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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
F r a n c e s P e r k in s , S e c r e ta r y
B U R E A U O F L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isad or L u b in , C o m m is sio n e r
M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w
Hugh S. Hanna, Editor
V olum e 41, N um ber 2
August 1935
U N IT E D ST A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O F F IC E
W A S H I N G T O N : 1935
F o r sa’e b y t h e S u p e r in t e n d e n t o f D o c u m e n t s - - - - - - P r ic e 30 c e n t s a c o p y
S u b s c r ip tio n p ric e p er y e a r : U n i t e d S ta te s , C a n a d a , M e x ic o , $3 .5 0 ; o t h e r c o u n t r ie s , $4.75
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Published under authority of Public Resolution No. 57, ap
proved May 11, 1922 (42 Stat. 541), as amended by section
307 Public Act 212, 72d Congress, approved June 30, 1932.
This publication approved by the Director, Bureau of the
Budget.
C o n ten ts
Special articles:
M assachusetts system of savings-bank life insurance, by E d w ard
B erm an ________________________________________________________
E xperience u nd er S ta te old-age pension ac ts in 1934, by Florence E.
P a rk e r__________________________________________________________
International labor conditions:
In te rn a tio n a l L abor C onference of 1935____________________________
Social security:
P ublic old-age pension legislation in th e U n ited S tates as of A ugust 1,
1935__________
C alifornia unem ploym ent-reserves la w -------------------------------------------G roup insurance p lan of U n ited S tates Steel C o rp o ra tio n ----------------C ost of social insurance in G e rm an y ___________________ ____________
W idow s’ an d o rp h an s’ pensions in th e Irish Free S ta te -------------------Employment conditions and unemployment relief:
W orks program u n d er R elief A ct of 1935----------------------------------------N atio n al Y outh A d m in istratio n ____________________________________
E stab lish m en t of F ed eral R e settlem en t A d m in istra tio n -------------------U nem ploym ent in 11 cities of W ashington S tate, D ecem ber 1934----U nem ploym ent in P hiladelphia, M ay 1935-------------------------------------Job assurance p lan of th e N unn-B ush Shoe C o -------------------------------National Recovery program:
E xtension of N atio n al In d u stria l R ecovery A c t------------------------------R eorganization of N atio n al R ecovery A d m in istra tio n ---------------------T em porary co n tin u atio n of N. R. A. agencies and of labor relations
b o a rd s__________________________________________________________
R eestablishm ent of N atio n al E m ergency C ouncil----------------------------C reation of N atio n al Resources C o m m ittee________________________
Industrial and labor conditions:
N um ber of persons em ployed p er farm in th e U n ited S tates, Ja n u a ry
1929 to Ju n e 1935_______________________________________________
F arm populatio n an d m igration to an d from fa rm s-------------------------Productivity of labor:
L abor requirem en ts in lead an d zinc m illin g -----------------------------------Women in industry:
P rom otion of dom estic service in G erm a n y --------------------------------------Cooperation:
O perations of cooperative wholesale societies in 1934----------------------Labor laws:
N atio n al L abor R elations A c t-------------------------------------------------------L egislation reg u latin g hours a n d w orking conditions in C olom bia----N ew minimum-w’age legislation in C u b a -----------------------------------------Industrial disputes:
S trikes an d lockouts in Ju n e 1935--------------------------------------------------A nalysis of strik es a n d lockouts in A pril 1935.......................................... C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r in Ju n e 1935------------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
m
Page
291
303
327
331
335
337
338
340
343
346
348
349
352
352
354
354
355
356
356
358
358
360
362
364
369
378
379
380
386
394
IV
CONTENTS
L a b o r a g re e m e n ts , a w a rd s , a n d d ecisio n s:
Page
D ecisions of N atio n a l L abor R elations B o a rd ______________________
403
C ollective agreem ents in th e oil in d u s try ___________________________
403
W age agreem ent in Pacific co ast p ulp an d p ap er in d u s try __________
405
L egalization of collective agreem ents in O ntario an d A lb e rta ________
405
R egulation of b e a u ty shops u n d er Quebec labor law s_______________
408
L ab o r tu r n -o v e r:
L abor tu rn -o v er in m an u fa c tu rin g estab lish m en ts, M ay 1935_______
410
B u ild in g o p e ra tio n s :
S um m ary of building co n stru ctio n rep o rts for Ju n e 1935__________
413
B uilding constru ctio n in p rin cip al cities, M ay 1935________________
416
C o n stru ctio n from p u b lic funds, M ay 1935________________________
424
W ages a n d h o u r s o f la b o r:
Index num bers of average earnings p er hour, 1840 to 1934_________
429
E m p lo y m en t and earnings in m an u factu res, 1899 to 1933__________
431
W ages an d w orking conditions in b e a u ty sh o p s_____________________
433
W age-rate changes in A m erican in d u s try _________________________J_
439
443
B ulgaria— W ages in D ecem ber 1933------------------------------------- ---------D en m ark — W ages in 1934_________________________________________
445
G erm any— E m plo y m en t a n d w age levels in th e chem ical in d u stry ,
1913 an d 1924-34_______________________________________________
447
E m p lo y m e n t offices:
O perations, of U nited S tates E m p lo y m en t Service during 1934-35__
449
T r e n d o f e m p lo y m e n t:
S um m ary of em plo y m en t rep o rts for Ju n e 1935____________________
459
T re n d of em ploy m en t in M ay 1935— R evised figures_______________
463
In d u s tria l em ploym ent:
M an u factu rin g in d u strie s_________________________________
463
T rade, public u tility , m ining, a n d service in d u strie s_______
474
B uilding c o n stru c tio n _____________________________________
479
Class I ra ilro a d s_________________________________________
482
In d u stria l em ploym ent a n d p ay rolls in prin cip al c itie s____
483
Public em plo y m en t:
E xecutive, legislative, m ilitary , a n d ju d icial services of th e
F ederal G o v e rn m e n t___________________________________
485
C o n stru ctio n p ro jects financed by P ublic W orks A dm inis
487
tra tio n fu n d _______________________________
E m ergency-w ork p ro g ra m ____________________________ „ ___
491
E m ergency conservation w o rk ____________________________
492
S tate ro ad proj e c ts______________________________
493
R econstru ctio n F inance C o rporation co n stru ctio n p ro jects _ 495
C onstru ctio n p ro jects financed from reg u lar gov ern m en tal
a p p ro p ria tio n s_________________________________________
487
R e ta i l p rices:
Food prices in Ju n e 1935__________________________________________
500
509
Coal prices in Ju n e 1935______________
W h o lesale p ric e s :
W holesale prices in Ju n e 1935_____________________
515
R evised index of wholesale prices of farm m achinery, by Jesse M . C u tts_
526
P u b lic a tio n s r e l a ti n g to la b o r:
Official— U nited S ta te s ____________________________________________
533
Official—-Foreign co u n trie s_________________________________________
534
U nofficial_________________________________________________________
536
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T h is Issue in B rief
Life insurance, designed primarily for wage earners and others oj low
income, has been in effect m Massachusetts for almost 30 years, under a
systepi by which the mutual savings banks of the State are empowered
to establish insurance departments, under public supervision. Thehistory, operating practices, and accomplishments of this system are
described in a report based upon a comprehensive field investigation
directed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Page 291.
Old-age pensions were being paid in 25 States and 2 Territories at the
end oj 1984. There were 236,205 pensioners on the roll on December
31, for whose care $32,313,515 was expended during the year. These
figures represent an increase of 104 percent in number of pensionersand of 23 percent in disbursements as compared with the preceding
year. Benefits averaged $14.69 per month as compared with $19.34
in 1933; they ranged in the various States from 69 cents to $26.08.
Page 303.
The maximum 40-hour working week as a subject for possible interna
tional agreement was discussed at length at the Conference oj the Inter
national Labor Organization held in June last at Geneva, Switzerland.
More than 50 countries, including the United States for the first time,
were officially represented at this meeting. The Conference approved
the general principle of a limited work week, but withheld decision on
its application to specific industries (except in one case) until the 1936
Conference. Page 327.
Average earnings per hour in various industries in the United StatesT
exclusive oj agriculture, were 12 percent higher in 1934 than in 1933, but
still were below the high figures of the late twenties. Using 1913 as a
base of 100, the index of average hourly earnings reached a peak of
233 in 1929, dropped steadily to 178 in 1933, and rose to 200 in
1934. Page 429.
The National Labor Relations Board oj July 1935 was created pri
marily for the purpose oj handling disputes involving the question of col
lective bargaining. The creative act itself specifies certain kinds of
activities on the part of employers as constituting “ unfair labor
practices.” The Board is given broad powers of decision and investi
gation, but any person aggrieved by a final order of the Board may
obtain a review of such order from any circuit court of appeals.
Page 369.
The National Youth Administration was established by President
Roosevelt in June last to initiate and administer a program in behalj oj
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
VI
THIS ISSUE IN BRIEF
the unemployed, young people who are most seriously affected by the
depression. The new agency is to be headed by a National Advisory
Committee, including representatives of labor, business, agriculture,
education, and youth. It is estimated that the various forms of
educational aid contemplated under this program will cost approxi
mately $50,000,000 during the next year. Page 346.
One out of every 5 gainful workers was unemployed in a group’of 11
cities in the State of Washington in December 1934, according to a
house-to-house survey made under the direction of the Washington
Emergency Relief Administration. More than 50 percent of these
jobless people were 40 years of age or over and 19 percent were 15 to
24 years of age. Approximately 22 percent had been unemployed
for 1 year or more and 13.6 percent for 2 years or more. Page 349.
Sales of more than 15% million dollars during 1934 were reported by
9 regional cooperative wholesale societies. Their net gain on this
business was $311,293, of which $120,884 was returned to member
societies in patronage refunds and $24,967 was paid in interest on
share capital. Since 1930 these societies have returned in interest
and dividends the sum of $903,947. There were 1,334 local coopera
tive societies which were affiliated with the wholesales in 1934, and
349 other societies which were not members but made their wholesale
purchases through the central organizations. Page 364.
Collective trade agreements are now enforceable as law in Alberta and
Ontario, as well as in the Province of Quebec, which was a pioneer in
enacting this form of legislation in Canada. The recent industrial
standards acts of Alberta and Ontario are designed not only to promote
the setting up of standards of wages and working hours in all indus
tries except mining and agriculture, but to enable the Lieutenant
Governors in Council of these respective Provinces to declare any
written agreement as to wages and hours binding for not more than
a year. Page 405.
Domestic service, as an occupation for women, has been actively
promoted by the German Government as a part of its policy to remove
women from industrial and professional pursuits and thus release
jobs for unemployed men. In pursuance of this policy efforts have
been made to influence families to employ domestic servants and to
create a supply of capable domestic servants. Page 362.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M o n th ly Labor R e v ie w
+ ‘Published by the
U nited States B ureau
Voi. 41, No. 2
of
L abor Statistics
August 1935
WASHINGTON
M assachusetts System of Savings-B ank Life In su ra n c e 1
B y E dw ar d B e r m a n , U n iv e r s i t y
of
I l li no is
EE insurance, to a considerable extent, performs a function
identical with the function performed by the various measures of
social insurance with which public opinion is so much concerned at
the present time. It does not seem inaccurate to assert that life
insurance is itself one form of social insurance.
Origin and Purpose of the System
T he Massachusetts system of savings-bank life insurance was enacted
into law by the legislature of that State in the year 1907. It was a
direct result of the investigations made in 1905 and 1906 into the
shortcomings and inadequacies of the operation of the life-insurance
business as then carried on. Among the aims of the legislation were
the following: (a) To eliminate what were regarded as unnecessarily
high costs due to the sale of insurance by agents; (b) to make it
possible for policyholders to obtain such privileges as cash surrender,
loans, extended insurance, and paid-up insurance at an earlier period
and under more advantageous conditions than were generally common
in the case of life insurance as sold by the private companies; (c) to
eliminate the possibility of overselling insurance and thereby to
decrease the proportion of lapsed policies; (d) to provide life insurance
under such conditions that its sale would not increase the profits of
private individuals conducting the business.
1
This article is a summary of Bulletin No. 615 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics: The Massachusetts
System of Savings-Bank Life Insurance, to be published in the near future.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
291
292
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Supervision and Administration
U n d e r the Massachusetts system of savings-bank life insurance
the mutual savings banks of Massachusetts are empowered to estab
lish insurance departments. In order to do this, however, they must
first secure the approval of the Commissioner of Insurance and the
Commissioner of Banks of the Commonwealth. The operation of
the insurance departments of the savings banks are thereafter subject
to the supervision and control of these two commissioners. The
supervision exercised by the Commissioner of Insurance is similar to
that exercised by him over the operation of private insurance com
panies functioning in the State. The insurance department of each
bank must be operated independently of its savings department as
far as this can be accomplished. The books and assets of the two
departments are kept separate, and their business operations are
independent of each other. The executive direction of both depart
ments of a savings bank is, however, in the hands of the bank’s board
of trustees and of its executive officers. To this extent there is com
mon control of the two departments. The insurance department of
each bank is under the direction and general guidance of the Division
of Savings Bank Life Insurance, of the State Department of Banking
and Insurance. The Division employs actuaries and medical exam
iners, as well as a general staff whose function is to direct the opera
tions of the savings-bank insurance system as a whole.
Agencies
T h e Whitman Savings Bank, in June 1908, established the first
insurance department under the law. Four other banks joined the
system between 1908 and 1912, 6 between 1923 and 1925, 11 between
1929 and 1931, and 2 more in 1934, making a total of 23 savings banks.
Applications for insurance are made not only to the savings banks
directly, but also to a large number of agencies of various kinds which
are scattered throughout the State. In August 1934, insurance could
be applied for at the issuing banks themselves or at their branches;
together these numbered 30. Besides these there were 103 agency
banks or their branches, which served the issuing banks directly.
Insurance could be applied for at 180 agencies operated by employers
in the State, generally for the purpose of taking the applications and
collecting premiums from their own employees. Fourteen credit
unions acted as agencies, as did seven other establishments, including
among them settlement houses, boys’ clubs, schools, and several
private individuals. These various agencies, 334 in number, were to
be found in all but three of the counties of the State.
The usual procedure for taking out insurance is for the issuing bank
or agency to assist in filling out the application, which is then taken
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MASSACHUSETTS SAVINGS-BANK L IFE INSURANCE
293
to the local medical examiner. The latter sends the application with
his report to the State medical director. If the application is ap
proved it is then sent to the bank, which issues the policy. Agencies
which receive applications for savings-bank life insurance usually
also collect the premiums, all except employers’ agencies receiving
for this service a fee of 2 percent of the premiums collected.
Kinds of Insurance and Maximum Sold
T h e insurance departments of the savings banks sell all the usual
types of ordinary insurance policies and annuity contracts. Thus,
one may obtain straight life insurance, endowment insurance, limitedpayment life insurance, term insurance, and group insurance. A
varied assortment of annuity contracts is also available. Industrial,
or weekly premium, insurance of the usual type is not sold. No
person may buy more than $1,000 of insurance and $200 in annuity
from any one insurance bank. He may, however, buy the maximum
insurance and annuity from each bank in the system if he is capable
of satisfying the usual requirements. Since 23 savings banks sell
insurance, one individual may thus hold life-insurance policies totaling
$23,000 in amount and annuity contracts yielding a total annuity of
$4,600 per year. Only residents of Massachusetts or persons regularly
employed in the State may buy such insurance. If such persons, after
having bought policies, move to another State or to a foreign country,
they may continue to hold their policies under essentially the same
conditions as those which would operate if they continued to reside
within the State.
The Policyholders
S avings - ba n k life insurance is held to a great extent by workers
and others receiving low incomes. An analysis of the occupations of
applicants for savings-bank life insurance from November 1, 1929,
to June 30, 1934, indicates that approximately 50 percent of the
applicants were wage earners, clerical workers, or farmers, 12 percent
were from the professional and business classes, 25 percent were
homemakers and students, and 13 percent could not be definitely
classified in any of the three foregoing groups. It seems not unreason
able to assume that a large proportion of those classified as home
makers and students and as “ doubtful” come from low-income groups.
On the basis of this assumption it appears that well over half of all
applicants come within this category. The classification of farmers
along with wage earners is not important in this connection, since
their number is negligible in the whole group. Furthermore, the
classification of professional and business applicants includes school
teachers, who have generally constituted one-quarter or more of this
class, and who are not as a rule recipients of large incomes.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
294
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Another indication of the economic status of those who hold
savings-bank policies is the fact that during 3 months of 1934 for
which records were available only 4.45 percent of the total number of
applicants for savings-bank insurance sought as much as $5,000 or
more of insurance, and only 2.20 percent applied for as much as
$6,000 or more.
Selling Methods
T h e savings banks employ no agents or solicitors for the purpose
of selling insurance directly, and no commissions are paid to anyone
for the sale. Two persons called “ instructors” are, however, em
ployed by the Division of Savings Bank Life Insurance to promote
the sale of insurance. The function of these instructors is to visit
industrial establishments in the State at the request of employers,
and to acquaint workers with the advantages of savings-bank life
insurance. These instructors receive salaries from the Division itself,
and are not under the direction or control of the banks. Their
entire responsibility is to the Division of Savings Bank Life Insurance.
In many cases their activities result in the establishment of an
employer’s agency which receives applications for insurance and
transmits them, as well as premiums, to a particular issuing bank.
In other cases workers interested in savings-bank life insurance as a
result of their employer’s activities make applications and pay pre
miums directly to an issuing or agency bank rather than to an
employer’s agency. By and large, however, savings-bank life insur
ance is bought directly from the savings banks by persons who go or
apply by mail to the banks for the purpose.
Payment of Premiums
P r e m i u m s may be paid to the banks monthly, quarterly, semi
annually, or annually. No provision is made for the payment of
weekly premiums. It is a common practice for policyholders to
make regular deposits with a savings bank and to authorize the bank
to turn over to its insurance department, or, in case it is not an issuing
bank, to the insurance department of another bank, amounts equal
to the regular premiums due on their insurance as they become pay
able. The banks have worked out a number of plans which combine
savings and insurance and which are attractive to persons desiring
to put aside at regular intervals sums which provide them not only
with insurance protection but also with a reserve of savings against
which they may draw on occasion. The premiums charged for
various types of insurance and annuities are established by the Divi
sion of Savings Bank Life Insurance, and are uniform for all the banks.
The dividends to the policyholders differ, however, from bank to
bank, depending upon the success of each bank’s insurance operations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
295
MASSACHUSETTS SAVINGS-BANK L IF E INSURANCE
Amount of Insurance in Force
I n 1923 the insurance and annuities in force with the savings
banks amounted to $25,678,000. Five years later the figure had risen
to $57,837,000, and in 1933 to $93,187,000. At the end of 1934 the
total amount in force was in excess of $100,000,000. At the end of
June 1935 the amount had increased to $107,300,000. In the year 1933
there were 4 Massachusetts insurance companies and 8 companies
chartered in other States, each of which had in force in the State of
Massachusetts more ordinary insurance than the entire savingsbank insurance system. There were in that year 47 organizations
selling ordinary life insurance in the State of Massachusetts. In terms
of the combined outstanding policies, the banks, as a whole, ranked
thirteenth in amount of insurance in force among the organizations
selling life insurance in the State. Ten years earlier, in 1923, they
had ranked twenty-second among the 31 organizations then operating.
Insurance at Low Cost
T h e cost to the policyholder of ordinary life insurance sold by the
savings banks is lower than that of ordinary insurance sold by the
private companies. The relatively low cost of savings-bank insur
ance is due to a return, the policyholders, of dividends in excess of
those usually paid by the private companies. These relatively high
dividends have been due to very low expenses of operation, to highly
favorable mortality ratios, and to returns on invested assets higher
than usual among the private insurance companies.
Expenses of Operation
A comparison of expense ratios for the banks and the private
companies indicates the low operating expenses of the savings-bank
insurance system. The ratios between expenses of operation and
premium income for the insurance departments of the banks, for
ordinary insurance sold by the private companies, and for industrial
insurance, have been as follows in recent years:
Savings-bank
ordinary
insurance,
percent
1922________________________________
1927________________________________
1932 ______________________________
1933 ______________________________
7.
4.
5.
5.
73
55
18
00
Private
ordinary
insurance,
percent
19. 88
18. 82
15. 44
14. 14
Private
industrial
insurance,
percent
32.
27.
22 .
22.
33
64
02
77
The above ratios, however, for the years prior to 1927, include
the expenses of operating the Division of Savings Bank Life Insurance
in the State House, which were paid, not by the insurance depart
ments of the banks, but by the Commonwealth itself. Since that
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
296
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
year an increasing proportion of the expenses of the Division has
been repaid to the State by the banks. In 1933 the banks paid all
but 15 percent of the expenses incurred by the Division. Beginning
in 1934 the entire expenses of operating the whole system, both those
of the banks directly and of the Division, have been borne by the
insurance departments of the banks. The gradual assumption of
the entire burden of expenses by the banks has not resulted in an
important increase of the ratio between the expenses of operation
and premium income. In 1934, when the banks were paying all the
expenses of the Division, the ratio of expenses to premium income
for the system as a whole actually deslined to 4.84 percent.
The most important factor explaining the great difference between
the relative expenses of operation of the banks and of ordinary
insurance companies is the fact that savings-bank insurance is sold
without the use of an agency system entailing especially large expendi
tures in the form of salaries and commissions. Data are available
showing the ratio of commissions and salaries to total income in the
case of four insurance companies which sell both ordinary insurance
and industrial insurance. Information is also available showing the
ratio of salaries to total income for the insurance departments of the
banks. In the year 1921 the savings-bank ratio was 3.74 percent.
I t was 2.81 percent in 1926, and 2.32 percent in 1931. In the case
of the ordinary insurance departments of the four companies the
ratios of salaries and commissions to total income during the same
years were 13.53 percent, 11.39 percent, and 10.72 percent, respectively.
In the case of the industrial insurance departments the ratios were
24.80 percent, 21.62 percent, and 15.76 percent, respectively. The
average salary ratio of the insurance departments of the banks over
the period 1909 to 1931 was 2.27 percent. In the case of the four
companies the average ratio of salaries and commissions to total
incomes for the period 1915 to 1931 was 11.88 percent in the case of
the ordinary insurance departments and 20.40 percent in the case of
the industrial insurance departments. Thus the ratio of salaries and
commissions to total income over the period was on the average
somewhat more than 5 times as high in the case of ordinary insurance
and about 9 times as high in the case of industrial insurance as the
ratio of salaries to total income in the case of the insurance depart
ments of the savings banks.
Mortality Experience
A s ec o n d reason for the lower cost of savings-bank life insurance is
that the system has enjoyed a more favorable mortality experience
than that of the insurance companies. The ratios of actual to ex
pected mortality losses for the insurance departments of the banks,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
297
MASSACHUSETTS SAVINGS-BANK LIFE INSURANCE
and for the ordinary and industrial departments of the companies
have been as follows in recent years:
Savings-bank
insurance,
percent
1922
1927______________________________
1932____________________
1 933."____________________________
45.
43.
39.
36.
36
74
85
77
Private ordinary
insurance,
percent
53.
53.
63.
63.
68
78
10
31
Private industrial
insurance,
percent
65. 42
63. 88
55. 72
56. 25
There has been no year since the existence of the savings-bank
insurance system in which the mortality ratios of the banks have not
been below those for all ordinary and industrial insurance sold by the
private companies considered together.
It has been commonly asserted that the favorable mortality
experience of the savings banks has been due to the fact that the
system itself is comparatively young and that therefore there is
a larger proportion of young persons among the policyholders than
is the case with the older insurance companies; and furthermore,
since such a considerable proportion of the policyholders have only
recently entered the system, that the favorable effect of the medical
examinations is still being felt. It cannot be doubted that in general,
other things being equal, the presence of a larger proportion of young
and new policyholders would normally lead to a lower ratio of actual
to expected mortality losses, and that this factor must be held account
able in part for the relatively favorable mortality experience of the
savings banks. It is clear, however, that this is not the only impor
tant factor.
Probably the most important influence aside from the age compo
sition of the body of policyholders is the fact that as a general rule
the savings-bank policyholders are better insurance risks than those
of private companies. One reason for this is the fact that since
savings-bank insurance is sold without the intercession of insurance
agents whose income depends upon the amount of insurance they sell,
it is probable that a larger proportion of insurance is sold to persons
who are more desirable risks. Since the method of paying agents
for selling industrial, or weekly premium, insurance places an especi
ally weighty inducement upon these agents to get policyholders to»
take out as much insurance as possible, and since the applicant for
industrial insurance is accepted without a preliminary medical exam
ination, the likelihood of overselling less desirable risks is even
greater in the case of industrial insurance than it is in the case of
ordinary insurance.
Another factor to be considered in accounting for the relatively
favorable mortality experience of the savings banks is that their
policies are as a rule held by persons of low or model ate incomes. Both
the law itself and the operations of the savings-bank insurance system
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
encourage the purchase of insurance by workers and others who
receive small incomes. It is generally agreed that a policyholder
who has a policy of many thousands of insurance is not as a rule as good
an insurance risk as is a small policyholder. Even though a large
number of persons holding ordinary policies with the private com
panies may possess insurance in amounts not in excess of $5,000 or
$10,000, one bad risk representing a policy of $150,000 would be as
important in increasing the ratio of actual to expected mortality
losses as would risks of the identical type representing 15 policy
holders each carrying $10,000 of insurance. Under the savingsbank system it is impossible for any one person to hold more than
a total of $23,000 of insurance in all the banks combined. The banks,
appealing as they do to workers, teachers, and other persons in the
small-income groups, avoid the unfavorable effect upon the mortality
ratio of a relatively small number of large bad risks.
A third factor deserving of mention is the fact that, especially in
recent years, savings-bank life insurance has been sold to workers in
modern industrial establishments. The fact that in these plants the
health of the workers is likely to be safeguarded to a greater extent
than is the case with backward industrial establishments has probably
resulted in the entrance into the savings-bank insurance system of a
considerable number of wage-earning policyholders who are excellent
insurance risks.
Earnings on Investments
A t hir d reason for the lower cost of savings-bank life insurance is the
fact that the insurance departments have generally received a higher
rate of return on their invested assets than have the insurance com
panies. The rates of return earned by the insurance departments
of the banks and by the private insurance companies have in recent
years been as follows:
1922
1927______________________ - ______________________
1932
_________________________________________
1933
_________________________________________
Savings
bank
insurance,
percent
Private
insurance
companies,
percent
5. 62
5 .2 5
5. 02
4. 67
5. 29
5 .0 2
4. 65
4. 25
Differences of the kind shown above, between the rates earned on
the assets of the companies and on those of the banks, have existed
for many years.
The reasons for this difference are to be sought essentially in the
nature of the investments made by the insurance departments of the
banks and by the companies. As a general rule there is no great differ
ence between the limitations placed by law upon the kinds of property
in which the two tvpes of insurance establishments may invest their
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MASSACHUSETTS SAVINGS-BANK L IFE INSURANCE
299
funds. The only important exception to this statement is the fact
that whereas the mutual savings banks of Massachusetts may invest
only in real estate and mortgages within the State the companies may
make such investments anywhere in the United States. Data on
the proportion of assets invested in various types of property by the
banks and by the companies indicate that only three items are of
importance, namely, mortgages, bonds, and policy loans. Savings
banks have in general invested a greater proportion of their funds in
mortgages and a smaller proportion in bonds and policy loans than
the companies. There is no reason to suppose that the investments
in policy loans by the insurance companies have yielded a smaller
rate of return than those of the banks. Nor is it possible to determine
upon the basis of the available evidence that the banks’ investments
in bonds have been in general more profitable than those of the
companies. The evidence seems to indicate, however, that the
banks’ investments in real estate mortgages have probably been more
remunerative in recent years than have those of the companies.
The latter have invested large funds in agricultural property in the
South and West. They have also put much money into great build
ings situated in large cities. The fact that the savings banks are not
permitted to invest in real estate outside of Massachusetts has pre
vented them from lending money on agricultural property in those
parts of the country in which, since 1920, agriculture has been least
prosperous. Furthermore, to a considerable extent the investments
of the banks in mortgages on urban real estate have been confined to
loans based upon relatively small business and residential properties
in the communities, most of them of comparatively small population,
in which the banks are situated. It should be stated, however, that
the reduction in earnings on investments which has taken place in
recent years has affected the savings banks as well as the private
companies.
Aid from the State
T he low cost of savings-bank insurance has sometimes been cred
ited to the existence of so-called “ subsidies” which enable the policy
holders to escape the full cost of carrying their policies. One of
these came from the taxpayers of the State, the expenses of the
Division of Savings Bank Life Insurance being paid for many years
out of State funds. In 1929 a measure was passed providing for a
progressive increase in the reimbursement by the banks to the State
of the expenses incurred by the Division. In 1933, the insurance
departments of the banks met 85 percent of the Division’s expendi
tures and since that year they have paid its entire costs.
During the entire period from 1907 to 1933 the net expenditures
of the State amounted to $551,146. This sum was 2.18 percent of
the total premium income of the savings-bank insurance system for
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300
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
the period. In recent years, as the banks have met a larger and larger
proportion of the total costs of operating the system, there has been no
substantial increase in their ratios of expense to premium income. In
1927 the ratio, considering only the actual expenses paid by the insur
ance departments of the banks and not including the expenses met by
the State itself, was 4.55 percent; in 1929 it was 4.63 percent; in 1931,
4.97 percent; and in 1933, 5.00 percent. If one computes the ratio
of expenses to premium income by including both the direct expenses
paid by the banks and the unreimbursed expenditures by the State,
the figures for the same years are as follows: 1927, 6.49 percent; 1929,
5.85 percent; 1931, 5.57 percent; 1933, 5.12 percent. The evidence
thus indicates that the subsidy from the taxpayers cannot have been
a factor of importance in bringing about a low cost of savings-bank
life insurance. Such a subsidy, since it is no longer in effect, ob
viously has nothing to do with the present low cost of such insurance.
Massachusetts Savings Back Insurance League
A s ec o n d “ subsidy” to which the low cost of savings-bank insur
ance has often been credited has consisted of the expenditures incurred
by the Massachusetts Savings Bank Insurance League to promote the
sale of savings-bank insurance. The league was formed prior to the
passage of the insurance law to create a public opinion favorable to
its enactment, and ever since then it has conducted activities favor
able to the extension of savings-bank insurance. First-hand exami
nation of the detailed financial records of the league for the period
from 1908 to 1933 indicates that its expenditures in behalf of savingsbank insurance have not equaled as much as 1 percent of the premium
income of the whole system.
Depositors and Policyholders
I t h a s been asserted that the most important form of “ subsidy” to
the policyholders that accounts for the low cost of insurance has
been the failure of the insurance departments of many of the banks
to pay their fair share of the joint expenses of the banks. In other
words, it has been said that the deposit departments of the banks
have actually been paying more than their proper share of joint ex
penses, especially salaries and rents, and have thus compelled the
depositors of the savings banks to subsidize the policyholders.
It is true that a number of the insurance departments, especially
in their early years, have not contributed to the payment of salaries
and rents, and also that in several cases in which they have been
credited with some contribution the amounts have been so small as
to be obviously less than the share they should equitably have borne.
As late as 1934 one bank paid neither salaries nor rent and six others
paid no rent. An analysis of the operations of both the savings de
partments and the insurance departments of all the banks in the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MASSACHUSETTS SAVINGS-BANK LIFE INSURANCE
301
system during the year 1933 does not, however, justify the general
conclusion that savings-bank policyholders have been subsidized by
the depositors.
It was necessary to find some criterion which could be used as an
equitable basis for distributing joint expenses of the various banks
between the two departments. Such an investigation had to be con
fined to the actual records available. After considering numerous
possibilities the respective ledger assets of the insurance and savings
departments of each bank were taken as the basis upon which to
distribute joint costs. The inadequacies of the criterion of ledger
assets were fully recognized, but in the absence of any better basis for
analysis this test was used. As a result of using such assets as the
basis for the proper distribution of expenses, it was found that 8 banks
failed by a combined total of $1,751 to assign to their insurance de
partments their “ proper” share of the total expenses. On the basis
of this same criterion, however, 13 banks were found to have charged
to their insurance departments $38,390 more than would otherwise
have been required. On this basis, therefore, it appears that as far
as the system as a whole is concerned the insurance departments of
the banks have paid $36,639 more than their “ proper” share of joint
salaries and rents.
Taxes
T h e low costs of savings-bank life insurance have been partly
attributed to the fact that the insurance companies, which pay both
State and Federal taxes, have borne a larger burden of taxes than
have the insurance departments of the savings banks, which are
exempt from the payment of a Federal income tax. Not only do the
insurance companies pay Federal income taxes, but they are also
required to pay various fees from which savings banks are exempt.
Over the period from 1908 to 1933 the insurance departments of the
banks paid slightly less than one-half of 1 percent of their premium
income in taxes. This proportion rose in later years, the average
paid for the years 1930 to 1933 being six-tenths of 1 percent of their
premium income. During the years 1923 to 1933 the insurance com
panies chartered by the State of Massachusetts paid to all the juris
dictions taxing them or requiring the payment of fees an amount
equal to 1.92 percent of their premium income. The amount so paid
by all insurance companies operating in Massachusetts was 2.09
percent of premium income.
The difference in the tax burden is thus approximately l){ percent
of premium income.
Terms of Policies
T h e te rm s of sa v in g s-b a n k in su ra n c e policies are, in g en eral, m o re
fav o ra b le to th e p o licy h o ld ers th a n are th o se of th e in su ra n c e com 3202—35------ 2
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302
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
panies. The banks pay cash surrender values if a policy has been in
force for 6 months, and in some cases even earlier. The private
companies do not as a rule pay cash surrender values on ordinary
insurance until after the second year. Such values are generally
available to industrial policyholders only after policies have been in
force for 10 years. The banks make loans on policies after they have
been in effect for 1 year. In the case of ordinary policies sold by the
companies, loans are not available as a rule until after the second
year. They are available at no time to industrial policyholders. In
case the insured discontinues the payment of premiums on a savingsbank policy at any time after 6 months, he is entitled to receive a
policy of paid-up insurance or of extended insurance. Such privileges
are generally not available to ordinary policyholders in the private
companies until after the second year. They are not generally avail
able to industrial policyholders until after 3 years. As an offset to
these advantages is the privilege available, by paying a small extra
premium, to ordinary policyholders in private companies, of having
their insurance continued in force without further payment of
premiums in cases of disability, a privilege which is not contained in
savings-bank policies. Furthermore, such disability provisions are
available to industrial policyholders in private companies without the
payment of any extra premium. Similarly, while the ordinary policy
holder with a private company may have incorporated in his policy,
by paying an extra premium, a provision for the payment of double
indemnity in the case of accidental death, such a provision is not
contained in any of the savings-bank policies. It is generally in
cluded in industrial policies without the payment of an extra
premium.
Lapses of Insurance
T he lapse ratios of savings-bank insurance are unusually low.
During the period 1908 to 1931 the average ratios of insurance
lapsed to new insurance written were 2.6 percent in the case of
savings-bank insurance, 21 percent in the case of ordinary insurance
purchased from the private companies, and 54.5 percent in the case
of industrial insurance. During the same period the ratios between
the amount of insurance lapsed and the amount of insurance ter
minated were 12.9 percent in the case of the savings banks, 38.3
percent in the case of ordinary insurance, and 73.5 percent in the
case of industrial insurance. The favorable lapse experience of the
savings banks may be accounted for by the fact (1) that insurance
can be surrendered for cash after it has been in force only 6 months
or even earlier; (2) that nonforfeiture privileges are available at the
end of 6 months; (3) that loans are available after 1 year; and (4)
that savings-bank insurance is not likely to be oversold.
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E xperience U n d e r State Old-Age Pension A cts in 1934
B y F lo re nce
E. P a r k e r , of the B u r e a u
of
L abor S tatistics
HE greatest territorial expansion, in terms of actual effectiveness
of the system, yet experienced since the introduction of the
public pension system in the United States occurred during 1934.
At the end of the year pension systems were in actual operation in
the whole or part of 25 States and 2 Territories, including within
their borders 56 percent of the total population of the United States.
At the end of the previous year old-age benefits were being paid in
only 17 States and 1 Territory, having 32 percent of the population.
The number of paying counties increased during 1934 from 350 (45
percent of the total counties in States having pensions) to 924 (64
percent). This was due mainly to the putting into force of the
State-wide systems in Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, North
Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. At the close of 1934, 11 systems
were in State-wide operation, as compared with only 4 in 1933.
Within States where the systems were operative in greater or less
degree in both years, the pension plan was extended to 48 additional
counties, the number rising from 350 to 398. Thirty-four of the new
pension counties, however, were in one State—Minnesota where
the act became mandatory at the beginning of 1934.
The acts of Kentucky and West Virginia remained without effect
in 1934 as in 1933, while the Maine law, passed in 1933, could not be
enforced because of the legislature’s failure to provide funds.
Of the 30 acts on the statute books in 1934, only 7 were optional
with the counties, and 2 of these voluntary plans were inoperative.
In the “ optional” States, counties having the plan in effect included
only 48.2 percent of the population. In the “ mandatory” States,
on the other hand, the coverage was 93.5 percent.
More than twice as many persons received old-age assistance in
1934 as in the previous year, the number having risen from 115,547
to 236,205. The financial outlay, however, increased at a much
smaller rate than the number of pensioners. Expenditures rose from
$26,167,017 in 1933 to $32,313,515 in 1934, an increase of only 23
percent as against 104 percent in number of beneficiaries. The in
evitable result was a marked decrease in the average monthly pension
for all States combined, the rate falling from $19.34 to $14.69, or 24
percent. To a considerable extent this was due to the small allow
ances paid in the new pension States. In States having the system
in both years the average pension fell only 1.7 percent.
T
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303
331
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 193
Although individual pensions were reported equaling or even (in
two instances) exceeding the maximum allowable under the State
law, the average monthly allowances paid in even the most liberal
States were only about two-thirds of the legal maximum. They
ranged in the different States from 69 cents in North Dako’ta to
$26.08 in Massachusetts. Six States paid pensions amounting to $20
or more per month, but 14 paid less than $10. The amount of the
pension is theoretically based upon the need and circumstances of the
pensioner. It is known, however, that many counties have simply
divided the available funds equally among the pensioners without
regard to individual requirements. In large part this is undoubtedly
due to the fact that in many jurisdictions funds have been so inade
quate as to make impossible the payment of even subsistence benefits
to any considerable number of persons.
Upon the basis of the data reported, it appears that State-aided
systems are relatively the most generous, with State systems next
in order. In 1934 the smallest allowances were provided in States
in which the whole cost was borne by the county treasury. Average
allowances under the State systems increased 12.2 percent from 1933
to 1934. Under the other two types of plans they declined—0.8
percent under the State-aided plans and 9.3 percent under the county
systems. In 1934, 49.8 percent of the money spent for pensions was
contributed by the counties and 50.2 percent by the States.
With the pension roll increasing and the funds either actually
decreasing or increasing at an appreciably lower rate than the pen
sioners, the financing of the pension plans continued in 1934 to be the
chief problem facing legislators and pension authorities. The special
taxes, such as per capita and property taxes, imposed by some of the
newer acts seem not to have fulfilled the hopes of their proponents.
Of the State systems with such financing provisions (Iowa, Michigan,
Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming) only one—that of Iowa—
had sufficient revenue to pay allowances of as much as $10 per month,
and in 2 of the States the benefits averaged less than $5. In Iowa
the act did not go into full force until July 1, 1935; benefits were paid,
beginning in November 1934, only in especially urgent cases. It
appears that the most adequate support is accorded to the pension
system in States where the cost is met from the general funds of the
State, rather than from the proceeds of a special levy. The actual
collections from such special taxes frequently fall far below the esti
mated yield and the pension plan, of course, suffers accordingly.
The cost per capita of population averaged 60 cents in 1934,
ranging in the various States from 2 cents in Michigan to $1.24 in
Colorado. Alaska had a per capita cost of $1.83.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
OLD-AGE PENSION E X PE R IE N C E IN 1934
305
Judged by the three criteria of coverage, benefits, and proportion
of persons of pensionable age being cared for, the systems of Arizona,
Massachusetts, and New York ranked highest in 1934. At the other
end of the scale were those of Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada,
Utah, and Washington.
Scope of Study
T he above findings were disclosed by the regular annual survey of
pension experience which has been conducted by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics since 1928. This 1934 study covered all of the 30 States
having legislation providing for assistance to aged needy persons.
In the majority of States the information was obtained through the
cooperation of State officials, but in jurisdictions having countyfinanced plans and requiring no report to any State office,1 the data
were obtained from the individual counties. Reports were obtained
for 1,393 (96 percent) of the 1,445 counties in the 30 States. It is
believed that the data here presented give an accurate and generally
complete picture of the situation in all of the States, with two excep
tions: Because of conflicting reports from State and county sources,
which could not be reconciled, only an approximation of the expendi
tures in Colorado could be made. In Massachusetts, one of the most
important pension States, complete reports of disbursements do not
become available until more than a year after the close of any calendar
year, and the Bureau was therefore compelled to use the 1933 figure;
average weekly benefits were, however, available and were used in the
comparisons of average benefits in the various States.
Pension Situation in 1934
S ummary data showing the operations in the various States in 1934
are given in table 1.
i
Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Washington, West
Virginia, and Wyoming.
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306
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
T able 1.— S um m ary of O perations U nder Old-Age P ension A cts, 1934
Counties in State
State
Arizona_________ ____ ________
California____________________
Colorado_____________________
Delaware____________________
Idaho_____________ ______ ____
Indiana______________________
Iowa_________________________
Kentucky____________________
M aine_______________________
M aryland____________________
Massachusetts________________
M ichigan____________________
M innesota___________________
M ontana_____________________
Nebraska____________________
N evada______________________
N ew Hampshire______________
N ew Jersey___________________
New York___________________
North Dakota________________
Ohio_________________________
Oregon_______________________
Pennsylvania_________________
U t a h ,.____ __________________
Washington__________________
West Virginia________________
Wisconsin____ _______________
W yom ing.___________________
Y ear of
passage
of A c t /
1933
1929
1933 2
1931
1931
1933
1934
1926
1933
1927
1930
1933
1929
1923
1933
1925 44
1931
1931
1930
1933
1933
1933
1933
1929
1933
1931
1925
1929
Continental United States.
Alaska_______________________
Hawaii_______________________
Grand total
1929 48
1933
Total
14
58
63
3
44
92
99
120
16
24
e 14
83
87
56
93
17
Number
reported
for
Counties having pension systems
at end
of 1934
Number of
pensioners
at end of
1934
Amount
paid in
pensions,
1934
21
62
53
88
36
67
29
39
55
71
23
12
58
63
3
44
92
99
120
16
24
9 14
83
77
56
80
13
10
21
62
53
88
36
67
20
30
55
71
18
1,437
1,385
917
235, 397
32,177,603
19 4
4
19 4
4
19 4
3
454
354
108, 485
27,427
1,445
1,393
924
236, 205
32, 313,515
10
12
57
63
3
32
89
99
1,820
19, 619
3 10,098
1, 583
1, 712
23, 533
3 8, 300
$427, 527
i 4, 288, 508
4 1, 256,190
193,231
138,440
5 1,134,250
7 220,000
82
24
2
10
20
62
53
88
35
67
8
12
267
m 21,473
3, 557
4,425
2,780
926
7
1,483
11,401
51, 834
3,914
36, 543
1« 6, 525
18, 261
902
1,588
65, 228
ii 5, 628,492
103,180
42 577,635
177,426
13, 577
1,552
311,829
1,773, 320
12,650,828
24, 259
is 1,434,416
1« 639,296
17 386, 717
86, 416
103,408
8
17
2,127
719
459,146
82,732
9 14
56
40
13 4 4
' Approximate; estimated on basis of State disbursements (about one-half).
2 Year of present act; original act passed in 1927.
3 55 counties.
4 Estimated on basis of returns by individual counties and report of State disbursements.
5 11 months ending Nov. 5, 1934.
I 4,589 actually on roll Dec. 31,1931; others put on roll later, payments being retroactive to N ov. 1,1934.
7 Estimated; last 2 months of 1934 only.
8 1 county and city of Baltimore.
8 B ut system is on a city-and-town, not county, basis.
10 As of Mar. 31, 1935.
II Year ending Apr. 30, 1934.
12 38 counties.
13 Includes 1 county which ceased payment in November 1934.
14 Year of present act; first act, passed in 1923, was repealed the same year.
43 Last 6 months of 1934.
16 32 counties.
17 M onth of December 1934.
18 Year of present act; original act passed in 1915.
19 Number of judicial districts.
The Iowa act, passed in 1934, did not go into complete operation
until July 1, 1935. The law provided, however, for an “ emergency
period” (from Nov. 1, 1934, to July 1, 1935) during which allowances
might be made to care for the most needy cases. In case of applica
tions made before November 1, 1934, which were approved at any
time during the emergency period, the allowance became retroactive
to that date. Thus the approval of such an application on, say,
April 17, 1935, would entitle the applicant to the allowance for the
months of November through March, as well as for the succeeding
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
OLD-AGE PEN SIO N E X P E R IE N C E IN 1934
307
months. At the end of 1934 there were 4,589 who had received
allowances; between December 31 and the date of the State report
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Mar. 11, 1935) the number of
beneficiaries had risen to 8,300, all of whom had received their retro
active payments, and it was expected that even the latter figure
would be increased.
The optional law of Kentucky, passed in 1926, is still inoperative.
In 1934 the legislature passed an act providing for an amendment to
the State constitution authorizing the legislature to “ prescribe such
laws as may be necessary for the granting and paying” of old-age
pensions. The legislature directed that this act was to be submitted
to the vote of the people at the next general election; the ballot of the
1934 election, however, did not include this measure.
In Maryland, for several years, the only part of the State in which
pensions were being paid under the State act was the city of Balti
more. In 1933 a special State act made the system compulsory in
Allegany County and payments began there in June 1934.2
The cost of the system in Nebraska is met by the counties, which are
permitted to levy a per capita tax of 50 cents for the purpose of
raising funds.2 The act went into effect August 10, 1933, but most
of the counties had already made their levy for funds for the year.
The result was to suspend in those counties the operation of the act
during 1934, as the court held that the pension levy could not lawfully
be made except at the time of the general levy. Eighty of the 93
counties in the State have reported to the Bureau. Only 24 made
payments under the act of 1934; of these 1 began payments in March,
1 in August, 2 in November, and 10 in December. Twenty-seven
counties reported that payments began or were to begin early in
1935; these had more than 3,000 applications on file at the end of
the year.
The State-wide, State-financed act of Pennsylvania became effec
tive January 18, 1934, and the first payments were due December 1,
1934. So great was the number of applications that some of the
counties were unable to complete their investigations in time to decide
all of the cases by that date. In order not to penalize those whose
cases were unfinished, their allowances once granted were made retro
active to December, if their applications were received before that
time. A report received from the Pennsylvania Department of
Welfare as of April 8, 1934, stated that 18,261 had at that time been
put on the December pension roll. It was estimated that the funds
appropriated would care for 31,000 persons and it was thought that
within the next few weeks the roll would have increased to that
number.
s N ew act passed in 1935 changes these provisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
See p. 332.
308
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
The Washington act was held by the court to be mandatory upon
the counties and they were directed to provide whatever funds were
necessary to put the law into effect.2 In spite of this decision and the
fact that some State aid was provided for by a later act, the reports to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that at the end of 1934—18
months after the law became effective—only 12 of the 39 counties
were actualfy paying pensions. Four additional counties expected to
begin the payment of old-age assistance in 1935.
Development Within Identical States, 1933 and 1934
C omparing only the States in which the law was in effect in both
1933 and 1934 the latter year showed a gain of 48 counties and of
more than 17,000 old people cared for. Over $2,000,000 more was
expended for pension purposes.
Among the industrial States the only outstanding change in the
number of counties paying pensions in 1934 was the gain of 34 counties
in Minnesota, in consequence of the coming into force of the manda
tory provision of the act.3 Montana and Utah suffered a slight loss.
In the remaining States the number of paying counties either remained
unchanged or increased slightly.
In Montana, the oldest pension State, there were 44 counties which
paid pensions at some time during 1934. One of these, however,
discontinued payments in November, so that at the end of the year
there were only 43 counties in which the system was in effect—a loss
of 2 counties as compared with the end of the preceding year. Another
county reported that it intended to discontinue the system. An
additional county had stopped making cash allowances and was
giving only grocery-store credit.
In all but three States the number of recipients of old-age assistance
increased, in some States very markedly. The amount paid in
benefits also rose in all but four States. In Nevada and Utah a decrease
in disbursements was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in
number of beneficiaries. In New York and Wyoming, however, the
expenditures fell in spite of an increase in the pension roll.
The 1933 and 1934 operations are compared in table 2 for the 17
States in which the act was in effect in both years.
2 N ew act passed in 1935 changes these provisions. See p. 332.
s In 7 other counties applications were received and examined but no allowances were actually paid.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
309
OLD-AGE PENSION EXPERIENCE IN 1934
T able 2.— N um ber of A dopting C ounties, N u m b er of Pensioners, an d A m ount
P aid in Pensions in Id en tical S tates, 1933 an d 1934
Number of Number of pension
counties
ers at end of—
with system
State
1934
1933
1934
1933
1934
Arizona. -- ____
- --------California........_
_ . .
-----Colorado-------------------------------------------Delaware ------ ------------------ --------Idaho------------------------ --------- - ------Maryland___ ________________ _____
M assachusetts. ---------------------- ------Minnesota _ _______
___ _ ...........
M ontana. _
.............
...... ...
N evada,
_ - - - ---- --New Hampshire
. .
_ - _
New Jersey_____________ ____ ______
New York___________________________
U tah_________________________________
Wisconsin - _ _ . . - - - - - ____ W yoming____________
-------
12
57
54
3
29
1
14
6
45
2
8
19
62
9
8
17
12
57
63
3
32
2
14
40
44
2
10
20
62
48
8
17
1,624
14, 604
8, 705
1,586
1,090
141
18, 516
2, 655
1,781
23
776
9,015
51,106
930
1,969
643
1,820
19, 619
i 10, 098
1,583
1, 712
267
21,473
4, 425
2,780
7
1,483
11,401
51, 834
902
2, 127
719
$170, 512
3, 502,000
172,481
188, 740
114, 521
50, 217
2 5, 628,492
420,536
155, 525
3,320
122, 658
1, 375, 693
13, 592,080
95, 599
395,707
83,231
$427, 527
4, 288, 508
1, 256,190
193. 231
138,440
65, 228
(3)
577, 635
177, 426
1,552
311, 829
1, 773,320
12, 650, 828
86,416
459,146
82, 732
Total___________________________
Total, excluding Massachusetts___
346
332
394
380
115,164
96, 648
132,250
110,777
26,071, 312
20, 442,820
22,490, 008
22,490,008
Alaska_______________________________
Grand total_____
----------------
1933
Amount paid in pensions
4
4
383
454
95, 705
108,485
350
398
115,547
132, 704
26,167,017
22,598,493
1 55 counties.
2 Year ending Apr. 30, 1934.
3 No data.
* Includes 1 which ceased payment in September 1934.
Development Under Optional and Mandatory Laws, 1934
T h e list of m a n d a to ry a c ts lias grow n lo n ger w ith each successive
y e a r a n d t h a t of o p tio n a l law s s h o rte r, as new m a n d a to ry ac ts h a v e
been p assed a n d old v o lu n ta ry ones a m en d ed to m ak e th e m
co m p u lso ry .
The voluntary systems in those States in which such systems were
operative attained a coverage of 48.2 percent in 1934. Among the
mandatory systems, on the other hand, the coverage was 93.5 percent.
In 11 States the system was in State-wide operation at the end of
1934; at the end of 1933 only 4 States were in this class. State-wide
operation, in itself, is not a satisfactory test of the efficacy of an act,
however, as is attested by the situation in North Dakota where under
a State-wide system benefits averaged only 69 cents a month.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
310
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
T able 3.— D evelopm ent of Pension S ystem s u n d er O p tional a n d M a n d a to ry
A cts, 1934
State and type of ¡aw
Optional
Hawaii....................................... .................. ................
K entucky_________________ ____ ______ ______
Maryland 1______ ______ ________________ ___
Montana_________________ ___________ ______
N evada___________ ________ ___________ ____
West Virginia_______________________________
Wisconsin 2___________________ _______ ____ _
T otal____________ _____ _______________
Mandatory
Alaska___________________ _______ __________
Arizona_______________ - ______________ ____
California_______ - _________ _______ ______
Colorado___________________________________
Delaware _________________________________________________________
Idaho--. ______ __________ ___ __________________
Indiana__________ ___________ ____________ _______
Iowa................. .. ................ ................. ....................... ...........
M aine____________ _______ _____________________
M assachusetts____________ ________ ____________________
Michigan _______________________ _____ _____________ _ __________
M innesota- ________ _____________________________________________
Nebraska. ________ _______________________________________________
New Hampshire ______ _____________ __________________________
New Jersey ___________ _________________________________ _____
N ew York ________ __ _________________________________________
North Dakota ____________ ________________ ________ _________
O h io ... _________ _____ __ _____________ _______ ____
Oregon________________________ _____________ ____
Pennsylvania__________________ ___________
U tah_______________________________ ___________
W ashington.______ _____________ ________________
'Wyoming..______ _________ ___________ ___________________
Total ____________ __________________ ______________
Grand total
______________ _________________________
Population
of State,
1930
N um
ber of
coun
ties in
State
368, 336
2, 614, 589
1, 631, 526
537, 606
91, 058
J, 729, 205
2,939,0C6
9, 911, 326
4
120
24
56
17
55
71
347
59, 278
435, 573
5, 677, 251
1, 035, 791
238, 380
445, 032
3, 238, 503
2, 470, 939
797, 423
4, 249, 614
4, 842, 325
2, 563, 953
1, 377, 963
465, 293
4, 041,334
12, 588,066
689,845
, 646, 697
953, 786
9, 631, 350
507, 847
1, 563, 396
225, 565
64, 736, 204
74, 647, 530
4
14
58
63
3
44
92
99
16
14
83
87
93
10
21
62
53
88
36
67
29
39
23
1,098
1,445
6
Counties reporting pension
system in 1934
N um
ber
Population
Percent
of State
popula
tion
3
312,190
84.8
2
44
2
883, 972
383,845
4, 656
54. 2
71.4
5.1
8
59
1,100,385
2, 685, 048
37.3
3 48.2
4
12
57
63
3
32
89
99
59, 278
399,992
5, 677, 010
1, 035. 791
238,380
346, 948
3,129, 895
2,470, 939
100.0
91. 8
100.0
100.0
100.0
78.0
96.6
100.0
14
56
40
24
10
20
62
53
88
35
67
8
12
17
865
924
4, 249, 614
4, 210,341
1, 820,531
323, 285
465, 293
3, 970, 525
12, £88, 066
680,845
6, 646, 697
930, 950
9, 631,350
352,403
361, 008
183,146
59, 772, 287
62, 457,335
100.0
86.9
71.0
23.5
100.0
98.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.6
100.0
69.4
23.1
81.2
*93.5
89.9
1 State act optional; made compulsory for Allegany County by special act of 1933.
2 Became mandatory July 1, 1935.
3 N ot including States (Kentucky and West Virginia) in which acts were inoperative; if those States
are included, percentage is 27.1
1 N ot including State (Maine) in which act was inoperative; if that State is included, percentage is 92.3.
Siz;e of Monthly Allowances
A verage monthly allowances ranged in 1934 from 69 cents in
North Dakota to $26.08 in Massachusetts. In 14 jurisdictions the
monthly average was less than $10, in 21 less than $20, and in only 6
was it $20 or over. The average monthly payments in the important
industrial States of California, Massachusetts, New York, and
Pennsylvania were closely grouped in amount, with Massachusetts
leading the others by from $5 to $6. New Jersey, another leading
industrial State, has always paid pensions considerably below those
of its neighbor, New York. Ohio, of course, was just getting its
system under way and its experience is too short to permit judgment
as to the liberality of the allowances.
In 16 States the actual pension was less than half and in the other
States about two-thirds of the maximum permitted under the act.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
311
OLD-AGE PENSION EXPEDIENCE IN 1934
The size of the pensions paid in 1933 and 1934, as compared with
thejmaximum payable under the act, is shown in table 4.4
T able 4.— A verage Pensions P a id in 1933 a n d 1934, as C om pared w ith T hose
Allowable under A ct
Maximum
payable
un d erlet
State
Arizona ___________________________________
California___________________________________
Colorado
________________________________
Delaware ________________ ___________ - -Idaho
-- _____________________________ ___
Indiana
_____- _____ ________________
Iowa ______ - ______ _________________ -Maryland
__ __________ _______________
Massachusetts __ __________________________
Michigan
________ ______________________
Minnesota. ____ ___________ _________ ___
Montana___________________________ _______
_____________________ _________
Nebraska
Nevada ___________________________________
New Hampshire_____________________________
New Jersey _______________________________
N ew York . _______________________________
North Dakota
_
____________________
Ohio
_ __ __ ___________________________
Oregon
__ __ _________________________
Pennsylvania.
___________________________
Utah
______________________
Washington _ _
_ ______________________
Wisconsin __________________________________
W yoming_________ _______________ ______
Average (w eighted).. ------------------ -------Alaska
____________ ____________________
Hawaii
____________________
Grand average (w eig h ted )___ __________
Grand average, identical States (weighted).
1 No data.
2 No limit.
$30.00
30.41
30. 41
25.00
25.00
15.00
25.00
30. 41
(2)
30.00
30.41
25.00
20.00
30.41
32. 50
30.41
(2)
12.50
25.00
30.00
30.00
25.00
30.00
30.41
30.00
3 35.00
15. 00
Average monthly pen
sion
1933
$9.01
21.50
8.59
9. 79
8. 85
29.90
24.35
13. 20
7.28
15.00
13.17
14.97
21. 55
8. 56
16. 75
10. 79
19. 33
20.82
19.34
19.34
1934
$19.57
20. 21
9.74
9.91
6.74
4.50
13. 25
22.64
26.08
9.99
10.97
5.32
1.22
18.48
17. 51
14.87
20.65
.69
6. 54
8.16
21.18
7.98
5. 43
19.95
9. 59
14. €8
25.00
7. 06
14.69
19.00
Range of indi
vidual monthly
grants, 1934
$5.00 to
0).
$1.50 to
(').
0).
0).
0).
$5.00 to
(0.
0).
$3.00 to
CO.
$2.00 to
(')•
(!).
(0.
(>).
(0.
(0.
0).
(0.
$2.00 to
$4.00 to
(')•
$2.50 to
$1.50 to
$30.00.
$30.00.
$30.00.
$35.00.
$15.00.
$20.00.
$30.00.
$35.00.
$35.00.
(0.
(0.
3 Men; women $45.
Conspicuous because of their extremely low average allowances
were the States of Indiana, Nebraska, and North Dakota. Regard
ing the situation in Indiana, where benefits averaged only $4.50 per
month, the State auditor reported that many of the counties expected
to increase the allowances on January 1, 1934. In Nebraska the low
benefits were due to the failure of the per capita tax as a source of
revenue. North Dakota had the doubtful distinction both of setting
in its law a maximum allowance which is the lowest in the United
States ($12.50 per month) and of paying the smallest average benefit
in 1934 (69 cents). The allowances awarded averaged 1129.73 for
the year. Inability to collect the $2 per capita tax was given as the
reason for the disparity between the amounts awarded and the
amount actually paid.
4
For those States for which the data were obtained directly from the counties and those for which no
average figure was supplied by the State official reporting, the averages given in the table somewhat under
state the actual monthly amount. The average for such States was obtained by dividing the annual dis
bursements by the number of pensioners on the roll at the end of the year. Especially in State-wide systems
the experience shows that the number on the roll tends to increase month by month, so that the pension
list at the end of the year is greater than the 12-month average of the monthly list would be. A check for
the States of California, N ew Jersey, and N ew York, for which monthly reports are available, shows that the
average computed as above fell below the average of the m onthly averages by 1 percent in New Jersey, 10
percent in California, and 13 percent in New York.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
312
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
In February 1935, when the average pension in New York City was
$25.37, it was stated that 11.25 percent of the 23,492 pensioners were
receiving $36 or more per month.5
Theoretically, every allowance made is supposed to have been set
after detailed consideration of the applicant’s circumstances and
needs. In some of the better systems, in which investigation is car
ried on by trained and efficient workers and the number of such work
ers is sufficient to allow adequate case work, the theory is put into
practice. A budget, varying in cost according to prices in the various
sections, is carefully worked out and the pension allowed is based
upon this budget and the circumstances of the individual case. This
procedure can by no means be called general, however, and in practice
the allowances in many places are more apt to depend upon the avail
ability of funds than upon the pensioner’s needs. Many of the
counties reporting to the Bureau made a flat allowance without
regard to individual circumstances.
The data are rearranged in table 5 to show the size of allowances
paid under the different types of pension systems.
T ab le 5.— C om parison of Benefits P a id under C ounty, S tate-A id ed , a n d S ta te
System s in 1933 an d 1934
State and type of system
!Average m onthly
pension
1933
County systems
Hawaii___
Idaho____
MarylandMinnesota.
Montana - Nebraska
N evada_______
New Hampshire
Oregon________
U tah__________
Washington '
W yoming___
Average (weighted)______
Average, identical States
(weighted)____________
State-aided systems
Arizona_____
California____
Indiana_____
Massachusetts
New Jersev__
$8. 85
29.90
13. 20
7. 28
1934
$7.05
6. 74
22. 64
10. 97
5. 32
1 . 22
10. 79
10.86
18.48
17.51
8.16
7.98
5.43
9. 59
8. 60
10. 86
9. 85
9. 01
21. 50
_____
24. 35
14. 97
19. 57
20. 21
4.50
26. 08
14.87
15. 00
13.17
8. 56
State and type of system
Averagemonthly
pension
1933
State-aided systems—Continued
New York. __
_____ _ - $21. 55
16. 75
Wisconsin_____________________
Average (weighted) __
21.17
Average, identical States
21. 17
(weighted)______- - .
State systems
20. 82
Alaska
_____ _ -- ____
8.59
Colorado-. _________ - ---------9. 79
Delaw are..
Iowa
_
_ _
Michigan
_ ____
_ .
North Dakota
- . _
Ohio
______ - - ___
Pennsylvania
_ ____ _
9.21
Average (weighted). -----Average, identical States
9.21
(w eighted).__________ -
1934
$20. 65
19.95
18.06
21.01
25. 00
9. 74
9.91
13.25
9.99
.69
6. 54
21.18
10.87
10. 33
i Pension act placed whole cost upon counties, but some aid provided by later act.
Comparing only those States whose act was in force during both
1933 and 1934, it is evident that by far the largest benefits were paid
under the State-aided systems, with State systems next in order.
The smallest payments were made in States where the whole cost was
s Speech of Ruth Hill, third deputy commissioner, New York City Department of Public Welfare, over
Station W E V D, Feb. 14, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
313
OLD-AGE PEN SIO N E X PE R IE N C E IN 1934
met from county revenues. From 1933 to 1934 tlie average monthly
allowance declined 9.3 percent under county plans and 0.8 percent
under State-aided plans, but increased 12.2 percent under State plans.
The above figures relate to cash payments only. Of the 30 States
which had pension acts at the end of 1934, the acts of 24 6 provide
that in case the pensioner dies without sufficient funds for burial, the
pension authorities may pay the cost of burial; and 19 States 7 allow
medical and surgical care. Data as to cost of burials are available for
Delaware and New Jersey. Those two States spent $748 and $18,820,
respectively, for this purpose in 1934.
Cost of Pensions in 1933 and 1934
T h e steady increase in the number of pensioners in relation to
population, shown in previous years, was continued in 1934 except
in those States where the natural increase was influenced by other
factors, such as financial stringency. The pension roll is of course
also affected by general or local economic conditions and by the
incidence of aged in the State population.
The trend of the pension roll and the cost of pensions, by States,
is shown in table 6.
T able 6.— Trend o f P en sion R oll and per C apita C ost, 1930 to 1934 1
Number of pensioners per 10,000 Annual cost per capita of popu
lation 2 in—
population in—
State
1930
1931
1932
19.33
..
15
17
5
63
25
22
29
66
38
41
26
95
67
36
enf ncky
Maryland
. . . . . . . . . .
M assaehuset ts
M ichi^an
Minnesota
_ _ ______________ __
Montana_____ ______ _________ ....
Nehra ska
N e v a d a .______________ __________
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New V nrk__
Nnrth Dakota
Ohio
•Orepon
Pennsylvania
U tah_______ ______ ________________
W ash in ginn
Wisconsin____ _______ _________
W yom in g.......................... . _______
T o ta l... .. ____ _______________
7
6
12
2
26
2
40
2
44
22
12
26
24
29
25
46
75
37
8
57
19
28
43
36
19
27
41
\ riznna
•California_____
Pnlnrado
Delaware
Idaho
Indiana
--
---
\ laska
H aw aii------- -------------
38
30
28
29
28
9
16
15
19
28
53
18
28
39
61
18
34
36
65
(9
57
-----------------
1934
1930
1931
1932
1933
46
$0. 45
.62
35 $0. 27 $0.43 $0. 56
.29
. 19
105
.79
66
. 56
.79
. 44
.40
49
75
34
.04
. 12
.04
.06
3
. 10
.06
.43 1. 05 1 27
5!
8
.09
.34
.39
24
.42
.41
72
.37
.43
29
.80
.98 1. 25
15 1. 35
.30
32
.25
.07
.42
.34
29
41
.95 1.23 1. 08
55
70
19
26
44
19
39
38
11
1934
$1.07
.76
1. 24
.81
.40
.36
.53
.07
(9
.02
.32
. 46
. 04
.33
. 67
. 45
1.00
. 04
.43
.09
.48
.26
. 30
16
.29
. 15
.25
.26
. 16
.64
1.44
.34
.37
.77
1. 51
.36
.44
.81
1.61
(9
1. 45
.25
. 37
.42
. 45
, 60
1. S3
.09
1 Based onlv upon counties in which act was in operation.
2 .Computed on basis of full year, even though system was actually in operation only part of year.
3 No data.
4 N ot computed for this year.
3
Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, N ew Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
7
Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, N ew Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
314
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
The number of pensioners per 10,000 of population at the end of
1934 ranged from 3 in Maryland to 105 in Colorado. It is interest
ing to note the high proportion of pensioners in some of the new
State-wide systems (Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oregon) as
compared with that under the earlier acts (California, Delaware,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York). In Iowa the system
did not go into full effect until July 1935; the figures given in the
table cover only emergency cases. In Pennsylvania the authorities
had been able to handle only part of the applications by the end of
the year and the revised figures (the applicants eligible for pensions
during 1934 will receive retroactive benefits) will undoubtedly be
substantially larger.
The annual cost of pensions per capita of population has naturally
also risen with the increased number of pensioners, although this
tendency has been counteracted in part by the lack of sufficient
funds in some places and the consequent necessity for reducing allow
ances. In 1934 the cost of old-age pensions averaged 60 cents per
capita of population, the range being from 2 cents in Michigan to
$1.24 in Colorado and $1.83 in Alaska. The effect of an emergency
State and Federal subsidy is shown in New Hampshire, where the
per capita expenditure rose from 30 cents in 1933 to 67 cents in 1934.
The only other outstanding changes from 1933 to 1934 occurred in
Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada. In Colorado the cost rose from 19
cents to $1.24, possibly because of the greater availability of funds
through State aid. In Nevada the cost fell from $1.25 to 33 cents,
due to the fact that the number of pensioners cared for in 1934 was
less than one-third of the number in 1933.
In connection with table 6, two points should be borne in mind:
(1) The total cost to the taxpayers is somewhat in excess of that
given above, for in the table the per capita cost was calculated only
from the sums disbursed to pensioners. The cost of investigation
and the other administrative expenses were not included.8 (2) On
the other hand, practically all of the State laws provide that the
State shall have a lien upon any property left by the pensioner, and
some laws permit the authorities to take over the property of the
pensioner even before his death should that be deemed necessary to
protect the public interest. A certain amount of revenue is derived
from this source. Thus, in New York, according to the annual
report of the division of old-age security, $227,152 was obtained from
property and insurance of deceased pensioners during 1932-33 and
$308,668 in 1933-34. One county in Montana reported that pensions
were being granted only to persons having property which could be
willed to the county. A study made of the pensioners on the roll in
8
In Delaware the cost of administration was 6.1 percent in 1932 and 1933 and 5.4 percent in 1934. The
local administrative cost in New York during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933, was 5.5 percent, and
during 1933-34 was 6.7 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
315
O LD -A G E PEN SIO N E X PE R IE N C E IN 1934
Massachusetts, March 1, 1935, showed that 13.5 percent possessed
real estate, 19.7 percent had some money in the bank or in stocks or
bonds, and 42.0 percent had insurance.
Allocation of Financial Responsibility
Or the 28 States and 2 Territories which had old-age pension or
assistance acts at the end of 1934, 8 had laws under which the whole
cost of the sytem was to be borne by the State or Territory. In 14
acts the payments were to be made by the county, but in 2 of these the
city or town of residence of the beneficiary was required to reimburse
the county; in one of these States (Washington), although the pension
act itself placed the whole cost upon the counties, a later act extended
some State aid. In 8 acts joint provision of funds by State and county
was required, and in one of these States the cities or towns were
required to reimburse the county for sums spent in pensions.
Thus, some degree of financial responsibility was laid upon the
counties by the laws of 21 States, and in 16 jurisdictions State funds
were to be drawn upon wholly or partly.
The amounts and proportions actually supplied from State and
county funds in 1934 are shown in table 7.
T able <.— P roportion o f C ost o f O ld-Age P en sion s B orne by S ta tes and b y
C ou nties in 1934
Amount paid in pensions from—
State
State
funds
Arizona_____ . . . ...... ............ _
California_____ ____ ____ _____ _
Colorado. _ . . ............. ...... ......
Delaware
.. . ____
Idaho________ _________ . ____
Indiana.. ..
______ __ . __
Iowa. ________ ______ _ . . . . . ._
Maine
.
. .
____ _
Maryland____ . . ______ ______
M assachusetts...... ... ................ ... .
Michigan . . . . ...............................
M innesota_____ . ______
_____
__
Montana
. . . __
Nebraska
___________
Nevada
. . . _____ ______
N ew Hampshire . . . .
.. .
New Jersey___________ _____ ____
___ . ____ ___
New York........ .
North Dakota
.. .
______
.
...... ............
O h io ___
Oregon.. .
.....................
Pennsylvania
Utah
___
Washington____. . .
Wisconsin______
____________
W yoming_____
___ _________ _
T otal...................
Alaska
Hawaii
............
$286, 004
2,144, 254
925, 500
193, 231
567,125' 220, COO
1,876,164
103,180
2 233,872
1,329,990
6,325,414
24,259
1,434,416
386, 717
County
funds
Total
$141, 523
2,144, 254
330, 690
$427, 527
4,288, 508
1, 256,190
193,231
138, 440
1,134, 250
220,000
138,440
567,125
65,228
3, 752,328
577,635
177, 426
13, 577
1, 552
77,957
443, 330
6,325, 414
639,296
67. 0
50.0
100.0
100.0
66. 9
50. 0
73. 7
100.0
50.0
100.0
50.0
50.0
100.0
65, 228
33.3
5,628,492
103,180
100.0
577, 635
177,426 ________
13, 577
1,552
311,829
75.0
1, 773,320
12, 650,828
50.0
24, 259
100.0
1,434,416
100.0
639,296
100.0
386, 717
86,416
103,408
(4)
33.3
459,146
82, 732
27, 292
75, 000
86, 416
76,116
384,146
82, 732
16,152, 418
16,025,185
32,177,603
27, 427
108, 485
27,427
108,485
Percent
Percent actually
of State paid in 1934 from—
aid pro
vided for
County
by State
State
law
funds
funds
ioo.'o
33. 3
100.0
3 50.0
75. 0
50.0
100.0
100.0
33.1
50. 0
26.3
100. 0
50.0
100. 0
66.7
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
3 25.0
25.0
50.0
100.0
100.0
26.4
16.3
100. 0
73.6
83.7
100.0
50.2
49.8
lSÖTtT
100.0
1 Estimated; last 2 months of 1934.
2 State and Federal funds.
3 25 percent was paid from Federal relief funds.
* Pension act does not provide for State aid but another act created special fund, from proceeds of tax on
horse racing, to be used for pension system.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
316
MONTHLY LABOE E E V IEW — AUGUST 1935
In general, the funds for the 1934 allowances were produced from
the sources and in the proportion provided for in the laws. There
were, however, a few outstanding exceptions. In Colorado, where it
was the intention of the legislature that the State should finance the
system, the counties disbursed a third as much as the State. In
New Hampshire, as an emergency measure, the State paid half of
the cost and used Federal relief funds to meet an additional 25
percent, so that the counties and towns charged in the law with the
full cost were relieved of 75 percent of their burden. In Washington,
where no legal obligation rests upon the State under the pension act,
more than a fourth of the 1934 disbursements were met from the pro
ceeds of the State tax upon horse racing. The State aid provided in
Wisconsin has been falling farther and farther below the one-third set
forth in the act, and in 1934 only 16.3 percent of the funds were
actually furnished by the State.
Sources of Revenue for Old-Age Assistance9
T he question how and where to find the money with which to
finance the pension system has proved to be a difficult one. Legis
latures in the different States have attempted in various ways to
answer it, and with varying degrees of success.
The most general method of financing old-age assistance is by
appropriation from the general fund of State or county. In two States
(Idaho and Montana) the relief aspect of the system is emphasized
by the provision that the allowances shall be paid from the county
poor fund. Per capita taxes ranging from 50 cents to $2 are pro
vided for in 3 laws (Nebraska, Iowa, and Michigan), and a general
tax on property in 3 States (North Dakota, West Virginia, and
Wyoming). In two States (Colorado and Pennsylvania) the proceeds
of several special levies are utilized wholly or partially for pension
purposes. Thus in Colorado the pension funds are composed of
revenue from liquor, corporation, inheritance, and sales taxes and
from automobile registration fees, and in Pennsylvania partly from
the profits from the State liquor stores and partly from appropriations
from general and special funds of the State. The counties in Penn
sylvania are required to bear the expenses of investigation up to a
maximum of 6 percent of the old-age pension appropriation for the
county. The State contributions in New Jersey are financed wholly
from the inheritance tax.
Of the three States having the per capita tax, Iowa levies the tax
upon all citizens resident in the State who are 21 years of age or over,
except inmates of public institutions, and provides that employers
shall deduct the tax from employees’ earnings and forward the
9
Discussion relates to situation as of end of 1934.
¡have changed some of these provisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N ew or amendatory provisions, enacted in 1935,
OLD-AGE PENSION E X PE R IE N C E IN 1934
317
amounts to the State treasurer. In case of failure to comply with
this requirement, the employer becomes liable for the amount of the
tax. In Nebraska the per capita tax falls upon all inhabitants between
the ages of 21 and 50 years of age who are not public charges and in
Michigan upon all residents 21 years of age or over. The Nebraska
act provides that in the event that the collections are inadequate,
pensions shall be paid on a pro-rata basis, and the counties are
expressly prohibited from raising funds in any other way than by the
per capita tax.
The sources of funds from which to defray the expense of old-age
assistance, as provided for in the various acts, are shown in table 8.
T able 8.— Sources of R evenue for S ta te Old-Age P ension System s
State and type of system
State share raised from—
County share raised from—
County systems:
General fund.
H aw aii. ___________
General fund or poor fund.
Idaho. . .
___
General fund.
Kentucky__________
Do.
M aryland, _
D o .1
Minnesota.
Poor fund.
Montana
50-cent per capita tax.
N eb ra sk a__________
General fund.
Nevada____________
D o .1
N ew Hampshire__
Do.
Oregon
Do.
Utah__ ____________
D o .2
W ashington_________
Property tax.
West Virginia ______
Do.
W yoming___________
State-aided systems:
Arizona
General fu n d _________ _______ _________ General fund.
Do.
___ ___________________________
California___________ ___ do
Do.
Indiana
do __ _______ _____________________
Maine
Funds not yet provided________________
D o .3
_
do
_
_
____________________________
Massachusetts
Do.
N ew J e r s e y ________ Inheritance tax________________________
Do.
General
fund__________
______________
N ew York
__ do
____________________________
D o .1
Wisconsin
State systems:
A la sk a _____________
do
__ ___________________________
Various special taxes _____________ ____
Colorado
General fund__________________________
Delaware
Io w a ... ____________ Per capita tax of $1, November 1934-July
1935; $2 thereafter.
Michigan __
$2 per capita tax . _ ___________________
North Dakota
Property t a x ____ ______________________
General fund__________________________
Ohio
Pennsylvania_______ Liquor, income, and various special taxes—
1
2
3
R eim bursed b y cities or tow ns.
B u t later act provided for S tate aid from tax on horse racing.
Of city or tow n .
Based upon the experience thus far, the consensus appears to be
that the most satisfactory method is that of appropriating the neces
sary amounts from the general revenues of the State or county.
Financial Provision for Pension Systems in 1934
W i d e variation has existed in the extent of financial support
accorded to the pension systems. In some jurisdictions the revenues
provided have been fairly generous in amount. In others the funds
have been wholly inadequate.
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318
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
The situation in a number of the States for which some information
as to funds in 1934 is available is sketched briefly below.
California.—No data are available as to the adequacy of the yearly
appropriations from the general funds. However, the fact that each
year the increase in the pension roll has been greater than in the pre
ceding year would seem to indicate that fairly generous support was
provided. The relative advance of pensioners and funds from year
to year is indicated below:
Percent of increase
over preceding
year i n—
Pen- Amount
sioners
spent
1931
1932
1933
1934
_________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
37.
26.
16.
34.
2
6
6
3
50.1
30.6
9.3
22.5
Colorado.—In Colorado the funds raised from estates reverting to
the State and the proceeds of the liquor tax are earmarked for the use
of the pension system and the State treasurer is directed to apportion
the money among the counties according to their population. In
1934 the sum thus apportioned amounted to $925,500.
Beginning in 1935 part of the revenue from the State sales tax was
set aside for pensions. During the first 6 months of 1935 the sum
of $960,900 had been allotted to the counties, of which $366,400 came
from sales-tax collections.
Delaware.—The situation in this State is an example of what
happens under the practice of fixed appropriations. The cost of the
system (including administrative expense) has been limited to $200,000 per year. Even with allowances of less than $10 per person per
month, the appropriation has been entirely inadequate to meet the
need. At the end of 1934 there were 1,583 persons on the pension
roll. This was a decrease of 3 from the previous year. On the other
hand the waiting list had risen from 1,623 to 1,775.
Indiana.—The Indiana Legislature appropriated $1,254,169 for
pensions in 1934, of which $1,134,250 had been spent at the end of
November 1934. The appropriation was increased to $1,996,067 for
1935.
Iowa.—During the emergency period before the Iowa act went into
full effect (July 1, 1935) the allowances were financed by a $1 per
capita tax. At the end of 1934, payment had been received from
69 percent of the 1,460,929 citizens subject to the tax, the amount
collected being $1,004,403. On July 1, 1935, the assessment became
permanent, at the rate of $2 per year. An act approved May 4,
1935, appropriated $1,000,000 for pension purposes.
Maine.—This act has been held in abeyance until some means of
raising funds could be decided upon. Various measures were con
sidered by the 1935 legislature and a bill which would have financed
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OLD-AGE PEN SIO N E X P E R IE N C E IN 1934
319
the pension system from the proceeds of a State lottery was passed
by the house. When the regular session of the legislature adjourned,,
however, the problem of funds was still unsolved. A report from the*
State to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 10, 1935, expressed
the opinion that a special session would probably be called in the
event that a Federal act was passed.
Maryland.—Since the city of Baltimore adopted the voluntary
State system it has been making yearly appropriations of $50,000 to
$55,000 for pension purposes. The inadequacy of these sums is
shown by the fact that the waiting list in 1933 was about 1,600, as
against an actual pension roll of 141; in 1934 there were 142 pensioners
but the waiting list had risen to 2,900. This situation will doubtless
be remedied under the mandatory 1935 act, under which the counties
pay only one-third of the cost.
Michigan.—The law under which this State operated in 1934 was a
mandatory one, to the cost of which no county contribution was
required. The system was financed by a head tax of $2. On the
basis of the 1930 census, it was estimated that this tax would yield
$5,878,818, or more than sufficient to meet the maximum estimated
cost. At the end of 1934, however, only $365,618 had been realized
from the tax, of which $103,180 had been paid out in allowances.
Although the act set up a State-wide system, the State welfare
department adopted the policy of allocating funds according to the
tax collections in the counties. In 27 of the 83 counties no allowances
were being made at the end of 1934, because of the inadequacy of the
sums collected. By the beginning of May 1935, however, there were
only 9 counties in which the system had not gone into effect.
A new act in 1935 abolished the per capita tax and provided a State
appropriation of $2,000,000.
Nebraska.—The task of raising money for pensions very seriously
hampered the development of the system in Nebraska. Indeed, one
county reported that the law was “ so impractical that our county
has ignored it except as to collecting a very small amount of the
tax so far.” Others were able to collect amounts far below those
needed. The result of this general failure of financial support was
that only 24 counties, or about one-fourth of the total in the State,
had put the act into even partial effect. The 1935 act continues the
$2 per capita tax levied by the counties, but provides for appropria
tions by the State legislature.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
320
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
New Hampshire.—The old-age assistance act of this State placed
upon the county the responsibility for payment of pensions, with
later reimbursement to the county from the city or town of residence
of the pensioner.
Under an emergency act passed by the legislature in June 1933, the
State took over the administration of the pensions as part of the
general relief problem. The administration of the scheme during
this period was therefore frankly on a relief basis. The act termi
nated December 31, 1934. During the 18-month period 50 percent
of the cost of old-age assistance was paid by the State, 25 percent by
the Federal Government, and 25 percent by the town or county.
It is understood that on January 1, 1935, the original financial
arrangement contemplated by the pension act was reverted to.
North Dakota.—The North Dakota system was to have been fi
nanced by a tax levy of one-tenth of a mill on the assessed value of
all taxable property. It was estimated that this tax would produce
about $50,000 annually if all of the tax was paid. Actually it yielded
only $28,533.51.
The pension granted to the 3,914 persons whose applications were
acted upon favorably called for an expenditure of $507,744 during
1934. These persons actually received one payment only, at an
average rate of $6.19 per person.
Ohio.™—In 1934 the sum of $3,000,000 was appropriated from the
general funds of the State, plus $150,000 for administrative expenses.
The November special session of the legislature appropriated an
additional amount of $700,000 for pensions and $125,000 for admin
istrative expenses.
For the first 6 months of 1935 the sum of $6,000,000 for pensions
and $375,000 for expenses was set aside from the proceeds of the
State sales tax. It is estimated that the old-age assistance system
will cost about $14,000,000 during 1935.
Oregon.—In Oregon the counties were expected to meet all the
expense of the mandatory pension system provided for by the act of
1933. At the second special session in 1933, the State legislature
earmarked 75 percent of the liquor revenues, to assist the counties in
paying mothers’ aid, old-age pensions, and unemployment relief.
It is reported, however, that the money was not actually paid for
these purposes but was turned over to the State relief committee.
Consequently the counties were forced to bear the pension burden
unaided. Under the new 1935 act the counties will pay one-fourth
and the State one-fourth, it being assumed that one-half will be
received from Federal funds.
10
Data are from testimony of M . L. Brown before Congress, House Committee on Ways and Means,
Jan. 31, 1935.
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OLD-AGE PE N SIO N E X PE R IE N C E IN 1934
321
Washington.—The Washington pension law made no provision for
State participation in the costs. A later act provided that collections
from the State tax on horse racing should be used for pension pur
poses, and the reports to the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that
$27,292 was paid to the counties during 1934—more than one-fourth
of the total sum spent in pensions. Under the 1935 act the State is
required to pay the whole cost of the system.
Wisconsin:—The Wisconsin law provides that the State shall
reimburse the counties for one-third of the amounts spent in pensions.
For each of the years from 1925 to 1928 the legislature appropriated
the sum of $200,000 to meet the State’s share of the expense, and
during this period the appropriation was more than sufficient, as the
amounts actually needed for the purpose ranged from only $60 in
1925 to $22,642 in 1926. In 1929 the appropriation was cut to $35,000
but this was still sufficient to pay one-third of the cost, as was also
the $55,000 appropriated in 1930. For each of the years from 1930
to 1934, $75,000 was set aside by the State, but in each successive
year the amount has fallen farther below the one-third supposedly
borne by the State. In 1931 only 26.42 percent of the funds came
from the State, in 1932, 20.44 percent, in 1933, 18.95 percent, and in
1934, 16.3 percent.
Relative Adequacy of State Pension Systems
A p e n s i o n system can be said to be adequate when (1) it covers the
whole population for which it was designed, (2) it pays benefits suffi
cient to maintain the beneficiaries in modest comfort, and (3) it
extends such benefits to all of the qualified needy aged in its jurisdic
tion who do not require institutional care.
In order to test the adequacy of the State systems which were in
effect in 1934, table 9 brings together the data on the above three
points. The figures as to the proportion of persons of pensionable
age who were receiving pensions at the end of 1934 are by no means
conclusive nor comparable State by State, for the extent of depend
ency may and does vary from State to State, but they are given as a
possible indication of the relative extent to which the problem of oldage care is being met.
Judged by the three criteria enumerated above, it would seem that
the best systems in operation in 1934 were those of Arizona, Massa
chusetts, and New York. California and Pennsylvania ranked high
as regards coverage and average pensions; the proportion of pension
able population being cared for, however, was relatively low.
At the other end of the scale were the systems of Idaho, Minnesota,
Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, and Washington.
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322
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW — AUGUST 1935
T able 9.— C overage, B enefits, an d P ro p o rtio n of P ersons of Pensionable Age
A ided in 1934
State
Arizona____________ _
California______________
Colorado___________ . .
Delaware________ .
Idaho___________ .
Indian a............. .............. .
Iow a_____________ . . . . _
M aryland.. ____ ______ . . . .
Massachusetts__________ . . .
Michigan_________ ____ _ . .
M innesota_______________ _
M ontana_____________
Nebraska______ __________ .
Nevada_________________ _ .
N ew H am pshire... . . . . . .
N ew Jersey___________ . . .
N ew York____________
North Dakota__________ . . .
Ohio . . . . .
Oregon___ _______ ____ _ _
Pennsylvania____________________ . .
U tah. ____________ . . .
W ashington________ . . .
Wisconsin___ _________ . . . . . .
W yoming___________________________
Total___________________ . . . . . .
Alaska __________________ . . .
Hawaii________________________ _______
Coverage:
Percent of
State popu
lation in
counties
with systems
Average
monthly
pension
91.8
$19.57
100.0
100.0
100.0
20 .21
78.0
96.6
100. 0
54.2
100.0
86.9
71.0
71.4
23.5
5.1
100.0
98.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.6
100.0
69.4
23.1
37.3
81.2
9. 74
9.91
6.74
4. 50
13. 25
22.64
26.08
9. 99
10. 97
5. 32
1.2 2
18.48
17.51
14. 87
20. 65
.69
6. 54
8. 16
21.18
7. 98
5. 43
19.95
9. 59
89.9
14.68
100.0
25. 00
7.06
84.8
Percent pen
sioners
Applicaformed of
tio is pend
population
ing at end
of pension
of year
able age i
21.7
9.3
17.8
9.5
9.8
17.5
6. 2
1.5
3 13.7
2.8
6.6
27.1
4. 6
2.8
5.8
10.3
13.9
4 17.4
8.8
17.1
6.3
5.7
6.8
5. 1
10 .2
(2)
851
(2)
1, 775
43
(2)
(2)
2,900
1,216
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
2,551
5,438
( 2)
54,003
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
9.7
(2)
(2)
1 B ased on ly upon reporting counties in w h ich act w as in operation.
2 N o data.
2 Mar. 31, 1935.
4 C om puted on basis of estim ated p opulation 6 8 years of age and over.
When funds are insufficient to meet adequately the problem of oldage care the pension authorities have a choice of several procedures:
(1) They may elect to divide the money on hand among the pensioners
already on the roll, either refusing to accept new applications, refusing
the pension after receiving application, or placing the applications on
the waiting list; (2) they may continue to grant new allowances,
reducing the average grant proportionately; or (3) they may make
new grants only in the most needy cases.
No data are available as to the extent to which officials refused to
receive applications. Waiting lists and cases pending at the end of
the year for the few States for which information is at hand are
shown in the last column of table 9. These figures are admittedly
unsatisfactory, for the number of “ cases pending” may be kept down
by a policy of refusal by the pension authorities to receive new
applications if funds are inadequate.
For California, where new applications averaged about 685 per
month during 1934, the monthly reports show that the number of
cases pending at the end of the month was reduced from 1,286 in
January to 513 by October but rose again to 851 at the end of Decern
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OLD-AGE PEN SIO N E X P E R IE N C E IN 1934
323
ber. Restorations of former pensioners to the roll numbered 523.
Rejections numbered only 223, as compared with 8,217 applications
granted (including restorations).
In Delaware the pension roll was smaller by 3 than in 1933, although
1,865 applications were received. The waiting list totaled 1,775 at
the end of the year, being greater than the list of pensioners (1,583).
The State old-age welfare commission commented as to this, in its
annual report, as follows: “ It is unfortunate that State relief should
be withheld from so many deserving persons but this cannot be over
come except by increasing the annual appropriation.”
Relief Aspects of the Pension System
I n t h e beginning of the movement to provide cash allowances for
dependent aged in the United States, effort was made to emphasize
the idea of “pensions”, i. e., of benefits in recognition of past services
(as a citizen). All of the older statutes provided, at least in theory, for
old-age “ pensions.” Gradually the emphasis shifted and the later
acts have established systems of old-age “ security”, “ assistance”,
“ aid”, or even “ relief.”
In practice, administration of the systems from the relief standpoint
has been general. Several factors have brought this about. In the
first place, many of the plans are carried out by the officials responsible
for poor relief, and are administered in the same spirit. In the second
place, emphasis on the relief aspect is inevitable as long as need (based
upon a “ means” test) is the determining factor in the granting or
withholding of benefits; and the need test is probably a necessary
corollary to any noncontributory system.
There is an especially close connection between pensions and relief
under the county plans. Under such plans, when pension funds are
low, the needy aged are usually transferred to the relief rolls.
The Oregon act, like many of the other acts, provides that no pen
sioner shall be allowed to receive any other public relief. Notwith
standing this specific provision, it was reported that in 1934 some of
the counties unable to pay adequate pensions had arranged “ to sup
plement the income of their pensioners by providing additional support
from relief funds.” 11
In some States it appears that the pensioners would have fared bet
ter on the relief than on the pension rolls. Thus, comparison of the
average monthly allowances paid under the pension acts in 1934 with
the average amount of relief granted in December 1934 shows that in
seven States (Idaho, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota,
Ohio, and Washington) the pension was less than the amount of relief.
The amount of pensions and of relief, by States, is given in table 10.
ii
University of Oregon, The Commonwealth Review (Eugene, Oreg.), January 1935, p. 211.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
324
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 10.— A verage A llowances for Pensions an d for R elief in 1934, by S ta te s
Average monthly
amount paid in—
Average m onthly
amount paid in—
State
State
Arizona........ __
California........
Colorado..........
Delaware____
Idaho............
Indiana............
Iowa.................
M aryland____
Massachusetts.
M ichigan____
M innesota___
M ontana_____
Nebraska____
Relief
Pension
$4. 57
7.94
6. 50
6.03
7.42
6. 76
5. 52
7.19
$19. 57
10 .21
7. 35
6. 77
7. 62
6.07
Relief
N evada_____________________
N ew Hampshire_____________
New Jersey_____________ ____
N ew York______________ _
North Dakota_______________
Ohio_____________________
Oregon____ ____ ____________
Pennsylvania_____ __________
U tah______________________
Washington_____________
Wisconsin____________
W yoming-__________________
20.21
9.74
9.91
6.74
4. 50
13.25
22. 64
26.08
9.99
10. 97
5. 32
1.2 2
Pension
$10 . 26
9. 34
8. 32
10.90
5.54
7. 05
$18.48
17.51
14.87
20.65
.69
6. 54
8.16
21.18
7. 98
5.43
19.95
9. 59
6.86
8. 29
6. 02
5.93
7. 78
6. 25
Development of the 0 1 4 Age Pension Movement Since 1923
M o r e headway was made by the old-age pension movement in 1934
than in any preceding year. That year showed an increase of 163
percent in paying counties, of 104 percent in number of pensioners, and
of 23 percent in amount disbursed.
The status of the movement at the end of each year since 1923 is
shown in table 11.
T able 11.— D evelopm ent of Old-Age P ension M ov em en t Since 1923
C ounties w ith pension
system
Y ear
N u m b er of
law s on
books
N um b er i
1923_____________ _____________ _________
1924_____________________________________
1925............- ............. ....................... ......................
1926_____________________________________
1927___________________________ __________
1928_____________________________________
1930_____________________________________
1931_____________________________________
1932_______________________ _____ _______
1933___________________ - ......... - __________
1934._______________________ ____ _______
2
2
33
41
4
5
7
7
13
18
18
29
30
2 44
48
50
56
141
271
297
350
924
2
2
Percent
of total
counties
in States
w ith law
55
68
2
2
2
34
37
38
16
30
39
42
45
64
N u m b er
of
pensioners
518
723
817
2 1,165
2 1,255
1,519
10, 648
76, 663
102,896
115, 547
236, 205
2
A m oun t
disbursed
in
pensions
$49, 595
107, 648
145, 577
229,979
231,468
298, 254
1,800,458
16, 258, 707
25,116, 939
26,167, 017
32, 313, 515
2
2
2
1 Each of the 4 judicial districts of Alaska is considered as a county.
2 Figures are for 3 jurisdictions (Alaska, Montana, and Wisconsin) only; each of the 4 judicial districts of
Alaska is considered as a county.
Table 12 shows the situation in individual States during the period
of their experience.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
325
OLD-AGE PEN SIO N E X P E R IE N C E IN 1934
T able 12.— D evelopm ent of Pension System in Specified S ta te s Since Passage
of Law
N um
ber of
pen
sioners
Year
at
end of
Total Adopt
ing
year
Number of
counties
State, and year of first workable act
Alaska (1915)............................................................ 1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
Arizona (1933)___________ _____ _______ ____ 1933
1934
California (1929)...................................................... 1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
Colorado (1927)........................................................ 1928
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
Delaware (1931)...................... - ............................. 1931
1932
1933
1934
Hawaii (1933)__ ________________ _________ 1934
T d n .h r > C9311
. _ _ ______ 1931
1932
1933
1934
Indiana (1933)-......................... - ................ ........... 1934
1934
Iowa (1934)----------------------------------- --------Ken tucky ( 1926)--------------------------------------- 1928.
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
M a i n e f'1933'l
_
_ _ _____ 1934
1928
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
Massachusetts (1930)---------- ----------------------- 1931
1932
1933
1934
Michigan (1933)................................ ............. ..
Minnesota (1929)----------------- ------ --------- ----- 1931
1932
1933
1934
24
24
42
64
2 4
24
2 4
122
24
24
24
2 4
24
24
24
2 4
24
24
24
24
24
2 4
2
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
2 4
2
2
2
2
2 4
2 4
?4
24
2
2
2 4
24
2 4
24
24
2 4
14
14
58
58
58
58
58
63
63
63
63
63
63
3
3
3
3
4
44
44
44
44
92
99
120
120
120
120
120
120
16
24
24
24
24
24
24
14
14
14
S3
87
87
87
87
4
4
12
12
57
57
57
57
57
1
1
7
4
54
63
3
3
3
3
3
31
39
3 29
32
89
99
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
14
14
14
56
4
5
6
40
152
148
119
119
131
169
202
226
229
267
298
327
340
314
359
383
454
1,624
1,820
7, 205
9,887
12, 520
14, 604
19, 619
Amount
spent
$2 , 367
8, 250
16,172
21, 787
20, 241
13, 738
14, 776
19,395
26, 725
29,490
45, 028
57,190
66,430
75, 695
82, 650
86, 070
85,500
89,490
95, 705
108, 485
170, 512
427, 527
1,634,423
2, 453, 087
3,204, 200
3,502, 000
4,288, 508
1
50
162
8, 705
10,098
1,497
1,565
1,586
1,583
354
698
1,403
1,090
1, 712
23, 533
8, 300
30
18
10
12
150
135
141
267
11,076
17, 051
18,516
3, 557
1,227
2, 403
2, 655
4,425
120
Cov
erage
of
sys
tem
(per
cent) 1
$56. 35
128. 91
132. 56
143. 33
136. 76
115. 45
124.17
148.10
158.14
145.99
199. 72
•250. 61
248.80
254. 01
252. 75
253.15
272. 29
249. 28
249. 88
300. 00
108.12
234. 90
226.85
248.11
255.93
239. SO
242. 52
120 . 00
60.6
60.6
60.6
60.6
60.6
51.7
51.7
51.7
51.7
51.7
51.7
51.7
51.7
51.7
51.7
49.4
49. 4
49.4
49.4
2,190
15, 993
98. 72
172,481 103.08
1, 256,190 116.88
66, 568
88.94
187, 316 119. 69
188, 740 119.00
193,231 118.92
84.72
27,427
4,224
83,035
87.96
114,521 106.14
138,440
80.87
1,134,250
54. 00
< 220, 000 D59. 00
8, 064 240. 00
1,164
64. 68
1,000
96. 00
1,800
50,000
35,426
50, 217
65, 228
904,939
4,469, 520
» 5, 628,492
103,180
94, 068
340, 242
420,536
577, 635
1 1. e., percent of State population living in counties which have adopted system.
