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U N IT E D STA TES D E P A R T M E N T 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
Isa d o r L u b in , C o m m is s io n e r
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AÜ r. 2 - 1S3S
M o n th ly
Labor R ev iew
Hugh S. Hanna, Editor
V olum e 43, N um ber 2
A ugust 1936
♦
U N IT E D S T 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 : 1936
F o r sa le 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 , W a s h in g to n , D . C . - - 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 r ic e p e r 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
Published under authority of Public Resolution No. 57, approved
M ay 11, 1922 (42 Stat. 541), as amended by section 307, Public
A ct 212, 72d Congress, approved June 30, 1932. This publication
approved by the Director, Bureau of the Budget.
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II
C o n ten ts
Special articles:
Page
Origin and significance of Labor Day, by Estelle M. Stewart_______
279
Legal-aid work in the United States, part 2, Improving the machinery
of justice, by Reginald Heber Smith and John S. Bradway______
285
Public pensions for the blind in 1935_____________________________
305
International Labor Organisation:
Results of International Labor Conference, June 1936, by W. Ellison
Chalmers____________________________________________________
316
Social security:
Decision on Railroad Employees’ Retirement Act of 1935__________
328
Changes in accident insurance and compulsory savings legislation in
Bolivia______________________________________________________
330
Old-age pension system for civil servants in Panama______________
331
Social insurance in Portugal_____________________________________
332
Em ploym ent conditions and unem ploym ent relief:
National Youth Administration’s work projects in New York, Penn
sylvania, and Texas__________________________________________
336
Industrial and labor conditions:
Prohibition of homework in men’s and boys’ outerwear industry in
the State of New York______________________
339
341
Mechanization of British industries______________________________
H ousing conditions:
Housing and delinquency_______________________________________
343
Housing legislation in Sweden___________________________________
345
Labor offices:
Directory of labor offices in the United States and Canada_________
346
346
Establishment of Palestine Central Statistical Office_______________
Establishment of National Labor Office in Venezuela______________
346
Recreation:
Community recreation in the United States, 1935__________________
347
Self-help m ovem ent:
Cooperative self-help movement inUtah__________________________
349
Industrial accidents:
Accident experience of Federal civilian employees, 1933 to 1935____
356
Accident record of mineral industries in the United States in 1934__
362
Accident statistics of National Safety Council for 1935____________
363
Labor law s:
Federal law establishing labor standards in Government contracts__
368
Federal labor legislation, 1936_____ :____________________________
373
Education and training:
Training unemployed girls for domestic service____________________
381
Progress of vocational education inChina_________________________
382
Industrial disputes:
Trend of strikes_______________________________________________
384
Analysis of strikes in April 1936_________________________________
385
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in June 1936_______
392
Labor agreements:
Legalization of collective agreements in foreign countries__________
398
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in
IV
CONTENTS
Labor turn-over:
Labor turn-over in manufacturing establishments, May 1936_______
M inim um wage:
Minimum-wage orders for hotel and restaurant employees in Prov
ince of Quebec_________________________________________________
Establishment of minimum-wage rates for 1936 and 1937 in Mexico-_
Wages and hours o f labor:
Earnings and hours in the set-up paper-box industry, 1933 to 1935__
Earnings and hours in tin-plate, strip, skelp, and tube mills, 1933
and 1935____________________________________________________
Average annual earnings in manufacturing in Ohio, 1933 and 1934,
part 2 ______________________________________________________
Tennessee—Earnings of women in industry________________________
Great Britain—Shorter workweek for seamen_____________________
Em ploym ent offices:
Operations of United States Employment Service, June 1936_______
Summary of activities of United States Employment Service, year
ending June 30, 1936_________________________________________
T rend o f em ploym ent:
Summary of employment reports for June 1936___________________
Detailed reports for May 1936___________________________________
Private employment:
Employment, pay rolls, hours, and earnings______________
Trend of private employment, by States_________________
Private employment and pay rolls in principal cities_______
Public employment:
Executive service of the Federal Government_____________
Construction projects financed by Public Works Adminis
tration______________________________________________
The Works Program____________________________________
Emergency conservation work__________________________
Construction projects financed by Reconstruction Finance
Corporation_________________________________________
Construction projects financed from regular governmental
appropriations_______________________________________
State-road projects_____________________________________
Building operations:
Summary of building-construction reports for June 1936___________
Detailed reports for May 1936:
Building construction in principal cities______________________
Construction from public funds_____________________________
R etail prices:
Food prices in June 1936________________________________________
Wholesale prices:
Wholesale prices in June 1936___________________________________
R ecent publications o f labor in te re st_______________________________
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Vise
405
408
409
411
435
453
467
470
471
478
481
487
488
496
499
500
501
504
506
507
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509
510
513
521
524
533
539
T h is Issue in B rief
The first Labor Day was celebrated by the Central Labor Union of
New York City on September 5, 1882. The subsequent development
of Labor Day as a Nation-wide legal holiday, and the manner of its
observance, is traced in an article on page 279.
The evolution of the legal-aid movement and its influence in improving
the machinery of justice for the wage earner are described in an article
on page 285. Legal-aid organizations are believed by the authors of
the article to be necessary in rounding out and supplementing other
legal remedial measures in behalf of those of small incomes.
More than 35,000 needy blind persons were given aid in 1935, under
29 State blind-pension acts. Nearly 8 million dollars was spent for
this purpose during the year. The allowances averaged $20.39 per
person per month and ranged in the various States from $1.98 to
$37.18. Benefits were largest in States where part of the cost was
borne by the State and least where the funds had to be raised by the
counties alone. Information for the 29 States which paid blind
pensions during all or part of 1935, collected in the Bureau of Labor
Statistics’ annual survey, is given on page 305.
An international convention fixing a maximum 40-hour workweek on
public works was approved by the International Labor Conference in
June, and will be submitted to the member countries for consideration
and final action. Another important draft convention approved by
the Conference provides for a system of paid vacations for industrial
workers. Page 316.
In the effort to prevent the lowering of wages and standards of wo?k
through unregulated competition, the governments of several countries have
adopted the device of the legalized collective agreement. By that means,
terms that have been agreed upon by organized workers and em
ployers covering conditions of employment are applied as law to all
engaged in the industry or occupation covered by the agreement,
whether signatories or not. A discussion of the operation and extent
of this method of stabilizing wage scales is given on page 398.
Benefits in cash and commodities to the value of $21,374 had been
returned to members by the 21 self-help groups in Utah which were in
operation at the end of March 1936. This was an average return of
20 cents per hour worked. In this State a board was created by
law, in 1935, to supervise and encourage groups of unemployed wish-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
VI
THIS ISSUE IN BRIEF
ing to engage in industrial activities in order to become self-support
ing. A description of the work of this board and of the self-help
groups under its direction is given on page 349.
Average weekly earnings in tin-plate mills increased from $17.84 to
$28.09 between March 1933 and March 1935, according to the survey
of wages in the iron and steel industry made by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. This gain was due to an increase of 40 percent in
average hourly earnings plus a 10.8 percent rise in average weekly
hours. In March 1935 the average weekly earnings in strip mills
was $28.66, in skelp mills $20.98, in lap-weld tube mills $19.70, in
butt-weld tube mills $19.43, and in seamless tube mills $22.14.
Similar data for these departments are not available for 1933. Page 435.
The community recreation movement has expanded rapidly in the past
decade. In 1935 there were 2,204 communities having such service
as compared with 748 in 1925. The number of employed recreation
leaders in these communities had increased from 17,177 in the earlier
year to 43,976 in 1935. The recreation activities include indoor and
outdoor sports and amusements as well as a wide variety of educa
tional and cultural features. Page 347.
An act providing for the maintenance of certain standards of hours,
wages, and working conditions on contracts for the furnishing of mate
rials, etc., to the Federal Government was passed in the closing days of
the last session of Congress. The text of this law and a discussion
of its provisions are given in an article beginning on page 368.
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M o n th ly Labor R e v ie w
U
V o i. 43, N o . 2
n it e d
States B u r e a u
W A S H IN G T O N
♦
‘Published by the
of
L a b o r S t a t ist ic s
A u g u st 1936
O rigin and Significance o f Labor D ay
B y E stelle M. S t e w a r t , of th e B u r e a u
of
L abor S ta tistic s
.BOR Day is definitely a creation of the present-day labor move
ment. It seems, from the available record, to have originated in
a motion made by one of the pioneer unionists in a meeting of the
Central Labor Union of New York City on May 8, 1882, that one
day in the year, to be designated as “Labor Day,” should be estab
lished “as a general holiday for the laboring classes.” The mover of
the resolution was Peter J. McGuire, at that time the general secre
tary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and a delegate to
the Central Labor Union of New York, which had just been formed.
In support of his idea he pointed out that although other notable
American holidays were “representative of the religious, civil, and
military spirit”, there was no occasion devoted to “the industrial
spirit, the great vital force of every nation.” He suggested the first
Monday in September for the holiday he had in mind, “as it would
come at the most pleasant season of the year, nearly midway between
the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving, and would fill a wide gap in
the chronology of legal holidays.” Mr. McGuire’s resolution was
adopted and a committee was appointed to plan a demonstration in
line with his suggestion of a street parade, “which would publicly
show the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organi
zations”, to be followed by “a picnic or a festival in some grove.”
The first Labor Day occurred on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in
New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor
Union. As reported in the New York World of September 6, 1882:
The great labor demonstration and picnic yesterday under the auspices of the
Central Labor Union, composed of the various trade and labor organizations of
New York City and neighborhood, was very successful. Mr. John Swinton,
Louis F. Post,1 C. A. Beecher of Newark, P. J. McGuire, and others were speakers.
1 When the United States Department of Labor was created in 1913, Louis F. Post was appointed A ssist
ant Secretary of Labor.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
The New York Central Labor Union held its second labor holiday
just a year later, on September 5, 1883. In 1884 the first Monday in
September was selected as the holiday, and the central body urged
similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York
and celebrate “a workingmen’s holiday” on that date. Later in 1884
a member of the Typographical Union introduced into the conven
tion of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, im
mediate predecessor of the American Federation of Labor, this
resolution:
Resolved, That the first Monday in September of each year be set apart as a
laborers’ national holiday and that we recommend its observance by all wage
workers, irrespective of sex, calling, or nationality.
By 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions,
which had been established in 1881, was waning, and only 26 men
attended the convention of that year. Two years later, with the
rise of the American Federation of Labor, it passed out of existence.
But one of the real heritages of the revitalized labor movement under
the American Federation of Labor was the ideal of a national holiday
in honor of America’s workers. The idea spread with the growth of
organization and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many of the
industrial centers of the country.
Labor Day Legislation
T h e first official recognition of Labor Day as a legal holiday came
through municipal ordinances that were passed during 1885 and
1886. From them developed the movement to secure State legisla
tion. The first bill was introduced into the New York Legislature,
but the first to become law was passed by the Oregon Legislature on
February 21, 1887. That law, however, designated the first Saturday
in June as Labor Day. It was amended in 1893 to conform to the
general plan which by that time was widely accepted. During 1887
four States in addition to Oregon—Colorado, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, and New York—created the Labor Day holiday by legislative
enactment, and by the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and
Pennsylvania had joined them, while Iowa and Ohio followed in the
early months of 1890.
At the 1890 convention of the American Federation of Labor, held
at Detroit in December, President Gompers reported that “the first
Monday in September, the day set apart by several States known as
Labor Day, has been more generally observed than ever before.”
He recommended “that efforts be made to have all the States enact
a similar law” and that governors be urged “to follow the example set
by the Governor of Kansas by issuing a proclamation calling upon the
citizens of the State to observe it.” The Governor of Kansas evi
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ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LABOR DAY
281
dently anticipated the legislation in his State, as the law making
Labor Day a legal holiday in Kansas was enacted on March 4, 1891.
That proclamation, which was issued August 13, 1890, and is un
doubtedly the first gubernatorial message on the subject of Labor
Day, reads:
The Topeka Trades and Labor Assembly ask that the several State depart
ments be closed on Labor Day, and that the National flag be displayed on the
State Capitol.
The object of the State Federation of Labor (of which the Topeka Trades and
Labor Assembly is a part) is “a closer relationship between all branches of or
ganized labor, in order that equality of right and privilege may be obtained for
wage workers”, and “to obtain an 8-hour workday, better general conditions of
labor, and other needed industrial and social reforms.”
It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the whole people of Kansas are laboring
men and women. Labor is better paid and held in higher esteem in the United
States than in any other country, and in no State is labor more honored than in
Kansas. It is our lot and will be the lot of our children. Whatever can be done
to better the condition of the laboring man will tend to the elevation of our whole
people.
In view of these facts, and in full sympathy with all legitimate efforts of the
wage worker in all parts of our Commonwealth, I, Lyman U. Humphrey, Governor
of the State of Kansas, do hereby proclaim and set apart Monday, September 1,
1890, as Labor Day, and respectfully recommend that the day be observed as a
holiday, and that business be so far suspended as to permit all persons who may
desire, to participate in the public exercises of the occasion.
From 1891 to the end of 1893, 21 more States created the State
holiday in honor of the workers, and on June 28, 1894, Congress
passed, without discussion, an act making the first Monday in Sep
tember of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and
the Territories. That law was widely acclaimed as establishing Labor
Day as a national holiday, and, although the interpretation was
erroneous, the recognition accorded Labor Day by act of Congress
added materially to the significance of the movement and to the pres
tige of the holiday itself. By 1900 most of the States had recognized
Labor Day officially, and the forty-eighth State to fall in line was
Wyoming, which passed its Labor Day law as recently as February
1923. The day was not uniform throughout all jurisdictions in the
original laws, but amendments have been made wherever necessary
to conform to the original plan. The laws of Wisconsin and Wyoming
do not designate a specific date but direct the governors to set a
suitable day. In practice, of course, the governors designate the first
Monday in September for the observance.
Labor Day Observance
T h e form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should
take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday—a street parade
to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for
the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.
That became the pattern for the celebration of Labor Day, and the
extent of its observance in the earlier years can be traced in the news
paper reports of Labor Day celebrations throughout the country.
Labor Day addresses by prominent men were introduced later, as
more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance
of the holiday. Still later, by the adoption of a resolution introduced
into the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909 by Frank
Morrison, the secretary of the federation, the Sunday preceding Labor
Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and
educational aspects of the labor movement.
The widespread acceptance and observance of Labor Day made it,
within a few years, a national holiday with the same status as the
patriotic and religious holidays whose history and traditions went
much farther back into the national life. In fact, it seems to have
been so thoroughly taken for granted that, during the late nineties
and the first decade of the 1900’s, it is scarcely mentioned in the pro
ceedings of American Federation of Labor conventions, although the
official journal of the organization, the American Federationist,
usually made the September issue a special Labor Day edition. In
1910, however, President Gompers, in his report to the convention of
that year, protested against the extent to which the traditional Labor
Day parade was falling into disuse and the real significance of the day
was being lost sight of in “jollification.” Two years later he repeated
his warning thus:
It is one of the contradictions of human nature that when customs and institu
tions once established become familiar and sometimes, therefore, unappreciated,
they gradually decline because they fail to receive due consideration and valua
tion. To guard against such a fate for Labor Day, the one day in the year
secured by the toilers to give genuine dignity and worth to the underlying motives
of the cause of organized labor, we must keep alive its finest and deepest senti
ments. Labor Day is not a time for mere merrymaking and personal enjoyment,
but a time for pledging anew our faith to our cause and to each other. * * *
We cannot, as an organization, afford not to use labor’s special day, Labor Day,
as a time to set forth to the best advantage our needs, demands, and position with
respect to what is of greatest interest to the thinking people.
Again in 1914 the executive council, with the observation that “no
human movement remains at one level, it must increase or it must
decrease”, asked the question: “Shall Labor Day lose its distinctive
character and become a mere holiday for general meaningless purposes
and for the exploitation of private profit?” The former attitude
toward maintaining the old custom of Labor Day demonstrations,
parades, and meetings was reiterated, because “those outside the
labor movement test its strength and virility by the way in which
Labor Day is observed.”
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ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LABOR DAY
283
The most recent action of an American Federation of Labor con
vention on the subject of Labor Day was nonconcurrence in a resolu
tion introduced into the 1935 convention by representatives of the
United Textile Workers urging a 1-day general strike on Labor Day
1936 and on every succeeding Labor Day in every community where
employers refused to grant the holiday.
It is undoubtedly true that the character of the Labor Day cele
bration has been undergoing change in recent years, especially in
large industrial centers where the physical problems connected with
mass displays such as huge parades have proved a deterrent. That
change is, however, really a shift in emphasis and in medium of ex
pression, by which the old objective of directing attention to the
workers, their aims, ideals, and achievements has gained rather than
lost. Labor Day messages from public officials and men and women
prominent in social and civic affairs appear not only in the labor
papers but in the general press; Labor Day addresses of leading union
officials, industrialists, educators, and clergymen are given a wide
hearing over the radio, and through the cooperation of many churches
the day preceding Labor Day is dedicated to Labor as Labor Sun
day, and the spokesmen of labor not infrequently occupy the pulpits
on those occasions.
Labor Day in Collective Agreements
I t s h o u l d be pointed out that for the mass of the workers, holidays
reduce earnings, and that by celebrating Labor Day most workers
sacrifice a day’s pay to the principle and the ideal for which the holiday
stands. For piece workers that is almost uniformly true, as it is for
time workers unless they are under collective agreements specifically
providing for holidays with pay. That condition is by no means
general, although in most agreements in which Labor Day is recog
nized, work is forbidden except in emergencies.
When agreements do call for the payment of wages for specified
holidays, Labor Day is always listed, in some cases sharing that honor
only with Christmas and Independence Day. When work is per
mitted on Labor Day, these agreements usually provide for pay at
the rate of time and a half or double time; or in such lines of work as
baking, brewing, delivery of milk, and so on, an early hour—generally
9 or 10 a. m.—for stopping work is fixed.
Six agreements in operation in the women’s clothing industry in
1930 contained the provision: “No work on Labor Day, but all work
ers (week and piece) to receive pay for day, whether there is work in
the shop or not during Labor Day week.” This provision is particu
larly interesting because the agreements stipulated that the other
national holidays “shall be observed without pay.” In the building
trades, provisions regarding work on Labor Day are more stringent
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
than those applying to other holidays. Work is prohibited as a rule,
and union members violating the rule are penalized by fines ranging
from $10 to $50, or, in extreme cases, by expulsion from the union.
If emergency work must be done, a permit from local union officials
is frequently required. The charge for such work is usually double
or triple time, and some agreements require as much as 4 or 5 days’
pay for any work done on Labor Day. One building-trade agreement
contains a clause providing that if work must be performed on Labor
Day to save life or property, it must be done under permit and the
employee must give his services without compensation. Other
agreements require that wages earned under those circumstances shall
be donated to the union treasury, either in whole or in part.
Such drastic provisions emphasize the veneration in which Labor
Day is held by American unionists, and the earnestness of their
efforts to preserve its essential significance.
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Legal-Aid W ork in th e U n ited States
II. Improving the Machinery of Justice 1
B y R eg in ald H e b e r S m ith , and J ohn S. B r adw ay
HE social and economic forces that have so radically altered the
conditions of life in America and that, as shown in the preceding
article, have caused a break-down of serious proportions in our ad
ministration of justice, first made themselves felt in the last quarter
of the nineteenth century. A generation passed before the American
people were made aware of what had happened in their most vital
domestic institution. During that time the wage earners and the
humbler classes generally had to exist without ample protection from
the law. If their wages were unpaid, their only redress lay in civil
litigation, which was protracted and expensive beyond their means.
If they were injured, their only recourse was a suit for personal
injuries, their path was strewn with technical traps such as the
“fellow-servant” rule and the doctrine of “assumption of risk”, a
lawyer had to be secured on a contingent-fee basis, and the best that
could be expected would be a verdict after the lapse of 2 or 3 years.
Because of their legally defenseless position they were preyed upon
and defrauded by a host of petty swindlers. The exploitation that
immigrants endured has been written into the records of Federal and
State investigations. When pressed by the expense of illness, death,
or other misfortune, money could be borrowed only from the loan
shark at ruinous rates of interest. Workmen were induced, often
by false representations, to assign their future wages (many employers
made it a rule to discharge any one who made such an assignment),
and thus the workman found himself at the mercy of an assignee who
had power over both his livelihood and his job. The law in its actual
application to his life was apt to impress the wage earner as an enemy
and oppressor and not as a friend and protector.
The first definite pronouncement of the difficulties within the field
of justice came in 1906 when Roscoe Pound addressed the American
Bar Association on The Causes of Popular Dissatisfaction With the
Administration of Justice. Slowly, gradually, but in increasing
measure, the American people were aroused. Legislative committees,
T
i Second abstract from U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 607: Growth of Legal-Aid Work
in the United States. Washington, 1936.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
constitutional conventions, and bar associations became active. Dur
ing the past 25 years we have been busily devising ways and means
for reforming the law and reorganizing the machinery of justice so
that the needs of the community might be better served.
Development of LegabAid Organizations
I n v a r i o u s States experiments designed to improve the position of
the poor before the law have been made, and most of these have met
with substantial success. While each remedial agency was con
structed to meet some particular aspect of the general problem with
which this study deals, all these agencies, if combined and made a
part of the administration of justice throughout this country, would
provide definite and tried methods whereby the laws could be made
actively effective in a large majority of the cases in which wage earners
and all persons of limited means are interested. For the general run
of claims under $50, the small-claims courts afford a speedy and in
expensive procedure; the conciliation tribunals are still in the experi
mental stage, but they may become the ideal counterparts of the
small-claims courts in the more sparsely populated districts. In the
field of work accidents the industrial accident commissions, with their
auxiliary medical and inspection staffs, unquestionably serve to
bring justice to the injured workman and his dependents in at least
9 cases out of 10, through the method of administrative justice which
is prompt and free from expense. Various administrative officials,
operating as a part of the executive arm of the Government, give
legal advice and assistance in matters of insurance, purchases of
securities, small loans, and, most important, in the collection of
wages. In criminal matters where the problem is to supply the
services of attorneys to poor persons accused of crime, the publicdefender and the paid-assigned-counsel plans constitute a practical
answer.
For the legal protection of the wage earner we have been trying to
devise a series or chain of agencies and methods that would remove
the handicaps of delay, court costs, and the expense of counsel, which
have heretofore blocked his ready access to the courts of justice, and
that chain is now complete except for one vital link. While stressing
the efficacy of these remedial agencies it is necessary to sound a note
of caution. There are disputed industrial-accident cases where the
employee needs representation by counsel, and there are wage claims
which a labor commissioner for one reason or another cannot collect,
so that the wage earner must seek the assistance of a lawyer. As
to the vast number of miscellaneous types of claims and cases within
the field of the civil law—all cases of debts, contracts, many claims
beyond the jurisdiction of the small-claims courts, all accidents not
within the scope of the compensation acts, all domestic-relations
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IMPROVING THE MACHINERY OF JUSTICE
287
difficulties such as divorce, judicial separation, custody and guardian
ship of minors, partnership disputes, bankruptcy, claims growing out
of insurance, real-estate titles and mortgages, the administration of
the estates of deceased persons, disputes concerning the ownership,
conversion, or loss of personal property—the only remedy that is
available is through litigation in the courts, and for that litigation the
services of an attorney are indispensable. Add to this the need of the
services of an attorney in drawing contracts and other documents and
in advising clients as to their legal rights and what course of action
they should pursue, and it is apparent that to complete our plan foi
equalizing the practical administration of the laws under modern
conditions there must be provided some definite arrangement whereby
the services of attorneys may be available to wage earners and
others who, by reason of inadequate financial resources, are unable
to secure the services of counsel at their own expense.
Our experience in America indicates quite conclusively that the
final agency needed to round out and supplement the services of all
the others is to be found in what is called the legal-aid organization.
In the effort to piece together a structure or program whereby the
administration of justice may be brought abreast of the needs and
demands of the existing industrial urban society, it is clear that the
heaviest load, the most extended responsibility, and in a sense the
final responsibility, must be borne by these legal-aid organizations.
The conditions that operated to bring about the establishment of the
first legal-aid society were precisely the same as those which caused
the maladjustments in the administration of justice itself, and which
were described in the preceding article. In short, they were not legal
causes per se but the rapid social and economic changes that trans
figured the whole tenor and complexion of American life. In 1875
New York became a city of a million inhabitants, and it is not a meie
coincidence that the first legal-aid organization came into being in
that city in 1876.
In that year a group of lawyers and laymen who were especially
interested in German immigrants, realizing the frauds and impositions
of which immigrants were the victims and which could be redressed
only through legal action, appointed a special committee to study the
situation, and from the committee arose the suggestion for the estab
lishment of a regular association to handle the problems. Offices
were secured and a salaried attorney installed, who devoted a portion
of his time to the work.
The idea of legal-aid work germinated very slowly during the first
25 years. The community was not aware of the difficulties of the
poor man who needed legal protection. The situation was most
manifest in the largest cities and the legal-aid idea naturally first
took root in our two largest cities—New York and Chicago. From
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1900 to 1917 the idea spread at an accelerating pace, first into the
next largest cities, such as Philadelphia, Boston, and Cleveland, and
finally reaching across the continent to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
During the war the movement was checked and suffered a momentary
setback, but by 1920 it was well under way again. It has now regained
its momentum and flows steadily ahead under the guidance and leader
ship of the National Association of Legal Aid Organizations.
Since each legal-aid society or bureau was formed by a local group
to meet a local need, it was perhaps inevitable that they should have
come very slowly to any realization of the fact that they were all
engaged in a common enterprise. The first tentative step toward
the formation of a national body was taken in 1911, but not until
1923 was there a strong enough conscious sense of solidarity to make
possible the creation of a true national association. Legal-aid work
has outgrown the period of its infancy and is entering the stage of its
maturity. In any further extension of the work and in maintaining
the efficiency of the existing organizations a leading responsibility
devolves on this national association.
The purposes of the new national body are formally set forth in
section 2 of article 1 of the constitution, as follows:
The objects and purposes of this association shall be to promote and develop
legal-aid work, to encourage the formation of new legal-aid organizations wherever
they may be needed, to provide a central body with defined duties and powers
for the guidance of legal-aid work, and to cooperate with the judiciary, the bar,
and all organizations interested in the administration of justice.
The separate legal-aid organizations, having been integrated into a
national body, are now able to cooperate with other national bodies
interested in the improvement of the administration of justice and
especially as it relates to people of little or no means.
The national association also gathers and disseminates information
concerning its own activities and concerning the progress of legal-aid
work in general and has established a special committee on publicity.
An outstanding achievement of the national body was the initiation
of a movement for international cooperation in legal-aid work.
In 1934 at the New York convention there was a general feeling
that the problems which had faced the national association in its
beginning had been largely solved or replaced by a new set of diffi
culties. This idea had been present at a number of the earlier con
ventions, but until 1934 there had not been sufficient support for it to
warrant making any substantial changes. In that year the association
instructed the executive committee to abolish the existing committees
and to set up a new group of committees to deal with the new prob
lems. The executive committee, meeting in the midwinter of 1935,
proceeded to establish the following four fundamental committees to
guide the activities of the association during this second period of its
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existence: A committee on contacts with other agencies, which was
expected to develop relationship with the bar, with social agencies,
with law schools, with governmental officials, and other groups; a
committee on internal administration; a committee on publicity and
finance; a committee on specified types of cases.
Work of Legal-Aid Organisations
W h i l e legal-aid work has an unbroken history running back for
over 50 years, the great bulk of its achievement, as indicated in
table 1, lies within the last two decades, during which the movement
became truly national in scope. In other words, the legal-aid organi
zations taken as a whole have passed through their experimental stage,
but they are still in process of development. They contain tremendous
latent possibilities for effective service in connection with the adminis
tration of justice, but they are only at the threshold of the passageway
which leads to full realization of these opportunities.
Table 1.— Growth of Legal-Aid Work in the United States, by Years 1
N um
ber of Number Amounts
collected
organi of cases for
clients
zations
Year
1876....... .
1877_____
1878_____
1879_____
1880_____
18S1_____
1882_____
1883_____
1884_____
1885 ____
1886_____
1887_____
1888_____
1889_____
1890_____
1891_____
1892_____
1893_____
1894_____
1895_____
1896- ___
1897...........
1898_____
1899_____
1900_____
1901_____
1902_____
1903_____
1904....... .
1905...........
1906_____
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
6
10
10
13
12
12
212
750
856
1,903
2,122
2,832
3,413
3,400
3,640
3,802
3,462
3,870
5, 624
7,611
9,316
10, 282
10,656
11,166
15,427
16,128
15,017
12,115
12,399
16,189
20, 896
23,366
23, 544
28,358
34,156
33,352
37,603
$1,000
5, 019
8,089
7,514
8,680
9,149
12,460
17,040
19,062
17, 711
19,357
17, 755
20,852
32, 768
47, 580
65,818
86, 206
37,603
68, 672
66,341
76, 695
78, 420
72, 860
72,575
101,970
83, 739
78, 507
68, 731
71,005
80, 020
99,049
Operat
ing ex
pense
$1,060
1,519
1,570
1,816
2,248
2,622
2,715
2,838
2,817
2,870
3,820
5,005
8,739
10,425
11, 953
12, 781
15,122
11,365
14,597
14, 312
13,450
14, 734
13, 654
16,030
21, 669
28,885
29,086
33, 333
38,829
42, 734
53, 347
Year
1907_____
1908....... .
1909....... .
1910_____
1911.........
1912_____
1913_____
1914....... 1915_____
1916_____
1917_____
1918_____
1919_____
1920_____
1921_____
1922_____
1923_____
1924_____
1925_____
1926_____
1927..........
1928_____
1929_____
1930_____
1931_____
1932_____
1933..........
Total. __
N um
ber of Number Amounts
organi of cases collected
for clients
zations
13
13
14
15
16
21
28
32
38
41
41
41
41
41
41
47
61
72
72
73
78
85
84
86
85
85
84
42,596
50,944
48,212
52,644
60,950
77, 778
87,141
109, 048
111,719
117, 201
108,594
99,192
102, 289
96, 034
111,404
130,585
150, 234
121,177
143, 653
152, 214
142, 535
165,817
171,961
217,643
227,471
307,673
331,970
$126, 515
129, 562
136,105
166,851
185, 567
217, 532
244,162
268,849
323, 092
340,199
266,373
289,859
367,813
389,835
456,160
499, 684
498,846
662, 675
675,994
645,991
719,643
645,435
802,328
876,477
674,122
815,440
727,499
Operat
ing ex
pense
$62, 620
66, 534
72,170
76, 602
97,250
119, 705
133, 609
160,189
166, 701
181, 408
153, 559
167,307
195,595
226,079
282,359
328, 651
331,326
348, 290
408, 576
369, 264
387,331
461,557
464,420
546,803
538,199
596,941
481, 756
3,912,146 13,604,855 7,860,746
1 Figures are for organizations reporting.
The legal-aid organizations have received applications for assistance
in 3,912,146 cases; through their efforts they have collected for their
clients $13,604,855; and in the prosecution of their work they have
expended $7,860,746. The existing organizations serve a territory
82 4 2 5 — 36------ 2
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in which 39,000,000 persons live; each year they assist more than
300,000 clients; for them they collect nearly three-quarters of a
milhon dollars annually in amounts that average little more than $15
per case. The maintenance of legal-aid work now costs half a million
dollars a year, which means that they are able to interview, to extend
legal advice to a client, and to render whatever legal assistance he
requires, at an average cost of about $1.45 per case.
The foregoing may be regarded as minimum figures because records
for some of the newer and less strongly established offices are not
available. Measured by number of clients, the legal-aid organizations
of the United States probably conduct the largest law practice in the
world.
The constitutions of a number of societies state the object of their
work to be “to render aid and assistance, gratuitously if necessary.”
This is a balanced phrase. When the client is unable to pay anything
the service must be extended to him free of all charges; every legal-aid
organization subscribes to this principle, and no applicant is ever
rejected on the ground that he cannot pay a fee.
On the other hand, if the applicant can pay a nominal fee, some of
the organizations do make a charge. One definite school of thought
among legal-aid workers strongly objects to any system of fees whatso
ever. Their argument is that justice should be free; that legal-aid
service should be extended without any pecuniary reward; that the
nature of legal-aid work will be more clearly appreciated by the com
munity and its dignity be enhanced if no charges for services rendered
are imposed. This point of view represents an earnest conviction,
it has the' merit of simplicity, and it is based on an ideal that carries
with it an undeniable appeal.
The countervailing argument is perhaps less idealistic but is sup
ported by strong practical considerations. It is urged with vigor
that the system of charging fees, however small, tends to eliminate
fictitious and groundless complaints; that when a client has paid a
fee he has a stake in the matter and is less likely to drop it; that by the
payment the relationship is lifted from the plane of charity to one of
self-respect; and that these fees, although trifling in themselves, in
the aggregate constitute a source of income that enables the organiza
tions to do more work than their limited finances would otherwise
enable them to perform. The following table shows the kinds of fees
collected by certain organizations in recent years.
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Table 2.—Fees and Commissions Charged by Legal-Aid Organizations, by Cities
Registration fee
or retainer
City
A lbany________________
Fees or commissions in
special cases (work
m en’s compensation,
etc.)
25 cents________ 5 percent
Baltimore______________ 50 cents________
Boston________________ ____do_________
Buffalo________________
Cambridge_____________
Chicago, Legal Aid Bureau.
Cincinnati____________ _
Cleveland______________
Fee or commission on money
collected over a certain sum
25 cents_______
____do_________
____do_________
__ __do_ _______
N one. _______
Denver______________ . ____do_________
Detroit. ______________
do. _ _____
Grand Rapids. ______
Jersey C ity . __________
Louisville______________
Minneapolis- _______ _
New York, Legal Aid So
ciety.
N ew York, Educational
Alliance.
25 cen ts.. _____
___do__________
None____ _____
25 cents________
50 cents________
25 cents, except
to f e m a l e
clients.
Newark____________ . . 10 cents________
Providence___ _____ . . .
25 cents________
Rochester__________ . . ____do___ _____
Springfield_____________ N one. _. _ __
Fixed by workmen’s
compensation
bu
reau.
do
None.
20 percent (unless amount is large). $5 to $15 in domestic
relations cases.
10 percent
None.
None
0).
___do
10 percent
10 percent if client is married; 15
percent if not.
10 percent
Do.
10 percent.
5 percent from $5 to $10; over $10,
10 percent.
0).
Fixed by workmen’s
compensation com
mission.
___ do
_ _ _________ Voluntary
contribu
tions by clients.
___do.
10 percent.
__ do
Do.
__ __do_ _
25 cents to $5.
No set fee
(')•
10 percent of amount over $5_____ 3 percent in estates.
10 percent
5 percent to 10 percent
10 percent
Contribution by clients .
0).
__ 5 percent to 10 percent.
. ____ Fee set by State.
______ Fee set by industrial
accident board.
1 N o figures available.
Of the various societies and bureaus as to which definite information
is available, 15 charge registration fees and 36 do not; 17 charge a com
mission for collections or other valuable services and 34 do not. All of
the public bureaus are free. Nearly all of the offices which are con
ducted as departments of organized charity societies (as the united,
federated, or associated charities) charge no fees. On the other hand,
most of the privately incorporated societies (and these include the
organizations that do about half of all the legal-aid work in the United
States) do charge.
The legal-aid organizations have fixed their fees at so low a point
that no injustice results, and therefore no fundamental principle is
at stake.
Types of Legal'Aid Organisations
I n the course of expansion various types of legal-aid organizations
have developed, and as the work is extended into smaller cities and
as it is confronted with new conditions the number of types tends to
increase.
The first to be considered is the group which may be designated as
specialized organizations, because their work is limited in one direc
tion or another. Most of the public-defender offices fall in this
group because they are limited to criminal cases.
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Another type of specialized body is the National Desertion Bureau,
in New York, that deals only with domestic relations cases. A
third type is represented by the Legal Aid Bureau of the Educational
Alliance, in New York, and by the Legal Aid Department of the
Jewish Social Service Bureau, in Chicago, both of which limit their
service almost entirely to Jewish applicants and their field of ac
tivity is very largely among immigrants. Through such specializa
tion these organizations attain a high degree of efficiency. It will be
noticed that they exist only in our two largest cities; in the other
cities of the country such specialization is not called for. Most
communities can afford only one organization and need only one
organization, because a properly equipped legal-aid office can provide
service in desertion cases and extend assistance to immigrants as a
part of its regular work, and in fact the stronger legal-aid societies
and bureaus already do so.
The relationship between organized labor and the legal-aid organi
zations has yet to be defined and established. Their common interests
cover a wide field. It is safe to conjecture that if the facts were
known it would appear that a substantial percentage of legal-aid
clients are members of unions and that a still larger percentage con
sists of wage earners in whose welfare and protection organized labor
is concerned. The legal reforms urged in connection with the legalaid movement are of primary importance to labor. To secure the
genuine interest and cordial support of organized labor is unquestion
ably one of the greatest responsibilities, and at the same time one
of the most promising opportunities that the National Association of
Legal Aid Organizations will face in the immediate future. There is
every reason to believe that organized labor would be fully responsive.
Three articles on legal aid have already been printed in The American
Federationist, whose editor, Mr. William Green, is president of the
American Federation of Labor.
While certain distinctive differences may be noted between various
major types of organizations engaged in general legal-aid work, the
dividing line is not always clear because one type, through a series of
minor variations, tends to become merged with another. Thus, the
simplest machinery of all undoubtedly consists of an individual lawyer
who volunteers his services and to whom a social agency refers all
its cases. While many examples might be given of this device it is
sufficient to record that in Illinois and Michigan where the State
wide plan has been extended to local communities the local arrange
ments are not much more complex than this. After the individual
lawyer comes the bar-association committee, as in Seattle, Jackson
ville, Evansville, and Wheeling. A modification of this type is the
legal-aid committee of the State bar association which supplies a
degree of leadership in developing the work in the State. Examples
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of this type may be found in California, Illinois, Massachusetts,
Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.
There is a further step, namely, an unincorporated organization, as
in New Orleans, receiving funds from a social agency and employing
an attorney to give a definite amount of time to the work. There is,
finally, the full-fledged legal-aid society as, for example, the one in
Detroit which functions under the direction of a legal-aid committee
of the bar association.
The less formal machinery is, of course, more suitable to the smaller
communities where the volume of cases is small and the pressure of
the work not too onerous. This is normally the situation in cities of
50,000 inhabitants or less.
Closely related to the State-wide committee is the State legal-aid
organization. During the period from 1923 to 1928 State legal-aid
organizations were created in California, Massachusetts, New York,
Ohio, and Pennsylvania. These organizations held meetings and
encouraged the development of local legal-aid societies. The associa
tion in California is still active and has accomplished a substantial
amount of work.
For the larger communities—certainly in cities of 100,000 inhabi
tants and upward—the only efficient way to conduct legal-aid work
is through a definite legal-aid office organized and maintained on a
fixed basis. For this purpose four standard types of organizations
have appeared. The best illustration of the first type—the bar
association—is the legal-aid bureau of the Association of the Bar of
Detroit. This is recognized as one of the finest legal-aid organizations
in the country. By reason of the inherent nature of legal-aid work,
its establishment and conduct under bar association auspices is
logical and thoroughly sound. The organized bar is steadily assuming
a greater and greater responsibility for legal-aid work, and bar associa
tions have undertaken to start the work in many cities, but they have
generally either created a private philanthropic corporation to conduct
the work, as in Boston, Louisville, and Providence, or they have
worked out some joint arrangement with an existing charity organiza
tion, as has recently been done in Chicago.
