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MONTHLY REVIEW
OF THE
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
vol.
in —n o . 2
WASHINGTON
august,
me
ATTITUDE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH TOWARD
LABOR.
One of the most significant matters discussed at the recent quad
rennial conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Saratoga
Springs, N. Y., May 1 to 29, was the future attitude of the Church
toward organized labor and collective bargaining in particular. As
the Methodist Church conducts one of the largest book concerns in
the United States, employing several thousand workmen in the print
ing and allied trades, the question was one of considerable moment.
The discussion arose in connection with the report, on May 12, of
the committee on the state of the Church, which, reviewing the
nature and methods of collective bargaining as a part of its report
on the Church and the community, declared—
It would naturally follow that since the Church is itself a large employer of labor,
directly and indirectly, it must itself in some way realize collective bargaining
either in one of the two forms which are now developed or in some other yet to be
devised. A sound principle to govern the Church as an employer would appear to
be that in recognition of the price being paid by organized labor to improve commu
nity welfare, a preference should he shown to it, and every possible endeavor [should
be] made to work with it, in so far as its methods are just and in so far as the rights
of unorganized men are not infringed upon.
This paragraph aroused considerable discussion and was changed
the next day by striking out the italicized words and inserting the
bracketed words. As changed, therefore, it is, for the moment, the
final pronouncement of the Church on its attitude toward organ
ized labor.
The general conference in question, which adopted the report
under review, is composed of clergy and laity in equal numbers
elected at annual conferences, which are representative gatherings
within certain territorial districts recognized in the Church organi
zation. The quadrennial general conferences establish the policies
of the Church as an organized body; they are its supreme legisla
tive authority.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
The report in question, as presented by the committee on the state
of the Church, is also the report of the Methodist Federation for
Social Service, and was adopted by the committee. It seems also
that the statement of principles contained in it are the result of
more or less interdenominational effort and conference. (See Daily
Christian Advocate, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., May 15, 1916, p. 231.)
Sections 1 to 4 of the report were adopted by the committee by a
vote of 109 to none opposing; section 5, on industrial democracy,
by a vote of 105 to 6, with 115 present at the time the vote was
taken.
The report discusses in general terms the Church and the commu
nity; the community service program; training for service; industrial
conditions; and industrial democracy. That portion of it relative to
industrial democracy (sec. 5) as printed in the Daily Christian Ad
vocate, Saturday, May 10, 1916—published at Saratoga Springs, by
the Methodist Book Concern—points out in general terms the wide
spread occurrence of strikes in recent years and the growing demand
for the extension of the principles of democracy in industry. I t de
clares that “ the first method of realizing democracy in industry is
through collective bargaining. This gives wage earners as a group the
right to determine in conference with their employers the terms and
conditions of employment.” Therefore “ the principle of collective
bargaining being generally accepted, the urgent question is what
method shall embody it. To recognize the principle without sup
porting some method that will make it effective is but to mock the
hopes and struggles of the workers with barren words and to deserve
their indignation and contempt.”
Section 2 of the report, as a part of the program of the Church
in its relation to its immediate community, recommends that during
the next four years the Church put stress upon the problems of
unemployment, housing, prison reform, and recreation, and it sug
gests that the churches in rural communities not only concern them
selves with these problems but also give attention to farm labor,
tenancy, and rural cooperation.
After review of the extent of unemployment, immediate measures
for its diminution are suggested. “ They involve the labor exchange
to find work—municipal, State, and Federal; provisions of public
work; social insurance against unemployment. These measures have
been demonstrated in Europe. The Church must aid in securing
them in our cities and States.”
In the matter of housing it is stated that—
The churches must demand the enactment of proper building codes and the enforce
ment of their regulations. But here again, while the churches must not hesitate to
take their initiative, the greatest usefulness is in aligning themselves with the agencies
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MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
3
which are already in the field in most communities and are working steadily for
adequate laws, thorough .inspection of factories and dwellings, and enforcement of
existing laws.
The relation between bad housing and both sickness of the body and sickness of the
soul is established beyond question by many detailed studies. In dirt and darkness
there breed the germs of sin and disease. In city and country, a sanitary dwelling
with adequate room for privacy is essential to a sound family life.
Lack of recreation is held to be one of the potent causes of juvenile
delinquency. Adequate programs of community recreation “ involve
the regulation of commercialized recreation; the development of
parks, playgrounds, and community centers, with adequate supervi
sion, and the encouragement of private recreational enterprises that
are conducted for the public welfare. It is for the Church to lead
the community into such a sense of the value of childhood that it
will pay the cost of adequate community recreation as it now pays
for community education.”
There is every reason also why churches should make larger use of their buildings
for such purposes; making them safe and happy meeting places for the people, and par
ticularly for the children and young people of their neighborhood.
Section 4 of the report discusses at considerable length indus
trial conditions, including such questions as the living wage, the un
equal distribution of wealth, and the effect of overwork on the
laborer. On the question of the living wage the report reiterates
the declaration of the conference of 1912 to the effect that the Church
must stand for “ a living wage as a minimum in every industry, and
for the highest wage that each industry can afford, ” and for “ the most
equitable division of the product of industry that can ultimately be
devised.” Continuing it reviews the results of recent investigations
regarding the cost of living and concludes with the declaration that
“ these facts challenge the Church to action.”
The report protests against what it concludes to bo the unequal
distribution of wealth and urges the members of the Church “ as em
ployers, investors, or wage earners, to do everything that lies in their
power to promote and initiate measures and movements that make
for tho realization of our standard of a living wage as already de
clared. ”
CONCILIATION WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
JUNE 16 TO JULY 15, 1916.
The organic act of the department gives the Secretary of Labor
authority to mediate in labor disputes through the appointment, in
his discretion, of commissioners of conciliation. During the month,
Juno 16 to July 15, 1916, the Secretary exercised his good offices in
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MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
12 labor disputes, the companies involved, the number of employees
affected, and the results secured, so far as information is available,
being as follows:
N U M B E R O F L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T IIE D E P A R T M E N T O F L A B O R T H R O U G H
IT S CO M M ISSIO N ER S O F C O N C IL IA TIO N , JU N E 16 TO JU L Y 15, 1916.
W orkm en affected—
R esult.
Name.
D irectly. Indirectly.
S trike a t H arlan d & H ollingsw orth P la n t, W ilm ington, D e l...
S trike of fine y a rn spinners, Philadelphia, P a., as follows:
Jonathan King Az S o n ..................................................................
T) frying Az C o.......................................................................
TT 13 T h o m a s ...................................................................................
T3y pup. At: TTa i l CP. . .........................................................................................................
Cha-S "W TTn,yp,n ..........................................................................
K lin k Az: T a n d is ................ ...........................................................
TT 13 Kino,hard ............................................................................
John W E ms Icy............................................................................
B unker-H ow ard Spinning Co.....................................................
L ockout, Fluorspar Lead C o., Rosiclare, 111..................................
W age d isp u te betw een B ay & R iver S team boatm en’s U nion
and Steam boat O w ners’ A ssociation, San Francisco, Cal.
Lockout, New H av en Carriage Co., New H aven, Conn.............
S trike of m achinists a t U n ited States P rin tin g & Lithographic
Co., an d th e U n ited States Playing Card Co., C incinnati,
Ohio.
S trike of dye w orkers, Philadelphia, P a., as follows:
T A TTarris Co...............................................................................
Kcpfvnl Mills ...............................................................................
Em oral d Mill
...........................................................................
Pollock, TTnston C o .....................................................................
J am os K err
....................................................................
R B At 13 W Fleischer ..........................................................
AVm W oo d s At: C o
......................................................................
Controversy betw een M issouri Pacific, St. Louis & Iro n Mounta in R . R . Co. a n d its maintenance-of-w ay em ployees, St.
Louis, Mo.
Strike, R ex & Co., P hiladelphia, P a ...............................................
Controversy betw een O m aha W orld-H erald, and In tern atio n
al Pressm en & A ssistants U nion.
S trike in mechanical dep artm en t, B oston & A lbany R . R . Co.,
Boston, Mass.
Controversy betw een M issouri Pacific R y . Co. a n d its signal
m en, St. L ouis, Mo.
700
1,123
32
17
400
250
32
50
28
10
18
8
100
20
12,000
Pending.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
130
43
32
32
28'
26
2,000
Do.
A djusted.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
The following cases of strikes, noted as pending, in statement of
June 15, have been adjusted:
Vanberg Silver Co., Rochester, N. Y.
Leolastic Co., Bayonne, N. J.
Maybrook Central New England Railway, Walden, N. Y.
FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR.
During June, 1916, the Division of Information of the Bureau of
Immigration of the Department of Labor placed 11,960 persons in
employment as compared with 11,453 during May, 1916. The opera
tions of the different offices throughout the country, by months,
since May, 1915, when fuller reports began to be made, are contained
in the statement following:
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
O P E R A T IO N S O F T H E D IV IS IO N O F IN FO R M A T IO N , B U R E A U O F IM M IG R A T IO N , D U R
IN G T H E M O N TH S O F MAY, 1915, TO J U N E , 1916.
N um ber of
N um ber
N um ber
applica N um ber of N um ber of referred
tions for persons ap applicants to em ploy actually
plied
for.
for
places.
employed.
help.
m ent.
Month.
1915.
M ay........................................................................
Ju n e .......................................................................
J u ly ........................................................................
A u g u st..................................................................
Septem ber............................................................
O ctober.................................................................
N ovem ber............................................................
D ecem ber.............................................................
1916.
J a n u a ry ................................................................
F e b ru a ry ..............................................................
M arch....................................................................
A p ril......................................................................
M ay........................................................................
Ju n e .......................................................................
638
1,249
1,160
1,279
1,201
1,104
847
698
3,826
3,601
8,665
7,931
4,551
5,423
4,650
3,588
12,132
14,530
18,061
17,827
13,334
12,215
11,908
11,902
3,752
5,131
6,360
7,321
5,671
5,460
4,459
2,622
3,495
4,646
6,035
6,757
5,405
5,006
4,146
2,170
933
1,423
3,443
3,805
4,918
4,826
5,063
6,413
10,209
12,104
21,326
17,402
15,015
14,257
19,484
13,498
17,614
18,824
4,300
5,036
8,113
8,843
12,938
13,839
3,419
4,185
7,030
7,653
11,453
11,960
The following statement of the work of the 18 different zones cov
ering the whole country gives details for May and June, 1916:
SUM M ARY O F A C T IV IT IE S F O R T H E M O N TH S O F MAY A N D JU N E , 1916.
O pportunities received.
Zone No. an d office.
1. Boston, M ass.........................
P ortland, M e.........................
A pplications for em ploym ent.
A pplications
for help.
Persons
applied for.
May.
June.
May.
7
0
1,542
A pplications
received.
Referred to N um ber actuem ploym ent. ally employed.
June.
May.
June.
May.
151
75
146
10
............
146
10
June.
May.
76
10
June.
76
T o ta l...................................
7
0
1,542
151
75
76
10
76
2. New Y ork, N . Y ..................
Buffalo, N . Y .......................
280
82
275
142
1,439
1,050
1,496
1,041
1,375
629
1,129
850
804
662
578
748
768
462
526
496
T o ta l...................................
362
417
2,489
2,537
2,004
1,979
1,466
1,326
1,230
1,022
3. Philadelphia, P a ..................
P ittsb u rg h , P a .....................
116
20
103
18
958
418
312
805
349
280
269
327
294
110
203
144
229
89
167
130
T o ta l...................................
136
121
1,376
1,117
629
596
404
347
318
297
4. Baltim ore, M d ......................
14
10
44
16
97
86
153
82
153
82
5. Norfolk, V a ...........................
14
19
26
307
100
102
83
34
62
21
365
106
71
8
34
14
872
1S8
132
8
64
8
29
186
132
8
6. Jacksonville, F la ..................
Charleston, S. C ...................
Miami, F la ............................
Mobile, A la ............................
Savannah, G a .......................
3
6
o
3
6
5
1
8
4
32
4
66
303
8
1
269
1,008'307
96
14
439
66
265
63
264
T o ta l...................................
14
20
106
581
1,864
1,401
179
593
161
590
7. New Orleans, L a . ...............
G ulfport, Miss.......................
M emphis, T e n n ....................
13
3
5
6
15
4
17
8
98
18
17
8
6
60
133
59
63
35
3
3
1
T o ta l...................................
21
36
68
255
178
21
20
9
6
8. G alveston, T ex.....................
4
11
303
61
1
1
1
31
23
22
7
4
5
h
4
A m arillo, T e x
F ro w n s ville, T e x
F I P aso T e x
44
1
Eagle Pass, T e x ..
A lbuquerque, N . M ex........
H ouston, T e x .......................
Laredo, T e x .........................
San Angelo, T e x ..................
2
3
2
5
4
29
4
21
1
3
1
3
T o ta l...................................
6
7
13
308
97
56
25
25
8
7
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
SUM M ARY O F A C T IV IT IE S F O R T H E M O N TH S O F MAY A N D JU N E , 1916—Concluded.
A pplications for em ploym ent.
O pportunities received.
Zone No. an d office.
A pplications
for help.
May.
June.
Persons
applied for.
May.
June.
A pplications
received.
May.
June.
Referred to N um ber a c tu
em ploym ent. ally em ployed.
May.
June.
May.
June.
9. Cleveland, O h io...................
23
22
443
120
100
98
79
68
15
19
10. Chicago, 111............................
D etroit, M ich........................
Indianapolis, I n d .................
S ault Ste. Marie, M ich........
203
262
76
15
302
185
75
4
1,370
1,306
241
289
1,250
1,522
519
98
1,769
830
267
114
1,875
1,214
S52
no
1,036
814
271
106
1,101
1,146
708
90
1,005
732
264
103
1,062
1,124
482
89
T o ta l...................................
556
566
3,206
3,389
2,980
4,051
2,227
3,045
2,104
2,757
11. M inneapolis, M in n..............
31
74
34
79
53
24
19
10
19
10
12. St. Louis, M o........................
K ansas Citv, M o ..................
27
422
16
515
2,676
1,024
82
1,249
131
900
157
1,072
65
781
47
1,004
61
520
39
724
T o ta l...................................
449
531
3,700
1,331
1,031
1,229
846
1,051
581
763
13. D enver, Colo.........................
S alt L a ie City, U ta h ..........
6
5
17
8
29
67
15
55
8
1
5
17
8
8
1
246
61
54
7
T o ta l...................................
6
29
67
15
55
14. H elena, M ont........................
Moscow, Id a h o .....................
2
1
2
1
6
4
6
1
2
4
1
T o ta l...................................
3
3
10
7
6
1
15. Seattle, W ash .......................
A berdeen, W ash ..................
B ellingham , W ash ..............
E v e re tt, W a s h ......................
K ennew ick, W a sh ...............
N o rth Y akim a, W a sh ........
Spokane, W ash ....................
Takom a W ash ......................
W alla W alla, W ash ............
106
15
31
8
125
322
71
517
113
256
60
95
931
246
1,047
325
269
60
103
11
825
470
115
1,085
176
273
61
58
7
711
330
1,088
216
810
220
104
27
8,50
848
145
844
305
816
387
133
24
431
51
554
122
297
60
140
33
900
484
138
1,239
179
564
175
1,080
220
825
447
115
1,069
170
546
175
1,080
212
T o ta l................................... 1,308
156
11
14
4
289
61
70
7
h
1,343
3,470
2,772
4,153
3,909
3,114
2,438
3,048
2,381
16. P ortlan d , O reg.....................
1,330
1,035
3,128
3,386
1,708
2,197
2,644
3,161
2,404
2,874
17. San Francisco, C al..............
286
348
665
685
1,315
1,539
481
675
331
478
112
5
1,041
1
16
1,150
4
828
16
973
4
572
1,159
1,166
832
989
576
4,826 21,326 17,402 17,614 18,824 12,938 13,839 11,453
11,960
18. Los Angeles, C al..................
Bakersfield, C al....................
San Diego, C al......................
Tucson, A riz.........................
2
350
T o ta l...................................
352
G rand to ta l1..................... 4,918
1
291
17
1,011
5
542
134
16
963
1
292
1,028
547
1,114
1
A special office a t K ansas City, Mo., reported 78 applications for help in June, 37,509 persons applied
for 3,751 applications received, 2,076 referred to em ploym ent, and 1,868 (estim ated) a ctually em ployed.
WORK OF STATE AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT BUREAUS.
In the following table data are presented relative to the operation
of public employment offices. The table furnishes information for
State employment bureaus in 14 States, municipal employment
bureaus in 7 States, a State-city employment bureau in 1 State; a
city-private employment bureau in 1 State, and a Federal-municipal
employment bureau in 1 State. Figures are given for both June,
1915, and June, 1916, in cases where reports have been received for
both periods; in other cases figures are given for June, 1916, only.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
O P E R A T IO N S O F P U B L IC E M P L O Y M E N T O F F IC E S , JU N E
S tate and city.
California (m unicipal):
B erkeley—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Sacramento—
June, 1915.............................................
Ju n e, 1916.............................................
California (State-city):
Los Angeles 2—•
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Total—
June, 1915..................................
June, 1916..................................
Colorado (S tate):
Colorado Springs—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
D enver, No. 1—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
D enver, No. 2—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Pueblo—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
A ppli
cations
from
em ploy
ers.
1915 A N D 1916.
Persons applying
Persons
for w ork—
asked
for by
reg Renew
em ploy New
istra
ers.
als.
tions.
191
203
223
224
89
76
190
201
310
345
84
55
F)
3,903
1,739
2,761
(l)
«
0)
(■)
578
904
(')
0)
C)
242
422
0)
(')
0)
248
446
0)
0)
0)
209
1,088
0)
448
428
223
216
P)
0)
310
345
310
345
(D
0)
0)
4,986
2,213
3,903
533
5,547
2,746
4'464
p)
P)
415
(l)
0)
0)
493
701
906
T otal—
June, 1915..................................
June, 1916..................................
In d ian a (State):
Evansville—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
F o rt W ayne—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
South B end—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
T erre H aute—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Total—
June, 1915..................................
June^ 1916..................................
i N ot reported.
3 33
800
(l)
344
P)
0)
0)
0)
374
0)
P)
P)
0)
0)
542
196
197
207
669
0)
0)
2,187
P)
1,142
615
300
(1)
0)
0)
2,864
10,848
2,027
8,069
0)
0)
0)
P)
1,540
7,516
(l)
C1)
715
1,775
512
1,532
0)
0)
0)
512
1,133
0)
C)
549
959
463
1,171
0)
463
906
P)
V)
387
775
218
829
P)
«
(>)
P)
0)
0)
406
708
266
776
0)
0)
0)
436
893
328
996
0)
0)
615
P)
C1)
P)
P)
(!)
P)
P)
P)
P)
(1)
165
217
655
266
575
328
762
615
3,326
11,712
263
880
149
690
37
68
149
690
263
880
190
401
230
682
222
436
111
173
333
609
218
504
131
267
251
1,141
388
511
67
61
241
561
204
426
302
470
265
426
1.139
2; 520
2,0*6
284
561
0)
0)
P)
0)
2 Includes Los Angeles district, 8 counties.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Posi
tions
filled.
223
216
Total—
June, 1915..................................
June, 1916..................................
Illinois (m unicipal):
Chicago—June, 1916..................................
Illinois (State):
Chicago—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
E ast St. Louis—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Peoria—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Springfield—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
R ock Island-M oline—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Rockford—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Persons
referred
to posi
tions.
[179]
C1)
C1)
(!)
C1)
s N um ber of requisitions.
836
8
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
O P E R A T IO N S O F P U B L IC E M P L O Y M E N T O F F IC E S , JU N E , 1915 A N D 1916—C ontinued.
S tate and city.
A ppli
cations
from
employ
ers.
K ansas (S tate):
Topeka—
June, 19151...........................................
June, 19161...........................................
K entucky (city-private):
Louisville—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
K entucky (State):
Louisville—
June, 1915.............................................
June] 1916.............................................
Persons applying
for v rork.
Persons
asked
for by
employ New reg Renew
ers.
istra
als.
tions.
26
31
(2)
(2)
48
362
95
126
10
4
50
80
28
59
102
304
405
553
753
722
85
385
51
191
48
362
s 194
3 538
146
177
48
362
231
562
99
553
1.341
2,347
1,597
2,663
4 1,025
4 1,696
(2)
(2)
s 2,783
6 3,997
1,350
1,845
127
138
132
172
4 24
4 38
(2)
(2)
5 120
6 146
106
114
558
983
635
1,233
4 282
4 642
(2)
(2)
« 859
5 1,601
484
931
535
1,098
613
1,408
4 533
4 577
(2)
(2)
6 937
« 1,410
478
735
6 4,699
6 7,154
' 2,418
3] 625
T o tal—
June, 1915..................................
June] 1916............................ : . .
M ichigan (S tate):
B attle Creek—
June, 1916.............................................
B ay C ity—
June, 1916.................................. ..........
D etroit—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
F lin t—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
G rand R apids—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Jackson—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
K alam azoo—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Lansing—
June, 1916.............................................
Muskegon—•
June, 1916.............................................
Saginaw —
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
96
216
i 238
(2)
108
108
81
294
i 250
(2)
137
137
(2)
1,259
(2)
5,127
(2)
i 4,994
(2)
(2)
(2)
4,815
1,681
4,815
(2)
424
(2)
894
(2)
i 798
(2)
(2)
(2)
798
294
79S
(2)
462
(2)
1,002
(2)
i 973
(2)
(2)
(2)
955
631
955
(2)
314
(2)
761
(2)
4 728
(2)
(2)
(2)
721
438
706
(2)
416
(2)
437
(2)
e 416
(2)
(2)
(2)
416
332
416
67
344
3 335
(2)
325
325
47
294
6 255
(2)
252
252
(2)
158
(2)
912
(2)
6 814
(2)
(2)
(2)
814
835
814
G)
9,341
4,211
9,326
T o tal—
June, 1915..................................
June, 1916..................................
1Figures do no t include thousands w ho applied for harvest w ork.
2 N ot reported.
3 N um ber applying for work.
4 N um ber who were registered.
6 N um ber of oilers of positions.
6 N um ber applying for work.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Posi
tions
fihed.
34
61
Total—
June, 1915..................................
June, 1916..................................
M assachusetts (State):
B oston—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
F all R iver—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Springfield—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
W orcester—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916............................................
Persons
referred
to posi
tions.
[180]
9
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS,
O P E R A T IO N S O F P U B L IC E M P L O Y M E N T O F F IC E S , J U N E , 1915 A N D 1916—C ontinued.
State and city.
M innesota (S tate):
D u lu th —
June, 1915.............................................
June^ 1916.............................................
M inneapolis—
June, 1915.............................................
Junei 1916.............................................
St. P a u l—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
A ppli
cations
from
em ploy
ers.
Persons applying
for work.
Persons
asked
for by
em ploy New reg Renew
ers.
istra
als.
tions.
0)
(l)
(i)
(i)
G)
C1)
C)
G) .
C1)
(!)
(!)
G)
G)
G)
G)
G)
G)
0)
G)
G)
760
1,636
G)
G)
1,417
2,040
G)
C1)
G)
O
G)
2,896
4,968
242
1,249
2 313
854
(U
C1)
(x)
1,004
C1)
C1)
2,013
l ' 709
2 1,621
2 1,255
F)
C1)
1,255
1,607
1,255
289
469
2 573
2 406
C1)
C1)
(])
242
246
242
0)
2,501
2,075
2,22 L
G) •
0)
C1)
293
466
352
400
400
350
G)
(x)
C1)
222
724
241
556
971
1,842
538
1,310
829
3,367
422
2,176
303
2,335
465
2,666
2,046
2,332
216
526
253
692
765
491
6
202
424
660
171
373
456
1,467
804
2,140
2,129
1,756
813
411
1,178
2 , 276
486
1,375
317
1,026
467
1,869
1,399
l'l0 5
123
122
542
1,514
346
1,139
441
1,118
676
1,740
1,076
900
136
231
707
1,511
329
S20
582
775
989
914
1,215
'513
140
44
1,065
'826
532
619
4,745
10,154
2,286
6,502
T o ta lJune, 1915. .
June, 1916..................................
i N o t reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
719
1,292
C1)
515
N ew Jersey (m unicipal):
June, 1915.....................................................
June' 1916.........................................
N ew Y ork (m unicipal):
New Y ork C ity—
June, 1915.............................................
Jun e’ 1916.............................................
N ew Y ork (State):
A lbany—
June, 1915.............................................
June¡ 1916.............................................
B rooklyn—
June, 1915.............................................
Jun e’ 1916.............................................
Buffalo—
June, 1915.............................................
June¡ 1916.............................................
R ochester—
June, 1915.............................................
Junei 1916.............................................
Syracuse—
June, 1915.............................................
June) 1916.............................................
G)
G)-
(x)
Total—
June, 1915..................................
June, 1916..................................
M ontana (m unicipal):
B u tte —
June, 1915............................................
June^ 1916............................................
Positions
filled.
C1)
C1)
T o ta lJune, 1915..................................
June, 1916..................................
Missouri (State):
K ansas C ity—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
St. Joseph—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
St. Louis—
June, 1915.............................................
Ju n e ’ 1916.............................................
Persons
referred
to posi
tions.
2 N u m b er applying for w ork.
[181]
10
MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS.
O P E R A T IO N S O F P U B L IC E M P L O Y M E N T O F F IC E S , J U N E , 1915 A N D 1916—C ontinued.
S tate a n d city .
Ohio:
A kron—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
C incinnati—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Cleveland—June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Columbus—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916..............................................
D ayton—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Toledo—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Y oungstow n—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
A ppli
cations
from
em ploy
ers.
Persons applying
for w ork.
Persons
asked
for b y
reg Renew
em ploy New
istra
ers.
als.
tions.
594
1,923
1,084
789
1,596
1,640
641
1,690
440
1,383
0)
C1)
714
1,660
1,836
1,257
4,702
2,707
849
1,515
591
923
C1)
C1)
3,523
9,095
2,888
3,132
6,696
8,023
3,321
7,588
2,608
6,128
C1)
C1)
1,099
2,358
867
701
2,975
2,138
1,076
2,053
941
1,661
0)
C1)
619
1,104
836
692
2,015
1,068
600
955
529
836
C1)
C1)
1,380
3,366
1,469
1,370
2,651
1,934
1,271
2,414
1,261
2,075
C1)
C1)
599
1,279
641
711
906
1,208
639
1,201
498
1,044
8,397
17,416
6 868
14,050
0)
0)
49
812
(»)
0)
0)
0)
0)
V)
37
804
(!)
0)
164
524
i 1)
0)
0)
0)
0)
O)
154
262
0)
C1)
243
1,139
0)
0)
0)
i 1)
i 1)
C1)
203
769
0)
(0
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
965
T otal—
June, 1915..................................
June^ 1916..................................
Pennsylvania (S tate):
A ltoona—
June, 1916.............................................
H arrisburg—
June, 1916.............................................
Johnstow n—
June, 1916.............................................
P hiladelphia—
June, 1916.............................................
P ittsb u rg h —
June, 1916.............................................
T otal—
June, 1916..................................
R hode Island (S tate):
Providence—•
June, 1915..................... .......................
June, 1916..............................................
Texas (m unicipal):
D allas—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
F o rt W o rth —
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0)
(1)
0)
928
394
2,763
(0
172
59
(!)
999
425
(!)
204
54
10
57
46
C)
458
719
257
536
290
0)
1,516
1,163
99
873
806
1,950
1,619
64
37
37
447
440
346
311
520
359
271
246
194
236
520
359
520
359
359
74
173
8
359
74
20
8
173
289
153
289
123
177
522
637
2 974
372
55
654
341
406
332
827
630
559
621
(»)
T otal—
June, 1915..................................
June, 1916..................................
1 N ot reported.
Posi
tions
filled.
0)
C1)
Total—
June, 1915..............................
June, 1916..............................
Oklahom a (State):
E n id —
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Muskogee—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Oklahom a C ity—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Tulsa—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Persons
referred
to posi
tions.
2 N um ber applying for work.
[182 ],
11
MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
O P E R A T IO N S O F P U B L IC E M P L O Y M E N T O F F IC E S J U N E , 1915 A N D 1916-C oncluded.
S tate a n d city.
Virginia (m unicipal):
R ichm ond—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
W ashington (Federal-m unicipal):
Tacoma—
Ju n e, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
W ashington (m unicipal):
E v e re tt—
June, 1915.............................................
Ju n e, 1916.............................................
Seattle—
June, 1916.............................................
Spokane—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
A ppli
cations
from
employ
ers.
Persons applying
for vrork.
Persons
asked
for by
em ploy New reg
Renew
ers.
istra
als.
tions.
T otal—
Ju n e, 1915..................................
Ju n e, 1916................... •..............
i N um ber applying for work.
Posi
tions
filled.
136
210
237
542
1659
851
(2)
(2)
238
729
166
320
236
327
390
1,080
(2)
1,000
(2)
(2)
397
1,080
390
1,080
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
3,201
5,922
(2)
(2)
5,904
5,417
(2)
1,890
(2)
2,862
(2)
(2)
718
2,430
674
2,426
1 115
9,414
1 212
9,325
T otal—
Ju n e, 1915..................................
Ju n e, 1916..................................
W isconsin (State):
L a Crosse—
Ju n e, 1915.............................................
Ju n e, 1916.............................................
Milwaukee—
Ju n e, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Oshkosh—
June, 1915.............................................
June, 1916.............................................
Superior—
June, 1915.............................................
Ju n e, 1916.............................................
Persons
referred
to posi
tions.
148
402
122
171
192
242
3 343
273
(2)
(2)
177
202
87
138
1,440
2,016
2,450
3,528
3 3,319
2,718
(2)
(2)
2,475
2,903
1,681
1,808
188
136
202
164
3 359
199
(2)
(2)
164
136
140
94
270
442
338
1,363
3 822
1,161
(2)
(2)
429
1,216
290
888
2,020
2,765
3,182
5,297
3 4,843
4,351
(2)
(2)
3,245
4,457
2,198
2,988
2
N ot reported.
s R egistrations.
EMPLOYMENT IN SELECTED INDUSTRIES IN JUNE, 1916.
Below will be found four tables showing the changes in the amount
of employment in representative establishments in 10 manufacturing
industries between June, 1915, and June, 1916, and between May,
1916, and June, 1916. This information is presented month by month
in this publication, and is believed to be a good barometer of the
fluctuations in the number of employees carried on the pay rolls of the
industries represented and of the money paid out in wages.
In the first table it appears that the number of employees on the
pay roll was greater in all the industries listed in June, 1916, than in
June, 1915, except in cotton manufacturing and cigar manufacturing.
The greatest increase was 28.6 per cent in the iron and steel industry.
In all the industries employees were paid more money in wages in
June, 1916, than in June, 1915, the greatest increase being 57.2 per
cent in the iron and steel industry.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[18S]
12
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
C O M PA R ISO N OF EM PL O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN JU N E , 1915,
JU N E , 1916.
In d u stry .
Boots and shoes........
Cotton m anufacturmg.
Cotton finishing. . . .
Hosiery a n d underwear.
W oolen........................
S ilk ...............................
M en’s ready-m ade
clothing.
Iron and ste e l............
Car building a n d repairing.
Cigar m an u factu rin g .
E stab E stab
lish
m ents mlish
ents
to
w hich report
ing for
in
quiries June
both
were
years.
sent.
N um ber on p ay
roll in Ju n e —
Period of
p ay roll.
1916
1915
Per
cent of
increase
(+ ) or
de
crease
(-)•
A m ount of pay roll
in Ju n e —
1915
1916
AND
Per
cent of
increase
( + ) or
de
crease
(-).
86
92
59 1 w eek ___ 39,417
48 . .. d o ........... 40,2^8
48,512
40,034
+23.1
- .5
$452,197
338,717
$644,455
392,276
+42.5
+15.8
19
82
6,684
9 __do...........
49 .. .d o ........... 26,395
7,403
28,285
+10.8
+ 7.2
67, 813
234,355
86,968
277,743
+28.2
+18.5
44 __d o ........... 35,108
43 2 w eeks. . . 14', 019
36 1 w eek ___ 22,203
40,455
15,625
24, 560
+15.2
+11.5
+10.6
337,063
265,8ö3
293,504
482,373
347,176
358,956
+43.1
+30.6
+22.3
+28.6 3,396, 861 5,338,785
+27.5
727,661 1,006,365
+57.2
+38.3
196,628
+ 3.9
56
64
85
.
142
80
94 l m o n th ... 106, Oil 137,524
21 . . .d o ........... 24,518 31,260
107
57
1 w eek___ 19,368
18, 729
- 3.3
204,258
As an additional measure of the changes in the number of employees,
figures were requested, in recent inquiries, as to the number of em
ployees actually working on the last full day of the pay-roll period,
as distinguished from the number on the pay roll who worked the
whole or some part of the pay period. Returns for this question were
received from only a part of the firms reporting other items. The
figures therefore differ from those of the preceding table, but the
general trend is about the same.
All industries show an increase in the number employed on the last
full day in June, 1916, over June, 1915, except cotton manufacturing
and cigar manufacturing. This corresponds with the showing for the
number reported in the table above as appearing on the pay roll in
June, 1916, and June, 1915. The greatest increase shown in this
table was 29 per cent for the iron and steel industry.
C O M PA R ISO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S ON LA ST F U L L
D A Y ’S O P E R A T IO N IN J U N E , 1915, A N D J U N E , 1916.
E stab
lish
ments
report
ing for
June
both
years.
In d u stry .
Boots a nd shoes....................................................................
Cotton m a n u factu rin g .........................................................
C otton fin ish in g___ .7 ..........................................................
H osiery a n d underw ear......................................................
W oolen....................................................................................
S ilk .....................................................
M en’s ready-m ade clothing................................................
Iron an d steel.................... .“. ................................................
Car building a n d re p a irin g ...............................................
Cigar m a n u fa c tu rin g ___7..................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[184]
25
28
6
15
42
35
10
81
19
31
Period of
p ay roll.
1 w eek___
__d o ...........
__d o ...........
.. .d o ...........
__d o ...........
2 weeks.
1 w eek ___
J m o n th ...
__d o ...........
1 w eek ___
N um ber actually
w orking on last P er cent
full day of re
of in
ported pay peri crease ( + )
od in Ju n e —
or de
crease
(-)•
1916
1915
15,129
20,766
3, 765
9,896
23,096
12,041
'894
86,444
22,795
7'877
17,778
20' 558
4,013
l o '392
28' 547
13'316
'988
111,527
27', 998
7; 600
+17.5
1.0
+ 6.6
+ 5.0
+23.6
+10.6
+10.5
+29.0
+22.8
- 3.5
13
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Comparing May, 1916, and June, 1916, in the following table, 7 of
the industries listed show an increase in the number of employees on
the pay roll and 3 show a reduction. The greatest increase is 8.5 per
cent, for the men’s ready-made clothing industry, and the greatest
reduction is 4.1 per cent, for the car building and repairing industry.
Six of the ten industries show an increase in the amount of money
paid out in wages to employees in June, 1916, over May, 1916, the
the greatest increase being 17.2 per cent, in the men’s ready-made
clothing industry. The greatest reduction is 6.6 per cent, in the car
building and repairing industry.
C O M PA R ISO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M AY, 1916, A N D
J U N E , 1916.
In d u stry .
Boots and shoes........
C otton m anufacturmg.
Cotton finishing........
H osiery a n d underwear.
W oolen........................
Silk...............................
M en’s ready-m ade
clothing.
Iron and steel.............
Car building a n d repairing.
Cigar m anu factu rin g .
E sta b
lish
m ents
to
which
in q u i
ries
were
sent.
E sta b
lish
m ents
report
ing for
May
and
June.
N u m b er on p ay
roll in—
Period of
p ay roll.
M ay,
1916.
Ju n e,
1916.
86
92
58 1 w eek ___ 47,365
45 . . .d o ........... 37,493
47,974
37,605
19
82
8
do__
5,026
47 . .. d o ........... 27,290
56
64
85
43 . . .d o ........... 35,191
39 2 w eeks. . . 12,149
33 1 w eek___ 15,414
Per
cent
of in
crease
( + ) or
de
crease
(-).
A m ount of p ay roll
in—
May,
1916.
June,
1916.
+ 1.3
+ .3
$619,103
358,663
$637,615
356,492
+ 3.0
.6
5,106
27,208
+ 1.6
- .3
59, 223
263,045
59,644
260,483
+ .7
- 1.0
34,301
12,257
16, 722
-2 .5
+ .9
+ 8.5
432,069
262,116
194,656
413,676
267,626
228,122
- 4.3
+ 2.1
+ 17.2
+ 1.9
- 6.6
142
80
89 § m o n th ... 125,682 127,188
20 - . .d o ........... 31,276 30,007
+ 1.2 4,846,941 4,941,325
- 4 . 1 1,033,554
965,218
107
56
+ .5
1 w eek___
18, 780
Per
cent
of in
crease
( + ) or
de
crease
(-)•
18,865
200,607
202,316
+
.9
The next table shows the number actually employed on the last
full day’s operation in the reported pay period for May, 1916, and
June, 1916. The number of establishments reporting this item is
much smaller than the number reporting for the preceding table and
the percentages to some extent are at variance. The table is pre
sented, however, as speaking for the establishments included. In
six of the ten industries listed the number actually at work on the
last full day’s operation in June, 1916, was greater than on a similar
day in May, 1916. The greatest increase is 2.7 per cent, for the silk
industry; the greatest reduction is 3.6 per cent, for the woolen
industry.