2 Each judicial district considered as a county.
2 Does not include 12 counties which reported no pensions paid.
1 Estimated.
‘ Computed on annual basis though payments were made during only part of year.
6 Year ending Apr. 30, 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Average
annual
amount
spent
per
pen
sioner
144. 00
333. 3.3
262. 41
356.15
271. 68
163. 41
262.13
293.02
119.88
76. 67
141. 59
158. 39
131. 67
100.0
91.7
91.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
.9
3.5
10 .1
5.3
88.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
84.8
62.6
89.9
68.8
78.0
96.6
100.0
1.9
1.0
.3
50.5
49.3
49.3
49.3
54.2
99.6
100.0
100.0
86.9
40.3
41.3
42.0
71.0
326
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 12.— D evelopm ent o f P ension S ystem in Specified S ta te s Since P assage
of L aw — C ontinued
Number of
counties
State, and year of first workable act
Montana (1923).
Nebraska (1933)
Nevada (1925)..
N ew Hampshire (1931).
N ew Jersey (1931)
N ew York (1930)
North Dakota (1933)
Ohio (1933)...... ...........
Oregon (1933)--........
Pennsylvania (1933) _
Utah (1929)— ..........
Washington (1933)..
West Virginia (1931).
Wisconsin (1925)
Wyoming (1929)
N um
ber of
pen
Year
sioners
at
Total Adopt
end of
ing
year
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1934
1928
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1931
1932
1933
1934
1932
1933
1934
1931
1932
1933
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1934
1932
1933
1934
1925
1926
1927
1928
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
93
17
17
17
17
17
17
10
10
10
10
21
21
21
62
62
62
62
53
88
36
67
29
29
29
29
29
39
55
55
55
71
71
71
71
71
71
71
71
71
23
23
23
23
23
29
37
39
39
42
42
44
44
43
44
45
44
24
2
2
2
1
2
2
5
6
8
10
17
19
20
62
62
62
62
53
88
35
67
13
12
13
9
8
12
1
1
1
5
4
4
8
9
9
8
8
7
15
16
17
17
349
521
583
584
693
884
875
889
1, 130
1,254
1,781
2,780
926
11
5
34
15
23
7
246
455
776
1.483
7,848
9,015
11,401
47, 585
54,185
51,106
51,834
3,914
36, 543
6, 525
i 8, 261
1, 107
.873
1,096
930
902
1,588
8
352
295
290
990
1,597
1,938
1,971
2,127
82
289
505
643
719
Amount
spent
22,870
65. 53
78,158 150.02
100,369 172.14
104, 863 179. 56
115, 400 166. 52
146, 510 165. 73
146, 746 167. 71
149,100 169. 08
178,934 158. 35
183, 303 146.17
155, 525
87.32
177, 426
63. 83
13, 577
14. 66
1,680 180. 00
900 300. 00
7,360 216. 47
2,600 173. 33
3, 320 158.10
1,552 221. 77
3, 614 110. 35
59, 907 131. 66
122, 658 158. 06
311, 829 210. 27
497, 327 126. 74
1, 375, 693 152. 60
1, 773,320 178. 20
12, 007, 352 255. 33
15,454, 308 285. 21
13, 592, 080 265.96
12, 650,828 247. 80
24, 259
8. 28
1, 434,416
78. 48
639, 296
97. 98
386, 717 5 254.16
95, 780
84.44
92, 305 109. 76
59.586
54. 37
95, 599 102. 75
86, 416
95. 80
103, 408
65.12
180
67, 927
49, 639
52, 440
156, 525
283, 848
336,997
395, 807
459,146
12, 679
16, 805
67,927
83, 231
82, 732
11. e., percent of State population living in counties which have adopted system.
‘ Computed on annual basis though payments were made during only part of year.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Average
annual
amount
spent
per
pen
sioner
22. 50
192. 97
168. 26
230. 40
158. 28
236. 04
189. 56
200. 97
239. 30
158. 52
69.16
132. 53
129.44
115. 07
Cov
erage
of
Sys
tem
(percent) 1
54.9
63.5
62.7
64.8
78.1
78.4
79.7
76.6
7S. 1
81.1
72.4
71.4
23.5
17.3
5.1
10 .1
2.9
7.1
5.1
66.9
51.2
87.7
100.0
70.6
81.2
98.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.6
100.0
73.6
62.1
74.6
65.0
69.4
23.1
1.3
8.0
5.6
5.6
35.7
37.3
37.3
37.3
37.3
35.0
78.0
80.7
83.2
81.2
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONDITIONS
In te rn a tio n a l Labor C onference of 1935
HE Conference of the International Labor Organization, which
met in Geneva from June 4 to June 25, last, was of particular
interest to the United States, as it was the first conference to be held
since this country became a member of that body. Authorization of
membership was provided in a joint resolution of Congress, approved
June 19, 1934, and under this authorization the President on August
20, 1934, formally accepted the invitation of the International Labor
Organization to membership. In view of this very recent affiliation
of the United States, it seems desirable briefly to recall the purposes
of the International Labor Organization and of its general conferences.
T
Purpose of the International Labor Organisation
T he International Labor Organization was created at the close
of the World War for the purpose of securing improved and more
uniform labor standards for the workers of various countries. The
animating reasons as then set forth were, first, that injustice and
hardship to large numbers of workers are potent causes of unrest and
are thus perils to world peace; and second, that the failure of any
nation to adopt humane conditions of labor is an obstacle in the way
of other nations which desire to improve their own conditions.
The general conference of the Organization, which for a number of
years has met annually, is composed of delegates designated by each
of the member States. Each State is entitled to four delegates, one
representing employers, one the workers, and two the government
concerned. Representation is thus essentially tripartite, and this
tripartite character carries through all the work of the conference,
its committees, and also the Governing Body.
The function of the conference is to formulate proposals regarding
labor standards. The proposals are referred to as draft conventions.
It requires a two-thirds majority of the conference to adopt a draft
convention. If such adoption takes place, the proposal is submitted
to the competent authorities of the member States for their attention.
If a State approves a draft convention, it is of course bound by its
terms. If it disapproves, no obligation at all rests upon it. In other
words, the conference acts as a meeting ground for discussing and
drafting proposals. The only obligation resting on the participating
governments is that of formally transmitting any proposals on which
the conference can agree, by a two-thirds vote, to the competent
national authorities for their approval or disapproval. The con
ference has, however, an additional significance in that, representing
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
327
328
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
as it does the various economic groups in a very large number of
countries, any agreement arrived at by substantial majorities may be
assumed to reflect in some degree the current of world opinion and
may also have an influence upon such opinion, and thus ultimately
upon State action.
Representation at the 1935 Conference
T h e 1935 conference was attended by representatives of 52 member
States, including for the first time the United States of America, the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and Afghanistan. Germany
gave notice of withdrawal from the Organization some 2 years ago
and was the only important industrial State not represented at the
conference.
Of the 52 States represented, 34 had complete delegations; that is
to say, the delegation consisted of 2 government representatives and 1
representative each of employers and workers. Practically all
countries of major industrial importance were included in this group.
The incomplete delegations were largely from more distant and less
industrially developed countries.
The United States delegates were: For the Government, Miss Grace
Abbott, former chief of the United States Children’s Bureau, and
Walton H. Hamilton, member of the National Industrial Recovery
Board; for the employers, Sam A. Lewisohn of the Miami Copper Co.
(substitute for Henry Dennison, president of the Dennison Manu
facturing Co., who was unable to attend); and, for labor, Daniel W.
Tracy, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers. A limited number of technical advisers were attached
to each of these groups.
Program of the Conference
T h e 1935 conference had before it an unusually full program or
agenda, covering such a wide range of subjects as the 40-hour week,
prohibition of employment of females in underground work, the
maintenance of the pension rights of migrant workers, the revision
of an earlier coal-mine convention (1931), the special problems of
unemployed young persons, protective measures in the recruitment
of native labor, and the matter of holidays with pay.
Of these several subjects, the two with which the United States
was probably most immediately concerned were the 40-hour week,
and the problem of unemployed young persons. On both, moreover,
the United States had a definite contribution to make. Under the
N. R. A. codes there had been one of the few experiments, in any
country, with radically reduced working schedules; and in the Civilian
Conservation Corps the United States had developed a plan of caring
for very large numbers of unemployed young men in a manner that
was generally recognized as extremely successful.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN TEEN ATIO NA L LABOR CONDITIONS
329
Except for the proposed 40-hour week, none of these subjects was
seriously controversial as regards the principles involved. Differences
of opinion naturally occurred on individual points, and the committee
meetings in many cases were quite extended and involved many close
votes. But always the committee was able ultimately to agree on
the text of a proposed convention or recommendation, and, subject
to decision on the more debatable points in plenary session, conference
approval was usually by a quite decisive vote.
This, however, was not true as regards the 40-hour week proposals.
On this matter, the 1935 conference began, indeed, very much where
the 1934 conference had ended—on a note of uncertainty and pes
simism. The employers, with the exception of the Italian and
United States representatives, voted as a group in opposition even to
a consideration of the subject in committee, although a few individual
employer delegates were not in favor of abstaining from committee
service. The labor delegates, as in the previous conference, unani
mously favored all suggestions for reductions in working hours.
Among the government delegates there was division of opinion but
a definitely more favorable attitude than in the 1934 meeting.
It is to be noted that this change in opinion was due in part to a
change in the form of the proposals. In 1934, the proposal was for a
40-hour week in all industries, without immediate reference to the
question of maintaining the standard of living. In 1935, these two
ideas were closely identified, and the first positive action of the con
ference on the subject was to adopt a resolution approving the
principle of the 40-hour week with the maintenance of wage standards.
Later, this idea was incorporated in a draft convention, which was
approved by the conference. This draft convention did not deal
with specific industries, and the proposal to apply the principle
immediately to 5 particular industries was approved only in the case
of glass-bottle manufacture.
Summary of Accomplishments of Conference
principal results of the 1935 conference are summarized below.
1.
By the necessary two-thirds majority the conference adopted
four new conventions and amended an existing one:
(1) Draft convention approving the general principle of a maximum
working week of 40 hours, with maintenance of living standards.
(2) Draft convention establishing a maximum work week of 42
hours in automatic glass-bottle making. (Similar draft conventions
proposing the 40-hour week in public works, building construction,,
iron and steel manufacture, and coal mining failed to secure a twothirds vote, but, by special action, all four industries were placed on
the agenda of the 1936 conference.)
(3) Draft convention establishing an international system for the
maintenance of pension rights for migrant workers.
T he
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
330
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
(4) Draft convention prohibiting the employment of females in
underground work in mines of all kinds.
(5) Partial revision, on certain technical points, of the Hours of
Labor (Coal Mines) Convention of 1931.
2. By the necessary two-thirds majority, the conference approved
a recommendation regarding the unemployment of young persons, the
most significant feature being the proposal that the school-leaving
age and the age of entering employment be fixed at not less than
15 years.1
3. Following the double-discussion procedure, the conference
discussed (a) the subject of holidays with pay and (b) the problems
incident to labor recruitment in colonial and similar territories;
approved placing both of these items on the agenda of the 1936
conference for the framing of draft conventions; and drafted ques
tionnaires on these subjects for the purpose of securing the attitudes
of governments as a basis for consideration at the next conference.
4. The conference adopted 9 resolutions:
Three resolutions represented requests that the textile, printing
and bookbinding, and chemical industries, respectively, be added to the
four above mentioned, to be considered at the 1936 conference for
possible action as regards reduction of working hours.
Two resolutions were requests that new subjects be placed on the
agenda of subsequent conferences:
(a) Written contracts of employment as regards certain types of
colonial labor. This subject is closely associated with the subject
of “ Recruitment of labor” preliminarily discussed at the present
conference.
(b) Workers’ right of association.
Three resolutions were requests that special scientific inquiries be
made by the Organization—
( a ) The truck system, and similar wage deduction practices.
(■b) Nutrition, as regards its importance as a matter of adequate
feeding of the workers and its influence on agricultural production.
(c) Agricultural conditions, i. e., conditions of rural life and labor
generally.
One resolution was a request that countries which had not done so
be asked to set up wage-fixing machinery.
5. The Organization accepted an invitation by the Chilean Gov
ernment to hold a regional labor conference, covering the Western
Hemisphere, at-Santiago, Chile, in the latter part of 1935.
A detailed account of the proceedings of the conference is given
in the report of the United States delegation, to be published as a
separate document by the Department of Labor.
1 A “ recommendation” differs from a “ convention” in that formal ratification is not requested. The
recommendation is used in cases, such as the present one, where the proposals made are of a character that
do not lend themselves to the precision of formulation necessary in the case of conventions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
Public Old-Age Pension Legislation in th e U n ited
States as of A u g u st 1, 1935
RIOR to 1935, 28 States and 2 Territories had enacted old-age
pension laws.1 During the legislative year of 1935, 7 additional
States 2 passed such laws. In all of these States, with the exception
of Florida, the laws were mandatory. Twelve States already having
old-age pension laws upon their statute books amended the law, and
in 7 of these States (Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Ore
gon, Washington, and Wyoming) the original act was repealed by
the legislature and a new law was enacted. The Florida old-age
pension law was approved on June 5, 1935, the day following the
adoption of a senate joint resolution (S. J. Res. No. 170) providing for
a referendum to amend section 3 of article 13 of the constitution of
the State, and permitting the payment of pensions to the aged, infirm,
and unfortunate citizens of the State. The Legislature of Arkansas
passed an old-age pension law, to take the place of the law passed in
1933 which was declared unconstitutional by the State supreme court
because of the method used in financing the pension fund. Likewise,
in Missouri efforts to provide assistance to the aged needy of the
State reached fruition during the present year. In 1932 a constitu
tional amendment was passed in this State authorizing the adoption
of an old-age pension law. Following the ratification of the amend
ment, enactment of legislation was attempted in 1933, but the bill
passed only one branch of the legislature. The Legislature of Minne
sota amended the State old-age pension act, but the State attorney
general declared the legislation invalid due to the inadvertent inclusion
of an unapproved amendment.
In many of the States, old-age pension legislation centered in the
probability of the enactment of a Federal social security law. In
some States it was provided that changes might be made in the law
so as to conform to any Federal requirements. Noticeably apparent
in the old-age pension laws enacted or considered in 1935 was the
modification of citizenship and residence qualifications as conditions
precedent to the receiving of benefits.
To provide a ready comparison of the systems adopted in tlie
several States the following table, which presents the principal
features of each law, has been prepared.
P
1 For the principal provisions of these laws see M onthly Labor Review, June 1934 (pp. 1339-1342).
2 Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
331
CO
CO
P rovisions of Old-Age Pension Law s in th e U n ited S tates
to
Required period of—
State
Type of
law
Age
Maximum
pension
Residence
State
County
0
Years
25
Years
0
35
Years
Alaska. _ _
Arizona _
Arkansas
California..
C$35 a month,
M a n d a - f 1 65 1 males; $45 a
1 2 60 1 month, fetory.
l males.
- do
70 $30 a m o n th ...
do
__do.
* 70
65
$35 a m on th ...
0
65 ____do_______
Connecticut______ . .. d o _____
1
(•)
15
15
0
$7 per week__
65
$25 a m o n th ...
1 15
5
Optional-do___
65 9$35 a m o n th ...
65 $15 a m o n th ...
0 30
10
Idaho
M anda
tory.
65
$25 a m o n th ...
15
10
Tndiana.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
65
do
70
$180 a year___
65
$25 a m o n th ...
15
0
Funds provided by—
Citation
No other sufficient
means of support.
Board of trustees of
A la s k a Pioneers’
Home.
Territory. _________
Comp. Laws 1933 (as
amended 1935, ch.
47).
Income, $300 a ye^r...
County commissioners.
67 percent by State;
33
percent
by
county.
State and county—
Acts of 1933, ch. 34.
. State department of
public welfare and
county public wel
fare board.
Real property, $3,000; County or city and
county boards of
personal property,
supervisors.
$500.
1
Assets, $2,500 5._ ____
1
Income, $400 a y e a r...
Income, $300 a y e a r...
5
65
Hawaii
Tllinois
Administered by—
Assets, $300 5______
5
do _
Maximum property
limitations
15
3 ____do______________
il 10
1
15
15
12 5
Assets, $5,000. ...
. _
Assets, $1,000____
Assets, $2,000 ($3,000
if married); income,
$300 a year.
Acts of 1935, Act no.
322.
Half by county, or Acts of 1929, ch. 530 (as
city and county : amended 1931, ch.
608; 1933, ch. 840;
half by State.
1935, ch. 633).
County commission- State_______________ Acts of 1933, chs. 144
and
145 (as amended
ers.
1935, ch. —).
Acts
of
1935, ch. —.
------Bureau of old-age as- ____do .6 ----sistance.
Acts
of
1931, ch. 85.
State old-age welfare ___do. ____________
commission.
Acts
of
1935,
ch. —.
State board of pensions ___ do. i°-------- --------County commission- County or city and Acts of 1933, act 208 (as
amended
1933
spec.
county.
ers.
sess., act 39).
Code
1932,
secs.
30-3101
County probate judge C o u n ty ..___________
to 30-3125.
and county commis
sioners.
State department of State_______________ Acts of 1935, p. —.
public welfare and
county old-age se
curity board.
County commission- Half by State; half by Acts of 1933, ch. 36.
county.
ers.
County boards under State_______________ Spec, sess., 1934; ch. 19
(as amended 1935,
State commission.
ch. —).
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
Citizenship
3202-35-
K e n tu c k y ________
O p tio n a l..
70
$250 a year___
M a i rift
M a, n d a tory.
65
$1
M aryland
do
$30 a m on th -
(3)
10
(U)
15 5
do
65 ____ d o __
$30 a m on th
(couple, $45
a m on th).
(3)
15 5
65
N o lim it
(3)
13 5
N eb rask a ___
__ d o ______
65
$30 a m on th
(couple, $50
a m o n th ).
(3)
13 5
A ssets, $3,500_______
1
A ssets, $5,000. - .
Assets, $1,500 (couple,
$2 , 0 0 0 .)
1
A ssets, $3,000.
Incom e, $250 a year
(couple, $500 a year).
A ssets, $3,000. ____
N ev a d a
O ptional-
65
$1
a d a y ............
15
10
N e w H am p shire—.
Mandatory.
70
$7.50 a w e e k ...
15
15
15
70
$1
(3 )
15
1
A ssets, $3,000— .
70
N o lim it _____
(3)
10
1
W h o lly unable to support self.
68
$150 a year
0
65
$25 a m o n th . _
1
A ssets, $3,000 ($4,000 if
m arried); incom e,
$300 a year.
Nft-W Jftrsfly
do
N ew Y ork ________ --_d o ______
N orth D ak ota _
Ohio
_________
__do_____
__do_____
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
a d ay .
Income, $150 a year.
20
15
15
A ssets, $2,000________
County judge................ C ou n ty..........................
Town and city boards
under supervision of
State department of
health and welfare.
Department of old-age
pensions and relief
and county welfare
boards.
County or city board
of public welfare.
Acts of 1926, ch. 187.
Half by State; half by
cities, towns and
plantations.
Acts of 1933, ch. 267.
Two-thirds by State;
one-third by county.
Acts of 1935, ch. 592.
Two-thirds by county
or city; one-third by
State.
State_______________
Acts of 1930, ch. 402 (as
amended 1933, chs.
219, 285, 328).
Acts of 1935, no. 159.
County boards and
State welfare depart
ment.
County commission Half by State; half by
county.
ers under supervi
sion of State board
of control.
State board of mana State.
gers of eleemosyna
ry institutions and
county old-age as
sistance boards.
County old-age pen County; State to re
imburse not to ex
sion commission un
ceed 75 percent.
der State old-age
pension commission.
State_______________
C ou n ty pension
boards under State
old-age pension com
missioner.
County commission C o u n t y ........... ...........
ers.
----- do----------- ---------- Payments by county;
cities and towns to
reimburse county.
County welfare boards. One-fourth by county,
three-f o u r t h s by
State.
Public welfare officials, Half by city or county,
half by State.
under supervision of
State department of
social welfare.
County commission State..
ers.
County boards under ___ do.
supervision of State
division of aid for
aged.
Supp. 1934 to M ason’s
Stats. 1927, ch. 15 (as
amended 1935, ch.
357).
Acts of 1935, ch. —.
Acts of 1935, ch. 170.
Acts of 1935, ch. —.
SOCIAL SECURITY
70
*
Incom e, $400 a year;
assets, $2,500.
Assets, $300_________
13 5
20
M innesota
do
1
(3)
70
M ontana
10
15
N o lim it
do
__ do
15
10
70
M iohigan
M issouri _
15
0
do
65
M a.ssa p.h11sftt.ts
a d a y _____
Acts of 1925, ch. 121.
Acts of 1931, ch. 165.
Acts of 1931, ch. 219 (as
amended 1932, ch.
262).
Acts of 1930, ch. 387.
Acts of 1933, ch. 254.
Adopted 1933 by refer
endum vote.
CO
CO
CO
334
P rovisions of Old-Age Pension Laws in th e U nited States-—C ontinued
Required period of—
State
Mandatory
A ge
70
M axim um
pension
$30 a m o n th ...
P en n sylvan ia_____ __ do______
70 ____ do________
R hod e Islan d _____ —.d o ...........
65 ____ do-------------
U ta h _____________ __ do______
65
$25 a m o n th __
V erm on t_________ __ do............
65
$30 a m on th
(couple, $45
a m on th ).
W a s h in g to n _____
dn
65
Optional _
65
W iscon sin ________
Mandatory.
70 ____ do --
W yom in g ________ - .- d o ______
65
State
County
Years
Years
Years
is 5
1
0
15
(1 7 )
15
_ .
$30 a m o n t h ...
0
15
135
15
Assets, $5,000.
(18)
5
13 5
0
Income during past
year $300.
Income, $360 a year (if
married, $500); as
sets $2,500 (if mar
ried $4,000) .19
43 5
0
$1a d ay
W est V irginia____
Maximum property
limitations
Residence
Citizenship
15
10
10
15
15
15
13 5
Any property or in
come.
Assets, $3,000________
Income, $360 a y e a r ...
<*W ith adoption of Federal act State residence 5 years within 9 immediate preceding.
1 Males.
2 Females.
3 Citizenship required but no period specified.
4 Until 1940; 65 thereafter.
5 Home up to $2,500 excluded.
6 Annual State tax of $2,100,000 imposed on the several towns of the State.
7 Required period of residence in United States.
8 M ust be approved by referendum of the people.
9 $60 where more than one member of family living together come under the provision
of the act.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Administered by—
Funds provided by—
Citation
County relief com
mittee under State
relief committee.
H a l f b y Federal
Government, onefourth by State, onefourth b y county.
State.......................... .
Acts of 1935, ch. 407.
Local boards under
State department of
welfare.
Local directors of pub
do.
lic aid under State
department of pub
lic welfare.
County commission County.
ers.
Old age assistance com State__
mission; local offi
cials.
Act no. 64 (spec, sess.,
1933).
Department of public ___ do______________
welfare.
County court________ County________ ____
Acts of 1935, ch. 182.
County ju d g e .............
Acts of 1925, eh. 121 (as
amended 1929, ch.
181; 1931, ch. 239;
1933, ch. 375).
County board of pub
lic welfare under de
partment of public
welfare.
Payments b y county.
State to refund onethird; city, town,
and village to refund
two-thirds.
County; State to re
fund 50 percent.
Acts of 1935, ch. —.
Acts of 1929, ch. 76.
Acts of 1935, ch. —.
Acts of 1931, ch. 32.
Acts of 1935, ch. 10 1 .
10 Counties are authorized to raise contributory funds.
11 W ithin 15 years immediately preceding.
12 Also domicile for 9 years immediately preceding.
13 W ithin 10 years immediately preceding.
14 Citizen of United States or resident of State for over 25 years.
ls W ithin 9 years immediately preceding.
16 Act becomes operative on passage of Federal legislation making funds for old-age
assistance available to State; for earlier law, see M onthly Labor Review, June 1934, p. 1341.
17 Citizenship required, or residence in United States for 20 years.
18 Residence required but no period specified.
16 $1,000 in value of home excluded.
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
O regon 16_________
T y p e of
law
SOCIAL SECURITY
335
C alifornia U nem ploym ent-R eserves L aw
WO more States, California and North Carolina, recently
enacted unemployment-insurance laws, making a total of seven
States which on July 1, 1935, had laws on this subject.1 The North
Carolina law is in the form of an enabling act, giving the governor and
•council the power to designate a commission or department to admin
ister a system of unemployment insurance in the event of the enact
ment of an unemployment-insurance law by the United States Con
gress. A brief summary of the California unemployment-reserves
law is given below.
California
T
C o v e r a g e .— E m ployees of em ployers who em ployed 4 or m ore w orkers for
some po rtio n of each of 13 days du rin g th e calendar y ear, each d ay being in a
different calendar week. T he a c t excludes ag ric u ltu ra l laborers, m inors em ployed
by th e ir p aren ts, persons em ployed by child or spouse, dom estic serv an ts,
officers or crews of vessels on n avigable w aters of th e U n ited S tates, em ployees
of a S ta te or th e U n ited S tates, a n d em ployees of n o n profit organizations o p erated
for religious, ch aritab le, scientific, or ed u catio n al purposes.
C o n tr ib u tio n s .— P ay ab le by every em ployer su b ject to th e act, in em ploym ents
su b ject to th e act, on a n d a fte r Ja n u a ry 1, 1936. F o r th e y ear 1936, 0.90 of 1
p ercen t of wages p aid du rin g th e y ear, for 1937, 1.80 p ercen t of wages p a id du rin g
th e year, for 1938 a n d th e re a fte r, 2.70 p ercen t of wages p aid du rin g th e y e a r.
T he em ployee shall co n trib u te, fo r th e y ear 1936, one-half of 1 p e rc e n t of his
wages, for 1937 a n d th e re a fte r, 1 p ercen t of his w ages; except t h a t th e ra te of
•employee con trib u tio n s shall never exceed 50 p ercen t of th e general ra te req u ired
of em ployers.
Beginning in 1941 a n d th e re a fte r, em ployers are to be classified according to
co n trib u tio n a n d benefit experience. If an em ployer’s acco u n t shows a n excess
of co n trib u tio n s over benefits p aid eq u al to 8 p ercen t or m ore of his p a y rolls for
eith er th e 3 or th e 5 preceding years, w hichever is higher, his ra te of c o n trib u tio n
is to be reduced to 2.5 p e rcen t; if th e reserve is from 10 to 12 p ercen t, th e ra te is to
be reduced to 2 p erc e n t; if th e reserve is from 12 to 15 p ercen t, th e ra te is to be
reduced 1.5 p ercen t; a n d if th e reserve is 15 p erc e n t or m ore, th e ra te shall be
1 p ercent. T he co n trib u tio n s from em ployers a n d em ployees are to be used tn
p ay benefits to an y em ployee e n title d th e re to , regardless of th e source of c o n tri
butions. T he unem p lo y m en t reserve com m ission m ay exem pt from th e p ro v i
sions of th e a c t an y em ployer who g u aran tees to his em ployees, in adv an ce, fo r
s ta te d 1-year periods, a m inim um n u m b er of w eeks’ em plo y m en t as se t fo rth in
a given tab le, or a n y em ployer su b m ittin g a p lan for u n em p lo y m en t benefits
w hich th e com m ission finds is as beneficial to th e em ployees as th e p lan p ro v id ed
by th is act.
B e n e f its .— P ay ab le for unem p lo y m en t occurring on a n d a fte r Ja n u a ry 1, 1938.
F or to ta l unem ploym ent, 50 p ercen t of av erage w eekly w age b u t n o t m ore th a n
$15 a week nor less th a n $7 a week. F o r p a rtia l u n em p lo y m en t th e difference
betw een th e eligible em ployee’s a c tu a l wages a n d th e benefits to w hich he w ould
be en titled if to ta lly unem ployed. If a n em ployee accepts em plo y m en t n o t su b
je c t to th e a c t all rig h ts to benefits u n d er th e a c t are suspended d u rin g th e period
•of such em ploym ent.
i For the laws of New York, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin see M onthly Labor Review for M ay
1935 (p. 1195). For the law of New Hampshire, see M onthly Labor Review for July 1935 (p. 38).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
336
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
In case of an em ployee em ployed by m ore th a n one em ployer, th e liab ility of th e
several accounts shall be in inverse order to th e successive em ploym ents. W hen
ever th e com m ission determ ines th a t, w ith in 6 m o n th s, p a y m e n t of full benefits
will n o t be possible, it m ay te m p o ra rily reduce th e benefits.
D u r a tio n o f b e n e fits . — Benefits shall n o t exceed: (1) One week of benefit for each
previous 4 weeks of em p lo y m en t for w hich c o n trib u tio n s were m ad e; (2) 13 weeks
of benefit in 12 consecutive m o n th s for 52 weeks or m ore, n o t exceeding 103
weeks of previous em p lo y m en t for w hich c o n trib u tio n s were m ad e; (3) 20 weeks
of benefit in 12 consecutive m o n th s for m ore th a n 103 weeks of em p lo y m en t for
w hich con trib u tio n s were m ade.
E l i g i b i l i t y . — To be e n title d to benefits an em ployee m u st be p h ysically able to
w ork, available for w ork, an d have given notice of un em p lo y m en t. An em ployee
is deem ed to ta lly unem ployed in a n y cale n d ar w eek in w hich he perform s no
w ork for his cu rren t em ployer, an d he is eligible for benefits for each wTeek of
to ta l u nem ploym ent a fte r th e w aitin g period. H e is deem ed p a rtia lly u n em
ployed during an y calen d ar w eek w henever his wages are less th a n th e am o u n t
of w eekly benefits to w hich he w ould be e n title d if to ta lly unem ployed. H e is
disqualified for benefits for to ta l un em p lo y m en t (1) if u n em p lo y m en t is due to a
tra d e d isp u te still in activ e progress in th e e stab lish m en t in w hich he was em
ployed; (2) if he a tte n d e d a school du rin g th e p receding session, a n d has been
em ployed b y his em ployer only du rin g th e usual v acatio n p eriod; (3) if he failed
to accept su itab le em ploym ent offered to him ; (4) if he h as n o t been a resid en t of
th e S ta te for 1 y e a r im m ed iately preceding his unem ploym ent, or has n o t been
gainfully em ployed in th e S ta te for 26 weeks w ith in such year, unless reciprocal
arran g em en ts have been m ade w ith th e a u th o ritie s of o th e r u n em p lo y m en t
com pensation system s. An em ployee who w orks less th a n th e usu al full tim e
prevailing in his place of em plo y m en t m ay be registered as prescrib ed b y th e
com m ission an d th e tim e w hich he no rm ally w orks shall be deem ed his full tim e.
W a i t i n g p e r io d . — R u n s from th e d a te notice of u n em p lo y m en t is filed.
D u rin g
th e period betw een Ja n u a ry 1, 1938, a n d D ecem ber 31, 1939, th e w aitin g p eriod
is to be 4 weeks, an d th e re a fte r 3 weeks. T he above w aiting periods are extended
to 8 weeks a n d 6 weeks, respectively, in cases w here th e em ployee h as lo st his
em ploym ent th ro u g h m isconduct, or h a s v o lu n ta rily left his em p lo y m en t w ith o u t
cause a ttrib u ta b le to th e em ployer.
U n e m p lo y m e n t f u n d .- — T h e a c t requires a se p arate acco u n t for each co n trib u tin g
em ployer. T he fu n d is to be a d m in istered in tr u s t a n d used solely to p a y bene
fits. T he S ta te tre a su re r is cu sto d ian of th e fu n d an d is u n d er th e supervision of
th e u n em ploym ent reserve com m ission su b ject to th e provision of th e act. All
co n trib u tio n s to th e fu n d m u st be in v ested in obligations of th e “ u n em p lo y m en t
tr u s t f u n d ” of th e U n ited S ta te s G overnm ent, a n d th e com m ission is d irected to
requisition from th is fu n d th e necessary am o u n ts. An u n em p lo y m en t ad m in is
tra tio n fu n d is created to be used for ad m in istra tio n of th e act. T his fu n d shall
be alw ays available to th e com m ission a n d all m oneys a llo tte d by th e F ed eral
Social S ecurity B oard for th e a d m in is tra tio n . of th e a c t are to be p aid in to th is
fund. A special “ em plo y m en t service a c c o u n t” is to be m a in ta in e d as a p a rt
of th e u n em ploym ent a d m in istra tio n fund.
T he com m ission m ay , w ith th e ap p ro v a l of p ro p er officials, w ith d raw from th e
fu n d a cash revolving fu n d n o t exceeding th e to ta l c o n trib u tio n s du rin g th e
preceding m o n th a n d th e estim a te d ex p en d itu res for th e c u rre n t m o n th .
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .- —T he u n em p lo y m en t reserve com m ission com posed of five
m em bers ap p o in ted by th e G o vernor ad m in isters th e a c t. T h e com m ission m ay
a p p o in t necessary assistan ts, a n d shall a d o p t necessary rules a n d keep records
w hich it deem s necessary or advisable. T h e com m ission m ay ta k e actio n to
p re v e n t unem ploym ent, encourage v o catio n al train in g , re tra in in g a n d guidance.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
337
prom ote th e estab lish m en t of reserves for public w orks to be pro secu ted in tim es
of business depression, pro m o te reem ploym ent of th e unem ployed, a n d o p erate
a system of public em plo y m en t b ureaus. T he S ta te accepts th e provisions of th e
W agner-P eyser A ct to establish a n a tio n a l em plo y m en t system a n d d esignates
th e division of S ta te em ploym ent agencies in th e d e p a rtm e n t of em p lo y m en t as
th e agency to cooperate w ith th e F ed eral G overn m en t in m ain tain in g a system
of public em ploym en t offices.
C l a i m s .— C laim s for benefits m u st be filed w ith th e m an ag e r of th e public em
p lo y m en t office, who notifies claim an ts of th e ir ap p ro v a l or rejection. C laim s
are p aid th ro u g h th is office. An em ployee m ay ap p eal to th e com m ission from
th e decision of th e m anager. If it is th e opinion of th e com m issioner t h a t em
ployee has acte d in b ad fa ith , a p e n a lty n o t exceeding 10 p e rc e n t m ay be d ed u cte d
from th e final aw ard.
E f fe c tiv e d a te .— T he a c t ta k e s effect only if an d w hen a F ed eral law establishing
unem p lo y m en t reserves or com pensation is enacted. T he S ta te a c t was ap p ro v ed
Ju n e 25, 1935.
_
G ro u p Insurance P lan of U n ite d States Steel
C orp o ratio n
GROUP life-insurance policy was offered to employees of the
United States Steel Corporation on April 1,1935, on the condition that at least 75 percent of the eligible employees should have
accepted the plan and applied for insurance by July 1, 1935.1 The
offer was accepted by 176,290 employees or 90.8 percent of the total
number of employees. The policy totals about $293,000,000 and the
cost will be borne jointly by the employees and the corporation.
Employees eligible under the plan include (1) employees actually
at work, (2) employees absent because of illness or other , physical
disability or because no work is available, immediately upon resuming
work, and (3) new employees, immediately upon commencing work.
The insurance written under the plan will be placed with such
representative insurance company or companies as may be selected
by the corporation from time to time. The insurance is in the form
of renewable term insurance and will continue only during the term of
an employee’s active service with the corporation or its subsidiaries.
The insurance ceases upon termination of employment for any cause,
including retirement on pension or otherwise. This provision is
particularly called to the attention of employees so that they will not
be misled into thinking that this limited form of insurance is an
adequate substitute for regular life-insurance policies which they
already have or may contemplate taking out in the future.
Employees may apply only for the exact amount of insurance
determined by their normal annual earnings. The corporation will
pay all premiums and expense of administration subject to the
following contributions by employees. The amount of insurance and
i
Data are from letter from the corporation dated July 11, 1935, and printed copy of the plan.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
338
'
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
the cost to the employee per month ranges from insurance of $1,000,,
costing the employee 75 cents per month on normal annual earnings
of $1,250 or less to insurance of $5,000 for annual earnings of more
than $4,750 at a cost of $3.75 per month.
The amount of insurance which employees are allowed to carry
will not be reduced because of decrease in rates of pay after the
insurance is issued, but it will be increased in case the normal annual
earnings of an employee are increased to such an extent as to increase
the amount of insurance for which the employee may apply under the
schedule. Contributions from employees will be deducted from salary
or wages beginning with the month for which insurance is issued.
Insurance will be issued without restriction as to age, occupation,
sex, or physical condition, and without medical examination unless
the insurance was not applied for by July 1, 1935, or, for those who
become eligible later, within 31 days thereafter, in which case they
will be required to pass a medical examination satisfactory to the
insurance company.
In case of th e en a c tm e n t by th e F ederal, S tate, or o th e r g o v ern m en t of a n y
law or law s providing for insurance on th e lives of a n y em ployees to w hich in su r
ance shall have been issued in accordance w ith th is offer, th e am o u n t of such lastm en tio n ed insurance will be red u ced by th e a m o u n t of in su ran ce w hich th e
em ployee shall be e n title d to receive u n d e r a n y such law or laws.
Cost o f Social Insurance in G erm any 1
HE number of persons insured in the various insurance systems
of Germany, together with the receipts and expenditures of the
differeut systems, are given in a recent report received from the
American Consul General in Berlin.
Unemployment insurance.—The Federal Bureau of Employment
and Unemployment Insurance has charge of the operation of the
unemployment-insurance system as well as the employment exchanges
and the other agencies promoting employment. The income of
this bureau during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1935, amounted
to 1,500,000,000 marks,2 of which 1,200,000,000 marks represented
the contributions of employers and workers. Expenditures under
the unemployment-insurance system amounted to 1,300,000,000
marks, so that the bureau ended the year with a balance of 200,000,000
marks as compared with a deficit of 50,000,000 marks in the preceding
year. Of the total expenditure only 780,000,000 marks were paid
out in insurance benefit, the remainder being used largely in creating
jobs and in the general promotion of employment in various schemes.
T
1 Data are from report by Douglas Jenkins, American Consul General, Berlin, Germany, M ay 14, 1935.
2 Mark at par=23.82 cents; exchange value March 1935=40.37 cents; average 1933=30.52 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
339
Sickness insurance.—On January 1, 1934, there were 16,827,000
persons enrolled in the sickness-insurance system. During the
preceding year the income amounted to 1,031,000,000 marks, of
which 979,000,000 marks were paid in as dues, and 52,000,000 marks
represented interest on capital and income from miscellaneous
sources. Sickness benefits amounted to 914,000,000 marks, adminis
tration expenses to 103,000,000 marks, and miscellaneous expenses to
11.000. 000 marks. The total amount of the fund was 837,000,000
marks at the beginning of 1934.
Accident insurance.—-Approximately 22,000,000 persons were in
sured under the accident-insurance system on January 1, 1934. Dur
ing the year ending on that date 636,272 received compensation. The
total income amounted to 322,000,000 marks, of which 304,000,000
marks were derived from dues, 7,000,000 marks from interest on
capital, and 11,000,000 marks from miscellaneous sources. Insurance
payments amounted to 260,000,000, the total expenditures from the
fund, including administrative and miscellaneous expenses, amounting
to 307,000,000 marks. The insurance fund at the end of the year
totaled 290,000,000 marks.
Old-age and invalidity insurance.—There were 17,000,000 persons
insured under the old-age and invalidity insurance system on January
1, 1934, of whom 3,374,000 were receiving pensions. The income
during the year consisted of 679,000,000 marks from dues, and
66.000. 000 marks from interest on capital and from miscellaneous
sources. Expenditures amounted to 725,000,000 marks for benefits
and 57,000,000 marks for administrative and other expenses. The
total amount in the pension fund was 1,229,000,000 marks.
Other insurance systems.—An insurance system covering office and
clerical workers provides for old-age pensions and benefits for certain
classes of sickness. Under this system 3,600,000 persons were
insured and 333,167 persons received benefits during the year ending
January 1, 1934. The total amount of the contributions to the
system during the year was 288,000,000 marks, while 125,000,000
marks were received from interest on capital and from other sources.
Benefits amounted to 228,000,000 marks, and 12,000,000 marks was
spent for administration. The total amount of the fund on January
1, 1934, was 2,249,000,000 marks.
A special system for coal miners, providing for different types of
benefits, covered 450,448 miners, of whom 396,315 drew benefits
during the year. Dues paid in by members totaled 75,000,000
marks, and income from interest and other sources amounted to
102.000. 000 marks. Payments to insured persons totaled 149,000,000
marks, and 14,000,000 marks were expended for administration and
miscellaneous purposes. The total amount in the fund at the
beginning of 1934 was 117,000,000 marks.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
340
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
W idow s’ and O rp h a n s’ Pensions in th e Irish F ree S tate
IDOWS, children, and orphans of insured workers and the
orphans of insured widows become the beneficiaries of a new
compulsory contributory pension system recently introduced in the
Irish Free State. As reported in the June 24, 1935, issue of Industrial
and Labor Information, the scheme is made part of the national
health-insurance system but with a somewhat wider coverage. In
addition to all manual workers and all nonmanual workers whose in
come does not exceed £250 a year, the pension plan will include civil
servants, employees of local governments, and railway employees—
classes not subject to the health-insurance act. The new plan is
also linked up with the noncontributory State old-age pensions by
providing that widows insured under the contributory pension scheme
become eligible to the old-age pension upon reaching the age of 70
years.
Administration will be through the Ministry for Local Government
and Public Health, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance.
Arrangements with other countries will make it possible for workers
to be paid contributory pensions while resident outside the Irish Free
State.
W
Contributions
T h e pension fund is to be created in the first instance by joint
contributions of employers and insured workers, and a State subsidy.
The State contribution will amount to £250,000 a year for the first
9 years, after which the plan is expected to be self-supporting. The
joint contribution of employer and worker is payable weekly, and as
in the health-insurance system, the employer pays both his own and
the worker’s rates and deducts the worker’s rate from his pay.
Contributions differ according to sex and are lower for agricultural
laborers than for other classes of workers. This lower rate for land
workers, however, is intended to be effective for 5 years only.
Weekly compulsory contributions for pension purposes are shown
in table 1.
T able 1.— R a te of C om pulsory W eekly C o n trib u tio n to W idow s’ an d O rp h an s’
P ension F u n d in Irish F ree S ta te
Men
Contributor
Total contribution____________________
Employer______________________ _ .
Em ployee___________ ________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Women
Ordinary
rate
Rate for
agricultural
workers
d.
d.
8
4
4
4
2
2
Rate for
Ordinary
agricultural
rate
workers
d.
4
4
d.
2
2
341
SOCIAL SECUKITY
Contributory Pensions
T he grant of a pension under the system to the widow and children
or orphans of a deceased insured worker is conditional upon the com
pletion of 2 years’ insurance, and upon the payment of a total of 104
weekly contributions or of an average of 26 contributions a year
during the 3 years preceding the death of the insured worker. Con
tributions paid under the national health insurance system count
toward the qualifying contributions.
Beneficiaries are primarily the widows and orphans of insured
workers, and the orphans of insured widows. Widows are entitled to
pensions until remarriage or until they become automatically entitled
to the noncontributory State old-age pension of 10s. a week at the
age of 70. Supplements to the widows’ pensions are allowances for
each child under 14 years of age, or under 16 years of age if the child
is kept in school. The same age limits apply to orphans’ pensions.
As in the matter of contributions, the amount of pension payable to
widows and orphans of agricultural laborers is less than that for
industrial and other workers for the first 5 years of operation.
The weekly pension rates are shown in table 2.
T able 2 .— W eekly A m ounts P ay ab le u n d er th e W idow s’ an d O rp h an s’ Pension
Scheme, Irish Free S ta te
Amount payable un
der—
Beneficiary
Ordinary
rate
s. d.
Widow
- _________ ________ - First child__________________ - --Each other child . . . _____- - - - Each orphan__________ . ------------
10
0
5 0
3 0
7 6
Agricul
tural labor
ers’ rate
s. d.
8 0
4 0
2 6
6 0
Noncontributory Pensions
P e n s i o n s to dependents of persons who have not contributed to
the compulsory contributory pension plan will be granted to 3 classes
of widows and orphans: (1) Widows whose husbands were insured
under the national health insurance system but died before the new
plan became operative; (2) existing and future widows of small
farmers the annual value of whose farm does not exceed £8; (3) future
widows whose husbands were insured under the pension scheme but
did not satisfy the contribution conditions. Childless widows under
60 years of age will not be eligible to the noncontributory pensions.
The noncontributory pension is smaller than that under the con
tributory plan, and varies according to place of residence and the
means of the beneficiary. Means are subject to a minimum exemp
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
342
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
tion, which also varies according to place of residence, and the non
contributory pension is reduced by Is. for each shilling by which the
means of the beneficiary exceed the fixed minimum.
Pensions payable under the noncontributory provisions are shown
in table 3.
T ab le 3.— W eekly A m ounts P a y a b le to N o n c o n trib u to rs’ D ep en d en ts un d er
W idow s’ an d O rp h an s’ P ension Schem e, Irish F ree S ta te
Residing in Beneficiary
County
boroughs
W idow_____________ . . . . . . .
First child_______________
Each other child_________ _________
Each orphan_______________________ __________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
s. d.
7 6
3 6
1
6
4 0
Urban areas Rural areas
s. d.
6 0
2 6
1 0
3 6
s. d.
5 0
2
1
0
0
9. fi
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
W orks Program U n d e r R e lief A ct of 1935
XERCISING the authority conferred upon him by the Federal
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, the President, on
May 6, issued an Executive order setting up the machinery for
carrying out the provisions of that act.
Under this order the works program is to be carried on by three new
Government agencies:
(1) The Division of Applications and Information (under the general
supervision of the Executive Director of the National Emergency
Council), whose duty it will be to receive all applications for work
projects, examine them, and transmit them to
(2)
The Advisory Committee on Allotments (composed of 18 Govern
ment officials 1 and one representative each of the Business Advisory
Council, organized labor, farm organizations, the American Bankers’
Association, and the United States Conference of Mayors) charged
with the duty of making recommendations to the President for such
projects as will constitute “ a coordinated and balanced program of
work.”
(3)
The Works Progress Administration (headed by the Federal
Emergency Relief Administrator), responsible for the execution of the
program so as to employ as many persons on relief as possible in the
shortest time possible.
Under an agreement reached between the Public Works Administra
tion and the Works Progress Administration the latter will handle
primarily projects involving costs of $25,000 or less, while the larger
projects will be carried on under the P. W. A.
The Works Progress Administrator announced that, like the former
works program, the new program will be carried out through State
administrators.
E
Labor Policies
Eligibility.—Executive orders of May 20 and June 8, 1935, laid
down the following terms of eligibility for employment under the new
program.
1
Secretary of the Interior (chairman), Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Labor, Executive Director of
National Emergency Council, Administrator of Works Progress Administration, Director^of Procurement,
Director of Bureau of the Budget, Chief of Engineers—U. S. Army, Commissioner of Reclamation, Director
of Soil Erosion, Chief of the Forest Service, Director of Emergency Conservation Work, Chief of the Bureau
of Public Roads, Administrator of the Resettlement Administration, Administrator of the Rural Electri
fication Administration, Federal Emergency Relief Administrator, Director of the Housing Division, and
vice chairman of the National Resources Board.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
343
344
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Preference in employment is to be given to persons receiving relief.
Except with the authorization of the Works Progress Administration,
at least 90 percent of all persons on any project must be taken from the
relief rolls.2 Only one person per family group may be so employed.
Two classes of eligibles are established: (1) Those registered for
employment at offices of the United States Employment Service, and
(2) those receiving public relief in May 1935. As various occupational
classes in these groups become exhausted, however, other persons
placed on relief after May 1935 and so certified to the Employment
Service by the State relief administration may be added to the list.
It is also provided that eligibles shall not lose their eligibility through
taking temporary employment in private industry or in other public
service, thus eliminating the complaint that persons were restrained
from taking temporary jobs through fear of loss of relief status.
Workers qualified by training or experience are not to be “ discrim
inated against on any grounds whatsoever.”
All prison labor is prohibited on works projects.
The Executive order of May 20, 1935, established standard rates of
pay, hours of labor, and working conditions, as follows:
Wages.—The following schedule of wages was set and it was pointed
out that they were monthly earnings “ in the nature of a salary” and
that no deductions were to be made for time lost due to temporary
interruptions beyond the control of the workers.
R ates to be P a id on W ork P ro jects
M onthly earnings in counties in which the 1930 population of the largest
municipality was—
Regions 1
50.000
Over
to
, 100,000 100.000
25.000
to
50.000
5.000 U n
50.000
Over
to
der
to
25.000 5,000 100,000 100.000
Unskilled work
Region
Region
Region
Region
I________ .
II_____________
III____________
IV _____________
$55
45
35
30
$52
42
33
27
$48
40
29
25
I __________
II______
III___
IV __________
85
72
75
68
68
62
58
66
70
60
56
50
5.000 Un
to
der
25.000 5,000
Intermediate work
$44
35
24
$40
32
22
19
21
Skilled work
Region
Region
Region
Region
25.000
to
50.000
$65
58
52
49
$60
54
48
43
$55
50
43
38
$50
44
36
32
$45
38
30
27
Professional and technical work
63
52
48
42
55
44
38
35
94
79
75
75
83
73
77
68
62
55
64
66
69
57
52
46
61
48
42
39
i Regions include the following States: I. Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, N ew Hampshire, N ew
Jersey, N ew York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,
Wisconsin, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, N ew Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wash
ington, Wyoming; II Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia; III. Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas,
Virginia; and IV. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
2
B y order of the Works Progress Administrator (no. 6, July 10, 1935, low-rent housing and slum-clearance
projects constructe'd by the P. W. A. were exempted from this-requirement, provided nonrelief workers
were employed only when qualified relief workers were not obtainable and provided that whenever prac
ticable unskilled work be let under separate contracts to which the exemption should not apply.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
345
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT B E L IE F
Tlie above schedule applies to all projects financed in whole or in
part from the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, except
(1) emergency conservation work, (2) Public Works Administration
work, rates for which are to be determined in accordance with local
wage conditions, (3) highway work and grade-crossing elimination
under the supervision of the Bureau of Public Roads, (4) permanent
buildings for the Federal Government or the District of Columbia,
(5) projects exempted by the Works Progress Administrator, (6) su
pervisory and administrative employees and present uncompleted
work-relief projects under State and local administrations.
Hours oj work.—The following hours are to apply except (1) in case
of an emergency involving the public welfare or the protection of work
already done on a project, (2) in special cases where the standard
hours are not feasible, and (3) for supervisory employees.
Per
day
Per
week
Persons em ployed on a salary basis u n d er th e “ wages sch e d u le ” ------P rojects u nder supervision of P ublic W orks A d m in istrato r a n d of
B ureau of Public R oads, a n d exem pted p rojects:
8
3 40
M anual la b o r__________________________________________________
8
Per
month
130
Per
week
N onm an u al w ork ers____________________________________________
P ro jects a t rem ote or inaccessible p lace s_•-----------------------------------------
8 40
8
40
For persons employed on permanent buildings for the use of the
Federal or District of Columbia Governments, the rates applicable
under the Davis-Bacon Act are to apply, and for emergency con
servation work and work relief under State and local administrations
existing rules shall be continued.
Conditions of employment.—The order prohibits the employment of
persons under 16 and of those whose age or physical condition make
their employment dangerous or unhealthful to themselves or others.
It is expressly stated that this provision shall not be construed to
operate against the employment of physically handicapped persons,
otherwise employable, on work which they can safely be assigned to
perform.
As regards safety and accidents, it is directed that all projects shall
be conducted under safe working conditions and every effort is to be
made for the prevention of accidents.
No wages paid on works projects may be pledged or assigned.
3 Reduced by Works Progress Administrator, by order of July 4, 1935, to 140 hours per month.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
346
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
N atio n al Y o u th A d m in istra tio n
NDER an Executive order of June 26, 1935, President Roosevelt
established the National Youth Administration within the Works
Progress Administration.1 The functions and duties of this new
agency are “ to initiate and administer a program of approved projects
which shall provide relief, work relief, and employment for persons
between the ages of 16 and 25 years who are no longer in regular
attendance at a school requiring full time, and who are not regularly
engaged in remunerative employment.”
In signing this order the President said that he believed that the
National Youth program would “ serve the most pressing and im
mediate needs of that portion of unemployed youth most seriously
affected at the present time”, and that “ the yield on this investment
should be high.”
The National Youth Administration is to be headed by a National
Advisory Committee, whose members shall include representatives
of labor, business, agriculture, education, and youth.
Hon. Josephine Roche, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, was
appointed by the President as chairman of the Executive Committee
of the National Youth Administration, and the Administration’s
Executive Director is Aubrey W. Williams, Assistant Administrator
of the Works Progress Administration.
A statement of June 26, 1935, from the White House includes the
following information concerning the new program for unemployed
youth:
U
State Youth Divisions
A c c o r d i n g to the organization plans, a youth division is to be set
up in each State, headed by a State advisory committee and adminis
tered by a State director whose principal duty “ shall be to mobilize
the industrial, commercial, agricultural, and educational forces to
provide employment and other practical assistance to the unemployed
youth; to develop and carry out a coordinated program of work and
work opportunities, job training and retraining for unemployed
youth in the State, utilizing all existing public and private agencies,
industries, schools, and various training facilities which can assist
in meeting various phases of the problem.”
The State director is also to organize county or community youth
committees, and where conditions warrant to designate local advisory
committees in counties or communities.
Employment and Apprenticeship
E m p l o y e r s in all types of industries are to be requested to accept
young persons as apprentices under conditions to be worked out with
the State committees on apprentice training. Moreover, when it is-
1
T h e principal agency for carrying out the new Federal W ork R elief program.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLOYMENT R E L IE F
347
possible, State, local, and county clerks, city engineers, city publicworks departments, and other municipal, county, and State govern
ments will be requested to accept such youths for apprenticeship,
during which a minimum allowance should be given. Opportunity
for apprenticeship in Government work “ should be used to develop a
new type of trained public official.”
Job Training and Job Placement
T h e function of the State and local committees is to develop job
training and job placement for youths. Every youth division should
develop provision for job training, subsequent to the working out of
satisfactory arrangements with organized labor, by (a) The use of
available school facilities for initial or basic training in the trades;
(b) The use of available private plants or factories when they are not
in regular operation; (c) The use of public libraries for training youth
as librarians, thus making it possible for libraries to remain open
for a greater number of hours per day.
The development of job placement for jobless youth is to be under
taken in cooperation with the reemployment offices. The program
also includes the development in each youth center of a counseling,
guidance, adjustment, and job-placement service.
Coordination and cooperation with college and university employ
ment bureaus are planned for the purpose of assisting college gradu
ates to find positions.
Work Relief
P r o v i s i o n for work relief is to be made for youths in connection
with the numerous projects under the works program. Employment,
however, is to be limited to jobless youths in families certified for
relief, and such work is to be adjusted so as to enable these young
people to earn $15 a month. This, however, is not to interfere with
the work allotted to the head of the family on relief.
According to the White House statement, special emphasis should
be placed upon the building and use of recreational centers. Prac
tically all the direct labor in the creation of such centers “ shall be
performed by the youths themselves, working as apprentices under
the direction of skilled mechanics.”
The work-relief program also provides for the taking of a national
census of the status of all youths in the United States between the
ages of 16 and 25, and for utilizing some of these young persons to
make the survey. The undertaldng, it is pointed out, should be
coordinated with the census of unemployment.
Education
U n d e r the Youth Administration provision will be made for at
tendance upon high schools, public or nonprofit making, of boys and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
348
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
girls 16 years of age or over in families eligible for State and Federal
relief or work relief. The average monthly allowance in such cases is
to be $6.
The college assistance which has been granted to unemployed highschool graduates unable to attend college unless they can secure
remunerative part-time work will be extended. Authority will “ be
given to provide for the attendance at college by qualified persons
on a work-relief basis at $15 per month average. Allotment of workrelief jobs to a college is now based on 12 percent of the total enroll
ment of the college as of October 15, 1934.”
Postgraduate work by qualified persons on a work-relief basis is
also authorized for college graduates who cannot find employment and
are not able to proceed with graduate work at college unless they are
given part-time remunerative work.
Training for public service is also to be provided.
Estimates of Cost
I t is expected that the job-training program, outlined in part
above, will provide for about 150,000 youths, and the work-relief plan
for about the same number. It is proposed to give high-school aid
for some 100,000 and college aid for about 120,000 needy young
students. The program for post graduates is intended to cover several
thousand students. It is estimated that all these forms of educational
assistance will cost approximately $50,000,000 during the next year.
E stablishm ent of Federal R e se ttlem en t A d m in istratio n
B
Y EXECUTIVE Order No. 7027 of April 30, 1935, the President
established a new agency, the Resettlement Administration.
The duties of this agency were set forth by the order as follows:
(a)
To ad m in iste r a p p ro v ed p ro jects involving re se ttle m e n t of d e stitu te or
low -incom e fam ilies from ru ra l a n d u rb a n areas, including th e establishm ent,
m aintenance, a n d operation, in such connection, of com m unities in ru ra l an d
su b u rb an areas.
(6)
T o in itia te a n d ad m in iste r a p ro g ram of ap p ro v ed p ro jects w ith resp ect to
soil erosion, stre a m po llu tio n , seaco ast erosion, refo restatio n , a n d flood control.
(c) T o m ake loans as a u th o riz e d u n d e r th e said E m ergency Relief A p p ro p ria
tio n A ct of 1935, to finance, in whole or in p a rt, th e p u rch ase of farm lan d s an d
necessary eq u ip m en t by farm ers, fa rm te n a n ts, croppers, or farm laborers.
The Division of Subsistence Homesteads was transferred to this
new agency,1 which will also be responsible for the rural-industrial
communities part of the rural-rehabilitation program of the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration.2
1 B y Executive order (No. 7041) of M ay 15, 1935.
2 For accounts of the subsistence homesteads activities of these 2 offices see M onthly Labor Review,
December 1933 (p. 1327), February 1934 (p. 245), and January 1935 (p. 19).
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EM PLOYM ENT CO NDITIONS— UN EM PLO YM ENT R E L IE F
U nem ploym ent in
349
11 Cities of W ashington State,
Decem ber 1934
NE out of every five gainful workers was unemployed, in a group
of 11 cities in the State of Washington,1according to a house-tohouse survey made in December 1934 under the direction of the Wash
ington Emergency Relief Administration. The cities covered were
Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellingham, Everett, Aberdeen-Hoquiam,
Yakima, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Olympia, and Wenatchee. The
report of this survey 2 includes the following data and more detailed
statistics. Readers are cautioned, however, not to apply the per
centages to the whole State, as there are considerable differences
between urban and rural districts in the occupational distribution of
wage earners.
In table 1, unemployment rates for each city at the time of the
survey are given. The heaviest unemployment (23.4 percent) is re
ported for Everett, and the lightest for Olympia (14.6 percent).
O
T able
1
.— P ercen tage o f U n em p loym en t in W ash in gton C ities H av in g a P op u lation
o f 11,000 or M ore, D ecem ber 1934
Percent of
u nem ploy
m ent
C ity
P ercen t of
u n em p lo y
m en t
C ity
A ll cities-- _______________ _____ _____
20. 4
S ea ttle .. - ............ .
E v erett.......................... ....... ... ................. .....
T acom a___ . __________ _________ W alla W alla__________________________
Y a k im a______ _______________________
A b erd een -H o q u ia m .-.____ ___________
23.4
21.7
21.7
21.5
B ellin gh am __________________________
V ancouver___________________________
S pokane___________ - _ ______ _ . .
O ly m p ia .___________________________
21.1
. ______________
20.5
0
19. 5
19.0
18. 5
14. 6
20
Sex, Age, Race, and Nativity of Unemployed
I n t h e 11 cities surveyed, only 16 percent of 65,160 unemployed
persons in December 1934 were females, while the percentage of
females in the 1930 wage-earning population of this group of cities
was reported as 24.
More than half of the unemployed persons in December 1934
were 40 years of age or over, 20 percent were 55 years or over, and
6 percent were 65 years or over. As may be seen from table 2,
nearly 49 percent of the females 15 to 29 years of age were jobless,
as compared with almost 30 percent of the males in this age group.
1 In 1930 the population of these 11 cities constituted 48.76 percent of the total State population and 86.18
percent of the urban population.
2 Washington (State). Emergency Relief Administration. Occupational characteristics of unemployed
persons in cities of 11,000 or more population. Olympia, 1935. (Mimeographed.)
3202—35----- 5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
350
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
T able 2 .— P ercen tage D istrib u tion of U n em p loyed W age Earners in 11 W ash
in gton C ities, D ecem ber 1934, by Sex and Age G roups
Both Males Fe
males
sexes
Age groups
All ages
15 to
20 to
95 tn
30 tn
35 to
19 ypars
24 years ---- -----29 ypars
34 yp.ars
39 years . ---- . . .
. --
100.0 100.0
100.0
3.4
12 . 2
10.4
9.6
9.4
12.3
25.0
11.4
8.9
9.0
4. 8
14. 2
10 . 6
9. 5
9.3
Both
Fe
sexes Males males
Age groups
40 to 44 years.
. . 10.6
... ...
10 8
___
. __ 10.4
50 to 54 years.
7.6
55 to 59 years
---- -60 to 64 years . . .
.
____ 6. 0
65 to 69 years .
__
____ 3.8
2.4
70 years and over..
10.8
11 3
ii. i
8.2
6.6
4.2
2.8
9.4
8 1
7.1
4.1
2.8
1,5
0.4
Approximately 98 percent of all the jobless wage earners in the
11 cities were reported as belonging to the white race, the remainder
being Negroes, Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, and Indians.
Of the 65,160 3 unemployed, 77.77 percent were native white,
20.05 percent foreign-born white, and 0.86 percent Negroes. In the
cities of 100,000 or more population the percentage of unemployment
among the native white was 21.2 as compared to 18.5 among the
foreign-born white and 21.7 among the Negroes.
Work Experience and Duration of Unemployment
O v e r 71.4 percent of the 65,160 unemployed wage earners for
whom schedules were obtained had had 5 or more years of experi
ence in their usual occupations and 87.9 percent had had 2 or more
years of experience. About 22 percent of the unemployed persons
had been jobless for 1 year or more and 13.6 percent for 2 years
or more. Table 3 gives a percentage distribution of these 65,160
unemployed wage earners by the time elapsing since the last em
ployment.
T ab le 3.— P ercen tage D istrib u tio n o f U n em p loyed P ersons in 11 W ash in gton
C ities, D ecem ber 1934, by L ength of T im e Since L ast E m p loym en t
Time since last employment
T 'n t.a l
N fn t p s p .p .rtflin a h lp
TVip.vp.r w o r k p d
Less than 1 week
1 and 2 weeks ..
3 p n rl 4 wp.p.ks
1 f n 1 QQ m n n t.h s
2 f n 2 09 m o n t h s
3 to 3 .9 9 months
....
.
. . ..
Both
Fe
sexes Males males
... ...
4
.9
.7
1 .9
1 0 .6
.0
4 .1
2 .6
1 2 .5
9
10. 2
13 7
11.1
5 .0
10. 5
12. 7
9 .4
3 .8
1 0 0 .0
.7
10. 2
13. 6
10. 8
...
1 0 0 .0
100. 0
1 .3
2 .0
1 0 .9
4.8
Time since last employment
to
to
1 to
5 .99
months . ..
11.99 months.
1.49 years. _
. _ _ .
- ___
-
1.5 to 1.99 years______
2 to 2.99 years
- ------3 to 3 .9 9 years
•
4 to 4 .9 9 years
_ ___
5 years and over . . . . .
___
--------
Both Males Fe
sexes
males
8 .6
8 .6
4 5
8 .6
io h
10.7
2 .2
2 .2
1 1 .1
2 .0
6 .1
6 .0
6 .8
4 .5
1. 7
.9
6 .6
4 .3
1 .7
1 .0
6 .9
5 .8
3 .2
1 .4
1. 7
Table 4 shows that the average number of weeks since these unem
ployed had had any employment was higher for the foreign-born
whites than for the native whites or the Negroes.
3 65,160 schedules were obtained from 69,394 unemployed persons.
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EM PLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F
351
T ab le 4.— A verage Period of U n em p loym en t and Since E m p loym en t at Regular
O ccupation in 11 W ash in gton C ities, D ecem ber 1934
Average num ber of
weeks since a n y em
ploym en t
R ace and n a tiv ity
Fem ales
M ales
A ll races---------
-------- --------------- - - --------------
-----
N a tiv e w h ite _____
- - - - ------------------- ------------Foreign-horn w h ite- --------------- -N eg ro , - -------- ------------------ - - - ------------O thers--------- --------------- ------------- --- -------------------------
Average
num ber
of
weeks since em ployed
at usual occupation
M ales
Fem ales
44.5
44.4
83.0
67.3
40.9
57.8
48.6
27.4
43.1
57.1
52.7
22.7
79.5
97.3
79.4
49.8
66.0
81.7
74.1
36.3
Education of Unemployed
O n e of 30 job less p erso n s h a d a college e d u c a tio n , 1 of 4 h a d co m
p le te d h ig h school, an d 7 of 8 h a d a com m on-school e d u c a tio n o r
b e tte r .
The distribution of unemployed in the 11 Washington cities among
the various occupational groups, and the percentage of these jobless
wage earners with specified years of education, as reported in Decem
ber 1934, are shown in table 5. Almost 65 percent of the clerks and
kindred workers had 9 to 12 years of education, and over 53 percent
of the professional workers had 13 or more years of education.
T a b le 5 .— U n em p lo y m en t b y O ccupational G roups and E d u cation al S ta tu s in
11 W ash in gton C ities, D ecem ber 1934
U nem ployed w age earners
Percent w ith specified years of education
Occupational group
N um ber
U nder 4
All groups
_________________________________
Professional persons.
. _ _____
. .
Proprietors, managers, and officials_______________
Clerks and kindred workers __
_ Skilled workers and foremen _____ ______
__
Semiskilled workers
____
_ ______ __
Unskilled workers. ___ _
_
___
5 to 8
9 to 12
13 and
over
i 65,160
6.3
48.0
38.4
7.3
1,905
1,653
10, 749
14,472
11,453
24, 928
.5
8.3
42.8
17.7
55.7
53.1
57.8
37.7
37.2
64.9
35.8
39.2
28.1
53.5
15.9
16.7
4.9
3.4
4.1
.7
3.6
4.3
11.8
2.3
1 65,160 schedules were obtained from 69,394 unemployed persons.
A detailed occupational table in the report under review discloses
that the 5 occupations with the largest number of unemployed in the
11 Washington cities as a whole were salesmen and saleswomen,
manufacturing laborers, laborers, carpenters, and manufacturing
operatives. The occupations most heavily represented among the
unemployed males were manufacturing laborers, laborers, carpenters,
salesmen, and farm laborers; among the females, saleswomen, servants,
stenographers, waitresses, and manufacturing operatives.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
352
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
U nem ploym ent in Philadelphia, M ay 1935
N MAY 1935 approximately 33 percent of the usually gainfully
employed persons in Philadelphia were wholly unemployed, ac
cording to a survey made by the Pennsylvania State Emergency
Relief Board and the University of Pennsylvania.
As will be noted from the following table, the proportion of jobless
was the same as that found for February 1934 by the State emergency
relief census. This tabulation also gives the results of the five annual
unemployment surveys by the University of Pennsylvania, as well
as of the special United States unemployment census of 1931, and
of the 1930 investigation of unemployment by the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co. The gainful workers include proprietors, executives,
professional persons, self-employed artisans, and other workers among
whom ordinarily relatively little unemployment is found.
I
U n em p loym en t in P hilad elph ia, April 1929 to M a y 1935
Gainful workers
W h olly unem ployed
Date
E m p loyed part tim e
T otal
num ber 4
N um ber
A pril 1929 _______
_____ . ._
___ _
April 1930____________________________________
D ecem ber 1930 2_______________ _____ _______
January 19313_______________
______
A pril 1931_______________________ ___________
M a y 1932____________________________________
A pril 1933... . .
February 1934____ ______________________ . . .
M a y 1935____________________________________
890, 000
890, 000
890.000
890, 000
890.000
890,000
890,000
» 878, 500
878, 500
Percent
92, 500
133, 500
221, 600
4245, 600
227,000
354, 200
409,400
287,800
287,800
10.4
15.0
24.9
27. 6
25.5
39.8
46.0
32.8
32.8
4
N um b er ,
Percent
46, 300
213, 600
5.2
24.0
122,800
188, 700
177,100
124,000
124, 000
21.2
13.8
19.9
14.1
14.1
1 Estimated for all dates, except April 1930 and February 1934.
2 Survey conducted by Metropolitan Life Insurance Oo.
3 Special United States unemployment census.
4 Class A plus class B, United States unemployment census classification.
Class A includes persons out
of a job, able to work, and looking for a job; class B, persons having jobs but on lay-off without pay, ex
cluding those sick or voluntarily idle.
«Includes employed, unemployed seeking work, and unemployed not seeking work because of temporary
illness.
Job A ssurance P lan of th e N u n n -B u sh Shoe Co.
HE regular employees of the Nunn-Bush Shoe Co. signed an
agreement with the president of the company providing for an
annual salary contract plan which became effective July 4.1 The
plan, covering about 1,000 employees of whom 700 are factory work
ers, provides for the leveling of production so that the hiring of addi
tional employees for peak periods will be prevented.
The plan guarantees to each employee 52 pay checks in the year,
based upon 48 weeks of 40 hours each. If the employee works more
than that amount of time he will be paid for the extra hours, but if
T
1 Data are from letter from the company dated July 25, 1935, and a copy of the plan.
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EM PLOYM ENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLO YM ENT R E L IE F
353
less there will be no reduction in the regular pay check. It is pro
vided in the contract that if times get too bad, the company may ask
for reductions in salaries of employees, but in no case is anyone to
be laid off. If economies are effected through labor-saving devices
or other means the workers will benefit, the profits of such economies
being returned to them at the end of the year as additional income.
As a result, contrary to the usual practice in the shoe industry, the
workers will profit by, rather than have anything to fear from, the
introduction of labor-saving machinery. The company has favored a
weekly wage rather than piece rates, so that putting the employees
on a yearly salary basis is regarded simply as an advance over the
weekly-payment plan. It will not interfere with or curtail the profitsharing and pension programs which have been in operation for
18 years.
In commenting on the plan the president of the company stressed
the fact that the great need of labor is an adequate yearly income
rather than high piece or hourly rates which are subject to seasonal
hazards.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
E xtension of N ational In d u strial R e co v e ry A ct
ERTAIN provisions of title I of the National Industrial Recovery
Act were extended until April 1 , 1936, by the terms of Public
Resolution No. 26, Seventy-fourth Congress (S. J. Res. 113) and all
the provisions delegating to the President power to approve or
prescribe codes of fair competition were repealed. This resolution,
which was approved on June 14, 1935, 2 days before the National
Industrial Recovery Act would otherwise have expired, reads:
C
R e s o lv e d b y th e S e n a te a n d H o u s e o f R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s o f A m e r i c a
T h a t section 2 (c) of title I of th e N a tio n a l In d u stria l
R ecovery A ct is am ended by strik in g o u t “ a t th e ex p iratio n of 2 years a fte r
th e d a te of en actm en t of th is a c t ” a n d inserting in lieu thereof “ on A pril 1, 1936.”
S ec . 2. All th e provisions of title I of such a c t delegating pow er to th e P resid en t
to approve or prescribe codes of fair co m petition an d p roviding for th e enforce
m en t of such codes a re hereby repealed: P r o v id e d , T h a t th e exem ption pro v id ed
in section 5 of such title shall extend only to agreem ents a n d actio n th e re u n d e r
(1) p u ttin g into effect th e req u irem en ts of section 7 (a), including m inim um wages,
m axim um hours, a n d p ro h ib itio n of child lab o r; a n d (2) p ro h ib itin g u n fa ir com
p e titiv e practices w hich offend ag a in st existing law, including th e a n titr u s t laws,
or w hich co n stitu te u n fair m ethods of co m petition u n d er th e F ed eral T rad e
C om m ission Act, as am ended.
i n C o n g r e s s a s s e m b le d ,
R eo rg an isation of N atio n al R eco v ery A d m in istra tio n
B
Y EXECUTIVE ORDER N o. 7075 of June 15, 1935, the
National Recovery Administration was reorganized and the
National Industrial Recovery Board terminated. This action was
in pursuance of the provisions of title I of the National Industrial
Recovery Act (48 Stat. 195) as amended by Senate Joint Resolution
113, approved June 14, 1935.
The office of Administrator of the National Recovery Administra
tion was created in connection with the continuance of the adminis
tration of the provisions of title I of the Recovery Act. James L.
O’Neill was named as Acting Administrator and was authorized to
exercise all of the powers previously conferred upon the National
Industrial Recovery Board. At the same time the Division of
Review was established, under the directorship of Leon C. Marshall,
354
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIO NAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
355
to assemble, analyze, and report upon statistical information and
records of experience of the various trades and industries heretofore
subject to code provisions, study the effects of codes, and make
available an adequate review of the effects of title I of the recovery
legislation. As an aid to maintenance of standards of fair competi
tion the Division of Business Cooperation was named, with Prentiss
L. Coonley as director. This division’s task is to aid voluntary trade
and industrial groups in eliminating unfair competition and to main
tain information and records of experience useful in the work of the
Division of Review. George L. Berry was named assistant to the
Administrator of the National Recovery Administration to represent
labor. Finally the President established an Advisory Council as
follows: Charles Edison, Howell Cheney, Philip Murray, William
Green, Emily Newell Blair, and Walton H. Hamilton.
It was directed that all orders and regulations previously issued
concerning the administration of the National Industrial Recovery
Act should be modified to the extent necessary to make this order
fully effective.
T em p o rary C o n tin u a tio n o f N . R . A . Agencies and of
Labor R elations Boards
N JUNE 15, 1935, the President, by Order No. 7076, continued
in effect all Executive orders issued under title I of the National
Industrial Recovery Act and extended the existence of agencies
created by such orders until April 1, 1936. This action was taken
because it was believed necessary and desirable to maintain the con
tinuity of the agencies so established, the requirements imposed,
and the other activities previously established by such orders. In
authorizing this extension the President stated that continuance was
subject to any limitation, modification, or cancelation he might
place in effect subsequently, and that no person or agency acting under
authority conferred by him was empowered to approve or prescribe
codes of fair competition or to enforce such codes.
O
Steel and Textile Labor Relations Board
T h e President took action in June 1935 to continue the National
Steel Labor Relations Board and the Textile Labor Relations Board,
when he issued Executive Orders Nos. 7084, 7085, 7089, and 7091.
It was provided originally that both bodies should serve until July
1, 1935, but the orders were supplemented to extend the tenure of
these boards “ until further order. ” In both industries the boards are
vested with such powers and duties as are not inconsistent with exist
ing recovery legislation. The boards are empowered to mediate dis-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
356
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
putes under the direction of the Secretary of Labor, with the further
provision that the Secretary of Labor shall prescribe rules and
regulations for the exercise of the powers conferred by the President’s
orders.
National Labor Relations Board
T h e President acted to continue the National Labor Relations
Board on June 15, 1935, and again by Executive order of June 29.
According to the terms of the first order (no. 7074), the Board was
empowered to exercise the same functions as previously and to
maintain the existing personnel until July 1, 1935. The subsequent
order (no. 7090) prolonged the life of the organization for another
month, or until August 1, 1935.
R eestablishm ent o f N atio n al Em ergency Council
it was believed necessary, in carrying out the provi
sions of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, that
the National Emergency Council should continue to exist, the Presi
dent ordered the Council reestablished by Executive Order No. 7073
of June 13, 1935, effective 2 days later.
The duties and functions of the National Emergency Council were
left unchanged, with the added provision that the President might
froi . time to time make added assignments.
B
ecause
C reatio n o f N atio n al Resources C om m ittee
HE President took steps to introduce a planned program govern
ing the development and use of land, water, and other national
resources when he issued an Executive order (no. 7065) on June 7,
1935, creating the National Resources Committee. Members named
include the Secretary of the Interior (chairman), the Secretary of
War, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of Labor, the Federal Emergency Relief Administrator,
Frederic A. Delano, Charles E. Merriam, and Wesley C. Mitchell.
The last-named three members were designated as an advisory
committee, to which others might be added from time to time.
In the order, the duties and functions of the National Resources
Committee were defined as follows:
T
(a)
To collect, p rep are, a n d m ake av ailab le to th e P resid en t, w ith recom
m endations, such plans, d a ta a n d in fo rm atio n as m ay be helpful to a p lan n ed
developm ent a n d use of lan d , w ater, a n d o th e r n a tio n a l resources, a n d such
related subjects as m ay be referred to it by th e P resid en t.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIO NAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
357
(b) To consult an d cooperate w ith agencies of th e F ed eral G overnm ent, w ith
th e S tates an d m unicipalities or agencies thereof, a n d w ith an y public or p riv a te
planning or research agencies or in stitu tio n s, in carry in g o u t a n y of its du ties
an d functions.
(c) To receive and record all proposed F ed eral p ro jects involving th e acquisi
tio n of la n d (including tra n sfe r of lan d ju risdiction) a n d lan d research pro jects,
a n d in an advisory cap acity to provide th e agencies concerned w ith such in fo rm a
tio n or d a ta as m ay be p e rtin e n t to th e projects. All executive agencies shall
notify th e N ational R esources C om m ittee of such p ro jects as th e y develop, before
m ajo r field activities are u n d ertak en .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
N u m b er o f Persons Employed P e r F arm in th e U n ited
States, Ja n u a ry 1929 to Ju n e 1935
HE number of family members employed per 100 farms in the
United States in June 1935 was 223 as compared with 265 in
June 1929; the number of hired workers per 100 farms in June 1935
was 89 as against 121 in June 1929.
The following table, compiled from figures published by the
United States Department of Agriculture in its periodical Crops and
Markets, shows the average number of family members and hired
workers employed per farm for each month for which data were avail
able from January 1929 to June 1935:
T
A verage N u m ber o f P ersons E m p loyed per Farm in th e U n ited S ta tes, Janu ary
1929 to June 1935
Kind of labor and year
Family labor:
1929_______________
1930 _____________
1931_______________
1932_____________
1933_____________
1934_____________
1935___________
Hired labor:
1929_____________
1930 ________
1931 __ __ __
1932_____________
1933_____________
1934______________
1935______________
Family and hired labor
combined:
1929______________
1930_______________
1931_
.............
1932______________
1933 ________
1934___________
1935. _____________
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
M ay June July Aug. Sept.
Oct.
N ov.
Dec.
2.17
2 . 22
2 . 11
2. 17
2.07
2 . 21
2.23
2. 17
2.15
2.16
2.18
2.23
2.23
2.18
2.14
2.17
2. 33
2. 38
2. 34
2. 30
2 . 22
2. 23
2.41
2.42
2. 50
2.31
2.09
2.36
2. 36
2.18
2. 27
2.19
2. 23
2.09
2 .11
2.36
2. 34
2.31
2 . 26
2. 25
2.16
2 .12
.91
.95
.96
.77
.69
.67
1.10
1.00
2 .1 1
2.09
2.15
2 .12
.92
.95
.85
.74
.72
.64
.65
.80
.80
.77
.71
.74
.73
.65
.68
1.06
.92
.96
.83
. 79
.80
.72
3.08
3.16
2.96
2.91
2. 83
2.73
2 . 80
2.87
3. 00
3.00
2 . 88
2.89
2.89
2.77
3.09
3.17
3.19
2. 95
2. 83
2.84
2.79
3. 39
3. 30
3. 29
3.13
3. 01
3.03
2. 84
2 .12
2. 65
2. 55
2.46
2. 37
2. 34
2. 27
2. 23
2.61
2.64
2. 53
2.49
2. 37
2. 37
1.14
1. 09
1 .2 1
1. 25
1. 39
1.36
1.25
1.09
1 . 01
1 . 02
1.02
.93
1 .1 1
.80
. 79
.96
.96
. 92
.89
3.50
3. 43
3. 33
3.19
3.11
2.96
2.91
3. 86
3.80
3. 56
3. 33
3. 30
3.19
3.12
.86
3. 99
3. 99
3.78
3.58
3. 38
3. 39
2. 65
2. 48
2. 48
2. 36
2.50
2. 49
2.48
2. 37
2.26
2. 24
2.17
1.30
1.26
1. 23
1.24
1.19
1.17
1.2 2
9 9Fi
1.0 1
.87
1.0 1
88
3. 95
3. 75
3. 71
3. 37
3.74
3. 69
3.64
3. 38
3.13
3.12
1.53
1.19
1.09
1
1.09
1.04
.89
.93
.81
.77
O.b
.94
3.94
3. 64
3.69
3.40
3.19
3.44
3. 40
3.06
3.27
3.12
3.04
2 . 86
8 80
3.11
Farm P o p u lation and M igration to and from Farm s
ARM population on January 1, 1935, was the highest on record,
being estimated at 32,779,000 persons by the Bureau of Agricul
tural Economics. The increase in total farm population in both
1933 and 1934, however, is attributed to a surplus of births over
358
F
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
359
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
deaths, as the movement away from farms in both years was greater
than that toward the farms. It is estimated that 994,000 persons
moved from farms to cities, towns, and villages in 1934 as compared
with 783,000 persons moving to farms. The migration away from
farms was lower than in any other year since 1920, and that toward
farms, lower than since 1921. From 1920 to 1929, inclusive, there was
a net movement away from farms ranging from 336,000 to a peak
(in 1922) of 1,137,000. In the 3 years 1930 to 1932 the net migration
farmward increased from 17,000 to 533,000.
Among the reasons mentioned by the Bureau of Agricultural
Economics for the decrease in the movement toward farms are im
provement in nonagricultural employment opportunities, more ade
quate unemployment relief, and the growing difficulty of finding
available housing on farms.
The following table, taken from the Agricultural Situation for May
1935, published by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, shows the
estimated movement to and from farms, 1920 to 1934, and the
farm population on January 1 of each year from 1920 to January 1,
1935.
E stim a te d M o v em en t to and from F a rm s,1 1920 to 1934, and Farm P op u lation
on Jan. 1, 1920 to 1935
Persons
leaving farms
for cities
Year
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1Q35
___
______ ______________ _____
_ _ ______ _
__________
____________________________
__________________________
_ ______ ___________________
_ _____________________ ____
___________ ___________ --_____________________ _______
_____________ __________
____________________________________
_________________________ _______
___ ____________________________
_______ _ ______ - - __________
_______________________________
______________ __________________
.................... ..
896,000
1, 323, 000
2, 252, 000
2,162, 000
2,068, 000
2, 038, 000
2,334,000
2,162, 000
2 , 120 , 00C
2 , 081, 000
1,723,000
1, 469,000
1 , 011,000
1,178, 000
994, 000
Persons
arriving at
farms from
cities
560, 000
759, 0C0
1,115,000
1, 355, 000
1, 581, 000
1, 336, 000
1, 427. 000
1, 705, 000
1,698, 000
1, 604, 000
1, 740, 000
1, 683, 000
1,544,000
951,000
783, 000
.......
! B irth s and deaths n ot tak en in to account.
2E num erated b y U . S. Bureau of the C ensus.
3 N e t m ovem en t from cities to farms, a reversal of the earlier trend.
4E stim ated b y Bureau of A gricultural Econom ics.
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N et move
ment from
farms to
cities
336,000
564, 000
1,137, 000
807,000
487, 000
702, 000
907,000
457, 000
422, 000
477, 000
3 1 7 ,0 0 0
3 21A, 000
s 533, 000
227, 000
2 1 1 , 000
Farm popu
lation
Jan. 1
2 31, 614, 269
31, 703, 000
31, 768, 000
31,290,000
31, 056,000
31,064, 000
30,784,000
30, 281, 000
30, 275,000
30, 257, 000
4 30,169, 000
4 30, 585, 000
4 31, 241,000
4 32, 242, 000
4 32, 509, 000
4 32,779,000
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
Labor R eq u irem en ts in Lead and Zinc M illing 1
HE number of men necessary per unit of output in milling lead
and zinc ores varies considerably with the size of plant. In
general, a plant treating 5,000 tons a day will require a much smaller
number of men proportionately than a plant treating only 500 tons
a day, and obviously a plant in which two or more different con
centrates are produced will require a larger number of men than one
of equal capacity producing only one product under like conditions.
Table 1 indicates the labor costs at seven concentrators of different
capacities, in terms of man-hours per ton and of tonnage treated per
8-hour shift, in each of the various departments of the milling opera
tions.
T
T able 1 .— M an-H ours per T on o f Ore T reated and T ons per 8-H our S h ift a t 7
R ep resen tative L ead and Zinc C oncentrators in th e U n ited S ta tes
Concentrator, and tonnage treated
Plant B : 40 tons per hour
Item
Total labor.......................... .........__
Sorting.-_________________ _______
Crushing_____________________
Grinding_____________________ .
Classification, screening, and conveyingConcentration:
Gravity....................................
Flotation_______________________
Dewatering concentrates__________________
Sampling__________________
Tailings disposal........................................
Maintenance______________________
Supervision________________________
P ow er.-.______ _________
Plant F: 208 tons per hour
M an
hour
per ton
Tons
per 8hour
shift
Percent
of
total
M an
hour
per ton
Tons
per 8hour
shift
Percent
of
total
0.4114
19.45
100.0
0.1066
75
100.0
9.1
4.5
4.5
. 0235
.0141
340
567
22.0
36.4
18.2
9.1
3.0141
.0094
*. 0047
.0047
(')
.0374
.0187
.0187
2 .1496
.0748
.0374
(')
214
428
428
2 53. 5
107
214
.0374
214
9.1
.0374
214
9.1
Plant H: 50 tons per hour
.0283
.0078
3 567
850
4 1, 700
1,700
283
1,020
13.25
13.25
8.8
4.4
4.4
26.6
7.3
Plant I: 17 tons per hour
Total labor____________________
0. 533
15
100.0
0. 6135
13
Crushing______ ______ __________
G r in d in g ..._________ .
Concentration: Flotation___________
Dewatering concentrates____________ .
Weighing and lo a d in g___________ . .
Sampling. ___________ .
Tailings disposal _______________
Maintenance_____________ _
Supervision____________
Assaying______________
W arehoüse____________
M iscellaneous...........
. 114
«. 114
.176
.030
70
«70
45.5
267
21.4
21.4
33.0
5.6
.099
81
18.6
. 1015
.0768
.0768
.0768
.0512
6.0256
.0512
.0512
.0256
.0512
.0256
78. 79
104.14
104.14
104.14
156.11
« 312. 43
156.11
156. 21
312.43
156. 21
312. 43
100.0
16.5
12.5
12.5
12.5
8.35
4.2
8. 35
8.35
4.2
8.35
4.2
i U. S. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Mines. Bulletin 381: Lead and Zinc Mining and M illing
in the United States, Current Practices and Costs, by C. F. Jackson, J. B. Knaebel, and C. A. Wright.
Washington, 1935.
360
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
i
361
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
T a b le 1.-— M an -H ou rs per T on o f Ore T reated an d T o n s per 8-H our S h ift a t 7
R e p r esen ta tiv e L ead and Zinc C on centrators in th e U n ite d S ta te s— Con.
Concentrator, and tonnage treated
Plant J: 13 tons per hour
Plant L 7 tons per hour
M an
hour
per ton
Tons
per 8hour
shift
Tons
per 8 hour
shift
0. 338
23.7
Item
Total labor....................................................... ...........
Crushing_________________________ _____ -Grinding__________________________________
Concentration: Flotation-----------------------------Dewatering concentrates-----------------------------Tailings disposal __________________________
M iscellaneous---------- ------ ------------------------
.027
.047
.078
.097
Percent Man
hour
of
per ton
total
296
170
100.0
8.0
6.022
82.5
6 364
113.9
23.1
28.7
6.5
.067
119.4
19.8
102.6
0. 9053
8.83
.1040
.0995
.3125
.0994
.0957
.0762
.1180
77.0
80.4
25.6
80. 5
83.6
104.9
67.7
Percent
of
total
100.0
11.5
11.0
34.5
11.0
10. 6
8.4
13.0
Plant P : 20 lo 25 tons per
hour
Total labor----- ------------------------- ----------------
0. 3043
26.3
100.0
Crushing......................................................................
Grinding___________________________________
Classification, screening, and conveying.............
Concentration: Flotation______________ _____
Tailings disposal
---- ----------------- ---------------
.0955
.0579
83.3
138.2
330
75
350
31.4
19.0
7.3
35. 0
7.3
1 Repairs included in the different items.
2 Jigs and tables.
.0222
. 1067
.0222
3 Table concentration.
4 Includes loading.
|
« Includes classifying.
« Includes mixing reagents.
Table 2 gives the average over-all labor costs in man-hours per ton
and tons per man-shift for 14 lead concentrators, 19 zinc concentrators,
and 83 concentrators producing both lead and zinc concentrates.
T a b le 2 .— O ver-A ll Lead and Zinc M illin g C osts in M an-H ours per T on and
T ons per M a n -S h ift
Total ore
milled
Number reporting
14 m ills
19 m ills
m ills
- ______
Tons
7,359,063
2,630,082
7,957,868
Principal metal produced
Lead________ _________ ____ Zinc_________________________
Zinc and lead_________________
Average
ore milled
per man
shift
Average
man-hour
per ton
Tons
33.170
i 13.135
1 21.437
0. 241
.609
.373
i Some mills reported 10-hour mill shifts; figures from these mills have been adjusted to an 8-hour shift
basis.
Labor costs per ton of ore treated are generally lower for plants
treating relatively large tonnages. Wages paid to labor (mostly
native Americans in the lead-zinc mining districts) range in the
different districts from about $3 per 8-hour shift for mill helpers to $5
or $6 for head operators and shift foremen. A bonus, based on the
price of metal, is paid by some plants.
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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
P ro m o tio n o f Dom estic Service in G erm any
OMESTIC service as an occupation for women is being actively
promoted by the German Government as a part of its policy
to remove women from industrial, commercial, and professional pur
suits, and thus release a considerable number of jobs for the unem
ployed men.1 In pursuance of this policy the Government has acted
along two different lines—first, to influence families to employ domes
tic servants, and, second, to create a supply of suitable domestic
servants.
To encourage families to employ domestic servants, the law of
June 6, 1933, provided that in calculating income-tax reductions a
female servant was to be considered as a child, and it also exempted
her from the depression or unemployment tax. The income-tax law
has since been revised and under regulations issued under the new
law, 50 marks 2 monthly may be deducted from the income tax for
each female domestic servant employed. Other minor tax benefits
also make it easier for households to acquire domestic help.
Under the law restricting mobility of labor and subsequent regula
tions, all girls working in cities who had previously worked on the
land, or as members of the female labor service on a farm, can be com
pelled to return to their previous pursuits. In many cases such pre
vious work consisted of domestic service on a farm, and domestic
service on a farm, besides housework, might include milking the cows
and helping the farmer’s wife in her farm duties. The law of August
10, 1934, which provides for preferential treatment in securing work
for older men or women and heads of families, stipulates that male
and female workers under 25 years of age are to give up their posi
tions, and the employment of a person under that age is made de
pendent upon the issuance of a permit by a local employment agency.
Female workers dismissed from positions or unable to get jobs on
account of their youth are to be placed in the female voluntary labor
service, and especially in suitable households. These two laws and
the regulations issued thereunder make it possible for the Govern
ment to prevent young women from seeking commercial or industrial
employment in the cities.
D
■ Data are from report of Hugh Corby Fox, American vice consul at Berlin, Apr. 16, 1935.
2 Exchange rate of mark in March 1935=40.4 cents.
362
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W OMEN IN IN DUSTRY
363
In its effort to make available a supply of competent domestic
servants, training courses for girls in domestic service are provided
for, the financial means being supplied by the State bureau for em
ployment and unemployment insurance. The cost varies, but as a
usual thing the maximum allowance of the bureau is 1.40 marks per
day for each girl and all expenses. No adequate statistics exist as
to the number of girls who have been retrained for household work,
but the estimate of an officer of the bureau places it at from 20,000
to 30,000.
The training or retraining of girls for domestic service in urban dis
tricts is carried on in so-called “ boarding houses.” The one now
operating in the Berlin-Brandenburg district gives a course of 8 to
12 weeks; it houses 30 girls, and is attached to an existing household
school for young girls. In other parts of Germany such training
schools have been attached to old-age homes, to nurseries, or have
been quartered in former hospitals or sanitariums. In some cases the
elements of kindergarten and nursery work are included in the training.
The purpose of the courses is not just to make a first-class household
worker out of a young girl coming from industry, business, or school,
but principally to give the girl a completely different outlook toward
household work.
The workers are also prepared for domestic service on farms and
agricultural properties. In the Berlin-Brandenburg district alone
there are 100 such retraining groups, each containing from 4 to 15
girls, the average group having 4 or 5 girls. These groups are quar
tered with some responsible farmer or estate owner, and not in
“ schools” or houses. The courses last from 2 to 3 months. Instruc
tion consists in performing housework and light farm work under the
supervision of the farmer or his wife. There is no standard plan of
instruction. For this service the girl receives her board and lodging.
This is subsidized by the State, which gives the farmer up to 1.10
marks per day per girl for board. In addition, the farmer receives
8 pfennigs per hour per girl for the instruction given, which is not to
exceed 50 hours per week; 20 hours’ instruction might be termed the
average.
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COOPERATION
O perations o f C ooperative W holesale Societies in 1934
MPROVED economic conditions were reflected in the business
operations of the nine regional cooperative wholesale societies from
which the Bureau of Labor Statistics received reports for 1934.
Sales were more than 50 percent larger than in the preceding year,
and not one society showed a loss on the year’s operations. These
societies are owned and controlled by the local (retail) consumers’
societies which provide the necessary capital and make their pur
chases of supplies through the wholesale organization.1
Wholesale cooperation has been of slow development in the United
States. After the failure of an effort to establish a national wholesale
in 1920-21, a failure which destroyed a large proportion of the whole
sale phase of the consumers’ cooperative movement, it was decided to
build up cooperative wholesaling on a regional basis before attempting
it on a national scale. Four regional wholesales were able to survive
the depression of 1920-21. Since that period a number of other
wholesales have been formed, specializing largely in petroleum prod
ucts and automobile accessories. There are now 2 regional wholesale
societies on the Pacific coast, 1 in the South, 8 in the Middle West,
and 1 in the East, all of which handle consumers’ goods of various
kinds. In addition there are a number of wholesale associations
which handle only supplies used in the business (i. e., production) of
the faim, and which cannot therefore be classified as consumers’
societies.
Another attempt at cooperative wholesaling on a national basis was
made with the establishment of National Cooperatives, Inc., in 1933.
This organization has been acting as the wholesale for a group of
regional wholesale societies which are pooling their orders for petroleum
products, tires, batteries, etc. Other lines are expected to be added
as a sufficient volume of business is developed.
The 9 regional wholesale societies for which reports have been re
ceived had in membership at the end of 1934, 1,334 local cooperative
societies. There were also 349 societies which had not become mem
bers but which were making their wholesale purchases through the
central organizations.