Legal-aid work conducted as a department of a general charity
organization has been successful in many communities, notably in
Grand Rapids, St. Paul, and Chicago. An advantage of this plan
is that the legal-aid financing is taken care of as part of the general
financing of the whole charity organization, which from the community
point of view is a sensible arrangement. The corresponding dis
advantage is that if the general charity for any reason goes down the
legal-aid work goes down with it. Both in Chicago and Grand Rapids
the legal-aid bureaus enjoy so large a measure of autonomy in the
working out of their own destinies that they are virtually as free as
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the independent philanthropic corporations. In the past several
legal-aid organizations of this type, notably in Minneapolis, have
become separate, independent organizations such as are described in
the next paragraph.
In the largest cities most of the legal-aid societies have been incor
porated as private charitable corporations. New York, Boston,
Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Newark, San Francisco,
and Providence, to mention a few typical instances, have always
adhered to this type. The incorporated society form was also used
in Philadelphia until in 1920 the work was assumed by the city, and
in Chicago until the society was merged with the United Charities.
In 1933 when the municipal support for the Philadelphia Legal Aid
Bureau had definitely been withdrawn, the old private charitable
corporation was revived and is now in active and successful operation.
Much of the pioneer and development work that has been done in the
legal-aid field must be credited to the foresight, enthusiasm, and
vitality that results from this form of organization.
Still another type of legal-aid organization is the one known as the
legal-aid “clinic.” Such an organization is connected with a law
school and has two objectives, one in the field of public service and
the other in the field of legal education. Legal-aid clinics in connec
tion with legal-aid societies have existed for some time. Legal-aid
clinics exclusively in the control of law schools now exist at the
University of Southern California and at Duke University.
The last, and in some respects the most interesting, type is that of
the public bureau which is generally organized as a department of the
municipal government. In addition to the public defenders, legal-aid
work in the civil field is conducted through public bureaus in Kansas
City, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Bridgeport, Dayton, Duluth, Omaha,
Hartford, New Haven, and Dallas. The authority for the establish
ment of organizations of this type is found in the city charters or in
special ordinances.
The greatest asset of the private society is that it is controlled by a
free and independent board of directors. The public bureau is
deprived of this advantage, being normally subject to control by a
city council composed of men who may well pass the final vote on its
appropriation but who are not specially qualified to give any intelli
gent leadership in framing the general policies of a legal-aid office.
If the legal-aid organizations are destined to become auxiliary parts
of the administration of justice in modern cities, then unquestionably
the public office is the most logical form of organization for legal-aid
work to assume.
A democratic form of government undeniably has certain dangers
and certain limitations, and any public service is exposed to the same
risks, but unless one is prepared to argue against democracy itself it is
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idle to complain of the shortcomings that follow in its train. As the
technique of government is improved so will the service of all public
agencies, including legal-aid bureaus, be improved. Civilization
itself depends on the ability of democracies to develop and maintain
governments competent to deal with the complex problems of modern
society.
It is probable that for another generation at least the public and
private types of legal-aid organizations will exist side by side. The
transition from private to public control will come about slowly and
will be made, one step at a time. This is eminently desirable because
legal-aid work still needs much development in many different
directions, and the private societies by virtue of their greater freedom
and independence are the natural bodies to undertake experiments.
It is believed by the authors of this report that ultimately all legalaid work will be taken over by public authority, and it is incumbent
on those who are responsible for the direction of the work to shape
their course to this end. In no other way, as far as can be seen, can
the administration of justice finally be rounded out so that it will be
able to extend the equal protection of the laws to all persons in our
great urban centers of population.
Legal aid in the past has been essentially an urban problem. Owing
to the fact that the conditions which require the establishment of
some type of organization are found primarily in the larger cities, a
test was made to ascertain how far legal-aid work has extended into
the cities of the United States. This test shows that in 1934 legal aid
was definitely established in all of the 21 cities having a population
of over 350,000 in 1930, in 15 of the 20 cities with a population of
200,000 to 350,000, in 5 of the 10 cities with 150,000 to 200,000 popula
tion, and was fairly well established in 47 of the cities having popula
tions of 25,000 to 150,000.
In cities of less than 100,000 inhabitants the need for any separately
organized work is less clearly manifest. When it was proposed to
inaugurate the work in less densely settled districts a different type
of arrangement was utilized. In effect, the outlines of this plan are
already in existence in North Carolina where the Duke Legal Aid
Clinic accepts cases from over the entire State, and, working through
a group of volunteer lawyers, renders much more than a local service.
As an alternative the older Illinois plan promises much, functioning
as it does in cities of a population of 11,000, 13,000, 16,000, 25,000,
30,000, and 47,000. In the smaller cities and rural areas where the
agencies for the solution of human problems are less highly specialized,
it is very likely that legal-aid service will find itself associated with
either the work of a social agency or the work of a university. Ex
perience indicates that the extension of the work into such areas,
if made on such a cooperative basis, is far more likely to succeed.
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In connection with the above statistics, the assumption that where
legal-aid work was definitely established the situation might be deemed
satisfactory was an arbitrary one. It is true that once the work is
organized and begun in a community the probabilities are that it will
grow from year to year until the legal-aid office is able to care for all
the cases of needy persons, but when we try to ascertain the present
extent of the work a more rigid rule must be applied. The best test
for this purpose that has thus far been devised is to compare the num
ber of cases handled by a legal-aid office with the population of the
city or district that it serves.
The figures in the following table have been compiled by the secre
tary of the National Association of Legal Aid Organizations. The
construction of this table is more difficult than appears on the surface.
The exact population served by a legal-aid office is indefinite; the
census figures are not always conclusive because a legal-aid office
may serve a territory either larger or smaller than the district used by
the census for purposes of enumeration. Furthermore, outside factors
enter to affect the number of cases that an office theoretically ought to
receive in proportion to population; where small-claims courts exist
they handle many cases that in other jurisdictions would come to the
legal-aid office, and the same is true of domestic relations courts and
labor commissioners. The figures have been checked with the local
legal-aid organizations as far as possible, and even if they contain a
margin of error it is believed that the margin of error is too small to
disturb the major conclusions which are drawn from it. The table
reduces the total number of cases received by each organization to a
basis showing how many cases were received for each 100 of the
population. Under the rough standard set up by the legal-aid organi
zations, there should be one case for each 100 inhabitants. Thus an
office handling 0.75 case per 100 of population may be said to be filling
three-quarters of the community’s entire need for legal aid; one han
dling 0.50 case per 100 is meeting one-lialf the need, and so on. The
word “case” deserves a definition. The National Association of
Legal Aid Organizations has adopted the following definition:
Any application which, in the discretion of the attorney handling it, may be
disposed of under one of the headings of our standard classifications including
both matters where legal aid is given and matters in which time and effort alone
are given, but not including applications in which neither legal aid nor any appre
ciable time is given of which a recording is made.
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Table 3.— Number of Cases of Legal Aid per 100 of the Population, by City, and
Type of Organization
City
Type of legal-aid organization
Number
Population of cases
served1 received
in 1933 2
Number
of cases
for each
100 of
popula
tion
Members of National Association of
Legal-Aid Organizations
Albany......................................... .
Baltimore________ ____________
B o s to n ...------------------------------Bridgeport-....................... ................
B uffalo............................. .............
Cambridge...................................
Chicago:
Legal Aid Bureau__________
Jewish Social Service Bureau.
Cincinnati-............. ..........................
Cleveland..............P_____________
D a lla s..______ ________________
Denver_________ _____ ________
D etroit______________________ _
D uluth----------- ---------- ------------Durham______________________
Grand R apids._____ __________
Hartford___________ ______ ____
Jacksonville________ __________
Los Angeles___________________
Louisville______ _____ _________
M adison................ .............. ...........
M ilwaukee____________________
Minneapolis........... .............. ............
Montreal_____________________
N ew Bedford._________________
N ew H aven___________________
N ew York:
Legal Aid Society__________
National Desertion Bureau..
Educational Alliance........ ......
O akland..................... ............ .........
Philadelphia...................... .............
Pittsburgh______________ ____ _
Providence____________________
Rochester______ _______________
Salt Lake C ity________________
San Francisco...................................
Springfield__________ _____ ____
St. Louis______ ______________
St. P aul______________________
Private corporation...................
Bureau of social agency............
Private corporation_____ ____
Municipal bureau......................
Private corporation......... .........
___.d o .......................... ..................
Social agency—clinic------------____do------------ -------------------Private corporation-------------____do.................................. .........
M unicipal bureau___________
Bar association committee___
........do______________________
Municipal bureau--------------- Clinic______________________
Bureau of social agency--------M unicipal bureau___________
____do............................................
Clinic.............................. ..............
Private corporation-------------M unicipal bureau------- --------Private corporation_________
Social agency—clinic...............
Social agency_______________
Municipal bureau----------------........do------- ---------- --------------Private corporation_________
Department of social agency. _
____do------------ -------------------Clinic_____ ____ ___________
Municipal bureau..................
Private corporation_________
____do.......................... ..................
........d o .......................... ................
Social agency_______________
Private corporation------ -------M unicipal bureau—. .................
........ do___________________ _
Bureau of social agency---------
Total.
120,000
966
4,564
11,935
731
8, 355
689
0.80
.53
.59
.50
1.09
.59
24,337
1,015
6,942
8, 560
3,003
1,978
29, 284
2, 263
302
1,185
1,593
241
2,240
11, 302
400
1,828
2,302
1,179
(3)
3, 614
.48
.36
1.49
.69
1.15
.65
1.95
2. 23
.48
.70
.97
.18
.15
3.13
.35
.23
.48
.58
(3)
.49
474,434
1, 950,961
1, 374, 622
295,892
350.000
140, 267
600.000
71,864
821,960
271, 606
34,906
900
3,137
2, 269
3, 562
4, 538
1,435
3, 521
482
4.993
2.993
25, 200
1,236
30, 551, 658
219,280
270, 366
200,982
115,967
80, 339
399, 746
3,089
4,200
850.000
2 , 000,000
146.000
762, 408
115.000
4.955.000
275.000
464.000
1, 250,000
260,475
300.000
1, 500,000
101,463
62,000
168,592
164,072
129, 549
1.500.000
360.000
112, 738
766,100
475.000
200.000
(3)
162,655
7,000,000
2.22
.01
.04
.48
.18
.33
.48
1.00
.34
.69
4.16
3.06
.45
Nonmember organizations
Atlanta____ _______
D ayton........................
Erie..............................
Harrisburg............ .
Kansas C ity_______
Los Angeles (civil) :
City defender__
County defender
Newark___________
New Orleans_______
Reading......................
Washington_______
Wheeling____ _____
Total
*
Private corporation................
___ do---------------- ---------------Social agency_______________
___ do______________________
M unicipal bureau-----------------
110
111
9,199
1.15
2.09
.09
.13
2.30
........do................... ......................... } 1, 500,000 I 15, 690
41,516
___ do______________________
4,938
442,337
Private corporation......... .........
652
485,000
___ do_______________ ______
315
111, 171
Bar association committee___
803
486,869
Social agency_______________
134
61, 659
Bar association committee-----
1.04
2.70
80,757
1.94
4,154,436
1.11
.13
.28
.16
.21
1 Population figures secured either from reports from the organizations or the World Almanac. The
difference in the figures for Hartford may be accounted for on the supposition that the reports on pop
ulation served did not come from the same source.
2 Figures are for organizations reporting.
3 No data.
4W ith Los Angeles.
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Table 3.— Number of Cases of Legal Aid per 100 of the Population, by City, and
Type of Organization—Continued
City
Type of legal-aid organization
Number
Population of cases
served
received
in 1933
Number
of cases
for each
100 of
population
Public or voluntary defenders
Bridgeport................ ..................
Cincinnati__________ _______
Columbus............... ...................
Hartford_____ _____________
Los Angeles (criminal) :
City defender.....................
County defender...............
New York City (Manhattan)
Oakland_____ _____________
Pittsburgh____ ______ ______
San D iego......... .........................
Total *.
Municipal bureau..
Private corporation.
Municipal bureau..
........do........................
........do........................
___ do........................
Private corporation.
Social agency_____
Private corporation.
Municipal bureau.-
146,000
464,000
290,000
175,000
200
1,664
5,988
256
0.14
.35
2.06
.11
} 1,500,000 /\
1,867,312
474,434
1,374, 622
200,000
24,707
2,608
1,151
603
769
1,000
1.64
. 17
.01
. 12
.06
.50
6,491,368
38,946
.60
* W ith others.
If the population figures of the various cities served by legal-aid
offices of which there are records are added, au aggregate of over
39,000,000 is obtained. As these legal-aid offices received in 1933
more than 300,000 cases, it is clear that they must develop much more
before they will be strong enough and possessed of sufficiently large
staffs to meet the full demand for their assistance.
There is no royal road to finance. The societies have no substan
tial endowments, and they are maintained by annual contributions
or appropriations. Of 54 organizations which have a noteworthy
financial record, 18 derived their greater funds from increased public
appropriations, 19 from community funds, 7 from more generous
backing by members of the bar, and 10 from greater support by the
community at large.
The legal-aid organizations need, and are entitled to receive,
greater financial support. The expense of their work, when com
pared with other forms of social service, is trifling. A vast amount
of work can be performed on a small budget. It is easily within the
power of each community to maintain a legal-aid office sufficiently
manned and equipped to care for all the cases of all the persons who
are entitled to its assistance. The experience of the older and more
strongly entrenched organizations is, on the whole, distinctly en
couraging. Each year the true nature and importance of the work
become clearer, more persons learn to appreciate the value of this
type of public service, a wider interest in the undertaking develops,
and as a result the legal-aid society or bureau receives more funds
whether from public appropriations or private subscriptions. In
short, legal-aid work must earn its own way. It must command the
respect of public opinion, and it must win the sympathy of public
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IMPROVING THE MACHINERY OF JUSTICE
299
spirited citizens for its ideals and purposes. Where legal-aid work
is properly interpreted so that its function is plainly understood,
there is every reason to believe and confidently to expect that it will
receive adequate support from the community which it serves.
LegakAid and SociakService Agencies
W h e t h e r a legal-aid society is visualized simply as furnishing a
form of charity, like a hospital or a children’s aid society, or is re
garded as a modern adjunct to the public administration of justice
and as essential thereto as is the district attorney’s office or the proba
tion staff in a municipal criminal court, it is clear that between the
legal-aid organizations on the one hand and the social-service agencies
on the other there should be a close and definite relationship. Both
are supported by the same community, both exist to serve the same
community. While certain questions as to the precise nature of this
interrelationship remain as yet unanswered, there has been during
the last 10 years a rapid progress toward a more intelligent and
better articulated cooperation.
The National Association of Legal Aid Organizations’ Committee
on Relations with Social Agencies submitted at the 1934 meeting of
the association a report of its work during the preceding years. In
so doing it expressed the philosophy of the joint movement in the
following words:
The substance of this philosophy is that the legal-aid movement is a part of
the great enterprise of coordinating law with the other social sciences; that legalaid work is somewhat like a buffer state, with law on the one hand and social
work on the other; that therefore, because of the nature of their support and the
class of persons served, legal-aid organizations are definitely charged with a
relatively higher degree of social responsibility in their communities than private
law offices; and that legal-aid work can be of tremendous value to other social
agencies in furthering their purposes by becoming the medium by which the
force and sanction of law can be applied to social problems and by initiating and
promoting remedial legislation for the protection of their mutual clientele.
This philosophy allows the retention by each group of its identity and particular
function in the larger field of social service and yet at the same time permits the
fostering and development of effective relations between them.
Perhaps the most serious obstacle of all is the inability of each group
to diagnose effectively the problems of the client. A lawyer familiar
with legal symptoms can tell what the law can do for the particular
individual. The social agency is equally expert in detecting social
problems. But lawyers fail to call in social agencies and social
agencies fail to call in lawyers because neither group realizes as fully
as it should the fact that the client’s problems extend beyond its
own field.
It is clear, therefore, that while progress has been made it is neces
sary to go much farther before the relationship is cemented.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Legal Aid and the Bar
T h e relationship between legal-aid work and the legal profession is
simple and clear. The legal-aid organizations are the agents of the
bar and they are accordingly entitled to receive leadership and direc
tion and moral and financial support from the bar. In the main
this relationship is understood and accepted today by both parties
and the resulting obligations imposed on both parties are being
honored. There is no finer chapter in legal-aid history, no other
development contains a brighter promise for the future, than the
record of what has been accomplished since the war in cementing
together the organized bar and organized legal-aid work.
It is now recognized that the individual lawyer can best render
efficient public service by cooperating with his fellows and by secur
ing appropriate action through the bar associations. For that reason
the relationship between legal aid and the bar, if it was to be a practical
relationship productive of tangible results, had to become a working
alliance between organized legal-aid work and the organized bar.
This was recognized by the American Bar Association in 1920,
when a special committee recommended that the association should
amend its constitution in order to provide a standing committee on
legal-aid work, and said:
Your committee’s reasons for these alternative recommendations may be
summarized as follows:
1. There is a direct responsibility, both civic and professional, on members of
the bar to see to it that no person with a righteous cause is unable to have his
day in court because of his inability to pay for the services of counsel.
2. This responsibility is best met by members of the bar acting, not as indi
viduals, but in their collective capacity and through their recognized associations.
3. Legal aid and advice to poor persons are most efficiently and economically
secured, at least in the larger cities, through the existing agencies specially created
and adapted for this purpose, called legal-aid organizations.
4. There should be, therefore, a direct relationship between the American Bar
Association and legal-aid work in its national aspects and as a national movement.
5. This relationship is of a permanent and continuing nature and should be
recognized as such by the creation of a standing or annual committee, which
should each year report to the association as to the progress, the needs, the ad
vantages, and the shortcomings of legal-aid work in the United States.
Legal-aid committees have been created by the State bar associa
tions in Alabama (1928), California (1928), Colorado (1930), Connect
icut (1923), Georgia (1927), Illinois (1924), Louisiana (1929),
Massachusetts (1928), Michigan (1923), Missouri (1930), New York
(1920), North Carolina (1929), Ohio (1927), Pennsylvania (1923),
Rhode Island (1930), Washington (1929), and Wisconsin (1927).
How quick the bar has been to extend its cooperation and how
clearly it has grasped the true nature of the relationship may be
seen from the action of the American Bar Association and several
important State associations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IMPROVING THE MACHINERY OF JUSTICE
301
The responsibility of the organized bar for legal-aid work may be
analyzed into four major undertakings:
First. In cities where a legal-aid organization is needed and none
exists the bar should take the lead in its establishment.
Second. In cities where legal-aid organizations and public defenders
already exist the bar’s obligation is essentially of a paternal nature.
It should support the work through its own financial contributions.
There is no reason why the entire expense should fall on lawyers, but
there is every reason why the members of the profession should give
their full share before other citizens in the community are asked for
subscriptions. Equally important is the task of leadership. It is
natural that the majority of a board of directors or other governing
board should be lawyers, but in addition the bar association, through
an appropriate committee, should maintain an independent super
vision that may be invaluable in times of emergency and that is of
especial importance in connection with the municipal legal-aid
bureaus.
Third. In the smaller cities, the bar itself should perform whatever
legal-aid work is necessary. Where the population is 25,000 or less,
not more than a hundred or so cases are likely to arise each year.
Finally, the bar must be relied on to take the leading part in shaping
and guiding the future developments in this general field along sound
and constructive lines. The fundamental idea expressed in the
legal-aid organizations has passed the experimental stage. The
necessity and importance of their service have won for them the
support of such eminent members of the profession as Mr. Chief
Justice Taft; Mr. Chief Justice Hughes; Hon. Elihu Root; Hon.
George Wharton Pepper, former United States Senator; Dean Roscoe
Pound, of the Harvard University Law School; and Dean (emeritus)
John H. Wigmore, of the Northwestern University Law School.
On November 15, 1934, a banquet was held under the auspices of
the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the New York
County Lawyers’ Association, and the Legal Aid Society of New York,
on the occasion of the annual convention of the National Association
of Legal Aid Organizations. At that meeting the following telegram
was received from Mr. Chief Justice Hughes:
I send cordial greetings to those who are engaged in the work of the legal-aid
organizations. I am glad to note the cooperation of the bar association in the
endeavor to discharge the duty of the legal profession to see that no one on account
of poverty shall go without necessary legal assistance to maintain his rights.
The profession, by reason of its opportunity and privilege, has a special obliga
tion to see that equal justice is assured.
I congratulate the legal-aid organizations on their growth and efficiency, and I
trust that they will have the support both moral and financial that is essential
to their success.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
302
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Every bar association has as its primary object the advancement
of the administration of justice. The legal-aid organizations need
and are entitled to receive a full measure of bar association support,
because they constitute an essential feature in any plan for adapting
our legal institutions to the requirements of our present industrial
and urban communities. The legal-aid societies and bureaus are
not an end in themselves. They are the means through which the
most formidable barriers in the path of the impecunious citizen who
needs legal redress or protection may be removed.
This survey shows that already we have nearly enough experience
to construct a definite, comprehensive, and thoroughgoing plan that
will serve beyond any reasonable doubt to overcome the difficulties
of delays, court costs, and the expense of counsel and thus to make
the laws actively effective in behalf of all persons.
The task for the future is to integrate these separate remedial
measures and remedial agencies into one harmonious whole, to co
ordinate them, to urge their adoption by the legislatures of the several
States, and then to maintain a continuing study of their operation in
actual practice, so that such modifications and amendments as may
be proved necessary or desirable in the light of further experience
can promptly be made.
There is reason to believe that with each passing year the rela
tionship between the organized bar and organized legal aid will
steadily grow closer. And it is quite likely that through this more
definite association and communion the hardest and most funda
mental problem confronting all future legal-aid development will be
solved in the best of all possible ways.
To make this clear some guesses are hazarded, but they are all
based upon changes and trends that are becoming quite plain. In
this age of transition, when institutions and ideas are in flux, the bar
associations themselves are moving with the current of events and
disclosing new capabilities that are full of promise.
Just as the individual lawyer is a minister of justice, so the bar
association must assume many of the attributes of a ministry of jus
tice. This is what is happening. It is reflected in the increasing
interest of lawyers in their associations; within the past few years
the membership of the American Bar Association, which is entirely
voluntary, has increased tenfold. A body of 30,000 highly trained,
conscientious, and earnest persons has power. Perhaps even more
significant is the movement for the State incorporated bar.
The essentials of this plan, which has already been enacted into
law in a score of States, are that every lawyer, when admitted to the
bar, at once and necessarily becomes a member of the all-inclusive
State bar association which has been chartered by act of legislature
and to which have been delegated, by statute or rule of court, certain
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IMPROVING THE MACHINERY OF JUSTICE
303
definite responsibilities together with commensurate powers, con
cerning the administration of justice. The powers thus far most
commonly relate to standards of admission, standards of conduct,
grievance committee work, and disbarment.
The instant a bar association is vested with legal powers it becomes
a quasi-public if not indeed a public institution. The significance of
this trend, from the authors’ point of view, becomes manifest when
three propositions earlier advanced are recalled.
A democracy cannot tolerate any denial of justice because of
poverty, but in practical fact, if the laws are to be actively effective,
something like legal-aid work is an absolute necessity. The legal-aid
organizations, because they have learned to perform the work more
efficiently than any other plan yet devised, have become indispen
sable adjuncts to the administration of justice. It is questionable
if any service so directly touching the public welfare should be left
entirely in private hands, and it would be unforgivable to allow that
service to fail if the private hands are too weak to uphold and support
the work.
Though this indicates that public support and control may be in
order, the experience of the municipal legal-aid bureaus is so check
ered as to give rise to grave apprehensions. The suggestion that
legal aid should be under judicial control has never been tried in
this country, but analogous experience indicates that it is unfair and
unwise to load onto courts too many administrative and executive
functions. The judicial and the executive casts of mind are apt to
be different and, in any event, the judicial function in and of itself
can absorb and utilize all the time and strength and power that any
man can bring to its service.
That there is a natural affinity between the organized bar and or
ganized legal aid and that structurally they are complementary has
been pointed out several times. As bar associations move in the
direction of becoming recognized public or quasi-public bodies, what
would be more natural, more effective, or more in accord with demo
cratic principles than that the governance of legal-aid work should be
entrusted to such bar associations? It is work they understand
better than any other group in the community, work which they
have already approved, and work which they are preeminently fitted
to guide and lead. It might be that in its open championship of
legal-aid work the bar would find a solution for some of its more
acute public relations problems. The logic and the sequence of
events intimate, if they do not yet foretell, that sooner or later,
and probably sooner than its leaders now realize, the bar will be
called to the task of taking over, definitely and authoritatively, the
responsibility for legal-aid work in our country.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
304
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
To the performance of this task the bar must bring its trained
faculty of critical analysis, its intimate knowledge of the constitu
tional principles on which our legal institutions are based, and its
highest vision. While the responsibility for leadership may fairly
rest on the shoulders of the bar, its resources and its power are limited,
and therefore every other possible aid must be enlisted. From the
National Association of Legal Aid Organizations should come what
ever expert information concerning technical details and routine may
be required. From the social-service agencies which now exist in
every city, whether large or small, and which occupy such a strategic
position in their relation to this whole problem, there may be expected
an increasing spirit of cordial helpfulness. Above all, if progress is
to be had, a genuine community interest and the moral support of
an enlightened public opinion must be obtained. This task cannot
be performed in a day, it may not be completed within our genera
tion, but every advance that is made brings us one step nearer to a
practical realization of our American ideal that through the orderly
administration of justice all citizens shall receive the equal protection
of the laws.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Public Pensions fo r th e B lind in 1935
ORE than 35,000 blind persons were receiving State or county
pensions under blind-assistance acts at the end of 1935. Their
allowances averaged $20.39 per person per month ($19.82 in 1934)
and ranged in the various States from $1.98 to $37.18. The allow
ances were largest in States where part of the cost was borne by the
State, and least where the funds had to be raised by the counties
alone. Those paid under wholly State plans fell between these two
in amount.
Nearly 8 million dollars was spent for such aid during the year,
somewhat over one-half of which was furnished from State treasuries,
the remainder being supplied by the counties. The annual per capita
cost, based on the population in the areas in which the system was
in effect, was 11 cents, the same as in 1934.
Thirty-two States had legislated to provide assistance for the
blind at the end of 1935, and the District of Columbia was added to
that number by act of the Seventy-fourth Congress. At the end of
the previous year there were only 25 such acts on the statute books.
The new State acts added during the year were those of Florida,
Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Vermont, and Wyoming.
Of these all but the Florida act were of State-wide effect; that act
while mandatory in its terms provided no State aid, with the result
that few of the counties put the act into operation. Two months’
benefits (for November and December) were paid in 1935 under the
“temporary” act 1 passed late in the year in Mississippi. Payments
were begun in Oklahoma in October 1935 but were suspended pend
ing the outcome of a suit contesting the act.2 Payments began under
the Wyoming act during September 1935. No payments were made
in the District of Columbia, Indiana, Oregon, or Vermont.
At the end of 1935, therefore, of 33 acts, 28 were in operation and
the effectiveness of an additional one was temporarily suspended.
In 13 of these States the system was of State-wide effect and in
5 others more than nine-tenths of the State’s population was in those
areas which had adopted the plan.
The above data were collected in the course of a survey by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics covering all of the States which had blind
M
1 Effective until Mar. 1, 1933.
2
The legislature in 1935 appropriated $30,000 for assistance to the blind. State disbursements were to
be repaid from county funds (to be available July 1) which were to be raised by a tax levy in each county.
The first quarterly payment was made in October. A suit to enjoin the county tax levy resulted in halting
the continuance of the system throughout the State until April 1936 when the supreme court of the State
upheld the right of the county to levy taxes for such a purpose.
82425— 36------- 3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
305
306
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
pension or assistance acts on the statute books at the end of 1935.
Where possible the information was obtained through the cooperation
of the State officials, but in nine States 3 data were secured directly
from the counties.
Reports were received for 1,485 (85 percent) of the 1,740 counties
in these States, of which 1,226 counties had the pension system.
Summary data as to the extent of the system in 1935 are shown in
table 1.
Table 1.—Summary of Operations Under Blind-Pension Acts, 1935
Cbounties having perision system
Counties in
State
State
Arkansas____________________
California____ . _ _ ____
Colorado 3_____ ____________
Connecticut- _______________
Florida_____________________
Idaho_______________________
Illinois______________________
Iowa_______________________
Kansas, __________________
Kentucky. _________________
Louisiana___________________
M aine______________________
Maryland ________ ____ _ _
Massachusetts 10--_ . ________
Minnesota__________________
Mississippi- ________________
Missouri___________ _______
Nebraska........ ............ ..................
Nevada . . _________________
N ew Hampshire_____________
N ew Jersey 3______ __________
N ew York:
New York C ity 3_________
Rest of State. __________
Ohio_______________ ______ _
Oklahoma__________________
Pennsylvania.................... ...........
Utah ________ _______ _____
W ashington_________________
Wisconsin___________________
Wyoming______________ ____
Total:
1935
1934
Year
of pas
sage of
law
N um
Total ber re
number ported
for—
1931
1929
1925
19214
1935
1917
1903
1915
1911
1924
1928
19159
1929
1920
1913
1935
1923
1917
1925
1915
1931
/
{
1898
1935
1933
1931
1933
1907
1935
Number of
pensioners
N um
ber at
end of
1935 i
At end
of 1935
Benefits paid, 1935
N um
Monthly ber of
average, counties Amount
1935
report
ing
75
58
63
8
67
44
102
99
105
120
64
16
24
14
87
82
115
93
17
10
21
All
All
All
All
37
34
69
78
78
48
53
All
All
All
All
All
All
43
16
All
All
75
58
53
8
9
26
7 63
74
35
24
22
16
18
14
87
82
115
18
7
10
21
360
3,912
695
110
117
75
4,433
1,130
8 200
596
506
961
165
1,066
548
586
4,361
121
12
227
422
(2)
3,572
(2)
102
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
948
156
1,027
488
496
4,343
(2)
13
208
395
75
58
53
8
9
22
57
74
32
23
22
16
18
14
87
82
115
17
7
10
21
$13,870
1, 417, 370
142, 202
8 20,000
» 1, 770
13,501
1,372,290
203,417
28,098
50,330
26,376
158,724
27,958
189, 676
88,150
44 7,502
1,259,643
20,414
2,279
30,403
103,487
5
57
88
77
67
29
39
71
23
All
All
All
All
All
All
A11
All
All
5
57
88
55
67
1
44 32
48 67
19
1,467
798
5,404
42 336
4,288
8
501
1,845
88
(2)
(2)
5, 500
(2)
4,123
9
444
(2)
40
5
57
88
55
67
1
28
67
19
200,000
206,298
644,038
43 2, 000
1,153,542
1,190
134,405
18 445,000
5,949
1,740
1,491
1,485
1,262
1,226
1,024
35, 338
32,997
1,207
995
7,969,882
7,072,808
i
In case of State-wide systems, the total number of counties is regarded as having system, though some
may not have had any blind persons requiring aid during year.
I No data.
3 Data are for year ending June 30.
4 Year in which blind-pension provision was added to act.
8 Approximate.
8 In most cases data cover last 3 months of 1935.
7 Including 1 county which discontinued payments in September 1935.
8 34 counties.
f3 9 Reenacted in 1933.
10 Data are for year ending Nov. 30.
II November and December.
12 October 1935.
13 July-September.
14 Includes 4 counties in which there were no eligible blind persons in 1935.
1 18 1934; no data on this point for 1935.
16 Partly estimated.
3 Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, and Nevada.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR BLIND IN 1935
307
The foregoing table of course covers only persons cared for under
State acts providing for blind pensions. It understates, however,
even in these States the number of sightless persons receiving public
aid, for aged blind were usually placed on the old-age pension rolls in
States having such pensions and in some other States, due to lack
of funds for blind pensions, sightless persons needing aid were placed
on the general relief roll.
Comparison of 25 States which paid benefits in both 1934 and 1935
(table 2) shows a gain of only 35 paying counties and an increase of
1,214 (3.7 percent) in the number of persons aided, whereas the amount
of benefits paid rose 12.4 percent. Decreases in the pension roll
occurred in 8 States (Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho,
Illinois, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Utah, and Wisconsin) but these
were more than offset by the increases that took place in the other
States. A decline in total benefits as well as in number of pensioners
was shown in Connecticut, Idaho, Nebraska, and Utah. Louisiana,
Minnesota, Missouri, and New York which aided a larger number of
persons in 1935 than in 1934, nevertheless spent a smaller sum in
assistance. In Arkansas it was formerly the practice to pay blind
assistance in the sum of $10 per person per year. In that State,
during January to July 1935, a flat payment of $7 per person was
made to 1,165 blind people. In August the administration of aid
to the blind was taken over by the State Department of Public
Welfare and that department during the last 5 months of the year
paid to 360 blind persons assistance averaging $4 per month each.
Noteworthy expansion of blind aid during the year occurred in
California, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington. In Kentucky the total
amount spent in assistance to these handicapped persons rose nearly
20 percent, whereas the number of counties adopting the principle of
such aid rose from 14 to 24 and the number of beneficiaries increased
55 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
308
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W —
AUGUST 1936
Table 2.— Number of Adopting Counties, Number of Beneficiaries, and Benefits
Paid in Identical States, 1934 and 1935
Total
number
of counties in
State
State
Number of coun Number of ben
ties with sys eficiaries at end Amount paid in benefits
of—
tem 1
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
Arkansas_______________________
California________ _____________
Colorado 2
__________________
Connecticut ___________________
Idaho____________ _____ _________
Illinois____________ ______ ___
I o w a _________ ________________
K a n sa s.__________________ _____
Kentucky_______________________
Louisiana __ __ _ __ __________
Maine
___________ ________
Maryland.
___________ ______
Massachusetts 3
__________
M innesota______________________
Missouri________________________
Nebraska__ _____________________
N e v a d a _______ _______________
N ew Hampshire ____
__
New Jersey 2____________________
New York:
N ew York C ity______________
Rest of State _______ _____ ___
Ohio
. ____________________
Pennsylvania..
________
U t a h ______ ____________________
Washington_____________________
Wisconsin------- ---------------------- ---
75
58
63
8
44
102
99
105
120
64
16
24
14
87
115
93
17
10
21
75
53
53
All
21
64
73
18
14
54
All
7
All
All
All
46
4
5
All
All
All
53
All
26
63
74
35
24
22
All
18
All
All
All
18
7
All
All
1.165
3,179
701
374
86
4,484
956
66
383
420
922
62
1,088
442
4,336
325
3
79
372
360
3,912
695
110
75
4,433
1,130
200
596
506
961
165
1,066
548
4,361
121
12
227
422
$11,650
1,085,408
140, 287
22,820
16,989
1,323,615
158, 562
8,996
42,129
63,000
148,317
7,817
175,937
149,175
1, 265, 832
45,103
600
8,797
92,103
$13,870
1,417,370
142,202
20,000
13,501
1,372,290
203,417
28,098
50,330
26,376
158, 724
27,958
189, 676
88,150
1, 259, 643
20,414
2,279
30,403
103,487
5
57
88
67
29
39
71
All
50
71
67
3
15
67
All
57
88
67
1
32
67
1,490
710
5,152
4,142
21
185
1,854
1,467
2 798
5,404
4,288
8
501
1,845
400,000
183,670
620,393
651, 228
2,105
25,808
422,467
200,000
2 206,298
644,038
1,153,542
1,190
134,405
4 445,000
Total___________ ____ _____
1,491
1,026
1,061
32,997
34,211
7,072,808
7,952,661
1 In case of State-wide systems, the total number of counties is regarded as having system, though some
counties may have had no blind persons requiring aid during year.
2 Data are for year ending June 30.
3 Data are for year ending N ov. 30.
4 Partly estimated.
Qualifications for Pensions
T h e first requirement for obtaining aid under the blind-pension
acts is of course that the applicant be blind. This is universal,
though the definition of what constitutes “blindness” varies from
State to State.4 In Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New
York, Oklahoma, and Washington an applicant is considered eligible
for assistance whose vision is so defective as to make it impossible for
him to support himself, and in Kentucky and Nebraska if he is
“destitute of useful vision.” Maine, Mississippi, Oregon, Pennsyl
vania, and Wyoming specify the degree of vision beyond which the
applicant is considered “blind.” In Kansas the applicant must have
lost the sight of both eyes, and in Missouri have light perception only.
Age requirements are general, the minimum age of eligibility ranging
in the different acts from 16 to 60 years. Only 8 of the laws (those
of Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New York, and Ohio) contain no provision on this point.
Residence of a specified period in State or county, or both, is also
generally required.
4 Efforts toward a uniform definition of blindness have already been begun by the Federal Social Se
curity Board.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR BLIND IN 1935
309
Citizenship—almost universal as a requirement for the receipt of
old-age pension-—is required by only seven of the blind pension acts
(those of Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York,
and Vermont).
All but four of the laws carry a “means” provision, usually expressed
in general terms such as “means insufficient for self-support”, it being
left to the authorities to judge in each case. Unlike the old-age pen
sion acts, only slightly over one-third of the blind-allowance measures
set a definite property or income limit.
In several States the application for an allowance must be supported
by sworn statements from other persons testifying that the facts are
as set forth in the application.
Exclusions.—The payment of blind allowances to persons having
relatives or others able to support them is prohibited under the acts
of California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Indiana, Kansas,
Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey,
Oklahoma, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Inmates of public charitable institutions are excluded from benefits
in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Okla
homa, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Colo
rado also excludes inmates of private charitable institutions, Maine,
Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Wyoming inmates of penal
institutions, and Indiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Wyoming
inmates of insane institutions. The Maine and Oklahoma laws,
however, specifically provide that after leaving the institution a person
may receive an allowance. The law of Washington excludes “wards
of the United States Government.”
Professional beggars are denied assistance in California, District
of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wisconsin. Persons who refuse training or other measures designed
to make them self-supporting are ineligible for benefits in the District
of Columbia, Missouri, and Oregon.
Relief is discontinued in New York if the pensioner marries another
blind or partially blind person. In Minnesota, in cases of husband
and wife, both of whom are blind and whose marriage took place
after the passage of the act, the amount of the allowance is limited to
$30 per month.
Disposition of Applications During 1934
A t t h e end of the year 24,987 persons were on the pension rolls of
the 684 counties which reported as to disposition of applications re
ceived. Of the 9,404 applications pending at the end of 1934 and the
4,564 received during 1935, allowances were granted and paid to
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
310
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
7,767, or somewhat over half. In addition, 328 had been approved
but did not receive aid; undoubtedly some of these were approved
in anticipation of receipt of Federal funds under the Social Security
Act, and when these failed to materialize payment on these applica
tions was postponed to 1936. In some cases, however, the arrearages
were of longer standing. Thus, one county in Illinois reported early in
1936 that the applications now being investigated are those received
in 1933; all of those received in 1935 (and presumably those of 1934)
were still pending at the time of the report.
Table 3.— Disposition of Applications for Blind Pensions Received During 1935,
by States
Number of cases
N um
ber of
counties Pend
covered ing, end
of 1934
State
California_______________
Colorado 2______________ .
Florida
Idaho
Illinois__________________
Iowa_________ ____ ______
Kansas__________________
Kentucky_______________
Louisiana
M aine___________________
Maryland_____ ________
Nebraska__ _____________
Nevada
N ew Hampshire
New Jersey 2_______ ___
New York: New York City
Ohio________ __________
Pennsylvania____________
Utah
Washington______________
Wyoming_______________
All
All
8
19
59
73
29
23
22
All
18
18
7
All
All
All
All
All
All
28
All
Total______________
684
i No data.