52445°—16-
-2
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COM PA RISO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S ON LA ST P U L L
D A Y ’S O P E R A T IO N IN MAY, 1916, A N D JU N E , 1916.
E sta b
lish
m ents
report
ing for
May
and
June.
In d u stry .
Boots and shoes....................................................................
C otton m a n u factu rin g .........................................................
C o tto n fin ish in g
........................................................
H osiery a n d underw ear.......................................................
W oolen.....................................................................................
Silk .
...........................................................................
Men’s ready-m ade clo th in g ................................................
Iro n and stee l........................................................................
Car Building a n d repairing.................................................
Cigar m an u factu rin g ............................................................
Period of
p ay roll.
24 1 w eek ___
28 . . .d o ...........
5 . ..d o ...........
16 .. .d o ...........
41 . . . d o ...........
32 2 w e ek s. . .
8 1 w eek___
84 i m o n th ...
18 . . .d o ...........
31 1 w eek ___
N um ber actually
w orking on last
full d ay of re
ported p ay pe
riod in —
May,
1916.
17,706
20,609
3,605
10,888
27,168
9,926
856
104,410
27,571
7,773
June,
1916.
17,894
20,406
3,687
10,905
26,183
10,192
861
-105,963
26,745
7i 739
P e r cent
of in
crease
( + ) or
decrease
(-)•
.
+ 1 .1
- 1 .0
+ 2 .3
+ .2
-
3 .6
+ 2.7
+ .6
+ 1.5
-3 .0
- .4
RECENT CHANGES IN WAGE RATES.
In connection with the volume of employment inquiries sent to
reporting establishments for June, 1915, and June, 1916, information
was asked as to any general changes in wage rates during the period
from June 1, 1916, to the time of the rendering of the requested
report. Many establishments failed to report. It is probably safe
to assume that in most cases the omission of a definite reply indicates
no change. The number of changes reported were few, as is indicated
below for the various industries.
Boots and shoes.—The only increases reported in this industry are
an increase of 9 to 17 per cent to employees in one department of one
establishment; a general increase of “ about 15 per cent ” reported by
one establishment; “few slight increases” reported by one establish
ment, and “ only as occasion required” reported by one establish
ment. Twenty plants reported no change, and 37 establishments
failed to answer the inquiry.
Car building and repairing.—Reports were received from 21 estab
lishments. The only change reported was an increase of 1 | per cent
in one plant, affecting all employees. Nineteen establishments
reported no change, and one establishment failed to answer the
inquiry.
Cigar manufacturing.—Out of 60 establishments reporting as to
employment, only one change in wages—an increase of 33 § per cent
to stemmers—was reported. Thirty-one establishments reported no
change, and 28 failed to answer the inquiry.
Men’s ready-made clothing.-—Six establishments out of 37 reporting
as to employment noted an increase of 10 per cent in wages applying
in various instances to from about a third of the force to as high as
85 per cent of the force. One concern reported an increase of “ about
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15
10 per cent.” Twenty-five plants failed to answer the inquiry, and
five establishments reported no change.
Cotton manufacturing.—Reports were received from 50 establish
ments of which only two reported any change in wage rates. One
reported an increase of about 2 per cent applied to nearly all the
force, and the other a general increase, amount not stated. Thirtyseven plants reported no change, and 11 failed to answer the inquiry.
Cotton finishing.—Out of the nine reporting, seven plants reported
no change in wage rates and two failed to answer the inquiry.
Hosiery and underwear.—One plant reported an increase of 5 per
cent to the entire force; one an increase of 5 to 10 per cent “ at
various times;” one an increase of 10 per cent without statement of
number of force affected, and one a general increase of 10 to 15 per
cent. Fifteen plants reported no change in rates, and 34 failed to
answer the inquiry.
Iron and steel.—More changes in wage rates were reported for the
iron and steel industry than for any other. Twelve establishments
reported increases as follows: Two per cent to a little over half the
force in one establishment; 5 per cent on a few positions in two estab
lishments; 5 per cent to a third of the force in one establishment; and
5 per cent to three-fourths of the force in another. One plant reported
an increase of 7\ per cent to “ labor” and another an increase of 5
to 10 per cent without specifying the proportion of force affected.
A 10 per cent increase was made in one plant to the men in a single
department, while another made a 10 per cent increase to 40 per
cent of the force; three establishments reported an increase of 10
per cent to all employees. Fifty-two plants reported no change, and
34 failed to make a report. The reported increases were not con
fined to any particular locality.
Silk.—One establishment reported an increase of 5 per cent to all,
and another an increase of 10 per cent in some departments. Twentyfive establishments reported no change, and 15 failed to answer the
inquiry.
Woolen.—Reports were received from 47 plants, none of which
reported any change in the wage rate. Six plants failed to answer
the inquiry.
EMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN JUNE, 1916.
The condition of employment in the State of New York in June,
1916, is set forth in the following statement issued by the New York
State Industrial Commission :
Measured in total amount of wages paid, activity in the factories of New York State
was greater in June than in any other month of the previous two years. The total
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number of employees was greater than in May and only slightly less than in April,
which holds the record for the two years. Had it not been for the strike in the women’s
clothing industry and minor labor troubles, both the total wages paid and the total
number of employees would have established new high records in June of this year.
These results are shown by returns * * * from 1,400 representative firms with
over 500,000 employees.
The total number of employees was 16 per cent greater in June, 1916, than in June,
1915, and 13 per cent greater than in June, 1914. The corresponding percentages for
increases in total wages were 31 and 30 per cent, respectively. As in the preceding
months of the past year, the total amount of wages continues to increase faster than
the total number of employees.
From May to June the number of workers employed in the stone, clay, and glass
'products group increased 3 per cent and total wages increased 5 per cent. The number
of employees was one-eighth and the amount of wages was one-fourth greater in June,
1916, than in June, 1915. In the metals, machinery, and conveyances group the high
record for the number of employees which was established in May was slightly ex
ceeded in June and the total of wages for the group was only slightly greater in June
than in May. The number of employees was one-third, and the amount of wages was
one-half, greater in June, 1916, than in June, 1915. The ivood manufactures group
employed 2 per cent more workers and paid 2 per ceDt more wages in June than in
May, and employed one-twelfth more workers and paid one-sixth more wages in June,
1916, than in June, 1915. The furs, leather, and rubber goods group exceeded the high
record of May in the total number of employees by 1 per cent. An increase of 4 per
cent in the total wages paid in the group was shared by each industry. The group
employed one-fifth more workers and paid two-fifths more wages in June, 1916, than
in June, 1915. The chemicals, oils, and paints group employed 2 per cent more workers
and paid 2 per cent more wages in June than in May. The group as a whole employed
one-fifth more workers and paid three-tenths more wages in June, 1916, than in June,
1915. The paper-making industry employed 2 per cent more workers and paid 5 per
cent more wages in June than in May, and employed one-sixth more workers and paid
two-fifths more wages in June, 1916, than in June, 1915. The printing and paper goods
group employed 1 per cent less workers and paid slightly less wages in June than in
May. These decreases occurred in the manufacture of miscellaneous paper goods.
The group as a whole employed one-sixteenth more workers and paid one-ninth more
wages in June, 1916, than in June, 1915. The textiles group employed 3 per cent more
workers and paid 4 per cent more wages in June than in May, and employed oneeleventh more workers and paid one-fourth more wages in June, 1916, than in June,
1915. The number of employees in the clothing, millinery, and laundering group de
creased 3 per cent and wages decreased 2 per cent from May to June. The strike in
the women’s clothing industry is responsible for most of these decreases. The group
as a whole employed 1 per cent fewer workers but paid one-eleventh more wages in
June, 1916, than in June, 1915. The food, liquors, and tobacco group employed 3 per
cent more workers and paid 4 per cent more wages in June than in May, and although
employing less than 1 per cent more workers in June, 1916, than in June, 1915, it paid
one-eighth more wages during the same time. The water, light, and power industry
employed 4 per cent more workers and paid 7 per cent more wages in June than in
May, and had 1 per cent more workers and paid one-tenth more wages in June, 1916,
than in June, 1915.
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EMPLOYMENT MANAGERS’ CONFERENCE HELD IN MINNE
APOLIS, JANUARY, 1916.1
In connection with the annual convention of the National Society
for the Promotion of Industrial Education and at the special invita
tion of the Minneapolis Civic and Commerce Association, an informal
conference on employment management problems was held at Min
neapolis on January 19 and 20, 1916, preceding the opening of the
national society convention. The proceedings of this conference of
employment managers are printed as Bulletin No. 196 of the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The program included the fol
lowing papers and an address by Secretary Redfield of the Department
of Commerce, each session closing with a general discussion of the
topics presented:
The function of the employment department, by B. C. Clothier, manager, employ
ment department, Curtis Publishing Co., Philadelphia.
Methods of reducing the labor turnover, by Boyd Fisher, vice president Executives’
Club, Detroit Board of Commerce, Detroit.
Public employment bureaus and their relation to the managers of employment
in industry, by Hilda Muhlhauser, director, Girls’ and Women’s Bureau, Cleveland.
University schools of business and the training of employment executives, by
Harlow S. Person, director, Amos Tuck School of Administration and Finance, Dart
mouth College, New Hampshire.
The aim and work of employment managers’ associations, by Meyer Bloomfield,
director, Vocation Bureau, Boston.
The new apprenticeship as a factor in reducing labor turnover, by Charles A.
Prosser, director, Dunwoody Industrial Institute, Minneapolis.
Training the immigrant in industry, by William C. Smith, specialist in classes for
illiterates, State Department of Education, Albany.
Work of the employment department of the Ford Motor Co., by George Bundy,
employment manager.
The first speaker declared that the function of the employment
department is “ to develop the efficiency of the workers, directly or
indirectly, and to bring about a condition in which the individual
employee will render as near as possible 100 per cent service to his
employer.” Four subordinate functions were mentioned: (1) Selec
tion—the function of engaging employees; (2) instruction—the func
tion of developing their.efficiency for their particular tasks; (3) wel
fare work—the function of creating a favorable mental background for
their work; (4) medical work—the function of protecting their physical
health.
The importance of the employment department winning the coop
eration of the executives with whom it works, through actual service
rendered to those executives, is strongly emphasized. An important
i Proceedings of em ploym ent m anagers’ conference, held u nder th e auspices of th e N ational Society for
th e Prom otion of In d u stria l E ducation a n d th e M inneapolis Civic a n d Commerce Association, Jan u a ry
19 and 20, 1916. U n ited S tates B ureau of L abor Statistics, B ulletin 196, W ashington, 1916. 82 pp.
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problem to be considered by the employment department is the
reduction of the labor turnover; that is, the proportion of the em
ployees hired to the total pay roll. This reduction in turnover may
be effected by attention to the first three functions mentioned above,
by reducing the number of arbitrary dismissals, by standardizing the
rate of production, and by maintaining a clearing house for labor
between the various departments. Ultimate discharge from the
company should take place only through the employment department
and not because of some superficial reason or the whim of a superior.
By the very nature of its field the employment department must be
a department primarily for the service of the other departments.
The paper outlining methods of reducing the labor turnover pre
sented a threefold classification of the causes of the mobility of labor:
(1) Men are fired, (2) men are laid off, and (3) men quit voluntarily.
I t was pointed out that men are fired because overworked foremen are
prompted to seek an outlet for their own weariness or irritation, be
cause of religious or national prejudice in the mind of the foreman
himself, and because men are incompetent. Men are laid off because
the scheduling of the work through the shop is faulty, resulting in
congestion or oversupply of labor in various operations, and because
of dull seasons. Men leave their jobs voluntarily because of low
wages, long hours, inequalities in the pay system, differences among
themselves on religious and racial questions, and because of sensitive
ness over trivial wrongs or fancied oppressions. Five remedies to
meet this condition were suggested: (1) A central employment
department, (2) physical examinations, (3) industrial education, (4)
regularized production, and (5) square-deal management. Of the
above the first was urged as of prime importance.
The paper on the subject of public employment bureaus and their
relation to managers of employment in industry recited methods
pursued by the public employment bureau in Cleveland which has
undertaken to centralize the labor market by taking over all the employ
ment departments of separate organizations—such as the Y. W. C. A.,
the settlements, and institutions,—to •investigate the methods of
private employment agencies, and to centralize community interest
in order to secure the cooperation of employers, labor organizations,
and interested individuals. All employers are investigated and all
applicants are followed up to see what becomes of them. Employ
ment managers are brought to realize the value of using public employ
ment bureaus. The city-State-Federal plan of bringing the man and
the job together was indorsed as a means for diminishing unemploy
ment and checking the great waste involved in frequent labor turn
over. Employment managers were urged to utilize this force and to
cooperate in carrying out this plan.
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19
In tlie paper on university schools of business and the training of
employment executives, the functions of the employment executive
were outlined as follows: (1) Developing directly the technical pro
ductive efficiency of the individual employee; (2) developing indi
rectly such efficiency by assuring to the employee his rights as an
economic even though not a legal partner in the business; and (3)
dealing with the largest administrative policies and problems of the
business. The necessary qualifications of the employment executive,
which are determined largely by these functions, include personality,
intellect, and knowledge, and the training he receives should be such
as to develop each of these qualifications to the highest degree possible.
The paper discussed in detail the personal and mental characteristics
and the system of training necessary for proper equipment, and
closed with an outline of a course of training.
“ The aim and work of employment managers’ associations” was
the first paper read on the second day of the conference. In it was
reviewed briefly the organization, four years ago, of the Employment
Managers’ Association of Boston which brought together about 50
men “ not only to consider their responsibility as employment men
but to consider the question of where they fitted into the scheme of
things.” The paper suggested that the employment managers had
been giving very little thought to the coming and going of workmen,
to the reasons why men are separated from their jobs, to the cost
involved in changing employees, and kindred subjects. In short, it
was explained that managers have been groping about in tackling the
problems that confront them, and to remedy this condition the paper
urged the necessity of arriving at a basis or a policy in employment
management through detailed studies, “ such as are being made in
plant after plant, checking the sources of abuse, clipping irresponsible
authority, opening the channels of promotion, and assuring perma
nence and regularity of employment, and most of all, making men
while making profits. ”
In the paper discussing the now apprenticeship as a factor in reduc
ing the labor turnover, labor turnover is defined as meaning the
employing of too many poor men to get a standard organization of
good men for a plant, and by new apprenticeship is meant a new
system in which the school will play a large part in the selection and
training of workers, whether for nonskilled, medium skilled, or
highly skilled trades and industries, and whether by all-day, parttime, or evening school. The idea of the employment managers’ asso
ciation was indorsed, and how Minneapolis is trying to establish a
bureau of vocational guidance and direction—not a bureau of place
ment—was suggested, the author emphasizing his belief that such a
bureau will not be made effective “ until in some way cooperative
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
relations be established between persons in that bureau who have to
do with the youth—as they leave the schools to seek positions—and
an employment managers’ association which has to do with their
selection and placement in plants.” Reference was made to the
vocational education survey recently conducted in Minneapolis, as
a result of which trade understandings have been established with
about 24 different trades and industries by which employers have
agreed to give preference to those who have taken industrial or
technical instruction. Emphasis was placed on the part to be taken
hi the selection and training of workers by the continuation schools,
the part-time schools, and the evening schools.
Whether you talk about selecting, or inducting, or training, or promoting the workers,
the school must have its place. * * * It is the public schools and the private
schools working in harmony together, facing the employer, facing the employment
manager, facing the trade-unions, and facing the man who is not a member of the
union, and saying to all alike, “ The school has its message, and no question of larger
production, no question of better production, no questions of selecting, inducting,
training, and promoting workers, can be solved without it.”
The paper on training the immigrant in industry opened with a
statement that the five M’s of business are materials, machinery,
money, merchandising, and men, and then suggested that as much
attention must be devoted to the last as to the other four. Stress
was laid upon the Americanization of the foreigner, “ English first”
being the slogan.
The work of the employment department of the Ford Motor Co.
was described by its manager. He stated that all men are employed
through written applications only, and described the method of
filing these and keeping track of the vacancies in the plant. Various
forms used by the employment department were exhibited. An
occupation record of each man is carefully kept, so that men fitted
for other work than they are doing may be transferred. No foreman
is permitted to fire a man except in so far as his own department is
concerned, and then he must give a written reason. The employee
is usually given opportunity in another department. A circular on
safety, health, and better living, devoted to the interests of the
Ford employee, was exhibited, this circular being placed in each
employee’s pay envelope from time to time. Reference was made to
the work of the “ Ford English school,” where, it was stated, they
are making citizens out of the men by teaching them English, for
“ we figure that if you can make a citizen out of a foreigner, and
teach bim to be a good citizen of this country, and make a good
American out of him, it is doing a good work.”
Secretary Redfield told of his business experience in the placing
of the product to keep the employment end busy, and mentioned
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some of the results which followed what he termed “ a kind of scien
tific employment.” In the factory to which he referred it was the
policy that no man should be discharged and it was therefore up to
the selling department to keep that policy moving. Care was exer
cised in the employment of men, which was handled by one executive.
A policy of watching men grow in efficiency was adopted, and pay
was voluntarily increased as soon as deserved. Reduction of wages
never occurred. The result of this policy was a factory force of
“ very unusual quality and of very unusual productiveness.” The
Secretary urged the importance of hiring men with the same care
that a machine is purchased, proper attention being given to the
kind of men employed, always with the thought that “ brains and
hearts and dispositions and all sorts of elements that make up a
personality,” are being hired and not merely “ hands.” One element
neglected in the employment problem, asserted the Secretary, is the
human capacity for responsiveness, that is, a man wholly unadapted
for a certain job is allowed to continue because he was hired for that
particular job, whereas his efficiency would be increased if put at
work for which he is better fitted. The idea of selection in many of
our shops and offices is wholly unknown, it was stated. The benefits
of welfare work in factories were dwelt upon briefly.
In the general discussion it was brought out that an employment
managers’ association is not supposed to take the place of a manu
facturers’ association, that it has no policy with regard to organized
labor, and that it should take no part in legislative matters relating
to labor; but that it should be a forum of information and experience,
and that employees should be made to feel that they have a right to
participate in the questions before the association to the end that
real cooperation may result.
PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS.1
An extended consideration of employment problems is included in
the May issue of the Annals of the American Academy of Political
and Social Science which is devoted entirely to personnel and em
ployment problems in industrial management. Six of the papers
read at the Minneapolis employment managers’ conference2 are
reproduced together with 26 other articles, all of which are presented
under five general heads: (1) The place of the human element in
industrial management; (2) The functionalized employment depart1 A nnals of th e A m erican A cadem y of Political a n d Social Science, M ay, 1916. Personnel an d employ
m ent problem s. P h ilad elp h ia, 1916. 326 p p.
2 See page 17.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
ment; (3) Unnecessary hiring and firing of employees; (4) The
securing, selection, and assigning of employees; and (5) The em
ployee at work.
Attention to the human problems of labor has emphasized the need
for the development of a science of employment and personnel man
agement; and out of this need have grown, in recent years, several
employment managers’ associations offering an opportunity for
personnel executives to discuss their common problems, to the end
that some of the wastes experienced by both employers and em
ployees may be eliminated and the personnel function raised to
its proper place in industrial management'. The working program
of such an organization in Boston is outlined. Its objects as set
forth in its constitution are as follows:
1. To discuss problems of employees; their training and efficiency.
2. To compare experiences which shall throw light on failures and successes in
conducting the employment department.
3. To invite experts or other persons who have knowledge of the best methods or
experiments for ascertaining the qualifications of employees, and providing for their
advancement; and more particularly to study the questions connected with the most
effective employment of young people.
The importance of considerations affecting the interests of the
personnel is more and more being recognized, and employing con
cerns are increasingly establishing functionalized employment depart
ments to exercise supervision over all questions touching employees,
including the establishment of permanent relationships with the
sources of supply, and frequent suggestions of ways of improving
them; the careful selection of workers and the scientific fitting of
them to their jobs; the stabilization of the working force and the
regularization of employment; attention to the physical examination
of new and old employees as well as questions dealing with physical
conditions in the plant and at the homes of the workers; the follow
ing up of the employee after he is at work; the increase of his efficiency
by adequate training systems, and the supervision of the system of
promotions; the inauguration of plans of profit sharing; and the con
ducting of social-service work and group activities of employees.
“ Out of the labors of such an employment department improved
industrial relationships should grow, to the mutual advantage of
employer and employee.”
The greatest business problem to-day appears to be the human
problem of labor and the wise handling of men, and failure to meet
this problem results in part-time work, characterized as “ extrava
gantly wasteful,” and a high labor turnover, brought about by sea
sonal fluctuations, wrong selection of employees, arbitrary dismis
sals, unsatisfactory wages and hours of labor, failure to develop em-
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ployees’ fitness, lack of standardization and separation of jobs, little
or no attention to welfare considerations, and wrong personal meth
ods of handling employees. To avoid these errors of management a
highly efficient employment executive is necessary.
The functionalized employment department has been established
upon the application of the same reasoning to finding and maintain
ing the labor supply that has already been applied in industry to the
problems of building, equipment, mechanical supervision, and the
methods by which business is dispatched. It should be in direct
contact with the topmost management of the organization, should
cultivate sympathetic knowledge of the opinions of workers and
communicate these to the management, and should make a survey
of the requirements in the factory so as to show such facts as pre
ferred sources of supply for new employees, education or special
training required, any special attributes desired, initial wages paid,
opportunities for advancement in position and possible wage in
creases, working conditions and working hours, and labor turnover.
A study of this last item is particularly urged. The successful em
ployment department depends to a large extent on its cooperation
with other functionalized departments of the concern.
The question of personnel must ultimately be considered the real
problem of management. Two establishments operating under
identically the same conditions may achieve different results wholly
because of difference in the quality of their personnel. The quality
and quantity of the output of an organization are increased by in
creasing the quality and quantity of the output of the individual
worker, and this may be effected by developing and jwescribing tools
with regard to their suitability for the purpose of individual accom
plishment and by proper handling of materials and the installation
of methods developed under scientific management. “ Scientific
management will not have completed its mission when it has de
termined in each industry the best method of handling materials and
equipment in relation to workers, but when it has determined also
the principles which underly correct methods of handling men.”
The functions of an employment manager are:
To sustain a service department for the executives, an advisory bureau for the
employees; to fill vacancies with the minimum loss of tim e and w ith the maximum
satisfaction to executives; and to secure for those vacancies only those who w ill become
permanent employees; to transfer those employees not needed in one department to
fill vacancies where pressure is great; to help to maintain a contented, permanent
working force.
I t is very important that the employment manager should exercise
great care in the selection of employees because of the economic
waste occasioned in the hiring and training of new workers to take the
places of those who leave the organization on account of dissatis-
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MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS.
faction or of unsuitability for the work they are given to do. There
are certain factors which contribute to the cost of hiring and training
new employees:
1. Necessary clerical work in connection with the hiring process.
2. Instruction of new employees by foreman and assistants.
3. Increased wear and tear of machinery and tools by new
employees.
4. Reduced rate of production during the early period of employ
ment, and increased amount of spoiled work by new employees.
It is possible to eliminate to a large extent this economic waste:
1. A thorough study of current employment statistics, with a careful analysis of the
reasons for the discharge of employees, is needed in order to furnish a fact basis of local
as well as general conditions on which to predicate future action.
2. High-grade men must be placed in charge of hiring departments and must be
given adequate authority.
3. Proper methods must be devised for taking care of new employees, not only in
respect to their technical training and work, but also in reference to their personal
characteristics.
4. Effective systems of apprenticeship for boys and girls and of specialized training
courses for adult employees must be maintained.
5. Well-directed efforts should be made so to regulate commercial requirements as
to secure a fairly uniform production throughout the year.
In order further to reduce or eliminate this economic waste, it is
necessary to establish permanent contact with the sources of labor
supply; that is, employment departments must concern themselves
not only with the laborer after he comes into the plant, but must give
attention to the sources from which it may expect to recruit workers,
by cooperating with the various schools and colleges and employment
bureaus. I t is also possible to organize a source of labor supply within
the plant itself, and this is being done in some instances. I t is
important that written specifications for hiring be adopted in order
to define and describe men and jobs and their mutual relation, thus
bringing about a working basis of common agreement and under
standing among the directly interested personnel of the organization.
An employee should be selected as a result of a series of examinations
to determine his physical condition, his native intellectual ability,
and his technical ability.
That it is possible to determine- in advance whether or not a
student has a reasonable chance for success in any particular calling
is maintained in an article on mental tests in vocational guidance in
which it is shown that the psychologist can render valuable assistance
to school authorities by the examination of individual students for
the diagnosis of their mental equipment, and their personal abilities
and disabilities of mind.
The value of physical examinations of employees is suggested as
a means of developing individual and collective efficiency, and the
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25
results achieved in this connection by one large department store are
narrated. Another way to secure efficiency is by a policy of culti
vating the good will of employees through close personal relations
and mutual understanding. Then, too, employees should he provided
by the company with some form of definite training to fit them for
the requirements of the particular business; such training may be
expected to stimulate and aid efforts for the more careful analysis of
work and employees for that work, to serve as a point of contact
between public and cooperative interests in all grades of education, to
reduce labor turnover, and to be a most important factor in the
advancement of democracy in industry. This democracy, which
fosters a disposition to respect the opinions and human worth of other
people, particularly those less fortunate, is considered an important
factor in industrial efficiency, and it is believed that after the war in
Europe the trend toward democracy in government and industrial
systems will be definite and perhaps irresistible.
It is highly important for industries to make American citizenship
their immediate responsibility, and to eliminate citizenship tolls by
the adoption of methods which will conserve workmen and stabilize
the labor market. This can not be done by legislation, but must he
accomplished by the establishment, in each industry, of an employ
ment department, which will know its men and place them effectively
throughout the plant, supplementing this policy with a fair system
of promotion and transfer based on efficiency records. The labor
supply may be stabilized also by the extension of insurance to include
accidents, industrial diseases, health, sickness, and service annuities.
In connection with an adequate scheme of promotion, which is
deemed necessary to hold employees in an organization, a plan is
outlined which considers each man as occupying three positions, (1)
the position he last occupied, wherein he was a teacher of others, (2) the
position he is at present occupying, where he is actually in charge of
the work and is also a teacher of the men next below him, and (3) the
position he will next occupy, where he is to be a learner instructed in
the duties of the position immediately above.
Some consideration is given to the subject of the effect upon
workers of motion study which also implies fatigue study, and it is
claimed that motion study “ benefits employee as it does employer,
as it does all those actively engaged in working under or interested
in it, in that it makes (to do’ mean ‘ to be interested,’ and to be inter
ested means to be more efficient, more prosperous, and more happy.”
One important element in industrial efficiency is the home condi
tions of the workers, which must be carefully considered by any
establishment in training and educating and developing its young
workers with a view to maintaining health and prosperity among
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MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
them. The fundamental factors of home influence are physical,
mental, and moral, and it is important that industry should interest
itself in the maintenance of high standards along these lines if its
employees are to render the most efficient service.
“ Steady employment,” the supplement to this publication, is a
revision of a report of an investigation originally published by the
Philadelphia department of public works. This report was summa
rized in the March issue of the R e v i e w , page 26.
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS, JANUARY TO JUNE, 1916.
According to data compiled from various sources by the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of strikes and lockouts
during the six months January to June, 1916, inclusive, was 1,719.
The number similarly compiled during the first six months of the
calendar year 1915 was 487.
The following table shows the number of strikes and lockouts
begun in each of the months of January to June, 1916, inclusive,
together with 141 strikes and lockouts reported as having occurred
during the period, although the month in which they began was not
reported. The strikes and lockouts were distributed as follows:
N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S A N D LO C K O U TS B E G IN N IN G IN E A C H M O N TH , JA N U A R Y TO
J U N E , 1916, IN C L U S IV E .
K in d of dispute.
Jan u
ary.
F eb ru March.
ary.
A pril.
May.
June.
M onth
not
stated.
Total.
S trikes.........................................................
L ockouts....................................................
151
8
157
5
215
8
317
11
478
15
201
12
133
8
1,052
67
T o ta l................................................
159
162
223
328
493
213
141
1,719
The column for June includes disputes that began in that month
only. During this month 152 other disputes were reported which
either began in preceding months or the date of beginning was not
given. These disputes have been placed in the columns in which
they belong. More detailed accounts of the disputes reported for
each month preceding June may be found in former numbers of the
R e v ie w .
DISPUTES REPORTED DURING JUNE, 1916.
The number of strikes during June shows a marked decrease from
that during the preceding three months. With the exception of the
'strike of the longshoremen on the Pacific coast and the strikes of the
bay and river steamboatmen in San Francisco Bay and vicinity and
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27
on the Columbia River which lasted practically throughout the
month and in which upwards of 12;000 men were involved, the strikes
were local in character and were devoid of general interest. The
series of coal strikes which began in May, relative to the interpreta
tion of the eight-hour clause in the recently-made contracts, continued
into June, but seems now to have come to an end, having generally
been settled by the adoption of compromise measures. The other
more important strikes have been in the iron mines on the Mesaba
Range, Minn.; strikes of machinists in Denver, Cincinnati, Hamilton
(Ohio), Newark, and New York City; shipbuilders in Baltimore, Md.,
and Wilmington, Del.; all workingmen in Butte, Mont.; shingle weav
ers in Washington; longshoremen in Boston and Buffalo; laborers
in Boston, Providence, and Kansas City; teamsters in New York City,
Cincinnati, and Minneapolis; and street railway men in southeastern
Connecticut. The cloak makers’ strike in New York City continued
throughout the month and the long-continued strike of Stetson
hatters came to an end.
The data in the following tables relate to 365 strikes and lockouts
concerning which information was received by the bureau during
the month of June. These include, in addition to the 201 strikes
and 12 lockouts which began in June, 143 strikes and 9 lockouts
which were reported during the month, but began as follows: 82
strikes and 7 lockouts in May, 22 strikes and 1 lockout in April, 6
strikes in March, 1 strike in February, and 32 strikes and 1 lockout
the dates of commencement of which were not reported, but most of
which probably occurred in May or June. Inasmuch as strikes
which start toward the end of a month frequently do not come to
the attention of the bureau until after the report for the month has
been prepared, it is probable that corrected figures for June will
show an increase over the number of strikes herein reported for
that month.
Of the disputes reported during June, 12 strikes occurred east of
the Mississippi and south of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers, 58 strikes
and 4 lockouts west of the Mississippi, and the remaining 274 strikes
and 17 lockouts in the district north of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers
and east of the Mississippi. More than one-half of these strikes
occurred in four States.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS.
ST A T E S IN W H IC H F IV E OR M ORE S T R IK E S A N D LO C K O U TS W E R E
D U R IN G JU N E , 1916.
State.
REPO RTED
Strikes. Lockouts.
Pennsylvania.................................................................................................................
New Y ork..................................................................
M assachusetts.........................................................
Ohio...........................................................................
N ew Jersey.....................................................................................................................
W ashin g to n ...................................................................................................................
Illinois A ..................................................................
M ichigan....................................................................
C onnecticut..............................................................................
R hode Islan d .................................................................................................................
California.........................................................................................................................
In d ia n a ............................................................................................................................
M innesota.......................................................................................................................
M issouri...........................................................................................................................
Io w a .................................................................................................................................
W est V irginia................................................................................................................
M aryland........................................................................................................................
O regon.............................................................................................................................
Colorado....................................................................................., ...................................
W isconsin.......................................................................................................................
15 States..........................................................................................................................
55
52
35
35
23
15
13
10
9
9
8
6
6
5
6
6
5
5
5
5
31
T o ta l.....................................................................................................................
344
Total.
1
1
4
1
1
2
56
53
39
36
24
15
15
12
9
9
8
8
7
7
6
6
6
6
5
5
33
21
365
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
Six strikes and 1 lockout were confined to women; 7 strikes and 1
lockout included both men and women; in 19 strikes and 1 lockout
the sex was not stated.
The industries in which four or more strikes and lockouts were
reported were as follows:
N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S A N D L O C K O U TS IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S R E P O R T E D
JU N E , 1916.
In d u stry .
Strikes. Lockouts.
M etal tra d e s...................................................................................................................
B uilding tra d e s............................................................................................. ............
M ining...........................................................................................................................
B akers...........................................................................................
L aborers..........................................................................................................................
Clothing indu stries..................................................................................
W ood w orkers......................................................................................
T eam sters....................................................................................................
Textile w orkers.............................................................................................................
Q uarrying and stone w orking...................................................................................
Glassworkers...........................................................................................
Longshoremen and freight h an d lers.......................................................................
Street railw ay s............ ...................................................................
R ailroad s__ .....................................................................................
Steam boat m e n ............................................................................
B utchers......................................................................................
P rin tin g and p u b lishing............................................................................................
Cigar makers.*...............................................................................................................
L eather w orkers...........................................................................................
Iron and steel m ills......................................................................................................
All others................................................................................
T o tal...........................................................................................
67
49
48
12
15
12
12
11
10
10
8
8
6
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
44
344
3
3
D U R IN G
Total.
8
70
52
48
14
17
12
12
12
u
10
8
8
6
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
52
21
365
2
2
1
1
1
Included in the above are 30 strikes of machinists, 14 strikes and
2 lockouts of molders, and 13 strikes of carpenters; 43 of the mining
strikes were in coal mines.
In 222 strikes and 17 lockouts the employees were connected with
unions; in 9 strikes they were not so connected; in 4 strikes they
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
29
were not connected with unions at the time of striking, but organized
themselves into unions during the course of the strike; in the re
maining 109 strikes and 4 lockouts it was not stated whether the
strikers had union affiliations or not.
In 289 cases the causes of the strikes and lockouts were given.
In nearly 80 per cent of these the question of wages or hours, or both,
was a prominent one. The principal causes are shown in the fol
lowing table:
P R IN C IP A L C A USES O F S T R IK E S AN D LO C K O U TS R E P O R T E D D U R IN G JU N E , 1916.
Cause.
Strikes. Lockouts.
6
1
1
Total.
F or increase of w ages..................................................................................................
Because of reduction of w ages..................................................................................
F or decrease of h o u rs...................................................................................................
F or increase of wages a n d decrease of h o u rs.........................................................
General conditions.......................................................................................................
Conditions a n d w ages.................................................................................................
Conditions a n d h o u rs..................................................................................................
Conditions, wages, and h o u rs...................................................................................
Recognition an d closed sh o p .....................................................................................
Recognition an d w ages...............................................................................................
Recognition an d h o u rs...............................................................................................
Recognition, wages, a n d h o u rs.................................................................................
Because of discharge of em ployees..........................................................................
Because of em ploym ent of nonunion m en............................................................
In regard to th e agreem ent........................................................................................
Jurisdictional................................................................................................................
S y m p a th y ......................................................................................................................
Miscellaneous................................................................................................................
N ot re p o rte d ...........................................................................................
....
no
2
24
44
3
5
1
4
10
6
4
5
13
9
11
2
1
13
G8
8
11
2
1
18
76
T o tal.....................................................................................................................
344
21
365
4
1
122
3
25
44
3
5
1
4
14
6
4
6
13
9
In 138 of the strikes the number of persons involved was reported
to be 105,236, an average of 763 per strike. In 24 strikes, in each
of which the number involved was over 1,000, the strikers numbered
81,600 persons, thus leaving 23,636 involved in the remaining 114
strikes, or an average of 207 in each. In 9 lockouts the number of
employees involved was reported to be 4,639, an average of 515
per lockout. In 6 lockouts, in each of which the number involved
was less than 1,000, the number was reported to be 428, or an average
of 71 to each.
In 212 strikes and 16 lockouts only 1 employer was concerned in
each disturbance; in 7 strikes, 2 employers; in 8 strikes and 1 lockout,
3 employers; in 12 strikes and 2 lockouts, more than 3; in 105
strikes and 2 lockouts the number of employers was not stated.
Of 71 strikes reported as ending in June, 22 were won; 12 lost;
17 compromised. In 14 the strikers returned to work under
promise of the employer to arbitrate the matters in dispute; in 6
the result was not reported. The duration of 57 of these strikes was
given as follows: One day, 6; 2 days, 4; 3 to 7 days, 20; 1 to 2
weeks, 14; 2 weeks to 2 months, 11; over 3 months, 2. Omitting
the last two mentioned, the duration of the remaining 55 strikes
was 611 days, or an average of 11 days each.
52445°—16— 3
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES.
