m ajor stations, nonteleg
raphers).
Station agents (supervisory-sm aller stations, nonteleg
raphers).
Station agents (nonsupervisory-sm aller stations, non
telegraphers) .
Station agents (telegraphers and te le p h o n e s )................
C hief telegraphers and telephoners or wire chiefs--------Clerk-telegraphers a n d clerk-telephoners-------------------Telegraphers, telephoners, and tow erm en----- ------------Station m asters a n d assistants---------------- ----------------Supervising baggage a g e n ts.------------- -----------------Baggage agents and a s s is ta n ts ...------ -----------------------Baggage, parcel room, a n d statio n a tte n d a n ts --------- . . .
General foremen (freight stations, warehouses, grain
elevators, and docks).
2,474
D ay—
324
3,087
9.54
9.43
5,234
Transportation (other than train, engine, and yard)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[847]
H o u r.. 2,647
2,182
.824
3,299 . .. d o .. . 2,507
1,250
.499
.490
___do—
— do—
— do—
_-do
D a y ...
— do—
H o u r..
___do—
— do—
1,789
2,505
1,799
1,863
2,553
2,247
1,724
1,283
2,263
.662
.892
.646
.672
7.30
6. 72
.602
.480
.877
.648
.869
.630
.655
7.22
6.64
.591
.467
.862
18,858
859
13,340
23,398
512
133
721
8,660
540
2,703
2,809
2,783
2, 774
350
335
2,862
2,675
■2, 580
.800
158
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
E A R N IN G S O F S T E A M R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S IN 1927 A N D 1928—C ontinued
1927
1928
Average tim e
w orked per
employee
Average (days or hours)
num ber
during year
of employees
U n it Tim e
Occupation
Transportation (other than train, engine, and yard)—Con.
A ssistant general foremen (freight stations, warehouses,
grain elevators, and docks).
G ang foremen (freight station, w arehouse, gram elevator, and dock lab o r).
Callers, loaders, scalers, sealers, and perishable freight
inspectors.
T ruckers (stations, warehouses, and platform s)---------Laborers (coal and ore docks and grain elevators)-------C om m on laborers (stations, warehouses, platforms,
an d grain elevators).
Stew ards, re stau ran t a n d lodging-house managers, and
dining-car supervisors.
Chefs and first cooks (dining cars and r e s ta u r a n ts ) ----Second an d th ird cooks (dining cars a n d restau ran ts). . .
W aiters a n d lodging-house a tte n d a n ts-----------------------C am p an d crew cooks a n d kitchen helpers-----------------Barge, lighter, a n d gasoline launch officers an d w orkers.
D eck officers (ferry boats a n d tow ing vessels). _
Engine-room officers (ferry boats and tow ing vessels)—
D eck an d engine-room w orkers (ferry boats an d tow ing
A ver
age
earn
ings
per
day
Per
or
day or hour
hour
Average
earnings—
Per
year
H o u r.. 2,549 $2,060
$0.808
3,521 . —do— 2,573
1,773
.689
.675
2,404,
1,293
.538
.531
34.270 — do— 2,455
1.238 ___do— 2,705
5, 105 — do__ 2,602
1,150
1 455
1,064
.468
. 538
.409
.458
. 536
.412
427
14,872 __do—
$0. 785
2,011
.641
.637
1,607
2,877
6,964
3, 577
2,057
1,008
921
4, 470
. —do__
— do—
— do—
do—
— do__
— do__
— do—
— do—
3,194
3,147
3,171
2,924
3,271
2,839
2,845
2,820
1,788
1, 218
831
938
1,805
2, 626
2,604
1, 637
.560
.387
.262
. 321
. 552
. 925
. 915
. 580
.554
.384
.262
.321
.573
.904
.900
.573
1, 221
983
910
43
3,356
1,311
21, 240
408
— do—
—-do—
—.d o —
H o u r..
— do—
-- .d o —
D ay . .
H o u r..
2,866
2,662
308
3,203
2,693
2,963
360
2,493
990
1,346
2, 528
2,289
1,202
1, 374
923
1,053
.346
. 506
.821
.714
. 446
. 464
2.57
.422
.334
. 515
8. 09
.707
.442
.459
2. 56
. 415
354
D ay . .
H o u r.. 2,682
1,233
1,552
3.48
.579
3.45
.567
351
2, 773
2,947
2, 757
2, 870
3,264
1,802
2, 360
1,993
1,829
9. 31
.650
.801
.723
.637
9.13
.644
.783
.710
.621
6, 770
15,372
351
D a y ...
H o u r.. 2,802
3,264
1,961
9.31
.700
9.13
.688
10, 094
1, 280
14,717
9, 208
5,548
13,402
33, 981
22, 782
H o u r.. 2,362
_--do__- 2,382
2, 486
—-d o — 3,053
— do— 2,409
—-d o — 2,200
2,281
-__do__ 2,982
3,093
2,593
2, 601
3,091
2, 366
2,074
1,893
2,395
1. 310
1.088
1. 046
1. 013
.982
.943
.830
.803
1. 300
1.083
1.023
1. 010
.967
.930
.811
.801
21, 020
51, 680
12, 569
19, 971
9, 304
___do___
-__do__
___do___
___do___
- ..d o __
2,673
2, 486
2, 078
2,388
3,066
2,537
2,172
3, 389
3,053
3, 693
.949
.874
1.630
1.278
1.204
.935
.859
1.542
1.205
1.157
21, 075
11, 732
21, 537
9, 425
21,492
— do—
— do—
___do__
___do—
---d o __
2, 622
1,991
2, 211
3, 008
2,548
2,598
2,562
2,153
2,728
1,967
.991
1.287
.974
.907
.772
.949
1.233
.935
.887
.756
T otal
............... .................................................... ....... 310, 817 -- .d o __ 2,497
G rand total:
321
123,074 D a y ..
D aily basis. ____________________________
H ourly basis______________________________ 1,557,113 H o u r.. 2,382
2, 457
.984
.958
2,710
1,624
8. 46
.682.
8.25
.640
D eck and engine-room officers and workers (steam ers). .
F loating eq u ip m en t shore workers and a tte n d a n ts ------T ran sp o rtatio n and dining service inspectors-------------P arlo r a n d sleeping car conductors------------ ------------—
T rain a tte n d an ts . .
_ ---------------------------------Bridge operators a n d helpers------------------------------------Crossing and bridge flagmen and g atem en-----------------Forem en (laundry) a n d la u n d ry w orkers-------------------Total:
D aily basis_______________________________
H ourly basis-------------------- ---------------------Transportation (yard)
Y ardsm asters and assistants _____________________
Sw itch tenders . . . -----------------------------------------------Outside hostlers-----------------------------------------------------Inside hostlers_______________________________ _____ _
O utside hostler helpers-------------------- ----------------------Total:
D aily b a s is ______________________________
H o u rly basis........ ....................................................
Transportation (train and engine)
R oad passenger conductors------------- . . . ----------- . . .
A ssistant road passenger conductors and tick et collectors
R oad freight conductors (through freig h t). __________
R oad freight conductors (local a n d w ay freight)---------R oad passenger baggage m e n -------- ------ ------------------R oad passenger brakem en a n d fla g m e n ----------- . . . . .
R oad freight brakem en and flagmen (through freig h t)..
R oad freight brakem en and flagmen (local and w ay
freight).
Y ard conductors and yard fo re m e n -------------- ----------Y ard brakem en and yard helpers
. -------------------R oad passenger engineers and m otorm en. . . .
_
R oad freight engineers and m otorm en (through freight) _
R oad freight engineers and m otorm en (local and w ay
freight).
Y ard engineers and m otorm en
___________________
R oad passenger firemen and h e lp e rs _________________
R oad freight firemen and helpers (through freight) .
R oad freight firemen and helpers (local and w ay freight).
Y ard firemen and helpers..................... .................... .............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[848]
1,762 — do— 3,136
25, 269
172,198
6, 770 D ay . .
5,327 H o u r..
2,196
6,121 . .. d o .. .
1,728 — do—
159
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average Annual Earnings of Wage Earners in M anufacturing
Industries, 1899 to 1927
T
'H E table below gives the average annual earnings of all per
sons in manufacturing industries in the United States for
each of the years from 1899 to 1927 in which a census of manufactures
was made by the United States Bureau of the Census. The figures
of average earnings are derived by dividing the aggregate wages
paid by the aggregate number of wage earners as reported in each
census.
1899__________ _________ $426
1904______
_________
477
1909__________ _________
518
1914_______
_________
590
1919__________ _________ 1, 163
1921________ ------------ $1,
1923________ ___________
1,
1925_________ --------------- 1 ,
1927_______
--------------1,
181
254
280
299
Wages and Hours of Labor in Canada, 1927 and 1928
^THHE following statistics are taken from a report on wages and
A hours of labor in Canada, 1920 to 1928, published as a supple
ment to the January, 1929, issue of the Canadian Labor Gazette
(Ottawa):
TABLE 1.—i n d e x n u m b e r o f r a t e s o f w a g e s o f v a r i o u s c l a s s e s o f l a b o r
IN C A N A D A , 1921 TO 1928
[1913 = 100]
In d u stry
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
B uilding trades 1_________________ _____ ____
M etal trades 2___________________ ________
P rin tin g trades A
______________ ______ __
Electric ra ilw a y 4______
_ _______ _____
Steam railw ay 5________________________
Coal m ining
................ . . . ....................
Simple average___________ __________
Common factory labor 7._
_ _______ __ _
M iscellaneous factory trades 7. . . _ __________
Logging an d saw milling 7 __________ _ _ . . .
170.5
186.8
193.3
192. 1
195.9
208.3
191.2
190. 6
202.0
152.6
162.5
173. 7
192.3
184.4
184.4
197.8
182.4
183. 0
189.1
158. 7
166.4
174.0
188.9
186. 2
186. 4
197.8
183.3
181. 7
196. 1
170.4
169.7
175. 5
191.9
186.4
186.4
192.4
183.7
183. 2
197.6
183. 1
170.4
175.4
192.8
187.8
186.4
167.6
179.7
186. 3
195. 5
178.7
172.1
177.4
193.3
188.4
186.4
167.4
180.' 5
187.3
196. 7
180.8
179. 3
178. 1
195.0
189.9
198.4
167.9
184. 3
187. 7
199.4
182.8
185.6
180.1
198. 3
194.1
198.4
168.9
187.6
187. 1
200.9
184.3
1 8 trades from 1921 to 1926, 9 for 1927 a n d 1928.
2 5 trades from 1921 to 1926, 4 for 1927 and 1928.
3 4 trades for 1921 and 1922, 6 from 1923 to 1928.
4 5 classes.
5 23 classes.
6 12 classes.
7 T he n um ber of samples has been increased each
year since 1920.
T a b le 2 .—R A T E S O F W A G E S A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R P E R W E E K IN V A R IO U S O C C U
P A T IO N S IN S P E C IF IE D C A N A D IA N C IT IE S , 1927 A N D 1928
Quebec
M ontreal
O ttaw a
Occupation
W age rates
Hours
per week
Wage rates
H ours
per week
W age rates
50
44-50
P er hour
$1.20
1.20
44
44
H ours
per week
B u ild in g trades
Bricklayers:
P e r hour
1927________ ____ ____
$0.90
1928.... ...............................
.90
C arpenters:
1927________ ____ ____
0.45 - .55
1928___________________
.45 - .60
Electrical workers:
1927__________________
.45 - .55
1928____________________ .45 - .60
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
54
54
Per hour
$1. 12^
1 . 123^
54-60
54-60
0.65- .75
.70- .75
44-60
44-60
.85
.85
44
44
54
54
.65- .75
.65- .75
44-46
44-46
.SO
.80
44
44
[849]
160
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a sle 2 .—r a t e s o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f l a b o r p e r w e e k i n v a r i o u s o c c u
p a t i o n s IN S P E C IF I E D C A N A D IA N C IT IE S , 1927 A N D 1928—C ontinued
O ccupation
W age rates
B u ild in g trades—C ontinued
Per hour
Painters:
1927..................................... $0.40 -0.60
1928.... ................................... - .47 - . 60
Plasterers:
.85
1927...................................... .
.85
1928______ _____ _________
Plum bers:
1927___________ _________ .45 - . 60
.45 - . 60
1928____________________
Stone cutters:
.45 - . 60
1927____________________
1928..................... .................... .60 - . 70
Laborers:
.30 - . 40
1927____________________
.35 - . 40
1928,___________________
Metal trades
B lacksm iths:
1927____________________
1928____________________
Boilermakers:
1927____________________
1928, _______ ____________
M achinists:
1927____________________
1928____________________
Iron molders:
1927____________________
1928____________________
Sheet-m etal workers:
1927____________________
1928________________ ----Street railways
Conductors and m otorm en:
1927 1 ___________________
1928 A......................................
Linem en:
1927............................ .............
1928-........................................
Shed men:
1927-.._________________
1928...... ...................................
Electricians:
1927___ _____ ____________
1928____________________
T rackm en a n d laborers:
1927_______________ ____ 1928...................................... .
.50 - . 60
.50 - . 60
.40 - . 55
.40. - . 55
O ttaw a
M ontreal
Quebec
H ours
per week
Wage rates
Hours
per week
W age rates
H ours
per week
44-4934
44-49J4
P e r hour
$0.65
. 65
44
44
1 . 00- 1 . 1234
1 . 00- 1.1 2 3 4
44-4934
44-4934
1.0 0
1.0 0
44
44
54-60
54-60
.65- .80
.85
44-49%
44
.90
.95
44
44
48-54
48-54
.75
.90
44
44
1.0 0
1.0 0
44
44
54-60
54-60
.30- .40
.30- .45
50-60
50-60
.45- .50
.45- .50
44-54
44-54
50-54
50-54
.55- .70
.60- .70
44-58
44-58
.55- .65
.55- .65
50
50
.50- .75
.50- .80
47-58
47-58
.61- .75
.61- .75
50
44-50
48-54
54
54
54
4934
4934
Per hour
$0.60- .70
.60- .70
.40 - . 55
.40 - . 55
50-54
50-54
.50- .75
.50- .75
44-60
44-58
.55- .65
.55- .65
44-50
44-50
.37 yr ■ 57
. 373-ir . 57
60
60
.60- .75
.60- .75
40-55
40-55
.50- .65
.50- .65
44-50
44-50
.45 - . 55
.45 - . 60
54
54-60
.70
.75
44-50
50
60
60
.51
.51
70
70
2.50
2.50
54
54
55
6634
.51
.51
60
60
.50
.50
54
54
.34- .52
.34- .52
63-70
63-70
.39- .51
.39- .51
54
54
.51- .63
. 51- . 63
50
50
.55
.55
54
54
.35
.35
60
60
.39- .46
.44- .48
54
54
4634
4634
2 .45
2 .4734
.43 -.45
. 4434-, 4934
51J4-70
.30 -.53
.33 -.5734 4934-70
.45 -.48
. 4734-. 5234
.35
.35
51
4934
60
60
.85
. K il/ i
44
44
Printin g trades
Compositors, m achine and
han d , newspaper:
1927____________________
1928_____________________
Compositors, m achine and
han d , job:
1927____________________
1928____________________
Pressm en, new spaper:
1927____________________
1928__________ __________
Pressm en, job:
1927____________________
1928_________ ___________
Bookbinders:
1927____________________
1928____________________
B indery girls:
1927____________________
1928____________________
1 M axim um rates.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P er week
29.00
29.00
48
48
Per week
38. 00-42. 00
38. 00-42. 00
48
48
P er week
43.00
43.00
29. 0C
29.00
48
48
36. 00-42. 0C
36. 00-42. 00
44-48
44-48
35. 00-40. 00
35.00-40.00
44-48
44-48
28. OC
30.00
48
48
36.00
37.00
48
48
40.00
42.00
48
48
23. 00-32. 00
24. 00-35. 00
48
48
36. OC
36.00
48
48
35. 00-40.00
35.00-40. 00
44-48
44-48
26. 50-32. OC
26. 50-32.00
48
48
33. 75
33. 75
48
48
34.00
34.00
48
48
8 . 00-15. OC
8 . 00-15. 00
48
48
15.00
15.00
48
48
13. 50
13. 50
48
48
2 1-man car operators, 5 cents extra per hour.
[850]
161
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T
able
R A T E S O F W A G E S A N D H O U R S OF L A B O R P E R W E E K IN V A R IO U S O C C U
P A T IO N S IN S P E C IF I E D C A N A D IA N C IT IE S , 1927 A N D 1928—C ontinued
8 .—
W innipeg
Toronto
Occupation
Wage rates
Hours
per week
V ancouver
Wage rates
H ours
per week
W age rates
44
44
P er hour
$1. 25
1.25
H ours
per week
B uilding trades
B ricklayers:
1927_ _____ _______ _____
1928...... .........- .................... C arpenters:
1927____________________
1928,_______ _______ _____
Electrical workers:
1927___________ ________ _
1928-................................. —
Painters:
1927___________ _________
1928...................... ..................
Plasterers:
1927____________________
1928................................... .
Plum bers:
1927___ ____ ____________
. 1928___________ _________
Stone cutters:
1927____________ ________
1928.................. ......................
Laborers:
1927____________________
1928.......... ................ ..............
P er hour
$1. 25
1. 25
44
44
P e r hour
$1.35
1.40
.90
44
44
1.05
44
44
1.0 0
44
44
1 . 00
44
44
1.0 0
1.0 0
44
44
1.0 0
1.0 0
44
44
$0. 65- . 80
. 75- . 80
44
44
.85
.85
44
44
1.25
1. 25
44
40
1. 25
1. 35
44
44
1.25
1.25
1.0 0
1 -1 2 H
44
44
1 . 12 M
1 . 1 2 y2
44
44
1 .123^
1 . 12 ^
1 . 12 ^
1 . 1234
44
44
1 .1 0
1.2 0
44
44
. 35- . 65
. 40- . 65
44-60
44-60
$0. 40- . 50
. 40- . 50
. 55- . 65
. 55- . 65
44-50
44. 50
.60- .75
.60- . 75
1.0 0
.90
1.0 0
.93%
.87 a
.90
40
40
44
44
40
40
40-44
40-44
1.1 2 3 4
40-44
40-44
50-60
44-60
. 50- . 6234
. 50- . 62J4
44
44
. 60- . 80
. 60- . 80
50
50
. 75- . 87]4
. 75- . 8734
44
44
44-48
44-48
. 60- . 72
. 60- . 74
50
50
. 75- . 8234
. 75- . 8234
44
44
. 50- . 70
. 50- . 70
44-54
44-54
. 60- . 73
. 60- . 74
50
50
. 75- . 8134
. 75- . 8234
44
44
. 55- . 70
. 55- . 70
45-54
45-54
. 55- . 70
. 55- . 74
45-50
44-50
.75- .8134
. 75- . 8134
44
44
.90
44
44
.90
.90
44
44
1.0 0
1.0 0
1.0634
44
44
.60
.60
48
48
a.58
3. 59
50
50
4. 63
*. 63
48
48
. 72-, 78
. 72-, 78
44
44
. 54-, 56
. 54- 56
48
48
. 503^-. 58
. bo1
/ ? -. 58
40
48
. 56- 66
. 56- 66
44-48
44-48
. 55- 60
. 55-, 60
44
44
.61
.62
40
48
.70
.70
44
44
. 45-, 55
45-. 55
48
48
. 35- 50
.35-. 50
44
44
. 44-. 53
. 46-. 54
44
44
Per week
$45.00
46.00
46
46
P e r week
$48.00
48.00
45
45
39.60
39.60
44-48
44M8
42.00
43.50
44-48
44-48
$1 . 00- 1 . 1 2 ^
Metal trades
B lacksm iths:
1927.......... ................ ..............
197*____________________
Boiler makers:
1927____________________
197*_________ ___________
M achinists:
1927____________________
1928________ ___________
Iron molders:
1927____________________
19:28____________________
Sheet-m etal workers:
1927____________________
1928___________ _________
Street railways
C onductors and m otormen:
1927 i___________________
1928 i _______ _________
Linem en:
1927____________________
1928.................... ....................
Shed men:
1927____________________
1928...... ........................ .........
Electricians:
1927____________________
1928____________________
T rackm en a n d laborers:
1927____________________
1928___________ _________
.90
• 92>S
44
44
.93%
.97
44
44
Printin g trades
Compositors, machine and
hand, newspaper:
1927____________________
1928____________ ____ ___
Compositors, m achine and
hand, job:
1927._________ ______ _
1928________ ___________
P er week
$43. 50
45.50
35. 20-42. 00
35. 20-42. 00
463^
463^
44-48
44-48
1 M axim um rates.
3 1-man car operators, 5X
A cents extra per hour.
* 1-man car operators, 6 cents extra per hour.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 5 1 ]
162
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b le 2 .—R A T E S O F W A G E S A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R P E R W E E K IN V A R IO U S O C C U
P A T IO N S IN S P E C IF I E D C A N A D IA N C IT IE S , 1927 A N D 1928—C ontinued
j
Toronto
Occupation
W age rates
Hours
per week
V ancouver
W innipeg
Hours
per week
Wage rates
Hours
per week
W age rates
Per week
$48.00
48.00
48
48
P rin tin g trades—C ontinued
Pressm en, new spaper:
1927____________________
1928___________ _________
Pressm en, job:
1927____________________
1928___________ _________
B ookbinders:
1927____________________
1928____________________
B indery girls:
1927____________________
1928____________________
P er week
$42. 50
44.50
48
48
Per week
$43. 75
45.00
48
48
36.00
38.00
48
48
39. 60
39.60
44-48
4 4 -4 8
42.00
43. 50
44-48
44-48
36.00
36.00
48
48
35. 20-42. 00
35. 20-42. 00
44-48
44-48
42.00
42.00
44-48
44-48
16. 80
16.80
48
48
12. 00-18. 00
12.00-18. 00
44-48
44-48
21.00
21.00
44-48
44-48
TABLE 3 .—R A T E S O F W A G E S O F C A N A D IA N S T E A M R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S , 1923 TO
1926 A N D 1927 TO 1928
Engine service (cents
per mile)
T rain service (cents
per mile)
Occupation
O ccupation
1923-1926
Conductors:
Passenger
_ ______
Freight, w a y ________
Brakem en:
Passenger
Freight, th ro u g h____
Freight, w a y . . . ........
1923-1926
1927-1928
4.27
5. 80
6.32
4.47
6.16
6.68
2.93
4.48
4.88
3.13
4.84
5.24
Locomotive engineers:
Passenger . . . . . .
Freight
.
_____
Locomotive firemen:
Passenger _ . . . . . .
Freight _. . _______
1927-1928
5.92-6. 92
6. 48-8. 40
6.16-7.16
6. 84-8.76
4. 32-5. 52
4. 64-6.15
4. 56-5. 76
5.00-6. 51
T a b le 4 .—W A G E S A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R IN C O A L M IN IN G IN C A N A D A IN S E P T E M
B E R , 1927 A N D 1928
t
Septem ber, 1927
Locality and occupation
D aily
wages
Nova Scotia 2
C ontract m iners _
_ __
___ _____________________
H and m iners .. . ______
_________________________ _
H oisting engineers
_ _ _ _ _ __________ _________
D rivers
___________ . _ _ . . ________ _
_____
B rattice m en
. . _____ _
.....
__
__
P u m p m en
. .. .
. _____
Laborers, underground
.
___ . . . .
__ _ _____
Laborers, surface . . ________ _
__ . . ________ _ _____
M achinists.
. _________
..
. ________ _ _______
C arpenters
__ _
_
B lacksm iths
_____ ______
. . ____
__ _
___ _
3 $6. 62
4 4. 15
4. 15
3. 60
3. 65
3.90
3. 35
3. 25
4.15
3. 85
4.00
H ours
per
day 1
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
m
8V2
m
m
Septem ber, 1928
D aily
wages
3 $6. 64
4 4.15
4. 15
3.60
3. 65
3.90
3. 35
3. 25
4. 15
3. 85
4.00
H ours
per
day 1
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
m
8H
m
Alberta 5
3 7.85
8
s 7. 74
8
C ontract miners
_ _ _____
___________
-8
8 4 5.85-7. 00
M achine miners
___ __________________ ______ ___ 4 5. 65-7. 00
8
8 4 5 . 2 0 -5 . 57
H an d m iners______ _______________ ________ — ................ ......... 4 5. 00-5. 57
1 Some engineers, p u m p m en, firemen, etc., w ork 7 days per week.
2 In N ova Scotia in m ost of th e mines in 1928 a bonus to be paid q u arterly based on profits was agreed
upon. (L abor Gazette, M ay 19, 1928, p. 520.)
a Average earnings per day on contract, per ton, etc.
4 M inim um rate per d ay w hen no t w orking on contract, per ton, yard, etc.
« Including also 3 mines in southeastern B ritish Columbia.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 5 2 ]
163
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 4.—W A G E S A N D H O U R S OF L A B O R IN C O A L M IN IN G IN C A N A D A IN S E P T E M
B E R , 1927 A N D 1828—C ontinued
Septem ber, 1927
L ocality and occupation
Dailywages
H ours
per
day
Septem ber, 1928
D aily
wages
H ours
per
day
Alberta—C ontinued
$5. 50-6. 00
H oisting engineers
4. 70-5. 25
_____
_________________
D riv e rs ._ . _ ____ .
B rattice men
__
________ . .
5. 20-5. 57
P u m p m e n .. . ___ . . . . . . . . .
_ __________ __________ _ 4. 25-4. 75
4. 25-4. 67
Laborers, underground .
___
4. 00-4. 20
Laborers ’ s u rfa c e ___ . . . . _____
M ac h in ists... ____________ _____
4. 70-5. 71
C arpenters_________
.
_____ ________________ _ ._ 5. 30-5. 77
B lacksm ith s_____ _____ _______ ___________________________ 5. 30-5. 77
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
$5. 65-6. 20
4. 85-5. 25
5. 20-5. 57
4.40-4. 95
4.40-4. 67
4.15-4.41
4. 85-5. 77
5. 45-5. 77
5. 45-5. 77
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Vancouver Island 6
C ontract m iners____________ . . . .
_
...............
M achine m iners. _______ _
H and m in ers_________________ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ . . . . . . ______
H oisting engineers
________
D rivers___ ____________
B rattice m e n .. .
____. . . .
P um p m en
___. . . . . . . _ .
Laborers, u n d erground!. ________ _ .
Laborers, surface_________________
M achinists___________________________________ ___________
C a rp e n te rs __________________ . _
B lacksm iths _________
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8 6. 78
4 4.81
«4. 52
5.39
4. 13
4. 35
3. 96
3. 97
3.76
5.40
4. 83
5.11
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8 6.76
<4. 81
4 4. 52
5. 39
4. 13
4. 35
3. 96
3. 97
3. 76
5. 40
4. 83
5. 11
8Average earnings per d ay on contract, per to n , etc.
4 M inim u m rate per d a y w hen no t w orking on co n tract, per ton, y a rd , etc.
6 N o figure for Chinese employees included.
Short Time in the English Cotton-Spinning Industry
INCE the beginning of the industrial depression following the
World War the branch of the English cotton-spinning industry
which handles American-grown cotton has suffered greatly, and
conditions finally became so bad that large amalgamations have
been resorted to in the hope of reducing expenses and promoting
efficiency. (See Labor Review, March, 1929, p. 66.) Until recently,
the branch handling Egyptian-grown cotton escaped the difficulties
which beset the American section, but this branch seems to have this
immunity no longer. The Economist (London), in its issue for Feb
ruary 23, 1929, gives the following statement of the position of the
Egyptian branch as coming from its Manchester correspondent:
S
As a n tic ip a te d , th e m em bers of th e B olton M aster C o tto n S p in n ers’ A ssocia
tio n h av e su p p o rte d th e reco m m en d atio n t h a t p ro d u c tio n of y a rn should be
reduced by 33 p er c en t fo r tw o m onths. A b allo t on th is p ro p o sal h as been ta k e n ,
a n d th e re s u lt an n o u n ced a t th e en d of la s t w eek show ed t h a t 85.2 p e r c e n t w ere
in fa v o r a n d 14.8 p e r c e n t ag ain st. T h is organized sh o rt tim e h as beg u n th is
w eek a n d will co ntinu e u n til A pril 13. P ro b a b ly before th e e x p iratio n of th is
period a n o th e r m eeting of th e association will be h eld to consider fu rth e r a ctio n
if necessary. T h ere h as n o t been a n y o rganized sh o rt tim e in th e E g y p tia n
spinning section of th e L an cash ire c o tto n in d u s try since 1921, b u t d u rin g th e
la s t few m o n th s d em an d h as been slack, a n d leading em ployers a re convinced
t h a t re s trictio n of o u tp u t is necessary in o rd er to check th e acc u m u la tio n of sto ck
a n d stabilize prices. O u t of th e 19,000,000 spindles in L an cash ire engaged on
E g y p tia n co tto n , th e B olton M a ste rs’ A ssociation re p resen ts th e ow ners of a b o u t
12,000,000 spindles. An a tte m p t is being m ad e to g e t th ese o u tsid e firm s to
fall in to line. T his sh o rt tim e will affect a b o u t 60,000 operatives, chiefly in th e
B olton d istrict.
[853]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Summary for February, 1929
MPLOYMENT increased 1.9 per cent in February, 1929, as
compared with January, and pay-roll totals increased 6.9 per
cent, as shown by reports made to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The return to normal working conditions in certain industries after
the inventory taking and repairs of January, the settling down of
trade and mining conditions, and a seasonal gain in hotel business,
account for increased employment and pay-roll totals in February;
however, the increases in 1929 are somewhat greater than is usual.
The classes of employment surveyed, the number of establishments
reporting in each class, the number of employees covered, and the
total pay rolls for one week, for both January and February, together
with the per cents of change in February, are shown in the following
statement.
E
Line of em ploym ent
E sta b
lish
m ents
1. M a n u fa c tu r in g _ _____ 12,152
2. C oal m in in g ____ ______ 1,110
A n th ra c ite _____________
158
B itum inous
_ ______
952
3. M eta llifero u s m in in g ___
284
4. P u b lic u tilities ______
7,948
5. T ra d e____
2,928
W holesale.. ............ ......... 1 , 147
R e ta il... ..............
1,781
6. H o tels________________
1,350
T o ta l. _________
25,772
E m ploym ent
Jan u ary
F eb ru ary
3, 339,475
285,574
3,428,524
287,923
119,920
165, 654
120, 254
167, 669
51,735
605,014
185,517
52,587
605,103
178,298
34, 678
150,839
34,360
143, 938
127,230
4,594,545
Per
cent of
change
A m ount of p ay roll in
one week
Per
cent of
change
Jan u ary
F ebruary
$88,019,948
7,865,879
3, 722,338
$95,539,869
9,064,838
4, 512, 688
130,607
1 + 2 .3
+ 0 .8
+0.3
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .6
+ (2)
- 3 .9
- 0 .9
-4 . 6
+ 2 .7
3 2,145,899
3 2,222,314
1 + 7.7
+15.2
+21.2
+ 9 .9
+ 4.3
- 1 .3
- 3 .5
- 0 .3
- 4 .5
+ 3.6
4,683,042
+ 1 .9
122,068,098
130,537,861
+ 6.9
4,143, 541
4, 552,150
1,487,537
17,934,309
4,614,526
1,550,807
17,708,903
4,451,130
1, 017, 636
1,020, 804
3, 593, 722
3, 433, 494
1 W eighted per cent of change; th e rem aining per cents of change, including total, are unw eighted.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 Cash paym ents only; see text, p. 180.
For convenient reference the latest data available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are shown
in the following statement. These reports are for the months of
December and January instead of for January and February,
consequently, the figures can not be combined with those presented
in the foregoing statement.
E m ploym ent
Line of em ploym ent
Class I railroads________________
Dec. 15,
1928
Jan. 15,
1929
1, 605,038
1, 577,874
Per
cent of
change
-1 .7
A m ount of p ay roll in
entire m onth
December,
1928
January,
1929
$223,098, 606
$228, 588, 941
Per
cent of
change
+ 2 .5
The total number of employees included in this summary is approx
imately 6,300,000 with pay-roll totals in one week of more than
$180,000,000.
[854]
164
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
165
:i. Employment in Selected M anufacturing Industries in
February, 1929
E
EMPLOYMENT in manufacturing industries increased 2.3 per
/ cent in February, 1929, as compared with January, and pay
roll totals increased 7.7 per cent, as shown by reports made to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics by 12,143 establishments in 54 of the
principal manufacturing industries of the United States. These
establishments in February had 3,410,944 employees whose combined
earnings in one week were $95,177,353. These employees represent
nearly 53 per cent of all employees in the 54 industries considered and
more than 40 per cent of the total number of employees in all manu
facturing industries of the United States.
An increase in manufacturing employment in February has been
shown each year since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began its ex
panded report on Volume of Employment in July, 1922, but this
increase of 2.3 per cent in February, 1929, is considerably greater
than in any of the 6 complete years preceding.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ weighted index of employment in
manufacturing industries for February, 1929, is 97.4, as compared
with 95.2 in January, 1929, 95.5 for December, 1928, and 93.0 for
February, 1928; the weighted index for pay-roll totals for February,
1929, is 101.8, as compared with 94.5 for January, 1929, 97.7 for
December, 1928, and 93.9 for February, 1928. The monthly average
for 1926 equals 100.
Forty-two of the 54 separate industries had more employees in
February than in January, and the small decreases in the remaining
12 industries were mostly seasonal. The cigar industry reported a
gain of 10.2 per cent in employment, automobiles a gain of 9.4 per
cent, and stoves a gain of 9.1 per cent. All industries in the textile
group showed increased employment, with the exception of woolen
and worsted goods which reported a decrease of 0.7 per cent; the
improved condition in men’s clothing, women’s clothing, and milli
nery was especially marked. The industries in the iron and steel
group all had more employees in February than in January except
cast-iron pipe and structural ironwork, but even these two joined the
other industries of this group in substantial increases of pay-roll
totals.
Only 8 of the 54 industries showed decreased pay-roll totals in
February, and the outstanding decreases were in such seasonal in
dustries as slaughtering and meat packing, rubber boots and shoes,
and brick.
The increases in pay-roll totals were especially notable, the out
standing ones having been 28.7 per cent in automobiles, 15.5 per cent
in stoves, 13.9 per cent in tires, 12.8 per cent in stamped ware, 12.2
per cent in steam fittings, 11.7 per cent in silk goods, and 10.1 per
cent in steam-railroad car building and repairing.
The rayon industry was surveyed for this January-February
report for the first time, but as the data for computing relative
numbers are not yet available the industry is not included in the
indexes. Employment in the rayon industry was 1.5 per cent greater
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[855]
166
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
in February than in January, and pay-roll totals were 1.8 per cent
higher.
Substantial increases in employment and in pay-roll totals were
shown in February in 7 of the 9 geographic divisions; the Mountain
and Pacific divisions both reported fewer employees in February than
in January, although the Pacific division showed a gain of 2.6 per cent
in pay-roll totals.
T a b l e 1.— C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929
In d u stry
N u m b er on pay roll
Per
E sta b
lish
cent of
m ents Jan u ary , F eb ru change
ary, 1929
1929
A m ount of p ay roll
(one week)
January,
1929
February,
1929
Per
cent of
change
Food a n d k in dred p r o d u cts__
Slaughtering and' m eat packing---------------------------------C onfectionery__ ____ ____ _
Ice cream _______ ____ ______
P'lour . . __________ _____
B aking____ ___ _ _________
Sugar refining, cane_________
1,781
220,792
220,159
$5,675,902
$5,648,047
201
306
299
340
625
16
92, 682
33, 263
10, 298
16,170
57, 769
10, 610
90, 467
33,131
10, 218
16, 649
58, 854
10, 840
- 2 .4
-0 .4
- 0 .8
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .9
+ 2 .2
2,428, 977
614, 244
338, 335
425,341
1, 554, 073
314, 932
2, 328, 002
613, 877
347, 886
436, 340
1, 596, 960
324, 982
- 4 .2
- 0 .1
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .6
+ 2 .8
+ 3 .2
T extiles a n d th eir p r o d u c ts___
C otton goods_______________
H osiery and k n it goods______
Silk goods___ ____
_ _____
Woolen and worsted goods__
C arpets and rugs ______ _
D yeing a n d finishing textiles. _ ___ ____________
Clothing, m en ’s __ __________
Shirts and collars.
_ _____
Clothing, w om en’s
______
M illinery and lace g o o d s... . .
2,139
476
337
288
188
30
620,398
223,432
91, 597
64, 288
63, 973
25, 508
630,665
224, 617
94, 132
66,125
63, 555
25, 639
0
+ 0 .5
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .9
- 0 .7
+ 0 .5
11,961,868
3, 514, 321
1, 654, 320
1, 291, 028
1, 430, 072
641, 015
12,646,954
3, 614, 388
1, 791,860
1,441, 863
1, 444, 690
649,075
0
+ 2 .8
+ 8 .3
+11.7
+ 1 .0
+ 1.3
112
315
118
202
73
32,085
64,077
21, 450
22, 898
11, 090
32,947
66,181
21, 654
24,039
11, 776
+ 2 .7
+ 3 .3
+ 1 .0
+ 5 .0
+ 6 .2
812, 782
1,479, 013
326, 787
561,444
251, 086
857, 373
1, 613, 465
346, 672
611, 526
276, 042
+ 5.5
+9.1
+ 6.1
+ 8 .9
+ 9 .9
1,827
206
37
164
685,818
273,186
10, 925
25, 434
701,621
274, 772
10,286
25,418
0
+0. 6
-5 .8
- 0 .1
20,635,336
8, 575, 202
236,149
731, 639
22,115,452
8,991,985
247, 694
753, 698
0
+ 4 .9
+ 4 .9
+ 3 .0
985
68
144
255, 600
32.199
36, 912
265,372
33, 098
38, 210
+ 3 .8
+ 2 .8
+ 3 .5
7, 637,470
823, 664
1, 206, 889
8, 341, 360
877, 032
1, 290, 328
+9. 2
+ 6 .5
+ 6 .9
109
114
33, 778
17, 784
35,062
19,403
+ 3 .8
+ 9 .1
953, 339
470,984
1, 069, 305
544, 050
+12.2
+15.5
L u m b er a n d its p r o d u c ts___
Lum ber, sawmills
_____
L um ber, millwork
F u r n itu re ._____ ____________
1,388
634
332
422
233.971
134, 403
33, 814
65, 754
234,686
134,111
33,935
66,640
0
-0 . 2
+ 0 .4
+ 1 .3
4,942,033
2, 617,178
769, 217
1, 555, 638
5,119,704
2, 690, 662
788, 642
1, 640,400
+ 2 .8
+ 2.5
+ 5 .4
L eath er a n d its p r o d u c ts___
L eather
.