154
15
3
24
1,853
386
32
300
(9
18
91
9
(i)
43
6, 352
Appli
cations Grant
Denied
receiv
ed
ed dur
ing 1935
1,052
156
119
32
918
311
61
292
121
288
72
46
5
61
147
458
(9
(9
1,152
119
105
33
639
218
38
224
88
152
30
43
5
48
94
173
(9
124
2
290
133
4,288
2
228
88
9,404
4,564
7,767
(9
13
41
11
171
76
18
53
33
(9
36
1
6
46
285
(9
(9
51
13
854
Ap
Re
On roll, Pend
moved proved
but
not end of ing, end
from granted
of 1935
1935
rolls
aid
65
4
6
28
3,912
695
108
67
4,135
1,127
190
583
506
961
165
121
12
227
422
1,467
5,404
4,288
8
501
88
2,821
328
24,987
477
137
5
288
112
12
30
20
102
8
17
1
15
10
287
948
283
(9
(9
37
232
2
1
20
(9
2
(9
(9
(9
41
11
1
413
53
16
57
(9
24
12
7
40
(9
(9
(9
129
28
832
2 Data are for year ending June 30.
Amount of Individual Allowances
T h e average monthly allowance made to sightless persons in 1935
ranged from $1.98 in Oklahoma to $37.18 in Wyoming. Seven States
paid allowances averaging less than $10 a month, and 20 paid allow
ances of less than $20. In six States the monthly grants averaged $25
or more. Wyoming and California were the most generous, with
allowances of $37.18 and $33.06, respectively. Arkansas, Connecti
cut, and Oklahoma were at the other end of the scale, all paying
benefits averaging less than $5 per person per month. A very slight
increase took place in the general average, which rose from $19.82 in
1934 to $20.39 in 1935.
Table 4 shows for each State the average benefits in 1934 and 1935
as compared with the maximum allowable under the provisions of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
311
PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR BLIND IN 1935
law in effect during the year. The outstanding features of the com
parison are the large increases in average benefits in Colorado, Mary
land, Nebraska, and Washington, and the severe decline of the average
allowance in Minnesota and New York.
Grants to individuals (not shown in the table) ranging in amount
from $2.50 to $42.50 were reported.
Table 4.—Average Blind Allowances Paid in 1934 and 1935, as Compared With
Maximum Payable Under Act
State
Arkansas______________
California_____________
Colorado 3____________
Connecticut___________
Florida_________ _____ _
Idaho_________________
Illinois__________ ____ _
Iowa_____ _________
K a n sa s_______________
Kentucky_____________
Louisiana_____________
Maine________________
Maryland________ ____
Massachusetts_______
M innesota.- _________
Mississippi___________
M onthly
maxi
mum
payable
under
a c t1
$25.00
50.00
25.00
30. 00
15.00
20.00
30.42
25. 00
50. 00
20.83
25.00
25.00
20.83
W
(*)
30.00
Average
monthly
allowance
1934
1935
$0. 83
33.12
15.47
5.09
2 $4.00
33. 06
20.46
4.45
6.12
15. 41
27.01
15. 09
1 2 . 18
7.59
10.00
13.95
15. 00
15.39
15.05
7.53
16. 46
25. 75
13. 89
11. 36
9.17
12.50
13. 33
11.84
15. 37
28.13
State
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
Now Hampshire
New .Torspy 3
Now York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pp.nn sy1van i a
Utah "
Washington
Wi soon sin
Wyoming
Average
M onthly
maxi
mum
payable
under
a c t1
Average
monthly
allowance
1934
1935
$25. 00 $24. 33
25.00 11. 77
50.00 16. 67
12.50
9.28
40.00 21.98
25.00 21.93
33. 33 10.04
25.00
30.00 23.30
50.00
8. 35
33. 33 11.63
30.00 19.40
«30.00
$25.00
15.41
15.83
12.18
21.84
14.95
9.90
1.98
26. 90
10.00
25. 26
20.10
37.18
19. 82
20.39
1 Refers in all cases to maximum established by act under which benefits were paid.
2 Last 5 months of year.
3 Data are for year ending June 30.
4 No limit.
3 No lim it except in case of married couples’both blind, in which case not over $360 per year.
6 $50 if head of family.
In theory the size of the allowance is based upon the needs and
circumstances of the applicant, as revealed by investigation by the
administering authorities. In States where blind relief is carried out
on a social-work basis, the above requirement is undoubtedly met.
Reports by many of the counties and a few of the States, however,
indicate that there are many areas where the allowances made are
of uniform amount, irrespective of the applicant’s circumstances.
One county reported that the county made a fixed appropriation
of $12,000, of which $3,000 was allotted for each quarter year. The
quarterly amount was divided among the beneficiaries, and “the
larger the number of pensioners, the smaller the individual allow
ance.”
Extent and Cost of Pension System
T h e relative development of the system, as of the end o f 1935, is
shown in table 5. In the 28 States covered by the table nine-tenths
of the population was in the counties which had put the system into
force, in 13 of the 28 it was in State-wide effect, and in 5 others more
than nine-tenths of the population was covered.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
312
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 5.—Relative Development of Blind-Pension System in 1935, by States
Counties with system in 1935 1
State
AfkflTlSflS
_________________
_________________
California
Colorado 2
- - ____________________
Conn ootid it,
_______ ______ ___________
Florida
________________________ Idaho
______________________ _____
Illinois
___________________________
Iowa
- _______________________
Kansas
__________________________
Kentucky
__ ________ ______________
Louisiana
____ _______ ___________ _____
Maine
_ ____ ___ __________ ______
Maryland
__ _ _______ __________
M assachusetts _______ ____
___ _________
Minnesota
_ _______ _____________ Mississippi
_______ __________________ _____
Missouri
_ ________ _____ ____ _______
Nebraska
_______________ - _____________
Nevada
_ ___________ _________________
New Hampshire
________ _____ - ___ - - N ew Jersey2
- ____ ____ - ___________
N ew York
__ ______ _______________
Ohio _
_ _ _____ __________ ________
Pennsylvania
___________ ___________
Utah
_ _
________ ___ _____ ___
Washington _ _ _________ _____ __________
Wisconsin
__ _________________ _________
Wyoming
_ __ _ __________________ _
Total
___________________ ______
Population
of State,
1930
her of
coun
ties in
State
N um
ber
Population
Percent
of State
popula
tion
1,854, 482
5,677, 251
1,035,791
1,606,903
1, 468,211
445, 032
7,630,654
2,470,939
1,880,999
2,614,589
2,101,593
797,423
1, 631,526
4,249, 614
2,563,953
2,009,821
3,629,367
1, 377,963
91,058
465,293
4, 041,334
12,588,066
6, 646, 697
9,631, 350
507,847
1,563,396
2,939, 006
225,565
75
58
63
8
67
44
102
99
105
120
64
16
24
14
87
82
115
93
17
10
21
62
88
67
29
39
71
23
All
All
53
All
9
26
63
74
35
24
22
All
18
All
All
All
All
19
7
All
All
All
All
67
1
32
3 67
19
1,854, 482
5,677,251
998,998
1, 606,903
271,835
253,277
6, 313,107
1,800, 672
759,109
825,985
1,915, 312
797,423
1,550,436
4, 249, 614
2, 563,953
2,009,821
3, 629, 367
290, 410
58,822
465, 293
4,041,334
12,588, 066
6,646,697
9,631, 350
49, 021
1,394, 798
2,889, 438
204,299
100.0
100.0
96.4
100.0
18.5
56.9
82.7
72.9
40.4
31.6
91.1
100.0
95.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
21.1
64.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
9.6
89.2
98.3
90.5
83, 745, 723
1,663
1,172
75,337. 073
90.0
1In case of State-wide systems, all the counties are regarded as having system, though some counties may
have had no blind persons requiring aid during year.
2 Data are for year ending June 30.
3 1934; no report for 1935.
For all States combined, the number of beneficiaries per 10,000 of
population declined from 1934 to 1935 from 4.9 to 4.5. No change in
rate occurred in 3 States, and 11 States showed a rise in the rate in
1935. Decreases occurred in ten States. The annual per capita
cost remained unchanged at 11 cents. The most striking changes
occurred in Arkansas where the beneficiary rate declined from 6.3
to 1.9, in Kentucky where the rate fell from 9.8 to 7.2 and the cost
from 11 to 6 cents, in Minnesota where although the rate rose percepti
bly the cost was cut in half, and in Washington where although the
rate rose only from 3.1 to 3.7 the cost more than doubled.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
313
PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR BLIND IN 1935
Table 6.—Trend of Blind-Pension Roll and Cost of Aid, 1934 and 1935 1
Number of beneficia
ries per 10,000 of
population (at end
of year)2
State
1934
_________ _______ _ .
___ _________
Arkansas.
California__________________ ____________ ______
Colorado 5______ ____ _______ ___ _______
__ ___
C onnecticut___
________________ ____ ______
Florida.
.
. . _________ __ _ . .
Idaho__ ___ _____ ____________ ________________
Illinois__ ________
. _____________ ________ _____
Iowa
______________________ ____ _ ________
Kansas_______________________ _____________ ___
K e n tu c k y ___________________ _ . . . ____________
Louisiana
. __
. . ____________ ______ ____
M a in e .._____
. _____
_____________ ___
Maryland
___________ . . . . ______
M assachusetts7. . . . ____________________________
Minnesota_________ ______ __________ __________
Mississippi
_ _ ____________
Missouri _______
___________ .
___________
Nebraska______ ___________ ____________________
Nevada _. ___________ ______ _______ __________
New Ham pshire... _______
. . . _______ . .
New Jersey5
.
_ __________ __________ .
New York___ _
_____________ _____________
Ohio
__________________________ ______________
Oklahoma.
.
________ ______ ____
Pennsylvania___ . - - _______ ___ _____________
Utah *________ __________________________________
W a s h in g to n ..___. _ ____ _ _____ __________ . .
W isco n sin ___ ______________________ __ ______
Wyoming
_
_____ __________
Total-. ______ __________
. ______ _______ _
3.1
6.9
5.4
2.2
9.8
(6)
11.6
3.0
2.6
1.7
11.9
3.5
3.9
4.2
.9
1.8
9.2
4.3
2.2
3.1
6.4
4.9
1935
1934
1935
6.3
5.6
7.0
2.3
Annual cost per capita
of population 3 in—
1.9
6.9
7.0
.7
4.3
3.0
7.0
6.3
2.7
7.2
2.6
12.1
1.1
2.5
2.1
2.9
12.0
4.2
2.0
4.1
1.0
1.8
8.1
(«)
4.5
1.8
3.7
6.4
4.3
(4)
$0.19
.14
.01
4.5
.11
$0.01
.25
.14
.01
.03
.05
.22
.11
.04
.06
.01
.20
.02
.04
.03
.02
.35
.07
.04
.06
.03
.03
.10
.06
.21
.09
.03
.11
(«)
. 19
.04
.04
.06
.35
.05
.08
.05
.02
.05
.11
.12
.02
.04
.15
m
.12
.02
.10
.15
.03
.11
* Based only upon counties in which act was in operation during all or part of year.
2 Figures relate only to counties having pension system.
2 Computed on basis of full year, even though in some States the act was in operation during only part o
year.
4 <Ko of 1 cent.
5 Data are for year ending June 30.
4 No data.
7 Data are for year ending Nov. 30.
Benefits Under Different Types of Plans
T h a t the State-aided systems pay the most liberal allowances is
shown by table 7. In both years the average benefits under Stateaided systems were largest, the wholly State plans were second in
order, and the smallest benefits were paid in States where the coun
ties were required to raise all of the funds. Comparison of the States
reporting both years shows that while the average benefits rose 18.1
percent under State systems and 6.4 percent under State-aided sys
tems, the county benefits fell nearly 9 percent.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 7.— Comparison of Benefits Paid Under County, State-Aided, and State
Systems of Aid to Blind in 1934 and 1935
State
Average
monthly
benefits in—
1934
$6.12
15.41
15 09
12.18
7.59
io no
15.00
15.83
12.18
14. 95
9. 90
1.98
10. 00
25.26
13. 32
13. 32
11.88
12.24
33.12
15.47
25. 75
11.77
33.06
20. 46
27. 01
15.41
S ta te-a id ed sy ste m s
California_____________________
Colorado______________________
Illinois________________________
Nebraska_____________________
1934
1935
3$21.98
19. 40
3 $91 84
20.10
25. 61
25.61
27. 25
27.25
.83
5. 09
13. 33
15. 37
28.13
1. 25
4. 45
13. 95
15. 39
15. 05
7. 53
25.00
26 90
37.18
S ta te-a id ed s y ste m s —Continued
C o u n ty sy ste m s
Florida_______________________
Idaho_______ ________ _________ $16.46
Iowa __
13. 89
Kansas____ ____ ______________
11. 36
Kentucky_____________________
9.17
12 50
Louisiana
M aryland_____________ ________ 11.84
N evada_______________________
16. 67
9.28
New Hampshire 1_____________
New York_____________________ 21.93
Ohio__________________________
10. 04
Oklahoma 2___________________
Utah__________________ _______
8.35
Washington___________________
11. 63
Average_______ _ _______
Average, identical S ta tes...
State
1935
Average
monthly
benefits in—
New Jersey
Wisconsin
Average
Average, identical States,-S ta te s y ste m s
Arkansas............ .............................
Connecticut
M aine___
Massachusetts
M in n e s o ta ..__ _____
M ississippi________ . . . . ____
Missouri."_____________________
Pennsylvania
Wyoming.......................... ................
Average_________________
Average, identical States.. .
24.33
23. 30
19. 75
19. 75
22. 62
23. 33
1 Actually some State aid given, though act does not provide for it.
2 No aid to counties, but State bears cost of aid to persons without legal residence in any county.
3 Aid only to extent of cost of administration.
Sources of Funds
Slightly more than half (54.0 percent) of the money necessary to
provide blind pensions in 1935 was furnished by the States, as com
pared with only 50.7 percent in 1934.
Table 8 shows the proportion of cost which according to legal enact
ment is imposed upon State and county and the amount and percent
age actually forthcoming from these sources in 1935. In general, as
the table indicates, the legal obligations were met as provided by the
blind-pension laws. Exceptions were Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, and
New Hampshire.
In Illinois where the State is supposed to reimburse the counties to
the extent of half of the amount paid in benefits, repayment has been
slow. In 1935, however, the county reports indicate, many of the
counties received not only the State’s share of the 1935 benefits but
also some part of the amount still due as reimbursement for previous
years. One county reported, nevertheless, that the State was still in
arrears to it more than $20,000. In all of the counties combined,
the State had paid only 42.8 percent of the pension cost in 1935.
In Iowa, Louisiana, and New Hampshire, on the other hand, the
State although not legally chargeable had assisted with sums ranging
from 1 to 80 percent of the cost.
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PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR BLIND IN 1935
Table 8.—Proportion of Cost of Blind Pensions Borne by States and by Counties
in 1935
Amount paid in benefits from—
State
State
funds
$13,870
708,685
71,101
Arkansas___
California...
Colorado *—
Connecticut.
Florida____
Idaho............
Illinois........ .
Iowa______
Kansas____
Kentucky—
Louisiana. . .
M aine_____
Maryland—
Massachusetts 3____
M innesota...............
M ississippi-----------M isso u ri................
Nebraska..................
Nevada________
N ew Hampshire___
New Jersey 1.............
New York:
N ew York City.
Rest of State—
Ohio.......... ............ .
Oklahoma________
Pennsylvania-------Utah.
Washington.
W isco n sin W yom ing...
189,676
88,150
7,502
1, 259,643
Total:
1935.
1934.
4, 293,177
3,576,141
County
funds
20,414
2,279
17,977
103,487
$13,870
1, 417, 370
142,202
20, 000
1,770
13, 501
3 1, 372,290
203,417
28,098
50,330
26, 376
158,724
27,958
189,676
88,150
7,502
1,259,643
20,414
2,279
30,403
103, 487
8 200,000
200 , 000
$708,685
71,101
20,000
580,917
1,992
21 000
1,770
13,501
775,181
201,425
28, 098
50,330
5, 376
158, 724
27,958
12,426
206, 298
644, 038
0
2,000
0
1,190
134,405
« 445,000
1,153, 542
Total
5,949
3,660,513
3,482,796
Percent of Percent actually
State aid paid in 1935 from—
provided
for by
act under
which
State
County
benefits
funds
funds
were
paid in
1935
100.0
50.0
50.0
100.0
100. 0
50.0
42.8
1.0
100.0
100. 0
4 100. 0
100. 0
79.6
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.0
40.9
0
206,298 )/ _______
644,038
2,000
0
100.0
1,153, 542
1,190
134,405
io 445,000
33.3
100.0
5,949
7,969,882
7,058,937
50.0
50.0
100.0
0
100.0
(*)
100.0
54.0
50.7
50.0
50.0
100. 0
100. 0
57.2
99.0
100.0
100.0
20.4
100. 0
100.0
100.0
59.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
(8)
46.0
49.3
1 Data are for year ending June 30.
2 Includes $16,192 not prorated between county and State.
3 Data are for year ending N ov. 30.
.
, . .
4 Except that counties with 150,000 population and assessed valuation of over $200,000,000 pay adminis
tration expenses of not more than $3,600 per year.
s State pays cost of administration only.
5 City funds.
.
, ,
,
.
7 State pays only cost of aid to blind having no legal residence m any county, but no such cases occurred
in 1935.
3 N o data.
• Partly estimated.
i° Counties only.
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IN T E R N A T IO N A L LABOR O R G A N IZA TIO N
R esu lts o f In te rn a tio n a l Labor C onference, June 1936
By
W.
E l l is o n
C h a lm er s, G en e v a
O f f i c e , IJ. S .
D epa r tm en t of L abor
IFTY nations of the world were represented in the Twentieth
Session of the International Labor Conference that opened in
Geneva on June 4, 1936, and closed on June 24. During that period
161 delegates with about 250 advisers worked upon a long calendar
requiring the study of world-wide labor problems and looking toward
the adoption of draft conventions to serve as international labor
treaties. To this Conference the United States, as a member of the
Organization, sent a delegation consisting of two representatives
of the United States Government, Mr. John G. Winant, chairman of
the Social Security Board, and Miss Frieda Miller, director of the
Division of Women in Industry and Minimum Wage, New York
State Department of Labor; one representative of employers, Mr.
Marion B. Folsom, treasurer of the Eastman Kodak Co.; and one
representative of workers, Mr. Emil Rieve, president of the American
Federation of Hosiery Workers. To assist them in technical problems
and, when it was desired, to represent them in the varied work of the
Conference and its committees, these delegates were accompanied by
17 advisers.1
Out of the 61 nations that were members of the I. L. O. when the
Conference met, 49 sent delegations of which 33 were complete (that
is, included two government, one worker, and one employer delegate).
The Italian delegation was also expected to attend the Conference,
but at the last moment that government notified the Director that it
would not appear. During the Conference a resolution was passed
inviting the Egyptian Government to join the Organization. That
government responded by formally accepting the invitation. It is
the sixty-second member of the I. L. O., and the fourth non-League
member. When its observer was seated as an official delegate, the
number of governments represented became 50.
F
1 The 4 Americans noted above were assisted by the following: Advisers to the Government delegates:
John B. Andrews, W. Ellison Chalmers, Stuart J. Fuller, A. Ford Hinrichs, Carter Nyman, H. E. Riley,
William G. Rice, Jr., Walter C. Taylor, Llewellyn E. Thompson, Joseph Tone, Faith Williams, and
Verne A. Zimmer. Advisers to the employer delegate: William P. Witherow and J ames Howe Volkmann.
Advisers to the worker delegate: John Edelman, Marion H. Hedges, and J. C. Lewis.
316
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317
In 1935, to the first session after it joined, the U. S. S. R. had sent
a single government delegate. This year, late in the session a
delegate bearing credentials as the representative of the Russian
workers came and was duly seated. He was, however, voteless due
to the absence of a Russian employer delegate, for the constitution
provides that if a “member fails to nominate one of the nongovern
ment delegates whom it is entitled to nominate, the other non
government delegate shall be allowed to sit and speak at the Con
ference but not to vote.”
Dr. C. V. Bramsnaes, Danish Government delegate and chairman
of the Governing Body during the year 1933-34, was unanimously
elected President of the Conference. For vice presidents the gov
ernment group nominated Mr. John G. Winant, United States
Government delegate, the employer group, Mr. Josef Vanek of
Czechoslovakia, and the worker group, Mr. Corneille Mertens of
Belgium. These nominations were unanimously accepted by the
Conference. During some part of the session each of these vice
presidents occupied the chair.
The central task of the Conference was the consideration of seven
draft conventions which it could finally adopt if it chose and an
eighth subject which might be prepared by it for final action next
year. Of these, five conventions were proposed as carrying into
application in specific industries the principle of the 40-hour week
agreed to last year. In addition, the Conference had before it the
extensive report of the Director, 4 elaborate reports of the Office
upon different subjects, and 17 formal resolutions presented to it by
delegates.2
Freedom of Association, Silicosis, Technological Unemployment, and Other
Resolutions
T he United States Government delegates had introduced 3 of
the 17 resolutions. One asked the Governing Body to place the
question of the protection of workers from employer interference (an
aspect of “freedom of association”) before an early session of the
Conference. The adoption of the resolution represented a carrying
forward of the studies and decisions already taken within the I. L. O.
and makes more likely the consideration by the Conference of a con
vention dealing with workers’ rights to join trade-unions. In the
course of the debate, reference was made to the elaborate study of
collective agreements prepared by the Office and submitted to the
Conference.
A second American resolution requested the Governing Body to
convoke an international meeting of experts on “silicosis and other
s See M onthly Labor Review, April 1936 (p. 953) for fuller background of the Organization and program.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
respiratory diseases due to dust.” It noted the earlier meeting held
in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1930 and the great increase both in
interest and in research since then. The meeting would be asked to
“propose a program of national and international action to achieve
(a) early diagnosis of these diseases, (6) adequate compensation for
injuries due to them, and (c) maximum prevention of dust risks in
the industries involved.”
The third resolution of the United States delegates dealt with
technological unemployment. It requested the Governing Body to
direct the Office to “inquire into the effects of technological progress
upon unemployment, and to indicate the different measures used or
proposed which might be worth while undertaking nationally and
internationally in order to assure the security of workers, and so to
harmonize the economic and social structure and the progress of
technology that the economic order shall be put upon the sound
basis of participation in its benefits by the whole of the working
population.”
A resolution based upon an elaborate report of the Office concerning
workers’ nutrition requested that such studies be continued and
elaborated so that they can be used in the improvement of nutritive
standards and habits. Another resolution looked toward the con
vocation of one or more conferences to discuss “all of the problems
concerning currency, production, trade, settlement of populations
and colonization, on which the peace and prosperity of the world
depend.” The I. L. O. is not to call the meeting but is to “collaborate
closely” in it. Still another urged the Governing Body to direct
that the Office so prepare its report to the Conference on the planning
of public works to relieve unemployment that final action might be
possible in 1937. Another resolution called forth by an I. L. O.
report referred by the Governing Body to the Conference, requested
the Governing Body to recommend to governments specified methods
of combating the smoking of opium by workers. Others dealt with
the holding of a regional I. L. O. conference in Asia, with German
emigration, labor inspection, a study of working conditions in the
textile industry, calendar reform, and methods of promoting the
industrial development of backward countries.
In the resolutions committee all the resolutions were first subjected
to scrutiny and in many cases to modification. They were all passed
without dissent when they came before the full Conference.
Debate on the 40'Hour Week
T h e Conference began its consideration of the draft conventions
concerning the 40-hour maximum workweek by an extended general
debate on the desirability of its application to the textile industry.
The other four drafts had already been referred to separate commit
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION
319
tees, but these waited to begin until after this general debate. When
the committees did meet, the representatives of workers, employers,
and governments alluded to this preliminary general debate and used
it as a point of departure in their consideration of the other four
conventions.
The representatives of employers and of some governments opposed
the application of the 40-hour week to a major industry. They
averred that it was impossible to secure the universal acceptance of
any such convention (referring especially to Japan and Germany) and
therefore that its adoption by the Conference and its ratification by
some countries would only intensify the competitive inequalities now
prevailing. But, they continued, even the universal acceptance of
the convention as drafted would not equalize competition between
nations because wages were not regulated also. On the other hand,
such a universal standard seemed to them undesirable because it
imposed too great rigidities in a situation that was necessarily com
plex. Applying this reasoning specifically to textiles, they argued
that actually at least eight different industries were collectively
called “textiles” and a common rule for all of them was impossible.
Even if this were not the case, any standard had to be shaped in the
light of national and local conditions and therefore collective agree
ments between workers and employers were better than any inter
national governmental action.
The opponents of a convention further argued that any reduction
of hours would tend to increase costs. On the one hand this would
lead to a reduction in man-hour employment by the further substitu
tion of machines for men. On the other hand, insofar as this drive
to displace men was not successful in keeping costs down, it would
result in increased prices; hence, reduced sales; and for this reason
also reduced employment. Finally they argued that the reform was
suggested in order to meet the problem of unemployment, but that
there was practically no unemployment in a number of countries, and
therefore, the reform could not be said to be universally applicable or
desirable.
The representative of the British Government joined in counseling
against immediate action upon a textile convention. He presented
many of the arguments already summarized, and forcibly contended
that the convention would result in “work-sharing” because the
workers’ weekly earnings were not specifically protected. He
criticized the draft because it would permit a wide averaging of hours,
and proposed to the Conference three alternatives to the draft con
vention as methods of meeting unemployment. He preferred that
the determination of working conditions result from the collective
agreement of workers and employers. If any international regulation
were to be resorted to, he felt that there should first be a general
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
conference of experts for a broad exploratory analysis of all of the
economic problems of the industry. He further suggested that a
reduction in unemployment could better be based upon a study of
world trade.
The representative of the Japanese Government noted the direct
and implied references made to his country. He urged that working
standards there were not so low as had been assumed; that they were
being gradually but continuously improved, and that Japan owed
her favorable position in the world market primarily to her efficient
loom's and mills. He said that Japan was forced to sell a large
quantity of exports in order to be able to import the materials she
needed and could not supply for herself. He suggested therefore
that the tariffs of other countries were the cause of the pressure in
Japan for lower labor conditions and pleaded for freer trade as the
best approach to the raising of Japanese labor standards.
Those who advocated a convention for textiles began by noting
that it was a large and international industry and that its present
confusion and competition made imperative an international leader
ship in the creation of labor standards. They noted that identified
with its branches in many countries were great numbers of unem
ployed, and that technological improvement of various kinds had
contributed to this unemployment. To give workers the benefit of
technological advance, therefore, reduced hours were necessary. It
was well to consider national peculiarities and to depend as far as
possible upon the joint agreement of organized workers and em
ployers. In some countries standards were set and in some degree
maintained by such collective agreement. But in other parts of the
world such relations between workers and employers did not exist.
Sharp international competition limits the usefulness of collective
agreements even where these are possible, and makes an interna
tionally agreed maximum of working time essential. So these advo
cates saw the establishment of a maximum of working hours by
national law and international treaty as a step away from “drift”
and toward orderly control of the industry.
They admitted that the convention did not meet all of the problems
of the industry or of its workers. They would not admit that wages
would be unaffected, for they believed a shortening of work time
would undoubtedly tend to raise hourly wages and therefore would
advantageously affect the purchasing power of consumers. But even
if it did not result in the exact maintenance of weekly earnings for
each worker, they advocated it as certain to result in an increase in
employment and so be substantially helpful to workers as well as all
others in the community. The debate ended with the adoption, by
a vote of 70 to 25, of a resolution proposed by Mr. Winant, United
States Government delegate, to refer the whole matter to a committee.
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321
Textile 40Hour Convention
I n t h e textile committee, a vote to recommend the final adoption
of a draft convention at this the first session at which the subject
had been discussed, was passed. Before the Conference was ready
to act upon this recommendation, the committee debated the details
of a draft convention. By the time the Conference voted upon its
first proposal, the committee had submitted a final draft to it. In
the drafting of the specific articles of a convention the employers,
with the exception of the representative from the United States, did
not take part.
The full Conference defeated by a vote of 47 to 54 the committee
recommendation to proceed immediately to final action upon a draft
convention. It then referred the draft which the committee had
worked out to the Office to be used as a guide in the questions it
was to put to governments during the coming year.3 The United
States Government delegates then proposed that the Conference re
quest the Governing Body to call a technical tripartite meeting “to
consider how the work already undertaken by the International
Labor Conference in connection with the improvement of conditions
in the textile industry can best be advanced and to take into account
all those aspects of the textile industry which, directly or indirectly,
may have a bearing on the improvement of social conditions in that
industry.” This w^as adopted by the Conference by a vote of 59 to
26, and the subject was added to the agenda of the 1937 session of
the Conference by a vote of 71 to 29.
Forty-Hour Week in Public Works
T h e first 40-hour convention to be put to a final vote set an
average 40-hour schedule in public works. Both in the committee
and in the plenary meeting of the Conference the employers had
argued that the adoption of such a working schedule would increase
costs and in consequence reduce the amount of public works and
therefore cause an increase in unemployment. To this the workers’
representatives replied that in any case it was necessary to attack
unemployment and this was a highly advantageous way for the gov
ernment to shoulder its share of the responsibility. With some minor
amendments in the text debated by the Conference last year, the
committee reported it favorably to the Conference by a vote of
21 to 9.
The first vote in the Conference (on whether it should be sent to
the drafting committee to be put in shape for final action) was 67
to 40. Although this was a substantial majority, it lacked several
3 For a description of the usual double discussion procedure, see M onthly Labor Review, December
1935 (p. 1474).
82425— 36----- 4
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
votes of the two-thirds required for final adoption. When, however,
it came before the Conference for a final vote upon a completed draft,
it had gained 12 additional votes while the opposition lost 2, so that
it received a vote of 79 to 38 and was adopted. In both roll calls
the delegate representing American employers joined his American
colleagues who thus formed the only delegation which cast all four
votes in favor of the convention. Only 10 governmental delegates
(those of Great Britain, Estonia, India, Netherlands, and Switzer
land) voted against this convention.
Forty'Hour Week in Construction, Iron, and Coal
T h e draft convention to specify a 40-hour maximum week for the
building industry was referred to the same committee which had
debated the public works draft. After an extended debate by repre
sentatives of workers, employers, and governments, an amended draft
convention was reported to the Conference by a vote of 21 to 10.
The first vote in the full Conference upon this convention, 64 to 39,
revealed almost the same support for it as for the parallel convention
on public works. But on the final vote it did not secure from govern
ments which had abstained in the first vote, as much support as the
public works convention. The final vote upon the adoption of a
completed draft was 71 to 42. The shift of 5 votes or the addition
of 13 to the yeas would have been necessary for passage.
The committee dealing with the iron and steel convention held a
long general debate on the desirability of adopting a convention for
the industry. At the end of this debate the employers moved that
the committee report the draft upon which they were working as a
recommendation rather than as a convention which would be binding
upon countries which ratified it. This proposal was defeated, and
the committee proceeded to incorporate several amendments in the
draft prepared by the Office and then favorably reported it to the
Conference by a vote of 19 to 15. Two amendments proposed by
United States delegates were included: the first limited the averaging
period for the computation of the working week to 4 weeks; and the
second required a higher rate of pay for certain overtime work per
mitted under the convention. Another amendment added an article
specifying that the convention would come into force only after two
of the enumerated largest steel producing nations had ratified it, a
provision occurring in earlier coal conventions.
The Conference debated the committee report at length, and
finally sent the draft to the drafting committee by a vote of 57 to 36.
It secured additional adherents upon the final vote, but the 67 to 40
it received was still several short of the number necessary for adoption.
A change of 5 votes would have been required.
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323
In the committee which considered the draft of a coal convention
the debate followed a somewhat different pattern, because the draft
before the committee had already been worked over for several years
in technical conferences and in previous Conference sessions. It
therefore contained many articles dealing with the technical applica
tion of the general principle of hours limitation on which agreement
already had been reached. But the United States had not been
represented in the earlier discussions, and its practices and terminology
had not been taken into account. In consequence, most of the
modifications made by the committee in the draft were proposed by
the United States Government representative. These amendments
dealt with open or “strip” mines, lignite mines, and the calculation of
hours “at the face”, which is the American practice, as contrasted
with the measurement of working time as embracing all time spent
within the mine, the European practice.
With these American amendments and without any other sub
stantial modification, the committee reported the convention to the
Conference by a vote of 10 to 6. On the floor of the Conference it
was debated at length and sent to the drafting committee by a vote
of 60 to 37. On a final record vote it secured some additional ad
herents, but not enough to achieve adoption. The vote was 66 to 37.
With a shift of 3 votes from no to yes this convention would have
passed.
The Conference was unwilling to abandon wholly the further appli
cation of the principle of weekly hours limitation. These conventions
of application had commanded substantial majorities and had almost
secured the two-thirds necessary for final adoption. The program
of hours limitation as a method of decreasing unemployment, of
increasing workers’ purchasing power, and thus of meeting the
demands of an advancing civilization, had been before the Interna
tional Labor Organization for 5 years. During that time the general
principle of such a program had been adopted by the Conference, and
with the public-works convention added to that for the glass-bottle
industry, its application to two industries had been accepted. Nor
was it a principle that was unrealistic, for, as the Director pointed
out, it represented the prevailing practice in six important member
nations of the I. L. O. So the Conference refused to admit that
the defeat of the conventions was final. In the hope that by a possible
improvement in the drafting of the conventions and a continued dis
cussion of the ideas, favorable action might be secured in the future,
the Conference in each case voted to recommend to the Governing
Body that a technical tripartite meeting be held to consider the
problems of each of these industries.
The concluding speeches of the Conference included comments
on the Conference deliberations upon these hours conventions. Mr.
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Mertens, on behalf of the workers' group, referred to the “hope of the
working class that the Conference would have done more to free us
from the demon of unemployment which has been reducing us to
misery for years. We dare to hope that the Governing Body will
heed our wishes and legitimate hopes * * * (and) that in the
sessions of the Conference in the future, work (will be accomplished)
which will lead to a rise in the standard of life of the whole working
class.” Mr. Vanek on behalf of employers felt that “under present
economic conditions in Europe and in the world, it is extremely
difficult for us to progress in the direction suggested.” The Director,
referring to the extension of the standard of the 40-hour week in
various countries, considered “that it is remarkable progress in so
short a time, and I have very little doubt in my own mind that the
convention of principle which was adopted last year, although it has
not yet been ratified by a single country, has contributed substantially
to that result.” It was in this vein, also, that the President of the
Conference, Mr. Bramsnaes, commented that its consideration by
the Conference “had placed the subject in the foreground of the
discussions everywhere where social problems are discussed (and that
the debate this year) will prove of real value when the subject is
considered in various countries.”
The reference of these conventions to special technical tripartite
consultations is a part of the experimentation within the I. L. O. in
new technique of treaty making. In his discussion of the Director's
Report, Mr. Mertens, as leader of the workers’ group, urged that
a more efficient and expeditious method of adopting draft conventions
be found than the present usual procedure of “double discussion.”
Under it, the Conference in plenary sitting first debates the general
subject of such a convention and ends by listing a series of points on
which governments are to be consulted. In the following year, the
Conference again goes over the same field, and, taking into considera
tion the observations of governments, votes upon a final draft. The
speaker urged that better drafts could be prepared and so more con
ventions would be adopted if a first discussion took place, not in a full
Conference session where the delegates were not expert in the special
field under discussion, but in a special meeting limited to representa
tives of the most interested countries, and composed of delegates
chosen by governments, workers, and employers because of their
expert knowledge of the particular matter for discussion. The
favorable response of the Director to this suggestion indicates that
this method is likely to be followed more frequently in the future.
As a matter of fact, it has already been tried on several occasions and,
especially in the case of the prepratory maritime meeting in 1935,4
appears to have been successful.
4 S e e M onthly Labor Review, M ay 1936 (p. 1181).
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Recruitment of Native Labor
T h e draft convention upon the recruitment of native labor came
before the Conference for second discussion. It deals with the
organized recruiting and shipment to other places of employment of
natives, principally in Africa, the Dutch East Indies, the French
Asiatic possessions, Ceylon, and Malaya. The draft would require
governments, both local and national, to refrain from recruiting and to
supervise strictly whatever recruiting is done in their territories.
Although it establishes the broad principles of such regulations, it
leaves wide latitude to national authorities, but requires that before
exercising this discretion they undertake economic and social surveys
of the workers affected.
The convention was unanimously reported from the committee.
Principal debate centered upon an amendment which would have
eliminated the requirement that recruiting agents pay the traveling
expenses of recruited workers. The amendment in the plenary sitting
failed by a vote of 51 to 51. The full convention was finally adopted
by the Conference by a vote of 123 to 0. The Conference also
unanimously adopted a recommendation which would lead to the
“progressive elimination of recruiting in favor of the spontaneous
offer of labor.”
Paid Vacations
T h e draft convention to provide “holidays with pay” for workers
in manufacturing, construction, mining, and commercial enterprises
also came before the Conference for second discussion. Under its
provisions governments which ratified the convention would be
required to provide that after 1 year of continuous service workers
should receive a vacation of at least 6 days at full pay. In the debate
upon it, no opposition was expressed to paid vacations as a social
program. The representatives of employers asked that the Con
ference establish it, not as an obligation of national law, but only
as a recommendation rather than a convention. When an amend
ment to this effect was put to a vote in the committee, it was rejected
by a vote of 59 to 34.
After a full debate in the Conference, the convention was finally
adopted by a vote of 99 to 15. The Conference then approved by a
vote of 98 to 15 a recommendation that specified in more detail the
regulations that might be applied by separate countries to carry out
the convention. By substantial majorities it also adopted resolutions
requesting the Governing Body to place before an early session of the
Conference the questions of vacations with pay for domestic servants,
janitors, home workers and agricultural hired workers.
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Safety in the Building Industry
T h e subject of safety in building construction was on the program
of the Conference for the first time and action was limited to a first
discussion. It is expected that a draft convention may be adopted
next year dealing with and possibly incorporating a model safety
code for building construction in respect of scaffolding and hoisting
machinery. The committee drew up a list of points upon which the
Office could consult governments during the coming year. These
points were adopted without opposition by the full Conference. A
vote of 109 to 0 added this item to the agenda of the 1937 session for
final action.
Debate Upon Wider Economic Problems
T h e International Labor Conference is more than a mechanism
for the framing of labor treaties. It provides an international forum
for the discussion of a wide range of social and economic problems.
Even if the Conference adopted no conventions, therefore, it would
still provide opportunity for exchange of information and ideas by
the representatives of workers, employers, and governments upon
many different social problems and experiments for their solution.
In addition to the discussion on the projected conventions and the
resolutions presented to it by individual delegates, 65 delegates and
advisers during six plenary sittings of the Conference debated the
report submitted by Harold B. Butler, the Director of the I. L. O.5
It is a survey of current world-wide trends in the field of labor and
social progress in the past year. The debate is too long to summarize
here, but its range is suggested by the comments made by the Di
rector in his remarks concluding the debate.
Mr. Butler agreed that the report reflected a grave concern for the
peace of the world which seriously affected economic and social as
well as political relations. While he insisted that there was no use
to refuse to face facts, however dismal, yet he urged that his report
could not be considered overpessimistic, for it noted in the develop
ments of the past year, a number of signs of “advance in the social
field.” He noted a gradual “change in the outlook” of nations, so
that “it is now considered essential that some measure of social
justice should be the conscious aim of governments.” The report also
found that “in spite of the tremendous pressure placed by the crisis
on all social services, the system of social insurance has not only
weathered the storm, but is now beginning to expand once more.”
He noted also the “recognition of the necessity of adopting public
policies aiming at the maintenance of purchasing power, at maintain
ing the volume of employment and the standard of living.” Finally,
he considered as favorable the fact that the number of ratifications
* International Labor Conference,Twentieth Session, Geneva, 1936.
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INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION
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of conventions now “exceeds 700 and during the last 3 years there
has been a steady harvest of fresh ratifications.” He urged the de
velopment of public works planned to meet the national and inter
national problems of unemployment, the study and combating of
technological unemployment, the wise use of an expansionist financial
program to meet depression, the sane reduction of barriers to inter
national trade, and the prosecution of preparations for a world eco
nomic conference.