Reports to the Bureau of Labor Statistics from approximately 725
retail dealers in 44 of the principal industrial cities of the United
States show that the retail price of the principal articles of food
taken as a whole was the same on May 15 as on April 15, 1916.
While all meats and a number of other articles increased in price,
the marked decline in the price of butter, an article heavily weighted
in the consumption of workingmen’s families, offset the lesser
advances in other articles not so heavily weighted.
The following table shows the relative retail prices on April 15
and May 15, 1916, of 26 of the articles covered by the bureau’s
reports, together with the average money prices on the same dates.
A V E R A G E M O N E Y R E T A IL P R IC E S A N D R E L A T IV E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F FO O D ON
A P R . 15 A N D M AY 15, 1916.
[The relativ e price shows th e per cent th a t th e average price on th e 15th of each m o n th was of the average
price for th e year 1915.]
Average money
price—
Article.
U n it.
A pr. 15,
1916
Sirloin s t e a k ................................................... r .............
Round ste a k ...................................................................
R ib ro a st..........................................................................
Chuck ro a s t.....................................................................
P late boiling b e e f .........................................................
P ork chops......................................................................
Bacon, sm oked..............................................................
H a m , sm o k ed....................................................... ........
L ard, p u re .......................................................................
H e n s .................................................................................
Salmon, c an n e d .............................................................
Eggs, stric tly fresh ........................................................
B u tte r, cream ery..........................................................
Cheese...............................................................................
Milk, fresh.......................................................................
Flour, w h e a t...................................................................
Corn m eal........................................................................
R i c e .................................................................................
Potatoes...........................................................................
O n io n s.............................................................................
Beans, n a v y ....................................................................
P ru n e s ..............................................................................
R aisins, seed ed ..............................................................
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ..........................................................
Coffee................................................................................
T ea....................................................................................
P o u n d ..........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
D ozen...........
P o u n d ____
........d o ...........
Q u a rt...........
4-barrel b a g .
P o u n d ..........
........d o ...........
P e c k .............
P o u n d ..........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
All a rtic le s c o m b in e d ...............................................
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[ 202]
$0.268
.239
.210
.169
.128
.226
.284
.284
.158
.237
.202
.268
.418
.217
.090
.953
.031
.091
.048
.092
.130
.127
.080
.302
.551
May 15,
1916
.218
.216
.174
.130
.230
.290
.289
.169
.241
.202
.278
.375
.247
.090
.953
.031
.091
.360
.051
.093
.130
.127
.086
.302
.551
R elative p r i c e
(average price for
the year 1915=
100) —
A pr. 15,
1916
105
105
105
105
105
111
104
110
107
114
101
80
116
107
100
May 15,
1916
99
100
155
138
120
98
101
121
100
100
108
109
108
108
107
113
106
112
114
116
101
83
104
107
100
95
99
100
157
147
121
98
101
130
100
100
107
107
31
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
The table given below shows the average money prices and the
relative prices of the same 26 articles on May 15 of each year from
1912 to 1916:
A V E R A G E M O N EY R E T A IL P R IC E S A N D R E L A T IV E P R IC E S O P FO O D ON MAY 15 O F
EA C H Y E A R , 1912 TO 1916.
[The relative price shows th e p er cent th a t th e average price on th e 15th of May in each y ear was of th e
average price for th e year 1915.]
Average m oney price May 15—
A rticle.
1912
Sirloin stea k .....................
R ound s te a k ....................
R ib ro a st...........................
Chuck ro a s t......................
P la te boiling beef............
P ork chop s.......................
Bacon, sm o k ed ................
H a m , sm o k ed ..................
L a rd , p u re ........................
H e n s ..................................
Salm on, can n ed ..............
Eggs, stric tly fresh.........
B u tter, cream ery............
Cheese................................
Milk, fresh........................
F lour, w h e a t....................
Corn m e a l.........................
R ice....................................
P otatoes............................
O nions...............................
Beans, n a v y .....................
P ru n e s ...............................
R aisins, seeded...............
Sugar, g ran u lated ...........
Coffee.................................
T e a .....................................
R elative price, May 15 (average
for th e year 1915= 100)—
U n it.
1913
1914
1915
1916
1912
1913
1914
1915
P o u n d ... 10.235 SO. 255 SO. 258 $0.255 SO.276
. . . d o ......... .200
.221
.232
.228
.248
. . .d o ......... .192
.200
.202
.200
.216
.. .d o .........
.169
. 161
. 174
. . . d o .........
.125
. 123
. 130
. . . d o ......... .193
.209
.224
.209
.230
. . .d o ......... .243
.273
.271
.271
.290
. . . d o ......... .240
.263
.263
.253
.289
. . . d o ......... .146
.158
.151
.155
.169
. . . d o ......... .204
.223
.214
.227
.241
.. .d o .........
.200
.202
Dozen___ .255
.258
.265
.258
.278
Pound...
.364
.367
.328
.349
.375
. . . d o .........
.233
.247
Q u a rt___ .087
.090
.090
.089
.090
¿ -b a rre l
.873
.803
.793 1.114
.953
bag.
P o u n d ... .030
.028
.030
.032
.031
. . . d o .........
.091
.091
P eck........ .438
.236
.289
.229
.360
P o u n d ...
.042
.051
.. .d o .........
.076
.093
. . . d o .........
. 134
. 130
. . .d o .........
. 127
.126
. . . d o ......... .063
.053
.050
.068
.086
. . .d o ........
.302
.302
. . . d o .........
.551
.551
92
88
96
100
97
100
101
102
101
105
95
89
93
99
98
103
100
102
107
107
no
99
102
105
109
76
102
77
101
79
91
97
87
100
80
100
79
100
100
100
100
101
103
99
98
102
103
100
77
97
101
99
111
Ail a rtic le s c o m b in e d ..
95
90
95
191
103
126
96
81
76
96
95
96
101
100
100
123
98
101
100
103
100
100
98
1916
108
109
108
108
113
106
112
114
116
83
104
100
95
99
157
147
191
101
130
100
107
Comparing prices on May 15 of each year from 1912 to 1916, all
articles, excepting potatoes, were higher on May 15, 1916, than on
May 15, 1912. Only three articles—flour, corn meal, and prunes—
were lower in price on May 15, 1916, than on the 15th of May of the
previous year; three articles—rice, coffee, and tea—were the same
in price; all other articles advanced during the year.
In May, 1916, food prices as a whole were 11 per cent higher than
in May, 1912, and 9 per cent higher than in May, 1915. For the
four years prior to 1915 May prices as a whole made little change,
differing but 2 per cent between May 15, 1912, and May 15, 1915.
COST OF LIVING—STATS OF WASHINGTON.
A household budget of foodstuffs and fuels in Seattle, Wash.,
increased 10 per cent in 1916 over 1914, based on prices prevailing
in April of each year, and 6 per cent in 1915, according to a report
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issued by tlie bureau of labor of that State.1 The increase in Tacoma
in 1916 over 1914 was 10 per cent, and in 1915,6 per cent; and in
Spokane the increase was only 1 per cent in 1916 over 1914, and
less than 1 per cent (0.6 per cent) in 1915. The items in the budget
included 58 different articles, which were selected after consulting
with different families and investigating the average monthly accounts
of numerous families. The investigation was first undertaken in
1914, and the identical budget was used in compiling the figures for
1915 and 1916.
It is perhaps regrettable that no estimate is made of the cost of
living for the State as a whole. The following table gives the actual
cost of the family budget used in the inquiry in the three principal
cities, Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane, and for three other divisions
of the State, comprising 41 cities,, excluding the cities named. It
shows both actual and relative costs on the base of 1914.
A C TU A L A N D R E L A T IV E COST O F A H O U S E H O L D B U D G E T O F 58 A R T IC L E S IN T E R M S
O F T H E A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S IN A P R IL O F E A C H Y E A R , 1914-1916.
AMOUNT.
Year.
Seattle.
1914.................................................
1915.................................................
1916.................................................
$418.46
443.72
461. 42
Tacoma.
Spokane.
$431.57
434.22
437.35
South
western.
N orthw estern.
E astern.
$424.03
444.92
463.50
$405.93
424. 80
424.89
$416. 82
418.19
435.78
$428.94
442.06
453.55
100.00
100. 61
101.34
100.00
104.65
104.68
100.00
100.33
104. 55
100.00
103.06
105.74
RELATIVE.
100.00
106.03
110.27
100.00
100.03
110. 27
THE LABOR CONTRACT AS PROPERTY.
A court decision of special interest to labor is that of the Massa
chusetts Supremo Court, holding that the provision of the law declar
ing that the right to make contracts for labor is not property was a
violation of the provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the Fed
eral Constitution.
The law in question is chapter 778 of the Acts of 1914 of the Massa
chusetts Legislature, which declared the legality of agreements or
associations of workingmen for the betterment of conditions, and
forbade the issue of injunctions in cases of labor disputes unless to
prevent irreparable injury to property or a property right of the
applicant, for which no adequate remedy at law exists. Section 2
provided that in construing the act the right to enter or change the
relation of employer and employee or to do work and labor as an
1S tate of W ashington. C om parative statistics on foodstuffs a n d fuel for three years as show n in a budget
of th e an n u al cost of living of a fam ily of five persons, based on prices prevailing in A pril of each year.
A pril, 1916. Compiled b y th e State B u reau of L abor. O lym pia. [1916. 3 pp.]
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employee should he held to be a personal and not a property right,
and that no injunction should issue hi cases involving the breach of
a contract of employment where no irreparable damage to property
was about to be committed, the parties being left to their remedy at
law. The third section forbade the indictment or prosecution of any
person for entering into any agreement or combination for the better
ment of employment conditions, or for doing any act in pursuance of
such agreement, unless the act was in itself unlawful.
The constitutionality of this act was challenged in a case (Bogni v.
Perotti, 112 N. E., 853) decided by the Supreme Court of Massachu
setts on May 20, 1916, in which the plaintiff and his associates, mem
bers of a labor organization, sought an injunction to prevent the
defendant and his associates, members of a rival labor association,
from interfering unlawfully with the employment of the former.
Facts appeared that would, under the practice in the State, warrant
the issue of an injunction, but the defendants set up the statute above
described as a bar to the issue of any injunction in the circumstances
of such a dispute. The court, in holding that the provision of the
law declaring that the right to make contracts for labor is not prop
erty, was a violation of the provisions of the fourteenth amendment
to the Federal Constitution, quoted decisions of its own, of the
Supreme Court of Vermont, and of the Supreme Court of the United
States, to the effect that the right of personal liberty and the right of
property guaranteed by the Constitution include the right to make
contracts for the purchase and sale of labor; and that the right to
exchange labor and services for money is one of the chief rights of
23ersonal liberty and private property.
It was further held that the act would deprive workmen seeking
the protection of the law, as were the plaintiffs in the present case, of
an equal status with other suitors whose property was of a different
nature. “ That a man can not resort to equity respecting his prop
erty right to work in the ordinary case, simply because he is a laboring
man, and that he can not have the benefit of an injunction when such
remedies are open freely to owners of other kinds of property, needs
scarcely more than a statement to demonstrate that such a man is
not guarded in his property rights under the law to the same extent
as others.”
The legality of the association of workingmen for the purposes
mentioned in the statute was recognized, the law adding nothing to
the doctrine already established by numerous decisions of the State
courts. I t was also pointed out that “ I t is an elementary principle
of equity that an injunction never is issued except to prevent irre
parable injury;” adding that “ If the statute means anything more
than this, there would be other difficulties about its construction that
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need not now be elaborated.” For the defects of the second section,
therefore, the statute as a whole was held to be unconstitutional.
Special interest attaches to this decision for the reason that the
statute in question is of a form whose adoption has been widely urged
by organized labor, the declaration th a t 1‘The labor of a human being
is not a commodity or article of commerce,” bemg contained hi an
act of Congress (ch. 323, Acts of 1914); while other provisions of
the same act of Congress and certam provisions of chapter 233, Acts
of 1913, of the Legislature of Kansas, resemble other portions of the
Massachusetts statute. Similar enactments are being urged in other
States. Granting, as has been said, that a workingman’s “ value in
the economic world depends upon labor power or power to produce,”
it is evident that the mode of its classification and protection is of the
first importance, and this finding of constitutional rather than of
statutory control, citing as it does the highest court of the land as
authority, gives to this Massachusetts decision an unusual significance.
LABOR LEGISLATION OF MASSACHUSETTS IN 1916.
At its session of the current year the Legislature of the State of
Massachusetts continued its policy of perfecting and extending the
laws affecting the conditions of employment in the State. Many of
the enactments were of minor significance, effecting slight changes in
the existing laws.
Of importance in connection with the law providing for compensa
tion of injured workmen was the reduction of the waiting time for the
commencement of compensation payments from 2 weeks to 10 days.
Another act declared the equality in all respects of all mutual liability
companies authorized to do business in the State with the Massachu
setts Employees Insurance Association, which was created by a special
provision of law for the purpose of writing compensation insurance.
The compensation law of this State is administered by an industrial
accident board of five members; there is also in the State a body of a
like number of persons known as the State board of labor and indus
tries, whose duty it is to appomt the commissioner of labor, to in
vestigate industrial conditions within the State with a view to
industrial development and the improvement of industrial condi
tions, to enforce labor laws, etc. By an act of 1913 these bodies,
sitting jointly, were directed to investigate employments and places
of employment within the State and decide upon and prescribe
reasonable means and requirements for the prevention of accidents
and industrial diseases. In a message of April 21 of the current year
the governor of the State, among other matters, called attention to
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this act, saying that “ The operations of this joint board have not
proved effective in any material degree.” The reasons for this failure
are briefly considered, and a recommendation made that the powers
and duties of the joint board be transferred to the industrial accident
board, which should be authorized to appoint a special deputy for the
specific ends contemplated by the act. An act was passed subsequent
to this recommendation, but instead of conferring the powers of the
joint board upon the industrial accident board they were transferred
to the State board of labor and industries, thus taking out of the hands
of the board which administers compensation for accidents the power
of determining and prescribing safety provisions—a movement in the
opposite direction from that taken by the considerable number of
States which have regarded it as desirable that accident compensa
tion and accident prevention should be closely correlated.
New legislation is contemplated in resolves directing the State board
of labor and industries to investigate the hours and conditions of labor
in hotels and restaurants, having in view the desirability of a law pro
viding one day's rest hi seven; directing the board of education to
investigate the subject of giving special training to injured persons
for the purpose of reestablishing or increasing their ability to earn a
livelihood; and providing for the appointment of a special recess com
mission on social insurance,1which is to give special attention to the
effect of sickness, unemployment, and old age in the State, and recom
mend such legislation as might seem practical and expedient to secure
relief from the burdens produced by these causes. An additional duty
was assigned to this commission by a subsequent resolve—that of
studying and investigating the subject of reasonable restrictions in
the hours of labor in industries operated continuously for 24 hours,
with recommendations for legislation.
“INDUSTRIAL NECESSITY” FOR POLITICAL CONTROL: AN
INCIDENT OF THE COLORADO MINERS’ STRIKE.
A recent decision of the supreme court of Colorado settled a num
ber of election contests growing out of the general election in Huerfano
County of that State, November, 1914. The offices of sheriff, county
clerk and recorder, county commissioner, and city assessor were
involved, and as the facts were identical in these cases they were con
solidated and decided with a single hearing. The decision of the
county court had been adverse to the contestants, and the matter
was brought to the supreme court on writ of error. E. L. Neelley
1 T he commission consists of Senators F arn sw o rth an d M cLane, R epresentatives Bowser, Catheron,
Medill, an d Morris, a n d three persons appointed b y th e governor, Mr. J . P . Meade, Miss E d n a Spencer and
W endell P . Thor6.
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was the plaintiff against J. D. Farr, holding the office of sheriff, and
the facts which developed in this particular contest are sufficient for
consideration as representative of the whole group. The following is
a summary of the findings of the court and of the evidence on which
such findings were based:
Farr had been sheriff for a number of years, and it was charged
that by combining with the other officers of the county and certain
corporations engaged in coal mining therein he had been able to con
trol and did control the government of the county and the processes
of election so as to corrupt the ballot and thwart the will of the
qualified electors. For a considerable time prior to the election in
1914 a strike of the coal miners of the locality had been in existence,
with rioting and violence, succeeded by the occupation of the terri
tory by Federal troops. Not long before the election voting pre
cincts were created, the boundaries of which were identical or prac
tically identical with the boundaries of what were known as closed
camps,” which were areas owned and controlled entirely by various
mining corporations, from, which it was testified all persons were
excluded unless by permission of the officials of the mining com
panies. In other cases the voting precincts were so arranged as to
make it necessary for qualified voters to go a great distance (18 to 20
miles) to cast their votes. Intimidation and the illegal voting of
unqualified persons were also charged. In the precincts at the
closed camps the apparent majority of Farr was 631, while in the
entire county he had a plurality of 329 votes. Excluding the closed
precincts Neelley had a majority of 302 votes. The situation as to
the other contestants was identical except for the number of votes
in different cases.
It was in evidence that the political party in power was employed
by the mining companies, of which the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. and
the Victor Fuel Co. were the principal ones, to maintain a control
over local affairs such as the companies conceived to be favorable to
their interests. The issue before the people at the time of the elec
tion was said to be a single one—the strike, and the candidates of the
dominant party ran on what was called a ‘Taw and order” platform,
which was generally understood to mean opposition to the strikers.
In the effort to secure the election of “ law and order” nominees the
precincts were made coterminous with the closed camps as above
indicated, these being in some cases protected by fences and in all
cases by armed guards. I t followed, almost without exception, that
the only residents of these precincts were the employees of the coal
companies, and that the judges, clerks, and officers of election were
also their employees. “ The polling places were upon the grounds
and in the buildings of these companies; the registration lists were
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kept within the private offices and buildings of these companies, and
used and treated as their private property.” Not only were organ
izers and “ agitators” excluded from these camps but merchants,
delivery men, and even friends and acquaintances were either abso
lutely debarred or required to get permits either from the mine offi
cials or from Farr, the sheriff. Political meetings were made impos
sible, and the examination of registration lists was either prevented
or so nearly so that no effective inspection was made. “ Thus were
the public election districts and the public election machinery turned
over to the absolute domination and imperial control of private coal
corporations and used by them as absolutely and privately as were
their mines to and for their own private purposes, and upon which
public territory no man might enter for either public or private pur
poses, except with the express permission of these private corpora
tions.”
A considerable amount of other evidence was cited and the conclu
sions reached were said by the court to be “ based upon admitted or
substantially undisputed testimony.” The testimony as to coercion
and intimidation was not discussed, the court saying that it was
voluminous, and that there was dispute concerning it. One point
dwelt upon was the furnishing of an identifying card by means of
which illiterate voters were enabled to vote as the companies de
sired, the court saying that the result “ was not an expression of
opinion or judgment, not an intelligent exercise of suffrage, but
plainly a dictated coal company vote. * * * No more fraudu
lent and infamous prostitution of the ballot is conceivable.”
The defense contended that the closed precincts were an “ indus
trial necessity, so that the conduct of the coal companies during
the campaign was justified. As to this the court said that however
justifiable the control of private property might be in its private
operation, there was no justification when the territory was dedicated
to a public use. “ The plain purpose of the formation of the new
precincts was that the coal companies might have opportunity to
control and conduct the elections therein, just as such elections were
conducted.”
The findings of fraud and illegal practices were such that a majority
of the court held that the vote of the closed precincts should be
thrown entirely out of the count, and the election decided by the
results in the other precincts of the county. From this it followed
that the contestants were ordered installed in the respective offices
upon qualification as required by law. Four judges concurred in
this conclusion, one had not heard the oral argument and took no
part in the decision, and two dissented.
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CHILD LABOR IN MARYLAND, 1915.
The Twenty-fourth Annual R eport1 of the Bureau of Statistics and
Information of Maryland just issued is almost wholly devoted to an
account of the extent of child labor in Maryland and the administration
of the laws designed to protect it. Only a small part of the bureau’s
duties are devoted to factory inspection in general, as the protective
labor code of Maryland is very largely a child-labor code. The report
under review is made up of a series of somewhat disconnected parts.
The nature of its scope may be inferred from its contents: General sum
mary and introduction; retrospect of three years’ work; the bureau’s
stewardship during 1915; contribution of the children of Baltimore
to the world’s work of 1915; why children seek new jobs; report of
city medical examiners; newsboys and other street traders; stage
children; control of children in western Maryland; issuance of em
ployment certificates in the counties other than in western Maryland;
the bureau inspection during 1915; child-labor inspection on the
Eastern Shore of Maryland; factory inspection in Baltimore City;
strikes; efforts to establish a labor exchange; and financial statement.
Maryland has over 155,000 children between the ages of 10 and
16 years, 18 per cent of whom are gainfully employed. Under the
law the State has exercised supervision over the working environ
ment of 10 out of every 18 at work. The welfare of the other 8
engaged mainly in agriculture, animal husbandry and domestic serv
ice, is intrusted to parental feeling and public sentiment, declares the
bureau.
The administration of the child-labor law of Maryland cost that
State $17,618 during 1915, $11,965 of which was expended for salaries.
This does not include the printing of the annual report which cost
approximately $1,300. According to the report—
For three and a half years Maryland has had, barring exceptions, a good child-labor
law. Save for these exceptions the law is the State’s hill of rights for the child, fully
protecting his claim to exemption from service in the ranks of wage earners, and his
title to schooling up to 14 years of age and through the fifth grade. The law raises
into plain view Maryland’s ideal of social responsibility for the child, but the ex
emptions mark with ecpial clearness the extent to which the State has fallen below
its own ideals.
The arguments generally advanced in support of these exemptions
are, according to the report, that the earnings of child wage earners
contributed to the family are necessary for the needs of the family;
that wage earning has educational value; and that the industry
needs the child’s recreation and play hours.
By inference the report answers the argument of the educational
value of work by pointing out the defective schooling of many of
i T w enty-fourth A n n u al R eport of th e B ureau of S tatistics an d Inform ation of M aryland, 1915.
more, 1916. 235 pp.
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Maryland’s working children under 14 years of age. “ There are
concrete evidences that, aided by the vacation permits, some parents
are robbing their children of all schooling. * * * More im
portant than the child’s right to an education,” the report declares,
further, “ is his claim upon the State for protection against injury to
his health, whether in school, at home, at work, or at play.”
In this connection there is emphasized the need of extending the
list of so-called hazardous employments in which children have been
employed under the Maryland law. Thus, children working hi the
clothing industry rank third in number employed. This industry,
nevertheless, accounts for nearly 50 per cent of minor injuries to
children, although employing less than a fifth of all children in
industry. During the year ending November 1, 1915, the State
industrial accident commission passed upon 22 cases of claims for
injuries to children under 16 years of age.
In some case's these injuries were so serious as to result in amputations. The in
dustries which employ four-fifths of the children report about one-half of the serious
accidents. The fact that a number of injuries were sustained while the boys were
working strictly in accordance with the terms of the permit is a final and compelling
proof of the need of carefully scrutinizing the working environment of Maryland’s
bread-winning children and making a discriminating classification of occupations on
the basis of the physical demands which they make, in order to insure to the children
full protection from the hazards of industry during the State’s period of guardianship.
The problem of child labor in Maryland being very largely asso
ciated with the city of Baltimore, the bureau gives figures that
throw light on the extent of child labor in that city. During the
year the bureau considered 15,907 applications for permits to work,
or approximately an average of 52 for every working day. Out of
this mass of applications 2,248 permits for street trade were issued,
the largest number in any single trade. Permits were refused to 1,159
applicants, 382 permits were temporarily withheld, and 746 failed to
follow up their applications. In the progress of issuing these permits
certain facts were learned concerning the child wage earners of Bal
timore. Data concerning 7,141 individuals to whom were granted
original general and vacation permits, and street trade and stage
permits, showed that 5,102, or 71 per cent were born in Baltimore,
while the next largest proportion, 907, or 13 per cent, were foreign
born. Excluding those granted stage permits (53 in number), 51
per cent were American white, 17 per cent Hebrew, while no other
nationality numbered as much as one-half of those of Hebrew par
entage.
It appears, the report continues, that there is evidence some progress
has been made in efforts to impress upon the public the inadvisability
of allowing young children to become wage earners. Thus the num-
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ber of general permits granted in 1913 declined from 6,571 to 3,252
during 1915, while vacation permits declined from 2,546 to 1,588.
The report also notes gratifying results in the matter of the in
creased educational qualifications of child wage earners entering
industry. Recently employment certificates have been refused to
those who have not completed the fifth grade. In 1913 only 42 per
cent of the children entering industry and engaging in street trade
had finished grades above the fifth; in 1914, this group represented
55 per cent of the total, and in 1915, 61 per cent. The low percentages
noted are undoubtedly due to the fact that children 10 years of age
may engage in selling newspapers, and, of course, have not completed
the fifth grade. “ Jobs are always to be had,” the report comments,
further, “ and serve to draw the children away from school. I t re
mains, therefore, for the schools to offer advantages which will offset
the lure of industry.”
The bureau points out of what this lure of industry consists.
The largest group go to work as the result of financial need. The
second largest group go to work, inspired by real ambition to learn
a trade or to secure business training, but a large number, it is stated,
look merely for a means of escaping irksome school duties, or merely
follow blindly the example of other schoolmates.
Referring to the fact that children enter industry by reason of the
financial needs of their families, the report remarks that, if the 15,000
child wage earners were to be withdrawn from industry, it is not unrea
sonable to believe that a slight increase in the wages of their elders
would result, more than offsetting the small earnings of the children.
It may be stated, as a fairly well-known fact, that there is a great
deal of shifting from job to job on the part of child wage earners.
The cause of this was sought by the bureau. An examination of the
reasons for leaving former jobs, as given by 3,854 children to whom
permits were issued, showed the following: Services no longer needed
(31.1 per cent of all instances); low wages (16.7 per cent); excessive
physical demands in. the industry (16.7 per cent); dislike of the work
or place (9.8 per cent); other reasons or reasons not reported (25.7
per cent).
Commenting on the fact that approximately one-third left the
industry because of not being needed, the bureau remarks:
Tlie seriousness of this situation as reflecting the irregularity of employment is
manifest when it is understood that all of these children were working on general
employment certificates. In other words, they had entered industry permanently
and were in the market for steady jobs.
Those industries in which this irregularity of employment effected
the greatest number were found to be, in order, as follows: Canning;
bottle stopper; artificial flower; straw hat; confectionery; mercantile;
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copper, tin, and sheet iron; printing; glass; paper box. Those employ
ments which it was claimed had forced out children because of the ex
cessive physical demand wore, in order, as follows: Wooden box; glass;
confectionery; straw hat; copper, tin, and sheet iron; office; clothing;
textile; mercantile; telegraph and telephone.
Undersize and underweight were the chief factors in excluding boys
from industry, according to the report of the medical examiner who
passed upon the applications of 5,863. Of all specific defects causing
a refusal of permit, the most important was that of carious teeth;
enlarged tonsils and adenoids were the next most frequent imperfec
tion. The female medical inspector, who made 4,463 examinations,
reported that eye diseases and defects of vision ranked first in number,
causing a refusal of permit. Diseased tonsils and adenoids ranked
next in number.
Of the occupations which child wage earners enter, ono of the most
common, probably, is newspaper selling; hut the report also finds
this to he the trade most productive of truancy from school and of
juvenile delinquency. Twelve and one-half per cent of Baltimore
newsboys are to he found on the docket of the juvenile court; 95 per
cent of the school children admitted to the parental school for repeated
truancy have been newsboys or street traders; and 43 per cent of the
children at the Maryland Industrial School (a reform school) have
been engaged in some street trade.
The average weekly income of 1,342 newsboys in Baltimore
reporting was $1.35 per week, the highest being $1.80 and the
minimum $1.15.
The number of children granted certificates in Baltimore for
employment on the stage, although not large in comparison with the
total number in industry, increased during 1915. There were 76
applications for permits for stage work, 70 of which were granted
and 6 refused, against 44 in 1914, 37 granted and 7 refused. The 76
applications in 1915 were for 28 different shows. The age of appli
cants ranged from 3 to 15 years, the largest single proportion, or 20
per cent, being 10 years of age.
Turning to the employment of children in parts of the State other
than Baltimore, it is noted that the difficulty of inspection is some
what greater by reason of the extent of territory to be covered and
the seasonal character of the canning industry in which is employed
the largest proportion of child wage earners outside of the city of Bal
timore.
What may be termed the second half of the report under review is
devoted to the inspection work of the bureau. For the work of the
bureau is twofold, first, oversight of the admission of children into
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industry through the issuance of permits after examination of the
child’s physical, educational, and age qualifications, and second, the
following up of the child by frequent inspection after his admission
into the ranks of industry.
The staff of eight members had subject to its supervision during
1915, 15,194 children; in 1914, 16,147; and in 1913, 10,914. These
are the children in the State at the end of each year since December 1,
1912, who have been licensed to work.
Even after a license to work has been issued, inspection of the work
of the children continues. The total number reported through
inspection in 1915 was 7,350; 2,000 by the inspector assigned to the
Eastern Shore; 1,000 by the inspector in the clothing and tobacco
industries; 350 by the inspector in western Maryland; and 4,000 by
the inspectors in Baltimore (including some canning districts outside
of the city). Of the 4,000 last named, about 3,000 worked in the city.
Since there are 6,000 licensed child workers in Baltimore alone, there
fore, as only 3,000 were reported by inspection, the work of the four
inspectors in this district in 1915 fell 50 per cent short of their task.
During the year the bureau found 1,463 violations of the childlabor law, of which 905 were found in Baltimore City and 558 in the
comities. The most common violation was that of employing a child
without a permit (1,063 instances,or 73 per cent, of the total reported).
The next largest proportion of violations consisted hi returning the
permit to the child instead of to the bureau (290 instances, or 2 per
cent). All of these latter instances were found in,Baltimore City, as
were also the largest proportion (62 per cent) of all violations. Sev
enty-one cases were noted of employment below the legal age, of which
41, or 58 per cent, were found hi the counties outside of Baltimore.
Instances are cited to show the cunning attempts on the part of
parents to falsify birth certificates.
As to the administration of the law, the report emphasizes repeatedly
the difficulty of proper enforcement because of political interfer
ence in the appointment of the staff, resulting in lack of technical
qualifications and indifference to the duties imposed by the law; dif
ficulty in securing competent proof of age by reason of obstacles pre
sented by foreign applicants for permits, “ by the passive attitude
of the public, the puzzled reluctance of parents, the impatient opposi
tion of employers, and by the active and insidious political infiuence
which manifested itself at every turn,” and finally the difficulties
imposed by the existence of numerous exceptions in the existing law.
The inspectors themselves should not be held entirely to blame for
this, the report notes, but rather the spoils system as a whole of which
they are merely a part. And on the whole matter of political meddling
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43
in the inspection department, the bureau quotes from its report of
1914, as follows:
Unprotected by civil service or any other system that insures not only tenure of
office, but moral support in the discharge of duties, the administration of the law is
constantly exposed to quiet but positive political pressure, often quite indirect.
* * * The public attitude toward the law is largely passive, and such active inter
est as exists takes the form either of seeking jobs or of securing exemption both in the
issuance of employment certificates and in the administration of other provisions of the
law. The ordinary citizen does not so much expect his representative or any other
public official to discharge specific duties, as he expects to secure through him favora
and exemptions; the denial of these, whether direct or through another official whose
aid has been enlisted, results, and more often threatens to result, in attacks on those
sections of the law which afford the child legal protection. * * * A superficial
consideration of the obstacles in the way of protecting children in industry leads
generally “ to the greed and ignorance of employers and parents.” These, however,
are insignificant compared with interference of politically minded persons who seek
on every hand to nullify the intent of the law.
A now child-labor law went into effect in Maryland on June 1, 1916,
after the publication of the bureau’s report. This law very largely
rewrites the former one, making some changes also in the method of
administration, particularly in the issuance of employment certifi
cates. The bureau of statistics and information is converted into a
board of labor and statistics, at the head of which are a chairman and
two advisory commissioners. The new law embodies a principle of
child-labor legislation long contended for by advocates of child-labor
reform, by prescribing a flat minimum age of employment in all
manufacturing, mercantile, and mechanical industries, excepting only
canneries and newspaper selling. In the two last-named industries
the minimum age is 12 years. The law limits the working hours of all
children under 16 to 8 a day (between 7 a. m. and 7 p. m.) and to 48
hours a week. Children under 16 are withdrawn from the stage,
theaters, moving-picture establishments, tobacco factories, and from
the operation of cross-cut saws, slashers, or any power machinery.
The striking out of the exemptions as to the above-mentioned indus
tries may be expected to remedy some of the bad conditions spoken of
in the report.
MINER’S NYSTAGMUS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Miner’s nystagmus as an occupational disease has received but
scant attention in this country. In fact, no thorough investigation
to disclose its prevalence has been made, so that, although it is known
to exist, no definite information is available as to the extent to which
the industry is affected by this disease. In a bulletin recently
issued by the United States Bureau of Mines this subject is treated
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from the standpoint of European experience, particularly that of
England and Germany, where nystagmus appears to be so common
as to merit recognition among occupational diseases for which com
pensation is paid.1
Two views are advanced as to the cause of miner’s nystagmus.
“ One attributes it to eyestrain duo to working in a badly lighted s p a c e
with black light-absorbing surfaces; the other to strain of the extrin
sic muscles of the eye, especially of the elevator muscles, due to the
position of the miner when at work at the coal face or when examin
ing the roof of the workings to detect gas or threatening falls.” The
symptoms are described as follows:
There are usually objects dancing before the eye. There is oscillation of the
eyeball, headache is often present, and giddiness sometimes causes the miner to
stumble. The movements of the eyeballs are rotary and to and fro, rarely vertical;
the rapidity of the motion may be great. Tremors of the muscles of the head and
face are often associated with the trouble.2
There are two distinct varieties of the disease. In the first the symptoms are absent
or latent, and the man, suffering no disability, is unaware that he has nystagmus;
in the second the disease is manifest and the man is more or less incapacitated, and
aware that his eyes are affected.3
Among the English authorities quoted the consensus of opinion
appears to be that eyestrain due to deficient light is the chief cause
of this disease, and the observation is made by one writer that nystag
mus was first described at the time when the Davy lamp was intro
duced, and that since the enforcement by law of the use of safety
lamps the frequency of nystagmus has shown a marked increase.
Furthermore, it is pointed out that nystagmus does not occur in
metalliferous mines and rarely in coal mines where candles are used.
As shown by English experience, the malady as a rule does not
affect workers under 30 years of age and rarely until after 10 years of
work. Recovery may be expected, on cessation from pit work, in
three to twelve months time, although work not involving this peculiar
eyestrain may be undertaken long before the expiration of this time.
It is possible to prevent miner’s nystagmus. In the opinion of
two English authors4 quoted in the report under review, prevention
resolves itself into periodical medical examination of all underground
workers for the presence of refraction errors, for any signs of incipient
nystagmus, and for physical or nervous debility. They emphasize
the importance of adequate light, and express the opinion that if
electric lights were installed in all working places in collieries, or if
1 D epartm en t of th e In terior, B ureau of Mines B u lletin 93, M iners’ nystagm us, by Frederick L. Hoffman.
W ashington, 1916. 67 pp.
2 B arn ett, H . N ., Accidenta 1 injuries to w orkm en.
L ondon, 1909.
3 Llew ellyn, T. L ., A lecture on m iners’ n ystagm us: B ritish M edical Journal, June 28, 1913, p. 1359.
4 Browne, F . J., and Mackenzie, J . R ., T h e etiology an d tre a tm e n t of m iner’s nystagm us: B ritish Medical
Journal, Oct. 5,1912, pp. 837, 840.
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45
electric lamps capable of giving light for at least eight hours were
supplied to all underground workers miner’s nystagmus would soon
be unknown, and serious accidents to workmen, and consequent loss
to the employer, would much more rarely occur. “ They overlooked
the fact that electric light can not be used in gaseous mines for the
essential purpose of determining the presence of fire damp.” The
only curative treatment prescribed by these authors is rest, the use of
strychnine, and the correction of refraction errors. “ However, the
correction of refraction errors would require suitable glasses, which,
of course, could not be worn underground.” Their conclusions are
thus briefly stated:
1. There are certain important contributory factors in the production of miners’
nystagmus, such as inadequate light, refractive errors, and muscular strain.
2. Nystagmus is a menace to the miner working underground, as it may prevent
the early detection of flaws in the roof, and falls may result. An illustration of the
gravity of this danger is the fact that one of our cases was a colliery examiner.
3. We are convinced that the preventive and remedial measures suggested would,
if carried out thoroughly, soon make miners’ nystagmus a very rare complaint and
greatly facilitate the detection of the small blue cap which indicates the presence of
fire damp.