. . .
Boots and shoes.........................
366
133
233
122,791
26, 654
96,137
125,615
26, 786
98, 829
C1)
+0. 5
+ 2 .8
2,717,641
649, 458
2, 068, 183
2,847,862
681, 768
2,166,094
0
+ 5 .0
+ 4 .7
Paper a n d p r in tin g _____
P ap er and p u lp
...
Paper boxes________ _____
Printing, book and job
Printing, new spapers_______
1,165
217
185
328
435
209,052
60,148
19,166
50, 309
79,429
210,419
60,436
19, 239
51,377
79,367
«
+0. 5
+ 0 .4
+ 2.1
- 0 .1
6,927,871
1, 620, 255
430, 980
1, 729, 657
3,146, 979
7,017,093
1, 667, 264
438,341
1, 766, 642
3,144, 846
0
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .7
+ 2.1
- 0 .1
C h em ica ls a n d allied p ro d u cts.
Chem icals________ . . .
Fertilizers
Petroleum refining__________
386
146
181
59
93,409
36, 549
11,005
45, 855
96,186
37, 746
11,380
47,060
0
+3. 3
+ 3 .4
+ 2 .6
2,707,236
1, 009, 331
206, 684
1,491, 221
2,829,212
1, 061, 806
206,164
1, 561, 242
0
+ 5 .2
- 0 .3
+ 4 .7
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p ro d u cts
C e m e n t__ ____ __________
Brick, tile, and terra cotta
P o ttery
Glass _ _____
934
110
571
124
129
118,995
23,310
33, 958
20, 747
40, 980
119,669
23, 015
32, 778
20, 990
42, 886
’ 0
- 1 .3
-3 . 5
+ 1 .2
+ 4 .7
2,955,505
622, 797
809, 274
475, 737
1,047, 697
3,050,347
640, 943
780,161
517, 480
1,111,763
0
+ 2 .6
-3 .8
+ 8 .9
+ 1 .6
Iron a n d Steel a n d th eir prodn e ts . . __________
Iro n and steel____________
Cast-iron p ip e ..
__ ______
S tru ctu ral ironw ork _ _____
F o u n d ry and m achine-shop
p ro d u c ts _______ ________
H a r d w a r e _____
M achine tools____
Steam fittings a n d steam and
hot-w ater heating apparatus__ ___________
Stoves_____________________
Footnotes at end of table.
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[856]
0
0
167
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 1 .— C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN I D E N T IC A L
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929—C ontinued
N u m b er on pay roll
Per
E sta b
cent of
lish
change
m ents Jan u ary , F eb ru
ary, 1929
1929
In d u stry
M et all p ro d u cts, o th er th a n
Iron a n d s te e l_______________
Stam ped and enam eled w are..
Brass, bronze, and copper
products....................................
T ob acco p r o d u cts. . . . ______
Chew ing and smoking tobac
co and snufL
. _ ______
Cigars an d c ig a re tte s ______
V ehicles for la n d tr a n sp o r ta
tio n ________________________
A u to m o b iles.. ___________
Carriages and w agons.
___
C ar building and repairing,
electric-railro ad___ _____
C ar building and repairing,
steam -railroad. __________
M iscella n eo u s in d u str ies. ___
A gricultural im plem ents.— . .
Electrical m achinery, appara
tus, and supplies. . _______
Pianos a n d organs__________
R ubber boots and shoes.
A utom obile tires. ________
S h ip b u ild in g .. ................... .
R ayon 3_ ___________ ______
AJ1 in d u str ies . ________
A m ount of pay roll
(one week)
January,
1929
F ebruary,
1929
221
73
54,963
19, 348
56, 925
20,133
D)
+ 4.1
$1,472,370
445,142
$1,580,840
502,122
+ 3 .3
Per
cent of
change
0
+12.8
148
35,615
36, 792
1,027, 228
1,078, 718
250
58,193
63,302
0
929,319
996,955
«
+ 1 .7
25
225
9,066
49,127
9,167
54,135
+ 1.1
+10.2
149, 512
779, 807
148,136
848, 819
- 0 .9
+ 8 .8
1,214
202
54
584,233
426, 740
1, 338
626,538
467, 052
1,373
0
+ 9 .4
+ 2 .6
17,320,940
12,837, 309
29, 705
21,382,751
16, 525, 543
30, 210
0
+28.7
+ 1 .7
423
26, 929
26, 941
831,455
837,458
+ 0 .7
535
129, 226
131,172
+ 1 .5
3,622,471
3,989, 540
+10.1
475
78
336,860
28, 611
342,739
29,928
(l)
+ 4 .6
9,773,927
837, 533
10,304,652
905, 930
0
+ 8 .2
184
71
12
43
78
9
171, 314
8, 474
18,231
60, 666
32, 246
17, 318
175, 735
8, 257
17, 563
61, 367
32, 309
17, 580
+ 2 .6
- 2 .6
- 3 .7
+ 1.2
+ 0 .2
+ 1 .5
5,183, 588
248, 534
421, 281
1, 784, 564
942, 481
355, 946
5, 396, 269
238, 801
398, 914
2, 033, 065
969,157
362, 516
+ 4.1
- 3 .9
- 5 .3
+13.9
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .8
88,019,948
95,539,869
12,152 3,339,475 3,428,524
0
0
0
R e c a p itu la tio n by g e o g ra p h ic d iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
New England 4 __ _______ _____
M iddle A tla n tic ' _____________
E a st N o rth C e n tra l« .. ------------W est N o rth C e n tra l7----------------South A tlantic s._ _____________
E a st South C e n tra l9 --------. . .
W est South C e n tra l10 _ __
M o u n ta in 11. . . ____________
Pacific 2 ..
______ ___________
402, 426
406, 656
1, 454
855,387
876, 203
2, 796
3,137 1,187, 880 1, 241, 683
171, 315
174, 946
1, 105
341, 900
349,023
1, 538
134, 247
133, 784
630
87,466
519
86, 231
29, 555
223
30, 760
128, 745
129, 792
750
All d iv isio n s_____________
12,152 3,339,475 3,428,524
+ 1 .1
+ 2 .4
+ 4 .5
+ 2 .1
+ 2 .1
+ 0 .3
+ 1.4
- 3 .9
- 0 .8
0
9,911,917
24,195, 775
34,422, 263
4, 264, 947
6, 525, 295
2, 467, 020
1, 885,439
843, 620
3, 503, 672
10, 289, 903
25,420,131
39, 504, 524
4,456, 271
6, 925, 652
2, 575, 582
1,931,112
842,074
3, 594, 620
88,019,948
95,539,869
+ 3 .8
+ 5 .1
+ 1 4 .8
+ 4 .5
+ 6 .1
+ 4 .4
+ 2 .4
-0 .2
+ 2 .6
0
1 T h e per cent of change has no t been com puted for th e reason th a t the figures in the preceding columns
are unw eighted and refer only to th e establishm ents reporting; for th e w eighted per cent of change, wherein
proper allowance is m ade for th e relative im portance of th e several industries, so th a t th e figures m ay
represent all establishm ents of th e co u n try in th e industries here represented, see T able 2.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
8 T h e rayon in d u stry was surveyed for th is Jan u a ry -F e b ru a ry comparison for the first tim e, b u t since the
d a ta for com puting relative num bers are no t y et available th e in d u stry is not included in th e indexes. T he
to ta l figures for all industries given in th e text, p. 165, do no t include rayon.
C onnecticut, M aine, M assachusetts, N ew H am pshire, Rhode Island, V erm ont.
»N ew Jersey, N ew Y ork, Pennsylvania.
«Illinois, Indiana, M ichigan, Ohio, W isconsin.
7Iow a, K ansas, M innesota, M issouri, N ebraska, N o rth D akota, South D akota.
«D elaware, D istrict of Colum bia, Florida, Georgia, M aryland, N o rth Carolina, South .Carolina, V ir
ginia, W est Virginia.
# A labam a, K entucky, M ississippi, Tennessee.
10 A rkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.
]1 Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, M ontana, N ew Mexico, N evada, U tah, W yoming.
m California, Oregon, W ashington.
4
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 2 .—P E R C E N T O P C H A N G E , JA N U A R Y TO F E B R U A R Y , 1929—12 G R O U P S O F
IN D U S T R IE S A N D T O T A L O F A L L IN D U S T R IE S
[C om puted from th e index num bers of each group, w hich are obtained b y w eighting the index num bers
of the several industries of th e group, b y th e n u m b er of employees, or wages paid, in the industries]
Per cent of change,
Jan u a ry to F eb
ru ary , 1929
Per cent of change,
Jan u ary to F e b
ruary, 1929
G roup
G roup
N um ber
on
p ay roll
Food and kin d red products. __
Textiles an d th e ir p ro d u c ts ...
Iron and steel a n d th eir p ro d
ucts ___ ___________
L um ber a n d its p ro d u cts____
L eather a n d its products____
P aper a n d p rin tin g _________
Chemicals and allied products.
Stone, clay, and glass products.
A m ount
of
pay roll
+ 0 .2
+ 2 .0
+0. 2
+6. 1
+ 2 .5
+ 0 .4
+2. 3
+ 0 .8
+3. 1
+ 0.1
+ 7 .3
+3. 7
+ 4 .7
+ 1.5
+4. 6
+2. 7
N um ber
on
pay roll
A m ount
of
pay roll
M etal products, other th a n
___ _
iron and s te e l__
Tobacco products . _______
Vehicles for lan d tra n sp o rta
tion
__ __
M iscellaneous industries___
+ 3 .6
+ 9 .2
+ 6 .8
+ 7 .7
+ 5 .8
+ 1 .8
+ 20.2
+ 5 .5
All in d ustries..
+ 2.3
+7.7
C o m p a r is o n o f E m p l o y m e n t a n d P a y - R o l l T o t a l s i n F e b r u a r y , 1929, a n d
F e b r u a r y , 1928
T he l e v e l of employment in manufacturing industries in Febru
ary, 1929, was 4.7 per cent higher than in February, 1928, and pay
roll totals were 8.4 per cent higher.
Thirty-two of the 54 separate industries showed gains in employ.ment over this 12-month period. Especially marked increases were
reported in the following industries: Machine tools, automobiles,
agricultural implements, electrical machinery, brass products, foundry
and machine-shop products, shipbuilding, and rubber tires.
The outstanding decreases in employment in this comparison were
in the hosiery, men’s clothing, cast-iron pipe, leather, fertilizer, brick,
chewing and smoking tobacco, electric-car repairing, piano, and rubber
boot and shoe industries.
The groups of industries which, each as a whole, showed a marked
increase in employment in February, 1929, as compared with Febru
ary, 1928, were the iron and steel, nonferrous metal, and vehicle
groups, and the group of miscellaneous industries; the groups which
showed marked decrease in employment were the textile, leather, and
stone-clay-glass groups. The food, lumber, chemical, and paper
groups each showed small gains, and the tobacco group a small
decrease.
The East North Central geographic division reported over 14 per
cent more employees in February, 1929, than in February, 1928, and
the Middle Atlantic division reported a gain of 4.3 per cent. All other
divisions reported considerably smaller gains, except the Mountain
division which had fallen off 0.1 per cent.
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TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T
able
3 .—C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S , F E B R U A R Y , 1929,
W IT H F E B R U A R Y , 1928
[The per cents of change for each of th e 12 groups of industries and for th e to ta l of all industries are w eighted
in th e same m anner as are th e per cents of change in T able 2]
Per cent of change
February, 1929,
compared w ith
F ebruary, 1928
P er cent of change
February, 1929,
compared w ith
F ebruary, 1928
In d u stry
In d u stry
N um ber A m ount
on pay of pay
roll
roll
N um ber A m ount
on pay
of p ay
roll
roll
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p ro d u c ts
Slaughtering a n d m eat
packing.............................
C onfectionery................... ..
Ice cream _________________
F lo u r ...................................
B akin g ........ ..............................
Sugar refining, cane................
T ex tiles a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts ..
C otton goods.............._j____
H osiery and k n it goods____
Silk goods________________
Woolen and w orsted g oods..
C arpets and ru g s ..................
D yeing an d finishing tex
tiles____________________
C lothing, m en ’s __________
Shirts and collars_________
C lothing, w om en’s ________
M illinery a n d lace goods___
I r o n a n d ste e l a n d th e ir
p r o d u c ts ______ _____ ______
Iron and stee l.................... ..
Cast-iron p ip e .....................
S tructu ral ironw ork_______
F ou n d ry and machine-shop
pro d u cts___ ____ _______
H ard w are________________
M achine tools_____ ____ _
Steam fittings an d steam
and hot-w ater heating
ap p aratu s____________
Stoves...................................
L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c ts ___
Lum ber, saw m ills________
Lum ber, m illw ork............. .
F u rn itu re ..... ...........................
L e a th e r a n d its p r o d u c ts ____
L eath er__________________
Boots and shoes......................
P a p e r a n d p r i n t i n g _________
P aper and p u lp ___________
P aper boxes______________
Printin g , book and jo b -----Printing, new spapers......... ..
+0.7
- 0 .1
+ 0 .3
- 2 .1
0)
+ 4 .3
+ 1 .9
+ 5 .4
- 2 .4
- 2 .2
—3. 6
—2. 6
+ 0 .3
+ 4 .6
-1 . 4
-1 . 6
+ 2 .0
+ 3 .8
+ 1 .4
+ 4 .8
- 0 .4
+ 2 .3
—0. 8
—0. 6
+ 1 .6
+ 3 .2
+ 1 .4
—5. 9
-4 .7
+ 0 .3
- 3 .0
+ 4 .2
—4. 2
- 4 .5
- 1 .1
-3 .0
+9.7
+ 4 .7
-1 1 . 2
+8. 2
+13.4
+ 7 .3
- 5 .8
+8. 5
+14.6
+ 6 .5
+37.0
+21.0
+ 9 .0
+46.7
+ 1 .4
+ 6 .4
+ 0 .8
- 0 .4
+ 0 .6
+ 2 .4
- 4 .1
-8 . 6
—2. 8
+ 3 .7
+ 3 .0
0)
- 2 .4
- 0 .4
+ 1 .6
+0.7
+0. 4
- 0 .8
+ 0 .6
+ 2 .6
-7 .0
-7 . 6
—6. 6
C h em ica ls a n d allied prod
u cts __ ________
_____
Chemicals________________
Fertilizers
Petroleum refining________
S to n e , clay, a n d glass prod
ucts.. _
.... _
______
C em ent _ _____ _
Brick, tile, and te rra c o tta ...
P o tte ry . ________________
Glass____________ _____ _
M eta l p ro d u cts, o th er th a n
iron a n d steel. .
...
Stam ped and enam eled
ware __ __________ _
Brass, bronze, a nd copper
products ..................... ..
T ob acco p r o d u c ts__________
Chewing and sm oking to
bacco an d sn u ff.
Cigars and cigarettes______
V ehicles for la n d tr a n sp o r ta
tio n
A utom obiles. _______ __
Carriages and wagons
C ar building and repairing,
electric-railroad______
C ar building and repairing,
steam -railroad ________ _
M iscella n eo u s in d u str ie s___
A gricultural im plem ents___
Electrical m achinery, appa
ratus, and supplies_______
Pianos and organs . _____
R ubber boots a nd shoes___
A utom obile tires. _______
Shipbuilding_____________
+ 2 .3
+ 5 .7
-9 . 5
+ 5 .7
-3 .1
+3.1
+ 5 .4
-1 1 .7
+ 6 .4
-5 .5
- 4 .6
-7 .9
- 2 .9
+ 6 .7
-6 .0
-1 0 .1
- 9 .3
+ 8 .3
+13.1
+20.1
+ 5 .9
+ 4 .2
+16.5
+26.4
-0 .9
- 3 .5
- 8 .0
+ 0.3
- 8 .3
-2 .6
+16.4
+20.6
- 7 .8
-6 .7
+31.7
-2 .9
+32.7
-2 .6
+ 0 .5
+ 3 .3
+15.5
+18.8
+22.5
+23.4
+18.7
-7 .5
-1 1 .3
+ 9 .9
+11. 5
+ 19.2
-4 .4
-1 6 .4
+12.4
+16.6
_
+4.7
+8.4
W est South C en tral_________
M ountain
_
__________
Pacific, _ ___________________
+ 0 .2
(>)
+3.4
AH in d u stries
+2. 8
+4.1
+ 2.3
+ 3 .8
__
R e c a p itu la tio n by g e o g ra p h ic d iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC D IVISIO N2
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION*
N ew E ng lan d______ ______
M iddle A tlan tic__________
E ast N o rth C entral_______
W est N o rth C e n tra l............
South A tlan tic......... ..............
E a st South C en tral........ .......
+ 0 .1
+ 4 .3
+14.3
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .6
+ 0 .3
+ 4 .8
+ 6 .6
+17. 1
+ 2 .7
+ 4 .3
+ 0 .3
2 See footnotes 4 to 12, p . 167.
i N o change.
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All divisions__________
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+ 1 .0
+ 4 .0
+ 0.6
+4.7
+8.4
-
0. 1
170
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P e r C a p i t a E a r n i n g s i n F e b r u a r y , 1929
P e r c a p it a e a r n i n g s of employees in the combined 54 manufac
turing industries in February, 1929, were 5.2 per cent higher than in
January, 1929, and 3.5 per cent higher than in February, 1928.
Forty-four of the fifty-four industries showed increased per capita
earnings as compared with January, and one other industry showed no
change. The industries showing marked increases were: Automobiles,
17.6 per cent; automobile tires, 12.6 per cent; cast-iron pipe, 11.4 per
cent; silk goods, steam-railroad car repairing, stamped ware, steam
fittings, and pottery, from 8.6 to 7.5 per cent each.
Thirty-three industries reported higher per capita earnings in Feb
ruary, 1929, than in February, 1928, and one other industry reported
no change, the outstanding increases having been from 8.7 per cent
to 5.8 per cent each in brass products, machine tools, cast-iron pipe,
and foundry and machine-shop products.
T
able
4.—C O M P A R IS O N O F P E R C A P IT A E A R N IN G S , F E B R U A R Y , 1929, W IT H
JA N U A R Y , 1929, A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1928
in d u stry
A utom obiles_________ ______
A utom obile tires_______________
Cast-iron p ip e _________________
Silk goods_____________________
C ar building and repairing, steamrailro ad ______________________
Stam ped and enam eled w are____
Steam fittings and steam and hotw ater heating a p p aratu s______
P o ttery ................... ............................
S to v e s ...____________ _________
C lothing, m en’s ________________
Hosiery and k n it goods_________
F ou n d ry and m achine-shop prod
u c ts _________________________
Shirts and collars.............................
L eath er________________ _____ _
Iron and steel—.................................
C em en t_________ ____ _________
F u rn itu re .............. ...........................
Clothing, w om en’s _____________
Ice cream ______ ____ __________
H ard w are____________ _____ ___
M illinery and lace goods________
A gricultural im plem ents________
M achine tools___ ______ _______
S tructu ral ironw ork____________
Lum ber, saw m ills......................... .
D yeing and finishing textiles____
Shipbuilding_______________ ___
P aper and p u lp ____ ____ _______
C otton goods__________________
1 No change.
Per cent of
change Feb
ruary , 1929,
compared
w ith—
In d u stry
Jan
uary,
1929
Feb
ruary,
1928
+17.6
+12.6
+11.4
+ 8 .6
+ 0 .8
+ 2 .0
+ 6 .1
+ 2 .1
+ 8 .5
+ 8 .4
+ 3 .0
-1 .5
+ 8 .1
+ 7 .5
+ 5 .9
+ 5 .6
+ 5 .4
+ 2 .0
- 6 .6
- 2 .9
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .7
+ 5 .2
+ 5 .1
+ 4 .4
+ 4 .3
+ 4 .2
+4. 1
+ 3 .8
+3. 7
+ 3 .6
+ 3 .5
+ 3 .4
+ 3 .3
+ 3 .1
+ 3 .0
+ 2 .7
+2. 6
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .3
+ 5 .8
+ 0 .4
+ 1 .0
+ 2 .6
- 0 .9
- 0 .6
- 1 .6
+2. 2
+ 2 .1
(0
+0. 5
+6. 7
+ 0 .3
- 2 .2
+ 2 .4
+ 4 .7
+ 2.1
+ 4 .6
Per cent of
change F eb
ruary, 1929,
compared
w ith—
Jan
uary,
1929
Lum ber, m illw ork-_____________
Petroleum refining
_________
Boots and shoes__ _____________
Chem icals_____________ _____
Brass, bronze, and copper prodUCtS—_ ____________________
Woolen and w orsted goods___ _
Electrical m achinery, apparatus,
and s u p p lie s -________ _______
Glass
_ _ _____________ ____
Paper boxes _ — _____
_________
Sugar refining, cane
B aking........ ......................
........
C arpets and ru g s -. _ _____ _
C ar building a nd repairing, electrie-railroad C onfectionery_____ ____________
Printing, book'and iob
Printing, n e w s p a p e rs __________
Brick, tile, and térra cotta _____
F lo u r____
_ __ _
_______
Carriages and wagons ________
Cigars an d cigarettes- ___ __
Pianos and o r g a n s ____________
R u b b er boots and shoes
___
Slaughtering a n d m eat packing
Chew ing a n d smoking tobacco
and snuff
_
F e rtiliz e rs ..- . __________
M l i n d u s tr ie s _________
Feb
ruary,
1928
+ 2 .2
+ 2 .0
+ 1.9
+ 1 .8
- 1 .0
+ 0 .9
- 4 .2
- 0 .1
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .7
+ 8 .7
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .4
+ 1.3
+ 1 .0
+ 0 .9
+ 0 .8
+ 0 .5
+ 1 .2
+ 5 .0
- 0 .8
- 0 .8
- 1 .5
-f-0. 6
+ 0.3
+ (2)
0)
- 0 .1
- 0 .3
- 0 .9
-1 .2
- 1 .4
-1 .7
- 1 .8
+ 0 .9
+ 0 .7
+ 1.8
+ 1 .0
- 2 .5
- 0 .4
+ 0 .2
- 2 .7
+ 2 .9
-5 .8
-1 .6
-2 .0
- 3 .5
- 0 .1
- 2 .1
+ 5.2
+ 3.5
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
W age C hanges
E ig h t y e s t a b l is h m e n t s in eighteen in d u s t r ie s reported wage-rate
increases made during the month ending February 15, 1929. These
increases averaged 5.8 per cent and affected 11,872 employees or 27
per cent of all employees in the establishments concerned.
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[ 860]
171
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Thirteen establishments in eight industries reported wage-rate de
creases during the same period. These decreases averaged 8.9 per cent
and affected 449 employees or 59 per cent of all employees in the estab
lishments concerned.
Thirty-nine establishments in the two car building and repairing
industries reported increases to more than 7,700 of their employees,
and three establishments in the electrical apparatus industry reported
increases to nearly 2,900 of their employees. The remaining increases
and decreases reported were not significant.
Table 5.—W A G E A D JU S T M E N T S O C C U R R IN G B E T W E E N JA N U A R Y 15 A N D
F E B R U A R Y 15, 1929
Per cent of in
crease or decrease
in wage rate
Establishm ents
In d u stry
Total
num ber
reporting
num ber
of em
ployees
and
am ount
of pay
roll
Em ployees affected
Per cent of
employees—
N um ber
reporting
increase
or
decrease
in wage
rates
Range
Aver
age
In estab
T otal lishm ents
num ber reporting
increase
or
decrease
in wage
rates
In all
estab
lish
m ents
report
ing
Increases
Slaughtering and m eat packing.
B ak in g ... ______ __________
C otton goods . . . ____________
Hosiery and k n it g o o d s .._____
Silk goods___________________
Iron and steel . . . . . _______
F o u n d ry and machine-shop
produ cts. . .............................. .
M achine to o ls .. ~ __________
Stoves_______________________
F u rn itu re . . . . . .
________
P rinting, new spapers . . . _____
C hem icals..
. ________ j
F e rtilize rs..
. . . ....
Brick, tile, and terra co tta_____
G lass.-- - _________ _______
C ar building and repairing,
electric-railroad. _ . ____ .
C ar building and repairing,
steam -railroad.
__________
E lectrical m achinery, apparatus, and supplies___________
201
625
476
337
288
206
1
1
1
1
1
1
1.1
24.0
16.7
5.0
10.0
2.5
1.1
24.0
16.7
5.0
10.0
2.5
12
10
27
175
58
45
10
16
16
79
11
38
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
985
144
114
422
435
146
181
571
129
11
5
1
1
7
2
2
2
ï
3. 0-12. 0
5. 0-10. 0
10.0
4.0
2. 0-10. 0
5.0
4. 5- 8. 0
5. 3-10. 0
7.3
6.2
8.0
10.0
4.0
3.8
5.0
6.0
8. S
7.3
119
52
21
51
293
135
149
93
50
11
7
30
27
28
26
100
96
16
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
423
8
4. 5- 6. 5
5.4
212
91
535
31
5. 0- 7.0
6.5
7,493
79
6
184
3
1. 0- 9. 2
4.1
2,877
97
2
10.0
9.5
5.0
6.0
10.0
7.8
10.0
10.0
7
59
50
7
155
91
63
17
50
30
49
100
100
54
100
40
l
(9
(9
l
Decreases
B aking...... .......................................
Stoves
. _____________
Lum ber, sawmills .
_____
Lum ber, m illw o r k ...___ ___
F u rn itu re ___________________
B rick, tile, and terra cotta . . .
Cigars and cigarettes—
Pianos and organs.
..... .
625
114
634
332
422
571
225
71
1
2
1
1
1
5
i
i
10.0
2. 0-10. 0
5.0
6.0
10.0
6. 0-19. 0
10.0
10.0
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
In d e x e s o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls in M a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s
I n d e x n u m b e r s for February and December, 1928, and for Janu
ary and February, 1929, showing relatively the variation in number
of persons employed and in pay-roll totals in each of the 54 industries
41195°—29----- 12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[861]
172
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, together with general
indexes for the combined 12 groups of industries, appear in Table 6.
T
6 . — IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y ,
1929
[M o n th ly average, 1926=100]
able
E m ploym ent
In d u stry
1928
Pay-roll totals
1929
F e b ru D ecem Ja n u
ary
ber
ary
G eneral in d e x ., _
1928
1929
F eb ru F eb ru D ecem Ja n u
ary
ary
ber
ary
F eb ru
ary
93.0
95. 5
95.2
97.4
93.9
97.7
94.5
101.8
F ood a n d kin dred p ro d u cts
Slaughtering a n d m eat packing - _
Confectionery________ ____ . . .
Ic e crea m _____________ _____ _
F lo u r_____________________
B aking _____. . . ________
Sugar refining, cane ............. .
95.9
103. 1
92.4
79.3
99.9
98.6
87.7
102.1
105.9
104.0
80.9
103. 1
101.4
92.1
98.4
105.9
90.9
79.9
101. 1
98. 7
90.4
98.6
103.4
90.5
79.3
104. 2
100.5
92.4
99.9
105.4
93.3
79.5
100.3
99.9
91.4
104.4
110.3
106.0
82.1
104.0
101.7
97.8
99.6
108.4
91.9
78.9
101.5
98.5
92.8
99.8
103.9
91.8
81.1
104.1
101.3
95.8
T extiles a n d tlieir p r o d u cts___
C otton goods____ _________
Hosiery a n d k n it goods __
Silk goods_________ ______
Woolen and w orsted goods. . .
C arpets and rugs____
D yeing and finishing tex tiles.. . .
Clothing, m en ’s_____
Shirts a n d collars____
Clothing, w om en’s ..
M illinery a n d lace goods___
101.2
101.3
99. 1
100. 5
97.3
103. 6
103.3
98.0
97. 1
110.6
101.4
97.7
98.3
95. 2
97.9
99.4
106.5
103. 3
89.3
93.9
105. 2
87.7
96.9
98.6
92.9
95.2
98.3
107.9
102.0
89.3
91.6
105.6
92.6
98.8
99.1
95.5
97.9
97.6
108.4
104. 7
92. 2
92. 5
110.9
98.4
102.6
98.0
102.4
104.3
98.0
100. 1
105. 6
99.0
95.7
118.3
101.9
99.5
99.8
101.9
102. 7
102.2
104.6
109.7
89.0
93.2
103. 5
85.4
96.3
97.6
93.8
92.8
98.6
102.0
104.2
86.9
86.1
107.4
89.9
102.2
100.3
101.6
103.7
99.6
103.3
110.0
94.8
91.4
117.0
98.8
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir produ cts
Iron and steel_________
Cast-iron pipe
_____
S tru ctu ral ironw ork___
F o u n d ry and machine-shop products______ ______
H ardw are __________
M achine tools_____
Steam fittings and steam and hotw ater heating a p p a r a t u s ___
Stoves___________
88.6
89.8
77.8
90. 2
95.0
92.8
74.2
101.2
94.8
93.4
73.3
97.7
97.2
94.0
69. 1
97.6
90.4
93.4
74. 6
91.4
98.0
95.8
74.8
104.9
95.5
95.5
67.0
96.3
102.5
100.2
70.3
99.2
88.4
89.0
90.7
96.3
92.2
118.2
97.6
92. 2
120.1
101.3
94.8
124.3
88.2
90.9
94.1
99.0
95.8
132.8
97.7
93.0
129.1
106.7
99.1
138.0
83.1
83.1
72.8
91.3
81.2
81.1
84.3
88.4
84.9
82.7
72.2
89.0
78.4
73.8
88.0
85.2
L u m b er a n d its p r o d u c ts____
Lum ber, saw m ills..
Lum ber, m ill w ork.
F u rn itu re _________
84.8
82.4
83.1
93.2
87.6
85.3
82.7
97.5
85.2
82.2
83.3
94.2
85.5
82.1
83.6
95.4
84.9
82.1
81.4
95.5
88.3
85.7
83.2
99.8
81.9
77.9
79.1
92.0
84.9
80.1
81.1
97.0
L eather a n d its produ cts
L eath er. ____
Boots and shoes_____
97.1
99.9
96.2
87.8
89.4
87.3
91.0
90.8
91.0
93.1
91.3
93.5
98.1
99.6
97.4
83.6
89.0
81.3
87.1
87.6
86.9
91.2
92.0
91.0
Paper a n d p r in t in g ..
P ap er and p u lp _______
P ap er boxes_______
P rinting, book a n d jo b ..
P rinting, new spapers___
99.7
94.6
93.3
102.3
104.3
101.2
94.1
97.7
100.9
108.5
99.6
94.5
92.2
100. 8
107.1
100.4
95.0
92.6
102.9
107.0
101.3
95.8
95. 2
102.9
106.0
105. 1
97.0
105.8
104.0
112.7
103.2
95.7
97.4
103.2
110.1
104.7
98.5
99.1
105.3
110.0
C h em ica ls a n d allied p ro d u cts__
Chem icals___
____ _
F ertilizers... .
Petroleum refining_____
S to n e , c la y , a n d gla ss p r o d u c ts ...
C e m e n t____________
Brick, tile, an d te rra co tta.
P o tte ry ______
Glass......................
M eta l p r o d u cts, o th e r t h a n iron
a n d steel___
Stam ped a n d enam eled ware
Brass, bronze, and copper products.
T ob acco p r o d u cts____. . .
Chew ing an d sm oking tobacco
and snuff____________
Cigars and cigarettes.......................
95.1
100.4
105. 1
83.5
84.3
81.2
76.2
98.2
88.0
95.1
102.7
91.5
86.7
87.3
82.8
80.9
96. 2
91.5
94.4
102.7
92.0
86.1
81.6
78.5
72.7
94.3
89.7
97.3
106.1
95. 1
88.3
81.7
77.5
70.2
95.4
93.9
96.5
104.6
102. 2
85.4
84.2
78.8
72.5
102.2
89.4
97.2
106.4
92.2
88.5
88.4
81.1
80.0
93.3
96.3
95.1
104.8
90.4
86.8
77.5
72.0
67.6
85.2
91.2
99.5
110.2
90.2
90.9
79.6
74.1
65.2
92.7
96.8
89.0
86.3
90.2
95.1
98.6
90.7
101.8
98.0
97.2
87.8
101.7
86,3
100.7
91.4
105.1
94.2
91.1
91.8
90.8
90.4
108.2
94.8
112.7
99.5
102.4
84.8
109.3
81.0
109.4
95.7
114.8
87.2
104.6
93.6
94.0
98.5
95.1
85.2
96.2
93.9
104.7
88.4
93.2
100.3
96.8
79.1
96.0
86.1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[862]
TREND
T
173
OF EM PLOYM ENT
6 . — IN D E X E S O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y ,
1929— C ontinued
able
Pay-roll totals
E m ploym ent
F eb ru D ecem Jan u
ary
ber
ary
1929
1928
1929
1928
In d u stry
F eb ru F eb ru D ecem Ja n u
ary
ber
ary
ary
F ebru
ary
96.4
109.3
83.4
95.5
111.4
74.3
114.8
143.3
75.6
90.7
100.6
73.1
98.2
90.5
90.5
90.5
97.9
92.0
90.6
91.3
82.4
82.5
81.6
82.8
84.8
86.2
79.6
87.6
M iscella n eo u s in d u s tr ie s ________
A gricultural im p lem en ts_______
Electrical m achinery, apparatus,
and supplies
___________
Pianos and organs______________
R ubber boots and shoes________
A utom obile tires........ ......................
Shipbuilding................................
90.6
103.5
97.9
116.6
102.8
121.3
104.8
126.8
90.3
108.8
100.1
123.1
101.7
124.1
107.3
134.3
89.4
80.3
108.4
99.6
84.6
102.5
78. 7
103. 3
103.9
90.2
103.4
76.3
99.8
108.2
94. 1
106.1
74.3
96. 1
109. 5
94.3
90.6
72.2
108.9
104.8
82.5
106.1
82.4
106.3
103. 5
93.4
103.8
71.8
96. 1
103.4
93.6
108.0
69.0
91.0
117.8
96.2
94.6
110.0
77.3
99.8
121. 1
69.2
105.6
132.5
71.0
95.2
108.0
77.6
V ehicles for la n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n ._
A utom obiles. _ _______________
Carriages and w agons. ________
C ar Building and repairing, electrie-railroad__________________
C ar building and repairing,
steam -railroad............. ..................
Table 7 shows the general index of employment in manufacturing
industries and the general index of pay-roll totals, by months, from
January, 1923, to February, 1929.
Following Table 7 is a chart which represents the 54 industries
combined and shows, by months, the course of pay-roll totals as
well as the course of employment. It includes the years 1926 and
1927, as well as 1928, and January and February, 1929.
T
able
7 .—G E N E R A L IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U
F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO F E B R U A R Y , 1929
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
Pay-roll totals
E m ploym ent
M onth
1927
1928
1929
95.8 98.6 93.9 98.0 94.9
99.4 103.8 99.3 102.2 100.6
104.7 103.3 100.8 103.4 102.0
105.7 101. 1 98.3 101.5 100.8
109.4 96.5 98. 5 99.8 99.8
109.3 90.8 95.7 99.7 97.4
104.3 84.3 93.5 95.2 93.0
103.7 87. 2 95.4 98.7 95.0
104. 4 89.8 94. 4 99.3 94. 1
106.8 92.4 100.4 102.9 95. 2
105.4 91. 4 100.4 99.6 91. 6
103.2 95.7 101.6 99.8 93.2
89.6
93.9
95. 2
93.8
94. 1
94.2
91.2
94.2
95.4
99.0
96. 1
97.7
94.5
101.8
_____
_____
94.5
1 98.3
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
103.8
105.1
104.9
102.8
98. 8
95.6
92.3
92. 5
94 3
O ctober______ 108.1 95. 6
107 4 95 5
D ecem ber____ 105.4 97.3
97.9
99. 7
100.4
100. 2
98. 9
98.0
97. 2
97.8
98 9
100.4
100 7
100.8
100.4
101.5
102.0
101.0
99. 8
99.3
97.7
98.7
100 3
100.7
99 5
98.9
97.3
99.0
99.5
98.6
97.6
97.0
95.0
95. 1
95. 8
95.3
93 5
92.6
91. 6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93. 1
92.2
93.6
95. 0
95.9
95 4
95.5
95.2
97.4
99.2 100.0
96.4
93.8 196.3 104.3
1923
106.6
108.4
110.8
110.8
110 8
Junie— ______ 110.9
J u ly _________ 109.2
A u g u s t-------- 108.5
Ja n u a ry —
F e b ru a ry ____
M arch —. ........
A p r i l _______
A v era g e.. 108.8
98.2
1 A verage for tw o m onths.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[863]
1924
94.6
1925
1926
97.7 100.0
96.5
_____
_____
_____
___
174
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
M A N U FA CTU R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S .
MONTHLY IN DEXES, 1926-1929.
MONTHLY
AVERAGE.
192 .6 = 1 0 0 .
EM PLO YM EN T.
105
1926
•
105
•, #
100
100
*
** • • *•
1927
*.
. • ‘
1 9 2 .9 /
^
95
95
---------y
- ------- ' —
192.8
- ' -------
*
90
90
85
85
P A Y -R O LL
105
TO TALS
•
105
1926
...
■ir
//
19 27
: 10 0
;
.
•
100
/ \
;
\
.•
./
/
V "
.'V \
95
95
1928''
1929
"
90
v
/
\
/
f
V 7
90
'
65
85
JA N .
FEB.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M AR. A P R .
M AY
JU N .
JU L.
AUG. SEP .
OCT.
N O V.
D EC.
9/
[864]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
175
¡Proportion of T i m e W o r k e d a n d F o r c e E m p lo y e d i n S e l e c t e d M a n u f a c t u r i n g
I n d u s t r i e s i n F e b r u a r y , 1929
R e p o r t s as to time worked and force employed in February, 1929,
were made by 9,677 establishments in the 54 separate industries.
Employees in 82 per cent of these establishments were working full
time and employees in 17 per cent were working part time, while
1 per cent were idle; 35 per cent of the establishments had a full
normal force of employees and 63 per cent were operating with
reduced forces.