I
1
Data on the 1933 operations of the local consumers’ cooperative societies were given in an article in the
November 1934 issue of the M onthly Labor Review (p. 1041). Other phases of the cooperative movement
in 1933 were covered in the issues of September 1934 (credit societies), February 1935 (workers’ productive
associations), and April 1935 (housing societies). Bulletin No. 612, to be published in the near future, will
contain a full report of the study of which these articles were a part.
364
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
365
COOPERATION
Paid-in share capital of $1,368,214, reserves of $140,695, and total
assets of $2,713,110 were reported.
The nine societies had a combined business for 1934 amounting to
$15,549,316, and a net trading gain of $311,293. They returned to
their member societies $24,967 in interest on share capital and
$120,884 in patronage rebates.
During the 5-year period 1930-34 these organizations had an aggre
gate business amounting to $55,853,202, realizing thereon a net gain
of $841,805. During the same period they returned to their member
societies, in interest and patronage dividends, the sum of $903,947.
The lines of commodities handled by each of the wholesale societies,
the manufacturing activities carried on, and other services offered to
members, are shown in table 1.
T able 1.— L ines o f G oods H andled b y C oop erative W holesale S ocieties, and
Other Services R endered
State and city
Name of wholesale
Goods handled
National Cooper
atives, Inc.
Petroleum products, auto
mobile tires, tubes, and
batteries.
Goods manu
factured
Other services
National wholesale
Indiana:
apolis.
Indian
Regional wholesales
Minnesota:
M inneapolis... Midland Cooper
ative Wholesale,
Inc .1
St. Paul______ Farmers’ Union
C e n tr a l E x
change.
Missouri:
Kansas City— Farmers’ Union
Jobbing Asso
ciation.
North Kansas Consumers’ Co
City.
operative Asso
ciation.
Nebraska: Omaha. Farmers’ Union
State Exchange.
Ohio: Columbus—
Texas: Amarillo__
Washington:
attle.
Se
Wisconsin: Superior.
Ohio Farm Bu
reau Coopera
tive Association.
Consumers' Coop
eratives Associ
ated.
Grange Coopera
tive Wholesale.
Central Cooperative Wholesale .7
Petroleum products, auto L u b r ic a tin g
oil.
mobile tires, batteries,
paint, and bulk-station
equipment.
Petroleum products, auto ____do.......... .
mobile tires, tubes, flour,
and feed.
General merchandise, mill
feeds, salt, and twine.
Petroleum products, auto
mobile tires, tubes, and
batteries, paint and var
nish.
General merchandise, farm
supplies, petroleum prod
ucts, and car-lot orders of
produce, coal, and salt.
Petroleum products, coal,
and farm supplies.
L u b r ic a tin g
oil.
Educational department;
auditing .2
D o .8
Do."
Feed________
Do.«
Petroleum products, tires,
tubes, and accessories.
Groceries, petroleum prod
ucts, automobile tires and
batteries, and feed.
Groceries, clothing, bakery
products, light hardware,
autom obile tires, and
building materials.
Auditing.«
Bakery goods. Educational department; au
diting .8
1 Name originally Minnesota Cooperative Oil Co., changed first to Midland Cooperative Oil Association
and then to Midland Cooperative Wholesale.
2 Used by 150 societies.
2 Used by about 250 societies.
4 Used by about 60 societies.
« Used by 88 county branches.
• Used by 80 societies.
7 Name formerly Cooperative Central Exchange.
8 Used by 84 societies.
3202—35----- 6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
366
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Membership and Resources
T h e y e a r of o rg a n iz a tio n of th e in d iv id u a l societies, th e n u m b e r of
m em b ers a n d p u rc h a se rs, a n d th e reso u rces, a re show n in ta b le 2.
The two Farmers’ Union wholesales are the oldest of those reporting,
each having been in operation for 20 years. The youngest organiza
tion shown is the new national wholesale, formed in 1933.
Most of the cooperative wholesale societies admit to membership
only cooperative societies. The Nebraska wholesale, the Farmers’
Union State Exchange, however, accepts only societies and persons
affiliated with the Nebraska Farmers’ Union, and the Grange Coopera
tive Wholesale admits only Grange organizations.
At the end of 1934 the nine district wholesales reporting were
serving 1,334 member cooperative societies and 349 other societies
which were not affiliated. Operation of retail branches has, until recent
years, been rather infrequently practiced in the United States, but six
of the wholesales had 87 such branches at the end of 1934.
More than 1% million dollars in share capital, and nearly 2%
million dollars in assets were possessed by these wholesales in 1934.
Reserves of about $140,000 had been accumulated.
The national wholesale is owned by seven regional wholesale so
cieties.2
T able 2 .— M em bership and R esources of C oop erative W holesale Societies
at E n d of 1934
Year Number Retail Unaffilicus Paid-in
of or of affili branches ated
tomer
share
ganiza
ated of whole organi
capital
tion societies
sale
zations
Society
Reserve
fund
Total
assets
$155, 072
81, 521
13, 050
$22,154
3, 593
3, 379
$314, 568
258, 560
42,172
506, 388
136,860
61,490
340, 793
13, 540
58, 900
27, 202
7, 125
24,447
5,543
47, 252
607rQ06
335, 523
265,158
618, 412
31, 726
239, 085
349 1, 368, 214
140, 695
2, 713,110
District wholesales
Central Cooperative W holesale,. . . .
Consumers’ Cooperative Association.
Consumers’ Cooperatives AssociatedFarm Bureau Cooperative Association_,
___ _
_ ... _
Farmers’ Union Central E xchange..
Farmers’ Union Jobbing Association.
Farmers’ Union State Exchange.,
Orange Cooperative W holesale,__
Midland Cooperative Wholesale___
T otal..
_______________
1917
1929
1930
97
259
34
13
1933
1927
1914
1914
1919
1926
61
211
29
25
280
2 260
17
__
27
27
2
1
125
1,334
20
30
87
27
(>)
208
2 37
National wholesale
National Cooperatives. .
1 No data.
________
1933
2 End of 1933.
27
CO
(0
(0
2 Regional wholesale societies.
2 Central Cooperative Wholesale, Superior, Wis.; Consumers’ Cooperative Association, Kansas City
Mo,; Consumers’ Cooperatives Associated, Amarillo, Tex.; Farm Bureau Oil Co., Indianapolis, Ind.;
Farmers’ Union Central Exchange, St. Paul, Minn.; Midland Cooperative Wholesale, Minneapolis, Minn.;
and Pacific Supply Cooperative, Walla Walla, Wash.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
367
COOPERATION
Business Operations in 1933 and 1934
S a l e s of more than 15% million dollars and a net trading gain of
more than a quarter of a million dollars were reported by the nine
regional wholesales. More than $145,000 was returned to member
societies in interest and patronage dividends.
All but one of the societies reported increased sales in 1934 as
compared with 1933. For the group as a whole the business done
in 1934 was more than 50 percent in excess of that done the preceding
year.
Details for the individual societies are given in table 3.
T able 3.— O perations o f C ooperative W holesale S ocieties in 1933 and 1934
Amount of business
N et gain
Interest on
share capital
Patronage
refunds
Society
1933
Central Cooperative Wholesale. _ _____
Consumers’ Cooperative Association___
Consumers’ Cooperatives Associated___
Farm Bureau Cooperative Association 3.
Farmers’ Union Central Exchange.. . .
Farmers’ Union Jobbing A ssociation....
Farmers’ Union State Exchange ..........
Grange Cooperative Wholesale________
Midland Cooperative Wholesale______
1934
1933
1934
1933
1934
1933
1934
$1,383, 290 $1,787, 556 $13,133 $31, 696
0 ) $13,133
(0
1,493, 843 2, 018, 711 36,978 50,679 $4, 265 (2)
18, 266 $23, 566
128,384
126,993 3,592 2,599 (3)
6, 790 7, 765
«
$2, 305
3, 265, 702 4, 644, 712 61, 747 44,104
15, 742
1, 549,223 2,615, 519 22,066 55,468 (0
(')
(>)
(0
270,897 26, 2C0 17, 549 (7)
3, 689 16, 000 13,859
56, 569
1, 244, 993 1, 356, 796 61,945 62, 545 18, 487 18,146 35, 963 37,891
102,378 8 977, 125 2, 091 1,854 0 )
3, 561
0)
1, 073, 567 1, 751, 007 25, 466 44, 799 (>)
827 18, 000 18, 500
T otal------ ---------- ---------------------- 10,297,949 15, 549, 316 193, 278 311,293 22, 752 24, 967 108,152 120,884
1 No data.
2 Interest at rate of 6 percent on common and 8 percent on preferred stock; amount not reported.
3 Interest at rate of 8 percent; amount not reported.
* Interest at rate of 5 percent; amount not reported.
3
1933 figures relate to operations of Ohio Farm Bureau Service Co., the wholesale department of which
was purchased by the Farm Bureau Cooperative Association, Sept. 1, 1934.
6 Loss.
7 Interest at rate of 6 percent; amount not reported.
8 Includes direct-invoice oil sales amounting to $809,954.
As noted in table 2, several of the wholesale societies operate retail
branches. The 1934 business of the 2 retail branches run by the
Farmers’ Union Central Exchange amounted to $521,697, and that
done by the 17 branches of the Farmers’ Union State Exchange to
$779, 926.3
2 For the first 6 months of 1935, the Central Cooperative Wholesale reported sales of $1,089,238, as compared
with $844,003 in the same period of 1934; and the Farmers’ Union State Exchange reported sales of $823,761
and a net saving of $28,433.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
368
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
Operating Expenses
T he operating expenses of five societies which furnished detailed
reports formed 9.45 percent of their sales in 1934. The percent of
expenditure for each item is shown below:
^
-
JT Cl CCIll,
Sales expense:
of sales
W ages_____________________________________________________________ 5. 13
O th e r____________________________ ï ------------------------------------------------.3 5
T o ta l___________________________________________________________
M iscellaneous delivery expense (except w ages)--------------------------------------R e n t__________________________________________________________________
L ight, h eat, pow er, an d w a te r__________________________________________
In su ran ce an d ta x e s-----------------------------------------------------------------------------In te re st on borrow ed m o n ey ___________________________________________
Office supplies an d p o sta g e _____________________________________________
T elephone an d te le g ra p h _______________________________________________
D e p re c ia tio n .--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------B ad d e b ts _____________________________________________________________
A u d itin g ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Legal service__________________________________________________________
M iscellaneous__________________________________________________________
G rand t o t a l_____________________________________________________
5. 48
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1.
33
34
02
31
04
91
12
31
27
05
06
20
9. 45
A sixth society which did not submit a detailed statement of
expenses reported that its operating expenses formed 6 percent of
the sales.
Employment and Wages
T h e regional wholesales had a pay roll of nearly $600,000 in 1934,
disbursed to 375 workers. Hours averaged 41.2 per week.
T able 4.— E m p loym en t, P a y Roll, an d W eekly W orking H ours in C o o p erativ e
W holesale Societies, 1934
Number
of em
ployees
Society
Amount paid in
wages, 1934
Total
Consumers’ Cooperative Association_______________________
__ _ ___________
Consumers’ Cooperatives Associated _
Farm Bureau Cooperative Association __ _ .
___________
Farmers’ Union Central Exchange___ ___ _ _______ ______
Farmers’ Union Jobbing Association_______________________
Grange Cooperative Wholesale________ ______ ________ - __
M idland Cooperative Wholesale - _____ _
____________
Total____ ___ ___ _
1 Code hours.
2 No data.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
_____
Working
hours
Average per week
per em
ployee
96
7
220
(2)
7
10
35
$102,701
13,388
352,140
58,737
11,412
7,100
34,968
$1,070
1,913
1,601
(2)
1, 630
710
999
375
580,446
1, 391
44.0
(>)
40.0
(2)
40.0
44.0
40.0
41.2
LABOR LAWS
N ational Labor R elatio n s A ct
RESIDENT Roosevelt on July 5, 1935, signed an act designed to
“ diminish the causes of labor disputes burdening or obstructing
interstate and foreign commerce.” By virtue of this act the National
Labor Relations Board was recreated. By an Executive order 1 of
June 29, 1934, the President established the original National Labor
Relations Board pursuant to a public resolution (no. 44) approved
June 19, 1934, to effectuate the policy of the National Industrial
Recovery Act. The Executive order of June 15, 1935, reestablished
and continued the Board in accordance with the Senate joint resolu
tion (no. 113) of June 14, 1935.2 A quasi-judicial board of three
members was created for the express purpose of settling labor disputes
and guaranteeing the right of collective bargaining. In accom
plishing the latter object the law declares certain activities of em
ployers “ unfair labor practices.” Briefly these practices are (1) to
interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in organization or
collective bargaining; (2) to dominate or interfere with the formation
or administration of any labor organization; (3) to encourage or
discourage membership in any labor organization by discrimination
in the matter of hiring, or period, term, or condition of employment;
(4) to discharge or discriminate against an employee because of the
fding of charges against an employer; and (5) to refuse to bargain
collectively with representatives of the employees.
In preventing any person from engaging in an unfair labor practice,
the Board has exclusive power under the act to issue a complaint upon
such person with the charges and a notice of hearing before the Board.
The Board is granted the right to invoke the aid of the courts to
compel compliance with its orders and may petition any circuit court
of appeals of the United States for assistance in effecting its orders.
On the other hand, any person aggrieved by a final order of the Board
may obtain a review of such order in any circuit court of appeals.
The Board is clothed also with investigatory powers and any of its
members has the power to issue subpenas and require the attendance
of witnesses. Violations of the authority of the Board are punishable
by fine or imprisonment or both. The right to strike is preserved.
2See p. 356.
i No. 6763.
P
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
Like section 7 (a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act of June
16, 1933, the new National Labor Relations Act declares a similar
purpose and object, in enacting the law, that “ employees shall have
the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organiza
tions, to bargain collectively, through representatives of their own
choosing, and to engage in concerted activities, for the purpose of
collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.”
Denial by employers of the right of collective bargaining by the
employees, the legislative intent of the act declares, “leads to strikes
and other forms of industrial strife or unrest.” These in their nature
have the “ effect of burdening or obstructing” interstate and foreign
commerce. By the enactment of such a law it has been the declared
policy of the Government to eliminate the causes obstructing inter
state commerce, “ by encouraging the practice and procedure of
collective bargaining.”
At the time President Roosevelt signed the law he issued a state
ment relative to the purposes of the law, noting particularly that the
National Labor Relations Board would be an independent quasi
judicial body. The President also stressed the fact that the Board
“ will not act as mediator or conciliator in labor disputes.” “ The
function of mediation,” he said, “ remains under the act, the duty of
the Secretary of Labor, and of the Conciliation Service of the De
partment of Labor.”
The President also pointed out that the judicial function and the
mediation function “ should not be confused,” and that “ compromise,
the essence of mediation has no place in the interpretation and enforce
ment of the law.” The purpose of the act, the President said, should
not be misinterpreted. While it may eventually eliminate one major
cause of labor disputes, “ it will not stop all labor disputes”, the
President said, and “ it does not cover all industry and labor, but is
applicable only when violation of the legal right of independent
self-organization would burden or obstruct interstate commerce.”
Accepted by labor, capital and the public in a cooperative spirit and
“ with a sense of sober responsibility”, the new law, the President
concluded, “ should serve as an important step toward the achieve
ment of just and peaceful labor relations in industry.”
The full text of the law follows:
S ec tio n 1. F in d in g s a n d p o l i c y .— T he denial by em ployers of th e rig h t of
em ployees to organize a n d th e refusal by em ployers to accept th e p rocedure of'
collective bargaining lead to strik es an d o th e r form s of in d u stria l strife or u n rest,
w hich have th e in te n t or th e necessary effect of bu rd en in g or o b stru ctin g com
m erce by (a ) im pairing th e efficiency, safety, or o p eratio n of th e in stru m e n ta litie s
of com m erce; (6) occurring in th e c u rre n t of com m erce; (c) m aterially affecting,
restraining, or controlling th e flow of raw m aterials or m an u fa c tu re d or processed
goods from or in to th e channels of comm erce, or th e prices of such m aterials or-
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LABOR LAWS
371
goods in com m erce; or (d ) causing dim in u tio n of em ploym ent an d wages in such
volum e as su b stan tially to im pair or d isru p t th e m a rk e t for goods flowing from
or in to th e channels of commerce.
T he in eq u ality of bargaining pow er betw een em ployees who do n o t possess full
freedom of association or a c tu a l lib erty of c o n tract, an d em ployers who are or
ganized in th e corporate or o th er form s of ow nership association su b sta n tia lly
b urdens an d affects th e flow of com m erce, an d ten d s to a g g rav ate re c u rre n t b u si
ness depressions, b y depressing wage ra te s a n d th e p u rchasing pow er of wage
earners in in d u stry an d by p rev en tin g th e stab ilizatio n of com petitive wage ra te s
an d w orking conditions w ithin an d betw een industries.
E xperience has proved th a t p ro tectio n by law of th e rig h t of em ployees to
organize and barg ain collectively safeguards com m erce from in ju ry , im p airm en t,
or in terru p tio n , and prom otes th e flow of com m erce by rem oving certain recog
nized sources of in d u stria l strife an d u n rest, by encouraging practices fu n d a m e n ta l
to th e friendly ad ju s tm e n t of in d u strial disputes arising o u t of differences as to
wages, hours, or oth er w orking conditions, a n d b y resto rin g e q u ality of b argaining
pow er betw een em ployers a n d employees.
I t is hereby declared to be th e policy of th e U n ited S tates to elim inate th e
causes of certain su b sta n tia l ob stru ctio n s to th e free flow of com m erce an d to
m itig ate an d elim inate these o b stru ctio n s w hen th e y have occurred by encouraging
the-practice an d procedure of collective b argaining a n d b y p ro te c tin g th e exercise
b y w orkers of full freedom of association, self-organization, a n d designation of
rep resen tativ es of th e ir own choosing, for th e purpose of n e g o tiatin g th e term s
an d conditions of th eir em ploym ent or o th er m u tu a l aid of pro tectio n .
S e c . 2. D e f i n i ti o n s .-— W hen used in th is a c t—
(1) T he term “ p e rs o n ” includes one or m ore individuals, p artn ersh ip s, associa
tions, corporations, legal rep resen tativ es, tru stees, tru ste e s in b a n k ru p tc y , or
receivers.
(2) T he te rm “ em p lo y er” includes a n y person actin g in th e in te re st of an
em ployer, directly or indirectly, b u t shall n o t include th e U n ited S tates, or any
S ta te or political subdivision thereof, or a n y person su b ject to th e R ailw ay L ab o r
Act, as am ended from tim e to tim e, or an y lab o r org an izatio n (other th a n w hen
actin g as an em ployer), or anyone acting in th e cap acity of officer or ag en t of such
lab o r organization.
(3) T he te rm “ em p lo y ee” shall include a n y em ployee, a n d shall n o t be
lim ited to th e em ployees of a p a rtic u la r em ployer, unless th e a c t explicitly sta te s
otherw ise, a n d shall include a n y in d iv id u al whose w ork has ceased as a conse
quence of, or in connection w ith, a n y cu rre n t lab o r disp u te or because of an y
unfair lab o r practice, a n d who has n o t o b tain ed a n y o th e r reg u lar a n d su b sta n tia lly
eq u iv alen t em ploym ent, b u t shall n o t include a n y in d iv id u al em ployed as an
ag ricu ltu ral laborer, or in th e dom estic service of a n y fam ily or person a t his
hom e, or an y individu al em ployed by his p a re n t or spouse.
(4) T h e te rm “ rep resen tativ es ” includes an y in d iv id u al or lab o r organization.
(5) T he term “ lab o r o rg a n iz a tio n ” m eans a n y organization of a n y kind, or
a n y agency or em ployee re p resen tatio n com m ittee or p lan, in w hich em ployees
p a rtic ip a te an d w hich exists for th e purpose, in w hole or in p a rt, of dealing w ith
em ployers concerning grievances, lab o r disputes, wages, ra te s of pay , hours of
em ploym ent, or conditions of work.
(6) T he term “ com m erce” m eans tra d e , traffic, com m erce, tra n sp o rta tio n , or
com m unication am ong th e several S tates, or betw een th e D istric t of C olum bia or
an y T errito ry of th e U n ited S tates a n d a n y S ta te or o th e r T errito ry , or betw een
a n y foreign co u n try a n d a n y S tate, T errito ry , or th e D istric t of C olum bia, or
w ithin th e D istrict of C olum bia or an y T e rrito ry , or betw een p o in ts in th e sam e
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S ta te b u t th ro u g h an y o th er S ta te or an y T errito ry or th e D istric t of C olum bia
or an y foreign country.
(7) T he te rm “ affecting co m m erce” m eans in com m erce, or b u rdening or
o b stru ctin g com m erce or th e free flow of com m erce, or h av in g led or ten d in g to
lead to a lab o r disp u te bu rd en in g or o b stru ctin g com m erce or th e free flow of
com m erce.
(8) T he te rm “ unfair lab o r p ra c tic e ” m eans a n y u n fair lab o r p ractice listed in
section 8.
(9) T he te rm “ lab o r d is p u te ” includes an y co ntroversy concerning term s,
tenure, or conditions of em ploym ent, or concerning th e association or rep re se n ta
tion of persons in negotiating, fixing, m ain tain in g , changing, or seeking to arrange
term s or conditions of em ploym ent, regardless of w h eth er th e d isp u ta n ts sta n d
in th e proxim ate relatio n of em ployer a n d employee.
(10) T he te rm “ N atio n al L ab o r R elations B o a rd ” m eans th e N a tio n a l L ab o r
R elations B oard created by section 3 of th is act.
(11) T he te rm “ old B o a rd ” m eans th e N a tio n a l L ab o r R elatio n s B o ard e sta b
lished by E xecutive O rder No. 6763 of th e P resid en t on Ju n e 29, 1934, p u rs u a n t
to P ublic R esolution No. 44, ap p ro v ed Ju n e 19, 1934 (48 S ta t. 1183), a n d re
established and continued by E xecu tiv e O rder No. 7074 of th e P resid en t of Ju n e
15, 1935, p u rs u a n t to title I of th e N atio n al In d u s tria l R ecovery A ct (48 S ta t.
195) as am ended an d continued by S enate Jo in t R esolution 113 ap p ro v ed Ju n e
14, 1935.
S e c . 3. C r e a tio n o f N a t i o n a l L a b o r R e la tio n s B o a r d . — (a) T here is hereby cre
a te d a board, to be know n as th e “ N a tio n a l L ab o r R elations B o a rd ” (h erein after
referred to as th e “ B o a rd ” ), w hich shall be com posed of th re e m em bers, who shall
be ap p o in ted by th e P resid en t, by a n d w ith th e advice a n d consent of th e Senate.
One of th e original m em bers shall be ap p o in ted for a te rm of 1 year, one for a
term of 3 years, an d one for a te rm of 5 years, b u t th e ir successors shall be a p
pointed for term s of 5 years each, except th a t an y in d iv id u al chosen to fill a
vacancy shall be ap p o in ted only for th e unexpired te rm of th e m em ber w hom he
shall succeed. T he P resid en t shall designate one m em ber to serve as chairm an
of th e B oard. Any m em ber of th e B oard m ay be rem oved b y th e P resid en t,
upon notice an d hearing, for neglect of d u ty or m alfeasance in office, b u t for no
o th er cause.
(6) A vacancy in th e B oard shall n o t im p air th e rig h t of th e rem aining m em bers
to exercise all th e pow ers of th e B oard, a n d tw o m em bers of th e B oard shall, a t
all tim es, co n stitu te a quorum . T he b o ard shall have an official seal w hich shall
be judicially noticed.
(c) T he B oard shall a t th e close of each fiscal y ear m ak e a re p o rt in w riting to
Congress an d to th e P resid en t sta tin g in d etail th e cases it h as heard , th e decisions
it has rendered, th e nam es, salaries, a n d duties of all em ployees a n d officers in
th e em ploy or u nder th e supervision of th e B oard, a n d an acco u n t of all m oneys
it has disbursed.
S e c . 4. P e r s o n n e l o f B o a r d . — (a) E ach m em ber of th e B oard shall receive a
salary of $10,000 a y ear, shall be eligible for re ap p o in tm en t, a n d shall n o t engage
in an y o th er business, vocation, or em ploym ent. T he B oard shall a p p o in t/w ith
o u t regard for th e provisions of th e civil-service laws b u t su b ject to th e Classifica
tio n A ct of 1923, as am ended, a n executive secretary, an d such a tto rn e y s, ex
am iners, an d regional directors, a n d shall a p p o in t such o th e r em ployees w ith
reg ard to existing law s applicable to th e em ploym ent a n d com pensation of officers
an d em ployees of th e U n ited S tates, as it m ay from tim e to tim e find necessary
for th e pro p er perform ance of its du ties a n d as m ay be from tim e to tim e a p p ro
p ria te d for by Congress. T he B oard m ay establish or utilize such regional, local,
or o th er agencies, an d utilize such v o lu n ta ry a n d uncom p en sated services, as
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LABOR LAWS
m ay from tim e to tim e be needed. A tto rn ey s ap p o in ted u n d er th is section m ay,
a t th e direction of th e B oard, ap p e a r for a n d rep resen t th e B oard in a n y case in
court. N othing in th is a c t shall be construed to au th o rize th e B oard to ap p o in t
individuals for th e purpose of conciliation or m ediation (or for sta tistic a l w ork),
w here such service m ay be o b tain ed from th e D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
(b )
U pon th e ap p o in tm e n t of th e th re e original m em bers of th e B oard an d th e
designation of its chairm an, th e old B oard shall cease to exist. All em ployees of
th e old B oard shall be tran sfe rre d to a n d becom e em ployees of th e B oard w ith
salaries u n d er th e Classification A ct of 1923, as am ended, w ith o u t acquiring by
such tra n sfe r a p erm a n e n t or civil-service sta tu s. All records, papers, an d p ro p
e rty of th e old B oard shall becom e records, papers, a n d p ro p e rty of th e B oard,
an d all unexpended funds an d ap p ro p riatio n s for th e use a n d m ain ten an ce of
th e old B oard shall becom e funds an d a p p ro p riatio n s available to be expended
by th e B oard in th e exercise of th e pow ers, a u th o rity , a n d d u ties conferred on
it by th is act.
(c)
All of th e expenses of th e B oard, including all necessary trav e lin g an d su b
sistence expenses outside th e D istric t of C olum bia incu rred by th e m em bers or
em ployees of th e B oard u n d er its orders, shall be allowed a n d p aid on th e p re se n ta
tion of item ized vouchers th erefo r a p p ro v ed by th e B oard or by a n y in d iv id u al
it designates for th a t purpose.
S ec . 5. L o c a tio n o f B o a r d . — T he p rin cip al office of th e B oard shall be in th e
D istrict of C olum bia, b u t it m ay m eet a n d exercise a n y or all of its pow ers a t
an y o th er place. T h e B oard m ay, b y one or m ore of its m em bers or by such
ag en ts or agencies as it m ay designate, p rosecute a n y in q u iry necessary to its
functions in an y p a rt of th e U nited S tates. A m em ber who p a rtic ip a te s in such
an in q u iry shall n o t be disqualified from su b seq u en tly p a rtic ip a tin g in a decision
of th e B oard in th e sam e case.
S ec . 6. P o w e r s o f B o a r d . — (a) T h e B oard shall h av e a u th o rity from tim e to
tim e to m ake, am end, a n d rescind such rules a n d regu latio n s as m ay be necessary
to carry o u t th e provisions of th is a c t. Such rules a n d reg u la tio n s sh all be
effective upon p u b licatio n in th e m an n e r w hich th e B oard shall prescribe.
S ec . 7. R ig h ts o f e m p lo y e e s . — E m ployees shall h av e th e rig h t to self-organiza
tion, to form , join, or assist lab o r o rganizations, to b arg ain collectively th ro u g h
rep resen tativ es of th e ir ow n choosing, a n d to engage in concerted activ ities, for
th e purpose of collective b argaining o r o th e r m u tu a l aid or pro tectio n .
S ec . 8. U n f a ir la b o r p r a c tic e s . — I t shall be a n u n fair lab o r p ractice for an
em ployer—
(1) T o interfere w ith, restra in , or coerce em ployees in th e exercise of th e rig h ts
g u aran teed in section 7.
(2) T o d o m in ate or in terfere w ith th e fo rm atio n o r a d m in istra tio n of an y
lab o r organization or c o n trib u te financial or o th e r su p p o rt to it: P r o v id e d , T h a t
su b ject to rules a n d reg u latio n s m ade a n d p u blished by th e B o ard p u rs u a n t to
section 6 (a), a n em ployer shall n o t be p ro h ib ited from p e rm ittin g em ployees to
confer w ith him durin g w orking ho u rs w ith o u t loss of tim e o r pay .
(3) B y discrim ination in reg ard to hire or te n u re of em p lo y m en t or a n y term
or condition of em plo y m en t to encourage or disctourage m em bership in a n y lab o r
organization: P r o v id e d , T h a t n o th in g in th is a c t, o r in th e N a tio n a l In d u stria l
R ecovery A ct (U. S. C., S upp. V II, title 15, secs. 701-712), as am en d ed from
tim e to tim e, or in a n y code or ag reem en t app ro v ed , or prescribed th ereu n d er,
or in a n y o th e r s ta tu te of th e U n ited S tates, shall preclude a n em ployer from
m aking an agreem en t w ith a lab o r o rganization (n o t established, m ain tain ed , or
assisted b y an y actio n defined in th is a c t as a n u n fair lab o r practice) to req u ire as
a condition of em p loy m en t m em bership th erein , if such la b o r org an izatio n is th e
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
rep resen tativ e of th e em ployees as p rovided in section 9 (a), in th e a p p ro p ria te
collective-bargaining u n it covered b y such ag reem en t w hen m ade.
(4) To discharge or o therw ise d iscrim in ate ag a in st a n em ployee because he has
filed charges or given testim o n y u n d er th is a ct.
(5) To refuse to bargain collectively w ith th e rep rese n ta tiv e s of his em ployees,
s u b je c t to th e provisions of section 9 (a).
S ec . 9. R e p r e s e n ta tiv e - s a n d e le c tio n s . — (a) R ep resen tativ es d esignated or
selected for th e purposes of collective barg ain in g by th e m a jo rity of th e em
ployees in a u n it ap p ro p ria te for such purposes, shall be th e exclusive rep re se n ta
tives of all th e em ployees in such u n it for th e purposes of collective barg ain in g in
respect to rates of pay , wages, hours of em ploym ent, or o th e r cond itio n s of em
ploym ent: P r o v id e d , T h a t a n y in d iv id u al em ployee or a group of em ployees shall
have th e rig h t a t an y tim e to p resen t grievances to th e ir em ployer.
(6) T he B oard shall decide in each case w hether, in ord er to insure to em
ployees th e full benefit of th e ir rig h t to self-organization a n d to collective b arg ain
ing, an d otherw ise to effectuate th e policies of th is a ct, th e u n it a p p ro p ria te for
th e purposes of collective b argaining shall be th e em ployer u n it, c ra ft u n it, p la n t
u n it, or subdivision thereof.
(c) W henever a question affecting com m erce arises concerning th e re p re se n ta
tio n of em ployees, th e B oard m ay in v estig ate such con tro v ersy a n d certify to th e
p arties, in w riting, th e n am e or nam es of th e rep resen tativ es th a t have been
designated or selected. In an y such in vestigation, th e B oard shall p rovide for
an ap p ro p riate hearin g u pon due notice, eith er in co njunction w ith a proceeding
u n d er section 10 or otherw ise, a n d m ay ta k e a secret b allo t of em ployees, or
utilize a n y o th er su itab le m eth o d to ascertain such rep resen tativ es.
(d) W henever an o rd er of th e B oard m ade p u rs u a n t to section 10 (c) is based
in whole or in p a r t upo n facts certified following an in v estig atio n p u rs u a n t to
subsection (c) of th is section, a n d th e re is a p etitio n for th e en fo rcem en t or
review of such order, such certification a n d th e record of such in v estig atio n shall
be included in th e tra n s c rip t of th e en tire record req u ired to be filed u n d er
subsections 10 (e) or 10 (/), an d th ere u p o n th e decree of th e c o u rt enforcing,
m odifying, or settin g aside in whole or in p a rt th e o rd er of th e B oard shall be
m ade a n d en tered upon th e pleadings, testim o n y , a n d proceedings se t fo rth in
such tra n sc rip t.
S ec . 10. P r e v e n tio n o f u n f a i r la b o r p r a c tic e s . — (a) T he B oard is em pow ered, as
h erein after provided, to p re v e n t a n y person from engaging in a n y u n fair lab o r
p ractice (listed in section 8) affecting com m erce. T his pow er shall be exclusive,
an d shall n o t be affected by a n y o th e r m eans of a d ju s tm e n t or p rev en tio n t h a t has
been or m ay be established by agreem ent, code, law, or otherw ise.
(6) W henever it is charged th a t an y person has engaged in or is engaging in
any such unfair labor p ractice, th e B oard, or a n y ag en t or agency desig n ated by
th e B oard for such purposes, shall have pow er to issue a n d cause to be served
upon such person a co m plaint sta tin g th e charges in th a t respect, an d containing
a notice of hearing before th e B oard or m em ber thereof, or before a designated
ag en t or agency, a t a place th e re in fixed, n o t less th a n 5 days a fte r th e serving of
said com plaint. A ny such co m plaint m ay be am ended by th e m em ber, ag en t
or agency conducting th e hearing, or th e B oard in its discretion a t a n y tim e p rio r
to th e issuance of an order based thereon. T he person so com plained of shall
have th e rig h t to file an answ er to th e original or am ended co m plaint an d to
ap p ear in person or otherw ise an d give testim o n y a t th e place a n d tim e fixed in
th e com plaint. In th e discretion of th e m em ber, ag en t or agency co nducting
th e hearing, or th e B oard, a n y o th er person m ay be allowed to in terv en e in th e
said proceeding an d to p resen t testim o n y . In an y such proceeding th e rules of
evidence prevailing in courts of law or e q u ity shall n o t be controlling.
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(c) T he testim o n y ta k e n by such m em ber, ag en t or agency, or th e B oard shall
be reduced to w riting a n d filed w ith th e B oard. T h ereafter, in its discretion, th e
B oard upon notice m ay ta k e fu rth e r testim o n y or h ear arg u m en t. If upon all
th e testim o n y ta k e n th e B oard shall be of th e opinion th a t an y person nam ed in
th e com plaint has engaged in or is engaging in a n y such u n fair lab o r p ractice,
th e n th e B oard shall sta te its findings of fa c t an d shall issue a n d cause to be served
•on such person an order requiring such person to cease a n d desist from such
unfair labor practice, a n d to ta k e such affirm ative action, including re in sta te m e n t
of em ployees w ith or w ith o u t back pay, as will effectuate th e policies of th is act.
Such order m ay fu rth e r require such person to m ake rep o rts from tim e to tim e
show ing th e ex ten t to w hich it has com plied w ith th e order. If upon all th e
testim o n y taken, th e B oard shall be of th e opinion th a t no person nam ed in th e
com plaint has engaged in or is engaging in any such u n fair lab o r practice, th e n
th e B oard shall sta te its findings of fa c t a n d shall issue an order dism issing th e
said com plaint.
(d ) U n til a tra n sc rip t of th e record in a case shall have been filed in a court,
as h erein after provided, th e B oard m ay a t an y tim e, upon reasonable notice and
in such- m an n er as it shall deem proper, m odify or set aside, in w hole or in p a rt,
any finding or order m ade or issued by it.
(e) T he B oard shall have pow er to p etitio n an y circuit co u rt of appeals of th e
U nited S tates (including th e C o u rt of A ppeals of th e D istric t of C olum bia), or
if all th e circuit courts of appeals to w hich applicatio n m ay be m ade are in v a c a
tion, an y d istrict co u rt of th e U n ited S tates (including th e Suprem e C o u rt of
th e D istrict of C olum bia), w ithin an y circuit or d istric t, respectively, wherein
th e unfair labor p ractice in question occurred or w herein such person resides or
tra n sa c ts business, for th e enforcem ent of such order a n d for a p p ro p ria te te m
p o rary relief or restrain in g order, an d shall certify a n d file in th e co u rt a tra n sc rip t
of th e entire record in th e proceeding, including th e pleadings an d testim o n y
upon w hich such order w as en tered an d th e findings an d order of th e B oard.
U pon such filing, th e co u rt shall cause notice th ereo f to be served upon such
person, an d th ereu p o n shall have jurisd ictio n of th e proceeding a n d of th e question
determ ined therein, a n d shall have pow er to g ra n t such tem p o ra ry relief or
restrain in g order as it deem s ju s t an d proper, an d to m ake a n d en te r upon th e
pleadings, testim ony , an d proceedings set fo rth in such tra n sc rip t a decree
enforcing, m odifying, an d enforcing as so m odified, or settin g aside in whole or in
p a rt th e order of th e B oard. No objection th a t has n o t been urged before th e
B oard, its m em ber, agent, or agency, shall be considered by th e court, unless th e
failure or neglect to urge such objection shall be excused because of ex trao rd in a ry
circum stances. T h e findings of th e B oard as to th e facts, if su p p o rted by evidence, shall be conclusive. If eith er p a rty shall a p p ly to th e co u rt for leave to
adduce ad d itio n al evidence a n d shall show to th e satisfactio n of th e co u rt th a t
such ad d itio n al evidence is m aterial an d th a t th e re were reasonable grounds for
th e failure to adduce such evidence in th e hearing before th e B oard, its m em ber,
agent, or agency, th e co u rt m ay order such ad d itio n al evidence to be ta k e n before
th e B oard, its m em ber, agent, or agency, a n d to be m ade a p a rt of th e tra n sc rip t.
T he B oard m ay m odify its findings as to th e facts, or m ake new findings, by
reason of ad d itio n al evidence so ta k e n a n d filed, a n d it shall file such m odified
•or new findings, w hich, if su p p o rte d b y evidence, shall be conclusive, an d shall
file its recom m endations, if an y , for th e m odification or settin g aside of its original
•order. T he jurisdictio n of th e co u rt shall be exclusive a n d its ju d g m e n t an d
•decree shall be final, except th a t th e sam e shall be su b ject to review by th e a p p ro
p ria te circuit co u rt of appeals if ap p licatio n was m ade to th e d istric t court as
.hereinabove provided, a n d by th e Suprem e C o u rt of th e U n ited S tates upon w rit
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of certiorari or certification as p rovided in sections 239 a n d 240 of th e Jud icial
Code, as am ended (U. S. C., title 28, secs. 346 a n d 347).
(/) Any person aggrieved by a final order of th e B oard g ran tin g or denying
in whole or in p a rt th e relief so u g h t m ay o b tain a review of such order in any
circuit c o u rt of appeals of th e U n ited S tates in th e circu it w herein th e u n fair lab o r
p ractice in question was alleged to h av e been engaged in or w herein such person
resides or tra n sa c ts business, or in th e C o u rt of A ppeals of th e D istric t of C olum
bia, by filing in such co u rt a w ritte n p e titio n p ray in g th a t th e order of th e B oard
be modified or set aside. A copy of such p e titio n shall be fo rth w ith served upon
th e B oard, and th ereu p o n th e aggrieved p a rty shall file in th e c o u rt a tra n sc rip t
of th e entire record in th e proceeding, certified by th e B oard, including th e p lead
ing an d testim o n y upo n w hich th e o rd er com plained of w as e n tered a n d th e find
ings and order of th e B oard. U pon such filing, th e c o u rt shall proceed in th e
sam e m an n er as ip. th e case of an ap p licatio n by th e B oard u n d er subsection (e),
a n d shall have th e sam e exclusive ju risd ictio n to g ra n t to th e B oard such te m
p o rary relief or restrain in g order as it deem s ju s t a n d proper, a n d in like m an n er
to m ake an d e n ter a decree enforcing, m odifying, a n d enforcing as so modified,
or se ttin g aside in w hole or in p a rt th e order of th e B oard; a n d th e findings of th e
B oard as to th e facts, if su p p o rted by evidence, shall in like m an n er be conclusive.
(g) T he com m encem ent of proceedings u n d er subsection (e) or (/) of th is
section shall n o t, unless specifically ordered by th e court, o p erate as a sta y of th e
B o ard ’s order.
(h) W hen g ran tin g a p p ro p ria te tem p o ra ry relief or a restrain in g order, or
m aking an d entering a decree enforcing, m odifying, a n d enforcing as so modified,
or settin g aside in whole or in p a rt an order of th e B oard, as pro v id ed in th is
section, th e jurisdictio n of courts sittin g in e q u ity shall n o t be lim ited by th e a c t
e n title d "A n a c t to am end th e Ju d icial Code an d to define an d lim it th e ju risd ic
tion of courts sittin g in equity, a n d for o th er p u rp o se s” , a p p ro v ed M arch 23,
1932 (U. S. C., Supp. V II, title 29, secs. 101-115).
00 P etitio n s filed u n d er th is a c t shall be h eard expeditiously and, if possible,,
w ithin 10 days a fte r th ey have been docketed.
S e c . 11. I n v e s tig a to r y p o w e r s .— F o r th e purpose of all hearings a n d inv estig a
tions, w hich, in th e opinion of th e B oard, are necessary a n d pro p er for th e exercise
of th e pow ers vested in it b y section 9 a n d section 10—
(1) T he B oard, or its d uly au th o rized agents or agencies, shall a t all reasonable
tim es have access to, for th e purpose of exam ination, a n d th e rig h t to copy an y
evidence of an y person being in v estig ated or proceeded ag ain st th a t relates to
an y m a tte r u nder in v estigation or in question. A ny m em ber of th e B oard
shall have pow er to issue subpenas requiring th e a tte n d a n c e a n d testim o n y
of w itnesses an d th e p ro d u ctio n of a n y evidence th a t relates to a n y m a tte r u n d er
investigation or in question, before th e B oard, its m em ber, agent, or agency
conducting th e hearin g or investigation. A ny m em ber of th e B oard, or any
a g en t or agency desig n ated by th e B oard for such purposes, m ay ad m in ister
oaths and affirm ations, exam ine w itnesses, a n d receive evidence. Such a tte n d
ance of w itnesses an d th e p ro d u ctio n of such evidence m ay be req u ired from an y
place in th e U nited S ta te s or a n y T e rrito ry or possession thereof, a t a n y desig
n a te d place of hearing.
(2) In case of contu m acy or refusal to obey a subpena issued to a n y person,
a n y D istric t C o u rt of th e U n ited S tates or th e U n ited S ta te s co u rts of a n y T e rri
to ry or possession, or th e Suprem e C o u rt of th e D istric t of C olum bia, w ith in th e
ju risdiction of w hich th e in q u iry is carried on or w ith in th e jurisd ictio n of w hich
said person guilty of co n tu m acy or refusal to obey is found or resides or tra n sa c ts
business, upon applicatio n by th e B oard shall have ju risd ictio n to issue to such
person an order requiring such person to ap p e a r before th e B oard, its m em ber.
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377
agent, or agency, th ere to produce evidence if so ordered, or th ere to give testim o n y
touching th e m a tte r u n d er in vestigation or in question; a n d an y failure to obey
such order of th e c o u rt m ay be p unished by said c o u rt as a co n te m p t thereof.
(3) No person shall be excused from a tte n d in g a n d testify in g or from p ro
ducing books, records, correspondence, docum ents, or other evidence in obedience
to th e subpena of th e B oard, on th e ground th a t th e testim o n y or evidence
required of him m ay te n d to incrim inate him or su b ject him to a p e n a lty or for
feitu re; b u t no indiv id u al shall be p rosecuted or su b jected to a n y p e n a lty or
forfeiture for or on acco u n t of an y tra n sa c tio n , m a tte r, or th in g concerning
w hich he is compelled, a fte r h av in g claim ed his privilege ag ain st self-incrim i
n atio n , to te stify or p roduce evidence, e x c e p t th a t such in dividual so testify in g
shall n o t be exem pt from prosecution a n d p u n ish m en t for p e rju ry co m m itted in
so testifying.
(4) C om plaints, orders, an d o th er process an d p ap ers of th e B oard, its m em ber,
agent, or agency, m ay be served eith er personally or by registered m ail or by
telegraph or by leaving a copy thereof a t th e p rin cip al office or place of business
of th e person required to be served. T he verified re tu rn by th e indiv id u al so
serving th e sam e settin g fo rth th e m an n er of such service shall be proof of th e
sam e, and th e re tu rn post-office receipt or teleg rap h receip t th erefo r w hen
registered an d m ailed or teleg rap h ed as aforesaid shall be proof of service of th e
sam e. W itnesses sum m oned before th e B oard, its m em ber, ag en t, or agency,
shall be p aid th e sam e fees an d m ileage th a t are p aid w itnesses in th e co u rts of
th e U n ited S tates, a n d w itnesses whose depositions are ta k e n a n d th e persons
ta k in g th e sam e shall severally be e n title d to th e sam e fees as are p aid for like
services in th e courts of th e U nited S tates.
(5) All process of an y c o u rt to w hich ap p licatio n m ay be m ad e u n d er th is a c t
m ay be served in th e judicial d istric t w herein th e d e fe n d a n t or o th e r person
required to be served resides or m ay be found.
(6) T he several d ep a rtm e n ts an d agencies of th e G o v ern m en t, w hen d irected
by th e P resid en t, shall fu rnish th e B oard, upon its request, all records, papers,
a n d inform ation in th e ir possession relatin g to an y m a tte r before th e B oard.
S e c . 12. V io la tio n s . — A ny person who shall w illfully resist, p rev en t, im pede,
or interfere w ith an y m em ber of th e B oard or an y of its agents or agencies in th e
perform ance of duties p u rs u a n t to th is a c t shall be p unished b y a fine of n o t m ore
th a n $5,000 or by im prisonm ent for n o t m ore th a n 1 year, or b o th .
S e c . 13. R ig h t to s tr ik e p r e s e r v e d . — N o th in g in th is a c t shall be co n stru ed so as to
interfere w ith or im pede or dim inish in an y w ay th e rig h t to strik e.
S e c . 14. C o n f lic tin g la w s . — W herever th e ap p licatio n of th e provisions of
section 7 (a) of th e N atio n al In d u s tria l R ecovery A ct (U. S. C., Supp. V II,
title 15, sec. 707 (a)), as am ended from tim e to tim e, or of section 77 B, p a ra
graphs (l ) a n d ( to) of th e a c t ap p ro v ed Ju n e 7, 1934, en title d “ An ac t to am end
a n a c t en titled ‘An a c t to establish a uniform system of b a n k ru p tc y th ro u g h o u t
th e U n ited S ta te s ’ ap p ro v ed Ju ly 1, 1898, a n d acts am e n d a to ry th ereo f an d
su p p lem en tary th e r e to ” (48 S ta t. 922, p ars. (Z) an d (to)), as am ended from tim e
to tim e, or of Public R esolution No. 44, ap p ro v ed June 19, 1934 (48 S ta t. 1183),
conflicts w ith th e applicatio n of th e provisions of th is act, th is a c t shall prevail:
P r o v id e d , T h a t in any situ a tio n w here th e provisions of th is a c t c an n o t be validly
enforced, th e provisions of such o th er acts shall rem ain in full force an d effect.
S ec . 15. C o n s titu tio n a lity . — If a n y provision of this a ct, or th e a p p licatio n of
such provision to an y person or circum stance, shall be held invalid, th e rem ain d er
of th is act, or th e applicatio n of such provision to persons or circum stances o th er
th a n those as to w hich it is held invalid, shall n o t be affected th ereb y .
S e c . 16. T itle o f a c t. — T his a c t m ay be cited as th e “ N atio n al L abor R elations
A ct.”
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Legislation R egulating H ours and W orking C onditions
in Colombia 1
ONTRACTS providing for paid vacations, sick and dismissal
benefits, and certain other advantages for private employees
other than laborers and those in official service in Colombia are regu
lated by Law No. 10, which became effective November 20, 1934.2
For purposes of this law an employee is an individual other than a
laborer who works for any other individual or entity, except the Gov
ernment, for remuneration of any kind. If the person for whom he
works is an intermediary for the owner, the intermediary and owner
are jointly responsible for the fulfillment of the employment contract.
The act requires that every contract for private employment shall
contain a definite statement of the work the employee obligates him
self to do, the amount, form, and time of remuneration, duration of
the contract, causes which would cancel it during its effective period,
and a health certificate issued by a graduate physician chosen and
paid by the employer. Contracts in force when the law goes into
effect must be put into writing and made to conform to the present
law within 60 days after the law becomes effective. Persons failing
to comply are held to the terms of a model contract prepared by the
General Labor Office and which may be revised as often as experience
shows that changes are advisable.
Advantages for employees secured by this law and the regulatory
decree include 15 days’ vacation each year at full pay, but neither
retroactive nor cumulative for more than one time and only then
when technical or confidential services are involved; benefits up to 120
days for sickness or accidents not due to the fault of the employee, at
the rate of two-thirds of regular pay for the first 60 days, one-half for
the next 30 days, and one-third for the remaining time ; and dismissal
compensation in case of discharge for cause other than bad conduct or
failure to carry out the terms of contract, at the rate of 1 month’s
pay for each year of service and proportional pay for fractions of years.
The decree specifies the causes for which the contract can be termi
nated with and without advance notice. For purpose of computation
of benefits the average pay for the last 3 years of service is to be taken,
or if the individual has worked less than 3 years in his present em
ployment, the average for the time worked. Dismissal compensation
is payable even at the termination of the contract unless the employee
rejects the offer of further employment on terms equal to those for
merly in force. Employment contracts not canceled in specified writ
ten form within 8 days after the expiration of their term shall be under-
C
1 Data are from report by S. Walter Washington, American chargé d’affaires ad interim, at Bogota., Apr.
9, 1935.
2 Colombia. Diario Oficial (Bogota), No. 22746, Nov. 27, 1934, arts. 12-20.
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LABOR LAWS
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stood to be continued on the same terms and for the same period as
before.
No employee shall be obliged to work more than 8 hours per day.
Absence for military service shall not be considered an interruption of
contract, and at the termination of such service the employee shall
be entitled to resume work. Native enterprises and foreign employers
operating in Colombia are prohibited from giving foreigners in their
employ guaranties or advantages superior to those they grant to native
Colombians under similar circumstances; infractions are punishable
by fine of from 200 to 1,000 pesos,3to be paid by the employer into the
National Treasury.
In case of controversy arising under the present law the contract
shall be considered full proof of respective obligations.
The rights guaranteed to employees by the present law cannot be
renounced in any way.
The law also exempts pharmacies and barber shops from the regula
tion concerning Sunday rest and grants permission for them to be
open voluntarily until 1 p. m. on holidays.
N e w M inimum -W age Legislation in Cuba 4
INIMUM daily wages of $1 in cities and in the sugar industry
and 80 cents in rural districts (with certain exceptions al
lowed by law), which were temporarily fixed by Decree-Law No. 727
of November 30, 1934,5were extended to “ commercial establishments
of whatever kind ” by Law No. 22 of March 19, 1935.6 The provisional
exemption of contract labor and piecework was abrogated, these
being brought within the purview of the minimum wage scale, if the
work performed occupies at least 8 hours per day. The payment of
minimum wages to laborers whose services are engaged by contract,
or who are employed on a piecework basis, is made necessary by the
recent large increase in the number of workers employed under these
conditions, the Government explains, in order to escape the effect of
Decree-Law No. 727.
M
s Peso at par=97.3 cents; average exchange rate in 1934 was 61.8 cents.
4 From report by W. N . Walmsley, Jr., American vice consul at Habana, Mar. 29, 1937.
s Gaceta Oficial (Habana), Dec. 3, 1934.
6 Gaceta Oficial, Mar. 20. 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
S trikes and L ockouts in Ju n e 1935
HIS year, for the first time in 20 years, there was an increase in
the number of strikes and lockouts beginning in June compared
to the number beginning in May. Preliminary reports indicate
158 strikes and lockouts beginning in June 1935 and 149 in May.
Last year 30 percent fewer strikes began in June than in May.
There were 159 strikes and lockouts which started previous to but
were not settled by June 1. This brought the number in progress
during June to a total of 317, the highest June figure since 1920.
One-third of the strikes called in June were in protest against
decreases in wages, increases in hours, or cancelation of other pro
visions in the codes. Most of these strikes occurred in the textile
and clothing industries and, with a few exceptions, in relatively small
firms. A more detailed analysis will appear in the October Monthly
Labor Review, by which time more accurate and definite information
will be available.
The largest labor dispute in progress during June was the strike of
25,000 lumbermen and loggers in the States of Washington and
Oregon. This strike was called on May 6, and was still unsettled at
the close of June.
Among the important disputes terminated in June were the oil
tankers’ strike on the Pacific Coast, the strike at the Glen Alden Coal
Co. in Pennsylvania, the strike at the J. I. Case Co., Racine, Wis.,
the truck drivers’ strike in Pittsburgh, and the strike of brick and
clay workers in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania.
Pacific coast tankers’ strike.—The ending of the bitter 3 months’
strike of Pacific coast longshoremen and seamen on July 30, 1934,
did not bring about the hoped-for peace in the shipping industry.
There were scores of sporadic stoppages of work, so-called “ quickie
strikes”, by groups of longshoremen or seamen in protest against
suspected discrimination or noncompliance by employers with deci
sions of the National Longshoremen’s Board. The Board, appointed
by President Roosevelt during the general strike, conducted elections
during the fall and winter to determine which organizations should
represent the workers in collective bargaining, and held hearings on
specific grievances and demands of unions.
T
380
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INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
381
As a result of an election held in January 1935 the National Long
shoremen’s Board declared the International Seamen’s Union the
bargaining agency for seamen employed on oil tankers. The union
and tanker owners thereupon started to negotiate on wages, hours,
and working conditions but were unable to reach an agreement.
The seamen suspected the tanker owners of undermining their union
because of the number of nonunion men being employed. The union
demanded that the owners give union men preference in employment
as a condition prerequisite to arbitration of other matters. The
owners refused to agree to union preference in employment. There
upon the International Seamen’s Union called a strike on March 9.
A few days later the Radio Telegraphists’ Association and the Marine
Engineers’ Beneficial Association declared strikes on oil tankers in
sympathy. The strike was declared against six companies: Associ
ated Oil Co., General Petroleum Corporation of California, Richfield
Oil Co. of California, Hillcone Steamship Co., the Union Oil Co.
of California, and Standard Oil Co. of California.
At the beginning, shipment of oil was severly restricted. Within a
few weeks the companies hired enough men to operate at least one-third
of the tankers. On April 8 the Pacific coast tanker operators issued a
statement, addressed to the special mediation board which had been
appointed by the Secretary of Labor, specifying wage rates, hours, and
working conditions as well as the terms on which the strikers would be
reemployed. A wage increase was offered, but it was not retroactive to
the settlement of the general strike (July 31, 1934), although some
other Pacific coast ship operators had accepted such a provision. The
operators promised that there would be no discrimination because of
union membership and that no new men would be employed until all
former employes had been given the opportunity of reemployment.
The tanker operators would not, however, agree to discharge seamen
employed during the strike in order to make room for strikers.
Some of the unions seemed to be willing to accept these terms. A
few days later representatives from all the sea-going and longshoremen
unions on the Pacific coast met in Seattle for the purpose of unifying
their forces. This meeting resulted in the organization of the Maritime
Federation of the Pacific, which includes the International Seamen’s
Union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, the Marine
Engineers’ Beneficial Association, the Masters, Mates, and Pilots, and
the American Radio Telegraphists’ Association, representing in all
about 35,000 maritime workers. The new Maritime Federation voted
sympathy with the tankers’ strike and threatened a general strike
vote. While they gave up the original demand for the preferential
union shop, the Maritime Federation demanded the discharge of all
strike breakers before they would discuss any other terms. On April
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
25 the mediation board publicly announced a break-down in their
efforts toward peaceful settlement. Although the Maritime Federa
tion announced threats of a general strike among all water-front work
ers, individual unions voted against a general walk-out. The district
convention of the longshoremen, meeting the first week in May,
agreed to handle oil cargoes. The Masters, Mates, and Pilots’ Union,
which, on April 10, had been able to get signed agreements covering
over 6,000 of its members, was opposed to a general walk-out.
The Maritime Federation thereupon telegraphed to Washington,
asking for an arbitration board and expressed willingness “ to arbi
trate everything.” The Secretary of Labor appointed an arbitration
board on May 16. Meanwhile, however, so many of the striking
tanker seamen had been returning individually to their old jobs that
the oil companies were unwilling to appear before the arbitration
board, saying that they had “nothing to arbitrate.”
On June 17, the secretary of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific stated
that the 4-months’ oil tankers’ strike was ended. The collapse of
this strike left the oil tankers on the Pacific coast the onlv large
group of workers in the seagoing merchant service unprotected by
union agreements or arbitration awards.
Glen Alden Coal Co.—For 35 years the United Mine Workers of
America have had collective agreements with the various anthracite
companies, among them the Glen Alden Coal Co., most of whose
collieries are located m Luzerne County, Pa. Two years ago a group
of miners, dissatisfied with the policies pursued by the United Mine
Workers, withdrew and organized the United Anthracite Miners
of Pennsylvania. Last December the United Anthracite Miners'
called a strike against the Glen Alden Coal Co. which was serious
enough to force the company to arrange a truce with them.
The United Mine Workers charged that the company thus violated
the terms of its agreement with the United Miners by negotiating
with another group. Rivalry between the two organizations, which
grew more intense, led to another strike called on February 4. The
United Anthracite Miners demanded recognition of their union and
opposed the forced payment of union dues to the United Mine
Workers through the check-off. About 7,000 members of the United
Anthracite Miners engaged in the strike which affected 12 collieries.
On February 7, upon the petition of the company, the county
judge declaied the strike an unlawful act and granted sweeping
injunctions which restrained the new union from inducing miners
to leave their work, from congregating or loitering on highways, or
meeting in assembly to discuss means of carrying on the strike.
A week later the judge ordered the United Anthracite Miners to
call off the strike as being illegal. When the officers refused to cal]
off the strike, the company filed contempt proceedings, whereupon
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the district president of the United Anthracite Miners and 50 other
leaders were put in jail. In the meantime there had been con
tinual outbreaks of violence along the picket lines. Several persons
were shot, a number of homes dynamited, and scores of pickets
arrested.
By the first of April the situation had become so serious that the
Governor of Pennsylvania ordered an investigation by the attorney
general. The United Mine Workers objected to the Governor’s
proposal that a referendum be held, saying that they would hold
the Glen Alden Coal Co. to its contract, which does not expire until
March 31, 1936.
The United Anthracite Mine officials who had been arrested on
contempt of court appealed to the State supreme court. This
court overruled the county court, describing the mandatory order
to terminate the strike as “ unusual, extraordinary, and unprece
dented.” The officers convicted for contempt of court for not
calling off the strike were thereupon released from jail by the county
judge, but not those convicted on charges of violence.
On June 6, the United Anthracite Miners voted to discontinue their
18-week-old strike when the company promised to fill 1,500 vacancies
from their ranks and to employ more of them as vacancies occurred.
J. I. Case Co., Racine, Wis.-—During the summer of 1933, unem
ployed and partially-employed workers of Racine County, Wis.,
organized a Racine Workers’ Council, the immediate purpose of
which was “ to get more and better relief.” When the industrial
situation improved and many of the unemployed were able to find
jobs, the council was reorganized into the Wisconsin Industrial
Union. Workers of the J. I. Case Co., manufacturers of agricultural
machinery and the largest concern in the city^, became Case Branch,
Local No. 1. This organization obtained a large majority of the
total votes cast at an election held by the Regional Labor Relations
Board in March 1934.
On March 13, 1935, this newly organized union called a strike
against the Case Co., a concern which had prided itself on continu
ous operation for several generations with no serious labor troubles.
The immediate cause of the strike was a demand for recognition of the
union, wage increases of 40 percent for common labor and 25 per
cent for skilled labor, and seniority rights. The latter became a
major issue because of its intimate connection with union member
ship and strength. Between the 1934 election and the beginning of
strike agitation, business had improved and the company’s pay-roll
had increased from about 1,200 to 2,150 employees. The union
claimed that in building up its force the company had taken on
new nonunion men instead of reemploying old workers..
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
Neither side was willing to make any concessions. For a time the
picketing was so effective that not even salesmen or owners were per
mitted to enter their offices. Early in the strike a group of citizens
stormed the City Hall, accusing the mayor of being in sympathy
with the strike and threatening the formation of a vigilante. United
States Department of Labor conciliators, as well as the governor’s
representatives, tried to bring about a settlement but were unable
even to get the two sides together. On May 14, after much hesita
tion and patient effort on the part of the judge to bring about peace,
the court granted an injunction limiting picketing to 100 pickets at
any time.
Several weeks later, through the efforts of the Second Assistant
Secretary of Labor, the company announced a statement of policy
regarding wages and employment conditions. Although the officers
of the union frankly expressed dissatisfaction with the terms offered,
the strikers were induced to take a secret ballot. As a result of the
secret ballot, the strike was terminated on June 1, and all the strikers
were immediately taken back.
The statement of policy, addressed by the company to the bar
gaining committee of the Wisconsin Industrial Union, provided for
some slight increases in wages (1 cent to 4 cents an hour in the lower
brackets), equalization of pay rates on similar work, reemployment of
all workers without discrimination, and seniority rights. With
regard to union recognition the company promised to “ deal with and
treat impartially the duly authorized representatives of Case em
ployees who are members of Case branch of the Wisconsin Industrial
Union, or the duly authorized representatives of any other group of
Case employees, or individual Case employees not so represented. ”
Truck drivers’ strike, Pittsburgh.—A 6-months strike of 275 truck
drivers employed by 3 companies in Pittsburgh terminated on
June 21 with a compromise settlement. The contract which the
union, Local No. 249, affiliated with the American Federation of
Labor, had with the companies expired on December 8, 1934. The
union claimed that the employers proposed a cut in wages when offering
to renew the agreement, whereupon the union demanded an increase
in wages. The companies say the union demanded wage increases
when renewal of contract was first brought up.
Because the companies were the contract haulers for the Atlantic
and Pacific stores, organized labor in Pittsburgh assumed that the
A. & P. stores were backing the trucking firms in their refusal to renew
their contracts. The Central Labor Union put the A. & P. stores on
their “ We Do Not Patronize” list, and all the stores were picketed.
With the help of a Department of Labor conciliator, two of the
trucking companies and the union signed a contract on June 21, pro
viding for 2% cents an hour increase in pay and the reemployment of
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385
all strikers as resumption of business made this possible. During the
strike the A. & P. management had employed independent truckers to
do some of their hauling and had transferred some of the business to
the railroads, but the store management promised to return as much
business as possible to the two trucking firms. The third firm went
out of business during the strike.
Brick and clay workers' strike in Ohio and Pennsylvania.—In 1929
there were 11 locals of the United Brick and Clay Workers of America
in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania. During the
depression these became little more than paper organizations. As a
result of vigorous organization drives during 1933 and two partially
successful general strikes called in May and June 1934, the number of
local unions scattered throughout the vitrified clay products areas of
Ohio and Pennsylvania increased to 40. With several companies
the unions had been able to get signed agreements providing closed
shop, check-off, and a minimum wage of 43 cents an hour. With
other plants, unwilling to sign closed-shop agreements, a minimum
wage of 45 cents was established.
These agreements expired March 31. The union demanded that
closed shop and check-off, with a minimum wage of 50 cents in all
plants, be provided in the new agreements. When the employers
refused, the union called the third general strike within a year. This
strike involved 17 brick and clay companies, the largest of which
was the Kobinson Clay Products Co., employing 775 workers in 6
plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Most of the companies were forced to close down completely. On
April 18, one company at Toronto, Ohio, tried to open with strike
breakers. Pickets from neighboring plants rushed to the scene and
in the turmoil 1 striker was killed and 4 injured. There was no
further violence, although peaceful picketing continued throughout
the area.
On June 9 the strike was settled when 12 companies, including the
larger ones, signed an agreement recognizing the union and granting a
47-cent minimum hour wage and a 40-hour week, but not granting
the check-off.
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW — -AUGUST 1935
Strikes and L ockouts, January 1934 to June 1935
Number of strikes and lockouts—
Month
1934
January _________________________
February_________________________
M arch... _______________
. . .
April____________________________
M ay_____________ _ __________
J u n e . .. ___
__________ ____ ____
July-------------------------------------------______ .
August _______ . .
September____ ____ ________ __
October .
. . . . . _______ _
November. __ . . . _______ _ _____
D ecem ber... ___
_______ .
1935
Janu ary... . . . ._ _. ______ ____
February_____ _ _ _. . . . ______
March_________ _ _. . . . ________
A pril.. _______ ____ _______ _ _
M ay <___ ________. _ ______ _
Ju n ei_______ ____ ______
___
Beginning—
Workers involv
ed in strikes
and lockouts—
In
In
prog Ended effect
in
ress
at end Begin
Prior
In
during month of
ning in
to
month month
month month month
30
43
52
70
102
109
130
98
106
85
89
97
78
81
101
115
144
159
91
92
164
121
101
135
216
281
326
265
258
255
233
260
203
198
136
142
152
157
149
158
214
223
253
272
293
317
211
224
156
128
157
127
175
114
78
83
146
179
217
135
160
149
148
171
106
120
133
122
138
128
134
181
43
52
70
102
109
130
98
106
85
89
97
78
81
101
115
144
159
133
Mandays
idle
during
month
In prog
ress
during
month
41,628
85,727
94,117
158, 887
165,815
41, 263
151, 432
63,447
413,383
75,688
36,102
26,119
80,880
110,910
127,742
199,580
249,693
106,852
219,037
122,144
486,798
102,971
98,201
73,481
668, 301
939, 580
1,424,833
2,517,749
2, 226,069
1,676, 265
2,020,172
1, 735,672
4,029,155
852,787
841,570
376, 297
84, 450
61,319
51,475
64,872
95, 000
37, 000
94,417
96,855
94,808
119, 781
147, 000
119, 000
776,711
846,833
956,939
1, 215,486
1, 743,000
1,575,000
1 Preliminary.
A nalysis o f S trikes and L ockouts in A p ril 1935
URING April there were 157 new strikes and lockouts, each of
which involved six or more persons and lasted 1 day or longer.
In addition to these, 15 strikes involving fewer than 6 workers and
12 strikes lasting less than 1 day came to the attention of the Bureau.
Since no details of strikes and lockouts involving fewer than 6 persons
and lasting less than 1 day are collected by the Bureau, these are not
included in the analysis.
The textile industries experienced a greater number of strikes and
lockouts than any other industrial group—23 of the 157 being in
these industries. There were 16 strikes and lockouts in the industries
manufacturing lumber and allied products, 16 in building and con
struction, 13 in iron and steel, 12 in wholesale and retail trade, 12 on
relief projects, and 10 in the industries manufacturing food and
kindred products. None of the other industrial groups experienced
as many as 10 new strikes and lockouts during the month of April.
Further information can be found in table 1, which shows the
number of strikes and lockouts beginning in April, and the number of
workers involved in such disputes by industry. It also gives figures
by industry on the total number of strikes and lockouts in progress
during the month, which includes those which began prior to but
continued into April, and the number of man-days of idleness in each
industry because of strikes and lockouts.
D
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INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
T able 1 .— Strikes and L ockouts in April 1935, b y In d u stry
Beginning in April
Industry
Workers
Number involved
A ll in d u s t r ie s _____________________________ - —
I r o n a n d ste e l a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts , n o t in c iu d in g m a c h in e r y _____ ______ __________________ _
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling m ills----Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets. . . . . - ____
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery), and edge tools----------------------------------Hardware --------------- -------------------------------Stoves----------------- ------ ------------ -----------------Other_____
... .
------------------------------M a c h in e r y , n o t in c l u d in g tr a n s p o r t a t io n
e q u ip m e n t _ _ . .
__________________________
Agricultural implements_____________________
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies. .
Radios and phonographs-___________________
T r a n s p o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t
___________________
Automobiles, bodies, and parts----------------------Shipbuilding-------- ------------------------------------N o n f e r r o u s m e t a ls a n d t h e ir p r o d u c ts --------------
Stamped and enameled w a r e ________________
L u m b e r a n d a llied p r o d u c t s ___________ _____ _
Furniture . __ ____________ ____ _______ ____
Millwork and planing_______ _______ ________
Sawmills___________________________ ______
Other____________________________ ____ _____
S t o n e , c la y , a n d g la ss p r o d u c t s ________________
Brick, tile, and terra cotta--------------------- . . . .
-------------------------- --- G l a s s . . ---- . . .
Marble, granite, slate, and other products_____
P o tte r y __________ _____________________ Other." -----------------------------------------------------T ex tiles a n d th e ir p r o d u c t s ______ . . -------------Fabrics:
Cotton goods------------------------- ------------Dyeing and finishing textiles------------ -------K nit goods----- --------- -----------------------------Silk and rayon g o o d s.................... - -----------Woolen and worsted goods_______________
Other.. . . . ------------------------------------------Wearing apparel:
Clothing, m en’s ............ - ...........- ------ ---------Clothing, women’s_______________________
M illinery...............................................................
Shirts and collars------------- --------- - ................
Other______________________________ ____
L e a th e r a n d its m a n u f a c t u r e s ------------- --------Boots and shoes ___________________________
Leather___
. --------- ------------------------------Other leather goods _ _____________________
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c t s ----------------------------Baking________________________ - ------ ----------Beverages___________________________ ____ —
Canning and preserving............ - ......................... .
Confectionery-------------------------- ---------- --------Flour and grain m ills-----------------------------------I c e c r e a m --------------- ------ ------------------------Slaughtering and meat packing.. . . . ----------T ob acco m a n u fa c tu r es
. . . __ _ _________
Cigars _ ______ _______ __________________
P a p e r a n d p r in t in g ____ . ----------------------------Printing and publishing:
Book and job ---------------------------------------Newspapers and periodicals---------------------R u b b e r p r o d u c t s ___ _________ --- ----------------Rubber tires and inner tubes........... .....................
Other rubber goods............................................... .
M is c e lla n e o u s m a n u f a c t u r in g ------------- ------Electric light, power, and manufactured gas----Fnrrip.rs and fur fantori os __________________
Other_____________________ _______ ______ ___
E x tr a c tio n o f m i n e r a l s ----- -------------------- - . . .
C oalm ining------- ------ --------- - -------------------[ Quarrying and non-metallic mining— ------------Crude petroleum producing......... .................. .........
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In progress during
April
Mandays idle
during
April
Workers
Number involved
157
64,872
272
119,781
1,215,486
13
3
3,955
3, 200
18
3
6,132
3,200
1,192
70,114
19,500
25,082
1
1
53
46
310
346
i
i
3
5
53
46
310
1,331
920
l,08o
23,320
3
1
1
945
141
804
5
2
1
2
7
5,799
5,649
150
7
6,013
2, 291
804
2,918
5,799
5,649
150
70,851
47,723
6,432
16, 696
19,795
18, 295
1,500
6
1
1
1
16
7
1
7
2
321
321
4,063
650
14
3,344
55
3
8
6
1
2
2
22
11
2
8
1
10
1
6
3,168
3
1
2,685
300
2
23
183
23,777
1
1
1
2
53
1
2
2
6
1
2
500
256
6
2
5
1
1
1
1
1
112
16,141
4,597
35,058
903
120
3,519
55
3,658
183
377,160
3,766
256
376
1,797
1,528
3,435
50,582
659
6,045
19,770
9,105
201,957
4,064
22,379
200
7
9
4
37
350
3
1,156
28,059
707
37
575
431
6
1,164
1
2
19
2
6
7,146
1
3
10
1
2
1
2
1
1
2
1,747
300
425
209
238
114
180
281
5
316
2
3
2
1
1
9
1
273
43
190
58
1 , 252
250
8
6
1,002
2,414
248
1,849
565
3
2
1
1
4
69,296
41,692
571
17,200
120
7,695
2,458
24,630
275
62, 395
3, 600
1,760
400
1,141
2,895
300
80
12
2
2
431
1
5
16,141
865
1,118
78
3,435
1
5
5
865
212
230
431
503
5,300
605
358
238
114
180
351
6 ,112
74, 730
111
4,025
5,060
6,465
10,854
124,517
100,300
9,610
3,772
732
1,140
2,700
6,263
2
2
7
355
7,690
355
7,690
335
3,869
3
4
2
1
1
20
2
280
55
248
190
58
3,358
511
3,506
42,403
820
133
2,553
17,540
2,756
22,107
15,043
114,932
14,229
805
106,557
8,105
270
4
14
12
8
3
1 1
9
496
380
116
388
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
T able 1 .— Strikes and L ock ou ts in April 1935, b y In d u str y — C on tin ued
Beginning in April
In progress during
April
Workers
Number involved
Workers
Number involved
Industry
T r a n s p o r ta tio n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n _________
Water transportation_______________ _________
Motor transportation___________________ . . _
Electric railroad____ ____ __________________ .
T r a d e _____________________________________________
Wholesale________ __________________________
Retail___
------------- ---------------------------D o m e s tic a n d p e r s o n a l serv ice ____ ____________
Hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses______
Personal service, barbers, beauty parlors______
L aundries________________ ________________
Dyeing, cleaning, and pressing______________B u ild in g a n d c o n s t r u c t io n
________________ __
Buildings, exclusive of P. W. A ____
All other construction (bridges, docks, etc.,
and P. W. A. buildings)......................... ..............
A g r ic u ltu r e , e t c _________ _________ ______________
Agriculture___________ ___________ _______ . .
F ish in g ____________________________________
R e lie f w o r k _____________________________ ________ _
O th e r n o n m a n u f a c t u r i n g in d u s t r ie s __________
7
4
2
1
12
2
10
G
1
1
2
2
2,192
417
1,507
268
1,408
340
1,068
8,603
40
200
16
9
6
1
18
3
15
11
4
1
1G
11
613
7, 750
786
550
5
236
1
1
2,000
2,000
12
1,358
I
17
89
2
2
3
3
21
13
8
2
1
4,612
2,158
2,186
268
2,167
378
1,789
8,847
129
200
752
7, 766
1,842
635
1,207
2,010
2,000
10
Mandays idle
during
April
80,254
51, 246
26,864
2,144
26,876
7,528
19,348
80,052
2, 734
1,600
17,052
58, 666
23,064
4, 769
18, 295
8,070
8,000
3,661
21,691
89
778
More than 40 percent of the country’s strikes and lockouts in April
took place within the three States of New York, Ohio, and Pennsyl
vania. Of the 157 strikes and lockouts beginning in April, there
were 24 in Pennsylvania, 23 in New York, and the same number in
Ohio. Of the 272 strikes and lockouts in progress during the month,
39, involving more than 19,000 workers, were in Pennsylvania; 46,
involving over 13,000 workers, were in New York; and 30, involving
over 12,000 workers, were in Ohio.
Twelve disputes in progress during the month extended across
State lines. The largest of these were the National Biscuit Co.
strike which had been in progress since January, with striking em
ployees in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia; the
strike of oil tanker seamen on the Pacific coast which began in March;
the strike of dressmakers involving workers in New York, New Jer
sey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut; and the strike of clay workers
in Ohio, and western Pennsylvania.
Table 2 gives information, by States, on the number of strikes and
lockouts, number of workers involved, and man-days of idleness in
April 1935.
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INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
T able 2 .— Strikes and L ock ou ts in April 1935, b y S ta tes
In progress during
April
Beginning in
April
State
Workers Number Workers
Number involved
involved
All States........... ........ ...............................- ........................
157
64,872
272
119, 781
Alabama
__________________ , ___________
California _________________________ - _________
Connecticut__ _________________________________
Florida
,
_ ________________
Georgia
_ ___________________________________
Idaho
________________________________
Illinois
_________________________- ______
Indiana
_ ________________________________
TTentiicky
_________________
Louisiana................................- -------------------------------Maine
- _________________
Maryland
__ ____________
Massachusetts
______________________________
Michigan
_ __________________ - __ Minnesota
__________________________
Missouri _
___________________________ ______
Montana
_ ___________________
New Hampshire
- - - ___
N ew Jersey _ _ ______________________________
N ew York
_ _____________________________
North Carolina
_____ - ______
North Dakota
- ________ - - - - - ___
Ohio
_________ _____________________
Oklahoma
_______________________________
Oregon
_ ___________ ___________ - _________
Pennsylvania
_ _______________________
"Rhode Island
_ __________________________
South Carolina
________________
Ten n essee
____________ - ______________
___ _______________________
Texas
Vermont
___________________ - _________
Virginia
____________________________
12
15
9
4
2 ,110
4
3
1,768
977
587
1
120
1
2
60
701
208
1
150
5
3, 844
2,390
31
85
180
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Interstate
____________________ -----_ ________________-______
_______ ______________________
_____________ - ________________
9
7
2
2
2
9
23
23
1
1
24
1
30
2
2
7
78
541
80
1,661
13, 537
3
1
7, 592
500
430
5, 514
31
150
790
592
1,724
23,182
8
1,2 10
14
5
13
46
55
2,042
1
1
8
2
2
1
1,429
9, 662
2
1
1
1
1
1
8
9
3
1.569
1,416
150
1,830
60
11,059
• 1,432
870
150
175
150
5, 835
2,483
91
112
1
1
35
12, 603
500
510
19,315
93
840
230
2, 672
78
185
1,244
694
4,019
30, 242
1
4
39
2
1
2
5
1
2
9
4
11
12
Mandays
idle
during
April
1,215,486
28,071
10,876
21,128
3,030
20, 610
240
95, 322
20, 602
870
300
3,850
1, 500
88,449
17,846
678
25,037
4,973
1,760
13, 481
126,069
560
910
94,472
8, 500
5, 264
160, 392
1,581
18, 480
4,125
22,010
312
2,165
12, 217
5,456
55, 528
338,822
'
Almost half of the total number of strikes and lockouts, as shown
in table 3, involved fewer than 100 workers each; only 10 involved
1,000 or more workers.
The two largest disputes were the general strike of 13,000 dress
makers in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut,
and the strike of 6,000 cleaners and dyers in New York City.
The number of workers involved in each strike includes the number
of active strikers as well as other employees in the same establish
ments who are thrown out of work as a result of the strike.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
390
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
T able 3.— Strikes an d L ockouts B eginning in A pril 1935, Classified by N u m b er
of W orkers Involved
Number of strikes and lockouts in which the
number of workers involved was—
Industrial group
All industries_____________
Total
157
20
100
500
1,000
6 and and
and
and
and
under under
under
under under
20
100
500
1,000
5,000
20
60
52
5.000
and
under
10.000
1
10,000
and
over
1
Manufacturing
Iron and steel and their products, not includ
ing m achinery... . . .
Machinery, not including transportation
e q u ip m e n t..___
Transportation equipment— . . .
Nonferrous metals and their products
.Lumber and allied products
Stone, clay, and glass products
Textiles and their products
Leather and its manufactures_____
Food and kindred products_____
Paper and p r in t in g ......... ...........
Rubber products________
Miscellaneous manufactures. .
8
13
2
2
2
i
1
7
4
i
1
16
3
6
1
10
5
2
10
23
1
5
3
9
2
2
1
9
1
1
l
1
i
5
2
2
1
2
9
3
3
1
2
1
3
6
1
4
9
2
i
7
1
1
2
1
Nonmanufacturing
Extraction of minerals..........
Transportation and communication.
T rade.... _______
Domestic and personal service..........
Building and construction________ .
Agriculture, e t c _____________
Relief w o r k ...... ................ .........
Other nonmanufacturing in d u stries___
6
7
12
6
16
1
12
2
9
1
1
6
1
2
3
1
3
3
1
2
1
1
l
5
1
Wages and hours were the major issues in more than 40 percent of
the strikes and lockouts which began in April. These included nearly
60 percent of the total number of workers engaged in strikes and
lockouts beginning during the month. Matters related to labor
organization were the major issues in 44 percent of the strikes and
lockouts which involved 35 percent of the total number of workers.
The 19 strikes and lockouts shown in table 4 under “ Other” in
volved such issues as increased work loads, relief workers demanding
that certain persons be placed on relief rolls, collection of back pay,
and objections to working under certain foremen.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
391
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T able 4.— M ajor Issues In v o lv ed in S trikes a n d L ockouts B eginning in A pril 1935
Strikes and lockouts
Major issue
Percent of
total
Number
Workers involved
Number
Percent of
total
Total_______ _________________ ____ _____ __________
157
100.0
64,872
100.0
Wages and hours_________ ____ ____________________
Wage increase,,- ---------------------- ------------ --------Wage decrease-- — ---------------------------- -------- —
Wage increase, hour decrease___________________
Wage decrease, hour increase___________________
Wages and other causes _______________________
Hour increase_____________________________ ____
Hour decrease_________________________________
Organization _______________ ____________________
Recognition, _
. . ________ - ______________
Recognition and wages___ _
_______ _____ ___
Recognition and hours_________________________
Recognition, wages and hours_____________ _____
Recognition and other causes___________________
Closed sh o p ,. ------------------------------------------------Violation of agreement ___________ ___________
Discrimination________ ____________ _____ ____
Miscellaneous_____________________________________
Sym pathy___________________________ _____ ___
Jurisdiction- ........ .........................- ------ ---------------Other
. ___________ ____________ _______
N ot reported _________________________________
64
40.8
13.4
7.0
4.5
37,445
3,001
5,465
3,328
1,384
23,848
57.7
4.6
8.4
5.1
21
11
7
1
22
1
1
69
9
14
1
14
2
12
6
11
24
1
2
.6
14.1
.6
.6
43.9
5.7
8.9
.6
8.9
1.3
7.7
3.8
7.0
15.3
.6
1.3
19
1 2 .1
2
1.3
210
209
22,452
1,269
1, 793
114
12,614
63
1,745
722
4,132
4,975
50
440
4,105
380
2 .1
36.9
.3
.3
34.6
2.0
2.8
.2
19.3
.1
2.7
1 .1
6.4
7.7
.1
.7
6.3
.6
The duration of the 128 strikes and lockouts which ended in April
is shown in table 5. The average duration was about 10% calendar
days. Fifty of the 128 strikes and lockouts lasted less than 1 week,
25 lasted more than 1 month.
The 3 cases which continued for more than 3 months were: (1)
A strike of 100 silk workers in Reynoldsville, Pa., called in January
because back wages were not paid in accordance with an agreement
signed the previous month. The mill was closed on April 26, the
workers not yet having received their back wages. (2) A strike of 8
furniture workers in Brooklyn, N. Y., called on January 23 because
of wage cuts. The furniture workers returned on April 30, with no
change in wage rates. (3) The National Biscuit Co. strike of 6,000
workers called in January and settled the last of April with the return
of all strikers without discrimination and some changes in working
conditions. (A brief description of this strike appeared in the June
Monthly Labor Review.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
392
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
'Table 5.— D u ra tio n of S trikes an d L ockouts E n d in g in A pril 1935
N u m b er of strikes and lockouts w ith duration
of—
Industrial group
1 week
to 1 and 2 and
3
and
less
less
months
less
than
2
than
3
or
week
to than 1 months months more
month month
Total Less
than
and
less
than
1
All industries.................. .........................................
Manufacturing
Iron and steel and their products, not including
machinery________________________________
Machinery, not including transportation equip
m e n t..___________ _________________ ____
Transportation equipment........ ..............................
Nonferrous metals and their products___________
Lumber and allied products_________ _____ ___
Stone, clay, and glass products.................................
Textiles and their products................................ ......
Leather and its manufactures__________________
Food and kindred products___________________
Tobacco manufactures.......... .....................................
Miscellaneous manufactures.....................................
Nonmanufacturing
Extraction of minerals____________ _____ _____
Transportation and communication..................... ...
Trade____________________________ _________
Building and construction....................... ................
Agriculture_________ ______________ ___ _____
Relief work______________ ________________ __
Other nonmanufacturing industries_____________
128
50
11
8
2
1
3
1
10
3
29
1
6
1
6
7
7
27
26
16
1
1
3
1
3
2
1
1
5
14
2
2
2
6
3
7
2
1
1
3
6
1
1
1
2
1
4
14
1
1
4
11
12
2
3
6
1
1
2
2
2
2
4
4
1
1
2
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
Of the 128 strikes and lockouts which terminated in April, 110
were terminated by some kind of formal settlement as indicated in
table 6. Nearly 7 percent of the workers obtained settlements through
direct negotiations with their employers, 42.5 percent of the workers
obtained settlements through the negotiations of their union repre
sentatives, 24 percent were assisted by Government conciliators or
labor boards, and 4 percent were assisted by private conciliators or
arbitrators.
Eighteen of the strikes terminated with no formal settlement. In
most of these cases, the workers simply drifted back to work with
no change in their working status. In some cases, the strikers lost
their jobs when the employers hired new workers to take their places
or discontinued operations in the particular locality—either going
out of business or moving to a new location.
T able 6 .— M ethods of N eg o tiatin g T ow ard S e ttle m e n t of S trikes an d L ockouts
E n d in g in A pril 1935
Strikes and lockouts
N egotiations tow ard settlem en ts carried on b y —
Number
Percent of
total
Workers involved
Number
Percent of
total
All methods___________________ ______ ____________
128
100.0
68,193
Employer and workers directly._________ __________
Employer and representative of organized workers
directly________________________________________
Government conciliators and labor boards_________ _
Private conciliators or arbitrators........................ ..............
Terminated without formal settlement______________
17
13.3
4, 503
6.6
45
46
35.2
35.8
29,038
16, 340
2, 700
15,612
42.5
24.0
4.0
22.9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
18
1.6
14.1
100.0
393
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Table 7 classifies the 128 strikes and lockouts which ended in April
according to the degree of success or failure in obtaining original
demands.
In 59 cases averaging 204 workers, settlements favorable to the
workers were obtained; 38 cases averaging 663 workers, were settled
unfavorably to the workers; in 27 cases averaging 1,143 workers,
compromise settlements were reached.
T able 7.— R esu lts of S trikes an d L ockouts E n d in g in A pril 1935
Strikes and lockouts
Result
Number
Percent of
total
Number
Percent of
total
68,193
12, 045
25,204
30,853
91
100.0
128
59
38
27
4
All settlements------- ---------------------------------------------Favorable to workers------------------ ------------ --------------Unfavorable to workers------------- . -------------------- . . .
Compromise.. ---------------------- - - --------------------N ot r e p o r t e d ..------ -----------------------------------------
Workers involved
46.1
29.7
2 1 .1
3.1
100.0
17.7
37.0
45.2
.1
The results of the 128 strikes and lockouts which ended in April in
relation to the major issues involved are indicated in table 8. The
workers obtained favorable settlements in 41 percent of the disputes
in which wages and hours were the major issues, and in 51 percent
of the cases wherein organization matters were the major issues.
The workers lost 23.5 percent of the wage and hour disputes and 29
percent of the organization disputes. Compromise settlements were
reached in 29 percent of the wage and hour disputes and in 18 per
cent of the disputes pertaining to labor organization matters.
T able 8.-—R esults of S trikes and L ockouts E nding in A pril 1935 in R elation to
M ajo r Issues Involved
Number of strikes and lockouts, the
results of which were—
Major issue
All issuesWages and hours________________
Wage increase_______________
Wage decrease................. ............
Wage increase, hour decrease...
Wage decrease, hour increase..
Wages and other causes.............
Hour decrease..............................
Organization—....................................
Recognition________ _____ —
Recognition and wages_______
Recognition, wages, and hours.
Recognition and other causes..
Closed shop_________________
Violation of agreement—. ........ .
Discrimination......................—
Miscellaneous_______ ____ ______
Sym pathy.....................................
Other---- -------- ----- ------ ---------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Total
Favor
able to
workers
128
51
18
12
4
2
14
1
55
6
13
8
3
9
7
9
22
3
19
Unfavor Compro
able to
mises
workers
38
Not re
ported
394
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
C onciliation W ork o f th e D e p artm en t o f Labor in
Ju n e 1935
By H ugh L. K e r w in , D irector
of
C o n c ilia tio n
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised her good offices in connection with 150 labor disputes dur
ing June 1935. These disputes affected a known total of 44,351 em
ployees. The table following shows the name and location of the
establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature
of the dispute (whether strike or lockout, or controversy not having
reached the strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned, the
cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of settlement, the
date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly
and indirectly involved.
The commissioners of conciliation were also engaged in handling
disputes reported to the Textile Labor Relations Board, Steel Labor
Relations Board, and the National Board of Mediation.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
L abor D isp u tes H an d led by C om m issioners of C onciliation D u rin g th e M o n th of Ju n e 1935
Workers in
volved
Duration
Company or industry, and
location
Nature of
controversy
Present status and terms of settle
ment
Cause of dispute
Rubber workers
Discharges; seniority rights___
M etal workers_____
Asked 10 percent increase, retroactive to M ay 1.
Wages and conditions.. ----------
R o o fe r s ’ p r o d u c t s
makers.
T,limber workers
Olassifieation of skilled labor _ _
Begin
ning
1935
Unable to adjust. Refused to re- June 1
instate those discharged.
A d j u s t e d . Increase allowed, __-do----beginning July 1.
Adjusted. Increase to be given _._do----when possible.
Pending_______ . .
________ _ M ay 26
Adjusted.
Signed agreement; June 3
seniority rights, arbitration,
8-hour day, and check-off allowed.
____do______________________ - Adjusted. All reinstated____ . . . -.-d o ___
Violation of agreement___
___
Ending
Indi
D i
rectly rectly
1935
June 12
90
70
June 11
60
120
88
15
July
5
0)
June 25
67
June 24
120
Meat packers________ Working conditions; discharges. Adjusted. Agreed to arbitrate . .. d o ----- June 20
differences.
June 8
Roller worlrers
Union dispute with contractors. Adjusted. M en paid who were _ _do
discharged but not rehired.
Making of agreement
_____ Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement June 4 June 7
Teamsters Iowa Dairy Co., Dubuque, Iowa. Strike
Hubinger Co., Keokuk, Io w a ... Controversy. Corn products refin- Discharges for union affiliation.. Unable to adjust. Company re- June 3 June 11
fused to reinstate.
ery workers.
Solid Steel Scissors Co., Fort Strike. __ Scissors makers. ____ Abrogation of working agree- Unable to adjust. Company re- June 5 July 2
fused settlement.
ment.
Smith, Ark.
Tomlinson Chair Co., High Controversy. Furniture workers___ Discharge for union activity----- Unclassified. Company president M ay 21 June 28
to make final decision.
Point, N . C.
do
Glass workers
Working conditions___________ Unclassified. Plant closed______ June 1 June 11
Witherspoon Simpson Co., Fort
Smith, Ark.
Fruit and vegetable Wage increase_____ _________ Adjusted. Agreed to arbitrate dif- M ay 22 M ay 24
Field laborers and fruit pickers, Strike
ferences.
workers.
San Diego, Calif.
Asked review of nom plaints by Pending________________________ June 4
Shell Oil Corporation, East
Department of Labor repreChicago, Ind.
sentative.
Returned without M ay 5 June 21
Jersey C ity Stock Yard Co., Threatened Stockyard workers___ Wage increase and union recog- Adjusted.
change nor discrimination.
nition.
Jersey City, N . J.
strike.
Adjusted.
Returned
to work. June 6 June 7
Bridge
builders
Jurisdiction _____ _______ ___
Public Works bridge project,
Jurisdiction to be settled later.
Chicago, 111.
Adjusted.
Strikers
returned
to June 1 . . . d o ----Lay Packing Co., Knoxville, Threatene d Packing-house work- D isch arges--------------- ----- —
work.
ers.
Tenn.
strike.
1, 354
Monarch Shoe Co., Worcester,
Mass.
Morrell Packing Co., Sioux
Falls, S. Dak.
Boiler workers, Chicago, 111___
* N ot yet reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
do
Threatened
strike.
Controversy
Shoe workers
8
80
7
12
384
60
40
103
25
1
388
56
34
450
1.000
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Wilson Rubber Co., Canton, Threatened
strike.
Ohio.
Union M etal Mfg. Co., Canton, ____do-------Ohio.
American Asphalt Co., East St. _ ._ _ d o -------Louis, 111.
Tuberculosis Hospital, Wheel
ing, W. Va.
Belcher Lumber Co., Bessemer, Strike_____
Ala.
Craftsmen concerned
(0
42
27
50
95
11
CO
CO
o\
396
L ab o r D isp u tes H an d led b y C om m issioners of C onciliation D u rin g th e M o n th of Ju n e 1935— C o n tinued
Workers in
volved
Duration
Company or industry, and
location
Nature of
controversy
Zinc and lead miners, Missouri, ____do_____
Kansas, and Oklahoma.
Mrs. Schlorer’s, Inc., Phila- _ _ do_____
delphia, Pa.
W e y er h a u se r L u m b er Co., ___do_____
Everett, Wash.
Western Cooperage Co., Ta ____do_____
coma, Wash.
Photo-engravers_____
Coopers. __ _____ _
Laundry workers _
Toolmakers .
Miners____ ____
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of settle
ment
Discharges; working conditions. Unable to adjust. Company re
fused to reinstate.
Wage cut 18 percent.__________ Adjusted. Recognition, increases
for whisky barrels and beer kegs.
Wage increase, closed shop, and Pending....... ........................................
renewal of agreement.
Making of agreement__________ Adjusted.
Allowed 5 percent
bonus; satisfactory.
Wages and working conditions.. Pending...............................................
Begin
ning
Ending
1935
M ay 31
1935
June 11;
22
225
June
June 13
100
25
6
M ay 27
June
2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6
June
6
202
30
50
30
4, 600
M ay 23
Wage cuts and longer hours____ Adjusted. Wages and hours re M ay 31
stored as before cut.
Sawmill workers
Asked wage increase, 6-hour Pending_________________ _____ _ M ay 6
day, and union recognition.
Coopers________
Increase and union recognition.. Adjusted. Allowed 50 cents per
do .
hour, 40-hour week, and recog
nition with collective bargain
ing.
Coca Cola Bottling Works, Threatened Bottling workers and Discharge of foreman and work Adjusted. Foreman reinstated; June 1
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
teamsters.
ing conditions.
strike.
better understanding secured.
C o lu m b u s P a c k i n g C o ., -Strike_____ Packing employees.. . Wages, working conditions, and Unable to adjust.
Proposed Apr. 1
Columbus, Ohio.
closed shop.
settlement rejected.
Harbison Refractories, BesSe- -_-._do_____ Bricklayers_________ Recognition refused.__________ Adjusted. Agreed on arbitration June 1
mer, Ala.
of all differences.
S h ip w o r k e r s , A m e r ic a n ____do_____ Deck crew, mess gang, Refused to take ship to port Adjusted. Settled temporarily; M ay 24
Hawaiian Line.
and black gang.
w ithout changes in personnel.
crew agreed to take ship to San
Francisco; terms to be discussed
there.
Toledo Edison Co., Toledo, ____do............ Office workers______
Wages and working conditions.. Adjusted.
Returned to work M ay 28
Ohio.
pending further negotiations.
Joseph Bros., Inc., Vineland,
. __do_____ Clothing workers .
Asked recognition, 10 percent Unable to adjust______________ _ M ay 20
N. J.
increase, and 36-hour week.
Public Works project, Seattle, ____do........... Trunk-sewer workers.. Wage scale below that of union Pending_____ ______
. .. M ay 24
Wash.
scale.
Standard Baking Co., Brook ____do_____ Bakers_______ _
Asked agreement............... ............ Unable to adjust. Injunction suit June 8
lyn, N . Y.
pending in court.
do
Public Works project, Liberty,
B u ild in g _______
Wage scale for the locality........... Adjusted. Signed union agree June 11
Mo.
ment providing union wage.
Food handlers _ .
June
D i
Indi
rectly rectly
111
1,000
June
1
June
530
8
10
June 15
500
June 14
60
June
4
25
June
6
200
June
5
30
125
June 21
7
June 24
89
2
5
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Deering Printing Co., Louis- Threatened
ville, Ky.
strike.
Pfeil Cooperage Co., Buffalo; Strike - . . .
N . Y.
Davis Laundry & Cleaning Co., ____d o ____
Cleveland, Ohio.
Mann Edge Co., Altoona, P a ... ____do____
Craftsmen concerned
3202—35
Benson Lumber Co., San ___ do............ Planing-mill workers.. Increased hours without in
Diego, Calif.
crease in pay.
Warner Brothers, New York Controversy. B u i l d i n g - s e r v i c e Working conditions___________
City.
workers.
Bluebird Baking Co., Cincin Strike........... Bakers.......................... Wage cut and longer hours____
nati, Ohio.
Blue Bird Pie Co., Dayton,
Ohio.
00 Muskogee Iron Works, M us
.do.
Threatened
strike.