The experts on the staff of the International Labor Office prepared
for the Conference four reports on special subjects. Three, dealing
with the nutrition of workers, with collective agreements, and with
opium, are mentioned above. A fourth, summarizing recent develop
ments in the field of the migration of workers, was referred to a com
mittee. Its report recommended that the Governing Body place
before an early session of the Conference the “problems arising out of
the migration of workers from the point of view of recruiting, placing
and conditions of labor, with special reference to the equality of
treatment of foreign and national workers.” After an extended
debate this resolution was adopted without a record vote.
Application of Conventions
A n a d d i t i o n a l function of the annual Conference is the review of
the reports by governments upon their application of labor conven
tions they have ratified. Article 22 of the I. L. O. constitution
requires the submission of these annual reports. Of the 630 due this
year, 620 were received. The committee of the Conference on the
application of conventions had before it these reports, the observations
on them made by a committee of experts of the Governing Body that
had studied them, and in a number of cases the replies of governments
to these observations. In addition, it heard the supplementary expla
nations of representatives of a number of governments.
The report of the committee, accepted by the Conference, is a
critical appraisal of the enforcement by each country of each con
vention ratified. Although it ended with a recommendation that
special attention be placed upon the inspection service for the enforce
ment of labor laws, and with a recommendation that countries do not
ratify conventions until they are prepared to enforce them, the report
shows substantial performance by countries of the obligations which
they accept by ratifying conventions.6
6 The documentation of the session is contained in the series published by the International Labor Office
entitled “International Labor Conference, Twentieth Session.” Publications that appeared before it
opened are listed in the M onthly Labor Review, April 1936, pp. 967-963. N ot till some months after the
session is the final Record of Proceedings available. A Provisional Record in 29 numbers was supplied to
delegates during the Conference, but is not otherwise distributed. Industrial and Labor Information (vol.
58, nos. 11,12, and 13, Jun8 15, 22, and 29, 1936), however, gives a full summary.
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SOCIAL SECURITY
Decision on R ailroad Em ployees’ R e tire m e n t A ct of
1935
N JUNE 26, 1936, the United States District Court for the
District of Columbia, through Mr. Justice Bailey, rendered an
opinion to the effect that certain parts of the railroad employees’
retirement law adopted by Congress in 1935 1 were unconstitutional.
{Alton Railroad Co. et al. v. Railroad Retirement Board, et al., 64 Wash
ington Law Reporter 622.) This law was passed to supersede an a c t2
of the Seventy-third Congress which was declared unconstitutional
by the United States Supreme Court.3 The Seventy-fourth Congress,
in instituting new retirement legislation for railroad employees,
adopted two acts. One act (Public, No. 399) created a retirement
system, while a companion law (Public, No. 400) provided for the
raising of revenues to pay the necessary pensions. The latter act
levied an excise tax of 3% percent on the pay rolls of employers and an
equal amount on the employees.
The railroads attacked the constitutionality of the two laws on the
grounds that the legislation was “arbitrary, capricious and whimsical”
and deprived them of their property without due process of law. Mr.
Justice Bailey said that it was not apparent from the taxing act what
was the basis “of its unusual provisions.” He pointed out that the
tax was in addition to other taxes, and levied on the carriers and their
employees and “upon no other class with the exception of certain offi
cers of labor organizations.” It was also pointed out by the court
that the income tax was laid upon the employees’ salaries of less than
$300 a month, and all sums over that amount were exempt. This,
Justice Bailey said “bears harder upon low salaries than upon those
that are higher, and is thus contrary to all principles which have here
tofore been followed in the levying of income taxes.” Continuing,
he said that—
The basis of measurement of the amount of the tax upon the carriers does not
appear from the act, nor why a tax should be levied upon the carriers and their
1 See M onthly Labor Review, October 1935 (p. 923).
3 Idem, August 1934, (pp. 363-367).
s Idem, June 1935 (pp. 1511-1522).
328
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SOCIAL SECURITY
329
employees and upon no other class of employers or employees, nor why the amount
of the excise tax should be based upon the amount paid to employees not in excess
of $300 per month.
He referred to a United States Supreme Court case 4 previously
decided, holding that a Federal statute passed under the taxing power
may be contrary to the due process clause of the fifth amendment.
Such would seem to be the character of the tax imposed under the
retirement revenue act, Mr. Justice Bailey said, if the court were con
fined in its consideration to the taxing act itself. When, however, he
said, the two acts are considered conjunctively, “the reasons for the
peculiar provisions of the taxing act are apparent.”
The two taken together so dovetail into one another as to create a complete
system, substantially the same as that created by the Railroad Retirement Act of
1934, held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Railroad Retirement Board
v. Alton Railroad Co., 295 U. S. 330. It is true, as claimed by the defendants,
that the tax act is apparently based on the power of Congress to levy taxes to
promote the general welfare and for the common defense, and also upon the power
to regulate commerce (the latter being the power invoked in the act of 1934).
The provisions of the two acts in question are so interrelated and interdepend
ent, that each is a necessary part of one entire scheme. This is not only apparent
from the terms of the acts themselves but is shown by their legislative history.
It was clearly the intention of Congress that the pension system created by the
Retirement Act should be supported by the taxes levied upon the carriers and
their employees.
He concluded:
I think that from what has been said, it necessarily follows that the two acts are
inseparable parts of a whole, that Congress would not have enacted one without
the other, that the taxes levied under the tax act are the contributions required
under the act of 1934, and that to hold otherwise, would in the language of the
Supreme Court in the Butler case “shut our (my) eyes to what all others than we
(I) can see and understand.”
This being true it is clear that under the views of the Supreme Court in the
Alton case the taxing act transcends the powers of Congress. The pension system
so created is substantially the same as that created by the act of 1934, and apart
from its unconstitutionality as a whole subject to the same objections in certain
particulars as those pointed out by the Supreme Court in that case.
Several days after the rendition of his written opinion, Mr. Justice
Bailey orally clarified his original decision, by explaining that
although he had previously declared the retirement act unconstitu
tional, its import was confined to the tax act and not to the retirement
act as such. His order therefore was not aimed at preventing the
Railroad Retirement Board from paying pensions from general Gov
ernment funds, since the act had authorized the appropriation from
the Treasury to carry the act into operation. The Government, he
said, had a right “to work out a pension payment plan for railroad
employees and can collect contributions for that purpose from the
employees.” Until the case is finally determined, he said that the
* H ein er v. D o n n a n , 285 U . S. 326.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
funds so deducted shall be held in a special account. On July 13,
1936, the Railroad Retirement Board, acting upon the oral statement
of the court, issued the first of the pensions to eligible railroad em
ployees.
Changes in A ccident Insurance and C om pulsory
Savings Legislation in B olivia 1
B
Y BOLIVIAN decrees of May 22 and July 23, 1935, the adminis
tration of the workmen’s compensation act for miners and of the
act requiring compulsory savings by certain mine employees was
transferred to a newly created Workers’ Insurance and Savings Fund
(Caja de Seguro y Ahorro Obrero). This fund will gradually take
over the administration of insurance and savings of workers in other
industries.
All mine operators who do not have labor contracts with their
workers registered in the fund are required to make compensation
payments to their injured workers directly. While the recent
decrees apply to all employers in the mining industry the general
scheme of workmen’s compensation is still limited to those employers
whose capital is greater than 20,000 bolivianos.2
Resources.—The initial capital of the fund is to consist of a State
contribution of 100,000 bolivianos, the assets of the Guaranty Funds
(Cajas de Garantid) established by the law of 1924, and a contribution
by the mining enterprises of 20 bolivianos for each worker they were
employing on April 30, 1935.
Subsequent insurance contributions are to consist of 3 percent of the
net pay roll to be paid by the employer and 1 percent of each worker’s
wages to be deducted from the amount due him. To the miners’
savings accounts transferred to the fund by the 1935 decrees will be
added compulsory savings deposits, amounting to 4 percent of wages,
deducted from the earnings of workers receiving 3 bolivianos or more
per day.
Benefits.—Employers must provide medical treatment, and com
pensation as follows: For temporary disability, one-half of the injured
worker’s wages for not more than a year; for permanent total dis
ability, a lump sum equal to 2 years’ wages; for permanent partial
disability, 18 months’ wages; and for death, one month’s wages to be
applied toward the funeral expenses.
i Data are from report of John C. Shillock, Jr., American vice consul at La Paz, June 7, 1935, and Inter
national Labor Office, Industrial and Labor Information (Geneva), N ov. 11, 1935, pp. 210-211. The work
men’s compensation law which is amended is given in translation in IT. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bulletin No. 529 (1930), Workmen’s Compensation Legislation of the Latin American Countries, pp.
33-42. The basic legislation for compulsory savings is reproduced in Legislación Social de América Latina
(2 vols.), Oficina Internacional del Trabajo, Geneva, 1928-29, vol. 1, pp. 124-130.
» Exchange rate of boliviano on July 1, 1935=0.6180 cents.
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331
Administration.—The fund is administered by a committee con
sisting of a chairman named by the President, 2 representatives of the
large mining enterprises, 1 representative of the small enterprises,
and 1 representative of the miners. The miners’ representative is
at first to be selected by the Government from among leading miners,
but in the future is to be elected by the miners’ unions which are to be
established. Committee members are chosen for 2 years but may be
reelected indefinitely.
The committee is to administer the resources of the fund, collect
contributions, grant benefits, and seek for more effective means of
prevention of and compensation for industrial accidents. Inspectors
are to be employed whose duty it is to verify the pay rolls of enter
prises which are required to make contributions to the fund. Penalties
are provided for violation of the provisions of the decree.
Old-Age P ension System fo r C ivil S erv an ts in Panam a
A N OLD-AGE pension system for public servants was established
2 k in Panama by decrees of January 5, March 30, and April 30,
1935. The principal provisions of the plan1 are summarized below.
Coverage.—All employees of the State, including workers and
salaried employees of the National Printing Office and independent
and semi-independent institutions, but not including members of the
administrative and teaching staffs of the Ministry of Education, are
covered by the system.
Contributions.—Contributions of 2 percent of their earnings are
required of all insured persons. The State makes a grant of 7,000
balboas2a month, which is paid by the Treasury to the National Bank.
Benefits:—The old-age pension is paid at age 60, provided the in
sured has been in the public service for at least 20 years. Pensions
are also paid to insured persons who have contracted incurable dis
eases arising out of and during their employment. Industrial acci
dents are excluded.
The pension is equal to two-thirds of the average earnings of the
insured person during his period of service, but in the case of persons
who were employees of the State from the Declaration of Inde
pendence (Nov. 3, 1903) until the date of the promulgation of the act
(Jan. 9, 1935), the pension shall be equal to their last remuneration
rate, but not to exceed 125 balboas a month. Persons receiving a
pension may not accept any paid public employment.
If an insured person dies before his right to a pension accrues, his
contributions are returned to his heirs.
1 Data are from International Labor Office, Industrial and Labor Information, Geneva, Oct. 14, 1935.
2 Balboa at par=$l; exchange rate varies.
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Administration.•—A superannuation commissioner, appointed by the
Government for a 10-year period, and his secretary have supervision
of the granting of pensions. Notice of pensions granted is given the
applicants, the Director of the National Bank, and the Controller
General of the Republic, and published in the Official Gazette. Pen
sions are paid monthly. The National Bank administers the funds.
Social Insurance in P o rtu g al 1
OCIAL INSURANCE funds, to cover the risks of sickness, in
validity, old age, and unemployment, were provided for in Portugal
by an act of March 16, 1935. Other risks may also be covered if
authorized by the National Institute of Labor and Social Welfare
(Instituto Nacional do Trabalho e Previdencia). By a decree of
October 12, 1935, membership in these funds was made compulsory
for all employers and their workers under 50 years of age in an in
dustry or branch of economic activity covered by the fund. Regula
tions governing sickness, invalidity, and survivors’ benefits by these
funds were also decreed. Unemployment insurance and old-age
pensions are to be governed by special regulations.
S
Organisation of Funds
T h e s e social-insurance funds are to be set up jointly, through col
lective agreement, by the employers’ groups and the workers’ organ
izations in an industry or branch of economic activity, with the
approval of the National Institute of Labor and Social Welfare.
Two or more funds may voluntarily consolidate to form a single fund;
and federations of funds in the same branch of industry throughout
the country may be formed, each fund retaining its identity.
There are three classes of members in the funds: Beneficiaries
(workers employed by the enterprises covered by the fund); contribu
tors (the employers); and honorary members (persons or organizations
making large gifts or rendering notable services to the fund).
Sickness and survivors’ benefits, unemployment insurance and in
validity and old-age pensions, or any one of them, may be provided
by a fund for its members. The fund may also, if authorized by the
National Institute of Labor and Social Welfare, provide other services,
such as individual or group life insurance or low-cost housing.
Coverage
M e m b e r s h ip in a fund is compulsory for all workers 14 to 50 years
of age employed under labor agreements by the enterprises in an
industry or branch of economic activity covered by the fund, and for
i Data are from Industrial and Labor Information (Geneva), M ay 20,1935, pp. 260-261; Diario de GovSrno
(Lisbon), Oct. 12. 1935, pp. 1465-1476.
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333
the employers of such persons. Membership is optional for persons
over 50 years of age employed in the industry covered, but the
benefits they may receive are limited to sickness and survivors’
benefits, which are paid from a special fund.
Contributions
C o n t r ib u t io n s are made by the employer and employee in equal
amounts, the employee’s share being deducted from his wages by the
employer, who is responsible for the payment of the combined con
tribution. The amount of the contribution is fixed, either by the
collective agreement or by specified actuarial tables, at a certain
percentage of the wages. Voluntary members pay 50 percent of the
normal contribution. The contributions of a member who is involun
tarily unemployed, for reasons not contemplated by the labor agree
ment, will be paid by the fund for a maximum of 6 months in any
1 year or 10 months in each 2 years, providing the member has paid
at least 26 weekly contributions and is in good standing. The amount
of such contribution is to be calculated on the basis of the last 6
months’ wages. Similarly, the fund will pay the contributions of a
member absent from work because of sickness for as long as he is
receiving cash benefits. Contributions of workers absent on military
duty, and those of their employers, will be paid from a special fund.
Members who are involuntarily unemployed or who leave their
occupation or the region in which the fund functions may retain the
right to benefits if they pay their own and their employers’ contribu
tions. If in arrears more than 12 but not over 24 weekly payments,
they may be reinstated by payment of the contributions in arrears.
Refund of contributions may be made to members who are not
reinstated or who leave one fund without becoming members of
another. On transfer from one fund to another for occupational
reasons, a member’s accumulated actuarial reserve may be transferred
to the second fund.
Benefits
S ic k n e s s , invalidit}7, and survivors’ benefits are to be paid as here
inafter set forth. Voluntary members (persons over 50 years of age
when admitted) are to be paid sickness and survivors’ benefits at the
same rate as regular members. Pensions and other cash benefits
cannot be assigned, but the right to benefits is lost if they are not
claimed within 1 year. In exceptional cases benefits in excess of
those provided by the decree may be granted by the Under Secretary
of State for Corporations and Social Welfare (Sub Secretario do Estado
das Corporaçoes e Previdência).
Sickness benefits include medical aid and cash benefits. Medical
aid is furnished by the fund’s physician and includes house calls if
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
necessary. Cash benefits, which are payable after contributions have
been made for at least 1 year, are paid from the third day of the sick
ness for a maximum period of 9 months in 1 year or for a single
sickness, for 15 months in 2 consecutive years, or for 18 months in
3 consecutive years.
The maximum cash benefit is two-thirds of the wages of the bene
ficiary during the first period of illness and one-half thereof during
the second period. The benefit is paid in the same manner as the
wages are paid. When the wages are variable the benefit may be
based on the wages for the preceding 6 months or on the normal wages
in the same kind of employment, at the option of the fund.
Persons receiving sick benefits are subject to regular examinations
and also to examination by a medical council. A person who is still
unable to work after receiving sick benefits for the maximum period
may request medical examination to determine whether he is en
titled to an invalidity pension. Sickness benefits are not paid to
persons receiving invalidity or old-age pensions.
Benefits are payable for pregnancy.
Invalidity pensions are payable to members who become totally
and permanently incapacitated for their work either by accident or
sickness not incurred in the course of the work, such incapacity to
be proved before a council of three physicians. Invalidity benefits
may also be paid after the right to sickness benefits has been exhausted
if the insured is still incapacitated for work.
The right to an invalidity pension accrues after 5 years’ continuous
contributions. The maximum pension is 80 percent of the basic
wage; if granted immediately after the expiration of the minimum
qualifying period the pension may not exceed 20 percent of the basic
wage. The recipient of an invalidity pension is subject to examina
tion, without cost to himself, annually for 3 years after the pension
is granted. Should he recover his working capacity or exhaust the
maximum benefits his term of service calls for, the pension may be
suspended or canceled.
Survivors’ benefits, in an amount not to exceed 6 months’ wages, or
5,000 escudos, are payable on the death of a member who has con
tributed for at least 3 years. The benefit is to be divided equally
between the surviving spouse and the children; in the absence of
either, the total amount is to go to the other. If there is neither
surviving spouse nor children, the benefits go to the parents, or, if
none, to the brothers and sisters, or to dependent children under 14
years of age who had lived with the member for more than 6 months.
Divorce does not affect the right of the surviving spouse, if such
survivor was the innocent party and has not remarried. In case the
deceased had remarried, the benefits are divided equally between the
surviving spouses. No benefits are payable in case of divorce by
mutual consent, unless so specified in the divorce papers.
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335
Administration
E ach fund is to be administered by a committee (direcçâo), com
posed of a president chosen from the component employers’ groups
and four members, two of whom are representatives of the employers’
groups and two representatives of the workers’ organizations con
cerned. The membership may be increased to six or eight, at the
option of the Under Secretary of State for Corporations and Social
Welfare. Alternates, to fill any temporary or permanent vacancies
on the committee, are also to be selected. The committee is to be
chosen each 2 years. There is also to be a general council (conselho
geral) of five members, with the same proportionate membership,
which acts as a supervisory committee.
The assets of the fund, which are exempt from taxation, are derived
from the contributions of its employer and employee members, and
from gifts, fines, etc.
Besides its accumulated actuarial reserves for the payment of bene
fits, each fund is required to build up a reserve for emergencies, and
also a benevolent fund for benefits to voluntary members and the
contributions of members while on military duty and for relief and
other benevolent purposes. Interest on the reserve fund, unclaimed
benefits, fines, gifts, etc., are to make up the benevolent fund.
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EM PLOYMENT CONDITIONS A N D U N E M
PLOYM ENT RELIEF
N atio n al Y o u th A d m in is tra tio n ’s W ork Projects in
N e w Y ork, P en n sy lv a n ia , and T exas
RECORD of typical part-time work projects in various States
for out-of-school youth, urban and rural, white and colored,
constitutes a substantial section of the report of the administration
and operation of the program of the National Youth Administration,
issued in April 1936. These projects have been carried on in close
cooperation with local services already established and with other
emergency employment undertakings, in order to avoid duplication.
The work project funds for out-of-school youth aggregated
$17,504,852, the allocations for the different States ranging from
$7,200 for Nevada to $1,737,100 for New York (including New
York City). According to the report, the maximum youth employ
ment varied from 100 in Nevada to 17,000 in Pennsylvania. New
York, Pennsylvania, and Texas were the three leading States as
regards maximum youth employment on administration projects.
For New York City the total allocation was $972,000 and the
maximum youth employment 7,000. Typical official projects are
listed as follows:
Clearing and grading parks and areas near parks; assistants in community
and recreational activities; assistants for employment and vocational services.
Clerical assistants on immigration and naturalization work; assistants for
messenger and clerical services; assistants in compiling data for various public
and semipublic agencies; training as clerks, receptionists, aides, etc., in youth
serving agencies.
The largest project under the public service program in New York City is the
employment of youth for recording data concerning progress made by kinder
garten pupils. Other projects provide for training messengers and clerical service
for government offices, especially in connection with the junior employment
service.
The total allocation for New York State was $765,000 (exclusive
of New York City), and the maximum youth employment, 8,800.
The following typical activities are reported:
336
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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
337
A State-wide project is employing a large number of youth in a safety cam
paign, involving the training of youth as leaders and assistants; other numerous
projects have to do with training leaders in various recreational activities for
youth; youth helpers are also carrying on the construction and manufacture of
museum accessories; extension of knowledge in health, sanitation, and domestic
science is being carried out by youth through schools and school organizations.
Under the rural youth development programs in New York State there is
a State-wide project which provides for lending assistants to county agents; another
State-wide project is rendering aid to professors and instructors in the New York
agricultural schools; the third State-wide project is training a large group in
the organization and management of libraries.
Employment of youth in various public services connected with cities throughout
the State; various library work; indexing of old newspapers in the city of Roches
ter; assigning youth as crossing guards at all dangerous and unguarded street
crossings in the city of Buffalo.
One research project is in operation in the city of Rochester employing youth
in making a “street index of census tracts” for this city.
Pennsylvania’s allocation was $1,645,500, and the maximum youth
employment 17,000. A record of typical undertakings in that State
is given below:
There is a general State-wide recreation, leadership, and community-develop
ment program in operation. Various projects are for higher education in music,
drama, literature, and fine arts. Many of the projects are termed cultural.
Skilled youth are employed on these projects as leaders to guide the unskilled
youth. Assistants are being used in safety campaigns, home craft, traffic con
trol, etc. Under this classification also falls the establishment of youth centers
throughout the State.
In rural areas throughout Pennsylvania, rural agencies already in operation
have been enlarged and services extended through the use of N. Y. A. participants
as supplementary personnel. The development of the “horseshoe trail”, one of
the most outstanding youth projects in any of the States, will undoubtedly be the
beginning of other such trails. Youth are being used as assistants in library
service, nursery schools, assistants to farm agents, in game conservation, in rural
development, and as assistants to county demonstrators, etc.
Assistants are being used throughout the States in public offices, such as the
Department of Immigration and Naturalization, Department of Agriculture, and
various other Federal, county, and State agencies. Youth are being employed
in pedestrian traffic courts [sic], in rearranging school records, etc.
There are various research and survey projects in operation for the study of
youth conditions. Youth are being used as supplementary personnel in health
and sanitation surveys and in the study of existing recreational facilities and in
community welfare work. One interesting project in Philadelphia is a sociological
study of State trade boys.
Pennsylvania has enlarged and extended all existing recreational activities and
youth services. The youth program has absorbed mainly unskilled labor.
The allocation for Texas was $859,000 and the maximum youth
employment 12,000. Typical projects under the National Youth
Administration include the following:
The State Highway Department of Texas has developed projects for the employ
ment of youth in connection with the highways of the State. The State Highway
82425— 36— — 5
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338
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-— AUGUST 1936
Department provides the funds, transportation, and supervision for the employ
ment of youth in these State-wide projects for the employment of recreational
areas and the beautification of highway parks. The Youth Administration fur
nishes the youth and pays for their services.
Many projects employ youth as assistants in community development and
recreational leadership; in the organization of additional groups for the promotion
of the program of physical education. Many youth are employed for the specific
purpose of employing and developing recreational facilities throughout the State.
Many projects have been developed to employ youth for the promotion of rural
recreational and vocational facilities for youth in the rural sections; assistants are
furnished county demonstration and home economics agents; rural school grounds
are beautified and libraries are being developed in service, assistants are furnished
for farm demorstration work. Recreational facilities in rural schools are being
greatly augmented.
Public-service projects have been developed for the employment of youth as
assistants in offices of county superintendents of education, and for the purpose of
repairing, indexing, and cataloging books in public libraries and as assistants in
district relief offices and welfare facilities.
For research projects, only a very limited number of youth have been em
ployed. For this small number, projects are made for research to secure data and
information regarding the school district, etc.
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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
P ro h ib itio n o f H o m ew o rk in M en ’s and B oys’ O u te r
w e a r In d u s try in th e S tate of N e w Y o rk 1
RACTICAL abolition of industrial homework is assured in one
branch of the clothing industry in New York by the terms of an
order issued by the State Industrial Commissioner, effective
July 1, 1936, covering the manufacture of outerwear for men and
boys. The order includes the merchant- and custom-tailoring trade,
which had been exempted from an earlier order effective April 25,
1936, covering the industry as a whole. Such exemptions as are still
permitted apply only to the merchant- and custom-tailoring branch,
are so limited in scope as to be negligible as far as numbers are con
cerned, and have conditions attached to them which are such as to
discourage the use of homeworkers.
The N. R. A. code for the industry carried an absolute prohibition
of homework that affected approximately 4,000 workers. Operations
formerly carried on in the homes were transferred to the factories and
shops of the manufacturers, or to contractors’ shops set up in the
neighborhoods from which homeworkers had been drawn. This
adjustment resulted not only in more efficient and progressive methods
of manufacture but also in materially increased earnings for the
workers transferred from homes to shops. The average weekly
wages, according to the findings of the New York Department of
Labor, rose from $6.20 to $13.07. Hours of the woman workers were
shortened and regulated, because as factory workers they came
within the jurisdiction of the hours-of-labor laws, and the labor of
children was eliminated entirely.
After the nullification of the National Industrial Recovery Act,
the factory system was maintained effectively in New York City
through the cooperative action of organized employers and organized
workers. Investigations made by the New York Department of
Labor, however, showed a tendency to revert to the former practice
of homework, especially in the merchant-tailoring trade. Article 13,
P
1 Data are from order no. 1 of the New York Industrial Commission, prohibiting industrial homework
in the men’s and boy’s outer clothing industry, and from findings of the industrial commissioner based
on reports of the division of women and children and minimum wage of the New York Department of Labor,
issued by the labor publications editor, State Department of Labor, N ew York, Apr. 24, 1936.
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340
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
section 351-1, of the labor law of New York, grants the industrial
commissioner wide discretionary power in the matter of regulating
and restricting industrial homework. Acting under that authority,
and in view of the conditions established during the period of code
regulations, the industrial commissioner issued an order prohibiting
homework in the men’s and boys’ outer-clothing industry as “the
best method of eliminating the evils which accompany the homework
system.” The application of manufacturers of boys’ cotton wash
suits to be excluded from the order, as they had been from the N. R. A.
code, was denied. The industrial commissioner ruled that no dis
tinction valid for the purpose of the order had been established in the
plea for exemption, as cotton suits were as a rule made in the same shops
by the same manufacturers as other types of wearing apparel and
competed with suits of other materials. He held, moreover, that
“N. R. A. codes need not be used as a precedent in the classification
of industries under the New York State industrial homework law.”
Except with regard to merchant and custom tailoring, the order
became effective at once. All outstanding permits to employers and
certificates to homeworkers were nullified as of April 25, and the
order declared that “no permits shall hereafter be issued to employers
for the distribution of articles of men’s and boys’ outer clothing for
industrial homework and no certificates shall hereafter be issued to
homeworkers on such articles.”
Recognizing a need for a longer period of adjustment in the mer
chant- and custom-tailoring line, the order granted a stay until
July 1 for the transition in that branch. It also provided for conces
sions to aged and disabled homeworkers whose normal occupation
had been homework on custom-made garments for merchant tailors.
These concessions make possible the granting of special homework
permits to employers and certificates to homeworkers in cases where
the industrial commissioner is satisfied, upon investigation, that the
worker is over 60 years of age or is prevented by physical disability
from performing the same work in a shop; that he held a permit to
work for the same employer prior to April 25, 1936; and that he is
covered by workmen’s compensation. The employer, on his part,
in order to obtain a license to send work into a home, must deliver
and call for all work, free of charge, must pay the homeworker “at
least the same piecework rate” as is paid for the same or similar work
in his shop, and must observe all the provisions of the labor law and
the rules and regulations of the industrial commissioner. Because of
the consideration of disability upon which the permit is granted,
homeworkers must be given less work than shop tailors.
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341
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
M echanisation o f B ritish In d u stries
HE progress of mechanization in the chief manufacturing indus
tries of Great Britain between 1924 and 1930, as indicated by the
increase in power equipment, particularly electric motors, is shown
in the final report of the census of production of 1930,1recently made
available. The total horsepower in use in manufacturing industries
increased from 8,791,100 in 1924 to 10,472,200 in 1930, while the
horsepower in use per wage earner increased 21 percent in those years.
In nonmanufacturing industries, the greatest expansion in power
equipment occurred in mining and quarrying.
In 1924 the total power used by all trades, both manufacturing and
nonmanufacturing, was divided almost evenly between that applied
directly and that applied through electric motors, although the latter
group was slightly smaller, being 49.7 percent of the total. In 1930
electric motors were furnishing 60.6 percent of the total horsepower
in use in all trades, and 66.2 percent of that in use in manufacturing.
The following table gives the extent and kind of power equipment
available for use in 1924 and 1930 in all establishments in the United
Kingdom in which an average of more than 10 persons was employed
during the year. The figures represent horsepower capacity and, the
report points out, it does not necessarily follow that that amount of
power was actually used. Of the total power equipment installed the
percentage idle or in reserve at the time the censuses were taken was:
T
mo
17. 2
19. 3
12. 5
Prime movers____
Electric generators
Electric motors__
19U
17. 9
24. 0
13. 8
Table 1.— Horsepower Capacity in British Industries in 1924 and 1930, by
Industry and Kind of Power
Total power
Mechanical power
Electrical power
Industry
Manufacturing industries____
Iron and steel___ _______
Engineering, shipbuilding,
etc____ _ _____________
Nonferrous m etals___
Textiles____________ . __
Leather.. . . . . . . . . . . __
C lothing... . . . _ ________
Food, drink, and tobacco___
Chemicals, etc_____________
Paper and printing_____ . . .
Timber_______ __________
Clay and building materials.
Miscellaneous. . . . . . _ .
Nonmanufacturing industries___
Building and contracting___
Mines and quarries________
Public utility services and
government departments >.
1930
1924
1930
1924
1930
1924
Hp.
Hp.
Hp.
Hp.
Hp.
Hp.
10,472, 200 8, 791, 100 3, 538,000 4, 111, 200 6, 934, 200 4, 679, 900
2, 675,100 2, 443, 900 1, 205, 800 1, 316,000 1, 469,300 1,127, 900
1, 867,100 1,445, 300
82, 400 137,400 1, 784, 700 1,307, 900
248,400 198, 400
28, 400
38, 400 220,000 160,000
2, 442,800 2,395,100 1, 505, 000 1, 763,400 937, 800 631,700
70, 200
61, 800
14, 700
18, 900
55, 500
42, 900
100, 900
95, 000
19, 200
28, 700
87, 700
66,300
662, 000 524, 900 141, 500 180, 800 520, 500 344, 100
525, 900 356, 600 127, 200 131, 500 398, 700 225,100
704,100 419,400 128, 300 152,100 575, 800 267,3C0
261,300 196, 000
68, 000
90, 900 193, 300 105,100
519, 900 365, 000 161, 900 181, 800 358, 000 183, 200
388, 500 289, 700
55, 600
71, 300 332, 900 218,400
4, 850, 400 4, 612, 200 2, 498, 500 2, 633, 500 2, 351, 900 1,978, 700
187, 900 156, 800
76, 600
73, 500 111,300
83, 300
3, 753, 000 3, 577, 000 1, 945, 300 2, 070, 000 1, 807, 700 1, 507, 700
909, 500
878, 400
476, 600
490,000
432,900
388,400
Percent of
electrical to
total power
1930
66.2
54.9
95.6
1924
53.2
46.2
38.4
79.1
82.0
78.6
75.8
81.8
74.0
68.9
85.7
48.5
59.2
48.2
90.5
80.6
26.4
69.4
69.8
65.6
63. 1
63.7
53.6
50.2
75.4
42.9
53.1
42.1
47.6
44.2
88.6
1 Exclusive of generating plants.
1 Great Britain. Board of Trade. Final report on the Fourth Census of Production of tpe United
Kingdom (1930): Part V, General report. London, 1935. Ch. X .
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342
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-— ÄUGEST 1936
Table 2, based upon the total horsepower shown in table 1 and the
average number of operatives employed in each industry group as
reported in the census, gives the horsepower in use per worker in
1930 and 1924. The report states that the figures cannot be used to
draw comparisons of efficiency as between the various industries, since
conditions vary according to the different types of manufacturing
processes. They do indicate clearly, however, an increased mechani
zation in all groups, ranging, among workers engaged in manufacture,
from 9 to 52 percent, and averaging 19 percent for all workers.
Table 2.— Horsepower in Use Per Worker in Great Britain, 1930 and 1924, by
Industry
Horsepower
per worker
Industry
1930
Manufacturing industriesIron and steel -------------Engineering, shipbuilding,
e tc .________
Non farrows mftt.fl.ls
Textiles------------------------Leather_________________
Clothing. _
Food, drink, and tobacco—
Chemicals, etc— ........ .......
Paperr printing, fit.fi__
Timber______ 1__________
I Ip .
iip .
2.44
5.99
5.36
2.04
2.63
2.45
1. 72
.24
1. 70
3.80
2.20
1. 75
1 Exclusive of generating plants.
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1924
2.02
1.70
1.97
2.00
Per
cent
of in
crease
21
12
20
34
23
1.43
20
1.42
2.50
1.45
1.59
20
.2 2
9
52
52
10
Industry
Manufacturing industries—
Continued.
Clay and building materials__________________
M iscellaneous..
______
Nonmanufacturing industries..
Building and contracting. .
Mines and quarries____
Public utility services and
government d e p a r t ments 1_______________
Horsepower Per
per worker cent
of in
1930 1924 crease
Up.
Hp.
2. 52
2.62
2. 34
.45
3.76
2.02
.40
2.85
33
32
16
13
32
1.40
1.38
1
1.89
1.98
HOUSING CONDITIONS
H ousing and D elinquency
ELINQUENCY is more prevalent among persons who are
inadequately housed than among the general population. Al
though housing may not be viewed as the chief cause of juvenile delin
quency, it is at least a very significant factor in accounting for behavior
problems. These conclusions, indicated by studies made in the past,
are confirmed by one recently completed by the Federal Emergency
Administration of Public Works.1 In this study housing was consid
ered on the basis of space per household, type of dwelling, land crowd
ing, and kind of neighborhood. The authors of the study reached the
conclusion that unsatisfactory housing could be eliminated by a
properly planned housing program and that delinquency would de
crease if environment were improved.
For the purposes of this study ‘‘housing” included not only the
physical dwelling place but also the immediately surrounding neighbor
hood. Recognizing the danger of oversimplifying the causes of crime
and delinquency, and the difficulty of isolating the individual contrib
uting factors, the investigators endeavored to avoid dogmatic state
ments as to cause and to proceed in terms of relationships between
existing phenomena. Reasons for adult crime are stated to be so
complex as to make it difficult to trace separate factors but, for a
child, lack of recreational facilities, household crowding, or some other
inadequacy may be directly responsible for acts of delinquency.
The study included a sample survey of housing of juvenile proba
tioners and of a group of sixth-grade public-school pupils in the city
of Washington, D. C. It showed overcrowded housing conditions
among 70 percent of the children on probation, whereas almost two
out of three white children in the general population were living where
there was adequate space. The Negro children in the general popula
tion lived under almost as congested conditions as did those on pro
bation, showing an equal handicap for Negroes and probationers
when compared with the general population. Incidentally, the
figures showed that in the District of Columbia, housing of the families
of the school children surveyed was less adequate than in any of the
D
1 Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works. Housing Division. Research Bulletin No 1:
Housing in relation to delinquency and crime (a study of certain new case material). Washington, 1936.
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343
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
64 cities covered by the real-property inventory carried out by the
United States Department of Commerce in 1934; this unfavorable
condition is attributed to the recent influx of people into the capital
and the doubling-up of families owing to the depression.
The following table shows the distribution of probationers and
school children classified by percentage having adequate space and
those crowded or congested:
Adequacy of Housing Space of 521 Juvenile Probationers and 819 School
Children
Household space—
Adequate
Group
N um
ber of
chil
dren
White:
Juvenile probationers___________ ______
School ch ild ren ________ ___________
Colored:
Juvenile probationers_____ __ __ _
School children_____ ______ ___ _____
Crowded 1
Congested 2
Total
Per
cent
N um
ber of
chil
dren
Per
cent
N um
ber of
chil
dren
Per
cent
161
564
45
366
28.0
64.9
73
167
45.3
29.6
43
31
26.7
5. 5
360
255
99
78
27. 5
30.6
158
117
43.9
45.9
103
60
28.6
23.5
1 A crowded dwelling is defined as one containing more than 1 but less than 2 persons per room.
2 A congested dwelling is defined as one containing 2 or more persons per room.
The conclusions reached by the Public Works Administration, from
its own and other investigations, follow:
1. Judged by household space, the housing of the delinquent members of our
society is clearly much less adequate than that of the general population. This
is true in both urban and rural districts. The crowding apparently arises, in
many cases, through the presence in the household of others than the immediate
family group. Largely as an outgrowth of the household congestion, undesirable
sleeping arrangements are apparently very common in the homes of the delinquent
groups, children sleeping in the same room with adults, adolescents of different
sex sleeping in the same room, and three or more individuals sleeping in one room.
2. The housing of the delinquent groups, so far as the evidence goes, is inferior
to that of the population as a whole with respect to the type of dwelling unit
occupied, the condition of the structures in which these individuals live, and the
modern conveniences with which their homes are equipped.
3. The evidence that is available indicates that a significantly large proportion
of the delinquent group comes from homes in districts where land crowding is
prevalent, and where light, ventilation, and wholesome recreation space are
inadequate.
4. All the evidence indicates clearly that a major portion of the delinquents
studied, particularly the juvenile delinquents, came from unsatisfactory neighbor
hoods—sections marked not only by congestion and physical deterioration, but
also by the presence of such positive bad factors as street gangs, nearby pool halls,
dance pavilions, beer halls, and disorderly houses.
5. With regard to almost every housing test applied to the cases studied, the
Negroes were much more disadvantageously situated than the whites, which bears
out the findings of previous investigators that the housing situation of Negroes is
generally poor.
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HOUSING CONDITIONS
345
6. In general, then, the delinquents studied were handicapped with respect to
every aspect of their housing situation. With reference to the juveniles at least
the conclusion can scarcely be escaped that the housing, if not the chief factor, was
at least a very significant factor accounting for the delinquent behavior.
7. Most of the bad housing situations found, notably household congestion,
poor structures, and bad elements in the neighborhood, would naturally be altered
in correctly planned and adequately large housing projects.
8. It is reasonable to expect, provided the housing (including not only the
structure itself, but also the immediate environment) were improved, that delin
quency would decrease. This reasoning is confirmed by careful students of the
problem.
H ousing L egislation in Sw eden 1
EVERAL laws for the provision of better housing were enacted
in Sweden during June 1936, whereby assistance to those with
low incomes will be granted to a total of 25,450,000 kronor.2 Govern
ment aid is authorized through loans, direct rent allowance, and experi
mental work in housing. Both urban and rural workers will benefit
under the terms of the new legislation.
The specific amounts authorized and the purposes for which they
are to be used are as follows:
S
Kronor
Additions to loan fund for housing large families with small means— 15, 000, 000
Direct rent allowances____________________________________ _____
650, 000
Loans for house building:
Urban___________________________________________________
2, 000, 000
Rural____________________________________________________
2, 000, 000
Promotion of house building____________________________________ 5, 500, 000
300, 000
Improvement of agricultural workers’ dwellings--------------------------Total__________________________________________________ 25,450,000
1 Data are from New York Times, June 22, 1936.
2 Exchange rate of krona in April 1936=25.48 cents.
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LABOR OFFICES
D ire c to ry of Labor Offices in th e U n ited States and
Canada
DIRECTORY of labor offices has been compiled by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics and is being issued as its Bulletin No. 621.
As in previous years, the directory gives the names of the principal
officers in the State and Provincial agencies which have to do with
labor, as well as the address of the agency itself. Such offices include
bureaus of labor, employment offices, industrial commissions, State
workmen’s compensation insurance funds and commissions, mini
mum-wage boards, factory inspection bureaus, arbitration and con
ciliation boards, and boards set up to administer unemploymentcompensation insurance.