In a lecture on miner’s nystagmus by Dr. T. L. Llewellyn,1 pub
lished in the British Medical Journal of June 28, 1913, the author
presents an analysis of 600 manifest cases, found in 750 cases ex
amined, in which he shows that movements of objects was the most
frequent symptom indicated (94.3 per cent); that headache came
second in order of frequency (84.5 per cent); and giddiness third
(81.6 per cent); that the mean age of miners affected was 39.84 years,
and the mean number of years of underground life was 25.58 years.
Of 685 cases reporting as to occupation, 81.3 per cent were employed
at the face of the coal and of 580 cases holing and undercutting
accounted for 60 per cent. Seven hundred and forty-one of the men
examined had used safety lamps, while only 9 had used candles; and
the highest number of cases per 1,000 men employed occurred where
the average candle power of the lamps was lowest. The author dis
cusses the differential factors of illumination at the coal face, which
in the main consists of the candlepower of the source of light used,
the distance at which this light has to be placed from the coal face,
the character of the surroundings, and the composition of the air at
the coal face. The preventive measures suggested are as follows:
It is in tbe first place necessary to improve the miner’s lamp, and the mining
engineer must no longer be content with an average illumination of one-fiftieth of
a foot candle at the coal face.. The introduction of electric lamps into general use is
probable, as it seems unlikely sufficient light can be obtained in any other way. The
1 Llew ellyn, T . L. T y n d all research stu d en t of th e R oyal Society. A lecture on m iners’ nystagnus,
delivered a t th e M ining M achinery E x h ib itio n , London, M ay 31,1913.
52445°—16----- 4
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elimination of unfit workmen by medical examination before employment would
also be of the greatest service. Efficient ventilation and any hygienic measures will
also help.
A full discussion of the compensation paid to workmen for nystag
mus is contained in the first report of the Departmental Committee
on Compensation for Industrial Diseases.1 In that investigation it
was emphasized that the burden of proof should rest on the employer.
Upon the basis of the data procured the committee recommended
that miners’ nystagmus be added to the schedule of compensable
diseases. As to malingering, the author of the bulletin under review
says:
A review of the literature on malingering fails to sustain the conclusion that the
tendency to obtain compensation by fraud on account of impairment due to nystagmus
is at all common.
The following table exhibits the cases of nystagmus among miners
in the United Kingdom who received compensation under the Work
men’s Compensation Act during the five years ending with 1912:
C A SES O F M IN E R ’S N Y STA G M U S C O M PE N SA T E D F O R U N D E R T H E W O R K M E N ’S COM
P E N S A T IO N A CT, U N IT E D K IN G D O M , 1908-1912.
[The n u m b er of coal m iners h as been derived from th e a n n u al reports of th e chief inspector of mines and
quarries, a n d th e n u m b er of new cases an d new a n d old cases com bined from th e a n n u a l statistics of
th e operations of th e W orkm en’s Com pensation Act.]
Cases of nystagm us.
Year.
N um ber of
coal miners.
a te per N um ber R a te per
N um ber R 10,000
of old
10,000
of new
coal
a n d new
coal
cases.
m iners.
cases.
miners.
1908..........
1909..........
1910..........
1911..........
1912..........
972,232
997,708
1,032,702
1,049,897
1,072,393
386
631
956
1,374
1,376
4.0
6.3
9.3
13.1
12.8
T otal.
5,124,932
4,723
9.2
460
1.011
1.618
2,518
3,195
4.7
10.1
15.7
24.0
29.8
The above table emphasizes the importance of miner’s nystagmus
as an occupational disease. This aspect of the problem is briefly re
emphasized in the following introductory remarks to an extended
address on miner’s nystagmus in a course of lectures delivered before
the Royal College of Physicians of London by Shufflebotham.2
Miners’ nystagmus must be regarded as the commonest of all occupational diseases.
This may be due to the fact that the mining industry is, after agriculture, the largest
industry in the country. In my opinion the number of cases of miner’s nystagmus
far exceeds the numbers which would be given in compensation statistics which
1 R ep o rt of th e D ep artm en tal Com m ittee on Com pensation for In d u stria l Diseases. London, 1907, pp.
21, 22, 159-161, 402, 403.
2 Shufflebotham , F ran k . The hygienic aspects of th e coal-m ining in d u stry in th e U nited K ingdom .
B ritish M edical Jo u rn al, M arch 21,1914, p. 648.
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47
take account only of cases in which undoubted incapacity for work has been produced,
and not of the much larger numbers of early cases in which the patients are able to
continue in their employment.
The subject of miner’s nystagmus is referred to for the first time
at some length in the Home Office report on the statistics of com
pensation for the year 1912.1 After declaring that the “ figures for
nystagmus are remarkable/’ and reviewing the record of new and
“ continued” cases as shown in the table, the report continues:
* * * a comparison of 1912 with 1909 shows that the number of new cases arising
annually has more than doubled. The 1912 figures, however, show that the growth
in the number of new cases has stopped for the present. What is perhaps more im
portant is that the figures of “ continued cases” show that the proportion of longcontinued disablement cases is very high; the number of cases continued from 1911
to 1912 greatly exceeds the number of new cases that arose in 1911. It is evident that
the adoption of means to prevent the occurrence of this disease, which the most
recent investigations attribute to insufficiency of the light by which miners do their
work, is becoming a matter of importance to the employer.
The report states that during 1913 there was a further increase in
the number of new cases of nystagmus.
In commenting on the table given above the author of the bulletin
under review says :
It is regrettable that the statistics for nystagmus should not be given in sufficient
detail as regards the total and average amounts paid in compensation and the average
duration of the illness. As the large majority of cases of compensation on account
of industrial diseases in the mining industry of Great Britain were for nystagmus, it
would seem reasonably safe to apply the figure thus obtained to the cases compensated
for during the year 1912. The average amount paid in compensation on account
of nonfatal cases of industrial disease in the mining industry was £14.43 ($70.22). If
this amount is applied to the 3,195 cases compensated during the year, the approximate
total cost of workmen’s compensation on account of nystagmus in the United King
dom for the year 1912 was $224,353.
The economic importance of nystagmus as shown by German data
is set forth hi a summary statement derived form the statistical reports
of the Bochum Minors’ Union exhibiting the proportion of compen
sated nystagmus cases in the invalidity cases due to all causes, by
divisional periods of life. This shows that of all the invalidity cases
on account of which compensation was paid, 1908 to 1912, 18.2 per
cent were the result of nystagmus, and that the disease is an affection
of coal miners at the age of 31 to 50 years, when 19.5 per cent to 30.3
per cent of all invalidity requiring compensation is due to this single
and well-defined specific cause of disablement. As to relative fre
quency, the number of cases of nystagmus per 1,000 members to
which the sick fund of the Bochum Miners’ Union was applied during
the period 1905 to 1909 was 3.29, while during the period 1910 to
1 S tatistics of com pensation a n d of proceedings u n d er W orkm en’s Com pensation A ct, 1906, a n d the
E m ployers’ L iab ility A ct, 1880, d u rin g th e year 1912. L ondon, 1913, p . 9.
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1913 the rate was 3.25. In the same union the invalidity rate on
account of miners’ nystagmus was 1.75 per 1,000 during the first five
years and 1.70 per 1,000 during the last four years. Out of a total
of 5,113 cases of nystagmus to which the invalidity insurance fund
was applied during 1905-1913, 695, or 13.6 per cent, were compli
cated by other causes or diseases. Of this latter number, 330, or
47.5 per cent, were diseases of the eyeball or of the conjunctive tissue
membrane and the eyelids. The following table shows the number
of cases of miners’ nystagmus to which the invalidity insurance fund
was applied:
N U M B E R O F CA SES O F M IN E R S ’ N Y STA G M U S TO W H IC H IN V A L ID IT Y IN SU R A N C E
F U N D O F B O CH U M M IN E R S ’ U N IO N W A S A P P L IE D , 1905-1913.
Y ear.
Members in
th e union.
Cases w ith second
a ry com plications.
N
ystag
Cases of
m us
m iners’ cases
per
P e r cent
nystag
1,000
of nys
m us.
mem bers. N um ber. tagm
us
cases.
1905..........
1903..........
1907..........
1908..........
1909..........
1910..........
1911..........
1912..........
1913..........
263,000
280,000
301'000
332* 000
340,000
341,000
348.000
367.000
396^ 000
463
590
432
406
757
824
797
649
195
1.76
2.11
1.43
1.22
2.23
2.42
2.29
1.77
.49
107
126
72
43
61
105
73
78
30
23.1
21.3
16. 7
10.6
8.1
12. 7
9-2
12.0
15.4
1905-1909 .
1910-1913.
1.516.000
1.452.000
2,648
2,465
1.75
1.70
409
286
15.4
11.6
“ These additional observations further emphasize the practical
importance of miners’ nystagmus as an occupational disease.”
The only American investigation mentioned in the report is that
undertaken by the Illinois Commission on Occupational Diseases
which submitted its report under date of January, 1911.1 The
commission said:
Two factors are operating to make this disease less frequent. Firstly, the condition
is limited to pick miners, and they are becoming less numerous yearly on account of
the increase of machine mining. * * * Secondly, the disease is confined to those
pick men who work with the eyes in an unnatural position; that is, looking upward
and to one side. Previous to the passing of the gross-weight law some years ago, the
men were paid only for coal which would pass over a screen of a certain size. This
caused the men to do a lot of overhead pick work in order to obtain the coal in large
pieces. The gross-weight law forced the owners to pay for the entire quantity mined,
and the miners now assume a more natural position. Of the 30,194 pick men in Illinois,
we examined the eyes of about 500, or one-sixtieth of the entire number without
finding a single case. * * *
i Lane, Francis, a n d Ellis, J . B., R eport of Commission on O ccupational Diseases; M iners’ nystagm us,
1911, p. 155.
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49
Conclusions.—The disease is rare, and, owing to the passage of the gross-weight law
and the increase of machine mining, it is becoming less frequent in the State of Illinois.
The only cure is cessation of the occupation which caused it.
No statistical data are available as to the prevalence of nystagmus
in the United States. According to the statistics of the United
States Bureau of Mines the number of men employed underground is
estimated at 596,470 for the year 1913.
As the average rate of new cases of nystagmus reported under the British Workmen’s
Compensation Act duting the five years ended with 1912 had been 9.2 per 10,000
employed, this rate, when applied to the total number of persons employed in coal
mining in the United States in the year 1913, given by the Bureau of Mines as 747,644,
would indicate the possible, if not probable, existence of 688 new cases of nystagmus
per annum. As the cumulative rate of old and new cases under the English experience
by the year 1912 had reached 29.8 per 10,000, this would indicate a possible, if not the
probable, number of persons employed in American coal mining and affected with
nystagmus as numbering 2,228 for the year 1913. These rates are unquestionably
conservative, for they are far from the 5 per cent of ascertained cases for certain mining
districts of Germany. If the proportion of American coal-mining employees affected
with nystagmus were as high as 5 per cent, the number of such cases estimated for the
year 1913 would be 37,382.
Applying to this estimate of nystagmus cases in the United States
in 1913, namely, 2,228, the same rate of compensation expense
indicated by the British figures ($70.22), the amount of compensa
tion necessary to be paid for nystagmus would have been $156,450.
The author of the bulletin concludes that in view of foreign expe
rience “ it would seem extremely improbable that an occupational
affliction so well defined should be wholly absent in the coal-mining
industry of the United States. General investigations are not likely
to yield useful results, but specialized inquiries should be directed
exclusively to underground employees in mines using exclusively or
extensively safety lamps as a precaution against mine explosions.
Even though some of the apparent increase in the frequency rates of
nystagmus for the United Kingdom be attributed to malingering
because of the compensation paid on account of incapacity for work,
it would seem reasonable to suppose that more cases of malingering
or fraud would have been reported than are shown by the available
records.” “ No reasons suggest themselves why this peculiar afflic
tion should be limited to mining districts of European countries and
not be found in American coal-mining districts where, on account
of the gaseous nature of the mines, the use of safety lamps is com
pulsory.” The relative infrequency of narrow mining seams in this
country, and the more extended use of coal-mining machinery, it is
thought, may account for a comparatively small number of cases of
nystagmus if, as seems to be the general belief, the disease is due to
eyestrain brought about by the constrained position of the miner
working in a narrow vein.
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As shown by the European experience, the affliction is not likely to attract general
attention until compensation is required to be paid for it. * * * The information
here presented should, however, serve the purpose of attracting general medical atten
tion to an obscure affliction which, under existing conditions, may be erroneously
diagnosed and neglected, when remedial measures would be of decided advantage
to the miner and the mining industry.
COMPENSATION FOE OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES UNDER
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAWS.
The recent action of the Supreme Court of Connecticut (Miller v.
American Steel & Wire Co., 97 Atl., 345), in denying compensation
to a workman suffering from lead poisoning, is of more than local
interest. Compensation had been awarded to the claimant by the
commissioner of the district within which the injury occurred, and
this award was affirmed by the superior court of New Haven County.
The word “ accident” is not used in the law providing for compen
sation for injured workmen, provisions being made for compensation
for “ personal injury arising out of and in the course of” employment.
The compensation commissioner and the superior court of New Haven
County construed this language as broad enough to embrace occu
pational diseases as well as injuries through accident. The supreme
court, one judge dissenting, examined the language of the law in its
various parts, and took under consideration the apparent purposes
of the legislature in enacting the statute in question, reaching the
conclusion that the procedure prescribed in the act and various omis
sions of language thought proper if occupational diseases were to be
included indicated an intent to omit them from the compensation
system. The dissenting judge declared that the majority by “ judi
cial construction ascertains that the term ‘personal injury’ includes
only injury arising through accident, while I by judicial construction
find the same term to include all injuries, whether arising from acci
dent or disease.”
The Supreme Court of Massachusetts supports the position adopted
by the Connecticut dissenting judge in a case of lead poisoning, and
one where blindness was induced by inhalation of poisonous gases at
a kiln. The language of the Massachusetts law is practically the
same in this connection as that of Connecticut, and the omission of
the words “ by accident” was held by the court to authorize the
inclusion of occupational diseases.
The same view was taken by the industrial accident board of
Michigan of the law of that State, which also omits the word “ acci
dent” from the body of the law, and an award was made in favor of
a claimant injured by lead poisoning. The supreme court of the
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51
State, however, construed the law as covering only the area em
braced by the liability laws which it superseded, so that the necessity
of an accidental origin was insisted upon, the court saying also that
the use of the words “ accidental injury” in the title was restrictive.
This corresponds in turn with the view taken of the similar language
of the Ohio statute by the industrial commission and the supreme
court of that State. The Supreme Court of New Jersey also denied
compensation for disability caused by an eczema probably due to an
acid used in a bleachery, the injury being held not to be one by
accident, since no specific time or place of its occurrence could be
pointed out. As matters now stand, therefore, of the States in
which this question has been before the courts of last resort, Massa
chusetts is alone in adoptmg such a broad construction of the law as
to admit occupational diseases, in the absence of a more specific
term than “ personal injury.” The law of California was amended
last year by substituting the word “ injury” for “ accident” through
out, so as to allow compensation for occupational diseases.
In the field of Federal legislation, it may be noted that the act of
May 30, 1908, which applies to a portion of the civilian employees
of the United States, awards compensation where an employee “ is
injured in the course” of his employment. The word “ accident,”
however, is used in connection with the reporting of accidents, and
a statement is required as to the nature of the accident and injury,
and whether the accident was due to negligence; the act also pro
vides compensation “ in the case of any accident which shall result
in death.” In construing this language the Attorney General of the
United States held that it was apparent that the statute was intended
to apply to injuries of an accidental nature only, and not to the effects
of disease.
The presidential order of 1914, applicable to the Panama Canal
and the Panama Railroad, contains the words “ personal injury”
without the qualifying expression “ by accident,” but is administered
in the light of the foregoing ruling of the Attorney General so as to
exclude occupational diseases from its scope. It may be noted,
however, that the Solicitor of the Department of Labor has distin
guished certain cases, as of lead poisoning, from the case in which
the ruling of the Attorney General above noted was given, so that
awards for compensation have been made for certain occupational
diseases under the act of 1908.
An interesting sidelight on the present attitude of Congress comes
to notice in the progress of efforts to secure the enactment of a more
inclusive and adequate law for the compensation of Federal em
ployees. Bills introduced in the last session of Congress, and early
in the present term, contained provisions for compensating em-
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ployees suffering from occupational diseases. These were eliminated
in committee, however, the explanation being made on the floor of
the House during debate that it was thought “ for the best interests
of everyone at this time, for the advancement of this most progres
sive legislation, that this phrase 1occupational disease’ should not be
incorporated in the bill.” Again it was said, “ It developed that
there was considerable difficulty in defining the phrase ‘occupational
disease;’ and it was also called to our attention that in quite a
number of cases in a number of States the court held this language
which we have in the bill would cover occupational diseases in cer
tain cases—at least a number of them—and for that reason I think it
was left out, or that was one of the chief reasons why it was left out.”
A number of Members spoke in favor of including occupational
diseases, but were restrained from pressing amendments to that
effect by the plea that to attempt to make the act thus inclusive
would lead to delay in its passage which might result in an ultimate
failure of enactment at the present session. The discussion from
which the above quotations are made ended in the bill being brought
to vote and its passage by the House on July 12 by a vote of 285 yeas
to 2 nays. The bill was on the next day transmitted to the Senate,
and was favorably reported to that body by the Committee dn Educa
tion and Labor on July 25.
RECENT REPORTS RELATING TO WORKMEN’S COMPENSA
TION AND INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.
CONNECTICUT.1
A peculiarity of the Connecticut workmen’s compensation law is
that it provides a district system of administration with the exercise
of certain centralized functions as a subordinate and incidental
feature. This plan, in the opinion of the commissioners, has obviated
the necessity of employing a corps of investigators and subofficials
and is especially valuable in granting certificates of financial
ability to employers desiring to carry their own risk, since “ each
commissioner has knowledge by common repute, and in many
cases by personal acquaintance, of the character, business standing,
and social and business ideals of the heads of the industrial institu
tions that apply for certificates. He also enjoys a personal acquaint
ance with the responsible adjusters of the various companies and
with the representatives of local trade unions who sometimes repre
sent the interests of employees at hearings. Not infrequently he
knows personally the circumstances and character of the injured
i C onnecticut. B oard of com pensation commissioners.
Sept. 30,1915. H artford, 1915. 30 pp.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
53
employee himself.” He is thus able to take notice of many facts
essential to the administration of justice.
In the exercise of his power to limit the fees of physicians to those prevailing in the
community for persons of like standard of living, in his judgment of the value of testi
mony of medical experts in accordance with their recognized standing in their profes
sion, and in his occasional designation of experts to act as his advisor by stipulation
of the parties, the knowledge acquired by the commissioner through local residence
and acquaintance is invaluable. It is doubtful if any feature of the act contributes
more to the ends of justice than the commissioner’s personal knowledge of the indi
viduals of the medical profession.
Instead of lack of coherence and unity of policy, as some thought
might result from this plan, “ experience has convinced us that no
greater misfortune could befall the administration of the workmen’s
compensation act hi Connecticut than the abolition of the district
system of jurisdiction.”
Under this system, durmg the two years since the act went into
effect on January 1, 1914, 55,124 injuries were reported, 18,054
(32.75 per cent) of which occurred prior to November 1, 1914,
covered by the commissioners’ first report, and 37,070 (67.25 per
cent) between November 1, 1914, and January 1, 1916, included in
the report under review.1 In presenting these figures attention is
called to the fact that the increase hi reported accidents during the
latter 14 months was because that period was one of marked indus
trial activity, whereas the period prior to November 1, 1914, was
relatively one of industrial depression. In the two years ending
January 1, 1916, 10,492 cases were settled by voluntary agreement,
7,048 being adjusted between November 1, 1914, and January 1,
1916. The method of procedure in such cases was as follows:
Such settlements are usually effected through an “ adjuster” or “ claim agent.”
In the case of self-insurers this is some official of the company or responsible employee,
and in the case of insurance companies some young attorney or other competent
person who has worked into the post from a clerical position. If the accident occurs
in the plant of a self-insurer it is promptly made known through the first-aid depart
ment, and when the waiting period 2 has elapsed an agreement on the form provided
by the commissioners is put before the employee for execution. If the injured
employee is working in the plant of an insured employer, the insurer is notified of the
injury on the form provided by the insurer, and if the injury is one promising to call
for weekly compensation the adjuster makes due investigation and, if the claim is
found valid, it is settled in like manner. In most cases settlement is effected without
delay or misunderstanding. Sometimes the employee questions the accuracy of
the computation of average weekly earnings and asks to have it verified. In other
instances the employee delays until he can consult some friend; not infrequently
such employee or friend consults the commissioner before signing the agreement.
As soon as the agreement is executed, it is forwarded to the commissioner for his
approval, as it does not become effective until so approved and duly filed with the
clerk of the superior court for the county.
1 T he n u m b e r of these accidents w hich resulted fa ta lly is now here show n in th e comm issioners’ report.
2 T en days.
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The number of formal hearings resulting in findings and awards
was 106 prior to November 1, 1914, and 427 subsequent to that date;
533 in all. This increase, it is stated, “ is a fair index of the increase
in the volume of business transacted in the several districts, but this
does not reflect an increased tendency on the part of employers or
their insurers to contest claims; it is rather the normal development
under the act.”
It is pointed out that the cases settled by voluntary agreement and
those determined as a result of formal hearings do not represent
accurately the manner in which the act is administered because a
great many cases were “ settled by informal hearings, friendly con
ferences, or during the course of a hearing formally set and partially
or wholly completed'.” Of such no record was made.
The workmen’s compensation law provides that advance payment
of awards may be made to needy employees, and also that lump sum
payments may be made in cases where, after investigation, such pro
cedure is deemed advisable. The report states that many applica
tions under each privilege were made. Advance payments, as a
rule, are made without the knowledge or advice of the commissioner,
being purely an arrangement between the employer and the injured
employee or dependent. The report does not indicate the number
of claims han’dled under each designation.
An important duty of the commissioner is stated to be the approval
of bills for medical, surgical, and hospital service, and occasionally
for legal and other services. In very few instances has this power
been exercised in connection with legal fees, and “ there has also, on
the whole, been a like disposition on the part of the medical profes
sion to comply with the terms of the act.”
The report recognizes the evils of malingering, especially the
unconscious malingering that is manifested during the period of con
valescence, or by the neurotic, alcoholic, or subnormal type “ whose
vitality and stamina from congenital or other causes were of a low
order prior to the injury.” However, it is stated that malingering in
any form has not yet assumed a serious aspect in the State.
The expenditures under the workmen’s compensation act, during
the 22 months ending November 1, 1915, as estimated by the com
missioners' report, are indicated in the following table.
The commissioner’s estimate assumes that the installation of safety
devices is to be regarded as a part of the cost of the workmen’s com
pensation act to employers, although a large part, if not all, of such
safeguarding was apparently required under the provisions of State
labor laws in force long before the enactment of the compensation
act.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
T O T A L COST O F
W O R K M E N ’S C O M PE N SA TIO N IN SU R A N C E IN C O N N E C T IC U T,
JA N . 1,1914 TO N OV. 1,1915.
Jan. 1,1914, N ov. 1, 1914,
to
to
Nov. 1, 1914. N ov. 1,1915.
Item .
E x p en d itu res b y self-insured e m p lo y ers:1
D isbursed for com pensation........................................................
D isbursed for m edical, surgical, a n d hospital b ills...............
E stim a te d ad d ed cost of clerical service necessary to a d
m in ister settlem en ts...........................................................
E stim a te d cost of em ergency tre a tm e n ts, nurses, and
priv a te hospitals m a in tain ed in th e em ployers’ p lan ts
fairly due to provisions of com pensation a c t.....................
E stim ated cost of safety devices w hich presum ably w ould
n o t have been expended b u t for th e existence of th e a c t ..
T o ta l......................................................................................
P aid to employees th ro u g h insurance companies: Disbursed
for com pensation an d for m edical, surgical, a n d h ospital
services 2.........................................................................
T o ta l.......................................................................
O ther costs:
E stim a te d a m o u n t expended b y em ployers protected b y
insurance for safety devices, etc., emergency tre a tm e n t,
e tc ., w hich presum ably w ould n o t have been expended
b u t for th e existence of th e a c t...............................................
A dm in istratio n of th e a c t............................................................
G rand to ta l.........................................................................
T otal.
$49,685.58
36,866.15
$101,812.10
67.899.57
$151,497.68
104,765.72
4,384.30
9,971.50
14,355.80
17,645.65
43.903.57
61,549.22
16,056.14
15,542.65
31,598.79
124,637.82
239,129.39
363,767.21
396,684.30
605,455.66
1,002,139.96
521,322.12
844,585.05
1,365,907.17
363,776.81
70,000.00
2 1,799,683.98
i This inform ation was procured from large employers of labor to w hom certificates of solvency h ad
been granted.
s “ Some of th e insurance com panies have m ade no d istin ctio n betw een p aym ents due to com pensation
aw ards an d p ay m en ts due to m edical, surgical, a n d h o sp ital expenses of persons who are n o t en title d to
receive a n y w eekly com pensation aw ards. O ther com panies have k e p t these tw o item s separate and
from those figures we gather th a t nearly one-third of th e expense has been due to p aym ents of th e la tte r
character.”
s This does n o t include a n indefinite sum n o t ascertainable representing th e difference betw een th e
a m o u n t actu ally disbursed b y insurance com panies as shown above an d th e am o u n t collected b y them
in prem ium s from insurers.
It will thus be seen that by self-insurers $151,497.68 has been paid to employees
as compensation since the act went into effect, and $104,765.72 has been paid dining
the same period for medical, surgical, and hospital fees. In this class of employers
the ratio of medical, surgical, and hospital fees to the weekly compensation paid
employees in the two years was 69.1 per cent, for the year 1913-14 1 the ratio was
74.1 per cent, and for the year 1914-15 it was 66.6 per cent.
The ratio of the cost of extra clerical force made necessary for the administration
of the act to the total fund administered (medical fees and compensation) for the two
years was 5.6 per cent, for the year 1913-14 1 it was 5.06 per cent, and for the year
1914-15 it was 5.8 per cent. This reveals a relatively small cost of administration
in the case of self-insurers.
Two years’ experience in administering the workmen’s compensa
tion act has prompted the following recommendations:
A provision to prevent instances of dilatory and unbusinesslike methods adopted
by some insurance companies by giving the board of commissioners power to lodge
complaint with the insurance commissioner against any licensed insurer operating
under the compensation act and requiring a hearing before that official, said license
to be revoked in case it is shown that such insurance company has failed to be reason
ably prompt in the settlement of cases.
A provision allowing concurrent payment of compensation to resident and non
resident aliens.
i This is ta k e n from th e rep o rt. Since th e act did n o t become effective u n til Ja n . 1,1914, it is probable
th a t th e figures do n o t cover a n y p ortion of 1913, b u t only th e first 10 m onths of 1914.
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A provision by which employees may be protected in the collection of compensa
tion against those employers who ignore the law and plan to defraud their injured
employees, said protection being effected by authorizing the commissioners in the
several districts to issue writs of attachment against such employers.
An amendment providing that when an appeal from the decision of a compensa
tion commissioner is taken to the superior court and such appeal shall be, in the judg
ment of such court, frivolous or taken for the purpose of vexation or delay, the superior
court shall be permitted to tax costs in its discretion.
To avoid discrimination against defectives the commissioners sub
mit a suggestion, rather than a recommendation, intended to relieve
employers from liability in cases of accident resulting from the phys
ical defect of the employee. Thus, for example, where an employee
is deaf, or subject to epilepsy, or has hernia or varicose veins, the
commissioners believe that a fair way to deal with him would be “ to
permit the employer to enter into an agreement by virtue of which
such person should stipulate that in the event of an injury occurring
to him by reason of some named physical defect he would make no
claim for compensation, and that this agreement should hind his
dependents in case the injury resulted in death.”
NEBRASKA. 1
November 30, 1915, completed the first year of the operation of
the Nebraska workmen’s compensation law, and the results achieved
during the 12 months are set forth in Bulletin No. 32 recently issued
by the State department of labor.
The Nebraska law is elective; it provides a 14-day waiting period,
unless the disablity continues eight weeks or more, when compen
sation is computed from the date of the injury; medical attention
and hospital expenses are provided for 21 days in an amount not
exceeding $200; total disability compensation for the first 300 weeks
is 50 per cent of the employee’s wages, subject to a maximum weekly
payment of $10 and a minimum weekly payment of $5; beneficiaries
totally dependent receive 50 per cent of the wages of the deceased
for a period not exceeding 350 weeks, while those partially dependent
receive a proportionate payment; no provision is made for the
administration of the law, settlements being made by agreement
between the parties, with recourse to the courts in case of disagree
ment.
The first annual report opens with a brief outline of the principle of
workmen’s compensation, a page of “ safety first” suggestions, and
one including “ short ‘safety first’ sermons.” I t then presents a
review of the year under the following general heads: The first year
of compensation; noncompensation cases; compensation awards;
1 N ebraska. State dep artm en t of labor. R eport upo n th e operation of th e w orkm en’s com pensation
law for th e year ending Nov. 30,1915. U niversity Place [1916]. 164 p p . Illustrated.
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57
“ employers’ liability” at common law; gallery of injured employees;
first-aid suggestions; commutation of claims and accidents; supreme
court decisions; death benefit and methods of procedure; to whom
the law applies; the Nebraska workmen’s compensation law (text).
During the year there were 4,082 reports of accidents filed. Of
this number 2,222 were completed reports, representing 605 com
pensated and 1,617 uncompensated cases. In addition there were 6
fatal accidents reported. The total compensation paid for all acci
dents was $34,172.60, or an average of $55.93 per case, and the total
paid for medical attention and for hospital expenses, etc., in fatal
and all nonfatal cases, was $25,549.89, or an average of $11.47 per
case. The total number of days lost by employees in compensated
cases was 20,789/ and the total number lost by employees in un
compensated cases was 5,060, the average, including only those cases
reporting definitely the number of days lost, in the first instance
being 36.5 days and in the latter instance 6.6 days. The following
table exhibits the record of fatal accidents.
N U M B E R O F F A T A L A C C ID E N TS, C L A S S IF IE D B Y CA U SE, SH O W IN G T O T A L A N D A V E R
A G E B E N E F IT S PA ID F O R Y E A R E N D IN G N O V . 30, 1915.
N um
ber of
cases.
Cause.
Compensa Medical
tio n paid. a tten tion.
H ospital
services.
Average
paym ent.
Incid en t to e m p lo y m e n t........................................
F a u lt no t placed / . ...................................................
Negligence of em ployer............................................
2
3
1
$5,000.00
2,194.17
2,054.81
$30.00
2.00
$95.00
$2,500.00
731.39
2,054.81
T o ta l..................................................................
6
9,248.98
32.00
95.00
i 1,041.46
1 T his is tak en from th e report; th e average p ay m en t should be $1,511.50.
In providing payment to beneficiaries in cases of death the law
specifies a maximum weekly payment of $10 and a minimum weekly
payment of $5. In each of the above cases the employee was receiving
the maximum weekly wage—namely, $20—thus entitling each bene
ficiary to $3,500, with $100 additional for burial expenses. That
smaller amounts wrere paid in each case, it is explained, is due to the
absence of some specific method of directing and supervising settle
ments, the result being that the beneficiaries were induced to settle
their claims according to their immediate needs at the time. In
other words, settlement was apparently based upon the kind of bar
gain the representative of the insurance company or the employer
was able to make with the beneficiary. “ The State must provide
some board or commission or individual whose duty it wTill be to
protect the interests of all parties in the administration of the com
pensation law.”
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1 See note 1 a ttach ed to th e able on page 58.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS,
The following table summarizes, by cause or “ fault,” all nonfatal
accidents reported, showing the days lost and the total and average
amount of benefits paid:
N U M B E R O F C O M PE N SA T E D A N D N O N C O M PE N S A T E D CASES, B Y C A USE, SH O W IN G
D A Y S LO S T , A N D T H E T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E A M O U N T PA ID F O R C O M PE N SA T IO N
A N D O T H E R B E N E F IT S , F O R T H E Y E A R E N D IN G N OV. 30, 1915.
Cause or “ fau lt.”
N um
ber of
cases.
Per
cent.
D ays
lost.1
Compensa
tion.
H ospi Aver
Medical ta l and
age
a tte n
other benefits
tion.
ex
to em
penses. ployees.
Com pensated cases:
Neglect of em ployer.............................
Neglect of em ployee.............................
Fellow s e rv a n t.......................................
F a u lt n o t p la c ed ...................................
Incid en t of em ploym ent.....................
17
38
32
155
363
2.81
6.28
5.29
25.62
60.00
1,099
1,157
1,183
5,505
11,845
SI, 170.93
2,088.61
945.97
8,549.69
12,168.42
$596.75
1,093.35
699.88
3,752.03
8,854.41
$54.36
37.00
115.70
276.10
$103.98
85.17
52.59
80.11
58.67
T o tal, compensated c a s e s ...............
605
100.00
20,789
24,923.62 14,996.42
483.16
66.78
N oncom pensated cases:
Neglect of em ployer.............................
Neglect of em ployee.............................
Fellow s e rv a n t......................................
C om parative negligence......................
F a u lt n o t p laced ...................................
Incident of em ploym ent.....................
61
80
59
13
313
1,091
3.77
4.95
3.65
.80
19.36
67.47
152
306
231
60
1,051
3,260
345.60
609.30
379.65
59.00
2,367.81
5,894.80
5.80
72.85
187.50
T otal, noncom pensated cases........ 2 1,617
100.00
5,060
9,656.16
287.15
6.15
25,849
24,923.62 |24,652.58
770.31
22.66
G rand to ta l.........................................
2,222
21.00
5.67
7.88
6.44
4.98
7.80
5.57
1 A lthough th is colum n is com puted from th e detailed tables in th e report, th e to ta l here given for com
pensated cases does n o t agree w ith th e to ta l given for such cases in th e report, w hich on page 27 indicates
a to ta l of 11,754 days lost and on page 40 a to ta l of 20,705 days lost T his discrepancy in th e report itself
is n o t explained. T h is colum n does n o t include 759 cases in V h ic h no tim e was lost or 122 cases in w hich
th e tim e lost w as n o t definitely stated .
2 T his to ta l includes 49 cases in w hich th e d isab ility exceeded 14 calendar days and for w hich compen
sation should hav e been p aid to th e injured employee. “ If there was some m ethod of adm inistration
of th e N ebraska com pensation law , these [50] injured employees w ould have h a d a chance, a t least, of
receiving th e com pensation to w hich th ey were e n titled and in m ost cases p a id for in insurance prem ium s
b y th e ir em ployers.”
Commenting on the 605 compensated cases, the report says:
* * * 71 per cent of the total number received money settlements for injuries
simply by reason of the provisions of the compensation law, whereas if the rules of the
common law had prevailed only 29 per cent of the total number could have recovered
money settlement.
In giving the number of days lost in compensated cases, the report
includes 99 cases in each of which the days lost were 14 or less, the
total compensation in these cases amounting to $1,570.46. I t is not
clear why compensation was paid in these cases since the law provides
a waiting period of 14 days.
The report reviews at length the method of procedure under com
mon-law practice, and shows that the principle of workmen’s com
pensation has proved its superiority over employers’ liability from
the following standpoints :
1. The prevention of accidents.
2. Elimination of waste.
3. Immediate payment of the injured workman or his family.
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4.
5.
6.
7.
59
Diminishment of friction between employers and workmen.
Equitable method of determining compensation.
The workman receives full compensation awarded him.
The cost to employer a part of cost of production.
The first year’s experience tinder the workmen’s compensation law
in Nebraska seems to emphasize the need of some method of admin
istration in order that disputed cases may be adjusted without
recourse to the courts, which usually results not only in a large
expense to the injured employee, but in long and unnecessary delay
in the award of compensation if the litigation should be favorable
to the claimant. Thus, the first recommendation made in the report is
for the provision of a board, commission, or individual with authority
to supervise and administer the law. Other recommendations are as
follows:
Reduction of the waiting period to seven days.
Raising the maximum from $10 to $12.
Adding the finger and toe schedule.
Making the law apply to employers of one or more employees instead of five.
Stating more clearly the rule for lump-sum settlements.
Making the law apply to members of the State militia.
Provisions that upon the application of either party the court may order and
determine matters of controversy in a summary manner.
More clearly defining the provisions as to minors.
Giving the board or commission or some individual power to order a lump-sum
settlement upon the application of either party, with right of an appeal to the courts.
Some method by which there will be a larger degree of guaranteed solvency of the
employer or insurance company.
Requiring all settlements and releases to have the approval of some board or com
mission or individual.
Copies of all releases and settlements to be filed with some court or office of record.
More specific and stringent State laws dealing with insurance companies which
write Nebraska business without first procuring a State license.
Making more specific and certain many of the provisions of the law to the end that
misunderstandings and litigation may be minimized.
Graduate benefits according to number of children until a reasonable maximum
percentage is reached.
In case of death or permanent disability reduce the number of weekly payments by
increasing the per cent.