Strike______ Iron workers.
kogee, Okla.
W oodm anse M a n u fa ctu rin g ___ do_____ M o ld ers--....
Co., Freeport, III
Stover Manufacturing & En ___ do............ M achinists.-gine Co., Freeport, 111.
Hospital building, Matapan,
Mass.
Lee Clay Products Co., Clear
field, K y.
1Not yet reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
___ d o......... . Truck drivers.._
Controversy. M ill workers___
Threatened
strike.
___ do.........
Rubber workers.
Linoleum workers.
Controversy. S t e e l - e q u i p m e n t
workers.
___ do______ Foundry workers____
Strike.........
___ do_____
7
Pending...............................................
8
June
June 21
Adjusted.
Wage increase, 40- June 11 June 19
hour week and union condi
tions.
___ do______ ____ ______________ __do____ __do____
Discharges, recognition, and
seniority rights.
Wages and working conditions..
140
(i)
50
100
25
126
50
Adjusted. Increase 5 percent; all ___do___
returned to work.
do
Adjusted. Increase 5 percent; all
returned to work.
____do_____ __________ ____ _
Adjusted. Increase 5 percent; 40 _- do___
cents hourly base rate provided
in signed agreement.
___ do____ ___________________ Pending__________ ______ _______ June 13
Discharges in violation of agree Unable to adjust____ ___________ June 11
ment.
Wages cut and hours lengthened. Adjusted. Company agreed re June 10
store wages and hours.
Discharge of president of union.. Pending________ ____ __________ June 12
June 15
Discharge of union com m ittee.. . Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement. __do__
June 21
10
Discharges___________________
June 15
53
Pearl-button workers. Wage cut 20 percent and 9-hour
day.
___do_____ , ________ ___ do_______________________
Unclassified. Settled by parties June 11
to controversy.
Pending________________________ __ do___
June 18
65
June 17
700
June 17
(i)
54
20
June 18
445
50
(i)
133
___ do__________________________ __ do___
___ d o ..........
16
130
Bill posters--------------- Asked $1.05 per hour instead of Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement. June 7
piecework system.
Controversy- Steel and iron workers. Discharges for union affiliation. . Pending______ ____ _____________ June 11
June 18
Strike______ Rubber workers.
June 27
1
0)
Failure to renew agreement ex- Unable to adjust,
piring M ay 1 .
W orking conditions ................. Pending________
June 12
Discrimination alleged.
Apr. 30
June 21
260
Controversy. Glass workers.
Wages and working conditions.. Unclassified. Settled before ar June 13
rival of commissioner.
___ do---------------------------------- - Adjusted. Allowed 8-hour day, . .. d o ___
wage increase, and collective
bargaining.
Threatened Boilermakers________ Nonunion workers employed___ Adjusted. Union boilermakers June 12
strike.
and iron workers employed.
Strike............ Brick and clay workers. Company alleged unable to meet Unable to adjust............ ................ . June 8
competition.
June 17
40
Strike......... . M achinists__
June 29
60
20
June 28
40
120
June 17
150
........do_____
Hosiery workers.
___ do--------- Dingmen.
Adjusted. Returned without dis
crimination.
June
1
150
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Truck drivers, Buffalo, N . Y __
New Era M illing Co., Arkansas
City, Kans.
McClaren Rubber Co., Char
lotte, N . C.
Armstrong Linoleum Co., Lan
caster, Pa.
All Steel Equipment Co., A u
rora, 111 .
Advance Stove Co., Evansville,
Ind.
N ew Jersey Button Works,
Bloomfield, N . J.
N ew Jersey Button Works,
Cliffside, N . J.
Criterion Advertising
Co.,
Cleveland, Ohio.
Robertson Steel & Iron Co.,
Springfield, Ohio.
Aetna Rubber Co., Ashtabula,
Ohio.
Industrial Hosiery Corporation,
Reading, Pa.
Chrysler Automobile Co. and
Briggs Mfg. Co., Detroit,
Mich.
Nurre Glass Co., Bloomington,
Ind.
Garage workers, Missoula, Mont..
do.
Adjusted. Complaint W ithdrawn- June
55
120
00
CO
-I
398
L abor D isputes H an d led by C om m issioners of C onciliation D u rin g th e M o n th of Ju n e 1935— C o n tin ued
Workers in
volved
Duration
Company or industry, and
location
Philadelphia Inquirer, Phila
delphia, Pa.
Oliver Equipment Co., South
Bend, Ind.
South Bend Malleable Steel
Range Co., South Bend, Ind.
State Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Ala-
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Controversy- Stonemasons and tuck Ju risd ictio n ................
pointers.
Strike............ Cafeteria workers____ Renewal of agreement.
____do_____
Scrap metal yard
workers.
____do........... Warehouse workers__
Wage cut and longer hours.
do
Controversy. Carpenters and iron
do.
workers.
Strike_____ Iron and steel workers. Working conditions and organ
ization.
Threatened Drivers____ ____ ____ Wages and conditions with
signed agreement.
strike.
Strike_____ Farm-implement mak Wages and working conditions._
ers.
____do_____ Stove and range work ----- do-----------------------------------ers.
Controversy. Nurses........ .................. . Asked to form union__________
Present status and terms of settle
ment
Adjusted. Work awarded to
stonemasons.
Pending_______________ ______ _
do.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Strike_____
Threatened
strike.
Strike_____
Dressmakers________
Rubber workers_____
Ending
1935
M ay 23
1935
June 20
Indi
D i
rectly rectly
5
(i)
June 10
(i)
__do__
(!)
___ do___ ______________________ __do____
Adjusted. Satisfactory settlement. June 14
June 21
6
Unable to adjust________________ June
June 12
3,200
June 19
1,200
1
Pending___ ____________________
.d o___
Adjusted.
Satisfactory settle
ment.
___ do_____ ____ _______________
June 13
Adjusted. Allowed join any union
desired.
Wages and working conditions.. Pending_______________________
Renewal of agreement providing Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement
as to seniority rights.
seniority rights.
Fish handlers_____ . . . Wages, closed shop, and con Adjusted. Increase 10 cents per
hour, being 60 to 70 cents, and
tractual relations.
closed shop.
Wage dispute and discharge of Adjusted. Wages continued as
Standard Ultramarine Co., Controversy. Chemical workers.
before controversy. Discharged
Huntington, W. Va.
president of union.
man not reinstated.
Columbia Stamping & Enamel Strike_____ Stampers and enamel- Asked to have plant reopened Unable to adjust. Company re
fused to reopen plant.
ing Co., Terre Haute, Ind.
ers.
and workers rehired.
Park Street Bridge, Oakland, ----- do......... Welders and iron Wages and working conditions.- Unclassified. Adjusted before ar
Calif.
rival of commissioner.
workers.
Eeet Growers’ Association, Threatened Agricultural workers.. ___ do------------ -------- --------------- Adjusted. Allowed union condi
tions; wages satisfactory.
Findlay, Ohio.
strike.
State Hospital for Insane, Dan ----- d o.........
Building workers____ Nonunion boilermakers em Adjusted. Strike averted when
vers. Mass.
Matapan project dispute was
ployed on Matapan job.
adjusted.
Dressmakers, Seattle, W ash___
General Tire & Rubber Co.,
Akron, Ohio.
Forrest City Fish Co., Cleve
land, Ohio.
Begin
ning
56
(9
do___ ___do___
100
(9
8
25
Mar. 15
June 3
June 27
(9
1,400
June 18
June 24
60
80
Apr. 15
June 17
152
8
510
200
June
1
June
June 11
July
June 17
June 19
(9
June 15
June 26
400
June 11 __ do___
75
6
580
150
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Federal building project, St.
Louis, Mo.
Green’s Cafeteria, Philadelphia,
Pa.
Max Bailis & Sons, Philadel
phia, Pa.
American Stores Co., Philadel
phia, Pa.
Carpenters and iron workers,
Michigan City, Ind.
Berger Mfg. Co., Canton, Ohio.
Nature of
controversy
Cl
Two building projects, Wal
tham, Mass.
Two post-office jobs, Philadel
phia, Pa.
Hamilton Wade Shoe Co.,
Brockton, Mass.
W . A. Sabins Co., Taunton,
Mass.
Bow & Socket Co., Ashtabula,
Ohio.
Public Works project, South
Tacoma, Wash.
Wilderness Lumber Co., Nallon, W. Va.
do______ ___ _ __ ____do_________ ______________ ____ do__________________________ __do___
June 28
Strike..'____
Plumbers___________
June 17
June 18
20
Lookout
Shoe workers.
June 18
June 27
125
Striko
Truck drivers
June
1
June 30
40
M ay
6
June
1
do
Recognition and employment of Adjusted.
Satisfactory agreement; union men employed.
union men.
_____ Firm threatened to move plant.. Adjusted. Accepted reduction to
retain employment.
Hours and union recognition__ Adjusted. Satisfactory settlement
____
do _
Machinists . . . . ___ Working c o n d itio n s ..____ ____
do
Building
Abrogation of contract______ _
Controversy. Lumber manufacturing and shipping.
Threatonod
strike.
Lockout ..
Sawmill and timber
workers.
Lumber and
mill
workers.
Birch Valley Lumber
Tioga, W . Va.
Controversy
Sawmill and timber
workers.
Throatorifid
strike.
Strike . .
Carpenters
Co.,
Wm. Ritter Lumber Co., Maben, W. Va.
Carwood Manufacturing Co.,
Winder, Ga.
Henson Manufacturing Co.,
Gainsville, Ga.
Northern Illinois Coal Co.,
W ilmington, 111.
Atlas Paper M ill Building Con
struction, Coal City, 111.
Scrap material, Brooklyn, N .Y ..
Controversy
Pants and
makers.
__ do__
___do___ _
Miners___________ . .
_ do
overall
Building
S trik e __
Scrap-material handlers.
Controversy- Fiber-box workers.......
Wabash Pibre Box Co., Terre
Haute, Ind.
Steamship Manhattan, New Strike____
York Harbor.
Hulmah & Co., Terre Haute, ____do____
Ind.
Radio workers
D isch arges._______ _
..
100
50
650
50
Will abide by agree-
M ay 31
June 15
100
10
June 17
150
50
Adjusted. Part reinstated; wages
and. hours maintained as before
dispute.
Alleged violation of agreement— Pending__ ______ . . . . . . . .
Jan. 15
Discharges for union activity—
Adjusted.
June 19
Part reinstated_____
Unable to adjust.
Jan. 10
June 24
Asked minimum of 50 cents per ____do_________________ ____ ____ June 20
hour and 40-hour week.
Asked union recognition and Adjusted. Union withheld action June 18 June 21
closed shop.
at this time.
Wages and working conditions... Pending___________________ ____ __ do____
* N ot y et reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Closed shop, seniority rights,and
conditions.
175
25
36
215
5
43
Plant closed__ __ do____ June 25
Refusal to pay prevailing w age... Unclassified. Settled by parties to June 21 __.do___
controversy.
____do________________________ Pending___. . . .
__do____
Adjusted. Allowed closed shop, __do___ June 24
seniority rights, and vacation
w ith pay.
M en reinstated;
women as needed.
A. S. Kreider Shoe Co., Leban ____do_____ Shoe workers.............. Wage cut 33 percent; hours Unclassified. Adjusted before ar- June 19 June 23
lengthened to 50 per week.
rival of commissioner.
on, Pa.
___do_______ _______________ _ _ do_ _______________________
_do___ __ d o ___
Shoe workers, near Lebanon, Threatened ____do........................
strike.
Pa.
Wages, working conditions, and P e n d in g ____________________ . . June 21
Garage owners, Akron, O hio.. . _ ____do_____ Mechanics__ ____ ; .
renewal of agreements.
Wabash Bridge, St. Charles, Controversy. Engineers and labor- Wage rates and method of em- _ _ _do________ _ _______
June 22
ers.
ployment.
Mo.
W h o le s a le -g r o c e r y
workers.
144
June 17
Adjusted.
ment.
_ ______________
6
(i)
Adjusted. Two reinstated, others M ay 29
later. N o change in wages or
hours.
Pending__ ___________ ________ __do___
Wage cut 3H cents per hour;
hours advanced to 48 per week
in violation of agreement.
Discharges for union activity----
____do_____
100
(0
(i)
150
106
(i)
350
200
800
300
0)
65
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Cherry River Boom & Lumber
Co., Riehwood, W. Va.
Babcock Coal & Coke Co.,
Hamlet, W. Va.
Wages, working conditions, and
discharges.
Pending. M any returned; plant
in full“operation.
Pending_____ _____________ ___
140
400
L ab o r D isp u te s H a n d le d by C om m issioners of C onciliation D u rin g th e M o n th of Ju n e 1935— C o n tinued
Workers in
volved
Duration
Company or industry, and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of settle
ment
Ending
1935
Laundry workers, Birmingham, Controversy. Laundry workers____
Ala.
Bakery-wagon drivers, Cleve Strike_____ Drivers_____________
land, Ohio.
Bridge project, Maryville, 111___ Controversy. Bridge workers______
Violation of agreement________
Pending_____________ ______ ___
1935
June 24
Wages, hours, and vacation
time.
Union recognition. Asked a
share in bridge work.
___ do_________________________
June 22
American Oak Leather Co., Threatened
Cincinnati, Ohio.
strike.
M etal & Thermit Corporation, Controversy.
East Chicago, Ind.
Miners, Juneau, Alaska_______ ___ do_____
Tennessee Coal & Iron Co., Threatened
Bessemer, Ala.
strike.
Phelps Dodge Mining Corpora Strike_____
tion, Bisbee, Ariz.
Leather workers_____
Violation of agreement____. ____
M etal workers______
Discharges for union activity__
Miners_______ ____ ..
Coal miners-------------
Working conditions___________
Renewal of agreements________
Copper miners______
Burton Leather Co., Jasper,
Ala.
Threatened
strike.
Leather workers......... .
Asked wage increase, union
recognition, and reinstate
ment of discharged miners.
Wages, working conditions, and
discharges.
Atlas Plywood Corporation, ........do_____
Goldsboro, N . C.
Veneer and sawmill
workers.
Alleged discharges for union
activity.
W. P. Fuller and other compa
nies, Portland, Oreg.
Wahlfeld Manufacturing Co.,
Peoria, 111.
Bridge project, Edwardsville,
111.
School teachers, Asheville, N . C.
Glaziers____________
Lumberyard men and
carpenters.
Bridge workers_____
Asked 97J-6 cents per hour and
6-hour day.
Dispute relative prevailing wage
W oman’s Auxiliary of Phil
harmonic Orchestra, New
York City.
Inca Manufacturing Co., Fort
Wayne, Ind.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Union dispute........... ....................
Teachers......................
Alleged discrimination................
M usicians- ............. -
Wage increase________________
Em ployees..................
Wages and working conditions _
(0
1,800
Adjusted. Secured better under ___do___ June 28
standing and picketing dropped.
Work proceeding without in
terruption.
Adjusted. Reinstated to former June 20 -_-do___
positions.
Pending----- ----------------------------- June 19
-do.
Adjusted. Signed agreement; col
lective bargaining, seniority
rights, and arbitration for future
dispute.
Adjusted. Reinstate all laid off
as business permits. Increase
to be made later.
Adjusted. Agreed on $1 per hour
for 8-hour day.
Unable to adjust_______ ____ ___
D i
Indi
rectly rectly
110
400
June 12
June 21
(!)
2,400
June 25
900
2,000
June 28
June 30
50
5
June
1
June 25
650
50
Apr.
1
June 15
30
June 14
July
3
60
Adjusted. Picketing stopped and June 24
better understanding.
Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement. June 15
No discrimination for union
membership.
Pending....... .......... ........................... June 26
July
1
55
June 26
49
_do.
30
6
June 27
110
(•)
120
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Begin
ning
Wovenright
Knitting [ Co., ........ do_____
Cleveland, Ohio.
Cleveland Wire & Spring Co., Strike______
Cleveland, Ohio.
Great Lakes Steel Corporation, Controversy.
Ecorse, Mich.
M idwest Rubber Reclaiming ____do_____
Co., East St. Louis, 111.
Tom Reed M ining Co., Oat- Strike_____
man, Ariz.
Cities Service Oil Co., New ........ do_____
York and Atlantic Coast and
Gulf Division.
Standard Oil Refinery, Sugar Controversy.
Creek, Mo.
.d o .
June 24
(i)
Employees______
Discrimination for tmionlaffiliation.
Wages and working conditions.
.d o .
June 27
(0
Building workers.
___do..................
.d o .
June 24
(!)
R u b b er -r e c la im in g
workers.
Gold miners________
Seniority rights.
K n itters...................
Seam en..............
Mason laborers.
Asked $1 per day increase.
Mines and mills closed.
N ot yet reported.........................
Wages for mortar mixing; asked
for discussion under joint rep
resentative plan.
Wages and working conditions..
Whitman-Jenkins Taxicab Cor
poration, Birmingham, Ala.
Hercules Motor Corporation,
Canton, Ohio.
Brewers, Sandusky, O hio.-........
Toledo Edison Co., Toledo,
Ohio.
Royersford Needle Works, Royersford, Pa.
Lykens Valley Garment Co.,
Lykens, Pa.
Kalamazoo Stationery Co.,
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Florida Fish Producers’ Associ
ation, State of Florida.
Corn Products Refineries, Keo
kuk, Iowa.
1 N ot yet reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
____do_____
D rivers___
Wages and working conditions.
Threatened
strike.
Strike_____
____do_____
M echanics.
Discharges for un'on a c tiv ity ...
Brewers____________
Operating employees
and office workers.
____do--------- Needle makers______
____do............ Clothing workers-----Controversy. Stationery workers—
Fish handlers and dis
tributors.
____do............ Corn-products work
ers.
____do--------
Jurisdiction involved..
Asked wage increase. .
Wages and conditions.
Wages............ ..........—
-d o.
Adjusted. Agreed hourly rate for
masons and helpers will be 63
cents per hour.
Pending_______________________
150
9
June 25
100
250
June 28
(0
June 19
Adjusted. Increase, shorter hours,
and signed agreement.
Pending--------------- -------- ----------.d o .
June 28
June 29
Adjusted. Company agreed to pay
wages due.
Pending---------------------------
2
3
July
5
June 28
June 17
17
101
4
156
164
95
65
65
60
700
(0
June 12
300
(i)
June 28
Wages and collective bargaining;
union recognition.
rln
General conditions in fishing in Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement.
dustry.
June
30
Unclassified.
Settled
before
ar
Working conditions------- --------rival of commissioner.
20
1,000
June 24
5
20
0)
July
June 29
June
60
(>)
June 28
June 13
(')
(')
July
June 28
Adjusted. All reinstated; wages June 27
and hours to be adjusted in con
ference.
Adjusted. M inim um wage $10 . .. d o ___
per week and seniority rights.
Pending_________ —------------------ June 80
Unable to adjust-----------------------Adjusted. Agreed settle differ
ences by arbitration.
Pending--------- ---------------- ---------
1
July 10
June 3
Adjusted. Allowed as asked; m in June 25
imum rate 25 cents per hour.
Pending_______________________ June 27
.do.
July
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Cleveland Lumber Co., Jasper, ____do........... Lumber workers.
Ala.
Overtime pay, seniority rights,
Carr Lumber Co., Jasper, A la ... Threatened ------ d o....................
and 8-hour day.
strike.
Wages and working conditions;
Hugh Curry Packing Plant, ........ Do_____ M eat packers___
discharges.
Anderson, Ind.
Wages and working conditions...
Saylor’s Bakery, Inc., Tamaqua, Strike........... Bakery workers..
Pa.
Leichtman Ice Cream Co., Haz Threatened Bakery and ice-cream Asked 6-day week, increase, and
closed shop.
strike.
workers.
leton, Pa.
Berstein & Cohen, Kankakee, Strike_____ Overall makers______ Wage cuts and increased hours..
111.
Union dispute relative to dues..
Canton Malleable Iron Co., ____do______ Molders.
Canton, Ohio.
Weatherproof Garment Co., ____do_____ Weatherproof-garment Proposed wage cut and longer
hours.
makers.
Brockton, Mass.
Adjusted. Seniority rights ad
justed in signed agreement.
Pending....................................... .......
July
2
1,000
July
3
(1 )
O
402
L ab o r D isp u tes H an d led b y C om m issioners of C onciliation D u rin g th e M o n th of Ju n e 1935— C o n tin u ed
Workers in
volved
Duration
Company or industry, and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of settle
ment
Begin
ning
Allen Lumber Co., Peoria, 111-.
_do-
Carr & Johnson Co., Peoria, 111..
-do_____
Peoria Lumber Co., Peoria, 111..
_do.
Ice cream and dairy industry, Threatened
St. Louis, Mo.
strike.
Hill & Tibbits, Inc , Washing
ton. D . C.
Total.
i N ot yet reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Stampers and enamelers.
1935
Complaint withdrawn. June 15
Abrogation of agreement.
Adjusted.
Railway workers.
Wage increase and agreement__
Pending_______________________
Employees_____
Hours increased to 10 per d a y ,.- ------do__________________________ June 24
-do9-hour day and 5-day week notice
posted by company.
Sawmill and lum ber,. Asked 30-hour week, 75 cents
per hour and union recogni
tion.
Carpenters.
Asked union recognition; wage
cuts.
---- do_______
_do.
----- do________________________
Dairy and ice-cream Wages and working conditions..
workers.
Controversy. Auto mechanics.
.do.
Adjusted. Allowed 50 cents base
rate, 40-hour -week and recogni
tion.
Unable to adjust_______________
----- do_________________________
Adjusted. Three-year agreement.
Wages to be increased each year
to 1931 basis.
Asked agreement covering wages, Adjusted. Allowed 44-hour week
hours, and working conditions.
and time and one-quarter for
overtime.
1935
July 2
M ay 27
D i
Indi
rectly rectly
280
60
-do.
6
July
1
325
June 14
July
6
30
..d o —.
...d o ___
-_do--...d o .—
M ay 15 June 22
60
40
1,150
June
June
1
260
0)
0)
150
25
July 10
36,400
7,951
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Belmont Stamping & Enamel Controversyling Co., N ew Philadelphia,
Pa.
Youngstown Municipal Street Threatened
Railway, Youngstown. Pa.
strike.
Farley & Loetasher Co., D u ----- do_____
buque, Iowa.
Carr, Ryder & Adams Co.,
-do.
Dubuque, Iowa.
Inmann-Poulson Lumber Co., Strike.
Portland, Oreg.
Ending
LABOR AGREEMENTS, AW ARDS, AND
DECISIONS
Decisions o f N ational Labor R elations Board
EVEN of 18 cases brought before the National Labor Relations
Board during the month of May involved charges of discrimination
or discharge on account of union affiliation or activity. In 5 of the
decisions the Board ruled that the companies had violated section 7
(a) of the National Recovery Act and .ordered that the discharged
employees should be reinstated in their former positions. In four of
these cases it was also ruled that the employees should be reimbursed
for wages lost by discharge. Two cases involving discharge due to
union activity were dismissed, evidence not being sufficient to sustain
the charges.
In two decisions the Board found that the companies had violated
section 7 (a) by refusing to bargain collectively with their employees.
The companies were ordered to proceed immediately, on request of the
employees, to bargain collectively with the chosen representatives of
the employees. In one case the Board ruled that the charge of failure
to bargain collectively was not supported.
Three decisions upheld the union’s request for recognition as the
exclusive bargaining agency for the purpose of collective bargaining
and the companies were ordered to recognize and bargain with such
agencies as representatives of the employees. In one case the Board
did not find sufficient evidence to justify the charge that the company
had refused to recognize the union and bargain collectively, but did
hold that there had been interference with the workers’ rights.
Three elections were ordered to determine the person or organization
desired by the employees to represent them for the purpose of collec
tive bargaining. One petition for election was denied.
S
Collective A greem ents in th e O il In d u s try
OLLECTIVE agreements covering employee members of various
craft unions have been negotiated with the Shell Petroleum Cor
poration and the Shell Oil Co. of California.
Shell Petroleum Corporation and employees of Illinois plant.—An
agreement has been concluded covering the members of 14 trade
C
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
403
404
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — -AUGUST 1935
unions employed at the Wood River, 111., plant of the Shell Petroleum
Corporation. The crafts covered are asbestos workers, black
smiths, boilermakers, bricklayers, building and common laborers,
carpenters, electrical workers, machinists, operating engineers, paint
ers, plumbers and steamfitters, railway carmen, sheet-metal workers,
teamsters and chauffeurs.
The agreement is effective to May 1, 1936, and contains a continu
ing clause that automatically renews the pact for each succeeding year
unless formal notice is served for change. Craft autonomy is provided.
Transactions with the management may be carried on by either craft
or federated committees.
It is understood that the same kind of agreements are to be negoti
ated in any plant of the Shell Petroleum Corporation where the
membership can show a majority of 51 percent.
S h e l l O il C o . o f C a l i f o r n i a 'a n d o i l f i e l d , g a s w e l l, a n d r e f i n e r y w o r k e r s ,
—Employees of the Shell Oil Co. of California are now working
under a union agreement as a result of negotiations between the
company and the International Association of Oil Field, Gas Well, and
Refinery Workers of America, International Brotherhood of Boiler
makers, International Association of Machinists, International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and International Brotherhood
of Blacksmiths.
Among the terms agreed to are: Establishment of a normal 36-hour
week or not more than 72 hours in any 2 weeks; not more than 8
hours’ work in any 1 day; present wage schedules; double time for
most of the day workers on 7 recognized holidays; time and one-half
for overtime work; maintenance of full crews on units actually operat
ing; periods of rotation for all men working shifts; recognition of long
and faithful service in promotion, demotion, and replacing of men
on account of accident and sickness ; vacation of 1 week after 1 year’s
service, and of 2 weeks after 5 years’ service, with full pay; leaves of
absence for employees on the business of organizations; and election
of workmen’s committees, the organizations to be allowed to check the
ballots. Provision is made for handling of grievances. Matters not
satisfactorily adjusted with the local management are to be turned over
to the representatives of the unions to determine the method of hand
ling and of arbitration. The president of the American Federation of
Labor and the chief executive of the company are to have the right to
determine the final method of disposing of the complaint.
e tc
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR AGREEM ENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS
405
Wage A greem ent in tKe Pacific Coast P ulp and Paper
In d u stry
NEW wage and working agreement was drawn up following a
recent conference at Portland, Oreg., between the Pacific
Coast Association of Pulp and Paper Manufacturers and the Pacific
Northwest Pulp and Paper Mill Employees Association. Nearly
12,000 employees will be affected by the wage increases, which raise
the scale for this region to a point 18 percent above the average for
the country.
A general increase of 2% cents per hour for all grades of common
skilled and semiskilled labor, and of 1 cent per hour for female labor,
was granted by employers. All Bedeaux or stretch-out systems were
eliminated. Time and one-half for overtime was secured instead of
time and one-third.
Employers voluntarily agreed to continue the limitations of hours
set up by the general code of the pulp and paper industry.
The agreement contained a commitment against strikes and lock
outs, and recognized the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite,
and Paper Mill Workers, and the International Brotherhood of
Papermakers, as exclusive collective-bargaining agencies for their
members.1
A joint board consisting of 4 members representing the manufac
turers and 4 representing the unions will decide all disputes.
Legalisation of Collective A greem ents in O n ta rio and
A lb erta
fTHHREE Canadian Provinces now have statutes legalizing collec1 tive agreements. An article on the Quebec act on this subject
(ch. 56, 24 Geo. V, 1934) was published in the September 1934
Monthly Labor Review. The Industrial Standards Acts of Ontario
and Alberta, analyzed in the Canadian Labor Gazette of June 1935,
are designed not only to promote the setting up of standards of wages
and working hours in all industries except mining and agriculture, but
to enable the Lieutenant Governors in Council of these respective
Provinces to declare any written agreement as to wages and hours
binding for not more than a year.
The Ontario statute requires that wages found to be due and unpaid
be paid to the minimum wage board on behalf of the treasurer of the
Province or of the employee at the magistrate’s discretion, whereas
the Alberta act provides that the wages shall be paid to the employee.
i Pulp, Sulphite and Paper M ill Workers’ Journal, June 1935; and The Amalgamated Journal, June 20,
1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
406
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
The Alberta act contains an additional section, authorizing the
Lieutenant Governor in Council “ to make regulations presenting
standard specifications as to commodities for industrial use or sale in
the Province.”
In all other important points the Ontario and Alberta acts are
identical.
Principal Provisions of Ontario Act
S o m e of the provisions of the Industrial Standards Act, 1935, ol
Ontario, are here given.
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c e r s .—The Lieutenant Governor in Council may
appoint one or more persons as industrial-standards officers to aid in
carrying out the provisions of the statute and of the regulations and
schedules. These officers are authorized to conduct inquiries and
investigations concerning matters coming within the scope of the act
and the regulations, and in the performance of such duties “ shall have
all the powers, rights, and privileges as a commissioner appointed
under the Public Inquiries Act.” For the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of the Industrial Standards Act, the Minister of Labor,
or any member of the executive council charged for the time being
with administering the act, may define and redefine zones in the
different industries.
C o n f e r e n c e s .—The Minister of Labor, or a designated member of
the executive council, may, upon the petition of representatives of
employers or employees in any industry, except the mining and agricul
tural industries, call a conference or series of conferences of the em
ployers and employees in such industry in one or more zones, for the
investigation or consideration of the labor conditions and practices
prevailing in such industry and to negotiate uniform or standard wage
rates and hours and days of labor “ in each industry in said zone or
zones.”
T he em ployees an d em ployers in a tte n d a n c e m ay fo rm u late a n d agree u pon a
schedule of wages an d of hours of lab o r for all or a n y class of em ployees in such
in d u stry w ithin such zone or zones, a n d th e p arties to every agreem ent e n tered in to
u n d er th e a u th o rity of th is a c t shall assist in m ain tain in g th e s ta n d a rd of wages
an d hours a n d days of lab o r p rovided for by a n y schedule affecting such p arties.
If, in th e opinion of th e m inister, a schedule of wages a n d of hours of lab o r for
an y in d u stry is agreed u pon in w riting by a p ro p er a n d sufficient re p re se n ta tio n
of em ployees a n d of em ployers, he m ay ap p ro v e thereof, a n d upo n his recom
m endation, th e L ie u te n a n t G overnor in C ouncil m ay declare such schedule to
be in force for a period n o t exceeding 12 m o n th s a n d th e re u p o n such schedule
shall be binding upon every em ployee a n d em ployer in such in d u stry in such zone
or zones to w hich such schedule applies.
N o such schedule shall becom e effective u n til 10 days a fte r p u b licatio n of th e
order in council in th e O ntario G azette.
R e g u la tio n s .
Tfie Lieutenant Governor in Council may formulate
such regulations not inconsistent with the act as he may consider
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR A GREEM ENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS
407
necessary for carrying out and efficiently administering its provisions.
These regulations shall be published in the Ontario Gazette and when
so published “ shall have the same force and effect as if enacted in
this act.”
Industrial boards.—In each zone or group of zones to which any
schedule applies, the employers and employees engaged in the industry
to which such schedule is applicable may establish a board of not
more than five members to hear complaints of employers and em
ployees to whom the schedule is applicable and to aid generally in
enforcing the schedule.
Prohibitions and penalties.—No employer shall pay or cause to be
paid to any employee wages or remuneration below that provided by
any schedule, nor shall the employer require or allow any employee to
work in excess of the time set in any schedule which applies to the
industry in which the employer or employee is engaged and to the
zone in which the business of the employer is located or in which the
work is done.
Any employer who violates any of the above provisions “ shall be
liable to a fine of not less than $25 and not exceeding $100, and in
default of payment, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 3
months.” Furthermore, employers shall pay to the minimum wage
board, on behalf of the Provincial treasurer, or of the employee, at
the magistrate’s discretion, the full amount of the wages found to be
unpaid under the schedule. If they fail to do so, the amount may be
recoverable at the instance of the minimum wage board which is em
powered to enforce the provisions of the act and of the regulations
and schedules.
Any employee is liable to a fine of not less than $1 nor exceeding
$10, should he agree or consent to be employed for lower wages or
remuneration or longer hours than those prescribed. In default of
payment of this fine such employee is liable to imprisonment for not
more than 10 days.
Anyone who violates any provision of this act or the regulations
shall upon conviction, where no specific penalty has been prescribed,
“ be liable to a fine of not less than $1 and not exceeding $100 and in
default of payment, to imprisonment for not more than 30 days.”
Penalties imposed for offenses under this act shall be recoverable
under the Summary Convictions Act.
First Labor Agreement Under Ontario A c t1
T h e f i r s t collective agreement enforceable under the Ontario
Industrial Standards Act was signed May 17, 1935. It applies to
local contracting and repair work in the plumbing trade in Toronto
1 Trades and Labor Congress of Canada. Canadian Congress Journal, Ottawa, June 1935, p. 17; report
from Damon C. Woods, American Consul at Toronto, M ay 22, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
408
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
and the territory within a radius of 10 miles. Provision is made for
a 5-day, 40-hour maximum week, and a minimum wage rate of 90
cents per hour from July 1, 1935, except in cases of work contracted
for or accepted before that date. Among other provisions are those
concerning overtime, Sunday and holiday work, junior mechanics,
and apprentices.
Many other industries in the Province have made application to
come under the act, the Toronto local of the Jewelry Workersy
International Union being among the applicants.
R eg u latio n o f B e au ty Shops U n d e r Quebec Labor L aw s
ORKING hours of both men and women employed in beauty
shops in Montreal have been limited to 55 per week by an
order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council acting under authority
of the Act Respecting the Limiting of Working Hours (23 Geo. V,
Ch. 40). The order, which became effective on February 16, 1935,
immediately upon publication in the Quebec Official Gazette,
decrees that hours of labor on the first 5 days of the week shall be
distributed between 9 a. m. and 7 p. m., and on Saturday between
9 a. m. and 9 p. m. One hour must be allowed for lunch each day
and an additional hour for dinner on Saturday, making 5 days of 9
hours and 1 day of 10 hours.
Under the provincial law providing for the legalization of collective
agreements, juridical authority has been granted to the agreements
between the master barbers and hairdressers and their organized
employees in the cities of Joliette and Hull.
The Joliette agreement is more comprehensive than that of Hull,
as it covers both male and female operators in beauty shops as well as
barbers. The following minimum wage scale is fixed in the Joliette
agreement:
W
F o r barb ers an d m e n ’s a n d la d ie s’ hairdressers: $12 p er week, plus 50 p e rc e n t
of all receipts in excess of $20 m ad e by th e em ployee in th e course of th e week.
F o r fem ale la d ie s’ hairdressers: $10 p er week.
F o r ex tra em ployees: $0.40 p er hour. * * *
All overtim e shall be p aid a t th e reg u lar ra te , plus 40 cents p er hour.
A price list for workers paid by the job applies to employers as well
as journeymen. Minimum wages to be paid on the piece-price basis
include $3 for hair dyeing, $2.50 for a permanent wave; 50 cents for a
water wave or a manicure, and 35 cents for a marcel or a shampoo.
Apprenticeship requirements are definitely fixed in the agreement
for barbers and male and female hairdressers. No shop may have
more than one apprentice. An apprentice must be at least 16 years
of age and have completed at least the fifth grade of grammar school.
The apprenticeship requirements are: (1) 6 months in a school di
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR A GREEM ENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS
409
rected by a professor with a diploma from the university and ap
proved by the joint committee negotiating the agreement, and (2) one
and one-half years as an apprentice-operator in a beauty parlor, dur
ing which time the employer “ must gradually instruct his apprentice
in the various operations of the trade to finally produce a competent
worker.” During the 2-year training period the apprentice must at
tend the courses in hygiene and related work at the university and
obtain a certificate. The apprentice wage scale for a week’s work is:
A fter 6 m o n th s a t th e school_____________________ $7. 50
A fter 12 m o n th s_________________________________ 10. 00
A fter 18 m o n th s_________________________________ 12. 00
Under the extension of collective agreements law of Quebec this
agreement, after its publication in the Quebec Official Gazette, be
comes law and applies to all persons employed in the occupation in
the town of Joliette and within a radius of 10 miles of its limits,
whether or not such persons were party to the agreement. The
agreement is for a 3-year period and if not renewed will remain in
force until a new agreement is adopted.
Somewhat later the master hairdressers and the organized journey
men of the city of Quebec applied for legalization of their agreement.
This calls for a 58-hour week, distributed between 8 a. m. and 8 p.m.
the first 5 days of the week, and between 8 a. m. and 11 p. m. on
Saturdays or the evening before holidays. One hour is allowed for
lunch and for dinner, and each worker is to have one free afternoon
of 5 hours each week. Sunday work is prohibited, even in hotels.
Overtime is to be paid for at the rate of regular time plus 25 cents an
hour.
The minimum rate for journeymen is $15 a week and 50 percent
commission on gross receipts in excess of $25 per week for each
journeyman. The apprentice scale is $3 a week for the first year,
$5 for the second, and $7 for the third. The minimum scale for
woman hairdressers shall be that fixed by the Women’s Minimum
Wage Board of the Province, except for work by the piece or the hour,
for which the agreement fixes a rate of $1 an hour and a price list
applying to women as well as to men.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR TURN-OVER
Labor T u rn -O v e r in M an u factu rin g Establishm ents,
M ay 1935
IGHER quit and lay-off rates and a lower accession rate in
May 1935 than in the preceding month occurred in the manu
facturing establishments reporting to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
These 5,000 reporting establishments, in 144 manufacturing indus
tries, employed approximately 1,800,000 workers in May.
The turn-over rates shown in this article represent the number
of changes per 100 employees on the pay rolls.
In addition to information for manufacturing as a whole, rates are
given for 12 separate manufacturing industries. Reports were re
ceived from representative plants in these 12 industries employing
at least 25 percent of the workers in each industry, according to the
1933 Census of Manufactures.
H
Trend by Months
T he quit rate for all manufacturing was higher during May than
for any month since September 1934. In contrast,, the lay-off rate
was lower than for the corresponding month of the previous year.
There were increases in the lay-off and total separation rates compar
ing data for the current month with data for the past month. The
accession rate, on the other hand, was lower than during either the
previous month or during May 1934.
The monthly trend of labor turn-over for manufacturing as a whole
is shown in table 1 for 1934 and the first 5 months of 1935.
T able 1.— M o n th ly L ab o r T u rn -O v er R a te s per 100 E m ployees in R e p re se n ta tiv e
F acto ries in 144 In d u stries
Class of rates and year
Quit rate:
1935_______________
1934_______
Discharge rate:
1935_________ ____ 1934_______________
Lay-off rate:
1935 ______________
1934 ______________
Total separation rate:
1935_______________
1934_______________
Accession rate:
1935_______________
1934_______________
Jan Feb March April M ay
June July
uary ruary
0. 76
.90
0. 73
.85
0. 75
.93
0. 93
1 .1 1
1 . 21
1.0 1
. 18
.18
.18
.19
. 17
.2 1
.20
. 17
.23
2.10
1.88
2.60
2.04
Au
gust
Sep Oc
N o D e
tem tober
vem cem
ber
ber
ber
0.94
0.70
0.75
1.55
0.73
0.62
0. 58
.2 2
.18
.19
.19
.16
.19
.15
.15
3.00
3.65
2. 35
1.85
2.32
2 . 08
3. 48
2.96
3. 56
3.41
4.38
3.78
2.72
3.04
3.43
2.79
2.89
3.24
3. 22
3. 73
3. 38
4.38
4.88
4. 60
3.85
4.50
5.12
5. 30
4.55
3.45
6. 33
4. 23
6.71
3.79
6. 33
3. 63
5. 18
3.01
4.19
3.58
3.71
3.24
3. 61
4. 09
4. 32
6. 14
5.81
410
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
La b o r
411
tu r n -over
L abor T urnover Ra t e s
in
Manufacturing
Per 100 on ihe Pay Roll
Me
1933 - 1935
Me
/ / - r -------*------------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------- -------------------------------r / /
/O-
I \ Jccfssm
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
412
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Analysis by Industries
I n t a b l e 2 are given the quit, discharge, lay-off, and accession rates
for the 12 industries for which the Bureau’s sample covers a sufficiently
large number of firms to justify the publishing of separate industry
figures.
The highest hiring rate registered during May occurred in the brick
industry; the lowest in the iron and steel industry. The highest
quit rate was shown by sawmills and the lowest by petroleum refining.
The extraordinarily high quit rate in the saw mill industry was caused
by strikes on the Pacific Coast. The highest rate of discharge occurred
in the automotive and brick industries; the lowest in the iron and steel
and petroleum industries. The largest percentage of lay-offs was
registered in slaughtering and meat packing; the lowest in the iron
and steel industry.
T able 2 .— M o n th ly Turn-O ver R a tes per 100 E m p loyees in Specified In d u stries
Class of rates
May
1935
April
1935
M ay
1934
1.36
.29
5. 53
7.18
1.95
1.61
.37
2.28
4.26
5. 32
April
1935
M ay
1934
2.45
.52
12.85
15.82
4. 24
0. 68
.17
3. 93
4.78
1.65
0. 59
. 16
2.15
2. 90
1 . 21
0.92
.19
2.08
3.19
2 . 22
Cigars and cigarettes Cotton manufacturing
Quit rate
_______________
Discharge rate
_______________
Lay-off rate____________________ Total separation rate__________ ___
Accession rate____________________
1.15
.23
1.25
2.63
3.74
1.17
.14
2.71
4. 02
2.57
0
0
)
(i)
)
(9
(')
0. 62
. 18
2.66
3. 46
3. 75
0. 60
.19
3.82
4.61
3.08
0.98
.26
4.03
5. 27
2. 65
0. 60
.2 1
4.48
5.29
5. 54
.77
.05
.70
1.52
1.55
i Rate not available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0.48
.05
2.43
2. 96
3. 63
o: 38
.1 1
1.29
1.78
2.14
1.31
.30
5. 63
7.24
3.18
(')
(9
(9
(9
(9
0. 62
.06
1.27
1.95
1.26
0. 86
.1 1
.67
1.64
5.44
17.18
.25
3.88
21.31
8.84
2.33
.35
3.89
6.57
10. 05
April
1935
M ay
1934
Brick
2.37
.29
5.92
8. 58
15. 77
11.42
.05
5.87
17. 34
9.92
0.55
.2 1
6. 22
6.98
9. 50
Foundries and ma
chine shops
0.74
.25
3. 23
4. 22
3. 72
0.78
.30
2.74
3. 82
4.70
0. 79
.29
3. 61
4. 69
4. 95
M en’s clothing
0.67
.18
4.97
5. 82
2.83
0.90
.18
3.44
4.52
3. 26
0.92
.17
4.09
5.18
1.86
Slaughtering and
meat packing
Sawmills
Petroleum refining
Quit rate _
_ _______ ______
Discharge rate
_____ _____ Lay-off rate _ _ ___________ __
Total separation rate______________
Accession rate - _________________
1.26
.26
3.93
5.45
2. 99
Iron and steel
Furniture
Quit rate
_ . _______________
Discharge rate____________________
Lay-off rate. ____________________
Total separation rate______________
Accession rate_______ ___ _________
M ay
1935
Boots and shoes
Automobiles
Quit rate
_______________ Discharge rate __________________
Lay-off rate ________ ____ _______
Total separation rate___________ Accession rate___________________
M ay
1935
1.49
.51
9. 39
11.39
7. 55
0. 75
.2 2
7.00
7.97
8.61
0.58
.28
8.19
9.05
8.71
1.06
.37
4. 37
5. 80
10. 97
BUILDING OPERATIONS
S um m ary o f B uilding C o n stru c tio n R ep o rts fo r
Ju n e 1935
N MARKED contrast with the usual seasonal trend, the value of
building construction in June showed an increase of more than 10
percent over May. Indicated expenditures for new residential build
ings and nonresidential buildings showed pronounced gains over the
period. The estimated cost of additions, alterations, and repairs,
to existing buildings, however, was somewhat less than in the pre
vious month.
Compared with June of last year, the estimated cost of all buildings
for which permits were issued showed an increase of almost 90 per
cent. Indicated expenditures for residential buildings were more
than three times as great as a year ago. The increases in the value
of residential buildings amounted to more than 100 percent in each
of the 9 geographic divisions. The value of new nonresidential
buildings over the same period increased 75 percent, and the value
of additions, alterations, and repairs showed an increase of more than
21 percent.
I
Comparisons, June 1935 with June 1934
D ata concerning the number and cost of new residential buildings,
of new nonresidential buildings, and of additions, alterations, and
repairs are given in table 1 for the months of June 1934 and June 1935.
T able 1.— S um m ary of B uilding C o n stru ctio n in 776 Id e n tic a l C ities, Ju n e 1934
an d Ju n e 1935
Number of permits
Class of construction
June
1935
All construction________ _______ - ------ -------- 40,158
New residential buildings...................................
N ew nonresidential buildings--------------------Additions, alterations, and repairs---------------
4,853
6, 606
28, 699
June
1934
31, 734
Per
centage
change
Estimated cost
June 1935
June 1934
Per
centage
change
+26.5 $76, 777,862 $40,967, 569
+87.4
8,778,910
16, 569,459
15,619, 200
+228.9
+74.8
+21.3
1,886 +157. 3
5, 567 +18.7
24,281 +18.2
28,871,315
28,963,214
18,943, 333
Permits were issued for 3,000 more new residential buildings in
June 1935 than in the corresponding month of 1934. At the same time
an increase of more than 1,000 is shown in the number of new nonresi3202—35----- 9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
413
414
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
dential buildings. Indicated expenditures for residential buildings
during June 1935 amounted to nearly $29,000,000 compared with less
than $9,000,000 in June 1934. Indicated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings were $12,000,000 greater during June 1935 than
during the corresponding month of the preceding year.
Table 2 gives, in summary form, the estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings and the number of families provided for in such dwellings,
for the months of June 1934 and June 1935.
T able 2.— S um m ary of E stim a te d C ost of H ousekeeping D w ellings an d of
Fam ilies P rovided for in 776 Id en tical Cities, Ju n e 1934 a n d Ju n e 1935
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Families provided for in
new dwellings
Kind of dwelling
June 1935
Per
June 1934 centage
change
All t y p e s ______________________________
$28,126,315
1 -family__________________ ___________
2 -family
_________________________
Multifamily 3____ _______________________
19,272, 730
1,238, 545
7,615,040
Per
centage
change
June
1935
June
1934
$8, 753,049 + 2 2 1.1
7, 231
2,373
+204. 7
6,983, 606 +176. 0
484, 443 +155. 7
1,285,000 +492. 6
4,472
434
2,325
1,778
156
439
+151.5
+178. 2
+429. 6
1 Includes 1 -family and 2-family dwellings with stores.
3 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
More than three times as many family-dwelling units were provided
in new buildings in June 1935 than in the corresponding month of
the previous year. There were pronounced increases in all types
of family-dwelling units over this period. The increase was especially
pronounced in the number of dwelling units provided in apartment
houses.
Comparisons, June 1935 with May 1935
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 784 identical cities is given
in table 3 for May and June 1935.
T able 3.— S um m ary of B uilding C o n stru ctio n in 784 Id e n tic a l C ities, M ay an d
Ju n e 1935
Number of permits
Class of construction
Per
centage
change
Estimated cost
Per
centage
change
June
1935
M ay
1935
All construction______ ____ _____ ____
40, 279
45,211
-1 0 .9 $76,956,835 $69, 735, 483
+10.4
N ew residential buildings______________ .
N ew nonresidential buildings___________
Additions, alterations, and repairs________
4,883
6,636
28,760
4,991
7,970
32,250
- 2 .2
-1 6 .7
- 10.8
+13.3
+ 22.8
- 7 .7
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June
1935
28,949,365
29,022,199
18, 985,271
M ay
1935
25,455,973
23,624,690
20, 564,820
415
BUILD IN G OPERATIONS
Although there was a decrease of almost 11 percent in the number
of buildings for which permits were issued during June as compared
with May, the estimated cost of such buildings increased more than
10 percent. There were decreases in the number of both types of
new buildings and of additions, alterations, and repairs. However,
there were increases in indicated expenditures for both types of new
buildings. A decrease was shown in indicated expenditures for addi
tions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings.
The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and of families pro
vided therein during May and June 1935 is shown in table 4.
T able 4.— S um m ary of E stim a te d C ost of H ousekeeping D wellings a n d of
Fam ilies P ro v id ed for in 784 Id en tical C ities, M ay an d Ju n e 1935
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Number of families pro
vided for in new dwell
ings
Kind of dwelling
June
1935
All types------------------- - ................................—
1 -family-2-family 1
___________________ __________
_____________________ ______
M nltifamily 2
-- __________
M ay
1935
Per
centage
change
June
1935
M ay
1935
Per
centage
change
$28, 204,365 $25,336, 709
+11.3
7,260
6,971
+ 4 .1
19, 048,158
1,165,169
5,123,382
+ 1.6
+ 6.0
+48.6
4,503
432
2,325
4, 635
430
1,906
- 2.8
+ 0 .5
+ 22.0
19,354, 780
1, 234,545
7, 615,040
1 Includes 1-family and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings, with stores.
Gains were shown in both the estimated cost and the number of
families provided for in 2-family dwellings and multifamily dwellings.
In the case of 1-family dwellings, however, there was an increase in
the estimated cost but a decrease in the number of family-dwelling
units provided.
Important Building Projects
P e r m i t s were issued during June for the following important
building projects: For a college dormitory in Northampton, Mass.,
to cost $330,000; for public buildings in Oakland, Calif., to cost over
$2,300,000; for a hospital in New Orleans, La., to cost $1,500,000;
for apartment houses in Brooklyn to cost over $1,200,000; for apart
ment houses in the Borough of Manhattan to cost more than $1,100,000; and for a school building in Olean, N. Y., to cost $750,000. A
contract was awarded by the Procurement Division of the U. S.
Treasury Department for an annex to the Congressional Library to
cost over $6,000,000.
The Public Works Administration awarded a contract for a lowcost housing project in Cleveland, Ohio, to cost over $2,400,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
416
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
B uilding C o n stru c tio n in P rincipal C ities, M ay 1935
B
UILDING construction in May, for the fifth consecutive month,
increased both in comparison with the previous month and with
the corresponding month of last year. Reports from the principal
cities in the country show that the estimated cost of the buildings for
which permits were issued during the month was 1.9 percent higher
than in the month preceding and 25 percent above the level of the
corresponding month of last year.
The greatest improvement occurred in residential building. The
value of residential buildings for which permits were issued during the
month shows a gain of more than 112 percent in comparison with the
corresponding month of last year and an increase of 10 percent over
the previous month of the current year. Compared with a year ago,
all nine geographic divisions show increases in the value of residential
buildings. The gains amounted to over 200 percent in the South
Atlantic, the Mountain, and the Pacific regions. In comparison
with the previous month 7 of the 9 geographic divisions registered
gains in the value of new residential buildings.
A small increase over April was reported in the number and value
of additions, alterations, and repairs. New nonresidential building,
although showing an increase in the number of permits issued,
decreased in estimated cost comparing May with April. (See
table 1.)
In contrast with the upward course of private construction, public
building operations fell off sharply during the month. During May
the value of public buildings for which contracts were awarded in the
cities covered was $4,287,935. This is a decrease of $2,051,629, or
approximately 33 percent when compared with April.
T ab le 1.— S um m ary of B uilding C o n stru ctio n in 773 Id e n tic a l C ities, A pril and
M ay 1935
Number pf permits
issued
Estimated cost
Class of construction
M ay
1935
April
1935
All construction............... ...............
44,860
43,545
N ew residential b u ild in g s............. ...........
N ew nonresidential buildings........ ............
Additions, alterations, and repairs............
4,931
7, 855
32,074
4,204
7, 648
31, 693
Per
centage
change
M ay
1935
April
1935
+ 3 .0 $69, 798,988 $68,466,384
+17.3
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .2
25,418, 766
23,988,799
20,391,423
23,246,061
25, 565,848
19,654,475
Per
centage
change
+ 1 .9
+ 9.3
- 6.2
+ 3 .7
The foregoing figures are based on reports received by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor from 773
identical cities having a population of 10,000 or over. The information
is collected from local building officials on forms mailed by the Bureau,
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417
BUILD IN G OPERATIONS
except in the States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New
York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, where the State depart
ments of labor collect and forward the information to the Federal
Bureau. The cost figures are estimates made by the prospective
builders on applying for their permits to build. No land costs are
included. Only building projects within the corporate limits of the
773 cities covered are included.
Comparisons with Previous Month, by Geographic Divisions
T h e estimated cost of new residential buildings; of new nonresidential buildings; of additions, alterations, and repairs; and of total
building construction in the 773 identical cities during April and
May 1935 is shown in table 2 by geographic divisions.
T able 2 .— E stim a te d C ost of B uilding C o n stru c tio n in 773 Id e n tic a l Cities,
A pril a n d M ay 1935
New residential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
M ay 1935
April 1935
$23, 246,061
+ 9 .3
$23,988,799
$25,565,848
- 6.2
1, 550,510
7,891,466
2,836,171
1, 561,396
4, 457, 559
331,482
1,145,175
460, 884
3,011,418
+23.1
+ 8 .3
+38. 2
+15.1
- 20.6
- 5 .9
+ 2 2 .1
+ 5 .2
+16.6
1,805, 572
6,288,545
4,239,600
1,427,669
2,916,325
696, 859
2,833, 270
821,670
2,959,289
3,552,960
6,465,998
5,470,965
701,133
1,694,949
662, 884
1,058, 883
374,598
5, 583,478
-4 9 .2
- 2 .7
—22. 5
+103.6
+72.1
+ 0. i
+167.6
+119.3
-4 7 .0
April 1935
All divisions................ ..............
$25,418, 766
N ew England______________
Middle Atlantic____________
East North Central________
West North Central________
South Atlantic __ _________
East South Central_________
Wftst South C entral_______
Mountain_________________
Pacific....................... ..................
1,908,465
8, 547,061
3,918,938
1, 797,870
3, 540, 218
311, 768
1,398, 766
485,065
3, 510, 615
Additions, alterations, and re
pairs (estimated cost)
Geographic division
April 1935
All divisions.............................. $20,391,423 $19,654,475
N ew England_____________
M iddle A tlan tic...................
East North Central________
West North Central.............
South Atlantic____________
East South Central-----------West South Central................
M ountain________ ________
Pacific.........................................
1,817,444
6,639,958
3, 693,451
1, 266,040
2,741, 257
587,336
768, 770
389, 255
2,487,912
Percent
age
change
Percent
age
change
M ay 1935
M ay 1935
N ew nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
1, 850,697
5, 544,666
3,198,086
1,286,749
3,654, 756
524,303
1,136, 283
492,477
1,966,458
Per
cent
age
change
Total construction (estimated
cost)
M ay 1935
April 1935
Per
cent
age
change
N um
ber of
cities
+ 3 .7 $69, 798,988 $68,466,384
+ 1.9
773
6,954,167
19,902,130
11, 505,222
3,549, 278
9,807, 264
1,518, 669
3,340,341
1,327,959
10, 561,354
-2 0 .5
+ 7 .9
+ 3 .0
+26.5
- 6.2
+ 5.1
+49.7
+27.7
-1 5 .2
108
173
189
- 1.8
+19.8
+15.5
- 1.6
-2 5 .0
+ 12.0
-3 2 .3
+79.0
+26.5
5, 531,481
21,475, 564
11,851,989
4,491,579
9,197,800
1, 595,963
5,000, 806
1,695,990
8,957,816
68
77
30
47
23
58
In residential building, increases over April occurred in 7 of the 9
geographic divisions. The South Atlantic and the East South
Central were the only divisions showing decreases. The greatest
increase occurred in the East North Central States. The total
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418
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
increase in valuation, comparing May with April, amounted to over
$ 2 , 000, 000.
New nonresidential buildings decreased 6.2 percent, comparing
May with April. Five of the nine geographic divisions, however,
showed increases. Large decreases were reported in the New
England and the Pacific States.
There were gains in the value of additions, alterations, and repairs
in five of the geographic divisions.
The number of new residential buildings, of new nonresidential
buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of total building
construction in 773 identical cities during April and May 1935 is
given by geographic divisions in table 3.
T able 3 .— N um ber of B uildings, A lteratio n s an d R ep airs, an d T o ta l B uilding
C o n stru ctio n in 773 Id e n tic a l C ities, A pril an d M ay 1935
New residential
buildings
Geographic division
M ay April
1935 1935
New nonresidential
buildings
375
965
750
490
798
124
466
143
820
314
751
548
461
669
111
443
107
800
Total construction
Per
Per
Per
Per
cent M ay April cent M ay April cent M ay April cent
1935 1935
age
age
1935 1935
age
1935 1935
age
change
change
change
change
All divisions................ 4, 931 4,204 +17.3 7,855 7,648
New E n g la n d ...........
Middle Atlantic____
East North C entral..
West North CentralSouth Atlantic______
East South C entral..
West South Central..
M ountain_________
Pacific.............. ..........
Additions, altera
tions, and repairs
+ 2 .7 32,074 31, 693
+19.4
872
758 +15.0 3,403
+28.5 1,612 1,413 +14.1 7, 271
+36.9 2,061 2,039 + 1 . 1 6,189
+ 6 .3
796
772 + 3 .1 2,509
+19.3
666
623 + 6 .9 4,121
+11.7
164
240 -3 1 .7 1,397
+ 5 .2
352
413 -1 4 .8 2,034
+33.6
210
217 - 3 .2
982
+2. 5 1 ,1 2 2 1,173 - 4 .3 4,168
+ 1 .2 44, 860 43, 545
+ 3 .0
3,163 + 7 .6 4,650 4,235 + 9.8
6,705 + 8 .4 9,848 8, 869 + 1 1 .0
5,863 + 5 .6 9,000 8,450 + 6 .5
2,532
- . 9 3,795 3, 765
+• 8
3,656 +12.7 5, 585 4,948 +12.9
1,505 - 7 .2 1,685 1,856 - 9 . 2
3, 239 -3 7 .2 2,852 4,095 -3 0 .4
880 + 11.6 1,335 1,204 +10.9
4,150
+ .4 6,110 6,123
-.2
Gains in the number of new residential buildings were shown in
each of the nine geographic divisions, comparing May with April
1935. The percentage increase ranged from 2.5 percent in the Pa
cific States to 36.9 percent in the East North Central States. Five
geographic divisions registered increases in new nonresidential
buildings and six divisions in additions, alterations, and repairs.
I he estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the number
of families provided for by the residential dwellings for which per
mits were issued in 773 identical cities for April and May 1935, by
geographic divisions, are shown in table 4.
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BUILDING OPERATIONS
T able 4.— E stim a te d C ost an d N u m b er of F am ily-D w elling U n its P ro v id ed in
773 Id en tical C ities, A pril an d M ay 1935
2 -family dwellings 1
1 -family dwellings
Families pro
vided for
Estimated cost
Geographic division
M ay 1935 April 1935
April
1935
M ày
1935
$1,801,965 $1,461,810
4,040,465 2,729, 366
3, 722,188 2,757,171
1, 557, 281 1,476,596
3,082, 283 2,039,217
312,332
295,368
984,730
1,178,259
398,384
448, 265
2,825,077 2, 598,081
355
894
729
468
721
T otal___________ 18,951,151 14,757, 687
+28.4
4, 581
+18.4
New England_________
Middle Atlantic_______
East North Central-----West North Central___
South A tlan tic-- ------East South C en tra l___
West South Central___
M ountain................. .......
Pacific______ _________
121
420
137
736
$95, 500
266, 296
96,350
86,925
73,085
7,900
157,957
21, 300
357, 256
$81, 200
339, 600
54,000
84,800
100, 300
5, 500
105,845
7,500
299,437
3,869
1,162, 569
+ 7 .8
1,078,182
M ay 1935 April 1935
$11,000
New England_________
M iddle Atlantic_______ 4, 222, 300
15,800
East North C entral___
61,000
West North Central___
381,850
South A t la n tic ..._____
8, 500
East South C en tra l___
62, 550
West South Central___
4, 500
M ountain____
_____
328,282
Pacific________________
$7,500
4,801,000
25,000
2, 314,042
11,400
54,600
55,000
105,900
0
5,095, 782
—30. 9
7, 374,442
T o ta l.. ________
April
1935
M ay
1935
Families pro
vided for
M ay
1935
April
1935
32
77
29
31
64
4
76
22
101
18
27
53
4
54
4
85
8
106
427
+16.0
368
Total, all kinds of housekeeping
dwellings
Families pro
vided for
Estimated cost
M ay 1935 April 1935
300
661
536
446
566
107
404
103
746
Multifamily dwellings 2
Geographic division
Estimated cost
Estimated cost
M ay 1935 April 1935
Families pro
vided for
M ay
1935
April
1935
16
175
4
48
4
137
3 $1,908,465 $1, 550, 510
1,297 8, 529,061 7,869,966
7 3,834, 338 2,836,171
0 1, 705,206 1,561,396
853 3,537, 218 4,453,559
329, 232
4
311, 768
34 1,398, 766 1,145,175
474,065
460,884
27
46 3,510,615 3,003,418
393
2,465
766
515
960
129
544
149
979
325
2,059
561
473
1,472
115
492
134
877
1,892
-1 6 .7
2, 271 25, 209,502 23,210,311
+ 8.6
6,900
+ 6.0
6,508
6
1,494
8
1 Includes 1-family and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
The new residential buildings authorized by May permits will
provide 6,900 new family-dwelling units; nearly 4,600 of these will
be in one-family dwellings and almost 1,900 in apartment houses.
All geographic divisions, except the South Atlantic, provided more
family-housing units in May than in April.
Index numbers of indicated expenditures for each of the differ
ent types of building construction and for family-dwelling units
provided are given in table 5. The monthly trends in the major
branches of building construction during 1933, 1934, and the first
5 months of the current year are shown graphically by the accom
panying diagrams.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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BUILDING OPERATIONS
Indexes sr Fam ilies P ro vid ed F or
(/Vonfh/y s4jrer<eye 797$ *ZOO)
/ndeX
In c/ex
A /um bers
N um ber
JOO
ZOO
-
75
75
50
50
£5
75
/935f
----- ■=»
Z9S5,
p=*---- ^ ^
Jan. Fed. ZVer S p r A7ey St/oe SuZy S iyy S ep t O ct TYor Sec.
T able 5.— In d ex N u m b ers of F am ilies P ro v id ed for a n d of In d ic a te d
E x p en d itu res for B uilding O perations
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
Indicated expenditures for—
Indicated expenditures for—
Month
Fami
New New
lies
nonpro resi
resivided den
dential
for
tial
build build
ings
ings
Addi
tions,
altera Total
con
tions, struc
and
tion
re
pairs
Month
Fami
New New
lies
nonpro resi
resivided den dential
for
tial
build build
ings
ings
Addi
tions,
altera
tions,
and
re
pairs
Total
con
struc
tion
1934
1930
73.8
69.3
A p ril.............
M ay...............
10 .2
6.7
7.3
13.6
20.4
30.1
36.4
12.8
90.7
81.8
84.5
48. 6
39.8
73.9
58.5
65.2
53.0
60.6
48.8
7.3
January____
8.5
February___
March______ 16.6
April_______ 18.9
M ay_______ 20.0
5.1
5.6
11.4
13.0
14.2
1 1 .1
27.9
29.7
41.6
45.5
47.2
10.9
12.5
19. 2
9.7
7.9
25.0
39.3
32.0
27.3
18.8
23.3
4.6
9.9
33.8
29.8
22.6
9.5
21.7
62. 0
59.6
51. 0
48. 5
100.1
64. 6
M ay............... 51.7
16.7
1935
1931
1932
A pril............. 13.4
M ay_______ 11.3
9.0
13.9
18.6
2 1 .2
19.9
21.6
22.0
1933
April............... 7.4
M a y ............. 11.9
8 .1
The index numbers of families provided for and of indicated ex
penditures for new residential buildings, for additions, alterations,
and repairs, and for total building construction in May were higher
than for any month of the past 2 years. The index number for new
nonresidential buildings was slightly lower than in April 1935 and
May 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Comparisons with Year Ago, by Geographic Divisions
A c o m p a r is o n of the estimated cost of new residential buildings,
of new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and re
pairs, and of total building construction in 763 identical cities hav
ing a population of 10,000 or over, is shown in table 6 for May 1935
and May 1934.
T able 6.— E stim a te d C ost of B uilding C o n stru ction in 763 Id e n tic a l C ities,
M ay 1934 an d M ay 1935
N ew residential buildings (estimated
cost)
N ew nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
M ay 1935
M ay 1934
All divisions_____________
$25,369, 266
$11,958, 053
N ew England____________
M iddle A tla n tic _________
East North Central...........
West North Central____
South Atlantic_____
East South Central_______
West South Central_____
M ountain___________ . .
Pacific____________ _
1,899,215
8,561.361
3,873, 388
1, 780,370
3, 548,718
311, 768
1,398, 766
485, 065
3, 510, 615
1,436, 588
5,048,086
1,321,583
722, 610
1,065,009
116, 010
1,044,398
141,425
1,062,344
Percentage
change
M ay 1934
+ 112 .2
$23,948, 513
$26,929,020
- 1 1 .1
+32.2
+69.6
+ 193.1
+146. 4
+233. 2
+168. 7
+33.9
+243.0
+230. 5
1, 798,997
6,260, 895
4,216, 073
1,443,935
2,916,325
698,059
2, 833, 270
821, 670
2, 959, 289
3,427,978
13,105,963
2,860,148
1, 246, 460
2,111,765
863,632
1, 655,431
189,046
1,468, 597
-4 7 .5
-5 2 .2
+47.4
+15.8
+38. 1
-1 9 .2
+71.1
+334. 6
+101.5
Additions, alterations, and
repairs (estimated cost)
Total construction (estimated
cost)
Geographic division
M ay 1935
All divisions_______
N ew England_____
Middle Atlantic___
East North CentralWest North Central
South A tlantic____
East South CentralWest South Central.
M ountain_________
Pacific____________
Percent
M ay 1934
age
M ay 1935
change
$20,583, 723 $16,322,153
1,804,004
6, 649, 743
3,675,307
1, 281, 665
2,801,719
725,348
768, 770
389, 255
2,487,912
1,953,006
5, 379,924
2, 372,497
1, 603,875
1, 600,249
562,930
522,797
257,467
2,069, 408
+26.1
- 7 .6
+23.6
+54.9
-
20.1
+75.1
+28.9
+47.0
+51.2
+
Percent
age
change
M ay 1935
20.2
N um
ber of
Percent cities
M ay 1934
age
change
9, 901, 502 $55, 209, 226
5, 502,216
21,471, 999
11,764, 768
4, 505,970
9,266,762
1, 735,175
5,000,806
1, 695,990
8, 957,816
6,817, 572
23,533,973
6, 554, 228
3, 572,945
4, 777,023
1,542,572
3,222, 626
587,938
4, 600, 349
+26.6
763
-1 9 .3
106
172
181
67
-
8.8
+79.5
+26.1
+94.0
+12.5
+55.2
+188.5
+94.7
78
31
47
23
58
Each of the first five months of 1935 has shown an increase of 100
percent or more over the corresponding month of the preceding year
in the valuation of new residential buildings. The increase in May
amounted to over 112 percent, with three geographic divisions show
ing three times as much activity in residential construction as during
May of the preceding year.
The value of new nonresidential buildings in May 1935, on the
other hand, shows a decrease of 11 percent when compared with the
corresponding month of last year. This decrease was caused by a
falling off in the Middle Atlantic States. In May 1934 permits were
issued for several large office buildings in New York City. If data
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
423
BUILDING OPERATIONS
for these buildings were excluded, an increase over a year ago would
be shown in the value of nonresidential buildings in May 1935.
Gains in the value of additions, alterations, and repairs were reg
istered in all geographic divisions except the New England and the
West North Central.
The New England and the Middle Atlantic were the only divisions
showing decreases in the total value of building construction, com
paring May 1935 with May of the previous year.
Table 7 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new
nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs to
existing buildings, and of total building construction in 763 identical
cities, comparing May 1934 and May 1935, by geographic divisions.
T able 7.— N u m b er of B uildings, A lteratio n s a n d R ep airs, an d T o ta l B uilding
C o n stru ctio n in 763 Id en tical C ities, M ay 1934 a n d M ay 1935
N ew residential
buildings
Geographic division
M ay M ay
1935 1934
N ew nonresidential
buildings
Additions, altera
tions, and repairs
Total construction
Per
Per
Per
Per
cent M ay M ay cent M ay M ay cent M ay M ay centage
1935 1934
age
1935 1934
1935 1934
age
age
change
change
change
change
All divisions________ 4,908 2,127 +130.7 7,821 6,310 +23.9 32,044 27, 291 +17.4 44, 773 35, 728 +25.3
N ew E ngland-.-........
Middle Atlantic------East North Central—
West North C entralSouth Atlantic____
East South Central
West South C entralM ountain—
Pacific_____________
373
966
732
484
800
124
466
143
820
307
471
288
228
292
40
161
51
289
833 + 4.3 3,385 3,239 + 4.5 4, 627
+21.5
869
+105.1 1,611 1,380 +16.7 7,267 7,476 - 2.8 9, 844
+154. 2 2,029 1,543 +31.5 6,145 4,752 +29.3 8,906
724 + 9.9 2, 529 2,027 +24.8 3, 809
796
+112.3
494 +34.8 4,132 3,499 +18.1 5,598
666
+174. 0
161 +3.1 1,402 1,302 + 7.7 1,692
+ 210.0
166
352
306 +15.0 2,034 1,322 +53.9 2,852
+189. 4
982
658 +49.2 1,335
161 +30.4
210
+180. 4
708 +58.5 4,168 3,016 +38.2 6,110
+183. 7 1,12 2
4,379
9,327
6,583
2,979
4,285
1,503
1,789
870
4,013
+ 5 .7
+ 5 .5
+35.3
+27.9
+30.6
+ 12.6
+59.4
+53.4
+52.3
Increases in the number of new residential buildings, of new non
residential buildings, and of total building construction are shown in
each of the nine geographic divisions, comparing May 1935 with the
corresponding month of the preceding year. The middle Atlantic
States showed a slight decrease in the number of additions, altera
tions, and repairs. Each of the other divisions showed increases in
this type of structure. Seven geographic divisions showed increases
ranging between 100 and 200 percent in new residential buildings.
One geographic division, the East South Central, showed an increase
of over 200 percent.
Table 8 shows the number of new family-dwelling units provided
and the estimated cost of the housekeeping dwellings for which per
mits were issued in 763 identical cities in May 1935 and May 1934.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
T able 8.— E stim a te d C ost an d N u m b er of Fam ily-D w elling U n its P ro v id ed in
763 Id e n tic a l C ities, M ay 1934 a n d M ay 1935
1 -family dwellings
Estimated cost
Geographic division
M ay 1935 M ay 1934
New England_________
M iddle A t la n t ic .- .___
East North Central
West North Central___
South Atlantic________
East South Central____
West South Central___
M ountain____ ________
Pacific________________
$1, 792, 715 $1,371,088
4,054, 765 1,920, 736
3,676, 638 1,233, 983
1,551,881
698,010
3,090, 783
944,359
295,368
103, 510
1,178, 259
358, 478
448, 265
130, 925
2,825,077
890,444
Total__________ _ 18,913, 751
Percentage change_____
+147. 2
7,651,533
2 -family dwellings 1
Families pro
vided for
M ay
1935
353
895
711
464
723
121
420
137
736
4, 560
+129. 3
M ay
1934
M ay 1935
M ay 1934
297
430
281
223
270
39
138
48
263
$95, 500
266,296
96,350
74, 825
73,085
7,900
157, 957
21,300
357,256
$57, 500
188, 650
35, 600
8, 600
68, 200
12, 500
109,010
10,500
128,100
1,989
1,150,469
+ 86.0
618,660
Estimated cost
M ay 1935 M ay 1934
N ew England_________
$ 11,000
0
Middle Atlantic_______ 4,222,300 $2,903, 700
East North Central___
15,800
12,000
W est North Central___
61, 000
10,000
South Atlantic________
381,850
47,450
East South Central____
8, 500
0
West South Central___
62,550
0
M ountain____________
4, 500
0
Pacific—- _____________
328, 282
43,000
T otal___________ 5,095,782
Percentage change_____
+68.9
3,016,150
Families pro
vided for
M ay
1935
Estimated cost
M ay
1934
6
1,494
8
16
175
4
48
4
137
1,892
+62.3
Families pro
vided for
M ay
1935
M ay
1934
32
77
29
27
64
4
76
17
50
8
6
29
2
40
8
6
106
43
423
+110. 4
201
Total, all kinds of housekeeping
dwellings
M ultifamily dwellings 2
Geographic division
Estimated cost
M ay 1935 M ay 1934
0 $1,899, 215 $1,428, 585
Families pro
vided for
M ay
1935
M ay
1934
391
2,466
748
507
962
129
544
149
979
314
1,593
293
234
323
41
178
54
326
1,166 25,160, 002 11, 286,343
6,875
+122. 9
+104.9
3, 356
1,113
4
5
24
0
0
0
20
8,543,361
3, 788, 788
1,687, 706
3,545, 718
311, 768
1,398. 766
474. 065
3, 510 615
5,013,086
1, 281, 583
716,610
1,060,009
116,010
467,488
141,425
1, 061,544
1 Includes 1-family and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Dwelling units in new buildings provided for more than twice as
many families during May of the current year than in the correspond
ing month of last year. The gain was spread over the entire country,
the largest actual increase being in the Middle Atlantic States and the
largest percentage increase in the South Atlantic States. A greater
increase was shown by one-family dwellings than by either of the other
types of dwellings.
C o n stru c tio n From Public Funds, May 1935
AW ARDS for P. W. A. construction projects during May totaled
nearly $50,000,000, a decrease of $17,000,000 compared
with the previous month. Although there was a decrease in the
value of all types of public construction projects combined, comparing
May with April, substantial increases were reported in the value of
awards for road building and railroad construction.
jL jl
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
425
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Data concerning the value of contracts awarded and force-account
work started, during the months of April and May 1935, for Federal
construction projects to be financed from Public Works Administra
tion funds are shown in table 9, by geographic divisions.
T able 9.— V alue of C o n tra c ts A w arded for F ed eral C o n stru ctio n P ro jects
F inanced from P ublic W orks A d m in istratio n F u n d s
Building construction
River, harbor, and
flood-control projects
Public roads
Geographic division
April 1935
M ay 1935
April 1935
April 1935
M ay 1935
All divisions.........................
$3, 240, 923
$5,549,182 $15,916,831 $12, 688,190
$2,875,586
$5,351,109
New England...... .......... M iddle Atlantic....... ...........
East North Central_____
West North Central-------South Atlantic---------------East South Central--------West South Central_____
M ountain------- ------------Pacific__________________
O u t s id e c o n t i n e n t a l
United States------ --------
51,472
248,628
203,312
5,194
128,172
8,062
2,306, 628
61, 330
228,125
955,695
394,988
270,862
176,382
3, 235,753
1, 350
208,806
108,893
194,835
370,916
969, 637
2,671,151
2,094, 982
1,287,804
2,015,796
3,470,293
803,948
2,232,304
86,878
674, 704
2, 781,447
1, 693, 925
1, 788,468
773,941
1, 818, 702
1,779, 792
1, 290, 333
76,858
198,315
2, 388,479
3, 340
17, 245
896, 544
70, 483
361,951
6,215
60,555
108, 278
3,985,424
16,122
0
1,618
0
0
0
0
ad roads 1
Geographic division
All divisions___________
N ew England__________
Middle A tla n tic ..-........ .
East North Central_____
West North Central........ .
South Atlantic_________
East South Central......... .
West South Central------M ountain--------------------Pacific...... ...........- .........—
O u t s id e c o n t in e n t a l
United States—........ —
Geographic division
April
1935
M ay
1935
April
1935
M ay
1935
0
13, 862
0
0
0
0
0
2, 927
7, 690
37,114
2,927
62, 276
33, 258
184, 292
96,525
0
10, 000
132,048
780
0
0
$93,024
$4,472
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
52, 265
0
0
4, 472
0
5,700
9, 760
513, 457
139,022
1,690, 721
189, 214
33,991
6,768
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
Miscellaneous
April 1935
M ay 1935
$28, 579
$13,711
0
0
0
0
0
0
4,000
6,630
0
0
$727,266
4,514
61,432
166,479
12, 803
438,068
326
6,965
32,353
4,326
2,430
0
0
0
0
April
1935
M ay
1935
0
0
0
0
Water and sewerage
systems
22,149
Forestry
$662, 239 $1,879,935
0
0
0
0
0
0
1, 588
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
April
1935
M ay
1935
18,045
83,107
0
0
0
36,886
Reclamation projects
N aval vessels
$122,940 $317,931 2$248,474 $12,368
M ay 1935
All divisions____________
N ew E n g la n d -_________
Middle Atlantic_________
East North Central_____
West North Central_____
South A tla n tic _________
East South Central______
West South Central
M ountain______________
Pacific ________________
O u t s id e c o n t in e n t a l
United States_________
M ay 1935
6,581
0
500
0
0
April 1935
M ay 1935
April 1935
$609, 553 2$23, 915,862
521,805
12,163
1,574,981
113, 313
5, 429,421
10, 623
2,115,906
27, 539
2,105,082
296, 207
2,024,184
21,738
5,802,788
46,150
1,571,910
43, 510
2,757,781
37,935
$26, 426, 451
1, 068,076
1, 201,838
3,966,057
1,968, 329
5, 725, 245
797, 029
2,257,950
7, 711,495
1, 728, 439
2,430
1,993
375
1 Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
2 Includes $9,574 not allocated by geographic division.
The value of awards for construction projects financed from the
Federal P. W. A. funds during May amounted to nearly $24,000,000.
Compared with April valuations this represents a slight decrease.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
426
MONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Important awards financed from Federal funds during April
included the construction of Dover Dam, near Dover, Ohio, to cost
nearly $1,000,000; the construction of a post office and Federal court
house in San Antonio, to cost over $1,800,000.
The value of contracts awarded and force-account work started,
during April and May 1935, is shown in table 10 for non-Federal con
struction projects to be financed from P. W. A. funds, by geographic
divisions.
T able 10.— V alue of C o n tra c ts A w arded for N on -F ed eral C o n stru c tio n P ro jects
F inanced from P u b lic W orks A d m in istratio n F u n d s
Building construction
Streets and roads i
Water and sewerage
systems
Geographic division
M ay 1935
All divisions_____ _________
New England_______________
M iddle Atlantic- _________
East North Central_________
West North Central------------South Atlantic--------------------East South Central_________
West South Central-------------M ountain__________________
Pacific_____________ - - - Outside continental United
States.______ ____________
April 1935
M ay 1935 April 1935
M ay 1935
April 1935
$9, 595, 744 $21, 473, 272 $4, 982,342 $4, 258,711
$7, 576, 305
$11,328, 075
354,181
581, 208
7,277,323
441,131
1,253,453
427,180
243,937
484,841
226, 582
38, 239
225,594
5, 034,532
955,125
596, 189
811, 992
85,118
693,210
378,933
779,963
941, 734
12,732,630
1,062,132
1,893,546
603,893
115,009
1, 326,424
338. 381
2, 459,523
1,173,124
1,076, 275
554, 748
1, 624,504
413,989
10,329
129,373
2,634,833
118,187
360,008
2,143,084
344, 450
109, 159
124, 055
348,151
174,805
3, 792, 005
35, 088
0
0
37,139
62, 401
Railroad construction
and repair
0
0
130, 585
373, 266
176,142
252,808
120,283
169,017
364,638
0
Miscellaneous
Total
Geographic division
M ay 1935
All divisions_______________
$1,948, 562
New England______________
Middle Atlantic__ _________
East North Central_____ . . .
West North Central__ ____ _
South Atlantic______________
East South Central_________
West South Central_________
M ountain__________________
Pacific ____________________
Outside continental United
States____________________
2,093
1, 239, 508
370, 616
150, 681
14, 559
161,824
9,281
April 1935
M ay 1935 April 1935
$324,804 $1,103,809 $2, 360, 320
M ay 1935
April 1935
$25,206, 762
$39, 745,182
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
242,422
76,644
73, 661
22,146
214, 761
6,862
461,427
5,886
33,877
95, 595
354,379
1,346,178
3,466
14, 500
390, 442
38,794
83,089
1, 518,998
7,952,745
4,100, 217
2,789,485
957,856
585, 758
1,471,493
1, 025,494
4,707, 227
1,460, 377
13,782,699
8,869,976
4, 258,467
1,981,095
725,706
2,325.441
862,016
5.404,027
0
0
0
0
97,489
75,378
0
0
0
324,804
1 Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
Gains were registered in the value of awards for street and road
work and for railroad construction and repair, comparing May with
April. Large decreases, however, were shown in building construc
tion and water and sewerage construction.
Non-Federal public works construction projects are financed by
loans and grants made by the Public Works Administration. For
the most part these allotments are made to State governments or
political subdivisions thereof. Occasionally, however, loans are made
to private firms. By far the largest number of private loans have
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
427
BUILD IN G OPERATIONS
been made to railroad companies. In the case of allotments to States,
cities, and counties, the Federal Government grants outright not more
than 30 percent of the cost of construction, the other 70 percent being
financed by the local agency. Loans made to private firms must be
paid in full within the time specified in the loan contract. Interest
is charged for all loans.
Contracts were awarded during May for the following important
non-Federal P. W. A. construction projects: For grade-crossing elimi
nation at Port Richmond, Staten Island, N. Y., to cost nearly
$1,000,000; Allegheny County Home at Woodville, Pa., to cost over
$2,200,000; Lake County sewage-treatment works, North Shore sani
tary district in Illinois, to cost nearly $800,000; and enlargement of
the O ’Shaughnessy Dam for the city and county of San Francisco,
to cost $3,200,000.
Table 11 gives the value of contracts awarded and force-account
work started, during April and May 1935, on construction projects to
be financed from appropriations made by the Congress direct to the
Federal departments.
T able 11.— V alue of C o n tracts for F ed eral C o n stru ctio n P ro je c ts F in an ced from
R egular G ov ern m en tal A ppro p riatio n s
Building construction
River, harbor, and floodcontrol projects
Public roads
Geographic division
April 1935
M ay 1935
$890,846
$783,389
$2,819,357
$1,135,377
0
0
0
0
0
70,147
107, 435
50, 208
226,165
129,111
55,000
2,107,834
208,115
38,448
57,286
190, 928
357,376
80,931
172, 647
M ay 1935
April 1935
M ay 1935
April 1935
All divisions__________
$2,389, 526.
$3, 388, 406
New England. ______
Middle Atlantic_______
East North Central____
West North Central___
South A tlan tic-.. _____
East South Central
West South Central____
M ountain____________
Pacific_____
O utside continental
United States_______
31,086
283,267
1, 038, 368
8, 275
467, 740
250, 620
50, 771
104,994
148,130
95,848
439, 580
238,751
116, 643
1,992,811
34,063
183, 568
51,346
.151, 256
339, 830
471, 200
493,640
59,724
73,457
27, 646
6, 275
84, 540
0
0
0
2 , 000
27,926
51,890
0
0
0
157, 255
0
72, 770
0
0
Reclamation projects
Naval vessels
Streets and roads 1
0
Geographic division
All d iv isio n s ................
New England_________
Middle Atlantic _____
East North Central. .
West North Central...
South Atlantic ---------East South Central-----West South Central. . . .
M ountain_____________
Pacific_____ ____ ____
O utside contin en tal
•-1 United States. ______
April 1935
$158,834
$9,500
0
$1,104,800
2 $137,100
2 $136,400
1,400
139, 740
6,254
1,500
0
0
0
0
11,10 0
0
0
0
10,000
0
0
0
0
6,000
0
0
0
2 , 000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2 , 000
0
0
0
0
1,890
3, 775
1 Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
2 Includes $5,200 not allocated by geographic divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ay 1935
April 1935
3,775
M ay 1935
April 1935
M ay 1935
1,650
0
0
316,850
0
0
0
7, 700
0
6,000
7, 700
0
721,400
69,100
38, 000
9,000
68,500
36,000
64,900
0
0
428
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
T ab le 11.— V alue of C o n tra c ts for F ed eral C o n stru ctio n P ro jects F in an ced from
R egular G o v ern m en tal A p p ro p riatio n s— C o n tin u ed
Water and sewerage
systems
Total
Miscellaneous
Geographic division
M ay 1935
April 1935
M ay 1935
April 1935
$2,985
$9,000
3 $690,969
0
2,000
2,000
0
1,000
All d iv isio n s.................
N ew England...... ............
Middle Atlantic_______
East North Central____
West North Central___
South A tlantic.. . _____
East South Central____
West South Central____
Mountain...................... .
Pacific________________
Outside c o n t i n e n t a l
United S ta te s.......... .
2,985
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
M ay 1935
April 1935
$388,469
< $7,089, 617
2 $6,955,341
37,289
14, 238
35,028
3,608
131,623
111,435
10,360
674
8,518
44, 554
103,633
702, 510
1,168, 201
306,732
1,018,119
305,620
2,166, 495
517, 699
768,076
321, 702
516, 706
299, 645
611,449
2,792,172
198,124
365,889
622,004
1,042, 580
15, 441
28,431
23,716
179,871
169, 083
45, 445
9, 302
409,793
5,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1 Includes $5,200 not allocated by geographic divisions,
a Includes $3,616 not allocated by geographic divisions.
1 Includes $8,816 not allocated by geographic divisions.
Construction projects financed from regular appropriations showed
a slight increase, comparing May with April. The increases occurred
in river, harbor, and flood-control projects, in the construction of streets
and roads, and in miscellaneous construction.
Data given in miscellaneous table 12 are in addition to construction
projects financed from P. W. A. funds. (See tables 10 and 11.)
The value of public-building and highway-construction awards, as
reported by the various State governments for May 1934 and for
April and May 1935, is given in table 12, by geographic divisions.
T able 1 2 .— V alue of P ublic-B uilding an d H ig h w ay -C o n stru ctio n A w ards as
R ep o rted by th e S ta te G o v ern m en ts, by G eographic D ivisions
Value of awards for public buildings
Geographic division
Value of awards for highway con
struction
M ay 1935
April 1935
M ay 1934
M ay 1935
April 1935
M ay 1934
All divisions-..............................
$1,849,067
$1,463,225
$4,046,043
$3,898,042
$2,751,774
$5,972,370
N ew England.......................... .
M iddle Atlantic_____________
East North Central_________
West North Central_________
South Atlantic______________
East South C e n tr a l.................
West South Central..................
M ountain............................... .
Pacific...........................................
53,606
856,173
425,613
20,152
64,611
6,444
279,939
10,854
131,675
14,133
500,954
312,774
138,910
61,375
221,797
367,208
875,148
67,118
145,426
450,000
549,837
1,903
1,367,606
8,993
0
98,431
752,448
1,318,942
223,789
446,530
283,150
1 , 280,980
0
432,575
0
2,504
167,172
423,682
375,381
141,537
245,831
2,056,060
75,297
404,089
114,893
298,491
213,601
209,967
114,456
1,212,797
15,280
572,289
0
1,568,100
The value of contracts awarded for State buildings and for State
highway construction was considerably higher in May than in April
1935, but lower than in May of the previous year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Index N um bers of A verage E arnings per H o u r, 1840
to 1934
HE level of average earnings per hour in 1934 was 12 percent
above that of 1933. Though still below the 1929 figure, the
1934 average was higher than at any time since 1931.
The general trend of average earnings per hour to 1929 was upward.
During the 80 years from 1840 to 1920 the increase was sevenfold,
the index rising from 33 to 234. Unusual increases were made during
the two great wars in which this country has been involved. Thus,
during the Civil War period, 1861 to 1865, the increase was 45 percent
as compared with only 21 percent between 1840 and 1861. During
the World War earnings per hour rose from an index of 102 to 162,
or 59 percent. In 1920, the year of peak earnings during the entire
period from 1840 to 1934, the index of 234 was 129 percent higher
than in 1914 and 134 percent more than in 1913, the base year.
In 1921, a year of depression and considerable unemployment and
decreases in wage rates and earnings, the level of earnings per hour
was 6.8 percent less than in 1920. Beginning with 1923, however,
the hourly earnings increased each year until 1929, the year of the
beginning of the most appalling and destructive depression that has
ever occurred in this country. The 1929 index was 233, or a fraction
of 1 percent less than for the peak year, 1920. Each year since 1929
the index of hourly earnings has been below the 1929 figure, in vary
ing degree, as follows: 1930, 1.7 percent; 1931, 6.9 percent; 1932, 20.2
percent; 1933, 23.6 percent; and 1934, 14.2 percent.
The trend of average hourly earnings is indicated in the table below,
giving a general index of such earnings from 1840 to 1934, for wage
earners of the United States, exclusive of those employed in agri
culture. In this table the 1913 average has been used as the base
or 100. Agricultural wage earners were excluded because their work
is much more seasonal than that of any other group of employees and
also because of the various and wide differences of the perquisites so
often forming a considerable part of their actual compensation.
T
3202—35----- 10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
429
430
MONTHLY LA B O E E E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
A general index of average earnings per hour was first published
by the Bureau for the years from 1840 to 1920 and was later extended
in the Monthly Labor Review successively to 1926, to 1929, and to
1932. The data are now brought down to and including 1934. The
figures relate only to earnings per hour and cannot be taken as
reflecting average earnings per day, per week, or per year.
The index for each year is a composite of the average earnings per
hour of the wage earners in the United States who were actually
employed in the year in the industries and trades for which satis
factory data are available. The coverage in number of wage earners
has increased from year to year with the increase in the volume of
such satisfactory data; approximately 14 million workers were in
cluded in the figures for 1932, 1933, and 1934. This coverage includes
wage earners in all manufacturing, anthracite and bituminous-coal
mining, metalliferous mining, quarrying, crude petroleum, public
utilities (telegraph and telephone, electric light and power, electric
and motor bus transportation), Class I steam railroads, wholesale and
retail trade, laundries, dyeing and cleaning, hotels and those employed
at union wage rates in the building and printing trades, and as
chauffeurs and teamsters and longshoremen.
Index N um bers of A verage E arn in g s per H o u r (E xclusive of A griculture), 1840
to 1934
[Based on currency or legal tender of United States.
Year
1840__________
1841__________
1842__________
1843____ ______
1844__________
1845__________
1846__________
1847__________
1848__________
1849__________
1850__________
1851__________
1852__________
1853__________
1854__________
1855__________
1856__________
1857__________
1858__________
1859__________
1860__________
1861_________
1862____ ____
1863............ .........
Index
num
ber
33
34
33
33
32
33
34
34
35
36
35
34
35
35
37
38
39
40
39
39
39
40
41
44
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Year
1864__________
1865__________
1866__________
1867__________
1868__________
1869__________
1870__________
1871__________
1872 _________
1873__________
1874__________
1875__________
1876__________
1877__________
1878__________
1879__________
1880__________
1881__________
1882__________
1883__________
1884__________
1885__________
1886__________
1887__________
Index
num
ber
50
58
61
63
65
66
67
08
69
69
67
67
64
61
60
59
60
62
63
64
64
64
64
67
Year
1888___
1889 1890 .
1891
1892 .
1893 .
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905 .
1906
1907 _
1908 . .
1909
1910 .
1911
Average per hour in 1913=100]
Index
num
ber
67
68
69
69
69
69
67
68
69
69
69
70
73
74
77
80
80
82
85
89
89
QO
93
95
Year
1912
1912
1914
1915
1915
1917
191«
1919
1920
1921
1922
1922
1924
1925
1926
1927
192«
1929
1920
1921
1922
1922
1924
Index
num
ber
97
10Q
102
103
111
128
162
184
234
218
208
217
2°3
226
229
231
232
233
229
217
1«6
17«
200
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
431
E m ploym ent and E arnings in M anufactures, 1899
to 1933
HE Census of Manufactures for 1933 permits some interesting
comparisons of employment, wages, etc., in manufacturing in
dustries in the United States in that year, with conditions in earlier
census years. In the following table such comparison is made for
each of the years for which a manufacturing census was taken from
1899 to 1933, for the principal items reported by the census, together
with the estimated population in each of these years and certain
figures derived from the basic data as given by the Census Bureau.
The derived figures, computed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are
those shown in column 4 (average annual earnings per wage earner),
column 8 (value added per wage earner), column 10 (horsepower
per wage earner), column 11 (percent wages are of value added by
manufacture), and column 13 (wage earners per 100,000 population).
The figures cited for average annual earnings (column 4) must be
used with great caution, as is emphasized by the Census Bureau:
T
T h e average n u m b er of w age earners is based on th e nu m b ers re p o rte d for th e
several m o n th s of th e year. T his average p ro b ab ly exceeds som ew hat th e
n u m b er th a t w ould have been req u ired for th e w ork perform ed if all h ad been
continuously em ployed th ro u g h o u t th e y ear, because of th e fa c t th a t m a n u fa c tu r
ers re p o rt th e nu m b er em ployed on or a b o u t th e 15th d ay of each m o n th , as show n
b y th e p ay rolls, usually ta k in g no acco u n t of th e possibility th a t som e o r all of
th e w age earners m ay have been on p a r t tim e or for som e o th e r reason m ay n o t
actu a lly have w orked th e en tire m o n th . T h u s it becomes necessary to give equal
w eight to full-tim e a n d p a rt-tim e w age earners in calculating th e average, a n d
therefore th e average o v erstate s som ew hat th e a m o u n t of full-tim e em ploym ent.
F o r this reason th e q u o tie n t o b tain ed by dividing th e a m o u n t of wages by th e
average n u m b er of wage earners c an n o t be accepted as rep resen tin g th e average
w age received by full-tim e wage earners. In m aking com parisons betw een th e
figures for 1929 an d those for 1931 a n d 1933, th e likelihood th a t th e p ro p o rtio n
of p a rt-tim e em ploym en t was larger in th e la te r th a n in th e earlier y ear should
be ta k e n into account.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
432
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
E m ployees, E arnin g s, P ro d u ctio n , a n d H orsepow er, in M a n u factu rin g E sta b
lishm ents in th e U n ited S ta te s in E ach of th e C ensus Y ears, 1899 to 1933 1
Census year
N um
ber of
estab
lish
ments
1
1899__________ — .........
1904_________________
1909_________________
1914_________________
1919_________________
1921_________________
1923_________ ______
1925___________ ______
1927.____ ____________
1929___________ ____
1931--------------- ----------1933........ ................ ...........
207,514
145, 033
175,142
177,110
214, 383
196, 267
196, 309
187, 390
191,866
210, 959
174,136
141, 776
Aver
Cost of mate
age an rial, containers,
Wage
nual
earners
fuel, and pur
Wages for year earnings
(average
chased elec
per wage
number )2
tricity 3
earner
5
4
3
2
4, 712, 763
5,362,030
6,472,616
6,896,190
9,000,059
6, 946, 570
8,778,156
8, 384, 261
8,349, 755
8,838, 743
6, 511, 647
6, 055, 736
$2, 008,361,119
2, 610,444, 953
3,427, 037,884
4,067, 718, 740
10,461,786,869
8, 202, 324, 339
11,009, 297, 726
10, 729,968,927
10,848,802, 532
11, 620,973, 254
7, 225, 587,464
5, 261, 576,029
$426
487
529
590
1,162
1,181
1,254
1,280
1,299
1,315
1 ,110
869
Value of
products
6
$6, 575,851,491
8,438,860, 722
12,064, 573,039
14,278, 333,194
37, 232,702,390
25, 321, 055, 346
34,705, 697, 749
35,935, 647, 704
35,133,136,889
38, 549, 579,732
21,420,124, 017
16,748,438,977
$11,406,926, 701
14, 617,774, 351
20,449,588,023
23,987,860,617
62,041,795,316
43, 653,282,833
60,555,998, 200
62,713, 713, 730
62, 718, 347, 289
70,434,863,443
41,333,108,998
31,358,840, 392
100.0
100.0
Index numbers
1899.________________
1904.________________
1909_____________ ____
1914................. ..................
1919_________________
1921___________ ____
1923________ - ................
1925..................................1927_________________
1929.________________
1931_________________
1933_______ ____ - .........
Census year
1899___________ _____
1904.......... —.................
1909________________
1914._____ __________
1919_________________
1921_________________
1923...................................
1925....................- ............