A
E stablishm ent of Palestine C e n tra l Statistical Office
NDER the statistics ordinance, 1935, the Government of
Palestine has established a central office of statistics at Jerusa
lem, the Government statistician of that country reports in a com
munication to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, under
date of May 6, 1936.
The function of the new agency is to collect and publish statistics
on such subjects as housing, wages, hours, and conditions of labor,
employment and unemployment, industrial disputes, and prices.
U
E stablishm ent of N atio n al Labor Office in V enezuela
NATIONAL labor office {Oficina Nacional del Trabajo) to enforce
the present labor laws and to collect data with a view to their
improvement was established in Venezuela by presidential decree of
February 29, 1936.1 The office is to be attached to the division of
justice, welfare, and worship {Dirección de Justicia, Beneficencia y
Cultos) of the Ministry of the Interior. The five regional labor inspec
tors provided by the decree are to be responsible directly to the
Ministry of the Interior, and the other employees are to be appointed
by special resolutions of that ministry.
A
1 Data are from report of Meredith Nicholson, TJ. S. Minister at Caracas, Mar. 4, 1936.
346
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RECREATION
C o m m u n ity R ecreatio n in th e U n ited States, 1935
ONTINUED expansion of the community-recreation movement
marked the year 1935. In 1934 the number of cities having
some form of recreation service was more than twice that of the pre
ceding year, while in 1935 there were 2,204 communities having
such service, or 14 more than in 1934. The 1935 report of the Na
tional Recreation Association 1 shows that although in 1,045 com
munities the recreation facilities and programs were provided entirely
through emergency funds, more than 90 percent of all such funds
were used in cities which raised part of the cost locally, either through
taxation or from private sources. Eighty-three percent of all the
workers paid from emergency funds also served in these cities.
From these facts and since the amount paid for regular leadership
in 1935 exceeds that for 1934, it seems evident, the report states,
that to a large extent the emergency workers assigned for service to
recreation agencies supplemented rather than supplanted regular
services and workers in 1935. Nearly three times as much money
was spent from emergency funds for land, buildings, and permanent
equipment in 1934 as for leadership, but in 1935 this condition was
reversed and more money was spent for leaders’ salaries than for
capital uses.
The reports are incomplete both for cities having recreation pro
grams under regular leadership and for localities carrying on pro
grams with emergency funds. Reports covering regular recreation
service were received from 1,159 communities (6 less than the year
before), and no reports were received from some States which carried
on comprehensive programs with leaders from relief rolls. Even
though the reporting was incomplete, the figures indicate that on the
whole recreation held its own during 1935.
The number of workers employed as leaders for community activ
ities who were paid from regular funds was shown by reports from
714 cities to be 18,496, of whom 2,606 were employed on a full
time yearly basis. In addition to these workers there were 5,374 full
time workers paid from emergency funds in cities providing regular
¡Recreation (New York), June 1936, pp. 99-160.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
service, with a total of 21,033 workers paid from these funds. Volun
teer workers numbered 9,364, of whom more than half were men.
Salaries and wages, both in cities with regular recreation service and
those having emergency service only, amounted to $12,420,091.26
for the cities reporting on this point, while a total expenditure for
recreation of $21,552,621.32 from regular funds was reported. There
was an additional expenditure of $14,373,231.03 from emergency
funds in cities carrying on some regular recreation service, of which
$5,204,553.39 was paid for salaries and wages.
Cities with regular recreation service reported a total of 8,062 play
grounds for white and colored persons, of which 729 were open in
1935 for the first time. The recreation facilities provided by cities
included 1,043 recreation buildings and 3,639 indoor recreation cen
ters such as schools, churches, city halls, etc., which are not used
exclusively for recreation but in which a recreation program, under
leadership, is regularly carried on. The total yearly or seasonal
attendance of participants at recreation buildings for white and col
ored people in 193 cities was 41,095,778, while the total yearly or
seasonal attendance of participants and spectators at playgrounds in
576 cities was 231,275,169. Special recreation activities include arts
and crafts for children and adults, a large number of athletic sports,
dancing, drama, music, outing activities (including gardening, camp
ing, hiking, etc.), water sports, special winter sports, and a group of
miscellaneous activities. Training institutes for both paid and volun
teer workers are maintained in a number of cities, the total regis
tration at 290 institutions numbering 16,443.
The marked expansion in the public-recreation movement which
has taken place during the period from 1925 to 1935 is shown in the
following statement:
1925
Number of cities_____________
Employed recreation leaders___
Volunteer leaders_____________
Cities with training institutes..
Total expenditures___________
Playgrounds under leadership...
Indoor centers under leadership.
Recreation buildings__________
Baseball diamonds____________
Bathing beaches______________
Golf courses__________________
Ice-skating areas_____________
Swimming pools______________
Tennis courts_________ ______
Wading pools________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
748
17, 177
6, 799
115
$18, 816, 166
5, 121
1, 613
265
2, 831
273
153
1, 217
534
6, 110
629
19S5
2, 204
43, 976
10, 346
219
$37, 472, 410
9, 650
4, 949
1, 149
4, 197
605
336
2, 324
1, 098
9, 880
1. 292
SELF-HELP MOVEMENT
C ooperative Self-Help M ovem ent in U ta h
TAH was the first State to pass legislation setting up machinery
for the encouragement and supervision of self-help cooperatives. A State board for this purpose was created by an act approved
March 25, 1935. Although prior to that time the relief authorities
of certain other States 1 had delegated to an individual or a division
of the staff oversight over self-help groups which had benefited by
grants from relief funds, none of these supervisory agencies were
created by statutory authority.
The act which created the Utah board grew out of a recognition
of the seriousness of the relief situation in that State and the desire
to encourage a movement which, experience had demonstrated, was
of value in assisting the unemployed to become at least partially selfsupporting, to retain their industrial skills, and to maintain morale.
The relief problem has been serious in Utah. The proportion of
persons on relief there has been among the highest in the United
States, and during the last half of 1935 was more than half again as
high as among the population of the country as a whole. The State,
however, furnishes a particularly favorable field for cooperative en
deavor of any sort, for the people have a tradition of cooperative
action. In the early pioneer days, joint, even community action was
necessary for mere survival.2 Even today some communities carry
on programs for social benefit.3 Much joint action has always been
carried on in Mormon church activities.4 Thus it is not surprising
i
California, Idaho, and Michigan.
i Among the cooperative activities were the consumers’ cooperatives, which were set up in many places.
Remnants of this early movement are still found in the State, still operating under the cooperative name
but actually merely joint-stock enterprises.
s Thus, one whole community has organized for a recreational and educational program. It has thus,
by joint action, been able to supply movies at 5 cents admission, dances for the same price, lectures, con
certs, etc. Even at this price there were “profits” which were used for the purchase of their own sound
equipment and projector and the erection of a grandstand.
* In this connection the recently announced program of the Mormon Church is of interest. Data are
to be obtained as to resources in goods and surplus commodities among the church members, and possible
openings for employment are to be registered. All the resources are to be marshaled and the whole church
organization is to be directed toward the utilization of these for the unemployed church members, in the
endeavor to take all such members off public-relief rolls.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
tliat the interest in all phases of cooperative endeavor, which has
become increasingly manifest throughout the United States since the
onset of the depression, is especially evident in Utah.
The present self-help movement in the United States dates from
the summer of 1931,5 and Utah was one of the first States in which
the unemployed banded into groups for the barter and exchange of
goods and services in order to keep themselves self-supporting. The
self-help organization created in January 1932,6 had an extremely
lapid growth and by the end of the year had 16 branch units, some
of which were outside the State. It went out of existence in the
summer of 1934, but the groups which have started since that time
are reaping the benefits of its 2% years of experience and are able to
profit by both its mistakes and its virtues.
Between the time of the dissolution of the Natural Development
Association and the summer of 1935 there was very little self-help
activity in the State, though there were sporadic instances of joint
activity here and there. With the establishment of the Utah SelfHelp Cooperative Board and the action of the Federal authorities
making grant and loan funds available, the movement revived. The
board began to function in the fall of 1935 and by the end of the
year there were 25 groups (with 907 members) carrying on 35 projects.
During the whole period since the self-help act was passed, some
60 units have been started. A considerable number of these were
formed only for seasonal activities (such as farming, canning, or
logging), and disbanded or became inactive at the end of the season.
By the end of March 1936, State assistance had been granted to 40
groups, of which 21 were still active. Their membership of 650
had worked a total of 108,778 man-hours. The benefits to members
in goods, services, and cash during the course of these projects were
valued at $21,374. This was an average return (for the groups for
which both man-hours and benefit were reported) of 20 cents an
hour. Data for the individual societies active on March 31, 1936, are
given in table 1.
« For earlier articles on the self-help movement see M onthly Labor Review, issues of March-June 1933,
October 1933, February, July, and December 1934, March and December 1935, and March 1936.
(p 45°1 ) Sn aCC° Unt ° f the Natural Development Association see M onthly Labor Review, March 1933
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SELF-HELP MOVEMENT
Table 1.— Membership, Time Worked, and Value of Benefits of Utah Self-Help
Associations, as of Mar. 31, 1936
Association
Type of project
Payson Sewing Cooperative, Payson------- ----------------------Cooperative Apparel Factory, Salt Lake C ity-----------------Cache County Garden Unit, Logan-------------------------------Cache County Self-Help Cooperative, Logan-------------------National Cooperative Association, Ogden--------- --------------Payson Cooperative Cannery, Payson----------------------------Salt Lake Self-Help Cooperative, Unit No. 4, Salt Lake
City
Grass Creek Fuel Cooperative, Coalville----- ------ ------------Twin Cities 2 Cooperative, Castle Dale--------------------------Daggett County Cooperative Sawmill, Manila------ ---------Sanpete Self-Help Cooperative ,3 Spring C ity-------------------Liberty Cooperative, Salt Lake C ity --........ .............................
Sopo Manufacturing Co., Salt Lake City------------------------Pleasant Grove Building Corporation, Pleasant Grove------
Sewing_________
Women’s dresses Garden............ —
Cannery_______
___ do__________
___ do__________
........do____ _____
M anti Self-Help Cooperative, M anti................- .......................
Consumers’ Cooperative Association, Salt Lake C ity--------Interstate Cooperative, Salt Lake C ity ---------------------------Castle Dale Sewing Cooperative, Castle D ale------------------M t. Pleasant Cooperative Farm, M t. Pleasant----------------Spanish Fork Cooperative Farm, Spanish Fork---------People’s Practical Government Association, Salt Lake City-
M em
ber
ship
Coal mine_______
____do___________
Sawmill................
____do__________
Wood cutting----Soap manufacture.
Quarrying build
ing stone.
L im e k iln and
buying club.
Store— .................
Bakery......... ..........
Sewing_________
Farming________
Peach orchard___
Box factory_____
Total---------------- --------------------- ------ ------ -------------
15
20
23
23
39
17
16
19
25
25
65
36
2
20
Total Value of
man benefits
hours to mem
bers
worked
0)
(0
23,814 $6,520. 85
0)
(')
384. 75
1,710
590. 84
1 , 216
2,482
310. 00
266. 02
2,755
2,709
17,126
727
2,000
28, 971
1,718
1,540
809. 25
4, 637.39
384.09
250.00
4, 252. 25
138. 53
0)
84
2,578
494.76
98
14
14
18
69
2,000
325.30
(>)
319. 56
650. 00
490.85
550. 00
8
80
6,050
2,600
5,029
3,673
650 108, 778 21,374. 44
1 No data.
2 Castle Dale and Orangeville.
3 Composed of units in Spring City, Ephraim, Fairview, and Moroni; sawmill is at Spring City.
Since the date to which the figures in table 1 relate, a number of
new units have begun operations. Among these are the following:
Project
Hurricane Consumers’ Club, Hurricane------------------------ Buying club.
Lindon Cooperative Association, Pleasant Grove----------- Cannery.
Intermountain Producers, Murray-------------------------------- Castings -retort lids
for canneries.
Consumers’ Cooperative Dairy, Salt Lake City-------------- Dairy.
Civic Service, Inc., Salt Lake C ity____________________ House construction.
Utah Valley Cooperative, American Fork--------------------- Woodworking.
Several groups have been formed which have not yet started opera
tions. Among the projects planned by these are a sawmill, a planing
mill, a flour mill, a molasses factory, and a dehydrating plant.
Financial Aid to Self-Help Cooperatives
T he State in 1935 set aside from relief funds $40,000 to be used
in the furtherance of a self-help program. This was matched by a
Federal grant of $40,000, and in addition the sum of $49,979 from
Federal funds was turned over to the State self-help board to be used
in loans to individual societies. Under the regulations of the Federal
Division of Self-Help Cooperatives, the funds advanced by the United
States could be used only to provide equipment and capital for the
self-help units. The State appropriation, however, was authorized
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352
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
to be used for administrative and educational purposes as well as for
loans.
Of the $129,979 available to. the State board, $48,288 had been
expended in loans to individual units at the end of March 1936, and
$8,331 had been repaid in either cash or commodities. Table 2 shows
the loan status of each active group, and of ail inactive groups com
bined, on that date.
Table 2.—-Status of Loans, and Amount of Assets of Utah Self-Help Associations,
as of Mar. 31, 1936
Loans
Association
Amount
expended
Repaid 1
Payson Sewing Cooperative______________________ _ _ . . .
$163. 08
Cooperative Apparel Factory___________
___ __________ 11, 053. 34
Cache County Garden U nit_____ ____ _
_____________
36. 93
Cache County Self-Help Cooperative_______________ . . . .
219. 52
National Cooperative Association______ ____________
850. 79
Payson Cooperative Cannery___ __ ____________________
267.49
Salt Lake Self-Help Cooperative, Unit No. 4________ . .
413. 85
Grass Creek Fuel Cooperative______ ____ _ . . . _______
4,916. 59
Twin Cities Cooperative___
_______ _ .
_ . . . ____
2,169.82
Daggett County Cooperative Sawmill_____ _ . _______
896. 00
Sanpete Self-Help Cooperative________________ . . . ____
7, 571.84
Liberty Cooperative ______________________ _ ________
1, 695.47
Sopo Manufacturing Co_______________ . . . _________
474.46
Pleasant Grove Building Corporation. ____ _ ______ _
2,450.46
M anti Self-Help Cooperative___
_________ . . . ______
143. 28
Consumers’ Cooperative Association____ _____ _ __ . . .
2,479. 29
Interstate Cooperative________ ____ __________ ________
168. 98
Castle Dale Sewing Cooperative_______ . _____. . .
637. 84
M t. Pleasant Cooperative Farm _______________________ .
542. 20
Spanish Fork Cooperative Farm_______ _____ . . . . _ ____
1, 652.00
People’s Practical Government Association_______ ____
408.16
$19. 75
1, 256. 88
36. 93
155. 62
Total:
Active groups (21)_____________ _ _______ ____
Inactive groups (19).. . . . _ ______ _ . . . . . .
1 In cash or commodities.
39, 211. 39
9,076. 97
Still owing
Mar. 31,
1936
Assets
$143.3o
9, 796.46
(2)
$9,451.05
(2)
681.17
25. 97
443. 29
133.49
719.96
34.40
63. 90
850. 79
267.49
261. 35
4, 913. 59
1,167.91
896. 00
7, 571.84
1, 630.14
381. 52
2,450. 46
143.28
1,798.12
143. 01
194.55
408. 71
932.04
373. 76
4,823.14
3, 507.48
34, 388. 25
5,569. 49
152. 50
3. 00
1,001.91
65.33
92.94
220.00
1, 273.92
32. 20
800. 00
6, 000.00
1,691.17
975.00
8, 000. 00
761. 52
601.10
2,843.29
350. 00
2,962. 86
300. 00
311.86
550. 00
126. 35
350.00
37, 600. 32
950.40
2 No data.
Membership and Policies of State Board
T h e Utah Self-Help Cooperative Board, created under the terms of
the 1935 act, consists of the director of the Utah State Planning Board,
one representative each of the University of Utah and the Utah
Agricultural College, an industrial engineer selected by the State
engineer, and three representatives chosen by the self-help groups
themselves. Their terms of office are determined by the organiza
tions which they represent. All serve without pay other than actual
expenses incurred in course of their duties, that cost being met from
State relief funds.
The board has power to employ (and remove) a paid director who
must be “especially qualified by training and experience,” to direct
the work of the board; also such other employees as are necessary.
The functions of the board are to “approve plans of organization,
operation, production, distribution, and financing” of self-help groups,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SELF-HELP MOVEMENT
353
and to encourage such groups in their endeavor to make the members
self-sustaining. “Every State, county, town, and municipal officer,
department, committee, and institution” in the State is authorized
to cooperate with the board in its work.
Announcement was made, shortly after the formation of the board,
that its policy would be to encourage three types of organizations:
(1) Production-for-use cooperatives, (2) consumers’ cooperatives, and
(3) producer-consumer cooperatives. The first group, it was ex
plained, would consist primarily of production groups using barter
as a means of exchange, and the second would include cooperative
store organizations established on recognized Kochdale principles.7
The third group would consist of stores controlled mainly by the
consumers, with the production group operating as a department of
the whole and furnishing its output to the store as an outlet.8
In addition to the financial assistance rendered, the board assists
the units in various ways. Specialists on its staff render advisory
service on management, production methods, financial arrangements,
and educational matters. The work of the educational director is
supplemented by several adult-education workers, paid from relief
funds. Meetings are held, study groups encouraged, and educational
literature is supplied, to enable the groups to get started and to
function on genuinely cooperative lines.
It will be noted from table 1 that each unit has a single project
only. It has been the board’s policy to encourage a single line of
work, but, as the group demonstrates its ability in this direction, to
extend additional aid for other activities, giving the new work a new
project title. In several cases a group carrying on farming or garden
ing was also given aid in establishing a cannery in which the farm
products could be put up for future use. Thus far, in the program
of the board, the projects have been expected to furnish only supple
mental income for the members. As enterprises are developed which
show a reasonable prospect of permanency, it is hoped to extend the
self-help activities to the point of full self-support for the members
engaged.
During the period in which outright grants were made to self-help
units, restrictive regulations prohibited the sale of group products
for cash or in any way in which such products would compete with
private industry. As noted, the use of Federal funds was limited to
purchase of equipment and materials. An inflow of cash was neces
sary for replacement of materials used in production of goods, but
the very terms of the grant made impossible the continuance of oper7 With the single exception of one loan to a consumers’ cooperative society, all of the funds advanced up to
the end of March 1936 had gone to production groups.
8 It may be noted, in passing, that the self-help movement in general shows a definite trend toward this
third type of organization.
82425— 36------ 6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
354
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
ations for any length of time on this basis unless additional grants
were available from time to time. With the termination of Federal
grants, the basis of Federal and State aid was changed. Self-help
groups obtaining financial assistance now receive it as a loan. In
Utah the State board requires that any group receiving a loan must
waive Federal and State exemptions and pay the same property,
sales, and other taxes as those required of private businesses; also
interest at the rate of 3 percent on the loan. The former restric
tions on sales of self-help products are, however, removed and the
units are free to sell their products however and wherever they can.
In order to safeguard the funds loaned, and profiting by past expe
rience, the Board insists that each unit receiving assistance must oper
ate on a business basis. All current charges must be taken care of
before any distribution of goods or cash can be made among the
members. Provision must also be made for repayment of its loan,
for industrial insurance, and for operating reserve, at specified per
centages of unit-hours worked. When an association operates on
this basis, there can of course be no question of its right to sell its
produce on the open market.
Utah Cooperative Wholesale
I n October 1935 a warehouse was opened in Salt Lake City, under
the name of Utah Cooperative Wholesale. This organization was
started by the State board, and is intended to serve two purposes:
(1) To assist the various units to dispose of their surplus products,
and (2) to act as a supply agency for their consumers’ needs.
The societies’ orders for goods are filled, first from products of
other units or groups assisted, then from cooperative groups in other
sections of the country. If not available from these sources, the goods
are then purchased on the open market.
Steps are being taken to reorganize the wholesale on a genuinely
cooperative basis, with the local groups owning and controlling its
operations and policies. It is expected that the “capital” advanced
by the affiliates will be in the form of goods.
To supplement the members’ limited funds, the warehouse has
adopted a system of “warehouse receipts”, issued in denominations of
5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, $1, and $5. These, it is empha
sized, are receipts for “desirable, salable merchandise” actually
delivered to the warehouse. Each receiver of a receipt is required to
date and endorse it; no provision is made for stamps or depreciation.
The receipt becomes void after a specified period, but provision is
made for the holders to turn in their unused receipts before the void
date and receive newly issued receipts or book credit to be drawn out
as desired. Danger of counterfeiting is minimized by the fact that
each receipt, to be valid, must bear on its face the signature of the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
355
SELF-HELP MOVEMENT
manager of the warehouse or his agent. New issues based on the
inventory of goods at the warehouse, are made every 3 months and
as they are issued the numbers are registered, so that when the cash
is checked each day it is possible to tell the exact amount of receipts
in circulation.
The following table shows the amount of warehouse receipts issued
during the 4 months, December 1935 to March 1936, the amount can
celed (as of Mar. 31, 1936), the amount outstanding, and the amount
of business done through the medium of the receipts, as shown by
endorsements:
Table 3.-—Turn-Over of Utah State Warehouse Receipts and Amount of Business
Done, as of Mar. 31, 1936
Issue of—
Amount
issued
Amount of
Amount
business done
Amount
outstanding,
through
canceled,
Mar. 31,1936 Mar. 31,1936 medium of
receipts
December 1935_____________________________
January 1936____________ _________________
February 1936_____________________________
March 1936.
$566.75
202.65
128.00
262.80
$542.60
200.65
121.05
191.45
$24.15
71.35
$4, 582.40
1,820.30
1,130. 75
1,161. 65
Total___________ _______________ ____
1,160.20
1,055. 75
104.45
8, 695.10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2.00
6.95
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
A ccident E xperience of Federal C ivilian Employees,
1933 to 1935
HE trend of accidents to Federal civilian employees continued its
upward direction during the years 1933,1934, and 1935. Accord
ing to computations by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the respective
accident frequencies for these 3 years were 20.65, 24.94, and 21.58,
as compared with 21.31 in 1932.1
Table 1 shows the basic data and the frequency rates for the various
departments for 1933, 1934, and 1935. Data for earlier years—i. e.,
1921 to 1932—appeared in the Monthly Labor Review of March 1934.
As in these earlier years, the number of injuries given in each instance
includes not only those resulting in lost time but also those requiring
medical attention beyond first aid. According to an earlier estimate,
the inclusion of “medical only” cases increases the total number of
reported injuries by about 30 percent over the number of lost-time
cases. It has been impossible in all but a few departments to elimi
nate “medical only” cases in the computations.
T
Table 1.— Number of Injuries and Injury Frequency Rates in the Federal Civilian
Service, 1933 to 1935,1 by Department and Year
Department and year
Number of injuries
Man
Average hours
number worked
of em
(thou
ployees sands)
Non- Total
Fatal fatal
2
Frequency rates (per
1 ,000,000 hours’
exposure)
Fatal
inju
ries
Department of Agriculture:
29 3,391 3,420
0.39
73,945
1933 _____________________________ 36, 044
.50
53 7, 266 7,319
1934 .
__
. . . . ____ 51,376 105,847
47 4,813 4, 860
.37
1935_______________________________ 61,775 127,313
Department of Commerce:
568
.45
586
18
39,720
1933 ___
____ __ ______________ 17, 895
684
24
660
.57
41,910
1934 ______________________________ 18, 667
774
.56
797
41,198
23
1935_______________________________ 18,781
Government Printing Office:
0
38
4, 561
0
38
9,413
1933_______________________________
38
0
8,984
0
38
1934. . . . _________________________ 4,961
54
0
54
11, 525
5,346
0
1935________________ _____ ______ _
Department of the Interior:
.28
46,471
13 1,418 1,431
1933_______________________________ 22,379
24 2,748 2,772
.31
77, 582
1934.__________ ____________________ 38,364
.33
84, 630
28 2,802 2,830
1935________________________ ______ 41,326
1 See M onthly Labor Review for March 1934, for data covering years 1921 to 1932.
2 Includes medical cases other than first-aid treatment.
Nonfatal
inju
ries 2
Total
45. 86
68. 65
37.80
46. 25
69.15
38.17
14.30
15. 75
18. 79
14. 75
16.32
19.35
4.04
4.23
4. 69
4.04
4.23
4. 09
30.51
35.42
33.11
30. 79
35.73
33. 44
1
Compiled from accidents reported to the U . S. Employees’ Compensation Commission, and from
data of man-hours worked obtained from the individual Federal departments. Where man-hour data
were not available they were estimated from average employment and average hours of work, eliminating
annual and sick leave. The Civilian Conservation Corps and all but the administrative personnel of the
various emergency administrations have been excluded.
356
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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Table 1.— Number of Injuries and Injury Frequency Rates in the Federal
Civilian Service, 1933 to 1935, by Department and Year— Continued
Man
Average hours
number worked
of em (thou
ployees sands)
Department and year
Department of Labor:
1933______ ________________________
1934____ _____ ____________________
1935_______________________________
Department of the Navy:
1933____ ____ _____________________
1934.— _______ ____________________
1935_______________________________
Post Office Department:
1933____ __________________________
1934______ ________________________
1935__________________ ______ ______
Department of State : 3
1933____ __________________________
1934.._____________________________
1935_______________________________
Department of the Treasury:
1933_______________________________
1934____ _____ ____________________
1935___________________ ____ _______
Department of War:
1933____ _______________ ____ ______
1934____ __________________________
1935_________________ _____________
District of Columbia Government:
1933_____ ____ _______ — ____ ______
1934_______________________________
1935................................................ ..............
Other Government services:
1933...............................................................
1934_____ ______ ___________________
1935_______________________________
Number of injuries
Frequency rates (per
1 ,000,000 hours’
exposure)
Fatal Nonfatal
Fatal
inju
ries
Nonfatal
inju
ries
Total
Total
5,146
6,699
10,982
10,415
13,986
21, 283
3
3
117
123
128
126
130
0. 29
. 22
.09
11.23
8.79
6. 02
11. 52
9. 01
2
47,625
55,099
60,409
90, 879
108,007
118,018
22
961
30
27
1,12 0
983
1,150
973
1,000
. 24
.28
.23
10. 58
10. 37
8.24
10.82
10. 65
8. 47
270, 535
264,944
260, 324
554, 254
541, 451
533,310
36 7,789 7,825
40 9,161 9, 201
36 10,070 10,106
.07
.07
.07
14.05
16.92
18. 88
14.12
16. 99
18.95
4,630
4, 650
4, 803
9,036
9, 508
9,950
0
0
0
49,430
50,102
58, 827
85,937
89, 858
105,342
55,985
72,265
75,484
114,870
138, 209
161,988
66
66
14,989
13, 683
14, 284
72,967
103, 704
145,824
120
16
16
0
0
0
201
201
209
209
12
1,10 2
13
23
1,147
1,512
1,114
1,160
1,535
.2 2
69
6,783
7, 862
7,333
6,849
7,928
7,402
.57
.48
.42
29, 511
27,156
28, 207
0
2
1
940
794
803
940
796
804
145,368
206,017
293, 225
31
32
51
1,632
2, 719
3,361
1,663
2,751
3,412
.14
.15
0
.07
.03
.2 1
.15
.18
6 .11
1.77
21.14
1.77
21.14
21.0 1
21.0 1
12 . 82
12.76
14.35
12.96
12.91
14. 57
59. 05
56. 88
45. 27
59. 62
57. 36
45. 69
31.85
29.24
28. 47
31.85
29.31
28. 50
11.23
13. 20
11.46
11. 44
13.35
11. 64
3 Included in “ Other Government services” for years 1921 to 1932.
Tlie data given in table 2 show accident frequencies for civilian
employees in the various Federal departments from 1921 to 1935
inclusive.
Table 2.— Number of Injuries and Injury Frequency Rates in Federal Civilian
Service, 1921 to 1935, All Departments, by Years
Year
1921
__________
1922—
________________
1923 .
______________
1924 __
________
1925_________________________
1926_________________________
1927. . ______________________
1928- .
- _________________
1929 ______________
1930 - ____________________
1931_______ __________________
1932 —
- _____ _______
1933_________________________
1934_________________________
1935....................................................
Number of injuries
Average Man-hours
worked
of em
ployees (thousands) Fatal Nonfa ta l 1 Total
567, 757
542, 562
543,404
555, 265
565,323
568,990
574,751
587,017
601,150
598,644
611, 729
583,427
602,186
684, 524
758,165
1,214, 844
1,166,325
1,179,199
1,195,396
1, 230,075
1, 237,994
1,232, 200
1, 256,817
1, 286,279
1,281,153
1,257, 926
1,189,176
1,209,818
1,368,514
1,535, 987
1 Includes medical cases other than first-aid treatments.
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344
349
265
268
305
263
358
307
334
292
262
231
230
287
307
18, 046
17,910
17, 727
20,270
20,386
19, 264
20,189
21,882
25, 356
25, 777
28,176
25,117
24,755
33,839
32,832
18, 390
18, 259
17,992
20, 538
20,691
19, 527
20, 547
22,189
25,690
26,069
28,438
25, 348
24, 985
34,126
33,139
Frequency rates (per
1 ,000,000 hours’ ex
posure)
NonFatal
in Total
injuries fatal
juries 1
0.28
.30
.2 2
.2 2
.25
.2 1
.29
.24
.26
.23
.2 1
.19
.19
.2 1
.20
14.85
15.36
15.03
16.96
16. 57
15.56
16.38
17.41
19.71
20 .12
22.40
2 1 .1 2
20.46
24.73
21.38
15.13
15. 66
15.25
17.18
16.82
15.77
16.67
17.65
19.97
20.35
22 . 61
21.31
20.65
24.94
21.58
358
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
The data plotted on the accompanying chart are the frequency
rates of fatal and nonfatal injuries shown in table 2. Trend lines,
calculated by the method of least squares, have been superimposed
on the actual data to throw into sharper relief the trend since 1921.
Both the downward direction of fatal and the upward direction of
nonfatal injuries over the 15-year period are clearly apparent. The
latter trend provides strong and compelling evidence of the need
within Federal agencies for adequate and sustained safety work lead
ing toward accident prevention.
Table 3 gives the frequency rates of injuries involving lost time or
requiring more than first aid, for various Federal departments, for
each year beginning with 1921. The Department of Agriculture
started with a frequency rate of 16.03 in 1921, and reached a high of
71.91 in 1931. By 1933, the rate had dropped to 46.25, only to rise
to 69.15 in 1934. During 1935, however, the rate was nearly cut in
half, dropping to 38.17. The Department of Commerce shows, a
fairly constant upward trend, reaching a high point of 19.35 in 1935.
The Department of the Interior reached a frequency rate of 38.04 in
1931, but since then has experienced a reduction each year to 33.44
in 1935. The Department of Labor, on the other hand, starting with
a frequency rate of 15.93 in 1921, has enjoyed a fairly steady decrease
to an all-time low (since 1921) of 6.11 in 1935. Similarly, the De
partment of the Navy shows an all-time low rate of 8.47 in 1935.
The Post Office Department, on the other hand, had an all-time high
of 18.95 in 1935. The Department of State, which until 1933 had a
lower frequency rate than any other department listed, suddenly
reached frequency rates of 21.14 and 21.01 in 1934 and 1935 respec
tively, the large increases in accidents occurring primarily in the
International Boundary Commission, which experienced large in
creases in employment during these years. The Department of the
Treasury and the District of Columbia Government also show in
creasing trends, the former reaching, in 1935, an all-time high of
14.57. The 1934 and 1935 rates of 29.31 and 28.50 for the District
of Columbia Government are not much below the high mark of
34.33 in 1932, but do show a tendency to decline. The Department
of War reached the very high rate of 72.63 in 1932. Alarmed by this
unusual experience, the Department in 1933 initiated a safety program
under the supervision of a safety department in the United States
Engineer Department, which had jurisdiction of more than half of
the total employees in the Department of War. As a result of these
activities, the frequency rates dropped successively to 59.62 in 1933,
57.36 in 1934, and 45.69 in 1935.
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359
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
FREQ UENCY
IN J U R IE S
RATES
OF
FOR
FEDERAL
FATAL
AND
C IV IL IA N
N O N -F A T A L
EM PLOYEES*
FATAL INJURIES
frequency
Rate
F requency^ R a te
U.JO
0.30
0.30
'__
0.35
7^
0.35
7
\
0.30
0.30
035
0./S
w 1931 1933 1933 1934 /93S1936 1937 ¡938 1939 1934 ¡93/ /933 /933 1934 /933 v
NON-FATAL INJURIES
F requency Rate
F requency^ R a t e
35
35
^ «7
39
30
/5
¡5
--
¡0
/O
n
" ¡93/ ¡933 ¡933 ¡934 ¡935 ¡936 ¡937 ¡933 ¡939 ¡930 ¡93/ ¡933 ¡933 1934 ¡935 '
* E x c l u d i n g C i v i l C o n s e r v a t i o n Co r p s a n d F i e l d P r o j e c t E m p l o y e e s
E x c e p t A d m in is t r a t iv e
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P e r s o n n e l , o f E m e r g e n c y A g e n c ie s
U. S . B
u rea u
o f
L
a b o r
S
t a t is t ic s
360
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 3.-—Injury Frequency Rates in Federal Civilian Service, 1921 to 1935, by
Department and Year 1
1921
1922
1923
All Government services_______ _______ _ 15.13
15. 66
15. 25
17.18
16. 82
15. 77
16.67
17. 65
Department of Aericulture____ ___ ______
Department of Commerce. _ _______ ____
Government Printing Office_________ ___
Department of the Interior. . _ .
__
Department of L a b o r ._______ _
__ __
Department of the N a v y ___________ ____
Post Office Department
_____ . .
Department of State____________ _______
Department of the Treasury________ _____
Department of War. ____ _ __ ________
District of Columbia Government . . . __
Other Government services_____ ___
21.77
11.94
7.07
28.46
14.46
17. 66
9.87
(2)
11.58
59. 02
10.34
8. 22
22. 77
14.10
4.91
39. 28
15. 57
17. 54
9.95
. 23
9.32
53. 70
11.41
9.46
29. 73
12.95
4. 87
48.75
15.35
21.57
11. 07
. 43
10.13
56.72
15. 38
11.03
30. 29
11. 50
3.14
27.35
16. 45
19.14
37. 63
14. 25
4.45
16. 09
12.17
20. 46
1 1 . 60
1.19
8. 99
53.38
17.48
7. 64
38. 50
13. 48
4. 67
21. 67
40. 67
12.51
3.94
24. 99
12.41
20. 29
13. 42
1 80
10. 87
52.85
23.72
8.16
Department
Department
16.03
9. 89
9.46
23.49
15. 93
23.70
8. 40
(2)
9. 06
56.17
9.16
6. 30
1929
1930
1924
1925
1 1 .1 0
. 86
10. 52
73. 03
18. 49
10.44
1931
1932
1926
1933
1927
10.02
19.44
13. 01
. 75
10.19
55. 23
19. 62
7. 37
1934
1928
1935
All Government services ___ ___ ___ ___ _
19.97
20.35
22 . 61
21.31
20. 65
24. 94
21.58
Dfvpn.rtment, of Agriculture._ _
Department of C om m erce......................... __
Government Printing Office_____ ____ ___
Department of the Interior.. . _ _ _ _ __
Department of Labor____
__ ____
Department of the N a v y .. ___________ ___
Post Office Department_______ _ . . . .
Department of State____________ _ __ __
Department of the Treasury_________ _
Department of War ____ _ __ _
District of Columbia Government____
__
Other Government services______ . _.
65.42
13.99
4. 62
28. 54
13.35
20. 86
13. 87
2. 73
50. 83
71. 91
15.77
3.34
38.04
11.45
17.33
14. 69
. 78
12 . 06
71.96
29.38
14.16
61 41
14. 01
3. 67
36.74
12 41
12. 40
13. 40
1 . 22
11. 43
72. 63
34.33
14.61
46 25
14. 75
4. 04
30. 79
11.52
10 . 82
14.12
1. 77
12. 96
59 62
31. 85
11.44
69 15
16 32
4. 23
35.73
9 01
10. 65
16. 99
21.14
12.91
57.36
29 31
13.35
38.17
19.35
4. 69
33. 44
12 .10
62.13
28. 08
7. 71
1 1 .1 2
4.96
32.07
11. 23
18. 59
14. 24
1.90
11. 04
66. 62
28. 60
13.63
6 11
8 47
18. 95
21 01
14.57
45. 69
28 50
11.64
1 Includes medical cases other than first-aid treatments.
2 N ot available.
Effectiveness of Safety Work
T h r e e good illustrations of the effectiveness of safety work are
shown in table 4. The data cover the civilian employees in the
Government Printing Office, the shore establishments of the Depart
ment of the Navy, and the United States Engineer Department of the
Department of War. In each case safety activities have been carried
on during the years indicated, in case of the shore establishments
going back as far as 1921, and in the Government Printing Office to
a still earlier date.
As distinguished from the earlier tables, the frequency rates given
here exclude “medical only” cases. In the case of the shore establisfments of the Department of the Navy the day of the injury is
counted as the first day of disability.
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361
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Table 4.—Injury Frequency and Severity Rates in Specified Government
Agencies
Federal department
Year
Average
number
of em
ployees
Government Printing Office__________
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
4,122
4,298
4, 624
4,969
4,897
4,561
4,961
5, 346
Shore establishments of N avy Depart
m ent------- --------- --------------------------
M an
hours
worked
(thou
sands)
Number
of lost
time
injuries
8, 890
9,097
9, 667
10,489
10,062
9,413
8, 984
11, 525
Fre Sever
quen ity
cy
rate
rate
Days
lo s t 1
33
23
28
29
33
1,407
1,396
13,355
1,437
8, 595
2, 737
1,630
1,255
3.49
3.74
3. 93
3.15
2.29
2.97
3. 23
2.86
0.16
. 15
1. 38
. 14
. 85
. 29
. 18
. 11
20. 32
20. 59
19. 26
19. 47
16.45
15.01
10.50
7. 36
8.32
5.17
2. 09
1.49
1.09
1 . 28
1 . 31
1. 29
1.40
. 89
1.13
. 62
42. 91
26.24
17.84
5.19
3. 92
3.15
31
34
2 38
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
30, 500
30, 300
32,188
42, 664
41,263
40, 762
40,227
40, 220
47,767
52,438
65, 606
64, 939
68, 434
85,047
87, 907
84,990
78,065
78,134
88, 477
96,216
1,333
1,337
1,318
1,656
1,446
1,276
820
575
736
497
137,276
96, 586
74, 874
109,117
115,418
109, 615
109,481
69, 629
100,008
59,969
United States Engineer Department of
War Department________________ - 3 1933
1934
1935
40, 220
47, 767
52,438
29, 664
69,039
79, 229
1,273
1,812
1,413
153,942
270,960
249,477
1 Includes standard estimates for permanent injuries. Includes also, for the Department of the N a v j,
the day on which the injury occurred.
2 Includes 1 fatality and 1 permanent total disability totaling 12,000 days lost.
2 July 1 to December 1931.
The Government Printing Office has had a low frequency rate for
years, largely because of careful safety work carried on with the
assistance of an efficiently organized hospital department under the
direction of a medical and sanitary officer. All new employees are
subjected to complete physical examinations, which are important
factors in assigning them to suitable tasks. The frequency and
severity rates of the Government Printing Office compare very
favorably with the establishments reporting to the National Safety
Council—presumably firms carrying on safety work and therefore
among the better regulated of private establishments. The com
parative data for lost-time accidents for 1934 and 1935 follow:
Printing and publishing establishments reporting to—
National Safety Council:
Frequency rate__________________________
Severity rate-----------------------------------------Government Printing Office:
Frequency rate_________________________
Severity rate------------------------------------------
1934
1935
6. 38
. 89
7. 25
• . 46
3. 23
. 18
2. 86
. 11
The example of the Department of the Navy has already been cited.