The establishments in operation had an average of 93 per cent of a
full normal force of employees who were working an average of 98 per
cent of full time. These percentages show a gain of 2 per cent in
average force employed and an increase of 1 per cent in average
operating time, as compared with the reports made in January.
T
able
8 .—P R O P O R T IO N O F T IM E W O R K E D A N D F O R C E E M P L O Y E D IN S E L E C T E D
M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN F E B R U A R Y , 1929
Operating establishm ents only
In d u stry
E stablish
m ents
reporting
Total Per
n u m cent
ber
idle
Food a n d kin dred p r o d u c ts ______ 1 ,4 4 8
Slaughtering and m eat packing. _ _
159
C onfectionery_________. . .
254
Ice c re a m .._ ____________
189
F lo u r. _ _ _____________
296
B aking. _________________ _
540
Sugar refining, cane___________
10
Textiles a n d th eir p r o d u cts.
1,525
_______
C otton goods
410
Hosiery an d k n it goods. _____
169
Silk g o o d s .. ______ _________
165
Woolen and w orsted goods . . . .
162
C arpets and rugs _______
33
D yeing and fin ish in g .. ___
95
Clothing, m en’s . . ____________
222
Shirts and collars __________
83
C lothing, w om en’s____
136
M illinery a n d lace goods____
50
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p r o d u c ts.. 1 ,(¡34
Iron and steel
_
........
169
C ast iron p ip e. . . . . . _____
34
S tructural' ironw ork...
____
148
F o u n d ry and machine-shop products _ __________
901
H ardw are
__________
53
M achine to o ls .. . . . .
129
Steam fittings and steam an d hotw ater heating ap p aratu s . _____
99
S to v e s.._____________ ______ ___
101
L u m b er a n d its p ro d u cts___
095
Lum ber, sawmills _______ ____
379
Lum ber, m illw ork. _______
252
, F u rn itu re _____________________
364
L eather a n d its p ro d u cts ________
327
L eath er____
_________________
115
Boots and shoes_________________
212
Paper a n d p r in tin g ______________
862
Paper and p u lp ............... ....................
156
P ap er bo x es..
__________ _____
158
Printing, book and jo b ___ . .
273
P rinting, new spapers ........ .............
275
Per cent of
establish
m ents in
which em
ployees
worked—
Full
tim e
C)
1
1
C1)
0)
86
89
91
93
86
79
79
82
70
85
92
0)
0)
3
1
2
[865]
14
11
9
98
39
98
99
99
98
97
96
97
97
99
99
39
39
45
32
36
40
37
37
45
34
7
14
21
21
18
30
15
8
66
48
85
93
58
57
70
61
61
61
55
68
64
60
62
63
55
66
89
96
72
65
94
95
90
91
89
94
94
84
98
92
91
91
93
91
91
23
97
36
63
96
88
98
36
18
32
64
79
68
78
74
90
22
26
10
98
98
101
36
25
64
64
91
75
36
117
75
58
25
40
96
90
31
31
69
67
74
1
33
52
13
6
42
42
30
22
47
27
77
60
81
1
2
98
99
96
99
97
99
97
76
2
(>)
13
13
25
5
16
9
20
Average
per cent
of full nor
m al force
employed
in estab
lishm ents
operating
78
50
72
3
1Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
86
87
74
94
84
91
80
Average
Per cent of
per cent
establishm ents
of full
operating
tim e
w ith—
worked
by em
ployees
Full
P a rt
P a rt in estab norm
al norm al
lishm
ents
tim e
operating force
force
24
19
39
19
96
29
70
97
93
97
32
16
33
64
83
66
98
39
60
86
87
85
13
11
98
98
30
44
69
55
89
88
11
12
99
48
98
52
33
74
92
97
26
97
99
100
30
48
81
14
8
3
89
67
89
90
85
90
83
81
75
90
89
81
92
97
67
93
70
87
101
102
52
19
176
T
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
able
8 .—
P R O P O R T IO N O P T I M E W O R K E D A N D F O R C E E M P L O Y E D IN S E L E C T E D
M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN F E B R U A R Y , 1929—C ontinued
Oljerating es ;ablishm ents onh 7
E stab lish
m ents
reporting
Industry
T otal Per
n u m cent
ber
idle
Per cent of
establish
m ents in
which em
ployees
w orked—
Full
tim e
Average
per cent
of full nor
mal force
employed
in estab
lishm ents
operating
C h em ica ls a n d allied p r o d u c ts___
Chem icals____ __________________
F e rtilize rs.. __________
_. . . .
Petroleum refining______________
303
120
145
38
1
80
88
70
97
19
13
29
3
97
98
96
99
24
49
4
21
75
51
94
79
80
99
55
78
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p r o d u cts__
C em ent ___________
B rick, tile, a n d te rra c o tta .. _____
P o ttery ________ _ .
__ _____
Glass_________ _______________
751
86
442
118
105
12
1
20
3
71
86
61
75
93
17
13
19
23
7
97
97
96
96
99
22
14
15
46
31
86
85
65
52
69
84
75
79
92
89
M etal p ro d u cts, o th er th a n iron
a n d ste e l..._ _.
Stam ped and enam eled w are. _.
Brass, bronze, and copper p ro d u c ts.
179
52
127
82
88
80
18
12
20
98
98
98
37
38
36
63
62
64
96
91
99
T ob acco p r o d u c t s ___ ________ ____
Chewing and smoking tobacco and
snuff. _______ _____
Cigars and cigarettes ___________
231
25
206
V ehicles for la n d tra n sp o r ta tio n _. 1,038
A u to m o b ile s____
175
Carriages a n d wagons___________
51
C ar building an d repairing, electrie-railroad.
341
Car- building an d repairing, steamrailroad______ ____ ____________
471
M iscella n eo u s in d u str ies
. _____
A gricultural im plem ents_________
Electrical m achinery, apparatus,
and supplies____________
Pianos and organs_________
R ub b er boots and shoes_________
Autom obile tires___________
Shipbuilding____________________
All in d u s tr ie s ___________ .
1
Average
Per cent of
per cent establishm ents
of full
operating
tim e
w ith—
worked
b y em
ployees
in estab Full
P a rt
P a rt lishm ents norm
al norm al
tim e operating
force
force
2
67
31
94
38
60
80
2
76
66
24
32
95
94
44
37
56
61
91
90
2
88
94
67
12
6
31
99
100
95
30
53
16
70
47
82
107
122
64
0)
87
13
100
36
64
89
87
13
99
19
81
78
384
66
79
73
21
27
97
97
46
47
54
53
96
109
149
57
12
38
62
86
63
58
84
87
14
37
42
16
13
99
93
91
97
99
60
21
25
45
37
40
79
75
55
63
98
78
89
104
78
82
17
98
35
63
93
9,677
1
1Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
2. Employment in Coal Mining in February, 1929
MPLOYMENT in coal mining—anthracite and bituminous coal
combined—increased 0.8 per cent in February, 1929, as com
pared with January, and pay-roll totals increased 15.2 per cent.
The 1,110 mines for which reports were received had 287,923
employees in February whose combined earnings in one week were
$9,064,838.
E
A n th racite
E m p l o y m e n t in anthracite mines alone was 0.3 per cent greater in
February, 1929, than in January, and pay-roll totals were 21.2 per
cent higher. These increases resulted in an increase in February of
20.9 per cent in per capita earnings.
All anthracite mines reported are in Pennsylvania—the Middle
Atlantic division. The details for January and February are shown
in Table 1.
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TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T
able
1 .— C O M P A R IS O N
O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
A N T H R A C IT E M IN E S IN JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929
N u m b er on p ay roll
M ines
G eographic division
Jan u ary ,
1929
M iddle A tlantic 1_____________
119,920
158
Per
cent of
change
February,
1929
120, 254
+ 0 .3
A m ount of p a y roll
(one week)
January,
1929
P er
cent of
F ebruary, change
1929
$3,722,338
$4, 512,688
+21.2
1 See footnote 5, p. 167.
B itu m in o u s C oal
E m p l o y m e n t in bituminous coal mines was 1.2 per cent greater in
February, 1929, than in January, and pay-roll totals were 9.9 per cent
higher; the resulting increase in per capita earnings in February was
8.6 per cent. These figures are based upon reports from 952 mines in
which there were in February 167,669 employees whose combined
earnings in one week were $4,552,150.
Increases in both items were shown in February in each geographic
division with one exception—a decrease in employment of 1.3 per cent
in the Mountain division. The pronounced increases in employment
were in the West Central divisions, both the North and the South;
the increases in pay-roll totals were large in every division, the out
standing ones having been over 30 per cent in the Pacific division,
and more than 18 per cent each in the East North Central and West
North Central divisions.
The details for each geographic division are shown in Table 2.
T a b l e 2 — C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
B IT U M IN O U S C O A L M IN E S IN JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929
N u m b er on p ay roll
M ines
Geographic division 1
Per
cent of
change
Jan u ary , F eb ru ary ,
1929
1929
A m ount of p ay roll
(one week)
January,
1929
Per
cent of
change
February,
1929
M iddle A tla n tic ______________
E a st N o rth C en tral___________
W est N o rth C en tral__________
South A tla n tic .
___________
E a st South C entral___________
W est South C en tral------ --------M ountain . . ________________
Pacific______ _ -----------------
254
164
54
210
167
25
70
8
48, 570
30, 692
5,435
34,182
32, 709
1, 736
10,864
1,466
49, 540
31, 242
5,717
34,362
32, 725
1,855
10, 727
1,501
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .8
+ 5 .2
+ 0 .5
+ (2)
+ 6 .9
- 1 .3
+ 2 .4
$1, 235,907
806,147
138,983
814, 967
687, 894
45,843
369,389
44,411
$1, 301, 253
952,405
164,947
862,127
741,983
51,404
420,141
57,890
+ 5 .3
+18.1
+18.7
+ 5 .8
+ 7 .9
+12.1
+13.7
+30.4
All d iv i s io n s .____
953
165,654
167,669
+ 1 .3
4,143,541
4,552,150
+ 9 .9
_ .
i See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 167.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3. Employment in Metalliferous Mining in February, 1929
in metalliferous mining was 1.6 per cent greater
in February, 1929, than in January, and pay-roll totals were
EMPLOYMENT
4.3 per cent higher; the resulting increase in per capita earnings in
February was 2.6 per cent.
These percentages are based upon returns from 284 mines, which
had in February 52,587 employees and pay-roll totals of $1,550,807.
Increases both in employment and pay-roll totals were shown in 4
of the 6 geographic divisions represented in metalliferous mining,
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the outstanding increase in employment having been in the East
South Central division and the greatest increase in pay-roll totals
in the East North Central division; the West South Central and the
Mountain divisions reported small decreases in both items._
A wage-rate increase of 5 per cent which was reported in copper
mines in the Mountain district is reflected in the increase in pay-roll
totals of all metalliferous mines in that district.
The details for each geographic division are shown in the following
table:
C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L M E T A L
L IF E R O U S M IN E S IN JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929
N u m b er on pay roll
Geographic division i
M ines
Per
cent of
change
Jan u ary , F eb ru ary ,
1929
1929
A m ount of p ay roll
(one week)
January,
1929
F ebruary,
1929
Per
cent of
change
E ast N o rth C en tral________ --W est N orth C en tral__________
37
37
9,764
5, 951
10,120
5,961
+ 3 .6
+ 0 .2
$223, 315
166, 797
$255,181
175, 339
+14.3
+ 5.1
E ast South C entral ................. W est South C entral__ ________
M ou n tain __ _________________
Pacific..................... ..........................
9
59
119
23
2,852
4,445
26, 747
1,976
3,109
4,429
27,037
1,931
+ 9 .0
- 0 .4
+ 1.1
- 2 .3
53, 024
111, 162
869, 543
63,696
56, 456
105, 620
894, 624
63, 587
+ 6.5
- 5 .0
+ 2 .9
- 0 .2
284
51,735 ;
52,587
+ 1 .6
1,487,537
1,550,807
+ 4 .3
.411 division s___________
1 See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 167.
4. Employment in Public U tilities in February, 1929
MPLOYMENT in public utilities was practically unchanged in
February, 1929, as compared with January, there having been
just 85 more employees in February, with a total of 605,103. Pay
roll totals were 1.3 per cent lower in February, and per capita earnings
were 1.2 per cent smaller. These percentages are based on reports
from 7,948 establishments having in February 605,103 employees
whose combined earnings in one week were $17,708,903.
The establishments reporting include electric railway, electric
power and light, gas, water, telephone, and telegraph companies.
Details for each geographic division are shown in the table following:
E
C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L P U B L IC
U T IL IT IE S E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929
Geographic division 1
N um ber on pay roll
Per
E s ta b
cent of
lish
m ents January, February, change
1929
1929
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
January,
1929
F ebruary,
1929
Per
cent of
change
N ew E n g lan d .
__________
M iddle A tlantic . . -------------E ast N o rth C en tra l---------------W est N o rth C en tral________
South A tlantic ______________
E a st South C en tral________ ..
W est South C en tra l___ ______
M ountain _ . . . . _ _______
Pacific--------------- -----------------
273
1,436
1,512
1.395
823
660
957
545
347
30,351
184, 380
170, 235
68,029
51, 872
19,156
34,960
14,988
31,043
29, 844
184, 968
170, 721
67, 297
51, 607
19, 031
35,099
15,382
31,154
-1 . 7
+ 0 .3
+ 0 .3
- 1 .1
- 0 .5
- 0 .7
+ 0 .4
+ 2 .6
+ 0 .4
$1,009, 547
5, 787, 725
5, 216, 255
1, 865, 860
1,437, 002
438, 665
844,966
376, 351
957,938
$987, 064
5, 697,478
5, 228, 950
1, 802, 831
1, 395, 888
427, 204
830, 956
381,391
957,141
-2 .2
-1 .6
+ 0 .2
- 3 .4
-2 .9
-2 ,6
-1 .7
+ 1 .3
- 0 .1
All d iv isio n s___________
7,948
605,014
605,103
+ ( 2)
17,934,309
17,708,903
- 1 .3
i See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 167.
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s Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
[868]
179
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
5. Employment in Wholesale and Retail Trade in February, 1929
MPLOYMENT in 2,928 establishments—wholesale and retail
trade combined—decreased 3.9 per cent in February, 1929, as
compared with January, and pay-roll totals decreased 3.5 per cent.
These establishments in February had 178,298 employees with total
pay rolls in one week of $4,451,130.
The establishments reporting are so carefully selected from every
State and from nearly every class of wholesale and retail trade as to
be reasonably representative of general conditions in each geographic
division and, consequently, in the United States as a whole.
E
W holesale Trade
E m pl o y m e n t in wholesale trade in the United States as a whole
was 0.9 per cent less in February, 1929, than in January, and pay-roll
totals were 0.3 per cent lower; per capita earnings in February were
0.6 per cent lower than in January. These data are based on returns
from 1,147 establishments which had in February 34,360 employees
whose combined earnings in one week were $1,017,636.
Small increases in employment were shown in the West South
Central and Pacific divisions, and small increases in pay-roll totals
in the New England, East North Central, South Atlantic, East South
Central, and Pacific divisions, while all other changes in both items
were decreases.
The details for each geographic division are shown in Table 1.
T
1 . — C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
W H O L E SA L E T E A D E E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN J A N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929.
able
Geographic division '
N ew E ngland
______ . . . _
M iddle A tlan tic______________
E ast N o rth C entral - _______
W est N o rth C en tral__________
South A tlantic _ _______ ____
E a st South C e n t r a l- ._____. . .
W est South C en tral___ _______
M o u n tain . ____ _________ _
Pacific . ___ _________ . . . . .
All divisions
_ _
N u m b er on p ay roll
E s ta b
Per
lish
cent of
m ents January, February, change
1929
1929
A m ount of pay roll
(one week)
January,
1929
February,
1929
Per
cent of
change
70
174
181
113
100
216
79
28
186
1, 544
6, 263
7, 435
6,577
2, 690
1, 838
2, 865
587
4, 879
1,503
6,127
7, 256
6, 494
2, 676
1,833
2, 948
584
4, 939
- 2 .7
- 2 .2
- 2 .4
- 1 .3
-0 . 5
- 0 .3
+ 2 .9
- 0 .5
+ 1.2
$42, 911
191, 672
214, 519
183,433
76, 087
54, 306
83, 534
20,160
154,182
$42,991
190, 543
215, 405
179,144
76,884
55,162
81,385
19, 773
156, 349
+ 0 .2
-0 .6
+ 0 .4
-2 .3
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .6
-2 .6
- 1 .9
+ 1 .4
1,147
34,678
34,360
- 0 .9
1,030,804
1,017,636
-0 .3
1 See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 167.
R etail Trade
E m p l o y m e n t in
1 9 29, as compared
retail trade decreased 4 .6 per cent in February,
with January, and pay-roll totals decreased 4 .5
per cent, as shown by reports from 1,781 establishments, having in
February 143,938 employees with pay-roll totals of $ 3 ,4 3 3 ,4 9 4 .
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Details for each geographic division are shown in Table 2.
T
able
2 —C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
R E T A IL T R A D E E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929
N u m b er on pay roll
*
Geographic division 1
N ew E n g lan d ________________
M iddle A tlantic- ____________
E a st N orth Central
W est N o rth C entral_____
South A tlantic ____________
E a st South C en tral___
W est South C en tral___
M o u n ta in _______ .
P a c ific -.-____
All d iv isio n s___
E stab
lish
m ents
Jan u ary ,
1929
Per
cent of
change
February,
1929
A m ount of pay roll
(one week)
January,
1929
F ebruary,
1929
Per
cent of
change
25
118
200
68
488
184
48
27
623
9,009
37,174
42,997
10,429
12,199
3, 570
6,076
1,651
27, 734
8.539
35,413
41,852
8,490
11, 868
3, 769
5,767
1.540
26, 700
-5 . 2
-4 . 7
- 2 .7
-1 8 . 6
-2 . 7
+ 5 .6
- 5 .1
- 6 .7
-3 .7
$211, 379
927,147
1,138, 093
228, 856
245, 679
72,489
110,343
29, 553
630,183
$206,147
865, 560
1,090,458
190, 292
246,587
68,940
114, 650
26,910
623,950
- 2 .5
- 6 .6
- 4 .2
-1 6 .9
+ 0 .4
- 4 .9
+ 3 .9
- 8 .9
-1 .0
1,781
150,839
143,938
- 4 .6
3,593,722
3,433,494
-4 .5
1 See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 167.
6. Employm ent in Hotels in February, 1929
MPLOYMENT in hotels was 2.7 per cent greater in February,
1929, than in January, and pay-roll totals were 3.6 per cent
higher; per capita earnings in February were 0.9 per cent higher than
in January, These percentages are based upon reports made by
1,350 hotels, which had in February 130,607 employees whose com
bined earnings in one week were $2,222,314.
Eight of the nine geographic divisions ^reported both increased
employment and increased pay-roll totals in February as compared
with January, the outstanding increases having been 10.6 per cent in
employment and 12.8 per cent in pay-roll totals in the South Atlantic
division; the New England division showed practically no change in
February, the percentage decreases having been one-tenth of 1 per
cent only.
Per capita earnings obtained by dividing the total number of
employees into the total amount of pay roll should not be interpreted
as being the entire earnings of hotel employees. The pay-roll totals
here reported are cash payments only, with no regard to the value of
board or room furnished employees, and of course no satisfactory
estimate can be made of additional recompense in the way of tips.
The additions to the money wages granted vary greatly, not only
among localities but among hotels in one locality and among employees
in one hotel. Some employees are furnished board and room, others
are given board only for one, two, or three meals, while the division
of tips is made in many ways.
Per capita earnings are further reduced by the considerable amount
of part-time employment in hotels caused by conventions and ban
quets or other functions.
The details for each geographic division are shown in the table
following:
E
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TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN 1 ID E N T IC A L H O T E L S
IN JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1929
N um ber on pay
roll
G eographic division 1
H otels
Jan u ary ,
1929
Per
cent
of
February, change
1929
A m ount of p ay roll
(one week)
January,
1929
F ebruary,
1929
Per
cent
of
change
N ew E n g lan d _______________
M iddle A tlantic _ ________
E a st N o rth C en tral___________
W est N o rth C en tral__________
__________
South A tlantic
E a st South C entral___________
W est South C en tral__________
M ountain
__ _ ..........
Pacific.-.
................- ________
85
278
216
157
191
53
105
57
208
7,564
41,215
22,433
10, 886
15, 592
4,312
7,918
2,734
14, 576
7, 557
41, 281
22, 510
11,263
17, 248
4,495
8, 383
2, 739
15,131
- 0 .1
+ 0 .2
+ 0 .3
+ 3 .5
+10.8
+4. 2
+ 5 .9
+ 0 .2
+ 3 .8
$127, 714
755,185
387,836
161, 243
223, 862
55,653
107,465
44, 258
282, 683
$127, 625
760, 562
394,869
169, 789
252, 576
58,437
118, 295
45,000
295,161
- 0 .1
+ 0 .7
+ 1 .8
+5. 3
+12.8
+ 5 .0
+10.1
+ 1 .7
+ 4 .4
All d iv isio n s___________
1,350
127,330
130,607
+ 2 .7
2,145,899
3,323,314
+ 3.6
1 See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 167.
Employment on Steam Railroads in the United States
HE monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to Janu
ary, 1929, on Class I railroads—that is, all roads having
operating revenues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by the index
numbers published in Table 1. These index numbers are constructed
from monthly reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission,
using the monthly average for 1926 as 100.
T
T
able
1 . — IN D E X
O F E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I S T E A M R A IL R O A D S IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, T O JA N U A R Y , 1929
[M o n th ly average, 1926=100]
M o n th
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
J a n u a ry _________________________________
F e b ru a ry ______________________________ . .
M arch ____________ ___ ______ _ _ . __ _ _
A p ril____________________ ____ ___________
M ay ________________________ __________ _
J u n e ... ___________________
______
J u ly _____________ ________________________
A u g u s t__ __ ___________________________
Septem ber
_ . ___ _____________________
October __________________
_______ .
N ovem ber____________ _
_
D e ce m b e r..
__. ______________ .
98.3
98. 6
100. 5
102. 0
105. 0
107. 1
108. 2
109.4
107. 8
107. 3
105. 2
99.4
96.9
97. 0
97. 4
98. 9
99. 2
98. 0
98. 1
99. 0
99. 7
100. 8
99. 0
96.0
95.6
95.4
95. 2
96. 6
97.8
98. 6
99.4
99. 7
99.9
100. 7
99. 1
97. 1
95.8
96. 0
96.7
98.9
100. 2
101. 6
102. 9
102. 7
102. 8
103.4
101. 2
98.2
95. 5
95.3
95. 8
97.4
99.4
100. 9
101. 0
99. 5
99. 1
98. 9
95. 7
91.9
89.3
89. 0
89. 9
91.7
94. 5
95.9
95. 6
95. 7
95.3
95.3
92.9
89.7
104.1
98.3
97.9
100.0
97.5
92.9
A verage
__ .
-----
1928
1929
Table 2 shows the total number of employees on the 15th day each
of January, 1929, December, 1928, and January, 1928, and the pay
roll totals for each of the entire months considered, by principal
occupational groups and various important occupations.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
EM PLO YM EN T
AND
E A R N IN G S O F R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S —JA N U A R Y
D E C E M B E R 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y , 1929
AND
[From m o n th ly reports of In te rsta te Commerce Commission. As d ata for only th e more im portant occupa
tions are shown separately, th e group totals are no t th e sum of th e item s under the respective groups]
N um ber of employees at
m iddle of m onth
Total earnings
O ccupation
Jan u ary , Decem Jan u ary ,
1928
ber, 1928
1929
P rofessio n a l, clerical, a n d general.
C lerks____
. . . _________
Stenographers and ty p ists______
M a in te n a n c e o f w a y a n d str u c lu r e s .- - _______ _____________
Laborers, extra gang a n d work
t r a i n ____ _______
____ _
Laborers, track and roadw ay seclio n ...............................................
M a in te n a n c e o f e q u ip m e n t a n d
stores_________ _____________ .
t arm en_______________________
M achinists____________________
Skilled trad es helpers ________
Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power p lants, a n d sto re s)... --Com m on laborers (shops, engine
houses, power plants, and
stores) ........................................ .
T ra n sp o rta tio n ,
o th er
th a n
tr a in , e n g in e , a n d yard ...........
S tation agents_______________ Telegraphers, telephoners, and
tow erm en _______ ______
T ruckers (stations, warehouses,
and platform s)__________ _
Crossing and bridge flagmen and
gatem en...........................................
January,
1928
December,
1928
January,
1929
156, 743
24, 790
268,972
153,455
24,621
267,553 $38,954,987 $38,909,010 $39,183,444
152, 245 21,174,452 21,021, 276 21,182, 018
3,166,143
24,536
3,170,174
3, 200, 083
333,969
350,412
333,704
31,743,591
31,940,795
38, 390
45, 563
37,511
2,818,080
3,200,959
2, 801, 880
■171,153
177,235
173,191
12, 372, 249
12, 232,334
12,874, 207
468,198
99, 667
56,800
102, 514
456,344
99, 530
54, 896
100,432
454,981
98, 071
54,970
99,824
61,883,093
14, 805,143
8,988,056
11,482, 658
59,795,225
14,649,997
8, 622,410
11,140,188
62,365,302
15,172, 035
9,133, 396
11, 713,054
39, 764
37,369
37,574
3,872,979
3,583,277
3, 707,626
52,905
52,338
52,806
4, 265, 244
4,122,197
4,343,166
194,697
30,125
194,953
29,541
190, 625
29,466
24,417,919
4, 757,963
24,642,133
4,701,504
24,469,914
4, 784,475
2 7 2 ,7 4 1
32,351,690
23,746
23, 066
23,027
3, 733,406
3,629,389
3, 646,533
32,068
34,432
31,314
2,951,807
3,229,515
3, 026,591
21,477
20, 860
20, 689
1,655, 763
1,596,472
1, 594, 465
T ra n sp o rta tio n (yard m a sters,
sw itc h ten d ers, a n d h o stle r s)___
22,530
21,834
21,829
4,422,128
4,343,190
4,363,883
T ra n sp o rta tio n , tra in a n d e n g in e .
R oad conductors_________
R oad brakem en and flagmen____
Y ard brakem en and y ard helpers.
R oad engineers and m otorm en__
Road firemen and helpers..............
306,133
34, 636
69,409
50, 779
41. 405
42, 689
312,523
35,202
69, 753
52, 782
41, 660
42, 659
309,182
34,878
68, 707
52,307
41,124
42, 082
61,709,214
8, 220,925
11,814, 469
9,148,164
11,019, 304
8, 255,132
63,468,253
8, 361, 525
12, 008, 755
9,488, 557
11,314,661
8, 359,485
65,854, 708
8, 655, 888
12, 440, 066
9, 771, 328
11, 803, 989
8, 726, 808
T o ta l, ail e m p lo y e e s................ 1,597,258 1,605,038 1,577,874 223,130,932 223,098,606 228,588,941
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
183
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Changes in Employment and Pay Rolls in Various States
HE following data as to changes in employment and pay rolls
have been compiled from reports received from the various
State labor offices:
T
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF I E D S T A T E S
M o n th ly p e rio d
P er cent of change,
Jan u a ry to F e b ru
ary, 1929
P er cent of change,
D ecember, 1928,
to Jan u ary , 1929
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
E m ploy P a y roll
m ent
P a y roll
M a r y la n d —C ontinued
Illinois
Stone, clay, and glass pro d
ucts ____________________
M etals, m achinery, and con
veyances ______ _______
W ood p ro d u c ts ... .
_____
F u rs and leather goods______
Chem icals, oils, a n d p a in ts__
P rintin g and paper goods.. .
Textiles ___ _ ___________
C lothing and m illin ery____ _
Food, beverages, and tobacco.
- 8 .0
-1 1 .4
+ .3
-5 .0
+ 2 .5
- .6
- 1 .3
- .7
- .2
- 3 .3
- 2 .7
-1 1 .9
-2 .0
-.8
- 2 .4
- 6 .2
+ 2 .8
- 5 .1
All m anufacturing_____
-1 .0
- 3 .5
T rade, wholesale and r e ta il...
Services
_ ._
__ . . . _
Public utilities ___________
Coal m ining________________
B uilding and contracting___
-1 0 .7
+ .2
H-.O
+ 2 .9
-2 6 .4
- 9 .3
-.9
+• 0
+ 8.3
-4 0 .6
- 1 .6
- 3 .5
All in d u stries.________
Jan u a ry to February, 1929
Iow a
Food and k in d red p ro d u c ts ..
Textiles
________
Iron and steel w orks________
L um ber p ro d u cts___________
L eather p ro d u cts. .
P a p e r products, p rin tin g and
publishing
___
P a te n t medicines, chemicals,
a nd com pounds
Stone and clay products
Tobacco and cigars
R ailw ay car shops
V arious industries
All industries
+ 1 .7
+ 8 .8
+ 7 .2
+ 2 .2
+14.1
+ .3
-. 7
-1 5 .9
-1 .8
+ 1 .2
-.7
+2. 2
M a ry la n d
Food products--------------------Textiles
. . . _________ . .
Iron and steel a n d th eir prod
u c ts _______ . . --------- . . .
L um ber and its p ro d u cts____
Leather and its products____
R ubber tires . . . __________
P aper and p rin tin g ...................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 5 .3
+ 4 .0
+ 3 .1
+10.9
+ 1 .2
+ 3 .3
+ 3 .2
+ 3 .7
-.4
+ 4.1
+ 10.9
+ 2 .6
+86.4
+ 5 .2
Chemicals and allied products.
Stone, clay, a n d glass prod
ucts__________ __ _______
M etal products, other th a n
iron an d steel___ _______
Tobacco p roducts_______ . . .
M achinery (not including
tran sp o rtatio n e quipm ent).
M usical in stru m ents ______
T ran sp o rtatio n e q u ipm ent__
C ar building and re p a irin g .__
M iscellaneous______________
All m anufacturing_____
+ 2 .9
+ 2.1
+16.9
+29.7
+ 4 .0
+10.1
+28.9
+11.3
+ 6 .5
- 1 .1
+ 7 .6
-.1
- .8
+ 9 .0
-4 .2
+ 3 .0
+ 6 .2
+ 4 .3
+ 3 .7
+12. 07
E m p l o y m e n t—
index num bers
(19 1 9-1923 = 100)
*
M a s s a c h u s e tts
Boots and shoes__ _ _______
Bread and other bakery prod
u c ts. ______ ____________ _
C ars and general shop construction and repairs, steam
railroads ____ . _ . . . . .
C lothing, m en ’s a nd w om en’s.
C onfectionery___ ________
C otton g o o d s . _ . . ______
D yeing and finishing textiles..
Electrical m achinery, appara
tus, a n d supplies.
___
F o u n d ry a n d machine-shop
products. ______________
F u rn itu re .
______ _____
H osiery and k n it g o o d s .____
Jew elry _ __ __________ ____
L eather, tan n ed , curried, and
finished______________ . . .
P ap er and wood p u l p ------. .
P rin tin g and publishing. . . .
R u b b er footw ear. _______
R u b b er goods, tires, and
tu b es______ _____________
Silk goods. _ ___________ . .
Textile m achinery a nd p a rts ..
Woolen and w orsted goods—
All in d u strie s..................
[873]
Decern- January,
ber, 1928
1929
64.4
67.3
104.1
101.7
70.2
92.1
87.6
57.5
105.9
70.0
90.6
85.1
57.8
103.6
104.2
104.9
68.1
109. 4
71.5
108.3
67.4
105.8
67.6
102.7
75.8
92.2
109.1
101. 3
76.7
89.5
106.9
95.1
82.6
102.3
50.1
82.2
78.9
81.5
100.6
51.3
78.8
78.1
184
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
PER CENT
OF
C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF I E D
S T A T E S —C ontinued
M o n t h ly p e r io d — C o n tin u ed
Per cent of change,
D ecem ber, 1928,
to Jan u a ry , 1929
P er cent of change,
J a n u a ry to F eb ru
ary, 1929
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
N ew J e rse y
Food an d kindred p roducts—.
Textiles and th eir p ro d u c ts ...
Iron and steel a n d th eir prod
u c ts __ _____________ ___
L um ber a n d its p ro d u cts____
L eather a n d its p ro d u cts____
Tobacco p ro d u c ts. _________
Paper a n d p rin tin g ________
Chemicals a n d allied products.
Stone, clay, a n d glass prod
u c t s . .. _ _______________
M etal p roducts oth er th a n
iron an d steel__________ _
Vehicles for la n d tran sp o rta
tion _
_______________
M iscellaneous________ ______
All in d u stries_________
N ew Y o rk
Stone, clay, and glass_______
M etals and m a c h in ery ... ___
W ood m anufactures________
F urs, leather, a n d ru b b er
goods_____ _____________
Chem icals, oils, p ain ts, e tc __
P a p e r. . . . . . .
_________
P rin tin g a n d paper goods____
Textiles____________________
Clothing a n d m illinery______
Food and tobacco. _________
W ater, light, and pow er_____
All industries_____
._
- 4 .6
+ 2 .7
-5 .2
+ 3 .0
-4 .2
-5 .6
+ .6
-5 .4
-2 .0
+ 2 .3
- 2 .1
-8 .6
+ 6 .0
-1 1 .7
- 9 .0
+ 3 .0
-3 .7
-6 .9
+ 1 .7
- 2 .9
+ 7 .9
- 8 .8
-1 .2
+ 9 .0
-1 2 .8
- 1 .9
- 6 .1
+ 1 .8
- 1 .4
- 9 .1
-.9
- 7 .3
-.5
- 1 .1
+ .9
- 1 .9
- 2 .6
- 1 .2
- 4 .2
- 1 .8 *
- 2 .4
-3 . 1
+ 4 .8
- 1 .2
- 3 .4
+ .8
- 4 .9
- 2 .9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
O k la h o m a —C ontinued
Printing: Job w ork_________
P ublic utilities:
Steam -railw ay shops . __
Street railw ays _________
W ater, light, and p o w e r..
Stone, clay, a n d glass:
B rick and tile _________
C em ent and plaster.
C rushed stone__________
Glass m an u facture.______
Textiles and cleaning:
Textile m anufacture . . .
L aundries, etc__________
W oodworking:
Sawmills . . . . . _______
M illw ork, etc___________
All industries_________
-.6
- 2 .0
Jan u a ry to February, 1929
O k la h o m a
Cottonseed-oil m ills_________
Food production:
Bakeries. _______ ______
C onfections... _________
Creameries a n d d a irie s ...
Flour m ills. __________
Ice and ice c r e a m _______
M eat a n d p o u ltry _______
Lead and zinc:
M ines and m ills________
S m e lte r s ..____________ _
M etals a n d m achinery:
A uto repairs, e t c _______
M achine shops a n d foun
dries . . . .
. _____ ._
T an k construction and
e re ctio n .. __________
Oil industry:
Producing a n d gasoline
m anufacture __ _______
Refineries______________
E m ploy P a y roll
m ent
P a y roll
- 6 .1
-1 0 .4
+ 2 .6
-1 5 .3
+ 4 .2
-.6
-1 1 .6
-2 .8
+ 2 .8
-8 .0
- 4 .6
-3 .2
+ 8 .2
- 5 .5
+ 3 .9
+ .6
+ 1 .5
-.3
+ 1 .7
-3 .9
+ .2
+ 5 .6
- 7 .3
-1 1 .6
+ 2 .4
-2 .3
+ 5 .5
+ 2 .1
+ 1.1
+ 1.1
+ .1
- 1 .1
- 2 .8
+ 2 .7
+ 4 .8
-1 0 .8
- 1 .4
- 2 .6
+ 1.1
- 1 .4
- 9 .4
- 3 .4
-1 1 .4
+ 4.5
- 2 .3
-1 0 .6
+22.8
- 9 .5
-2 .7
- 6 .4
- 1 .1
-1 0 .3
-1 .2
-.2
Index num bers
(1923-1925 = 100)
January, Febru1929
ary, 1929
E m p loym ent
P e n n s y lv a n ia
M etal p roducts_____________
T ran sp o rtatio n eq u ip m en t__
Textile pro d u cts_______ ____
Foods and to b acco... ______
Stone, clay, an d glass prod
u c ts ______________ . . . . . .
L um ber pro d u cts___________
Chem ical p ro d u cts. _______
Leather a n d ru b ber products.
Paper and p rin tin g _________
87.7
68.2
96.3
91.8
90.4
79.0
99.7
95.8
82.5
72.8
97.7
95.8
91.3
82.5
76.3
97.6
96.2
91.3
All m an u facturing.. . . .
88.3
91.7
P a y roll
M etal products_____________
T ran sp o rtatio n e q u ip m e n t__
Textile pro d u cts____________
Foods and tobacco _ _______
Stone, clay, a n d glass prod
u c ts .. _ . . ____________
L um ber p roducts___________
Chem ical products _______
L eather and ru b b er products.
P ap er and p rin tin g .......... .........
92.8
62.9
97.5
92.8
100.6
84.9
109.6
97.2
74.7
68.8
100.0
97.8
105. 3
79.7
79.8
106.3
101.3
106.6
All m anufacturing_____
89.5
99.0
[874]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
185
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF IE D
S T A T E S —C ontinued
M o n t h ly p e rio d — C o n tin u ed
P er cent of change,
D ecember, 1928,
to Jan u ary , 1929
P er cent of change,
Decem ber, 1928,
+o Jan u ary , 1929
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
E m ploy P a y roll
m ent
P ay roll
W isconsin
W isconsin —C ontinued
M anual
Logging---------------- -------- ----M ining ___________________
Stone crushing a n d quarrym g--------------------------- -----M anufacturing:
Stone a n d allied industries __________ ______
M etal
______________
W ood__________________
R ubber . _____________
Leather _ _ ____________
Paper
. . . _ _______
Textiles
____________
Foods
. _____________
L ight and pow er.
. ...
P rin tin g and p u b lish in g ..
Laundering, cleaning, and
dyeing-----------------------Chem icals
(including
soap, glue, and ex
plosives)...................... .