1927______ __________
1929_________________
1931_________________
1933____________ ____
100.0
100.0
100 . 0
113.8
137.3
146.3
191.0
147.4
186.3
177.9
177.2
187.5
138.2
128.5
130.0
170.6
202.5
520.9
408.4
548.2
534.3
540.2
578.6
359.8
262.0
69.9
84.4
85.3
103.3
94.6
94.6
90.3
92.5
101.7
83.9
68.3
Value added
by manu
facture
100.0
9
8
$ 4,831, 075, 210
6,178, 913, 629
8,385,014,984
9, 709, 527, 423
24,809,092, 926
18,332,227,487
25,850,300,451
26, 778,066, 026
27, 585,210, 400
31,885, 283, 711
19, 912,984,981
14,610,401,415
$1,025
1,152
1,295
1,408
2, 757
2, 639
2,945
3,194
3,304
3,607
3,058
2,413
9, 960,980
13, 296, 394
18,551, 737
22, 290,899
29, 327,669
100.0
100.0
100.0
(4)
33,094,228
35, 772, 628
38,825,681
42,931,061
W
W
128.1
179.3
210 3
543.9
382.7
530.9
549.8
549.8
617.5
362.4
274.9
Per
cent
wages
are of
value
added
Population
(estimated)
10
11
12
2 .1 1
41.6
42.3
40.8
41.9
42.1
44.8
42.6
40.1
39.3
36.5
36.3
36.0
74,799,000
82,601,000
90,691,000
97,928,000
105,003,000
108,208,000
111,537,000
114,867,000
118,197,000
121, 526,000
124, 070,000
125,693, 000
6,301
6,491
7,137
7,042
8, 571
6,420
7,870
7,299
7, 064
7, 273
5, 248
4,818
100.0
100.0
100.0
Value Horsepower Horse
added (rated capac power
per
per
ity) of
wage power equip wage
earner
earner
ment
7
128.3
183.5
217 1
566.2
385.1
527.8
546.5
534.3
586.2
325.7
254.7
114.3
124.2
138.5
372.8
277.2
294,' 4
300.5
304.9
308.7
260.6
204.0
2.48
2.87
3. 23
3. 26
(4)
3. 77
4. 27
4.65
4. 86
(4)
(4)
Wage
earners
per
100,000
popula
tion
13
Index numbers
1899.
1904.
1909.
1914.
1919.
1921.
1923.
1925.
1927.
1929.
1931.
1933.
127.9
173.6
201.0
513.5
379. 5
535.1
554.3
571.0
660.0
412 2
302.4
112.4
126.3
137.4
269.0
257. 5
287.3
311.6
322. 3
351.9
298. 3
235.4
133.5
186.2
223.8
294.4
332.2
359.1
389.8
431.0
100.0
117.5
136.0
153.1
154.5
101.7
98. 1
100.7
178.7
202.4
220.4
230.3
107.7
102.4
96.4
94.5
87.7
87.3
86.5
10 1.2
110.4
1 2 1 .2
130.9
140.4
144.7
149.1
153.6
158.0
162.5
165.9
168.0
103.0
113.3
1 1 1 .8
136.0
101.9
124.9115.8
1 1 2 .1
115.4
83. 3
76. 5'
1 Figures for 1933 do not include data for “ Coflee and spices, roasting and grinding” and “ Peanuts,
walnuts, and other nuts, processed or shelled” industries.
2 N ot including salaried officers and employees.
^
. ..
, ,
s The aggregates for cost of materials and value of products include large hut indeterminable amounts of
duplication due to the use of the products of some industries as materials by others. This duplication
occurs, as a rule, between different industries, and is not found to any great extent in individual industries.
4 Data not obtained in census.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
433
Wages and W orking C onditions in B eau ty Shops
NEW occupation was opened to women about 15 years ago with
the development and expansion of what has been spoken of as
“ the business of improving women’s appearance.” The growth of this
business, beginning with the fashion of bobbed hair and expanding
still further with the introduction and popularity of the permanentwave process, created employment opportunities for women that
increased from 33,000 in 1920 to 113,000 in 1930, according to the
occupational statistics of the United States Bureau of the Census.
The lack of data relating to employment in beauty shops and the
need for information as to working conditions in that field led the
Women’s Bureau of the United States Department of Labor to make a
first-hand survey of employment conditions in the beauty shops of
four cities—Philadelphia, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Columbus,
Ohio.1
The Bureau excluded from its study owner-operated shops without
employees, a group almost as large numerically as those in which
workers are employed. In Philadelphia and St. Louis records were
obtained for approximately one-fourth the number of women reported
in the occupation in the 1930 census, and in New Orleans and Colum
bus, information was obtained for about one-half the number of
women in the trade as shown in the same census. In all, the Women’s
Bureau study covered 390 white and 75 Negro beauty shops employ
ing 1,655 persons, 159 of whom were in the Negro shops run for
colored customers. Of those employed in the white shops, 1,315
were women and 181 were men. Fifteen of the women were colored,
but they served white customers and as their earnings and working
conditions were practically the same as those of the white workers
they were not segregated in the report.
Type of Establishment
B y t y p e of establishment, 297 of the 390 white shops covered in the
survey were independent shops (under owner management as a rule) ;
59 were chain shops, either local, intercity, or national; 25 were
operated by concessionaires in hotels and department stores; 7 were
owned and operated directly by a department store or a hotel; and
2 were conducted as part of a training school. The independent
group was subdivided into shops in commercial districts (211), in
the dwellings of owners (57), in barber shops (21), and in hotels (8).
The typical beauty shop, as shown by the survey, is a small estab
lishment with one or two employees, loosely organized, and without
well-defined managerial policies or business methods, in which frei U. S. Department of Labor.
Shops. Washington, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Women’s Bureau.
Bulletin No. 133: Employment Conditions in Beauty
434
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
quently even “ financial planning seemed to be confined to disburse
ments from tlie cash drawer as long as the cash held out.” Pay-roll
records were seldom kept except in large shops.
Less than 10 percent of the 390 white shops had as many as 10
employees, and in the 4 cities as a whole, 128 shops (32.8 percent)
employed only 1 operator, and 79 (20.3 percent) employed 2. Phila
delphia had the largest representation of shops (15 percent) employing
10 or more, but there the larger shops were purposely selected.
_Occupations
M ost of the women for whom data are reported were all-round
operators, trained and called upon to give any of the various kinds
of services offered by the trade. While shampooing and finger-waving
comprise the major part of the work, the all-round operator is also
expected to perform such services as facial massage and skin treat
ment, eyebrow arching, and hair cutting and dyeing. The report
separates manicurists from the all-round operator because less train
ing is required for that single operation, and in many.States where
beauty operators are examined and licensed, qualifications for license
as a manicurist are less exacting. In New Orleans 24.8 percent and
in St. Louis 15.7 percent of the women are classed as manicurists;
in all 4 cities this occupation accounts for 13.4 percent of the total
number studied. The larger showing in New Orleans is explained by
the fact that an examination is not required in that city. A small
group, totaling 6.6 percent for all the cities but including 13.2 percent
of the women in Philadelphia, are classed as specialists. These
workers make a specialty of the more highly skilled processes such as
hair dyeing and permanent waving.
Men are largely specialists, 86 percent of those studied being con
cerned with the more professional aspects of the business. They
are the hair stylists, expert marcellers, and other skilled operators,
specializing generally in coiffures. A fairly large number of the men
included in the study had received their training in European cities
under the high professional standards which attach to the occupation
of hairdresser there.
Earnings
T he beauty-shop business never adopted an N. R. A. code, but
it did in large part accept the conditions of the President’s Reemploy
ment Agreement of 1933. Thereafter the method of wage payment,
which had varied considerably before, tended toward a weekly guaran
teed minimum, with commissions above a stipulated quota. Usually
the quota required that an operator should double her salary in
services, all work in excess of that amount being paid for on com
mission, varying from 25 to 50 percent of the service charge. At the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
435
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
time of the survey weekly salaries or salaries plus commission were
received by more than three-fourths of the women in Philadelphia
and St. Louis, while nearly 40 percent in New Orleans and 36.1
percent in Columbus received a straight commission. For all 4
cities, 22.2 percent of the women, as against more than 40.0 percent of
the men, worked for commission only.
Earnings on commission were in all cases less than those based upon
other methods of payment. The median earnings of women in all
four cities, for the week studied by the Women’s Bureau, were $15 on
both the time and the time-plus-commission basis, while straight
commission brought only $10.25. Men on commission earned a
median wage of $21.25, as against a median of $25.50 for salary plus
commission.
Extremes of women’s earnings ranged from those of 18 apprentices
who, although doing operator’s work, were not paid at all, to an all
round operator in a St. Louis shop who received $43.25 for the week
scheduled. Eliminating the 10 percent at both the lowest and highest
levels, the range of the remaining 80 percent was from $5.75 to $20.75.
The widest range in a single city was reported for Columbus, with a
low of $6.25 and a high of $25.25. The lowest weekly earnings
reported were $4.75 in New Orleans.
The median weekly rate for women in all cities and for all methods
of payment was $14.25. Almost one-fourth, however, received less
than $10. The percentage distribution by classified weekly earnings
for all four cities and for each city separately is given in table 1.
T able 1.— P ercentage D istrib u tio n of W om en E m ployed in B e a u ty Shops, by
Classified W eekly E arn in g s an d C ity
Percent of women working hours specified in—
Hours worked weekly
Women—"NTiimher
_______ _____
____
Percent----------------- ------ ----------------------T,ess than 30
30 less than 40
40 less than 44
44 less than 43
487
Oyer 48 less than 54
54 ~
7
Oyer 54
___________________ —
_ _____________ - —
__ __________________
_ ________________
_______ ______ ______
____ _______ _____
______________ _______
_____ ___ __________ —
Pour
cities
1,2 10
100.0
7.9
8.0
10.5
24.7
Phila
delphia
417
100.0
8.2
8.4
11.8
St. Louis
256
340
10C.O
100.0
6.5
9.6
5.6
5.3
24.7
31.0
14.2
28.4
100.0
7.8
5.1
8.6
22.0
29.7
37.2
4.6
15.6
25.4
21.5
1 .2
8 .1
.2
14.1
17.7
Colum
bus
New
Orleans
2.0
1 1 .2
11.8
21.8
2 .1
16.8
197
8 .1
1.0
2.0
Men earned considerably more than women. The range of men’s
earnings was from $4.25 to $120.50, and in the 80 percent between
the extremely low and the extremely high the range was from $13
to $41.50, practically twice that shown for 80 percent of the women.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
436
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
The median weekly earnings of the 181 men were $22.50, as compared
to $14.25 for the women.
Tips and other factors.—The study does not support the popular
belief that tips form a substantial part of the earnings of beauty-shop
operators, at least at the present time. The practice varied decidedly
from city to city. When reduced to medians, tips and other extras
increased wages for the week by 25 cents in Columbus, $1 in St.
Louis, $2.50 in New Orleans, and $3 in Philadelphia. Men reported
receiving larger amounts than women in some cases, but the usual
amount received by both men and women in tips and other additional
earnings falls in the $l-and-under-$4 grouping.
The Bureau undertook also to correlate earnings with the prices
charged for services, and found that the higher-priced shops pay con
siderably better wages than the cut-rate shops. The median weekly
earnings ranged from $12.25 in the shops that charge 25 cents for
any one of the services offered (i. e., shampoo, finger or marcel wave,
manicure, etc.) to $18.50 in the shops where the usual charge for
each service is 75 cents or higher.
Earnings definitely advanced with increased experience. Basing
median earnings on the number of years in the trade the report
shows, for all 4 cities, a median wage of $11.50 for less than 3 years’
experience, while for those having 10 or more years in the trade the
median was $19.75.
Hours
W o r k i n g hours depend somewhat on the type of establishment.
Shops in down-town areas as a rule keep the customary hours of the
neighboring commercial concerns. Neighborhood and hotel shops,
on the other hand, must accommodate their hours to their patronage,
which, particularly in the case of the neighborhood and residential
shops, consists chiefly of women who are themselves employed during
the hours when the down-town shops are open.
While down-town shops have earlier and more regular closing hours,
the problem of the lunch period is more difficult to meet, since the
work peak generally falls between 11 and 2 o’clock. Operators
frequently told Bureau agents that “ a cold drink and a sandwich
consumed on the job” constituted their lunch on busy days. In the
neighborhood shops, work is apt to be slack during the first half of
the week and to increase heavily on Friday and Saturday, often
necessitating very late hours.
The daily spread of hours most commonly reported, applying to
almost 60 percent of the women, was 9 and less than 10. On busy
days, however, the normal working hours may be from 9 a. m. to 9,
10, or 11 p. m. Actual time records are seldom kept.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
437
E fforts to get concrete in fo rm atio n on o vertim e w ere unsuccessful, for em
ployees as well as em ployers h ad a ten d en c y to m inim ize th e am o u n t of over
tim e. T here seem ed to be a feeling th a t th e long hours w orked on a few days
were balanced by sh o rt schedules on o th e r days. T h e o p e ra to r on a com m ission
or q u o ta basis of p a y m e n t is anxious to swell h er incom e, a n d since o vertim e
affords a m eans to th is end she does n o t feel th a t long hours are a b urden. In
all, th ere w as considerable lib e rty in th e h o u r arran g em en ts. T im e for shopping,
for a n occasional m atin ee, or an em ergency need w as allow ed w ith no d educ
tio n in salary. In th e sm all shops, a n d m o st were sm all, w orking relatio n sh ip s
were inform al a n d flexible; if business w as dull a t th e tim e of th e a g e n t’s visit,
o p erato rs freq u en tly were found in th e general w aitin g room , resting, reading,
or sewing. A n u m b er of w orkers on com m ission replied, to q uestions on th e
irreg u la rity of hours, th a t th e y m ade th e ir own tim e. T his general atm o sp h ere
of in fo rm ality an d indefinite policy is a c h aracteristic of th e tra d e th a t easily
m ig h t lead to abuses.
Pennsylvania is the only State included in the survey in which the
women’s hours of labor law applies to this field. There the legal
limitation is a 10-hour day and a 54-hour week.
Employment Relations
Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s for beauty-shop operators are determined by State
laws where a license is required, as is the case in the States involved
in the survey. Employment agencies are used very little in recruiting
workers, and only 1 in 8 of the women interviewed was placed in her
position through the school in which she trained. Newspaper adver
tisements and personal contacts seem to be the chief recruiting
mediums.
Working conditions.—Working conditions apparently are quite
acceptable. Rest rooms, cloak rooms, and toilet facilities were good
on the whole, and if special equipment is not provided for the workers
they are usually free to use the accommodations provided for cus
tomers. Effort is made as well to alleviate the strain of continuous
standing by providing flooring of wood, linoleum, or some soft com
position, or rugs or rubber mats to cover hard-surfaced floors. Lighting
and ventilation seemed adequate.
Uniforms.—The distinctive white uniform of the trade was used
in all but a few shops. In a few instances, involving about 6 percent
of the women, special color schemes or styles of uniform were required.
Most women furnished their own uniforms and were responsible for
the laundering of them, in many cases doing the work themselves.
Some women rented from a linen service, a practice which was,
however, more widely used by the men.
Training.—The training period for both apprenticeship and school
work is 6 months for an all-round operator. Training in schools is
rapidly superseding apprenticeship, although many managers still
prefer shop-trained workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
438
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
Bureau agents visited the training schools in the 4 cities, and from
information and impressions they received the Bureau reports that—
I t is u n fo rtu n a te th a t th e ethics an d practices of some of th e m an y schools
t h a t have sprung up h av e n o t been high a n d th a t th ere is still a need for th e
enforcing of b e tte r sta n d a rd s in th e schools. M em bers of th e tra d e rep eated ly
p o in ted o u t th a t th e fu n ctio n s a n d purposes of shop a n d of school are a t variance.
T he shop is concerned w ith selling service to its custom ers; th e school should be
fu n d am en tally concerned w ith train in g . Y et in each of th e cities schools were
visited in w hich ed u catio n seem ed secondary, a n d th e stu d e n ts, as cheap help,
were enrolled p rim arily to w ork on p ay in g custom ers in d irect com petition w ith
com m ercial shops. P ractice w ork h ad little of th e la b o ra to ry flavor an d was
m uch ta in te d w ith com m ercialism . N o t all schools were of th is ty p e ; each city
h ad tw o or m ore whose org an izatio n a n d m eth o d of tra in in g seem ed to be of
high stan d ard .
The public vocational school in New Orleans offers an occupational
course in beauty culture to white students and St. Louis was preparing
to introduce such a course into its vocational high school at the time
of the study.
Occupational hazards.—Except for the strain of long hours and con
stant standing, the beauty operator’s occupational hazards are slight.
Few injuries were reported, and a search of the records of the Indus
trial Commission of Ohio, where shops employing 3 or more workers
are covered by the State workmen’s compensation act, showed only
3 cases of occupational disability in a year. Skin infections occasion
ally develop from cuts, burns, or chemicals, but the careful operator,
the report points out, learns through training and experience to pro
tect herself by frequent washing of hands and by exercising care in
the use of sharp or heated instruments. The answer generally given
to agents’ questions concerning occupational risks was: “ There isn’t
any danger if you watch out a little.” The conclusion of the Bureau
is that “ the operator is in a less precarious position than the customer.”
Negro Shops
W h i l e the beauty-culture business developed strikingly among
Negroes as among whites, the reduced earning power of Negro workers
in the past few years is reflected in wage reductions and lessened work
opportunities in the beauty shops catering to Negroes. This has been
especially true because domestic servants, who furnish most of the
patronage, have been severely affected by the depression.
Small-scale operation and owner-management are even more preva
lent in Negro than in white shops. The services principally demanded
are shampooing and hair pressing, or straightening, with occasional
marcels. Practically all the Negro women are all-round operators.
Earnings for the week reported were low. The median was $8, and
ihe range was from $1 to $16.25. Almost two-thirds of the 156 women
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
439
scheduled earned less than $10 for the week covered. The median
of $8 became $9 when tips and other factors were added to earnings.
Ten women received meals, or board and lodging, in addition to money
wages, but tips and other forms of gratuities and extras did not greatly
increase the income of the Negro women.
Hours were even more taxing in the Negro than in the white shops,
as closing hours were later and the spread between opening and
closing was longer. Late evening hours, particularly on Thursdays
and Saturdays, were necessary to accommodate shop hours to the
long hours of domestic servants, their best customers. More than
half the 58 shops which reported on maximum hours gave working
hours of 13 or more for some days, and all reported that on some day
or days of the week the shop was open 11 hours. Some shops reported
a scheduled work-week of 80 hours; in St. Louis none was open for
less than 63 hours, and in Philadelphia only 1 for less than 60 hours.
W age-R ate Changes in A m erican IndustryManufacturing Industries
NFORMATION concerning general wage-rate changes occurring
between April 15 and May 15, 1935, based on data supplied by
23,516 manufacturing establishments employing 3,763,238 workers
in May is given in table 1.
One hundred establishments in 29 industries reported increases in
rates of pay which averaged 7.2 percent and affected 24,566 workers.
In the engine-turbine-tractor industry 6,591 employees were reported
as having received increases averaging 6.8 percent. Average increases
of 8.2 and 6 percent, respectively, were given to 4,089 employees in
the pottery industry and 2,256 wage earners in the automobile in
dustry. Other industries in which wage-rate increases affecting more
than 1,000 workers were reported were: foundries (1,886), blast
furnaces (1,802), electrical machinery (1,305), chemicals (1,231),
sawmills (1,142), and woolen and worsted goods (1,138).
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
440
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 1.— W age-R ate C hanges in M a n u fa c tu rin g In d u strie s D u rin g M o n th
E n d in g M ay 15, 1935
Number of establish
ments reporting—
Industry
Estab
Total
lish
ments number
report of em
ployees
ing
A ll m anufacturing industries___
Percent of to ta l........................
23,516 3,763, 238
100.0
100.0
23,416
99.6
294,275
289
Iron and steel and their prod
ucts, not including m achinery:
B last furnaces, steel works,
and rolling m ills ...................
B olts, n uts, washers, and
rivets............................ ...........
Cast-iron p ip e_____________
C utlery (not including silver
and plated cutlery) and
edge tools.................... ............
Forgings, iron and steel.........
H ardw are._________ ______
P lum b ers’ su p p lies.................
Steam and hot-w ater h eat
ing apparatus and steam
fittings......................................
S to v e s .........................................
Structural and ornam ental
m etalw ork..............................
T in cans and other tin w a re..
Tools (not including edge
tools, m achine tools, files,
and saw s)________________
W irew ork...................... ...........
M achinery, not including trans
portation equipm ent:
A gricultural im p lem en ts___
Cash registers, adding m a
chines, and calculating
m ach in es____ _____ ____ _
E lectrical m achinery, appa
ratus, and su p p lies_______
Engines, turbines, tractors,
and w ater w h eels________
F ou n d ry and m achine-shop
products..................................
M achine t o o ls ..____________
R adios and phonographs___
T extile m achinery and parts.
T ypew riters and p a r ts ..........
Transportation equipm ent:
Aircraft_______ ____________
A utom ob iles_______________
Cars, electric- and steam -rail.
L o c o m o tiv e s ............................
S h ip b u ild in g ..........................
Railroad repair shops:
Electric railroad____ _______
Steam railroad_____________
N onferous m etals and their
products:
A lu m in u m m anufactures__
Brass, bronze, and copper
p rod u cts.................................
Clocks and w atches and
time-recording d evices___
Jew elry____________________
L ighting e q u ip m en t..............
Silverw ate and plated w are.
Sm elting and refining— cop
per, lead, and z i n c .............
S ta m p e d an d en a m eled
w are..........................................
Lum ber and allied products:
F u rn itu re................................
Lumber:
M ill w ork______________
S aw m ills______ ________
T u rp en tin e and rosin......... ..
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
291
No
Wage- Wage- No wage- Wage- Wagewage- rate
rate in rate de
in rate de
rate
rate creases
creases changes creases creases
changes
102
81
8,870
7,079
32,933
13, 644
100
.4
3, 738, 672
99.3
24,566
.7
292,473
1,802
8,547
9,001
8,547
9,001
105
76
Number of employees
having—
81
8,870
7,079
32,848
13, 644
105
76
101
211
18,441
27,143
75
209
17,818
27,056
272
95
20, 230
18,501
270
95
20,028
18,501
106
94
7,489
10,201
106
93
7,489
10,089
80
25,917
80
25,917
76
85
623
87
112
27
11,902
27
11,902
393
129,648
388
128,343
1,305
89
43, 277
85
36,686
6,591
1,565
173
49
154
13
147,891
24,525
28,523
16, 275
10,403
1,547
171
49
154
13
146,005
24,332
28,523
16,275
10, 403
29
334
61
29
333
61
105
6,076
381,405
20,882
4,130
35, 958
105
6,076
379,149
20,882
4,130
35,958
378
515
20,383
79, 324
373
515
20,079
79,324
11
11
1,886
193
2,256
304
33
7,421
33
7,421
272
42,923
272
42,923
27
192
27
192
42
11,851
8, 714
3, 743
9,368
42
11,851
8,714
3,743
9,368
35
18, 392
35
18,392
183
21, 736
183
21,736
565
55,942
564
55,902
40
499
573
26
20,839
78,058
2,492
497
565
26
20,814
76,916
2,492
25
1,142
68
68
441
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 1.— W age-R ate C hanges in M a n u fa c tu rin g In d u strie s D u rin g M o n th
E n d in g M ay 15, 1935— C ontinued
Industry
Estab
Total
lish
ments number
of
em
report
ployees
ing
Stone, clay, and glass products:
543
Brick, tile, and terra co tta ..
140
Cement............................ .........
158
G la s s.......................................
Marble, granite, slate, and
212
other products__________
123
Pottery......................................
Textiles and their products:
Fabrics:
34
Carpets and rugs.............
663
Cotton goods....................
Cotton small wares........
D yeing and finishing
175
textiles_____________
61
Hats, fur-felt....................
543
Knit goods....................—
265
Silk and rayon goods—
Woolen and worsted
483
goods..............................
Wearing apparel:
Clothing, men’s----------- 1,172
753
Clothing, women’s____
Corsets and allied gar
42
ments---------------------- 1
87
M en’s furnishings...........
119
M illinery.................. .......
148
Shirts and collars--------Leather and its manufactures:
337
Boots and shoes_______ ___
173
Leather-------- ------------------Food and kindred products:
Baking...................................... 1,114
512
Beverages....... .......................
285
Butter___________________
636
Canning and preserving-. . .
309
Confectionery..........................
363
Flour.........................................
331
Ice cream...... .............. .............
Slaughtering and meat
288
packing________________
68
Sugar, b eet......................... .
15
Sugar refining, cane----------Tobacco manufactures:
Chewing and smoking to
36
bacco and sn u ff.......... .......
217
Cigars and cigarettes............
Paper and printing:
715
Boxes, paper...... .............. .......
423
Paper and p u lp ................. .
Printing and publishing:
1, 278
Book and job_________
Newspapers and peri
621
odicals______________
Chemicals and allied products,
and petroleum refining:
Other than petroleum re
fining:
150
Chemicals____________
Cottonseed—oil, cake,
96
and meal___________
63
Druggists’ preparation..
28
Explosives------------ ----332
Fertilizers------------------626
Paints and varnishes—
Rayon and allied prod
27
ucts----- ------ --------105
Soap............. ......................
203
Petroleum- refining............. .
Rubber products:
12
Rubber boots and shoes.......
Rubber goods, other than
boots, shoes, tires, and
187
inner tubes....................... .
Rubber tires and inner
41
tubes__________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
110
N um ber of establishments reporting—
No
wage
rate
Number of employees
having—
Wage- Wage- I
rate in rate de
rate
creases creases
21, 236
20,942
52, 747
21,236
20,942
52, 747
4,312
19,045
5
4,312
14,956
20, 233
265,942
11, 574
20,233
265,942
11, 574
44,176
7, 786
122,990
45, 356
44,176
7,786
122, 990
45,356
136, 235
89,667
48,135
Wage- Wagerate in rate de
creases creases
481
4, 089
1,138
2
1
2
89,625
48,068
7,608
7,171
7,130
23,259
7,6
7,171
7,130
23, 259
112,246
34,455
112,246
34,455
69, 276
28,367
4,280
38,478
34,350
14, 279
10,733
5
2
1
69,202
28, 246
4,229
38,436
34,350
14,020
10,697
88,558
3,939
9,417
1
88, 533
2
2
2
42
67
74
121
51
42
259
36
25
3,939
9,417
7,872
45,477
7,872
■45,477
34,101
111,426
34,101
111, 426
54,733
11
54,442
291
55,470
7
55,023
447
31,913
2
30, 682
1,231
2,666
2,666
7,258
3,539
13,480
22,620
7,258
3,539
13,480
22 , 620
45,246
14,459
58, 608
45,246
14,459
58,608
17,292
17,292
32,974
32,974
55,830
.......
55,830
442
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Trade, Public U tility, Mining, and Service Industries
T h e wage-rate changes reported by cooperating establishments in
16 trade, public utility, mining, and service industries between April
15 and May 15, 1935 are indicated by table 2.
Seven electric railroad and motor bus companies reported increases
averaging 5.3 percent and affecting 1,604 employees. Eleven electric
light and power establishments gave increases averaging 5.8 percent
to 829 workers. Increases averaging 7.5 percent and 10.4 percent,
respectively, were reported by 76 retail trade and 31 wholesale
trade establishments. These raises benefited 557 workers in retail
trade and 269 employees engaged in wholesale trade. Ten addi
tional establishments in 4 other industries reported higher rates of
pay to 708 workers. On the other hand, wage-rate decreases were
reported by 15 establishments in 6 nonmanufacturing industries and
affected a total of 609 employees.
T able
2.— W age-R ate
Industrial group
C hanges in N o n m an u factu rin g
M o n th E n d in g M ay 15, 1935
Estab
lish
Total
ments number
report of em
ing
ployees
Anthracite mining.....................
160
Percentage of total_______
100.0
Bituminous-coal mining_____
1,401
Percentage of total—......... .
100. 0
Metalliferous m in in g -........ .
250
Percentage of total_______
100.0
Quarrying and nonmetallic
m ining._____ _______ _____
1,094
Percentage of total_______
100.0
Crude petroleum producing__
253
Pereèntage of’total_______
100.0
Telephone and telegraph_____
9, 766
Percentage of total_______
100.0
Electric light and powér and
manufactured gas__________
2,764
Percentage of total_______
100.0
Electric-railroad and motor-bus
operation and maintenance...
490
Percentage of total--....... .
100.0
Wholesale trade_____________ 16,742
Percentage of total_______
100.0
Retail trade________ ________ 54, 367
Percentage of total_______
100.0
Hotels_______________ _____
2, 350
Percentage of total_______
100.0
Laundries__________________
1,304
Percentage of total............... 100.0
Dyeing and cleaning_________
731
Percentage of total_______
100.0
B a n k s..............................
3,015
Percentage of total..... .......... 100.0
Brokerage__________________
372
Percentage of total............... 100.0
Insurance____ ______________ 1, 132
Percentage of total..... .......... 100.0
1 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
74,418
100.0
236, 771
100.0
28, 253
.0
Number of establish
ments reporting—
160
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
9,766
100.0
100.0
235, 600
2, 753
99.6
100.0
844,972
100.0
139, 525
100.0
71, 240
483
98.6
16,709
99.8
54, 287
99.9
2,349
10, 527
.0
68, 646
100.0
100.0
17, 714
.0
98,080
100
100.0
100
3
28,016
99.2
1 .2
237
.8
32, 631
100.0
22,189
100.0
260, 664
100.0
11
.4
7
1.4
31
.2
76
.1
100.0
1,300
99.7
729
99.7
3,011
99.9
367
98.7
1,132
100.0
100.0
253
260, 664
100.0
236, 771
100.0
1,094
135,125
100.0
1,401
32, 631
293, 361
Number of employees
having—
74,418
100.0
247
98.8
100.0
D u rin g
No
Wage- Wage- No wage Wage- Wagewage- rate
in rate de
rate
rate in rate de
rate
changes creases creases changes creases creases
100
22,189
In d u strie s
2
.2
2
(i)
0)
(1)
4
1
2
.2
.3
3
.1
2
(0
1
5
1.3
234, 771
99.6
829
.4
133,521
98.8
293,059
99.9
844, 400
99.9
139, 500
1, 604
1 .2
269
.1
557
0)
.1
0)
100.0
70,692
99.2
17, 698
99.9
97,750
99.7
10, 414
98.9
68, 646
100.0
130
33
15
25
0)
418
. 6-
.2
16
.1
325
.3
5
(0
113,
1 .1
443
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Wages in Bulgaria in Decem ber 1933
HE most recent available data on wages in Bulgaria were pub
lished in the Bulgarian Yearbook for 1934 (pp. 135-141),1 and
related to the year 1933.
The working day for adult workers of both sexes is fixed at 8 hours
by law, and overtime is not permitted. The employment of children
under 14 years of age is also prohibited by law. Youths between 14
and 16 years of age may be employed, but they may not work longer
than 6 hours per day nor be employed on dangerous or injurious
work.
The following table shows maximum, minimum, and average wage
rates in the most important industries and occupations in Bulgaria
in December 1933.
T
W age R ates in B ulgaria in D ecem ber 1933, by In d u strie s an d O ccupations
[Lev at par=0.72 cent; exchange rate in December 1933 = 1.34 cents]
Wage rates per hour
Industry and occupation
M ini
mum
Coal mining:
Underground timeworkers, male:
Skilled ____________________________________________________
Unskilled_______________________ __________ ___ _________ Both classes_____________ __________________________________
Underground pieceworkers, male:
Skilled
_
__ . _________________________________
Unskilled_____
____ ____________ ______________________
___________________________ _______
Both classes______ Surface timeworkers, male:
Skilled
_________________________________________________
Unskilled________
_________ __ - ____ __________________
Both classes_______ - ________ ___________________________
Surface pieceworkers, male:
________________________________
Unskilled
'
All time workers, male:
Skilled
..
_
______ _____________________________
Unskilled
______________________________
Both classes
_ ____________________________________
All pieceworkers, male:
Skilled
. . _____________________________________
_ ____________________________ _________
U n s k ille d ___ _
Both classes ___ _________________________________________
Metal industries:
Founders, male . .. ___________
__ __________________ - - - - -Turners, m ale.. __________________________ _________ _________
Filers, male
_ _ _________________ _______________
Smiths, male.
- - ________________________ _ _ ____ _____
Woodworkers, male_____________ __________________ _____ ______
Dyers, male
- . _ __________________________________
Tinsmiths, male
_ _ _ _______ _ _________ _______ ___ _ _ ___
Boilermakers, male . _______ __
_________________ - - - _____
Laborers, m a le _______________ - _________________ - ___
AlPoccupations, m ale__ _______ - . _______________________ ______
Brick and tile works:
Timeworkers, male . . . . . _____________ _____ _______________
Pieceworkers, male________ ____________________________________
Cement works:
Timeworkers, m ale.. . . . . . __________________________________
Soap factories:
Timeworkers. male______ _____________________________________
Leva
5. 62
5. 00
5.00
Maxi
mum
Leva
27.50
10. 50
27.50
Average
Leva
9. 42
6. 88
8. 00
i 81. 50
i 75. 64
1 78. 27
5.00
3.12
3.12
32.38
21.25
32.38
5.00
3.12
3.12
32.38
21.25
32.38
12. 74
7. 23
7.79
1 50. 55
9.74
7.02
7.94
i 81. 59
i 71.91
1 75.82
5.62
5. 62
5. 62
20.00
35.00
9. 36
10.69
9. 73
6.00
20.88
10.02
5.62
5.62
1.50
2.25
2. 50
1.50
36.50
25.00
15. 50
18.50
20.00
17.00
36.50
9.48
9.04
7.52
7.42
6. 84
8.30
3.12
27.08
6.29
i 41.56
3.75
10.00
7.30
3. 75
27.00
7.95
1 Per day.
1 Bulgaria.
Sofia, 1934.
Direction Générale de la Statistique.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Annuaire statistique du Royaume de Bulgarie.
444
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
W age R ates in B ulg aria in D ecem ber 1933, by In d u strie s an d O ccupations— Con.
[Lev at par=0.72 cent; exchange rate in December 1933=1.34 cents]
Wage rates per hour
Industry and occupation
Rubber factories:
Timeworkers, male__________
Timeworkers, female_________
Timeworkers, male and female.
Pieceworkers, m ale.....................
Pieceworkers, female........ ..........
Rice mills:
Timeworkers, male.
Canneries:
Timeworkers, male____ ______
Timeworkers, female_________
Timeworkers, male and female.
Candy factories:
Timeworkers, male.....................
Timeworkers, female_________
Timeworkers, mala and female.
Vegetable-oil works:
Timeworkers, m ale.........................
Tobacco factories:
Timeworkers, male......... ............ ..........
Timeworkers, female...... ....................
Timeworkers, male and female_____
Tobacco stripping and curing:
Chief handlers and curers, male____
Packers, m a le ............................. ..........
Packers, female............ .........................
Packers, male and female....................
Handlers, male.......................... ..............
Handlers, female__________________
Handlers, male and female_________
Sorters, female___________ ________
Laborers, male........ ................................
Laborers, female_____________ _____
Laborers, male and female_____ ____
Cotton spinning and weaving:
Spinners, male____________________
Spinners, female__________________
Spinners, male and female__________
Warpers, female______ ____________
Weavers, male............................. ..........
Weavers, female.____ ______ _______
Weavers, male and female__________
Dyers and finishers, male__________
Dyers and finishers, female_________
Dyers and finishers, male and female.
All workers____________ __________
Rayon and silk spinning and weaving:
All workers, male_____________ ____
All workers, female............................... .
All workers, male and female............
Wool spinning and weaving:
Spinners, male.......................................
Spinners, female_____________ _____
Spinners, male and female............. .......
Warpers, female_________ ____ _____
Weavers, male____________ ____ ___
Weavers, female___________________
Weavers, male and female__________
Dyers and finishers, male__________
Dyers and finishers, female_________
Dyers and finishers, male and female.
All workers.............. ....................... .......
Knitting:
All workers, female______ ______ ___
Lace making:
All workers, female......... .......................
Woodworking:
Timeworkers, male________________
Pieceworkers, male______ ______ ___
Leather'industry:
Timeworkers, male................................
1 Per day.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Minimum
Maximum
Leva
3.12
2. 50
2.50
Leva
30.00
19.25
30.00
Leva
7. 09
5.91
6.49
1 69. 95
» 50. 91
Average
1.45
50.00
7.22
2.87
2. 50
2.50
22. 50
5. 63
22.50
6.37
3.00
2.50
2.50
27. 50
27.50
10. 00
6. 60
3. 67
10.73
4.10
6.40
2.08
17. 67
7.01
2. 50
2.50
2. 50
40. 50
12.50
40. 50
8.79
5.47
6.48
5.50
2. 50
3.12
2.50
3.12
3. 42
3.12
2. 50
2.50
1.62
1.62
50.00
11.43
8. 43
11.43
12.15
5. 29
12.15
6.84
1 1 . 68
10.13
1 1 . 68
17. 56
4. 75
6. 39
4. 77
5. 97
4.87
5.69
4. 52
4. 87
3. 65
3.91
20.00
8 . 00
20 . 00
4. 65
5. 39
5.21
4. 37
3. 75
3. 75
2. 50
2.50
2. 50
2. 50
3. 75
2. 50
2.50
2. 50
7. 92
40.00
12. 75
40.00
30.00
12. 45
30.00
40.00
5.03
5. 68
8.82
4. 84
7. 59
5.85
2. 50
1.87
1.87
32. 50
17.50
32. 50
9. 29
4.71
5. 51
2. 50
2.40
2.40
2.15
2. 50
2.50
2. 50
2. 50
2. 25
2. 25
2. 25
37.50
6.30
37. 50
9. 50
37.50
9.00
37. 50
50. 00
9. 07
50. CO
50.00
9. 52
4. 38
5.51
4.21
7. 21
5.42
6.46
8. 03
4. 72
6.41
6. 03
10. 25
8.10
1.25
13.75
4. 65
2. 75
9.00
4. 75
2. 50
15.00
7.63
1 72.27
2 . 22
52.50
8. 52
445
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Wages in D enm ark in 1934
NDER the trade agreements for 1934 the wage rates in Den
mark differ widely as to the localities, kinds of work, and rate
basis. The following figures show the average hourly wages in the
various industries and trades.1
U
T able 1.— A verage H ourly W ages in D anish In d u strie s in 1934
[Average exchange rate of 0re in 1934 was 0.23 cent]
Industry and group of worker
Copen
hagen
Prov
inces
Industry and group of worker
Food and tobacco industries
Textile industry—Continued
Bakeries:
Jmirnp,ymAn
Breweries:
Unskilled workers__________
W omen, _________________
Chocolate factories:
Skilled workers____________
Textile factories:
M en______________________
W omen___________________
Chicory factories:
Unskilled workers__________
Canning factories:
Unskilled workers__________
<J)re
150
<J)re
145
105
134
122
88
Clothing industry
138
116
72
131
115
62
138
104
88
66
142
82
104
63
Hat makers:
Skilled____________________
Laborers__________________
Shoemakers _________________
Shoemakers, factory hands:
M e n . ____________________
W omen.
_______________
Journeyman tailors:
Custom work______________
Ready-to-wear clothes______
Seamstresses_________ _______
Cutters____________ _____ _____
Condensed milk factories:
117
83
Flour mills:
Journeymen_______________
Unskilled workers__________
Alcohol factories:
Unskilled workers--------------W omen____________ ______
Sugar factories:
Unskilled workers....................
W omen_____________ _____ Cigar factories:
Skilled workers:
M en____ ______________
W omen_______________
Unskilled workers:
M en_____________ _____
W omen________________
Cigarette factories:
Unskilled workers:
Men . ________________
W omen________________
Smoking-tobacco factories:
Unskilled workers:
M en__________________
W o m e n ,._____________
Chewing-tobacco factories:
Skilled workers, m e n . . _____
Unskilled workers, men_____
W omen _ _________________
140
131
121
111
140
114
136
145
85
116
59
145
134
129
110
123
115
206
125
149
93
185
121
136
99
203
133
82
184
128
83
152
76
191
74
Textile industry
Upholsterers:
Journey men______ ____ ____
Women
_______________
Rope makers:
Journeymen_______________
Unskilled workers______ . .
Women___________________
137
129
75
179
Glaziers
____________________
Painters______________________
Masons _____________________
Terrazzo workers______________
(¡)re
130
88
187
90
154
153
90
113
154
156
77
186
138
139
72
192
245
191
144
173
181
189
245
195
194
162
136
174
136
210
3202—35----- 11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
74
120
127
138
155
133
152
121
125
140
113
Carvers_______________________
C o o p ers.__________ __________
Brush makers:
Journeymen________________
Unskilled workers________ _
W omen _ _________________
Turners
___________ _____
146
160
132
144
146
136
82
135
115
159
151
172
154
167
117
125
W in k e r w o r k e r s
_______________
Cabinetmakers________________
Joiners, machine_________ _____
Pianoworkers_________________
Frame makers ____ __________
Upholsterers and paperhangers—
Unskilled woodworkers___ _____
Leather industry
60
128
Tanneries:
Journeymen----------------------Unskilled w orkers_________
W omen_____ ___________
Leather-goods workers---------------
172
166
83
102
117
166
70
77
W omen______________ ___
i Denmark. Statistiske Departement. Statistiske Efterretninger, June 28, 1935, pp. 143, 145-146.
Sack factories:
ÇIre
118
79
Woodworking industry
116
101
Prov
inces
Building trades
Tinsmiths_____________________
112
149
127
Copen
hagen
101
71
138
130
119
124
122
140
103
145
141
72
446
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
T ab le 1 . — A verage H o u rly W ages in D an ish In d u strie s in 1934-—C ontinued
[Average exchange rate of 0re in 1934 was 0.23 cent]
Industry and group of worker
Copen
hagen
Prov
inces
Stone, clay, and glass industries
Cement factories:
Laborers- . _ _ ...... ............
Cement casting factories:
Laborers, m en____________
Glass cutters__________________
Glass makers________________ __
Gravel and flint factories:
Laborers, m en____ _________
Lime and tile factories:
Laborers, m en_____________
W omen ___................. ...............
Ceramic industry:
Skilled workers____________
Unskilled workers__________
Women _______ ________ _
Stonecutters:
Journeymen_______________
Unskilled workers____ _____
Ore
145
206
154
160
120
153
167
131
109
133
115
66
168
130
98
111
130
171
132
118
75
111
178
162
172
140
139
. 145
145
147
129
132
168
191
184
163
170
174
164
157
172
131
87
144
166
155
132
140
147
136
135
139
119
74
Chemical and related industries
Electricity, gas, and water works:
Unskilled workers_______
D ye and lacquer factories:
Unskilled workers__________
W omen__________ __
Dyeing establishments:
Journeymen.._......................
Unskilled workers...
____
Women .
___. . . ____
Feather and down factories:
Unskilled workers...
Women . . . .
. . . ______
Fodderstuff factories:
Unskilled workers...... ............
Rubber factories:
Unskilled workers__________
W omen_______ . ______ .
Impregnating factories:
Unskilled w orkers_________
Old iron and rag business:
Unskilled w orkers_________
W omen. _
___________ _
Chemical industry:
Unskilled workers__________
W omen_____. . . _____ _ .
Copen
hagen
Prov
inces
Chemical and related industries—
Continued
<J)re
M etal industry
T insm iths................................. .......
Electricians___________ ____ ___
Molders___________ ____ _____ _
Gold and silver smiths and electroplaters___________________
Brass w o r k e r s ..______________
Automobile-body and carriage
makers ____________________
Coppersmiths____________ _____
Painters________________ ____ _
Metal grinders. _ _ _________
M etal pressers_______ ____ _____
Ship’s carpenters . ____________
Smiths and machinists_________
Woodworkers. __ . _____
Various skilled workers_________
Laborers_________________
Women______________________
Industry and group of worker
111
120
117
115
83
68
141
113
75
130
109
68
132
66
124
109
142
79
151
91
143
136
81
118
66
111
64
Edible-oil and margarine factories:
Unskilled workers .
W omen___
Mineral-oil factories:
Unskilled workers__________
W omen.
____ _ _______
Sulphuric acid factories:
Unskilled workers
Soap factories:
Unskilled workers__________
Women _____
Roofing-paper factories:
Unskilled workers . ______
Match factories:
Unskilled workers__________
Women __________________
Various industries:
Unskilled workers................. .
W omen. _____ _____ _____ _
(j.Ire
143
79
<J)re
142
69
132
77
133
135
131
92
107
65
136
122
145
88
135
77
126
62
121
83
116
82
123
82
119
76
122
90
123
83
173
95
132
72
171
183
182
132
87
160
149
153
Paper industry
Paper factories:
Laborers, m en_____________
W omen___________________
Paper-goods industry:
Unskilled workers__________
W omen. _________________
Paper-box factories:
Unskilled workers__________
Women . ________________
Printing and bookbinding
Bookbinders:
Journeymen_______________
W omen. ______ _ _______
Printing establishments:
Typographers______ ____ _
Lithographers______________
Chemigraphers_____________
Unskilled w ork ers.___ '_____
W omen__________ _________
Lithographing establishments:
Unskilled workers
Women _____ _____ _______
122
71
128
87
114
71
164
117
158
162
114
152
133
106
82
116
90
76
81
55
Transportation, etc.
Longshoremen _______ _______
Warehouse workers____________
Conductors and motormen. ____
Unskilled workers, railroad and
street-car lines_______________
Miscellaneous
Woman attendants, bathing estab lish m ents_____________
Barbers. .
_________________
Ladies’ hairdressers____________
Female laundry hands_________
Charwomen___. . . _____ _______
Film operators and attendants,
cinemas__________ _______
65
69
161
It will be noted in the above table that wages in the building trades
are comparatively high. This is due to the fact that in these trades
piecework rates are prevalent and they enable a worker to earn about
50 percent more when thus engaged than when working on time.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
447
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
During the negotiations with the trade unions in 1934 and 1935 the
employers endeavored to have piecework abolished, except in some
isolated cases, but did not succeed.
Table 2 shows the average hourly wages in the fourth quarter of
1933 in comparison with those in 1934.
T able 2.— A verage H o u rly W ages in D an ish In d u stries, F o u rth Q u arter of 1933
an d 1934
[Average exchange rate of 0re in 1933 was 0.19 cent; in 1934, 0.23 cent]
Male.workers
Locality, and fourth quarter of—
Skilled
Copenhagen:
1933................................................................................
1934________________________________ ________
Provinces;
1933 ______________________________________
1934 ______ ______ __________________ _______ _
Entire country:
1933 .
______ ______________ ______ _____
1934 . .
__________________________________
Female
workers
All
workers,
average
<J)re
Qre
Unskilled Average
<J)re
176
176
Ç)re
142
142
<J)re
160
160
141
142
124
124
160
160
131
132
88
88
139
131
132
83
85
122
144
145
86
131
132
141
124
87
Thus average hourly wages of industrial workers in Denmark show
an increase of from 1 to 2 0re per hour in the year ending with the
fourth quarter of 1934.
E m ploym ent and Wage Levels in th e G erm an Chemical
In d u s try in 1913 and 1924-34
HE table below shows employment and wage levels in the Ger
man chemical industry in 1913 and in the years 1924 to 1934,
including both wage earners and salaried employees.1
T
T able 1.— E m p lo y m en t an d W age Levels in th e G erm an C hem ical In d u s try in
1913 a n d 1924-34
[Mark at par=23.8 cents; average exchange rate in December 1934=40.2 cents]
Full-time workers
Year
1913 . ........................... .
....................... .......
1924
1925 ________________
1926
______ _________
1927
____________
1928
1929
_____________
1930
_______________
___________
1931
1932 _________ _______....
1933
_______ ____ ___
1934__________________
Number
of plants
15,042
14,357
13,936
14, 091
14,377
14, 434
14,762
15,087
15, 296
15, 245
15,442
15, 748
Percent
Number of change
from 1929
277,629
360,390
371, 408
335,918
377,992
398,107
401,158
347,723
296. 895
259,969
279, 589
324, 566
-13.35
-2 5.99
-3 5 . 20
-3 0 . 30
-1 9 . 09
Total wages
Average yearly
wage
Amount
Percent
Percent
of change Amount of change
from 1929
from 1929
Marks
351,520, 000
540.293.000
704.166.000
718.893.000
838, 233,000
956, 262,000
1,018, 547,000
884.304.000
728.025.000
554, 214.000
579, 637,000
682.849.000
Marks
1,266
1,499
1,896
2,140
2,217
2,402
2,539
2,543
2,452
2,132
2,075
2,104
-13.18
-2 8 . 52
-4 5 . 59
-4 3 . 09
-3 2 . 96
+0.16
-3 .4 3
-16.03
-18.28
-17.13
i From report of Sydney B. Redecker, American Consul General at Frankfort on the Main, Germany,
June 5, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
448
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
Table 2 shows employment and salary levels of office and sales
employees in the German chemical industry in the years 1929 to 1934:
T able 2 .
E m p lo y m en t an d S alary Levels of Office an d Sales E m ployees in th e
G erm an Chem ical In d u s try , 1929-34
[Mark at par=23.8 cents; average exchange rate in December 1934=40.2 cents]
Full-time workers
Total salaries
Average yearly
salary
Year
Percent
Number of change
from 1929
1929-................................................... .
193 0 -...__________________________
1931..____________________________
1932______________________________
1933_____________________ _____ ___
1934_______________________ _____ _
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
51, 826
51, 733
48, 547
46,914
47, 062
53,497
-0 .1 7
- 6. 33
- 9 . 48
-9 .1 9
+3. 22
Amount
Marks
152,597, 000
151, 801, 000
133, 679,000
116,558,000
116,846,000
127,473,000
Percent
Percent
of change Amount of change
from 1929
from 1929
- 0 . 52
-1 2 . 38
-2 3 . 62
-2 3 . 40
-16.46
Marks
2,944
2,934
2,754
2, 484
2,483
2,383
- 0 . 34
- 6. 45
-15. 62
-15. 65
-19. 06
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
O perations of U n ited States E m ploym ent Service
D u rin g 1934-35
N THE 12 months ending June 30, 1935, offices of the United
States Employment Service registered and classified 4,115,779
individual applicants and made 2,781,375 verified placements in
gainful employment. Addition of the records of these new appli
cations to the files of the Employment Service brings the aggregate
number of individual registrations to a total of 16,750,753. Of this
number, 6,720,423 registrations were those of persons actively seek
ing employment on June 30, 1935. The records of these persons,
85.8 percent of whom were men and 14.2 percent of whom were
women, are all occupationally classified according to their experience
and training. On June 30, 1934, 1 year earlier, the files contained
7,627,375 applications of active job seekers.
On the basis of tabulated figures covering operations through
April, it is indicated that approximately 1,500,000 placements in
employment in public work of all kinds were made in the 12 months,
1,111,000 in private employment, and the balance in governmental
service. The placements in public works include employment in
construction and repair work conducted by State and local govern
mental units, and by private contractors on such work, as well as
work on Public Works Administration projects. Placements in pri
vate industry involve all types of jobs inside and outside, from com
mon labor to highly skilled and professional and technical positions.
During the preceding year, ending June 30, 1934, placements were
classified as follows: 4,123,925 C. W. A., 1,403,358 Public Works,
118,367 governmental service, and 1,305,873 private employment.
The reduction in placements during the second operating year resulted
largely from the absence of a C. W. A. program and in some degree
from the reduction in size of the operating organization of the Service
following the end of that program.
Placements of 369,031 war veterans were made during the 12
months ending June 30, 1935, and applications of 232,183 war vet
erans were registered. In the previous year placements of war
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
449
450
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
veterans, including C. W. A., numbered 853,852 and new applications
totalled 1,029,173.
The largest number of new applicants received by any State dur
ing the year ending June 30, 1935, was reported in Pennsylvania,
where 644,699 new registrations were received. This State also
reported the largest active file of job seekers with 1,148,191 regis
trants on June 30th. Second rank was held by New York with
451,121 new applications received during the year and 754,884 active
applications at the end of the year. Ohio reported 242,241 new applica
tions and a total of 243,947 registrations in the active file. Illinois
reported 227,396 new applications and 207,648 in the active file.
Texas reported 184,101 new applicants and an active file of 257,453,
and New Jersey reported totals of 172,158 and 238,366, respectively.
Missouri with 159,559 new applications and an active file of 213,020,
California with 152,383 new applications and 145,481 in the active
file, and Georgia with 109,386 new applications and an active file of
226,918, were the only other States in which more than 100,000 new
registrations were received during the year.
Charts showing the major activities of the Employment Service
during the 24 months, July 1, 1933-June 30, 1935, follow. A high
peak will be noticed in the number of applications and placements
at the end of 1933 and early part of 1934. This peak was caused
by the wide expansion of activities in connection with the C. W. A.
program. Each chart shows the total activity of the Employment
Service and of each of the two operating branches, the affiliated
State employment services and the National Keemployment Service.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
451
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Increase of New Registrations in June
R e g is t r a t io n
of relief clients with the Employment Service,
required for eligibility for employment in the new works program,
.
3.000.
OPERATIONS
V
UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
P la cem en ts
& y A ?o A /r s /s
000
3.720.000
3.730.000
3.300.000
2.300.000
2,25QOOO
2.350.000
3.000.
/,
000
2,000,000
730,000
Co
¿300,000
£
^
à
(730,000
mb in
?d
(500,000
\
\\
\\
(3 3 0 ,00 0
< (OOQOOO
- \\
Hf
730.000
SA
(250,000
£
§
(000.000
<
750.000
300.000
500.000
330.000
a
J
n
»,
\
S ip
\ %<i
- J
250.000
B O H D J F Yf
7933
fit J
A
- T
s/
(934
A
T
T
^
S O N O J F M A Z f J J
/933
A
S O
/V
Û
increased new registrations in June to a total of 660,773. This is
a gain of 74.1 percent over the May total and represents the largest
single month’s registration since January 1934, at the height of the
C. W. A. program. Offices of the affiliated State employment serv
A
OPERATIONS 3 UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
in A c t i v e F i l e a t E n d o f M o n t h
p p l ic a t io n s
BY /VOA/TrtS
70,000.000
9.000.
000
3.000.
000
70.000.
9.000. 000
8.000.000
C om b/ned
7(000,000
6.000.
7.000.
000
A
N,
S 5,000,000
!
^
6.000.000
Mi
F
5.000.000 5
4000,000
4000000 ^1
3.000.000
- ... -
2.000.000
3.000.000
355
-,
... ...
-
2,000000
7,000,000
0
000
(000,000
J
y* J O H O
/9 S J
J f M A / I J J / f S O M B J f
/9 J4
# j // J J si S O W 0 0
7935
ices handled 40.5 percent of the new applications and offices of the
Nationai Reemployment Service, 59.5 percent.
A large increase in the number of applications of persons whose
registrations were not active in May also occurred in June. Includ
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
000
452
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
ing the cards of persons formerly registered with the Service, 1,420,683 applications were placed in the active file during June, an increase
of 52.1 percent over May total applications. Of these applications
37.6 percent were handled by offices of the State employment serv
ices and 62.4 percent by the National-Reemployment Service. This
gain, which greatly outweighed the number of registrations removed
from the active file as the result of placement or cancelation, resulted
in a 10.3-percent gain in active registrations to a total of 6,720,423.
Files of the State employment services contained 35.8 percent of this
number and those of the National Reemployment Service, 64.2
percent.
Placements during June numbered 248,211, of which it is esti
mated that approximately half were in private employment. Place
ments on relief projects or other types of security-wage works proj
ects are not included in this total. The State employment services
made 31.5 percent of the placements in gainful employment, and
the National Reemployment Service made 68.5 percent.
During June 32,515 placements of veterans were made and 29,242
veterans registered with the Service. On June 30, 1935, the active
file of veterans seeking employment contained 443,372 registrations.
Classified Reports of April Applications and Placements
D e t a i l e d tables of the industrial and age classification of new
registrants and persons placed and of the length of unemployment of
new applicants follow. Operations of the employment service in 45
States and the District of Columbia, during April 1935, are covered in
the report. The tables include data regarding new applicants
registered in April in all public employment services of the United
States Employment Service except the California, Ohio, and Texas
State employment services and the New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania State employment and National Reemployment Serv
ices. The tables of placements also lack reports from the same
services except in the case of Texas and Ohio, whose reports are
complete, but do not contain the placements of the Missouri and
Illinois State employment services.
The tabulated sample contains data for 186,786 new applicants
of a Nation-wide total for April of 313,644 new applicants. The
tabulations of placements cover 183,248 verified placements of the
Nation-wide total of 247,506 made in April.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
453
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T able 1.— L ength of U nem ploym ent of N ew A pplicants a t Offices of S ta te an d
N atio n al R eem ploym ent Services, A pril 1935 1
L ength of u nem
p loym ent
T otal
M en
N o n e (w orking w hen
registered)-----------------One m on th and u n d e r ...
to 6 m on th s_________ .
7 to 12 m o n t h s ..................
13 to 24 m on th s_________
25 to 36 m on th s_________
16, 507
45,964
49, 768
24,145
13, 545
7, 826
12,946
36,954
40,875
19,183
10,473
6,194
2
L ength of unem
p loym ent
T otal
M en
37 to 48 m on ths........ .........
Over 4 years-----------------R ecent s t u d e n t s . ---------N o t ordinarily em p loyed.
U nspecified ___________
3,896
11,147
7,680
, 207
3,224
8,619
4,557
756
92
672
2, 528
3,123
5,451
9
186,786 143,873
42,913
W om en
3, 561
9, 010
8,893
4, 962
3,072
1,632
T otal--------- ------- -
6
101
W om en
i
California State E m p loym en t Service, Ohio State E m p loym en t Service, T exas N ation al R eem ploym ent
Service, N ew Jersey N ational R eem ploym ent Service and State E m p loym en t Service, N e w York N a tion al
R eem p loym en t Service and S tate E m p loym en t Service, and Penn sylvan ia N a tion al R eem p loym en t Service
and State E m p loym en t Service not included.
T able 2 .— In d u stria l G rouping of New A pplicants a t Offices of S ta te an d N atio n al
R eem ploym ent Services, A pril 1935 1
Industrial group
Agrimi ture, forestry, and fishing____________________
Fxtraetion of minerals ___________________________
Budding and construction-—private. ________________
Budding and oonstrnotion'—public
_ ____________
Manufacturing:
Chemicals
_________________________________
Clay glass, and stone __ _ _____________________
"Food
- - __________________ _______
Trr»n and steel products, excluding machinery_____
Leather __ ________________ _______ __________
Lumber _ _ ______________________ _______
Machinery, excluding transportation equipm ent. . .
NTonferrons metals and products___ ____________
Paper _
. . ______ _________________________
Petroleum and coal products._ _________________
Printing and publishing________________________
Railroad repair shops. _________________________
Rubber ______________ ______________________
Textiles
_ __________________________
__________________
Transportation equipment
TVTiscella,neons manufacturing __
_ _ ______
Commercial, not elsewhere classifiable ______________
"Distribution—w holesale____________ ______________
Distribution—retail__ ___________________________
Distribution—miscellaneous________________________
Domestic and personal service
__________ _______
Finance—hanks, insurance, etc______________________
Governmental service _ __________________ ___ _____
Professional service
__ _________________________
Public utilities
_______________________________
Transportation and communication____________ _____
TYTi seel lan eons linciassi fiable________________________
Unspecified.......... ......................... - .............. - .........................
Total
__
__________________________
Total
33, 397
6,230
7, 784
9, 732
1,637
1,137
5, 530
2,645
1,195
4, 736
2,735
845
662
425
1 ,1 1 2
489
502
6,411
2,639
1,517
314
3, 302
15,243
1,186
23,940
1,444
10,880
3,488
895
8,124
26,421
189
186, 786
Women
Men
644
18
55
32,753
6,212
7, 729
9,712
20
249
65
1,160
173
288
87
294
144
1,388
1,072
4, 370
2,472
907
4,649
2,441
701
541
403
880
486
421
4,461
2,499
938
214
2,856
12,217
994
6,849
998
8,579
121
22
232
3
81
1,950
140
579
100
446
3,026
192
17,091
446
2, 301
1,276
49
263
11,337
61
2 ,212
846
7, 861
15,084
128
42, 913
143,873
1
i California State E m p loy m en t Service, Ohio State E m p loym en t Service, T exas N a tion al R eem p loym en t
Service, N ew Jersey N ation al R eem p loym en t Service and State E m p loym en t Service, N ew Y ork N a tion al
R eem p loym en t Service and State E m p loym en t Service, and Penn sylvan ia N a tion al R eem p lo y m en t
Service and State E m p lo y m en t Service are not included.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
454
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 3.— In d u s tria l G rouping of Persons P laced by S ta te
R eem p lo y m en t Services, A pril 1935 1
an d
N atio n al
Temporary
Regular
Total
Industrial group
Men
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing_________________
Extraction of minerals__________ _ ___ _________
Building and construction—p r iv a te ______________
Building and construction—public____________ . . .
Manufacturing:
Chemicals________ ________________________
Clay, glass, and stone____ _ _________ ___
Food. ____________________________________
Iron and steel products, excluding machinery__
Leather. _ ___________
_____ _
Lumber _. __
__
____
Machinery, excluding transportation equipment.
Nonferrous metals and products______________
Paper_______ . . . _____ ________ _________
Petroleum and coal products____ ______ ____ _
Printing and publishing . ___
. _______ _
Railroad repair shops
Rubber_____ . . . _________ . ____________
Textiles __ _______ ______ _______________ _
Transportation equipment______________ __ _
Miscellaneous manufacturing_____________ . . .
Commercial, not elsewhere classifiable.. ...................
Distribution—wholesale __________ __________
Distribution—retail..
_________ . . . ________
Distribution—miscellaneous_____________________
Domestic and personal service________ _______ _
Finance—banks, insurance, etc _________________
Governmental service___________________________
Professional service________ ____ ________________
Public utilities_______________ ________________
Transportation and communication______________
Miscellaneous unclassifiable________ _ _________
Unspecified____
13,496
1,117
6,985
105,297
T otal__________ __________________________
618
517
1,200
673
165
1,433
1,503
264
221
107
367
5
118
781
1,163
638
111
1,374
5, 208
678
26, 870
Women
6, 712
902
2, 323
75, 558
205
366
416
517
54
897
1 , 262
174
98
47
73
5
19
234
827
152
18
299
1,148
404
1
5
28
119
15
234
39
44
13
81
24
11
4
81
86
410
74
415
6
8,058
1,446
569
1, 669
371
1,328
64
3,722
243
239
388
41
180
673
52
10,116
64
427
182
13
24
24
183,248
98, 397
13, 849
220
66
Women
Men
5, 031
213
4, 651
29,697
1,349
187
133
426
107
60
518
139
60
93
54
107
3
124
122
91
1
6
14
10
7
5
21
6
19
2
8
5
76
259
51
67
759
1,916
393
7,207
58
3,515
61
3
20
20
136
1,471
167
8,219
34
394
335
9
9
35
686
308
1,248
271
6
6
12 , 686
58,316
1 California State Employm ent Service, Illinois State Employm ent Service, Missouri State Em ploy
ment Service, N ew Jersey National Reemployment Service and State Employm ent Service, N ew York
National Reemployment Service and State Employm ent Service, and Pennsylvania N ational Reem
ployment Service and State Employm ent Service are not included.
T able 4.— Ages of N ew A pplicants a t Offices of S ta te a n d N a tio n a l R eem ploy
m en t Services A pril 1935 1
Age
Total
Under 16 years_____ . .
16 and 17 years.............
18 and 19 years................
20 years____ _________
21 to 24 years.....................
25 to 29 years__________
30 to 34 years__________
35 to 39 years__________
40 to 44 years__________
5,021
19, 258
8, 540
32,040
27, 637
20,456
19, 743
15, 784
122
Men
43
2 , 812
13,185
6, 201
25,158
21, 764
15,820
15,214
12, 375
Women
79
2, 209
6,073
2,339
6,882
5,873
4,636
4,529
3,409
Age
Total
45 to 49 y e a r s ................. 13, 385
9,809
50 to 54 years__________
6, 765
55 to 59 years__________
4,626
60 to 64 years__________
3, 575
65 and over________ ___
25
Unspecified____________
Men
10, 647
7,901
5,655
3, 930
3,148
Women
2,738
1,908
1 ,1 1 0
20
696
427
5
Total........................ 186,786 143,873
42,913
1 California State Employment Service, Ohio State Employment Service, Texas National Reemploy
ment Service, New Jersey National Reemployment Service and State Employment Service, New York
National Reemployment Service and State Employment Service, and Pennsylvania National Reemploy
ment Service and State Employment Service are not included.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
455
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T able 5.— Ages of P ersons Placed by S ta te and N atio n al R eem ploym ent Services,
A pril 1935 1
Temporary
Regular
Total
Age
Under 16 years__________ __________ -16 and 17 years______ _____ _________
18 and 19 years_____ -- ------ --------- -20 y e a r s - ._________
--------------------21 to 24 years- __
___ -----------25 to 29 years ____ _________________
30 to 34 years---------- ---------------------35 to 39 years__
----------------------40 to 44 years - - ------------- ------45 to 49 years _ . . .
--------------------50 to 54 years- ------------------------- 55 to 59 years__________ - -----------------60 to 64 years- _______________________
65 years and over______________________
Unspecified-------- ----------------- --------------T otal_______________ ___________
6
46
1,988
20
9
374
2,382
1,552
8,195
9, 288
7, 719
8,741
7,309
5, 356
3, 560
2,087
1, 179
521
44
9
343
1, 294
562
1, 726
1, 695
1,519
1,854
1, 518
1,132
667
287
60
13
7
13,849
58, 316
12,686
22
6,054
28,528
30,160
23, 900
27,119
21,805
15,147
9, 281
4,945
2,432
1,056
165
535
4, 492
2, 873
15, 863
17, 209
13, 401
15,369
12 , 086
7, 962
4, 630
2,329
1,076
472
94
736
2, 454
1,067
2, 744
1,968
1,261
1,155
892
697
424
242
117
50
183,248
98,397
10 , 622
Women
M en
Women
Men
i California State Employment Service, Illinois State Employment Service, Missouri S tate; Employ
ment Service, New Jersey National Reemployment Service and State Employment Service, New York
National Reemployment Service and State Employment Service, and Pennsylvania National Reemploy
ment Service and State Employment Service are not included.
T able 6.— O perations of Offices of C om bined S ta te E m p lo y m en t and N atio n al
R eem ploym ent Services, Ju n e 1935
Placements
State
June
United States------------------------- 248, 211
3, 305
Alabama ___________ ______
2, 011
Arizona_____ - ___________
6, 692
Arkansas____________________
California___________ _______ 19,680
4,143
Colorado------------- -----------------
Per
cent of
change
from
M ay
New applica
tions
Total applica
tions 1
Active file
June 30
Per
cent of
change
from
M ay 31
2+74.1 1,420, 683 2 +52.1 6, 720, 423
110, 658
31,435 -f-35. 2
11,443 +35.5
36,202
14,910 +209. 3
10,936 +369. 4
90,967
23, 040 + 24.9
10, 707 +73.3
145,481
+38.7
60, 771
33,782 +41.4
73,389
16, 514 +94.7
5,887 +85.8
2 +10. 3
+19.4
+49.1
b
+31.9
+ 9.9
June
Per
cent of
change
from
M ay
June
Per
cent of
change
from
M ay
2 - 8.6 660,773
-7 .5
-1 3 .3
+ 8 .4
+ 10 .1
+50.9
8, 853 +153. 4
30,917 +270. 4
1,766 -2 7 .0
14,611 +39.7
1,870 +15.4
18,836 +54.9
44, 255 +186.9
5,122 - 21.8
51.917
11,763
89,368
226,918
31,417
+ 8 .5
—1 . 1
+18.9
+18.1
-3 . 4
+42.6
+78.5
+ 1.2
+99.5
+92.9
58,762 +35.3
32, 692 + 1 1 1 .0
- 7 .4
14,789
21,365 +33.5
14,111 +26.2
207, 648
156,781
83,028
158,896
113, 584
+ 4 .8
+ 11.8
—4. 2
+4. b
+ 5 .0
-3 3 .5
+ 1 1 .1
-1 8 .6
-1 5 .8
+ 1.6
20, 701 +586.4
1,591 + 22.2
3,493 +46.5
9,602 +38.2
9,422 +182. 6
23, 583 +432. 5
11,231 +42.3
12,181 +86.3
17,308 + 20. 8
26, 330 +216. 0
157,367
23,641
84, 595
214,210
129, 763
+17.4
-j-43. 2
+ 8.-2
—1.0
+ 12 . 6
- 2.0
Minnesota ________ ______ 11,641
-7 .4
M ississippi--------- ------------------- 4,133
-1 .9
Missouri
__ _____________ 7,991
-2
7 .1
4,
016
Montana
_ _______________
4, 844 2 - 12 .2
Nebraska____________________
10,939 +45.0
11, 774 +311.5
12,409 +24.5
3,178 +72.8
2,806 2 +4.1
33, 721 +28. 0
26,434 +190. 2
41,436 +45. 5
10,918 +53.3
11,072 2-1 5 .0
88, 576
103, 272
213, 020
31,884
73, 740
+ 6.2
+22. 7
+ 5.0
+15.9
+ 1.8
+ 7 .6
1,206
- 2 1.2
1 ,1 2 1
TsTeyada
______ _____
1,871 +38.8
1,979 -1 7 .4
N ew Hampshire--------------------+ 1 .7 38,087 +41.9
3,936
N ew J e r se y _________________
2, 259 + 12.0
N ew Mexico. ________________ 1,490 -1 4 .8
New Y o r k -------------- ------ ------ 14, 858 2 -1 8 .4 56,898 [a —17. 2
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Based on revised M ay figures.
2,299 -1 2 .9
4, 674 +39.9
53,104 +25.5
5,146 1 —9.5
106,959 1 2 - 9 . 2
5,365
24,973
238,366
35,651
754,884
+ 7.9
+ 6.3
+24.0
+3. 2
2 —6. 8
8, 206
3,469
678
2,255
4,452
2,435
-1 6 .8
-3 2 .7
-3 1 .8
-3 6 .7
+ 6.8
minois ____ ______ __________ 10, 569
Indiana____ _______________ - 5,366
7, 281
___________
Tr>wa
6, 661
Kansas
__________________
Kentucky------------------------------ 1,664
-1 9 .6
-1 4 .2
- 7 .5
+27.9
-5 1 .3
21,402
15,684
5, 273
8,131
5,664
1, 455
1,621
2,239
4, 206
3,301
Connecticut--- ----- -------------D ela w a re___________________
Florida
_________________
Georgia. ____________________
Idaho______ _______ - ..................
Louisiana... _________________
Maine
_____ - - _______
M aryland___________________
M assachusetts_______________
Michigan -------------- -----------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
664
+48.1
+ 7.1
456
T able 6.
MONTHLY LABOE R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
O perations of Offices of C om bined S ta te E m p lo y m en t and N atio n al
R eem ploym ent Services, Ju n e 1935— C ontinued
Placements
State
New applica
tions
June
Percent of
change
from
M ay
North Carolina
North Dakota..
Ohio_________
Oklahoma____
Oregon...........
6,172
3,098
13, 287
3, 555
6, 278
-2 1 .9
- 0 .5
- 5 .8
-2 5 .4
+46.6
13,925 +98.5
3, 899 +160.1
23, 537 +31.0
3,986 +42.0
4,641 +59.5
Pennsylvania..
Rhode Island..
South Carolina
South D a k o ta ..
Tennessee____
13, 946
872
4,816
3,488
2, 406
-2 4 .3
-1 7 .4
22.6
- 8.8
-2 5 .3
Texas_____
U ta h ...____
Vermont___
Virginia___
Washington.
12,418
2, 867
1,327
5, 356
3, 531
2,654
West Virginia______
Wisconsin_________
W yom ing....................
District of Columbia.
8, 448
1,670
2,530
Percent of
change
from
M ay
Total applica
tions 1
Active file
June
Percent of
change
from
M ay
June 30
30, 739
12, 851
77,932
21,422
13, 386
+45.6
+81.4
+23.7
+23.0
+84.9
97,813
31,807
243, 947
71,697
83, 967
+20.4
+20.3
+ 16.2
84, 746 +89.3
2,435 +32.0
14, 014 +519.0
2, 850 +115.1
22, 788 +114. 5
180,034 +100. 7 1,148,191
4,985 +48.5
43,900
26, 539 +151.5
133,262
8,418 +60.0
61, 262
30, 978 +27.7
214,398
+10.3
+ 4.7
+ 17.8
- 1 .7
+13.9
+14.8
+ 6 .7
+ 9 .2
-1 7 .0
+ 5 .2
68,335 +595.2
131,982 +230. 4
10,516
- 0 .5
2,346 + 11.2
25,371 +67.9
12, 569 +53.3
257,453
35,112
14,910
102, 820
160, 539
+71.8
+15.2
- 8 .4
+17.3
+ 3 .5
- 9 .8
- 4 .4
+37.2
-1 8 .4
14,382
8, 754
1,268
6,232
118, 668
77,108
10,611
45,634
+25.6
-
June
1,953 +45.9
1,052
- 1.6
11,060 +96.0
5, 365 + 101.8
+27.1
+13.3
+18.5
+79.5
31,070
24,689
3,517
8, 860
+ 5 .8
- 2 .7
+ 21.2
+44.4
Percent of
change
from
M ay 31
+ 8.6
+ 5 .2
1.2
-
-1 1 .9
+ 1 1 .6
T able 7.— O perations of Offices of S ta te E m p lo y m en t Services, Ju n e 1935
Placements
New applica
tions
Total applica
tions 1
Active file
June
Percent
of
change
from
M ay
All States_____________________
78,305
2 - 8.2 267, 563 2 +35.1 534,069 2 +41.5 2,402,998
Arizona___ ________
California_______________ ______
Colorado_____________________
Connecticut___________________
Illinois........... .......
Indiana_______________ _____
Iowa . _
.
...
Kansas (not affiliated)_________
Louisiana____ _____ __________
Massachusetts___________ ____
Michigan________________ ____
Minnesota_______ ________
Missouri__________________
N e v a d a ___________ ______
New Hampshire_________ .
N ew Jersey... ____
New M ex ico _____
New York_____________
O h io ___
Oklahoma_____
Oregon. ____ ____ _____
P e n n sy lv a n ia .____________
Virginia___ ____ _____
West Virginia.......................
Wisconsin__ ______
Wyoming.
__ . . .
District of C olum bia___
576 - 11.8
11,339 + 20.0
1,044 +43.2
- 6.0
2, 757
6, 769 -1 6 .4
3,941 -1 3 .4
+ 9 .5
2, 333
+ 5.1
1,443
1,455 -3 3 .5
2,363 -1 5 .9
(3)
4,377
- 4 .7
2,052
- 3 .3
528 -2 5 .6
247 -3 4 .3
2,897
+ 6 .9
114 -3 1 .7
8, 784 4 -15.0
7, 201 -1 2 .7
1,509 -3 2 .1
2 , 010 +17.1
5,488 -3 1 .3
704 +15.2
485
+ 3 .0
4,829
+ 3 .2
530 +59.2
2, 530 -1 8 . 4
State
June
Percent
of
change
from
M ay
June
Percent
of
change June 30
from
M ay
2,058 +200. 9
2, 717 +94.5
25,435 +61.1 39,158 +76.5
2,297 + 88.1
4,396 +99.1
6, 717 +51.7 11.170 +41.1
14,185 +32.3 28,298 +23.9
10, 227 +55.6 21,087 +80.5
2,666
+ 3 .0
5,921
- 8 .1
1,905 +74.9
5,057 +62.6
20, 701 +586. 4 26,583 +432. 5
5,955 +33.0
9,704 +22.9
(3)
(3)
6,004 +40.7 13, 624 +12.9
7,364
+ 7 .8 21, 586 +23.4
596 -1 8 .0
968 -3 6 .0
728 +38.7
1,754 +51.1
34,809 +52.3 46,515 +31.4
99 -1 8 .2
204 -4 3 .6
24,832 1 -56.2 66,161 4 -31.7
16,923 +32.5 41, 524 +20.9
1,586 + 21.8
5.446
+ 3.5
2,482 +48.1
6.170 +52.5
63,160 +132. 2 142,448 +178. 5
963 -1 5 .7
1,750 - 22.8
2,899 +40.5
7.447 +90.1
6,260 +17.3 14,321
+ 3 .9
480 +28.3
1,200 + 20.1
6,232 +79.5
8,860 +44.4
10,841
90,338
34, 839
34,649
94,815
76, 730
35,074
32, 999
157,367
81, 437
(3)
28, 717
48,915
2, 549
10,409
193,743
7, 745
459,680
113,431
12,962
57,913
689,171
11, 783
22, 274
44,166
4,817
45,634
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
2 State employment service offices taken over by National Reemployment Service on M ay 15.
4 Based on revised M ay figure.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent
of
change
from
M ay 31
+ 7 .3
+ 20.1
+51.9
+ 8 .7
+ 9 .4
+ 9.9
+14.2
- 6.8
+ 2 .1
+17.4
+ .6
+ 5 .3
+ 4 .7
+ 4 .3
+ 6 .1
+28.5
-1 2 .3
4 -1 5 .8
+ 5 .7
+16.9
+ 4.8
+17.3
+ 8 .2
+42.9
+ 1 .7
-. 3
+ 11.6
457
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T able 8.— O perations of Offices of N a tio n a l R eem ploym ent Service, Ju n e 1935
New applica
tions
Placements
States
June
Percent
of
change
from
M ay
June
’ercent
of
change
from
M ay
Total applica
tions 1
June
Active file
Percent
of
change June 30
from
M ay
Percent
of
change
from
M ay 31
393, 210 + 120.6 886,614 3 +61.8 4,317,425
+ 12.0
31,435 _ +35. 2
12,193 +256.1
23, 040 +24.9
-. 1
21,613
12,118 +93.2
110,658
25, 361
90,967
55,143
38, 550
+19.4
+66.3
+ 7 .6
5
+ 1 1 .1
1,489 +33.8
664
+ 7.1
8,853 +153.4
30,917 +270. 4
1,766 -2 7 .0
3,441 +35.6
1,870 +15. 4
18, 836 +54.9
44, 255 +186.9
5,122 - 21.8
17,268
11,763
89, 368
226,918
31,417
+ 6.8
--1 . 1
+18.9
+18.1
- 3 .4
-2 4 .7
-1 6 .4
-1 3 .8
+36.1
-5 1 .3
7, 217 +68.4
5,457 +146.1
-.6
2,607
6,226 +108.4
5,664 +92.9
30,464 +47.9
11,605 +204.6
- 6 .9
8, 868
16,308 +26.5
14, 111 +26.2
112,833
80,051
47,954
125, 897
113,584
+• 8
+ 9 .6
- 2. 2
+ 5 .2
+ 5 .0
+ 1 1 .1
-1 8 .6
-1 5 .6
(3)
-.3
1,591
3,493
3,647
9,422
4,935
+42.3
+86.3
+18.2
(3)
+40.7
23,641
84, 595
132, 773
129, 763
59,859
+43.2
+ 8 .2
- 2.0
+ 12.6
+ 6.6
11, 774 +311. 5
5,045 +60.7
3,178 +72.8
2,806 4+4. 1
610 +54.8
26,434 +190. 2
19,850 +80.6
10,918 +53.3
11,072 <-15.0
1,331 +18.3
103, 272
164,105
31, 884
73,740
2,816
+22.7
-bö. 2
+15.9
+ 1.8
+11. 5
-1 4 .3
-1 0 .7
-1 3 . (
- 22.8
-2 1 . S
1,143 +38.9
3,278 -1 7 .6
2 ,16C +13.9
32,066 4+166.9
13,925 +98.5
2,920 +33.9
—4. 8
6, 589
- 7 .2
4,942
40,798 <+94.9
30, 73S +45.6
+ 6 .4
14, 564
44,623
+7. 7
5
27,906
295, 204 <+ 11.8
97, 813 +20.4
3,098
6,086
2,046
4,268
8,458
-.f
+3.1
-1 9 .6
+ 66. ‘
-1 8 . £
3,899 +160.
6,611 +27.'
2,406 +59.'
2,156 +75.:
21,586 + 22.8
12, 851 +81.4
36,408 +27. C
15,976 +31.
7, 216 +125.
—2 .
37,586
31,807
130,516
58,735
26,054
459,020
+20.3
+27.2
+ 6. 9
+ 6.0
-j"l. 3
Rhode Island _________________
South Carolina_________________
South Dakota
______________
Tennessee_____________________
Texas _______________________
Utah
_____________________
872
4,816
3,488
2,40(
12,418
2 , 86'
-1 7 A
- 22.6
- 8.8
—25.
+14.8
+ 6.'
2,435
14, OR
2,856
22, 788
68,335
1,953
43,900
133,262
61,262
214,398
257,453
35,112
+ 4 .7
+17.8
-1 .7
+13.9
+71.8
+15.2
Vermont
___________________
Virginia
____________________
Washington _ _ ______________
West. Virginia
_ ____________
Wisconsin
_________________
Wyoming............... ............................
1,32'
4,651
3,53
2 ,16«
3 ,61(
1,14(
+9.
- 20. ;
+5.
- 12 .
-1 3 .
+29.
2,34
- 1.6
1,052
23, 62
10,097 +124.;
12, 56
5,365 + 101 .
+24.
23, 62,
11,48;
2,49'
+4. : 10,36
2,31
+13.
788
14,91C
91,03'
160,53£
96,39^
32,942
5,794
- 8 .4
+18.5
+ 3 .5
+ 22.2
-4 .8
-1 9 .7
All States------------------- - ................
169,906
3 -7 .2
________
\ rka.nsas
__________
California
_____
Colorado----- ------ ---------------------
3, 305
1,435
6, 692
8,341
3,099
-~7~5
-1 3 .9
+ 8 .4
- 1 .1
+53.7
11,443 +35.5
8,878 +439. 4
10, 707 +73.3
+ 2 .9
8,347
3,590 +84.3
Connor*,tic,lit _ _______________
Delaware
________
Florida
- - ____
Georgia...............................................
Idaho................................. ..................
712
678
2, 255
4,452
2,435
-4 2 .4
-3 2 .7
-3 1 .8
-3 6 .7
+ 6.8
Illinois
Indiana,
Transas
______
K entucky.......................................
3,800
1,425
4,948
5,218
1,664
Maine
___________
Maryland—.........................................
M assachuset ts_________________
Michigan------ --------------------------M innesota..........................................
1 , 621
2,239
1,843
3,301
7,264
_______________
Mississippi
Missouri _ ____________________
Montana ____________________
Nebraska ___________________
N evada......................... .....................
- 7 .4
4,133
- 1 .5
5,939
4,016 -2 7 .1
4,841 6- 12 .2
593 -1 6 .8
New H am p sh ire_______________
N ew Jersey____________________
N ew Mexico___________________
New York________ ___________
North Carolina____________ ____
1,732
1,031
1,376
6,074
6,172
North Dakota__________________
Ohio
- ____________________
Oklahoma ____________________
Oregon
_ ___________________
Pennsylvania...... ................ ..............
.Alabama
_
__________
_____________
+ 22.2
+46.5
+47.5
(3)
+50.5
+32.6
+519.
+115.
+114.
+595.
+45.
11, 231
12,181
7,604
26,330
20,097
+48.
4,98,
26,53< +151.,
8,418 +60.
30,978 +27.
131,98 +230.'i
10, 51
+ 11.
+83.
+53.
-7 .
- 10 .
+ 21 .
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
^
3 State employment service offices taken over by National Reemployment Service on M ay lo.
< Based on revised M ay figure.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
458
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 9.— V eterans A ctivities of Offices of C om bined S ta te E m p lo y m en t and
N a tio n a l R eem ploym ent Services, Ju n e 1935
Placements
State
June
Percent
of change
from
M ay
N ew applications
June
Percent
of change
from
M ay
Active file
Percent
June 30 of change
from
M ay 31
United S tates.........
32,515
- 6.8
29,242
+45.0
443, 372
+ 5 .9
Alabama...................
Arizona.....................
Arkansas_____ ____
California________
Colorado.___ ____
491
246
634
3,115
543
- 10.6
-7 .5
+25.3
+ 5 .0
+31.2
386
547
437
3, 409
220
+54.4
+431.1
+32.4
+55.9
+34.1
5,902
2, 340
5,899
14,453
5, 677
+17.1
+35.5
+ 1.8
+ 2 1 .1
+ 2 .5
Connecticut..........
Delaware_________
Florida___________
Georgia__________
Idaho____________
280
55
229
416
-1 9 .1
-5 9 .0
-1 5 .5
-3 5 .5
-1 0 .9
389
33
431
769
103
+33.2
+26.9
+119.9
+ 169.8
+ 4 .0
4,024
752
5,532
10,180
1,683
+ 9 .8
+2. 9
+ 15.8
+10.9
-1 2 .4
Illinois___________
Indiana__________
Iowa_____________
Kansas___________
Kentucky________
875
884
1,092
342
-2 7 .1
- 3 .3
+ 1.8
+24.9
-4 7 .5
1,361
782
281
274
253
+46.0
+61.6
-4 .4
+38.4
+ 2 1 .1
18,904
11, 453
5, 722
9, 215
10,140
+ 4 .6
+ 4 .9
—14. 4
- 2. 0
- 1 .3
Louisiana___ _____
M aine..__________
M aryland________
Massachusetts_____
Michigan_________
321
488
538
-3 5 .6
- 9 .9
- 8 .3
-1 9 .9
+13.0
975
109
120
541
1,023
+567.8
+13.5
-7 .0
+12.5
+219. 7
10, 766
2,028
5,432
15,217
9, 559
+15.3
+36.6
+138. 6
+ 1.8
+13.3
Minnesota________
Mississippi_______
Missouri_________
M ontana..................
Nebraska_________
1,223
456
1,150
428
509
-1 0 .5
-3 6 .0
+ 9 .4
-3 0 .0
1-13.7
452
278
635
128
114
+11.9
+131.7
+ 6.2
+43.8
-1 .7
7, 362
6,234
13,410
2,081
5,807
—. 3
+5. 0
+ 5 .8
+ 9 .8
1 + .3
Nevada__________
New Hampshire___
New Jersey_______
New Mexico______
New York________
146
118
480
363
1,371
-3 0 .8
-3 3 .3
+31.1
-5 .2
1-29.3
64
89
2,286
-7 .2
+58.9
+41.1
+24.4
*—42. 7
218
1,947
19, 416
2,594
55,848
—. 5
+ 6.3
+19.3
North Carolina____
North Dakota_____
Ohio_______ _____
Oklahom a............ .
Oregon............... .
651
242
1, 793
612
550
-3 1 .6
-1 7 .4
- 1 .5
-1 6 .0
-1 5 .1
345
96
1,131
+33.7
+50.0
+15.3
+32.9
+37.4
5, 384
1,500
19, 391
13,156
6,705
+15.3
+ 9 .8
+ 6. 6
+ 3.1
+ 3 .3
Pennsylvania______
Rhode Island______
South Carolina____
South Dakota_____
Tennessee.................
3,103
96
364
473
320
+35.7
-2 1 .3
+ 2.8
-2 9 .2
-3 0 .9
3, 550
133
291
98
868
+59.2
+ 9 .0
+172. 0
+ 3 .2
+90. 4
46, 585
2,604
6,168
2,839
12, 393
+ 1 .9
+15.9
+ 7 .8
—28.3
+ 8.5
Texas....... .............. .
Utah...........................
Vermont....................
Virginia_____ ______
Washington........ ......
1,912
399
105
534
630
- 5 .8
-2 3 .6
+15.4
-1 5 .8
-4 .5
1,915
70
52
357
302
+197. 4
- 5 .4
+44.4
+53.9
+60.6
16,892
2,599
' 541
6,097
12, 264
+32.2
+7 6
—6. 7
+15. 5
+ 2.0
West Virginia......... .
Wisconsin_________
Wyoming_________
District of Columbia.
347
1,174
204
330
+. 6
+14.5
+ 1 2 .1
-2 7 .3
490
469
63
418
-1 4 .3
+ 2.6
- 6.0
+74.9
7,533
6, 412
906
3,608
+15.8
—10. 3
—15.1
+ 6. 2
1 Based on revised M ay figures.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
221
1,2 22
239
201
102
1,476
222
305
+6 2
> -4.6
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Sum m ary o f E m ploym ent R ep o rts fo r Ju n e 1935
Comparison of June 1935 with May 1935 and June 1934
SUMMARY of the reported data regarding employment in
June 1935 is presented in the following four tables. Employ
ment and pay-roll indexes, per capita weekly earnings, average hours
worked per week, and average hourly earnings, as well as percentage
changes from May 1935 and June 1934, are shown for manufacturing
and for the nonmanufacturing groups insofar as the information is
available.
The principal changes shown in these tables are briefly as follows.
Factory employment and pay rolls fell 1.8 percent and 3.1 percent,
respectively. This means that there were approximately 126,000
fewer wage earners in factories in June than in May and $4,300,000
less in weekly wage disbursements. Seasonal factors partly accounted
for these declines, decreases in employment and pay rolls having been
registered in June in 9 of the preceding 16 years for which data are
available. Strikes in sawmills in the Pacific Northwest States as
well as sporadic strikes in other localities also contributed to the
declines, although the settlement of labor difficulties in brick and in
other industries somewhat counteracted the losses.
Of the 90 manufacturing industries surveyed, 33 showed more em
ployees on their rolls in June than in May and 41 reported larger pay
rolls. Manufacturing industries of major importance registering
declines in employment were automobiles; blast furnaces, steel works,
and rolling mills; foundries and machine shops; electrical machinery,
apparatus, and supplies; cotton goods; silk goods; men’s and women’s
clothing; and boots and shoes. Industries related to building construc
tion showed substantial gains, particularly millwork, plumbers’ sup
plies, cement, and brick. In the last-named industry, the settlement
of labor difficulties augmented the expected seasonal increase. The
machine tool industry, which is a barometer of orders placed for powerdriven metal-cutting machinery, continued the expansion which has
occurred in each month since November of last year. The June
employment level in machine tools is the maximum reported since
April 1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
459
460
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — A U G U ST 1935
In the 17 nonmanufacturing industries surveyed 14 reported gains
in employment and 15 in pay rolls. Wholesale trade showed a loss
in both items, but in retail trade employment dropped and pay rolls
rose. Outstanding among the gains were increases of 6 percent in
employment in anthracite mining and 3.4 percent in bituminous-coal
mining, coupled with pay-roll advances of 33.2 percent and 31.8
percent, respectively. The resumption of operations in certain metal
mines after the settlement of strikes partially accounted for the 3.5percent increase in employment in metalliferous mining. In the
aggregate the nonmanufacturing industries showed gains of 29,000
in number of workers and $3,700,000 in weekly wages.
Increases in the number of employees on the various types of con
struction work featured public employment reports for June. Em
ployment on construction projects financed by the Public Works
Administration showed a gain of 5 percent over May. At the same
time the number of workers on Reconstruction Finance Corporation
construction projects and on construction projects financed by direct
governmental appropriations each increased more than 13 percent.
Gains were also shown in the executive and military services of the
Federal Government and in emergency conservation work. De
creases, however, occurred in the judicial and legislative services and
in the emergency work program.
Private employment.—Table 1 shows employment and pay-roll
indexes and per capita weekly earnings in June 1935 for all manufac
turing industries combined, for various nonmanufacturing industries,
and for class I steam railroads, with percentage changes over the
month and year intervals, except in the few cases referred to in foot
notes, for which certain items cannot be computed. Table 2 shows
for the same industries as in table 1, so far as data are available, aver
age hours worked per week and average hourly earnings, together
with percentage changes over the month and year intervals.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
461
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 1 .— E m p lo y m en t, P a y R olls, and E arnings in A ll M anufacturing In du stries
C om bined and in N on m an u factu rin g In du stries, June 1935 (P relim inary
F igu res)
Industry
Index
1935
Percentage
change
from—
June
1934
Coal mining:
Anthracite_________ _____
Bituminous----------- ,--------Metalliferous m in in g .......... .......
Quarrying and nonmetallic
mining---------- ------ ------------Crude-petroleum producing---Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph.. _
Electric light and power
and manufactured gas—
Electric-railroad and motorbus operation and mainte
nance___________ ______
Trade:
Wholesale----------- ------ ----Retail.......................... ............
General merchandising.
Other than general
merchandising______
Hotels (cash payments o n ly )...
Laundries----------- ----------------Dyeing and cleaning------ -------Banks_____________________ Brokerage................. - ....................
Insurance___________ _______ Building construction-------------
Percentage
change
from—
M ay
1935
June
1934
Aver
age in
June
1935
Percentage
change
from—
M ay
1935
June
1934
- 1 .3
(2)
+ 4 .3
(2)
(1923-25
= 100) »
(1923-25
=100)
All manufacturing industries
com bined.------ --------- -----Class I steam railroads 1----------
Index
1935
M ay
1935
Per capita weekly
earnings
Pay rolls
Employment
79. 6 - 1.8
56.8 + 1.8
(1929=100)
- 1.8
- 3 .7
66.4 - 3 .1
(2)
(2)
(1929=100)
+ 2 .3 $20. 54
(2)
(2)
56.8
77.9
46.0
+ 6.0 - 1 .2
+ 3 .4 + 1.6
+ 3 .5 + 12 .2
66.0 +33.2 -2 3 .8
64.7 +31.8 +17.4
31.5
+ . 1 +18.0
50.4
76.5
+ 1.8 - 1 1 . 0
- 4 .4
+ .6
33.8
58.3
+ 3 .2
+ .9
33.83 +25.6 +25.4
21.43 +27.5 +15.7
22.61 - 3 .3 ■pò. Z
- 8.6
+ 2 .5
16.38
27.40
+ 1 .3
+ .3
+ 2.6
+ 7 .2
70.2
+ .3
-.3
74.4
+ 1 .0
+ 4 .3
28.10
+ .7
+ 4 .6
83.8
+ .7
-.2
79.8
+ (3)
+ 2.6
30.28
-.7
+ 2.8
71.7
+ .2
- 2.0
63.9
+ .4
+ 1 .1
28. 29
+ .2
+ 3 .2
64.6
62.4
76.3
-.1
+ .6
+ .1
+ 2 .9
+ 1.6
+ 3 .2
27.19
20. 50
17.71
+ .4
+ .7
+ .9
+ 3 .1
+ 2 .3
+ 3 .1
+ .7 + 1 .2
- .3
+ 1.0
+ 2 .4
-, 1
+ 6 .5 + 2 .5
+• 2 + 1 . 1
+ 2 .2 -1 5 .8
+• 7 + 2.8
+ 6.2 +11.7
22. 54
13. 57
15. 75
19.12
31.47
34.88
36. 29
24.09
+ .5
+ 2 .2
+ 1 .7
+ 2.0
+ 4.1
+ •1
- 2 .1
+ 2 .1
+ 6. 4
82.1
82.1
90.7
79.8
4 81. 3
4 82.3
4 83.6
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
-.5
-. 1
-.8
-.2
-.6
+ .1
-.9
-.4
-.7
2.0
+ 1 .5
+ 3 .3 - 1 .5
+
1.0
+ .5
+ 1 .3 -1 4 .0
+
.6
+ .3
+ 4 .6 + 5 .3
+ .1
59.5
4 63. 5
4 68.2
4 65.7
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
+ .1
+• 8
+ 3.1
- .3
+ .8
+ .4
+ 1 .5
1 Preliminary—Source: Interstate Commerce Commission.
2 N ot available.
* Revised on basis'oPcensus data for 1933. See June pamphlet, Employment and Pay Rolls, or Septem
ber M onthly Labor Review.
3202—35----- 12
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
462
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
T able 2.— H ours and E arn in g s in Ju n e 1935 in All M an u factu rin g In d u stries
C om bined and in N o n m an u factu rin g In d u strie s (P relim in ary F igures)
Average hours worked
per week
Industry
Aver
age in
June
1935
__ _ .
All manufacturing industries combined_______
Class I steam railroads________________________ _____ ___
Coal mining:
Anthracite__________ _________«__________________ .
Bituminous_________________________ _ ____ ______
Metalliferous mining
___
___
_ ............... .......
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining. ____________________
Crude-petroleum producing___________________________
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph . . .
Electric light and power and manufactured gas_______
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and maintenance______________ _
___ ______ ____________
Trade:
Wholesale_______________________________________
Retail____ . ______
______________ _ ____
General m e r c h a n d i s i n g . ______. . _
Other than general merchandising
. .
.
_
_
Hotels______________________________
Laundries______ ____________________
_ .