Requiring the insurance commissioner to notify the board, commission, or individual
charged with the administration of the law of each insurance company licensed to
write compensation insurance under the law.
Raise the percentage from 50 per cent to 66| per cent.
Making payments in case of death 66f per cent of wages for 312 weeks in lieu of 350
weeks.
Penalize employers who fail to provide safety devices as required by the State law.
More clearly define what constitutes “ lost earning power.”
Penalize employers and insurance companies who fail to report all accidents in
detail.
Requiring elections under the law to be filed with the administrating commission,
board, or individual instead of with the insurance commissioner.
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Adequate appropriation by the legislature for the administration of the law.
Providing specific benefits for the larger number of injuries.
Raising the minimum from $5 per week to $6 per week.
More clearly defining the waiting period.
Prohibiting deductions in lump-sum settlements.
OHIO.
With the rapid extension of workmen’s compensation laws has
come an increased recognition of the importance of measures guar
anteeing the payment of awards through the long continuing periods
contemplated by the acts. In some States insurance to guarantee
such payments is compulsory, while in others it is at the option of
the employer. The laws of several States provide for State insurance
funds, either exclusive in their operations or competing with private
insurance institutions. The opposition of the insurance companies
to any State monopoly of compensation insurance has been com
mented on, the situation being particularly acute in the State of
Ohio, where the industrial commission adopted the position that,
under the law, insurance must be taken in the State fund and not
elsewhere. This subject was brought to the supreme court of the
State for determination, and an opinion deciding a portion of the
controversy was recently handed down by that court. The full
text of the opinion is not available, but Chief Justice Nichols has
issued a statement as follows:
In the several quo warranto cases pending in this court, involving the status of
indemnity insurance companies under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, as to which
oral argument has been had, the court has reached a unanimous conclusion as to
three of the five main propositions, the court holding:
First. That section 22 of the act is constitutional.
Second. That section 9510 is not repealed by implication, but remains and is to be
construed in connection with section 54 of the Workmen’s Compensation Act.
Third. That contracts of indemnity may be written by the several companies,
protecting employers to the extent of compensation paid to employees for accidents
and acts of negligence other than those inflicted by the willful acts of the employer,
his officers or agents, or by the failure of such employer or any of his officers or agents,
to observe any lawful requirements for the safety of employees. To this extent such
contracts of indemnity are valid.
The court has not reached a conclusion satisfactory to itself as to the two remaining
questions:
First. Whether contracts of indemnity may be written protecting employers to
the extent of compensation paid to employees for acts of negligence generally; that
is, to the extent of covering injuries inflicted by the willful act of the employer, or
his failure to observe lawful requirements for the safety of employees.
Second. As to the right of employers to indemnify themselves against the civil
liability enforced in suits by employees to recover for the negligent act of the em
ployer other than where the injury is inflicted by the willful act of the employer, or
by his failure to observe lawful requirements for the safety of his employees, in cases
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where the injured employee has refused to apply for compensation and has instituted
action to recover in a court of law.
As to these two propositions the court invites a reargument when the court recon
venes in the fall.
Section 22 (sec. 1465-69), which is declared constitutional, requires
every employer of five or more workmen regularly in the same busi
ness to pay into the State insurance fund the amount of premium
determined and fixed by the State authorities other than self-insurers
approved by the commission; such self-insurers are obliged, how
ever, to contribute to the surplus fund, which is a guaranty fund,
for the State insurance fund, and may also be required, in the dis
cretion of the commission, to give security or bond to guarantee
the payment of their own obligations to their injured employees.
Section 9510, referred to in the second heading of the statement,
is a section of the General Code applying to any employee whose
employer is insured, and has for its jmrpose to confer upon the em
ployee the rights of the employer under the insurance policy in any
case in which the employee has secured a judgment against his
employer for injuries due to the latter’s negligence. The effect of
the rilling on this point is to maintain this section in effect in connec
tion with section 54 (sec. 1465-101) of the Compensation Act, which
declares all contracts of insurance to protect an employer against
loss or damages on account of injury to his employees to be void
unless such contracts specifically provide for the payment of medical
and hospital services, etc., and such compensation as is provided for
under the act. Contracts insuring against liability for injuries
caused by the willful act of the employer or his agents, or due to the
failure to observe any lawful requirement for the safety of employees
are also forbidden.
It is evident, therefore, that while stock insurance companies are
not barred from writing liability and compensation insurance in the
State their field of action is considerably restricted as compared
with the situation prior to the enactment of the compensation law.
COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1915, AND
DURING THE PERIOD 1870 TO 1914.
Coal-mine fatalities in the United States in 1915, according to a
recent report of the United States Bureau of Mines,1show a decrease
as compared with the year 1914. The fatality rate for 1915, based
on the preliminary estimate of the number of men employed as re
ported from State mine inspectors, was 2.95 per 1,000 men emi
U nited States B ureau of Mines. Coal-mine fatalities in tlie U nited States, 1915.
A lbert H . F ay . W ashington, 1916. 80 pp.
52445°—16----- 5
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Compiled by
62
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
ployed, the lowest rate since 1898, when the fatality rate was 2.71.
The actual number killed in 1915 was the lowest since 1906. The
principal decreases in the number of fatalities are shown for those
resulting from falls of roof, haulage, gas explosions, and shaft
accidents.
The saving of lives has been the result of closer and more careful inspection by the
State inspector; better enforcement of laws and regulations by the operators; the
miner’s realization of the dangers attending his daily work, and his efforts to reduce
accidents, due to the educational campaign conducted in his behalf; the more gen
eral use of safety lamps in doubtful mines; the use of permissible explosives; humidi
fying dusty mines; first aid and rescue training, which saves lives that might other
wise be lost by reason of injuries received; the enactment of industrial accident
compensation laws; and last but not least, the spirit of cooperation on the part of all
concerned.
The 2,066 fatalities underground reported for 1915 are distributed,
by cause, as follows:
N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O F U N D E R G R O U N D F A T A L IT IE S , B Y C A U SE, 1915.
N um ber. P e r cent.
Cause.
Falls of roof.......................................................................................................................................
Mine cars an d locom otives.................................................. , ........................................................
Falls of face or p illar coal...............................................................................................................
Explosives ........................................................................................................................................
Gas explosions a n d b u rn in g gas..................................................................................................
Coal-dust explosions.......................................................................................................................
E le c tric ity . 7.....................................................................................................................................
Suffocation from m ine gases.........................................................................................................
Mine m achines..............7.................................................................................................................
A nim als........................................................... ..................................................................................
Mine fires..........................................................................................................................................
O ther causes......................................................................................................................................
917
347
160
155
153
151
89
16
12
3
1
62
44.38
16.80
7.74
7.50
7.41
7.31
4.31
.77
.58
.15
.05
3.00
T o tal.........................................................................................................................................
2,066
100.00
The number and percentage of the 2,200 underground accidents in
1914, by causes, wms about identical with the above, save that gas
explosions and burning gas preceded in importance falls of face or
pillar coal, and only 17 deaths were caused by coal-dust explosions
instead of 151 as shown in the table.
A study is presented of the number of mine fatalities in the United
States for the period 1870 to 1915, together with rates based on the
number of men employed without regard to the number of days em
ployed in the year; a rate is also shown on the basis of 1,000,000 tons
of coal mined. These figures are presented in a table on page 67.
The report controverts the general impression that mine disasters
are the principal and most important causes of fatalities in mines.
For example, in 1915 fatalities due to gas and dust explosions repre
sented only about 13 per cent of the total number killed. The prin
cipal cause of fatalities in coal mines is falls of roof or pillar coal,
which in 1915 accounted for approximately 48 per cent of the fatali-
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63
ties, each, accident involving usually only one or two men at a time.
The report tabulates 22 principal coal-mine disasters during the years
1914 and 1915, in each of which five or more men were killed. The
total number killed in these disasters was 578.
A study of 3,675 fatalities due to explosives occurring in the differ
ent States for periods varying from 5 to 44 years, for which continuous
records are available, shows that premature blasts and short fuses
seem to have been responsible for the largest percentage, or 24.87;
handling and transportation were responsible for 17 per cent; and
shots breaking through pillars or ribs, 5.88 per cent.
Studies by the Bureau of Mines of fatalities due to electricity,
based on 710 fatalities caused by electricity, show that more than
one-half of such fatalities were caused by trolley wires, indicating
that these should be better guarded. About 49 per cent of the fatali
ties were due to direct contact with trolley wires and 18.45 per cent
were due to contact with machine feed wires.
As a part of this bulletin on coal-mine fatalities in 1915 there ap
pears a paper by A. H. Fay, the author of the bulletin, on mine acci
dents and uniform records which was read before the joint meeting
of the conservation and mining sections of the Second Pan-American
Scientific Congress at Washington, D. C., December 27, 1915, to
January 8, 1916. This paper summarizes the principal features of
accident studies of the Bureau of Mines and makes some compari
sons as to the fatality rates in the mineral industries of the United
States for 1914 on a 300-day basis, as follows:
F A T A L IT Y R A T E S IN T H E M IN E R A L IN D U S T R IE S O F T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S COM
P A R E D ON A 300-DAY B A SIS, F O R 1914.
N um ber killed per
1,000 em ployed.
Em ployees.
In d u stry .
M etal m ines........................................
Ore-dressing p la n ts ..........................
Sm elting p la n ts ................................
Coal m iñ es............................
Coke ovens..........................
Q u arries...................................
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A ctual
days
active.
271
302
349
207
286
233
[235]
K illed.
On 300A ctual. d ay
basis.
158,115
14,501
26,960
763,185
22,313
87,936
142,619
14,576
31,384
526,598
21,241
68,187
On actual On 300basis. day basis.
559
23
33
2,454
45
180
3.54
1.59
1.32
3.22
2.02
2.05
3.92
1.58
1.05
4.67
2.12
2.64
64
MONTHLY EEVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Two of the more important tables in the bulletin under review are
reproduced:
P R O D U C T IO N , N U M B E R O F M EN E M P L O Y E D , A N D N U M B E R O F M EN K IL L E D IN A N D
A B O U T T H E COAL M IN E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S D U R IN G T H E C A L E N D A R Y E A R
1915.
State.
Production
(short tons).
U nder
ground.
Surface.
23,924
A labam a...................................................
Alaska and C alifornia...........................
A rkansas..................................................
Colorado...................................................
Georgia a n d N o rth C arolina...............
Idaho a n d N e v a d a ................................
Illinois.......................................................
In d ia n a .....................................................
Iow a...........................................................
K ansas......................................................
K e n tu ck y ................................
M arylan d........
M ichigan...................................................
M issouri....................................................
M ontana...................................................
N ew M exico........................... ................
N o rth D ak o ta..
O hio..................................
O klahom a................................................
Oregon....................................... ..............
Pennsylvania (a n th ra c ite )..................
Pennsylv an ia (b itu m in o u s)...............
S outh D ak o ta..........................................
Tennessee.................................................
T exas.........................................................
U ta h ..........................................................
V irginia.....................................................
W ashington.............................................
W est V irginia.........................................
W yom ing.................................................
Total, 1915....................................
Total' 1914....................................
N um ber killed.
N um ber
employed
un d er
ground
and on
surface.1
Total.
N um ber
killed
per 1,000
em
ployed.
61
2
63
2.63
3,939
12'484
335
11
6
60
2
3
8
63
2.03
5.05
7 9 ,4 9 9
131
43
32
23
61
9
6
17
12
19
1
65
17
5
3
2
1
3
1
1
136
46
34
24
64
10
7
17
13
19
1
526
408
60
30
4,275
3^ 740
9', 000
4,666
80,098
7; 425
25
1
10
46
42
462
23
1
2
3
32
3
494
26
767,554
763,185
2,106
2,288
160
166
2 , 454
SS
25,540
1 6 ,0 5 7
12,500
2 8 ,7 6 4
5,500
2 , 250
11,000
3j 399
4 ,1 7 8
650
4 5 ,4 0 1
7,900
940
1 7 9 ,6 7 9
1 8 4 ,2 0 1
47
1 0 ,1 1 6
518,000,000
513,525,477
1
22
1.71
1.80
2.12
1.92
2.23
1.82
3.11
1.55
3.82
4.55
1.54
1.43
2. 78
586
438
3.26
2.38
25
1
11
48
2.47
.23
2.94
5.33
9.64
6.17
3.50
2,266
2.95
3.22
i
E stim ated b y State m ine inspector, except as to figures in italics, w hich indicate n um ber em ployed
during 1914.
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65
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
M EN E M P L O Y E D , A N D F A T A L IT Y R A T E S P E R 1,030 M EN E M P L O Y E D , IN A N D A B O U T
T H E CO AL M IN E S IN V A R IO U S C O U N T R IE S .4
1911
1912
Killed.
1913
K illed.
1914
K illed.
Killed.
Country.
Em
ployed.
Per
Em .
Per
Em
Per
Em
Per
1,000 ployed.
1,000 ployed.
1,000 ployed.
1,000
Total. em
Total. em
Total. em
Total. em
ployploy
ploy
ployed.
ed.
ed.
ed.
A ustria 2...........
69,827
88
B elgium ............ 144,054
165
B ritish Columb ia ...................
6,873
16
F rance............... 200,212
217
G erm any 3........ 586,538 1,176
Great B rita in 4. 1,067,213 1,265
In d ia .................. 106,598
148
J a p a n .................
145,412
497
New S o u t h
W ales.............
17,657
15
N ew Z e a la n d ...
4,290
14
N ova S c o tia 6. .
12,522
36
Q ueensland___
2,152
4
U nion of South
A frica.............
21,342
48
U nited S ta te s .. 728,348 2,656
1.26
1.15
70, 777
145,670
113
145
1.60
1.00
2.33
28
7.130
1.08 202,365
302
2.01 593,551 1,506
1.19 1,089,090 1,276
1. 38 121,392
157
3.42
3.93
6,671
27
1.49
2.54
1.17 1,127,890 1,753
1.29 133,042
185
.85
3.26
2.87
1.86
30
9
35
0
1.66
2.08
2.63
2.25
21,202
51
3.65 •722,662 2,419
2.41
3.35
18,051
4,328
13,297
2,193
IS, 966
4,250
13,664
2,474
4.05
17
2.97
1.55 1,133,746 1,219
1.39 137', 851
145
1.08
1.05
18
6
42
2
1.38
3.07
.81
23,089
76
747' 644 2,785
3.29
3.73
.0 5
5,732
19.977
4,734
14,638
2,510
17
.85
o 49 10.35
36 2.46
ÿ
1.20
763,185 2,454
3.22
1 Compiled from official reports.
2 Steiukohle only.
3 Steinkohle only. Figures are for P russia only.
4 For all m ines u n d er Coal Mines R egulation A ct, including a b o u t 5 per cent b y tonnage, of m inerals other
th a n coal.
5 Includes 43 fatalities resulting from th e explosion a t th e R alp h m ine a t H u n tly , Sept. 9 1914
6 For fiscal years ending Sept. 30.
The report does not give the number of days worked per year in
the various countries, but in all European countries the days worked
are considerably in excess of the number worked in the United
States, and a correction of the fatality rates to equalize the number
of days would show that the record for this country is much more
unfavorable than appears in the above table.
A more comprehensive report of fatalities in coal mines is presented
in Bulletin 115, issued by the Bureau of Mines in April, 1916.1 It
deals with coal-mine fatalities in the United States from 1870 to
1914, inclusive, with statistics of coal production, labor, and mining
methods by States and calendar years. In it emphasis is placed on
theneed of safeguarding the three-quarters of a million men employed
in this industry, and the figures which are presented, although show
ing an appalling fatality record for past years, ‘'represent a diagnosis
of the hazard of the mining industry, pointing out the principal
physical causes of accidents, and make available a body of uniform
facts that will serve as a basis of preventive measures for' use in
future operations.’’ The author of the bulletin strongly urges cooper
ation between operators and employees and among employees them1 U nited States B ureau of Mines. Coal-mine accidents in th e U n ited States, 1870-1914. Compiled by
A lbert II. F ay . W ashington, 1916. 370 p p.
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66
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
selves to reduce the accident hazard so far as it may be attributed
to the personal element.
No accurate data for the United States are available showing how far the personal
element as related to the miner and his coworker, the mine foreman, or to the super
intendent and others in authority, contributes to accidents. Many accidents are
due to inexperience on the part of the miner, his failure to heed orders, a misunder
standing of instructions, and last but not least, carelessness of himself or his fellow
worker. A foreman or superintendent may fail to give proper warning regarding the
conditions of certain parts of the mine; he may not have inspected certain rooms or
entries on the day of a mine accident; the mine may not be properly equipped, or
the operator may neglect to comply with the inspector’s recommendations. There
is, therefore, a personal element on the part of both the operator and the miner that
must be considered. Legislation and the enactment of compensation laws will make
the operator realize the seriousness of the mine-accident situation, when fatalities
and injuries are to be paid for in legal tender of the realm. The miner must be edu
cated and made to realize the dangers he encounters; he must learn that self-preserva
tion and the safety of his fellow workmen should receive his first attention; he should
cooperate with his employer, his associates, and the State mine inspector to the end
that the mine hazard may be reduced to a minimum. “ Cooperation for safety”
should be the watchwords of the operator, miner, State inspectors, and all others in
any way interested in the mining industry.
The total production of coal in the United States from 1807 to the
end of 1915/ the total number of men employed in the industry for
each year since 1889, and the total number of men killed in and about
coal mines, based upon such records as are available, are shown in
the table following. In this connection it should be pointed out
that the number of men employed and consequently the number
killed per 1,000 employed are only roughly approximate, since reports
of employers even at the present time do not usually show accurately
the number of persons employed and the days and hours worked,
which information is necessary for the computation of correct acci
dent rates. As the author of the report states, “ The actual number
of men on the pay roll is much higher than the number of men
really at work in the mines, and unfortunately it is the former figure
that the operators too frequently report.” For earlier years it is
also practically certain that the reports of the number of persons
killed are not complete.
i The figures for 1915, it is stated , are subject to sight revision.
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67
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
P R O D U C T IO N , E M P L O Y E E S , A N D F A T A L IT IE S IN COAL M IN ES O F T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S , SH O W IN G P E R C E N T A G E O F C O A L-M IN IN G IN D U S T R Y F O R W H IC H COM
P L E T E R E T U R N S A R E A V A IL A B L E , 1870 TO 1915.
Total U n ited States.
Period or
year.
1807-1869___
1870 ...........
1871 ...........
1872 ...........
1873 ...........
1874 ...........
1875 ...........
1876 ...........
1877 ...........
1878 ...........
1879 ...........
1880 ...........
1881................
1882................
1883 ...........
1884 ...........
1885 ...........
1886 ...........
1887 ...........
1888 ...........
1889 ............
1890 ...........
1891 ...........
1892 ...........
1893 ...........
1894 ...........
1895 ...........
1896 ...........
1897 ...........
1898 ...........
1899 ...........
1900 ...........
1901 ...........
1902 ...........
1903 ...........
1904 ...........
1905 ...........
1906 ...........
1907 ...........
1908 ...........
1909 ...........
1910 ...........
1911 ...........
1912 ...........
1913 ...........
P e r cent of
to tal—
N um
ber
em
ployed.4 Pro
duc
tio n .
P roduction,
sh o rt tons.i
Em
ployees.
410,395,133
33,035,580
47.42
46,885,080
41.25
5L453; 399
47.10
57,602,480
45.40
52,605,920
53.39
52,348,320
52.25
53,280,000
49.35
60,501,760
51.09
57; 935; 600
63.54
68,105,799
68.20
71,481,570
74.26
85,881,030
65.56
103; 551', 189
75.64
115; 707; 525
71.18
120,155,551
72.63
lli;i6 0 ;2 9 5
83.59
113,680j 427
83.16
130,650,511
79.43
148,659,657
87.29
141,229,513 311,717 90.54 90.85
157,770,963 318,204 92.66 91.52
168,566,669 332,147 93.53 93.54
179,329,071 341,943 92.40 92. 75
182,352,774 363,309 97.40 97. 74
170,741,526 376,204 94.96 95.33
193,117,530 382,879 98.44 98.21
191,986,357 393,342 96.43 96.73
200,229,199 397,701 97.25 97.71
219,976,267 401,221 97.16 97.66
253,741,192 410,635 96.16 96.34
269,684,027 448,581 96.47 96.40
293,299,816 485,544 99.37 99.02
301,590,439 518,197 98.37 98.46
357,356,416 566,260 98.52 98.29
351,816,398 593,693 96.40 96.58
392,722,635 626,045 98.38 98.29
414,157,278 640,780 98.02 98.36
480,363,424 680,492 99.49 99.14
415,842,698 690,438 98.43 98.32
460,814,616 4666,552 99.99 99.99
501,596,378 725,030 100.00 100.00
496,371,126 5728,348 100.00 100.00
534,466,580 722,662 100.00 100.00
570,048,125 747,644 100.00 100.00
T o ta l.. 9,844,247,843
1914.
1915 6,
P o rtio n of U n ited States u nder inspection service.
89.46
513,525,477
518,000,000
763,185 100.00 100.00
767,554 100.00 100.00
Average
tonnage
per man.*
Pro
ductio n
per
Days
Per
death, worked.
Per 1,000,000
short
Per Per
T o tal.2 1,000
tons.8
short
em
year. d a y .
ployed. mtons.
ined.
N u m b er killed.
211
210
223
263
260
260
242
225
235
317
274
340
448
542
538
549
494
504
728
668
733
956
991
958
958
1,142
1,083
990
1,062
1,241
1,489
1,574
1,724
1,926
1,995
2,232
2,138
3,242
2,445
2,642
2,821
2,656
2,419
2,785
5.93
5.60
4.98
5.46
3.87
3.06
2.83
2.77
2.62
3.30
2.21
2.93
2.75
3.34
2.80
2.58
2.25
2.20
2.55
2.36
2.52
3.08
3.12
2.70
2. 67
3.04
2.85
2.55
2.71
3.14
3.44
3.27
3.38
3.46
3.48
3.63
3.39
4.81
3.60
3.96
3.89
3.65
3.35
3.73
13.47
10.86
9.20
10.06
9.26
9.51
9.20
7.28
6.38
6.82
5.16
6.04
5.72
6.58
6.17
5.91
5.23
4.86
5.61
5.22
5.01
6.06
5.98
5.39
5.91
6.00
5.85
5.08
4.97
5.08
5.72
5.40
5.81
5.47
5.88
5.78
5.27
6.78
5.97
5.73
5.62
5.35
4.53
4.89
74 238
92,105
108 669
99 440
108 025
105 192
108 650
137 379
156,637
146,523
193, 736
165,600
174,837
151,919
162 203
169,259
191,373
205,902
178,246
191,430
199;444
164,912
167,214
185,403
169,248
166,466
170,935
196,699
201,256
196,610
174,724
185,165
172,092
182,796
170,007
173,109
189,876
147,407
167,407
174,416
177; 808
ISO,887
220,945
204,685
49,733
3.32
5.65 177,083
2,454
2,266
3.22
2.95
4.78 209,261
4.37 228,600
440
516
549
543
418
399
308
381
410
483
49Q
' 485
481
508
454
436
430
454
454
216
215
212
201
178
195
185
179
190
214
212
216
197
220
202
212
209
231
195
220
220
225
238
452
503
507
523
500
452
505
487
501
545
617
602
606
581
633
592
628
644
708
603
691
692
682
740
762
2.33
2.36
2.47
2.49
2.54
2.59
2.63
2.80
2.87
2.88
2.84
2.81
2.95
2.88
2.93
2.96
3.08
3.06
3.09
3.15
3.10
3.29
3.20
588
207
673
3.25
1 From annual volumes of M ineral Resources of th e U n ited States, U. S. Geol. Survey. See also Coal
mine fatalities in th e U nited States, 1870-1914, b y A . H . F ay , Bui. 115, B ureau of Mines, 1916, p. 10.
2 Sum m ation based on S tate mine inspectors’ reports.
3 Calculated on basis of production represented b y inspection States.
4 B ureau of Census.
6 B ureau of Mines.
6 Subject to revision.
From the above table it will be noted that the fatality rate per
1,000 men employed was 5.93 in 1870 and 2.95 in 1915.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Classifying accidents by causes, based upon reports from inspection
States only, it is shown that 24,391 (46.74 per cent) of the 52,187
fatal accidents resulted from falls of roof and pillar coal, the fatality
rate being 1.60 in 1870 and 1.48 in 1914. The average fatality rate
during the 44-year period, 1870 to 1913, was 1.554. The fatality
rate due to mine cars and locomotives was 0.412 in 1870 and 0.498
in 1914, with an average of 0.408. More than 12 per cent of all acci
dents were due to this cause. With reference to gas and dust ex
plosions, the fatality rate was very erratic during the period under
consideration. In 1887 it reached the lowest point, 0.096, and in
1907 it rose to 1.417, with a per cent of fatality due to this cause of
29.49. The per cent for the 45 year period was 13.87. Accidents
due to explosives show a decrease, the fatality rate in 1870 being
0.225 and in 1914, 0.191, the percentage for the 45-year period being
7.41. The fatality rate due to shaft accidents has been gradually
decreasing, the rate per 1,000 men employed, in 1870 being 0.758,
while in 1914 it was 0.115. The average percentage is 3.68. The
number killed per 1,000 men employed averaged for the 45-year
period, is 3.31; in 1914 it was 3.22, and in 1915 it was 2.95. The
following table shows the number killed, by specified causes, in 1870
and in 1914, and for each quinquennial period, 1871 to 1915, inclusive:
N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S K IL L E D B Y A C CID E N TS IN COAL M IN ES, A N D P E R C E N T O F
F A T A L IT IE S D U E TO EA C H CA U SE, AN D R A T E P E R 1,000 E M P L O Y E E S , B Y C A U SES,
1870, Q U IN Q U E N N IA L P E R IO D S 1871 TO 1915, AN D IN 1914.
Year.
Falls of roof and pillar
coal:
N um ber killed.......
Per c en t...................
N um ber per 1,000
em ployees............
Mine cars arid locomo
tives:
N um ber k illed.......
Per c en t...................
N um ber per 1,000
employees............
Gas and d u st explo
sions :
N um ber killed........
Per c en t...................
N um ber per 1,000
ployees.................
Explosives:
N um ber k illed.......
Per c en t...................
N um ber per 1,000
em ployees...........
Miscellaneous, u n d er
ground:
N um ber k illed.......
Per c en t...................
N um ber p er 1,000
em ployees............
Year.
Period.
Causes and fatalities.
1870
18711875
187618S0
18811885
18861890
18911895
18961900
19011905
19061910
19111915 i
1914
57
27.01
461
37.91
659
50.97
1,038
44.19
1,539
49.22
2,391
47. 77
3,065
52.26
4,425
46.82
5.8S6
44.30
5,917
(*)
1,131
46.10
1.601
1.631
1.3S4
1.261
1.176
1.393
1.541
1.617
1.744
(2)
1.482
15
7.11
153
12.58
187
14.46
312
12.91
386
12. 44
558
11.15
645
11.00
1,065
11.27
1.599
12.03
1,904
(2)
380
15.48
.421
.541
.393
.369
.297
.325
.324
.389
.474
(2)
. .498
10
4. 74
137
11.27
120
9.28
173
7.16
297
9.50
743
14.85
730
12. 45
1,524
16.13
2,388
17.97
1,822
(2)
349
14.22
.281
.485
.252
.204
.227
.432
.367
.557
.708
(2)
.457
8
3. 79
97
7. 98
98
7.58
177
7.32
225
7.19
379
7.57
449
7.66
834
8.82
1,007
7.58
746
(2)
146
5.95
.225
.343
.206
.209
.172
.221
.226
.305
.298
(2)
.191
73
34.60
144
11.84
86
6.65
323
13.36
247
7. 90
348
6.95
345
5.88
580
6.14
1,137
8.56
1.032
(2)
194
7.91
2.051
.510
.180
.382
.189
.202
.173
I Figures reported for 1915 subject to revision.
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2 N ot reported.
.212
.337
(2)
D ata for 1915 incom plete.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S K IL L E D B Y A C C ID E N T S IN C O AL M IN E S , A N D P E R C E N T O F
F A T A L IT IE S D U E TO EA C H C A U SE, A N D R A T E P E R 1,000 E M P L O Y E E S , B Y CA USES,
1870, Q U IN Q U E N N IA L P E R IO D S 1871 TO 1915, A N D IN 1914—Concluded.
«
Year.
Causes and fatalities.
1870
Shaft fatalities:
27
N um ber k illed.......
P er c en t................... 12.80
N um ber per 1,000
em ployees...........
.758
Surface fatalities:
21
N um ber killed.......
Per c en t................... 9.95
N um ber per 1,000
em ployees............ .590
Total:
211
N um ber k ille d . . . .
N um ber per 1,000
em ployees........... 5.927
Year.
Period
18711875
18761880
18811885
18861890
18911895
18961900
19011905
19061910
191119151
87
7.15
39
3.02
124
5.13
176
5.63
231
4.62
226
3.85
368
3.89
382
2.87
303
(2)
88
3.58
.308
.082
.146
.135
.134
.114
.135
.113
(2)
.115
137
11.27
104
8.04
240
9.93
254
8.12
355
7.09
405
6.90
655
6.93
889
6. 69
856
(2)
166
6.76
.239
.263
(2)
1914
.485
.218
.283
.194
.207
.204
1,216
1,293
2,417
3,127
5,005
5,865
9,451 13,288 12,580
2,454
4.303
2. 715
2.854
2.390
2.914
2.949
3.454
3.215
1 Figures reported for 1915 su b ject to revision.
2 N ot reported.
3.937
(2)
.218
D ata for 1915 incomplete.
The report comments on, and illustrates by charts, the reduction
in fatality rates since the establishment by many of the States, be
ginning with Pennsylvania in 1870, of mine inspection service. From
1880 to 1897 the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed remained prac
tically stationary. From 1897 to 1907 the rate increased considerably,
reaching the highest point in 1907, but since that year there has been
a marked decline.
The increasing fatality rate due to mine disasters, from 1897 and culminating with
1907, has been the means of the passage of more stringent laws concerning the operation
of coal mines. Every disaster is thoroughly investigated by State and Federal au
thorities, as well as by the local engineers of the operating company, to determine the
exact cause, so that similar disasters may be prevented in the future. States are
establishing rescue and first-aid stations, and nearly every large mining company has
its safety engineer and safety-first committees with the necessary rescue and first-aid
equipment. An educational campaign on mine-accident prevention has been con
ducted since 1907, with the result that there is much closer cooperation of miner, fore
man, operator, and inspector than in former years. Permissible explosives and im
proved types of safety lamps have been introduced into many of the mines. Explosibility of coal dust has been studied and precautions adopted to render the dust inert.
The work of these various agencies has resulted in a gradual decline in the fatality
rate from 1907 to 1914.
Fatality rates prepared by the Bureau of Mines are calculated on
the basis of the number of men employed, regardless of the number of
days employed during the year. This method, it is explained, is
faulty to the extent that under existing conditions it is not possible to
obtain the exact number of men at work for the reason that all of the
men do not work throughout the year. The tonnage basis of com
parison, it is suggested, is hardly fair because mining conditions are
not the same in all the States.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS.
Still another method of computing fatality rates, and one which it
is believed gives the true hazard rates, takes into account the number
of men and the time they are engaged in the hazardous occupation.
This necessitates reducing all labor to a standard year of a certain
number of hours, and the Bureau of Mines in this report has taken as
a basis a year of 2,000 hours, or 200 10-hour days, on the ground that
this appears more nearly to approximate the average length of time
coal mines in the United States are operated during the 12 months.
The use of the 2,000-hour year, however, gives rates which are too
low for fair comparison with those for other industries and other
countries computed upon the basis of the 3,000-hour year which has
been formally adopted by the International Association of Indus
trial Accident Boards and Commissions, the International Congress
on Social Insurance, and the International Statistical Institute, and
which has long been in use in a number of European countries. The
fatalities per 1,000 men employed on the basis of actual days worked,
and also on the basis of 300 10-hour days for the period 1903 to 1914,
except 1909, for the 24 States reporting, were as follows:
F A T A L IT Y R A T E S IN COAL M IN ES O F T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S 1903 TO 1914.
Y ear.
1903.................................................
1904.................................................
1905.................................................
1906...............................................
1907...............................................
1908.............................................
P er 1,000 P er 1,000
m en
300
actually 10,-hour
day
em
ployed. w orkers.
3.46
3.48
3.63
3.39
4.81
3.60
4.97
5.96
5.87
5.58
7.31
6.42
Y ear.
1909........
1910...
1911
1912___
1913..........
1914..
1 D a ta n o t available.
r
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P e r 1,000 P er 1,000
m en
300
actually 10-hour
day
em
ployed. w orkers.
, 3.96
3.89
3.65
3.35
3.73
3.22
(l)
6.05
5.67
4.98
5.37
5.31
MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
71
The following table presents, by States, for the period 1903 to 1913,
inclusive, except 1909, the fatality rates based upon the number of
3,000-hour workers as compared with the rate based upon the num
ber of men reported as employed:
F A T A L IT Y R A T E S B A SED ON T IIE N U M B E R O F 3,000-IIOUR W O R K E R S AS C O M PA R ED
W IT H T H E R A T E B A SE D ON T IIE N U M B E R O F M EN R E P O R T E D AS E M P L O Y E D (19031913, IN C L U S IV E , E X C E P T 1909).
F a ta litie s per 1,000.
T otal
fatalities
for
10-year
A ctual
3,000period, em
ploy
hour
exclud
ees.
*
w
o rk e rs.
ing 1909.
D ays
w orked
per year
(10hour).
A ctual
n u m b er of
m en
em ployed
(10-year
period).
N um ber
of 3,000hour
w orkers.
A labam a.......................................................
A rkansas......................................... .............
Colorado.......................................................
Illinois...........................................................
In d ia n a .........................................................
Io w a ..............................................................
K ansas..........................................................
K e n tu ck y .....................................................
M aryland.....................................................
M ichigan.......................................................
M issouri........................................................
M ontana.......................................................
New M exico................................................
N o rth D ak o ta.............................................
O hio..............................................................
O klahom a....................................................
Pennsylvan ia (a n th ra c ite )......................
P ennsylvan ia (b itu m in o u s)...................
Tennessee.....................................................
T exas............................................................
U ta h ..............................................................
V irginia........................................................
W ashingto n .................................................
W est V irginia.............................................
W yom ing.....................................................
225.5
131.4
217.2
15G.7
148.7
170.4
156.4
188.5
242.8
162.0
153.9
193.0
246.3
197.4
149.5
140.6
198.5
203.4
210.0
210.1
210.9
244.7
202.3
213.2
213.7
211,382
i 39,006
123,713
664,866
209,054
157,415
124,576
187,589
i 47,6U
35,454
95,056
29,887
29,776
2 3,188
452,089
84,418
1,668,725
1,573,200
112,247
2 19,405
25,084
2 33,211
55,641
582,525
2 39,171
158,876
16,408
89,581
347,368
103,635
89,418
64,954
117,861
38,638
19,148
48,769
19,227
24,446
2,162
225,260
42,007
1,103,973
1,066,562
78,580
13,364
17,633
28,368
37,527
413,929
24,653
1,379
92
1,077
1,701
459
305
336
418
104
65
124
122
433
13
1,331
429
6,219
5,340
381
21
104
224
258
3,219
211
6.52
2.36
8.71
2.55
2.20
1.94
2.70
2.23
2.18
1.83
1.30
4.08
14.54
4.08
2.94
5.08
3.73
3.39
3.40
1.08
4.15
6.74
4.64
5.53
5.38
8.67
5.61
12.03
4.89
4.43
3.41
5.18
3.54
2.69
3.39
2.55
6.35
17.72
6.02
5.91
10.22
5.64
5.01
4.85
1.58
5.90
7.89
6.87
7.77
8.57
T o tal a n d average..........................
190.9
6,604,289
4,192,347
24,365
3.69
5.81
State.
1Em ployees a n d fatalities for eight years only.
2 Em ployees a n d fatalities for five years only.
2Em ployees an d fatalities for four years only.
Of 52,187 fatalities during the period 1870 to 1914, inclusive, 7,013
(13.44 per cent) were killed in exceptional accidents—that is, those in
which 5 or more men were killed at one time—and 45,174 (86.56 per
cent) were killed in common accidents—that is, those in which less
than 5 men were killed at one time.
The report suggests the unsatisfactory character of statistics show
ing nonfatal accidents in coal mines, owing principally to the fact that
no complete records exist. Based, however, upon reports submitted
by 17 State mine inspectors, covering the year 1913 or the nearest
year for which the record was available, 6,719 nonfatal accidents are
tabulated. Of these, 2,860 (42.57 per cent) were caused by falls of
roof or pillar coal, and 1,992 (29.65 per cent) were caused by mine
cars and locomotives. The following table showrs the number and
per cent of injuries received by employees in and about mines,,by
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MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
part of body affected, and is included in the report for the assistance
it may render the hospital department of various coal mines in point
ing out the part of the body receiving the most injuries, thus giving
the surgeon and others an idea as to the surgical equipment necessary
properly to take care of injuries to be expected in and about coal
mines.