All m anufacturing_____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 0 .1
-3 .0
-3 .5
- 5 .6
-4 6 .8
-3 7 .2
-5 2 .7
-. 1
+ .7
+ 1 .6
- 3 .4
+ .9
- 2 .4
- 3 .9
-1 .0
-5 4 .5
- 4 .0
- 6 .8
- .8
-1 3 .0
+ 1 .0
-1 1 .9
+ .8
+ .2
-.6
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .0
+ .6
- 4 .2
-.7
-4 .4
Manual—C ontinued
Construction:
B uilding. ____________
H ighw ay_______________
R ailroad _________
M arine, dredging, sewer diggm g---------------- ------ C om m unication:
Steam railw ays.. ______
Electric railw ays. ____
Express, telephone, and
telegraph. __
____
W holesale trad e
_ ____
Hotels and restau ran ts___
Nonm anual
M anufacturing, mines, and
quarries.
_ ____________
C on stru ctio n .. . . . _____
C o m m u n icatio n ._. ________
Wholesale tra d e . __ . . .
R etail trade—sales force only
M iscellaneous p ro f e s s io n a l
services__________________
H otels and re s ta u ra n ts ...
[875]
-1 6 .0
-1 9 .7
-2 2 .8
-2 2 .4
-1 4 .7
-2 0 .9
- 4 .9
-3 7 .4
+ .6
+ 3 .0
+. 8
+ 3 .6
- 6 .8
-5 .6
-2 .8
-4 .2
-8 .8
+ .3
+ .5
-.2
-.9
-2 4 .5
+ 2 .2
+ 2 .1
+ .1
-1 .4
+ 9 .6
-1 6 .8
-1 1 .4
186
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF IE D
S T A T E S —C ontinued
Y e a r ly p e rio d
Per cent of change,
Jan u ary , 1928, to
Jan u ary , 1929
P er cent of change,
January, 1928, to
January, 1929
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
P a y roll
m ent
E m ploy P a y roll
m ent
C alifornia
N ew Y o rk
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts
--------------M etals, m achinery, and con
veyances ________ ______
W ood m anufactures- - L eather and ru b b er goods
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc___
P rintin g and paper goods
Textiles . _ ------ ----------Clothing, millinery, and laun
dering
. ------. .
Foods, beverages, and tobacco.
W ater, light, and power ___
M iscellaneous......................... ...
Stone, clay, and glass . . . . .
M etals and m achinery ____
W ood m anufactures _ . ____
Furs, leather, and rubber
goods .
. . . ___ . . . .
Chemicals, oils, paints, e tc ___
Paper
Prin tin g and paper goods____
T extiles.
. . . . . . . . . _____
Clothing and m illinery _____
Food and tobacco
_____
W ater, light, and power . . .
- 0 .1
+10.2
- 3 .1
- 1 .3
+13.3
- 3 .2
+ 1 .0
-1 . 2
-.2
-1 . 1
- 1 .6
- 5 .0
+ 2.7
-1 0 .3
+ 3 .5
- 1 .0
+ 2 .2
- .7
-6 .0
+ 2 .8
-1 1 .6
All industries_________
+ 2 .6
+ 4.4
All industries ___ ____
- 0 .9
-6 .4
+15.1
-2 .8
+28.8
+26.7
+ 3 .8
+ .1
+16. 2
- 2 .9
+25.2
+28.1
+ 3 .0
+ 2 .1
- 1 .0
+ 15.3
- 6 .4
-f3. 2
+. 9
+11.3
- 3 .1
- 7 .3
+10.0
+10.4
O k la h o m a
E m p lo y m e n t —
index
num bers
(1919-1923 = 100)
Jan u ary ,
1928
Jan u ary , !
1929
i
i
M a ssa c h u setts
Boots and shoes ___________
B read and other b akery prod
u c ts
. . ----------- ------- -C ars a n d general shop con
stru ctio n and repairs, steam
railroads ________ _____
C lothing, m en’s a n d w om en’s.
Confectionery
___________
C otton goods_______ _______
D yeing and finishing textiles..
Electrical m achinery, a p p a
ratu s, a n d supplies____ . . .
F o u n d ry a n d machine-shop
products _____________
F u rn itu re . ._ ____________
H osiery an d k n it goods______
Jew elry.
_____ _______
L eather, tan n ed , curried, and
finished. ____ ______
P aper a n d wood p u lp . . .
P rintin g a n d publishing .
R ubber footw ear. ____
R ubb er goods, tires, and tubes
Silk goods . _________ . __
Textile m achinery and p a rts ..
W oolen and w orsted goods___
All In d u strie s..................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
68.9
67.3
98.1
101.7
75.1
92.7
SO. 3
65.3
102.9
70.0 |
90. 6
85.1
57.8
103.6
103.7
104.9
64.8
106.1
105. 8
8 8 .6
102.2
8 7 .8
92.6
103. 6
108.0
97.2
115.5
62.1
67.4
67.6
102.7
76.7
89.5
106.9
95. 1
81.5
1 0 0 .6
8 6 .2
51.3
78.8
82.3
78.1
Cottonseed-oil m ills. ______
Food production:
Bakeries ______________
Confections
_________
Creameries and d airies..
F lo u r m ills .. _________
Ice and ice c r e a m _______
M eat and p o u ltr y .. . . .
Lead and zinc:
M ines and m ills____ _
Sm elters..
. ________
M etals and m achinery:
A uto repairs, etc . . . _
M achine shops and foundries_________ _______
T an k construction and
erection
__________
Oil industry:
Producing and gasoline
m anufacture . . . .
___ __
R efineries. . .
Prin tin g : Job w o r k . _____ _
Public utilities:
Steam -railw ay sh o p s.._
Street railw ays____ _____
"Water, light, and p o w e r..
Stone, clay, and glass:
Brick and tile ________
C em ent and p laster.
Crushed stone__________
Glass m anufacture______
Textiles and cleaning:
Textile m an u factu re.. . . .
Laundries, etc__________
W oodworking:
Sawmills ...... .............. ..
M illw ork, e tc .................
All industries...................
[876]
February, 1928, to
February, 1929
-1 5 .0
-1 0 .9
+14.7
-1 5 .4
- 2 .3
+21.2
+289.8
- 5 .4
-1 1 .3
+ 5 .2
-1 1 .1
+15.9
+274. 6
- 6 .0
+47.4
- 9 .8
+25.9
- 9 .5
+294. 7
+328.4
+29.6
+30.9
- 2 .5
+ 4 .0
+29.1
+20.9
+17.6
+ 31.2
- 7 .1
+27.6
+. 3
+20.5
+252.8
+ 3 .0
+22.3
+255. 3
+24.0
+ 8.7
-1 8 .4
- 9 .7
+11.0
-3 .9
-1 2 .6
- 8 .7
+35.9
+41.1
+42.0
+ .7
+267.1
+ 6 .7
+32.8
+308.4
-1 3 .7
+22.5
187
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
P E R C E N T OF C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF I E D
S T A T E S —C o n tin u ed
Y e a r ly p e rio d — C o n tin u ed
Per cent of change,
January, 1928, to
Jan u ary , 1929
Index num bers
(1923-1925=100)
State, and in d u stry group
S tate, an d in d u stry group
F eb ru
ary, 1928
F eb ru
ary, 1929
E m ploy
m ent
E m ploym ent
W isc o n sin —C ontinued
M anual—C ontinued
P e n n s y lv a n ia
M etal products
_____
T ransportation equipm ent —
Textile products
______
Foods a n d tobacco____
Stone, clay, and glass products
L um ber pro d u cts_____ ____
Chem ical products ___
__
Leather and rubber p ro d u c ts..
P aper and p rin tin g _
82.9
79.1
105. 2
89.9
76.6
71.3
95.3
101.7
96.0
90.4
79.0
99.7
95.8
82.5
76.3
97.6
96.2
91.3
All m anufacturing.
87.8
91.7
P a y roll
M etal p ro d u c ts ..___
T ransp o rtatio n equipm ent —
Textile products ____
Foods a n d tobacco ._
Stone, clay, and glass products
L um ber p ro d u cts.
.. .
Chemical products . . .
L eather and rubber p roducts. _
P aper and p rin tin g . _.
All m anufacturing___
89.8
76.1
114.9
89.7
74.3
73.8
105. 2
104. 7
108.4
91.0
100.6
84.9
109.6
97.2
79.7
79.8
106.3
101.3
106.6
99.0
Per cent of change,
January, 1928, to
January, 1929
E m ploy P ay roll
m ent
W isco n sin
M anual
Logging _
.
________
M ining.
____ _______ .
Stone crushing and qu arry in g .
41105°—29-----13
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pay
roll
+16.0
-4 2 .4
-4 3 .3
-1 0 .1
-2 4 .4
-3 9 .9
M anufacturing:
Stone and allied industries
M e ta l________________ _
Wood
_____________ _
R u b b e r ____ ____ ______
L eather
________ _
Paper ________________
Textiles ________ _ _
F oods_____ ____ ________
L ight and pow er.
Prin tin g and p u b lish in g ..
Laundering, cleaning, and
dyeing . . . __ _____ . . .
Chem ical (including soap,
glue, and explosives)___
All m anufacturing. . .
C onstruction:
Building ____________
H ighw ay. ..................... .
R ailro ad .. . __________
M arine, dredging, sewer
digging----------------------C om m unication :
Steam ra ilw a y s _______
Electric railw ays______ _
Express, telephone, and
teleg rap h .. __________
Wholesale tra d e ________
Hotels and restaurants___
-5 4 .0
+12.2
+ 5 .2
+ 4 .4
- 1 .5
-. 1
-1 4 .0
+ 3.7
+ 7.0
+ 4 .2
-5 8 .4
+16.6
+ 4 .6
+ 18.5
- 7 .0
+ 4.7
-1 8 .6
+12. 1
+21.9
+ 3 .7
+ 5 .9
+10.2
-1 6 .8
-1 7 .6
+ 4.3
+ 8.1
-1 . 1
+19.1
.0
-1 3 .4
+15.1
+ 2 .2
+ 9 .2
-3 9 .4
+ 1 .9
- 2 .1
-4 .8
-2 .7
+ 6 .7
—. 7
+ 2 .2
+ 2 .4
-2 .6
+ 1 .9
- 4 .0
+ 8 .4
+ 5.4
+ 1.6
+ 6 .0
-5 .9
+ 6.8
+11.9
- 1 .7
+ 7 .9
-1 5 .9
+ 6 .7
Nonmanual
M anufacturing, mines, and
quarries. _ _________ ____
C o n stru c tio n ... . . . _ ______
C o m m u n ic a tio n ._______
Wholesale tra d e . _ _ . _____
Retail trade—sales force only. _
M iscellaneous professional
services _ ___ ____________
Hotels and restaurants
[877]
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
Retail Prices of Food in the United States
HE following tables are compiled from monthly reports of actual
selling prices 1 received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
T retail
dealers.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food February
15, 1928, and January 15, and February 15, 1929, as well as the
percentage changes in the year and in the month. For example, the
retail price per pound of round steak was 38.9 cents on February
15, 1928; 42.6 cents on January 15, 1929; and 42.2 cents on February
15, 1929. These figures show an increase of 8 per cent in the year
and a decrease of 1 per cent in the month.
The cost of various articles of food combined shows an increase of
1.9 per cent February 15, 1929, as compared with February 15, 1928,
and a decrease of 0.1 per cent February 15, 1929, as compared with
January 15, 1929.
T
1 . — A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E F E B R U A R Y 15, 1929, C O M P A R E D W IT H JA N U A R Y 15,
1929, A N D F E B R U A R Y 15, 1928
able
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent or over are given in whole num bers]
Average retail price on—
A rticle
U n it
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Feb. 15, 1929,
com pared w ith—
Feb. 15,
1928
Jan. 15,
1929
Feb. 15,
1929
Sirloin st.piak
__ _________
P o u n d _______
R ound steak _____________________ ____do_____ __
__do_______
R ib roast_____
C huck roast______________________ __ __do_______
__ do_______
Plate beef
Cents
44.8
38.9
33.1
25.7
17.5
Cents
48.4
42.6
35.8
29.0
20.6
Cents
47.8
42.2
35.4
28.7
20.3
+7
+8
+7
+12
+16
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
Pork chops____________ .__________
Bacon, sliced_____________________
H am , s lic e d _____________________
Lam b, leg o f . .. . . . . . _____________
H ens _________ ________________
__ __do_______
____do_______
__ __do _____
____d o _______
__do___..........
29.5
43.7
51.2
37.5
37.2
32.3
43.0
53.8
39.9
39.2
33.0
42.7
53.7
40.3
39.7
+12
-2
+5
+7
+7
+2
-1
-0 .2
+1
+1
Salmon, canned, re d ___ _ . ______
M ilk, fresh
M ilk, evaporated
.
__
B u tte r___
_______ _______
01eomargarine(all b u tte r substitutes)
__ __do _____
Q u a r t _______
16-oz. can____
Pound ............
__ _ d o ______
35.4
14.3
11.5
56.3
27.6
31.9
14.3
11.4
57.7
27.6
31.7
14.3
11.4
58.5
27.6
-1 0
0
-1
+4
0
-1
0
0
+1
0
38.2
18.4
24.7
49.1
-3
+1
-1
+14
-1
-1
0
-3
39.2
38.4
Cheese. _______
______________ __ _ _ d o ______
18.5
18.3
L ard
.
________ ____do_______
24.9
24.7
do_______
Vegetable lard su b stitu te .. _______
50.6
43.1
Eggs, strictly fresh________________ D o z en ... ___
1 In addition to m o n th ly retail prices of food and coal, th e bureau publishes
tricity from each of 51 cities for th e dates for w hich these d ata are secured.
188
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 7 8 ]
Feb. 15,
1928
Jan. 15,
1929
the prices of gas and elec
189
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T
1 — A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E F E B R U A R Y 15, 1929, C O M P A R E D W IT H JA N U A R Y 15,
1929, A N D F E B R U A R Y 15, 1928—C ontinued
able
Average retail price on—
Article
U nit
Feb. 15,
1928
Jan . 15,
1929
Feb. 15,
1929
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Feb. 15, 1929,
com pared w ith—
Feb. 15,
1928
Jan . 15,
1929
_____________________
B read
Flour
_______
Corn meal __ ___________________
Rolled o a ts ... ____________________
Corn fla k e s ------------------ ---------------
P o u n d _______
____do_______
____ do___
do_______
8-oz. package..
Cents
9.2
5.3
5.2
9.0
9.7
Cents
9.0
5.1
5.3
8.9
9.5
Cents
9.0
5.1
5.3
8.9
9.5
W heat c e r e a l____________________
M acaroni _ _ _ __ _ __________
Rice
. _________________
Beans, nav v
_
______
Potatoes
________
28-oz. package.
P o u n d _______
_ __do_______
____d o ...............
____do _______
’ 25.6
20.0
10.2
10.1
3.0
25.5
19.7
9.8
13.2
2.3
25.5
19.6
9.8
13.8
2.3
- 0 .4
-2
-4
+37
-2 3
0
-1
0
+5
0
Onions ____________ __________
C abbage
____ ___________
Beans, b a k ed __ _____ _________
Corn, can n ed__ _ _____ __________
Peas, canned. __
_____________
____do_______
__ .d o ______
No. 2 c an ____
____do_______
____d o _______
5.2
4.5
11.3
15.8
16.8
7.6
5.8
11.7
16.0
16.8
8.2
6.0
11.8
15.9
16.7
+58
+33
+4
+1
-1
+8
+3
+1
-1
-1
__ __do ______
Tom atoes, canned. _
Sugar
_______ __ _ __ _ _____ P o u n d __ ____
T ea
_______ ________________ ____ do_______
Coflee . . . . ___________________ ____do_______
11.8
7.1
77.3
48.6
12.4
6.7
77.6
49.5
12.7
6.6
77.6
49.5
__do_______
Prunes
._ _____________________
R aisins _______________ _________ _ ..d o _______
Dozen_______
B anan as__ _____ _________________
Oranges ____ _ __ _ _________ __ __do_______
13.6
13.6
34.8
51.0
14.2
11.7
33.9
46.4
14.2
11.6
33.3
43.6
-2
-4
+2
-1
-2
+8
-7
+ 0 .4
+2
+4
-1 5
-4
-1 5
+ 1 .9
Weighted food index
0
0
0
0
0
+2
-1
0
0
0
-1
-2
-6
-
0. 1
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of speci
fied food articles on February 15, 1913, and on February 15 of each
year from 1923 to 1929, together with percentage changes in Febru
ary of each of these specified years, compared with February, 1913,
For example, the retail price per pound of sirloin steak was 23.9
cents in February, 1913; 37.1 cents in February, 1923; 38.7 cents in
February, 1924; 38.5 in February, 1925; 40.6 cents in February, 1926;
40.9 cents in February, 1927; 44.8 cents in February, 1928; and 47.8
cents in February, 1929.
As compared with February, 1913, these figures show increases of
55 per cent in February, 1923; 62 per cent in February, 1924; 61 per
cent in February, 1925; 70 per cent in February, 1926; 71 per cent
in February, 1927; 87 per cent in February, 1928; and 100 per cent
in February, 1929.
The cost of the various articles of food combined showed an increase
of 59.4 per cent in February, 1929, as compared with February, 1913.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[879]
190
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E F E B R U A R Y 15 OF C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S C O M P A R E D W IT H
F E B R U A R Y 15, 1913
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole num bers]
Per cent of increase Feb. 15 of each
specified year com pared w ith Jan.
15, 1913
Average retail price on Feb. 15—
Article
1913 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as.
23.9
20.6
18.8
14. 9
11.3
37.1
31.5
27.5
19. 5
12.8
38. 7
33.0
28.3
20.4
13.3
38.5
32.7
28.4
20.4
13.2
40.6
34.8
29.3
22. 1
14.6
40.9
35.4
30.4
22.7
14.9
44.8
38.9
33. 1
25.7
17.5
47.8
42.2
35.4
28.7
20.3
55
53
46
31
13
62
60
51
37
18
61
59
51
37
17
70
69
56
48
29
71
72
62
52
32
87
89
76
72
55
100
105
88
93
80
Pork chops_____do___
Bacon sliced.
do___
H am , sliced___ do___
Lam b, leg of___ do___
H ens. ________ do___
Salmon, canned, red
.p o u n d ..
M ilk, fr e s h ___q u a rt..
M ilk, evaporated
16-oz. can
B u t t e r .. . ___p o u n d ..
O le o m a rg a rin e (all
b u tte r substitutes)
pound __
Cheese.
___ do___
L a rd . ________do___
Vegetable lard substitu te
d o __
Eggs, strictly fresh
____________ dozen..
B read________p o u n d ..
F lo u r. _______do___
Corn meal . . do___
Rolled oats
do
Corn flakes
8-oz. package
W heat cereal
28-oz. package
M acaroni
pound
R ice. . _______do___
Beans, n a v y __ do___
18.9
25.5
25.4
18.5
20.7
28.7
39.4
45.0
36.0
35.5
26.7
36.6
44.4
35.7
35.1
30.3
40.6
48.1
38.3
36.1
36.3
48.9
53.6
38.4
38.9
35.9
48.5
56.7
37.3
38.5
29.5
43.7
51.2
37.5
37.2
33.0
42.7
53.7
40.3
39.7
52
55
77
95
71
41
44
75
93
70
60
59
89
107
74
92
92
111
108
88
90
90
123
102
86
56
71
102
103
80
75
67
111
118
92
31.3 31.2 31.4 37.6 33.2 35.4 31.7
8.9 13.7 14.0 13.9 14.2 14.1 14.3 14.3 54
57
56
60
58
61
61
12.1 12.1 11.2 11.6 11.4 11.5 11.4
41.2 57.7 60.2 50.6 54.5 58.8 56.3 58.5 40
46
23
32
43
37
42
27.8 29.8 30.2 31.2 29.0 27.6 27.6
22.2 37.5 37.2 36.4 37.5 37.6 39.2 38.2 69
15.4 17.4 18.0 22.8 22.2 19.6 18.3 18.4 13
68
17
64
48
69
44
69
27
77
19
72
19
58
55
39
52
70
70
94
90
39
68
91
79
40
68
70
76
37
64
61
79
56
61
55
83
9
i4
26
35
26
19
14
Potatoes ______ do___
Onions . . . do__
Cabbage
do .
Beans, baked
No. 2 can
Corn, canned .do
Peas, canned___ do___
Tom atoes, canned
pound
Sugar, granulated
___________ p o u n d ..
T e a .. ________ do___
Coffee__ ______ do___
Prunes
do
1.5
3.0 2.3 40
5.2 8.2
4. 5 fi.O
87
73
280
153
100
53
87
30
30
40
38
75
22
40
72
36
43
67
29
42
63
20
43
66
Sirloin stea k , .p o u n d ..
R ound steak ___ do___
R ib ro a s t.. . .. d o . . .
C huck roast— —do.
P late beef______do___
22. 4 24.5 25.8 25.6 25.2 24.9 24.7
31.5 46.2 49.8 53.4 43.8 44.2 43.1 49.1 47
5.6 8. 7 8.7 9.5 9.4 9.4 9.2 9.0 55
3.3 4.9 4.6 6.4 6.3 5.6 5.3 5.1 48
2.9 4.0 4.4 5.5 5.2 5.1 5.2 5.3 38
8. 7 8.8 9.2 9.1 9.1 9.0 8.9
9. 7
9.7 11.0 11.0 10.9
9.7
9.5
24. 8 24.3 24.6 25.4 25.4 25.6 25.5
19.8 19.6 20.3 20.3 20.1 20. 0 19.6
8.6 9.4 9.8 10.8 11.6 10.8 10.2 9.8
11.3 10.0 10.4 9.6 9.2 10.1 13.8
2.1
5.3
4.7
2.8
6.0
5.4
2.6
6.3
5.0
5.7
5.9
6.4
3.8
5. 7
4.9
13.1 12.9 12. 6 12.2 11. 7 11. 3 11.8
15. 4 15. 7 17. 7 16.7 16.1 15.8 15. 9
17.4 17.9 18.5 17.7 17.1 16.8 16.7
12. 8 12.9 13.8 12.3 12.2 11.8 12.7
5.5 8.7 10.3 7.7 6.7 7.5 7.1 6.6 58
54.3 68.9 70.8 74.8 76.1 77.4 77.3 77.6 27
29.8 37.5 38.8 52.1 51.3 49.9 48.6 49.5 26
19. S 17. 8 17.1 17.2 15.8 13.6 14.2
R aisins
do
B ananas
dozen
O ra n g e s __ . d o .. _
18. 7 15.8 14.6 14.5 14. 4 13.6 11.6
36.9 38.1 36.8 35.7 34.7 34.8 33.3
47.1 39.5 44.7 46.5 47.1 51.0 43.6
46.9 52.1 56.3 66.8 61.1 56.5 59.'
All articles com bined L
1 Beginning w ith Jan u ary , 1921, index num bers show ing th e tre n d in th e retail cost of food have been
composed of th e articles shown in Tables 1 and 2, w eighted according to the consum ption of the average
family. From Jan u ary , 1913, to December, 1920, th e index num bers included the following articles:
Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham , lard, hens, flour,
corn meal, eggs, b u tte r, m ilk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee, and tea.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 880 J
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
191
Table 3 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years
from 1913 to 1928, and by months for 1927, 1928, and 1929. The
articles within these groups are as follows:
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes, wheat
cereal, and macaroni.
Meats: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef,
pork chops, bacon, ham, hens, and leg of lamb.
Dairy products: Butter, cheese, fresh milk, and evaporated milk.
T able 3 .—I N D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL C O ST OF C E R E A L S , M E A T S , A N D D A IR Y
P R O D U C T S F O R T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S , 1913 TO F E B R U A R Y , 1929
[Average cost in 1913=100.0]
Y ear and m onth
1913: Average for year___
1914: Average for y ear___
1915: Average for y ear___
1916: Average for y ear___
1917: Average for y ear__
1918: Average for y e a r.. _
1919: Average for y ear___
1920: Average for y ear___
1921: Average for y ear___
1922: Average for y ear___
1923: Average for year___
1924: Average for y ear___
1925: Average for y ear___
1926: Average for y ear___
1927: Average for y e a r ....
Jan u ary ________
F e b ru a ry .....................
M a rc h ,. __________
A p ril.............................
M a y .......... .............. .
J u n e ......................... .
Ju ly
A u g u st........................
Cereals M eats
100.0
106. 7
121.6
126.8
186. 5
194. 3
198. 0
232.1
179.8
159.3
156.9
160.4
176. 2
175.5
170.7
172.8
172.7
172. 1
171.7
171.6
170.7
170.6
171.2
100.0
103.4
99.6
108. 2
137.0
172. 8
184.2
185.7
158. 1
150. 3
149.0
150.2
163. 0
171.3
169. 9
168.1
167. 6
168. 5
170.6
170.7
168.3
169.3
171.0
D airy
prod
ucts
100.0
97. 1
96. 1
103.2
127. 6
153.4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135. 9
147.6
142. 8
147. 1
145. 5
148.7
151. 4
151. 8
152. 2
150. 8
145.3
143.7
143.9
144.5
Y ear and m onth
1927: Average for year—
C ontinued.
S ep tem b er,, ______
October
, _______
N ovem ber _________
December__________
1928: Average for year___
Jan u a ry ____________
F e b ru a ry __ ________
M arch_________ ___
A pril, _ . . . . _____
M ay , _____________
.Tune, ________ . .
Ju ly _______________
August
September
October
N ovem ber .
D ecember _
1929:
Jan u ary
F e b ru a ry ...........
Cereals M eats
D airy
prod
ucts
170.6
170.5
169.8
168.6
173.0
173.7
169.9
168.1
146.6
149.4
150.2
152.8
167.2
168.0
168.0
166.8
167. 2
168.3
169.8
169.3
168. 2
lfifi 7
165. 9
165. 3
164. 2
179.2
168. 3
167. 8
167.1
170.3
175.4
177.7
184.4
189. 5
195 ft
188. 9
184. 9
179.1
150.0
152.2
150.7
150.7
147.8
147.3
146.1
147.1
148.3
151 2
151.1
152. 5
153. 5
164.1
164.1
180. 9
180.3
151 9
152.6
I n d e x N u m b e r s o f R e t a i l P r ic e s o f F o o d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s
I n T a b l e 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913 and 1920
to 1928,2 and by months for 1928 through February, 1929. These
index numbers, or relative prices, are based on the year 1913 as 100
and are computed by dividing the average price of each commodity
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 sirloin steak for the year 1928 was 188.2, which
means that the average money price for the year 1928 was 88.2 per
cent higher than the average money price for the year 1913. As
compared with the relative price, 167.7 in 1927, the figures for 1928
show an increase of 203^ points, but an increase of 12.2 per cent in
the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. Since
January, 1921, these index numbers have been computed from the
average prices of the articles of food shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted
2 For index num bers of each m onth, Jan u ary , 1913, to D ecember, 1926, see B ulletin No. 396, pp. 44 to
61; B ulletin No. 418, pp. 38 to 51; and B ulletin No. 445, pp. 36 to 49.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 881]
192
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
according to the average family consumption in 1918. (See March,
1921, issue, p. 25.) Although previous to January, 1921, the number
of food articles has varied, these index numbers have been so com
puted as to be strictly comparable for the entire period. The index
numbers based on the average for the year 1913 as 100 are 154.6 for
January, 1929, and 154.4 for February, 1929.
T R E N D O F R E T A IL P R IC E S O F F O O D
[1913 = 100]
JAM. FEB. MAR. APR. MAT JUN. JUL
AU6. SEP
OCT MOV. DEC.
The curve shown in the accompanying chart pictures more readily
to the eye the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the
index numbers given in the table.
T able 4 .—I N D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F F O O D ,
B Y Y E A R S , 1913, 1920 TO 1928, A N D B Y M O N T H S F O R 1928 T H R O U G H F E B R U A R Y , 1929
[Average for year 1913=100.0]
Year and
m onth
Sirloin R ound R ib Chuck P late
steak steak roast roast
beef
Pork
chops Bacon H am
Hens
M ilk B utter Cheese
1913__________
1920__________
1921__________
1922.....................
1923_.............
1924_________ _
1925....................
1926__________
1927................
1928 ................
100.0
172.1
152.8
147.2
153.9
155.9
159.8
162.6
167.7
188. 2
100.0
177.1
154.3
144.8
150.2
151.6
155.6
159. 6
166.4
188.3
100.0
167.7
147.0
139.4
143. 4
145.5
149.5
153.0
158.1
176.8
100.0
163.8
132.5
123.1
126.3
130.0
135.0
140.6
148.1
174.4
100.0
151.2
118.2
105.8
106. 6
109.1
114. 1
120.7
127.3
157.0
100.0
201.4
166.2
157.1
144.8
146. 7
174.3
188.1
175.2
165.7
100.0
193.7
158.2
147.4
144.8
139.6
173.0
186.3
174.8
163. 0
100.0
206.3
181.4
181.4
169.1
168.4
195.5
213.4
204.5
196. 7
100.0
209.9
186.4
169.0
164.3
165.7
171.8
182.2
173. 2
175. 6
100.0
187.6
164.0
147.2
155.1
155.1
157.3
157.3
158.4
159. 6
100.0
183.0
135.0
125.1
144.7
135.0
143.1
138.6
145. 2
147.5
100.0
188.2
153.9
148.9
167.0
159.7
166.1
165.6
170.1
174. 2
1928: J a n u a ry ..
F ebruary _.
M arch ____
A pril_____
M a y ...
June . . . _
Ju ly -----A u g u st___
Septem ber.
O ctober___
N o v em b er.
D ecem ber..
174.8
176.4
176.8
178.3
181.5
186.6
195.7
200.8
203.9
198.0
193.3
189.8
173.1
174.4
175.3
177.6
181.2
186.5
196.9
202. 2
205.4
200.0
194.6
191.5
165.2
167.2
167.2
168.7
172.2
175.3
181.8
184.8
188.9
185.9
183.3
180.3
158.8
160.6
161.3
163.1
166.3
172.5
180.6
185.0
190.0
188.8
185.6
181.9
142.1
144.6
146.3
147.9
150.4
152.9
157.9
162.0
170.2
171.9
171.9
168.6
149.0
140.5
136.2
149.0
168.6
165.7
177.6
190.0
211.0
179.0
170.0
149.0
165.2
161.9
159.3
158.9
159.6
160.0
162.6
165.9
168.1
167.8
164.8
160.4
192.2
190.3
187.7
188.1
190.3
192.2
198.5
204.5
208.2
206.7
203.0
198.5
172.8
174.6
174.6
177.0
177.0
174.2
172.3
172.8
177.9
177.9
178.4
177.9
160.7
160. 7
159.6
158.4
158.4
157.3
158.4
158.4
159.6
159. 6
160. 7
160.7
150.9
147.0
149.6
143.9
142.6
140.7
141.8
144. 7
150.4
150.1
152.2
154.8
177.4
177.4
174.2
172.9
172.4
172.4
173.3
173.8
175.1
175.6
174. 2
174.2
1929: Ja n u a ry ._ 190.6
F e b ru a ry .. 188.2
191.0
189.2
180.8
178.8
181.3
179.4
170.2
167.8
153.8
157.1
159.3
158.2
200.0
199.6
184.0
186.4
160.7
160.7
150.7
152.7
173.8
172.9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 882]
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T
4 .—I N D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D ,
B Y Y E A R S , 1913, 1920 T O 1928, A N D BY M O N T H S F O R 1928 T H R O U G H F E B R U A R Y , 1929C ontinued
able
Y ear and m onth
Lard
Eggs
Bread Flour
Corn
meal
Rice
P o ta Sugar
toes
Tea
All
Coffee a rti
cles 1
1913...................................
1920 .................................
1921_________ ______
1922 __________ _____
1923-_ _____________
1924_________________
1925_________________
1926, _______________
1927_________________
1928______________ —
100.0
186.7
113.9
107.6
112.0
120.3
147.5
138.6
122.2
117.7
100.0
197.4
147.5
128.7
134.8
138.6
151.0
140.6
131.0
134.5
100.0
205.4
176.8
155.4
155.4
157.1
167.9
167.9
166.1
162.5
100. 0
245. 5
175. 8
154. 5
142. 4
148. 5
184. 8
181. 8
166. 7
163. 6
100.0
216. 7
150.0
130.0
136.7
156.7
180.0
170.0
173.3
176.7
100.0
200.0
109.2
109.2
109.2
116.1
127.6
133.3
123.0
114.9
100.0
370.6
182.4
164.7
170.6
158.8
211.8
288.2
223.5
158.8
100.0
352.7
145. 5
132.7
183.6
167.3
130.9
125.5
132.7
129.1
100.0
134.7
128. 1
125.2
127.8
131.4
138.8
141.0
142.5
142. 3
100.0
157.7
121. 8
121.1
126. 5
145. 3
172.8
171.1
162.1
165.1
100.0
203.4
153.3
141.6
146.2
145.9
157.4
160. 6
155. 4
154. 3
1928: Jan u a ry --------F e b ru a ry -...........
M arch -.....................
A p ril_________ __
M a y _____________
Ju n e ___ _________
J u ly ____________ _
A u g u st.......... .........
Septem ber _____
October_____
N o v e m b er.............
D ecem ber........ .
119.6
115.8
112.7
112.7
114.6
115. 2
116.5
118.4
122.2
123.4
120.9
118.4
162.0
124.9
107.2
103.8
108.7
112.5
120.6
130.4
146. 1
157.4
171.9
169.3
164.3
164.3
162.5
162.5
162. 5
164.3
164. 3
164. 3
162.5
162.5
162.5
160. 7
160. 6
160. 6
160. 6
163. 6
169. 7
172. 7
169. 7
163. 6
160. 6
157. 6
154. 5
154. 5
173.3
173.3
173.3
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176. 7
176. 7
176.7
176.7
176.7
117.2
117.2
116. 1
114.9
114.9
113.8
114.9
113.8
114.9
113.8
112. 6
113.8
176.5
176.5
200.0
205.9
194. 1
170. 6
135. 3
129.4
129.4
129.4
129.4
129.4
129.1
129.1
129. 1
129.1
130.9
132.7
132.7
129.1
127.3
125.5
123.6
121.8
142.3
142.1
142.3
141.9
141.9
142.1
142.3
142.3
142.3
142.5
142.3
142.1
162.8
163.1
163.8
164.1
164.4
165.1
165.1
165.8
166.1
166.4
166.8
166.8
155.1
151.6
151. 4
152.1
153. 8
152.6
152. 8
154. 2
157.8
156.8
157.3
155.8
1929: Jan u a ry .............. . 117. 1
F e b r u a r y .....____ 116.5
146. 7
142.3
160.7
160.7
154. 5
154. 5
176.7
176.7
112.6
112.6
135. 3
135.3
121.8
120.0
142.6
142.6
166.1
166. 1
154.6
154. 4
i 22 articles in 1913-1920; 43 articles in 1921-1928,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 8 3 ]
194
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929
[Exact comparisons of prices in different cities can not be m ade for some articles, particularly m eats and
vegetables, owing to differences in trad e practices]
A tlan ta, Ga.
Article
Baltim ore, Md.
Birm ingham ,
Ala.
Boston, M ass.
B ridgeport,
Conn.
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Febj
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Os. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as.
42.0
38.3
33.1
25.6
48.3
43 3
35.7
28.6
48. 2
43.0
34.6
28. 6
43. 1
39. 2
33.0
24.9
45. 1
41.9
34.6
28. 2
45.0
41.4
34. 1
27.7
43.0
37.8
30.5
24.5
49.6
41.9
34.2
28. 1
49.5 i 73. 2 173.1 172.8
42.1 55.3 58.3 56.2
35. 1 42.7 43. 1 42.9
28. 1 31.1 33.6 32.8
P late beef______do___
Pork chops____ do ___
Bacon, sliced___do ___
H am , sliced____ do___
16.9
29.9
43.3
50.8
19.7
33.0
40.5
55.3
19.3
32. 7
41.8
55.7
18.0
26.3
39.5
52.7
20.5
29.0
37.0
55.5
20.2
29. 1
37.2
54.8
15.5
29.1
43.0
51.3
18. 7
31.3
40.8
52.4
18.9
31.6
41.1
52.4
Lam b, leg of___ do___
H ens__________ do___
Salmon, canned, red
_____ . . p o u n d ..
M ilk, fresh____q u a rt..
M ilk , e v a p o r a te d
______16-ounce c a n ..
B u tte r_______p o u n d ..
O le o m a rg a rin e (a ll
b u tte r substitutes)
________'___p o u n d ..
Cheese________ do___
L a rd __________ do ___
Vegetable lard substi
tu te .
. ..p o u n d .
Eggs, strictly fresh
___ ____ ___ dozen..
Eggs, storage___do___
B read_______ p o u n d ..
F lo u r................... do___
37.9 39.4 41.1 36.9 37.6 38.4 38.5 41.8 44.6 38.2 40.2 39.9 36.7 40.8 39.5
36.6 36.5 36.2 39.4 40.7 42.0 33.5 35.3 35.1 40.2 40.8 42.3 40.1 41.8 42.8
Sirloin s te a k -.p o u n d ..
R ound steak ___ do___
R ib ro a st............ do ___
C huck roast........do ___
23.0
33.5
42.0
60.5
22.4
33.9
42.2
60.1
55.5
50.8
41.7
34.5
54.2
49.3
40.0
33.3
13.5
31.8
49. 1
55.0
17.2
33.8
48.4
55.4
16.3
34.3
47.9
54.8
34.0 35.2 34.5 33.3 29.0 28.0 37.1 33.1 32.7 34.4 30.9 30.4 32.9 30.3 30.3
18.0 16.5 16.5 14.0 14.0 14.0 18.7 18. 7 18.7 15.5 15.5 15.5 16.0 16.0 16.0
13.8 13.6 13.8 11.3 11.0 11.1 12.3 12.4 12.4 12.0 11.9 11.9 11.6 11.6 11.5
57.0 59.5 59.5 61.2 61.6 61.9 57.9 60.1 60.0 58.7 59.4 60.2 57.2 58.4 57.9
27.2 29.4 29.9 27.5 28.8 28.9 32.5 31.5 31.5 28.4 30.1 29.8 25.8 25.5 25.5
37.8 37.4 37. 1 38.1 37.1 37.3 38.6 37.6 37.2 40.6 40.6 40.7 43.5 43.6 42.8
17.9 18.6 18.4 16.8 16.4 15.8 18.0 18.4 18.1 18.6 18.1 17.8 17.7 17.7 17.3
21.5 22. 1 22.1 23.2 23.0 23.1 19.3 20.6 20.9 24.9 25.3 25.3 25.5 25.1 25.2
43.3 51.7 46.2 46.3 52.0 51.1 39.7
49.0 37.3 43.0 41.3 37.6 40.1 29. C
10.8 10.8 10.8 9.6 8.5 8.5 10.1
6.3 6.6 6.6 5.0 4.7 4.7 6.5
4.0 4.4 4.4 4.0 4.2 4.2
Corn m eal_____ do___
Rolled oats___ do ___ 9.6 9.9 9.6 8.2 8.2 8.2
Corn flakes
__ 8 ounce p ackage.. 9.7 9.8 9.8 9.1 8.6 8.6
W heat cereal
..28-ounce package.. 26.6 27.0 26.9 24.4 24.0 24.0
M acaroni------ p o u n d . . 21.3 21.5 21.5 19.5 19.0 19. (J
R ice__________ do___
8.9 9.7 9.5 9.5 9.1 9.2
Beans, n a v y ___ do___ 10.7 14.8 15.9 10.0 12.7 13.7
P otatoes_______ do___
O nions________ do___
C abbage.