In 1921 an office of safety engineering was established there, with a
Department safety engineer in charge and a local safety engineer in
each of 37 navy yards and stations. A program which at first centered
on the elimination of dangerous conditions and the introduction of
safety devices was subsequently enlarged to include an educational
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362
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
program, and later competitive safety awards. The result of these
efforts, as is apparent from table 4, has been a reduction of the
frequency rate from 20.32 in 1926 to 5.17 in 1935, and a reduction
in the severity rate from 2.09 in 1926 to 0.62 in 1935. In other
words, for every 4 accidents per million man-hours worked in 1926,
only 1 accident occurred in 1935, and for every 2 days lost per 1,000
man-hours in 1926, only 0.6 of a day was lost in 1935. Roughly,
then, both the frequency and severity rates of 1926 have been reduced
three-fourths over a period of 10 years.
The safety work of the United States Engineer Department of the
Department of War has reduced the frequency rate from 42.91 in
1933 to 17.84 in 1935, and the severity rate from 5.19 to 3.15. Stated
more simply, accidental injuries resulting in lost time have been
reduced 58 percent, and time lost 39 percent. This in the short
period of 3 years and in spite of an increase in employees from 1933
to 1935 of about 30 percent.
It is difficult to find more clear-cut examples of the effectiveness
of accident prevention.
A ccident R ecord o f M ineral In d u stries in th e U n ited
States in 1934
RELIMINARY figures on employment and accidents in the
various mineral industries 1 in the United States in 1934 2 show
injury rates for all mineral industries of 1.32 fatal and 75.49 nonfatal
injuries per million man-hours. This is an increase over the 1933
record for the same industries, which showed 1.26 fatal and 73.48 non
fatal injuries, but a decrease from 1932 which showed a fatal-injury
rate of 1.52 and a nonfatal-injury rate of 76.33.
Comparative figures show the highest accident rates for 1934 were
chargeable to coal mines—1.59 fatal and 88.39 nonfatal injuries per
million man-hours. In metal mines the rates were 1.07 for fatal and
70.37 for nonfatal injuries, in quarries and stone-products plants 0.63
for fatal and 41.19 for nonfatal injuries, in nonmetallic mineral mines
0.53 for fatal and 51.82 for nonfatal injuries, in metallurgical plants
0.22 for fatal and 22.77 for nonfatal injuries, and in coke ovens 0.33
for fatal and 12.03 for nonfatal injuries.
The following table shows the number of workers employed, man
hours worked, the number of killed and injured, and fatal and non
fatal injury rates in the various mineral industries in the United
States in 1934.
P
1 Exclusive of oil and gas wells and refineries, sand and gravel pits, and iron blast furnaces.
2 U. S. Bureau of Mines. Mineral Resources and Economics Division. Accident and Employment
Record of Mineral Industries in the United States, 1934, Classified by Industry. Washington, 1936.
Mimeographed. (No. H. S. S. 234.)
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363
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Accident and Employment Record of Mineral Industries in the United States,
1934, by Industries
Men employed
Class of industry
Aver
age
num
ber
Coal mines--------------- ------------------------ 566,426
M etal mines------------ ------ ------------------- 58, 411
Quarries and stone-products plants------- 64,331
8, 234
Nonmetallic mineral mines— ------------Metallurgical plants---------------- ----------- 26,932
15,483
Coke ovens__________________________
T otal__________________________
739,817
Man-hours
worked
769,430,678
100,959,339
95,258,880
15,187,061
57,965,921
42,892,837
1, 081,694, 716
Men injured
Men killed
N um
ber
Rate per
1 ,000,000
hours’
exposure
1,226
108
60
N um
ber
8
1.59
1.07
.63
.53
13
14
.2 2
.33
68,008
7,105
3,924
787
1,320
516
1,429
1.32
81, 660
Rate per
1 ,000,000
hours’
exposure
88.39
75.49
70.37
41.19
51.82
22.77
12.03
Detailed preliminary figures on employment and accidents in
metallurgical plants in the United States in 1934 3show that accidents
resulted in 13 fatal and 1,320 nonfatal injuries involving disability
of 1 day or more, the accident-frequency rate being 23.0 per million
man-hours, as against 23.65 in 1933.
Data on the different kinds of metallurgical plants show that mills
experienced an increase in the accident-frequency rate to 32.5 in
1934, as compared with 28.45 in 1933. The rate in auxiliary works
increased to 17.64 in 1934 as against 17.55 in 1933. The rate for
smelters, however, decreased to 21.34 in 1934, as compared with
25.19 in 1933.
In metallurgical mills the principal causes of injury were falls of
persons, machinery, and handling materials, in the order named.
In smelters the chief causes were burns from matte, slag, or molten
metal (pouring or spilling), flying or falling objects, and falls of
persons. In auxiliary works the chief causes were handling materials,
falling objects, and falls of persons.
A ccident Statistics of N atio n al S afety C ouncil for 1935
URING 1935, accidental deaths took a toll of about 100,000 lives,
or about twice the total of American soldiers who met death in
the World War, according to estimates in the 1936 edition of Accident
Facts of the National Safety Council. In addition, about 9,340,000
other persons were injured, at an economic cost estimated at $3,450,000,000. The number of those permanently disabled alone exceeded
the total population of Rochester, N. Y.
The report points out that deaths from accidents (according to
data credited to the United States Bureau of the Census, 1934) for the
D
3
U. S. Bureau of Mines. Mineral Resources and Economics Division. Employment and Accidents a
Metallurgical Plants in the United States in 1934. Washington, 1936. Mimeographed. (No. H. S. S.
233.)
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364
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
population as a whole are surpassed in number by only two diseases—
heart disease and cancer. The death rates per 100,000 population for
heart disease, cancer, and accidents are given as 239.9, 106.2, and 79.9,
respectively. Of the 100,000 fatalities in 1935, 37,000 are charged to
accidents involving motor vehicles, 31,500 to home accidents, 18,000 to
public accidents 1 (not motor vehicle), and 16,500 to occupational
accidents, of which about 3,000 involved motor vehicles.
Occupational Accidents
Over one-quarter of the 16,500 fatal accidents in gainful employ
ments are charged to agricultural pursuits, as compared with 2,500 in
construction and 1,900 in all manufacturing. In spite of this large
proportion of deaths in agriculture, agricultural pursuits are generally
specifically exempted from coverage by workmen’s compensation laws.
Table 1 shows the relative accident experience of 30 industries,
gathered from reports by 3,796 units with a total exposure of 4,564,922,000 man-hours. The industries are ranked according to their
accident frequencies. The range, it will be noted, is from 1.89 accidents
per million man-hours of exposure for the tobacco industry to 62.69
such accidents for the lumber industry. Only 7 of the 30 listed indus
tries have frequency rates exceeding 20, and of these the sharply
increasing differentials in frequency rates between the mining and
lumbering industries and the others listed are evidence of the great
accident hazards apparently prevailing in these two industries. The
National Safety Council report, however, calls attention to the fact
that the industry representation in the sample varies widely, the pro
portion of employee coverage being large in such industries as cement,
petroleum, rubber, and steel, and relatively small in such industries
as tobacco and laundry. It is likely, therefore, that a more adequate
sample in some industries might result in a different realignment of
the accident frequencies of the 30 industries.
1 Includes accidents involving railroads, streetcars, water transportation, air transportation, conflagra
tions, drownings, etc.
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365
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
T a b le 1 .— A c c id e n ta l In ju r y F r e q u e n c y a n d S e v e r it y R a t e s , b y I n d u s tr y , for
1 9 3 5 , C o m p ile d b y th e N a t io n a l S a fe ty C o u n cil
In d u str y
R ank
A l l i n d u s t r i e s 2_____________________________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
T o h a,o,e,o
__________ ____ __________
_____
___________ _ _ _ _ _ -----------L au ndry
np.mp.nt,
__ __________________________ _____ __ _____________________________
R ubber
P r i n t i n g a n d p u b l i s h i n g ___________ __________________ ___________
- - — -----------T e x t ile
S te el
_______ ____ ______________
_____
M a c h in e r y
_
_________
-- - -- - -- G la s s
____________ ____________________________
O h e m ie a l
_________ ________________
______
P u b lic u t ilit ie s
_ ___________ ________
Q u arry
__________ _ ----------- -----------M a r in e
_ _______________________________________
N o n fe r r o u s m e t a l s
_______ _____________________
T a n n in g a n d le a t h e r
_____ ____ ____ ______________
P e tr o le u m
_ ____________ _ _ ------------------ —
M is c e lla n e o u s p r o d u c ts
__ _______________________
S h e e t, m e t a l
_ ______________ ____ _______
Food
____
_________ - ------------------------P a p e r an d p u lp
___________ __________________ _______
E le c tr ic r a ilw a y
____________ _______- W o o d w o r k in g
_____ _____________ ____
- A u t o m o b i le
_____ ___________ ____ - —
---- --- ------------------------ --------------------O la y p r o d u c t s
_
F oundry
__________ ______ __ _ — -------R e f r ig e r a t io n
_ _______________ _____ _____
C o n s t r u c t io n
--------------------------- ------------ M e a t p a c k in g
__
______ __
___— M in in g
_ ___________________ ____ __ —
L u m b e r in g
_ ____________ _
----------- ------------
N um ber
of u n its
M a n -h o u r s
w orked
(th o u
san d s)
3, 796
4, 5 6 4 ,9 2 2
14. 02
1 .5 8
25
44
119
43
38
125
106
241
43
282
558
119
55
61
70
133
158
179
411
234
45
96
56
37
120
62
73
70
134
33
2 3 ,8 0 4
1 2 ,3 7 4
3 1 ,0 4 2
1 1 8 ,0 3 8
2 1 ,9 1 6
1 4 7 ,8 6 3
4 2 2 ,3 2 7
4 0 5 ,9 9 1
5 1 ,0 2 3
2 4 0 ,3 9 6
5 4 1 ,4 1 5
12, 332
1 2 1 ,9 3 6
1 0 3 ,4 1 3
5 2 ,1 0 8
643, 524
1 2 5 ,7 9 9
129, 414
2 6 3 ,0 7 9
1 6 2 ,3 1 0
1 2 0 ,3 5 9
29, 002
2 6 6 ,6 0 6
1 5 ,7 5 0
6 8 ,4 7 5
1 8 ,8 6 6
1 3 5 ,8 7 2
147, 276
5 4 ,9 7 8
23, 272
1 .8 9
5 .6 6
6 .7 3
7. 21
7. 25
8. 38
8 .8 6
9 .3 5
9. 35
9. 53
10. 20
10. 22
1 0 .2 3
1 0 .7 2
1 3 .3 8
1 4 .0 4
14. 06
1 4 .9 7
1 5 .5 2
1 7 .1 2
1 7 .4 6
1 8 .1 7
19. 68
2 0 .1 9
2 5 .3 7
25. 71
28. 24
29. 22
4 9 .4 6
62. 69
.1 0
.0 8
2 .7 8
.5 3
.4 6
.6 7
2 .0 4
.7 9
.7 9
1 .0 3
1 .9 1
1. 72
1 .8 9
1 .6 3
.5 2
1 .6 1
1 .0 3
1. 07
1 .0 8
1 .9 4
1 .6 0
.9 6
1 .1 1
1 .5 3
1 .4 0
2 .9 1
4. 52
1 .5 1
1 0 .1 4
3 .8 3
F re
quency
r a te s 1
S e v e r it y
r a te s 1
i The frequency rate is the number of lost-time accidents per million man-hours of exposure, and the sever
ity rate is the number of days lost as the result of such injuries per thousand man-hours of exposure, including
the standard charges for permanent disabilities and death. The industries are arranged by rank of freL U JilC y lU-bO.
.
2 Includes miscellaneous industries and has been corrected for certain duplications.
As is often the case, frequency rates and severity rates in a con*
siderable number of industries did not go band in band when ranked
according to degree. For instance, the cement industry, which had
a low accident frequency (6.73), had a high severity rate (2.78); it
was third in rank in frequency but twenty-sixth in rank in severity,
indicating that while accidents occurred relatively less frequently
than in most of the other industries, they tended to be much more
severe. The tobacco industry experienced the lowest frequency rate
and the second lowest severity rate. On the other hand, mining
ranked twenty-ninth in frequency rating and thirtieth in severity
rating.
Of much interest are the index numbers of accident frequency and
severity rates given in the report, which trace the trends for both
of these factors, by industries, from 1926 through 1935. The “all
industry” index of accident frequency declined steadily, year by
year, from 100 in 1926 to a low of 38.5 in 1932, the low point of the
depression. In 1933 the index rose to 41.2, and in 1934 to 43.2,
but during 1935 the index declined to 38.9, only slightly above the
low of 1932. The index of severity rates followed a similar course
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but with a lag of about a year, and the downward movement was
not so steep. Compared with a general base of 100 in 1926, the
index declined steadily to a low of 60.6 in 1933 (with the exception
of 1929, which showed an increase over 1928), rose to 63.4 in 1934,
only to decline to a new low of 56.6 in 1935. Similar data are given
for each of the 30 industry classifications. The all-industry picture,
however, as well as several of the individual-industry indexes, is
not strictly comparable year by year, because 1926 is not the base
year for every industry. In two instances 1927 is the base year, in
four others 1928, and in two more 1929.
Another interesting feature of the report under review, in con
nection with occupational injuries, is the comparison of injury rates
by size of establishment groups for 1934 and 1935 (table 2).
T a b le 2 .— O c c u p a tio n a l I n ju r y R a t e s , b y S iz e o f E s ta b lis h m e n t G ro u p s,
1934 a n d 1935
Percent of change, 193435, in—
1935 rates
Size group
Frequency
Severity
All establishments___ _______
14.02
1.58
____
Large_____ _____________
Middle-sized_____ _______ ____
Small________ ____________
13.15
18.12
19.91
1.54
1.98
1. 59
Frequency
-1 0
10
9
g
Severity
-1 1
-1 0
15
The National Safety Council does not give the class limits for
each of these groups, but does indicate that the sample includes
about 90 percent of the total man-hours’ exposure reported to the
council in 1935, and that 40 percent of the reporting units were
classified as “large”, 40 percent as “small”, and 20 percent as
“middle-sized.” The “large” class, however, reported 85 percent
of the total man-hours and therefore predominated in the rate cal
culations for all groups combined.
The table shows that the large industrial establishments had both
the lowest frequency and severity rates—a result one might antici
pate because of the nature of the equipment and organization and
the more extensive safety work usually carried on by large estab
lishments. The better showing of the large establishments in 1934
was still further improved in 1935, since these units had the largest
decline in both frequency and severity rates during the year. The
difference between the large and middle-sized groups is an average
of about five accidents per million man-hours’ exposure, and be
tween the large and small groups nearly seven such accidents.
But whereas the frequency rate for small establishments is nearly
two accidents per million man-hours above that of the middlesized group, its severity rate is only 1.59 as compared with 1.98 for
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367
the middle-sized group. The conclusions apparently indicated by
these figures are that during 1935 the large reporting establish
ments were, on the whole, the safest; that accidents were most
numerous in small establishments; but that the severity of acci
dents was highest in middle-sized establishments. Each of the
groups, however, shows a decline in both frequency and severity
rates from 1934.
Other interesting data given in the report cover motor-vehicle
and home accidents, causes of various types of accidents, experiences
of various age groups, accident experiences by nonmanufacturing
industries, accident experiences of States and cities, and calcula
tions based on State reports as to nature of injury and type of
accident.
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LABOR LAWS
Federal L aw Establishing Labor Standards in
G o v e rn m e n t C o n tracts
N JUNE 30, 1936, the President approved an act of Congress
establishing minimum labor standards for Government con
tracts. The act, commonly referred to as the Walsh-Healey law, re
quires persons having contracts with the Federal Government to
comply with certain labor conditions in the performance of the con
tracts. It applies to goods upon which bids are submitted, but not to
articles usually purchased in the open market, to farm, dairy and
nursery products, or to transportation and communications contracts.
Heretofore, under the legal restrictions in force, Government offices
have been required to award contracts to the lowest responsible bidder,
regardless of the working conditions observed in the plant where the
work was performed. The new law provides that contractors must be
manufacturers of or regular dealers in the materials and supplies, etc.,
to be manufactured or used in the performance of the contract, and
after October 1, 1936, every contract involving the purchase by the
United States or any of its instrumentalities of supplies in an amount
exceeding $10,000 must contain an agreement on the part of the con
tractor that he will conform to the labor standards required by the
act. Among other things, the contractor must agree to pay the pre
vailing wages as determined by the Secretary of Labor; establish an
8-hour day and a 40-liour week for employees doing the work; employ
no male under 16, and no female under 18, and no convict labor; and
guarantee that the employees will work under safe and healthy con
ditions. The observance of the safety, sanitary, and factory-inspec
tion laws of the State in which the work is to be performed shall be
considered evidence of compliance with the safety and health clause
of the act.
As a result of an investigation conducted at the request of the
Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, it was shown
that, on account of the legal requirement that Government contracts
be awarded to the lowest bidder, there had been a tendency “to depress
the advance in wages and purchasing power achieved during the first
2 years of the administration.” The Committee of the Judiciary, in
reporting the bill and recommending its passage, stated its belief that
the enactment of such a law would end “the present paradoxical and
O
368
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LABOR LAWS
369
unfair situation in which the Government on the one hand urges
employers to maintain and uphold fair labor standards, and on the
other hand gives vast orders for supplies and construction to the
lowest bidder, often a contractor or manufacturer whose own labor
policies offend all decent social standards.”
The administration of the law is vested in the Secretary of Labor.
Contractors violating an agreement will be subject to penalties; in
addition the contract may be canceled by the contracting agency of
the Government, and such agency may make open-market purchases
or enter into other contracts for the completion of the original con
tract, and may charge any additional cost to the original contractor.
Authority is granted to the Comptroller General to furnish to
Federal agencies the names of persons or firms found by the Secretary
of Labor to have violated any of the agreements or representations
required by the act. Unless the Secretary of Labor otherwise recom
mends, no additional contracts may be awarded to the offending party
for a period of 3 years.
The text of the law follows:
S ec tio n 1. A p p l i c a t i o n o f a c t: S t i p u l a t i o n s .— In any contract made and
entered into by any executive department, independent establishm ent, or other
agency or instrum entality of the United States, or by the D istrict of Columbia,
or by any corporation all the stock of which is beneficially owned by the United
States (all the foregoing being hereinafter designated as agencies of the United
States), for the manufacture or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, and
equipm ent in any am ount exceeding $10,000, there shall be included the following
representations and stipulations:
(а ) That the contractor is the manufacturer of or a regular dealer in the m ate
rials, supplies, articles, or equipm ent to be manufactured or used in the per
formance of the contract;
(б) T hat all persons employed by the contractor in the manufacture or furnish
ing of the materials, supplies, articles, or equipm ent used in the performance of
the contract will be paid, w ithout subsequent deduction or rebate on any account,
not less than the minimum wages as determined by the Secretary of Labor to be
the prevailing minimum wages for persons employed on similar work or in the
particular or similar industries or groups of industries currently operating in the
locality in which the materials, supplies, articles, or equipm ent are to be manu
factured or furnished under said contract;
(c) T hat no person employed by the contractor in the manufacture or furnish
ing of the materials, supplies, articles, or equipm ent used in the performance of
the contract shall be perm itted to work in excess of 8 hours in any 1 day or in
excess of 40 hours in any 1 week;
(d ) T hat no male person under 16 years of age and no female person under
18 years of age and no convict labor will be employed by the contractor in the
manufacture or production or furnishing of any of the materials, supplies, articles,
or equipm ent included in such contract; and
(e ) That no part of such contract will be performed nor will any of the materials,
supplies, articles, or equipm ent to be manufactured or furnished under said con
tract be manufactured or fabricated in any plants, factories, buildings, or sur
roundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary or hazardous or
82425— 36------ 7
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
dangerous to the health and safety of employees engaged in the performance of
said contract. Compliance with the safety, sanitary, and factory inspection
laws of the State in which the work or part thereof is to be performed shall be
prima-facie evidence of compliance with this subsection.
S ec. 2. V io la tio n s . — T hat any breach or violation of any of the representations
and stipulations in any contract for the purposes set forth in section 1 hereof shall
render the party responsible therefor liable to the United States of America for
liquidated damages, in addition to damages for any other breach of such contract,
the sum of $10 per day for each male person under 16 years of age or each female
person under 18 years of age, or each convict laborer knowingly employed in the
performance of such contract, and a sum equal to the am ount of any deductions,
rebates, refunds, or underpayment of wages due to any em ployee engaged in the
performance of such contract; and, in addition, the agency of the United States
entering into such contract shall have the right to cancel same and to make openmarket purchases or enter into other contracts for the completion of the original
contract, charging any additional cost to the original contractor. Any sums of
money due to the United States of America by reason of any violation of any of
the representations and stipulations of said contract set forth in section 1 hereof
m ay be withheld from any amounts due on any such contracts or m ay be recovered
in suits brought in the name of the United States of America by the Attorney
General thereof. All sums withheld or recovered as deductions, rebates, refunds,
or underpayments of wages shall be held in a special deposit account and shall
be paid, on order of the Secretary of Labor, directly to the em ployees who have
been paid less than minimum rates of pay as set forth in such contracts and on
whose account such sums were withheld or recovered: P r o v id e d , T hat no claims
by employees for such paym ents shall be entertained unless made within 1 year
from the date of actual notice to the contractor of the withholding or recovery
of such sums by the United States of America.
S ec . 3. L i s t o f p e r s o n s b r e a c h in g c o n tr a c t. — The Comptroller General is author
ized and directed to distribute a list to all agencies of the U nited States containing
the names of persons or firms found by the Secretary of Labor to have breached
any of the agreements or representations required by this act. Unless the Secre
tary of Labor otherwise recommends no contracts shall be awarded to such persons
or firms or to any firm, corporation, partnership, or association in which such
persons or firms have a controlling interest until 3 years have elapsed from the
date the Secretary of Labor determines such breach to have occurred.
S e c . 4. A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . — The Secretary of Labor is hereby authorized and
directed to administer the provisions of this act and to utilize such Federal
officers and employees and, with the consent of the State such State and local
officers and employees as he m ay find necessary to assist in the administration
of this act and to prescribe rules and regulations with respect thereto. The
Secretary shall appoint, w ithout regard to the provisions of the civil-service laws
but subject to the Classification Act of 1923, an adm inistrative officer, and such
attorneys and experts, and shall appoint such other employees w ith regard to
existing laws applicable to the em ploym ent and compensation of officers and
employees of the United States, as he m ay from tim e to tim e find necessary for
the administration of this act. The Secretary of Labor or his authorized repre
sentatives shall have power to make investigations and findings as herein provided,
and prosecute any inquiry necessary to his functions in any part of the United
States. The Secretary of Labor shall have authority from tim e to tim e to make,
amend, and rescind such rules and regulations as m ay be necessary to carry out
the provisions of this act.
S ec . 5. H e a r in g s . — Upon his own motion or on application of any person
affected by any ruling of any agency of th e U nited States in relation to any
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LABOR LAWS
371
proposal or contract involving any of the provisions of this act, and on complaint
of a breach or violation of any representation or stipulation as herein provided,
the Secretary of Labor, or an impartial representative designated by him, shall
have the power to hold hearings and to issue orders requiring the attendance
and testim ony of witnesses and the production of evidence under oath. W itnesses
shall be paid the same fees and mileage th at are paid witnesses in the courts of the
United States. In case of contum acy, failure, or refusal of any person to obey
such an order, any district court of the United States or of any Territory or
possession, or the Supreme Court of the D istrict of Columbia, within the juris
diction of which the inquiry is carried on, or within the jurisdiction of which said
person who is guilty of contum acy, failure, or refusal is found, or resides or trans
acts business, upon the application by the Secretary of Labor or representative
designated by him, shall have jurisdiction to issue to such person an order requir
ing such person to appear before him or representative designated by him, to
produce evidence if, as, and when so ordered, and to give testim ony relating to
the m atter under investigation or in question; and any failure to obey such order
of the court m ay be punished by said court as a contem pt thereof; and shall make
findings of fact after notice and hearing, which findings shall be conclusive upon
all agencies of the United States, and if supported by the preponderance of the
evidence, shall be conclusive in any court of the U nited States, and the Secretary
of Labor or authorized representative shall have the power, and is hereby author
ized, to make such decisions, based upon findings of fact, as are deemed to be
necessary to enforce the provisions of this act.
S ec . 6. M o d if ic a tio n o f c o n tr a c ts .— Upon a written finding by the head of the
contracting agency or department that the inclusion in the proposal or contract
of the representations or stipulations set forth in section 1 will seriously impair
the conduct of Government business, the Secretary of Labor shall make exceptions
in specific cases or otherwise when justice or public interest will be served thereby.
Upon the joint recommendation of the contracting agency and the contractor,
the Secretary of Labor m ay modify the terms of an existing contract respecting
minimum rates of pay and maximum hours of labor as he may find necessary and
proper in the public interest or to prevent injustice and undue hardship. The
Secretary of Labor m ay provide reasonable lim itations and m ay make rules and
regulations allowing reasonable variations, tolerances, and exemptions to and
from any or all provisions of this act respecting minimum rates of pay and maxi
mum hours of labor or the extent of the application of this act to contractors,
as hereinbefore described. W henever the Secretary of Labor shall permit an
increase in the maximum hours of labor stipulated in the contract, he shall set a
rate of pay for any overtime, which rate shall be not less than one and one-half
tim es the basic hourly rate received by any employee affected.
S ec . 7. XJse o f t e r m .— Whenever used in this act, the word “person” includes
one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal repre
sentatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, or receivers.
S ec . 8. A p p l i c a t i o n to o th e r a c ts .— The provisions of this act shall not be con
strued to modify or amend title III of the act entitled “An act making appropri
ations for the Treasury and Post Office Departm ents for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1934, and for other purposes” , approved M ay 3, 1933 (commonly known
as the Buy American A ct), nor shall the provisions of this act be construed to
m odify or amend the act entitled “An act relating to the rate of wages for laborers
and mechanics employed on public buildings of the United States and the D is
trict of Columbia by contractors and subcontractors, and for other purposes” ,
approved March 3, 1931 (commonly known as the B acon-D avis Act), as amended
from tim e to time, nor the labor provisions of title II of the N ational Industrial
R ecovery Act, approved June 16, 1933, as extended, or of section 7 of the Emer
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
gency Relief Appropriation Act, approved April 8, 1935; nor shall the provisions
of this act be construed to modify or amend the act entitled “An act to provide
for the diversification of em ploym ent of Federal prisoners, for their training
and schooling in trades and occupations, and for other purposes” , approved
May 27, 1930, as amended and supplemented by the act approved June 23, 1934.
S e c . 9. E x c e p tio n s .— This act shall not apply to purchases of such materials,
supplies, articles, or equipm ent as m ay usually be bought in the open market;
nor shall this act apply to perishables, including dairy, livestock, and nursery
products, or to agricultural or farm products processed for first sale by the original
producers; nor to any contracts made by the Secretary of Agriculture for the
purchase of agricultural commodities or the products thereof. N othing in this
act shall be construed to apply to carriage of freight or personnel by vessel, air
plane, bus, truck, express, or railway line where published tariff rates are in
effect or to common carriers subject to the Communications Act of 1934.
S ec . 10. S e p a r a b i l i t y c la u s e .— If any provision of this act, or the application
thereof to any persons or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the
act, and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances,
shall not be affected thereby.
S ec . 11. E f f e c tiv e d a te .— This act shall apply to all contracts entered into pur
suant to invitations for bids issued on or after 90 days from the effective date of
this act: P r o v id e d , h o w e v e r, T hat the provisions requiring the inclusion of repre
sentations with respect to minimum wages shall apply only to purchases or con
tracts relating to such industries as have been the subject m atter of a determ ina
tion by the Secretary of Labor.
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Federal Labor Legislation, 1936
ANY acts affecting the welfare of the workers either directly or
indirectly were enacted by the second session 1of the Seventyfourth Congress of the United States which convened on January 3,
1936, and adjourned June 20, 1936. Several important labor bills
failed of passage in the closing days of the session, notably those to
replace the recently outlawed National Bituminous Coal Act, to
regulate and stabilize the steel and textile industries and to provide
low-cost housing.
The present article summarizes the main provisions of the acts
passed in 1936 which are of general or particular interest to labor.
M
Labor-Standards Requirements in Government Contracts
P robably one of the most important laws passed by the Congress
in 1936, as respects labor, was an act designed to maintain proper
standards of hours, wages, and working conditions on Government
contracts 2 (Public Act No. 846). The law is applicable to all con
tracts made by the Government for the manufacture or the furnish
ing of materials, etc., in the amount of more than $10,000. Certain
prescribed labor standards must be maintained by the contractor,
including an 8-hour day, 40-hour week, prohibition of child labor,
and the labor of prisoners, and maintenance of the prevailing rate of
wages in the locality where the work is to be performed. The adminis
tration of the law has been placed under the jurisdiction of the Secre
tary of Labor, who may promulgate necessary rules and regulations to
carry out the provisions of the act, which will become effective October
1, 1936.
Labor Disputes
B y t h e provisions of Public Act No. 776, Congress prohibited the
interstate transportation of persons for the purpose of interfering
with the right of peaceful picketing during labor controversies. In
reporting the bill to Congress, the Judiciary Committee declared that
the legislation was aimed at those persons and organizations whose
regular business was the furnishing, for large fees, of strike-breakers
to take part in labor controversies. It was shown that such organiza1 For labor legislation enacted at the first session, see M onthly Labor Review for December 1935 (pp.
1529-1541).
2 See p. 368 of this issue for analysis and text of law.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
tions created business unrest by stirring up industrial disorder for the
purpose of contracting with the employer to suppress it.
The act provides as follows:
Whoever shall knowingly transport or cause to be transported, or aid or abet
in transporting, in interstate or foreign commerce, any person with intent to
employ such person to obstruct or interfere, in any manner, with the right of
peaceful picketing during any labor controversy affecting wages, hours, or condi
tions of labor, or the right of organization for the purpose of collective bargaining,
shall be deemed guilty of a felony and shall be punishable by a fine n o t exceeding
$5,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding 2 years, or both, in the discretion of the
court.
Application of State Workmen’s Compensation Laws to Federal Property
D uring the closing days of the 1936 Congress, legislation was
adopted granting to the States jurisdiction and authority to apply
their State workmen’s compensation laws on all property belonging
to the Federal Government (Public Act No. 814). Many employees
engaged on the construction, etc., of public buildings and works of
the United States have been deprived of workmen’s compensation
when injury or death has resulted from an industrial accident.
The text of this important act is as follows:
S ectio n 1. A p p l i c a t i o n o f a c ts . — T hat w hatsoever constituted authority of
each of the several States is charged with the enforcement of and requiring com
pliances with the State workmen’s compensation laws of said States and with the
enforcement of and requiring compliance with the orders, decisions, and awards
of said constituted authority of said States hereafter shall have the power and
authority to apply such laws to all lands and premises owned or held by the
U nited States of America by deed or act of cession, by purchase or otherwise,
which is within the exterior boundaries of any State, and to all projects, buildings,
constructions, im provements, and property belonging to the U nited States of
America, which is within the exterior boundaries of any State, in the same w ay and
to the same extent as if said premises were under the exclusive jurisdiction of the
State within whose exterior boundaries such place may be.
S e c . 2. A u t h o r i t y o f e n f o r c e m e n t.— F or the purposes set out in section 1 of this
act, the U nited States of America hereby vests in the several States within whose
exterior boundaries such place m ay be, insofar as the enforcement of State work
m en’s compensation laws are affected, the right, power, and authority aforesaid:
P r o v id e d , h o w e v e r, T hat by the passage of this act the U nited States of America in
nowise relinquishes its jurisdiction for any purpose over the property named, with
the exception of extending to the several States within whose exterior boundaries
such place m ay be only the powers above enumerated relating to the enforcement
of their State workmen’s compensation laws as herein designated: P r o v id e d
f u r th e r , T hat nothing in this act shall be construed to modify or amend the United
States E m ployees’ Compensation Act as amended from tim e to tim e (Act of
Sept. 7, 1916, 39 Stat. 742, U. S. C., title 5, and supplement, sec. 751 et seq.).
Transportation
Air transportation.—By the provisions of Public Act No. 487, the
Railway Labor A ct3 was amended by subjecting to its provisions
8 See M onthly Labor Review for August 1934 (p. 354).
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375
common carriers by air engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, as
well as those carriers engaged in the transportation of the mails,
including the employees of such carriers. Hereafter, employees of airtransportation companies will be assured of the right to organize and
bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.
All the duties, benefits, and privileges contained in the Kailway
Labor Act, except those in reference to the National Railroad Adjust
ment Board, are now to apply to carriers by air and their employees,
and the National Labor Relations Board is no longer to have juris
diction of disputes arising in the air-transportation industry.
In order that disputes between carriers by air and employees may
be adjusted without delay, it is provided that the services of the
National Mediation Board may be invoked when disputes involving
changes in rates of pay, rules, or working conditions cannot be ad
justed. Certain other disputes may also be referred to this board,
and the board may proffer its services in emergency labor cases.
All carriers and their employees, acting through their representa
tives, are required by the amended act to establish a board of adjust
ment, and by agreement between employees and carriers, such boards
may be established for groups of carriers or for certain classes of em
ployees. In addition, the employees and carriers may by agreement
establish a national board of adjustment of temporary duration.
If disputes between employees and carriers growing out of grievances
or out of the interpretation or application of agreements concerning
rates of pay, rules, or working conditions cannot be adjusted, the
dispute may be referred to the proper adjustment board.
If at any time the National Mediation Board decides that a perma
nent national board of adjustment is necessary, it may direct the
carriers and their employees to establish a board of four members,
to be known as the National Air Transport Adjustment Board. Two
members are to be selected by the carriers and two by representatives
of the employees. This board is to settle disputes between the car
riers and their employees growing out of grievances or out of the
interpretation or application of agreements between the carriers and
their employees covering rates of pay, rules, or working conditions.
After the permanent National Air Transport Adjustment Board is
organized, if any regional or other board of adjustment is not satis
factory to either party to a dispute, it may upon 90 days’ notice to the
other party, elect to come under the jurisdiction of the National Air
Transport Adjustment Board.
Maritime employment.—Several laws were passed governing the
employment of labor on vessels. By Public Act No. 808, it is pro
vided that hereafter 75 percent of the crew of every American ship,
exclusive of licensed officers, must be citizens of the United States.
Heretofore, such ships might employ any number of noncitizens.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
except licensed officers, and in the case of those ships receiving Federal
subsidy at least 66% percent had to be citizens of the United States.
Licensed officers, coal passers, and sailors have been placed on the
3-watch basis,, granting them the 8-hour day at sea. In place of the
9-hour day when in safe harbor the new act provides for the estab
lishment of an 8-hour day. The act also provides for the monthly
inspection of the crew quarters of American vessels to ascertain
whether they meet the requirements as to size and sanitation, and for
the issuance of certificates of service after examination and of “con
tinuous discharge books”, the latter to serve as a means of identifica
tion and a record of employment.
Other benefits to sea workers are included under the terms of the
Ship Subsidy Act (Public, No. 835). The United States Maritime
Commission established by the act is authorized to investigate em
ployment and wage conditions in ocean transportation, and to incor
porate in subsidy contracts minimum manning and wage standards,
and reasonable working standards. Public Act No. 622 provides that
the name of the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboard Inspection,
in the Department of Commerce, be changed to the Bureau of Marine
Inspection and Navigation. The act also creates a marine casualty
investigation board, and provides for stricter and more efficient ad
ministration of the steamboat-inspection laws.
Three acts were passed to provide for the safety of passengers and
employees of vessels while at sea. Certain passenger vessels are now
required (Public, No. 712) to be equipped with automatic sprinkler
systems, and existing laws covering the inspection, etc., of steam
vessels were extended (Public, No. 722) so as to cover certain other
seagoing vessels. By the provisions of Public Act No. 765, vessels
which have on board any inflammable or combustible liquid cargo
must comply with regulations of the Board of Supervising Inspectors.
Legislation Affecting Federal Employees
A n u m b e r of acts directly affecting employees of the Government
were passed in 1936. The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act
was liberalized (Public Act No. 579),4 by authorizing the payment of
an additional award of not more than $50 a month to an employee
permanently and totally disabled who requires the constant services
of an attendant.
Two acts standardized and liberalized the annual- and sick-leave
provisions. Post Office Department employees, teachers employed
by the District of Columbia, and certain employees stationed in the
Panama Canal Zone, were, however, excepted. By the provisions
of Public Act No. 471, permanent employees of the Government are
4 See text of amendment in M onthly Labor Review for July 1936 (p. 84).
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LABOR LAW S
377
given 26 days of annual leave, Sundays and holidays excluded, cumu
lative to 60 days. Temporary employees, heretofore deprived of
leave will receive 2% days for'every month of service. By the pro
visions of this act, Congress also took cognizance of the overtime work
performed in many of the Government establishments, by requiring
each agency to record the performance of all such work and report the
same monthly to the Civil Service Commission. The Commission in
turn must file a report with Congress by January 31, 1937. Sick-leave
provisions were changed by Congress under the terms of Act No. 472.
Hereafter all Government employees will be entitled to sick leave at
the rate of 1% days for each month of service, with a maximum limi
tation of 90 days.
At this session Congress strengthened the civil-service retirement
fund by appropriating a sum sufficient to assure its actuarial stability
(Public, No. 479). This system is a contributory one, by which the
employee pays 3% percent of his annual salary, and the Government
an amount adequate for financing its liability created by the Civil
Service Retirement Act. The retirement system was extended to
certain employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the
Department of Justic (Public, No. 764), and the provisions of the
Panama Canal Zone Act authorizing the retirement of employees of
the Canal Zone were liberalized (Public, No. 784).
By the provisions of Public Act No. 836 Congress authorized the
retirement of employees of the Alaska Railroad who are citizens of the
United States. Public Act No. 417 requires civilian members of the
teaching staffs at the United States Naval Academy and Postgraduate
School, as part of their contract of employment, to carry a deferred
annuity policy, having no cash surrender provision, from a jointstock life-insurance corporation. Such persons in the employ of the
Academy after January 16, 1936, must contribute a certain percentage
of their basic monthly salary toward the purchase of the annuity.
Persons employed prior to this date may, within 60 days, apply for
participation in the benefits of the act. The retirement age has been
fixed at 65 years.
Several acts were passed relating to persons employed in the Post
Office Department. One act (Public, No. 641) provided for the
appointment of substitute postal employees, while another (Public,
No. 619) concerned the adjustment of compensation of division super
intendents and other employees of the Railway Mail Service. Em
ployees in the mail-equipment shops were given the benefits of an
act passed in the first session establishing a 40-hour week for postal
employees (Public, No. 575). The act sought to correct a pay loss
when the employees were placed on a 5-day week.
An act (Public, No. 817) of special interest to the employees of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing provides that all employees in this
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-— AUGUST 1936
governmental establishment shall receive for a 40-hour week, the same
compensation they received for a 44-hour week.
Several other acts affecting Government employees included Public
Act No. 618, which authorized the withholding of compensation of
employees indebted to the Government; and Public Act No. 667,
authorizing the furnishing of transportation to persons in the service
of the United States in the Virgin Islands.
Legislation Applicable to the District of Columbia
F or t h e safety of persons engaged in the operation of steam boilers
in the District of Columbia, Congress passed an act (Public, No. 794)
providing for the inspection of such boilers. In 1935 Congress passed
an unemployment insurance law for the benefit of private employees
in the District of Columbia.5 An amendment to this law was adopted
in 1936 providing for the exemption of persons performing service
for religious institutions and schools maintained by them, as well as
colleges and universities not conducted for profit (Public Act No. 446).
By a joint resolution (Pub. Res. No. 114), Congress declared
December 26, 1936, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia.