N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T A G E O F IN J U R IE S R E C E IV E D B Y M EN E M P L O Y E D IN AND
A B O U T COAL M IN ES, B Y P A R T O F B O D Y IN JU R E D .
P a rt injured.
H e a d ..............................................
F a c e ...............................................
Shoulders......................................
Arms
H a n d s ............................................
B o d y ..............................................
P a rt injured.
N um ber. Per cent.
427
260
330
544
948
1,190
6.36
4.32
4.91
8 10
14.11
17.71
N um ber. Per cent.
H ip and pelvis.............................
Les;s................................................
F e e t................................................
281
1,987
722
4 18
29.57
10.74
T o ta l...................................
6,719
100.00
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAW OF CUBA.
The most recent addition to the extensive list of countries having
compensation laws is the Cuban Republic, which by its act of June
12, 1916, adopted this method for redress of injuries to employees in
both private and public employments. The law is of the broadest
application, including industries and employments in which more
than 5 persons are regularly engaged, and extending to supervisory
employees whose wages are not in excess of $3 per day and to appren
tices whose only reward for labor is instruction.
The amount of earnings to be used as a basis of awarding compen
sation benefits may not exceed $1,095 per j^ear, and the earnings of
minors under 18 years of age or of apprentices not receiving wages
shall be considered as not less than the average earnings of workmen
engaged on the same work. Accidents are not compensable if inten
tionally caused, nor unless disability continues for at least two 'weeks,
but if incapacity extends beyond two weeks, compensation is payable
from the date of the injury.
Permanent total disability is compensated by the payment of a
sum equal to two-thirds of the annual earnings of the injured person,
and permanent partial disability by the payment of one-half the
diminution of the annual earnings. Temporary disability is compen
sated by the payment of an amount equal to one-half the earnings of
the injured man at the time of the accident, payments being made
for each day, including Sundays and nonworking days, that the dis
ability continues. For fatal accidents the widow receives 20 per
cent for life or until remarriage, with added amounts in case of sur
viving children up to a maximum of 60 per cent where there are 4
or more. If children alone survive, 50 per cent of the earnings is the
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
73
maximum amount payable. Other beneficiaries may be ascendants
and brothers and sisters, payments to whom may not exceed 30 per
cent in the aggregate, in the absence of nearer dependents. Pay
ments to children or grandchildren cease when they reach majority
unless they are incapacitated physically or mentally for self-support;
to ascendants at their death, and to brothers or sisters at the age of
18 or on contracting marriage. Provision is also made for lump-sum
payments.
A technical commission is created whose duty it is to list and rec
ommend safety devices; the establishment of a safety museum is also
provided for. Compensation may be increased one-half in cases of
accident occurring in establishments not provided with the pre
scribed safety devices.
The usual provision is made against waivers, and any effort of the
employer to impose costs on the employee is strictly forbidden.
Insurance is prescribed unless capacity for self-insurance is established.
Medical and funeral expenses are to be met by the employer, the
injured man having the right to choose his own physician and phar
macist, but the charges must be approved by the municipal judge of
the district.
Accidents must be reported within 24 hours, and claims prosecuted
within one year. Methods of procedure are carefully laid down, and
special provision is made in behalf of seamen.
The act compares favorably with other laws of its class, both in
liberality and in administrative jwovisions, though no commission
for its administration is provided for. It is to take effect in six
months after its promulgation.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SURVEY—NEW ORLEANS.1
The gift to the city of New Orleans by Mr. Isaac Delgado of ap
proximately $800,000 for the establishment of a central trades school
for the mechanical training of boys, led to the inauguration in Sep
tember, 1913, of a vocational survey of local industries to determine
just what trades need to be taught to promote the welfare of the
industries and the youth, and the scope of the curriculum to be
offered in order that those boys who enter industrial life may be
properly trained for the occupations they have chosen. The pur
pose of the survey also was to direct the intelligent interest and
cooperation of employers and employees with regard to local prob
lems of vocational education; to find out how to offer new oppori V ocational survey for th e Isaac Delgado C entral Trades School. D art I, F acts about th e public schools
of New Orleans in relation to vocation. New Orleans, 1914, 58 pp. P a rt II, In d u s try and E ducation, New
Orleans, 1916. pp. xiii, 409, v. Illu strate d .
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
tunities for the hundreds of unemployed boys leaving the elementary
schools; to discover how the industrial prosperity of the city may
be promoted by means of vocational education; to determine pre
vailing types of industrial and trades schools in other cities, and to
ascertain what kind of teachers, rooms, shops, buildings, and equip
ment are necessary to carry out the program agreed upon. The
results of the survey, which was conducted by the Division of Educa
tional Kesearch of the Department of Superintendence of the Public
Schools, are presented in two parts. Part I includes information
useful in articulating the proposed trades school with existing con
ditions in the public schools, involving analyses of facts regarding
enrollment, elimination, progress, and repeating of boys in the
grades, and regarding night schools. Part II bears the title “ In
dustry and Education,” and is a detailed study of representative
local manufacturing establishments, of the mechanical occupations
of boys and men therein, and of the building trades in New Orleans.
A portion of Part I is devoted to a series of tables indicating for all
white schools, all colored schools, and for two typical schools, covering
the first term of the school year 1913-14, the percentage of children
over age in the different grades on account of lost time, over age on
account of slow progress, at or below age but making slow progress, at
or below age with usual or rapid progress, and repeaters. These
tables indicate a large proportion of hoys over age on account of slow
progress.
Supplementary data for 1915 show that 42.2 per cent of the boys and
35.8 per cent of the girls among 28,512 white children enrolled during
1914-15 were over age for their grades. Of 8,081 colored children,
69.2 per cent of the boys and 70.8 per cent of the girls were over age.
A special study was made of 13-year-old boys, of the occupations
of their fathers, and of teachers’ impressions of hoys’ aptitude for trade
work. Applying the “ station in enrollment” index of efficiency, that
is, ascertaining the percentage of 13-year-old children in or above
Grade VII of the elementary schools, it was found that during 1914-15
the indexes were lower for white boys than for white girls (26 per cent
and 39.1 per cent, respectively); that this index of efficiency for colored
children was excessively low.
In the study of the dropping out or elimination of children from the
public schools, it was found that approximately 70 per cent of the
white boys leave before completing the eighth grade, and that over 70
per cent of the colored boys leave before completing the sixth grade;
that a small per cent of those who enter elementary grades ever finish
high school; that the eliminated pupils are untrained workers and
hundreds of hoys and girls enter industry without training or aim.
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
75
The occupational history of 1,472 boys and men in the night schools
was ascertained, and of 1,232 schedules tabulated, the largest number,
289 (23.47 per cent), was employed as clerks, and the next largest
number, 165 (13.39 per cent), was employed as office boys. The
stated ambitions or desired occupations of this same group were re
corded with a view to better provisions for training, and of 1,350
schedules tabulated the largest number, 162 (12 per cent), expressed a
desire to be mechanics or machinists, 132 (9.78 per cent) wanted to be
bookkeepers, and 115 (8.52 per cent) wanted to be engineers. Almost
half expressed a preference for such trades as would be taught in a
trades school.
The attitude of approximately 150 employers toward evening,
part-time, preparatory, and practical day trade schools was ascer
tained. The result of this inquiry developed that 51 per cent favored
evening schools, 43 per cent favored part-time classes, 48 per cent
favored public industrial or preparatory schools, and 50 per cent
favored practical day trade schools.
In the survey of approximately 100 typical establishments in
New Orleans to determine the need for vocational training of work
ers, as a basis for the outlining of a trade school curriculum, the results
of which are set forth in Part II, the aim was to give a detailed and
accurate account of the occupations in each important group of
local manufacturing industries, including metal manufacturing,
power, light, and heating plants, and related occupations; electrical
manufacturing and construction, telephones, telegraphs, and related
occupations; lumber, its manufacture, and related occupations; the
local building trades; printing and publishing and related occupa
tions; a group of miscellaneous industries and occupations and
mechanical occupations under city government. In studying an
establishment effort was directed toward obtaining facts covering
designations, processes, skill, and knowledge required, steps of pos
sible promotion, wages, hours of labor, hazards, etc.
Five sections of the volume present facts and considerations that
were developed in the course of the survey. These include data
concerning proposed cooperation with the United States naval
authorities, some notes as to Gulf fisheries and conservation of the
industry, and an outline of a practical course in sea-food culture,
with a suggestion that the vocational opportunities offered by the
Gulf fisheries should be further investigated.
Some d o u b t is e x p r e s s e d a s t o t h e a d v i s a b i l i t y of e s t a b l i s h i n g a
s c h o o l o f s c i e n ti f ic d a i r y i n g a n d a g r i c u l t u r e a s a p a r t of t h e t r a d e s
S c h o o l.
In considering the problem of establishing a Negro department,
two questions presented themselves: “ Did the founder intend that
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Negro boys should be omitted from the benefits of the gift? In
consideration of the fact that a ‘central trades school’ is specified
in the will, can a separate department for Negroes be built in another
portion of the city and convenient to the Negro population?” These
questions are not specifically answered, but, with the thought of con
serving the trades in which Negroes are particularly employed and
to encourage the prospective workers, a recommendation is made
that education for Negroes should be provided, as follows:
Night courses for workers now engaged in bricklaying, carpentry,
and plastering.
A small Negro trades school should be provided with a practical
curriculum based upon the above three trades and following the
general organization of the regular preparatory trades department
of the Delgado School. Whether the money for the Negro trades
school be apportioned from the Delgado fund or from other sources,
it is believed that such a school would supply a recognized want in
our public-school system and render a good service to the Negroes
and the whole community.
In a chapter on vocational guidance four facts developed by the
survey relating to boys’ jobs and life work are presented, most of
the information being obtained from the 1,472 men and boys in
night school to which reference has been made on page 75.
1. A very large proportion (85 per cent) of the children who leave
school to go to work are 14 and 15 years of age.
2. The jobs or positions to which they go are, as a rule, not such
as to impart increased skill and knowledge or ambition.
3. The majority of young workers do not possess even a complete
common school education. Of 3,071 certificates issued by the factory
inspector for the year ending December 31, 1914, to children in the
public schools, 808 (26.31 per cent) of the children were in the fifth
grade and 642 (20.91 per cent) were in the sixth grade. Approximately
76.45 per cent, 2,348 pupils,1 had not gone beyond the sixth grade.
4. Wages earned during the first few years by the young workers .
are in numerous cases more closely related to their age than to their
school standing. Under present conditions of employment and of
school life there is little monetary incentive for the boys or girls,
going into industry, to remain in school until 16 years of age rather
than to quit at 14. Thus the average wage of 73 boys 14 years of
age who had completed the fifth grade was 83.67, while the average
wage of 27 boys 17 years of age who had completed the same grade
was 87.73.
This inquiry also developed the fact that hundreds of boys at work
desired training in the trades. Of 1,352 schedules, 950 (70.26 per
i This includes 7 pupils whose grade was unknow n and 6 pupils who h ad h ad no schooling.
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cent) stated that they would have remained longer in school to learn
a trade had such been taught.
From the statements of 2,244 parents of pupils 13 years of age
and over as to occupational preferences for them it was ascertained
that (1) a fair majority of the boys (1,553, 69.21 per cent) have a
definite occupation in view; (2) only 44 per cent of the parents
intend to send their boys to high school, and less than 5 per cent
intend to send their boys to college; (3) less than 12 per cent of the
parents state that their sons have received any training in prepara
tion for the occupation desired.
In this connection the report recommends the establishment of a
bureau of vocational guidance for boys and girls, based upon the result
of the survey. Such a bureau, it is suggested, demands the highest skill
and tact for its administration. This bureau would organize and pro
mote the work of the placement of boys and girls over 16 years of age
in all of its phases, as (1) training for wise choice of occupation; (2)
studying and disclosing industrial, commercial, and professional oppor
tunities; (3) studying the individual’s physical and mental capacities
and needs; (4) promoting vocational training for successful occupation;
(5) promoting cooperation between employers, employees, and civic
organizations.
An outline of a proposed plan for cooperation between the public
schools and local industries is presented, this plan proposing—
1. The enlargement of educational work by the public schools in the interest of
vocational choice, training for same, and dissemination of knowledge concerning voca
tional opportunities for the benefit of the youth of New Orleans; (2) active, organized
cooperation with the business organization and business men to this end; and (3)
assumption by such associations of a portion of the expense of conducting the bureau
of vocations.
Based upon the systematic survey of the representative daily
occupations, operations, duties, hours of labor, wages, processes and
physical and mental conditions that make up the life of the majority
of boys who leave school to go to work, a tentative course of study or
system of instruction, within the compass of the allotted sphere of
the Delgado school, is presented in detail. This includes examples
of general programs and distribution of shop practice and theory in
public and philanthropic trades schools, with illustrations of trades
schools in operation in certain cities of the United States, Germany,
France, and Ireland. It was decided that the course should be
adapted to the needs of (1) boys of 14 years of age and older who
usually will go no further than the sixth grade in the elementary
schools; (2) older and more advanced boys in smaller numbers; (3)
youths and men in industry who desire either to improve their skill
and knowledge or to change their occupations by means of unit
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evening courses and part-time courses. Accordingly a plan was
developed for the organization of the school into two departments:
First, a preparatory trades department for boys from 14 to 16 years
of age, not for the purpose of teaching a trade, but to interest and
hold the boy and give him a knowledge of different mechanical
industries so that he may be led to choose a definite vocation or trade
at the age of 16. Second, a practical trades department for the in
tensive teaching of trades in whole or in part, this department to
contain five divisions—metal working, building, woodworking,
operative engineering, and printing. For the unit evening classes
and part-time work a wide range of courses is indicated, based upon
local needs and the experience of other cities.
For the administrative control of the school a plan is outlined
proposing to establish an associate council, to which no member of
the board of school directors shall be eligible except in an ex officio
capacity, composed of two active manufacturers of the city, two
active wage earners, and two other citizens chosen for ability, edu
cation and interest in industrial training. This associate council
shall assist the board of school directors “ in a manner * * * con
serving the welfare of boys, and in sympathetic intelligent touch
with employees and employers in the mechanical trades and indus
tries of New Orleans.”
It should endeavor to see to it that the distinctive function of the Delgado school
shall he the practical training of boys in mechanical trades, although some of the work
may include practical English, shop mathematics, mechanical drawing, sanitation
and hygiene. * * * Especially is it desirable that the associate council should
labor to bind together continually the regular school system, the best civic interests
of our industries and of our wage earners, and the work of the Delgado school. The
associate council shall appoint advisory committees from each of the industries or
trades represented in the course of the Delgado trades school, and these committees
may be called upon from time to time for advice or information regarding the trades
and industries represented by them. * * * Each advisory committee shall
consist of four representative men of good character, two employers, and two wage earn
ers for each committee. * * * A director of the Isaac Delgado Central Trades
School should be elected by the board of school directors after thorough going investi
gation throughout the country to find the best men, and with the advice of the asso
ciate council and upon nomination by the superintendent of schools.
CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS IN NEW YORK CITY.
In a recent report1 the New York City pension commission
analyzes numerous “ defects in the operation of the present mass of
contradicting provisions of the city’s nine pension funds,” and finds
that from the point of view of equity to employees and efficiency of
service the system discriminates between employees in different
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branches of the service and between individual members of each fund;
that it offers inducement to 37 per cent of the employees of the city
to retire in the prime of life; it burdens 43 per cent of the service
with superannuated employees; it makes possible the expensive and
demoralizing “ excess” pension; it makes possible the absurd practice
of reemployment by the city of its own pensioner; it makes inadequate
and insecure provision for employees in case of injury or death result
ing from duty; it pensions dependents of employees whose death is
not due to the performance of duty without realization of the financial
obligation; and, finally, it does not make general or uniform partici
pation on the part of the employees in the pension cost.
From the point of view of financial soundness, the commission
finds that the plans for the existing pension systems were launched
without knowledge of their ultimate cost; that the city’s support
was disguised by means of indirect sources of revenue; that of the
nine plans, four had unlimited funds backed by the appropriating
powers of the city, and were consequently likely to impose an in
tolerable burden upon the city; and that the five limited funds were
so organized as eventually to become exhausted.
From the point of view of administrative efficiency, the commission
points out a lack of uniform policy for the municipal service; lack
of security due to frequent changes in administration; and a lack of
a proper system of records, which is a serious handicap to scientific
management of a fund.
On the other hand, it should be noted that for each of the defects
thus uncovered the commission points out a remedy, and throughout
the report constantly emphasizes the need and justification of a sound
pension scheme. There is no thought of abandoning the pension
principle, in spite of the fact that the existing plans were deemed so
illogical and so serious in their shortcomings as to require an entire
new system, rather than a patching up of the old ones.
Therefore, before proceeding to the elaboration of a single coherent
pension scheme covering all of the employees of the city of New York,
the commission points out the economic justification of a system of
retirement. Such a system would facilitate removal from the service
of those who can not perform satisfactorily the duties of their position
by reason of superannuation or other forms of disability; it would
clear “ the lanes of promotion for the young and ambitious” ; secure
adequate protection for the employees against such risks of life as
old age, disability, death, etc., protection “ which can not be obtained
by the individual through saving or commercial insurance at rates as
low as a pension plan makes possible” ; promote the good will of
employees and induce them to put forth their best efforts; eliminate
appeal for charity and favoritism; and enable the government to
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compete with other public and private employers having pension
systems in securing and keeping high-grade men and women in
public service.
The commission takes the view that any pension plan which may
be adopted by the city should rest upon equal contribution by the
city and the employee. A study of pension systems in the United
States and abroad points to the fact “ that the development of
pension measures as a result of an experience of over a hundred years
is in the direction of equal division of cost between the employer and
the employed, and that this tendency applies equally to systems for
public employees and for industrial workers.”
Such a system of joint contribution, it is contended, has the prac
tical advantage of securing adequacy and security of benefits, pro
motion of good will of employees, and protection to the dependents
of a deceased employee. A contributory system also offers induce
ment to an employee to remain in the service, but at the same time
does not unduly restrict his independence by fear of entirely losing
the benefits accrued after years of service. Furthermore, it facili
tates the discharge of the inefficient because it does not leave the dis
missed without any economic support—a condition demoralizing in
its influence.
The commission finds that “ it has been demonstrated by actual
experience that voluntary plans are ineffective,” and is apparently,
therefore, in favor of the compulsory application of any system that
may be adopted. It also urges equality in the application of the
pension principle to the entire municipal service.
As to the details which may be included in any system that is
adopted, the commission suggests the following:
Superannuation retirement.—Retirement age varying in accordance
with the occupational group to which an employee belongs. It
would, for example, be advisable to retire a policeman or a fireman at
an earlier age than a clerk or a teacher. The commission suggests a
uniform proportion of the average yearly compensation for the last
10 years for each year of completed service as a proper basis in deter
mining the amount of pension on the ground that the pension should
be increased with length of service.
Disability retirement.—A minimum service of 10 years is recom
mended as a proper limitation for eligibility to this class of benefits.
The disability retirement should be at a lower proportion of the
average compensation “ so as to establish a safeguard against the
improper use of disability provisions for early retirement.” Periodical
physical examinations and effective rules for the return to duty of
disability pensioners are also suggested.
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Return of contributions.—As interpreted by the commission, expe
rience of the majority of pension funds is said to point to the advisa
bility of refunding contributions to employees who leave the service
before eligibility to a pension.
I t is suggested that additional protection be offered to the depend
ents of employees by permitting the purchase of annuities at cost.
Principles of administration and management of any retirement
system should call for freedom from consideration of departmental
expediency in interpreting the provisions of the law; uniform appli
cation of the system to all employees of the municipal service; a
continuity of policy; judicious investment of funds for the accumu
lation of adequate reserves; economy in management; continuous
study of the different actuarial elements affecting the sufficiency of
contribution to insure the payment of all indebtedness; continuous
study of the practical operation of the system; continuous study of
the disability phases of the system in order to secure better legal
definitions and to improve the rules governing the examination of
disability pensioners; and, finally, definite responsibility for the sat
isfactory operation of the system which would make possible amend
ments in the original law whenever it was found to have become
defective. This implies administration by an independent commis
sion or board with considerable discretionary authority.
EFFECT OF THE WAR UPON RAILWAY LABOR IN GREAT
BRITAIN.
The report of the general secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen in Great Britain to the annual general meeting of that body
held in Bath June 19-23, 1916, shows that war conditions have made
necessary considerable increases in wages of operating employees.
A war bonus of 3s. (73 cents) per week was secured in 1915 for men
whose weekly earnings were under 30s. ($7.30) and 2s. (49 cents)
to those whose weekly earnings were 30s. ($7.30) and over. Later
negotiations with the general managers of the railroads in June,
1915, resulted in a bonus of Is. 6d. (36.5 cents) per week to employees
under 18 years of age engaged in train operation. As the cost of
living continued to increase, further increases were secured by nego
tiations in October, 1915, with the result that the bonus was increased
to 5s. ($1.22) per week for adults and 2s. 6d. (61 cents) per week
for boys under 18. While this agreement is in effect, the union
agrees not to present or support new demands for improved condi
tions. The secretary states with regret that every effort has failed
to have the war bonus extended to railway men in Ireland.
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Additions to the ordinary earnings of shop men effective since
July, 1915, amounted to 4s. (97 cents) per week on time rates and
10 per cent on piece rates.
There has been a marked increase in the number of women employed
upon British railways as a consequence of the war. This increase in
the employment of women has been acquiesced in and controlled by
the railway trade-unionists. A special committee of the union took
the matter up with the general managers of the railroads and settled
the terms upon which women were to be employed.
It was agreed that their employment was an emergency provision and would not
prejudice in any way any undertaking given by the companies as to the reemploy
ment of men who had joined the colors on the conclusion of the war; that their employ
ment in capacities in which they had not previously been employed is without preju
dice to the general question of the employment of women; and further, that they be
paid the minimum of the grade.
Prior to the war, women had been employed in small numbers as
coach cleaners, but since then the list of occupations which they
have filled has been very much extended.
PROPOSED MINISTER OF LABOR IN GREAT BRITAIN.
The Trades Union Congress in Great Britain, analogous to the
convention of the American Federation of Labor, at its session in
Bristol extending from September 6 to 11, 1915, passed an important
resolution calling for the appointment of a minister of labor, under
whose head would be coordinated all labor matters in which the
Government is concerned. The mover of the resolution, a member
of the dock, wharf, and riverside workers union, pointed out the diffi
culty experienced in going from one department of the Government
to another in regard to matters concerning the interests of labor.
“ In view of the changing conditions which the war is imposing
upon the industries of the country,” he continued, “ I hope the
parliamentary committee will press for this resolution to be put into
operation at once. * * * I suggest that the new conditions
forced upon labor make it additionally imperative that this ministry
of labor should be set up immediately.”
The resolution, which was carried unanimously (Sept. 11, 1915),
reads as follows:
APPOINTMENT OF M INISTER OF LABOR.
This congress calls upon the Government to appoint a minister of labor with full
Cabinet rank. That all departments of labor shall be coordinated under the said
minister’s supervision, and to include a statistical department, which shall enumerate
the number of persons employed in the United Kingdom, stating sex, young persons,
and children engaged in industrial occupations. The department shall prepare a
monthly statement indicating (1) the number of persons employed; (2) (a) number
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of persons regularly employed; (b) casually employed; and (c) the number unemployed
in any one week. A statement to be. prepared monthly dealing with the average
wages of persons permanently employed, irregular, and casually employed. A
statement also to be prepared of the changes iu wages and conditions of employment.
ADMINISTRATION OF FACTORIES ACTS, ETC.
Factory act, mines, docks, railway regulations, provisions for “ dangerous,” “ un
healthy” occupations to be supervised by minister, together with staff of inspectors
occupied in the administration of any act or regulation of labor under the Govern
ment.
EXCHANGES, REGISTRATION, ETC., R E UNEMPLOYMENT.
Exchanges, registration agencies dealing with local or national unemployment
to be administered by the labor minister.
INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION.
A national department of industrial arbitration and conciliation to be under the
control of the minister.
LABOR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
A legal department to be established dealing with trade-union law and registra
tion of trade-unions and all acts affecting the industrial life of the workers.
SCHEMES DEALING W ITH UNEMPLOYMENT.
National scheme dealing with unemployment: (a) Unemployment insurance;
(b) schemes dealing with afforestation, coast erosion, land reclamation, canal restora
tion, deepening, etc., military roads, or other forms of useful work to be included
in the labor minister’s administration.
PROVISION FOR R ELIEF OF D ISTRESS.
Provision for relief, feeding, housing of unemployed and their families to be admin
istered by the labor minister of state.
All powers, acts, and authorities dealing with labor interests and all machinery to
be consolidated. Departments pertaining thereto to be in charge of the minister
appointed.
I t may be interesting to note that the congress of British tradeunionists referred to above was said to be one of the most important
and most largely attended of the 47 congresses which have been held
annually since 1868, there having been no meeting in 1914. It was
composed of 610 delegates, representing over 2,680,000 trade-union
members. It was the first congress in history to be addressed by a
cabinet minister, Mr. Lloyd George appearing before it to emphasize
the importance of the support of labor in the prosecution of the war.
Regret was expressed that it was the first congress since 1894 at which
delegates iron the American F ederation of Labor did not appear.
ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION IN AUSTRALASIA.1
In an attempt to give an account of the actual development of the
principles of conciliation and arbitration in labor legislation in
i A rbitratio n a n d conciliation in A ustralasia, b y M ary Theresa R an k in.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Australasia, the author has confined herself to the experience of
Victoria and New Zealand, covering more than 20 years. In Victoria
conciliation has been effected through a wages hoard system, estab
lished in 1896 originally for the purpose of preventing sweating in
certain disorganized or weak trades. In New Zealand the motive
for providing an arbitration system is stated to he the abolition of
strikes and the promotion of good industrial conditions. In the
volume under review the author shows how far both systems have
been diverted from their original purposes. The wages boards in
Victoria the author regards as a compromise between a system of
voluntary conciliation boards with legal enforcement of agreements
and a compulsory arbitration system. No attempt has been made to
force labor to accept an unwelcome award, and the limitation of com
pulsory arbitration in this respect has been openly recognized. The
Government has undertaken the duty of legislating as regards wages
but it does not suppose that the rates fixed are "rig h t” in the sense that
their acceptance is ethically and equally binding upon both employer
and employed. Neither employer nor employee may pay or receive
a lesser rate than that fixed by the board, but no penalty attaches
to employees who, by means of a strike, endeavor to force the
employer to pay a higher rate. In New Zealand the recognition of
this powerlessness to enforce the acceptance of awards is not admitted
but experience seems to show that it is sufficiently apparent.
The conclusion seems unavoidable that compulsory arbitration leads to a demand
for relatively high standards of efficiency, and yet in its operation tends to produce
a standard relatively low. The gravity of this tendency up to the present has been
mitigated by a real scarcity of labor, and by the fact that there are still unregulated
trades Avhich help to solve the problem of the inefficient worker.
The author states that the original purpose of the wages boards
in Victoria has been lost sight of and that the reasons which now
prevail for the formation of these boards appear to be on the part
of employers "usually unfair competition,” and on the part of
employed, "low wages and often the employment of excessive
juvenile labor.” Their powers are limited to fixing minimum wages
and piecework rates, regulation of hours, and the proportion of
juvenile workers, the fixing of special rates for the incompetent where
it may seem just and expedient to do so, and the regulation of the
expansion of industry throughout the State.
In 1912 there were 111 boards in existence, affecting 130,000
workers, 70,898 being employed in factories and the remaining
59,102 in other trades and business. As to the cost of these boards,
it is stated that "no cheaper machinery for the legal settlement of
industrial questions could well be provided.”
In tracing the effect of wages boards determinations on the six
so-called "sweated trades”—boot, furniture, bread, clothing, shirt,
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and underclothing—the author states that there is ample evidence
that, in the years immediately following regulation of wages, the
legal rates, where possible, were evaded, and even where legal rates
were paid, sweating in the form of speeding-up was a frequent com
plaint. Instances are cited where employees themselves, earning
more than the minimum rate, have agreed to take the minimum
wage or even less because of a fear that they might not get work or
that others willing to take any wage would be employed in their
stead.
The amelioration of conditions in these trades seems to have
depended upon relative depression and underpayment in each trade,
the height of the legal rate fixed relative to the depth of depression,
and the supply of labor in the trade. That undue advantage was
taken of the general depression and surplus of labor just prior to the
institution of the wages boards, resulting in the payment of lower
rates than was compatible with the carrying on of the trade, appears
to be a fact, but the author admits the difficulty of discovering to
what extent this was true of any of the trades. The bread trade
and the Chinese furniture trade are mentioned as illustrative of what
constitutes the most reprehensible form of sweating, namely, the
persistent attempt to make profit out of wages.
If legal rates are to have any meaning and function at all, it is just here, and yet
there has been undoubtedly much greater failure than success. The reason is obvious.
Such regulation is purely negative. It does not touch the cause “ to sweat” nor the
cause “ to be sweated.” So long as both these remain there is temptation to collusion
“ and the union of the two classes who are personally concerned in the question must
inevitably nullify the board’s award.” The presuppositions on which a legal rate
rests are: (1) That the majority of employers are able to pay it; (2) if there is a minority
who are quite unable to do so, their employees will be able to find work elsewhere.
Unless both these presuppositions are, as a matter of fact, to a considerable extent,
true, sweating remains unaffected by the legislation. It might of course be objected
that before putting such legislation into force it is impossible to know whether the
necessary conditions exist or not. But the very prevalence of low rates and of long
hours in every trade tends to prove they do not exist * * *.
The effect of wages boards on wages has been to increase the average
paid. Reports for 1912 indicate that since the formation of the
various boards the increase in the average weekly wage has ranged
from £1 ($4.87) in the case of bakers and coopers to 3s. lOd. (93.3
cents) and 3s. 3d. (79 cents) in those of women tailors and milliners.
However, “ there is no reason to suppose that the whole increase in
any one case is due to the influence of the special boards alone.
Mainly owing to the increasing prosperity, the general rate of wages in
nonboard as well as in board trades has been steadily rising.”
The extent to which special boards have affected wages seems to
depend upon the circumstances of each industry and of the same
industry at different times, and also whether the determination con-
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stitutes a rise in the standard of wages or a mere leveling process by
which the wages of certain workers are raised to the level of those
more competent. Usually a first determination means a rise in the
standard, and future amendments mean the process of levelling up.
The average adult wage returns seem to show in most cases an advance
whenever the minimum rate has advanced, although not to the same
extent. For example, the clothing trade in 1910 raised the weekly
minimum rate Is. 6d. (36.5 cents), but the average adult wage only
rose 6d. (12.2 cents.)1 Again, in the boot trade at the end of 1902
the minimum wage was raised from 42s. ($10.22) to 45s. ($10.95) per
week, but the average adult wage in 1904 had risen only Is. 5d. (34.5
cents) and in 1906 only Is. 7d. (38.5 cents) over that of 1902. Not
till 1907 did the average adult wage rise to the extent of the rise in the
minimum, viz, 3s. (73 cents).
Prior to the board’s determination in the clothing trade the average
weekly wage for females was 15s. 5d. ($3.75); after the determination
it was 18s. 6d. ($4.50). In the shirt trade the minimum wage was
fixed at 16s. ($3.89), and “ a considerable number of workers are
reported to have been benefited by the award, though no great effect
is traceable on the average wage returns.” The underclothing board’s
award was also 16s. ($3.89), and “ in many instances workers experi
enced a rise in wages, and were greatly benefited by the board’s award.”
The increase in the average weekly wage as a result of the determina
tion was Is. 3d. (30.4 cents).
There is apparently no indication that the minimum wage has in
creased the cost of living.
A series of tables is presented, from which the accompanying table
is compiled, showing for the boot, furniture, bread, clothing, shirt,
and underclothing trades, by years from 1896 to 1911, except 1909,
the changes in minimum-wage determinations, the average wage and
average adult wage paid, and the number and per cent of apprentices.
The table is divided into three periods—1896 to 1902, when restriction
of apprentices was in force; 1903 to 1908, when the number of ap
prentices was not restricted; and 1910 and 1911, when restriction was
again imposed—and indicates somewhat the extent to which the
average wage was influenced by each minimum-wage determination
and also by juvenile labor. In the clothing and furniture trades the
minimum wage appears to have had two results, a great increase in
juvenile labor and a marked complaint of the scarcity of really com
petent hands among adult workers. The first result is also noticeable
to a lesser degree in the other trades, the great influx of apprentices
occurring during the periods of no restriction.
i T his is th e am o u n t given b y th e au th o r.
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T he ta b le on page 87 indicates a rise of lOd. (20.3 cents).
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MINIMUM A N D A V ER A G E W A G E S AN D N U M B E R A N D P E R C EN T O F A P P R E N T IC E S , 1896 TO 1911.
R estriction of apprentices.
R estriction.
No restriction of apprentices.
Item .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
$6.53
$8.76
$6.71
$8.19
$10.22
$8.11
809
36.0
$8.37
$8.39
$3.24
$3.06
$4.87
$3.55
$7.20
$10.95
$8.68
$10.32
$3.63
594
51.0
$3.55
$3.71
$5.31
$7.42
$9.06
$11.68
$8.76
338
49.0
$11.46
$11.68
$10.20
$9.44
257
34.0
$11.96
$12.19
$10.38
$12.17
$10. 71
$9.83
$9. 77
$10.34
$12. 63
$3.75
$3.51
$3.81
$3.55
$4,87
$4.44
784
22.0
$5.29
$3.89
$3.71
$2. 74
$4.50
950
24.0
$5.37
$3.73
$3.89
$3.00
$4.40
$4.44
$5.23
$5.41
$3.57
$3.06
$3.57
$3.02
$4.13
i O btained by strike.
1902
$10.95
$8.54
702
30.8
$10.81
$3.57
694
54.0
$5.25
$10.08
190
30.2
$12.41
$10.56
174
25.9
$12.57
$4.44
1,194
28.7
$5.41
$3.49
156
17.9
$3.00
810
52.9
$4.30
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
$8.54
$8.37
$8.21
$8.31
1,252
37.7
$11.19
$8.52
$11.15
$3.41
$3.37
$3.33
$5.23
$9. 67
$9.30
$8.88
$12.35
$10.40
$10.24
$10. 22
$12. 75
$4.38
$4.16
$4.08
$5.37
$3.61
$3.02
$3.55
$3.12
$4.38
$3.57
$3.00
$3.45
1,074
57.0
$5.17
$11.82
$3.59
$5.25
1910
$11.68
$8.88
1,379
39.9
$12.21
$13.14
$10.36
$5.11
$3.71
1,199
52.0
$5.43
$5.47
$4.20
$13.63
$9.08
515
54.1
$14.03
$13.55
$5.64
$8.86
345
43.1
$12.88
$13.20
$10. 56
233
36.2
$13.44
1$13.14
$11.09 $10.99
182
25.7
$13.40 $13.55
$4.08
1,917
38. 6
$5.43
$5.50
$5.11
$4.12
2,122
40.9
$5.56
$5.76
$3.79
$4.87
$3.89
$4.48
$4.85
$4.12
$4.87
$4.12
$5.50
$4.79
$3.14
$3.16
$3.37
$4.68
$4.72
$5.13
$3.01
233
18.8
$3.06
970
55.6
$4.56
$8.35
1908
$4.06
$8.94
$14.07
$11.33
$13.50
$5.47
$4.46
1911
$11.13
898
23.0
$13.55
$4.77
960
39.0
$5.88
$14.60
$9.90
637
48.5
$15.01
$14.60
$13.26
160
21.9
$15.41
$4.79
2,508
38.8
$6.12
$5.47
$4.95
266
18.7
$5.52
$5.15
$4.87
$4.01
1,138
52.9
$5.76
MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
[259]
Boot trad e (males):
M inimum wage...........................................................
Average w age..............................................................
N um ber of apprentices.............................................
Per cent of apprentices.............................................
Average a d u lt wage...................................................
Boot trad e (females): “
M inimum wage......................... ................................
Average wage...........................................................
N um ber of apprentices.............................................
P er cent of apprentices.............................................
Average a d u lt wage...................................................
F u rn itu re trade:
M inimum wage...........................................................
Average wage.......................................................
N um ber of apprentices.............................................
Per cent of apprentices.............................................
Average adult*wage...................................................
Bread trade:
M inim um wage...........................................................
Average wage.......................................................
N um ber of apprentices.............................................
P er cent of apprentices............................ ...............
Average ad u lt wage...................................................
Clothing trade:
M inimum wage...........................................................
Average wage (females).................................
N um ber of apprentices.............................................
Per cent of apprentices.............................................
Average a d u lt wage...................................................
S h irt trad e (females): “
M inimum wage...........................................................