Dyeing and cleaning_________________ _
Banks______________________________________________
Brokerage___________________________ _____ _
______
Insurance__________________________
_____________
Building construction_________ _____ _
____ _______
Percentage
change
from i—
Average hourly
earnings
Aver
age in
June
1935
Percentage
change
from i—
M ay
1935
June
1934
- 1 .1
+ 1 .2
Cents
57.5
+ 0.3
+ 3.5
41. 1 +26.1 +26. 4
30.1 +30.3 +19.6
37.5 - 2 . 6 —1. 5
34.4 + 1.8 - 3 .3
-.2
35.4 - 1 .1
82.8
71.8
59. 3
47.4
77.5
- 2.8
—. 8
-.2
+6 7
+ 1 .2
+ .3
+ 5.5
38.5
38.7
-.3
- 2 .5
+ 1 .4
+ .3
75.3
78.4
+ 1.8
+ 6 .1
+ 4.5
45.3
-.2
- .9
61.5
+ .5
41.0
41.5
38.3
42.5
47.6
40.9
43.0
(9
+ .5
+ 1 .1
+ .5
-.4
+ .7
- 2 .5
+ 1 .2
+ 4.4
+ 2.0
+ 4.9
-.3
+ 3 .0
- 1.6
66.0
52.7
47.6
54.2
3 28.0
36.9
44.3
(4)
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
35.4
30.6
+ 2.3
+ 4 .8
M ay
1935
June
1934
+ .4
-.8
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
+ .5
(9
(9
80.6
+ 3 .4
+ 1.5
(9
-.2
+ .2
-. 1
+ .2
+ .2
-.8
+ 1 .1
(9
(9
(9
+ 5.1
1 Percentage changes over year computed from indexes.
2 No change.
3 The additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
4 N ot available.
Public employment.—Employment created by the Federal Govern
ment is of two general classes: (1) Employment either in the executive,
judicial, legislative, or military services, and on various construction
projects financed by the Federal Government; and (2) employment
on relief work, where the work itself and the system of payment is
of an emergency-relief character. Data for these two types of Federal
employment are shown separately in tables 3 and 4.
T able 3 .— E m p lo y m en t and P a y Rolls in V arious Services of th e U n ited S tates
G overnm ent, Ju n e 1935 (P relim in ary F igures)
Employment
Kind of service
June
M ay
Total service________________________ 1,435,677 1,402, 078
Executive service____________________
Judicial service_____ _______________
Legislative serv ice_______ __________
M ilitary service., _______ ____ ______
Construction projects financed by
P. W. A __________________________
Construction projects financed by
R. F. C __________________________
Construction projects financed by
direct governmental appropriations. -
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
718,144
1,854
4,871
258, 410
712, 544
1,879
4,877
254, 340
414, 306
11,901
26,191
Per
centage
change
Pay roll
June
M ay
+ 2 .4 $160,746,718 $158, 039,873
Per
centage
change
+ 1 .7
+ 1.6
109, 295, 603
449, 217
1,154,868
21, 364, 278
107, 751,801
474, 736
1,160,191
21,462,144
394, 875
+ 4 .9
25, 386, 962
24,490, 087
+ 3 .7
10, 506
+13.3
1,191, 336
1,100,977
+ 8 .2
23, 057
+13.6
1, 904,454
1, 599, 937
+19.0
+ .8
-1 .3
-.1
+ 1 .4
-5 .4
-.5
-.5
463
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 4.— E m p lo y m en t and P a y Rolls on R elief W ork of V arious F ed eral
Agencies, Ju n e 1935 (P relim in ary Figures)
Employment
Group
June
M ay
All groups_______________ __________ 2,448,572 2,613,256
Emergency work program------------------ 2,021,060 2,228,064
385,192
Emergency conservation work— ------ 427,512
Pay roll
Per
centage
change
June
M ay
Per
centage
change
- 6 .3
$74,022,214
$82,278, 758
- 10.0
- 9 .3
+ 11.0
54,260,054
19,762,160
64,559,740,
17,719,018
-1 6 .0
+11.5
Coverage of Reports
M o n t h l y reports on employment and pay rolls are now available
for the following groups: (1) 90 manufacturing industries; (2) 17
nonmanufacturing industries, including building construction; (3)
class I steam railroads; and (4) Federal services and agencies. The
reports for the first two of these groups—manufacturing and non
manufacturing—are based on sample surveys by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, but in practically all cases the samples are sufficiently
large to be entirely representative. The figures on class I steam
railroads are compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission and
include all employees. The date for the various Federal services and
agencies also cover all employees on the pay rolls of such organiza
tions.
In total, these four groups include a majority of the wage and
salary workers in the United States. Unfortunately, however,
information is not available for certain other large employment
groups—notably, agricultural work, professional service, and domestic
and personal service.
T re n d of E m ploym ent in M ay 1935: R evised Figures
HIS article presents the detailed figures on volume of employ
ment, as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the month
of May 1935. The tabular data are the same as those published in
the Trend of Employment pamphlet for May except for certain
minor revisions and corrections.
T
Industrial Employment
t
Manufacturing Industries
I n M a y , for the first time since November 1934, factory employ
ment and pay rolls show a decrease in comparison with the month
preceding. Taking the 3-year average 1923-25 as 100, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics index of factory employment for the month stood at
81.1, as against 82.4 in April. The pay-roll index declined from 70.8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
464
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
in April to 68.5 in May. These declines represent a reduction of
110,000 in the number of wage earners and a reduction of $4,750,000
in weekly wage disbursements.
Although business statisticians are accustomed to a tapering off of
the spring upswing in May, the decline this year was accounted for
to some extent by strikes in the automobile and lumber industries.
Compared with the corresponding month of last year the index of fac
tory employment for May shows a decrease of 1.7 percent. The index
of factory pay rolls, however, is 2.1 percent higher than in May 1934.
Although the composite indexes of factory employment and pay
rolls were lower in May than in April the decline was by no means
general. Of the 90 manufacturing industries surveyed, 38 reported
gains in employment and 33 gains in pay rolls. Moreover, 4 of the
14 major groups into which these industries are divided had more
employees on their pay rolls in May than in April. The largest gain
in employment was reported by the stone-clay-glass group which took
on 6,300 workers during the month, an increase of 3.4 percent. Four
of the five industries comprising this group reported gains, the largest
of which were 14.1 percent in cement, 7.2 percent in marble-slategranite, and 7 percent in brick-tile-terra-cotta. The railroad repair
shop group registered a gain of 1.3 percent, or approximately 3,400
workers; the food group showed a gain of 0.4 percent, or 2,800 em
ployees; and the iron and steel group showed an increase of 0.3 percent,
or approximately 1,700 wage earners. Among the increases shown in
the food industries were seasonal gains in beet sugar, ice cream, bever
ages, and butter.
e Textiles stood out among the groups showing decreases with a reduc
tion of approximately 60,000 workers, or 3.8 percent. The decline in
the subgroup, wearing apparel, was sharper than in the subgroup,
fabrics. Shirts and collars was the only industry in the former division
that showed a gain in employment, and woolen and worsted goods
and carpets were the only industries in the latter. Seasonal decreases
m the two industries comprising the leather group accounted for its
loss of 5.2 percent or 15,500 in number of workers. Despite gains in
aircraft, cars, and shipbuilding, the transportation group had 2 per
cent or 12,000 less workers in May than in April, the major factor
being a 3-percent decline in the automobile industry, which was
partially due to strikes in certain establishments. Pay rolls in the
automotive industry fell off 10.3 percent. The chemical and petroleum
refining group reported a net decrease of 3.1 percent or 11,500 em
ployees, large seasonal lay-offs having taken place in the fertilizer
and cottonseed oil-cake-meal industries. The lumber group suffered
a loss of 1.5 percent in employment, the shrinkage in actual numbers
being estimated at 7,300. Millwork showed a gain in number of
workers, but sawmills had 2.1 percent less than in April, strikes in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
465
Washington and Oregon having caused the decrease. Pay rolls in this
industry fell even more sharply (15 percent) due to the fact that many
employees worked during only a portion of the pay period reported
because of the strikes. Although 4 of the 9 industries in the machinery
group reported increases in employment there was a net loss of 0.7
percent, or 5,000 wage earners in the group as a whole. The remaining
4 groups of manufacturing industries showed employment losses
ranging from 2,100 workers to 300 and aggregating nearly 5,500.
The indexes of factory employment and pay rolls are computed
from returns supplied by representative establishments in 90 manu
facturing industries, and the base or 100 is the 3-year average, 192325. In May, reports were received from 23,516 establishments em
ploying 3,763,238 workers who received $78,205, 973 in weekly wages.
Per capita weekly earnings for all manufacturing industries com
bined were $20.78 in May or 1.6 percent lower than in April. Fortyone of the 90 industries surveyed showed higher average weekly
earnings in May than in April, the smallest increase being 0.1 per
cent and the largest 8.4 percent. These per capita weekly earnings
should not be confused with full-time weekly rates of pay as they are
obtained by dividing the total number of employees (part-time as
well as full-time workers) in the reporting establishments into the
total weekly pay roll.
Some of the establishments that report employment and pay-roll
totals do not report the number of man-hours worked. Consequently
average hours and hourly earnings are computed from data supplied
by a smaller number of establishments than are used in computing
per capita weekly earnings and indexes of employment and pay rolls.
Average hours worked per week in all manufacturing industries com
bined showed a decrease of 1.6 percent, while no change was shown
in average hourly earnings. Thirty-four of the industries for which
man-hour data are published showed gains in average hours worked
per week and 52 showed increases in average hourly earnings. Man
hour data are not published for any industry for which available infor
mation covers less than 20 percent of all employees in that industry.
Detailed statistics concerning employment, pay rolls, average hours
worked per week, per capita weekly earnings, and average hourly
earnings in manufacturing industries in May are presented in table 1.
Percentage changes from April of this year and May of last year are
also given in this table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
466
T able 1 .— E m p loym en t, P a y R olls, and E arnings in M anufacturing In du stries, M ay 1935
Per capita weekly
earnings 1
Pay rolls
Employment
Percentage
change from—
Average in
M ay
1935
April
1935
M ay
1934
Percentage
change from—
Average in
M ay
1935
April
1935
M ay
1934
Average hourly
earnings 2
Percentage
change from—
Average in
M ay
1935
April
1935
M ay
1934
- -----------
81.1
- 1 .8
- 1 .7
68.5
- 3 .2
+ 2 .1
$20.78
- 1.6
+ 3.9
35.8
- 1.6
- 0.2
Cents
57.1
(3)
+ 3 .6
D urable goods a_________________________
____
N o n d u ra b le g o o d s____
71.3
91.6
- .4
60.1
79.1
- 2.8
- 3 .9
+ 2.6
+ 1 .3
22.67
18.94
- 2 .3
- 1 .4
+ 2.8
+ 4 .3
36.6
35.0
- 2 .4
- 1 .1
+ .1
-.6
60.9
53.7
+ 0.2
- 2.6
-.3
- 2 .9
-.2
+ 2 .3
+ 5 .8
All in d u s tr ie s »__ ______ ____ ____
Durable goods
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts, n o t in
c lu d in g m a c h in e r y ______ ____ _ _ ---------Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling m ills.-.
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets------------------Cast-iron pipe,.
------------------ ---------------Cutlery (not including silver and plated cut
lery), and edge tools ----------- ------------------Forgings, iron and steel____________________
Hardware.
----------- --------- ------------------------------Plumbers’ supplies-----Steam and hot-water heating apparatus and
steam fittings___________________________
Stoves--------------------------------- ----------------Structural and ornamental metalwork--------Tin cans and other tinware------------------ . . .
Tools (not including edge tools, machine
tools, files, and saws).. -------------- -----------W irew ork._______ . ------------------ ------M ach in ery, n o t in c lu d in g tra n sp o rta tio n
e q u ip m e n t--------- -- ---------------- -------------Agricultural implements °-------------------------Cash registers, adding machines, and calcu
lating machines------ -------- ----------------------Electrical machinery, apparatus, and sup
plies----------- --------------------------- . .
Engines, turbines, tractors, and water wheels.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
72.4
+ .3
21. 74
- 1 .8
-.9
- 1 .9
61.7
- 2.0
- 3 .6
+ 4.1
- 7 .6
- 4 .4
- 8 .4
22. 65
21. 24
15. 26
- 1.8
-3 .6
+ .3
- 3 .4
+ 3 .9
- 4 .9
35.2
34.2
37.5
30.8
- 1 .4
-.2
58.5
61. 1
65.1
27.4
- 4 .6
-. 1
+ 3 .9
- 3 .7
- 4 .2
- 8.0
- 3 .9
- 1 .5
73.6
80.1
49.1
-1 . 4
- 3 .8
+ 1.3
-4 .0
+ 4.1
- 4 .7
66.3
56.7
49.0
- .3
-.6
+ .2
- 1 .2
-. 2
- 1 .9
- 3 .3
78.3
60.0
53.2
78.3
- 2 .5
- 4 .4
- 2 .3
+ 5 .9
- 3 .7
- 1 .2
-3 5 .1
+44.7
59.6
47.5
42.3
49.0
- 8 .9
- 8.6
+ 6.3
-.8
+. 5
+ 3.9
-3 1 .6
+61.2
19. 94
23.41
18. 77
20.44
+ 1.7
- 4 .7
- 6 .4
+ .4
+ 4.3
+ 5.3
+ 6 .5
+ 1 1 .2
36.4
37.3
34.8
37.3
+ 1 .1
- 5 .8
- 4 .1
-.3
+16.0
+ 7 .7
+ .4
-.2
54.8
62.3
54.8
55.0
+ .7
+ .5
- 1. 1
+ .7
+ 3 .4
+ 6.6
- 7 .9
+ 3 .5
51.4
99.1
56.0
90.4
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .3
+ 2 .4
+ 7 .8
+ 3 .8
- 4 .3
-.9
34.5
74.2
40.9
87.0
+ 2 .1 +12.7
+• V + 8.3
- 1 .4
+ 2 .9
+ 1.9
+ .1
21.46
20. 98
20.28
+ 4.5
+ 4.5
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .1
36.3
36.7
34.4
37.9
-.3
- 1 .1
+ .9
+ 1.6
+ 1 .7
- 5 .7
- 1 .9
- 2.8
59.1
57.1
59.1
52.7
(3)
(3)
+ .7
20.10
-.3
- 1.0
+ 1.6
-.4
- 2.0
+ 1 .2
+ 6 .5
+ 4 .3
+ .5
64.3
127.4
- 1.6
- 1 .1
+ 4 .0
- 5 .5
60.8
115.9
-(<)
- 4 .6
+ 12.6
- 5 .8
21.30
22.08
+ 1.6
- 3 .5
+ 7 .6
-. 1
39.1
37.9
+ 1.6
- 4 .5
+ .5
- 6. 1
54.2
58.1
(3)
+ 1.0
+ 9 .2
+ 4 .7
84.5
-.7
+. 1
+ 3 .9
+16.9
67.8
+ 1.6
+ 4 .8
+ 8.2
37.0
39.5
+ .3
+ 4.5
+ 1.4
61.0
+26.7
22.95
24.21
+ 1 .0
110.5
+ .3
+ 1.6
+ 9 .0
97.0
61.6
+ 2 .3
+ 8.0
102.7
- 1.8
- 1 .2
83.2
- 1 .9
+ 1 .1
26.67
-.1
+2. 5
39.1
(3)
- 1 .5
69.2
+ .3
+ 2.8
70.7
101.4
-.2
+ 8 .1
+47.2
58.2
74.2
-.2
+16.6
+64.2
22.68
+ 8.0
+ 1 1 .1
36.1
39.6
(3)
+ .3
+ 5.1
+ 4 .5
61.6
66.5
+. 2
+ 2.2
+ 2.6
+ 6.2
+ 4 .0
+ 6 .7
26. 36
(3)
+ 2.6
-.8
+ .8
+ .8
+ 1 .4
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Index
Percentage
Percentage
Index
change from—
change from— M ay
M ay
1935
1935
(3-year
(3-year
aver
aver
age
age
April
M ay
April
M ay
1923-25 1935
1934
1934 1923-25 1935
= 100)
= 100)
Industry
Average hours worked
per week 2
Foundry and machine-shop products °--------Machine tools____________________________
Radios and phonographs...... .........- ................ .
Textile machinery and parts...............................
Typewriters and parts....................... - ................
T ra n sp o rta tio n e q u ip m e n t...... ..........................
Aircraft------ --------------------------------- ----------Automobiles_____________________________
Cars, electric- and steam-railroad............. .......
Locomotives-------------------------------------------Shipbuilding-------------- -----------------------------R ailroad repair s h o p s ............................... ..............
Electric railroad----------- ------ ---------------------Steam railroad_____________ _____ _________
N on ferrou s m e ta ls a n d th eir p ro d u cts--------Aluminum manufactures------------ --------- ----Brass, bronze, and copper products-------- Clocks and watches and time-recording
devices____________ ___________ _________
Jewelry................................................................. .
Lighting equipment__________________ ____
Silverware and plated ware----- ------- ----------Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and
zinc_____________________________ ______
Stamped and enameled ware----------- ----------L um b er a n d allied p ro d u cts.................................
Furniture...... ............ - -------------------------------Lumber:
M illwork....................... ..................................
Sawmills......................... ............ .................. Turpentine and rosin....................................... .
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p ro d u cts-------------------Brick, tile, and terra cotta_________________
Cement_____________ ____ - .........-....................
Glass-------- ---------------------------------------------Marble, granite, slate, and other products----P o ttery..................................................................
-.7
73.8
+ 1 .5
83.0
- 7 .9
168.0
- 3 .3
63.6
+ 2 .4
95.8
- 2.0
102.7
392.0 + 10 .1
- 3 .0
116.4
+ 2.0
60.3
- 6.8
30.1
+ 2 .4
76.4
53. G + 1 .3
65.7
+ .1
+ 1 .4
52.7
-.6
80.4
- .5
66.3
- 1 .2
80.8
80.5
65.8
69.2
73.9
+ .8
-5 .2
- 1 .3
+ 3 .0
+ .3
+15.4
-1 6 .5
-1 6 .2
+ 21.6
+ 3.0
+ 5 .6
+ 1.7
+19.2
+3.1
+ 4.5
- 10 .1
- 1 .5
- 10.8
+ 3.3
-1 5 .1
-.5
+11.7
-.2
+ 5 .5
+ 3 .9
79.5
95.6
50.9
67.0
+ 3 .0
- 2.0
- 1 .5
- 2 .4
+21.7
40.7
34.0
99.0
55.0
29.6
57.0
94.8
28.5
71.5
+ 2 .5
- 2 .1
+ .7
- 5 .8
- 3 .3
- 4 .7
-.2
0
-.2
+ 9.3
+ 3 .4
+ 7 .0
+14.1
+• 6
+ 7 .2
- 2.6
- 10.6
- 1.0
-.3
-1 7 .6
- 4 .5
- 3 .8
- 2 .5
+ .7
- 4 .3
- 1.6
- 4 .0
- 5 .0
- 2.0
- 7 .2
+ 4 .7
- 2 .7
- 4 .1
+17.2
-1 3 .2
+2.5
- 2 .7
- 4 .8
- 1 .7
- 9 .5
+ 21.0
57.9
70.1
101.5
51.6
80.2
94.2
317.7
105.1
65.8
13.8
65.7
52.5
60.2
52.0
63.3
59.8
61.5
-.2
+ 3 .4
- 5 .1
-.1
+ 2.9
- 8 .3
+ 9 .0
-1 0 .3
+ 1 .1
- 7 .6
+ 6.0
+ 3 .6
- .3
+ 3 .7
- 1 .7
- 1.8
-4 .0
+ 1 .9
+18.2
-9 .7
-1 8 .0
+28.7
+ 6 .7
+ .9
+ 4 .7
+33.7
+ 8 .7
+ 9 .5
-2 .4
+ 1 .3
- 2.8
+ 4 .5
-5 .8
- 1.0
22.20
25.34
19.13
22.15
21.44
26.36
24. 30
26. 73
23.37
22 . 61
24. 88
27.64
27.18
27. 76
20. 51
20.99
21.98
+. 5
+ 1.8
+ 3 .0
+ 3 .3
+ .5
- 6 .4
- 1.0
- 7 .5
-.8
-.9
+ 3 .5
+ 2 .2
-.4
+ 2 .3
- 1 .1
- 1 .3
- 2.8
+ 2.0
+ 2 .3
+ 8 .3
- 1.0
+ 5 .9
+ 3 .5
- 4 .7
+ 2.8
+13.0
+ 5 .5
+ 4 .8
+ 8.4
+ 2.8
+ 9 .0
+ 1.0
+ 1 1 .1
-.3
37.0
40.7
33.7
36.3
37 2
36.8
39.0
37. 1
36.6
34.7
33. 1
40.8
44.6
40.4
37.3
38.9
37.8
0
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .7
-.5
- 6.8
- 1.0
-7 .9
- 1 .3
- 2.0
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .5
-.9
+ 1.8
-1 .3
-1 .3
- 2.8
-.8
+• 4
+ 2 .2
- 1 .7
+ 1 .7
+ .9
-7 .6
+ .8
+ 6 .7
- 2 .3
+ 4 .6
- 1 .7
-.6
-1 .7
+. 6
+39.5
-1 .4
60.0
62.3
57.0
61.2
57.5
+ .5
+ .6
+ .9
+ 1 .5
+ .9
71.4
+ .3
63.9
72.0
63.9
65.1
75.0
- 1 .2
+ .3
+ .3
+. 9
+ 1 .2
+ .7
+ .3
+ .7
+. 6
68.2
60.7
68.9
54.5
53.9
58.2
48.8
54.8
53.6
56.6
0
-.2
64.7
49.8
58.2
57.0
-.3
- 3 .3
- 1 .3
+11.3
+ 10 .2
+ 1.6
+10.4
+ 9 .6
18.14
18.94
19. 59
21. 78
- 1 .1
+ 2 .1
+. 1
+ 8.0
- 1 .1
+ 1 .7
+ 4.7
+ 5 .2
37.2
34.5
36.5
38.4
- 1.8
- 6 .7
- 4 .7
+ 9.1
+ 4 .3
51.1
84.8
34.8
47.1
+ 2.6
- 5 .3
- 7 .2
- 4 .1
+21.7
+ 1 .4
+. 6
+16.3
21.14
18.46
15.42
16. 67
-.4
- 3 .3
- 5 .7
- 1.8
- .3
+ 1 .4
+ .9
+ 6.2
38.3
36.6
35.5
36.9
-.5
-3 .4
- 5 .3
- 2 .1
-.3
- 1 .5
-.4
+ 6.8
55.2
50.3
45.0
+ .2
+ .2
-1 .4
+ .2
29.1
+ 4 .8
-1 5 .0
- 1 .1
+ 2 .5
+ 8.6
+15.4
- 1 .3
+16.3
- 5 .7
+15.0
-1 6 .9
+11.5
+ 2.0
- 2 .2
+ 2.8
+ 7 .7
-1 4 .9
16. 93
14.17
13.85
19.05
15. 34
19.31
20. 25
24.44
18. 37
+ 2 .2
-1 3 .1
- 1.0
+13.8
-1 1 .9
+14.9
+ 7.0
+ 9 .2
+ 4 .0
+ 8.3
+ 3.1
+ 6 .1
37.4
33.2
+ 1 .9
-1 0 .3
+11.3
-9 .2
45.3
42.7
+• 7
- 3 .2
34.6
34. 2
34.7
34.6
36.4
34.1
- .9
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .1
-2 .3
+ 9 .3
- 5 .5
+ 1 .5
+ 3 .6
+ 3 .8
+ 1.0
+ 5.1
- 5 .7
55.2
44.5
55.7
58.8
- 8 .4
- 4 .0
+ 1 .9
15. 53
15. 30
21.17
12. 74
16.19
18.15
20. 51
15. 61
15. 04
17. 94
- 4 .8
- 1.6
- 1 .3
+ 4.7
+ 4 .3
+17.8
+ 2 .4
+ 4 .4
+ .9
- 9 .2
- 2 .4
+ 7 .2
+ 8.7
32.8
33.8
36.8
33.4
36.0
33.7
29.2
32.8
32.9
36.2
- 2 .4
- 1 .2
+ .2
47.3
20.1
57.3
40.3
17.7
36.8
81.6
2 1.2
50.3
+ .2
-.8
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .2
- 1.8
+ 8 .4
- 3 .2
-.6
0
+ .8
43.3
68.1
52.7
+ 4 .0
0
-.5
0
-.7
-.7
0
-.4
+ 1.7
+ 2 .4
+• 8
+ 5 .0
+ 2 .4
+ 4 .6
+ 2 .1
+ 8 .3
+ 1 .1
+ 8 .2
+ 6 .5
+ 4 .5
+ 1 0 .0
+ 3 .8
+10.4
+ 3 .5
-1 .5
+L9
^
+ 6.6
+ 11.3
+ 3 .4
+ .9
W
g
g
W
-.3
+ 5 .0
- 2.0
O
^
..
+3- 1
-4 .4
+ 4 .4
+ 1 .4
-.1
+ 5 .8
- 1 .3
+ 11.0
£
O
^
g
H
*zj
Nondurable goods
Textiles a n d th eir p r o d u c ts .................................
Fabrics......................................... .........................
Carpets and rugs------- --------------- --------Cotton g oods...------- ------ ------ ------------Cotton small wares -----------------------------Dyeing and finishing textiles......................
Hats, fur-felt— ........ —---------- --------------Knit goods__________________ _____ ___
Silk and rayon goods................... ...............
Woolen and worsted goods..........................
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
93.5
91.0
79.7
88.0
89.2
110.0
80.6
112.0
65.9
91.1
75.5
74.9
73.7
70.7
75.7
86.2
68.5
102.0
54.5
71.2
-.6
- 4 .5
- 3 .8
- 9 .9
- 3 .7
- 7 .5
- 8.6
+7.1
0
+38.3
- 1 1 .1
+ 6 .9
- 1.8
-1 3 .5
- 4 .1
-3 .2
+31.6
-.2
- 2 .2
- 6.2
+ 1 .3
- 5 .6
- 1 .4
+ 2 .3
-.8
0
-1 .9
- 5 .3
+ 5 .4
- 4 .7
-3 .2
+ 2.0
+• 9
+ 8.6
+ .3
+ 4 .4
-. 1
-1 7 .3
- 7 .0
+ 5 .3
+10.5
45.0
56.6
38.2
45.0
53.6
69.7
48.0
45.8
49.6
-1 .7
+ .2
+ .7
- .3
-.2
-.6
- 1 .1
0
+ 1.6
+ .4
+ 5 .2
+ 3 .8
+ 6.6
+ 2.0
-. 1
+ 2.0
+ 4 .7
+ 5 .9
+ 3 .3
-1 .0
02
468
T able 1 .— E m p lo y m en t, P a y R olls, and E arnings in M an u factu rin g In d u stries, M a y 1935— C on tin u ed
Index
M ay
1935
(3-year
aver
age
1923-25
= 100)
Percentage
change from—
April
1935
M ay
1934
- 6 .4
- 7 .5
- 8 .1
- 2 .9
- 3 .6
-1 1 .5
+ 2 .1
- 5 .2
- 6.2
- 1 .4
+ .4
+ 0.6
+ 7.5
- 2 .1
- 3 .9
+ 3 .2
Index
M ay
1935
(3-year
aver• age
1923-25
= 100)
Percentage
change from—
Average in
M ay
1935
Percentage
change from—
April
1935
M ay
1934
- 2.6
- 1 .3
-2 8 .4
+10.4
- 8 .4
-1 4 .0
+ 9 .8
-.3
+ 2 .1
- 2 .7
-1 1 .3
+14.7
+ 4 .6
+ 1.8
- 2 .4
- 8 .3
+16.3
+ 7.4
- 5 .4
- 1 .2
- 6.2
+ 5 .2
-.9
+ 8 .9
16. 37
16.83
17. 46
15.11
13. 54
18.84
12.87
17.92
16. 98
20. 96
21.30
21.77
30.32
20. 74
14.13
15. 53
20. 72
25.15
22. 78
22. 63
23. 24
13.80
15. 02
13.58
24.32
18.08
- 10.8
-1 5 .6
- 6 .4
- 6 .4
- 4 .0
-21. 5
- 2.6
- 3 .5
- 5 .4
+ 5 .3
+12.4
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .5
- 4 .6
- 9 .1
+10.7
- 3 .4
- 7 .8
+ 8 .2
+ 4.3
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .7
+ 2 .1
+12.9
+• 6
20.01
-.6
+ 7 .4
+ 2 .3
28.15
33.04
+ 3 .2
-.3
April
1935
M ay
1934
-1 6 .6
-2 1 .9
-1 4 .0
- 9 .1
- 7 .4
-3 0 .6
-.5
- 8.6
- 1 1 .2
- 1 .5
+ 1.6
+ 1.8
+ 5 .8
+ 5 .0
+ 5 .9
+ 20.8
Average hours worked
per week 1
Average in
M ay
1935
Average hourly
earnings 2
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
Average in
M ay
1935
April
1935
M ay
1934
30.5
28.3
32.2
33.1
30.4
- 5 .9
-1 2 .7
+ 1.6
- 8 .1
- 7 .3
- 2 .7
+ 1 .7
- 5 .6
- 8 .2
-1 6 .9
52.4
58.3
51.9
45.8
41.9
- 4 .7
- 4 .6
- 6.0
+ 2.0
+ 1 .2
+ 7 .2
+ 7.1
+ 9 .3
+ 2.0
+ 11.6
31.3
34.4
33.5
37.4
39.0
40.2
39.1
- 1 .9
- 1 .4
- 2.0
-.3
+ 1.0
+ 1 .3
- 6.0
- 8.0
- .4
- .7
+ .4
+ .6
-.2
+ .0
+ 1.8
-.7
+ 1 .3
40.8
52.9
52.0
56.3
54.1
54.0
77.0
+14.2
+ 4 .0
+ 4 .0
+ 4 .6
+ 4 .4
+ 4.1
+ .3
+ 6.6
34.1
34.8
37.9
44.4
40.0
38.2
40.9
33.8
34.7
33.7
37.4
36.2
38.1
+ 4.3
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .1
+ .5
+ .3
-.3
+ 2.3
+ 2.4
+ 3.0
+ 2 .4
-.3
- 1.6
-.5
+ 7 .8
+ 1 .7
37.3
37.1
+ .3
-.3
April
1935
M ay
1934
Nondurable goods— Continued.
T e x tile s a n d t h e ir p r o d u c ts — Continued
Wearing apparel__ _______ ________________
Clothing, men’s_______________________
Clothing, women’s..................................... .
Corsets and allied garm ents.-.....................
M en’s furnishings-------------------------------M illinery__ _____________ ____________
Shirts and collars.
__ . ______ ____
L e a th e r a n d its m a n u f a c t u r e s ____ ____ ______
Boots and shoes._____ _ _________________
Leather___ _ . _______________ . . . ____
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts ________ ________
Baking___________________ _______ _______
Beverages______ ______ ___________________
Butter
_______ _____
Canning and preserving______ ___________
Confectionery_______ ____________________
Flour____________________________________
Ice cream________________________________
Slaughtering and meat p a ck in g .............. .........
Sugar, b e e t. . ________________ _________
Sugar refining, cane___________ _________
T o b a c c o m a n u f a c t u r e s ______________ _______
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff____
Cigars and cigarettes____________________ _
P a p er a n d p r in t in g _________________________ .
Boxes, paper_____________________________
Paper and pulp......................................... ............
Printing and publishing:
Book and j o b .. . ____ ____ ____ _________
Newspapers and periodicals____________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
95.3
87.6
123.9
91.1
107. 3
61. 6
106.5
86.7
85.2
93.2
95.1
112.7
161.6
73.2
69.1
74.3
73.5
77.7
80.6
44.6
83.6
56.6
66.3
55.3
96.5
84.5
109.9
—(4)
- 5 .1
- 6 .7
+ 1 .2
- 4 .5
- .4
- 4 .4
-13. 3
+ 1.8
+ 3 .8
-.7
- 2 .4
-1 6 .6
+ 1.8
- 3 .2
- 7 .7
-1 3 .8
- 6 .7
+ .1
-.9
+ 2 .5
72.1
64.4
89.4
83.0
71.0
48.6
103.9
72.3
66.7
90.0
86.9
97.3
162. 5
57.4
78.7
63.4
62.3
62.2
74.0
42.1
75.7
43.8
64.5
41.2
84.8
75.5
86.9
-.5
+ .5
78.8
90.4
+ .8
+ 3 .6
+ 4 .0
- 2 .3
- 4 .3
-.9
+12.4
- 1 .1
+13.0
- .3
- .4
-3 .4
-.4
-1 .4
86.2
- 1.0
99.6
+ .2
- 21.0
-.2
+ .6
+ 0
- 2.0
- .4
+ 12 .1
- .4
+ 8 .2
-.6
+ 1.6
-.6
+ 2 .3
+ .3
- 3 .3
-.5
+ 2 .2
-.1
Cents
-.2
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .2
+ 1.0
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .4
+ .5
-.2
+ .7
- 4 .2
- .4
+ 2.0
+ 2.8
+ 2.3
+ .7
- 2.0
4 2.6
+• 2
+ 10 .1
+15.0
+ 1 1 .2
+ 2 .5
+14.3
+ .8
+ 4.6
-.2
+1.4
+ 8 .5
- 4 .3
+ .5
-5 .8
+ .7
+ .3
- 1 .5
+ 1 .1
- .4
+15.5
+ 2.8
40.6
44.7
54.5
56.2
56.1
63.0
56.7
40.4
43.3
39.9
68.4
50.1
52.6
+ 2 .4
-1 .7
74.2
88.3
+ .3
+ .3
-.2
+13.6
+ 6 .7
- 6 .4
+ 8 .5
- 8.8
+ .8
+ .2
+ .2
- 3 .7
- 3 .1
+. 2
-.2
+ .3
+ .1
-.4
0
+ 5 .3
+ 6.2
+ 3 .2
+ 5.1
+ 10 .2
- 2.6
+ 5 .2
+ 8 .3
+ 6.6
+ 9 .0
+ 4.1
-1 3 .2
+ 4 .5
+ 4.1
+ 5 .0
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Industry
Per capita weekly
earnings 1
Pay rolls
Employment
C h e m ic a ls a n d a llied p r o d u c ts , a n d p e tr o
le u m r e fin in g ........................... - -------------------------
Other than petroleum refining...........................
Chemicals____________________________
Cottonseed—oil, calte, and meal-----------Druggists’ preparations_______________
Explosives__ _____ ___________________
Fertilizers_____________________ ______
Paints and varnishes__________________
Rayon and allied products_____________
Soap..................................... - ..........................
Petroleum refin in g .................... ................. —
R u b b e r p r o d u c ts ___________________________
- 1 .9
- 10 .2
- 1 .1
- 9 .0
20. 23
25. 43
326.9
98.2
108.3
81.3
47.2
—2 1 .1
- 2.0
+ 3 .2
-2 9 .1
+ 3 .1
- 2 .4
- 4 .4
+ (<)
- 1 .5
+ .3
94.8
94.2
97.8
38.3
93.9
74.4
91.7
95.1
237.8
93.8
96.8
66.5
43.2
- 1 .1
- 1.6
+ 1 .7
-2 2 .4
- 3 .9
+ 7 .4
-2 3 .5
+ 3 .4
- 2.0
- 3 .2
124.8
73.6
- 1 .5
- 1 .7
- 7 .7
- 11.0
104.6
58.7
110 .1
112.6
- 3 .1
- 3 .8
+ .2
-.1
21.0 1
25.16
9.44
20. 64
24.03
11.91
23. 47
19. 35
23. 26
27.36
22.62
18.08
37.2
38.0
39.5
38.7
37.8
36.4
32. 7
40.6
37.1
38.0
34.9
33.4
33.9
+ .3
+ .5
+ .3
- 5 .1
-4 .3
+ 3 .7
+ 1 .2
+. 5
(3>
-.5
(3)
- 4 .6
-2 .9
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .9
+ 5 .5
+ 2 .3
+ 3 .3
+ 2 .9
+ 6.2
- 1 .5
- 2.8
- 4 .7
+• ÿ
- 2.8
- 9 .0
61.5
55.3
63.7
24.5
54.9
65.9
36. 4
57.9
52.2
61.4
78.9
69.5
53.3
+ 2.7
+ 3 .4
+ 1- 1
+ 4 .3
+ 1 .7
+• 2
+ 6 .4
(3)
+• 4
+ 1.8
- 5 .2
- 1 .5
+ 5.5
+ 5 .6
+ 7 .4
+ 1 .2
+ 6 .9
+ 11.8
+ 10.8
+ 3 .3
+ 1.8
+12.4
+ 5 .6
+ 3.7
+ 2 .3
- .7
+ 1 .1
+ 5 .0
+ 4 .7
+ 2 .1
+ 2 .1
+ 4 .4
+ 6. 5
4~5. 2
+ 5 .1
+4. 5
+17.1
+ 6 .4
4~5. b
+ 6 .1
-.4
- 8 .7
+ 7 .2
+ 2 .4
37.0
30.6
-1 .3
- 7 .8
+ 2 .9
- 6.0
55.2
83.7
+ .5
- 1 .3
+ 1 .1
+ 9 .4
+ 2 .1
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .5
-1 .7
- 1 .9
+4.1
+ 8.0
+ .3
+ .4
+ 1.3
-.1
+ .1
1 Per capita weekly earnings are computed from figures furnished by all reporting establishments. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes, Percentage changes
over month in the groups and in “ All industries” also computed from indexes.
, .
. ,
2 Computed from available man-hour data—all reporting establishments do not furnish man-hours. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes, The average hours
and average hourly earnings in the groups and in “ All industries” are weighted.
3 No change.
4 Less than Mo of 1 percent.
° April man-hour data revised as follows:
Average hourly earnings
Average hours worked per week
Industry
Average in
April
1935
Percentage change from—
y')11rfi hi p p;nnr|^
_________________________________________________________
A^ricnltnrfil implp.mp.nt.s
________ - __ - - - - - - - - --------- ----- ---------------- —
Foundry and machine-shop products.---------------------------------------------------- --------- - ..........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
37.4
36.9
37.0
J Jp
OO03 CO
March 1935
Average in
April
1935
March 1935
April 1935
+ 1.0
+ 1.6
- 1 .1
Percentage change from—
Cents
57.1
60.9
60.7
59.8
+ 0.5
+ .8
+ .3
+ .5
April 1935
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Rubber boots and shoes..----------- -------------Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tu b es..............................................Rubber tires and inner tubes---------------------
22.98
- 6.6
- 1 .3
+ 7.4
+ 8.2
+ 3.6
-2 4 .3
+ 6 .1
- 1 .1
+ 9 .2
+ 8.2
+24.4
+ 7.7
+ 4 .4
- 5 .4
+ .9
+ 1.8
+ 2.6
- 3 .7
-2 5 .1
-.9
- 1 1 .2
- 1 .5
+ 4.8
+ 22 .1
- 4 .0
- 1 .1
- 8.8
- 1 .3
108.0
108.0
107.1
42. 3
96.8
87.3
+ 4 .4
+ 3 .5
+ 4 .4
+ 4 .0
05
CO
470
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
Long-Time Trend of Factory Employment and Pay Rolls
A b e t t e r perspective of the current level of factory employment
and pay rolls is afforded by table 2 and the diagram on page 471.
The table gives the general index numbers (3-year average, 192325 = 100) of factory employment and pay rolls from January 1929
through May 1935. From this table it will be observed that although
the level of factory employment in May is lower than in any previous
month of the current year except January, it is higher than at any
time in 1934 except April and May and is still about 38 percent above
the low point of the depression, which was reached in March 1933.
The pay-roll index in May, in spite of the decline in comparison with
the previous month, is still higher than for any month of 1934 and is
85 percent above the low point of March 1933.
The diagram on page 471 indicates the trend of factory employ
ment and pay rolls from January 1919 to May 1935.
T able 2 .— G eneral Indexes of E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R olls in M an u fa c tu rin g
In d u strie s, J a n u a ry 1929 to M ay 1935
[3-year average, 1923-25=100]
Employment
Pay rolls
Month
1929
January___
February...
March____
April............
M ay______
June______
July---------August.........
Septem ber..
October___
N ovem ber..
D ecem ber..
100.8
102.9
104.1
105.3
105.3
105.6
106.1
107.9
109.0
107.7
103.6
99.8
A verage.. 104.8
1930
97.3
97.4
96.9
96.3
94.8
92.9
89.5
1931
89.6
87.7
84.6
82.3
79.6
80.3
80.7
80.7
80.1
78.4
77.0
77.1
77.4
74.4
71.8
71.0
91.5
77.4
88.8
1932
1933
1934
63.4
61.2
58.9
60.1
63.3
64.4
63.4
62.1
60.2
61.1
58.8
59.9
62.6
66.9
71.5
76.4
80.0
79.6
76.2
74.4
73.3
77.7
80.8
82.4
82.5
81.1
78.7
79.5
75.8
78.4
76.8
78.0
64.1
69.0
68.7
69.5
68.4
66.1
1935
78.7
81.2
82.4
82.4
81.1
1929
102.3
109.3
1930
112.9
112.4
104.1
100.7
95.9
98.8
98.8
97.7
95.4
92.3
84.3
83.3
84.1
82.2
76.8
75.2
78.8 1 81.2 109.1
88.7
111.6
112.6
112.9
1 1 1 .2
107.2
112.0
1931
70.0
74.3
75.6
74.4
73.4
69.7
1932
1933
1934
1935
65.9
63.4
61.3
58.1
57.6
53.5
54.6
53.1
49.5
46.8
43.4
39.8
40.6
42.9
44.7
42.9
41.5
39.5
40.2
37.1
38.8
42.7
47.2
50.8
56.8
59.1
59. 4
55. 5
54.5
54.0
60.6
64.8
67.3
67.1
64.9
60.5
62.2
58. 0
61.0
59. 5
63.2
67.5
46.1
48.5
61.9 i 68.6
66.2
64.1
69.1
70.7
70.8
68.5
1 Average for 5 months.
It is significant that employment in May was much better sus
tained in the durable-goods industries than in the nondurable-goods
industry. This fact is clearly indicated by table 3, which gives the
indexes of employment and pay rolls for the two major groups
separately. As against a decrease of 2.6 percent in employment for
the nondurable groups employment for the durable-goods industries
in May came within 0.4 percent of the April level. Pay rolls also
were somewhat better maintained in the durable-goods group.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E m ploym ent r P ay R olls
Industries
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
m Manufacturing
3 -yea r average 1^331^2^ =100
*<x
472
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW — AUGUST 1935
T able 3.— Indexes of E m p lo y m en t and P a y Rolls in th e D u rab le an d N o ndurable
G roups, Ja n u a ry 1929 to M ay 1935
[3-year average 1923-25=100]
D u r a b le g r o u p
1
Employment
Pay rolls
Month
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
January___
February...
M arch.. . . .
April______
M ay___. . .
June___. . .
J u ly ...........
August____
September..
October___
Novem ber..
December. _
99.1
101. 7
103.5
105. 3
106.5
106.4
106.3
107.3
106.8
105.0
100.3
95.8
93.1
93.3
93.1
92.8
91.8
89.1
84.7
82.2
81.0
79.6
77.1
74.9
71.9
72.1
72.2
72.2
71.4
69. 5
66.8
65.3
64.5
61.8
60.3
59.7
57.3
57.8
56.5
54.6
52.9
50.9
48.5
46.9
47.3
47.7
48.1
47.3
45.4
45.8
43.9
44.4
47.0
50.7
55.3
60.1
63.4
63.2
61. 2
60.7
59.8
63.5
67.1
70.0
71.5
70.8
67.4
66.1
64.2
62.8
62.2
64.3
Average. .
103.7
86.1
67.3
51.3
53.4
1935
1929
1930
1931
100.0
109.0
112.0
114. 7
115.8
112. 9
107.1
112.6
111.7
111.1
101.7
96.7
90.1
94.6
95.1
95.3
93.3
89 1
78.1
75.6
74.7
73.7
68.4
66.4
59.8
64.4
65.7
65.1
64.1
59 4
54.3
52.9
49.6
48.5
46.4
45.8
41.3
42.0
40.4
38.0
37.0
27. 6
27.7
25.3
26.6
30.8
41.6
47.9
52.8
57.4
58.6
29.8
28.2
27.9
29.8
30. 0
29.4
38.0
43.9
44. 7
45.4
42 5
42.3
49.9
50.0
45 5
46. 4
46 1
50.4
65.8 2 69.8 108.8
82.9
56.3
33.9
35.8
50.3 2 58.7
54. 5
56.2
52. 1
54.4
57.9
63 1
67! 0
69. 7
76.9
80.1
80.0
78.1
73 3
77 8
74!0
66.1
69.3
70.8
71.6
71.3
N o n d u r a b le g r o u p
January___
February...
March_____
April______
M ay...........
J u n e ._____
July..............
August____
September..
October___
N ovem ber..
December. .
1932
1933
1934
52. 5
58. 6
60.5
61.8
60.1
3
102.7
104.3
104.9
105.4
104.1
104. 7
105.8
108.6
111.4
110.6
107.1
104.0
101.8
101.7
100.9
100.1
98.0
96.9
94.7
95.9
98.9
96.5
92.7
90.1
87.8
89.0
90.0
89.8
89.3
88.0
88.2
89.8
91.1
88.0
84.2
83.0
80.9
82.2
81.2
78.5
74.8
72.4
70.1
74.2
80.4
82.3
79.9
77.8
76.0
77.6
74.7
76.5
79.3
84.3
88.9
93.9
97.8
97.2
92.2
89.1
87.9
93.0
95.4
95.8
94.3
92.3
90.8
94.0
88.2
95.1
92.4
92.7
105.3
. 109. 8
111.0
110.2
109.3
109.1
107.3
111. 3
114.4
114.2
107.4
105.8
103.2
104.1
103.5
100.8
98.3
96 5
92.3
93. 2
96.0
93.0
87.4
86.5
83.0
86.9
88.3
86.3
85.2
82 7
81.3
82 5
80.8
77.6
73.0
72.5
69.1
70. 7
6$. 2
64.0
59.3
56 2
52. 6
56 3
61.8
63. 6
59. 2
56.9
77. 6
77.3
72.1
70.1
Average. _ 106.1
97.4
88.2
77.9
85.6
92.7 2 93.4 109.6
96.2
81.6
61.6
64.6 76.8
92.3
94.1
94.8
94.0
91.6
1935
79.0
82. 5
83.8
82.3
79.1
73.9
79. 6
76. 6
7 9 .5
2 81.3
1 Includes the following groups of manufacturing industries: Iron and steel; machinery; transportation
equipment; railroad repair shops; nonferrous metals; lumber and allied products; and stone, clay, and glass
products.
b
2 Average for 5 months.
2 Includes remaining groups of manufacturing industries not shown under footnote 1.
Estimated Number of Wage Earners and Total Weekly Pay Rolls
T r a n s l a t e d into terms of workers employed, the index of 81.1 for
May means that 6,795,500 employees were carried on factory pay
rolls at the time of the Bureau’s survey. The pay-roll index of 68.5
indicates that the weekly wage disbursements for manufacturing as a
whole totaled $139,325,000. These estimates are made by multiply
ing the weighting factors of the several groups of industries (number
employed or weekly pay roll in the base period, 1923-25) by the
Bureau’s index numbers of employment or pay rolls. As the indexes
have been adjusted to the trends indicated by the Census of Manu
factures through 1931, this formula gives reasonably accurate esti
mates of the total number of factory workers employed and their
weekly pay rolls. Adjustments to the census of 1933 are now being
made and when completed the monthly estimates will be brought
still closer to actualities.
Estimates of the number of wage earners employed and total
weekly wages in all manufacturing industries combined and in the 14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
473
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
major groups and the 2 textile subgroups into which the manufac
turing industries are divided are given in table 4. The table shows
estimates for the base period, 1923-25; for the years 1929 to 1934, in
clusive; and for the first 5 months of 1935. Although data are not
available for all groups over the entire period shown, the totals for all
manufacturing industries combined have been adjusted to include all
groups except manufactured gas (which is included in the Bureau’s
electric light and manufactured-gas industry) and motion pictures.
T able 4.-—E stim a te d N u m b er of W age E arn ers an d W eekly W ages in All
M an u factu rin g In d u stries C om bined an d in In d u s try G roups
Total manufacturing
Iron and steel and
their products
Year and month
Employ
ment
1923-25 average______________
1929 ........ ...............................
1930 ______________________
1931 _______________________
1932 ________ ____ _________
1933 _______________________
1934 ___________________ ____
1935: January________________
February______________
March _______________
April _________________
M ay __ ______________
Weekly,
pay rolls
8,381,700 $203,476,000
8,785,600 221,937,000
7,668,400 180, 507,000
6,484,300 137,256,000
5,374. 200
93, 757,000
98,623,000
5,778,400
6,600,100 126,012,000
130,
503,000
6, 595,700
6,809,000 140,618, 000
6,906, 300 143,927,000
6, 906,100 144,075,000
6,795,500 139,325,000
Transportation
equipment
Employ
ment
Weekly
pay rolls
859,100 $24,658,000
881,000 26,568.000
766, 200 21,126,000
598,400 13, 562,000
7,164,000
458,100
8,925,000
503, 400
592,800 12,074,000
582, 500 12,798, 000
607, 400 14, 548,000
616, 800 14,622,000
620,300 14,647,000
622,000 14,425,000
Railroad repair shops
Machinery, not in
cluding transporta
tion equipment
Employ
ment
Weekly
pay rolls
878,100 $23,655, 000
1,105, 700 31,761,000
918,700 24,197,000
687,000 15,135,000
494,600
8, 546,000
8,975,000
517,100
682, 200 13, 525, 000
699,000 14,382,000
720, 000 15,163, 000
738, 500 15,825,000
747,300 15,991,000
742,000 16, 038,000
Nonferrous metals
and their products
Year and month
Employ
ment
563, 500
583, 200
451,800
373,800
315,700
305,600
467, 200
520, 700
568, 600
583,800
590, 500
578, 700
1923-2.5 average _____________
_______________
1930 _______ _______________
1931 _________ ____ _________
1932 _______ ______________
1933 ............. ....................... .......
1934 ....................................... .......
1935: January________________
F ebruary______________
M arch. _______________
April______________ ___
M ay ______________ ___
1929
Weekly
pay rolls
$17, 214,000
18,136, 000
12, 076,000
9, 008,000
7, 012,000
6,799,000
11.800,000
13, 668,000
16, 302,000
16,904. 000
17,679,000
16, 216,000
Lumber and allied
products
Employ
ment
Weekly
pay rolls
482,100 $13, 563,000
398, 200 12, 255,000
353,800 10, 316,000
8,366,000
309,000
5, 793,000
257,400
5,652,000
250, 600
6, 528,000
267,400
5, 941,000
248,800
6, 510,000
255,000
6,727,000
258, 400
6,876, 000
255, 000
7,121,000
258,400
Stone, clay, and glass
products
Year and month
Employ
ment
Weekly
pay rolls
918.400 $18,523,000
1923-25 average---------------------18,062,000
876, 500
1929
_________________
13,464,000
699.400
1930
_________________
8.641.000
516,900
1931
_________________
4.656.000
377.800
1932
---------------- ---------------- ---------------4.900.000
406,100
1933
_________________
6.062.000
447.400
1934
_________________
5.872.000
432,600
1935: January__________ ___
6, 446,000
453.700
February_______________
6.724.000
464.700
March__________ _____
474.800
6.946.000
April----------- ---------------6, 446,000
467, 500
M ay......................................
1 Comparable data not available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Employ
ment
350.300
328,500
280,800
222,800
156.000
157, 500
185.000
165.300
173.700
180,400
186, 400
192.700
Employ
ment
282, 600
0)
0)
209,000
164, 200
175,200
210,000
214, 500
223,800
227, 500
228,600
227, 200
Weekly
pay rolls
$7, 329,000
(0
0)
4, 622,000
2,865,000
3,039,000
4,105,000
4, 280,000
4, 647, 000
4,735,000
4, 720,000
4, 639,000
Textiles and their
products
Fabrics
W eekly
pay rolls
Weekly
pay rolls
Employ
ment
$8,878,000
8.323.000
6.828.000
4.786.000
2.588.000
2.455.000
3.153.000
2.805.000
3.090.000
3.320.000
3.489.000
3, 578,000
1,105,600 $20. 368,000
1,095,900 20, 251,000
950,400 16.167.000
886,700 14, 308,000
794,100 10,367, 000
952,600 12.664.000
989,300 14.448.000
1,059, 200 16.742.000
1, 074, 600 17, 211,000
1,065,800 16.967.000
1,031, 500 15,887, C00
1,006,100 15, 256,000
474
MONTHLY LABOK R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 4 .— E stim a ted N u m ber o f W age Earners and W eek ly W ages in All
M anufacturing In du stries C om bined and in In d u stry G roups— C ontinued
Textiles and their products—Continued
Wearing apparel
Year and month
Employ
ment
1923-25 average________ ______
1929
_________________
1930
_________________
1931
_________________
1932
_________________
1933
______ ____ ______
1934
_________________
1935: January________________
February______________
March_____________ . . . .
April____ ___________
M ay___________ ____ _
474.100
536, 700
497, 700
472,000
401.800
418.100
432.100
423, 800
458,900
480,700
482, 600
451.800
Weekly
pay rolls
$10, 336,000
11.476.000
9, 680, 000
8, 338,000
5, 733, 000
5, 757, 000
6,992, 000
6,884, 000
8,217, 000
9.147.000
8.930.000
7, 452,000
Food and kindred
products
Leather and its man
ufactures
Group
Employ
ment
Weekly
pay rolls
1,629,400 $31,676,000
1, 706,900 33.321.000
1,513,000 27.115.000
1,421, 000 23, 799, 000
1, 250, 300 16,947, 000
1, 432, 700 19, 394, 000
1,485,900 22,564, 000
1, 551, 200 24,866, 000
1, 603, 300 26, 766, 000
1 , 616,400 27.495.000
1, 583,800 26,101, 000
1, 523, 500 23,915, 000
Tobacco manufactures
Employ
ment
Weekly
pay rolls
323, 500
318,600
295,100
272,800
255,500
269, 400
284, 000
285, 700
296, 300
299,900
296,000
280, 500
$6,986,000
6.915.000
5, 748,000
5.035.000
4.060.000
4,394, 000
5.164.000
5, 337,000
5, 763,000
5,875, 000
5.526.000
5.051.000
Paper and printing
Year and month
Employ
ment
1923-25 average______________
_________________
1929
1930
_________________
1931
_________________
1932
_________________
1933
_________________
1934
_________________
1935: January___ _____ _______
February_______________
March________ _______ _
April . . ________ _____ _
M ay___________________
668, 300
753.500
731.100
650.500
577.100
631.000
711, 700
630, 700
627.000
619, 300
632,700
635, 500
Weekly
pay rolls
Employ
ment
$15,240,000
17.344.000
16.593.000
14.173.000
11, 308,000
11.604.000
14.080.000
12.696.000
12, 717,000
12, 648,000
13.030.000
13, 239,000
138,400
116,100
108, 300
99, 700
88, 600
82, 700
86, 700
78, 200
79, 300
80,000
78, 600
78. 300
Weekly
pay rolls
$2,225,000
1,819, 000
1.617.000
1.336.000
1.052.000
944.000
1, 049, 000
923.000
908, 000
986, 000
959.000
975.000
Chemicals and allied
products
Employ
ment
Weekly
pay rolls
531.100 $14,865,000
591, 500 17, 771,000
574.100 17,036, 000
511, 800 14, 461, 000
451, 700 11,126,000
458, 400 10, 299, 000
503, 700 11,829,000
507, 700 12, 397,000
513, 600 12, 501,000
514, 600 12, 561, 000
514, 600 12, 576, 000
512,500 12 , 606,000
Rubber products
Year and month
Employ
ment
1923-25 average
__
1929
1930
___
1931
__
1932
...................... ......................
1933
___
1934__________
1935: January..
February.
March__
April___
M ay____
333,000
384, 800
364, 700
316, 800
279, 700
315, 400
361,600
361,000
364, 300
375, 400
371,300
359, 800
Weekly
pay rolls
$8,321, 000
10,068,000
9,334,000
7, 643, 000
5, 861,000
6,179, 000
7,437,000
7, 620, 000
7,751,000
7, 997, 000
7, 980, 000
7 , 886,000
Employ
ment
134, 300
149,100
115, 500
99, 200
87, 800
99, 300
111,300
109,900
111,500
111, 900
110,800
109, 200
Weekly
pay rolls
$3,468,000
3,986, 000
2,934,000
2,165, 000
1,555,000
1, 740,000
2, 207,000
2, 407,000
2,493,000
2,448,000
2,469,000
2,306,000
Trade, Public U tility, Mining, and Service Industries
I n c r e a s e s over April were reported in employment by 12 of the 16
trade, public-utility, mining, and service industries covered in May.
The declines in the other 4 industries, however, more than offset these
gains and for the 16 industries combined there was a net reduction of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
475
47,000 employees. Aggregate weekly pay rolls for industries in this
classification were $175,000 higher in May than in April.
The principal factor contributing to the decreased employment for
this group of industries was the seasonal contraction in retail trade,
following the spring buying flurry. In this industry alone approxi
mately 53,000 workers were dropped from the pay rolls, a decrease of
1.7 percent. Almost half of the retail distribution workers who lost
their jobs in May were employed in department, variety, generalmerchandise, and mail-order establishments. A decline of 0.8 percent,
representing about 11,000 workers, was reported by the wholesale
trade. The falling off of wholesale employment, however, was ac
counted for to some extent by the reduced activity of the packers and
shippers of fruits and vegetables and the leaf-tobacco trade. Em
ployment in the wholesale dry goods and apparel group declined 1.8
percent. Other industries in the nonmanufacturing group showing
reduced employment in May were the hotel and metal mining
industries. The decreased employment in the metalliferous-mining
industry was due chiefly to strikes in the Western States.
The most significant change in weekly pay rolls during the month
was reported by the bituminous-coal industry. In this industry the
weekly pay-roll disbursements in May advanced 9.1 percent above the
April level.
Indexes of employment and pay rolls, per capita weekly earnings,
average hours worked per week, and average hourly earnings in May
for 13 of these industries, together with percentage changes from
April 1935 and May 1934, are shown in table 5. Man-hour data and
indexes of employment and pay rolls are not available for banking,
brokerage, and insurance establishments, but the table shows per
centage changes in employment, pay rolls, and per capita weekly
earnings for these three industries.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T able 5 .— E m p lo y m en t, P a y Rolls, H ours, an d E arn in g s, M ay 1935
-I
05
Employment
Industry
Insu ran ce______________________________________
Pay roll
Percentage
Percentage
Index
Index
change from—
change from—
M ay
May
1935
1935
(aver
(aver
age 1929 April
M ay age 1929 April
M ay
1935
1934
= 100)
1935
= 100)
1934
Aver
age in
May
1935
Average hours worked
per week i
Percentage
change from—
April
1935
M ay
1934
Aver
age in
M ay
1935
Percentage
change from—
Average hourly
earnings 1
Aver
age in
M ay
1935
Percentage
change from—
April
1935
M ay
1934
-8 .4
-9 .2
+ 4 .7
-3 .6
-1 .7
Cents
82.2
73.6
59.8
47.5
78.0
-0 .4
+ .3
+ 2 .7
- 1 .5
+ 1 .3
- 0 .5
+ 4 .1
+ 7 .6
+ 2.0
+ 4 .8
+ 4 .2
April
1935
M ay
1934
53.5
75.3
44.4
49.5
76.0
+ 1.8
+ 1 .4
- 3 .5
+ 9 .4
+ 1.6
-1 6 .1
- 1.8
+ 8.8
- 8.8
-.9
49.5
49.1
31.4
32.8
57.8
- 0 .7
+ 9.1
- 1 .3
+13.5
+ 1.9
-2 2 .7
- 9 .7
+22.7
- 6 .3
+ 2 .5
$26.94
16. 72
23.19
16. 79
28 .48
- 2 .5
+ 7.5
+ 2.3
+ 3 .8
+ .3
- 7 .8
- 8.0
+ 12.8
+ 2.8
+ 3 .5
32.6
23.1
38.2
33.9
35.0
- 4 .4
+ 9.0
- .5
+ 1 .2
70.0
+ .4
-.3
73.7
+ .8
+ 3 .2
27.91
+ .4
+ 3.5
38.6
+ 1.3
+ 2 .2
74.5
-.7
83.2
+ .8
+ .1
79.8
+ 1 .1
+ 2.8
30.37
+ .3
+ 2 .7
39.6
+ .5
+ 1.6
77.0
-.3
+ 3 .1
71.6
+ .3
- 1 .4
63.6
+ .5
+ 1.0
28. 23
+ .2
+ 2.3
45.3
(9
-.9
61.2
+ .2
+ 2 .7
82.5
82. 2
91.4
79.8
84.8
81.1
80.9
(9
- .4
- 1 .7
- 3 .2
- 1 .2
-.9
+ 1 .3
+ 1.3
64.6
62.0
76.3
59.0
66.4
- .3
+ 3 .2
+. 8
+ 2 .4
+ .3
26.98
20. 30
17. 69
22.24
13. 58
15.60
18. 49
31.55
34. 74
35. 77
+ .5
+ 1.2
+ 1 .7
+ .7
+ 3 .6
+ 1.6
+ 3.1
+ 1 .2
+ 1.8
+ .7
- 1 .2
40.9
3 41.1
37.7
42.1
47.9
40.7
42.0
66.2
- 1.6
+ .5
+ 1.0
+ 2 .1
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .5
+ 4.1
- .4
+. 2
- 1. 1
- 1 .2
- 3 .9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
-.8
-.8
-.7
-.9
- 1 .1
- 1 .2
- 4 .0
66.6
+ 1.9
-2 1 .7
+ .8
61.7
(•)
+ .1
+ .6
(9
(9
+ .2
-.8
-.6
- 1 .1
+ 1.7
- .3
+. 1
+ 2.3
-. 1
+ .8
- .4
- 5 .2
+ 1 .2
-2 4 .8
+ .4
-.2
+ .5
- 1.6
-. 1
+ .5
-.2
-.2
-.8
(9
(9
-.8
+ .2
+ .4
+ .5
-.5
(9
(9
(9
+ 1 .5
+ 3 .0
- 1.6
+ 4 .2
-.7
+ 2 .4
+ .1
(9
(9
(9
3 52. 7
48.2
54.1
28.0
36.7
44.0
(9
(9
(9
+ .6
(9
- 1 .1
(9
(9
(9
+ .8
(9
(9
(9
F
i Per capita w eek ly earnings are com puted from figures furnished b y all reporting establishm ents. Average hours and average hourly earnings are com pu ted from data furnished
b y a sm aller num ber of establishm ents, as som e firms do n o t report m an-hour inform ation. Percentage changes over year com puted from indexes.
2 N o change,
a W eighted.
< T h e additional value of board, room, and tip s cannot be com puted.
s N o t available.
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Federal Reserve
f • Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Coal mining:
Anthracite________ _____ - ............................
Bitum inous-------------------------------------------Metalliferous mining--------------------------------------Quarrying and nonmetallic mining_____________
Crude-petroleum producing___________________
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph---------------------------Electric light and power and manufactured
gas-------------------------------- ------ ---------------Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation
and maintenance_______ _______________
Trade:
Wholesale---- ----------------------------- ------ -_____ ___________—
R etail________
General merchandising__________ ______
Other than general merchandising______
Hotels (cash payments only ) 4--------------------------Laundries____________________________ •______
Dyeing and cleaning--------------------------------------B anks................................................. .............. ..........
Brokerage-------- ------ ------------------------ -------------
Per capita weekly
earnings 1
477
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Trade, Public Utility, Mining, and
Service Industries
I n d e x e s of employment and pay rolls in 13 trade, public utility,
mining, and service industries and 2 subdivisions under retail trade
are shown by months in table 6 for the period January 1932 to May
1935.
The indexes for wholesale and retail trade have recently been
revised to conform with the trends indicated by the 1929 and 1933
Census averages. The indexes for “ total retail trade” have been
computed by weighting the indexes of the two subgroups, “ general
merchandising” and “ other than general merchandising.”
T able 6.— Indexes of E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls, Ja n u a ry 1932 to M ay 1935
[12-month average, 1929=100]
Bituminous-coa 1mining
Anthracite mining
Month
Pay rolls
Employment
Pay rolls
Employment
1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934
J a n u a ry _____
February..........
ATarph _ _ ___
A p r il_______
M ay_________
June July-------------A u g u s t______
September.
October ____
N ovem b er___
December____
76.2
71.2
73.7
70.1
66.9
53.0
44.5
49.2
55.8
63.9
62.7
62.3
52.5
58.7
54.6
51.6
43.2
39.5
43.8
47.7
56.8
56.9
61.0
54.5
64.1
63.2
67.5
58.2
63.8
57.5
53.6
49.5
56.9
58.5
60.7
61.6
61.5
57.3
61.2
72.0
58.0
37.4
34.5
41.4
47.0
66.7
51.0
........ 56.2
62.9
64.4
51.4
52.6
53.5
43.2
56.8
48.8
37.4
30.0
34.3
38.2
46.6
60.7
61.6
47.8
44.3
73.2
65.8
82.4
51.7
64.0
53.3
42.3
39.7
47.0
48.3
51.2
52.3
57.5
64.3
38.9
49.9
49.5
__
__
__
—
69.8
69.3
67.6
63.7
61.2
61.3
63.2
80.8
77.4
75.2
65.5
62.6
60.5
58.6
59.4
62.4
67.0
69.4
70.0
68.6
71.8
68.0
74.8
75.4
75.8
76.1
77.8
72.2
76.7
76.7
77.0
77.1
78.2
79.3
79.8
79.7
80.0
81.1
81.6
74.3
75.3
____
____
—
—
—
—
—
47.0
47.0
46.8
33.9
30.7
27.3
24.4
26.4
30.2
37.8
38.0
37.7
36.1
37.2
30.7
26.6
26.9
29.2
33.6
43.3
44.1
44.1
50.7
50.8
1935
51.3 59.6
54.6 66.1
58.9 .67.5
51.4 45.0
54. 4 49.1
55.1 —
49.7 —
50. 4 —
51.4 —
57. 6 —
58.3 —
57.0 —
Average. 62.5 51.7 59.6 i 57.0 53.7 45.8 55.9 1 52.0 67.4 67.9 77.2 i 78.5 35.6 37.8 54.2 i 57.5
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining
Metalliferous mining
January_____
February____
ATarch ______
A p r il----------M a y _________
June
___
Ju ly .— ............
A u g u s t_____
September___
O ctob er_____
November___
December____
49.3
46.9
45.0
43.3
38.3
32.2
29.5
28.6
29.3
30.5
31.9
33.3
32.4
31.5
30.0
29.4
30.0
31.5
33.0
36.8
38.9
40.7
40.6
40.6
39.6
40.3
39.8
41.7
40.8
41.0
39.9
42.7
42.3
43.3
43.2
44.4
44.3
44.3
45.0
46.0
44.4
29.7
27.8
26.5
25.0
23.8
20.1
—
16.9
16.5
17.0
18.0
18.7
18.7
18.1
17.8
17.4
16.4
17.0
18.3
19.0
21.9
23.9
25.9
25.6
26.2
25.4
26.0
25.9
27.2
25.6
26.7
25.1
27.0
25.9
28.2
28.5
29.4
30.1
29.9
30.9
31.8
31.4
48.9
47.4
46.0
48.6
50.6
49.5
49.5
____ 51.1
52.4
___ 52.4
____ 49.4
42.3
—
35.1
34.8
35.1
39.3
43.4
47.3
49.5
51.6
52.6
53.2
51.1
45.3
39.7
38.8
42.0
48.7
54.3
56.6
55.6
54.7
53.3
51.8
49.5
42.1
36.9
37.3
40.5
45.3
49.5
____
____
—
—
—
—
30.2
29.6
28.7
30.0
32.3
30.0
29.1
29.7
30. 5
30.1
27.1
18.1 21.3 20.8
17.4 21.0 22.2
17.8 24.1 24.9
20.2 29.9 28.9
23.8 35.0 32.8
27.5 37.0 —
28.4 35.0 —
29.9 34.0 —
29. 3 32.4
31.2 32.1 —
28.3 29.4
2 2 .1 24.4 23. 6 —
Average- 36.5 34.6 41.6 144.8 21.6 20.6 26.7 i 30.8 49.0 44.9 48.9 i 41.9 29.1 24.7 29.6 i 25.9
Telephone and telegraph
Crude-petroleum producing
January_____
February..........
ATa r c h ______
A p r il----------M ay ______
J u n e ________
July-------------August---------September___
October
___
November___
December____
54.9
54.4
51.4
54.9
54.5
54.2
55. 4
57.4
56.2
56.8
56.5
57.2
57.2
57.0
56.5
56.8
56.9
58.0
59.5
60.8
66.2
70.6
72.2
75.0
73.2
72.4
72.8
74.0
76.7
80.0
81.6
82.7
81.8
79.5
78.8
78.7
74.9
74.2
74.0
74.9
76.0
—
46.5
46.9
43.2
44.5
47.1
44.8
44.6
42.9
41. £
42.5
42.4
41.7
39.9
41.7
42.5
40.1
41.6
40.6
42.2
42.5
44. 4
50.1
50.3
53.2
53.0
50.5
52.5
53.4
56.4
56.9
60.0
61.2
59.7
60.8
59.0
59.5
55.5
54.9
56.1
56.7
57.8
______
______
—
83.0
82.0
81.7
81.2
80.6
79.9
79.1
78.1
77.4
76.2
75.5
74.8
74.6
73.9
73.2
72.3
70.1
69.2
68.5
68.1
68.3
38.7
68.9
69.4
70.2 70.5
69.8 70.0
70.0 69.8
70.2 69.7
70.2 70.0
70.4 —
71.0 —
71.0 —
70.9 —
70.3 —
69.9 —
69. 7 —
89.1 71.7 69.0 73.9
89.6 71.9 67 9 72.9
88.2 71.6 70. 4 75. 3
83.4 67.8 68.8 73.1
82.8 68.5 71.4 73. 7
82.1 66.6 71.3 —
79.6 66.7 72.3 —
79.1 66.1 74.0 —
75.9 64. 6 72. 2 —
75. 7 67. 0 74. 9 —
74. 3 67. 7 72. 2 —
73.5 67.7 73. 2 —
Average. 55.3 62.2 77.7 ■74.8 44.1 44.1 56.9 i 56.2 1 79.1 70.4 70.3 170.0 81.1 68.2 71.5 i 73.8
* Average for 5 months.
3202—35-----13
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
478
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
T able 6.— Indexes of E m p lo y m en t and P a y Rolls, Ja n u a ry 1932 to M ay 1935—
C ontinued
Electric light and power and manufactured
gas
Month
Employment
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation
and maintenance 2
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
Employment
1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934 1935
January______
February____
March_______
April.................
M ay_________
June_________
July_________
August---------September___
October______
November___
December........
89.3
87.2
85.5
84.8
84. C
83.2
82.3
81.5
81.0
79.9
79.1
78.4
77.7
77.4
76.9
76.9
76.9
77.3
77. 5
78.1
80.3
82.2
82. 6
81.8
82.2 82.7
81.2 82.2
81.7 82.2
82.4 82.6
83.1 83.2
84.0
85.0
8 5 .6 ____
85.8
85.8
85.5
83.6 ........
88.4 73.0 73.8 78.0 79.5 70.6 70.5 71.2 75.4 60.9 59.2 62. &
86.0 71.6 74.4 78.3 78.9 70.4 71.0 71. C 74.8 60.6 60.1 63.1
85.4
82.4
84.2
80.5
78. 7
76.7
74.7
74.4
73.2
73.2
71.9
69.4
69.9
69.9
70. 6
70.9
71.8
76.2
74.5
74.4
75.6 79.4 77.6 69.8 71.7 71.3
76.8 79.0 78.0 69.5 72. 2 71.4
77.6 79.8 76.9 69.1 72.6 71.6
76.5 69.3 73.2
77.8
81.1
75. 6 69,4 73.1
74.1
69.5 72.8
79.9
79.3
73.5 69.7 72.5 ____
72.3
80.6
70.6 72.2
79.6
71.8 71.0 71.8
78.3 —
71.4 70.8 71.0
73.6
71.8
72.2
70.2
66.4
63.8
62.5
61.5
61.7
61.9
59.4
58.1
58.2
58.0
57.4
58.2
57.8
59.8
59.4
59.6
62.2 63. 4
62.9 63.3
63.0 63.6
63.2
63.8
62.8
62.4
63.0
61.8
62.3 —
Average. 83.0 78.8 83. 8 182. 6 79.8 72.0 77.9 178.9 75.5 70.0 72.1 171.3 68.0 58.9 62.2 163.3
1
Total retail trade
Wholesale trade
73.6
72.4
71.3
71.5
72. 2
73.9
75.1
77.9
80.3
81.7
81.6
81.5
80.6 84.2
81. 2 84.6
81.8 84.0
82.1 83.2
82.8 82.5
82.3
82. 2
82.5
83.5
84.3
85.1
85.0 —
Average. 76.8 76.1 82.8
71.8 58.3 60.3 63.9 80.3 72.1 79.8 79.5 71.9 54.7 59.0 59.7
70.1 55.1 61.0 64.6 78.3 70.4 79.6 79.2 69.1 51.8 58.8 59,. 3
68.8 53.5 62.0 65.2 78.6 68.9 81.5 80.2 68.5 49.0 59.8 60.4
66.3 52.4 63.1 64.8 78.7 73.3 82.5 83.6 67.7 52.0 61. 2 62.5
67.1
63.5
61.9
60.3
60. 1
60.8
60.1
59.3
53.8
53.7
55.5
57.2
58.7
62.4
60.5
60.9
62.6 64.6 77.2 72.1 82.9 82.2
62.8
76.3 73.2 82.6
63.8
73.1 71.0 79.0
62.7
71.8 75.4 77.8
74.2 80.6 81.7
63.6
64.5
76.3 83.3 82.6
64.2
75.4 83.9 83.7
64.8 —
80.9 89.1 91.1 ........
64.2 56.8 63.0 164.6 76.8 76.1 82.1
Retail trade—general merchandising
January___
84.8 76.4
81.2 73.0
February...
March____
82.6 70.7
April_____
82.7 80.7
82.1 78.5
M ay______
80.3 79.9
June...........
74.1 74.7
July______
71.5 78.4
August____
September___ 78.7 89.0
October______ 83. 7 93.6
November___ 84.6 97.0
December.___ 104.7 118.9
00
p
CD
80.7
79.7
78.6
77.6
76.6
75.6
75.2
74.9
75.6
76.2
76.0
75.4
CO
January_____
February____
March_____
April________
M ay_________
J u n e.................
July_________
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
65.5
62.7
59.2
56.9
58.3
59.7
58.6
60.4
51.3
52.2
51.0
54.9
58.7
61.6
61.4
64.0
61.5 62.0
61.4
60.1
58.4
60.6
61.9
61.9
66.2
—
63.2 55.2 60.9 1! 60.8
Retail trade—other than general merchan
dising
86.6 87.3 78.1 61. 4 71.1 73.5 79.1 71.0 78.0 77.4 70.6 53.3 56.5 56.9
86.2 73.1 57. 1 68.9 72.3 77.6 69.7 78.2 77.3 68.3 50.7 56.7 56.6
85.0
90.1
91.0
92.0
90.6
83.0
81.2
91.5
94.2
99.9
128.4
88.7 73.1 53.4 71.5 74.1 77.5 68.4 79.3 78.0 67.5 48.1 57.4 57.6
94.5 72.3 60.8 74.0 77.5 77.6 71.3 80.3 80.7 66.7 50.2 58.5 59.4
91.4 70.5 59.3 74.5 76.3 75.9 70.4 80.5 79.8 64.5 49.7 58.8 59.0
75.2 71.5 80.5
67.6 60.6 73.9
61.7 50.5 58.8
61.3 56.4 69.5
72.8 70.0 77.9
58.8 49.9 58.2
71.9 74.6 76.9
58.5 62.4 66.9
56.6 53.4 56.6
64.3 71.8 74.0 __ 73.0 78.4 79.1
57.1 56.0 57.8
67.7 75.3 77.3
74.3 80.6 79.5
58.1 58.8 58.7
67.9 76.1 80.2
73.0 80.4 79.4
56.7 58.3 58.1
79.2 90.1 99.0 —
—
74.6 81.3 81.3 —
56.5 58.6 59.4 ........
Average. 82.6 84.2 92.8 >89.6 69.5 65.4 75, 1 '74. 7 75.2 74.0 79.2 '78.6 61.9 53.1 58.0 157. 9
Hotels
January______
February..........
March............
A pril.................
M a y .................
June..................
July_________
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
83.2
84.3
84.0
82.7
80.1
78.0
78.4
77.6
77.0
75.4
74.3
73.2
73.8
73.8
72.4
71.9
71.9
73.6
75.6
77.1
78.7
77.0
75.8
77.6
81.5 85.4 73.9 55.7
84.8 86.7 73.9 55.9
86.4 86.5 72.4 53.5
86.6 85.5 69.6 51.7
85.7 84.8 67.0 51.8
86.2
63.8 52.3
83.3 _ 61.: 8 53.3
86.2
59.6 54.0
84.4
59.1 55.6
84.2
58.6 56.2
83. 7
57.5 55.2
83.3 —
56.6 57.6
Laundries
60.8 66.0 88.2 78.6 78.5 79.6 80.0 60.7 61.7 63.9
65.2 67.8 86.3 77.5 78.4 79.6 76.7 58.1 61.7 64.1
66.6 68.2 85.4 76.1 79.2 79.7 75.0 55.4 62.7 64.6
66.5 67.1 85.4
65.9 66.4 84.8
84.4
65.6
83.6
82.2
64.5
64.3
81.9
65.3
80.7
64.9
79.4
64.9 - i . . . 79.1
66.2
76.5
76.6
79.2
79.5
81.1
82.6
81.3
78.4
78.4
80.5 80.0 74.7 56.6 64.4 65.5
82.1 81.1 73.9 57.1 66.9 66.6
84.0
71.8 59.4 68.3
84.6
69.4 58.7 68.2
83.7
66.9 60.3 66.6
82.9
65.8 63.5 65.9
81.7
64. 1 62.5 64.8
80.3
61.9 60.7 63.7
61.4 61.1 63.3 —
79.5 —
79.0 74.9 84.9 '85.8 64.5 54.4 65.1 '67.1 83.5 78 8 81.3 '80.0 70.1 59.5 64.9 '64.9
1 Average for 5 months.
8 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see transportation equipment and railroad
repair-shop groups, manufacturing industries, table 1 .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
479
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 6.— Indexes of E m p lo y m e n t an d P a y Rolls, Ja n u a ry 1932 to M ay 1935—
C ontinued
Dyeing and cleaning
M onth
Employment
Pay rolls
Employment
Pay rolls
1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934 1935 1932 1933 1934 1935
January______
February____
M arch_______
April------------M ay_________
June_________
July..................
A ugust---------Septem ber__
October______
November___
December____
75.8
74.4
74.4
76.9
78.0
78.6
76. 1
73.4
76.9
76.0
72.0
69.5
67.4
65.6
65.8
74.9
75.7
79.1
76.6
76.8
81.9
81.6
76.1
70.5
68.1 70.3 62.4 44.2 46.8 50.4
68.1 69.6 59.0 40.2 46.3 49.8
72.4 72.5 58.5 38.9 51.7 53.5
79.9 79.9 62.5 51.7 60.8 61.9
84.3 80.9 63.8 51.0 65.1 61.7
62.4 53.7 64.1
84.9
56.9 50.0 58.9
80.5
53.4 50.0 56.7
78.6
57.9 57.1 59.0
80.0
55.8 57.4 59.1
80.3
49.6 52.5 53.9
75.8
45.9 47.3 51.1
72.4
Average. 75.2 74.3 77. 1 174.6 57.3 49.5 56.1 155.5
______-
i Average for 5 m onths.
Employment in Building Construction
R eports from 10,274 firms engaged on public projects not financed
from Public Works Administration funds and in private building con
struction show that in comparison with the previous month employ
ment in May increased 11.2 percent and pay rolls increased 15.3
percent. These are the largest April to May percentages of increase
shown in the past 5 years by the Bureau’s survey. Three-fourths
of the localities covered by the survey reported increases both in
employment and pay rolls. Compared with the corresponding month
of last year, employment in May 1935 shows an increase of 0.4 percent
and pay rolls an increase of 3.6 percent.
In May the weekly pay roll for 84,692 workers amounted to
$2,017,813, as compared with $1,750,646 earned by 76,139 workers
employed by the same contractors in April. The average weekly
earnings were $23.83 in May against $22.99 in April. These are
per capita weekly earnings, computed by dividing the total amount
of the weekly pay roll by the total number of employees—part-time
as well as full-time.
Reports from 9,885 firms, 96.2 percent of the 10,274 cooperating
firms, show that, in the week ending nearest May 15, 77,974 men
worked 2,327,588 hours and earned $1,891,009. In the correspond
ing period in April these firms employed 70,469 wage earners who
worked 2,001,856 hours and earned $1,642,878. The average hours
worked per week were 29.9 in May and 28.4 in April. Average
hourly earnings amounted to 81.2 cents in May and 82.1 cents in
April.
Table 7 summarizes the replies of the cooperating firms which
reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May. Workers of all
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
480
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
trades engaged for erecting, altering, or repairing buildings are
included in the tabulation. Work on roads, bridges, and docks is
omitted. This survey covers building construction in various
localities in 34 States and the District of Columbia.
T ab le 7.— E m p lo y m en t, P a y Rolls, H ours, an d E arn in g s in th e B uildingC o n stru ctio n In d u s try , M ay 1935
All localities________
29.9
+5.3
Cents
81.2 - 1 . 1
Alabama: Birmingham.
California:
Los Angeles_______
San Francisco-Oakland___ _________
Other localities____
The State_______
76
424
+ 7 .9
19. 07
+ 7.3
29.4
+ 5.0
65.4 + 2.8
20
830
+ 1 .0
23
20
701 - 3 - 4
399 +15.0
21.23
+ 8 .8
63 1,930
+ 1 .8
8, 087 +15.8
17,621
+ 1 .9
+ .9
32.1
14, 872 - 1 L 0
8,518 +39.9
21.22 -1 0 .9
21.35 +21.7
25.1
- 5 .3
24.8 +13.8
41,011
Percentage change
from April 1935
1
+ 3.7
Dollars
Dollars
_ 10, 274 84, 692 + 1 1.2 2,017,813 +15.3 23. 83
M ay 1935
Percentage change 1
from April 1935
p
Average
hourly
earnings 1
Number M ay 1935
a
fc
Average
hours per
week per
man >
Percentage change
from April 1935
pQ
Average
weekly
earnings
Amount M ay 1935
a
*-i
Cp
o
Pay rolls
Percentage change
from April 1935
Locality
Percentage change
from April 1935
O
ft
<D
Employmen
Number M ay 1935
W
>
0
Amount M ay 1935
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State bureausl
65.7 - 7 .3
84.6
- 5 .9
86.2 + 7 .2
+ .8
21.25
-
1.0
28.1
+4.1
75.5 -4 - 9
Colorado: Denver___ _
176
557 +12.3
11.947 +14.6
21.45
+ 2 .1
26.0
- 2.6
81.7 + 3 .8
Connecticut:
Bridgeport________
H artford_____ . . .
N ew Haven ______
135
256
132
504 +13.5
881 + 7 .2
737 +16.2
12,105 + 22 .1
20, 280 +12.3
24.02
23. 02
24.59
+ 7 .6
+ 4 .8
+ 6.8
32.1
32.4
32.9
+ 8.4
+ 7.3
+ 9.3
75.0 - . 5
71.0 - 1 . 9
74.8 - 2 .3
18,122 +24.2
The State_______
523 2,122 +11.7
50, 507 +18.7
23.80
+ 6.3
32.5
+ 8 .3
73.3 - 1.6
Delaware: W ilmington.
D istrict of Columbia___
90 1,050 + 4.1
406 4, 565 +23.4
25, 422 +12.7
119,411 +29.8
24. 21
26.16
+ 8 .3
+ 5 .2
33.7
31.6
+ 7 .3
+ 7 .5
72.0 + 1 . 1
82.9 - 1.8
14. 53 -1 4 .7
20. 54 + 3 .9
24.7 -1 3 .6
29.7 + 7 .2
58.9 - 1 .3
69.2 - 2 .9
Florida:
Jacksonville. _____
M iam i_____ ______
43
65
248 +25.3
994 +47.9
3,603 + 6.8
20, 412 +53.8
108 1,242 +42.8
24,015 +44.2
19. 34
+ 1.0
28.7
+ 2.9
67.4 - 1 . 7
Georgia: A tlanta______
119
14, 452
16. 50
- 4 .1
27.4
- 2 .5
60.2 - 1.6
Illinois’
Chicago__________
Other localities . . .
m 1,255 + 1 .6
117 3, 865 +24.8
33,380 +11.9
60, 076 +16.7
26.60 +10.1
15.54 - 6 .5
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
The State_______
241 5,120 +18.2
93, 456 +14-9
18.25
-2 .8
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
Indiana:
E vansville.. ............
Fort W ayn e........... .
Indianapolis............
South B end_______
58
263 - 9 .9
66
235 +24.3
137 1,052 + 3.1
34
200 +33.3
5, 457 -1 5 .0
5,189 +38.1
23, 634
+. 5
4,418 +41.2
20.75 - 5 .6
22.08 + 1 1 .1
22. 47 - 2 .5
22.09 + 5 .9
27.0
27.8
29.2
29.6
- 7 .5
+ 9 .4
-.7
+ 2 .4
76.9
79.3
77.0
74.8
295 1, 750
+ 6.0
38, 698
+5.1
2 2 .11
28.7
- .7
77.0
-.4
Iowa: Des M oines_____
76
350
Kansas: W ichita______
49
179
Kentucky: L ouisville.._
132
903
Louisiana: N ew Orleans
112
778
Maine: Portland______
84
380
Marlyand: Baltim ore...
103 1,446
Massachusetts: All lo686 5,787
ealities.
=====
-1 2 .5
- 7 .3
+22.4
-1 0 .7
+44.5
+ 8 .2
+30.6
7, 578
3,633
16, 401
12, 719
8,447
29,428
146,269
-2 1 .3
- 9 .9
+10.4
-1 4 .9
+ 68. 1
26.1 - 7 . 4
29.9 + 5 .7
27.6 - 7 .1
25.9 - 7 .5
31.6 +26.4
28.5 + 1 .8
31.5 + 9 .0
83.6
67.8
65.5
63.3
70.3
73.3
80.2
- 2 .7
-8 .3
-2 .4
+ 3.1
The State_______
T he State_______
876 +11.5
+ 6.8
+12.1
+38.6
1 Avcirges computed from reports furnished by 9,885 firms
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-.9
21.65 - 10 .1
20. 30 - 2 .9
18.16 - 9 . 8
16. 35 - 4 . 7
22.23 +16.3
20.35 + 3 .7
25.28 +6.1
(2)
(2)
(2)
==== =
s Data not available.
(2)
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .3
- 1 .9
+ 3 .6
-8.0
+2.1
-2.8
481
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 7.— E m p lo y m en t, P ay Rolls, H ours, and E arn in g s in th e B uildingC o nstru ctio n In d u stry , M ay 1935— C ontinued
40
05
iO
C
O
05
»O
C
O
05
K*»
c8
S
d
d
o
S
Dollars
Michigan:
465 4,687 -¡•9. 6 122, 673
D etroit-- ________
5, 262
291 +44.1
51
F lint_____________
7, 716
413 +15.0
99
Grand R apids-.
615 5, 391 +11.5 135, 651
The State_______
Minnesota:
4,316
180 +13.9
46
D u lu th --. _______
26,403
187 1,056 +19.3
Minneapolis- - ........
16,
556
632 - 1 .1
133
St. Paul _________
47, 275
366 1,868 + 1 1 .1
The State_______
Missouri:
33,825
234 1,433 +15.4
Kansas City 3—........
73, 826
526 2,711 +11.3
St. L o u is ..-..............
760 4,144 4-12.7 107. 651
The State______
21,949
Ï46 XÖ19 +5.9
Nebraska: Omaha.........
N ew York:
302,617
9,839
611
N ew York C ity____
330 6,835 +12.3
Other localities____
941 16,674 +4-6 469, 079
The State_______
North Carolina: Char
5, 311
44
309 -1 4 .2
lotte----------- --------Ohio:
8, 271
8.0
89
335
A k r o n ..._________
61, 447
392 2, 391 + 9 .4
C incinnati 4_______
80,
056
+22.9
613 2,847
Cleveland_________
13, 726
143
500 + 1 1 .1
D ayton ______ .
10,
980
+
6.6
89
417
Youngstown- -----The S ta te ............ 1, 326 6. 490 +13.7 174, 480
Oklahoma:
-.2
7, 803
70
4C5
Oklahoma C ity____
3,293
44
173 - 4 .9
T u ls a ____________
11,096
114
578 - 1 .7
The State_______
-.1
Oregon: Portland_____
Pennsylvania : 5
Erie area__________
Philadelphia a rea ...
Pittsburgh area........
Reading area______
Scranton area______
Other areas________
The State_______
Rhode Island: Provi
dence___ ,.__________
Tennessee:
Chattanooga______
Knoxville_________
M em phis_________
Nashville. ----------The State_______
Texas:
D allas_____ _____ _
El Paso _________
Houston.....................
San Antonio______
The State_______
153
22
345
180
35
27
241
850
984
193
2,860
1,243
258
172
2,177
6,903
d
d
o
a
Dollars
26.17
18.08
18.68
25. 16
2,559
34.394
4,832
4,157
44,065
150, 448
£
Cents
76.6
63.7
59.8
74.8
-4 .2
-3 .2
-3 .9
- 4 .5
+24.3
+30.0
+13.7
+23.3
23.98 + 9.1
25, 00 + 8 .9
26, 20 +15.0
25. 31 + 1 1 .1
30.3 + 7 .4
31.9 + 8.9
32.2 +14.2
31.8 +10.4
+ 8 .4
+19.2
-4-15. 6
+ 6 .4
23. 60
27.23
25. 98
21.54
- 6.1
+ 7.1
+ 2.6
+ .5
26.0 -1 0 .3 91.4 + 5 .4
26.6 + 2.3 10 2.1 + 4 .6
26.4 - 2 .2 98.5 + 5 .1
+ .7 70. 1 - . 6
30.6
+ 2 .8
+ 8 .6
30.76
24-35
28.13
+ 2 .9
+ 7 .7
+ 3 .8
29.0
29.3
29.1
+4-3 106.0 - 1 - 4
+ 9 .7 83.1 - 1 . 8
+ 6 .2 96.6 - 2 . 4
-1 3 .0
17.19
+ 1 .4
28.5
-4 .4
+ 2.0
+14.0
+41.1
+41.7
+27.4
+27.3
24. 69
25. 70
28.12
27. 45
26. 33
26. 88
+10.9
+ 4.3
+14.8
+27.6
+19.4
+ 12.0
- 4 .6
- 6 .4
- 5 .2
19. 27
19. 03
19.20
-4 .4
- 1.6
- 3 .5
166,462 +20.9
60,441
lO
C
O
05
Í»
c3
34.1 + 4 .6
28.4 +11.4
31.2 + 9.5
33.6 + 5 .0
+ 20. 0 23,526 +23.0
-1 1 .9
+4-6
-.4
+27.1
+30.3
+15.9
+ 7 .6
Í»
CÔ
§
u
<D
rO
B
3
Ï5
+ 0 .4
+ 7 .9
+ 5.3
+ .4
+ 10 .1
+55.5
+ 2 1 .1
+ 12.0
- 9 .8
+4-1
+ 9 .5
+24-1
+26.1
+17.2
+ 9 .8
23. 91 + 2 .5
IS. 26
21.13
27. 67
18. 73
24-17
. 24
21.79
20
79.6 + 1 .3
79.0 + 1 .0
81.3 + . 0
79.9 + . 9
60.2 + 6.0
+ 2 .2
+ 5 .6
-1 .5
+ 6 .5
+ 6.6
+ 3 .4
29.3 + 8 .5
29.4 - 1 .3
28.3 +16.0
31. 7 + 20.1
29.0 + 12.0
29.1 + 8.2
84.2
87.4
98.9
86.7
90.8
92.2
26.7
26.0
26.4
- 1 .5
- 7 .8
-4 .0
72.3 - . 8
72.9 + 6 .3
72.5 + 1.4
27.3
+ .4
87.5 + 1 .9
+ 2 .3
-.5
+ 9 .9
- 2 .3
-3 .2
+ 1.1
+ 2 .0
19.2 + 10.3
30.8
+ .7
29.6 + 8 .0
28.8 - 3 .7
31.2
+ .3
33.2 + 9 .9
31.1 + 5 .4
64.9
70.6
96.0
65.2
77.4
60.8
71.6
-8 .6
- .7
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .2
-3 .6
-7 .5
-2 .8
253 1,665 +30.2
38, 568 +43.7
23.16 +10.3
32.3 +12.9
71.5 - 2 .2
175 -1 6 .3
29
348 - 6 .7
36
265 - 8 .3
63
536 + 1 .9
76
204 1,324 - 5 .2
2,565
5, 744
4, 783
8,197
2 1 ,289 1
14. 66 +13.1
16.51 +10.7
18.05 - 3 .6
15. 29 + 6 .4
16.08 + 5 .7
27.3 +16.2
27.1 + 9 .3
27.4 + 2 .2
28.1 + 3 .7
27.6 + 6.6
53.6
60.9
65.9
54.4
58.3|
869 +22.4
21
91 -1 9 .5
156 1,039 - 10.0
81
469 +23.1
432 2, 468 +4. 7
2 1 , 280
16. 93 - 8 .9
18.81 +19.0
20. 48 +4.1
15.40 - 5 .1
18.20 - 2.2
26.0
26.0
30.3
26.2
27.8
174
- 5 .3
+ 3 .2
- 11.6
+ 8 .5
+ .2
14, 708 +11. 5
1,712 - 4 .1
-6 .3
7,223 +16.9
44,923 +2.4I
3 Includes both Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kans.
4 Includes Covington and Newport, Ky.
3 Each separate area includes from 2 to 8 counties.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
>
c3>
g
Average
hourly
earnings
Percentage change
from April 1935
Average
hours per
week per
man
Percentage change
from April 1935
£
B
d
£
Average
weekly
earnings
Percentage change
from April 1935
K
*»
C
Ö
§
Pay rolls
Pere ntage change
from April 1935
iO
CO
C
D
Percentage change
from April 1935
Locality
Number ol firms reporting
Employment
-9 . 1
+ 9 .7
+ 4.1
- 9 .0
- 2 .8
-2 .9
+ 1 .3
-5 .6
+ 2 .4
-.7
65.0 - . 9
72.4 + 8 .4
68.4 + .4
58.5 + 3 .5
65.6 + .3
482
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
64
410
120
881
184 1,291
+ 7 .3
+ .9
+ 2 .9
143
719
56
388
144
75
274 1,251
+11.3
+30.6
-1 2 .7
+12.9
52
228 + 10 .1
W 2,343 +15. 1
Dollars
Dollars
6, 574 +16.4 21. 70
- 3 .6
28.3
- 4 .1
- 6 .2
26.5 - 4 .7
31.8 + 12.0
30.1 + 6 .7
Average
hourly
earnings
iO
CO
05
03
§
Cents
76.8
Percentage change
from April 1935
Amount M ay 1935
Percentage change
from April 1935
Average
hours per
week per
man
Percentage change
from April 1935
303 +20.7
Average
weekly
earnings
Number M ay 1935
74
Pay rolls
Percentage change
from April 1935
Utah: Salt Lake C ity -..
Virginia:
Norfolk-Portsmouth
Richmond_______
The State—. ........ .
Washington:
Seattle____________
Spokane...................
Tacoma___________
The State............ .
West Virginia: Wheel
ing—
Wisconsin: All localities.