Investigations of Interest to Labor
T hree resolutions passed by the Senate and House of Representa
tives may be noted. By the terms of a Senate resolution (S. Res. 266)
the Committee on Education and Labor was directed to investigate
any violations of the right of free speech and assembly and any undue
interference with the rights of labor to organize and bargain collec
tively. Another Senate resolution (S. Res. 298) directed the Secre
tary of Labor to make an investigation and survey of the social and
economic needs of laborers migrating across State lines. By the terms
of a resolution in the House of Representatives (H. Res. 49), the
Secretary of Labor was directed to compile a list of labor-saving
devices placed in use since December 31, 1920, and to estimate the
number of persons deprived of employment as a result of the use of
such devices. A report of the findings by the Secretary is to be filed
with the House of Representatives. The resolution also provided
that the list of labor-saving devices is to be kept current from year
to year.
Miscellaneous Legislation
Vocational education.—By the provisions of Public, No. 673, ap
propriations of $12,000,000 annually were authorized to further the
development of vocational education in the several States and Terri
tories. Money paid to each State under this act must be matched by
State or local funds equal to 50 percent of the appropriations granted
5 See M onthly Labor Review for October 1935 (pp. 926, 927).
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LABOR LAWS
379
until June 30, 1942; 60 percent for the year ending June 30, 1943;
70 percent in 1944; 80 percent in 1945; 90 percent in 1946, and 100
percent thereafter. Each State is to be alloted at least $20,000.
To prevent improper use of these funds, the use of funds in industrialplant training programs is forbidden unless the training is bona fide
and not a means to utilize the services of vocational trainees for profit.
Relief.—The Deficiency Relief Appropriation Act (Public, No.
739) approved by the President on June 22, 1936, appropriated the
sum of $1,425,000,000 for relief for the fiscal years 1936 and 1937, to
be used at the discretion and under the direction of the President.
This money is to be expended on the following classes of projects:
(a) Highways, roads, and streets, $413,250,000; (b) public buildings,
$156,750,000; (c) parks and other recreational facilities, including
buildings therein, $156,750,000; (d) public utilities, including sewer
systems, water supply and purification, airports, and other trans
portation facilities, $171,000,000; (e) flood control and other con
servation, $128,250,000; (/) “white-collar” projects, $85,500,000; (g)
women’s projects, $85,500,000; (h) miscellaneous work projects,
$71,250,000; (i) National Youth Administration, $71,250,000; and
(j) rural rehabilitation loans and relief to farmers, $85,500,000. The
President was authorized, however, to increase these amounts by
using unexpended funds appropriated by the Emergency Relief
Appropriation Act of 1935, and he may also increase such amounts
by not more than 15 percent by transferring funds from one class
to another.
The act contains several provisions of special interest to labor. It
prohibits the employment of aliens who are illegally in the United
States, and requires that appointments to Federal positions of an
administrative or advisory character must be made from residents
of the State where the work is to be done. It is also provided that
the prevailing rate of wages must be paid on relief projects, and that
persons in need but not on the relief rolls may be employed on such
projects.
Housing .—Two laws were passed at the recent session of Congress
in relation to housing. By the provisions of Public Act No. 525, the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation was authorized to make loans
to corporations, partnerships, and individuals, and States and other
governmental agencies, for replacing and rebuilding homes and other
property damaged by floods or other catastrophes. An amendment
(Public, No. 486) to title 1 of the National Housing Act authorized
the Federal Housing Administration to continue until April 1, 1937,
the insurance of lending institutions against losses in making advances
of credit to finance home owners and tenants in rebuilding and
repairing dwellings, apartment houses, and other buildings.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Assistance to blind. With the purpose of assisting blind persons in
enlarging their economic opportunities, Congress authorized by Public
Act No. 732 the operation of vending stands in Federal Buildings
by such persons. The Office of Education in the Department of the
Interior, under the direction of the Commissioner of Education, was
empowered among other things to—
(1) Make surveys of concession-stand opportunities for blind persons in
Federal and other buildings in the United States;
(2) Make surveys throughout the United States of industries with a view to
obtaining information th at will assist blind persons to obtain employment;
(3) Make available to the public, and especially to persons and organizations
engaged in work for the blind, information obtained as a result of such surveys;
(4) D esignate as provided in section 3 of this act the State commission for the
blind in each State, or, in any State in which there is no such commission some
other public agency to issue licenses to blind persons who are citizens of the
United States and at least 21 years of age for the operating of vending stands in
Fedeial and other buildings in such State for the vending of newspapers, period
icals, confections, tobacco products, and such other articles as m ay be approved
for each building by the custodian thereof and the State licensing agency.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
T ra in in g U nem ployed G irls fo r Dom estic Service
RAINING activities for girls along domestic lines can frequently
be undertaken by young women’s organizations without any
great expansion of the sponsoring bodies. The Emanu-El Sisterhood
House in San Francisco, for example, gives instruction in switch
board operation and housekeeping to girls in return for service by
the hour. Jobless students are engaged as waitresses at $2.50 per
week and are trained in the occupation at the Sisterhood’s dinner
table; for service at teas in the Sisterhood House they are paid 25
cents per hour. During the past year about 20 girls have been trained
under this procedure, and practically all have secured regular jobs.
An account of this experiment and of the following domestic-training
schemes is given in Youth—Finding Jobs, by D. L. Harley, published
by the Committee on Youth Problems, United States Office of Edu
cation (Bulletin, 1936, No. 18-V).
Girls from 18 to 25 years of age, members of the Girls’ Emergency
Cooperative, Oakland, Calif., which was organized under the auspices
of the Young Women’s Christian Association, have been trained as
waitresses and to do simple cooking in the cooperative’s studio-workshop. Both theory and practice were included in the training, the
latter through service in the Y. W. C. A. cafeteria and at special
Y. W. C. A. dinners.
As the girls became more skillful in their work they were sent out
to fill temporary positions made available through the Women’s Free
Employment Bureau. In this way several of the trainees built up
their own clientele. Others arranged with the Y. W. C. A. to give
their services as household assistants in exchange for sun baths and
swimming and for oranges and milk. The food was especially bene
ficial, as the girls were not getting proper nourishment in their homes.
After a year’s existence the cooperative had 57 members; 35 had
secured employment—24 in domestic service or as waitresses in
restaurants. Later on, only three or four girls were without jobs and
the organization ceased to be cooperative.
At Liberty, Utah, jobless girls who have taken the full domestic
service course at an experimental school camp are assigned to homes
to get experience and additional training, through the cooperation of
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381
382
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
the women’s clubs of Ogden and Salt Lake and the various employ
ment offices. In schemes of this kind, which are quite numerous, a
certain amount of control over working conditions is necessary. The
following code is recommended by the Big Sister Organization of
Scranton, Pa., in connection with the placement of girls in household
employment on an “apprenticeship” basis:
(1) A clear understanding between the employer and employee of the require
m ents of the position, before the position is accepted.
_ (2) A written copy of the day’s program, with duties clearly defined and pro
vision for emergencies.
(3) Total actual working hours not to exceed 66 a week; a 24-hour leave to
be granted weekly, including Sunday afternoon and evening and one or two other
evenings; an hour’s free tim e to be provided every afternoon.
(4) Four out of the eight holidays, and 1 week of annual leave with pay.
(5) Overtime to be compensated for by extra tim e off within a month.
(6) Minimum wage of $6 a week, with board and room, paym ent to be weekly
or monthly.
(7) Opportunity to attend the church of the em ployee’s choice.
(8) One week’s notice of term ination of services, or a week’s pay.
(9) Living accommodations to include a room of the em ployee’s own, furnished
simply but attractively; access to bath facilities; a room where she m ay entertain
her guests; adequate heat, light, and food.
(10) The question of compensation for injury to be dealt with by accident
insurance carried by the employer, preferably a blanket policy covering the
holder of the position rather than the individual.
Progress of V ocational E ducation in C hina
OCATIONAL educational schools recently established in China
are making rapid headway, according to a report of the Ministry
of Education of that country for 1934, data from which are published
in the March 1936 number of News for Overseas, issued by the
International Relations Committee, Nanking.
In 1934 the agricultural, industrial, commercial, home economics,
and other vocational institutions in China numbered 372 and had an
attendance of 38,355. The total number of classes was 1,376 and the
operating budget, $6,275,068 (United States currency, $2,139,171).1
In the same year 102 agricultural and vocational schools were
opened with 7,573 enrolled students. In addition to general farm
ing, the subjects taught included animal industry, cotton growing,
horticulture, fishery education, forestry, marine products, poultry,
reclamation, sericulture, and tea cultivation.
Industrial subjects, it is reported, are becoming more attractive to
Chinese young people. In the year under review 10,339 students
were registered in 122 industrial schools offering courses in carving,
drafting, dyeing, simple chemical engineering, simple mechanical
i Average rate of exchange of Yuan dollar in 1934=34.09 cents in United States currency.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
383
and electrical engineering, photography, porcelain, printing, sheetmetal work, surveying, telegraphy, textiles, and woodwork, etc.
The commercial schools totaled 81 in 1934 and ranked second in the
enrollment of students. The curriculum included accounting and
auditing, advertising, bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting, etc.
Ambitious young women in China are taking courses in home eco
nomics, 1,980 girls in the period surveyed having entered 39 schools
providing instruction in cooking, embroidery, housekeeping, mid
wifery, nursing, pharmacy, sewing, etc.
Other vocational subjects, including fine arts, salt administration,
public finance, English teaching, drama, library science, physical
education, drawing, music, and applied arts, were taught in 28 schools
in 1934, and 2,405 students prepared themselves for these vocations.
In both junior and senior vocational schools the curriculum must
conform to the program and regulations prescribed by the Ministry
of Education. Shops, factories, and experimental farm stations
must be provided by the schools for the practical instruction of
students. Practice may also be had in cooperation with farms,
factories, and city business establishments.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T re n d o f S trikes
RELIMINARY information indicates a downward trend from May
to June 1936 in the number of strikes beginning in each month.
The decrease in number of strikes amounted to approximately 15
percent. Fewer workers went on strike in June than in May but,
due to the strikes which continued into June from previous months,
the number of workers involved in strikes during the month was
somewhat greater than in May, and the number of man-days of
idleness in June as a result of strikes was greater than in May by
about 25 percent.
Comparing June 1936 with June a year ago, the strikes beginning
in each of the two months were about equal in number; there were
about 20 percent more workers involved in the strikes beginning in
June 1936 than a year ago; but the number of man-days idle in June
1936 was approximately 7 percent lower than in June 1935. Last
year the general lumber strike in the Pacific Northwest, which began
in May, was in progress during June and this accounted for a con
siderable portion of the man-days of idleness during that month.
An analysis of strikes in June 1936, based on detailed and verified
information, will appear in the Monthly Labor Review for October
1936.
P
384
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385
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Trend of Strikes, January 1935 to June 1936 1
Workers involved in
strikes
Number of strikes
Year and month
Contin
In
ued from Begin
ning
progress
pre
in
during
ceding month
month
month
1935
January___ ______
February________
March___________
April____ - ______
M ay------------------June------------------July_____________
August__________
September_____ _
October__________
November____ __
December. ___ _
73
83
102
114
133
130
133
138
1491
142
132
120
1936
January__________
February________
March_______ . . .
April________ . . .
May i __________
June 1 ___________
140
149
175
180
174
189
184
239
162
190
142
90
84
99
118
160
142
174
158
116
123
210
122
180
213
232
277
294
307
319
317
377
311
332
274
Ended In effect Beginning
in
at end
month of month in month
130
130
163
161
177
186
179
228
169
200
83
102
114
133
130
133
138
149
142
132
210
154
126
120
244
241
292
280
326
303
145
123
170
164
203
161
99
118
84
122
116
123
142
Man-days
idle dur
In progress ing month
during
month
81,194
64, 238
53, 089
67,857
102, 491
48,917
70, 046
74, 313
453,820
48, 223
38, 279
14, 746
92, 630
96, 533
98, 457
124,174
151,163
129, 784
141,829
150,835
514,427
133, 742
100, 732
61, 782
720. 778
836, 498
966, 980
1,178,851
1, 697,848
1, 311, 278
1, 297, 730
1,191, 663
3,027,040
1, 562,908
1,003,852
660,911
31, 672
63,090
74, 970
62, 551
74,000
59,000
58, 419
89. 706
122, 265
92, 900
123,000
133,000
635, 730
751, 228
1,338, 444
697, 331
985,000
1,225,000
1 Strikes involving fewer than 6 workers or lasting less than 1 day are not included in this table, nor in the
following tables. Notices or leads regarding strikes are obtained by the Bureau from 670 daily papers, labor
papers, and trade journals, asjwell as from all Government labor boards. Schedules are sent to representa
tives of the parties in the disputes in order to !get detailed and authentic information. Since there is delay
in the return of some of these schedules, the figures given for the late months are not all inclusive and are,
therefore, subject to change as additional information is received. This is particularly true with regard to
to figures for the last 2 months, and these should be considered as preliminary estimates.
A nalysis o f S trik es in A p ril 1936 1
ETAILED and verified information has been obtained on 158
strikes which began in April, involving 62,500 workers. These
strikes, plus 122 which began prior to but continued into April, make
a known total of 280 strikes in progress, involving approximately
93,000 workers and resulting in 697,000 man-days of idleness during
the month. (Notices from newspapers or other sources have been
obtained concerning 17 disputes beginning in April on which enough
information has not been received to justify their inclusion in the
figures at the present time. The following analysis is necessarily
based on the strikes on which detailed reports have been secured.)
Of the 158 strikes beginning in April, 96 or approximately 60 per
cent were in 5 industry groups: Textiles (33), building and construc
tion (19), transportation (12), trade (12), lumber and allied products
(10), and mining (10). The industries affected by the most man-
D
1 As schedules on all strikes have not yet been received (see footnote 1 to table above), the following
tables include most but not all the strikes beginning or ending in this month. Data on missing strikes will
be included in the annual report.
8 2425— 36------ 8
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386
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
days of idleness during the month were textiles (200,000), mining
(155,000), lumber and allied products (70,000), and domestic and
personal service (44,000),
Table 1.— Strikes in April 1936, by Industry
In progress dur
ing April
Beginning in
April
Industry
N um Workers
involved
ber
All in d u stries________________________________ _____
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p rodu cts, n o t in c lu d in g
m a c h in er y
_________ _______________________
"Rlast- furnaces, steel works, and rolling m ills. ,
Hardware
_ ________________________________
Stoves
_____________________________________
Wi rework
______________________________
M ach inery, n o t in c lu d in g tr a n sp o r ta tio n eq u ip imon t
______________________ _______
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies
Engines, turbines, tractors, and water wheels______
Foundry and machine-shop products___________ _
Radios and phonographs________________________
Other
__________________________ __________
T ra n sp o rta tio n e q u ip m e n t _____ . .
............... .
Automobiles, bodies and parts________ ________
Shipbuilding
___ ___ ___ __________ _________
N on ferrou s m e ta ls a n d th eir p rod u cts___________
Stamped and enameled w a r e _____ ______________
- ____
Other_____ ______ ______ _____ ___ _
fiiim h er a n d allied p ro d u cts______________________
Furniture
__________________________________
Millwork and planing___________________________
Sawmills and logging camps_____________________
O th er______ _ _____________ _____ ____________
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p ro d u cts__________ _________
G lass..
___________ ________________________
T extiles a n d th eir p r o d u cts_______________________
Fabrics:
Carpet and r u g s ____ ! ______________________
Cotton goods____ ___________________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles___ _ _________
Silk and rayon goods________________________
Woolen and worsted goods___________________
Other __ ________ _______ _________________
Wearing apparel:
Clothing, men’s ____ _____ _________________
* Clothing, women’s__________________________
M en’s furnishings_____ ____________________
Hats, caps, and millinery____________________
Shirts and collars____________________________
Hosiery_________________ ___________________
Knit goods_________________________________
Other - ________ _ - ______________________
L eather a n d its m a n u fa c tu r e s
. ______________
Boots and shoes_______________________________ Leather_________ . ____________________________
Other leather goods __________________________
Food a n d kindred produ cts ______
_________
Baking_____ ____ - _____________________________
Flour and grain mills___________________________
Ice cream_________ _____ _______________________
Slaughtering and meat packing . ________________
Paper a n d p r in tin g ____
________________________
Boxes, paper
_______________________________
Paper and pulp_________________________________
Printing and publishing:
Book and job
. . ____________________
Newspapers and periodicals__________________
Other
.
- _ _______________ _____________
C h em icals a n d allied p ro d u cts____ _______
__
Chemicals
__________________________________
Other__________________________________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
158
62,551
2
3
1,332
1,197
1
135
8
1,130
1
635
270
25
5
1
1
2
1
1
3
2
1
1»
4
1
4
1
1
1
200
530
280
250
138
132
6
2,921
1,288
180
823
630
N um
ber
280
92,900
697,331
5
1,503
1,197
31
135
15,723
9,842
806
675
4,400
2
1
1
1
11
1
1
6
2
1
6
4
2
5
2
3
27
11
5
8
3
100
100
1
1
33
7,788
1
4
350
3,690
41
329
351
7
1,007
4
37
350
1,233
5
1
6
200
350
6,134
41
2,483
351
455
1,400
92, 750
41
33,947
1,392
4,815
193
1,707
4,246
14,182
2,800
5,657
7,090
25,712
2,376
3,770
12,974
5,006
3,652
4,316
6,777
6,031
64
60
622
21,394
10,872
5,510
17
4
3
17
1
4
3
8
3
2
200
9
4
279
227
32
10
6
1
1
2
11
1
1
5
20
2
1
1,782
1,348
276
1
1
1
150
147
1
147
8
1,200
1,200
1
8
1
3,864
238
3, 626
4
100
100
200,178
5
3
6
200
1,790
1,090
700
401
132
269
5,289
1,687
469
1,919
1,214
5,708
182
1,270
3,006
450
800
20,700
8, 300
12, 400
6, 562
1,352
5, 210
70,366
24,472
4,306
19,829
21,759
74
1
2
200
1,386
14
635
312
225
16,215
2
1
1
2
Mandays idle
during
April
Workers
involved
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
200
451
468
2,833
214
335
4,303
463
3,626
214
731
502
32
20
177
2,202
1,538
401
39
29
195
897
750
147 1
858
134
4,020
6,117
4,500
1,617
387
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Table 1.— Strikes in April 1936, by Industry— Continued
Beginning in
April
In progress dur
ing April
N um Workers
ber
involved
N um Workers
ber
involved
Industry
M iscella n eo u s m a n u fa c tu r in g _____
Furriers and fur factories_______________________
Other______________________________
E xtraction o f m in e r a ls_____________
Coal mining, anthracite_____________ _
Coal mining, bituminous__________________
Metalliferous mining___________________________
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining_______________
T ra n sp o rta tio n a n d c o m m u n ic a tio n .__ . . . . . .
Water transportation___________ ________________
Motor truck transportation______________
Taxicabs and miscellaneous___________________
T rade _______________________________
Wholesale
_______ _________________ _
Retail
. _________ _ ____________
D o m estic a n d person al service ___________
Hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses_______
Personal service, barbers, beauty parlors__________
Laundries
_________ ______________
Dyeing, cleaning, and pressing.__________________
O ther... . . . _ _________ _______ ________
P rofessio n a l serv ice.. _____ __________________
Recreation and a m u sem en t........... ................. ...........
Professional_______ ____________ ______ _________
B u ild in g an d c o n s tr u c tio n __________
Buildings, exclusive of P. W. A __________ ______
All other construction (bridges, docks, etc., and
P. W. A. buildings)___________________________
A griculture, e tc ______________________________ . _.
Agriculture__________________________ _______
R elief w ork a n d W. P. A________ .
O ther n o n m a n u f a c t u r in g in d u str ies__________ .
8
2
6
10
2
4
2
2
12
9
2
1
12
3
9
5
2
2
323
63
260
9,032
5,850
1,923
1,070
189
2,826
2,018
709
99
1,254
609
645
20,275
31
i 20,235
1
9
2
1
1
17
19
9
10
4
4
8
1
8
9
1,266
853
413
3,050
3,050
4,449
48
9
2
7
17
3
8
3
3
21
15
4
2
14
3
11
11
3
2
3
2
1
2
1
1
329
63
266
15,834
5,911
7,464
1,570
889
4,293
3,318
765
210
1,687
609
1,078
24,570
41
i 20, 235
1 271
3,009
14
17
Mandays idle
during
April
1,439
673
766
155,223
82,305
51,005
11,790
10,123
33,629
25; 397
4,851
3,381
20,792
h ; 4i8
9,374
43,539
3; 106
‘ 16,105
4 fU9»
19; 518
29
14
9
3,411
1,488
113
104
9
22,07ft
9; 174
15
4
4
9
3
1,923
3,050
3, 050
4,727
105
12,896
8,309
8, 300
44,001
526
8
1 Includes figures for 20,000 barbers on strike in N ew York City. Although this many were involved in
the strike before it was ended, only about 4,000 were out by the end of April.
Over 40 percent of the new strikes in April were in three States:
Pennsylvania experienced 33, New York had 25, and Massachusetts
11. States in which there were as many as 24,000 man-days of
idleness due to strikes during the month (the equivalent of about
1,000 persons for the entire month) were Alabama, California,
Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, and Washington.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 2 .— Strikes in April 1936, by States
Beginning in
April
In progress
during April
Num W orkers
involved
ber
N um Workers
involved
ber
State
Mandays idle
during
April
_ _________________________________
158
62, 551
280
92,900
697,331
______ _______ ____________
Alabama,
Arizona,
_ _ ________________________
(California,
______________________________________
Connecticut.
_ _ _ _ __________________
Florida
- _____ ________________________
____
Georgia
______ ________________ _ ___________
Jllinnis
- - _________________________________
Indiana.
_ _ ____ ___ ___ _ ______________
Kansas
___________________________________
Ken t il oky
_ ____________________________________
T/Omsiana,
_ _________________ __________
Maryland
_______ __________________ _______
Massachusetts___________________ _________________
Michigan
_ _________ _____ ___
3
1,2 22
7
17
5
6, 254
3,119
900
6,782
2,752
1
6
8
14
5
1
999
325
58
3
142
46,332
1 , 800
46,966
15, 379
84
580
15,171
6,531
116
37,206
1,512
2,083
25,754
9,190
3,300
2,678
2,850
2,700
15,728
9,000
75,663
2,520
52,108
8,098
224, 111
3,003
35,087
4, 750
2,547
1,300
8,800
24,369
1,646
1,869
6,500
All States
M in n e s o t a
M is s o u r i
_ _ _ _ ____________________________________
_ _ ______________________________________
Montana,
__ _ _ _ __________________
New Hampshire _ _ ____ _______ _____ - _____ _ -New J e rse y _______________________________________
New Mexico
.
_ _ _______ ________
N ew York ____ __________________________________
North Carolina. _ ______________________ _________
Ohio - __________________________________________
Oregon
______ _________ _____________________
P enn sylvan ia_____________________________________
Rhode Island
______ _______ _______ __________
South Carolina
_ _______ _____________________
Tennessee _______________________________________
T e x a s_____________________________________________
Utah ____________________________________________
Vermont___________________________________________
Washington________________________________________
West Virginia. ____________________________________
Wisconsin . . ______________________________________
Interstate _______________________________________
1
3
900
2,605
1
26
6
1
1
1
1
100
5
5, 569
946
3
3
13
1
1
6
6
1
6
2
1
1
11
745
4
5
1
1,000
4
607
16
22,700
49
7
694
17
3
56
4
33
3
4
2
5
1
4
4
4
100
13,700
236
1,231
470
600
325
1,100
490
421
1,100
1,113
825
225
1,462
500
26,448
315
3,369
493
19,933
393
2,068
470
600
325
700
2,284
490
442
25
1
6
58
1,961
742
58
5,000
142
253
5, 620
952
1
1
6
2
5
1
1
10
The strikes beginning in April in each industry group are classified
in table 3 according to the number of workers involved. Nearly
one-fifth of the 158 strikes involved fewer than 20 workers each and
more than half of them involved fewer than 100 workers each. The
average number of workers involved in the 158 strikes was 396. The
only one in which more than 10,000 workers were involved was the
strike of barbers in New York City which began on April 27.
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389
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Table 3.
Strikes Beginning in April 1936, Classified by Number of Workers
Involved
Number of strikes in which the number of workers
involved was—
Industrial group
Total
6 and 20 and
under under
20
All in d u stries........... .........
158
100
100
and
under
500
500
and
under
1,000
30
55
50
13
2
1
2
3
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
33
5
2
12
15
6
1
1
1,000
and
under
5,000
8
5.000
and
under
10.000
1
10,000
and
over
1
M a n u fa c tu r in g
Iron and steel and their products, not in
cluding machinery______ _
Machinery, not including transporta
tion e q u ip m e n t______
Transportation equipment_______
Nonferrous metals and their products...
Lumber and allied produ cts...
Stone, clay, and glass products.. .
Textiles and their products.........
Leather and its manufactures . .
Food and kindred products____
Paper and printing_________
Chemicals and allied products . .
Miscellaneous manufactures.
3
8
2
3
10
1
5
1
8
3
10
12
12
3
3
4
4
1
2
1
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
6
1
1
1
N o n m a n u fa c tu rin g
Extraction of minerals___
Transportation and communication
Trade _________________
Domestic and personal service___
Professional service________ .
Building and construction__________
Agriculture, etc_____________
Belief work and W . P . A ___ . .
Other nonmanufacturing industries___
5
2
19
4
8
1
6
2
2
6
1
6
3
3
1
1
2
1
1
9
4
2
1
3
2
1
1
1
2
In 46 percent of the strikes beginning in April, including 73 percent
of the total number of workers involved, the main issues were union
recognition or other matters vital to the organization of the workers
In 37 percent of the strikes, including 19 percent of the workers, the
major issues were wages or hours. This information is shown in table
4 in which the 158 strikes are classified according to the major issues
involved. In the 23 strikes classified under “other” the issues were
such matters as delayed pay, change in work schedule without in
creasing or decreasing the total number of hours per week, distribution
of work, and increased work load.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
390
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 4.— Major Issues Involved in Strikes Beginning in April 1936
Workers involved
Strikes
Major issues
Percent of
total
Number
73
12
12
2
25
10
2
10
_ _ _____________________________
27
3
_______________________
J ll ri sd i phi on
Other------------------------------------------- ------ -----------
23
S y m p a th y
36.7
14.6
13.8
7.0
1.3
46.2
7.6
7.6
1.3
15.8
6.3
1.3
6.3
17.1
1.9
22
11
2
.6
14. 6
1
Percent of
total
100.0
62, 551
11,894
4,887
5, 301
1,300
406
45,465
6, 537
1,559
48
27,684
1,399
7,255
983
5,192
447
60
4,685
100.0
158
58
23
All issues______ ______ - ................ - ------ -------------------Wages and hours
- __________________________
"W"age inerea.se
- ______________________
W agp rjp.r.fP.HSO
- _____________ ___ ___ _
AVago increase, hour dp,pro,asp,
__ ___________
"jTnnr increase
________________________
Organization
___________________
ppnemit,ion
_
_ _________________ _______
Recognition and wagfis
_ __________________
Recognition and hours __ _____________________
Recognition wages, and hours
____________
(Closed shop
__ _______________________ —
Violation of agreement
-- _____________
Discrimination_______________________________
M iscellaneous________________ _______ ____ ________
Number
19.0
7.8
8.5
2 .1
.6
72.7
10.5
2.5
«
44.3
2 .2
1 1 .6
1.6
8. 3
.7
.1
7.5
i Less than Mo of 1 percent.
The 164 strikes which ended in April had an average duration of
approximately 27 calendar days. Thirty percent of them ended in
less than a week after they began and 56 percent lasted less than onehalf month. As shown by table 5, there were 13 strikes, however,
which had been in progress for 3 months or more. The most impor
tant of these was the Strutwear Knitting Co. strike at Minneapolis,
Minn., which began in August 1935 and was settled on April 4, 1936.
Most of the others were small strikes against individual firms in
various localities.
Table 5.— Duration of Strikes Ending in April 1936
Number of strikes with duration of—
1 week
Total
Industrial group
All industries________________________________
and 1 and 2 and
3
and Hless
less
less
months
less
than
than
than
or
than
1
3
2
1
week
Vi
months more
month month months
Less
than
23
10
13
164
49
43
26
9
4
3
14
1
1
5
2
1
2
7
2
1
39
5
8
2
2
1
10
1
8
8
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
M a n u fa c tu rin g
Machinery, not including transportation equipTransportation equipment
T-urnher and allied p rod u cts________ __ ___
DtOLlo, Ulciy , alltl g 1doo pi uClLik/bo-----------------------Textiles and their products
______ - _______
Paper and printing---------------------------------------
1
3
3
2
7
3
2
1
5
3
3
6
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g
Extraction minerals
TrQTicnnrfQfimi and! CflTTlm11T1iP9tion
____
Domestic and personal service
Building and c o n s t r u c t io n
____________ _______
Relief work and W. P. A ---------- --------- ---------Other nonmanufacturing industries-------- ------
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12
15
8
6
16
2
7
2
5
4
1
6
1
4
2
5
3
2
6
1
1
2
4
—
1
391
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Forty percent of the strikes ending in April, including 47 percent
of^the workers involved in these strikes, were settled through nego
tiations directly between the employers and representatives of the
organized workers. Twenty-nine percent of the strikes, including
36 percent of the workers, were settled with the assistance of Govern
ment conciliators and labor boards. In 37 strikes, averaging about
100 workers each, no formal settlements were reached. In these cases
the employees simply went back to work without settlements or they
lost their jobs when new workers were hired to fill their places or when
employers went out of business or moved their plants to new localities.
Table 6.— Methods of Negotiating Settlements of Strikes Ending in April 1936
S tr ik e s
W o rk ers in v o lv e d
N e g o tia tio n s to w a r d s e ttle m e n ts carried o n b y —
P e r c e n t of
to ta l
N um ber
T o t a l__________________
____
E m p lo y e r s a n d w o rk ers d ir e c t ly .. ................
E m p lo y e r s a n d r e p r e se n ta tiv e s o f o rg a n iz ed w o rk ers
d ir e c t ly ___________ __________ _________
G o v e r n m e n t c o n c ilia to r s or lab o r b oard s
. .
P r iv a t e c o n c ilia to r s or a rb itr a to rs____
T e r m in a te d w it h o u t form al s e t t le m e n t N o t r e p o r te d ____
______________________
164
N um ber
P e r c e n t of
to ta l
100.0
9
6 .5
3, 277
7 .5
66
48
3
37
4 0 .2
29 .3
1.8
2 2 .6
6
15,633
402
3,9 1 7
20
3 5 .6
.9
8 .9
1
0)
1 L e ss th a n Mo o f 1 p e r c e n t.
The results of the 164 strikes which ended in April are indicated in
tables 7 and 8. Slightly more than one-half of the employees involved
in these strikes obtained partial gains or compromise settlements;
about one-fourth of them obtained essentially all they demanded;
about one-seventh of them obtained little or no gains as a result of
the strikes.
Table 8 indicates that the workers were more successful with the
wage and hour disputes than with the strikes over union organization
matters. They won 42 percent of the wage and hour strikes as
compared with 33 percent of the organization strikes; they lost 28
percent of the wage and hour disputes as compared with 40 percent
of the strikes over organization matters.
Table 7.— Results of Strikes Ending in April 1936
S tr ik e s
R e s u lts
N um b er
T o t a l_____________________________ ___________
S u b s ta n tia l g a in s to w o r k e r s . . . _________
P a r tia l ga in s'o r c o m p r o m ise s ____
____
..
______
L it t l e o f n o g a in s t o w o r k e r s .. _______________________
J u r is d ic tio n a l or r iv a l u n io n s e t t le m e n t s _____ ________
U n d e te r m in e d ______ . _
_ ________ __ . . .
N o t r e p o r te d ____. . .
.
__________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W o rk er s in v o lv e d
P e r c e n t of
to ta l
N um b er
P e r c e n t of
to ta l
164
100.0
43,900
100.0
58
41
59
2
3
1
3 5 .4
25 .0
3 6 .0
1 .2
1 .8
.6
11,865
24, 731
6,443
340
454
67
2 7 .0
5 6 .3
14 .7
.8
1 .0
.2
392
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 8.— Results of Strikes Ending in April 1936, in Relation to Major Issues
Involved
N u m b e r o f str ik e s r e su ltin g in —
M a jo r issu e s
A ll issu e s.
W a g e s a n d h o u r s ___________________
W age in c r e a s e ........................... ........
W a g e d e c r e a s e .- .------- -------------W a g e in cr ea se, h o u r d e c r e a s e ..
W a g e d ecr ea se , h o u r in c r e a s e ..
H o u r in c r e a s e --------------------------H o u r d e c r e a se___________ ______
O r g a n iz a tio n _______________________
R e c o g n itio n ____________________
R e c o g n itio n a n d w a g e s ________
R e c o g n itio n , w a g e s , a n d h o u r s.
C lo se d s h o p ____________________
V io la tio n o f a g r e e m e n t________
D is c r im in a t io n ________________
M is c e lla n e o u s _________ ____________
S y m p a t h y --------------------------------J u r is d ic tio n ____________________
O th e r ___________________________
T o ta l
Sub
s ta n
tia l
g a in s
to
w ork
ers
J u r is
d ic
P a r tia l L it t le
tio n a l
or n o
g a in s
or c o m g a in s to or r iv a l
u n io n
w ork
p ro
s e t t le
m is e s
ers
m e n ts
U nd e
te r
m in e d
N ot re
p o r te d
2
3
1
164
58
41
59
60
27
13
14
25
14
3
7
18
9
5
3
1
17
4
5
4
1
2
e
34
9
3
8
7
2
3
1
84
18
9
24
15
3
15
28
6
1
10
7
1
3
5
1
20
2
2
16
21
2
5
6
1
2
5
2
7
8
1
1
2
3
2
2
5
2
8
1
C onciliation W ork of th e D ep artm en t of Labor in
June 1936
URING June 1936, the Secretary of Labor, through the Concili
ation Service, exercised her good offices in connection with
88 disputes, which affected a known total of 52,126 employees. Of
these disputes, 44 were adjusted, 1 was referred to another agency,
1 was settled by the parties at interest, 8 could not be adjusted, and
34 were still pending. The table following shows the name and loca
tion of the establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred,
the nature of the dispute (whether strike or lock-out, or controversy
not having reached the strike or lock-out 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.
D
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Disputes Handled by Conciliation Service During the Month of June 1936
C o m p a n y or in d u s t r y a n d
lo c a tio n
S tr ik e .
C r a ftsm e n co n ce rn ed
M a c h in ists .
W a g e s a n d a g r e e m e n t-......................
B u s d riv ers.
R e n e w a l of a g re em en t p r o v id in g
in cr ea se in p iec e-w o r k ra tes.
A sk e d u n io n r e c o g n itio n a n d
c lo se d sh o p .
A s k e d u n io n a g r e e m e n t__________
T h r e a t e n e d ____ d o ---------s tr ik e .
C o n tr o v e r s y . B o o k b in d e r s
S trik e.
C a u se o f d is p u te
S to c k to n
G r a in T e r m in a l,
S to c k to n , C a lif.
J a m e s to w n -C o r r y M a n u fa c
tu r in g C o ., C orry, P a .
W ilk e n in g
M a n u fa c tu r in g
C o ., P h ila d e lp h ia , P a .
____ d o ______
G ra in lo a d ers.
In c r e a se a n d r e n e w a l of a g r e e m e n t.
C o n tr o v e r s y .
M a c h in is t s .. .
D is c h a r g e d 11 w o r k e r s ................... ..
T a x ic a b d r iv e r s, D a lla s , T e x .
do.
Q u ak er O a ts C o ., P e k in , 111...
A tla s F u r n itu r e C o ., J a m e s
to w n , N . Y .
S tr ik e _______ ____ d o .............
C erea l w o r k e r s___
W a g e in cr ea se a n d im p r o v e d
c o n d itio n s .
6 u n io n m e m b e r s d isc h a r g e d _____
F u r n itu r e w o rk ers
W a g e c u t s ----------------------------- --------
B u ild in g -tr a d e s w o r k
ers.
W ir e a n d c a b le w o rk ers.
W a g e s a n d w o r k in g c o n d itio n s . . .
F u r n itu r e w o r k e r s_____
A sk e d in cr ea se, 40-hour w e e k ,
a n d u n io n r e co g n itio n .
C o n tr o v e r sy -
G la ss w o r k e r s ...
A sk e d r e n e w a l of a g r e e m e n t---------
S tr ik e ___ . . .
M a r b le w ork ers.
____ d o ______
S te e l w o r k e r s ...
R e n e w a l o f a g re em en t p r o v id in g
in cr ea se.
W a g e s a n d u n io n r e c o g n itio n ____
T h r e a te n e d
str ik e .
S tr ik e ______
P u b lic W o r k s p ro jects, C o lu m T h r e a t e n e d
b u s , O h io .
s tr ik e .
G e n e ra l E le c tr ic C o ., S c h e n e c S tr ik e ______
ta d y , N . Y .
N e w m a n & S o n s, P h ila d e l ......... d o ______
p h ia , P a .
N e w M a r tin s v ille G la ss C o .,
N e w M a r tin s v ille , W . V a .
M a r b le p o lis h e r s a n d h elp er s,
W a s h in g to n , D . C .
E a s te r n R o llin g M ills , B a lt i
m o re, M d .
■ N o t y e t r e p o r te d .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W a g e in cr ea se a n d u n io n re c o g n i
tio n .
D r iv e r s.
W a g e s c u t ________________________
P r e s e n t s ta tu s a n d te r m s of
s e ttle m e n t
P e n d i n g ............................. ..........................
A s s ig n
m en t
com
p le te d
1936
1936
June
I n d i
r e c tly
200
d o ___
A d ju s te d . S ig n e d a g r e e m e n t p ro ___do____
v id in g c lo se d s h o p a n d in cr ea se
o f 1 c e n t p er h o u r .
A dj u s t e d . A llo w e d w a g e in cr ea se
June 4
o f 10 c e n ts p er h o u r .
A d ju s te d . A ll r e in s t a t e d ...............
June 2
D i
r e c tly
400
1
____ d o ...________________ ______ _____ __ d o ____
____ d o — ----------- -------------------------------
W o rk er s i n
v o lv e d
0)
4
8
7
J u n e 18
June
150
100
7
4
146
J u n e 25
149
170
M a y 26
M a y 31
463
54
June
June
A d ju s te d .
A llo w e d
w a g e in
crea ses, s e n io r ity r ig h ts , a n d
45-hour w e e k .
A d ju s te d . A ll re tu r n e d ; agreed to
a r b itr a tio n for a ll d iffer en ces.
U n a b le to a d ju s t. P la n t c l o s e d . . .
June
1
A d ju s te d . I n v e s t ig a t io n o f c o n
d itio n s a n d a w a r d m a d e a n d
a c c e p te d .
P e n d in g ............... ................. .......................
M a y 22
J u ly
9
6
J u n e 23
75
June 3
A d ju s te d . A g reed to a rb itr a te
d iffer en ces.
June 4
A d ju s te d . A llo w e d 15 p e r c e n t
w a g e in c r e a se a n d 40-hour w e e k
b e g in n in g J u ly 1.
U n a b le to a d ju s t. P la n t c l o s e d .. . __ d o ____
J u n e 11
225
1,000
10
A d ju s te d . A g r e e d to a r b itr a te
d iffer en ces.
A d ju s te d . A llo w e d 13 p e r c e n t
w a g e in c r e a se a n d u n io n re co g n i
tio n .
June
4
25
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
P itts b u r g h V a lv e & P it t in g
C o ., B a r b e r to n , O h io.
S im m o n s M a n u fa c tu r in g C o .,
C le v e la n d , O h io.