. do___
Beans, baked
No. 2 c a n ..
Corn, can n ed __ do ___
Peas, canned___do ___
Tom atoes, canned
_________ No. 2 can.
Sugar________p o u n d ..
T e a ___________ do ___
Coffee_________ d o ___
21.9
30.5
42.5
55.1
53.9
47.5
41.6
31.8
4.1
7.4
5.0
3.5
9.3
6.6
3.4
9.3
6.4
3.0
5.0
4.6
2.1
7.6
6.0
2.1
8.8
5.8
50.9 44.8 59.9 64.7 64.6 57.4 64.7 63.0
41.8 35.0 48.2 49.7 49.1 43.0 43.9 44.4
9.9 10.0 8.6 8.5 8.6 8.8 8.8 8.8
6.5 6.5 5.8 5.3 5.4 5.4 5.1 5.1
4.1 4.1 4.2
9.6 10.1 10.0
10.1
9.9
9.8
6.7 7.0
9. C 8.9
9.8
9.4
27.4 27.1 27.3 24.9 25.2
19.0 17.9 18.5 21.9 21.3
10.3 9.2 9. C 11.8 10.5
10.5 14.3 14.8 10.4 12.6
4.3
6.9
5.4
3.7
8.4
6.0
3.6
8.7
5.7
3.2
5.3
6.0
2.1
7.8
6.0
6.8
8.8
7.3
8.5
7.3
8.4
7.0
8.3
9.3
9.6
9.4 10.2
25.0 24.6 24.2 24.2
21.3 22.4 22.4 22.5
10.6 10.5 11.0 10.6
13.4 9.7 13.0 13.0
2.1
8.2
6.4
3.0
5.2
5.5
1.9
7.2
6.1
1.9
8.0
6.0
10.7 11.5 11.6 10.9 10.8 11.0 11.2 11.7 11.8 12.7 12.5 12.8 11.5 11.9 11.6
17.5 18. 6 18.3 14.8 16. 5 16.6 17.0 16.6 16.7 17.5 18.1 17.9 19.1 18.9 18.7
18.9 18.5 18.8 14.6 15.2 15.2 19.8 18.9 18.9 20. C 19.9 20.0 21. C 20.2 19.9
10.3 12.5 12.9 10.3 11.0 11.7 10.3 11.4 12.2 11.8 13.0 13.1 13.4 13.7 14.2
7.4 7.4 7.3 6.5 5.7 5.6 7.4 7.0 6.9 7.1 6.7 6.5 6.9 6.6 6.4
106. 1 105.5 105.6 72.8 72.8 72.6 99.7 97.4 97.1 72.3 76.8 77.1 61. t 60.2 55.6
48.8 53.0 52.7 44.3 45.7 45.5 50.7 51.3 51.7 53.0 53.8 54.3 46.9 47.9 47.1
P r u n e s . ______ do ___ 14.1
R aisins________ do___ 15.4
B ananas_____dozen..
28.8
O ra n g e s ______ do ___ 42.3
15.5
13.3
27.9
32.6
15.5
13.1
28.1
31.8
11.5
12.7
25.2
47.5
12.1
10.6
23. 7
41.3
12.1
10.5
23.5
37. 2
16.5
15.0
37.7
48.2
16.3
13.1
37.8
35.5
16.4
12.1
38. £
33.4
13.3
12.7
48. C
52.9
14.3
10.8
45.8
51.6
14.2
10.7
42.5
48.0
14.5
14.1
39.2
56.7
14.9
12.2
35.0
49.9
14.7
12.8
33.8
48.2
i
T h e steak for w hich prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, b u t in m ost of the other cities
included in th is rep o rt it w ould be know n as “ p o rterh o u se” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 8 4 ]
195
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T
l
able
5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued
Buflalo, N . Y .
Article
B u tte, M ont.
C harleston,
S. C.
Chicago, 111.
C incinnati,
Ohio
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 'Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
' 15
15
Cts.
44.8
37.7
33.4
26.8
Cts.
46.6
39. 8
35. 1
29.5
Cts.
34.5
33.2
29.9
22.5
Cts.
35.7
33.6
30. S
24.7
Cts.
36.6
32.7
30.8
25.3
Cts.
33.2
30.5
28.3
20.7
Cts.
36.9
35.0
30. C
24.5
Cts.
36.5
35.0
30.0
24.8
Cts.
48.7
39. 2
37.7
28.6
Cts.
52.5
43.2
39.7
33.1
Cts.
52.5
42.6
38.7
32.0
Cts.
41.3
37.3
33.4
24. 5
Cts.
45.2
41.7
37.0
28.1
Cts.
45.2
42.3
37.5
27.8
P late beef______do___ 17.1 19.4 19.2
Pork chops____ do___ 31.4 34. 5 34.8
Bacon, sliced___do ___ 39.6 39.6 39.5
H am , sliced____ do ___ 48.6 52.9 52.5
15.7
30.5
51.7
56.7
17.6
30.9
48. 8
53.8
17.5
31.5
47.9
54.2
15.1
30.5
37.6
45.3
18.6
32.2
37.2
46.7
19.4
33.7
36.9
46.8
17.7
27.8
48.2
51.0
20.5
31.1
46.7
52.7
19.8
32.0
46.6
52.7
18.3
24.8
37.8
49.7
22.2
28.7
37.7
52.9
22.0
29.5
37.6
53.1
Sirloin ste a k _ .p o u n d ..
R ound stea k ___ do ___
R ib ro a st______ d o . . . .
C huck roast____do ___
L am b, leg of___ do ___
H ens__________ d o ___
Salmon, canned, red
. . . .p o u n d .
M ilk, fresh____q u a rt..
M ilk, evaporated
______16-ounce c a n ..
B u tte r_______pound...
O l e o m a r g a r i n e (all
b u tte r substitutes)
___________ p o u n d ..
Cheese________ do. .
L a rd __________ do___
Vegetable lard substitu te _________ pound
Eggs, strictly fresh
. ..d o zen
Eggs, storage___do___
B read _______ p o u n d ..
F lo u r____ _____ do ___
Cts.
46.7
40.3
35.3
30.2
34.1 37.1 36.4 35.6 37.0 41. 1 40.7 42.0 44.0 37.6 41.2 41.1 39.8 41.4 41.3
39.3 41.0 41.4 36.1 33.4 35.9 35.5 37.4 38.3 38.4 41.2 41.8 39.1 42.7 42.4
34.7 30.4 30.0 32.7 32.4 32.4 34.2 28.8 28.3 37.4 33.3 33.1 36.1 30.2 29.4
13.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0
11.4 11.2 11.1 10.9 11.2 11.1 11.8 11.8 11.7 11.3 11.1 11.0 11.1 11.3 11.2
56.0 58.1 59.3 53.7 54.5 54.2 55.1 57.4 57.3 54. 1 56.0 57.4 57.3 59.2 60.7
27.4 27.3 26.1
29.2 29.0 29.0 26.9 26.2 26.6 28.2 28.7 28.4
39.8 39.2 39.8 36.6 37.5 37.5 36.7 35.2 34.8 43.7 42.4 42.3 40.3 39.2 39.7
17.4 17.6 17.5 22.2 21.9 21.7 20.2 19.1 19.1 18.7 18.5 18.3 15.9 16.8 17.2
25.9 24.8 24.8 30.4 30.7 30.7 21.6 21.1 21.1 26.5 25.8 25.8 25.7 25.3 25.2
47.3 53.0 53.8 48.8 54.0 54.3 42.3 51.2 44.6 47.6 53.8 54.3 39.9 48.4 50.1
40.5 52.0 42.8 37. 1 40.9 42. 5 40.0 38.1 40.0 42. 5 40.2 41.4 36.7 37.5 37.3
8.7 8.3 8.3 9.8 9.8 9.8 10.9 11.0 11.0 9.6 9.9 9.9 8.1 8.6 8.6
4.8 4.6 4.5 5.4 4.7 4.9 6.8 6.5 6.5 4.8 4.5 4.5 5.5 5.3 5.2
C orn m eal_____ do___ 5.1 5.2 5.1
Rolled oats____ do ___ 8.8 8.7 8.7
C orn flakes
__ 8-ounce p ack ag e.. 9.3 9.2 9.3
W heat cereal
..28-ounce p ack ag e.. 25.0 24.9 24.8
M acaroni. . ..p o u n d .. 21.4 21.4 21.4
R ice. . ______do___ 10. 1 9.6 9.6
Beans, n a v y ___ do ___ 9.5 13.0 13.7
6.2
7.9
6.4
8.2
6.4
7.9
10.3 10.2 10.2
28.3
19.4
10.7
9.8
27.9
19.6
10. 7
12.7
1.7
5.9
6.2
1.6
6.8
7.2
3.9
9.5
3.9
9.3
4.0
9.3
6.8
8.7
6.9
8.2
9.9 10.0 10.0
9.5
9.2
27.9 25.6 25.8 25.8
19.9 18.5 18.5 18.5
10. 7 7.2 6.5 6.6
12.7 10.3 14.1 15.0
25.7
19. 1
10.5
10.3
24.7
18.6
10.5
13.1
2.9
5.5
5.6
2.3
7.7
6.3
6.7
8.2
4.4
8.9
4.5
9.0
4.5
9.0
9.1
9.6
9.6
9.6
24.9 24.8 24.9 25.0
18.7 18.4 18.5 18.2
10.7 9.5 9.6 9.8
13.4 9.5 13.3 13.6
Potatoes ..........do ___ 2.8 1.8
O nions________ do ___ 5.9 8.3
C abbage_______d o ___ 4.2 5.3
Beans, baked
________ No. 2 c a n .. 9.9 10.3
Corn, canned__ do___ 15.8 16.2
Peas, canned___do ___ 16.1 16.1
Tom atoes, canned
------------- No. 2 c a n .. 12.7 13.3
Sugar________p o u n d .. 6.8 6.4
T e a . . . ........ .........do___ 66.6 68.6
Coffee______ ..d o ____ 46.2 47.5
13.7 12.8 12.4 12.4 9.8 10.4 11.2 13.9 14. 1 13.9 11.9 12.9 13.3
6.3 8.6 8.0 7.9 6.7 6.4 6.3 6.9 6.5 6.4 7.4 7.0 6.8
68.4 82.0 82.6 82.6 80.7 85.3 85.3 69.5 70.8 70.8 79.6 80.0 80.5
47.8 54.4 55. 1 55.1 44.4 46.8 46.8 48.8 47.4 46.8 44.1 46.3 46.3
P ru n es...... ..........d o ___ 13.4 13.7
R aisins________ do ___ 12.9 11.6
B ananas______dozen.. 42.6 41.6
Oranges_______ d o . .. . 56.5 55.2
14.2 14.5
11.3 14. 6
41.6 2 14.0
54.7 51.7
1.8
8.6
5.8
1.7
8.0
7.5
2.6
8.8
5.7
2.6
9.3
5.8
2.4
8.0
6.1
3.0
5.2
5.0
2.5
7.5
6.1
2.6
8.0
6.3
10.3 13. 5 13.9 13.9 9.8 10.6 11. 1 12.8 12.6 12.6 10.3 11.4 11.4
16.1 15.6 14.3 14.3 14.8 15.0 15.0 16.0 16. 1 15.9 15.3 15.5 15.4
15.9 14.1 14.2 14.2 16. 1 16.2 16.2 16.6 16.9 16.7 17.1 16.4 16.4
13.9 14.0
13.2 13.0
13.8 2 13.6
49.7 50.8
2 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3.4
5.7
4.3
[885]
10.8 11.8 12.3 15.2
12.9 9.9 9.8 14.3
26.0 26.5 23.0 40.4
34.2 25.7 25.3 54.9
16.1
11.6
38.3
48.8
16.4
11.5
37.8
46.0
13.7
14.2
41.1
48.3
14.4
11.8
38.3
41.2
14.4
12.0
37.7
40.6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
196
T a b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S OF FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued
Cleveland, Ohio Columbus, Ohio
Article
Dallas, Tex.
D enver, Colo.
D etroit, M ich.
I
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Cts.
43.0
36.7
30.5
27.0
Cts.
44.7
39.9
33.6
30.0
Cts.
44.9
39. 6
33.1
29.9
Cts.
43.5
37.8
32.4
27.1
Cts.
46.5
42.0
36.6
30.8
as.
Sirloin ste a k --p o u n d -R ound ste a k -----do----R ib ro ast______ do----C huck roast___ do-----
46.3
41.6
36. 1
30.8
Cts.
39.1
35.0
29.7
25.0
Cts.
44.0
41.5
37.3
30.0
Cts.
44.0
42.0
36.5
30.2
Cts.
36.8
33.6
27.4
22.2
Cts.
39.4
35.3
29.8
25.4
Cts.
38.9
35.5
29.7
25.6
Cts.
46.0
38.4
34.3
26.4
Cts.
50.5
41.7
38.3
30.1
Cts.
49.6
40.9
37.0
30.2
P late beef______do----Pork chops____ do----Bacon, sliced---- do----H am , sliced____do -----
17. 1
28.7
42.9
52.0
20.1
30.8
41.0
55. 1
19.6
31.2
41.0
54.4
18.8
28.1
45.0
50.7
22.3
29.8
43.9
52.5
21.7
31. 1
42.8
52.5
19.5
32.7
44.8
53.6
23.5
33.5
45.3
57.0
22.7
34.3
44.3
57.0
13.6
27.6
44.0
51.9
17.0
29.8
41.2
53.8
17.0
31.0
41.6
54.0
16.6
28. 1
45.3
54.2
19.9
34. 1
43.5
58.4
19.4
34.4
43.5
59.4
Lam b, leg of — do----H e n s ... ---------- do----Salmon, canned, red
_ p o u n d -.
M ilk, fresh____q u a rt,M ilk, evaporated
16-ounce can_.
B u tte r_______p o u n d -.
O l e o m a r g a r in e (all
b u tte r substitutes)
______p o u n d ..
Cheese_______-do. _
L ard
- - do----Vegetable lard substi
tu te __
.p o u n d _
Eggs, strictly fresh
. .d o ze n ..
Eggs, storage— do ----B read_______ p o u n d . _
F lo u r_________ do-----
35.8 38.3 38.9 43.0 45.0 44.5 43.6 44.4 46.3 34.9 36.2 37.4 38.7 41.6 40.9
39.5 40.3 41.1 37.7 40.0 40.4 32.5 32.9 34.2 30.4 32.3 33.1 38.9 43.2 42.4
Corn m eal. ___ do----Rolled oats____ do ----Corn flakes
.-.8-ounce p ackage..
W heat cereal
.28-ounce package..
M acaroni— . p o u n d ..
R ice____ ____ do. Beans, n a v y ----- do----P otato es_______do----O nions____.
do------C abbage_______do----Beans, baked
________ No. 2 c a n ..
C om , canned
do___
Peas, canned___do ----Tom atoes, canned
. . . .N o. 2 can.
S ugar_______ p ound.
T e a ___________ d o. . .
Coffee..................do___
P ru n es________ do___
R aisins____
do___
B anan as_____d ozen..
Oranges............... do-----
35.3 31.5 31.1 37.2 33.8 33.7 39.3 34.7 33.7 37.4 30.9 31.1 36.1 30.6 31.0
13.7 13.7 13.7 12.0 12.0 12.0 13.0 13.0 13.6 12,6 12.0 12.0 14.0 14.0 14.0
11.4 11.3 11.2 11.5 11.4 11.5 13.5 13.4 13.5 10.6 10.7 10.6 11.0 11. 1 11.2
58.3 58.6 60.8 55.3 57.8 59.0 57.6 58.1 58.4 52.6 53.1 53.8 56.8 57.5 59.6
28.6 28.7 28.5 27.4 27.4 27.7 29.0 28.8 28.6 24.3 24.7 24.8 25.8 26.3 26.3
40.4 40.2 40.7 38.2 37.5 36.3 39.6 38.5 38.5 39.8 39.0 39.0 40.5 39.5 38.8
19.9 19.9 20.0 15.6 15.7 15.3 22. 1 21.3 21.2 18. 2 18.7 18.5 18.0 18.0 18.0
26.8 26.5 26.3 26.2 26.6 26.6 24.4 23.8 24. 1 21. 1 21.0 21.2 26.8 26.4 26.2
45. 6 52.9 55.1 38.1 46.5 48.6 35.6 44.8 45.3 31.6 43.6 42.9 43.6 54.8 53.5
25.0 33.5 30.0 36.0 40.6 41.0
36.0
39.0 38.7 39.2
7.7 7.8 7.8 7.2 7.8 7.7 9.3 9.2 9.2 8.2 7.6 7.6 8. 1 8.1 8. 1
5.4 5.1 5.1 4.9 4.9 4.9 5.6 5.3 5.2 4.4 3.8 3.9 5.0 4.7 4.7
5. 4
9.4
5.5
9.1
10.0
9.8
25.9
21.4
10.6
9.3
25.9
20.8
10.2
13.3
3. 1
4.6
4.5
2.1
7.4
5.5
5.4
8. £
3.9
9.6
4.3
9. 1
4.3 4.4
9. 1 10.6
9.7 10.2 10.0 10.0 10.5 10.2
25.5 26.1 26.6 26.4 27.7
20.8 19.4 19.8 19.8 22. C
10.7 11.6 11.6 11.5 11. £
13.9 9.2 13.6 14.1 11.7
2.2
7.7
6.2
2.7
5.1
4.2
2. 1
7.8
5.9
2.1
8.8
6.1
4.4
6.6
5.0
27.6
21.4
11.7
14.7
4.4
9.9
4.5
7.4
4.5
7.5
4.6
7.6
5.9
9.5
6.1
9.2
6.0
9.1
9.6
9.5
9.7
9.7
9.9
9.7
9.8
27.4 24.6 24.5 24.5 26.0 26.1 26.1
21. 1 19.5 19.4 19.3 22.1 20.6 20.7
11.4 9. a 9. C 8.9 11.5 11.4 11.2
14.5 10.2 12.3 12.4 9.5 13.4 13.8
4.1 4.2
7.8j 8.2
6.3 5.9
2.0
4. a
4.2
1.9
5.8
4.2
2.0
6.6
4.8
2.4
4.6
4.4
1.6
7. a
6.0
1.5
8.1
6.8
12.6 12.0 12.0 11.8 11.4 11.8 12.4 12.8? 12.6 11.4 11.7 11.5 11.1 11.8 11.9
16. £ 16. 7\ 16.3 14.5 13. £ 13. £ 18. 7 18.3j 17.8 14.1 14. 1 14.2 15.5 15.7 15.3
17.6 17.4 17.3 14.8 14.8 14.8 21.6 22. C 22. ( is. a 14.8 15. C 16 . a 15.6 15.5
14. ol
7. 6!
80. 0!
50.8
13.6 13.5 12.6 12.8 13.2 12.5 12.8 13.7 11.9 11.6 11.8 12.3 12.8 12.9
7. 3 7.3 7.7 7.5 7. a 8. C 7. a 7. a 7.5 7.3 7. 1 7.4 7. 1 6.9
80. 2 80. 2 87. £ 84.5 84.5 107. 1 104.8 104. 1 69.4 69.8 6 9 . a 75.2 72.2 71.9
51.4 51.3 48.3 49.2 49.2 57.7 59.2 58.3 49.5 50.1 49.6 47.0 47.9 48.5
14.0 14.0 14. 1
13.6 11.8 11.6
211. 1210.2 210. C
53.8 54.9 48.5
16.1
13. £
37.5
50.9
15.6
10. £
40.6
52.0
16.0
11.1
40.6
48.0
3Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4.4
9.8
[ 886]
17.5
15.4
36. a
52.4
17.7
13.4
35. C
50.8
16.6 14.2 15.0 14.9
12.6 13.2 10.8 10. £
35.1 211.8 210. 7 210. J
50.2 50.1 46.7 42.5
14.0
13.7
35.7
54.0
15.5
11.9
37. t
52.6
15.4
11.5
34.0
46.8
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T
able
197
5.—A V E R A G E
R E T A IL P R IC E S O P T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued
F all River,
M ass.
Article
Sirloin steak-_-pound-.
R ound s te a k .- . -do___
R ib r o a s t - . ____ d o --C huck ro a s t- ....d o ___
P late beef___ —- d o ..- .
P ork chops_____do___
Bacon, sliced___do___
H am , sliced____ do___
H ouston,
Tex.
Indianapolis,
Ind.
Jacksonville,
Fla.
IN 51
K ansas C ity,
Mo.
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Cts. Cts. Cts.
368. 4 369. 8 368. 5
52.1 54.6 53. 7
35.6 37.5 37.2
27.5 29.4 28.9
17.3
28.7
41.3
50.2
18.7
32.5
40. C
52.6
19.3
34.1
38.5
51.6
Cts.
36.3
36. (i
28.5
23.0
Cts.
40.0
39.1
31.2
25.8
Cts.
40.0
39.1
30.7
25.4
Cts.
41.9
39.6
30.3
26.4
Cts.
46.4
45.5
34.8
30.8
Cts.
47.5
44.5
34.8
30. 9
Cts.
36.2
31.5
27. 7
20.4
Cts.
38.5
33.8
30.3
22.9
Cts.
39.5
34.1
30.8
24.2
Cts.
40.5
35.5
27.9
22.3
Cts.
46.2
41.1
33.5
27.0
Cts.
46.7
40.6
33.4
26.9
20.3
29.0
42.1
47.2
23.2
31.8
39.8
50.0
23.5
31.4
39.8
50.0
17.1
27.8
40.0
50.4
20.9
31.8
42.1
55.0
21.2
31.6
40.3
54.1
13.3
28.7
38.6
45.8
15.5
29.8
36.4
47.5
15.6
29.8
35.3
48.0
16.0
25.4
42.2
49. 1
20.6
29.6
41.8
51.2
20.7
31.0
41.2
50.9
L am b, leg of____do___ 40. 7 42.7 41.5 32.5 33.3 33.3 40.0 44.0 42.0 37.6 40.0 40.8 34.8 35.0 35.2
H ens__________ do___ 42.5 44.8 44.4 32.4 39.4 39.4 38.2 42.2 44.2 33.5 35.3 36.0 33.4 36.1 35.9
Salmon, canned, red
----------------- p o u n d .. 36.0 33.8 33.8 34.3 30.4 29.6 36.0 32.6 32.3 34.6 31.5 31.3 37.2 35.0 35.1
M ilk, fresh ... .q u a rt
M ilk, evaporated
------.16-ounce can._
B u tte r _ -..p o u n d .O le o m a rg a rin e ( a ll
b u tte r substitutes).
- - - - - ____p o u n d ..
Cheese________ do___
L a r d ._________ do ___
Vegetable lard substitu te ---- - p o u n d ..
Eggs, strictly fresh
---- dozen-.
Eggs, storage-----do___
B read
____ pound
F lour__________do .
15.0 15.0 15.0 15.6 15.4 15.4 12.0 13.0 13.0 20.3 20.3 20.3 13.0 13.0 13.0
12.5 12. 7 12.5 11.5 11.3 11.3 10.8 10.5 10.5 11.7 11.6 11.7 11.6 11.4 11.4
56.1 58.3 57. 7 55.0 58.2 58.8 56.0 58.0 59.3 54.9 58.1 58.5 54.9 56.5 58.2
27.1 27.8 28.8 25.8 25.4 25.8 29. 7 28.5 28.0 30.8 28.7 28.6 25.7 25.4 25.4
41.9 42.1 41.6 36.0 34.0 33.5 40.0 42.5 42.0 36.9 34.9 34.5 38.7 37.1 37.9
17.5 17.6 17.2 19.9 20.8 20.8 15.3 16.0 15.6 18.6 19.8 18.9 17.5 18.5 18.5
26.6 26.7 27.0 15.9 16.2 16.8 26.5 26.8 26.4 21.9 21.3 21.8 27.0 25.7 25.6
55.9 64.8 60.3 29.4 38.7 39.6 35.9 48.0 48.6 38.1 50.3 39.9 37.0 48.1 49.0
36.5 35.0 45.0 43.3 39.0
44.6 45.8 45.8 28.5 33.8 35.0
38.4 37.2
8.8 8.9 8.5 8.7 8.1 8.2 8.5 7.9 7.9 10.1 10.0 10.0 9.8 9.5 9.5
5.7 5.5 5.5 5.2 4.9 4.9 5.5 5.1 5.2 6.5 6.1 6.0 5.0 4.8 4.8
Corn m eal_____ do___
6.9
Rolled oats_____do___
9.6
C orn flakes
— 8-ounee package.. 10.0
7.5
9.6
6.9
9.5
4.1
8.7
3.9
8.5
4.0
8.4
9.9 10.0
9.1
9.0
9.0
9.4
9.1
25.0 25.5 25.6 25.3
23.8 18.1 18.5 18.3
10.9 7.3 7.1 7.1
13.4 10.2 13.3 14.3
25.7
19.1
10.5
10.1
25.2
19.0
11.1
13.7
2.6
5.3
4.1
2.0
8.0
5.7
..28-ounce p a ck a g e ..
M a c a ro n i-----p o u n d ..
R ice---------------- do.-.L
Beans, n a v y ____do___
25.3
23.4
11.3
10.2
25.0
23.7
10.9
13.2
P otatoes_______ do___
Onions________ do___
C abbage_______do ___ _
Beans, baked
---------..N o . 2 c a n ..
Corn, canned___do___
Peas, cann ed ___ do___
Tom atoes, canned
------------- No. 2 can-Sugar ---------- p o u n d ..
T e a ----------------- do___
Coffee_________ do___
3.2
5.2
6.9
1.9
8.4
7.2
P ru n es______. . . d o ___
R aisins________ do___
B ananas
- d o zen ..
Oranges_______ do___
1.9
8.4
7.1
4.0
5.1
4.8
3.8
7.7
5.3
3.6
7.6
4.0
4.0
8.7
3.8
8.7
3.8
8.7
4.1
9.6
4.3
9.2
4.3
9.1
5.3
9.0
5.3
9.2
5.3
9.2
9.1
9.9
9.6
9.6
9.8
9.7
9.7
25.1 24.2 25. 2 25.0 26.9 26.4 27.0
18.9 19.1 18.3 19.0 19.9 20.2 19.8
10.8 7.5 7.5 7.3 9.6 9.2 9.2
14.5 10.4 13.7 14.1 10.3 14.4 14.4
2.0
8.3
6.5
3.8
6.5
4.1
2.9
8.8
4.8
2.7
9.3
4.4
2.6
6.3
4.1
2.1
8.7
7.1
2.3
9.4
5.8
11.9 12.3 12.5 10.5 11.1 11.4 10.2 11.1 11.4 10.7 10.7 10.8 11.8 12.4 12.8
17.3 16.8 16.8 13. 9 14.4 14.5 14. 0 15.2 14. 7 17.8 16.8 17.0 14.2 14.9 14.9
19.5 19.4 18.6 13.5 15. 7 15.7 14.2 15.8 15.0 16.6 17.1 17.8 15.4 15.6 15.6
12.3 13.3 13.7 9.8 10.5 11.5 11.8 13.5 13.5 10.0 11.1 11.4 11. 5 12.5 13.0
7.3 6.8 6.7 6.9 6.7 6.7 7.3 7.3 7.0 7.4 6.8 6.9 7.5 7.0 7.1
60.7 58.2 57.9 82.8 85.2 85. 7 88.3 90.0 90.8 98.9 94.9 96.4 91.4 92.8 92. 2
49.8 49.6 49.8 41.9 44.8 45.1 46.4 48.2 48.2 47.5 47.2 48.8 51. 0 52.4 51.9
14.7 13.5 13.3
13.6 12. 1 12.3
210. 2 210. 0 210.0
53.3 45.4 39.5
12.6
12.5
26.7
46.4
13.4
10. 7
25.4
41. 5
13.8
10.5
26.1
39.7
14.6
14.5
31.1
51.4
17.1
13.5
31.3
48.6
15.8
13.1
29.4
47.8
15.6
15.0
28.6
39.2
2 Per pound.
3 T he steak for w hich prices are here quoted is called “ ru m p ” in this city, b u t
included in th is report it w ould be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[887]
14.3
12.3
30.0
17.8
14.2 13.8
12.2 14.0
27.9 211.1
16.3 52.5
14.4 14.6
12.6 12.5
211. 1 210.8
48.5 45.4
in most of the other cities
198
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued
L ittle Rock,
Ark.
Article
Los Angeles,
Calif.
Louisville, K y.
M anchester,
N . H.
M em phis
Tenn.
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Cts. Cts. Cts.
4 60.7 1 64.2 1 63.5
46.5 52.5 51.8
30.9 34.3 33.8
26.1 29.7 28.6
Cts.
39.8
35.8
28.8
22.7
Cts.
46.3
42.2
33.7
27.6
Cts.
45.2
41.8
32.5
26.6
18.4
24. 1
36.1
48.6
21.3
29.3
36.5
51.9
20.9
30.0
35.5
51.9
Sirloin s te a k ...p o u n d -_
R ound steak __do.
R ib ro a st____ _do_ C huck ro a st___ do___
Cts.
38.8
35.6
30.8
23.5
Cts.
44.0
39.4
34.3
28.8
Cts.
44.5
40.7
34.3
28.8
Cts.
41.6
34.2
32.4
24.4
Cts.
45.6
38.6
35.1
28.0
Cts.
45.0
38.3
35.4
27.8
Cts.
39.3
36.4
29.1
23.5
Cts.
43.3
37.5
31.8
26.9
Cts.
43.3
38.8
32.4
26.9
P late beef______do._
Pork c h o p s ____do___
Bacon, sliced
do___
H am , sliced____do___
19.0
27. 1
41.8
48.2
22.1
31.6
42.1
50.9
21.6
32.3
42.1
50.9
17.6
34.0
50.4
64.2
21.0
41.2
49. 7
67.2
20.7
41.0
50. 2
68.2
19.4
25.2
45.0
48.5
22.4
28.3
43.3
49.6
22.5
30.1
43.9
48.8
Lam b, leg of__ do
H ens_____ ____ do. __
Salmon, canned, red
________ p o u n d ,_
M ilk, fresh___ q u a r t..
M ilk , e v a p o r a te d
______16-ounce can _
B u tte r
po u n d .
O le o m a r g a r in e (a ll
b u tte r substitutes)
- _ _______n o u n d ..
Cheese________ do_ L a rd ________ do___
Vegetable lard substi
tu te ______ poundEggs, strictly fresh
____________d ozen..
Eggs, storage___do___
B read_______ po u n d .
F lo u r_________ do___
37.0 38.6 39.3 37.4 37.7 38.9 36.7 37.6 37.7 36.8 40.2 40.1 35.6 37.3 38.3
29.9 31.9 32.1 43.1 46. 2 46.2 36.4 39.0 39.1 41.9 42.9 44.0 31.0 34.2 34.4
C orn m eal_____ do___
Rolled oats____ d o .- _
C orn flakes
__ 8-ounce p ackage..
W h eat cereal
..28-ounce package
M acaro n i____ p o u n d . _
Rice ________ do___
Beans, n a v y ___ do___
3.8 4.3 4.2
10.5 10.4 10.3
5.6
9.9
9.8
9.4
9.4
27.8 27.6 27.0 24.9
20.4 20.1 20.2 18.3
8.1 8. 0 8.1 9.9
10.5 13.4 13.8 10. 2
25.0
17.9
10. C
12.7
P otato es_______ do___
O nions_______ do _
C a b b a g e ...
do Beans, baked
No. 2can__
Corn, can n ed__ do___
Peas, canned___do ___
T o m a to e s , c a n n e d
________ No. 2 can.
Sugar _______p o u n d ..
T e a ___________ do___
C offee..................do___
18.6
27.8
36.1
42.2
21.9
31.8
36.7
45.2
22.1
31.8
36.2
45.2
35.6 33.0 32.5 33.9 30.4 29.8 35.2 30.1 29.5 35.0 29.9 29.7 32.6 35.9 35.6
15.0 15. 0 15.0 15.0 15. 0 15.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0
12.2 11.9 11.9 9.9 10.0 10.0 11.9 11.8 11.8 12.8 12.6 12.6 11.7 11.6 11.6
55.2 57.7 57.5 54.2 54.2 56.5 57.6 59.8 61.5 57.9 59.6 59.1 56.5 58.5 58.7
28.0 28.1 28.7 25.3 25.3 25.3 27.0 27.9 27.8 24.6 28.6 28.6 24.3 26.0 26.0
40.4 37.0 36.2 38.4 38.4 38.3 40.8 37.5 37.1 39.2 38.6 38.9 37.9 35.6 35.6
21.2 20.6 20.4 19.3 20.4 20.4 15.7 17.2 17.4 17.7 17.8 17.6 14.7 16.7 15.5
20.2 20.7 21.0 23.9 24.8 24.8 28.0 26.4 26.4 26.3 26.1 26.0 22.0 21.2 21.5
33.8 45.9 48.2 33.7 49.2 37. 0 38.4 46.3 47.6 56.1 57.4 57.4 35.0 44.9 43.3
35.8
42.0
45.3 46.0 46.4
29. C
25.0 41.8 38.7 28.1
9.3 9.7 9.7 8.7 8.6 8.6 9. Ï 9.2 9.3 8.6 8.5 8.2 9.4 9.4 9.4
6.0 6.1 6.0 5.2j 4.8 4.8 6.5 6.1 6.1 5.4 4.9 4.8 6.0 6.0 6.1
10.3
3.5
6.1
4.5
3.0
8.6
6.4
9.8
3.0
8.6
5. 4
2.6
5.4
4.1
5. 8 5.7 4.0
9.1 10. C 8.5
4.1
8.7
4.0
8.6
5.2
8.8
5.3
8.6
5.3
8.6
3.5
9.0
3.9
9.1
3.9
9.1
9.4
9.4
9.4
9.5
9.0
8.9
9.8
9.7
9.8
2.5
7.1
5. 5
9.6
25.0 26.7 26.6 27.0 25.7 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.8 25.8
17.1 18.7 18.8 18.8 23.6 23.2 23.2 19.5 19.6 19.7
9.1 10.6 10.5 10.6 9.2 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.4 8.5
13.1 9.9 13.0 14.5 9.5 12.6 13.9 10.2 13.3 14.1
2.5
8. 1
5.2
3.1 2.2
5.7 8.5
5. C 6.4
2.6
8 .8|
6.4
2.8 1.8
5. C 8.6
3.4 5.5
1.7
7.9
6.1
3.3
5.2
3.8
2.9
7.4
5.7
3.0
7.8
4.9
10.5 11.8 12.1 10.4 11.3 11.7 10.4 11.3 11.3 13.2 13.4 13.4 11.0 11.6 11.7
16.8 15.3 16. 1 16. C 16.3 16. C 15.3 15.3 15.5 16.1 16.5 16.5 14.8 14.7 14.8
17.6 18.2 18.2 16.8 16.6 16.8 15.2 15.4 15.4 18.1 17.6 17.6 16.1 15.4 15.4
10.0 11.5 12.6 1 14.5 4 14.8 4 14.7 10.6 11.6 13.1 12.3 12.4 12.8 9.7 10.6
7.7 7.3 7.2 6.8 6.3 6.2 7.4 7.3 7.2 7.3 6.9 6.6 7.6 6.8
107.2 104.1 104.1 72.6 74.1 74.1 92.7 94.2 95.1 64.2 64.5 65.2 97.9 96. C
53.2 54.1 54.1 52.4 53.9 54.1 49.5 50.2 49.9 50.4 50.8 50.9 48.7 48.9
P r u n e s ............. . d o .. .
15.1
R aisins________ do . . 15. C
B ananas______dozen. 2 9.3
O ra n g e s___
do___ 49.6
15.5
14. C
2 9.1
52.1
15.4
13.3
2 8.7
52.1
12.1
11.1
2 9.6
48.4
13.1
10.4
2 8.9
45.3
13.1 14.4 15.7 16.0
10.4 14.1 11.7 11.6
2 9. C2 10.C 2 10.0 2 10.C
44.9 42.9 33.8 33.2
12.8
13.4
2 9.5
48.8
13.1
10.9
2 9.9
47.8
13» 5
11.6
2 9.9
41.5
13.5
14.4
2 9.1
47.2
14.2
12.8
2 9.3
31.2
11.5
6.8
95.6
49.2
14.4
12.3
2 8. 5
32.9
1 T h e steak for w hich prices are quoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, b u t in m ost of th e other cities
included in this report it w ould be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.
2 Per pound.
4 No. 2J^ can,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[888]
199
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T
able
5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O P F O O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued
M ilw aukee,
Wis.
A rticle
M inneapolis,
M inn.
M obile, Ala.
N ew ark, N . J.
N ew H aven,
Conn.
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Sirloin steak „ .p o u n d . _
R ound s te a k ....d o ___
R ib roast______ d o . .. t
C huck ro a s t... . . do__ -1
Cts.
40.8
36.5
31.1
27.1
Cts.
44.5
40.3
33.1
30.9
Cts.
44.0
39.2
32.5
30.4
Cts.
38.4
33.4
29.4
24.8
Cts.
43.4
38.2
32.5
28.1
Cts.
40.9
37.8
33.0
28.9
Cts.
38.0
37.5
30.5
24.0
Cts.
42.5
40.4
33.8
26.3
Cts.