Percentage change
from April 1935
Locality
Number M ay 1935
Number of firms reporting
Employment
Amount M ay 1935
T able 7.— E m p lo y m en t, P a y Rolls, H ours, and E arn in g s in th e BuildingC o n stru ctio n In d u stry , M ay 1935— C o n tin u ed
+ .8
6,915
+ • 6
17,955 + 10.8
24,870 + 7 .8
16. 87
20. 38
19.26
17, 266
9, 777
2, 721
29, 764
24.01 + 6.0
25.20
+■ 2
18.90 - 12.0
23. 79 + 2 . 8
23.7
+ . 4 101.3 + 5 .3
31.8 + 9 .7 79.1 - 8 . 8
20.3 -1 5 .4 93.3 + 4 .7
25.9 + 3 .2 92.1 - . 1
21.90
20.86
32.0
31.7
+17.9
+30.9
-2 3 .2
+16.0
4, 994 + 11.8
48, 884 + 2 2 .7
+ 9 .8
+ 4 .7
+ 1 .5
+ 6 .6
+ 3 .6
+ 5 .0
63.6 - 1 .9
63.7 - 2.2
63.7 - 2.0
68.7
64.3
- 2 .1
+ .5
Employment on Class I Railroads
A c c o r d in g to reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission
there were 985,163 workers exclusive of executives and officials,
employed in May by class I railroads—that is, roads having operating
revenues of $1,000,000 or over. This represents an increase of 2.1
percent when compared with the 965,161 workers employed in April.
The total compensation in May of all employees except executives
and officials was $133,819,684 as compared with $129,886,731 in April.
The increase over the month interval was 3.0 percent.
Index numbers showing the monthly trend of employment by class I
railroads from January 1923 through May 1935 are given in table 8.
These indexes have been compiled by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and, like the Bureau’s indexes of factory employment, the
3-year average, 1923-25, represents 100.
T able 8.— Indexes of E m p lo y m en t on Class I R ailro ad s in th e U n ited S tates,
Ja n u a ry 1923 to M ay 1935
[3-year average, 1923-25=100]
Month
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
January_____
February___
March______
April_______
M ay________
June________
July------------August_____
September__
October..........
November___
December___
Average___
98.4
98.6
100.4
101.9
104.8
107.1
108.2
109.2
107.7
107.1
105.0
99.1
104.0
96.7
96.9
97.3
98.8
99.1
97.9
98.0
98.9
99.6
100.7
98.9
96.0
98.2
95.5
95.3
95.1
96.5
97.7
98.5
99.3
99.5
99.7
100.4
98.9
96.9
97.8
95.6
95.8
96.5
98.6
95.2
95.0
95.6
97.1
99.1
100.7
100.7
99. 2
98.8
98. 5
95.5
91.7
97.3
89.1
88.7
89.7
91.5
94.4
95.8
95.4
95. 5
95.1
95. 2
92.7
89.5
92.7
89.8
91.9
94.6
95.8
96.3
97.1
96.5
96. 6
92.8
88.5
93.1
1 Preliminary.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100.0
101.3
102.6
102. 4
102.5
103.1
10 1.0
98.0
99.8
88.0
88.6
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
86.1
73.5
72.6
72.7
73.4
73.8
72.7
72.3
71 0
69.2
67. 6
64.4
62.5
70.6
61.1
60.2
60.5
59.9
59.6
57.7
56.3
54 9
55.7
56 9
55.8
54.7
57.8
53.0
52.7
51.5
51.8
52.5
53.6
55.4
56 8
57.7
57 4
55.8
54.0
54.4
54.1
54.6
55.9
56.9
58.5
59.0
58.7
53.7
54.2
54.8
i 54.7
i 55.8
85.2
85.3
86.7
88.3
86.3
84.5
83 5
82.0
80. 2
76.9
74.8
83.3
2 A verage for 5 months.
57.3
56 6
54.8
53.8
56.5
___
2 54.6
483
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Table 9 shows the total number of employees by occupations on
the 15th day of April and May 1935 and total pay rolls for these
entire months. In these tabulations, data for the occupational
group reported as u executives, officials and staff assistants are
omitted. Beginning in January 1933 the Interstate Commerce Com
mission excluded reports of switching and terminal companies from
its monthly tabulations. The actual figures for the months shown
in the following table, therefore, are not comparable with the totals
published for the months prior to January 1933. The index num
bers of employment for class I railroads shown in table 8 have been
adjusted to allow for this revision and furnish a monthly indicator
of the trend of employment from January 1923 to February 1935.
T able 9 . — E m p lo y m en t and P a y Rolls on Class I S team R ailroads, April and
M ay 1935
iFrom monthly reports of Interstate Commerce Commission. As data for only the more important occu
pations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sums of the items under the respective groups]
Occupation
Number of em
ployees at mid
dle of month
April 1935 M ay 1935
Total earnings (monthly)
April 1935
M ay 1935
All employees............ .................................... ...........................
965,161
985,163
$129,886,731
$133,819,684
Professional, clerical, and general---------------------- -------Clerks-------- --------- ----------------------- ------ ------------Stenographers and typists..............................................
Maintenance of way and structures-—- ---------------------Laborers, extra gang and work train.------ ------------Track and roadway section laborers............................
Maintenance of equipment and stores.............................Carmen----------------- -----------------------------------------Electrical workers---------------------------------------- —
M achinists------------------------------------------------------Skilled trades helpers----------------------------------------Laborers (shop, engine houses, power plants, and
g^Qp0g^ ___ ________ __ ____ __________ __ ___
Common laborers (shop, engine houses, power
plants, and stores)------- ---------------------------------Transportation, other than train, engine, and yard-----Station agents--------------------------------------------------Telegraphers, telephoners, and towermen------------Truckers (stations, warehouses, and platforms)----Crossings and bridge flagmen and gatemen----------Transportation, yardmasters, switch tenders, and hostlers.
Transportation, train and engine........
Road conductors----------------------Road brakemen and flagmen-----Yard brakemen and yard helpers.
Road engineers and motormen—
Road firemen and helpers..............
162,794
84, 500
15,310
193,329
15,459
98, 793
268, 780
55,186
8,795
37, 727
58, 433
162,999
84,628
15, 348
213,254
23,664
109,715
270, 643
55,183
8,876
38, 292
59,123
24,638,987
12,148,768
2, 059,966
17,455,862
954,677
6, 207, 545
33,428,533
7, 767,536
1,333,712
5,493,119
6,041,015
24,896,980
12,325, 523
2,070,717
19,282,230
1, 506,597
7,212,871
34,261,480
7,969,038
1,375,014
5,665,812
6,230, 637
20, 582
20,482
1,721, 528
1,765,902
17, 503
122,930
23, 457
14, 229
18, 344
16, 561
17, 542
121,889
23,449
14, 222
17,485
16, 549
1,198, 245
15,098, 731
3, 651,961
2,156,065
1, 557,278
1,203,818
1,218,793
15,413,802
3,706,107
2, 225,286
1, 557,654
1,209,272
12.184
205,144
22, 482
46,445
36,056
27,508
29,898
12,143
204, 235
22,575
46,343
35, 326
27,468
30,063
2,262,601
37,002, 017
5, 208,307
7,061,084
5, 006,045
6,994,091
5, 052, 565
2,310,970
37,654,222
5,348,443
7,234,837
5,022, 592
7,171,548
5,171, 542
Industrial Employment and Pay Rolls in Principal Cities
How employment and pay-roll totals in May compare with the
April volume in 13 cities of the United States having a population of
500,000 or over is shown in table 10. These changes are computed
from reports received from identical establishments in each of the
months considered.
In addition to reports included in the several industrial groups
regularly covered in the survey of the Bureau, reports have also been
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
484
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
secured from establishments in other industries for inclusion in these
city totals. As information concerning employment in building con
struction is not available for all cities at this time, figures for this
industry have not been included in these city totals.
T able 1 0 . — F lu ctu atio n s in E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls in M ay 1935 as C om pared
w ith April 1935
Number of
establish
ments re
porting in
both
months
Cities
New York C ity_______
Chicago, 111__ ___ _ . .
Philadelphia, P a . ..
Detroit, M ich_________
Los Angeles, Calif ___ __
Cleveland, Ohio_______
St. Louis, M o ... _____
Baltimore, M d________
Boston, Mass__________
Pittsburgh, Pa. . ___ _
San Francisco, Calif____
Buffalo, N. Y . _______
Milwaukee, W is_______
14, 614
3, 691
2,831
1,609
2,826
1,948
1,837
1,427
3, 994
1, 450
2 , 082
1,026
675
Per
centage
change
from
April
1935
Number on pay roll
April
1935
M ay
1935
598, 754
346,057
216, 394
338, 208
123, 223
130, 476
122, 007
81, 523
158, 986
149. 973
85, 360
67, 393
70,841
587, 556
343, 237
214, 542
333,947
124, 024
128, 257
118, 344
80, 786
156, 506
150, 329
83,695
66, 762
69,922
- 1 .9
-.8
- .9
- 1 .3
+ .7
-1 .7
-3 .0
-.9
- 1.6
+ .2
- 2.0
-.9
- 1 .3
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
April
1935
M ay
1935
15,807,839
8, 530,191
5, 003, 512
9, 582,161
2,896, 472
3,157, 715
2, 669, 977
1, 743, 027
3, 706,610
3, 333, 563
2,215,570
1, 572, 841
1, 607, 628
15,485,601
8,362,680
4, 918, 066
9, 312,979
2,927,878
2,857, 348
2, 518, 414
1, 701, 543
3, 639, 996
3, 331,149
2, 211, 468
1, 518, 373
1, 625, 747
Per
centage
change
from
April
1935
- 2.0
- 2.0
- 1 .7
- 2.8
+ 1 .1
- 9 .5
- 5 .7
- 2 .4
- 1.8
-. 1
-.2
- 3 .5
+ 1 .1
P u blic E m ploym ent
E x c l u s i v e of the emergency-work program and the military service
all types of public employment showed increases during May. The
most pronounced gains were in construction work. There was a gain
of 60,000 in the number of employees working at the site of P. W. A.
construction projects and an increase of more than 16,000 in the
number of workers in Civilian Conservation Camps. These gains,
however, were more than offset by a sharp curtailment of the emer
gency-work program.
A summary of Federal employment and pay-roll statistics in May
is given in table 11.
T able 1 1 . — S um m ary of F ed eral E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls, M ay 1935
[Preliminary figures]
Employment
Class
M ay
Federal service:
E x ecu tiv e______ _________
712, 544
Judicial___ ______ _______ .
1,879
Legislative________ ______
4,877
M ilitary,
__________
254, 340
Construction projects financed by
P. W. A _______ .
394,875
Construction projects financed by
R. F. C_________
10, 506
Construction projects financed by
regular governmental appropria
tions.
_____________
23,057
Relief work:
Emergency-work program______ 2, 228,064
Emergency conservation work__ 385,192
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
April
710, 409
1,859
4,830
256, 491
Per
centage
change
Pay roll
M ay
April
+ 0 .3 $107, 751, 801 $106, 744,129
474, 736
+ 1 .1
475,804
+ 1.0
1, 160,191
1,153, 325
-. 1
21, 462,144
19,898, 971
Per
centage
change
+ 0 .9
—. 2
+ .6
+7 9
333, 045
+18. 6
24, 490, 087
20,939, 741
+17. 0
10, 300
+ 2.0
1,100, 977
1, 007,424
+9 3
22, 270
+3. 5
1. 599,937
1,378, 616
+16.1
2, 308,839
368, 537
- 3 .5
+ 4 .6
64,559,740
17,719, 018
62, 343,804
16,401,114
+3. 6
+ 8.0
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
485
Executive, Legislative, M ilitary, and Judicial Services of the
Federal Government
D u r i n g May employment increased in the executive, legislative,
and judicial services of the Federal Government. The military
service, on the other hand, showed a decline in personnel for the
second consecutive month. The total pay roll for all branches of
the Federal service amounted to over $131,600,000, an inciease of
slightly more than 2 percent in comparison with April.
The information concerning employment in the executive depart
ments is collected by the Civil Service Commission from the various
departments and offices of the United States Government. The
figures are tabulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data for
the legislative, judicial, and military services are collected and
tabulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Information concerning the number of employees in the executive
departments of the Federal Government is shown in table 12. Data
for employees working in the District of Columbia are shown sep
arately. Approximately 14 percent of the workers in executive
departments are employed in the city of V7ashington.
T able 12.— E m ployees in th e E x ecutive Service of th e U nited S tates, M ay 1934,
April 1935, and M a y 1935
District of Columbia
Item
Perma Tem
nent porary
Total
Outside District of
Columbia
Entire service
Perma Tem Total
nent porary 1
Perma Tem Total
nent porary 1
Number of employees:
8,456 2 86, 588 2 495,195 2 89,525 2 584,720 2 573,327 2 97,981 2 671,308
M ay 1934— ................... 2 78,132
8,949 101, 381 512,794 96,234 609,028 605, 226 105,183 710,409
92,432
April 1935.— ..............92,715 10, 256 102,971 515,001. 94,572 609,573 607,716 104,828 s 712, 544
M ay 1935____________
Gain or loss:
+6,847 +41,236
M ay 1934 to M ay 1935. +14, 583 +1,800 +16,383 +19,806 +5, 047 +24,853 +34,389
-355 +2,135
+545 +2,490
+283 +1, 307 +1, 590 +2, 207 -1,662
April 1935 to M ay 1935.
Percentage change:
+
6.99 +6.14
+
6
.
00
+4.
25
+5.
64
+4.00
+18.
92
+21.29
+18.
66
M ay 1934 to M ay 1935.
+ .3 0
- .3 4
+ .41
+ .09
+ .4 3 -1 .7 3
+ .31 +14.60 +1.57
April 1935 to M ay 1935.
Labor turn-over, M ay 1935:
35,875
25,580
10,
295
31,910
23,
270
8,640
3,965
2,310
1,655
Additions 4------------ 7,804 21,953 29,757
2 , 066
I,
149 6,887 20,804 27,691
917
Separations 4— --------4.18
20.91
1.29
4.54
21.81
1.34
2.02
I I.
97
1.00
Turn-over rate per 100------i N ot including field employees of the Post Office Department or 34 780 employees hired under letters of
authorization by the Department of Agriculture with a pay roll of 51,253,022.
3 Loss of 3 983 employees by incomplete transfer, but not actual separations for M ay.
,
4 N ot including employees transferred within the Government service as such transfers should not be
regarded as labor turn-over.
There were 2,135 more employees working in the executive branch
of the Federal Government in May than in the preceding month.
This increase was largely accounted for by expansion in the Depart
ment of Agriculture, Navy Department, and the Tennessee Valley
Authority. During the past year there has been a gain of more
than 41,000 in the number of workers in the executive service of
the Federal Government. This is an increase of 6 percent. During
the same period Federal employment in the District of Columbia in
creased 19 percent and employment outside the District increased
4.3 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
486
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Employment in the executive departments of the United States
Government is shown in table 13, by months, from January 1934 to
May 1935, inclusive.
T able 13.— E m p lo y m en t in th e E xecutive D e p a rtm e n ts of th e U nited S tates
by M o n th s from Ja n u a ry 1934 to M ay 1935
[Revised]
Months
District
of Co
lumbia
Outside
District
of Co
lumbia
Total
78, 591
80, 538
82,194
84,482
86, 588
87,850
88,645
91, 756
93,255
94, 019
94,521
94. 739
539, 810
540, 607
552,123
571,018
584, 720
583, 306
594,031
596, 350
599,406
600,159
591, 419
587,294
618,501
621,145
634,317
655,500
671,308
671,156
682, 676
688,108
692, 661
694,178
685,940
682,033
Months
1934
January_________
February________
March______
April....... ...........
M ay ......... ...........
Ju n e .. ______
Ju ly ..___ ______
A u g u st.................
Septem ber.. . . .
O ctober________
November.........
December_______
District
of Co
lumbia
Outside
District
of Co
lumbia
95, 077
96,203
98, 048
101,381
102, 971
589,329
595,050
597, 801
609, 028
609, 573
Total
1935
January_________
February______
M arch. _____
April________
M ay___________
684,406
691, 253
695,849
710, 409
712, 544
For the fifth consecutive month there has been an increase over the
previous month in the number of employees in the executive service
of the United States Government. The rate of increase in May,
however, was lower than during any of the previous 4 months.
Information concerning employment and pay rolls for all branches
of the United States Government is given in table 14, by months, from
January 1934 to May 1935, inclusive.
T able 14.— E m p lo y m en t and P a y Rolls for th e U n ited S tates G overn m en t
by M o n th s, 1934 an d 1935
[Subject to revision]
Executive service 1
Month
1934
January___
February__
March____
April______
M ay______
J u n e ...........
July______
August____
September.
October___
November..
Decem ber..
1935
January___
February...
M arch.........
A p r il..........
M ay..........
N um
ber of
em
ploy
ees
618,501
621,145
634,317
655,500
671,308
671,156
682, 676
688,106
692,661
694,178
685, 940
682, 033
Military service
Judicial
service
Legislative
service
Num
ber of Amount
em of pay
ploy roll
ees
N um
ber of Amount
em
of pay
ploy
roll
ees
Amount
of pay
roll
N um
ber of
employees
Amount
of pay
roll
$77,573,076
83,616,547
84,970, 308
85,412,871
89,921,228
91,893,610
95,545,995
98,879,377
99,200,192
101,690.445
101,133,056
101,106,775
253,097
253, 599
254,634
255,211
254,982
255, 227
256,350
256,625
257,355
258,187
260,300
259,968
$18,382,945
19,365,135
18,240,513
18,454,878
18,397,551
18,739,952
19,587,571
19,689,866
19,986,672
19,102,969
20,945,771
20,125,003
1,780
1,742
1,854
1,904
1,913
1,881
1,750
1,690
1,777
1,846
1,885
1,861
$417,000
430,843
443,505
432,401
442,896
439,170
434.736
439,014
486,410
453,217
451,653
446,130
4, 777
4,784
4,799
4,797
4,794
4,810
4,645
4,655
4,653
4, 632
4, 630
4,648
684,406 97,986,182
691,253 98,576, 618
695,849 100,629,425
710,409 106,744,129
712,544 107,751,801
261, 254
260, 478
258,650
256,491
254,340
20,362,067
20,102,126
19,977,791
19,898,971
21,462,144
1.830
1,812
1.831
1,859
1,879
462,895
452,717
454,664
475,804
474.736
4,722
4, 735
4, 759
4,830
4,877
1 Revised.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T o ta l 1
N um
ber of
em
ploy
ees
Amount
of pay
roll
$966,193
1,020,803
1,022,808
1,020,924
1,035,106
1,039,198
1,073,348
1,072,406
1,070,956
1,070,296
1,070,881
1,057,996
878,155
881, 270
895, 604
917,412
932,997
933,074
945, 421
951, 076
956,446
958,843
952, 755
948, 510
$97,339,214
104,433,328
104, 677,134
105,321,074
109,796,781
112,111,930
116,641,650
120,080,663
120,744,230
122,316.921
123,601,361
122,735,904
1,077,401
1,080,686
1,086,807
1,153,325
1,160,191
952,212 119,888,545
958,278 120, 212,147
961,089 122,148,687
973,589 128,272,229
973, 640 130,848,872
487
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Construction Projects Financed by Public Works Administration
M o r e people were working at the site of Public Works Administra
tion construction projects during May than in any month since
November 1934. During May 394,875 workers were directly em
ployed on construction projects financed by the Public Works Admin
istration. This represents an increase of more than 60,000 wage
earners in comparison with April.
Details concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during May on construction projects financed by Public Works Ad
ministration funds are given in table 15, by type of project.
T able 15.— E m p lo y m en t and P a y Rolls on C o n stru ctio n P ro jects F inanced from
P ublic W orks F u n d s, M ay 1935
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed 1
Weekly
average
Number of Average
Amount of man-hours earnings
pay rolls
worked
per hour
V a lu e d
material
orders
placed
Federal projects
All projects......................................
Building construction_________
Forestry______________ _______
Naval vessels_____ _____ ______
Public roads 3..................................
Reclamation_____________ _______
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads......... ..................
Water and sew erage........... .........
Miscellaneous............... ..................
2 267,992
16,554
2,793
24, 248
(9
26, 718
27, 215
8,311
615
9, 572
259,151 $15, 979,325
25,543,409
$0. 626
$22,426, 559
13,925
2, 793
23,904
151,966
25,982
23,386
7,582
564
9,049
1,363,894
253, 278
3, 605,576
11,146, 000
3,951,785
3,115,375
714,487
61,817
1,331,197
.732
.693
.830
.502
.720
.700
.534
.689
.573
2,194, 308
71,188
2, 248,897
11,467, 000
1,840, 661
3, 677, 132
286,498
67, 084
573, 791
998, 509
175, 585
2, 992, 980
5, 599, 600
2,844, 777
2,180, 698
381,848
42,617
762,711
Non-Federal projects
All projects_________
114,887
95, 929
$7,456, 486
9,698,612
$0. 769
$13,960, 829
Building construction
Railroad construction
Streets and roads____
Water and sewerage...
Miscellaneous_______
49, 355
10,433
15, 947
36, 277
2, 875
40,472
9,369
13,477
30, 256
2,355
3,429,866
967,980
759, 925
2,109,079
189, 636
3, 837,984
1,544,413
1,120,261
2,944,205
251, 749
.894
.627
.678
.716
.753
8,486,475
582,543
1,051,379
3,496, 077
344,355
3 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes weekly average for public roads.
3 Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
4 N ot available; average number included in total.
In comparison with April, increased employment was reported on
all types of Federal construction projects. The gain was especially
pronounced in road building.
Federal construction projects are financed entirely by allotments
made by the Public Works Administration to the various depart
ments and agencies of the Federal Government. The work is per
formed either by commercial firms to which contracts have been
awarded or by day labor hired directly by the Federal agencies.
Non-Fed era! projects are financed by allotments made by the
1 ublic Works Administration to a State or political subdivision
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
488
MONTHLY LABOR RE V IE W - AUGUST 1935
thereof, or in some cases to commercial firms. In allotting funds to
States or their political subdivisions, the Public Works Adminis
tration makes a direct grant of not more than 30 percent of the total
construction cost. The recipient finances the remaining 70 percent.
The additional financing is sometimes obtained as a loan from the
Public Works Administration; for other work the loan is procured
from outside sources.
When a loan is made by the Public Works Administration, interest
is charged and a time is specified during which the loan must be
repaid in full.
No grants are made to commercial firms. For the most part com
mercial allotments have been made to railroads. Railroad work
financed by Public Works Administration loans falls under three
headings: First, construction work such as electrification, the laying
of rails and ties, repairs to buildings, bridges, etc.; second, the building
and repairing of locomotives and passenger and freight cars in shops
owned by the railroads; third, the building of locomotives and passenger
and freight cars in commercial shops.
Information concerning the first type of railroad work; i. e., con
struction, is shown in table 15, page 487. Employment in car and
locomotive shops owned by the railroads and in commercial car and
locomotive shops is shown in a separate table. (See table 17, p. 489.)
Comparison by Geographic Divisions
E m p l o y m e n t , pay rolls, and man-hours worked in May 1935 on
construction projects financed by the Public Works Administration
fund is shown in table 16, by geographic division.
T able 16.— E m p lo y m en t and P ay R olls on C on struction P rojects F in anced from
P ublic W orks F und s, M a y 1935
[Subject to revision]
—
Wage earners
Geographical division
M axi
mum
Weekly
number average
employed1
Amount of Number of Average
pay rolls man-hours earnings
worked
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
Federal projects
All divisions 2________
267, 992
N ew England _ ___
• 12,302
M iddle Atlantic— _____
27, 766
East North Central___
24,333
West North Central
48, 207
South Atlantic____ .
46, 716
East South Central
32, 740
West South Central
27,447
M ountain_____
24, 743
Pacific____
17,079
Outside continental United States.
6,414
259,151 $15, 979, 325
12,003
26, 925
23,296
46, 647
44,871
32,230
26,838
24,098'
16, 336
5, 665
1, 049, 221
1,975, 877
1, 280,192
1, 773, 709
3,086, 230
1,945, 028
962, 604
2, 024, 918
1, 567, 263
291,058
25,543, 409
$0. 626
1, 440, 737
2,887, 759
1, 894, 767
3,242,319
5, 016,163
3,424, 920
2,110,510
2, 968,846
1,921, 670
598, 235
.728
.684
.676
.547
.615
.568
.456
.682
.816
.487
3 $22,426,559
897,442
1,543,806
670, 535
1,125, 653
2, 083, 501
1,146,976
301,730
1, 704, 584
1, 037,048
447,146
«
f Dumber employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
“Sfncy doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-road projects.
Includes data for 245 wa^e earners which cannot be charged to any specific geographic division
geographicThvisionmaterml °rderS PlaC6d f°r Pu b lic -roa(1 P ^ c ts which cannot be
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
charged^o^ny^spe^^c
489
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T ab le 16.— E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y Rolls on C o n stru ctio n P ro je c ts F in an ced from
P ublic W orks F u n d s, M a y 1935— C o n tin u ed
Wage earners
Geographical division
Maxi
mum
number
employed
Weekly
average
Amount of Number of Average
pay rolls man-hours earnings
per hour
worked
Value of
material
orders
placed
Non-Federal projects
All divisions-----------------------------N ew England
_______________
Middle Atlantic ______________
E a s t North Central
_________
W est North Central___________
South A tla n tic _______ _________
East South Central_____________
W est South Central_____________
Mountain______________________
Pacific___ - _____ - - ---Outside continental United States.
114,887
13,028
24, 633
16, 409
13,448
20,107
4,885
9,206
2, 090
10,190
891
95, 929
$7,456, 486
9, 698, 612
$0. 769
10,869
20, 435
13, 705
11,303
17,354
3, 967
7,101
1,687
8, 759
749
852, 240
1,932, 390
1, 082,196
791, 346
1,397,888
224,963
380,568
130,416
620,378
44,101
1,097, 792
2,164,895
1,302,125
1, 049, 722
2,175, 646
363, 179
619,311
159,552
698, 990
67, 400
.776
.893
.831
.754
.643
. 619
.615
.817
.888
.654
$13,960,829
1,455,042
4, 669, 490
1, 564,826
1,731,311
1, 351, 764;
629,435.
1,080,527
461,832:
930, 960:
85,642’
There was a pick-up in employment during the month in all nine
geographic divisions. The most pronounced gain occurred in the
Middle Atlantic States. Considering Federal and non-Federal proj
ects as a whole, more employees are shown in the South Atlantic
States than in any other geographic division.
Table 17 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during May 1935 in railway car and locomotive shops on projects
financed from the Public Works Administration fund, by geographic
divisions.
T able 17.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls in R ailw ay C ar an d Locom otive Shops
on W ork F in an ced from P ublic W orks F u n d s, M ay 1935
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Geographic division
Total, railroad and commercial
shops
________________
Semi
Maximum
monthly
number
em ployed 1 average
11,996
Number of Average
Amount of man-hours earnings
pay rolls
per hour
worked
$1,054, 276
(2)
1, 521,143
Value of
material
orders
placed
$0. 693
$319,452
$319,45
Railroad shops
All divisions-------------- -------------
4,790
4,553
$190,971
393,322
$0. 740
New England ___________ ___
M iddle Atlantic
____________
East North C e n tr a l________
W est North C en tral___________
South Atlantic ______________
Mountain
________________
Pacific
________________ --
488
2,958
488
2, 721
71,516
181,980
4,120
24,062
361
2,950
5,982
98, 753
242,873
5, 883
32, 322
514
4,285
8,692
.724
.749
.700
.744
.702
120
829
37
144
214
120
829
37
144
214
1 Maximum number employed during either semimonthly period by each shop.
2 Data not available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.688
.688
20,180'
44,109
41,786.
119,173;
41,971
21,959
30,274
490
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 17.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y R olls in R ailw ay C ar a n d L ocom otive Shops
on W ork F in an ced from P u b lic W orks F u n d s, M ay 1935— C o n tin u ed
W age earners
Geographic division
Maximum
number
employed
Semi
monthly
average
Value of
material
orders
placed
Amount of Number of Average
earnings
pay rolls man-hours
worked
per hour
Commercial shops
All divisions_____ _____________
7, 206
(2)
$763,305
1,127, 821
$0. 677
New England _______________
Middle Atlantic_______________
East North C entral..-........ ...........
West North Central___________
35
6, 262
278
631
(2)
(2)
(2)
G)
3, 535
668, 717
30,936
60,117
6,042
965,062
43, 990
112,727
.585
.693
.703
.533
(2)
(2) ~
(2)
(2)
(2)
2 Data not available
Compared with the previous month there was a decrease of more
than 2,000 in the number of workers engaged in building and repair
ing locomotives and passenger and freight cars.
Monthly Trend
E m p l o y m e n t , pay rolls, and man-hours worked at the site of
Public Works Administration construction projects from the incep
tion of the program in July 1933 to May 1935 is shown in table 18.
T able 18.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls, Ju ly 1933 to M ay 1935, Inclusive,
on P ro jects F in an ced from P ublic W orks F u n d s
[Subject to revision]
M on th and year
M axim um
num ber of
w age earn
ers 1
A m oun t of
pay rolls
N um ber of
m an-hours
worked
$432,959,898
723,162, 263
267
4,719
39, 535
146, 747
255, 512
300, 758
26,433
13b 937
1, 784,996
6,353,835
11, 552, 547
13,091, 587
35, 217
206,990
3,296,162
12,029, 751
21, 759, 245
24, 391, 546
. 751
.637
.542
.528
.531
.537
298,069
311,381
307,274
382, 220
506,056
610, 752
644,729
602, 360
549, 624
507,886
470,467
382,594
12, 646,241
14, 348,094
14,113,247
18,785,405
25,942,387
33,808,429
34, 845,461
35,126,409
31,688,655
29, 289, 216
28,791, 297
22,443,944
23,409,908
26,544,346
25,501,446
32,937, 649
46,052,698
59,873, 309
60, 736, 768
59,911,341
51, 652,890
46, 632, 214
46,454,108
34, 955,156
.540
.541
.553
.570
.563
.565
.574
.586
.613
.628
.620
.642
304, 723
272, 273
281,461
333,045
394.875
18,462,677
16,896,475
17,400, 798
20,939,741
24,490, 087
27,478, 022
25,144, 558
26,008,063
31,387,712
36,763,164
.672
.672
.669
.667
.667
J u ly 1933 to M a y 1935, in c lu s iv e ..’. .........
1933
J u ly ............... .............................. ....... ...........
A u g u st_________ _______ ______________
S ep tem b er... _________________________
October_______________________ _______
N o vem b er_____________________________
D ecem b er_______________ . . . ________
1934
J a n u a r y .______ ___________ __________
February____ _______ _________ . . . . . .
M arch ________________________ _______
A p ril_____________________________ _ _.
M a y --------------------- ------------------------------Ju ne__________________________________
J u ly -------------------------- --------------------------A u g u st________________________
. ..
S e p te m b e r ________________
______
October_________________ _ ________ _
N o v em b er_____________________________
D ecem b er_____________________________
1935
January_____ ____ ____________________
F e b r u a r y ................................. .......................
M arch _________________________ _____
A p r il___________________ _____ _______
M a v __________________________________
A verage
earnings
per hour
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
$0. 599 $837,807, 684
202,100
1,628, 537
223,351,150
24,568,577
25,702, 750
24, 206,352
25,269,537
269,766, 559
268, 526, 223
250,468,427
260, 797,939
253, 377,997
253,282,956
250, 685. 634
250, 234, 495
54, 228,457
245. 683,081
230, 746,857
29. 264,484
27,276,566
31,645,166
36,893,840
2
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-road projects.
2 Includes orders placed for material for naval vessels prior to October 1933.
2 Includes orders placed by railroads for new equipment.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
491
Wage earners have been paid approximately $433,000,000, for work
at the site of Public Works Administration construction projects.
The hourly earnings of these men averaged 60 cents. During the
23-month period orders have been placed for materials amounting to
over $837,000,000.
Value of Material Orders Placed
F rom the beginning of the public works program to May 1935,
manufacturers have benefited to the extent of nearly $840,000,000 by
orders placed for construction materials. It is estimated that in
fabricating these materials approximately 2,750,000 man-months of
labor have been or will be created.
Materials for which orders were placed during May will create
approximately 120,000 man-months of labor. This accounts only for
labor required in the fabrication of material in the form in which it is
to be used. In making brick, for example, only the labor employed
in the manufacturing process is included. In fabricating steel rails
only labor in the rolling mills is counted—not labor created in mining,
smelting, and transporting the ore, nor labor in the blast furnaces, the
open-hearth furnaces, nor the blooming mills.
In obtaining information concerning man-months of labor created
in fabricating materials, blanks are sent each firm receiving a material
order from the United States Government or from State governments
or political subdivisions thereof, to be financed from the public works
fund, asking them to estimate the number of man-hours of labor
■created in their plant in manufacturing the material specified in their
contract. For materials purchased directly by contractors, the Bureau
estimates the man-months of labor created. This estimate is made by
using the experience of the manufacturing plants as shown by the
Census of Manufactures, 1933.
Emergency-Work Program
D u r i n g the week ending May 30 there were over 1,400,000 workers
■employed on the emergency-work program of the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration. This is a decrease of more than 300,000 in
comparison with the number working during the week ending April 25.
The number of employees and amounts of pay rolls for the emer
gency-work program for weeks ending April 25 and May 30 are shown
in table 19.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
492
MONTHLY LABOE E E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 19.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls for W orkers on E m ergency W ork
P rogram , W eeks E n d in g A pril 25 an d M ay 30, 1935
[Subject to revision]
Number of employees
week ending—
Geographic division
M ay 30
Amount of pay roll
week ending—
April 25
M ay 30
April 25
$15,951, 399
All divisions_____________________ __________
Percentage change........................ ...........................
1,430, 684
-1 7 . 83
1, 741,196
$12, 731,631
-20.18
N ew England............................ ................ ..............
Middle Atlantic.................................................... .
East North C entral._______________________
West North Central________________________
South Atlantic__________ _______ ________ _
East South Central............................................
West South Central....................... .........................
Mountain ________________________ _______
P acific_________________ __________________
151, 660
203,000
176, 340
224,155
198,373
133,199
167,954
43, 046
132, 957
162, 503
228, 768
277,047
283, 683
237,188
159,350
185,254
61,192
146, 211
1, 730,151
3,208,898
1, 601,197
1, 569,313
1,022, 754
648, 210
949, 381
402, 738
1, 598,989
2,027, 587
3, 657, 037
2, 730,023
2, 024,194
1,209, 838
804,604
1,047, 768
608, 242
1,842,106
Table 20 shows the number of employees and amounts of pay rolls
on the Emergency Work Program, by months, from the beginning
of the program through May 1935.
T able 20.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls for W orkers on E m ergency W ork
P ro g ram , M arch 1934 to M ay 1935
Month
Number of
employees
Amount of
pay roll
1934
March___________ _____
April_______ . . ............
M ay___ ____ __________
June__________________
July___________________
August. . ------------- -----September_____________
October.. _____________
November________ ____
December---------------------
. 22,934
1,176, 818
1, 382,764
1, 504,908
1, 725, 517
1,924,173
1,950, 227
1,996, 716
2,159,145
2, 325, 753
$842, 000
38,970, 679
42,711,283
42,419,720
47, 367, 349
54,921,432
50, 290, 050
53,904,948
62, 849, 772
62, 369, 648
1 Kevised.
Month
1935
January________________
February______________
M arch_________________
April i _________________
M ay 2_________________
Number of Amount of
employees
pay roll
2,472, 091
2,459, 717
2,401, 581
2, 3OS, 839
2, 228, 064
$71,685, 663
63,906,282
62, 596,378
62,343, 804
64, 559,740
2 Preliminary.
Fewer workers were employed on the Emergency Work Program
during the month of May than in any month since November 1934.
It is estimated that there were approximately 2,200,000 people
engaged on the Emergency Work Program during May. This does not
mean, however, that during any given week this total was reached.
Because of the fact that a limit is placed on the earnings of employees,
not more than 70 percent of this number are working at any one time.
Emergency Conservation Work
A g a i n of approximately 17,000 during May was reported in the
number of men in Civilian Conservation Camps. All classes of
employees, except educational advisers, shared the increase. Pay
rolls for the month totaled over $17,700,000. Enrolled personnel
drew nearly $10,500,000 of this amount.
In addition to their pay, the enrolled men received free board,
clothing, and medical attention.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
493
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Employment and pay-roll statistics for each of the major groups of
workers engaged in Emergency Conservation Work for April and
May 1935 are given in table 21.
T able 2 1 .— E m p lo y m en t an d P ay Rolls in E m ergency C o n serv atio n Work»
A pril 1935 an d M ay 1935
Number of employees
Amount of pay rolls
Group
April
M ay
M ay
April
A 11 groups- 1 ____________ ____ ____ _
385,192
368, 537
$17,719, 018
$16,401,114
Enrolled personnel________________________
Reserve officers.. _______
Educational advisers L ______ .
Supervisory and technical 2___________
335,606
9,054
1,428
2 39,104
325,790
6,687
1,451
4 34,609
10,480,938
2, 269,625
237,349
s 4, 731,106
10,174,422
1, 669, 062
241,550
4 4,316, 080
1 Included in executive service table.
2 Includes carpenters, electricians, and laborers.
2 34,963 employees and pay roll of $4,408,840 included in executive service table.
4 32,993 employees and pay roll of $4,186,302 included in executive service table.
The employment and pay-roll data for emergency conservation
workers are collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the
War Department, Department of Agriculture, Treasury Department,
and the Department of the Interior. The pay of the enrolled per
sonnel is figured as follows: 5 percent are paid $45 per month;
8 percent, $36 per month; and the remaining 87 percent, $30 per
month.
The number of employees and amounts of pay rolls for each month,
January 1934 to May 1935, inclusive, are shown in table 22.
T able 2 2 .— M o n th ly T o tals of Em ployees and P a y Rolls in E m ergency C on
serv atio n W ork, Ja n u a ry 1934 to M ay 1935
Month
1934
January________ ______ _
February_______ _______
March_________________
April__________________
M ay______________ ____
June_________________ .
July___________________
August________________
September_____________
October_______________
November_____________
December________ _____
Number of Amount of
employees
pay roll
331, 594 $13, 581,506
321,829
13,081,393
247,591 1 10, 792, 618
314,664 ‘ 13,197, 012
335,871 i 14,047,826
280, 271 i 12,641, 571
389,104 i 16,033,071
385, 340 1 16,364,048
i 335, 788 i 15,023,183
391,894 i 16,939, 922
387, 329 i 16,622, 374
350,028 i 15,415,071
Month
January
February
March
April
May
Number of Amount of
employees
pay roll
1935
i 398, 692 i $16, 757,883
1 373,850 i 16,320,803
1 294,955 i 14,188,097
368, 537
16,401,114
385,192
17, 719,018
1 Revised.
More workers were employed in emergency conservation work dur
ing May than during any month since January. Pay-roll disburse
ments were the highest for any month since the program began.
State Road Projects
There was a gain of approximately 3,000 in the number of workers
employed on State road construction during May. Employment on
new projects of this type increased more than 15 percent but employ
ment was virtually unchanged on maintenance work.
3202—35----- 14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
494
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Table 23 shows the number of workers employed in building- and
maintaining State roads during April and May 1935, by geographic
divisions.
T able 23.— E m p lo y m en t on C o n stru ctio n and M ain ten an ce of S ta te R oads by
G eographic D ivision, A pril an d M a y 1935 1
New
Geographic division
Maintenance
Number of em
Amount of pay roll Number of em
ployees
ployees
Amount of pay roll
M ay
April
All divisions_____________
Percentage change_______
27,924
+15.4
24,193 $1,031,085 $890,007 135, 541 135, 484 $4,977,263 $4,611,069
+15.9
+ 7 .9
(3)
New England____________
M iddle Atlantic............ .......
East North Central.............
West North Central--------South Atlantic___________
East South Central______
West South Central ........
Mountain ........ ...............
Pacific__________________
Outside continental United
States_________________
2,006
2,117
5,316
3,182
7,957
1,948
1,116
2, 274
2,008
1,008
1,510
3,631
2, 563
7,702
1,553
2,004
1,383
2,839
May
A p ril 2
109,966
136,150
208,058
99,519
149,379
56,972
41,037
100,300
129,644
53,996
85,797
159,692
87,317
153,018
41,455
68,685
81,421
158,626
M ay
April
M ay
A p ril 2
9,009
42,159
17, 297
13,147
25,820
6, 784
10,155
5,295
5,680
5,903
35,199
23,263
12, 291
26,377
11,329
9,870
5,152
5,966
472, 917
1,074,012
662,037
467, 537
810,153
239,767
454,782
358,166
421,853
322,250
931,956
709,330
441,807
759, 588
232,576
468,452
328,497
407,401
195
134
16,039
9,212
1 Excluding employment furnished by projects financed from public works fund.
2 Revised.
*Less than Ho of 1 per cent.
Seven of the nine geographic divisions registered increases in the
number of workers employed on new road construction, comparing
May with April. The 163,000 employees engaged in building and
maintaining State roads during May were paid over $6,000,000 for
their month’s work. The number of employees who were working at
building and maintaining State roads during the period January 1934
to May 1935, inclusive, is given in table 24.
T able M .— E m p lo y m en t on C o n stru ctio n an d M ain ten an ce of S ta te R oads,
J a n u a ry 1934 to M ay 1935 1
Number of employees working on—
Month
New roads
Maintenance
Total
Total pay
roll
1934
January.......... ......................
February.............................
March..................................
April......................................
M ay___________________
June......................................
July.......................................
August___________ _____
September............................
October.......... ......................
November.................. .........
December______________
25,345
22,311
19,985
21,510
27,161
37,642
45,478
53,540
61,865
71,008
66,106
41,919
136,440
126,904
132,144
136,038
167,274
170,879
168,428
180,270
188,323
169, 235
159,451
134,680
161,785
149,215
152,129
157, 548
194,435
208,521
213,906
233,810
250,188
240,243
225,557
176,599
$8,684,109
7,131,604
7,989,765
8,407,644
10,275,139
11, 221, 299
11,255,685
12,435,163
13,012,305
12,439,738
11,919,683
6,756,087
1935
January...............................
February.............................
M arch.................... ............
April....................................
M ay.......................................
23,537
17,940
18,391
24,193
27,924
120,283
122,209
108,149
135,484
135,541
143,820
140,149
126,540
159, 677
163,465
4,864,899
4, 575,171
4,896,325
2 5, 501,076
6,008,348
i Excluding employment furnished by projects financed from public works fund.
^Revised.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
495
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
More workers were employed by the State governments in building
new roads and maintaining existing roads in May than in any previous
month of the current year. Pay-roll disbursements were also higher
in May than for any previous month of 1935.
♦
R e c o n s tr u c tio n F in a n ce C o rp o ra tio n C o n str u c tio n P rojects
R e c o n s t r u c t i o n Finance Corporation construction projects pro
vided work for more than 10,500 men during the month of May.
Pay rolls for the month totaled over $1,100,000.
In table 25 are presented data concerning employment, pay rolls,
and man-hours worked on construction projects financed by the Re
construction Finance Corporation during May 1935, by type of project.
T able 25.— E m p lo y m en t and P ay Rolls on P ro jects F inanced by th e R eco n stru c
tio n Fin an ce C orporation, by T y p e of P ro ject, M ay 1935
[Subject to revision]
Type of project
Number
of wage
earners
Amount
of pay
rolls
Number
of man
hours
worked
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
All projects.....................................................
10,506
$1,100,977
1, 522,959
$0.723
$2, 287,090
Bridges
__ ________________
Building construction
_______________
Railroad construction
______________
Reclamation__________________________
Water and .sewerage
_______________Miscellaneous
_________________
2,676
378
108
982
5,155
1,207
272,836
27,137
4,409
43,027
618,278
135,290
306,901
29,487
8, 538
108,813
852,204
217,016
.889
.920
. 516
. 395
.726
.623
1,198,108
24,016
422
34,802
990,211
39,531
There were increases in employment on 5 of the 6 types of con
struction promoted by this program. The men earned 72 cents per
hour during May, with building construction workers drawing 92
cents per hour, and workers on reclamation projects less than 40
cents.
The number of employees, the amounts of pay rolls, and the
number of man-hours worked on construction projects financed by
the Reconstruction Finance Corporation during May are shown in
table 26 by geographic divisions.
T able 26.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls on P ro jects F inanced by th e R eco n stru c
tio n F inan ce C orporation, by G eographic D ivision, M a y 1935
[Subject to revision]
Geographic division
Number of
Number of Amount of man-hours
pay rolls
employees
worked
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
All divisions......................................................
10,506
$1,100,977
1, 522,959
$0.723
$2,287,090
Middle Atlantic..............- ...............................
East North Central........................ - ............ East South Central— ----------- --------------West South C e n tr a l....................... - ............
M ountain____________ _____ _____ _____
612
439
78
113
982
8,282
44, 508
38, 528
1,295
15,043
43, 027
958, 576
53,059
36,474
2,130
15,986
108,813
1,306,497
.839
1. 056
.608
.941
.395
.734
1, 082,014
31,991
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
222
34,802
1,138, 061
496
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
Construction financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
program is being carried on in six geographic divisions. In four of
these, there were increases in employment, comparing May with
April. There was a great variation in average earnings per hour, rang
ing from $1.05 per hour in the East North Central States workers to
less than 40 cents in the Mountain States. For the most part, this
range in hourly earnings was caused by the difference in the type of
work under way.
Data concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked are
shown in table 27 for the months, April 1934 to May 1935, inclusive,
for construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation.
T able 27.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls on P ro jects F in an ced by th e R e co n stru c
tio n F in an ce C o rp o ratio n , April 1934 to M ay 1935
[Subject to revision]
Month
Number of
Amount of Number of
wage
pay rolls man-hours
earners
worked
1934
April_____________ _
M ay____ ______ _____
June—............... ............
J u ly ..______ ________
A ugust-................... .......
September.__________
October_____________
November___________
December___________
18,731
19,429
19,022
17,475
17, 221
16,809
17,482
16,502
14, 321
1935
January_____________
February____________
M arch.........................
April..................................
M ay...................................
11,180
10, 373
9, 586
10, 300
10,506
$1,516,
1,649,
1, 676,
1,612,
1, 697,
1, 637,
1,596,
1 , 621,
1, 337,
1,054,708
1,048,593
890, 333
1,007,424
1,100,977
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
2, 308, 580
2,358,966
2, 314,136
2,141,945
2, 282,181
2.203,881
2,181,846
2, 233,928
1,859, 226
0. 657
.699
.724
.753
.744
.743
.732
.726
.720
$2, 357,408
2,143,864
2, 230,065
2, 402,174
2, 384,887
2,579,969
2, 274,174
2, 856, 371
2, 440, 620
1,484,190
1,457, 662
1, 253,493
1, 389,072
1, 522,959
.711
.719
.710
.725
.723
3,966,718
5, 028,547
1,072,8862, 517,175
2, 287, 090-
Over the 14-month period, materials have been ordered to cost
more than $36,500,000. More than 50 percent of this has been for
steel-works and rolling-mill products. Other types of products ac
counting for an expenditure of over $1,000,000 are foundry and
machine-shop products; cement; concrete products; copper; electrical
machinery, apparatus, and supplies; explosives; and lumber and
timber products.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
497
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Construction Projects Financed from Regular Governmental
Appropriations
M o r e than 23,000 workers were employed during May at the site
of construction projects financed by appropriations made by the
Congress direct to the executive departments and agencies of the
Federal Government. This is an increase of approximately 1,000
in comparison with the previous month. Disbursements for pay
rolls during the month totaled nearly $1,600,000.
Whenever a construction contract is awarded or force-account
work is started by a department or unit of the Federal Government,
the Bureau of Labor Statistics is immediately notified on forms sup
plied by the Bureau, of the name and address of the contractor, the
amount of the contract, and the type of work to be done. Blanks
are then mailed to the contractor or to the Government agency doing
force-account work, who returns the report to the Bureau showing
the number of men on the pay rolls, the amounts disbursed for pay,
the number of man-hours worked on the job, and the value of the
different types of materials for which orders have been placed during
the month.
The following tables show data concerning such construction work
on which work has started since July 1, 1934. The Bureau has no
information covering projects which were under way previous to that
date.
In table 28 data are shown for the month of May concerning em
ployment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on construction projects
started since July 1, 1934, which are financed from direct appropria
tions made by the various Federal departments and agencies, by type
of project.
T able 28.— E m p lo y m en t on C o n stru ctio n P ro jects F in an ced from
G overnm ental A ppropriations, by T y p e of P ro ject
R egular
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
M axi
mum
number
em
ployed 1
All projects........................................ - ...........
2 23,057
Building const,ruction. _ ______________
Naval vassals
___________________
Public roads 3 _______________________
R eclam ation ___ - -- ________________
Rivar harbor, and flood control_______
Streets and roads_____________________
Water and sewerage__ ________________
M iscellaneous.. _____________________
6,857
4,271
W
17
5,565
1,640
107
1,207
Weekly
average
Amount
of pay
rolls
Number
of man
hours
worked
20,873 $1, 599,937 2,370,925
5, 608
4,090
3,393
15
5, 272
1,392
87
1,016
381,754
498,621
194, 218
762
400, 671
63,889
7, 080
52,942
516,287
595,565
302,715
729
722,974
134, 338
9, 766
88, 551
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
$0. 675 $2, 704,333
.739
.837
.642
1.045
.554
.476
.725
.598
555, 522
1, 022, 394
610,946
1,865
303, 044
94,160
2 , 308
114,094
' i Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes weekly average for public roads,
s Estimated by Bureau of Public Roads.
* N ot available; average number included in total.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
498
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
During the month there were gains in employment on all types of
construction projects except river, harbor, flood control, and water
and sewerage work. Earnings per hour during May averaged 67%
cents as compared with 6 2 cents during the previous month.
Table 29 gives by geographic divisions for the month of May, infor
mation concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
construction projects started since July 1, which are financed from
regular governmental appropriations.
T able 29.— E m p lo y m en t on C o n stru ctio n P ro jects F in an ced from
G overnm en tal A ppro p riatio n s, by G eographic D ivision
R egular
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Geographic division
Maximum Weekly
number
aver
employed 1
age
All divisions........................................
23, 057
N ew England___________ _______
M iddle Atlantic..........................
East North Central.......... ................
West North Central____ ________
South A tlantic......... ....................
East South Central_____________
West South Central_____________
Mountain........................... ................
Pacific.............. ....................................
Outside continental United" States.
1,872
3,122
2, 227
1,854
5, 716
1,295
2,710
1,783
1,860
618
Aver
Amount Number of age
of pay
man-hours earn
ings
rolls
worked
per
hour
20,873 $1, 599, 937
1,762
2, 827
1,972
1,708
5,140
1,031
2,414
1,687
1,743
589
179, 561
255, 743
116,901
85, 347
448, 789
65, 736
160, 668
105, 927
152,106
29,159
Value of
material
orders
placed
2, 370, 925
$0. 675
2 $2, 704,333'.
219, 626
317, 041
163,178
153,924
651,141
130, 587
308,010
168,293
208, 309
50, 816
.818
.807
.716
.554
.689
.503
.522
.629
.730
.574
450,084
418, 466.
132, 243
108, 524
493,075
81, 653.
163, 27941,052195, 798
9, 213'
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes $610,946 estimated value of orders placed for public-roads projects which cannot be charged toany specific geographic division.
Gains in employment were registered in 7 of the 9 geographic divi
sions. During May construction was started on a number of large
projects: for example, work began on the parcel-post building in
Detroit, Mich., and on the Hamburg-Palmetto Levee, La. Earnings
per hour ranged from an average of 50 cents in the East South Central
States to an average of 82 cents in the New England States.
The monthly trend of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours
worked on construction projects financed from regular governmental
appropriations from August 1934 to May 1935, inclusive, is shown in
table 30.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
499
TREN D OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 30.— E m p lo y m en t on C o n stru ctio n P ro jects F in an ced from
G overnm ental A ppropriations, A ugust 1934 to M ay 1935
R eg u lar
[Subject to revision]
M onth
1934
August.......................... September—...............
October........... ..............November___________
December.......................
1935
January..
February
March__
April___
M ay........
Number
of wage
earners
Number of
Amount of man-hours
pay rolls
worked
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
5,601
9,800
13, 593
18, 211
16, 276
$329, 440
493,363
689,604
1,014,945
859,998
557,747
773, 685
1,103, 523
1,690,488
1,468, 741
$0.591
.638
.625
.600
.586
$150,506
842,292
982,835
3,334,648
1,966,441
12, 784
13,106
14,659
22,270
23, 057
669,199
704,190
862, 886
i 1,389, 583
1,599,937
1,062,118
1,102,864
1, 359, 043
1 2, 210,893
2,370, 925
.630
.639
.635
i. 629
.675
3,163,946
1,962,087
2,709,912
i 2, 562,404
2, 704,333
i Revised.
From this table it will be noted that employment on construction
projects financed from regular governmental appropriations in May
was higher than in any month previous of 1935.
For the period, July 1, 1934, to May 15, 1935, the value of mate
rials for which orders have been placed for use on construction proj
ects financed from direct governmental appropriations, amounted to
nearly $20,000,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
Food Prices in Ju n e 1935
URING June, the index of retail food prices continued the slight
downward trend which began in May. The index of 48 foods
combined was 123.0 on June 18, a decrease of eight-tenths of 1 percent
compared with May 21, when the index stood at 124.0. Compared
with April 23 before the downward movement began, the June 18
index shows a decrease of 1.8 percent.
The decline in the retail price index of all foods during the month
was due in large part to seasonal declines in the prices of fruits and
vegetables and dairy products.
The index for the fruits and vegetables group decreased 3.6 percent.
This was the greatest change shown for any group. There were
continued seasonal declines in the prices of cabbage and onions of 21.7
percent and 10.8 percent respectively. There were likewise price de
creases of 4.2 percent for oranges and 1.4 percent for bananas. These
decreases were not offset by relatively small increases in the prices
of prunes, canned corn, and canned peas. The most important factor
influencing the composite index of the fruits and vegetables group is
the weight given to potatoes. Potato prices have remained unchanged
since May 7.
Dairy products as a whole were 2.0 percent lower than on May 21.
In addition to a decrease of 6.3 percent for butter, cheese was slightly
lower. No price change was reported for fresh milk delivered to con
sumers nor for evaporated milk.
An increase of 1.5 percent in meats was due to an advance of
approximately 4 percent in pork products and to a slight increase in
beef. This advance in meats was accompanied by a rise of seventenths of 1 percent for fats and oils.
Although five commodities in the cereal and bakery-products
group showed no change, the index for the group fell 1.1 percent.
Prices of flour fell 2.0 percent. Bread prices declined 1.2 percent
between May 21 and June 4. The decrease in bread prices reflected a
return to the normal price of 7.8 cents per pound in Kansas City at
the close of the strike in the baking industry.
Prices of eggs have advanced less than 1 percent since May 21, as
compared with the increase of 5.1 percent from May 22 to June 19
last year.
D
500
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
501
R ETA IL PRICES
Coffee prices, which have been declining steadily since February,
show a decrease of 1.2 percent since May 21.
Sugar prices remained unchanged, but a rise of one-tenth of 1
percent was registered for the sugar and sweets group.
T able 1.— Indexes of th e A verage R etail C ost of 48 Foods in 51 L arge C ities
C om bined by C om m odity G roups
Ju n e an d M ay 1935, and Ju n e 1934
Percentage change,
June 18, 1935, com
pared with—
Index (1913 = 100)
Article
All fnnds
_________________
'Cereals and bakery products----ATeats
______________
T)airy products ______________
___________________
"Eggs
Fruits and vegetables_________
Beverages
_______________
Fats and oils ________________
Sugar and sw e e ts_____________
1934
1935
1934
1935
June
18
June
4
M ay
M ay
7
June
19
June
5
June
4
M ay
123.0
150.7
159.3
106.5
93.3
123.8
151.2
160.2
107.4
92.7
125.0
97.5
116.9
124.0
152.3
157.0
108.7
92.7
127.2
97.3
116.2
124.5
151.2
155.1
110.7
91.6
132.7
98.0
116.3
108.6
109.1
146.5
117.8
108.4
145.7
116.1
100.4
68.7
127.0
96.6
73.5
103.3
- 0.6
—.4
- .5
- 0.8
- 1 .1
+ 1 .5
—2.0
+. 6
—3. 6
122.6
96.8
117.0
110.3
110 .2
21
110 .2
10 1 .1
71.3
124.1
96.5
74.9
104.8
-.8
+ .6
—1.9
- .7
+ .1
+ .1
21
—.6
+ .7
+ .1
June
19
+ 12.8
+ 2 .9
+35.3
~\~5. 3
+30.8
- 1 .2
+■ 4
+56.2
+ 5 .3
The trend of retail food prices during May and June 1935 is shown
in table 1. This table gives the index numbers for the 8 major groups
of food purchased by wage earners in the 51 cities covered by the
surveys of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table also compares
current prices with the level prevailing on corresponding dates of
June 1934.
There are now 48 foods included in the retail-food-price index.
Six commodities were added on May 21. They are cocoa, lard com
pound, salad oil, corn sirup, molasses, and strawberry preserves. At
that time three new commodity groups were introduced. These are
fats and oils, beverages, and sugar and sweets. These groups replaced
the “ miscellaneous” group. The commodities indicated by an aster
isk in table 2 are those included in the index. Prices are collected on
39 additional foods, which will be included as soon as possible in a
new general index.
Table 2 shows average prices of these 87 commodities for 51 large
cities combined. This table compares average prices in June with
those for the previous month, and for June 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
502
T able 2 .
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
A verage R etail Prices of 87 Foods in 51 L arge C ities C om bined
Ju n e and M ay 1935 an d Ju n e 1934
__________________
f* Indicates commodities included in index number]
1935
1934
Article
June 18 June 4 M ay 21 M ay 7 June 19 June 5
Cereal foods:
‘ Flour, white, w heat...
...............pound..
‘ Corn meal___
rln
‘ Rolled oats
do
‘ Corn flakes___
—8-oz. package..
‘ Wheat cereal....................
-28-oz. package..
•Rice........
‘ Macaroni____
Hominy grits.............
-24-oz. package..
Bakery products:
‘ Bread, white, wheat
............. .p ou n d ..
Bread, rye
Bread, whole wheat
_______
dn
Cake, pound__
rjn
Soda crackers____
................... do___
Beef:
‘ Sirloin steak_____
dn
‘ Round steak..
do
‘ Rib roast__
‘ Chuck roast..
Ho
‘ Plate----------------- -----------do""
Liver___ ____ __________
---Lamb:
‘ Leg_____
Rib chops.
Breast____
Chuck or shoulder
dn
Pork:
‘ Chops______
Loin roast......................
do
Bacon, sliced______________ I.........
~~d0
U.
Bacon, strip........ .............
Ham, sliced.................
do
Ham, whole_________________ _______ " ho
Ham, picnic..................
do
salt p o r k ..,.....................
Veal:
Cutlets
.do.
Poultry:
Cents
4.9
5.2
7.7
8.4
24.7
8.3
15.7
10.5
Cents
5.0
5.2
7.7
8.4
24.7
8.3
15.7
10.5
Cents
5.0
5.2
7.7
8.4
24.5
8.3
15.7
10.3
Cents
5.0
5. 2
7.7
8.5
24.5
8.3
15.7
10.3
Cents
4.9
4. 4
6.7
8.4
24.2
8. 1
15. 6
8.3
8.9
9.0
24.2
16.8
8.3
9.0
9.1
24.1
16.7
8.4
9.0
9.1
24.1
16.7
8.3
9.0
9.0
23.9
16.7
8.7
8.7
41.3
37.5
30.9
24.6
16.9
23.3
41.7
37.7
31.3
24.9
17.1
23. 2
41.3
37. 1
31.0
24.5
17.0
28.0
35.0
13.5
21.9
28.0
35. 1
13.6
21.9
21.6
2 1 .2
36.4
30.7
40.4
35.0
45.3
28.3
23. 2
27.0
36.9
31.0
39.9
34.6
44.9
27.9
34.4
28.9
39.3
34.0
44.2
27.2
26.9
22.0
26.5
33.5
28.0
38.7
33.5
43.6
26.8
21.5
37.7
37.9
37.3
37.1
30.7
30.6
do
‘ Roasting chickens..................
Fish, canned:
Salmon, pink...........................................l 6-oZ. can..
‘ Salmon, red..................
do
Dairy products:
................”
g u t t e r ..................................._........................pound..
‘ Cheese....... ................................................
.d o___
‘ M ilk ,fresl1» grade A, delivered_______ quart"
‘ M ilk, evaporated.---------- ------------ UH-oz. can"
30.0
30.2
30.1
29.6
24.2
24.3
13.1
21.3
13.2
2 1.2
13. 2
21.3
13.1
2 1 .1
14.2
21.3
14.1
21.3
31.2
25.3
11.9
7.3
14.3
32.2
32.0
25.6
11.9
7.3
14.3
32.0
33.3
25.8
11.9
7.3
14.4
32.0
35. 3
25.9
11.9
7.3
14.5
31.6
22.2
19.1
16.3
19.0
16.3
22.3
19.4
25.5
18.7
16.3
22.3
19.5
25. 5
7.9
21 . C
22.5
32.0
22 . 0
21.8
Fats and oils:
‘ Lard, p u re.... ........................................... pound..
‘ Lard, compound................
do
‘ Vegetable lard substitute_________ " " " " d o
‘ Oleomargarine............... ............
do
‘ Salad oil................................ .........
n in t"
Fruits, fresh:
..................... ^
Apples--------pound..
‘ Bananas_____________________
dozen
Lem ons..______ ________An"
‘ Oranges.......................................... .................. " ¿ 0
Vegetables, fresh:
Beans, green........................................
pound..
‘ Cabbage.,______
do
C a r ro ts................ .
" " ." ." b u n c h "
C e le r y ...........................
.sta lk ..
Lettuce— ------- ------------------------ --------- head..
O nions........................
.pound ..
‘ P o ta to es................................... ................. do
Sweetpotatoes___________ _______ ^
do
Spinach...................................................
do
Fruits, canned:
P each es..------------------------- ------ ..n o . 2ji-can ..
Pears..
..................... ....................................d o ....
Pineapple ........................................................ do___
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
19. 4
25.5
8.7
3.6
5. 4
12.4
8.4
6.6
2 .1
22.8
7. 4
32.9
8.9
4.0
5.8
11.9
9.6
7.1
2 .1
8 .1
Cents
4.8
4.3
6. 8
8.5
24.2
7.9
15. 6
8 .1
8 6
8.8
22.6
22.3
32.0
28.2
22.4
16.4
10.4
31.8
27.9
22.8
41.0
37.0
30.9
24.1
17.0
22.7
27.7
34.6
13.4
27.3
34.2
13.3
27.2
35.5
11.4
19.8
28.1
36.0
20.4
24.5
19.5
27.4
23.8
18.8
26.7
37.3
35.6
20.5
14.0
15.4
6.8
20.2
21.8
14.6
15.8
22.2
16.3
10.4
11 6
30.3
23.6
30.1
23. 5
1 1 .2
6.8
1 1 .1
6.8
14.1
24.6
14.0
23.7
18.8
16.2
22.3
¡9.5
25.4
10.3
9.5
19.1
13.3
10 .1
9.4
19.0
12.9
21.9
21.9
33.4
22. 4
33.2
6. 5
21.6
7.2
22.9
32.2
39.4
7.0
22.3
30.9
34.2
7.9
4.6
9.4
6.7
7.6
3.3
5.4
7.4
3.5
5.3
11.5
10. 5
4.4
2.5
5.9
5.6
6.0
11. 4
9.0
7.4
2 .1
6.0
11. 1
10.0
7.7
2 .1
5.1
5.1
5.1
5.4
8 .1
5.0
7.1
19.7
23.1
22.7
19.7
23.0
22.7
19.7
23.0
22 7
22.8
5 0
19.8
99 T
12 8
9.5
4.9
2.3
6 .1
5.9
18.2
21.0
22 . 1
18.1
21.0
22.0
503
R ETA IL PRICES
T able 2 .—-Average R etail Prices of 87 F o o ls in 51 L arge C ities C om bined
Con.
Ju n e an d M ay 1935 an d Ju n e 1934
f* Indicates commodities included in index number]
1934
1935
Article
JunelS June 4 M ay 21 M ay 7 June 19 June 5
Cents
Cents
Cents
Vegetables, canned:
25.4
25.5
25.6
Asparagus________ _______ - .............. -no- 2 can..
12.0
11.9
11.9
Beans, green----- —-------- ------------ ---------- do----7.0
7.0
7.0
*Beans with pork---- --------- ------------- 16-oz. c a n ..
13.0
13.0
13.1
T o r n ...... ...................................... - ............ no. 2 can...
17.5
17.6
‘ Peas_____________________________
do- 17. S
10.4
10.4
*Tomatoes-------- -------------------------do. 10.3
Fruits, dried:
16.3
16.4
16.4
Peaches......................- ..................................p o u n d ..
11.2
11 4
11.3
‘ Prunes.............................................................
d°9 9
9.8
9.9
•Raisins...... ...........—- ----------------- --------- -.d o .
Vegetables, dried:
Black-eyed peas_______________ _____ ---d o —
9.9
9.9
99
Lima beans-------- ------------------------- ------ do----‘ N avy beans ------------------------------do. 6. 1
Sugar and sweets:
5.7
5.7
‘ Granulated su g a r ........................ - ..............do----13.7
13.6
13.7
‘ Corn sirup...............
24-oz. can...
14.0
14.0
14. 1
‘ Molasses____ _____ - .........- ..................18-oz. can—
20.9
20.9
21.0
‘ Strawberry preserves------------- ------------poun d . .
Beverages:
10.9
10.9
10.9
8-oz. can ..
‘ Cocoa............................................
26.0
26.0
25.7
‘ Coffee
.......... .........................................pound..
73.8
74.2
74.3
‘ T e a - - - - - - - - - ....................................— -do—
Miscellaneous foods:
21.6
21.7
21.7
Chocolate, unsweetened................. 8-oz. package..
16.9
16.9
16. 9
Mayonnaise________________________ 72 pint—
21.9
22 . 1
22.3
Peanut butter....................... ..................—.pound—
4.4
4.
1
4.4
Salt, table...... ................................. -- ---d ° -----------8.3
8.3
8.3
Soup, tom ato..............
lOJi-oz. can..
8.5
8
.
5
8.5
Tomato ju ic e ..------ ---------------------13Ji-oz. can —
8.1
8.2
6.1
8.1
6.1
5.7
7.0
13.0
17.6
10.4
6.7
11.3
16.6
10.5
Cents
23.4
11 7
6.7
11.3
16.6
10.8
16. 4
11.3
9.9
15.5
11.5
9.6
15.4
11.5
9.6
8.2
7.3
9.6
5.7
7.3
9.6
5.7
5. 4
12.5
13.8
13.8
27.6
70.4
27.6
70.7
16.6
4.4
16.6
Cents
25.3
Cents
23.5
12.0
11.8
9.9
6.1
6.6
13.6
14.0
5.3
12. 3
20.8
11.0
26.3
73. 7
21.7
16.9
21.8
4. 4
8.2
8.5
8.0
8. 7
4. 4
8.0
8.6
Recent changes in the prices of 34 staple foods, for which 1913
prices are available, are indicated in the relative prices shown in
table 3.
T able 3.— R elative R etail Prices of 34 S taple Foods in 51 L arge C ities C om bined
Ju n e and M ay 1935 and June 1934
[1913 = 100]
1934
1935
Article
Cereals:
Bread, white, wheat
Corn meal_________
Flour, white, wheat.
R ic e .............— .........
Meats:
Beef:
Sirloin steak----Round steak___
Rib roast--------Chuck roast----Plate_____ ____
Lamb, leg of---------Pork:
C h o p s ...............
Bacon, sliced—
Ham, sliced----Roasting chickens—.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June 18 June 4 M ay 21 M ay 7 June 19 June 5
148.2
173.3
148. 5
95.4
148.2
173.3
151.5
95.4
150.0
173.3
151. 5
95.4
148.2
173.3
151.5
95.4
144.6
146.7
148.5
93. 1
144.6
143. 3
145. 5
90.8
162.6
168.2
156.1
153.8
139. 7
148.1
164.2
169.1
158.1
155.6
141.3
148.2
162.6
166.4
156.6
153.1
140.5
146.6
161.4
165.9
156.1
150.6
140.5
144.4
126.0
126.5
113.1
102.5
125.2
125.1
143.9
148.7
173.3
149. 6
168.4
140.8
175.7
147.8
166.9
141.8
163.8
145. 6
164.3
141.3
159.5
143.3
162.1
139.0
116.7
101.5
138.7
113.6
113.3
98.9
132.3
114. 1
86.0
1 1 2 .1
101.9
86.0
504
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 3.— R elative R etail Prices of 34 S taple Foods in 51 L arge C ities C om bined—
C ontinued
Ju n e and M ay 1935 an d Ju n e 1934
[1913=100]
1935
1934
Article
June 18 June 4 M ay 21 M ay 7 June 19 June 5
Dairy products:
Butter____________________________ . . _
Cheese____________________ _______________
Milk, fresh, grade A, delivered________________
Eggs-----------------------------------------------------------------Fruits and vegetables:
Bananas____________________________ .
Oranges. _____________ _____ _______
Prunes_____ ____ ____ _ _________
Raisins. _____________ ___________ _
Cabbage_______________ _________
Onions________________ _________
Potatoes_______________ ________ _
Beans, n a v y ..
______________
Beans with p o r k . . _______________
Corn, canned __________________ _
Peas, canned_____ ___________________
Tomatoes, canned________ ______ ________
Miscellaneous foods:
Coffee_______ ____ ________________
Tea___________________________________
Sugar, g ra n u la ted .___ _______ ____ ______ .
Lard, pure, _____________________
81.5
114.5
133.7
93.3
83.6
115.8
133.7
92.7
86.9
116.7
133.7
92.7
92.2
117. 2
133.7
91.6
79. 1
106.8
125.8
71.3
78.6
106. 3
124.7
68. 7
141.2
106.7
97. 4
93.4
156.5
275.0
123.5
107.0
71.4
111.7
124.6
143.8
109.7
96.6
92.5
173.9
295.8
123.5
107.0
71.4
143.1
111.3
95.7
93.4
141.2
110.7
96.6
93.4
291.3
320.8
123. 5
107.0
71.4
149. 7
131. 3
98. 3
90.6
143.5
204. 2
135.3
110.6
120.2
100.0
10 1.2
110.6
122.8
10 1.2
145.6
128.0
145.8
114. 0
98.3
90.6
152. 2
183. 3
147.1
100. 0
68.4
*95.7
116.7
104. 9
86.2
87.2
136.4
103.6
120.3
87.2
135.7
103.6
118.4
88.3
135.5
92.6
129.4
98.2
65.2
92.6
130. 0
96.4
63.9
136.6
103.6
120.9
110.6
123.7
200.0
308.3
123.5
107.0
71.4
123.7
10 1.2
101.8
119.0
100.0
68.4
Details by Regions and Cities
B e t w e e n May 21 and June 18 retail prices of food declined in
38 of the 51 cities covered in the Bureau’s reports. These cities
included 25 of the 27 reporting for the South Central, Western,
West North Central, and Middle Atlantic areas. Although the drop
in food prices was small in most cities, decreases of over 2 percent are
shown for Newark, Houston, Los Angeles, and Kansas City. The
decrease of 10.2 percent recorded for Kansas City indicates a return
to normal following a shortage of bread during a strike in the baking
industry.
Of the remaining 13 cities, 2, Boston and Detroit, showed no
change. Slight increases ranging from two-tenths of 1 percent io
Baltimore and Jacksonville to seven-tenths of 1 percent in Man
chester are shown in cities of the New England, East North Central,
and South Atlantic areas.
Index numbers of retail prices of 42 foods for 39 cities and per
centages of change for all of the 51 cities for specified dates in 1935
and 1934 are given in table 4.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
505
RETA IL PRICES
T able 4.— Indexes of th e A verage R etail C ost of 42 Foods, by C ities
Ju n e an d M ay 1935 an d Ju n e 1934
Percentage change June
18, 1935, compared
with—
Index (1913 = 100)
City and area
1934
1935
1934
1935
June 18 June 4 M ay 21 M ay 7 June 19 June 5 June 4 M ay 21 June 19
■51 cities combined.................
New England:
Boston_______________
Bridgeport
Fall River___________
Manchester__________
New Haven__________
Portland, Maine
Providence
Middle Atlantic:
Buffalo______________
Newark
New York___________
Philadelphia_________
P ittsb u rg h __________
Rochester
Scranton____________
East North Central:
Chicago______________
Cincinnati___________
Cleveland____________
Cnlnmhns
Detroit__ ___________
Indianapolis__________
Milwaukee___________
Peori a,
Springfield, 111
West North Central:
Kansas C ity_________
Minneapolis__________
Omaha______________
St. Louis.. __________
St Pa.nl
South Atlantic:
A tlanta______________
Baltimore____________
Charleston, S. C ______
Jacksonville__________
NorfolkRichmond___________
Sayannah
Washington, D. O
East South Central:
Birmingham_________
Louisville____________
M em phis____________
Mobile
West South Central:
Dallas_______________
Little Rock__________
N ew Orleans_________
Mountain:
Riltte
Denver______________
Saif. T.nlre City
Pacific:
Los Angeles__________
i
Portland, Oreg_______
San Francisco________
Seattle_______________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
123.0
123.8
124.0
124.5
109.1
108.4
120.6
121.6
120.6
121.0
110.4
109.4
117.4
122.5
123.2
117.7
121.9
123.8
118.2
125.6
118.2
121.7
124.4
107.5
109.1
114.8
106.7
108.0
114.6
120.2
120.4
12 1.0
122 .2
108.3
107.6
-.2
129.0
121.5
126.9
125.2
129.5
124.7
127.8
126.4
122.3
129.3
124.5
128.4
127.2
124.6
115.5
113.8
-.4
122 .2
129.5
124.0
128.7
126.5
122.4
125.1
125.9
125.4
128.0
130.9
125.9
129.5
130.2
125.9
130.3
117.1
128.2
130.2
117.5
128.8
121.6
1 1 1 .2
1 1 0 .1
118.5
117.4
110.3
116.5
117.9
1 1 1 .2
123.8
114.7
114.4
129.5
130.3
125.3
129.6
132.2
125.1
112.5
108.7
105.8
110.9
108.2
106.2
130.4
117.7
128.8
130.3
118.4
128.3
114.0
104.3
104.7
1 1 1 .2
1 1 1 .8
1 1 1 .2
- 0.6
-.8
-.5
-.3
+ .5
-.5
-.3
-.3
-.5
-.5
-.5
+ .3
+13.8
+20.5
+19.0
+16.5
+14.3
+12.3
+15.2
+14.1
+16.2
+ .6
.0
-.6
+ .1
+ .6
+ .5
113.1
100.2
105.4
114.2
105.9
98.7
131.3
130.9
133.0
114.3
113.8
-.4
-1 .4
132.2
133.2
133.5
136.7
ÏÏ6.9
118.1
+ .1
-.8
120 .1
121.7
12 2 .1
104.0
105.2
- 1 .3
102.2
103.8
105.9
102.4
129.4
122.3
118.9
121.6
119.5
120.5
121.9
119.8
118.8
119.3
120.9
120.9
104.9
104.6
114.7
123.5
115.1
123.5
115.3
124.2
115.4
125.8
97.2
106.0
98.7
103.8
122.5
119.6
-.1
+ .6
-.6
105.9
114.6
107.1
133.3
122.6
.0
- 10 .2
-.3
-.9
121.7
132.3
123.8
115.1
1 2 1 .1
1 11 .6
1 1 1 .1
104.5
108.8
-.2
-.8
-.8
-.8
-.6
-.8
121.3
132.2
121.9
113.0
121.9
132.4
122.3
113.2
112 .6
105.0
-.6
- 1 .1
+ .5
+ .5
- .9
107.9
129.6
124.4
130.8
+ 9 .2
+10.4
+ 9 .2
+12.3
+ 7 .4
+ 8 .9
+ 11.0
- 1 .1
-.2
-.1
-.6
123.7
129.2
125.3
130.2
128.5
123.4
130.1
.0
-.1
-.7
+ •7
-1 .9
+ .3
+ 1 1 .8
+ 9 .2
+ 7 .0
+ 6.6
+ 10.8
+ 10 .1
+ 9 .1
134.5
128.9
124.5
131.1
121.8
120.8
+ 12.8
-.4
- 2.6
- .7
-.9
-. 1
+ .4
- 2.0
- 1 .4
- 1.0
- 1.6
107.0
- 0.8
-.3
+ .1
-.8
-.3
+ .2
+ .3
+ .2
-.3
- 1 .2
- .4
- 1.0
+ .6
- .3
+ .4
-.2
- 1.0
-.4
- 2 .4
- .4
-1 .7
- 2.2
-.5
-.8
.0
-.5
+16.4
+15.3
+18.2
+13.7
+15.7
+13.0
+15. 5
120.5
113.0
103.9
94.4
10 2.1
93.2
.0
111.6
120.3
112.4
- 1 .5
109.9
1 1 1 .2
112.7
113.9
128.0
113.1
114.0
127.8
96.7
97.0
112.3
103.5
97.3
95.6
112.3
104.2
- 1 .1
- 2 .5
- 1 .5
112.4
127.1
126.9
119.5
120.0
1
120.8
120 .1
1
+15.5
+16.3
+16.3
+14. 8
- 1 .3
119.8
113.4
112 .2
+15.1
+15.6
+14.1
+13.0
+14.5
+13.2
+ 1 2 .2
+13.1
+13.2
+13.9
+17.9
+16.5
-.6
- 1.0
-.4
-.7
119.8
+11.9
+14.2
+17.5
+16.6
+13.8
-.2
-.2
-.4
-.8
- 1 .1
506
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW ----AUGUST 1935
Retail Food Prices, 1913 to June 1935
A l t h o u g h current food prices have increased 13 percent since
June 1934 they are still 22 percent lower than the average for 1929.
Index numbers for all food and for each of the commodity groups
are at a level approximating that of the first 6 months of 1931. Ad
vances since the depression low, reached in the spring of 1933, are 37
percent for all food, 35 percent for cereals, 61 percent for meats, 21
percent for dairy products, and 33 percent for other foods.
Index numbers of the average retail cost of food in 51 large cities
of the country combined from 1913 to date are shown by commodity
groups in table 5. The accompanying chart shows the trend in the
retail cost of all food and of the commodity groups—cereals and bak
ery products, meats, dairy products, and other foods from January
15, 1929, to June 18, 1935, inclusive.
T able 5.— Indexes of th e A verage R etail C ost of 48 Foods in 51 L arge C ities
C om bined, by C om m odity G roups, 1913-35, Inclusive 1
[1913 = 100]
Year and
month
All
foods
Cere
als
and
Dairy
bak Meats prod
ery
ucts
prod
ucts
100.0
100.0
100.0
106.7
100.0
103.4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185.7
158.1
150.3
149.0
97.1
96.1
103.2
127.6
153.4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135.9
147.6
Other
foods
Year and
month
All
foods
Cere
als
and
Dairy
bak Meats prod Other
foods
ery
ucts
prod
ucts
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147. 1
121.3
160.4
176.2
175.5
170.7
167.2
164.1
158.0
135.9
B y years
1913
1914
1915
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
102.4
101.3
113.7
146.4
168.3
185.9
203.4
153.3
141.6
146.2
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198.0
232.1
179.8
159.3
156.9
100.0
103.8
100.1
125.8
160. 4
164. 5
191.5
236.8
156.1
147.0
154.3
1924
1925
1926.
1927.
1928
1929
1930
1931.
1932.
1933.
1934.
102.1
121. 1
99.7
126.6
147.9
150.2
163.0
171.3
169.9
179.2
188.4
175.8
147.0
116.0
102.7
117.1
115.3
114.9
114.6
114.3
152.1
150.9
150. 9
150.9
122 . 6
120 . 6
119.9
120 . 1
107. 6
108 4
108. 5
108 8
109. O'
109. 3
108.8
107.2-
115.9
118.5
119.8
151.1
151. 2
151.3
150. 9
151.0
151. 1
151. 3
151. 3
151. 1
151.2
152.3
151.2
150.7
123. 7
132. 3
135. 4
140 1
144. 0
149. 6
149. 8
151. 7
154. 3
155.1
157.0
160. 2
159. 3
109 7
112. 3
114. 4
117 3
116. 8
113. 3
112 4
115 8
114. 4
110 7
108 7
107 4
106 5
109. 3109.6
110.8
142.8
147. 1
145.5
148. 7
150.0
148.6
136.5
114.6
96.6
94.6
102.2
154. 3
169.8
175.9
160.8
152.4
157.0
148.0
115.9
98.6
98. 3105. 4
B y m o n th s f o r 1 9 3 4 a n d 1 9 3 5
1934
Jan. 2. . .
J a n .16..
Jan. 30..........
Feb. 13___
Feb. 27___
Mar. 13___
Mar. 27___
Apr. 10___
Apr. 24___
M ay 8. .......
M ay 22___
June 5.........
June 19___
July 3_____
July 17____
July 31____
Aug. 14___
Aug. 28___
Sept. 1 1 ___
Sept. 25___
Oct. 9_____
Oct. 23____
104.5
105. 2
105.8
108. 3
108.1
108.5
108.0
107.4
107. 3
108. 2
108. 4
108. 4
109.1
109.6
109.9
110. 4
111. 8
115. 3
116.8
116. 4
115. 6
115.4
142.4
142.5
142.8
143. 3
143.4
143. 4
144. 7
144. 7
144.0
144. 2
144. 4
145. 7
146. 5
146. 6
147. 7
149.0
149. 6
150.8
151. 6
151. 7
152. 0
151.8
100.8
102.3
103.0
106.7
107.8
109.1
109.7
110.5
112.6
114.9
114.3
116.1
117.8
120.0
120.5
120.2
12 1 .1
129.2
133.8
131. 7
128. 4
126.4
95.7
96.0
95.9
102.6
101.8
102.3
10 1.1
99.7
99.0
99.9
99.9
100.4
10 1.1
10 1.1
100.8
101.6
103. 4
105.6
105.4
105.3
105.4
105.4
104.6
105.8
106.7
106.5
105.7
104.8
104.1
102.7
10 2.1
102.4
102.7
10 1.2
10 1.2
101 . 2
101.4
101.9
103.8
107.2
108.8
108.7
108.1
108.8
1934—Con.
Nov. 6 ..........
Nov. 20____
Dec. 4_____
Dec. 18____
1935
Jan. 2______
J a n .15_____
Jan. 29_____
Feb. 12 ____
Feb. 26____
Mar. 12 ____
Mar. 26____
Apr. 9.__ __
Apr. 2 3 ___
M ay 7_____
M ay 21____
June 4__ _
June 18____
122.0
122. 3
121. 7
121.7
124.1
125.2
124.5
124.0
123.8
123.0
110. 1
111 8
110. 6
.
112.0'
114. 7
114.9
113. 2
112. 6 .
111.8
Th
0f citi6U !sed for this table increased from 39 cities in 1913 to 51 cities in 1920-35, inclusive
The number of commodities was increased from 42 to 48 on M ay 2 1 , 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.
107.8
108.3
RETAIL PRICES
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
508
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Food Prices in Hawaii
R e t a i l prices of 41 foods on the first of each month have been col
lected for Hawaii since February 1, 1930, and are shown separately
for Honolulu and other localities in the islands.
No commodity weightings are available for Hawaii, hence no
weighted indexes have been computed. In order to show changes in
the retail prices of 41 foods combined, unweighted indexes, based on
averages of the 11 monthly prices for 1930 as 100, have been com
puted for Honolulu and other localities. The unweighted index for
each reporting period is a simple average of the relative prices (1930 =
100) of the 41 foods reported for that date.
Table 6 shows unweighted indexes for Honolulu and other localities
in Hawaii by months since February 1930.
T able 8.— U nw eighted Indexes of A verage R e ta il P rices of 41 F oods in H aw aii
F eb. 1, 1930, to Ju n e 1, 1935, Inclusive
[1930=100]
Honolulu
Other localities
Month
January..........
February___
M arch......... .
April...............
M ay...... .........
Ju n e......... .
July________
August_____
Septem ber...
October_____
N ovem b er...
December___
1935
1934
1933
1932
1931
81. 34
83,48
85.24
86. 91
89.31
88.70
77. 73
77.67
79. 71
80.49
80.13
80.49
74.41
73.07
72.32
72.77
73.30
73.69
87.06
85.94
86. 00
85.11
83.09
81. 75
96.20
94.45
93.29
91. 28
91.65
90.99
81. 07
80. 60
81.16
81. 38
81.92
81. 61
74. 66
76. 76
77.10
77. 79
77. 65
77.71
77 96
76.97
76. 00
76.02
74.60
74. 25
90. 81 99 71
89. 89 100 07
89. 79 99 40
89.12 98 71
88.32 96.88
90 57
1930
101.13
100. 93
101.01
101. 58
101.46
1935
1934
1933
1932
1931
1930
80.20
79.70
82.17
84.16
85.34
85.23
77.93
77.33
77.95
78.02
78.05
77. 87
73 70
71.63
70.18
69. 87
71.09
72.12
80 05
85. 53
84.54
84. 76
83.47
81.97
95 01
93! 68
92.97
91.84
91.55
91.79
100. 78
101.89
102.31
101.97
79 98
80 59,
80 01
08
77 RQ
78 36
77 07
7ö! 80
75 98
75 68
75 00
74.29
yu. yz
yu. (0
100. 99
99.90
88.46
y/. io
95. 83
10 0 39
8o!
QQ (Y7
QQ QQ
CQ 97
00.
0/
10 1.12
Table 7 shows average retail prices of 41 articles of food for Honolulu
and other localities in Hawaii on April 1, May 1, and June 1, 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
509
RETA IL PRICES
T able 7.— A verage R eta il P rices o f 41 F ood s in H aw aii
April, M a y , and June 1935
Other localities
Honolulu
Article
Apr. 1
Cents
Cereals.
10.3
Bread, white, wheat..........................pound—
Flour, white, w heat...............................do----Corn meal________________________do----11.7
Rolled oats.................................... ...........do----12.5
Corn flakes______________ 8-oz. package—
27.1
Wheat cereal.......................... 28-oz. package..
19.2
Macaroni______________________ pound—
5.2
R ice.............................................. ............ do—
Meats:
Beef:
38.0
Sirloin steak........ ............................. do----31.9
Round steak.................................... do----31.4
Rib r o a st......................................... do----23.6
Chuck roast,......................— ....d o -----18.5
Plate.................................................. do—
33.1
Lamb, leg of.............................................do----Pork:
33.0
C hops._______ ___________ ____ do----43.7
Bacon, sliced................................ -do------53.9
Ilairi, sliced..................................... do—
32.6
Roasting chickens_____ ___________ do—.
21.9
Salmon, canned, red______________ 10-oz. can—
Dairy products:
40.6
B utter............................. ..................... p o u n d 28.7
Cheese_____________________ - .........do----19.0
M ilk, fresh.................................. ..........quart 7.7
Milk, evaporated___________14H-oz. can..
38.0
Eggs............ ................................................... d o zen Fats and oils:
19.0
Lard, pure............. ................. ............ pound —
22.7
Vegetable lard substitute.................... --do--Fruits and vegetables:
4.1
Bananas_____________
do----31.3
Oranges........ ..................
.dozen ..
12.3
Prunes____ _____________________pound. .
10.2
Raisins_____________
do----4.1
Cabbage..........................................
do----2.7
Potatoes......................................................do.....
9.6
Beans, navy............................................... do--6.4
Onions____ _____
do----7.3
Beans, with pork_____________ 16-oz. can—
16.5
Corn, canned_________________ no. 2 can—
17.3
Peas, canned_________
—do----13.7
Tomatoes, canned_________________ do---Miscellaneous foods:
31.1
Coffee........ ........................................... pound—
90.2
T ea_______________________________do---5.4
Sugar, granulated.....................................do----
6.0
8.8
M ay 1
June 1
Apr. 1
M ay 1
June 1
Cents
Cents
Cents
Cents
Cents
10.4
5.6
10.7
12.3
12.9
28.1
19.3
5.1
10.4
5.6
10.7
10.0
12.8
12.8
12.3
27.1
19.5
5.2
10.3
5.9
9.1
11.9
12.4
27.1
19.5
5.2
13.1
28.5
19.3
5.2
13.1
28.5
19.3
5.4
39.3
33.1
31.7
24.0
19.9
32.7
38.6
33.3
30.4
24.0
19.2
32.7
27.6
25.4
24.9
21.4
17.9
31.5
27.6
25.4
24.9
28.3
25.4
25.6
21.1
21. 6
17.9
31.5
17.9
31.5
32.1
44.1
51.9
34.6
21.7
32.1
45.1
53.0
34.9
21.7
29.8
43.1
37.4
35.0
19.2
30.0
43.9
37.3
35.0
19.2
30.4
45.0
38.1
35.0
19.4
39.6
28.2
19.0
7.9
41.5
38.9
27.9
19.0
7.9
42.5
44.3
27.5
15.0
9.0
35.7
42.1
28.0
15.0
9.3
36.4
40.5
27.7
15.0
9.3
39.2
21.0
21.0
25.0
23.3
23.6
21.2
25.0
21.4
25.0
21.5
4.1
33.1
4.2
32.6
3.3
48.2
3.3
50.4
12.0
10.2
12.0
11.2
10.2
10.8
11.2
10.8
3.5
3.2
9.8
3.0
7.6
16.3
17.3
13.6
3.7
3.3
9.5
7.7
7.6
16.3
17.3
13.6
6.9
6.9
7.7
16.2
17.0
14.4
7.8
16.2
17.0
14.4
3.3
50.4
11.4
10.9
3.0
3.3
6.9
6. 9
7.8
16.2
17.0
14.2
31.1
89.0
5.6
30.6
89.0
5.7
29.8
88.7
5.9
29.4
28.7
88.0
6.1
88.2
6.2
10.3
5.9
9.0
12.0
8.8
2.8
3.0
3.0
6.8
8.0
5.6
10.7
Coal Prices in Ju n e 1935
ETAIL prices of coal in June 1935 were generally lower than in
^ the corresponding month of last year. The downward trend in
coal prices since February continued through the month. A decrease
of seven-tenths of 1 percent was registered in the average price of
bituminous coal. Prices of stove and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania
anthracite receded six-tenths of 1 percent.
Retail prices of coal as of the 15th of each month are collected from
each of the 51 cities from which retail-food prices are obtained.
Prices of bituminous coal of several kinds are received from 38 of the
cities. Of these 38 cities. 12 also report on stove and chestnut sizes
E
3202—35----- 15
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
510
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
of Pennsylvania anthracite and 6 report on anthracite from other
fields. In addition to the 38 cities there are 13 cities which report
prices for Pennsylvania anthracite alone. For each city, prices are
shown for those coals sold in considerable quantities for household
use. Prices are for curb delivery of the kinds of coal sold to wage
earners. Extra charges for handling are not included.
T able 8.— A verage R etail Prices of Coal in L arge C ities C om bined
Ju n e and M ay 1935 and Ju n e 1934
Average retail price per
ton of 2,000 pounds
Relative retail price
(1913=100) i
Percentage change
June 15, 1935,
compared with—
Article
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
June 15 M ay 15 June 15 June 15 M ay 15 June 15 M ay 15 June 15
Bituminous coal (38 cities)..
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove (25 c i t i e s ) .. . ___
Chestnut (25 cities)____
$8. 05
$8.11
$8.18
148.1
149.2
150.5
- 0 .7
- 1 .6
11.82
11.63
11. 90
11. 70
12. 60
12.40
153.0
146.9
154.0
147.8
163.0
156.7
-.6
-.6
- 6 .1
- 6 .3
1 Average of January and July 1913.
Prices by Regions and Cities
A l t h o u g h bituminous-coal prices as a whole show a decrease
from May 15 to June 15, increases were reported for several cities in
each of the bituminous-coal-consuming areas. Retail prices in each
of 38 cities on June 15 and May 15, 1935, and June 15, 1934, are
shown in table 9.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
511
R ETA IL PRICES
T able 9.— A verage R etail Prices of B itu m in o u s Coal per T on of 2,000 P o u n d s,
by Cities
Ju n e an d M ay 1935 a n d Ju n e 1934
North Atlantic:
Pittsburgh:
Prepared sizes______
South Atlantic:
Atlanta:
Prepared sizes______
Baltimore:
Prepared sizes:
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
High volatile_____
Charleston, S. C.:
Prepared sizes......... .
Jacksonville:
Prepared sizes______
Norfolk:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile...........
Richmond:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile..........
Savannah:
Prepared sizes_____
Washington, D . C.:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile.. . .
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
M ixed......................
North Central:
Chicago:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile_____
Cincinnati:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile...........
Cleveland:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile........ .
Low volatile_____
Columbus:
Prepared sizes:
Hi>h volatile.
Low volatile_____
Detroit:
Prepared sizes:
TTigh volatile
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile--------
Regional area, city, and
grade and size of coal
June 15 M ay 15 June 15
$4.19
$4. 27
6.03
5.98
8. 50
7.18
7.23
10.00
10.00
9. 56
9. 66
7.00
8. 00
7.19
8.00
7.00
7.13
7. 33
8.12
7. 33
8.12
6. 90
6.90
i 9.12
i 9. 62
2 8.50
2 9. 72
2 8.61
2 9. 91
2 8. 02
28 . 02
8.10
10. 26
8.10
10. 25
7.86
7.86
4. 96
6. 63
4. 96
6. 63
6.85
8.16
7.05
9. 21
5. 75
7.25
|
8.50
5.81
7.08
6. 95
7. 73
6.95
7. 73
7.34
7.34
North Central—Con.
Indianapolis:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile........
Low volatile..........
Run
of mine:
6. 52
Low volatile.........
Kansas City:
Prepared sizes_____
9. 06
Milwaukee:
Prepared sizes:
7.43
High volatile........
Low volatile____
9. 92
Minneapolis:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile........
10.00
Low volatile____
Omaha:
Prepared sizes_____
8.00
Peoria:
8. 50
Prepared sizes_____
St. Louis:
7.38
Prepared sizes..........
St. Paul:
Prepared sizes:
7. 50
High volatile........
8. 37
Low volatile.........
Springfield, 111.:
7.00
Prepared sizes..........
South Central:
1 9.70
Birmingham:
Prepared sizes____
Dallas:
Prepared sizes____
28 . 56
Houston:
2 10 . 00
Prepared sizes____
Little Rock:
2 8.02
Prepared sizes........ .
Louisville:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile___
7.87
Low volatile.........
9. 66
Memphis:
Prepared sizes____
7.66
Mobile:
Prepared sizes........ .
New Orleans:
5.85
Prepared sizes........
7.50
Western:
Butte:
Prepared sizes........
6.81
Denver:
8. 75
Prepared sizes.
Los Angeles:
Prepared sizes.
5.94
Portland, Oreg.:
7.21
Prepared sizes.
Salt Lake City:
Prepared sizes.
San Francisco:
7.17
Prepared sizes.
8. 52
Seattle:
Prepared sizes.
7.98
$4. 54
1934
1935
1934
1935
Regional area, city, and
grade and size of coal
June 15 M ay 15 June 15
$5.91
7. 92
$5.90
7.92
.14
7. 95
6 . 86
6.94
7.00
5.92
5.98
5.99
7.97
10.03
7.89
10.14
7. 96
10. 36
10.45
13.12
10. 47
13.02
10.29
12. 78
8. 34
8. 38
8. 59
7.02
6.99
6.49
4.98
5. 65
6. 26
10.15
13. 21
10.28
13.13
10.14
13.06
4. 54
4. 54
4. 09
5.78
5. 86
6.12
10. 21
10. 43
10. 50
11. 29
11.36
10.80
8.10
8.33
8.28
5.41
7. 21
5.43
7.28
5.98
7. 75
7.23
7. 16
7.06
8.19
8. 29
7. 73
9. 60
10. 40
9. 80
9. 77
9.79
9.80
7.83
7. 82
8.10
16.27
16. 78
16.66
12.11
12.17
12.75
7.17
7.17
7.35
15.04
15. 04
15.04
9.94
9.88
9.92
1 All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made. This
additional charge has been included in the above price.
2 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
512
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
Retail prices of Pennsylvania coal for June were on the average
lower than for May, although increases were reported for 4 of the 25
cities from which prices are collected.
Table 10 shows anthractie prices in each of 31 cities on June 15
and May 15, 1935, and June 15, 1934.
T able 10.