Average wage........................................
N um ber of apprentices.............................................
Per cent of apprentices.............................................
Average adult*wage...................................................
Average piecework w age.........................................
Underclothin*g trade:
M inim um wage...........................................................
Average wage..............................................
N um ber of apprentices.............................................
Per cent of apprentices.............................................
Average adult*wage...................................................
00
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
The author thus sums up the effect of the wages boards upon condi
tions and wages in various industries in Victoria:
A careful consideration of Victorian experience forces the conclusion that the
deeper the depression and the larger the supply of labor in any trade the more harmful
is the introduction of a legal rate. At such time it operates entirely in favor of the
more competent worker by excluding the less competent from competition.
The minimum wage was adopted in Victoria for the purpose of protecting the weaker
units in industry in a time of depression and surplus of labor, hut it has depended for
its success on conditions diametrically opposite. In prosperous times a certain
amount of workers may receive the minimum wage, even although, strictly speaking,
they do not earn it. The employer may make up the discrepancy out of the wages
of better employees or out of his own profits. In a time of depression the employer
has no such resources with which to keep wages above their economic level, and
those who can not earn the minimum wage must either evade it or fall out of employ
ment.
It is stated that the restriction of juvenile labor in some form has
always been in the power of the Victoria wages boards, and seems
to be regarded as a necessary concomitant of a minimum-wage
system. The main reasons said to render this restriction necessary
are, (1) it insures employment to the adult worker and prevents such
a flow of labor into any trade as might endanger the minimum rate,
and (2) it insures to the juvenile worker not only employment on
reaching adult age, but also that proper training during the term of
apprenticeship, which is necessary if the standard of skill in any
trade is to be maintained, and the progress of industry in general
secured. The establishment of this restriction in 1897, its removal
in 1903, owing to a deficient supply of skilled workers, and its reim
position in 1910, owing to increasing deficiency of skilled workers,
and ostensibly for the purpose of better industrial training are
briefly outlined.
In 1894 the legislative assembly of New Zealand passed “ an act
to encourage the formation of industrial unions and associations, and
to facilitate the settlement of industrial disputes by conciliation
and arbitration.” This act, as amended in 1908, 1910, and 1911,
provides—
That societies consisting of not less than 3 persons in the case of employers, or 15
in the case of workers in any specified industry, or industries in an industrial dis
trict, may be registered as an industrial union on compliance with the requirements
for registration. “ Any two or more industrial unions of either employers or workers in
any industry may form an industrial association, and register the same under the act.
Such registration enables any union or association (1) to enter into and file an industrial
agreement specifying the conditions of employment agreed upon. (2) In the event of
failure to arrive at an industrial agreement to bring an industrial dispute before a
council of conciliation, set up for the purpose, and, if necessary, before the court of
arbitration. Councils of conciliation are set up for each dispute as it arises, and
consist of not more than three representatives of employers and three representatives
of employed concerned in the dispute, with the commissioner for the district as
chairman. The act provides for the appointment of not more than four conciliation
commissioners to hold office for three years.”
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89
The arbitration court consists of a president, bolding the status
of a supreme court judge, and two assessors, respectively, elected
by the unions of employers and workers. All decisions are by
majority of the members present at the sitting. If equally divided
the decision of the judge is final. There is no appeal from the de
cisions of the court except in questions beyond the scope of the act.
Awards are administered by inspectors of mines and factories as
inspectors of awards, and penalties are recoverable by suit of an
inspector of awards or any party to the award or agreement, but
there is right of appeal to the arbitration court.
It appears that the wages of women workers have been little
affected by the arbitration act. As to the regulated trades there
seems to have been much duplication of awards. For instance, the
author cites 51 different awards covering 8 industries.
It is stated that arbitration in New Zealand, as in Victoria, has
fixed a legal wage, which, regarded as a minimum, as the wage to be
earned by the less efficient or marginal worker, “ is harmfully high.”
Figures are given showing a languishing state of industry in New
Zealand due to “ an artificially high minimum rate of wages,” this
latter statement, however, being somewhat modified by a statement
from the report of the Department of Labor for 1910, indicating that
62 per cent of those employed were voluntarily paid above the mini
mum rate. Generally speaking, in spite of the multiplicity of awards
mentioned above, the author conveys the impression that the tendency
of the arbitration system has been to level wages and that its influ
ence on the most competent workers and on efficiency in general has
not been good.
In 1908 Mr. Aves 1 regarded the falling efficiency as indisputable.
* * * it would be unreasonable to attribute it entirely to the arbitration act.
But the tendency of the awards, making as they do for uniformity of remunera
tion, often on a time basis, is a contributory influence.
In presenting a brief history of the conciliation and arbitration act,
as regards industrial relationships, the author says that from 1894
to 1900, “ when labor was satisfied and capital harassed and distrust
ful,” there were no strikes; from 1900 to 1906, “ when labor became
less satisfied and capital less distrustful,” there were likewise no
strikes; from 1906 to 1912, when labor was “ in open revolt and capi
tal endeavored to uphold the act,” there were 63 strikes.
When the arbitration act was amended in 1908 it was stated in the
debates that “ strikes—or rather revolts you might say against
the arbitration court—have been rather frequent of late, and a great
cry has been made through the length and breadth of the country
because there have been strikes. This law was never intended to
prevent strikes, and never could, and neither this nor any other law
i R eport to th e Home Office, 1908, on wages boards and in d u strial conciliation and arb itratio n in New
Zealand and A ustralia, p. 109.
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
ever could * * * the object is to discredit strikes because they are
a national calamity.”
In apparent contradiction of the last statement, and summing up
the result of arbitration in New Zealand, the author says:
The New Zealand arbitration act, by fixing wages, by declaring strikes illegal, and
by a system of fines and punishments, does actively seek to prevent strikes, and
not merely to discredit them. Its inherent weakness lies in the fact that when strikes
do occur there is no method whereby they may be met; no method whereby the worker
can be forced to return to labor under the legal conditions against which he has re
belled. This, it will be willingly conceded, “ no law could ever do.” But if the
powers of compulsory arbitration are limited to fining the strikers, then it can do no
more than could be done by a disputes act, or by a method of legal enforcement of vol
untary agreements. Under a system of compulsory arbitration the general public
and the employers are not interested in the fining of workers, but whether they as
well as the employers can be forced to carry on industry under the awarded condi
tions. Critics of compulsory arbitration have always contended this to be impossible,
and the experience of New Zealand shows this contention to be justified.
The settlement of strikes in New Zealand has, without exception, been arrived at
by ignoring the arbitration court and its awards, and by mutual agreement between
the parties concerned; the details of the agreement and the extent of concessions
depending on the relative strength of their bargaining power. Out of the total of 63
strikes, 49 were settled by employers granting concessions to workers. In the other
14 cases employers stood firm, and the strike collapsed or gradually “ fizzled out.”
The councils of conciliation established by the amended bill in 1908
seem to have met with much success and are considered preferable to
the arbitration court. Out of 119 cases in 1912, 86 were settled by
the councils, 19 partly so and only 14 wholly referred to the court.
CITIZENSHIP CONVENTION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
BUREAU OF NATURALIZATION.
In connection with the work of the Bureau of Naturalization for
the better education of candidates for citizenship a convention was
held in Washington, D. C., July 10 to 15, 1916, for the discussion
of the various questions in regard to citizenship schools and for
exhibiting the work of various schools of this character. One of the
purposes of this convention was to develop a more complete course
of instruction based on the experience of the several schools.
The presiding officer of the convention was Raymond F. Crist,
Deputy Commissioner of Naturalization. The program was as
follows:
Monday, July 10.
Address, “ Welcome to tbe City”—Hon. Oliver P. Newman, Commissioner of the
District of Columbia.
“ Americanism”—Hon. Louis F. Post, Assistant Secretary of Labor.
Address of welcome—Ernest L. Thurston, superintendent of schools, Washing
ton, D. C.
“ Evening Schools for Foreigners in the Northwest”—Robert S. Coleman, chief
naturalization examiner, St. Paul, Minn.
“ The Public Schools in the Philippines and Hawaii” (illustrated)—Hon. Clarence
B. Miller, Representative in Congress.
[262]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
91
Tuesday, July 11.
Address—Hon. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy.
“ The Schools of the United States Army”—Lieut. E. Z. Steever, United States
Army.
Address—Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor.
“ Americanizing a Community” (illustrated)—J. Henri Wagner, chief clerk,
Bureau of Naturalization.
“ Rural Night Schools for Aliens in Northern Minnesota”—E. A. Freeman, district
superintendent of schools, Grand Rapids, Minn.
“ Preparation for American Citizenship and Life”—Hon. Philander P. Claxton,
Commissioner, United States Bureau of Education.
Wednesday, July 12.
“ Methods of Reaching and Teaching Illiterates”—Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart,
president of Kentucky Illiteracy Commission, Frankfort, Ky.
“ Outdoor School Work in Tacoma, Wash.” (illustrated)—Hon. Albert Johnson,
Representative in Congress.
Discussion of textbooks by the convention.
“ An American in the Making” (illustrated).
Thursday, July 13.
Selection—The Marine Band.
“ Civic Preparedness and Americanization”—J. M. Berkey, director of special
schools and extension work, Pittsburgh, Pa.
“ Some of the Problems of Getting Aliens into the Night Schools”—W. M. Ragsdale,
chief naturalization examiner, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Address—The President of the United States.
Selection—The Marine Band.
“ The Immigrant in America” (illustrated).
“ What Portland, Oreg., is doing to Americanize Foreigners”—L. R. Alderman,
superintendent of schools, Portland, Oreg.
Address—Hon. William B. Wilson, Secretary of Labor.
Friday, July 14.
Address—Hon. Frederick L. Siddons, associate justice of the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia.
“ The Man He Might Have Been” (illustrated).
“ What Boston is Doing in Immigrant Education”—M. J. Downey, assistant direc
tor, evening and continuation schools, Boston, Mass.
“ The Business Man’s Point of View”—I. Walton Schmidt, industrial welfare
department, board of commerce, Detroit, Mich.
“ The Industrial Plan of Education in Wisconsin”—Andrew H. Melville, member,
State conference board on industrial education, and chief of the bureau of civic,
commercial, and community development, University of Wisconsin extension
division.
ilA Resume”—Raymond F. Crist, Deputy Commissioner of Naturalization.
Trip to Mount Vernon.
Saturday, July 15.
IMMIGRATION, MAY, 1916.
The number of immigrant aliens admitted into the United States
during each of the first six months of 1916 has been in excess of the
number admitted during the corresponding months of 1915, thus
showing a recovery, as it were, since the war began, in the influx of
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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
immigration to this country. There has also been an increase from,
month to month in 1916, except from May to June, when there was a
slight decrease. Thesefacts are brought out in the statement following:
IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D IN T O T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D M ON TH S,
1914, 1915, A N D 1910.
1916
1914
M onth.
1915
N um ber.
44,708
46;873
92,621
119,885
107,796
71,728
J anuar y ........................................................................................
F e b ru a ry .....................................................................................
M arch.................................................................................. ■........
A p ril.............................................................................................
M ay...............................................................................................
J u n e ......................................................................... .•___ 1.........
15,481
13,873
19,263
24,532
26,069
22,598
Per cent
increase
over
preceding
m onth.
8.5
43.1
11.5
10.8
15.1
1.8
17,293
24,740
Ì 1 , 586
30,560
31,021
30,764
1 Decrease.
Classified by races, the immigrant aliens admitted into and emi
grant aliens departing from the United States during April, 1915 and
1916, were as follows:
IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D IN T O A N D E M IG R A N T A L IE N S D E P A R T IN G FR O M T H E
U N IT E D ST A T E S , MAY, 1915 A N D 1916.
A d m itte d —
D eparted—
Races.
African (b la c k )..........................................................................
A rm enian.....................................................................................
Bohem ian a n d M oravian........................................................
Bulgarian, Serbian, M ontenegrin.........................................
Chinese............................................................................... ........
Croatian, S lav o n ian ..................................................................
C uban...........................................................................................
D alm atian, Bosnian, H erzegovinian....................................
D utch and' F le m is h ' ................................................................
E a st In d ia n .................................................................................
E n g lish .........................................................................................
F in n ish ........................................................................................
F rench..........................................................................................
G erm an........................................................................................
Greek............................................................................................
H e b re w .................................................................................... ..
Ir is h ..............................................................................................
Ita lia n (N o rth )..........................................................................
Ita lia n (S o u th )......... ................................................................
Jap an ese......................................................................................
K o rean .........................................................................................
L ith u a n ia n ..................................................................................
M agyar.........................................................................................
M exican.......................................................................................
Pacific Islan d er......................................................................
Polish............................................................................................
Portugese....................................................................................
R o u m an ian .................................................................................
R ussian........................................................................................
R u th en ian (R u ssn iak ).................................................
S candinavian..............'..............................................................
Scotch...........................................................................................
S lovak..........................................................................................
Spanish........................................................................................
Spanish-A m erican....................................................................
S y rian .......................................................................................
T u rk ish ........................................................................................
W elsh ...........................................................................................
W est In d ian (except C u b an ).............................................
O ther peoples.........................................................................
N ot specified.........................................................................
T o tal...........................................................
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May, 1915.
May, 1916.
May, 1915.
817
35
111
266
218
99
188
8
626
7
2,682
418
1,139
1,168
2,460
766
2,050
1,046
4,886
792
3
18
40
806
2
275
347
53
248
88
2,006
1,004
18
699
213
48
28
63
64
264
1,005
144
38
218
191
48
322
13
747
4
3,236
623
2,141
1,091
3,782
1,070
1,384
427
3,780
613
32
53
56
1,531
2
492
680
82
348
122
2,523
1,250
23
1,813
205
89
59
93
144
519
231
5
8
73
177
8
613
177
72
1
9
43
1
91
78
75
1
602
49
235
65
261
4
169
315
398
48
1
26,069
31,021
693
65
237
62
500
39
158
427
2,012
68
4
9
33
21
1
140
209
6
711
1
259
181
10
296
34
14
3
25
37
42
1 257
8,747
May, 1916.
29
32
2
19
29
10
569
540
137
8
114
34
9
2
11
55
46
970
5,233
MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS.
93
OFFICIAL REPORTS RELATING TO LAROR.
UNITED STATES.
Ca l if o r n ia .— Commission
on Immigration and Housing. Immigrant education leaf
lets Nos. 1-4. San Francisco. [iVo date.\
These leaflets are distributed with a view to aiding in the education of immigrants
in American ideals. They contain information concerning the literacy of the immi
grant in this country and an account of work being done in California and other cities
for his education and uplift.
---- - Industrial accident commission. Engine safety orders. Effective August 1, 1916.
[Sacramento, 1916.] 8 pp.
----------- . Laundry safety orders. Effective August 1,1916. [Sacramento, 1916.] 6 pp.
----------- . Woodworking safety orders. Effective August 1 , 1916. [Sacramento, 1916.]
7 pp.
These safety orders were approved by the commission under authority of chapter
176 of the Laws of 1913, after consultation with persons interested in the enforcement
of the order, i. e., the employers and employees.
•-----Social insurance commission. Social insurance in California. [Sacramento, 1916.]
8 pp.
This pamphlet is a brief survey of the situation in the field of social insurance in this
and foreign countries. The State of California has recently established a social in
surance commission to make a study of the social insurance theory, to examine Euro
pean experiments, and to make a survey of conditions in the State of California in
order to be able to report to the next meeting of the legislature upon the advisability
of extending the activities of the State in the field of social insurance.
----- State board of education. A vocational guidance bibliography prepared for school
and public libraries and arranged especiallyfor youths, teachers, and specialists. Com
piled for the commissioner of industrial and vocational education. January, 1916.
California [Sacramer to], 1916. 24 PPC olorado .— Committee
on unemp loyment and relief. Report. [Denver.] 1916. 47
pp.
The work of this committee covers the winter of 1915, and is confined largely to pro
viding relief work in the coal-mining region of the State (Las Animas, Huerfano, Boul
der, Fremont, Gunnison, Weld, and Garfield Counties).
Unemployment conditions became acute following the withdrawal of strike benefits
which were being paid during the disturbances which had prevailed for some time
in the coal-mining region of the State. Extensive relief funds were obtained from the
Rockefeller foundation.
I l l in o is . —Bureau
of Labor Statistics. Seventeenth annual report of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Illinois Free Employment Offices and the supervision of private
employment agencies for the year ending September 30, 1915. (Springfield, 1916.)
70 pp.
Legislation in 1915 effected considerable changes in the public employment office
laws of Illinois. It created a general advisory board for the purposes of administrative
oversight of the officers, established a central office for Chicago, and provided for the
formation of local committees of supervision at the different offices throughout the
State.
It cost the State of Illinois $59,000 in round numbers to maintain its employment
offices (located in six different cities), or an average of 72 cents for each application
for employment.
52445°—16-----7
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MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
The following table shows the combined business of the Illinois Free Employment
Offices for the year ending September 30, 1915:
S T A T IS T IC S O P IL L IN O IS F R E E E M P L O Y M E N T O F F IC E S , Y E A R E N D IN G S E P T . 30, 1915.
A pplications for em ploym ent.
Offices.
N um ber
filed.
N um ber of
positions
secured.
N um ber
unfilled.
A pplications for help.
N um ber
filed.
N um ber
unfilled.
Chicago.................................................................
P eoria....................................................................
E ast St. Louis.....................................................
Springfield..........................................................
R ock Island-M oline...........................................
R ockford............................................................
47,693
8,465
10,022
4,863
4,830
5,613
14,197
6,927
6,697
3,037
3,328
3,954
33,496
1,538
3,325
1,826
1,502
1,659
18,460
7,140
6,850
3,042
3,366
4,168
4,263
213
153
5
38
214
T o tal...........................................................
81,486
38,140
43,346
43,026
4,886
Detailed tables show by sex the number of applications for employment, the posi
tions secured, and applications for help according to occupations classified in different
industry groups.
A separate part of the report relates to licensed employment offices conducted for
profit.
M a s s a c h u s e t t s .—Bureau of Statistics. Fifteenth annual directory of the labor organ
izations in Massachusetts, 1916. Boston, 1916. 59 pp. (Labor bulletin No. 113,
being Part I of the annual report on statistics of labor for 1916.)
This directory shows separately : (1) National and international organizations having
one or more affiliated local unions in the United States; (2) State, district, and trades
councils; (3) Central labor unions and local councils; (4) Local trade-unions. For
each trade-union or organization there is given its address and name of its secretary.
The scope of the directory is shown by the fact that 1,814 schedules were sent out, of
which number 160 were to national organizations, 75 to State, district, and trades
councils, 99 to central labor unions and councils, and 1,480 to local trade-unions.
Other reliable sources were utilized in securing information.
----- Commission on Economy and Efficiency. Report relative to the hours of labor of
public employees and to Saturday half holidays. Submitted in accordance ivith
Chapter 137, Resolves of 1915. January, 1916. Boston, 1916. 58 pp.
The legislative session of 1915 proposed to amend the law relative to the hours of
labor of public employees and as to Saturday half holidays for laborers, workmen, and
mechanics employed by the State, and at the same time requested the Commission on
Economy and Efficiency to ascertain the effects of such legislation. The proposed
bills would restrict the labor of certain classes of State, county, and town employees
to 48 hours a week, whereas the present law restricts it definitely to 8 hours a day,
with a limitation of a single day’s work; it would also make Saturday half holidays
mandatory instead of discretionary with the head of the department.
The understanding of the law and its practical application by the heads of the
different departments, the commission found, was such that—
the effect of the proposed amendment would be slight in the State service, and prac
tically nothing in the counties, cities, and towns. The commission can see no strong
argument against the passage of the bill, at the same time believing that some advan
tage may be gained by adopting such a clause in order to perfect the present statute.
The commission would, therefore, suggest that the proposed amendment be adopted.
----- Industrial Accident Board. Reports of cases under the workmen’s compensation
act, determined by committees of arbitration, the industrial accident board, and the
supreme judicial court, July , 1914, to December 31, 1914, inclusive. Boston, 1916.
821 pp.
This is the third volume of reports on disputed claims under the Massachusetts
workmen’s compensation act decided by the different authorities concerned in the
administration of the act.
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF TH E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
95
N e b r a s k a , —Department
of Labor. Report upon the operation of the workmen's com
pensation law for the year ending November 30, 1915. Lincoln, [1916] 164 pp.
This report has been considered elsewhere in this number of the Review (p. 56).
N e w Y o r k .—State Library. Mothers' pension legislation in New York and other
States, by William E. Hannan. Albany, 1916. 41 pp. Folded chart. ( University
of the State of New York Bulletin, No. 614, May 1,1916; New York State Library,
Legislation Bulletin 41.)
History of mothers’ pension legislation in New York and a reproduction of the laws
in force, and of administrative forms in use. Digest of all State laws in force is pre
sented in the form of a tabular statement or chart.
Twenty-nine States now have legislation of this character.
------ ( N e w Y o r k Cit y ). — Commission on Pensions. Report on the pension funds of the
City of New York. Part 1: Operation of the nine existing pension funds. New
York, 1916. 171 pp. Folded tables.
The material contained in this report was gathered by a special commission with a
view to unifying and reorganizing the different haphazard pension schemes in exist
ence applicable to different grades of municipal employees.
The present report is Part 1 of the final report of the commission. Part 2, it is stated,
will present the results of the commission’s actuarial investigations of existing funds,
while Part 3 will outline plans for reconstructing the existing pension systems of the
city on a sound financial equitable basis. Part 4 will supplement the constructive
recommendations with actuarial data.
Separate reports are to be published on the present condition and past operation of
all individual pension plans now in operation, similar to the special report on the
teacher’s retirement fund already published (see Monthly Review, June, 1916, pp.
120- 121).
A digest of the volume listed above will be found on p. 78 of this number of the
Review.
O k l a h o m a . —Labor laws of the State of Oklahoma. Published by Department of Labor.
Oklahoma City (191-), 34 pp.
Contains text of all labor legislation and citations to court decisions interpreting
particular sections of the laws.
P e n n s y l v a n i a .—Department of Labor and Industry.
Second annual report of the
commissioner of labor and industry of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1914.
Part 1: Production, wages, employees, welfare, and educational work. Harrisburg,
1915 . 579 pp.
On account of an extension of the duties of the department a considerable part of
this report is devoted to welfare work in various industries, including such concerns
as the New Jersey Zinc Co., Palmerton; the Westinghouse Air Brake Co., Wilmerding;
the Pennsylvania Railroad Co.; Ellsworth Collieries Co., Ellsworth; Carnegie Steel
Co., Pittsburgh; John Wanamaker’s stores, Philadelphia; Bell Telephone Co., United
Gas Improvement Co., Philadelphia; Armstrong Cork Co., Lancaster; Gimbel Bros,
stores, Philadelphia; and numerous other employers.
Chapter 2 (43 pp.) is a discussion of vocational and corporation schools as conducted
in Pennsylvania.
The following is a summary of manufacturing statistics presented in the report:
Number of establishments reporting..............................
20, 571
Capital invested............................................................... $2, 340, 933, 300
Market value of production............................................. $3, 245, 835, 800
Average days in operation...............................................
280
Total number all employees............................................
1, 066, 486
Salaried men and office force..................................
106,108
Wage earners.............................................................
960,378
Wages paid salaried men and office force.......................
$128, 111, 700
Wages paid all other employees......................................
$557, 311, 000
Total wages paid all employees...............................
$685, 422, 700
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M ONTHLY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Average daily wage (wage earners only)........................
Per cent of—Males employed........................................................
Females employed....................................................
Males under 16 years of age......................................
Females under 16 years of age.................................
Americans..................................................................
Foreigners..................................................................
Negroes......................................................................
$2.07
80.0
20.0
1.1
1.3
72.7
25.9
1.4
I s l a n d . — Chief Factory Inspector.
Twenty-second annual report of factory
inspection made to the General Assembly at its January session, 1916. Providence,
1916. 161 pp.
During the year the factory inspector reported 7,045 places as having been inspected,
comprising 4,365 bakeshops, stores, etc., employing less than 5 persons, and 2,680
establishments employing 5 or more persons. Among other statistics presented are
the following;
R
hode
N U M B E R O F F A C T O R IE S IN S P E C T E D A N D P E R S O N S E M P L O Y E D IN SUCH F A C T O R IE S
IN R H O D E IS L A N D , 1911 TO 1915.
Y ear.
1911........................................................................
1912........................................................................
1913........................................................................
1914........................................................................
1915........................................................................
N um ber
of places
visited.
6,430
6,520
6(689
( 875
7 ,02S
6
N um ber
of adults
employed.
156,808
161,585
164,005
152( 777
158,030
N um ber
of children
employed.
5,699
5,761
6,026
5,450
5,164
Total
num ber
employed.
162,507
167,346
170,031
158', 227
163,194
P ercen t
of chil
dren.
3.5
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.2
Two cases were brought before the district court during the year, one for violation
of the 54-hour law and one for employing a child under 16 years of age after 8 o’clock
p. m. Both prosecutions were sustained.
During the year 1,302 accidents were reported, 11 of them resulting in death.
Of these accidents, 399 were caused by machinery.
The inspector calls attention to the need of providing adequate fire escapes on all
factories and workshops.
Detailed tables show by localities and separate establishments the character of
product manufactured, sanitary conditions, and number employed, classified by sex
and age.
U n i t e d S t a t e s . —Congress. House.
Committee on the Judiciary. Limiting activity
of certain officers and employees of the Government. Hearing before the Committee on
the Judiciary. House of Representatives, Sixty-fourth Congress, first session,
II. R. 9820, ser. 32 (Part 1: Friday, March 17, 1916; Part 2: Saturday, March 18,
1916). Washington, 1916. 2 vols.
These two pamphlets, comprising altogether 89 pages, constitute hearings on the
Carlin Bill (H. R. 9820) proposed for the purpose of forbidding any person or employees
of the Bureau of Printing and Engraving from giving their time, skill, knowledge, or
experience to any foreign countries, or to any individual, firm, or corporation, to assist
in establishing or carrying on any establishment or engraving business which may
come into competition with American industry.
•------------------ Committee on Reform in the Civil Service. Court of appeals for em
ployees in the Federal classified service. Hearing before the Committee on Reform in
the Civil Service. House of Representatives, Sixty-fourth Congress, first session.
April 7, 1916. Washington, 1916. 71 pp.
The purpose of the proposed court of appeals is to pass upon the discharge of any
employee from the service, giving him an opportunity for a hearing before an impar
tial body.
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OP T H E BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS.
U n it e d S t a t e s .—Congress.
97
Senate. Committee on Immigration. Regulation and
restriction of immigration. Report to accompany IT. R. 10384■ [Washington, 1916]
20 pp. (Sixty-fourth Congress, first session. Senate Report No. 352).
Contains the amendments to the House bill (H. R. 6060) restricting immigration
as proposed by the Senate Committee.
----- Department of Commerce. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Cotton
spinning machinery industry; report on the cost of production of cotton spinning
machinery in the United States. [Washington, 1916] 99 pp. (Miscellaneous series,
No. 37.)
This report again draws attention to the fact of the variableness of the labor cost
which has been a marked development in every report hitherto made on the cost of
production, and which is indeed an essential feature of industry. This statement
is contained in the letter of the Secretary of Commerce to the President transmitting
a copy of the report listed above. It is noted that the cost of production in different
plants varied from 26.47 per cent of the total cost in one plant during the most profita
ble year to 53.66 per cent of the total cost in another plant during the least profitable
year—a variation of 27.19 per cent. If the labor cost be taken at one plant on standard
units of production it is found that in one year the cost of such a unit for labor was
$7.90 and in another year the labor cost for the same u n itin the same plant was $11.35—
a variation of 45 per cent. In the case of a second unit the variation in the same
plant in the labor cost per unit is from $83.68 to $100.11—a variation of 20 per cent.
The report states that though the wage rates in this industry have increased it is
doubtful whether the unit cost of labor has grown, because more efficient manufac
turing methods, the use of automatic machines, etc., have probably more than offset
any increase in wages. The variations in labor cost mentioned are materially affected
by the fluctuation in production.
The data in the report cover a period of nine years and are based upon the produc
tion of three companies operating six plants which produce over 80 per cent of our
domestic output of the kind. The report shows that on the combined net sales of
these three companies there was a manufacturing profit of 22.94 per cent and a final
profit of 25.04 per cent during the most profitable year, a manufacturing profit of 3.80
per cent and a final profit of 5.62 per cent during the least profitable year, and a manu
facturing profit of 18.29 per cent and a final profit of 20.24 per cent during the period.
During the most profitable year the final profits in the six plants varied from 13.30
to 39.07 per cent of the net sales. During the least profitable year one plant had a
final loss of 17.42 per cent, and the final profits of the other five varied from 0.37 to
34.68 per cent of the net sales.
During the most profitable year the materials used in all the plants amounted to
47.50 per cent of the total manufacturing cost, the pay roll 42.32 per cent, selling
expense 3.36 per cent, and administrative expense 2.34 per cent. The other items
of manufacturing and selling cost amounted to 4.48 per cent.
There have been practically no labor troubles in the industry. Few highly skilled
men are employed except as foremen, second hands, erectors, and machinists in
the tool department. Most of the employees are machine hands, an occupation which
requires very little training. The number of men employed by the three firms
reporting varied from 6,500 during dull times to 8,500 during the busier years.
The general working conditions were found to be good in all the establishments
visited. * * *
The fact that no strikes of any importance have occurred in this industry is con
vincing proof of the ability of the administrative officers to understand and direct
labor. * * * The plants are clean, light, and in every way sanitary, adding
much to the convenience and health of the workmen and the efficiency of the shop
as a whole. The machinery is well protected. * * * Where dust, filings, and
other dangerous substances are found, blowing systems have been installed to carry
them away. In the brass foundries, where dangerous gases are formed, it is custom
ary to change the men every two weeks, those relieved returning to the iron foun
dry, from which they had come. While at work in the brass foundry their pay is
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M O NTH LY KEVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
increased, and, on account of the increased pay, a molder is considered fortunate
to get such work, the exposure to the gases not being long enough to endanger his
health.
In some places good houses are furnished for the married workmen at a rental much
below the average local rate. In two cases hotels have been built for the accommo
dation of workmen with no families. * * * Where possible boat clubs, bowling
alleys, billiard and pool rooms, athletic fields, and other means of entertainment at
reduced rates are maintained.
Wages are reported as having gradually increased from year to year. Both time
and piece rates are paid, and in some cases bonuses are added to the regular rates.
U n it e d S t a t e s . —Department of Commerce. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce. The men’s factory-made clothing industry; report on the cost of production
of men’s factory-made clothing in the United States. Washington, 1916. 300 pp.
(Miscellaneous Series No. 34.)
This volume constitutes the fifth of a series of reports by the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic "Commerce regarding the cost of production in different branches of the
clothing industry. This particular report covers the manufacture of men’s ready
made clothing during a period of four months beginning February, 1915. Reports
were secured from 64 establishments, 30 located in New York City, 7 in Rochester,
N. Y., 7 in Philadelphia, Pa., 6 in Baltimore, Md., 6 in Cincinnati, Ohio, 4 in
Chicago, 111., and 4 in Cleveland, Ohio, and Milwaukee, Wis. The sales of these
establishments during their last business period amounted to $66,947,954.
The report gives a somewhat detailed history of the clothing trade in the United
States, followed by a summary chapter of present conditions. These are followed
by detailed chapters presenting such topics as capital; net sales and turnovers; cost
and profit, by establishments and by specified articles produced in the trade; manu
facturing conditions; working conditions; cost-finding and accounting conditions;
selling conditions; machinery and processes; and foreign trade. The volume is
equipped with a glossary of technical terms and a series of cuts of machines, etc.,
used in the industry.
That portion of the report relating to labor conditions was drawn from Bulletin 161
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The following table summarizes the cost of production in the industry:
P E R C E N T A G E O F A V E R A G E COSTS, B Y S P E C IF IE D IT E M S , B A SE D ON TITE T O T A L
M A N U F A C T U R IN G A N D S E L L IN G E X P E N S E , B Y G R O U P S O F E S T A B L IS H M E N T S .
E stab lish m en t
A ll establishm ents reporting d a ta .......................
E stablish m en ts having—
N o operating c o n tra c ted ................................
P a rt operating c o n tracted ..............................
A ll operating co n tracted .................................
E stablish m en ts w ith factory price of—
U nd er $8.............................................................
$8 a n d u n d er $15...............................................
$15 and o v er.......................................................
E stablish m en ts m anufacturing sep arate trousers, e tc ...................................................................
E stablish m en ts located in —
Chicago................................................................
P h ilad elp h ia......................................................
Cleveland a n d M ilw aukee.............................
R ochester...........................................................
B altim o re ...........................................................
New Y o rk C ity .................................................
C incinnati...................................................
E stablishm ents w ith n e t sales of—
U nd er $500,000...................................................
$500,000 a n d u n d e r $1,000,000........................
$1,000,000 a n d u n d e r $2,000,000.....................
$2,000,000 a n d over...........................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N um her of
estab
lish
m ents.
P e r cent of to ta l m anufacturing a nd selling
expense.
R aw
m ate
rial.
D irect
labor.
In d i
rect
labor.
Fac
to ry
ex
pense.
A d
m inis Sell
ing
trativ e
ex
ex
pense.
pense.
64
52.39
29.29
3.97
2.41
3.49
8.45
12
30
22
50.89
50.91
56.75
28.05
29.92
28.68
4.20
4.46
2.73
2.91
2.51
1.84
3.75
3.58
3.11
10.20
8.62
6.89
8
37
11
58.73
52.88
46.68
28.16
28.61
33.70
2.56
3.99
4.56
1.76
2.33
2.83
3.98
3.46
3.37
4.81
8.73
8.86
8
55.87
25.74
3.79
2.73
3.60
8.27
4
7
4
7
6
30
6
47.37
54.15
53.48
51.24
51.89
54.50
52.32
28.95
26.83
20.88
32.48
29.91
29.84
29.81
6.46
3.34
7.66
3.15
2.84
3.13
3.51
3.31
1.94
3.20
2.07
2.36
2.17
2.04
3.65
4.63
3.83
2.66
3.82
3.25
4.92
10.26
9.11
10.95
8.40
9.18
7.11
7.40
27
14
14
9
53.23
52.70
50.94
53.08
28.19
30.20
30.47
28.46
3.33
3.89
3.77
4.36
2.49
2.33
2.44
2.38
4.61
3.78
3.34
3.15
8.15
7.10
9.04
8.57
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
99
Department of Commerce. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce. Shirt and collar industries. Report on the cost of production of men’s shirts
and collars in the United States. Washington, 1916. 178 pv. (Miscellaneous
Series, No. 86.)
This volume contains information regarding the cost of production of men’s shirt
and collars, also concerning imports and exports, working conditions, factory equip
ment, selling methods, and practical suggestions with regard to efficient factory man
agement.
Reports were received from four establishments manufacturing collars or collars and
shirts, and 38 establishments manufacturing shirts only. Their aggregate sales during
the last business year were $45,388,100, or 55 per cent of the total production in 1909.
Data on working conditions utilized in the report consisted of material collected by
the Factory Investigating Commission of the State of New York for the year 1913 and
1914 from 76 shirt factories in New York City and 36 elsewhere in the State, having a
working force of 13,029.
U n it e d S t a t e s .
Statistics secured regarding 13,055 workers in the shirt factories in New York State
show that more than half of the male employees received less than $11 and more than
half of the female employees received less than $7 during the week for which the data
were secured. These employees included 340 children 14 and 15 years of age, or 3.18
per cent of the whole number. Nearly two-thirds of the female employees received
less than $8 and more than one-fourth received less than $5 per week.
The median weekly earnings by nativity and sex were as follows: Male, native,
$11.26; foreign, $10.19. Female, native, $6.75; foreign, $6.56.
The usual working time in shirt factories in New York State was 54 hours a week
with a 9 or 10 hour day, 60 minutes for lunch, and Saturday afternoon off in summer.
In establishments manufacturing collars or collars and shirts the materials used in
all the plants amounted to 37.47 per cent of the total manufacturing cost; labor, 34.82
per cent; factory expense, 3.83 per cent; administrative expense, 2.79 per cent, and
selling expense, 21.09 per cent. In establishments manufacturing shirts raw materials
cost 60.66 per cent, labor 27.85 per cent, factory expense 2.90 per cent, administra
tive expense 2.71 per cent, and selling expense 5.88 per cent.
War Department. Premium payments in Government employment. Letter from the
Secretary of War, submitting information relative to time, studies, and premium
payments in Government employment. [Washington, 1916]. 4 pp. (Sixty-fourth
Congress, first session, II. Doc. No. 1058.)
This communication was written by the Secretary of War, and gives his views upon
a bill (II. R. 8665) introduced January 11, 1916, to regulate the method of directing
the work of Government employees, with the object of prohibiting at Government
arsenals what are known as time studies and premium payments. The Secretary
considers such legislation as unwise, contending that the so-called system of scientific
management, which it is proposed to eliminate from Government establishments by
this bill, has been of benefit both to the Government and the employee, as shown by
the amount of bonuses paid under the system and by the increased output of the
arsenals during the five years of its operation.