41.9
39.4
31.9
25.6
Cts.
50.5
47.6
39.6
30.1
Cts.
51.7
48.8
39.3
31.5
Cts.
49.3
47.3
38.5
30.3
Cts.
58.6
48.3
39.0
29.3
Cts.
62.3
52.4
41.5
34.4
Cts.
60.5
52.2
41.1
33.4
P la te beef______do___
Pork chops_____do___
Bacon, sliced___do___
H am , sliced____ do___
16.9
26.5
43.8
46.3
20.5
29.7
43.6
48.8
19.9
31.0
43.6
48.4
15.6
29.8
46.9
46.8
19.6
32.1
46.1
53.8
19.4
33. 2
45.3
51.9
18.5
34.5
43.3
49.2
21.5
32.5
41.5
48.9
20.6
33.8
38.2
50.0
18.7
30.9
43.6
52.1
19.3
32.2
42.4
55.3
18.0
33.2
42.7
54.8
17.0
29.6
44.3
56.7
19.2
32.9
45.5
60.0
17.6
33.8
44.5
58.9
L am b, leg of___ do___
H en s__________ do___
Salmon, canned, red
._ _________ do ___
M ilk, fresh____q u a rt..
M ilk, evaporated
16-ounce_____ c a n ..
B u t t e r ____ p o u n d .1
O le o m a rg a rin e (a ll
b u tte r substitutes)
______ ___ pound _.
Cheese_________d o . .. .
L ard .
. . . _.do___.
V egetable lard substitu te ____ . . . . . . d o . .. .
Eggs, strictly fresh
dozen..
Eggs, s to ra g e ....d o ___
B road_______ p o u n d ..
F lo u r__________do___
37.5 41.4 41.9 34.1 37.2 38.1 39.2 43.8 43.8 37.4 40.3 40.4 38.2 39.8 40.0
35.1 38.1 38.2 35.9 36.8 38.2 33.8 35.0 35.0 37.3 40.3 40.5 41.3 41.3 42.5
Corn m eal____ .d o ___
Rolled oats____.d o ___
Corn flakes
8-ounce package____
W heat cereal
28-ounce package___
M acaroni____ pound __
R ice___________ d o . .. .
Beans, n a v y ___ do___
P otatoes______ .d o ___
Onions________ do___
C abbage_______ do___
Beans, baked
-------- .N o . 2 c a n ..
Corn, canned___do ___
Peas, canned___ do___
Tom atoes, canned
. ---------No. 2 c a n ..
Sugar ...........pound
T e a ......................d o ___
Coflee_________ d o . . . .
34.9 36.3 36.9 36.7 34.2 34.7 34.8 29.4 29.1 33.5 30.0 30.0 35.0 33.2 31.5
11.0 11.0 11.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0
11.3 11.2 11.2 11.9 11.6 11.8 11.4 11.3 11.5 10.9 11.0 11.0 12.1 12.0 11.9
53.5 54.9 57.5 51.7 54.4 57.0 57.7 57.8 58.0 58.0 59.3 59.8 56.3 59.0 58.8
26.7 26.7 26.6 25.2 26.1 25.8 29.5 28.9 29.2 30.3 30.0 29.9 30.0 29.1 28.9
38.1 37.5 37.7 37.3 37.7 36.6 38.3 35.0 35.6 39.7 41.3 41.3 40.4 41.7 41.4
18.7 18.8 18.9 17.4 19.4 19.2 19.3 18.6 18.7 18. 7 18.1 18.4 18.7 18.8 18.7
26.4 26.2 26.2 27.1 26.3 26.4 20.8 20.1 20.0 25.6 25.5 25.5 26.1 25.9 26.0
38.0 46.3 47.0 38.5 41.0 43.5 32.7 45.5 38.5 54. 5 60.1 56.2 63.6 66.7 64.1
32.5 36.9 38.7 37.5 32.0 36.7 40.0 43.0 35.0 44. 9 45.0 44.6 49. 2 46.0 46.4
8.8 8.7 8.7 8.9 8.9 8.9 10.1 10. 1 10.1 9.1 9.1 9.0 9.2 8.8 8.7
4.8 4.4 4.4 4.9 4.5 4.7 6.0 6.0 6.0 5.1 4.7 4.8 5.3 5.0 5.0
5.9
8.3
6.2
7.9
6.2
8.0
.5.7
8.0
5.5
7.9
5.5
7.8
4.0
8.4
3.9
8.5
3.9
8.4
6.9
8.0
6.7
8.7
6.7
8.7
6.9
9.2
6.9
9.2
9.4
9.2
9.4
9.7
9.7
9.6
9.5
9.3
9.3
9.2
8.8
8.9 10.0 10.0
9.9
6.9
9.1
24.5 24.4 24.5 25.6 25.4 25.4 24.4 24.2 24.2 24.7 26.2 26.2 25.0 24. 9 24.7
17.7 17.5 17.4 18.5 17.2 17. 2 20.9 21.3 20.9 21. 4 21. 5 21.5 22.3 22.2 21.9
10.6 9.8 9.7 9.5 9.9 9.7 8.9 7.8 8.2 9.5 8.2 8.0 10.3 10.3 10.2
10.1 13.5 14.3 10.4 13.8 13.9 9.6 12.5 12.8 10.0 13.2 13.6 9.9 12.2 13.4
2.5
4.7
4.6
1.7
7.7
6.4
1.8
8.2
7.3
2.2
4.9
3.5
1.5
8.3
4.7
1.6
8.8
5.7
3.8
5.2
4.8
2.9
6.9
4.1
2.8
7. 6
4.1
3.6
5.3
5.3
2.5
8.0
6.3
2.5
8.6
5. 5
3.2
5.5
5.4
2.1
8.0
5.8
2.1
8.6
6.3
11.0 11.6 11.2 12.2 12.0 12.6 10.2 10.5 10. 7 10. 2 10.8 10.8 11.5 11.9 11.9
16.1 16.1 15.9 14. 4 15.4 15.1 16.0 14.9 14.6 16. 2 16.4 16.8 17.8 18.4 18.5
16.1 16.0 15.7 14. 6 16.1 16.0 15.9 15.2 15.2 17.8 17.1 17.1 19.6 21.1 21.4
13.0 13.3 13.3 13.4 13.1 14.0 10.1 10.5 10.7 10.8 11. 1 11. 1 12.8 14.1 14.4
6.8 6.4 6.4 7.2 6.8 6.7 7.0 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.4 6.1 7.0 6.6 6.6
72.1 68.6 68.6 61. 7 69.4 69.4 78.5 80.8 81.9 58.8 57.3 56.9 59.6 60.3 60.3
44.0 45.6 45.5 51.4 53.1 53.6 48.3 48.3 47.5 48.4 49.8 50.0 51.6 51.6 51.4
P ru n es________ do __ 13.4
R aisins.................d o ...
14. C
B ananas______d o zen .. 3 9. 7
O ranges_______ do ___ 52.3
14.5
12.3
3 9. 8
52.9
14.5 13.8 14.9 15.0
12. 1 14.4 12.2 11.8
3 9. 7 212. C311.6 211. 6
49.8 49.3 47.2 41.4
3 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 8 9 ]
12.9
13.5
25.0
46.2
12.7
10.3
22.5
35.: 7
12.3
10.3
22.5
31.1
12.7
13.7
38.0
54.3
14.0
11.2
37.5
49.1
14.0
10.8
37.5
46.0
13.8
13.9
33.5
53.7
14.4
12.4
33.7
53.0
14.6
12.5
33.7
48.3
200
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued .
N ew Orleans,
La.
Article
N ew Y ork,
N . Y.
Norfolk, Va.
O m aha, N ebr.
Peoria, 111.
1929
1919
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Cts.
38.4
33.4
32.8
22. 4
Cts.
42.5
38.0
35.4
25.6
Cts.
42.4
38. 1
35.5
25.3
Cts.
49.7
47. t
42.7
28.9
Cts.
52.6
49.5
43. 7
31.0
Cts.
51.4
48. 7
43. C
29.7
Cts.
42.7
37.8
33.2
24. 1
Cts.
47.1
40.9
40.4
29.3
Cts.
46. 7
40.5
38.5
28.8
Cts.
38.9
36.2
26. 8
23.0
Cts.
44.4
41.6
31. 7
28.1
Cts.
43.3
40.9
31. 1
27.2
Cts.
36.3
34.8
26.0
23.5
Cts.
38. 1
37.8
30.2
27.3
Cts.
37.8
36.7
28.9
26.3
P late beef______do ___ 19.4 22.6
P ork chops..........do___ 30.5 32.5
Bacon, sliced___do___ 41.0 41. 6
H am , sliced____ do___ 47.1 52.0
22.2
33.5
41. 2
51.3
23.9
34.4
45.0
55.6
25.0
35.9
44.6
57.2
24.6
36. 1
44.6
56.5
17.0
29. 2
42.6
45.0
21.4
30.3
40. 7
43.5
20.9
30.2
40.0
42.5
14.4
27.2
45.9
46.8
18.9
29.7
43. 5
52.4
18.3
30.9
42.8
52.8
16. 1
25.4
44.2
47.7
19.5
27.9
43.8
48.8
19.0
29.5
43.3
48.3
Sirloin s te a k , .p o u n d ..
R ound ste a k ___ do ___
R ib roast______ do ___
C huck roast____d o ___
L am b, leg of___ do___
H ens ________do___
S a lm o n , canned, red
. ________ p o u n d ..
M ilk, fresh ., ..q u a r t .
M ilk, evaporated
_____16-ounce can.
B u tte r _____p o u n d ..
O le o m a rg a rin e (all
b u tte r substitutes)
__________ .p o u n d ..
Cheese............ . . . d o ___
L a rd __________ do___
Vegetable lard substitu te
_
p o u n d ..
Eggs, strictly fresh,
______ ____ .d o z e n ..
Eggs, storage___do___
B read _______ p o u n d ..
F l o u r .. .......... . . . d o ___
38.6 39.4 40.3 36.2 39.2 38.6 39.7 40.0 43.3 35.9 36.9 37.4 36. 7 42.0 41.9
36,.0 38.9 36. 7 39.4 40.0 41.3 37.9 38.4 38.1 31.1 33. 7 34.7 32.7 35.8 36.9
36.5 35.6 35.8 34.3 31.1 30.5 36.6 33.9 33.9 35.8 34.0 34.0 35.9 34.2 33.8
14.0 14.0 14.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 11.0 11.3 13.0 13.0 13.0 13.0
11.1 11.0 11.0 11.1 10.9 10. S 11.7 11.5 11.5 11.8 11.7 11.6 11.3 11.3 11.3
57.5 59.7 59.4 56.9 58.3 59.2 59.9 60.9 60.8 53.9 54.9 54.3 51.6 53.4 55.2
29. 1 28.6 28.4 27.7 28.8 28.7 24.5 26.9 27.4 25. 8 26.5 26.2 28.4 27.3 28.0
40.4 38.7 38.4 40. 3 40.7 40.8 37.4 35.2 35.2 38.3 35. 4 34.9 38.9 36.8 36.3
18.1 18.7 18.3 19.2 19.2 19.1 17.9 18.5 18.1 18.6 19.7 19.5 17.9 18.2 18.5
19.5 20. 1 20.1 25.8 25.8 25.7 22.4 21.5 21.8 25.2 25.6 25.2 27.1 27.6 27.6
38.2 46.6 44.4 54.2 61.7 57.2 45.1 48.2 46.9 34.0 41.7 44.1 36.5 46.9 47.7
33.0 37.0 35.8 40. 7 41.7 43.3 47.7 34.0 43.0 35.0 33.4 33.5 38.0 37.9 43.0
8.7 8.8 8.8 9.1 8.7 8.6 9.9 9.9 9.6 9.7 9.7 9.7 10.0 10.0 10.0
6.6 6.7 6.6 5.2 4.9 4.9 5.5 5.3 5.4 4.3 4.2 4.2 5. 1 4.6 4.7
Corn m eal_____ do___ 4.2 4.1 4. 1
Rolled oats____ do ___ 8.8 8.6 8.6
Corn flakes
__ _8-ounce p ack ag e.. 9.6 9.5 9.5
W heat cereal
. .28-ounce p ackage.. 24.9 25. 1 25.0
M acaroni . ..p o u n d .. 10.8 10.8 9.9
R ice__________ do___ 9.3 8.5 8.6
Beans, n a v y ___ do ___ 9.3 12.7 13.2
P o ta to e s ............. do___
O n io n s............ __do___
Cabbage _______ do ___
Beans, baked
No. 2 can .
Corn, can n ed __ do___
Peas, canned___do ___
Tom atoes, canned
---------- .N o. 2 c a n ..
Sugar_______pound _
T e a .. _________ do___
Coffee_________ do___
3.0
4.9
4.1
3.0
6.7
5.1
6.6
8.6
6.7
8.6
6.8
8.7
4.6
8.5
4. 7
8.8
4.7 4.5 4.8 4.6
8.8 10.0 10.0 10.1
4.8
9.0
4.9
8.6
4.9
8.6
9.2
9.0
9.0
9.7
9. 7
9.7
9.9 10.0 10.0
9.7
9.6
9.6
24. 1 24.4 24.3 25.0 25.5 25.1
20.8 20. 7 20.6 19.0 19. 1 19.0
10.0 9.9 9. 6 11. 1 10.9 10.9
10.9 14.3 14.2 9.1 13.0 13.5
3.1 '3.6
7.2 5.4
4.4 4.5
2.6
7.4
5.0
2.6
7.9
5.8
2.7
7.3
4.9
2.9
7.6
5.6
2.4
6.0
4.4
27.6 27.6 26.3 25.7 25.5
20.8 20.8 18.6 18.4 18.8
10.3 9.9 10.4 9.5 9.6
13.4 13.7 10.1 13.8 14.0
1.8
7.7
5.7
1.9
8.5
6.0
2.4
5.0
3.4
1.9
8.2
6.3
1.9
8.9
6.1
10.9 11.0 11.0 10. 7 11. 6 11.5 9.9 10.6 10.5 13.0 13.0 12.8 10.4 10.6 11. L
14.7 15.3 15.5 14.8 15. 1 15.3 14.8 15.1 15. 2 16.2 16. 1 15.7 15.3 14.6 14.3
17.0 17.6 17.6 15.2 15. 7 15.6 17.6 17.5 17.8 15.8 15.5 15.4 17.3 17.4 17.3
10.6 11.3 11.9 11.0 11.9 12.1 9.7 10.9 10. 7 13.4 13. 5 13.9 13.0 12.3 12.8
6.5 6. 1 6.0 6.3 6. 1 6.0 6.8 6. 7 6.5 7.3 7. 1 7.0 7.9 7.5 7.4
79.6 83.8 83.8 68. 1 67.3 67. 1 96. 7 94.7 94. 7 77. 1 78.7 78. 7 68.2 66.1 66. 1
35.3 35. 1 37.6 46.8 45.4 45.2 49.8 50.9 50.9 53.7 53.6 53.6 48.6 49.3 48.5
P ru n e s ......... ....... do ___ 13.8
Raisins________ do ___ 12. 9
B ananas______d o zen .. 16. 4
Oranges_______ do___ 51.3
13.8
10. 1
17.0
43. 6
13.9
10.2
16. 7
43. 6
12. 1
13. 2
39.3
00.1
13.2
11.6
39.4
58.5
13.4
11.4
39. 7
57.3
2 P er pound,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3.9
5.0
5.0
28.0
21.2
11.0
10.0
[800]
13.6
13.8
34.4
50.2
13.7
11.4
33.2
48.0
13.5 14.5 14.8 14.4 16.0 16.6
11.2 14.7 13.3 13.2 14.0 12.8
32.3 212. 0 212. 3 211.5 210. 0 210. 6
46.6 45.8 42.5 39.2 48.6 45.8
16.8
12. 4
2 9.9
43.2
201
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T
able
5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F F O O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued
Philadelphia,
Pa.
P ittsb u rg h ,
Pa.
Portland,
M e.
Portland,
Oreg.
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Article
Cts.
Sirloin stea k ____________ . .p o u n d ... 159.7
______do___ 46.2
R ound steak____. ___
R ib ro ast____________ .... ______do _ _ 40.6
C huck ro a st__ _______ _ _____ do ___ 30.9
Cts.
*62.2
48.9
41.4
33.8
a s.
Cts. Cts. a s .
a s.
Cts. Cts. Cts. a s .
Cts.
1 61. 4 50.3 54.7 53. G165.7 169.8 168.5 35.1 36.5 36.3
47.4 41.9 45.6 44.3 49.6 53.3 52.5 32.4 34.3 34.7
40.5 37.2 40.8 40.5 32.9 36.5 35.9 29.8 29.4 29.5
32.7 29.4 31.9 31.1 24.3 28.2 27.6 23.9 25.7 25.6
P late beef___ __________ ______do ___ 18.0 19.5
Pork chops. _____ ___ _____do____ 31.7 34.5
Bacon, sliced____________ ______do ___ 40.5 41.7
______d o ___ 53.2 57.0
H am , s lic e d ...i______.
19.3
36.1
41.3
56.8
17.0
29.8
47.5
57.9
20.2
33.3
47.6
59.2
19.5
34.4
47.2
58.5
19.4
28.6
40.4
49.4
25.2
32.9
40.2
52.6
24.5
32.2
39.0
52.5
18.4
31.8
50.6
54.4
20.3
35.1
50.0
53.4
20.7
35.9
50.6
52.2
Lam b, leg of_________ ._ ______do___
H ens______ ____________ ______do___
Salmon, canned, red__ __ ______do___
M ilk, fresh___ .
. . .q u a r t ..
39.3
40.5
33.0
13.0
42.3
42.7
28.7
13.0
40.0
44.0
34.4
14.0
42.6
48.0
29.5
15.0
42.2
48.2
29.2
15.0
36.4
41.2
35.9
15.0
41.0
42.0
29.8
15.0
39.9
42.6
29.4
15.0
36.9
34.2
36.1
12.0
37.8
36.5
33.2
12.0
40.3
36.7
33.2
12.0
M ilk, evaporated___ . . . 16-ounce c a m _
B u t t e r __________
________ p o u n d ..
O leomargarine (all b u tte r substitutes)
____pound __
Cheese_________________ ______d o ___
11.7 11.6 11.5 11.0 11.2 11.0 12.6 12.4 12.3 10.4 10.1 10.1
60.5 61.5 61.6 58.5 59.1 60.9 58.5 60.5 60.2 55.3 55.3 56.5
42.8
41.9
29.0
13.0
28.6 29.1 29.0 28.7 28.0 28.0 26.9 26.9 26.9 25.5 26.4 26.4
42.9 42.2 42.3 42.0 41.8 42.1 39.7 39.5 39.1 38.6 38.2 38.4
L ard ___________________ ______d o ___ 16.8 17.7 17.5
Vegetable lard su b stitu te. ______ do ___ 25.0 25.0 25.1
Eggs, strictly fresh______ _____dozen.. 51.5 57.1 54.6
Eggs, storage_________ . . .......... _do___ 42.4 42.8 43.0
B r e a d ... ____ ___ ._ . . . .p o u n d
Flour__________________ ______do___
Corn m eal______________ ______do___
Rolled o a ts___ __________ ______do___
9.4
4.8
5.3
8.5
8.3
4.6
5.3
8.3
8.3
4.7
5.3
8.3
18.4
27.3
47.7
37. 0
19.1
27. 1
54.4
38. 7
8.6
4.9
5.9
9.1
8.9
4.6
6.0
9.1
18.3
27.2
53.7
43.5
17.8
26.2
55.4
46.7
17.8
25.8
58.2
45.1
17.5 19.9 19.9 19.5
25.8 28.8 27.2 27.4
58.0 34.8 42.6 39.5
46. 2
8.9 10.1
4.6 5.3
5.9 5.0
9.1 8.0
9.2
5.0
5.4
7.7
8.9 9.2 9.3 9.3
5.0 4.8 4. 7 4.7
5.3 6.2 5.9 5.9
7.7 10.7 10.3 10.2
Corn flakes_________ 8-ounce package . 9.4 8.8 8.8 9.9 9.8 9.8 9.9 9.6 9.8 9.6 9.6 9.6
W heat cereal .
. . .28-ounce package.. 25.0 24.6 24.4 25.2 24.8 24.6 25.6 25.8 25.8 27.2 26.8 26.8
M acaroni________ ______ ____p o u n d .. 20.8 20.2 20.2 23.1 22.6 22.5 23.9 23.4 23.0 18.3 18.5 18.0
R ice.. _______________ ______do___ 10.9 10.3 10.3 11.1 11.0 11.0 11.9 11.4 11.3 10.2 10.0 9.8
Beans, n a v y ____________
P otatoes_____________ . . .
Onions_________________
C ab b a g e ... ___________
__ .. .do ___
______do___
______do ___
__ __ do
Beans, baked___________ ..N o . 2 c a n ..
C orn, canned___________ ______do___
Peas, canned____________ ______do ___
Tom atoes, can n ed _______ ______do ___
9.9 13.0 14.0
3.5 2.3 2.4
4.6 7.3 8.2
3.8 5.7 5.5
10.8
14.4
15.5
11.5
11.4
15.3
15.8
12.1
11.4
15.2
15.9
12.6
9.7 13.5 14.1 10.4 13.0 13.6 10.0 13.0 14.0
3.1 2.2 2.2 3.0 1.8 1.8 2.2 2.1 2.1
5.4 7.9 8.1 5.1 7.9 8.5 4.8 6.6 7.4
4.9 5.9 7.0 2.4 4.6 5.0 4.8 5.8 7.2
12.4
16.3
17.2
11.7
13.3
16.3
16.7
13.1
13.2
16.3
16.5
13.3
15.2
14.4
17.5
12.4
15.2
14.3
17.8
12.2
15.5 11. 7 12.5 12.5
14.3 18.4 18.0 18.1
17.7 17.5 17.5 17.5
12.2 416. 8 414. 8 415.0
Sugar_____________
. . p o u n d .. 6.6 6.1 5.9 7.4 7. 1 7.0 7. 1 6.7 6.4 7.0 6.7 6.7
T e a ___ _______________ - ___do___ 68.9 70.5 70.5 82.9 81.7 81.7 62.2 61.5 61.5 80.3 77.8 77.8
C o ffe e _________________ _____do ____ 42.6 43.7 43.7 47. 7 50.2 49.9 50.9 52.8 52.5 52.6 53.4 53.6
Prunes _______________ _ __ _ do
12. 7 12.8 12.5 13.4 14.5 14.5 11.7 12.2 12.1 10.8 13.6 14.1
R aisins . . . ____________ ___ _do__
B ananas_______ . . . . . . . _ .dozen
Oranges________________ ______do ___
13.1 10.6 10.8 13.5 11.8 11.7 12.9 10.9 10.9 12.9 11.1 11.7
30.7 31.4 31.7 38.9 41. 1 38.8 211. 7 211. 5 11.5 212.6 2H .l 211.0
46.4 40.5 36.9 50.2 46. 1 40.8 60.2 47.7 47.4 48.6 42.4 36.5
t T he steak for which prices are here quoted is called ‘‘sirloin ” in th is city, b u t in m ost of th e o th er cities
included in th is report it w ould be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.
2 Per pound.
4 No. 2J^ can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[891]
202
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
5 —A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . IS A N D F E B . 15 , 1929—C ontinued
Providence,
R. I.
Article
R ichm ond,
Va.
Rochester,
N . Y.
St. Louis, Mo.
1929
1929
1929
1929
F eb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. F eb . 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
. . . ______p o u n d .. 178.3 179.2 177.3 44.3
___________ do ___ 51.8 57.0 57.1 39.0
___________ do ___ 41.8 44.2 42.4 34.0
................. ..... do ___ 33.2 35.1 33.8 25. 5
Cts.
46.7
42.1
34.8
26. 6
Cts.
46.4
41.7
35.1
27.5
as.
Sirloin steak ---------R ound steak _____
R ib ro a st_________
C huck ro ast_______
P late beef_________
P o rk ch o p s_______
Bacon, sliced
.
H am , sliced_______
___________ do ----___________ do ___
___________ do----___________ do___
20.7
30.9
40.2
54.1
25.0
34.6
40.8
54.3
25.0
35.0
40.1
54.1
18.2
29.9
41.6
44.6
21.0
30.9
39.9
45.1
21.2
31.6
40. 1
45.4
16.9
32.7
39.4
51.6
19.2
32.2
37.4
52.0
18.9
33.9
37.4
51.8
17.1
24.0
42.1
49.3
21.1
28.6
39.7
53.3
21.4
29.4
40.3
52.8
Lam b, leg of______ ___________ do ___
do _
H ens ______ _ - ___ _
Salmon, canned, red ___________ do ___
q u a rt..
M ilk, fresh_______
38.9
41.3
33.3
15.7
42.6
42.1
30.5
15.7
41.8
44.0
30.2
15.7
43.4
36.3
35.3
14.0
44.0
38.4
33.0
14.0
44.0
38.9
32.8
14.0
37.9
40.3
36.7
13.5
39.7
40.9
31.6
13.5
39.8
41.8
31. 1
13.5
35.4
34.2
35.8
13.0
39.4
37.5
32.6
13.0
39.5
38.7
32.4
13.0
____16-ounce can
M ilk, evaporated
.pound
B u tte r __________ . . .
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitutes)
12.0 11.8 11.9 12.4 12.4 12.5 11.3 11.3 11.4 10.6 10 9 10.8
54.8 57.9 57.6 60.6 62.6 63.4 55.5 58.4 58.3 58.3 60.0 60.5
Cheese
________ ___________ do ___
28.3 30.2 30.2 23.9 28.4 28.2
25.7 26.6 26.8 30.0 29.9 31.1 28.7 28.6 28.3 27.1 26.6 26.6
38.7 39.0 37.8 37.8 36.6 37.3 39. 1 39.8 39.8 38.6 37.8 37.0
Lard
_______ __ do___ 17.7 17.7 17.1
Vegetable lard su b stitu te ------- do__- 26.3 26. 2 26.5
Eggs, strictly fresh ...... ............d o ze n .. 55.3 61.4 55.8
Eggs, storage______ __________ _do___ 43.0 40.8 44.5
___ p o u n d ..
B read _ _________ . .
______ __do. __
F lour
__
___________
do___
Corn m eal___ _
Rolled o a t s . . ........ . ___________ do___
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
45.4 45.5 45.3 39.2 45.0 44.6
37 .9 39.0 39.0 38.3 43.1 43.0
33 .0 35.5 34.8 32.4 36.3 35.7
9.0
5.1
9.0
9.0
9.1
5. 1
9.0
9.0
5.1
5.1
8.9
18.6 18.6
25.9 25. 1
45.9 45.4
35.0 .36.7
9.0
5.2
4.8
8.6
8.5
5.2
4.9
8.7
17.8
25.1
46.1
39.0
17. 1
26.0
45.4
34.5
17. 1
25.6
54.0
39.0
17.0
26.0
54.4
42.7
8.8
5.2
5.0
8.7
9.1
5.1
6. 1
9.4
8.7
5.0
5.9
9.4
8.6
5.0
5.9
9.0
14.1
25.1
38.6
33.5
14.8
25.5
46.6
33.8
14.8
25.3
47.0
39.3
9.8 9.4
5:1 '4 .8
4.2 4.5
8.1 8.1
9.3
4.7
4.5
8.1
.8-ounce package - 9.5 9.5 9.6 9.8 9.6
C orn flakes
W heat cereal _ - - -28-ounce package.- 24.7 24.8 24.8 26.1 26. C
M a c a ro n i________ _________ p o u n d .. 22.9 22.8 22.8 20.2 20. C
10.5 10.0 9.7 11.3 11.0
Rice-- ___________ ____ _ _ __do__
9.6 9.4 9.2 9.2 9.1 9.0 9.1
26. 1 25.5 25.6 25.6 24.8 24.6 24.6
20.0 21. 3 19.9 19.9 19.6 20.0 19.8
11.4 9.7 9.0 8.9 9.8 10.1 10.2
Beans, n a v y _______ ___________ do___ 10.0 12.8 13.6 10.3 13.9
Potatoes__________ __________ do__ _ 3.0 1.9 1.8 3.6 2. 7
5.2 7.6 8.2 5.3 8. C
Onions _________ ___________ do ___
5.4 6.7 6.2 4.9 6.5
C abbage_____ ____ ___________ do___
14.4
2.7
9.2
6. 1
Beans, baked
___ ______ No. 2 c a n ..
___________ do ___
Corn, canned _
Peas, canned _____ ___________ do ___
Tom atoes, canned. . ___________ do ___
10.8
17.0
18.6
13.1
11.4
17.2
17.9
13.5
11.4
17.1
17.3
13.4
10.1
15.0
18.4
10.5
11.1
15.2
17.4
11.3
11.2
15.6
18.1
11.4
9.5 13.3 13.8
2.5 1.5 1.5
4.6 6.3 6.9
1.9 4.5 4.7
10.2
15. £
17. £
14.2
10.7
16.5
17. 4
14.6
10.6
16.1
17.4
14.9
9.6 12.9 13.7
2.5 2.5
a
5.0 7.4 7.9
3.7 5.1 5.2
3.
10.2
15. a
14.9
11.0
10.4
15.5
14.9
11.5
10.3
15.5
14.8
12.0
6.9 6:4 6.1 7.0 6.7 6.7 6.6 6.2 6. 1 7.0 6.8 6.6
Sugar ____________ _ . ______pound.
T ea ____________ _____ _ ___do___ 59.7 59.8 58.8 92.1 90.6 93.2 69. t 70. £ 70. £ 74.9 77.5 77.5
Coflee____________ ___________ do ___ 50.6 51.3 52.3 46.5 47. £ 49.3 46.4 48.2 48.2 46.4 46.8 46.2
P ru n es.............. ___________ d o ___ 12.6 13.5 13.3 13.8 15.1 14.7 13.0 13.6 13.5 14.4 15.1 14.7
__do ___ 13.4 12.5 11.9 13.3 11.2 11.5 13.9 13.6 13.6 13.3 11.3 11.1
R aisins___________ _______
B an an as. _______ _________ d o zen .. 32.9 32.1 31. £ 40. t 37.5 37.5 38.3 35.1 35. C 33.8 31.4 31.8
O ranges................... __________ _do___ 58.8 54.4 49.8 50.4 37.9 34.9 55.2 54.7 56.0 49.2 49.9 47.8
1 T h e steak for which prices are here q uoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, b u t in most of the other cities
included in this report it w ould be know n as “ p o rterh o u se” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[892]
203
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued
Salt Lake
C ity, U tah
St. Paul,
M inn.
San F ran
cisco, Calif.
IN 51
Savannah,
Ga.
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
A rticle
Sirloin s te a k ........... ................... p o u n d s..
R ound steak__________________ do----R ib roast _______ ____________ do----C huck ro a st.....................................d o -----
Cts.
39.1
33.8
32.3
26.5
Cts.
40.7
35.8
33.7
27.5
Cts.
40.1
36.1
34.2
28.2
Cts.
35.4
32.8
26.6
22.4
Cts.
37.5
37.1
28.6
25.5
Cts.
37.5
37.3
29.8
26.2
Cts.
36.9
35.4
33.7
23.4
Cts.
41.2
39.8
37.1
27.0
Cts.
40.9
39.3
36.2
26.5
Cts.
36.1
28.9
27.8
18.9
Cts.
40.0
33.6
31.4
23.3
Cts
40.5
33.5
30.7
23.2
P la te beef ____________________do----Pork chops
_________________do----Bacon, sliced _
...
------ do----H am , slic e d ...................................-do-----
15.6
26.8
42.6
44.7
18.0
30.2
42.0
47.9
17.9
30.9
40.9
48.8
16.6
32.3
45.0
52.7
19.1
34.6
43.3
54.6
19.0
36.7
44.2
55.0
19.1
36.8
55.5
60.2
22.0
38.5
55.0
62.2
21.0
38.9
54.8
63.0
16.9
29.8
39.7
42.5
18.5
27.5
37.0
42.8
18.8
28.3
37 8
42.5
L am b, leg o f . . ____. . . . -----------do----H e n s ____________ ___________ do----Salmon, canned, red _. _______ do . .
M ilk, fresh______________ ____ q u a rt..
31.9
32.9
39.6
12.0
35.9
35.2
34.6
12.0
35.7
36.4
35. 5
12.0
34.9
30.9
35.4
10.0
37.2
35.0
33.8
10.0
39.8
35. 1
33.4
10.0
39.4
43.0
32.2
14.0
42.5
44.5
28.0
14.0
42.8
44.8
28.5
14.0
38.0
30.9
34.3
17.0
38.3
32.2
33.0
17.5
41.1
32.9
32.9
17.5
M ilk, evaporated______ 16-ounce can ..
B u tte r___ . . . . . _ ___ pound .
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitutes)
_________________ . ..p o u n d ..
C h e e s e ............ ................... ...........-do-----
12.1 11.8 11.5 10.4 10.2 10.3 9.9 10.0 10.0 11.2 11.4 11.4
51.0 52.6 54.7 51.0 51.2 48.9 55.8 55.7 56.7 57.4 59.7 58.3
24.6 25.1 24.9 26.9 25.0 25.3 25.4 25.0 24.8 31.5 30.5 30.7
38.2 36.8 36.4 31.3 30.5 29.0 40.2 39.1 39.6 38.2 35.3 35.8
L ard ___________________ . .. d o ----- 18.0 19.0 18.9 20.9 20.3 20.2 22.8 22.4 22.6 17.5
Vegetable lard su b stitu te ---------- do----- 28.5 27.0 27.0 29.3 29.6 29.5 27.5 27.4 27.4 16.9
Eggs, strictly fresh_ _ _______d ozen.. 39.2 40.5 42.3 36.2 45.9 40. 1 33.5 45.5 35.5 36.3
45.0
31.8
"Eggs, storage
______do___
B re a d .. . . .
__________ p o u n d ..
F lour. . . . .
. . . . ------------- do----Corn m e a l..
_____
. ------- d o ...
Rolled o a ts .__________________ do----Corn flakes ______8-ounce package.
W heat cereal . . . 28-ounce package.
M acaroni_____ _ . ________ p o u n d ..
R ice. ______________ ________ do-----
9.3 9.3 9.3
5.1 4.7 4.7
5.4 5.3 5.3
9.7 10.1 10. 1
9.7
3.6
5.7
8.7
9.7
3.6
5.9
8.9
9.5
5.6
6.8
9.9
19.0
17.9
41.0
40.2
9.3 9.3 10.6 10.7 10.7
5.2 5. 1 6.5 6.4 6.5
7.1 7.2 3.6 3.7 3.6
9.9 10.0 8.8 8.4 8.6
10. 1 9.8 10.0 10.7 10. 1 10.1 9.9 9.7 9.6 9.6 9.7 9.7
26.3 26.2 26.3 25.9 25. 1 25.1 25.3 25.4 25.2 24.4 24.4 23.8
18.5 18.3 18.5 19.9 19.0 19.9 15.9 16.3 16.3 17.8 17.8 18.0
10.7 10.4 10.6 9.0 8.8 8.7 10.6 9.3 9.0 9.7 8.9 8.9
Beans, n a v y __________ . . . . . . d o . - . . 10.1 13.8 14.4
P otatoes_____________________ do----- 2.0 1.4 1.5
Onions___________________ ____ do___ 4.2 7.1 9.1
3.9 4.1 6. 1
Cabbage
do _
Beans, baked . . . . . . ___ No. 2 c a n ..
Corn, canned. _____
____ do-----Peas, canned ____ . . . . . . d o . .
Tom atoes, can n ed _____________ do___
9.8
4.2
5.3
8.3
19.3
16.8
42.8
38.5
13.4
14.6
15.0
13.6
14.0
15. C
15.2
14. 5
9.4 11.9 11.9 10.5 11.9 12.7 10.2 13.5 14.2
1.6 1.5 1.8 2.9 2.8 2.8 3.5 2.8 3.0
3. 1 5.2 6.4 5.0 6. 1 6.7 6.2 7.8 8.3
5.2 5.5 4.7
3.3 5.3 6.8
14.0 13.6 12.5 12.3 12.7 12.4 12.6 11.6 11.0 11.1
15. C 14.7 14.2 14.4 18.0 17.0 17.7 14.6 15.6 15.0
15.2 15.3 15. 1 14.9 18.1 18.2 17.7 17.3 17.0 16.8
14.5 413.9 413. 4 413. 3 414.7 415. 2 415. 2 9.9 10.7 11.1
7.2 7.1 7.0 7.9 7.0 6.9 6.8 6.3 6.2 6.7 6.4 6.2
Sugar_______________________ p o u n d ..
T e a ______________________ . ..d o ___ 63.1 71.1 71.3 83.4 85.4 85.1 71.7 71.8 72.3 78.3 80.9 81.5
52.2 52.8 52.8 54.8 54.7 54.7 52.7 53.5 53.2 43.9 46.9 47.2
Coffee___ _________ ___________ do . .
P ru n es...............................................-do----- 13.9 13.9 14.1 11.7 13.1 13.5 11.8 11.4 11.4 12.7 12.4 13.8
R a isin s ...............................................do----- 14. 5 13.5 13.7 13.0 11.6 11.6 12.0 10.4 10.3 13.8 11.8 12.0
B ananas......... ............... ............ d o zen .. 212.1 211.6 211. 6 212.7 212.8 211. 5 30.6 30.9 30.6 30.8 30.5 27.5
O ranges______________________-do----- 57.4 58.5 56.0 49.1 43.4 40.7 54.1 51.7 51.1 40.8 29.7 27.9
4No. 2Ì4 can.
s Per pound.
4 1 1 9 5 ° — 2 9 ------ 14
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8 9 3 ]
204
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S , F E B . 15, 1928, A N D JA N . 15 A N D F E B . 15, 1929—C ontinued
Scranton, Pa.
Seattle, W ash.
Springfield,
111.
W ashington,
D. C.
1929
1929
1929
1929
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
15,
15,
15,
15,
1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb. 1928 Jan. Feb.
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
A rticle
Cts. Cts. Cts.
Sirloin steak _______ ...................p o u n d .. 55.7 61.9 61.5
R ound steak__ . . . ___________ do___ 46.8 51.8 50.3
R ib roast _ _______ ____ ____do___ 39.4 43.2 43. 3
C huck roast_______ .......................do___ 30.7 35.2 35.3
Cfs.