A verage R etail Prices of A n th racite per T on of 2,000 P o u n d s, bv
Cities
Ju n e an d M ay 1935 an d Ju n e 1934
1935
1934
Regional area, city, and
size of coal
June 15 M ay 15 June 15
1935
1934
Regional area, city, and
size of coal
June 15 M ay 15! June 15
P e n n s y l v a n i a a n th r a c ite
North Atlantic:
Boston:
Stove...............
Chestnut.........
Bridgeport:
Stove________
Chestnut.........
Buffalo:
Stove________
Chestnut_____
Fall River:
Stove________
Chestnut_____
Manchester:
Stove________
Chestnut_____
Newark:
Stove________
Chestnut_____
New Haven:
Stove......... ......
C h e stn u t.......
New York:
Stove................
Chestnut..........
Philadelphia:
Stove............. .
Chestnut_____
Pittsburgh:
Stove________
Chestnut_____
Portland, Maine:
Stove................
Chestnut...........
Providence:
Stove................
Chestnut...........
Rochester:
Stove.................
Chestnut_____
$11.90
11.90
$11.90
11.90
$13.00
12.75
11.83
11.83
11.83
11.83
13.00
13.00
11.80
11.55
11.40
11.15
12.15
11.90
12.75
12.50
12.75
12.50
13.50
13.25
14.00
14.00
14.00
14.00
14.50
14.50
9.75
9.50
9.75
9.50
11.83
11.58
12.15
12.15
12.15
12.15
13.15
13.15
10.05
9.79
10.10
9.85
11.30
11.05
9.11
8. 87
9.15
8.99
11.25
11.00
12. 75
12.75
12.75
12.75
12.88
12.88
13. 50
13.25
13.00
12.75
13.75
13.50
13.25
12.95
13.25
12.95
14.25
14.00
11.13
10.89
11.04
10.80
12.73
12.48
North Atlantic—Con.
Scranton:
Stove.....................
Chestnut_______
South Atlantic:
Baltimore:
Stove__________
Chestnut_______
Norfolk:
Stove__________
C hestnut..............
Richmond:
Stove.................... .
Chestnut_______
Washington, D. C.:
Stove__________
Chestnut_______
North Central:
Chicago:
Stove___________
Chestnut...............
Cleveland:
Stove___ _______
Chestnut_______
Detroit:
Stove___ _______
Chestnut_______
Milwaukee:
Stove___________
Chestnut...............
Minneapolis:
Stove___________
Chestnut................
St. Louis:
Stove......................
Chestnut................
St. Paul:
Stove___________
Chestnut________
$7.53
7.28
$7.34
7.09
$8.25
8.00
9.75
9. 50
10.33
10.08
12.33
12.08
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.50
12.50
11.50
11. 50
11.50
11.50
12.50
12. 50
i 11.45
i 11.15
1 12. 26
i 11.98
i 13.40
i 13.10
13.38
13.13
13.38
13.13
12.73
12.48
12.36
12.10
13.13
12.88
11.63
11. 38
11.37
11.12
11.59
11.33
11.59
11. 59
12.60
12.35
12.74
12.49
12.69
12.44
14.95
14.70
14.95
14.70
14.80
14. 55
13.22
12.97
13. 56
13.31
13.48
13.23
14.95
14.70
14.95
14. 50
14.80
14.55
O th e r a n th r a c ite
North Central:
Kansas City:
Arkansas, furnace.. . $10.50
stove____
11.75
South Central:
Dallas:
Arkansas, egg______
13.00
Houston:
Arkansas, egg______
13.83
Little Rock:
Arkansas, egg............. 10.71
Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
'
$10.50
11.75
$10. 41
12. 22
13.25
14.00
13.83
14.00
10. 71
10. 50
Western:
Denver:
Colorado, fu rn a ce... $15.81
stove____
15.81
San Francisco:
N ew Mexico, egg___ 25.63
Colorado, egg............. 25.11
$15.81
15.81
$15.50
15. 50
25. 63
25.11
25.63
25.11
513
RETA IL PRICES
Retail Coal^Prices, 1913 to June 1935
R etail prices of coal were collected on January 15 and July 15 for
the years 1913 through 1919 from the cities covered in the retailfood-price study. Beginning with June 1920 prices have been col
lected on the 15th of each month.
Table 11 shows for large cities combined average prices of bitumi
nous coal and of Pennsylvania white-ash anthracite, stove, and chest
nut sizes, on January 15 and July 15,1913, to 1933, and for each month
from January 15, 1934, to June 15, 1935.
The accompanying chart shows the trend in retail prices of stove
and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania antharcite in 25 cities combined
and of bituminous coal in 38 cities combined. The trend is shown
by months from January 15, 1929, to June 15, 1935, inclusive.
T able 11. — A verage R etail Prices of Coal in L arge C ities C om bined 1
1913-35, Inclusive
P enn sylvan ia, anthra
cite, w h ite ash—
B itu m in o u s
C hestnut
S tove
Year and A v R e la
m onth
e r a g e tive
A v R e la A v R ela
price, price erage tive erage tive
(1913 price, price p rice, price
lb. = 100)
(1913
(1913
= 100)
lb. = 100) lb.
2,000
Dol.
1913:Yr.avJan—
J u ly 1914: J a m .
J u ly .
1915: Jan _
J u ly 1916: Jan
J u ly .
1917: Jan J u ly 1918: Jan_ _
J u ly .
1919: Jan_
J u ly .
1920: J a n . _
J u ly .
1921: J a n .
Ju ly 1922: Jan_ _
J u ly .
1923: Jan_
J u ly .
1924: J a n .
J u ly .
1925: Jan
J u ly 1926: JanJ u ly .
1927: Jan .
J u ly .
5. 43
5.48
5.39
5. 97
5.46
5.71
5. 44
5.69
5. 52
6.96
7.21
7. 68
7. 92
7.90
8.10
8
. 81
10. 55
11.82
10.47
9.89
9.49
11.18
10.04
9.75
. 94
9.24
. 61
9.74
. 70
9.96
. 91
8
8
8
8
2,000
2,000
100.0
100.8
Dol.
7.73
7.99
7. 46
7.80
7. 60
7.83
7.54
7.93
99.2
109.9
100.6
105.2
100.1
104.8
101.6 8.12
128.1
132.7
141.3
145.8
145.3
149.1
162.1
194.1
217.6
192.7
182.0
174.6
205.7
184.7
179.5
164.5
170.0
158.5
179.3
160.1
183.3
163.9
9. 29
9.08
9.88
9.96
11. 51
12.14
12. 59
14.28
15.99
14. 90
14. 98
14.87
15. 43
15.10
15. 77
15.24
15. 45
15.14
(2)
100.0
103.4
96.6
100.9
98.3
101.3
97.6
102.7
105.2
.2
117.5
127.9
128.9
149. 0
157.2
162.9
184.9
207.0
192.8
193.9
192.4
199.7
195.5
204.1
197.2
Dol.
01.0
8.00 198.3
7.78
7.99 101.0
7. 73
8.13
8.28
9. 40
9.16
10.03
10.07
. 61
12.17
12. 77
14. 33
16.13
14. 95
15. 02
14.92
15.46
15.05
15. 76
15.10
15.37
196.0 14.93
120
11
200.0
(2)
100.0
7.91
8.15 103.0
7. 68 97.0
(2)
97.7
102.7
104.6
118.8
115.7
126. 7
127.3
146.7
153.3
161.8
181.1
203.8
188.9
189.8
188.5
195.3
190.1
199.1
190.7
194.2
188.6
(2)
15. 43 199.7 15.19 191.9
15. 66 202. 7 15. 42 194.8
15.15 196. 1 14.81 187.1
B itu m in o u s
P enn sylvan ia, anthra
cite, w hite ash—
S tove
Year and
m onth
A v R e la
erage tiv e
A v
price, price erage
(1913 price,
lb. = 100)
lb.
2,000
2,000
9. 30
8.69
9.09
8.62
9.11
. 65
8.87
. 09
8.17
7.50
7. 46
7. 64
8.24
. 22
. 23
8.18
8.13
8.18
. 23
. 30
8.31
. 35
N ov.
. 35
. 36
Dec-.37
1935: Jan__
. 39
Feb—
. 39
M ar.
A pr_. 8.24
8.11
M ay_
. 05
Ju n e .
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
R e la A v
tiv e erage
price price,
(1913
= 100) lb.
2,000
171.1
159.9
167.2
158.6
167.6
159.1
163.2
148.9
150.3
138.0
137.3
140.7
151. 6
151.3
151.5
150.5
149.5
150.5
151.5
152.6
153.0
153.6
153.7
153.8
154.0
154.4
154.3
151.6
149.2
148.1
15.44
14.91
15.38
14.94
15.33
14. 84
15.12
14. 61
15.00
13.37
13.82
12.47
13.44
13.46
13.46
13.14
12. 53
12.60
12. 79
13. 02
13.25
13.32
13. 25
13. 22
13. 21
13.22
13. 21
12. 67
11.90
11.82
Rela
tiv e
price
(1913
= 100)
Dol.
Dol.
Dol.
1928: J a n -J u ly .
1929: J a n ..
J u ly 1930: J a n -J u ly .
1931: J a n -J u ly .
1932: Jan _J u ly .
1933: J a n -.
J u ly .
1934: J a n ..
F e b ..
M ar.
Apr__
M ay.
June.
July A u g—
S e p t.
Oct - -
C hestnut
199.8
192.9
199.1
193.4
198.4
192.1
195.8
189.1
194.2
173.0
178.9
161.3
174.0
174.3
174.2
170.1
162. 2
163.0
165.5
168.5
171.4
172.4
171.6
171.1
171.0
171.1
171.0
164.0
154.0
153.0
15. 08
14. 63
15. 06
14.63
15.00
14. 53
14.88
14.59
14.97
13.16
13. 61
. 26
13. 25
13. 27
13. 27
12.94
12. 34
12.40
. 60
12. 83
13.05
13.11
13.04
13.02
13.01
13.02
13.01
12.47
11.70
11.63
12
12
190.6
184.9
190.3
184.8
189.5
183.6
188.1
184.3
189.1
166.2
171.9
155. 0
167.4
167.7
167.6
163. 5
155.9
156.7
159.2
162.1
164. 9
165.7
164.8
164. 5
164.4
164. 5
164.4
157.6
147. 8
146. 9
1 The number of cities used for this table varied during the years shown. For bituminous coal the number
increased from 27 cities in 1913 to 45 cities in 1920, then decreased to 38 cities in 1923-35. For Pennsylvania
anthracite the number increased from 27 cities in 1915 to 39 cities in 1919-20, then decreased to 25 cities in
1934-35.
2Insufficient data.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
514
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
W holesale Prices in Ju n e 1935
SLIGHT recession marked the trend of wholesale commodity
prices during June. The composite index for the month stood
at 79.8 percent of the 1926 average, a decline of 0.5 percent compared
with the May level.
Despite the downward movement in commodity prices during
June, the net increase for the first 6 months of the year has been over
1 percent. The June index is 7 percent above a year ago and more
than 22 percent above 2 years ago, when the indexes were 74.6 and
65.0, respectively.
A weakening in the market prices of farm products and foods was
the principal factor contributing to the decrease in the combined
index from May to June. Fractional decreases, however, were
recorded by the chemicals and drugs, house-furnishing goods, and
miscellaneous-commodities groups. Hides and leather products,
textile products, fuel and lighting materials, metals and metal pro
ducts, and building materials, on the other hand, were higher.
Table 1 summarizes the changes in wholesale prices during the
month interval, by commodity groups.
A
T able 1.— N um ber of C om m odities C hanging in P rice F ro m M ay to Ju n e 1935
Groups
Increases
Decreases
No change
134
165
485
20
20
10
30
12
7
17
9
2
7
43
66
4
15
4
9
7
7
3
7
4
36
27
67
8
114
62
73
56
38
—
The group of raw materials, which includes basic farm products,
hides and skins, raw silk, hemp, jute, sisal, crude petroleum, scrap
steel, crude rubber, and similar commodities declined 1.5 percent
from the preceding month’s level. The present level of the group is,
however, 13.5 percent higher than in June 1934. Finished products,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
515
516
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W HOLESALE PRICES
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
518
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
among which are included more than 500 manufactured articles,
decreased fractionally during the month, but the index for the group
is still 5 percent higher than in the corresponding month of last year.
The index for the group of semimanufactured articles, which is
based on prices of raw sugar, leather, iron and steel bars, pig iron, and
like commodities, advanced 0.5 percent. Compared with June 1934,
the index for this group shows a gain of 1.4 percent.
The large industrial group, “ All commodities other than farm
products and foods”, again rose 0.5 percent. Although the index for
this group has advanced 1 percent in the past 2 months, it is still
fractionally below the level of a year ago. The nonagricultural
group which includes all commodities other than farm products was
unchanged for June and is 4 percent above a year ago.
Farm-product prices dropped nearly 3 percent from May to June,
due to sharp declines in prices of grains and livestock and poultry.
The subgroup of “ Other farm products” including cotton, eggs, bay,
hops, fresh milk at Chicago, peanuts, seed, tobacco, onions, and white
potatoes, also was lower. Increases, on the other hand, were recorded
for hogs, lambs, fresh apples, lemons, oranges, sweetpotatoes, and
wool. The index for the farm products group as a whole, 78.3, is
nearly 24 percent above a year ago and 47 percent above 2 years ago.
Wholesale food prices declined 1.5 percent because of lower prices
for butter, cheese, and milk; meats; cereal products; and other foods.
Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, were seasonally higher.
Important food items for which lower prices were reported were but
ter, cheese, bread, oatmeal, flour, macaroni, dried fruits, canned corn,
peas, string beans, and tomatoes, fresh beef, mutton, veal, dressed
poultry, cocoa beans, coffee, oleo oil, pepper, and vegetable oils.
Higher prices were reported for corn flakes, rice, cured beef, lamb,
cured and fresh pork, canned spinach, baked beans, and asparagus,
lard, raw sugar, and edible tallow. The food index for June, 82.8,
is 18.6 percent above the corresponding month of a year ago and
35.3 percent above the corresponding month of 2 years ago.
eakening prices of fertilizer materials and chemicals in the
group of chemicals and drugs resulted in the index dropping to 80.7
percent of the 1926 average. Drugs and pharmaceuticals and mixed
fertilizers were higher.
A sharp advance occurred in crude rubber prices and lower prices
were reported for cattle feed and paper and pulp. Automobile tires
and tubes remained unchanged.
A minor decrease was registered for the house-furnishing goods
group, due to lower prices for furnishings. Average prices for fur
niture were stationary.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W HOLESALE PRICES
519
Fuel and lighting materials advanced 1.5 percent because of higher
prices for coal, gas, electricity, and petroleum products. Coke was
unchanged at the May level.
Pronounced advances in prices of clothing, woolen and worsted
goods, and other textile products caused the increase of 1 percent in
the group of textile products. Cotton goods, knit goods, and silk
and rayon, on the other hand, were lower.
The index for the group of hides and leather products rose to 88.9.
Average prices of shoes, hides and skins, and leather were higher.
Other leather products remained unchanged.
Advancing prices of lumber and certain other building materials
were responsible for the increase of 0.6 percent in the buildingmaterials group. The subgroups of brick and tile and paint and
paint materials were fractionally lower. Average prices of cement
and structural steel were steady.
In the metals and metal-products'group falling prices of plumbing
and heating fixtures and nonferrous metals were more than offset by
rising prices of iron and steel and motor vehicles. Prices of agri
cultural implements showed little or no fluctuation. The index for
the group of metals and metal products rose to 86.9.
The index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is composed of 784
price series weighted according to their relative importance in the
country’s markets, and based on average prices for the year 1926 as
100.
The index numbers for the groups and subgroups of commodities
for June 1935 in comparison with May 1935 and June of each of
the past 6 years are given in table 2.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
520
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
T able 2.— Index N um bers of W holesale Prices by G roups an d Subgroups of
C om m odities
[1926 = 100]
Groups and subgroups
June May June June June June June June
1935 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929
80.2
All commodities________________________________
79.8
Farm products_________________________________
G r a in s.___________________________________
In vast nok and poultry _____________________
Other farm products
____ _________ _
Foods ____ ________ -- - ____________________
Butter cheese find milk
_________ _____
_________________________
Cereal products
Fruits and vegetables_________ ________ ____
Meats
__ _______________________________
Other fo o d s ________ _______________________
Hides and leather products______________________
Boots and shoes
_______________ ________
Hides and skins_____________________________
_______ ________________ _______
Leather
Other leather products________ ____________
Textile products ______________________________
Clothing
____ - - _______________________
Cotton goods
____________ ___________ - __
Knit goods
_____________________________
Silk and rayon _______ __________________
Woolen and worsted goods___________________
Other textile products___ ___________________
Fuel and lighting materials______________________
Anthracite - ____ ______________________
Bituminous c o a l___________________________
Coke
__ _______________________________
Electricity ________________________________
Gas
_______ ____________________________
Petroleum products_________________________
Metals and metal products ___ _______________
Agricultural implements_________________ - Iron and steel_____ _____ ______________ _____
Motor vehicles _______ _____________________
Nonferrous m e ta ls ____________________ _____
Plumbing and heating_______________________
Building materials ________ _________________
Brick and tile _____________________________
Cement
_ _____________________________
Lumber
_________ ____________________
Paint and paint materials____________________
Plumbing and h e a tin g _______ ____ _____ ___
Structural steel ____________________________
Other buildinv materials.
__
Chemicals and drugs____________________________
____________________ .
Chemicals
- __Drugs and pharmaceuticals__________________
Fertilizer materials _______________________ _
Mixed fertilizers ________ ________________
House-furnishing eoods__________________________
Furnishings________________________________
Furniture________________ ___ ___ _______ - Miscellaneous.- - _________ - - - - - - _____ ____
Automobile tires and tubes____ - - __________
Cattle feed—- _________________ - _________
Paper and p u l p . __- __________ ___________
Rubber, crude - ___________________________
Other miscellaneous________________ _________
Raw materials
___________ - ____ _ Semimanufactured articles_________ ______ _______
Finished products__ —
______________________
Nonagricultural commodities______ - __ - . . .
All commodities other than farm products and foods.
78.3 80.6
76.9 83.2
84.8 87.6
74.3 75.0
82.8 84.1
74.6 77.7
90.5 92.3
68.7 66.3
94.5 97.0
77.2 77.7
88.9 88.3
97.3 97.2
78.0 76.1
80.5 79.6
84.4 84.4
70.1 69.4
80.7 78.5
82.5 82.7
59.5 60.4
27.2 27.6
75.6 73.5
68.9 68.2
74.2 73.1
74.0 73.0
96.1 95.7
88.7 88.7
88.7
(9
92.0
0)
53.2 52.2
86.9 86. 6
93.6 93.6
87.1 86.6
94. 7 94.4
69.1 69.2
66.2 67.1
85.3 84.8
89.2 89.3
94.9 94.9
81.6 79.8
79.8 79.9
66.2 67.1
92.0 92.0
90.0 89.8
80.7 81.2
86.3 87.5
74.3 74.2
65.7 65.9
74.5 73.1
80.5 80.6
83.9 84 1
77.1 77.1
68.4 68.7
45.0 45.0
92.2 107.0
79.7 80.0
26.0 24.9
80.1 79.4
76.4 77.6
73.9 73.5
82.2 82.4
80.0 80.0
78.0 77.6
1 Data not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
74.6
65.0
63.3 53.2
72.4 57.4
48.3 46.6
69.4 56.2
69.8 61.2
73.0 63.1
89.2 70.7
70.1 63.9
62.2 52.4
62.8 61.1
87.1 82.4
98.4 85.5
70.1 81.4
75.3 74.3
86.8 78.5
72.7 61.5
82.6 64.5
86.0 67.1
62.8 50.9
25.0 35.2
80.8 68.8
74.8 73.6
72.8 61.5
76.9 76.8
95.0 78.3
85.0 75.3
90.6 91.4
97.5 101.7
50.6 34.4
87.7 79.3
91.1 83.0
88.6 76.2
95.0 90.4
68.5 63.2
75.1 67.4
87.8 74.7
91.1 77.0
93.9 81.8
86.3 67.4
80.3 71.9
75.1 67.4
94. 5 81.7
92.0 80. 6
75.6 73.7
78.6 81.5
73.1 55.5
67.9 68.0
73.4 63.0
82.0 73.4
85.1 73.6
79.0 73.4
70.2 60.8
44.6 40.1
86.9 55.8
83.5 73.5
27.7 12.6
83.1 75.0
67.3 56. 2
72.9 65.3
78.2 69.0
76.9 67.4
78.2 68.9
86.8
95.2
45.7 65.4 88.9
37.7 56.0 78.7
46.7 61.9 88.5
48.2 70.8 92.7
58.8 73.3 90.8
57.4 78.8 90.2
66.8 74.3 82.9
62.4 76.4 109.0
56.0 71.3 99.9
55.4 68.5 78.1
70.8 88.0 102.4
87.5 94.6 103.0
32.5 65.5 99.0
58.7 87.8 102.9
96.4 101.4 105.5
52.7 66.6 81.6
62.2 76.3 86.7
51.0 67.6 87.2
49.6 59.8 81.8
27. 5 41.9 60.5
55.0 68.0 79.7
66.7 75.5 86.2
71.6 62.9 78.9
85.3 88.8 85.8
81.8 83.2 88.6
76.9 81.5 84.0
105.5 98.6 97.5
106.3 101.9 99.7
48.2 30.7 63.6
79.9 84.4 91.9
84.9 94.2 94.5
79.8 83.5 89.0
93.8 94.2 100.8
47.5 61.2 79.8
66.7 86.6 88.3
70.8 79.3 89.9
76.1 83.7 88.5
77.1 77.7 91.7
57.6 68.5 85.6
73.3 80.0 92.4
66.7 86.6 88.3
81.7 84.3 86.8
77.6 85.4 93.0
73.1 79.4 89.4
78.6 82.5 94.0
58.3 62.6 68.5
68.0 79.8 85.3
69.0 82.4 94.1
74.7 86.4 93.4
75.4 83.4 92.3
74.0 89.8 94.6
64.2 69.7 78.4
39.6 46.0 50.3
42.1 61.1 102.0
76.2 80.7 86.4
5.8 13.3 25.9
84.6 88.2 96.9
53.2 64.7 84.9
57.6 69.3 81.7
70.0 76.0 88.4
67.8 73.4 86.3
70.1 74.1 85.7
103.3
91.0
111.0
102.3
99.1
105.2
85.1
97.4
111.5
90.3
107.9
106.1
110.9
110.3
105.9
90.1
90.0
97.8
88.7
79.9
88.3
92.6
84.5
88.1
89.6
84.7
94.4
94.4
76.6
101.2
99.0
95.5
107.8
105.5
95.7
95.2
93.1
94.6
94.0
92.6
95.7
99.6
97.4
93.4
97.8
70.8
92.6
96.7
94.6
93.8
95.5
82.4
54.5
106.2
89.2
42.7
99.2
96.6
92.4
95.0
93.5
91.9
63.9
72.1
.521
W HOLESALE PRICES
Index Numbers and Purchasing Power of the Wholesale Price Dollar, by
Commodity Groups, 1913 to June 1935
I n d e x numbers of wholesale prices and purchasing power of the
dollar by groups of commodities, by years from 1913 to 1934, inclusive,
by months from January 1934 to June 1935, inclusive, and by weeks
for June 1935 are shown in tables 3 and 4.
T able 3.— Index N um bers of W holesale Prices by G roups of C om m odities
[1926=100]
Period
B y years:
1913_______ ____
1914____________
1915____________
1916____________
1917____________
1918____________
1919____ _______
1920____________
1921____________
1922____________
1923............. ...........
1924_______ ____
1925____________
1926____________
1927____________
1928-___________
1929______ ____ _
1930____________
1931____________
1932____________
1933_______ ____
1934____________
By months:
1934:
J a n u a ry ___
February. . .
March_____
April_______
M ay...............
June...... .........
J u l y . .. . ........
August_____
Septem ber...
October____
N ovem ber...
December—
1935:
J a n u a r y ___
February___
March_____
April_______
M ay_______
June_______
By weeks:
June 1, 1935_____
June 22, 1935____
June 29, 1935____
Hides Tex
Farm
and
tile
prod Foods leather prod
prod ucts
ucts
ucts
MisChem HouseFuel Metals
furand Build
celing
icals nishand metal
lanelight prod mate and
ing
drugs goods
ous
rials
ing
ucts
All
com
modi
ties
71.5
71.2
71.5
84.4
129.0
148.0
157.6
150.7
88.4
93.8
98.6
100.0
109.8
100. 0
99.4
105.9
104.9
88.3
64.8
48.2
51.4
65.3
64.2
64.7
65.4
75.7
104.5
119.1
129. 5
137.4
90.6
87.6
92.7
91.0
100.2
100.0
96.7
101.0
99.9
90.5
74.6
61.0
60.5
70.5
68.1
70.9
75.5
93.4
123.8
125. 7
174.1
171.3
109.2
104.6
104.2
101.5
105.3
100.0
107.7
121.4
109.1
100.0
86.1
72.9
80.9
86.6
57.3
54.6
54.1
70.4
98. 7
137.2
135.3
164.8
94.5
100.2
111.3
106.7
108.3
100. 0
95.6
95.5
90.4
80.3
66.3
54.9
64.8
72.9
61.3
56.6
51.8
74.3
105.4
109.2
104.3
163.7
96.8
107.3
97.3
92.0
96.5
100.0
88.3
84.3
83.0
78.5
67.5
70.3
66.3
73.3
90.8
80.2
86.3
116.5
150.6
136.5
130.9
149.4
117.5
102.9
109.3
106.3
103.2
100.0
96. 3
97.0
100.5
92.1
84.5
80.2
79.8
86.9
56.7
52.7
53.5
67.6
88.2
98.6
115.6
150.1
97.4
97.3
108.7
102.3
101.7
100.0
94.7
94. 1
95.4
89. 9
79.2
71.4
77.0
86.2
80.2
81.4
112.0
160.7
165.0
1S2.3
157.0
164.7
115.0
100.3
101.1
98.9
101.8
100.0
96.8
95 6
94.2
89.1
79.3
73.5
72.6
75.9
56.3
56.8
56.0
61.4
74.2
93.3
105.9
141.8
113.0
103.5
108.9
104.9
103.1
100.0
97.5
95.1
94.3
92.7
84.9
75.1
75.8
81.5
93.1
89.9
86.9
100 6
122.1
134. 4
139.1
167.5
109.2
92.8
99.7
93.6
109.0
100.0
91.0
85.4
82.6
77.7
69.8
64.4
62.5
69.7
69.8
68.1
69.5
85.5
117.5
131.3
138.6
154.4
97.6
96.7
100.6
98.1
103.5
100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
73.0
64.8
65.9
74.9
58.7
61.3
61.3
59.6
59.6
63.3
64.5
69.8
73.4
70.6
70.8
72.0
64.3
66.7
67.3
66.2
67.1
69.8
70.6
73.9
76.1
74.8
75.1
75.3
89.5
89.6
88.7
88.9
87.9
87.1
86.3
83.8
84.1
83.8
84.2
85.1
76.5
76.9
76.5
75.3
73.6
72.7
71.5
70.8
71.1
70.3
69.7
70.0
73.1
72.4
71.4
71.7
72.5
72.8
73.9
74.6
74.6
74.6
74.4
73.7
85.5
87.0
87.1
87.9
89.1
87.7
86.8
86.7
86.6
86.3
86.2
85.9
86.3
86.6
86.4
86.7
87.3
87.8
87.0
85.8
85.6
85.2
85.0
85.1
74.4
75.5
75.7
75.5
75.4
75.6
75.4
75.7
76.5
77.1
76.9
77.8
80.8
81.0
81.4
81.6
82.0
82.0
81.6
81.8
81.8
81.7
81.3
81.2
67.5
68.5
69.3
69.5
69.8
70.2
69.9
70.2
70.2
69.7
70.6
71.0
72.2
73.6
73.7
73.3
73.7
74.6
74.8
76.4
77. 6
76. 5
76.5
76.9
77.6
79.1
78.3
80.4
80.6
78.3
79.9
82.7
81.9
84.5
84.1
82.8
86.2
86.0
85.4
86.3
88.3
88.9
70.3
70.1
69.4
69.2
69.4
70.1
72.9
72.5
73.0
72.8
73.1
74.2
85.8
85.8
85.7
85.9
86.6
86.9
84.9
85.0
84.9
84.6
84.8
85.3
79.3
80.4
81.5
81.0
81.2
80.7
81.2
80.7
80.7
80.7
80.6
80.5
70.7
70.1
69.2
68.7
68.7
68.4
78.8
79. 5
79.4
80.1
80.2
79.8
80.7
79.9
79.9
78.0
77.1
84.4
83.7
83.4
82.5
81.6
89.9
89.1
89.4
89.3
89.6
69.3
69.3
69.1
69.7
69.7
74.4
74.7
74.9
74.7
74.8
85.6
85.6
85.9
85.9
86.1
84.9
85.1
85.3
85.1
84.9
80.8
80.7
80.4
80.0
79.5
82.0
81.8
81.7
81.7
81.8
69.0
68.9
68.4
68.4
68.0
80.2
79.9»
79.8
79.8
78.9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
522
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
T able 4.— P urchasin g Pow er of th e W holesale P rice D ollar by G roups o f
C om m odities
BL
[1926=$!]
--------------- —
Period
Hides Tex
House- MisFuel Metals
Farm
and
and Build Chem furand metal
ing
icals nishcelprod Foods leather tile
laneucts
prod prod light prod mate and
ing
ucts
ing
rials drugs
ous
ucts
ucts
goods
All
com
modi
ties
$1. 399 $1. 558 $1. 468 $1. 745 $1,631 $1.101 $1.764 $1. 247 $1. 776 $1.074
1.404 1.546 1.410 1.832 1. 767 1.247 1.898 1.229 1. 761 1.112
1.399 1. 529 1.325 1.848 1.931 1.159 1.869
.893 1. 786 1.151
1.185 1.321 1. 071 1.420 1.346
.858 1.479
.622 1.629
.994
.775
.957
.808 1.013
.949
.664 1.134
.606 1. 348
.819
.676
.840
.796
.729
.916
.733 1.014
.549 1.072
.744
. 635
.772
.574
.739
.764
.959
.865
.637
.944
.719
.664
.728
.584
.607
.611
.669
.666
.607
.705
.597
1.131 1.104
.916 1.058 1.033
.851 1.027
.870
.885
.916
1.066 1.142
.956
.998
.932
.972 1.028
.997
.966 1.078
1.014 1.079
.960
.898 1. 028
.915
.920
.989
.918 1.003
1.000 1.099
.985
.937 1.087
.941
.978 1.011
.953 1.068
.911
.998
.950
.923 1.036
.969
.983
.982
.970
.917
1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
1.006 1.034
.929 1.046 1.133 1.038 1.056 1.033 1. 026 1.099
.944
.990
.824 1. 047 1.186 1.031 1. 063 1.046 1.052 1.171
. 953 1.001
.917 1.106 1. 205
.995 1. 048 1. 062 1.060 1. 211
1.133 1.105 1.000 1. 245 1.274 1.086 1.112 1.122 1.079 1. 287
1.543 1. 340 1. 161 1.508 1.481 1.183 1. 263 1. 261 1.178 1.433
2.075 1. 639 1. 372 1.821 1.422 1.247 1.401 1.361 1.332 1. 553
1. 946 1.653 1.236 1.543 1.508 1.253 1.299 1.377 1.319 1.600
1.531 1.418 1.155 1. 372 1.364 1.151 1.160 1. 318 1.227 1.435
$1. 433
1.468
1.439
1.170
.851
.762
.722
. 648
1.025
1.034
.994
1.019
.966
1.000
1.048
1.034
1.049
1.157
1. 370
1. 543
1. 517
1.335
1.704
1. 631
1.631
1. 678
1.678
1. 580
1. 550
1.433
1. 362
1.416
1.412
1.389
1. 555
1.499
1.486
1.511
1.490
1.433
1.416
1.353
1.314
1.337
1.332
1. 328
1.117
1.116
1.127
1.125
1.138
1.148
1.159
1.193
1.189
1.193
1.188
1.175
1.307
1.300
1.307
1. 328
1. 359
1.376
1.399
1.412
1.405
1.422
1.435
1.429
1.368
1. 381
1.401
1.395
1.379
1.374
1.353
1.340
1. 340
1.340
1. 344
1.357
1.170
1.149
1.148
1.138
1.122
1.140
1.152
1.153
1.155
1.159
1.160
1.164
1.159
1.155
1.157
1.153
1.145
1.139
1.149
1.166
1.168
1.174
1.176
1.175
1.344
1.325
1. 321
1. 325
1.326
1.323
1.326
1. 321
1. 307
1.297
1.300
1.285
1. 238
1.235
1.229
1. 225
1.220
1.220
1.225
1.222
1. 222
1.224
1.230
1.232
1.481
1.460
1. 443
1. 439
1. 433
1.425
1.431
1.425
1.425
1.435
1.416
1.408
1.385
1. 359
1. 357
1. 364
1. 357
1.340
1. 337
1 309
1.289
1. 307
1 307
1.300
1.289
1.264
1. 277
1. 244
1. 241
1.277
1. 252
1.209
1.221
1.183
1.189
1.208
1.160
1.163
1.171
1.159
1.133
1.125
1. 422
1.427
1.441
1.445
1. 441
1.427
1.372
1.379
1. 370
1.374
1.368
1.348
1.166
1.166
1.167
1.164
1.155
1.151
1.178
1.176
1.178
1.182
1.179
1.172
1.261
1.244
1.227
1.235
1.232
1. 239
1.232
1. 239
1.239
1.239
1.241
1.242
1. 414
1 427
1. 445
1.456
1.456
1. 462
1 269
1 258
1 259
1. 248
1 247
1. 253
1. 239
1. 252
1.252
1.282
1. 297
1.185
1.195
1.199
1.212
1.225
1.112
1.122
1.119
1.120
1.116
1.443
1.443
1.447
1.435
1.435
1.344
1.339
1.335
1.339
1.337
1.168
1.168
1.164
1.164
1.161
1.178
1.175
1.172
1.175
1.178
1.238
1.239
1.244
1.250
1.258
1. 220
1.222
1.224
1. 224
1.222
1 44Q
1 4SI
1 462
1 462
1.471
1 247
1 252
1 253
1 261
1.267
B y years:
1914...— - —-----1915____________
&916—---------------1917........................
1918—__________
1919_______ ____
1920........................
1921........................
1922...................... .
1923........................
1924_____ ____ _.
1925____________
1926.____ ______
1927____________
1928____________
1929.___________
1930____________
1931____________
1932........................
1933____________
1934____________
B y months:
1934:
January____
February___
March_____
April_______
M ay...............
June_______
July-----------August_____
Septem ber...
October____
N ovem ber.. .
D ecem ber.. .
1935:
January.........
February___
March_____
ADril___ . . .
M ay_______
June_______
B y weeks:
June 1, 1935_____
June 8, 1935____
June 15, 1935____
June 22, 1935____
June 29, 1935____
The price trend since 1913 is shown in table 5 for the following
groups of commodities: Raw materials, semimanufactured articles,
finished products, nonagricultural commodities, and all commodities
other than farm products and foods.
In the nonagricultural commodities group all commodities other
than those designated as “ Farm products” have been combined into
one group. All commodities, with the exception of those included in
the groups of farm products and foods, have been included in the
group of “ All commodities other than farm products^and foods.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
523
W HOLESALE PKICES
The list of commodities included under the designations of “ Raw
materials ”, “ Semimanufactured articles”, and “ Finished products
is contained in the October 1934 issue of the pamphlet on Wholesale
Piices.
T able 5.— Index N um bers of W holesale Prices by Special G roups
of C om m odities
[1926=100]
Year
All
com
Non- modi
Semities
agrimanu- Fin
other
culRaw
ished tural
facthan
mate tured
prod com farm
rials
ucts modi prod
arti
cles
ucts
ties
and
foods
74.9
68.8
1913..
. ....................
70.0
67.6
1914..
. ....................
81.2
67.2
1915..............
1916............. 82.6 118.3
150.4
122.6
1917
......................
135.8 153.8
1918
___________
145.9 157.9
1919
......................
151.8 198.2
1920
___________
96.1
88.3
1921
___________
98.9
96.0
1922
___________
98.5 118.6
1923
___________
97.6 108.7
1924
___________
106.7 105.3
1925
___________
100.0 100.0
1926
___________
94.3
96.5
1927
___________
94.5
99.1
1928
___________
93.9
97.5
1929
___________
81.8
84.3
1930
___________
69.0
65.6
1931
___________
59.3
55.1
1932
___________
65.4
56.5
1933
___________
72.8
68.6
1934
___________
69.4
67.8
68.9
82.3
109.2
124.7
130. 6
149.8
103.3
96.5
99.2
96.3
100.6
100.0
95.0
95.9
94.5
88.0
77.0
70.3
70.5
78.2
69.0
66.8
68.5
85.3
113.1
125.1
131.6
154.8
100.1
97.3
100.9
97.1
101.4
100.0
94.6
94.8
93.3
85.9
74.6
68.3
69.0
76.9
70.0
66.4
68.0
88.3
114.2
124.6
128.8
161.3
104.9
102.4
104.3
99.7
102.6
100.0
94.0
92.9
91.6
85.2
75.0
70.2
71.2
78.4
______
Month
1934:
January---February. _
M arch.. . .
April-------M ay............
June______
July— ........
August----September.
October___
N ovem ber.
December..
1935:
January---February..
March____
April_____
M ay______
June______
All
com
Non- modi
Semities
agriFin
cul- other
Raw manuished tural than
facmate tured
prod com farm
rials
ucts modi prod
arti
cles
ucts
ties
and
foods
64.1
66.0
65.9
65.1
65.1
67.3
68.3
71.6
73.9
72.1
72.2
73.1
71.9
74.8
74.3
73.9
73.7
72.9
72.7
72.6
71.8
71.5
71.1
71.0
76.0
77.0
77.2
77.1
77.8
78.2
78.2
79.2
80.1
79.2
79.3
79.5
75.0
76.1
76.2
76.2
76.6
76.9
76.9
77.8
78.4
77.6
77.7
77.8
78.3
78.7
78.5
78.6
78.9
78.2
78.4
78.3
78.3
78.0
78.0
78.0
76.6
77.4
76.6
77.5
77.6
76.4
71.2
71.7
71.8
72.3
73.5
73.9
80.8
81.5
81.7
82.3
82.4
82.2
78.9
79.4
79.5
79.9
80.0
80.0
77.7
77.4
77.3
77.2
77.6
78.0
Table 6 shows the purchasing power of the dollar in terms of the
special groups of commodities as shown by index numbers contained
in table 5. The figures are shown by years from 1913 to 1934, in
clusive, and by months from January 1934 to June 1935, inclusive.
The method used in determining the purchasing power of the dollar
is explained on page 524.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
524
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 6.— P urchasing Pow er of th e W holesale P rice D ollar by Special G roups
of C om m odities
_______
Year
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
_
_
_
_
_
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
____
__
__
__
__
[1926=100]
NonSemiagriRaw manu Fin
culfacished
mate
tural
rials tured prod com
arti
ucts modi
cles
ties
$1.453
1.479
1.488
1. 211
.816
.736
.685
.659
1. 133
1.042
1. 015
1. 025
.937
1. 000
1.036
1.009
1.026
1.186
1. 524
1.815
1. 770
1.458
$1. 335
1.429
1.232
.845
.665
.650
.633
.505
1.041
1.011
.843
.920
.950
1.000
1.060
1.058
1.065
1. 222
1.449
1.686
1. 529
1.374
$1.441
1.475
1.451
1. 215
.916
.802
.766
.668
.968
1. 036
1.008
1.038
.994
1. 000
1. 053
1.043
1.058
1.136
1.299
1.422
1. 418
1.279
$1.449
1.497
1. 460
1.172
.884
.799
.760
.646
.999
1.028
.991
1. 030
.986
1.000
1. 057
1. 055
1.072
1.164
1.340
1.464
1.449
1.300
All
com
modi
ties
other
than
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
$1. 429
1. 506
1.471
1.133
.876
.803
.776
.620
.953
.977
.959
1. 003
.975
1. 000
1. 064
1. 076
1.092
1.174
1.333
1.425
1.404
1. 276
Month
1934:
January___
F ebruary..
March____
A p r il____
M a y _____
June_____
July--------August___
September.
October___
November.
December..
1935:
January___
February._
M arch..
April . . . . .
M ay______
June______
All
com
Non- modi
Semiagrities
Raw manu- Fin
culother
ished
mate faetural
than
rials tured prod com farm
arti
ucts
modi prod
cles
ties
ucts
and
foods
$1. 560 $1. 391 $1. 316 $1.333
1.515 1.337 1.299 1.314
1.517 1.346 1.295 1.312
1. 536 1. 353 1. 297 1.312
1.536 1.357 1.285 1.305
1.486 1. 372 1.279 1.300
1.464 1. 376 1. 279 1.300
1. 397 1. 377 1.263 1.285
1.353 1.393 1.248 1.276
1.387 1. 399 1.263 1. 289
1. 385 1.406 1.261 1.287
1. 368 1. 408 1.258 1. 285
$1. 277
1. 271
1. 274
1. 272
1. 267
1.279
1. 276
1. 277
1. 277
1. 282
1 282
1. 282
1. 305
1. 292
1.305
1.290
1.289
1. 309
1. 287
1. 292
1. 294
1. 295.
1.289
1.282-
1.404
1.395
1. 393
1.383
1.361
1.353
1.238
1.227
1.224
1.215
1.214
1.217
1.267
1.259
1.258
1.252
1.250
1.250
Purchasing Power of the Wholesale Price Dollar June 1935
C h a n g e s in the buying power of the dollar expressed in terms of
wholesale prices from 1913 to June 1935 are shown in table 4. The
figures in this table are reciprocals of the index numbers. To illus
trate, the index number representing the level of all commodities,
at wholesale in June 1935 with average prices for the year 1926 as.
the base is shown to be 79.8. The reciprocal of this index number
is 0.01253 which, translated into dollars and cents, becomes $1,253.
Table 4 shows that the dollar expanded so much in its buying value
that $1 of 1926 had increased in value to $1,253 in June 1935 in the
purchase of all commodities at wholesale.
The purchasing power of the dollar for all groups and subgroups of
commodities for the current month in comparison with the revioua
month and the corresponding month of last year will be found in
table 7.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
525
W HOLESALE PRICES
T ab le 7.— P urchasin g Pow er of th e W holesale P rice D ollar by G roups an d
Subgroups of C om m odities
[1926 = $!]
June 1935
M ay 1935
All commodities......... ......................................................
$1,253
$1.247
Farm products.................................................- ....................
Grains...................................................... .......................
Livestock and poultry........................................ .........
Other farm products.....................................................
Foods— .............................. ................................ - ................
Butter, cheese, and m ilk............................................Cereal produ cts..................................—......................
Fruits and vegetables__________ __________ ___
M eats....................................... - ................ - ....................
Other foods............ .................................- ......................
Hides and leather products......................... - ....................
Boots and shoes.------- ----------- -----------------------Hides and sk in s...........................................................
Leather-------------- --------- -------------------------------Other leather products................................................
Textile products......................... ..........................................
C lothing.................... ............... ............... ....................
Cotton goods------- ----------------------------------------Knit goods...... ................................................. ..............
Silk and rayon.......... .....................................................
Woolen and worsted goods------------------------------Other textile products----------- -------------------------Fuel and lighting materials........... .................. ..................
Anthracite_______________________ _____ ______
Bituminous coal______________
Coke---- ----------------- ------ -------------------- -------E lectricity.................. ...............................- ..................
G as.................. ................... ................. - .......................
Petroleum products------------------------------ --------Metals and metal products....................................... .......
Agricultural implements.................................... ........
Iron and steel__________ _____________________
Motor vehicles_____________________ _____ ____
Nonferrous metals-------- ------------------------------ --Plumbing and heating...............
—
Building materials_______________________ _____
Brick and tile______________________ _________
Cement----------- ------------------- -----------------------Lumber...................................................................... .
Paint and paint materials...... ............ ......................
Plumbing and heating_____________ _____ _____
Structural steel.................................................. ..........
Other building materials______________________
Chemicals and drugs..................................................... .
Chemicals----- --------- ------ ------------ -----------------Drugs and pharmaceuticals----- ----------------------Fertilizer materials----------------------------------------Mixed fertilizers_____________ _______________
House-furnishing goods.....................................................
Furnishings. . .:__________ ____ —------ ------------Furniture___ _________________ ______________
Miscellaneous------------------------------------- - .............. .
Automobile tires and tubes..................... ............. Cattle feed...... .............................................................
Paper and pulp__________ __________ _____ _
Rubber, crude..............................................- ............ Other miscellaneous...... ............................. ................
Raw materials_______________ ____ ______ ________
Semimanufactured articles............ ...................................
Finished products_____ ____ ____ ____ ___ ____ ___
Nonagricultural commodities_____________________
All commodities other than farm products and foods.
1.277
1.300
1.179
1. 346
1. 208
1.340
1.105
1.456
1.058
1.295
1.125
1. 028
1.282
1.242
1.185
1.427
1.239
1. 212
1.681
3. 676
1.323
1.451
1.348
1. 351
1. 041
1.127
(>)
(0
1.880
1.151
1.068
1.148
1.056
1.447
1.511
1.172
1.121
1.054
1. 225
1. 253
1.511
1. 087
1. I ll
1.239
1.159
1.346
1. 522
1.342
1. 242
1.192
1.297
1.462
2. 222
1.085
1.255
3.846
1.248
1.309
1.353
1. 217
1.250
1.282
Groups and subgroups
1 Data not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.241
1.202
1.142
1.333
1.189
1.287
1.083
1. 508
1.031
1.287
1.133
1.029
1.314
1.256
1.185
1.441
1.274
1.209
1.656
3. 623
1. 361
1.466
1.368
1.370
1.045
1.127
1.127
1.087
1. 916
1.155
1.068
1.155
1.059
1.445
1.490
1.179
1.120
1.054
1.253
1.252
1.490
1.087
1.114
1.232
1.143
1.348
1.517
1.368
1. 241
1.189
1.297
1.456
2. 222
.935
1. 250
4. 016
1.259
1. 289
1. 361
1.214
1. 250
1.289
June 1934
$1. 340
1. 580
1.381
2. 070
1.441
1.433
1.370
1.121
1.427
1.608
1. 592
1.148
1.016
1.427
1.328
1.152
1.376
1.211
1.163
1. 592
4. 000
1.238
1.337
1.374
1.300
1.053
1.176
1.104
1.026
1.976
1.140
1. 098
1.129
1. 053
1.460
1. 332
1.139
1.098
1. 065
1.159
1.245
1.332
1.058
1.087
1.323
1. 272
1.368
1.473
1. 362
1. 220
1.175
1.266
1.425
2.242
1. 151
1.198
3.610
1.203
1.486
1.372
1.279
1. 300
1.279
526
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
R evised Index o f Wholesale Prices o f Farm M achinery
B y
J
e s s e
M.
C
u t t s
,
of
th e
B
u r e a u
o p
L
a b o r
S
t a t ist ic s
REVISED and thorough-going study of the prices of farm
machinery has been made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
as the first of a series of studies looking toward an expansion and
improvement of the wholesale price index numbers for all principal
commodity groups covered by the Bureau. It has been possible to
extend this study back to 1913.
It. is difficult, without inviting a charge of exaggeration, to convey
an impression of the variety and urgency of the requests for price
information during recent years. Price policies have been among the
vital and baffling questions confronting the National Recovery Ad
ministration, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, and other
agencies. While the Bureau has been meeting current demands for
information, it has also mapped out with the cooperation of the
Central Statistical Board and other governmental agencies a program
of revision and expansion that covers every phase of its wholesale price
reporting service.
Among the more important revisions undertaken were a more
detailed description of the items included in the price index, an enlarge
ment of the commodity and industry coverage, methods of dealing
with geographical variations in the price structure, the type and
method of weighting and index computation, a more complete classi
fication of the commodities and industries, and means of increasing
the effectiveness of the published data. With the available personnel
and appropriations the task as it has been blocked out is of such pro
portions that at least 2 years will be required to complete the work.
In planning the work, it was decided to take up in order those
industries which had expressed a desire for a revision or expansion of
t len pi ice series and those in which revision was known to be par
ticularly needed. During the preliminary stages of the work, some
40 N. R. A. code authorities, trade/associations, institutes, and repre
sentative groups were interviewed. In consultation with technical
advisory groups, items were selected, reporting companies chosen, the
type of price agreed upon, and other related points decided.
Due to the effective cooperation of the industry, farm machinery
price tabulations are the first to be completed. Detailed specifica
tions and price data covering 40 farm machinery items were secured
from representative manufacturing companies marketing their prod
ucts through retail dealers. Prices have been obtained for each year
since 1913 and monthly data since January 1933. Quotations were
secured from manufacturers who produced at least 70 percent of the
1930 census value of each item. The present index, based on 150
Pnce quotations from 31 different manufacturers with 2 to 8 quota-
A
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W HOLESALE PRICES
527
lions for each item, is the most comprehensive and representative
price series for farm machinery ever assembled. The machines cov
ered are listed below.
It should be remembered that generally 1the price series used record
both the changes in the prices of farm machines of the current model
and the price changes from one model to the next. The prices of new
models are represented as continuations of the price series for previous
models, notwithstanding the fact that there might have been quality
improvements in the new machine. This appeared to be the only
feasible procedure since attempted adjustment of prices to take
account of the quality changes would confuse the price picture.
Although no allowance is made for quality changes in the index, it
^seems fairly clear that machines are on the whole 2much more durable
-and efficient now than before the war.3 This factor should be con
sidered in interpreting the index.
F a r m m a c h in e r y i te m s a n d d e s c r ip tio n s
Binder, corn.
Binder, grain.
•Corn picker-husker.
C ultivator, 1-row riding.
‘C ultivator, 2-row riding.
Drill, grain, horse-drawn.
Engine, less than 5 horsepower.
Engine, 5 to 10 horsepower, inclusive.
.Engine, more than 10 horsepower.
Ensilage cutter (silo filler).
Feed grinder, power, burr type.
Harrow, disk, horse-drawn.
Harrow, spike-tooth.
.Harrow, spring-tooth.
H arvester-thresher (combine).
.Hay loader.
M anure spreader.
Milking machine.
Mower, horse-drawn.
Planter, corn, 1-row, 1-horse.
Planter, corn, 2-row.
Plow, gang, 2-bottom.
Plow, sulky, 1-botton.
Plow, tractor, disk, 4-bottom.
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 2-bottom.
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 3-bottom.
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 4-bottom.
Plow, walking, 1-horse.
Plow, walking, 2-horse.
P otato digger, elevator type.
Rake, side delivery.
Rake, sulky (dump).
Separator, cream.
Spraying outfit, power.
Thresher, grain, large.
Thresher, grain, small.
Tractor, 2-plow.
Tractor, 3-4-plow.
Tractor, crawler.
Wagon.
The Bureau’s present system of weighting and index construction
has been used for this revised farm machinery index. This method
was approved after groups of experts had considered the merits of
various other methods. A brief description of the method used,
which is known as the “ link-chain method”, follows:
1 There were a few cases where it was possible to splice two price series together to take account of the fact
that a machine of a definitely different type was substituted for the one previously used.
2 There were some cases of competitive products where an additional type with lowered specifications was
added (plain bearings for roller bearings), but both types were continued and both advanced in quality in
:subsequent years.
8 See report issued in 1932 by a group of agricultural engineers from three land grant colleges, entitled
“ Changes in Quality Value of Farm Machines, 1910-14 to 1932”, published by American Society of Agri
cultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Mich.
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528
MONTHLY LAB OH R EV IEW —
AU G U ST
1935
1. Sales quantities were used for periods which corresponded
approximately to those of the Census of Manufactures. With no
data available for 1914 and 1919, the 1913 estimated sales and the
w reported sales were substituted. Beginning with 1921 alternate
succeeding years’ sales were available.
2. The average prices for each item for each year were multiplied by
íe appropriate quantities as stated above to secure the successive aggregate values. The individual value aggregates were totaled for each year
3. I he figure representing the total aggregate for each year was
expressed as a percentage of the comparable figure for the preceding
year, ifiis percentage value is called the “link.”
4' . T.? Slecure the yearlJ index figures the links described in (3) were
multiplied together successively. The multiplying of the index for the
preceding year by the ‘‘link ” of a given year is the process of making the
cham
The resulting figures constitute the continuous index series
By the application of this method the weighted composite price
111d+n f(i nohe yeai 1934 COvermg the 40-farm machines was 89.6, based
on the 1926 yearly average as 100, and 97 as compared with the 1913
yearly average as 100. The index of wholesale prices of farm ma
chinery for the years from 1913 to 1934, inclusive, as previously pub
lished and the index as now revised are shown in table 1 and chart 1.
Table 1.
Weighted Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices of Farm Machinery
Years 1913 to 1934
y
Index numbers
(1926==100.0)1
Year
1913.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922..
1923..
Revised
series
Former
series
92.3
92.5
90.8
90.7
89.6
118.8
117.8
112.4
124.8
96.4
96.6
72.9
73.1
71.2
71.0
86.3
114.0
113.8
111.9
111.4
88.2
98.8
Year
Index numbers
(1926=100.0)1
Revised
series
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.
1933.
1934.
100.7
99.1
100.0
100.0
99.0
98.0
96.4
93.5
89.8
87.7
89.5
m d S l K S S ? S y V m ‘KeFor^t,mSe
? Ti|ed lnd“
“nsSSi*i& 5by1008lv“ 97 1934
Former
series
105.7
100.4
100.0
99.7
99.3
98.7
95.0
92.1
84.9
83.5
“ <* resr
SftiSK&’S'gRKS
reaT S * Z .“
crences between the two index
es. In the previously published series tractors, threshers, com
bines, and other machines were introduced into the series only since
le war and they affected the index only after the year in which they
included in fh' r
°f th®40 maeh“ es ha™ been
f“
1913 “ ° rder ‘° a m °re accurate
comparison. Thus, the relative importance
of the
changing volume of
i eient types of farm machinery is reflected over a broader period
For example, the weighting of tractors was increased due to the
“ m n a rtl
Tf
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
’T " * 1 Se™ S ^
T
W H OLESALE PRICES
529
absolute and relative increase in volume of sales. The weighting of
binders, mowers, and rakes was decreased due to the diminished
absolute and relative importance in total sales. In computing the
price index for farm machinery for any one year, the total valueaggregate is first expressed as a ratio to the total value-aggregate of
the preceding year. Beginning with the base year the successive
yearly ratios are multiplied by the index for the preceding year, thus
establishing the index series.
By this method the relative weight for each item at the end of a
long period is determined by reference both to the current year and
prior years, the influence of which is carried forward under the linkchain method. This shifting in the importance of various items is
shown in table 2, which gives the percentage that each item s valueaggregate represents in the total value-aggregate of the 40 items in
1913, 1926, and 1934. Chart 2 shows the shift in relative aggregate
value of three groups of items—those having an index in 1934 of 50
to 100, those having an index between 100 and 150, and those having
an index of 150 or more.
There is a notable dispersion in the trend of prices of the individual
machines from 1913 to 1934, the prices of some machines showing a
pronounced advance and others a decided decrease. As compared
with 1913, the 1934 average prices for three-fourths of the items show
an increase and for one-fourth of the items a decrease. The disper
sion of the price changes extends from a 44.3 percent drop for the 2plow tractor to a 117.4 percent rise for the 2-row riding cultivator.
Due to the fact that the increases have occurred in the items with
smaller sales volume and the decreases in those having larger sales
volume, the weighted composite index falls below the 1913 level.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
530
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
T able 2.- P ercen tage th a t W eigh ted V alue-A ggregate o f E ach Item is o f T o ta l
V alue-A ggregate o f 40 Item s, 1913, 1926, and 1934
Item
Cultivator, 2-row riding__________
Peed grinder, power, burr type—
Harrow, spike-tooth_____________
Harrow, disk, horse-drawn...............
Rake, sulky (dump)____________ "
Planter, corn, 1-row, 1-horse______
Planter, corn, 2-row_______
Plow, sulky, 1-bottom___________ I
Cultivator, 1-row riding__________
Plow, walking, 1-horse___________'
Loader, hay_____________________
Drill, grain, horse-drawn____I"~—
Plow, gang, 2-bottom____________
Rake, side delivery_______________
Potato digger, elevator type_______
Mower, horse-drawn_____________
Plow, walking, 2-horse_________ h i!
Binder, corn_____________________
Harrow, spring-tooth_______
Binder, grain__________________
W agon..________________________
Spraying outfit, power___________
Thresher, grain, large___________
Separator, cream____________ " ... "
Com plcker-husker__________ — —
Ensilage cutter (silo filler)_________
Manure spreader_______________
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 2-bottom'
Plow, tractor, disk, 4-bottom_____
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 3-bottom
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 4-bottom.
Tractor, crawler__________________
Thresher, grain, small_____ _____ _
Engine, less than 5 horsepower_____
Engine, 5-10 horsepower, inclusive..
Harvester-thresher (combine)____
Milking machine________________ I
Engine, more than 10 horsepower .
Tractor, 3-4-plow_________________
Tractor, 2-plow_______________
Percent each item is of
total in—
1913
1926
1934
0.73
.19
1.77
2.67
1.50
.20
1.49
L 92
4.51
1.11
.78
3.57
2.30
.52
1.10
5.65
2.27
3.05
1.38
15. 28
5. 58
.38
2. 82
5.11
.17
.29
5.21
.01
.19
.07
.21
.29
2. 60
7.49
3.15
.39
2. 22
3.60
.90
7. 33
1.57
.66
.77
2.13
.65
. 14
1.08
.58
2. 58
.51
.78
1.46
.82
.57
.31
2. 57
1.32
1.57
.53
3.10
5. 38
3.18
2.26
4. 61
.46
1.31
2. 60
1.79
.08
.24
.04
1.99
1.71
3.63
1.18
2. 10
1.04
.87
7. 07
34.78
1.63
.68
.91
1.76
.64
. 11
1.35
'. 31
1.83
.42
.99
2.13
.25
.76
.38
2.73
.76
1.14
.44
3.53
1.54
1.87
2. 08
3.63
1.13
.78
2.70
1.59
1.13
1.01
.65
4. 51
1.53
2. 67
.62
9. 08
1.05
.47
18. 56
20.63
There aie many causes for the wide variations in prices, shown in
table 3 and chart 3, which would have to be considered in any analysis
of the index. Among the factors causing price variations between
1913 and 1934 for the different types of farm machines are increased
and decreased volume of production tending to decrease and increase
cost respectively, increased durability to permit use of machines with
either horse or tractor power, extent to which increased labor rates
have been offset by improved designs and more economical manu
facture, and changes in marketing methods. In an industry where
different machines present widely differing technical problems, it is
natural that the possibilities of more economical manufacturing pro
cesses would not be shared equally by all products.
The revised index of farm machinery prices will not be used as
part of the wholesale price index until similar revisions for other indus
try groups have been completed, though the new list of items will be
used for price collection purposes beginning July 1, 1935. It would
be confusing and excessively costly to recompute all the group and
total indexes each time an industry index is revised.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
531
WHOLESALE PRICES
Ch a r t
u
Comparative Importance in T erms of Aggregate Value
T hree Groups of Farm Machines -1913,1926 and 1934-
of
1913 | | |
1934W
ÊÊÊÊÊB^r
______1______1______1______1____ 1
0
10
20
30
W
50
PER
1
60
1
20
1
80
1
90
I0O
CENT
Hey -rippregale ya/ue of/ferns whosepr/cer/ore//?er?ffro//7/S/Jfo19J4resi/ffed/n■V////A Price/hdezes from f/0.0-999
Wf/f/,1Price Indexesfrom 100 0~ US. 9
E S Pr/ceIndexes from fdd.O up
u s.
b u r e a u o f l a b o r s t a tistic s
T able 3.— A verage W holesale Prices and U nw eighted R elativ e Prices of F a rm
M achinery Item s, 1934
Item
Cultivator, 2-row, riding______________________________
Feed grinder, power, burr typ e_____ _
______
Harrow, sp ik e-tooth ____ _ _______
Harrow, disk, horse-drawn__________ _ _ _____. .
Rake, sulky (dump)___ ________ _ _ _ ____ . . . .
Planter, corn, l-row, 1-horse_____ _____ . . . _
Planter, corn, 2-row____________________
Plow, sulky, 1-bottom___
.
______
Cultivator, 1-row, riding_____ ________ _ ________
Plow, walking, 1-horse_____________ _ .
Loader, h a y .. . . . _________ _ _____ .
Drill, grain, horse-drawn____ . _____ __________ _ _
Plow, gang, 2-bottom. ______ ________ . ______ _ .
Rake, side delivery.. _______
_______________ . .
Potato digger, elevator type___ _________
____ _
Mower, horse-drawn___
. . .
_______ . .
Plow, walking, 2-horse_____________________ . .
Binder, corn______ . _________ ________ . _ .
Harrow, spring-tooth____________________________ _
Binder, grain____ __________ . ________
Wagon_______ . . ._ ______ _ _ _ _ _ . . .
Spraying outfit, power_____ _
_____. . .
_ _______
Thresher, grain, large _ _ _ _ _ _ _______ _ _
....
Separator, cream___ _ . _ ___ _ ______ ______ __ _ _
Corn picker-husker.. _ ___ __________
______ _
Ensilage cutter (silo filler)_______________________________ _____
Manure spreader___ _ _
_
___
___
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 2-bottom____ ____ ____
________ _ _
Plow, tractor, disk, 4-bottom. __ _ ______ _ _ ______
_ _
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 3-bottom_____
_______ _ _ _ ___ _ . . .
Plow, tractor, moldboard, 4-bottom____ ________ _____ ________________
Tractor, crawler____ _______________________________________ . . .
Thresher, grain, small________________ . . . _ _ __________ . _
Engine, less than 5 horsepower_________ _ _________ _ _______ ______
Engine, 5-10 horsepower, inclusive____________________ ._ ______ . . .
Harvester-thresher (combine)_____________
_ __________________ _
Milking machine. _______ 1____________ . . . _ _ _._ ._
___ _ _
Engine, more than 10 horsepower_______ . . .
____________ . _ _
Tractor, 3-4-plow________ ~.__________ __________________ . . . _
Tractor, 2-plow........................ ................................. ..........................
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Unweighted
Average price relative price
(1913=100)
$91. 52
35. 61
16.82
44.96
36 02
16 39
64. 39
58 75
41 76
6 94
93 70
123.99
91.31
79.73
119.70
62. 29
15 65
163. 60
20 95
188. 60
86. 90
294 69
1, 044. 69
62 42
342 50
253.33
123 01
88.94
160 63
117.89
179. 87
2,183.32
764. 88
66.90
156.44
1, 394.37
138. 00
450. 67
929.40
716.46
217.4
200. 6
199.9
199.7
189 6
189. 5
186. 7
183 4
181. 5
176.7
176.0
175.0
174.5
174.0
173.0
170. 7
157. 8
157.7
152.7
150.0
142.3
139.3
137 4
136. 9
134.1
129. 5
126.6
123.0
108.4
107.8
92. 0
89.1
88. 8
86.0
79. 0
72. 9
70.1
67. 6
60.1
55.7
532
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — AUGUST 1935
Ch a r t m
Dispersion of Wh o l e s a l e P r ic e s
of Farm Ma c h in es in 1934
19/3 = /OO
N u m b er
o f /b e n
I.
2
.
3.
14.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20 .
21 .
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
82.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
Cultivator, 2-row riding
Feed grinder, power, burr type
Harrow, spike tooth
Harrow, disk, horse-drawn
Rake, sulky (dump)
Planter, corn, l-row
Planter, corn, 2-row
Plow, sulky, l-bottom
Cu11 ivator, I-row riding
Plow, walking, l-horse
Loader, hay
Drill, grain, horse-drawn
Plow, sulky, 2-bottom
Rake, comb, side del. & tedder
Potato digger, elevator type
Mower,, horse-drawn
Plow, walking, 2-horse
Binder, corn
Harrow, spring tooth
Binder, grain
Wagon
Spraying outfits, power
Thresher, grain, large
Separator, cream
Picker-husker, corn
Ensilage cutter (silo filler)
Manure spreader
Plow, tractor, 2-bottom
Plow, disk tractor, 4-bottom
Plow, tractor, 3-bottom
/OO
Plow, tractor, 4-bottom
Tractor, crawler
Thresher, grain, smalI
Eng ine, Iess than 5 h.p.
Engine, 5-10 h.p., inclusive
Harvester-thresher (combine)
Milking mach ine
Engine, more than 10 h.p.
Tractor, 3-4 plow
Tractor, 2-plow
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
Official—U n ited States
. —Legislature.
Senate. Committee on Investigation of the High
Cost of Sickness. Report. Sacramento, 1985. 175 pp., charts.
This report contains the hearings held by the committee on the advisability
of a health insurance act to reduce the high cost of sickness.
D is t r ic t
o f
C o l u m b i a .-—Board of Public Welfare.
Division of Emergency
Relief. Six months summary [of work], July 1, 1934, t° December 81, 1934Washington, 1935. 24 pp. (Mimeographed.)
Includes short accounts of the work done along the lines of vocational rehabili
tation of the handicapped, workers’ education, self-help, etc.
I l l i n o i s . —Emergency Relief Commission.
Second annual report, covering the
period February 6, 1933, through the fiscal year ending June SO, 1934■ Chicago,
[1984?]• ®05 pp., maps, charts.
N ew
Y o r k .-—Tem porary
Emergency Relief Administration. Division of
Research and Statistics. Home relief standards: Comparative study of home
relief and work relief in nine districts. [Albany], 1934■
PP- (Mimeo
graphed.)
O r e g o n .-—Emergency
Relief Administration. Relief Committee. Biennial
report, Febrxiary 7, 1988, to December 31, 1934■ Portland, 1935. 74 PP->
maps, charts.
P e n n s y l v a n i a .-—D epartm ent of Welfare.
Seventh biennial report, June 1, 1932,
to M ay 81, 1934. Harrisburg, [19347]. 68 pp., map, charts. (Bulletin
No. 59.)
Contains short accounts of the work w ith the blind, w ith children, and w ith
recipients of m others’ pensions, and of work done under the Civil Works Admin
istration program.
.—— — — Statistical supplement to the seventh biennial report. Harrisburg, 1935.
76 pp. (Mimeographed.)
S o u th
C a r o l i n a . — D epartm ent of Agriculture,
Commerce, and Industries.
Year book, 1933-1934. Columbia, [19847]. 186 pp., illus.
The annual report of the labor division for 1933-34, included in the year book,
contains data on am ount of pay roll and number of persons employed in various
industries.
U n i t e d S t a t e s . — Congress.
House of Representatives. Committee on Civil
Service. Annual leave for Government employees: Report No. 1252, to ac
company H. R. 8458 (74th Cong., 1st sess.). Washington, 1935. 9 pp.
------------------------------ Sick leave for Government employees: Report No. 1251, to
accompany H. R. 8459 (74th Cong., 1st sess.). Washington, 1935. 9 pp.
■
-------------Senate. Committee on Mines and Mining. Unemployment relief through
development of mineral resources: Hearing (74th Cong., 1st sess.) before a sub
committee, February 27, 1935, on S. 1476, a bill to provide for unemployment
relief through development of mineral resources; to assist the development of
privately owned mineral claims; to provide for the development of emergency and
deficiency minerals, and for other purposes. Washington, 1935. 27 pp. _
Hearings on a bill which would empower the United States Bureau of Mines to
operate marginal mines owned by the United States or by private interests, mainly
for the purpose of giving employment.
---------------------------- Development of mineral resources: Report No. 320, to accom
pany S. 1476 (74th Cong., 1st sess.). Washington, 1935. 3 pp.
533
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a l if o r n ia
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534
U
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
n it e d
S
D e p a r tm en t of Com m erce.
.—
t a t e s
B ureau of F oreign and D o m e stic
Consumer debt study, by H. T. LaCrosse.
(Mimeographed.)
C om m erce.
pp.
Washington, 1935. 23
R eport of a stu d y m ade b y several G overnm ent agencies a t th e in stan ce of
t le Consum ers A d visory B oard of th e N a tio n a l R ecovery A d m in istration, for
*
S p h e r in g fa cts as to th e ex ten t of overd ue consu m ers’ accou nts
w ith retailers and professional m en.
Bureau of Labor S tatistics. Serial No. It. 2A1:
Selection of men for the Civilian Conservation Corps. Washington, 1935 8 pp
tReprint from M ay 1935 Monthly Labor Review.)
- D ep artm en t of Labor.
’ ~ ~ ~ — Seri No- R- ®4-9: Relative cost of material and labor in P. W A .
construction (building and water and sewerage construction), by Herman B.
Byer. Washington, 1935. 5 pp. (Reprint of material in Monthly Labor
Review for January and July 1935.)
Serial No. R. 253: Wage rates and weekly earnings in the woolen
and worsted goods industry, 1932 to 1934, by N. A. Tolies. Washington, 1935.
12 pp. (Reprint from June 1935 Monthly Labor Review.)
~ — - W om en’s B ureau. Bulletin No. 131: Industrial home work in Rhode
Island, with special reference to the lace industry, by Harriet A. Byrne and
Bertha Blair. Washington, 1935. 27 pp.
~ ~ ~
Bulletin No. 133: Employment conditions in beauty shops: a
study of four cities, by Ethel Erickson. Washington, 1935. A6 pp
R eview ed in th is issue.
D ep artm en t of th e Interior. Bureau of M ines. Bulletin 381: Lead and
zinc mining and milling in the United States; current practices and costs, by
Charles F Jackson, John B. Knaebel, and C. A. Wright. Washington, 1935.
204 pp., diagrams.
D a ta on th e labor requirem en ts in lead and zinc m illing, ta k en from th e bulletin, are pu blished in th is issue of th e M on th ly Labor R eview .
-------F ederal E m ergency A d m in istration of P ublic W orks.
H ou sin g D iv isio n
Bulletin No. 1 ■ Slums and blighted areas in the United States, by Edith Elmer
Wood. Washington, 1935. 126 pp., illus.
D iscu sses th e hou sing problem , its ex ten t in th e U n ited S tates, and its effect
as regards h ealth , m orals, sa fety , and general welfare. B rings to g eth er data from
Lousing stu dies of 15 la rg e cities, ob tained in th e recen t R eal P rop erty In v en to ry
^ , . e oU“ ted ®^a,^es B ureau of F oreign and D o m estic C om m erce, and from
certain S ta te reports. P oin ts ou t th e im p ossib ility of m eetin g th e need through
p rivate enterprise and proposes som e solutions.
G eological Survey. Library. Bibliographical List No. 2: A list of refer
ences on the Federal Emergency Administration of Public• Works and its work
including certain references pertaining to the Public Works Emergency Housing
Corporation, revised to February 1, 1935, compiled by James T. Rubey. Wash
ington, 1935. 24 pp. (Mimeographed.)
Labor P olicy Board.
1935.
Washington, 1935.
95 pp.
Decisions, February 6, 1934, to March 13,
P ublic M orks A d m in istration. H ou sin g D ivision .
Unit plans: Typical
room arrangements, site plans, and details for low-rent housing. Washington,
1935. [Various paging.)
Floor and site plans in ten d ed for th e use of arch itects and engineers.
Official—Foreign C o u n tries
C
a n a d a
..—
D ep a rtm en t of T rade and Com m erce.
Census
Ottawa, 1935.
Bureau of S ta tistic s.
of industry: The textile industries of Canada, 1931 and 1932.
338 pp., chart. (In English and French.)
C on tain s d ata as to em p loym en t and w ages in th e te x tile in d u stry in Canada.
C
o l o m b ia
—
M inisterio de In d u str ia s y T rabajo.
Sección
de
P u blicaciones.
Memoria del Ministerio de Industrias y Trabajo al Congreso Nacional en sus
sesiones ordinarias de 1934• Bogotá, 1934■ 400 pp., maps, illus.
A lu ll accou n t of ind ustrial and labor d evelop m en t in C olom bia, in clu d in g in
form ation on labor unions, coop eratives, rural labor, and strikes.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
535
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
D enmark .— Socialministeriet.
f o r a a r e n e 1 9 3 2 og 1 9 3 3 .
B e r e tn in g f r a D ir e k to r a te t f o r U l y k k e s f o r s ik m n g e n
C openhagen, 1935.
157 pp.
Report on operation of the public accident-insurance system in Denm ark
during 1932 and 1933.
G
B
. — Home Office.
Committee on the E m ploym ent of Prisoners.
r e a t
r i t a i n
R e p o r t, P a r t I I :
( C m d . 4 8 9 7 .)
E m p lo y m e n t o n d is c h a r g e .
London,
1935.
„ . ,
7 5 p p ., m a p .
,
_ . .
A study of the functions and activities of the various official and unofficial
societies in G reat Britain interested in the care and placem ent of discharged
prisoners.
------ Sugar Industry Inquiry Committee. R e p o r t. L o n d o n , 1 9 3 5 . 1 2 3 p p .
„ ,
( C m d . 4 8 7 1 .)
,
A study of the agricultural and m anufacturing development of the beet-sugar
industry in G reat Britain w ith particular reference to effects of the Government
subsidy. Some data on employment are included.
I
L a b o r
O f f i c e .
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r C o n fe r e n c e , n in e te e n th
s e s s io n , G e n e v a , 1 9 3 5 : S u m m a r y o f a n n u a l r e p o r ts u n d e r a r tic le 4 0 8 .
G en eva,
1935.
2 9 0 p p . , a n d 3 s u p p le m e n ts a g g r e g a tin g 6 3 p p .
( W o r ld P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r i c a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
n t e r n a t i o n a l
Summaries of reports made to the International Labor Office by members of
the International Labor Organization on measures taken by them to give effect
to the provisions of conventions to which they are parties, during the period
October 1, 1933, to September 1934.
------ I n t e r n a t i o n a l s u r v e y o f le g a l d e c is io n s o n la b o r la w , 1 9 3 3 .
322; 21* pp.
G eneva, 1 9 3 5 .
( W o r ld P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r ic a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
------ R e p o r t o f th e D ir e c to r to th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r C o n fe re n c e , 1 9 th s e s s io n ,
G e n e v a , 1 9 3 5 : A p p e n d i x — T a b le s s h o w in g th e s i t u a t i o n o f th e S ta te s m e m b e r s
i n r e s p e c t o f th e c o n v e n tio n s a n d r e c o m m e n d a tio n s a d o p te d b y th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l
L abor
C o n fe r e n c e .
G eneva,
1935.
50
pp.
( W o r ld
P eace
F o u n d a tio n ,
A m e r i c a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
------ S tu d ie s a n d r e p o r ts , S e r ie s A , N o . 3 8 : S tu d ie s o n i n d u s t r i a l r e la tio n s , I I I —•
T h e C a n a d ia n N a t i o n a l R a i l w a y s ; T h e P e q u o t M i l l s o f th e N a u m k e a g S te a m
C o tto n C o .; A P a r i s d e p a r tm e n t s to r e ( L a S a m a r i t a i n e ) ; T h e N o r w e g ia n
N itr o g e n C o .; a n d T h e G r a n d D u c h y o f L u x e m b u r g .
G en eva, 1 9 3 5 .
183 pp.
( W o r ld P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r ic a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
In this volume, which supplements earlier reports on the same subject in 1930
and 1932, a commercial establishment has for the first tim e been included— a large
departm ent store in Paris. Since the United Steel Works in Luxemburg is
responsible for a large portion of the industrial activity of th a t country, the
industrial relations of the company have been treated from the national stand
point. The study treats of historical background, management, and labor
negotiations, work conditions, and safety, health, and welfare programs.
J
. — D epartm ent
of Education. F if ty - s e v e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t, 1 9 2 9 —1 9 3 0
a p a n
( a b r id g e d ) .
T o k io , 1 9 3 5 .
5 7 6 p p . , c h a r ts .
Includes a section on technical schools and some information on ad u lt
education.
L
N
. — Economic
Intelligence Office. S t a t i s t i c a l y e a r b o ok,
e a g u e
o f
a t i o n s
1 9 3 4 -3 5 .
G eneva, 1 9 3 5 .
3 1 4 p p ., m a p s.
I n F r e n c h a n d E n g lis h .
P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r i c a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
( W o r ld
This year book includes data on em ployment and unemployment, wages and
working hours, production and consumption, cost of living, aiffi index numbers
of retail and wholesale prices, in various countries, over a period of years up
to 1935.
N
I
. — Commissie
van Bijstand. S ta a ts s p o o r w e g e n i n N e d e r e t h e r l a
n
d
n d i a
la n d s c h - I n d iii: V e r s la g o ver h et j a a r 1 9 3 4 , D e e l 1 .
m a p s , c h a r ts , i l l u s .
N
B a ta v ia , 1 9 3 5 .
6 6 p p .,
Annual report on poor relief work in N etherland India during 1934.
. — Rikstrygdeverket.
U ly k k e s tr y g d f o r s j j m e n n , 1 9 3 2 ; U l y k k e s tr y g d
o r w
a y
fis k e r e , 1 9 3 2 .
“ O s lo , 1 9 3 5 .
fo r
34 an d 18 p p .
Annual reports on seamen’s and fishermen’s accident insurance m Norway
in 1932.
N
S
( C
) / —Old Age Pensions Board. _ F i r s t
a n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r
o v a
c o t i a
a n a d a
th e y e a r e n d in g S e p te m b e r 3 0 , 1934■
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H a lif a x , 1 9 3 5 .
9 pp.
536
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
PERUv 7 MÍnÍst! rÍ£ d? Hacienda y Comercio.
Dirección Nacional de E stadística.
E x tr a c to e s ta d ís tic o d e l P e r u , 1 9 3 1 , 1 9 3 2 , 1 9 3 3 .
L im a , 1 9 3 5 .
299 pp.
iQQQ + volume of statistics includes index numbers of cost of living from Í921 to
913 as
base; industrial accidents in the city of Lima in 19331932 aiid lS s T °f unemployed registered in the D epartm ent of Lima in 1931,'
S
a sk a t c h e w a n
(C
a n a d a
)
.— D e p a rtm e n t of R ailw ays, L abor, a n d In d u strie s.
b i x t h a n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r th e 1 2 m o n th s e n d e d A p r i l 3 0 , 1 9 3 A.
A4 PP-
R e q in a
1935
^ PAI2í “M inisterio de T ra b a jo , S a n id ad y P rev isió n . S u b secretaría de
i r a bajo. Sección especial de E stad ística. Estadística de los accidentes del
^charts ° C U rndoS e n lo s a ñ o s 1 9 3 1 y 1 9 3 2 ‘ Madrid, 1 9 3 5 . IS O p p . , m a p s ,.
A detailed re p o rt on in d u stria l accidents in S pain in 1931 a n d 1932.
Presidencia del Consejo de Ministros. Dirección General del In stitu to
le o Jp .disti0a- Anuari°
de España,
Figures are given for occupational distribution of workers, hours of labor, and
wages for 1931, and for accidents, strikes, labor inspection, social insurance,
cooperatives, and work of employment exchanges in 1932. The charts to ac.
company this statistical annual are in a separate volume.
S
w ít z e r l a n d
1934 )
.—
Office des A ssurances sociales.
°°
\^ e°Gon du Rapport
du
[Report for the year 1 9 3 3 . {Berne,
Conseil Fédéral sur sa gestion en
T his an n u al re p o rt of th e S w is s Social In su ran ce Office covers th e com pulsory
an d v o lu n tary system s of sickness insurance, w orkm en’s com pensation, old-age
and survivors pensions, a n d tuberculosis insurance in S w itzerland.
Unofficial
o f
P o l it ic a l S c ie n c e .
Problems of social security legislation in the
United Mates: A series of addresses and papers presented at the semiannual
meeting of the Academy, A pril 16, 1935. New York, 1935. 132 pp (Pro
ceedings, vol. X V I , no. 3.)
The papers are grouped under three general heads: Old-age security and
Health insurance; security in home and employment; national and international
aspects of social and economic controls.
A l f o r d , L. P.
Henry Laurence Gantt, leader in industry. N e w Y o r k , H a r p e r &
Bros., 1934- 315 pp., charts, illus.
A biography of a pioneer leader of the scientific m anagem ent m ovem ent who
C h a rtPed the task~and‘bonus m ethod of wage paym ent and the G antt Progress
A
c a d e m y
A s s o c ia t io n
f o r
A d u lt
E d u c a t io n .
Adjustment Service Series,
Keport I X : General appraisals of the Adjustment Service, by C. S. Coler and
others. New York, 60 East 42d Street, 1935. 87 pp.
valuations of the organization, personnel, and procedures of the A djustm ent
bervice and of its effect upon the com munity and upon individuals.
Adjustment Service Series, Report X : Ten thousand clients of the Adjustment
Service, by Garret L. Bergen and John F. Murphy. New York, 60 East 42d
Street, 1935. 95 pp., charts.
A statistical analysis of the clients served by the A djustm ent Service, th e
problems involved m various cases, and the activities of this agency in behalf of
the unemployed.
0 J
A
m e r ic a n
M a n a g e m e n t A s s o c ia t io n .
Insurance Series 21: Social insurance
legislation, by W. R. Williamson. New York, 20 Vesey Street, 1935. 38 pp
Congress11881011
UP° n ^
security bm introduced in the Seventy-fourth
A
m e r ic a n
P e r s o n n e l S e r ie s 2 0 : E c o n o m ic s e c u r ity — P e n s io n s a n d h e a lth in s u r a n c e , b y
J . D o u g la s B r o w n a n d o th e rs . N e w Y o r k , 2 0 V e s e y S tr e e t, 1 9 3 5
31 p p
la p e r s on old-age security, th e effects of p robable legislation on com pany
pension plans, a,nd th e possibility of ad eq u ate m edical care for th e people of th is
K tta b iS g S jiffiry H
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
m
T
1 a n d IndUStrial E elatio n s Conference held a t
537
PUBLICATIONS RELA TING TO LABOR
A mes, C. B. Possibilities and limitations of [AT. R. A.] code regulation. Address
delivered at twenty-third annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States, M ay 1935. [ Washington, Chamber of Commerce of the United
States"!], 1935. 11 pp.
B a ld er sto n , C . C a n b y .
Executive guidance of industrial relations. Philadel
phia, 1935. 435 pp. (Research Studies X X V , Industrial Research Depart
ment, Wharton School of Finance and Commerce.)
A case study of personnel m anagement as it has evolved in companies willing
to pioneer, presented in an analysis of industrial relations programs of 25 Amer
ican companies. According to the introductory statem ent, “ the b e s o in the
relations between employer and employee is the focal point of the study.”
B a r t l e t t , F r e d e r i c C.
The problem of noise. London, Cambridge University
Press, 1934• 87 pp.
A discussion of the various effects of noise on the individual and of methods of
regulating and reducing excessive noise.
B o h n , F r a n k , a n d E l y , R i c h a r d T.
The great change: Work and wealth in the
new age. New York, Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1935. 373 pp.
P a rt I of this volume outlines briefly the shifting currents in American social
an d economic life resulting principally from the national concentration on
technological developments, which have in tu rn produced w hat the authors call
“ the drift tow ard chaos in alm ost every sphere of hum an relations.” P art II
discusses adjustm ents the authors feel m ust be made if American civilization is to
survive, for, in their opinion, “ if this people is to regenerate itself in body and
soul, then economic reorganization m ust increasingly tak e the form of some great
general system of national cooperation.”
B r o o k in g s
I n s t it u t io n .
In stitu te for Government Research. Studies in
Administration No. 31: Public welfare organization, by A . C. Millspaugh.
Washington, 1935. 700 pp.
This work discusses the relation of public welfare agencies and functions to
their governmental, political, economic, and social surroundings. _ I t includes
chapters on welfare work for dependents (mothers’ aid, old-age assistance, etc.),
public-welfare work in relation to the unemployed, the need of Federal integration
of welfare agencies, and an outline of a proposed reorganization of such agencies.
C a bo t, H u g h .
The doctor’s bill. New York, Columbia University Press, 1935.
313 pp.
The author discusses the changes in medical knowledge and practice since
1890; the economic status of the medical profession and the costs to the public
of medical care; various types of group medical services and voluntary insurance
systems developed in this country, and health insurance systems in European
countries; and, finally, possible future developments in th e U nited States.
C ole , G. D. H. Principles of economic planning. London, Macmillan & Co.,
1935. 485 pp., chart.
A discussion of the need of a planned economy, particularly in G reat Britain.
C
o m it é
C
ç a is e
e n t r a l
d e s
M
H
d e s
in e s
M
o u il l è r e s
é t a l l iq u e s
d e
.
F
r a n c e
Annuaire.
e t
C
h a m b r e
S
y n d ic a l e
F
r a n
Paris, 35 rue Saint-Dominique,
1935. [Various paging.]
This year book of the central committee of coal and m etal mine operators
contains statistics of wages in 1932 and production in 1934 in French coal and
lignite mines and of m ineral production in France and its colonies from 1930 to
1934.
C o u n c il f o r R e s e a r c h o n H o u s in g C o n s t r u c t io n .
Second report: Housing
standards and statistics. London, Artillery House, S. W. 1, 1935. 79 pp.
E v a n s, D o ro th y.
Women and the civil service. London, Sir Isaac Pitm an &
Sons, 1934- 165 pp.
A handbook of the legal status of employment of women in the civil service
in G reat Britain, giving qualifications and training necessary, salary ratings,
eligibility, and opportunities for promotion, etc., w ith a historical review of the
developm ent of opportunities of women for em ployment in public service.
F e n n , L. A n d e r s o n , a n d o t h e r s .
Problems of the Socialist transition. London,
Victor Gollancz, Ltd., 1934■ 822 pp.
A series of lectures, including three dealing, respectively, w ith the working-class
m ovem ent and the transition; trade-unionism —some problems and proposals;
an d the cooperative movement and the fight for socialism.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
538
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — AUGUST 1935
F o r em a n , C la rk , and Ross, M ic h a e l .
The consumer seeks a way. New York
W. W. Norton & Co., Inc., 1935. 223 pp.
Examines various aspects of the present economic situation, from the view
point of the consumer, and concludes th a t consumers should “ study and attem p t
to remedy the various frauds and impositions which they suffer through deceptive
advertising and improper methods of m anufacture” and then work for “ the
extension of governmental responsibility over larger areas of our industrial life.”
G a r s id e , A lston H il l . Cotton goes to market: A graphic description of a great
industry. New York, Frederick A. Stokes Co., 1935. 411 pp., charts, illus.
Contains a chapter on cooperative cotton-m arketing associations.
G il l , C or r in g to n . Unemployment relief. (Reprint from American Economic
Review, Supplement, March 1935, pp. 176-185.)
G l u ck , E l s ie . Introduction to American trade unionism. New York, Affiliated
Schools for Workers, 302 East Thirty-fifth Street, 1935. 95 pp., charts.
G raham , W illiam J. Planned financial security for industrial workers. Lecture
delivered at Fourth Conference Course in Industrial Relations, Princeton Uni
versity. [New York, Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States],
1935. 17 p p .
Bibliographie générale des sciences juridiques, politiques, eco
nomiques et sociales. Paris, Société Anonyme du Recueil Sirey, 1935. 216 pp.
A general bibliography of publications relating to the juridical, political,
economic, and social sciences, in different countries.
G r e e n e , F e l ix , Editor. Time to spare: What unemployment means. London,
George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., 1935. 188 pp.
A collection of radio talks by 11 jobless men and women, which were arranged
for by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The volume also includes a
num ber of other discussions bearing upon unemployment problems, among
them “ State services for the unemployed.”
H all , F., and W a t k in s , W. P. Cooperation: A survey of the history, principles,
and organization of the cooperative movement in Great Britain and Ireland.
Manchester, Cooperative Union, Ltd., 1934. 408 pp.
A good and concise account of the various branches of the cooperative move
ment. Of especial value are the sections dealing with com paratively littleknown phases of the movement, such as the labor problems and relations with
and treatm ent of employees, cooperation in relation to social questions, and
cooperative education.
H a rr im a n , H e n r y I. Two years: A review. [Washington, Chamber of Com
merce of the United States, 1935], 38 pp.
Reviews the events of 2 years under the N ational Recovery program, and in
cludes a discussion of pending legislation— 30-hour week, social security, labor
disputes, etc.
G randest, A.
H isk e t t , W. R.
Social credits or socialism: A n analysis of the Douglas credit
scheme. London, Victor Gollancz, Ltd., 1935. 222 pp., chart.
Intended as a refutation of the Douglas credit scheme, which, according to the
author, is based upon “ the assumption th a t an inherent and recurring deficiency
of purchasing power is involved in the present economic system .” He reaches
the conclusion th a t the real remedy for the present m aldistribution is “ for the
com munity to own and control the means of production, and to produce for use
instead of for profit.”
Scientific research and social needs. London, Watts & Co..
1934- 287 pp., illus.
The writer gives the results of a survey of scientific developments in various
fields from the standpoint of both the industrial applications of science and the
relation of scientific research to current social problems. He finds th a t there is
still a wide gap between scientific knowledge and its application to hum an needs.
I n st it u t e of P acific R e l a t io n s . Economic handbook of the Pacific area,
edited by Frederick V. Field. Garden City, N. Y., Doubleday, Doran & Co.,
Inc., 1934. 649 pp., map.
I r ish A g ricultural O r g anizatio n S ociety , L td . Report for the year endina
March 31, 1934. Dublin, 1934. 57 pp.
Report on the operations of the agricultural cooperative societies in Ireland
during the year 1933-34.
H u x l e y , J u l ia n S.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
J
o h n s e n
, J
1935.
u l ia
539
Old-age pensions. New York, H. W. Wilson Co.,
(The Reference Shelf, vol. 10, no. 3.)
E., Com piler.
295 pp.
B ibliographies, general references, a n d q u o tatio n s pro a n d con from w riters
an d speakers on th e su b ject of old-age pensions.
K n a p p , W. H . C.
World dislocation and world recovery: Agriculture as the touch
L
a
F
stone of the economic world events. London, P. S. King & Son, Ltd., 1935.
203 pp.
o l l e t t e , C e c il e T ip t o n .
A study of the problems of 652 gainfully employed
married women homemakers. New York, Teachers College, Columbia Uni
versity, 1934. 208 pp. (Contributions to Education, no. 619.)
A sta tistic a l analysis of th e o ccupational h istory, econom ic sta tu s, a n d social
a n d fam ily relationships of m arried w om en who m anage tw o jobs. Includes
discussions of housekeeping a n d b u d g et problem s, care of children, a n d th e effect
of w om an’s gainful em p lo y m en t upon fam ily relationships.
I n d u s t r ia l C o n f e r e n c e B o a r d , I n c .
Effect of the depression on
industrial relations programs. New York, 247 Park Avenue, 1934- 17 PP------ In fo rm atio n Service. Domestic Affairs Series Memorandum No. 42: Re
cent State labor legislation. New York, 247 Park Avenue, 1935. 10 pp.
(Mimeographed.)
N
a t io n a l
D evoted largely to sum m aries of th e provisions of S ta te legislation for unem
plo y m en t com pensation or insurance.
-------------- Domestic Affairs Special Memorandum No. 8: The proposed revision
of the N. I. R. A . and the Wagner National Labor Relations bill. New York,
247 Park Avenue, 1935. 11 pp. (Mimeographed.)
N ew E n g l a n d I n s t i t u t e o f C o o p e r a t i o n . Proceedings of the seventh annual
meeting, held at Connecticut State College, Storrs, Conn., June 20-22, 1933.
[Storrs, Conn., 1934?] 60 pp. (Mimeographed.)
T he proceedings covered ag ricu ltu ral co operation only.
N
N
N
N
Y o r k A d u l t E d u c a t io n C o u n c il .
A picture of adult education in the
New York Metropolitan Area, as shown by a study of the files of the Council
as of June 1934. New York, 222 Fourth Avenue, 1934. 32 pp., charts.
e w Y o r k A s s o c ia t io n f o r I m p r o v in g t h e C o n d it io n o f t h e P o o r .
The 91st
annual report, 1933—34- New York, 105 East 22d Street, {1935?]. 69 pp.,
illus.
e w m a n , T . S., an d L e e , A. G.
National health insurance manual, being a hand
book to the law and practice of national health insurance. London, McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., [1934]- 358 pp.
u g e n t , R o l f .
Earnings of small-loan licensees, 1929 to 1933. (Reprinted from
Harvard Business Review, New York, January 1935, pp. 249—257.)
e w
Shows t h a t th e ra te of n e t earnings of th ese sm all-loan com panies declined from
11.7 p ercen t in 1929 to 10.3 percen t in 1931 a n d to 6.7 p recen t in 1933.
------ Expenses of small-loan licensees, 1929-33. New York, Russell Sage Founda
tion, 1935. 5 folders. (Mimeographed.)
P e t e r s, I va L o w th er .
Occupational discriminations against women: A n inquiry
into the economic security of American business and professional women.
New York, National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs,
Inc., 1819 Broadway, 1935. 16 pp.
P r e v e n t iv e A sp e c t s o f M e d ic in e , T h e .
A series of lectures delivered at King s
College Hospital Medical School. London, Lancet Ltd., 1934• 376 pp., charts,
T his series of 25 lectures includes one on th e p rev en tio n of occupational diseases.
P
A d m in is t r a t io n S e r v ic e .
Publication No. 46', Shelter care and the local
homeless man, by Alvin Roseman of the American Public Welfare Association.
Chicago, 850 East Fifty-eighth Street, 1935. 56 pp.
u b l ic
A discussion of th e problem of care of th e hom eless a n d penniless n onfam ily m an,
and how it is being m et, based on stu d y of conditions in Chicago, M inneapolis,
St. P aul, C leveland, an d C incinnati.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
540
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — AUGUST 1935
S cott , J. W.
Self-subsistence for the unemployed: Studies in a new technique.
London, Faber & Faber, Ltd., 1935. 223 pp.
The author thinks the “ way o u t” for the unemployed lies in the establishm ent
of self-help groups, w ith cultivation of the land—i. e., the production of food—
as the first step in self-subsistence, and th a t this system, on a large scale, would
mean salvation not only for the unemployed taking p a rt in the program b ut for
industry as well.
A derelict area: A study of the southwest Durham coalfield.
London, Hogarth Press, 1935. 49 pp. (Day to Day Pamphlets, No. 25.)
An account of the effect of years of depression upon one section of the oldest
coalfield in England.
S h a r p , T homas .
Labor and the Government: A n investigation
of the role of the Government in labor relations. New York, McGraw-Hill
Book Co., Inc., 1935. 413 pp., charts.
A historical review, and the results of a current research study of industrial
relations and the connection of the Government therew ith, particularly through
the N ational Recovery A dm inistration. The growth of organization in both
trade and company unions under section 7 (a) of the N ational Industrial Recovery
Act, and the consequent development of collective bargaining are reported and
analyzed. Chapters IV and V present the results of a first-hand field study of
company unions, outlining their history and development, structural types, and
functions. The work of the labor boards created by the N. I. R. A. is reviewed
and problems of collective bargaining and governm ental intervention in indus
trial relations are analyzed.
The Tw entieth Century Fund special committee on the Government and labor
recommends Federal legislation to encourage and sanction collective agreements
adm inistered by a perm anent and independent governmental agency w ith juris
diction over industrial disputes and power to enforce trade agreements freely
entered into by employers and employees.
[U n io n S u is s e d es P a y s a n s .] Secretariat des Paysans Suisses. Récherches rela
tives à la rentabilité de l’agriculture pendant l’exercice 1933-34. l re partie.
Bern, 1934■ 73 pp., map, charts.
Gives data on prices and index num bers for agricultural products, cost of pro
duction, and income of farm ers in Switzerland, per 100 francs of labor cost per
man-hour, and per family-hour of labor, etc.
U n iv e r sit y I n st it u t e of H y g ie n e a n d th e B u d d e -L abor ato ry . Collected
papers, Jf>l.^ V I, 1931—34. Copenhagen, Denmark, Levin & Munksgaard,
1935. Various paging, charts, Ulus.
Several of the papers are on silicosis in the porcelain and m etal industries,
th ese and a few other papers are in English, the remainder in Danish and
German.
T w en tiet h C e n t u r y F u n d , I n c .
o f
A gr icu ltu ra l C o o pe r a t io n , 1935. London, Horace Plunkett
Foundation, 1935. 407 pp.
Contains data on agricultural cooperation in various countries, a bibliography
on cooperation, and a report of the P lunkett Foundation’s activities.
Y e arbo ok
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