There has been no investigation at the Watertown Arsenal which has resulted in a
report condemnatory of the practice at that establishment.
_All of my predecessors in the Office of the Secretary of War wrho have held that office
since the introduction of the system at the Watertown Arsenal have been in favor of its
retention and have opposed efforts to abolish it.
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
A u s t r i a . —Arbeitsstatistisches
Amt im Handelsministerium. Bleivergiftungen in
hüttenmännischen und gewerblichen Betrieben. Ursachen und Bekämpfung: IX .
Teil—Protokoll über die Expertise betreffend gewerbliche Betriebe, in 'Welchen Arbeiten
zur Herstellung oder Verzierung von Tonwaren aller Art erfolgen. Vienna, 1915.
xiii, 52 pp.
The labor office of Austria, having made an investigation of the extent of lead poi
soning in the manufacture of clay and related products, conducted hearings in order to
secure the opinions of experts on the subject for the purpose of drafting regulations to
secure safety and health in the industry. This volume constitutes the transcript of
those hearings.
C e y l o n .—Inspector of Factories. Administration reports—1915: Part V—-Public
works: Factories. [--------, 1916.} . 3 pp.
G r e a t B r i t a i n .-—Board of Trade. Railway accidents. Returns of accidents and casual
ties as reported to the Board of Trade by the several railway companies in the United
Kingdom during the year ended December 31, 1915. London, 1916. 41 pp.
During the year 1915, 412 (425)1employees of the railroad companies or of contractors
working for the latter were killed, while 5,045 (5,065)* were injured, in the course of
ordinary transportation proper, i. e., movement of rolling stock used exclusively
upon the railways. As actual numbers employed are not reported no accident rates
can be shown.
—— ----- Unemployment insurance: Decisions given by the umpire respecting claims to
benefit. Vol. 2, Nos. 501-1000. (Gotten up to April 22, 1915.) London, 1915.
429 pp.
Unemployment benefit is payable to a workman who fulfills certain conditions set
down in the law. The decision as to the amount of the benefit payable is made by a
statutory officer known as an insurance officer. If the workman is dissatisfied with the
decision of that officer he may appeal to a court of referees. If the two authorities are
in agreement on a case, their decision is final; but, if they differ, the insurance officer
may appeal to the umpire, whose decision becomes final. The volume here listed
constitutes the decisions of the umpire under the National Unemployment Insurance
Act. Generally only those decisions which involve a question of principle are
included.
----- National Health Insurance Commission. Reports of decisions on appeals and
applications under section 67 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, and section 27
of the National Insurance Act, 1913. Part II. London, 1915. 130 pp.
Decisions by the commission in the matter of disputed claims for compensation
under the act.
----- Registrar of Friendly Societies. Friendly societies, industrial and provident socie
ties, building societies, trade-unions, workmen’s compensation schemes, loan societies,
scientific and literary societies, post office, trustee, and railway savings banks. Reports
of the Chief Registrar of Friendly S ocietiesfor the year ending December 31,1915. Part
A: General report. Part D: Building societies. London, 1916. 2 vols.
The annual report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies appears usually in four
separate parts. Of these parts, the first and the last have appeared as listed above.
Friendly societies, it may be said, are very closely analogous to the fraternal organ
izations in this country, whose purpose is to provide sickness and burial relief or life
insurance to their members. An account of their origin and development in Great
Britain may be found in the twenty-fourth annual report of this bureau relating to
workmen’s insurance and compensation systems in Europe. (Vol. 2, pp. 1550-1611.)
The following table gives the total membership and funds for the principal divisions
of societies registered under the different acts for the years 1913 and 1914:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 Figures w ith in parentheses are for 1914.
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Statistics offriendly societies in Great Britain, 1913, 1914.
N u m b er of mem bers.
O rders.................................................
D istric ts..................................
B ranches............................................................
T o tal...........................................................
B ranchless friendly societies..........................................
Collecting societies...........................................................
Cooperative societies.......................................................
B uilding societies..................................................
T rade-unions...............................................
Assets.
1913
1914
1913
. 64,402
2,905,473
104,074
2,831,198
$5,396,725
23,585,414
120,342,525
85,598,212
24,543,166
120,840,320
2,969,875
2,935,272
149,324,664
150,981,698
4,012,847
7,629,624
3,303,425
617,403
3,264,669
3.888,964
7,554,266
3,480,756
628,885
3,261,050
113,243,007
55,132,457
262,974,019
243,886,356
31,868,572
116,165,438
59,117,278
282,104,537
248,706,132
34,316,159
1914
I r e l a n d .—Local
Government Board. Annual report for the year ending March 31,
1915, being theforty-third report under the Local Government Board (Ireland) Act, 1872.
London, 1915. 422 pp.
In addition to the administration of the poor relief law and the public health acts,
the Local Government Board of Ireland has administrative oversight of the so-called
laborers’ acts, the purpose of which is to put Irish laborers into possession of agricul
tural holdings, assist them by means of money grants for the purchase of holdings,
provide them with cottages, assist them in agricultural operations, etc.
N e t h e r l a n d s (A m st e r d a m ). —Gemeentelijk fonds ter bevordering van de verzelcering
tegen de geldelijlce gevolgen van werJcloosheid. VI11st « Jaarverslag over 1914.
[Amsterdam, 1915.] 55 pp., folded table.
Contains the report of the subsidized unemployment fund of the city of Amsterdam.
The purpose of the fund is to pay unemployment benefits and to organize public relief
work. On December 31, 1914, 54 different societies or organizations of workmen
were connected with the fund and entitled to receive unemployment benefits for their
members, who numbered 24,564. The number of organizations contributing to the
fund and receiving benefits for their members was 11 in 1907, thus indicating a consid
erable growth since that period.
The finances of the fund on December 31, 1914, stood as follows:
r e c e ip t s .
,
.
Florins.
Subsidy from the city of Amsterdam............ 80, 000. 00
Subsidy for the payment of administration
expenses....................................................... 1, 275. 39
Interest received............................................... 1,185.68
Balance from 1913............................................. 1,943.76
Other................................................................ 7, 541. 20
Total...................................................... 91,946.03
($32,160.00)
(512. 71)
(476.64)
(781.39)
(3, 031. 56)
(36,962.30)
E X P E N D IT U R E S .
Unemployment benefits to affiliated associa- Florins.
tions............................................................. 60,000.00
Expenses of administration............................ 1, 290. 34
($24,120.00)
(518. 72)
Total...................................................... 61,290.34
(24,638.72)
Assets............................................................... 30,655.69
(12,323.59)
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
N o r w a y .—Statistike
Centralbyraa. Norges bergverksdrift, 1914■ Christiania, 1916.
15, 78 pp. (Norges officielle statistik, VI, 60.)
' Contains statistics of the mining and smelting industry in Norway for the year 1914.
Summary tables for the country as a whole show quantity and value of production
and number employed in each class of mining. Separate reports from the inspectors
in each of the districts show days worked, wages paid, methods of working, hours of
labor, etc.
The average number employed in the mines of Norway in 1914 was 6,556; the aver
age number employed at smelters was 560.
------------ Statistisk aarbok for Kongeriget Norge, 35te aargang, 1915. Christiania,
1916. 18, 196 pp.
A statistical yearbook of thè Kingdom for the year 1915. Summarizes, among other
matter, labor and industrial statistics, with a special chapter on social insurance.
—-— (C h r is t ia n ia ) . —Statistiske Kontor. Nogen oplysninger om de senere aars prisbevxgelse paa livsforngdenheter i Kristiania. Christiania, 1915. 14 pp- (Specialunderskelser, III.)
— -------- , Fortsxtelse av specialundersgkelse nr. I l l angaaende prisbevxgelsen paa livsfomgdenheter i Kristiania samt statistiske opgaver angaaende de kommunalefunktionserers forsr0geIsesbyrde. Christiania, 1916. 24 pp- (Specialundersgkelser, V.)
These two special investigations by the statistical office of Christiania relate to the
increase in the cost of living which has occurred in that city in recent years, particu
larly since the outbreak of the war. The second pamphlet also contains some data on
the wages of municipal employees and the size and composition of their families.
The results of the inquiry are presented in the form of a weighted index number of
retail prices. The basic prices are those collected the last Saturday of each month
from several merchants in the city. There are included 57 articles of food, fuel, and
lighting, and 12 quotations for clothing and shoes. The items of rent and taxes are also
given consideration. The final index number is weighted according to the average
consumption or expenditures of a family of five persons as ascertained by an inde
pendent investigation in 1912-13 by the municipal statistical office.
The table which follows shows the actual and relative amounts of a yearly house
hold budget in items of the average prices in Christiania, 1901 to February, 1916,
classified by five principal groups of expenditures.
A C TU A L A N D R E L A T IV E COST P E R Y E A R O F A H O U S E H O L D B U D G E T F O R A F A M IL Y
O F 5 P E R S O N S IN C H R IS T IA N IA IN T E R M S O F A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S , 1901 TO
F E B R U A R Y , 1916, C L A SS IFIE D B Y G R O U P S O F E X P E N D IT U R E S .
AMOUNT.
Y ear.
1901....................................................
1902....................................................
1903....................................................
1901....................................................
1905....................................................
1906....................................................
1907....................................................
190S....................................................
1909....................................................
1910....................................................
1911....................................................
1912....................................................
1913....................................................
1914....................................................
1915....................................................
J an u a ry -F e b ru a ry , 1914..............
J an u a ry -F e b ru a ry , 1915..............
J an u a ry -F e b ru a ry , 1916..............
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Foods.
Fuel and Clothing.
lighting.
$161.62
$21.17
18.56
160.67
159.10
18.36
157.40
17.92
163.95
17.47
167.52
17.84
174.77
19.17
176.11
21.19
173.08
19.65
175.31
18.52
179.57
19.67
190.09
23.67
192.29'
24.13
198.26
23.99
239. 91
31.54
188.84
23.16
223.66
27.50
264.92 • 38.34
[274]
$35.05
35.61
36.29
36.84
37.80
38.48
39.15
39.83
40.78
41.86
42.54
43.21
46.76
49.07
52.38
49.07
52.38
64.28
R en t.
$69.68
65.66
61.64
57.62
54.67
56.28
57.62
59.50
61.64
64.85
68.61
72.63
78.52
83.89
86.56
83 89
86.56
89.24
Taxes.
$11.62
12.69
12.45
13.35
13.54
14.31
11.42
11.07
10.49
10.18
10.04
9.65
7.85
6.60
6.77
6.60
6.78
6.94
Miscel
laneous.
$56.60
55.48
54.47
53.58
54.39
55.71
57.17
58.22
57.84
58.80
60.63
64.20
06.14
68.46
78.94
66.52
75.10
87.72
Total.
$355.74
348.67
342.31
336.71
341.82
350.14
359.30
365.92
363.48
369.52
381.06
403.45
415.69
430.27
496.10
419.08
471.98
551.45
M O N TH LY REVIEW OP T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
103
A C T U A L A N D R E L A T IV E COST P E R Y E A R O F A H O U S E H O L D B U D G E T F O R A F A M IL Y
O F 5 P E R S O N S IN C H R IS T IA N A IN T E R M S O F A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R IC E S , 1901 TO
F E B R U A R Y , 1916, C L A S S IF IE D B Y G R O U P S O F E X P E N D IT U R E S —Concluded.
RELATIVE.
Y ear.
1901....................................................
1902....................................................
1903....................................................
1901....................................................
1905............................. .....................
1900....................................................
1907....................................................
1908....................................................
1909....................................................
1910....................................................
1911....................................................
1912....................................................
1913....................................................
1914....................................................
1915....................................................
J an u a ry -F e b ru a ry , 1914..............
J a n u a ry -F e b ru ary , 1915..............
J an u a ry -F e b ru a ry , 1916..............
Foods.
91.8
91.2
90.3
89.4
93.1
95.1
99.2
100.0
98.3
99.5
102.0
107.9
109.2
112.6
136.2
107.2
127.0
150.4
Fuel and Clothing.
lighting.
99.9
87.6
86.6
84.5
82.4
84.2
90.4
100.0
92.7
87.4
92.8
111.7
113.9
113.2
148.8
109.3
129.8
180.9
S c o t l a n d .— Local
88.0
89.4
91.1
92.5
94.9
96.6
98.3
100.0
102.4
105.1
106.8
108.5
117.4
123.2
131.5
123.2
131.5
161.4
R ent.
Taxes,
117.1
110.4
103.6
96.8
91.9
94.6
96.8
105.0
114.7
112.5
120.7
122.4
129.3
103.2
103.6
109.0
115.3
122.1
132.0
141.0
145.4
141.0
145.5
150.0
94.8
92.0
90.7
87.2
70.9
59.7
61.2
59.7
61.2
61.2
100.0
100.0
Miscel
laneous.
97.2
95.3
93.5
92.0
93.4
95.7
98.2
100.0
99.3
101.0
104.1
110.3
113.6
117.6
135.6
114.3
129.0
150.7
Total.
97.2
95.3
93.5
92.0
93.4
95.7
98.2
100.0
99.3
101.0
104.1
110.3
113.6
117.6
135.6
114.3
129.0
150.7
Government Board. Twentieth Annual Report, 1914■ Edinburgh,
1915. 417 pp.
Among other matters, the Local Government Board has administrative oversight
of operations under the Unemployed Workmen Act of 1905, old age pension laws and
housing and town planning. Other laws administered by it are the poor law and the
public health laws.
S o u t h A f r i c a .— Director of census. Statistical Yearbook of the Union of South Africa.
No. S, 1914-15. Pretoria, 1916. xix, 359 pp.
This large folio volume contains data usually found in similar publications. Sec
tion 5 headed “ Labor (Including Cost of Living)” presents statistics on trade-unions,
labor disputes, employment offices, natives employed, cost of food, working-class
rents, and weekly wages.
•----- Miners' Phthisis Board. Second annual report of the miners' phthisis board for
the year ended 31st July, 1914. Cape Town, 1915. 19 pp.
An ordinary workmen’s compensation law covering only disability arising from the
occurrence of miners’ phthisis was enacted by the union, June 22,1912. This, the second
annual report, shows 2,678 first applications for compensation during the year ended
July 31, 1914, and 292 second applications. Awards of compensation were made
to 2,214 persons, of which number 171 were dependents; the claims of 556 were
refused as not within the act, making 2,770 claims passed on during the year.
The total expenditure incurred in connection with the administration of the fund
during the year was £15,228 ($74,107). The amount paid for compensation and
contingent liability on awards amounted to £1,047,869 ($5,099,454). The amount
actually paid out on the basis of awards allowed was £442,212 ($2,152,025).
S w e d e n .— Kommerslcollegium. Industri berdttelse for dr 1914. Stockholm, 1916. 162
pp.
This volume constitutes a manufacturing census for the year 1914, showing data
for 9,695 industrial plants employing 397,707 persons, of which number 364,845 were
wage earners and 32,862 were salaried employees. The census includes only those
establishments employing at least 10 persons, or having an annual production of the
value of at least 10,000 crowns ($2,680).
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104
M O NTH LY REVIEW OE T H E BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS.
The following table shows the distribution, among industry groups, of all wage
earners, classified by sex and as minors:
P E R S O N S E M P L O Y E D IN S W E D IS H IN D U S T R IE S , 1914.
Fem ales.
Males.
Minors.
In d u s try group.
N um ber.
Per
cent.
N um ber.
Ter
cent.
N um ber.
Per
cent.
M ining and m etal in d u strie s.........................
E a rth , clay, a n d sto n e.................. ..................
W oodw orking.....................................................
P aper and p rin tin g ..........................................
Food p ro d u c ts...................................................
Clothing and tex tiles........................................
Leather, h air, and ru b b e r...............................
C hem icals... i .....................................................
Pow er, light, and fuel p la n ts .........................
108,569
4l) 274
5 5 ,125
3l) 415
25' 084
14' 404
9' 186
9^ 985
5,017
96.66
95.33
98. 56
84.11
67.06
32.17
65. 96
67. 43
99.48
3,746
2',020
807
5,934
12) 324
30) 365
4,741
4)823
26
3.34
4. 67
1. 44
15. 89
32. 94
67. 83
34.04
32. 57
.52
12,012
4,709
8,389
5) 178
2)771
8)029
2)944
2)462
53
10.69
10. 83
15.00
13.86
7.41
17.93
21.14
16.63
1.05
T o ta l.........................................................
300,059
82.24
64,786
17. 76
40,547
12.76
(Canton).— Arbeitslosenlcasse. 6. Jahres-bereicht pro 1915.
Basel, 1916. 26 pp.
The evil economic effects of the war are said to have continued with increasing
severity during the year. There was, however, a diminution by 200 in the number
of members receiving unemployment benefits from the fund (Kasse) during the year,
as compared with 1914.
T a s m a n i a .-— Department of Public Health. Annual report for 1913-14, [1914-15], on
health, factories, tvages, boards, shops, etc. Hobart, 1913-1915. 3'vols.
In the language of the report, “ the year under review [1914-15], owing to the
abnormal conditions existing consequent upon war and drought, does not permit of
a favorable comparison with past years or show the progressive state of manufactures
and industries that otherwise might have reasonably been expected ” (p. 13).
S w it z e r l a n d , B a s e l -S t a d t
1913-14.
1914-15.
Number of factories........................................................
903
Number employed.......................................................... 8,109
Males........................................................................ 6, 462
Females.................................................................... 1, 647
909
7,787
6,161
1, 626
Referring to the Wages Board Act, 1910, the report declares that “ this branch of the
work of the Department of Public Health is constantly being increased and extended,
not only by the addition of new boards, but by the boards already in existence, amend
ing their determinations from time to time.” On June 30, 1915, 31 boards were in
existence, and it was estimated that 30,000 persons are affected by their rulings.
----- Government Statistician. Statistics of the State of Tasmania for the year 1914-15.
[Hobart,] 1915. 477, 15, 7 pp.
Among other general statistics contains manufacturing data; wage rates; statistics
of friendly societies and trade-unions; summary of labor legislation; etc.
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
105
OFFICIAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
LABOR DEPARTMENTS AND BUREAUS.
D e n m a r k .— Statistiske
Efterretninger udgivet'af det Statistiske Departement. Copen
hagen.
May 26, 1916 (vol. 8, No. 8).—Retail prices, May, 1916; Increase in prices of coal
and coke; Statistics of production; Unemployment, February, 1916; Index numbers
of the Economist.
F i n l a n d .— Arbetsstatistisk Tidskrift utgifven af Induslristyrelsen i Finland. Helsing
fors.
No. 3, 1916.—Investigation of conditions surrounding the employment of women
and children in bobbin factories in Viborg and Lahtis; Reports of public employ
ment offices in Finland, 1915; Workmen’s Saving Society of the Kymmene Aktiebolag; Employment conditions in sawmills; Miscellaneous reports from foreign
countries; Cost of living, first quarter, 1916.
G r e a t B r it a in . —-The Board of Trade Labor Gazette. London.
June, 1916.—Employment chart; The labor market. Special articles on—Employ
ment in Germany; Retail food prices in United Kingdom, Berlin, Vienna, and Italy;
Obligations of employers to mobilized employees in Italy; Acreage under crops and
number of live stock in England and Wales; Agricultural cooperation; Tenants’
copartnership societies. Reports on employment in the principal industries; Labor
in the British dominions oversea and in foreign countries; Board of Trade labor ex
changes. Statistical tables: Trade disputes; Changes in rates of wages; Sliding scale
changes in wages; Distress committees in May; Prices of wheat, flour and bread;
Cooperative wholesale societies; Diseases of occupations; Fatal industrial accidents;
Pauperism; Unemployment insurance; Foreign trade. Legal cases, official notices,
etc.
I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O ff ic e (B a s e l , S w it z e r l a n d ).-— Bulletin des Internationalen
Arbeitsamtes, Jena.
(The German edition of this bulletin, which appears also in English and French,
is the earliest published, and its contents are therefore here listed. Only titles of
laws or decrees reproduced in the bulletin are given, omitting those merely entered
as titles.)
Nos. 3 to 5, 1916.—National labor legislation—A u s t r ia : Decree, December 17,
1913, of the Ministry of the Interior relating to the sale of colors and putty containing
lead; Imperial decree, January 10, 1915, relating to the application of the Mercantile
Employees’ Act to mercantile and other higher employees of architects; Imperial
decree, March 19, 1916, amending chapter 26 of Part II (relating to the labor contract)
of the Civil Code. B r it is h C o l o n ie s , S o u t h A u s t r a l ia : Act,'December 19, 1912,
to make better, provision for dealing with industrial matters and disputes, and for
purposes consequent on such provision, including certain amendments of the fac
tories acts, 1907 to 1910. F r a n c e : Law, December 27, 1912, amending paragraph 3
of article 9 of the law April 5, 1910, relating to workmen’s and farmers’ pensions;
Decree, December 28, 1912, amending the decree September 9, 1905, relating to
subsidies to funds for the relief of unemployment; Decree, February 12, 1913, relating
to the application of Book II of the Labor Code to Martinique; Decree, June 17, 1913,
as to application of the law July 13, 1911, relating to the treatment of miners affected
with ankylostomiasis; Law, July 14, 1913, providing for subsidies to large families;
Articles 68 to 75 of the financial law, July 30, 1913, relating to maternity benefits;
Article 48 of the law, July 31, 1913, relating to local railroads (working conditions
and old-age pensions of employees); Decree, August 11, 1913, containing an order
of the public administration as to the enforcement of the provisions of Book II of the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Labor Code (Title II: Hygiene and safety of the workers) with respect to sleeping
rooms assigned to workers in all establishments subject to the law; Decrees, September
4 and 7, 1913, determining conditions for the application to Guadeloupe of Books I
and II of the Labor Code; Decree, September 22, 1913, providing for the application
of the provisions of Book II of the Labor Code (Title II : Hygiene and safety of the
workers) with respect to the special measure relating to booths outside of shops and
stores; Decree, December 17, 1913, containing regulations of the public administra
tion for the application of the law, June 17,1913, relating to the period of rest for women
in confinement; Law, February 25, 1914, amending the law, June 29, 1894, creating
an independent old-age insurance fund for mine workers; Decree, March 29, 1914,
providing for measures against the dangers of alcoholism as far as the hygiene and
safety of workmen are concerned; Law, April 2, 1914, providing for the protection of
bonds furnished by employees and workmen; Law, April 4, 1914, relating to the
weekly rest period in the central markets of Paris; Law, July 13, 1914, amending
the law July 29, 1893, relating to the participation of French workmen’s associations
in the letting of municipal contracts; Law, July 15, 1914, supplementing the law,
June 17, 1913, on aid to women in confinement, by means of a provision authorizing
the prefectural councils to decide disputes as to the legal residence of the party to be
aided, arising in the application of this law; Law, July 15, 1914, relating to extension
of the provisions of the accident insurance law of April 9, 1898, to lumbering and
forestry; Law, July 30, 1914, amending articles 2 and 11 of the law July 14, 1908,
relating to the seamen’s invalidity insurance fund; Decree, January 19, 1915, making
effective in Algeria the provisions of Book I of the Labor Code; Decree, January 31,
1915, making applicable to Algeria the law, July 12, 1909, constituting a homestead
nondistrainable; Decree, June 20, 1915, amending the list of dangerous, unhealthy,
and obnoxious industrial establishments; Law, July 17, 1915, amending the law of
April 5, 1910, and February 27, 1912, relating to workmen’s and farmers’ old-age
pensions; Decree, December 28, 1915, creating in the ministry of labor and social
welfare a consultative committee for international agreements on matters of social
welfare. G er m a n y (E m p ir e ): Notification March 27, 1916, as to amendment of the
provisions of June 18, 1914, relating to trade boards for home workers. ( P r u s s ia ):
Joint decree, August 20, 1913, of the ministers of commerce and industry, interior,
and agriculture relating to the treaty with Italy as to accident insurance. (B a v a r ia ) :
Law, August 15, 1914, amending the mining law. (U p p e r B a v a r ia ): Notification
March 30, 1914, relating to the employment of journeymen and apprentices in hotels,
saloons, restaurants, and boarding houses for transients in Munich. (G er m a n E a st
A f r ic a ): Decree, July 6, 1912, for the prevention of accidents; Decree, February 5,
1913, relating to the hiring of native labor; Decree, February 5, 1913, regulating the
rights of native workers. S w itzer la n d (C a n to n G l a r u s ): Law, May 7, 1916, relating
to State old-age and invalidity insurance for the Canton of Glarus. (U r u g u a y ):
Decree, January 31, 1916, making regulations for the application of the 8-hour law;
Decree, February 21, 1916, supplementing the decree January 31, 1916, by regula
tion of the rest periods of bank employees; Resolution, February 22, 1916, as to the
application of the provisions for rest periods to bakery workers; Decree, February 25,
1916, providing an 8-hour day for the shoe industry; Decree, March 22, 1916, regu
lating the computation of the 6 weekly workday periods mentioned in article 3 of the
8-hour law. (W a r M e a s u r e s ): German Empire, Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Würt
temberg, Baden, Hesse, Hamburg, Bremen, Lübeck, Austria, Hungary, Belgium,
France, Italy.
I ta ly .—Bollettino delV Ufficio del Lavoro. Ministero di Agricoltura, Industriel e Commercio, Rome. (Semimonthly.)
June 1, 1916.—Labor market, by localities and industries; Labor disputes, April
and first half of May, 1916; Retail prices of foodstuffs in foreign countries; Reports of
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M O NTH LY REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
107
employers’ organization and of trade-unions; Legislation affecting labor; Court deci
sions; Activities of the labor office,
N e t h e e l a n d s . —Maandschrift van het Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. The Hague.
Hay, 1916.—Labor market, April, 1916; Unemployment and unemployment insur
ance, April, 1916, with special reference to the building trade; Reports of employ
ment offices, April, 1916; Strikes and lockouts, 1916; Employment conditions on
public works, collective agreements, wages, etc.; Trade-union movement; Wholesale
and retail prices, May, 1916; Emigration; Legal decisions affecting labor; Reports of
economic and social import; Reports on employment conditions in foreign countries;
Statistical tables on the labor market, prices of bread, infractions of the labor code,
industrial diseases, building and housing inspection and State finances; Laws, de
crees, etc., affecting labor.
N e w Y o r k .— The Bulletin Issued Monthly by the New York State Industrial Commis
sion. Albany.
June, 1916 (vol. 1, No. 9).—Accident prevention; Accidents analyzed; Recent
exemptions from the State industrial code; Appellate court decisions; Attitude of the
commission in workmen’s compensation cases; Labor market; Factory inspections;
Reports of bureaus.
N e w Z e a l a n d .— Journal of the Department of Labor. Wellington.
May, 1916.—Conditions of employment and trade, April, 1916; Reports from women’s
employment offices; Recent legal decisions affecting labor in New Zealand and Great
Britain; Statistics of persons placed in employment, April, 1916; Trade-unions regis
tered; Cooperative enterprises; Industrial accidents; and Retail prices.
S p a i n .—Boletin del Instituto de Reformas Sociales (Publicación Mensual). Madrid.
May, 1916 (vol. 13, No. 143).—Reports from the office of the secretary and technical
divisions; Strikes; Cost of living; Congresses and conventions; Legislation affecting
labor.
S w e d e n . —S ocíala Meddelanden utgivna av K. Socialstyrelsen, Stockholm.
No. 5, 1916.—The labor market, April, 1916; Amount of employment, first quarter,
1916; Unemployment among members of trade-unions; State and municipal war
measures; Development of public employment offices; Rent conditions and settle
ment of house-rent disputes; Prohibition of the employment of women in loading and
stevedoring; Proposed prohibition against the enticing of workers to foreign countries;
Conditions of employment in the peat industry; Ruling on the application of the
factory law; Factory inspection, January to March, 1916; Reports of the factory
inspectors upon fatal industrial accidents; Miscellaneous notes concerning labor legis
lation and employment conditions in foreign countries, etc.; Operations of public
employment bureaus in Sweden, April, 1916; Retail prices and cost of living, 1905 to
April, 1916; Prices of live stock, 1905 to April, 1916; Live stock supply and estimated
consumption at public slaughterhouses, April, 1916; Fish prices in Stockholm and
Gottenborg, 1915-16.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A u s t r i a .— Amtliche
Nachrichten des k. k. Ministeriums des Innern betrejfend die TJnfallund Krankenversicherung der Arbeiter. Vienna.
May, 1916.—Joint decrees of the ministry of the interior and the ministry of commerce,
May 1, 1916, concerning the relief of unemployed members of sick funds; Order
enforcing above-named decree; Change in the organization of the district sick fund
of Vorarlberg; Dispensary for the treatment of venereal diseases for the district sick
fund of Vienna; Decisions of the administrative court relating to sickness insurance;
Decisions of the administrative court relating to workmens’ accident insurance;
Decisions of courts of arbitration; Decisions of the administrative court relating
to old-age insurance for salaried workers.
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G e r m a n y .—Amtliche
Nachrichten des Reichsversicherungsamts. Berlin. {Monthly.)
May 15, 1916.—Accident insurance: Decisions of the decision senate. Sickness
invalidity and survivors’ insurance: Circular letter, April 1, 1916, concerning the
status of the funds of the institutes devoted to public welfare purposes (housing,
etc.); Decisions on appeal; Decisions of the decision senate; Other decisions. Dis
bursements of the invalidity insurance institute, March, 1916, for pensions and
benefits to insured persons and their survivors; Receipts April, 1916, from the sale of
contribution stamps.
RECENT UNOFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
American Federation of Labor, Wisconsin branch. Labor conditions in Wisconsin.
4th report by the Executive Board. * * * July 1, 1916, 16 pp. text, 10 tables.
Contains statistics for 1914 and 1915 of membership of trade-unions in the State,
wages and earnings, hours of labor, unemployment, and trade agreements. Reports
were made by 327 unions, or 75 per cent of total in the State, having 23,835 members.
Angell, Norman {Ralph Lane). War and the workers. London \n. d.\, 63 pp.
Associazione degli industriali d’Italia per prevenire gli infortuni del lavoro. Rendiconti
dell’ esercizio al 31 die. 1915. 19 pp.
Administrative report of the Italian employers’ association for the prevention
of accidents, year ending December 31, 1915.
Bourne, Randolph S. The Gary schools. Boston, Houghton, cl916. 204 PPDescribes the so-called Gary system of reorganizing public schools to meet changing
social and industrial conditions.
Bowley, Arthur L. An elementary manual of statistics. London, King, 1915. 220 pp.
Cooperative Union, Limited. Forty-seventh Cooperative Congress, Leicester, 1915. [Pro
ceedings.] 753 pp.
There were 1,410 delegates, representing 1,521 industrial cooperative distributive
and productive societies of the United Kingdom, with a membership of 2,919,348 in
1913.
Fyfe, Thomas A. Employers and workmen under the munitions of war acts. London,
Hodge, 1916. 95 pp.
A handbook explaining duties and responsibilities of employers and employees
under the acts, having for its special object the avoidance of industrial disputes.
Groat, George G. Introduction to the study of organized labor. New York, Macmillan,
1916. 494 ppThe purpose of this work is to give a comprehensive view of the organized labor
movement. Introductory chapters on the beginnings of the movement in England
and America, wage theories and modern industrialism, are given, following which
concrete forms of organization are described to show how union purposes are sought
to be realized. The more important activities illustrating the spirit and purposes
of unionism are presented under two heads: (1) Industrial, including collective
bargaining in all its forms and also benefit and insurance features, and (2) political,
covering legislative methods, labor laws, political labor party, and legislation versus
collective bargaining. Transitional movements now going on are also discussed.
Higgins, II. B. Federal industrial arbitration. A new province for law and order. Mel
bourne, 1915. 24 PPOriginally printed in the Harvard Law Review and reproduced in the M o n t h l y
R e v i e w for February, 1916.
Hobson, J. A. Labor and the cost of war. London, 1916. 16 pp.
Discusses the effect of war on industry and Wages in Great Britain, condition of
workers after the war, and the burden of War loans.
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International Association on Unemployment. French section. L ’orientation professionelle et la placement des jeunes gens en Grande-Bretagne, Paris, 1916. 35 pp.
(Circulaires du secrétariat général, No. 34, March, 1916.)
----------- La guerre et la chômage aux États-Unis. Paris, 1916. 20 pp. (Circulaires
■
du secrétariat général, No. 35, June, 1916.)
The first of the above pamphlets is an account of the juvenile labor exchanges in
Great Britain, and their work in vocational guidance. The second is a summary of the
report on unemployment of the American section of the International Association
published in the American Labor Legislation Review of November, 1915, and sum
marized in the M o n t h l y R e v i e w of this bureau for March, 1916 (Vol. II, No. 3),
pp. 25, 26.
International congress on Sunday rest, 14th, Oakland, Cal., 1915. Sunday, the world's
rest day, an illustrated story of the 14th International Lord's Day Congress. New
York, Doubleday, 1916. 622 pp.
Has chapters on industries and industrial problems connected with Sunday work.
International Cooperative Aalliance. 18th report, January, 1913, to December, 1915.
15 pp.
Lega nazionale delle cooperative. L ' opera della lega durante il periodo della guerra.
Monza [1916] 36 pp.
Report of Italian Cooperative League for period covered by the war.
McGuire, Charles P. Bookbinding industry in Louisville, [n. d.) 9 pp.
Merritt, Walter Gordon, Associate counsel, American Anti-Boycott Association. Or
ganized labor and democracy. [1916, 15] pp.
——- Some phases of the Federal industrial commission report. [1915] 15 pp.
Moore, Harold E. Farm work for discharged soldiers. London, King, 1916. 31 pp.
A series of proposals suggesting farm sanatoria for partially disabled men, coopera
tive hand-labor farms for able-bodied discharged men, and settlements of small hold
ings to rent to men with small capital.
National Amalgamated Union of Labor. 26th annual report for 1915. 107 pp.
This organization had 277 branches and 70,430 members in 1915. In 1915 only
£243 12s. Id. ($1,185.54) was paid in strike benefits as compared with £4,014 10s. 8d.
($4,937.23) in 1914, and £498 13s. 6Jd. ($2,426.81) in lockout benefits as compared
with £5,073 6s. 6d. ($24,689.34) in 1914.
National Association of Corporation Schools. Codification committee. Report cl916
75 pp.
A digest and index of school work conducted by members of the association in
various industries, making it possible to look up general practice in an industry, trade
division, school, or course.
National Association of Women Workers. Occasional paper, No. 71. 68 pp.
In addition to other material, contains branch reports on war work and the report
of a conference on war employment for women.
National Fire Protection Association. Proceedings of 20th annual meeting. Chicago, 1916.
Contains, in addition to other material, an address on fire protection and juvenile
workers, and reports of committees on manufacturing risks and special hazards, safety,
and protection of openings in walls and partitions.
National Union of Railwaymen. Report * * * for 1915. London, 1916. 275 pp.
This union in 1915 had 1,240 branches, 307,035 members, and an income of £251,014
4s. 6d. ($1,221,560.73). Unemployment benefits were £5,243 6s. Id. ($25,516.54) and
protection benefits £2,124 9s. 10d. ($10,338.84) in 1915, as compared with £13,452 13s.
lid . ($65,467.54) and £2,983 13s. Id. ($14,519.95), respectively, in 1914.
Oklahoma University bulletin. Workmen's compensation. June, 1915. 132 pp.
A collection of articles and suggestions relating to various phases of workmen’s
compensation, for the use of students.
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Rankin, Mary T. Arbitration and conciliation in Australasia. London, Allen, 1916.
192 pp.
A d ig e st of th is w ork ap p ears e lse w h e r e in t h is n u m b er of t h e M o n t h l y R e v i e w .
Sanders, William S. Trade-unionism in Germany. London, Fabian society, 1916.
52 pp.
Toogood, George E. Labor unrest, wartime thoughts on a national danger. London,
Brown, 1915. 78 pp.
Trades-union Congress. (England) 47th annual report, 1915.
One item of interest this report appears elsewhere in this number of the M o n th ly
p. 82.
Travelers Insurance Co., Hartford, Conn. Safety in building construction. Hartford,
1916. 109 pp.
Umbreit, Paul. 25. jahre deutscher gewerkschaftsbewegung 1890-1915. Berlin, 1915.
185 pp.
Review of 25 years’ history of the Federation of Social Democratic Trade-Unions in
Germany.
Van Deventer, John H. Handbook of machine shop management. New York, McGrawHill, 1915. 374 pp.
A comprehensive technical work on the study and solution of problems in manage
ment.
Walter, Henriette R. Lnvestigations of industries in New York City, 1905-1915. New
York, Russell Sage Foundation, 1916. 24 pp.
Ward, Harry F. LAving wage a religious necessity. Philadelphia, American Baptist
Publishing Society, 1916. 24 pp.
R
e v ie w ,
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