39.3
35.9
31. 7
25.4
Cts.
41.5
38.3
34.3
26.9
Cts.
41.3
38.1
34.5
27.1
Cts.
38.1
37.5
25. 3
23.6
Cts.
42. 7
42.7
31.2
28.5
Cts.
42.3
42.3
30.5
27.5
Cts.
48.5
41.7
36.1
26.7
Cts.
55.1
48.3
39.1
31.6
Cts.
54.8
48.4
38.7
31.1
P late beef _______ ........ .............. do___ 15.5 20.7 20. 1
P ork c h o p s - - _____ __________ -do___ 32.1 34.5 34.0
Bacon, sliced______ ___________ do___ 45.6 47.4 47.4
H am , sliced_______ ......................do___ 55.5 58.8 58.3
19.4
35.2
54.4
57.7
21.3
36.0
55.1
59.5
21.4
38.8
55.1
59.8
16.7
26.0
43.2
47.1
20.9
27.9
42.3
49.5
20.4
29.0
42.1
48.2
16.0
30.0
41.6
56.3
20.5
33.5
39.7
58.0
20.2
33.6
40.0
57.5
L am b, leg of______ ___________ do___ 42.7 45.3 46.5 36.6
H ens ____ _____ ___________ do___ 44.1 45.4 45.4 32.2
Salmon, canned, red ___________ do___ 36.9 33.1 33.1 35.8
M ilk, fresh........ ....... __________ q u a rt.. 13.0 13.0 13.0 12.0
37.9
36.6
32.5
12.0
40.3
36.0
32.8
12.0
36.8
34.4
36.4
14.4
41.0
35.0
33.1
14.4
42.5
35.1
33.5
14.4
39.8
39.6
34.5
15.0
42.9
41.9
29.5
15.0
41.1
42.4
29.5
14.8
M ilk, e v ap o rated .-. - . ..16-ounce c a n ..
p o u n d -.
B u tte r___ _______ _____
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitutes)
....... ....................................... -.p o u n d ..
Cheese— ................... ___________ do___
11.9 11.9 12.0 10.4 10.4 10.3 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 11.8 11.8
56.8 59.9 59.5 55.9 55.6 56.3 54.4 56.4 58.0 59.9 60.5 61.6
L a rd _____________ ___________ do___
Vegetable lard su b stitu te _______do___
Eggs, strictly fresh __________ dozen..
Eggs, storage- ____ _____ _ _ -do___
19.1
26.2
53.0
42.5
19.8
25.8
58.8
42.3
19.7
26.3
55.8
47.5
21.4
27.2
36.4
—
20.1
27.2
42.9
37.5
B read ..............- —______ ..p o u n d —
F lo u r_____________ ___________do___
C orn m eal________ ___________ do___
R olled o ats________ ___________ do___
10.6
5.8
7.7
9.8
9.9
5.4
7.8
9.8
9.9
5.4
7.6
9.9
9.7
4.8
5.5
8.6
9.6
4.7
5.8
9.2
Corn flakes ______ 8-ounee p ack ag e..
W heat cereal_____ 28-ounce package..
M acaroni............... . _______ .p o u n d ..
R ice—____________ ______ ____ do___
10.1 9.9 9.9 10.0 9.8 9.7
25.7 25.6 25.5 26.8 26. 7 26. 7
23.1 23.3 23.0 17.9 17.8 18.0
10.6 10.4 10.1 10.9 10.3 10.5
Beans, n a v y _______ ______ ____ do___
P otatoes................ ______ ___ do___
O nions..................... . ___________ do___
Cabbage.................... ___________ do___
10.8 12.5 13.2 11.3 13.3 14.0 11.0 13.8 14.8
3.0 1.7 1.9 1.8 2. 1 1.8 2.6 2.1 2.0
5.2 6.6 7.3 4.8 6. 7 7.6 5.6 8.4 9.1
4.3 5.7 7.9 4.9 6.6 7.5 3.6 5.5 5.8
Beans, b ak ed _____ ______ N o. 2 c a n ..
Corn, canned______ ___ __ __ -_do___
Peas, canned
____ _________ do___
_ _ -do___
Tom atoes, c a n n e d ..
11.2
16.9
17.4
12.2
Sugar—....................... _________ p o u n d ..
T e a .............................. ................... _.do___
Coffee____________ ___________ do___
P rim es. _________ ....................... do ___
7.1 6.6 6.6 7.0 6.6 6.5 7.6 7.2 7.2 6.8 6.3 6.2
71.5 67.6 67.0 76.7 78.9 78.9 82.7 82.3 82.3 95.7 89.9 90.7
50.0 50.6 50.6 50.5 51.8 51.5 51.6 51.7 51.5 45.5 47.0 46.9
14.8 14.4 13.8 12.0 13.6 13.8 14.1 13.6 14.6 14.9 15.4 15.4
R aisins___________ ................-__do___
B ananas....... ............ _________ dozen..
Oranges ________ .......................do___
13.7 12.3 12.4 13.0 11.1 10.7 14.1 11.6 11.6 13.6 12.9 12.9
32.5 31.2 31.5 212.9 211.5 211.2 29.8 2 9. 7 29.8 35.9 34.2 33.3
58.8 60.9 48.3 48.4 43.0 42.6 53.9 48.9 47.7 52.5 43.9 39.8
27.8 27.3 27.5 25.3 24.9 24.9 28.3 28.5 28.4 27.7 26.9 26. 7
38.0 39.2 38.6 36.3 35.4 35.4 38.9 37.1 36.7 40.7 41.3 40.6
12.0
16.7
18.0
12.9
12.0
16.9
17.6
12.9
2 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
19.8
26.7
42.3
39.0
16.6
23.5
47.5
45.7
16.6
24.5
54.9
39.0
16.8
24.6
51.9
41.0
9.6 10.3 10. 1 10.1
4.7 5.2 4.6 4.6
6.0 4.6 4.8 4.8
9.2 9.7 9.6 9.6
9.0
5.5
5.2
9.3
8.9
5.2
5.0
8.9
8.9
5.3
5.0
8.9
10.1 9.4 9.4 9.7 9.3 9.3
27.7 27.4 27.6 24.9 24.0 24.3
19.0 19.0 18.7 23.1 21.8 22.0
10.6 10.6 10.7 11.1 10.8 11.2
10.3
15.5
16.2
13.7
4 N o. 23^ can.
[894]
17.8
2A 0
46.9
38.0
18.1
28.2
47.1
39.0
11.4 11.8 12.5
17.7 17.5 17.8
18.7 18.0 18.0
416. 0 415. 5 415. 5
17.5
27.5
38.9
32.5
11.6
14.9
15.8
13.9
11.7
15.0
16.1
13.6
9.6 13.0 13.8
3.7 2.4 2.4
5.1 7.8 8.5
5.3 6.0 5.5
10.4
15.8
15.3
10.8
10.8
15.3
14.5
11.0
10.8
15.3
14.7
11.3
205
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
C o m p a r i s o n o f R e t a i l F o o d C o s t s i n 51 C i t i e s
T able 6 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food 3 in February, 1929, compared with the
average cost in the year 1913, in February, 1928, and January, 1929.
For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the 1-year and the
1-month periods; these cities have been scheduled by the bureau at
different dates since 1913. The 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.4
T able 6 .—P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN T H E R E T A IL C O ST O P FO O D IN F E B R U A R Y , 1929
C O M P A R E D W IT H T H E C O ST IN JA N U A R Y , 1929, F E B R U A R Y , 1928, A N D W IT H T H E
A V E R A G E C O ST IN T H E Y E A R 1913, B Y C IT IE S
Percentage increase Percent
February, 1929,
age
compared w ith— decrease
February,
1929,
com pared
w ith
February,
1913
January,
1928
1929
Percentage increase
February, 1929,
compared w ith—
Percent
age
decrease
F e b ru a ry ,
1929,
compared
w ith
February,
January,
1928
1929
C ity
1913
A tlanta
B altim ore
B irm ingham
Boston
B ridgeport
Buffalo
B u tte
Charleston, S. C . . .
China go
C incinnati
C ity
59. 6
57. 5
59. 9
55. 4
3.1
i 0.3
2.2
0.1
i 0.4
1.1
0. 2
0. 7
2 0.1
1.0
M inneapolis______
Mobile ________
N ew ark__________
N ew H av en _____
N ew Orleans______
59. 6
2.2
1.8
2.1
2. 0
4.9
2 0.3
2 0.8
0.7
2 0. 2
2 0.8
New Y o rk ________
N orfolk__________
O m aha. _________
Peoria_____ ______
Philadelphia______
1. 7
4. 5
3. 2
3.1
2.8
2 0.8
2 0.4
2 0. 1
2 0. 4
0.3
P ittsb u rg h _______
Portland, M e . .
Portland, Oreg___
Providence
. ._
R ichm ond___ ____
1. 8
0. 1
2 0. 2
1.5
2 0.7
Rochester
_ __
St. L ouis.. ..............
St. Paul
Salt Lake C ity ____
San Francisco_____
2 0.4
1. 5
2 1.6
0.9
0.3
2 0.8
Savannah________
Scranton
. _____
Seattle _
. ..
Springfield, 111___
W ashington______
56.0
65. 2
59.8
C leveland
Colum bus
B alias
D enver
D etroit
52. 0
Ball River
H ouston
Tndi an apol is
Jacksonville
K ansas C ity
51. 5
53. 4
40. 6
53.8
1 0. 7
3.6
5. 8
0.0
4.9
Tattle Rock
Los Angeles
Louisville
M anchester
M em phis
M ilw aukee_______
52. 0
42. 4
56. 7
51.1
49.8
57.2
6. 0
3.5
4.3
0.1
5.3
3.2
56.0
38.7
60.7
*
1 Decrease.
55.9
47.8
54.9
54.7
56.6
49.1
55.5
58.4
41.4
53.7
61.6
57.9
33.5
49.8
61.4
46.7
61.4
3.8
>0.4
>0.7
i 0.3
3.4
3 1.3
1.4
1.1
0.8
0.2
>0.6
0.3
3.8
3.4
i 1.1
0.8
0.6
2 0.2
2 0.3
0.3
3.3
> 1.2
2.4
i 0.3
0.9
0.2
0.9
2 0.2
1.4
2 1.1
0.7
2.4
2.7
2.9
1.6
2 0.1
0.1
2 1.5
0.2
1.7
2.3
0.2
3.2
2.8
1.2
2 0.1
0.1
0.0
2 0.1
0.4
2 Increase.
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched
ules for each city included in the average prices. For the month of
February 99.1 per cent of all the firms supplying retail prices in the
51 cities sent in a report promptly. The following-named 38 cities
had a perfect record; that is, every merchant who is cooperating
with the bureau sent in his report in time for his prices to be included
in the city averages: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Charleston,
S. C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Fall River, Houston,
3 For list of articles see note 1, p. 190.
4 T he consum ption figures used from January, 1913, to D ecember, 1920, for each article in each city are
given in the L abor Review for N ovem ber, 1918, pp. 94 and 95. T h e consum ption figures which have been
used for each m onth, beginning w ith January, 1921, are given in th e Labor Review for M arch, 1927, p. 26.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[895|
206
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Little Rock, Louisville, Manchester,
Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Mobile, Newark, New Orleans,
New York, Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Portland, Me., Portland, Oreg., Providence, Richmond, Rochester,
St. Paul, Salt Lake City, Savannah, Scranton, Seattle, and Springfield,
m.
Retail Prices of Coal in the United States a
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
February 15, 1928, and January 15 and February 15, 1929,
for the United States and for each of the cities from which retail
food prices have been obtained. The prices quoted are for coal deliv
ered to consumers, but do not include charges for storing the coal in
cellar or coal bin where an extra handling is necessary.
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 sold for household use.
T
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O P C O A L P E R T O N OP 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R H O U S E H O L D
U SE , O N F E B R U A R Y 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15 A N D F E B R U A R Y 15, 1929
1928
C ity , an d k in d of coal
U nited States:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e Average p rice.. _____
Index (1913=100)...........
C h estn u t—
Average p rice.. _____
Index (1913=100)............
B itum inous—
A verage p r i c e . . ................
Index (19*13=100)...............
A tlan ta, Ga.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
B altim ore, M d.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove
..............................
C h estn u t. ____________
B itum inous, ru n of m ine—
H igh vo latile............. .........
B irm ingham , Ala.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Boston, M ass.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove__________________
C h estn u t_______________
B ridgeport, C onn.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove. ..............................
C h e stn u t..... .......................
Buffalo, N . Y .:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove. _____ __________
C h estn u t_______ ______ _
B u tte , M ont.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
C harleston, S. C.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
Feb.
15
1929
Jan.
15
1928
C ity, and kind of coal
Feb.
15
$15. 44 $15. 38 $15.40
199.9 199.1 199.3
$15. 09 $15.06 $15.07
190.6 190.3 190.4
$9.28
170.8
$9.09
167.2
$9.07
166.9
$7.92
$7.97
$8.05
116.00 '16.00 116.00
115. 25 *15.50 115. 50
8.11
8. 00
7.93
7. 67
7.66
7. 67
16.25
16.00
16.25
16.00
16.25
16. 00
14.88
14.88
15.00
15.00
14.88
14.88
14.03
13.63
14.02
13.53
14.02
13.53
10.89
10.93
10.91
11.00
9.67
9.67
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove ___________ ____
C h estn u t ...... ..............
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile...................
Low volatile. ................
R u n of m ine—
Low volatile__________
C incinnati, Ohio:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile.................. .
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove.
____________ _
C h estn u t. ___________
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh v o la tile .. ______
Low volatile. _______
C olum bus, Ohio:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile. ______
Dallas, Tex.:
A rkansas anthracite—
E gg----------------- -----------B itum inous, prepared sizes.
D enver, Colo.:
Colorado an thracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ixed.
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed____
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Feb.
, 15
1929
Jan.
15
Feb.
15
$16. 95 $16.80 $16. 90
16.46 16. 45 16.45
8. 66
11.85
8.20
11.85
8.20
11.88
8.25
8.25
8.25
6.50
7.85
5.54
7.79
5.61
7.73
15.15
14.75
15.38
14. 97
15.30
14.92
7.75
9.81
7.43
10.03
7. 30
10.00
6.91
8.38
6.09
8.06
5. 91
8.00
15.50
12.70
15.50
13.17
15.75
13.17
16.00
16.00
10.47
16.00
16,00
10. 52
16.00
16.00
10.51
“ Prices of coal were formerly secured sem iannually a n d published in th e M arch and Septem ber issues
of the L abor R eview . Since June, 1920, thèse prices hav e been secured and published m onthly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[896]
207
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O P C O AL P E R T O N O F 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R H O U S E H O L D
U S E , O N F E B R U A R Y 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15 A N D F E B R U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
1928
1929
1928
C ity, and k in d of coal
Feb.
15
D etroit, M ich.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove,
........ .................. . $16. 00
C h e stn u t___ ____ ______ 15. 50
B itu m in o u s Prepared sizes—
8. 54
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile__________ 10.19
R u n of mine—
8.00
Low volatile, ...........
F all R iver, M ass.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove, ................... ........... 16.75
C h e s tn u t, ----------------- 16.25
H ouston, Tex.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 12.60
Indianapolis, In d .:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
6.53
H igh volatile________
Low v o la tile ., .............. 9.00
R u n of m ine—
Low volatile....................... 7.25
Jacksonville, Fla.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 14.00
K ansas C ity, Mo.:
A rkansas anth racite—
F u rn a c e ,._ _ ________ 14.10
Stove No. 4,
. . . . , _ 15. 33
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 7. 54
L ittle Rock, Ark.:
A rkansas anth racite—
E gg------------------------------ 13. 50
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 10.60
Los Angeles, Calif.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 16.50
Louisville, K y.:
B i t u m i n o u s , prepared
sizes—
H igh volatile___________ 7.14
Low volatile
___ _____ 9.50
M anchester, N . H .:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove
. . , ---- --------- 17.50
C hestn u t , ___________ 17.25
M em phis, Tenn.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 8.32
M ilw aukee, Wis.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove
______________ 16.65
C hestn u t
. _________ 16.20
B i t u m i n o u s , prepared
sizes—
8.00
High volatile___________
11.12
Low volatile _________
M inneapolis, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
. , , , ------------- 18. 15
____ ______ 17. 70
C hestnut
B i t u m i n o u s , prepared
sizes—
10.92
High v o la tile ,,____
Low volatile______ . , , 13.75
M obile, Ala.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 9.46
N ew ark, N . J.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove _______________ 14.00
C h estn u t, ____________ 13. 50
N ew H aven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
15. 10
Stove ..............................
C hestnut ____________ 15.10
New Orleans, La.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 11.29
Jan.
15
$16.00 $16. 00
15. 50 15. 50
8.33
10. 33
8. 30
10. 19
8.00
7. 75
16.50
16.25
16.50
16.25
13.20
Feb.
15
Feb.
15
13. 20
6.28
9.04
6.24
9.00
7.00
7.00
12.00
12.00
12.60
14. 33
7. 33
12.60
14. 33
7. 30
13.50
10.25
13. 50
10.25
16.25
16.25
7.16
9.75
7.16
9.75
17.25
17.00
17.25
17.00
7.37
7. 39
16.30
15. 90
16. 30
15.90
7.80
11.08
7.80
11.08
18. 28
17.90
18. 28
17. 90
10.90
13.50
10.90
13.50
9.57
9. 62
14.00
13. 50
14.00
13. 50
14. 90
14.90
14.90
14. 90
11.29
11,21
N ew Y ork, N . Y .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__ ______ _________
C h estn u t______________
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove________________
C h estn u t______________
B itu m in o u s Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile,.................
Low volatile_________
R u n of mine—
Low volatile_________
Omaha, N ebr.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes,
Peoria, 111.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes,
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove--------------------------C h estn u t....... .....................
P ittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
C h estn u t______________
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Portland, M e.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove-------------- -----------C h estn u t______ ____ ___
Portland, Oreg.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Providence, R . I.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..................... ..............
C h estn u t________ ____ _
R ichm ond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________
C h estn u t__________ ____
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile............... .
Low volatile_________
R u n of mine—
Low volatile_________
Rochester, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..................... ..............
C h estn u t______________
St. Louis, M o.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove------ ------ ------------C h e s tn u t______________
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
St. Paul, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove............ ................ —
C h estn u t______________
B i t u m i n o u s , prepared
sizes—
H igh v olatile,....................
Low volatile___________
Salt Lake C ity, U tah:
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ixed.
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed___
B itum inous, prepared sizes
San Francisco, Calif.:
N ew Mexico anthracite—
Cerillos egg........................
Colorado anthracite—
E gg---------------------- - —
B itum inous, prepared sizes
1 P er to n of 2,240 pounds.
2 T h e average price of coa
delivered in bin.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1929
C ity, and kind of coal
Jan.
15
Feb.
15
$14.75 $14. 79 $14.75
14.42 14. 33 14.25
15.00
15.00
15.00
15. 00
15.00
15.00
7.88
10.50
7. 88
10.50
Y. 88
10.50
7.17
7.00
7. 00
10.16
9.50
9.50
6.94
6.90
6. 88
114.93 114.67 i 14.96
114.43 114.11 i 14.50
14.88
5.51
15.00
5.25
15.00
5.25
16. 80
16.80
16.80
16.80
16.80
16.80
13.21
13.07
13.01
216.25 216. 00 2 16.00
216. 00 216. 00 2 16.00
15.67
15. 67
15.00
15. 00
15.00
15. 00
9.13
10.32
8.38
9.83
8.25
9.83
8.00
7.50
7.50
14.60
14.15
14.75
14.25
14.75
14.25
16.90
16.45
7.02
16.75
16.45
6.40
16.80
16.50
6.43
18.15
17.70
18.30
17.90
18.30
17.90
10.71
13.75
10.68
13.50
10.68
13. 50
18.00
18.00
8. 36
18.00
18.00
7.86
18.00
18.00
7.92
26.50
26.00
26.00
25.75
17.25
25.50
16.75
25. 50
16.75
Practically all coal is
[897]
208
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F C O A L P E R T O N O F 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R H O U S E H O L D
U S E , O N F E B R U A R Y 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15 A N D F E B R U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
1928
1929
1928
C ity, and k in d of coal
Feb.
15
Savannah, Ga.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 311.13
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
S to v e .. . _____________ 10.75
C hestnut
___________ 10.50
Seattle, W ash.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes
Springfield, III.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 4. 44
10.12
Jan.
15
1929
C ity, and k ind of coal
Feb.
15
310. 53 310.24
10.53
10.33
10. 53
10.33
10.48
10.48
4.24
4. 24
Feb.
15
Jan.
15
Feb.
15
W ashington, D . C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove _________ ______ 115. 51 115.63 i 15.63
C h estn u t. ____________ 115. 01 115.13 i 15.13
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________ 18.75 18.75 18.75
Low volatile
__
110. 75 111. 42 1 11.42
R u n of mine—
M ix e d .. ______ . . 17. 88 i 7.63 i 7.63
1 P e r to n of 2,240 pounds.
3 All coal sold in Savannah is weighed h y th e city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is m ade.
T his additional charge has been included in th e above price.
Comparison of Retail-Price Changes in the United States and
in Foreign Countries
HE principal index numbers of retail prices published by foreign
countries have been brought together with those of this bureau
in the subjoined table after having been reduced, in most cases, 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 of retail prices compiled by the
bureau, because of the fact that in numerous instances satisfactory
information for 1913 was not available. Some of the countries shown
in the table now publish index numbers of retail prices on the July,
1914, base. In such cases, therefore, the index numbers are repro
duced as published. For other countries the index numbers here
shown 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 in the original sources. As stated in the
table, the number of articles included in the index numbers for the
different countries differs widely. These results, which are designed
merely to show price trends and not actual differences in the several
countries, should not, therefore, be considered as closely comparable
with one another. In certain instances, also, the figures are not
absolutely comparable from month to month over the entire period,
owing to slight changes in the list of commodities and the localities
included on successive dates.
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[898]
209
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
I N D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN O T H E R
C O U N T R IE S
C anada
Belgium
Czecho
slovakia
D en
m ark
F in land
France
(except
Paris)
France
(Paris)
G erm any
60
59
E ntire
country
100
21
320
1
71
Com m odi
ties in 43 foods
c lu d e d ...
29 foods
56 (foods,
etc.)
29 foods
Foods
36 foods
13 (11
foods)
13 (11
foods)
Foods
C o m p u t B ureau
ing agen of Labor
Statistics
cy—
Govern
M inistry
C entral
m ent
D ep art of
M inistry
In d u s Office of
Statis B ureau of M inistry of Labor
m ent of try and Statistics
tical De Statistics of Labor
Labor
Labor
p artm ent
nited
C o u n try .— UStates
N um ber of
localities..
51
Base = 100.. July, 1914 J u ly ,1914
A pril,
1914
Jan u a ry - August,
J u ly ,1914 J u ly ,1914 June,
1914
1914
1924
Jan __ _
A pr
Ju ly
Oct
146
138
140
145
145
137
134
139
480
498
493
513
836
829
837
877
1925
Jan _
Feb
M ar
A pr
M ay
J une
Ju ly
Aug
Sept
Oct
N ov
Dec
151
148
148
148
148
152
156
157
156
158
164
162
145
147
145
142
141
141
141
146
146
147
151
156
521
517
511
506
502
505
509
517
525
533
534
534
899
911
904
901
894
914
916
894
884
875
863
1926
Jan _
Feb. .
M ar
A pr
M ay
Juno
Ju ly
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov_
Dec
161
158
156
159
158
156
154
152
155
157
158
158
157
155
154
153
152
149
149
150
147
147
148
151
527
526
521
529
558
579
637
681
684
705
730
741
854
845
832
832
837
861
876
878
878
1927
Jan
Feb
M ar
Apr
M ay
June
Ju ly
Aug
Sept
Oct
N ov
Dec
156
153
150
150
152
155
150
149
151
153
153
153
153
151
149
146
914
914
915
923
931
949
962
919
910
907
905
913
156
146
147
147
146
148
149
151
755
770
771
774
776
785
790
787
794
804
809
812
152
148
148
149
150
149
150
151
154
153
154
152
151
149
147
147
145
144
145
149
149
152
151
151
813
811
806
807
805
811
811
819
825
834
845
852
913
910
901
905
908
928
943
943
928
907
900
905
152
1928
Jan
Feb
M ar
Apr
M ay
Ju ly
Aug
Sept,
Oct
N ov
D ec______
215
210
177
1130
1120
1101
1222
159
902
912
153
152
152
153
146
433
451
1187
1165
1164
1138
471
1090
1106
503
1085
1078
1080
1105
1153
1137
1126
1114
1110
152
440
1145
1100
888
[8 9 9 ]
1089
1035
1052
1156
1152
1137
1097
866
1 In gold.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
194
200
1092
1095
1086
1069
1058
1072
1102
1159
1146
1156
1175
1171
1126
1112
1123
1119
1113
1126
1155
1191
1174
1183
1194
1186
523
610
647
586
572
553
526
522
530
536
562
Federal
Statis
tical
B ureau
J u ly ,1914
October,
1913July, 1914
376
380
360
383
127
123
126
134
403
410
415
409
418
422
421
423
431
433
444
463
137
145
146
144
141
146
154
154
153
151
147
146
480
495
497
503
522
544
574
587
590
624
628
599
143
142
592
585
581
580
589
580
557
539
532
520
500
523
151
152
151
150
151
153
157
150
151
152
152
153
530
522
524
532
546
557
i 111
i 110
i 111
i 115
i 119
i 121
152
151
151
151
151
152
154
156
153
152
152
153
111
142
142
143
145
14«
145
145
148
150
210
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
I N D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D
C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
C o u n try . _
Ita ly
N um ber of
localities.
447
Com m od
ities in
c lu d e d ..
20foods
and
char
coal
N ether
lands N orw ay Sweden
6
31
29 (27
foods)
Foods
M inistry C entral
C o m p u t of N a B
ureau
ing agen tional
Sta
Econo of
cy—
tistics
my
B ase=100.
1913
Jan u ary June,
1914
49
Switzer UKnited
ing
land
dom
33
50 (43
foods, 7
fuel and Foods
light)
C entral
B ureau
of Sta
tistics
Social
Board
Ju ly ,
1914
July,
1914
630
21foods
IN
OTHER
South
Africa
India
(Bom
bay)
Aus
tralia
New
Zealand
9
1
30
25
24 foods 17 foods
46 foods
and
59 foods
groceries
Office
B ureau
Labor
of Cen Labor of Cen
in istry sus
Office M
and
Office
sus
and
(revised) of Labor Statis (revised) Statis
tics
tics
July,
1914
July,
1914
1914
July,
1914
Ju ly
1914
Census
and
Statis
tics
Office
July,
1914
1924
Jan _____
A p r______
J u l y ------O c t.......... .
527
527
538
556
150
152
150
154
230
240
248
264
163
159
159
172
173
169
170
174
175
167
162
172
120
122
117
120
154
143
151
156
155
150
148
146
150
150
148
145
1925
J a n ___ _
F e b ......... .
M a r_____
A p r _____
M a y ..........
Ju n e _____
J u ly .........
A ug-------Sept___
O ct______
N ov_____
D e c ..........
609
609
610
606
600
602
605
619
642
645
652
653
156
157
157
155
154
152
152
152
152
149
149
148
277
283
284
276
265
261
260
254
241
228
223
170
170
171
170
169
169
169
170
168
166
165
164
172
172
171
169
168
169
169
169
170
168
168
167
178
176
176
170
167
166
167
168
170
172
172
174
120
120
121
152
152
155
153
151
149
152
147
146
148
149
151
148
149
151
152
154
155
156
156
156
157
156
155
147
146
149
149
150
149
151
152
153
155
156
154
1926
Jan ____
F eb ______
M ar_____
A pr ..........
M a y _____
Ju n e _____
Ju ly ...........
Aug-------S e p t........ .
O ct______
N ov_____
D e c,..........
658
649
636
633
643
647
645
648
656
662
655
641
148
147
147
146
146
146
146
146
149
148
148
146
216
205
198
195
194
198
196
193
191
186
184
162
160
159
158
157
157
156
156
157
157
158
157
165
163
161
161
159
159
159
157
158
160
159
159
171
168
165
159
158
158
161
161
162
163
169
169
116
117
118
119
119
118
117
117
117
151
150
151
150
150
152
155
153
152
153
152
154
155
154
159
163
163
162
159
157
155
153
155
158
154
153
152
151
151
151
149
150
148
147
146
149
1927
J a n ______
Feb ..........
M a r_____
A p r _____
M a y ..........
Ju n e _____
J u ly ____
A ug. ----S ept_____
O ct______
N ov_____
D e c ...........
629
615
610
606
599
558
540
532
525
530
534
534
147
146
146
145
145
145
144
143
143
146
148
148
180
177
173
169
169
172
175
175
174
173
171
171
156
153
151
151
150
151
151
152
156
155
155
154
158
157
156
156
156
157
157
157
159
159
161
160
167
164
162
155
154
154
159
156
157
161
163
163
116
117
118
119
155
152
152
151
150
151
154
155
151
148
147
149
158
153
151
151
152
153
152
155
157
159
157
155
148
146
146
145
145
144
144
143
143
143
144
146
1928
J a n .............
F e b ..........
M ar......... .
A p r _____
M a y . ___
J u n e _____
Ju ly -------Aug_ ----Sept . . .
O ct______
N ov____
Dec ..........
531
529
522
522
529
533
516
520
526
536
555
564
148
149
150
150
150
150
150
150
148
148
148
148
170
170
171
171
172
171
173
170
164
163
161
161
153
153
154
154
355
157
157
156
155
153
152
151
159
158
157
156
156
156
157
156
157
158
158
158
162
159
155
155
154
156
157
156
156
157
159
160
151
146
142
140
144
142
143
142
141
142
144
145
154
152
153
154
154
154
152
150
150
150
150
152
147
145
145
144
146
147
147
147
147
149
150
152
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
221
212
[900]
124
123
122
120
119
118
119
117
116
120
119
117
121
120
119
118
117
119
119
119
119
118
118
119
120
118
116
115
115
115
115
115
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
211
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in February, 1929
SLIGHT decline in the general level of wholesale prices from
January to February is shown by information collected in
representative markets by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
United States Department of Labor. The bureau’s weighted index
number, computed on prices in the year 1926 as the base and including
550 commodities or price series, stands at 96.7 for February compared
with 97.2 for January, a decrease of one-half of 1 per cent. Com
pared with February, 1928, with an index number of 96.4, an increase
of nearly one-third of 1 per cent is shown.
Farm products followed the general downward price trend, increases
for grains, hogs, and eggs being more than offset by decreases for beef
cattle, poultry, hay, potatoes, tobacco, and wool. The net decrease
for the group was one-half of 1 per cent.
Foods also showed a net price decline, due to decreases for fresh
and cured beef, lamb, veal, cheese, oranges, lemons, and sugar. But-
A
T R E N D O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S
[1 9 2 6 = 1 0 0 ]
ter, fresh and cured pork, coffee, flour, and lard, on the other hand,
were higher than in January. The decrease for the group as a whole
was three-fourths of 1 per cent.
Hides and skins again showed a radical price decline, while leather
also declined appreciably. Boots and shoes and other leather prod
ucts showed practically no change in price.
Among textile products a downward tendency was exhibited by
cotton goods, silk and rayon, and woolen and worsted goods, while
other textile products increased slightly.
Anthracite and bituminous coal and coke advanced slightly in
price, while petroleum products receded.
Small price advances were recorded for the groups of metals and
metal products, building materials, and chemicals and drugs. Housefurnishing goods showed no change in the general price level. In the
group of miscellaneous commodities appreciable decreases in cattle
feed and automobile tires offset increases in crude rubber, resulting
in a slight net decrease for the group.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[901]
212
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Raw materials, semimanufactured articles, and finished products
all averaged slightly lower than in January, as did nonagricultural
commodities considered as a whole.
Of the 550 commodities or price series for which comparable infor
mation for January and February was collected, increases were shown
in 148 instances and decreases in 110 instances. In 292 instances no
change in price was reported. The great importance of articles
showing price declines, together with steep decreases for certain
items, was responsible for the net decrease in the general price level.
Comparing prices in February with those of a year ago, as meas
ured by changes in the index numbers, it is seen that metals and metal
products and building materials were considerably higher, while farm
products, fuel and lighting materials, and chemicals and drugs were
somewhat higher. Small decreases between the two periods took
place among foods, textile products, and house-furnishing goods, and
a considerable decrease among hides and leather products and articles
classed as miscellaneous.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[902]
213
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
IN D E X NUM BERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES BY GROUPS AND SUBGROUPS OF
COMMODITIES
[1926=100.01
February,
1928
Groups and subgroups
A ll c o m m o d itie s ___
F a rm p roducts__________
G rain s___________ .
Livestock and p o u ltry ______
O ther farm p ro d u cts. _
Foods________
.
B utter, cheese, and m ilk . . . .
M ea ts..
. . . _____. . .
Other foods. ____ ______
H ides and leather products____.
-Hides and sk in s.. . . . . . .
L eath er_________ .
Boots and shoes..
....
Other leather p r o d u c ts ___
Textile p ro d u c ts. _______
C otton goods____________ _
Silk and ra y o n . _______
Woolen and worsted goods____
O ther textile products_____
Fuel and lighting ______
A nthracite coal______
B itum inous coal. . . .
Coke. _ ___ .
M anufactured gas _____________
Petroleum p roducts____ ____
M etals and m etal p ro d u c ts... .
Iron and steel___ _ .
N onferrous m etals________
A gricultural im plem ents
A utom obiles_____
O ther m etal p ro d u c ts .. _
B uilding m aterials________
L u m b er_______________
B ric k .. _____________
C em ent
____
Structural steel____
P ain t m aterials __
O ther building m aterials .
Chem icals and drugs_____
C h em ica ls___________
D rugs and pharm aceuticals____ _______
Fertilizer m aterials____. . .
Fertilizers. __...........................’
House-furnishing goods_____ _
F u rn itu re __________
Furnishings________ .
M iscellaneous
C attle feed__________ _______
Paper and p u lp ___ ___________
R u b b er _. ...
A utom obile tires_________
O ther m iscellaneous...
R aw m aterials..........
Sem im anufactured articles _____
Finished p ro d u c ts...
N onagricultural com m odities_________________ _____
January,
1929
February,
1929
96.4
97.2
96.7
104.6
108.4
100.1
106.1
98.7
106.4
97.8
96.2
124.1
158.7
129.3
109.2
108.4
96.6
101.4
84.8
99.9
88.2
81.2
95.3
94.7
84.4
95.9
66.6
98.3
94.9
90.5
98.8
104. 3
97.9
91.0
88.9
92.5
96.5
94.5
85.9
93.2
95.8
102.1
71.7
94.0
96.5
98.4
98.0
98.7
87.3
139. 1
90.9
64.7
69.8
99.2
99. 1
97.1
94.8
94.2
105.9
98. 3
102.1
111.3
98.8
109.0
105.7
90.7
lia 6
124. 1
120.5
106.7
107.6
96.4
101.3
sa 2
101.1
85.3
82.5
91.1
93.0
84.5
92.4
71.9
103.6
96.7
100.7
98.8
111. 6
98.4
96.6
92.9
92.9
94.6
97.0
86.7
107.8
95.9
102.1
71.0
94.6
97.1
96.6
95.1
97.6
80.5
134.8
87.8
40.8
58. 1
100.9
98.7
97.3
96.5
94.9
105.4
102.0
101.8
109.2
98.1
109.9
102.3
90.9
109.0
106.4
117.1
106.6
107.6
96.1
100.8
83. 1
100.9
85.6
81.3
91.6
93.7
85. 1
(>)
68.9
104.4
96.9
105.0
98.8
111. 6
98.4
97.5
95.0
92.5
94.6
97.0
86. 3
108.6
96.1
102.4
71.1
94.7
97.1
96.6
95.0
97.6
80.4
129.3
87.8
49.6
56.1
100.3
98.1
97.2
95.9
94.3
Purchasing
power of th e
dollar, Feb
ruary, 1929
(1926=100.0)
;i
103. 4
94.9
98.0
98.2
91.6
101.9
91.0
97.8
110.0
91.7
94.0
85.4
93.8
92.9
104.1
99.2
120.3
99.1
116.8
123.0
109.2
106.7
117.5
145.1
95.8
103.2
95.2
101.2
89. 6
101.6
102.6
105.3
108.1
105.7
103. 1
115.9
92.1
104.1
97.7
140.6
105.6
io a o
103. 5
105.3
102.5
124.4
77.3
113.9
201.6
178.3
99.7
101.9
102.9
104.3
106.0
1 Data not yet available.
Trend of Meat Production and Consumption in the United
States
EAT production in the United States increased 83,000,000
pounds in 1928 over 1927 but was 290,000,000 pounds less
than in 1926, according to estimates prepared by the Bureau of
Animal Industry of the United States Department of Agriculture.1
M
i U nited States. D ep artm en t of Agriculture. B ureau of Anim al In d u stry . M eat production, consum p
tion, and foreign trad e in U nited States, calendar years 1900-1928. W ashington [1929?]. (M im eographed).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[903]
214
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The total meat production in 1928 is estimated at 16,955,000,000
pounds (dressed weight).
Beef production, which increased steadily from 1921 to 1926, in
1928 fell off 744,000,000 pounds from the 1927 figure and 1,376,000,000 pounds from that for 1926, the 1928 production being esti
mated at 6,082,000,000 pounds (dressed weight). The production
of pork, on the other hand, amounting to 9,387,000,000 pounds,
showed an increase of 854,000,000 pounds in 1928 over 1927 and
1,206,000,000 pounds over 1926. The report points out, however,
that the hog industry is subject to rather violent changes due to the
economic situation and the character of the corn crop in a given year,
and “ hence there are occasionally radical differences in the pro
duction totals from year to year.” Veal production showed a decrease
in 1928, lamb and mutton an increase. The amount of veal produced
in 1928 is estimated at 814,000,000 pounds, 53,000,000 pounds less
than in 1927 and 146,000,000 pounds less than in 1926. The lamb
and mutton production in 1928 is estimated at 671,000,000 pounds,
an increase of 26,000,000 pounds over 1927 and 28,000,000 pounds
over 1926. The lard produced amounted to 2,594,000,000 pounds,
an increase of 238,000,000 pounds over 1927 and 270,000,000 pounds
over 1926.
The per capita consumption of all meats in 1928 is estimated at
138 pounds, as compared with 139.7 pounds in 1927 and 143 pounds
in 1926. The consumption of beef decreased from 63.6 pounds per
capita in 1926 and 58.4 pounds in 1927 to 51.7 pounds in 1928. Per
capita consumption of veal also showed a decrease, the figure for
1928 being placed at 6.8 pounds, against 8.2 pounds in 1926 and 7.4
pounds in 1927. The figure for lamb and mutton was practically
the same for the three years, being 5.5 pounds in 1926, 5.4 pounds in
1927, and 5.6 pounds in 1928.
The following table, compiled from the report of the Bureau of
Animal Industry, shows the estimated per capita consumption of
dressed meats and lard in the United States, 1900 to 1928:
P E E C A P IT A C O N S U M P T IO N O P D R E S S E D M E A T S A N D O F L A R D IN T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S , 1900 TO 1928
Year
1Q00
1Q01
1902
1903
1904
1905
1900
1907
1908
1909_____
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914_____
Beef Veal
Lbs.
67. 8
69. 0
68. 5
76. 0
73. 6
73.0
72. 6
77. 5
71. 5
75.4
71.1
67.7
61. 1
60. 6
58.5
Lbs.
3. 5
3.9
4. 4
4.7
5.1
5.4
5.4
6.7
6. 4
6.9
6. 8
6.4
6. 3
5.1
4.6
Lam b Pork
(ex T otal
and
m u t clud
ing m eat
ton lard)
L ard
Year
Lbs. Lbs. Lbs.
6. 8 64. 7 142. 8
6.9 63. 0 142.8
7.0 57.8 137.7
7. 2 59.3 147. 2
6. 8 62. 8 148. 3
6. 5 58. 8 143. 7
6. 5 59. 7 144. 2
6.4 64. 4 1155.1
6. 3 66. 1 150. 3
6.6 60. 1 2149.2
6. 4 57. 1 2141.6
7.8 64. 5 1146. 5
8. 1 61.8 1137. 4
7. 5 63. 0 1136. 3
7.4 62.3 2133.0
Lbs.
13. 2
12. 9
11. 7
11. 8
12.4
10. 0
11. 2
13. 5
13. 5
11. 5
11. 4
11.3
11. 2
11. 4
12.2
1915_____
1916_____
1917_____
1918_____
1919_____
1920_____
1921_____
1922_____
1923_____
1924_____
1925_____
1926_____
1927_____
1928_____
Lbs.
54. 5
56.0
59.5
63.0
61.6
63.1
56.9
60.4
61.4
61.6
62.2
63.6
58.4
51.7
Lbs.
4. 3
5.3
6.5
7.4
7.7
7.6
7.0
7.3
7.7
8.2
8.7
8.2
7.4
6.8
Lam b Pork
(ex T otal
and
L ard
m u t clud
ing m eat
ton lard)
Lbs.
6.3
6.1
4.6
4.7
5.8
5. 5
5.9
5.0
5.2
5.2
5.2
5.5
5.4
5.6
Lbs.
59.5
60.1
49.3
54.8
54.8
60.5
63. 5
66. 1
74. 7
74.7
67. 6
65.7
68. 5
73.9
2 Includes 0.2 pound goat m eat.
1 Includes 0.1 pound goat m eat.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Beef Veal
[904J
Lbs.
2124.8
2127.7
2120.1
2130.1
1130. 0
1136. 8
133.3
138.8
149.0
149.7
143.7
143.0
139.7
138.0
Lbs.
12.9
13.6
11.7
13.3
12.3
13.3
11.3
14.2
15.3
15.4
13.2
13.5
13.8
14.7
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
215
Canadian Wholesale Price Index Number Changed to 1926 Base
HE official Canadian index number of wholesale prices, com
puted by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, has been revised
and calculated with the year 1926 as base. The reasons for the
change of the base year are explained as follows:1
T
Since th e n atio n s of th e w orld a n d along w ith th e m th e ir cu rren cy sy stem s have
arriv ed , o r are in th e process of a rriv in g , a t a c o n d itio n w hich m ay be called
p o stw a r n orm alcy, com parisons w ith p re-w ar y e ars becom e less im p o rta n t a n d
in terestin g a n d th e need arises of placing index n u m b ers u p o n so m e p o stw a r
base w hich will serve as a su itab le b ack g ro u n d fo r fu tu re m o v em en ts. T his
c o n stitu te s th e first reaso n fo r changing th e base o f th e index n u m b er. A second
im p o rta n t reason lies in th e necessity of a p erio d ical rev isio n o f in d ex n u m b e rs
so as to ta k e a c c o u n t of c u rre n t changes in th e k in d , q u a lity , a n d w eighting of
th e com m odities used in its co m p u ta tio n . T e n y ea rs ago th e m ak er of index
n u m b ers d id n o t h av e to consider artificial silk b u t to -d a y th is com m o d ity m u s t
be given a n im p o rta n t place in th e te x tile group. A gain, such com m odities as
n ew sp rin t p ap er, copper, w h eat, etc., m u s t be given a g re a te r w eight in a C an a d ia n
index based o n c u rre n t cond itio n s th a n in one b ased o n 1913 conditions. So
m a n y changes ta k e place in th e p ro d u c tio n , consu m p tio n , a n d exchange of com
m odities in a decade t h a t a periodical revision of index n u m b ers b ased upon
th e m is a necessity.
I t is preferable t h a t a base period should, if p racticab le, consist of a n av erag e
of several years b u t th e a b n o rm al co n d itio n s w hich p rev ailed d u rin g a n d a fte r
th e w ar fu rn ish in su p erab le o b stacles in th e p re se n t in sta n c e to a base of th is
ch aracter. P rio r to 1925 th e d isp a rity betw een fa rm prices a n d th e p riees of
m a n u fa c tu re d goods w as a n a b n o rm al fa c to r in th e p rices situ a tio n . In C a n a d a
th is w as rectified in 1925. T h a t y ear, how ever, ow ing largely to th e m ark ed
rise in g rain prices th e ind ex fo r w hich ro se from 143.9 in 1924 to 180.3 in 1925,
developed a price level w hich w as u n u su ally high fo r th e perio d . I t w as finally
decided to ta k e as base th e y e a r 1926, th e price level fo r w hich w as a b o u t h a lf
w ay betw een t h a t for 1925 a n d 1927. T h is is in effect p ra c tic a lly e q u iv a le n t
to an av erag e of th e th re e y e a rs 1925, 1926, a n d 1927. T h e b u re a u w as also
influenced in its choice of 1926 as base by th e fa c t t h a t th e index n u m b e rs com
p u te d by th e U n ited S ta te s B u reau of L ab o r S ta tistic s a re on th e 1926 base a n d
i t w as desirable, ow ing to th e close in te rre la tio n of p rice m o v em en ts in th e tw o
co u n tries, to c o n stru c t th e index n u m b ers on sim ilar principles fo r co m p a ra tiv e
purposes.
i Canada. D ep artm en t of Tçgde and Commerce.
Priees and price indexes, O ttaw a, Jan u ary , 1929.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
B ureau of Statistics.
In tern al T rade Branch.
COST OF LIVING
Changes in Cost of the Canadian Family Budget, 1921
to 19281
table on the next page shows the cost per week, in specified
months, from 1921 to 1928, of the family budget in terms of
THE
average retail prices of certain classes of commodities in 60 Cana
dian cities.
The following items are included in the budget :
T a b l e 1 . — IT E M S O F C A N A D IA N F A M IL Y B U D G E T
Item
Foods (29):
Beef, sirloin steak ________ . . .p o u n d s. _
Beef, shoulder ro a s t.. ___ _____ do___
Veal, shoulder ro ast___ .. _____do___
M u tto n , leg ro ast________ _____do__ _
Pork, fresh roast, h a m ------ _____do___
Pork, salt, m ess_______ _ _____do___
Bacon, breakfast _______ _____do___
L ard, pure, leaf_______ _ _____do___
Eggs, fresh _ ...............
_____dozen. _
Eggs, sto ra g e.. _____ .. _____do__ _
M ilk ____________________ ___quarts __
. . . pounds. _
B u tter, dairy, solid.
B u tte r, cream ery, p rin t__ _____do ___
_do _
Cheese, old
_____do___
Cheese, n e w . _____
B read, plain, w h ite. ............ __ __ do ___
Flour, fam ily____________ _____do___
Rolled o a ts___
_____ .. _____do ___
Rice, good, m e d iu m ______ _____do_ __
Q uan
tity
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
6
2
1
1
1
15
10
5
2
Item
Foods (29)—Continued.
Beans, hand-picked . . . . . . p o u n d s..
Apples, evaporated ___ ___ ___do__ .
Prunes, m edium size___ ______do___
Sugar, granulated. . .
___ _ do___
Sugar, yellow __________ ___ __do___
Tea, black, m e d iu m ____ _____do____
Tea, green, m edium ____ _____do____
Coffee, m ed iu m ________ ______do___
Potatoes. . . . . ___ . . . . . . ...b a g s ..
Vinegar, sp irit_________ ____quarts _
Starch, la u n d r y ..................... ___ p o u n d s..
Fuel a n d lighting:
Coal, anthracite . . . . _____ to n s..
Coal, bitum inous______ ______do___
W ood, h a rd ___________ _____ cords..
W ood, soft . . . _______ ______do ___
Coal o il__ _ _________ ____ gallons..
R e n t .. . ________ ____ ____ ___ m o n th s..
Q uan
tity
2
I
i
4
2
H
M
Vi
Vs
Vie
h
Vie
Vie
Vie
Vie
1
H
While this budget serves to indicate the rise or fall from time to
time in the cost of the included items it is not intended to show the
minimum cost of food and fuel for an average family in Canada or
in any one of its Provinces. The quantities of meats, cereals, dairy
products, etc., in this budget were adopted as constituting a liberal
allowance for the healthy family of a man engaged in hard physical
labor. An average family, however, with an income sufficient to
do so would purchase less meat, etc., but more fresh and canned
vegetables, fruit, etc., so that there would be little change in the
total amount of expenditure for food.
For the average family of five the expenditure for the items in
this budget would perhaps be equivalent to 65 per cent of the total
income. It is estimated that an allowance for clothing and sundries
would increase the cost of the given totals about 50 per cent.
1 C anada. D ep artm en t of Labor. Prices in C anada and other countries, 1928 (issued as a supplem ent
to th e L abor G azette). O ttaw a, 1929, Jan u a ry , 1929, pp. 4, 5; and L abor G azette, O ttaw a, Jan u ary , 1929,
216
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[906]
COST OF LIVING
T
able
217
2 .—C O ST P E R W E E K O F F A M IL Y B U D G E T IN C A N A D A IN S P E C IF I E D M O N T H S ,
1921 TO 1928
[This budget is intended to show the changes in the cost of item s included, not to show the m inim um cost
for an average family]
Y ear and m onth
1921: J a n u a ry .. _____________________ .
J u ly . ___________________________
1922: J a n u a ry .. _ ________ . _______
J u ly . ---------- ------------------- -------- 1923: J a n u a r y .. _________ ____ _________
J u l y .. -------------------------------- ------ 1924: J a n u a ry .. ______ ________________ _
J u ly . ________________ ____ ______
1925: J a n u a ry . . ______________________
J u ly . ----------------------------------------1926: J a n u a ry .. _______________________
J u ly . ------ ---------------------------------1927: J a n u a ry . .
________ ___________
J u l y . . . ________ _____________ ____
D ecem ber_______________________ .
1928: Ja n u a ry . . ______________________
J u ly ______________________________
D ecem ber..............................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
All (29)
foods
$14. 48
10.96
11. 03
10.27
10. 52
10.17
10. 78
9.91
10. 77
10.49
11.63
11.07
11.37
10. 92
11.17
11. 19
10.80
11.31
[907]
Starch,
lau n d ry
( H pound)
$0,049
. 044
.042
.040
.040
.040
. 041
. 041
.041
.041
.041
.042
. 041
.041
.041
. 041
.041
.041
Fuel and
lighting
$4.17
3. 70
3.53
3.41
3. 61
3.48
3.49
3. 37
3.37
3.28
3.44
3. 32
3. 33
3.28
3.29
3.28
3.26
3.26
R ent
(H m onth)
$6.60
6.83
6.92
6. 95
6. 96
6.97
6. 92
6.98
6. 91
6.89
6.86
6. 87
6. 85
6.86
6.87
6.89
6.91
6.94
T otal
$25. 30
21.53
21.52
20.67
21.13
20.65
21.23
20.30
21.09
20.70
21.96
21.30
21.59
21.10
21.37
21.41
21.01
21.56
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
Statistics of Im m igration for January, 1929
B y J . J . Iv u n n a , C h i e f S t a t i s t i c i a n U . S . B u r e a u o f I m m i g r a t io n
HE inward movement during January, 1929, of 28,246 aliens to
the United States was the lowest for any month since Jan
uary, 1928, when 26,725 aliens entered the country. Of the 28,246
admitted, 17,806 came in to take up permanent residence in the
United States and 10,440 as nonimmigrants or visitors. Of the latter
class 4,131 were returning from a temporary sojourn abroad and
6,309 came here for a visit or were passing through the country on
their way elsewhere.
Aliens debarred in January, 1929, numbered 1,870, over 92 per
cent (1,732) of whom were turned back at the international land
borders. Comparatively few of the aliens seeking admission at the
seaports were debarred. Of the 20,071 applicants at such ports
during the month, only 138 (111 male and 27 female) were denied
admission, or about 7 rejected out of every 1,000 applicants. The
proportion was much smaller at New York where the majority of
the aliens from overseas continues to land. At this port during
January 16,776 aliens sought admission to the United States, 67 of
whom were debarred, or about 4 rejected per 1,000 admitted. Aliens
deported this month numbered 1,019, making a total of 6,670 deporta
tions under warrant proceedings for the first seven months of the
current fiscal year.
During the seven months ended January 31, 1929, Canada and
Mexico provided the greater part of the total net permanent immi
gration to the United States. Of the 116,166 net immigration for this
period, Canada and Mexico contributed 61,890, Europe 53,067, and
other countries 1,209. Canadian immigration, however, has dropped
22 per cent compared with the corresponding months of the previous
fiscal year. Immigration from Europe as a whole shows a small
drop, the decline being largely confined to very few countries. Not
withstanding the increase from many of the countries of southern
Europe, the exodus of aliens to Portugal, Spain, and Yugoslavia has
been greater by 2,367 than the immigration from these countries.
From July to January last, 27,071 Mexican immigrants entered
the country, as against 32,371 during the corresponding seven months
of the previous fiscal year. The male immigrants outnumbered the
female by about 7 to 4; about 6 of every 10 male adults and 9 of
every 10 female adults were, or had been, married; and over half of
the immigrants were from 16 to 29 years of age. Of the 27,071
Mexican immigrants admitted from July to January last, 17,460
were males and 9,611 females; 15,400 were single, 10,443 married,
1,199 widowed, and 29 divorced. Children under 16 years of age
T
218
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[908]
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
219
numbered 5,239, while 19,917 ranged in age from 16 to 44 years, and
1,915 were 45 years of age and over. The unskilled workers pre
dominated among the wage earners of the Mexican race entering
the country during the said seven months, 8,773 giving their occupa
tion as that of common laborer, 2,243 as farm laborer, and 916 as
servant. Over two-fifths of the total, or 11,332, were listed as having
no occupation, mainly women and children.
IN W A R D A N D O U T W A R D P A S S E N G E R M O V E M E N T F R O M JU L Y 1, 1928, TO JA N U A R Y
31, 1929
Inw ard
Period
O utw ard
Aliens
Aliens
de
de
Aliens ad m itted
Aliens departed
U nited
barred
ported
U nited
States
from
after
States
citi
land
T otal enter
citi
N on
zens T otal ing 2
ing i E m i N on
Im m i im
zens
m
i
Total
em i T otal
de
grant grant
grant grant
arrived
parted
1928
Ju ly — ........ .
A ugust...............
Septem ber____
O ctober____ _
N ovem ber____
D ecem ber.........
20, 682
24, 629
29,317
29,917
24, 805
18, 357
36, 658
43, 249
55, 714
54, 714
39, 285
28,570
32, 974 69, 632
63,191 106, 440
80, 233 135, 947
49,831 104, 545
23,198 62, 483
18,911 47,481
1,286
1,412
1, 364
1, 798
1,694
1,551
1929
Jan u a ry ______
17,806 10, 440 28, 246
23, 450 51,696
1,870 4,670 10, 938 15,608 28, 808 44, 416
1, 019
T o tal___ 165,513 120, 923 286,436 291, 788 578, 224 10,975 49,347 115, 684 165, 031 271,895 436,926
6,670
15, 976
18, 620
26, 397
24, 797
14,480
10, 213
7,804
6,488
8,093
7, 479
6, 549
8, 264
20, 249
15, 960
17, 231
16, 693
14,611
20,002
28,053
22,448
25, 324
24, 172
21, 160
28, 266
68, 463
50, 323
42,105
34, 643
22, 380
25,173
96, 516
72, 771
67,429
58, 815
43, 540
53,439
768
1, 180
915
807
927
1,054
1 These aliens are not included among arrivals, as th ey were not perm itted to enter the U nited States.
3 These aliens are included among aliens departed, th e y having entered the U nited States, legally or
illegally, and later being deported.
41195°—20------ 15
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1909]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
Official—United States
K e n t u c k y .— W orkm en ’s
J u n e 80, 1928.
C om p en satio n B oard.
F r a n k fo r t [1928?].
A n n u a l re p o rt, J u l y 1, 1 9 2 7 , to
34 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
M a s s a c h u s e t t s .— D e p a rtm e n t
of L ab o r an d In d u strie s.
D ivision of S tatistics.
P ro sp e c tiv e b u ild in g i n 5 5 m u n i c ip a l i ti e s i n M a s s a c h u s e tts i n 1 9 2 8 .
1929. 13 p p .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
B o sto n ,
B uilding d e p a rtm e n t officials in each of th e 39 cities a n d in 16 of th e larg er
tow ns in M assach u setts fu rn ish m o n th ly to th e S ta te d e p a rtm e n t of la b o r a n d
industries a record of ap p lic a tio n s filed for p e rm its to b u ild in th e ir resp ectiv e
m unicipalities. T h is p u b licatio n p resen ts a su m m ary of th e p ro sp ectiv e b uilding
in th e 55 m unicipalities fo r 1928 w ith c o m p a ra tiv e figures fo r 1927, in cluding
d a ta for new residential a n d no n resid en tial buildings a n d for a d d itio n s, a lte ra tio n s,
a n d repairs.
M i n n e s o t a .— In d u s tria l C om m ission.
F o u r th b ie n n ia l re p o rt, 1 9 2 / —1 9 2 8 . S t .
P a u l, 1 9 2 9 .
240pp.
S ta tistic s on w om en’s wages, from th is p u b licatio n , are given in th is issue.
O k l a h o m a .— In d u s tria l
C om m ission.
1 9 2 7 , to A u g u s t 3 1 , 1 9 2 8 .
T h ir te e n th a n n u a l re p o rt,
O k la h o m a C ity [1928?]. 78 p p .
S e p te m b e r
1,
C ertain d a ta , from th is re p o rt, on w o rk m en ’s co m p e n sa tio n benefits a re given
in th is issue of th e L ab o r R eview .
O r e g o n .— B ureau of L abor.
T h ir te e n th b ie n n ia l r e p o r t a n d i n d u s t r i a l d ire cto ry ,
f r o m O ctober 1, 1 9 2 6 , to S e p te m b e r 8 0 , 1 9 2 8 .
S a le m , 1 9 2 8 .
124 pp.
A m ong th e d a ta in th is p u b lic a tio n a re sta tistic s on w ages, th e collection of
w age claim s, trad e-u n io n s, e m p lo y m en t offices, C hinese a n d Jap a n e se p ro p erty ,
a n d facto ry inspection.
P e n n s y l v a n i a .— D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r a n d In d u s try .
S p e c ia l b u lle tin N o . 2 7 :
A h is to r y o f c h ild labor le g is la tio n i n P e n n s y lv a n ia , p r e p a r e d b y .the B u r e a u o f
W o m e n a n d C h ild r e n .
H a r r is b u r g , 1 9 2 8 . 31 p p .
T races th e developm en t of child la b o r leg islatio n , trie s to e v a lu a te th e sta n d a rd s
of th e various phases, a n d gives as a n a p p en d ix a chronological c h a rt of th e chief
provisions of th e P en n sy lv a n ia la b o r law s affe c tin g th e em p lo y m e n t of m inors,
an d a digest of th e child la b o r law s a n d of th e reg u latio n s of th e d e p a rtm e n t of
labor a n d in d u stry affecting th e em p lo y m e n t o f m inors.
T e x a s .— B ureau
[1929?].
of L ab o r S tatistics.
T e n th b ie n n ia l re p o rt, 1 9 2 7 - 1 9 2 8 .
A u s tin
153 pp.
T h e p resen t issue of th e L ab o r R eview co n tain s d a ta on th e w ages of w om an
w orkers in relatio n to th e cost of living, ta k e n fro m th is re p o rt.
U n it e d
S t a t e s .— D e p a rtm e n t
of C om m erce.
B u reau of S ta n d a rd s.
la n e o u s p u b lic a tio n N o . 9 1 : S ta n d a r d s y e a rb o o k , 1 9 2 9 .
401 p p .
M is c e l
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 9 .
------- D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
B u reau of L ab o r S tatistic s. B u ll e ti n
R e ta il p ric es, 1 8 9 0 to 1 9 2 7 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 8 . 221 p p .; c h a rts.
220
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[910]
N o.
484-
221
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
U
St
n it e d
a tes
.—
D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
N o . 4 6 8 : T r a d e a g re e m en ts, 1 9 2 7 .
B u reau of L a b o r S ta tistic s.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 8 .
B u lle tin
237 pp.
An article based on th is b u lletin w as carried in th e L ab o r R eview for F eb ru ary ,
1929 (pp. 23-29).
---------------------- B u ll e ti n N o . 4 7 1 : W a g e s a n d h o u rs o f labor i n fo u n d r i e s arid
m a c h in e sh o p s i n 1 9 2 7 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 9 .
121 p p .
---------------------- B u lle tin N o . 4 7 2 : W a g e s a n d h o u rs o f labor i n the s la u g h te r in g
a n d m e a t- p a c k in g i n d u s t r y i n 1 9 2 7 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 9 .
163 pp.
------------ 7 C h ild ren ’s B ureau.
N e ttie P . M c G ill.
P u b lic a tio n N o . 1 8 7 : C h ild r e n i n a g ric u ltu re , by
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 9 . 81 p p .; U lus.
A su m m ary of th e p rin cip al findings of a series of su rv ey s of children in agri
cu ltu re, m ad e b y th e C h ild re n ’s B ureau a n d o th e r agencies. T hese studies, w hich
h ave all been published se p a ra te ly , covered ap p ro x im ately 13,500 children doingfarm w ork in 14 S tates.
G o v ern m en t P rin tin g Office. L a b o r : C h ild labor, e m p lo y e r s ’ lia b ility , w ages,
in s u r a n c e , w o m e n , s tr ik e s . L i s t o f p u b lic a tio n s r e la tin g to above su b je c ts f o r sale
b y S u p e r in te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts , W a s h in g to n , D . C .
W a s h in g to n , J a n u a r y ,
1 9 2 9 . 31 p p .
Official—Foreign Countries
C
anada
.—
D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
O tta w a , 1 9 2 9 .
33 pp.
P ric e s i n C a n a d a a n d other c o u n tr ie s, 1 9 2 8 .
(S u p p l e m e n t to th e L a b o r G a zette, J a n u a r y , 1 9 2 9 .)
D a ta from th is re p o rt are p u blished in th is issue.
-------------- W a g e s a n d h o u rs o f labor re p o rt N o . 1 2 : W a g e s a n d h o u rs o f labor i n
C a n a d a , 1 9 2 0 to 1 9 2 8 . O tta w a , 1 9 2 9 .
G a zette, J a n u a r y , 1 9 2 9 .)
101 p p .
(S u p p l e m e n t to th e L a b o r
D a ta from th is re p o rt are pu b lish ed in th is issue.
E
s t o n ia
.— C en tral
B ureau
T U in n [1928?].
of
S tatistics.
3 4 4 VV-1 U lu s.
The
( I n E n g lis h .)
E s to n ia n
y e a r-b o o k ,
1929.
C o n tain s d a ta on co o p erativ e societies, p ro te c tiv e lab o r legislation, cost of
living, etc.
F
rance
. — L'Office
général des A ssurances sociales d ’Alsace e t de L orraine.
B u ll e ti n N o s . 1 0 et 11: C o m p te r e n d u des o p é r a tio n s des i n s t it u t io n s d ’a s s u r a n c e s
so c ia le s p e n d a n t l ’a n n é e 1 9 2 6 .
P a r is , 1 9 2 8 . 1 8 2 p p .
T h e a n n u a l re p o rt of th e o p eratio n s of th e social in su ran ce in s titu tio n s in
A lsace-L orraine for th e y ear 1926.
G
B r i t a i n .— B oard of T ra d e .
S ta tis tic a l a b stra c t f o r th e U n ite d K in g d o m
f o r ea ch o f th e 1 5 y e a r s f r o m 1 9 1 3 to 1 9 2 7 .
L ondon, 1929. 377 p p .
(C m d .
3 2 5 3 .)
reat
Includes sta tistic s re la tin g to in d u stria l accid en ts, co o p erativ e societies, cost of
living, n a tio n a l h e a lth insurance, old-age pensions, p ro fit sh arin g , re ta il a n d
w holesale prices, strik es a n d lockouts, trad e-u n io n s, w ages, a n d w o rk m en 's
com pensation.
------ H om e Office.
S ta tis tic s o f c o m p e n s a tio n a n d p ro c e ed in g s u n d e r the w o r k m e n ’s
c o m p e n s a tio n a cts, a n d the e m p lo y e r s ’ l ia b ility act, 1 8 8 0 , i n G reat B r i ta i n d u r in g
th e y e a r 1 9 2 7 . L o n d o n , 1 9 2 9 . 3 3 p p .
(C m d . 3 2 4 9 .)
C ertain d a ta from th is re p o rt are given in th is issue of th e L ab o r Review .
—---- In d u s tria l
F atig u e R esearch B oard. R e p o r t N o . 5 2 : T h e c o m p a r a tiv e
e ffects o f v a r ie ty a n d u n i fo r m i ty i n w o rk , b y S . W y a tt a n d J . A . F ra se r.
L ondon, 1928. 30 pp.
A su m m a ry of th is re p o rt is given in th is issue.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[911]
222
G
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
B r it a in .
M ines D e p a rtm e n t. S afety in M ines R esearch B oard. P a p e r
N o 2 8 - T h e re la tiv e i n fl a m m a b il i ty a n d e x p lo s ib ility o f coal d u s ts , b y T. A .
M a s o n a n d R . V . W h e eler. L o n d o n , 1 9 2 8 . 1 3 p p .; d ia g r a m s , illu s .
reat
T h is p ap er, w hich is one of a series on th e com position of coal as affecting its
inflam m ability, record s th e m easu rem en ts of speeds of flam es a n d pressures
developed d u rin g ex p erim en tal explosions for th e purp o se of d eterm in in g th e
relativ e in flam m ab ility a n d explosibility of different coal d u sts.
____ Office of U m pire [un em p lo y m en t insurance]. D e c is io n s g ive n b y the u m p ir e
re sp e c tin g c la im s to b en efit.
V ol. V : S e le cte d d e c isio n s g iven d u r in g the cal
endar year 1926.
L ondon, 1927.
374 pp.
T hese decisions are of in te re st as show ing th e close sc ru tin y to w hich claim s
for benefit are subjected , a n d th e care exercised to p re v e n t th e success of fra u d u
le n t applications.
I r i s h F r e e S t a t e — R e g istra r of F rien d ly Societies.
R e p o r t f o r the tw o y ea rs
e n d in g D ecem b er 3 1 , 1 9 2 7 .
D u b lin , 1 9 2 8 .
36 p p .
C o n tain s d a ta concerning frien d ly , in d u stria l a n d p ro v id e n t, a n d b uilding
societies, a n d also includes trad e-u n io n s.
N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d .— M in istry of L abor.
D ire c to r y o f p r i n c ip a l o r g a n iz a tio n s of
e m p lo y e r s a n d w o rk p e o p le , tra d e b oards, a n d local e m p lo y m e n t c o m m itte e s m
N o r th e r n I r e la n d .
B e lfa s t, 1 9 2 9 . 9 4 PP-
Unofficial
L. P. L a w s o f m a n a g e m e n t a p p lie d
R o n a ld P r e s s C o., 1 9 2 8 . 2 6 6 p p .; c h a rts.
Alford,
A m e r ic a n A sso c ia t io n
of
U
n iv e r s it y
P
to m a n u fa c tu r in g .
rofessors.
N ew
Y ork,
Y ale U n iv ersity C h a p te r.
In c o m e s a n d l iv in g costs o f a u n iv e r s ity f a c u l t y , e d ite d b y Y a n d e ll H e n d e r s o n
a n d M a u r ic e R . D a v ie .
N e w H a v e n , Y a le U n iv e r s ity P re ss, 1 9 2 8 .
1 7 0 p p .;
ch a rts.
A m e r i c a n F o u n d r y m e n ’s A s s o c i a t i o n .
P ro c e e d in g s o f the th ir ty -s e c o n d a n n u a l
m e e tin g , P h ila d e lp h ia , P a ., M a y 1 4 to 18, 1 9 2 8 . C hicago, 1 9 2 8 . Ixxx, 9 o 4 PP-',
c h a rts, i ll u s .
( T r a n s a c tio n s , V o l. X X X V I . )
T h e discussion of th is conven tio n re la tiv e to tra in in g of ap p re n tic e s is review ed
in th is issue of th e L ab o r R eview .
of L if e I n su ra n ce P r esid en ts.
P ro c ee d in g s o f the tw e n ty -se c o n d
a n n u a l c o n v e n tio n , N e w Y o r k , D ecem b er 13 a n d 14, 1 9 2 8 . N e w Y o r k , 165
B r o a d w a y [1929?]. 2 8 0 p p .; m a p , c h a rts.
A sso c ia t io n
A m ong th e addresses before th e conference w as one on th e su b je c t of ad v an cin g
social w elfare th ro u g h gro u p in su ran ce. T h e p h en o m en al g ro w th of th e group
in surance id ea is p o in te d o u t a n d th e resu lts of th e in a u g u ra tio n of th is sy stem
in in d u stria l estab lish m en ts is o utlined.
B
F r a n c is .
T h e a d v e n tu re o f o ld age (w ith p re fa c e b y R ic h a r d C . C a b o t).
B o sto n , H o u g h to n M i f f l i n C o., 1 9 2 6 . 2 9 9 p p .
ard w el l,
“ H u m a n ” stories of in m a te s of M a ssach u setts “ to w n fa r m s ” o r alm shouses,
to ld by th e S ta te v isito r of alm shouses.
B
ureau
of
R
a il w a y
E
M is c e lla n e o u s se rie s N o . 4 5 : A review o f r a il
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 8 . 3 4 PP-', c h a rts.
c o n o m ic s.
w a y o p e r a tio n s i n 1 9 2 7 .
E l l is .
T h e c o n s u m p tio n o f w e a lth . N e w 1 o rk , M a c m i ll a n
3 4 4 PPL auck, W. J ett.
T h e n e w i n d u s t r i a l r e v o lu tio n a n d ivages. N e w Y o r k , F u n k &
W a g n a lls C o ., 1 9 2 9 . 3 0 8 p p .; c h a rt.
H
oyt,
E
liza b et h
C o., 1 9 2 8 .
T his volum e review s, in th e w ords of th e a u th o r, “ th e e x tra o rd in a ry changes
w hich h av e occurred d u rin g re c e n t y ears in th o u g h t a n d a ctio n re la tiv e to theories
of w age d e te rm in atio n a n d th e p iin cip les reg u la tin g th e p a rtic ip a tio n of em ployees
in th e o u tp u t of in d u s try .”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
„ ,[,912]
223
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
L
aw h en c e,
1928.
J
oseph
S t a b il i z a t io n o f 'prices.
Stagg.
N e w Y o r k , M a c m i ll a n C o.,
f8 J) p p .; c h a rts.
A fter a discussion of th e relatio n sh ip of m oney a n d prices, in th e ir various
aspects, th e a u th o r review s in d etail th e various p roposed sta b iliz a tio n plans,
a n d concludes w ith a critical an aly sis of th e q u estio n of th e th e o re tic a l a n d p ra c
tic a l possibility of stab ilizatio n .
M
Geoffrey.
M a r r ia g e la w s a n d d e c is io n s i n the U n ite d S ta te s .
R u s s e ll S a g e F o u n d a tio n , 1 9 2 9 . J+76 p p .
ay,
N ew Y ork,
A m an u al p rep ared as a com panion p u b licatio n to “ M arriag e a n d th e S ta te ,”
listed below. T he a u th o r sum m arizes in co n v en ien t form s ta tu to ry m arria g e
regulations an d p e rtin e n t co u rt decisions reg ard in g m arriag e in th e v ario u s
States.
M
H e n r y A.
I n d u s t r i a l T y n e s id e : A so c ia l s u r v e y m a d e f o r the B u r e a u o f
S o c ia l R es e a r c h f o r T y n e s id e . L o n d o n , E r n e s t B e n n { L td .) , 1 9 2 8 . 18J) p p .;
m a p s , c h a rts.
ess,
In 1924 a group of m en an d w om en, stirred by th e in d u stria l depression a n d
th e social evils a p p a re n t in th e tow ns on b o th sides of th e T yne, a fte r careful
co nsideration of w h a t m ig h t be done to im p ro v e th e situ a tio n decided t h a t th e
first ste p should be a tru th fu l a n d com prehensive su rv ey of th e facts. U n til
these w ere accu rately determ in ed , th e b e st course of a ctio n w ould be in d o u b t.
In p u rsu an ce of th is p la n th e B u reau of Social R esearch w as form ed, a n d u n d e r
its d irecto r th e p re se n t stu d y w as m ad e, including in its scope th e p o p u latio n ,
occupations a n d in d u stries, housing, provisions fo r h e a lth , ed u catio n , o rganized
religion, v o lu n ta ry social service, a n d local g o v ern m en t of th e region.
M
il n e
-B
, W.
T r a d e - u n io n d o c u m e n ts .
x x v ii , 5 5 2 p p .
a il e y
1929.
L o n d o n , C. B e ll & S o n s { L td .) ,
A collection of d ocu m en ts designed to illu stra te th e general ac tiv itie s of tra d e unionism . A n in tro d u c to ry histo rical su rv ey of th e m o v em en t is followed by a
division of th e su b je c t in to fo u r p a rts : P a r t I, Value, asp iratio n s, a n d o b je c ts of
trad e-u n io n ism ; P a r t IT, S tru c tu re a n d o rg an izatio n of trad e-u n io n ism ; P a r t I I I ,
F u n c tio n s and m eth o d s of trad e-u n io n ism ; P a r t IV , T h e place of trad e-u n io n ism
in th e co m m u n ity . E ach p a r t begins w ith a sh o rt discussion of t h a t p a rtic u la r
asp ect of th e subject, a fte r w hich come a n u m b er of d o cu m en ts b earin g upo n it.
A sh o rt bibliography is ap pended.
O
h io
State U
n iv e r sit y
.
College of C om m erce a n d A d m in istratio n .
B u reau
of B usiness R esearch.
I n d u s t r i a l a n d c o m m e rc ia l O h io , V o l. I , P a r t I : T h e
e x te n t a n d b a sis o f th e i n d u s t r i a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f O h io , b y S p u r g e o n B e ll.
C o lu m b u s , 1 9 2 8 .
[ V a r io u s p a g in g .]
M a p s , c h a rts.
P
Y e a r b o o k . A n n u a l o f th e E n g li s h a n d S c o ttis h C o o p era tive W h o le s a le
S o c ie tie s , 1 9 2 9 .
M a n c h e s te r , C o o p e ra tiv e W h o lesa le S o c ie ty { L td .) , N o . 1
B a llo o n S t ., [1929?]. 8 2 0 p p .
e o p l e ’s
C o n tain s d etailed d a ta on all phases of consum ers’ cooperation in G reat B rit
ain, as well as sta tistic s for o th e r co u n tries a n d articles on econom ic a n d in d u s
tria l subjects.
P
ersons,
W
arren
M
il t o n
.
H o u g h to n M i f f l i n C o., 1 9 2 8 .
R
ic h m o n d
, M
ary
E .,
and
H
T h e c o n s tr u c tio n
90 pp.
all,
F
R u s s e ll S a g e F o u n d a tio n , 1 9 2 9 .
red
S.
of
in d e x
num bers.
M a r r ia g e a n d th e S ta te .
B o s to n ,
N ew Y ork,
895 pp.
T h is volum e, based u p o n stu d ies in 96 cities in 30 S tates, deals, respectively,
w ith th e follow ing su b jects: W h a t h ap p e n s in license offices, som e social asp ects
of m arriage, th e m arria g e cerem ony, a n d supervision a n d enforcem ent.
A m ong th e suggestions m ad e fo r a n a c tiv e p ro g ra m a re : T h a t each S ta te
co n tem p latin g m arria g e reform should first ex am in e w h a t is ta k in g place u n d er
its own m arriage law s, t h a t com m ittees should be organized, S ta te by S ta te , to
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[913]
224
MONTHLY LAB OH REVIEW
stu d y a n d im prove th e existing situ a tio n , a n d t h a t am o n g th e legislative p ro
posals b e st a d a p te d for early in tro d u c tio n , bills fo r th e p re v e n tio n of child
m arriages h av e th e first place.
T
ho rp
, W
il la r d
L.
E c o n o m ic in s t it u t io n s .
N e w Y o r k , M a c m i ll a n C o ., 1 9 2 8 .
306 pp.
Z
entralverband
1928.
3 vols.
D
etjtscher
K
o n s u m v e r e in e
.
Ja hrbuch,
1928.
H am burg,
[ V a r io u s p a g in g .]
C o n tain s d etailed d a ta on th e C en tral U nion of G erm an C onsum ers’ Societies.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
@FedFRASER