P o llo c k
W ax
P a p e r C o .,
D a lla s , T e x .
L u z e r n e -C a r b o n M o to r T r a n s
it C o ., H a z le to n , P a .
N a tu r e of
c o n tr o v e r sy
C o m m is
sio n er
a ssig n e d
150
4
June
4
50
250
June
9
June
3
June
3
20
180
June
7
J u n e 24
800
50
00
CO
GO
C o m p a n y or in d u s tr y a n d
lo c a tio n
N a t u r e of
c o n tr o v e r sy
C r a ftsm e n c o n ce rn ed
Cause of dispute
P r e s e n t s t a t u s a n d te r m s of
s e t t le m e n t
C o m m is
sio n er
a ssig n e d
T e n n e s s e e C o a l P r o d u ce rs,
C h a tta n o o g a , T e n n .
P h ilip M o r ris C o ., R ic h m o n d ,
V a.
U n it e d S ta te s G la ss C o .,
G la ssp o r t, P a .
W o r k e r s in
v o lv e d
D i
r e c t ly
I n d i
r e c tly
1936
L o c k -o u t___
M o ld e r s.
R e fu sa l to a llo w o rg a n iz a tio n .
U n a b le to a d ju s t.
P la n t c l o s e d .. .
June
8
J u n e 14
120
50
S tr ik e ........... .
S u g a r -refin e ry w o r k e r s .
W a g e s, h o u r s, a n d w o r k in g c o n
d itio n s .
A d ju s te d . A llo w e d w a g e in crea se
o f $2 p er w e e k , 4 0-hour w e e k ,
a n d u n io n r e c o g n itio n .
P e n d in g ______________ _________ ____
June
5
J u n e 16
700
16
T hreatened C o a l m in er s.
strike.
Controversy. T o b a c c o w o r k e r s ...
Strike........ .
P o st-o ffice b u ild in g , A tla n tic _____d o ______
C it y , N . J.
A u t o m o b ile m e c h a n ic s, W a s h ____ d o ..............
in g to n , D . C .
L . A . Y o u n g S p r in g C o ., O a k ..........d o ..............
la n d , C alif.
F lin t-g la s s w o rk ers.
Iro n w o r k e rs a n d sh e e tm e ta l w o rk ers.
M e c h a n ic s _____________
E m p lo y e e s.
W a g e s a n d w o r k in g c o n d it io n s .. .
A sk e d o r g a n iz a tio n a n d u n io n -------d o _____ _____ __________ ________
r e c o g n itio n .
A sk e d in cr ea se of 10 c e n ts p er h o u r . A d j u s t e d . A llo w e d w a g e in cr ea se
of 5 c e n ts p er h o u r for fa cto ry
m e n a n d 2 c e n ts for p a ck ers.
A d ju s te d . A g reed to a b id e b y
J u r is d ic tio n
o f s e ttin g
g la ss
1926 ju r is d ic tio n a l a w a rd .
w in d o w s .
W a g e s, h o u r s, a n d c o n d itio n s ____ P e n d in g ............. ...........................................
A sk e d 4 0-hour w e e k , u n io n reco g
n it io n , a n d tim e a n d a h a lf for
o v e r tim e .
A s k e d in c r e a se to 90 c e n ts per
hour.
A sk e d 2 5 -p ercen t in cr ea se a n d
u n io n r e c o g n itio n
S p e n c er L e n s C o ., B u ffa lo ,
N. Y.
B r u n sw ic k -B a lk e C o lle n d er
C o ., M u s k e g o n , M ic h .
Controversy. M e ta l p o lish ers.
W e s t e r n C oal & M in in g C o .,
L e x in g to n , M o .
G eorge’s T ran sfer & T r u c k in g
C o ., Tne., B a ltim o r e , M d .
B a k e r s ’ B u r e a u , I n c ., S e a ttle ,
W a sh .
N o r w a y S h o e C o ., N o r w a y ,
M a in e .
G a so lin e -fillin g s ta tio n s , S a n
F r a n c isc o , C alif.
Controversy. C o a l m in er s.
Threatened
strike.
F illin g -s ta tio n w o r k e r s .
A sk e d w a g e in cr ea se of 5 c e n ts p er
hour.
W a g e c u t 15 p e r c e n t a n d lo n g er
h o u r s.
A s k e d a g r e e m e n t........... ...............—
•Orange p ic k e r s, O range, C a lif.
Strike.
O range p ic k e r s.
W a g e s a n d w o r k in g c o n d it io n s . . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A s s ig n
m en t
com
p le te d
Strike_____
C a rp en ters____
Strike_____
D r iv e r s _____
Threatened
strike.
Strike_____
B a k e r s __________________
S h o e w o r k e r s ___________
A s k e d a g r e e m e n t. 2 u n io n s d e
sire d c o n tr a c ts .
W a g e s a n d u n io n r e c o g n itio n .........
A d ju s te d . A g r e e m e n t p r o v id in g
u n io n r e c o g n itio n a n d a r b itr a
tio n for fu tu r e d iffer en ces.
U n a b le to a d j u s t ___________________
A d ju s te d . M i n im u m for w o m e n
in cr ea sed 3 c e n ts p er h o u r , an d
for m e n 5 c e n ts; fu rth er w a g e a d
j u s tm e n ts la te r.
U n a b le to a d j u s t _________ ______ _
A d ju s te d . W a g e in cr ea se o f $3 to
$5 p er w eek ; a ll r e tu r n e d .
P e n d in g ______ _____ ________________
M a y 29
2.000
M a y 14
900
June
1
J u n e 17
June
9
J u n e 29
M a y 11
J u n e 11
J u ly
9
150
350
8
360
500
00
400
25
J u n e 12
J u n e 19
6
5
J u n e 10
J u n e 22
500
400
1
J u n e 10
550
M a y 11
J u n e 12
June
A d ju s te d . A g r e e d to a c c e p t a r b i J u n e 3
tr a tio n of d iffer en ces.
A d ju s te d . S ecu re d a g r e e m e n t p ro J u n e 13
v id in g u n io n r e c o g n itio n , w a g e
in c r e a se s, a n d 48-hour w e e k .
J u n e 15
P e n d in g __________________ ______ _
35
10
400
J u n e 12
J u n e 22
400
J u n e 23
350
2.500
3, 000
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
1936
H o m e r F u r n a c e C o ., C o ld w a te r , M ic h .
W m . J . M c C a h n S u gar R e fin
e r y , P h ila d e lp h ia , P a .
394
Labor Disputes Handled by Conciliation Service During the Month of June 1936— Continued
D a v id s o n T r a n sfe r C o ., B a lt i
m ore, M d .
N o v e lt y I r o n W o r k s , S te r lin g ,
J u n e 16
250
50
A d ju s te d . M i n im u m w a g e for
c i t y a n d ro a d d riv e rs; w a g e i n
cr ea se o f 22}4 p e r c e n t for h elp ers;
a ll r e tu r n e d .
U n a b le to a d ju s t ________________
J u n e 13
17
8
A d ju s te d . A ll r e tu r n e d ; d iffe r
e n c e s s e t t le d in con fere n c e.
A d ju s te d . C o m p r o m is e
ag ree
m e n t.
A d ju s te d . M a n r e in s ta te d _______
J u n e 16
J u ly
2
1,800
500
M a y 15
J u n e 11
150
J u n e 15
J u n e 23
150
A d ju s te d . A g r e e d to a r b itr a te
d iffer en ces.
P e n d in g
_______________________
J u n e 17
J u n e 30
J u n e 16
(')
___ d o ________________________
_____d o ______________________________
__ d o ____
(i)
___ d o _____
_____d o ______________________________
__ d o ____
------d o __________ __________ ________
A d ju s te d . P la n t re o p e n e d , w o rk ers r e tu r n e d , s a tis fa c to r y agreem en t.
A d ju s te d . R e tu r n e d o n agreem e n t to n e g o tia te d iffer en ces.
_____d o ______________________________
D r iv e r s _________________
W a g e s . __________________________
L o c k -o u t___
Ir o n w o r k e r s____________
W a g es a n d w o r k in g c o n d i t i o n s ...
S tr ik e _______
B o ile r m a k e r s ........... ..........
S ig n e d a g r e e m e n t w ith in c r e a s e ..
C o n tr o v e r sy -
L o g g e r s -------------------------
A lle g e d v io la tio n of a g r e e m e n t ..
T h r e a te n e d
str ik e .
S tr ik e _______
I r o n w o r k e r s____________
-------d o ----------
T in w o rk ers____________
D isc h a r g e d ch a ir m a n of s h o p
c o m m itte e .
W a g e in cr ea se, h o u r s, a n d re
n e w a l of ag re em en t.
W o r k in g c o n d itio n s
____ d o .............
C a n n e r y w o r k e r s______
C o n tr o v e r sy -
C o tto n -te x tile w o r k e r s .
L o c k -o u t___
S h o e w o r k e r s ___________
.do.
J u n e 15
111.
B a ltim o r e D r y d o c k s , B a lt i
m ore, M d .
M a r y la n d D r y d o c k C o ., B a l
tim o r e . M d .
J e w e lr y w o r k e r s, L o s A n g e le s,
C a lif.
K e lly A x e C o ., C h a r le sto n ,
W . V a.
P h o e n ix G la ss C o ., M o n a c a ,
Pa.
G a r m e n t C o r p o r a tio n of A m e r
ic a , M o u n t V e r n o n , In d .
F r e ig h t h a n d le r s a n d clerk s,
C h ic a g o , 111.
B u ild in g tr a d e s , D e s M o in e s,
Iow a.
F e d e r a l B a r g e L in e s , S t.
L o u is , M o .
B r ic k la y e r s , G ord o, A la ______
R e p u b lic S te e l C o rp o ra tio n ,
R a im u n d , A la .
S . S . Pacific, e a s t a n d w e s t
co a sts.
P e n n s y lv a n ia F u r n a c e & Iro n
C o ., W a r r e n , P a .
i N o t y e t re p o r te d .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U p h o ls te r e r s ___________
S tr ik e ______
B u r n e r s a n d w e ld e r s - - - A sk e d w a g e in crea se a n d u n io n
re c o g n itio n .
------- d o ---------- -------d o .------- ----------- -------- ____ d o ______________________
M ar.
6
940
1,028
A d ju s te d .
R e a d ju s te d
p ric es,
J u n e 10
r a n g in g from 10 to 25 c e n ts p er
s e ttin g , e ffe c tiv e fro m A u g . 1 to
N o v . 1, 1936.
A d ju s te d . S a tis fa c to r y s e ttle m e n t- J u n e 19
J u n e 11
70
300
7
450
225
J u n e 15
60
340
A x e m a k e r s ____________
------- d o ----------
G la ss w o r k e r s __________
W a g e s, clo se d sh o p , a n d w o r k in g
c o n d itio n s .
W a g e s ............... ...........................................
-------d o ----------
G a r m e n t w o r k e r s______
A sk e d c o lle c tiv e b a r g a in in g ____
A d ju s te d . W a g e in c r e a se o f 8 p erc e n t, a n d u n io n r e c o g n itio n .
P e n d in g _________________ __________
____ d o ----------
F r e ig h t w o r k e r s ..............
A sk ed u n io n r e co g n itio n
U n a b le to a d j u s t ___________________
M a y 28
T h r e a te n e d
s tr ik e .
C o n tr o v ersy -
B u ild in g -tr a d e s w o r k
ers.
B a rg e w o r k e r s _________
P r e v a ilin g -w a g e r a t e s . .
P e n d in g ____________________________
J u n e 19
L o c k -o u t___
B r ic k la y e r s -------------------
A sk ed in cr ea se and re sto r a tio n of
v a c a tio n .
E m p lo y m e n t of u n io n w o r k e r s___
H ir in g of n o n u n io n w o r k e r s______
O fficers a n d ra d io m e n . .
L o c k -o u t___
M a c h i n i s t s .____ _______
O v e r tim e p a y a n d d isc h a r g e of
th ir d m a te a n d radio o p era to r.
O v e r tim e p a y , u n io n r e c o g n itio n ,
a n d 40-hour w eek .
250
72
------- d o _______
Iron -ore m in e r s ________
1,472
60
C u t to 20 c e n ts ea c h for d ia m o n d
s e ttin g .
C ontro v e r sy .
3
J u n e 29
J e w e lr y w o rk ers________
------- d o ______
(i)
J u ly
J u n e 12 _ ._ d o ____
J u n e 18
____ d o ______
______
45
J u n e 13
J u ly
(i)
M a y 11
J u n e 13
40
(i)
300
10
A d ju s te d . W ill e m p lo y o n ly u n - . . . d o ____
ioD m e n .
A d ju s te d . S a tis fa c to r y a g r e e m e n t
J u n e 17
renew ed.
A d ju s te d . S a tis fa c to r y a g r e e m e n t- J u n e 13
J u n e 26
19
30
J u n e 20
520
1,360
J u n e 17
30
U n a b le to a d ju s t- -------------------------- 1 J u n e 20
1
J u ly
do
_
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
B a b c o c k & W ilc o x B o ile r
W o r k s , B a r b e r to n , O h io .
C r o w n -W illa m e tte P u lp &
P a p e r C o ., S e a ttle , W a sh .
B a d g e r M a lle a b le C o ., M il
w a u k e e , W is .
U se d -fu r n itu r e s to r e s, C le v e
la n d , O h io .
A m e r ic a n C a n C o ., O a k la n d ,
C a lif.
L ib b y , M c N e i ll & L ib b y ,
O a k la n d , C a lif.
C alifor n ia C o tto n M ills , A la
m e d a , C a lif.
D ia m o n d S h o e C o ., B r o c k
to n , M a s s .
____________ __ d o ____
7
120
10
CO
CD
oo
Labor Disputes Handled by Conciliation Service During the Month of June 1936— Continued
CO
o*
C o m p a n y or in d u s t r y a n d
lo c a tio n
E a s te r n R o llin g M ills , B a itim o re, M d .
S e r v ic e
C o n s tr u c tio n
C o .,
In d ia n a p o lis, I n d .
B u ild in g , I n d ia n a p o lis, I n d
R a d io an d acc essories m a k e r s,
C a m d e n , N . J.
S tr ik e _______
----- d o ______
----- d o _______
C r a ftsm e n co n ce rn ed
P r e s e n t s ta tu s a n d te r m s of
s e ttle m e n t
C a u se of d is p u te
L u g g a g e m a k e r s ------------
W o r k in g c o n d itio n s ____________
P o u ltr y w o r k e r s .
___ d o ____________________________
___
D r e s s w o r k e r s__________ ____ do_ ______________________
__
P e n d in g . ___________________
____ d o _____________ ____
C o m m is
sio n er
a ssig n e d
A s s ig n
m en t
com
p le te d
1936
1936
J u n e 22
W o r k e r s in
v o lv e d
D i
r e c tly
(9
do
100
___ d o ____ _______ ____
J u n e 24
0)
__ d o______ M e ta l w o r k e r s .
______ W a g e in cr ea se, u n io n r e co g n itio n ,
a n d s e n io r ity r ig h ts.
____ d o ______ ------- d o .............. ........................ ____ d o __________________________
____ d o ___________ _________ _____
J u n e 26
750
___ d o ________________ _____
J u n e 24
38
------- d o ______
------- do__
T o y m a k e r s ___ ________
M a c h in is t s ___________
J u n o 19
J u n e 22
J u n e 25
100
____ d o - ____
Iro n , s te e l,
w o rk ers.
____ d o ___________ . .
A d ju s te d .
W a e e in cr ea se of 2
c e n ts p er h o u r , 40-hour w eek ,
a n d u n io n r e co g n itio n .
A d ju s te d . W a g e innroase of 12 14
p e r c e n t, r e tr o a c tiv e to J u n e 1,
J u n e 12
J u n e 22
800
June
J u n e 18
30
C o n tr o v ersy .
____ d o ______
S tr ik e _______
and
W a g e s a n d w o r k in g c o n d itio n s
A sk e d w a e e in cr ea se and u n io n
r e co g n itio n .
____ d o _____
t in
C a rp en ters a n d p la sterers.
C a rp en ters, la th e r s, a n d
s h e e t-m e ta l w o rk ers.
R a d io w o r k e r s _________
S e id e n C h e m ic a l C o ., B rid g e v ille , P a.
B a ltim o r e E n a m e l & N o v e l t y
C o ., B a ltim o r e , M d .
____ d o ______
-------d o ----------
S oap a n d fertiliz er w o rk ers.
E n am el w ork ers. . .
T u n n e l w o rk ers, O a k la n d ,
C alif.
E a s te r n Isle s C o tto n G a r m e n t
M a n u fa c tu r e r s , C lin to n ,
..........d o ..............
T u n n e l w o r k e r s ______
------- d o ______
G a r m e n t w o r k e r s ______
J u r is d ic tio n of a c o u s tic a l w o r k ..
J u r is d ic tio n of m e ta l-b a s e w o rk
A sk e d w a g e in cr ea se of 20 perc e n t, u n io n r e c o g n itio n , a n d
clo se d sh o p .
W a g e in cr ea se a n d u n io n r e co g n itio n .
A sk e d w a g e in cr ea se W a g e s for tim b e r w o r k e r s a n d
drillers.
A sk e d in cr ea se a n d sh o r ter h o u r s.
A d ju s te d .
C o n tin u e d a t w o rk
a g reein g to ta k e u p d ifferen ces.
P e n d in g _________________
____ d o _________________ __
A d ju s te d .
R e in s ta te d w o rk ers
w it h s ig n ed a g r e e m e n t.
in g from 20 to 25 p e r c e n t a n d rein s t a t e m e n t of th o se d esirin g it.
U n c la s sifie d . R eferred to B o a rd
of L a b o r R e v ie w .
P e n d in g ________
I n d i
r e c tly
9
J u n e 26
10
J u n e 23
14, 000
12
380
J u ly
1
J u ly
10
268
48
M ay
8
J u n e 15
11
439
J u n e 22
J u n e 30
800
100
J u n e 29
250
J u n e 18
25
Mass.
S a lin a s V a lle y I c e C o ., Sali- C o n tr o v e r s y .
n a s, C alif.
,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
S ta tio n a r y e n g in e e r s ___
1
A lle g e d d isch a rg es
a ffilia tio n .
for
u n io n
____ d o ______ ______________________
300
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-— AUGUST 1936
Q u a k e r to w n L u g g a g e C o .,
Q u a k e r to w n , P a .
P a r a m o u n t P o u lt r y P r o d u c ers, P h ila d e lp h ia , P a .
K le in D r e s s C o ., D ic k s o n
C it y , P a.
S ta n d a r d S te e l S p r in g C o .,
C ora o p o lis, P a .
C le v e la n d M o to r F r e ig h t C o .,
P ittsb u r g h , P a ., a n d Y ou n g sto w n , O h io.
T ra n so g r a m C o ., E a s to n , P a . .
H . L . E ly M a n u fa c tu r in g C o .,
P h ila d e lp h ia , P a .
N a t u r e of
c o n tr o v e r sy
S ta n d a r d O il, W h itin g , I n d __ ____ d o ___
W o rk er s o n fillin g r a c k s.
S tr ik e .............. E m p lo y e e s .
M a d e w e 11 M a n u fac tu r i n g
C o ., O a k la n d , C a lif.
P it t s b u r g h E q u it a b le M e te r _____d o _______ E le c tr ic a l a n d ra d io
w o rk ers.
C o ., P itts b u r g h , P a .
Z o o lo g ica l b u ild in g , S t. L o u is, ------- d o ______ B u ild in g -tr a d e s w o rk ers.
M o.
W a s te -p a p e r c o m p a n ie s, M i l C o n tr o v e r s y . T e a m s te r s ...... .....................
w a u k e e , W is .
A u t o m o b ile d ealers, Y o u n g s _____d o _______ M e c h a n ic s .
to w n , O h io.
W ig m a k e r s, N e w Y o r k C i t y . . S tr ik e _______ W ig m a k e r s _____
T o ta l.
J u ly
1
21
J u ly
11
21
U n c la s sifie d . W o rk er s c a lle d off
s tr ik e a n d r e tu r n e d .
A d ju s te d . R e tu r n e d a n d agreed
to a cc ep t d is p u te d m a te r ia l.
P e n d in g ____________________________
J u n e 23
J u ly
9
305
50
J u n e 26
J u ly
3
56
5
____ d o ______________________________
J u n e 23
50
W a g e in c r e a se , o v e r tim e p a y , -------d o .................. ........................................... J u n e 24
a n d u n io n r e c o g n itio n .
M ay 1
A sk e d 5 c e n ts p er h o ur in crea se ____ d o _____________ _____ ___________
a n d 40-hour w e e k .
_ _ .d o ____
A s k e d in cr ea se to $1 p er h o u r ____ -------d o ....................................................... ..
300
W o r k in g c o n d itio n s.
D is c h a r g e s ........................... .....................
D is p u t e r e la tiv e to m a te r ia l p ro
d u c e d b y q u a r ry w o rk ers.
W o r k in g c o n d itio n s ______________
.do.
A s k e d n e w ag re em en t.
4 d isc h a r g e d for jo in in g u n io n ____
I n te r p r e ta tio n of a g re em en t.
D is p u t e r e la tiv e te r m s o f agree
m en t.
A d ju s te d . D e c is io n
m ade b y
c o m m iss io n e r a n d a c c e p te d .
A d ju s te d . A ll r e tu r n e d ......................
J u n e 29
A d ju s te d . S a t i s f a c t o r y s e t t le
m e n t.
A d ju s te d . S a tis fa c to r y in te r p r e
ta tio n r e la tiv e o v e r tim e .
P e n d in g ............... .................................—
J u n e 26
J u ly
9
4
85
J u n e 20
J u ly
6
50
325
W a g e r a t e s ................. —
M a y 15
____ d o _________________ _____________
100
J u n e 15
P r e v a ilin g -w a g e ra tes.
W a g e s a n d d isch a rg es.
115
450
____ d o .................. ...........................................
A d ju s te d . S a tis fa c to r y s e t t le m e n t . . . d o ____
c o v e r in g p o in ts in d is p u te .
J u n e 14
A d ju s te d . S tr ik e a v e r te d a t th is
tim e .
P e n d in g ____________________________ J u n e 23
I n te r p r e ta tio n of a g r e e m e n t.......... .
(i)
J u n e 30
300
J u ly
J u ly
2
262
75
7
1,352
200
(i)
90
38, 773
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
B a k e r y w o rk ers.
T h r e a te n e d
B akery
w o rk ers,
S e a ttle ,
s tr ik e .
W a sh .
D r iv e r s _________
------d
o
______
B a k e r y te a m s te r s , S e a ttle ,
W a sh .
C it y
h o sp ita l,
W o rc este r, ____ d o _______ P lu m b e r s.
M ass.
D o r tc h s S t o v e C o ., N a s h C o n tr o v e r sy - M o ld e r s.
v ille , T e n n .
F u r n itu r e w ork ers.
T h r e a te n e d
E m p ir e C a se G o o d s C o .,
s tr ik e .
J a m e s to w n , N . Y .
S tr ik e _______ T u n n e l w o rk ers, sh o v e lB u ild in g tr a d e s,
S e a ttle ,
m e n , a n d p ip e w o r k
W a sh .
ers.
C o n tr o v e r s y . A u to m o b ile w o r k e r s___
Y o u n g R a d ia to r C o ., R a c in e ,
W is .
R u b b e r w o rk ers.
T h r e a te n e d
K e lly -S p r in g fie ld R u b b e r C o.
str ik e .
C u m b e r la n d , M d .
B u ild in g tr a d e s , F o r t H a r r i C o n tr o v e r s y . B u ild in g -tr a d e s w o r k
ers.
so n , M o n t .
H ig h w a y p r o je c t, C o ffe y v ille , _____d o ______ R o a d w o r k e r s--------------K an s.
F e b . 18
J u n e 30
R a te s of o v e r tim e p a y .
13,353
1 N o t y e t r e p o r te d
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
00
SO
-a
LABOR AGREEMENTS
Legalisation o f C ollective A greem ents in
F oreign C o u n trie s
HE practice of giving statutory effect to collective agreements,
which has been adopted in several countries recently, is one form
of governmental effort to stabilize industrial relations and working
conditions. The objective of legalization is to secure for all workers
in a locality or an industry the conditions that have been agreed to in
voluntary negotiations between organized employers and organized
workers and embodied in a collective agreement. Generally speaking,
the terms of a collective agreement represent the best conditions ob
tainable in a given industry or place. By extending the application
of those terms, as law, to parties not signatory to the agreement, the
negotiating parties are protected against the threat of lowered stand
ards through unfair competition.
Neither the legal concept of a collective agreement as an enforce
able contract, nor the extension of agreements to third parties not
signatories or involved in the negotiations is new in principle. The
idea of vesting voluntary agreements with the same degree of au
thority as factory laws, for example, is, however, an outgrowth of the
unregulated competitive conditions produced by economic depression.
T
British Textile Law
T he first of these legalized collective agreements to come to the
attention of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was that of the cotton
weavers in the Lancashire district of England. This was definitely
the result of wage cutting and other methods of attack upon labor
standards that had followed the seriously depressed condition of the
textile industry. Although operating under signed agreements,
workers in the organized plants had repeatedly been forced, as an
alternative to unemployment, to grant concessions of lowered wage
rates in order to meet the competition of manufacturers who had
no established scales and of those who disregarded agreements and
reduced wages far below those fixed in the union agreements.
Unsuccessful efforts on the part of the industry itself to stop the
downward pressure resulted in the move to call upon governmental
398
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR AG REEM ENTS
399
assistance to stabilize conditions and protect contracts. Employers
and workers, through their trade-union representatives, in conference
with officials of the Ministry of Labor, devised the plan for granting
juridical authority to collective agreements, and drew up a bill to that
effect. The bill, known as the cotton manufactory industry bill, be
came law in May 1934. In brief, it provides that when a majority
(interpreted to mean 51 percent) of the organized employers and organ
ized workers in cotton weaving in Lancashire agree upon a wage scale,
they may apply to the Minister of Labor to make that scale mandatory
and enforceable in all cotton-weaving establishments in the Lancashire
district. Machinery is provided for determining, through a board of
review, whether or not those making joint application for legalization
do in fact represent a majority of the industry and whether the ex
tension of the agreement to nonsignatories is expedient and in the
public interest. The board, in its recommendation to the Minister,
must be unanimous. If the board recommends the extension, the
Minister of Labor must issue the order, after which the wage scale
fixed in the agreement becomes the scale for the industry. Wage
scales must be posted and records must be kept and be available at
any time for official inspection. A fine of £5 is imposed for failure to
post the scale and keep the necessary records, and a fine of £10 upon
conviction is assessed against any employer paying less than the scale.
Anyone may bring charges of violation against an employer, but rou
tine observance of enforcement becomes the function of the regular
factory-inspection staff.
This is an emergency measure and admittedly experimental. As
such it has several circumspect elements that are absent from most of
the legislation which has followed it. It is also more closely limited
in its application, as it concerns wages only and its authority is con
fined to the process of cotton weaving in one English textile center.
Application to Textile Industry Elsewhere
So f a r no other industry or locality in England has followed the
example of the cotton-weaving industry, although the plan is being
considered by the cotton spinners. On the other hand, the idea has
been adopted by the textile industry in other countries.
The Government of Czechoslovakia has made the collective agree
ment in the textile industry of eastern Bohemia legally enforceable
upon 300 factories employing 41,000 workers. Moreover, it is pro
moting legislation to facilitate collective bargaining and to make agree
ments legally enforceable in other industries. A presidential decree
in Mexico gives statutory effect to a collective agreement affecting
the silk and artificial-silk industry.
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400
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W — A U G U S T
1936
Canadian System
T h e principle of the juridical authority of collective agreements
has been most widely adopted in Canada, where three Provinces1have
enacted legislation which grants statutory effect to agreements
arrived at in accordance with the terms of the law and which extends
the wage-and-hours provisions of union agreements to the entire
industry. In practical operation, this new instrument means, in
effect, that union wage rates and working hours are applied to unor
ganized and nonunion establishments, and that their maintenance is
undertaken by governmental agencies and processes. Individual
labor contracts setting terms lower than those fixed in the legalized
agreement are illegal and void.
Quebec adopted the plan shortly after its introduction into the
British Parliament. The Quebec law (ch. 56, 24 George V, 1934)
applies to all industries in the Province except railroads, and to all
agreements within specified territorial jurisdictions. The procedure
by which statutory effect is given to a collective agreement differs
somewhat from that in the British system. In Quebec any associa
tion of employers or workers, party to an agreement, may petition
the Minister of Labor to request the Lieutenant Governor in Council
to issue an order in council making the agreement enforceable as law
upon all concerned in the industry throughout the territory covered
by the agreement. Notice of the petition is published in the Quebec
Official Gazette, and arguments for and against juridical extension
may be filed with the Ministry within 30 days after publication of
the petition. On the basis of the arguments submitted to him, the
Minister makes his recommendation to the Lieutenant Governor
in Council who has discretionary power in the matter of issuing the
mandatory order. In actual operation, however, the petition for
statutory effect is tantamount to a grant.
Since the law went into effect it has been in constant use by organ
ized employers and organized workers. The building trades took
immediate advantage of it and have continued to do so. Because of
the local character of the building industry the territorial scope
of the agreements is narrow, with the result that many orders in
council have been made. The same is true of the barber and hair
dresser trades, which come next to the building trades in the number
of orders issued. On the other hand, four divisions of the clothing
industry—manufacturing men’s clothing, women’s cloaks and suits,
shoes, and gloves—have succeeded in establishing the entire Province
as a district for purposes of the act. Hence standards of hours and
wages set by the agreements in those trades are applicable and
enforceable as law throughout the Province.
1Since this article was written Nova Scotia has adopted the principle of legalization with reference to
collective agreements in the building industry in Halifax and Dartmouth, as reported in the Labor Gazette
of the Canadian Department of Labor, July 1936, p. 604.
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LABOR AGREEMENTS
401
Industries and trades, in addition to those mentioned, that have
secured legalization of agreements to date under the Quebec law are
the baking and confectionery industry and bread distributors, in
which the agreements, though local, extend practically throughout the
Province; furniture industry (Province-wide); ornamental iron and
bronze (Montreal and Quebec); millinery (Montreal); fur (Mon
treal); printing (confined chiefly to the judicial district of Quebec);
and the harbor workers and stevedores of the harbor of Montreal.
Enforcement of the Quebec law is not directly in the hands of
governmental agencies. The act specifies that “the parties to the
collective labor agreement made obligatory under this act must form
a joint committee charged with supervising and assuring the carrying
out of the agreement.” The Minister of Labor may add to this
council delegates who are not parties to the agreement. The joint
committee has authority to inspect the records of employers, and by
an amendment to the original act (ch. 64, 25-26 Geo. V, 1935) it “shall
constitute a corporation and shall possess the powers of an ordinary
corporation for the purposes of the carrying out of this act.”
Notwithstanding the unofficial character of the administrative
machinery, court action was successfully brought under the act in
the interest of a painter who brought suit for back wages due under
the legalized scale. The Circuit and Superior Court in Montreal
held the act constitutional and ruled that the rate set by the agree
ment was the legal rate and that its payment was mandatory upon all
employers in the same trade or industry in the Montreal district.
Alberta and Ontario are the other Canadian Provinces that have
enacted this type of legislation. In all essential respects the laws
are identical. Under them the Government takes a much more
direct and active part in securing collective agreements than in any
of the jurisdictions so far discussed. The Ontario act (Industrial
Standards Act, 25 Geo. V, 1935) provides that the Minister of
Labor may, upon the petition of representatives of employees or
employers in any industry, except mining and agriculture, convene
a conference or series of conferences “for negotiating standard or
uniform rates of wages and hours and days of labor.” The actual
terms of the agreement are determined by collective bargainingthrough the representatives of employers and workers thus brought
into conference, but when agreement is reached, the Minister of
Labor, if in his opinion the conferees constitute “a proper and suffi
cient representation” of the industry, may recommend to the Lieu
tenant Governor in Council that the terms of the agreement be
applied as law to all in the industry within the territorial jurisdiction
of the agreement. Ten days after publication in the Ontario Gazette,
the order in council becomes mandatory for the period of 1 year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
402
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Thus the element of a hearing on the agreement, which is present in
both the English and the Quebec plan, is not incorporated into the
Ontario act. In England the hearing is an actual one, at which
evidence may be submitted to the reviewing board after the petition
for legalization is made. In Quebec the physical aspect of a hearing
is absent, but arguments which may be submitted in writing to the
Minister of Labor are presumptively a determining factor. In
Ontario and Alberta the procedure is to call an official conference
which representatives of the industry in question are at liberty to
attend, and then to regard the deliberations and decisions of the con
ferees in attendance as expressing, fully and adequately, the views of
the industry. Determination of action based on these decisions then
becomes the province of the governmental agencies acting through
the Minister of Labor and the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The
enforcing medium in Ontario is the Minimum Wage Board of the
Ontario Department of Labor, and procedure for enforcement is the
same as that used in administering the minimum-wage laws. The
act assesses penalties of fine or imprisonment, or both, upon employers
paying and workers accepting less than the minimum scale set by the
wage schedule.
The Ontario method has so far been applied on a Province-wide
basis to the following industries: Women’s cloak and suit, millinery,
brewing, and furniture (Toronto excepted). Agreements have been
legalized locally in the building trades.
Wages Agreement Register of Irish Free State
T h e principle of legalized wage agreements is incorporated into
the statute recently enacted by the Dail Eireann of the Irish Free
State1to set up new standards of employment in industry. Under the
Irish plan (embodied in sec. 50 of Act No. 2 of 1936) the Government
is not directly concerned either with the negotiation of agreements
or with their legalization, both of which remain purely voluntary on
the part of employers and employees. Once legalization has been
applied for and granted, however, the Government assumes respon
sibility for the observance of the wages provisions of registered agree
ments, and the compulsory aspect thus accorded the wage scale fixed
by agreement may be revoked only by court action during the life of
the collective agreement.
The Minister for Industry and Commerce is directed to create and
maintain a wages agreement register for the official registration of
any collective agreement, negotiated either before or after the passage
of the act, the signatories to which desire registration. The Minister
must be satisfied that both the employer and the worker signatories
1 See M onthly Labor Review, M ay 1936 (p. 1248).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR AGREEMENTS
403
are “substantially representative” of the industry, the occupation, and
the area to which the agreement applies, and that the duration of the
agreement is at least 1 year. The Irish law resembles those of Ontario
and Alberta in that it does not limit nor define what proportion of
workers and employers shall be regarded as substantially repre
sentative. Organization is apparently assumed, however, as the act
refers to “a body or bodies” of employers and of workers.
When an agreement is entered .upon the official register, its terms
with regard to wages become immediately binding within its terri
torial jurisdiction upon every employer and every worker engaged in
the industry and occupation covered by the agreement. Nothing in
the act may be interpreted to prevent the payment of wages or salaries
higher than those fixed in the agreement, but the minimum must be
paid irrespective of individual contracts calling for less than the scale.
Payment or acceptance of lower wages constitutes an offense punish
able under the general provision of penalties for violation of the act,
consisting of a system of fines for first, second, and subsequent offenses.
Within 1 month after notice of the registration of an agreement has
been published in the official journal of the Irish Free State (Iris
Oifigiuil) any person may “apply to the high court in a summary
manner for the annulment of such registration.” The court may order
annulment if in its opinion the requirement of the representative
character of the signatories was not met.
The time in which official registration may be requested is limited
in the case of existing agreements to 6 months from the date of the
passage of the law, and in the case of those negotiated after its
enactment to 6 months after the agreement is adopted.
Provision in French Labor Law of 1936
M a c h in e r y for negotiating collective agreements is created in a
law enacted by the French Parliament on June 19, 1936, which
becomes part of the French labor code. The principle of legaliza
tion is incorporated in the law in the provision for the compulsory
application to employers and workers not parties to the negotiations
of any collective agreement consummated under the machinery and
regulations fixed by the law.
Legalization is to be extended to the agreement by the issuance
of a decree by the Minister of Labor. Before the decree is issued
the Minister must publish a notice in the Journal Officiel setting
forth the provisions of the agreement to be extended and requesting
that comments and advice thereon be filed with him within a fixed
period, which may not be less than 15 days. The period of the de
cree will be coterminous with that of the agreement unless the
Minister, upon the advice of the interested parties and the National
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
404
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Economic Council, rescinds it upon the ground that the agreement
is not suitable to the situation prevailing in the industry and district
concerned.
S ources: M onthly Labor Review, issues of August and September 1934, August and October, 1935;
interview with Mr. Andrew Naesmith, secretary, Amalgamated Weavers’ Association (Great Britain);
Bulletin of the International Federation of Trade Unions (Paris), Dec. 11, 1935; Industrial and Labor
Information Bulletin (Geneva), Dec. 9, 1935; Labor (Washington, D . C.), Jan. 22,1935; Quebec and Ontario
laws and agreements; Irish Trade Union Congress, 41st annual report, 1935 (Dublin); International Labor
Office Yearbook, 1934-35 (Geneva); Conditions of Employment Act, 1936, Irish Free State; Bulletin Legis
latif Dalloz, No. 12 (Paris), 1936, Law of June 19.
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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 E stablishm ents,
M ay 1936
OMPARED with the corresponding month of last year, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly survey of labor turn-over
in manufacturing industries for May shows a sharp gain in the
hiring rate and a marked decrease in the total separation rate. As
against an accession rate of 3.01 per 100 employees in 1935, the
rate for May of this year stood at 4.07. At the same time, separa
tions (including quits, discharges, and lay-offs) declined from 4.38
to 3.34 per 100 workers.
All Manufacturing
C
Although the labor turn-over rates show a marked improvement
over a year ago, the rate of separations was slightly higher and the
rate of accession moderately lower in May than in the month pre
ceding, due to seasonal curtailment in some industries. The rise in
total separation rate during the month interval was entirely due to
an increase in the lay-off rate, which advanced from 1.92 to 2.08.
This increase more than offset the declines in the quit and discharge
rates. The accession rate of 4.07 per 100 employees in May compares
with 4.46 in April.
The turn-over rates represent the number of changes per 100 em
ployees on the pay rolls during the month. These data are com
piled from reports received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
more than 5,000 representative manufacturing establishments in 144
industries. More than 2,100,000 workers were employed by the
firms reporting to the Bureau in May.
T a b le 1 .— M o n t h ly L a b o r T u r n -O v e r R a t e s (p e r 100 E m p lo y e e s ) in R e p r e s e n t
a t iv e F a c to r ie s in 144 I n d u s tr ie s
Class of rate and
year
Quit rate:
1936_________
1935_________
Discharge rate:
1936_________
1935_________
Lay-off rate : 1
1936_________
1935_________
Total separation
rate:
1936_________
1935_________
Accession rate:
1936________
1935_________
Jan Feb
uary ruary March April May June July
Au
gust
Sep Oc N o D e Aver
tem tober
vem cem age
ber
ber
ber
0.71
.76
0. 68
0.86
.73
.75
1.16
.93
.20
. 18
. 17
. 18
.19
.17
.2 1
.20
2 . 66
2.10
2 . 21
1.88
1.83
2. 32
1.92
2 . 60
3. 57
3. 04
3. 06
2.79
2.88
3.24
3.29
3. 73
3. 65
6. 33
2.95
4. 23
3.97
3. 79
4. 46
3.63
1.06
1 . 21
0.83
0.90
0. 86
1. 05
0.89
0. 77
0. 69
0.86
.17
.20
.20
.2 1
. 19
.2 1
.20
.18
.19
2.08
3.00
3.46
2.57
2.70
1.95
2.03
2.58
2.89
2. 51
3. 34
4.38
4. 49
3. 67
3. 77
3.19
3.13
3.55
3.76
3. 56
4.07
3.01
3.18
4.17
4. 60
4.95
5.23
3. 63
3.30
4.17
.20
1 Including temporary, indeterminate, and permanent lay-offs.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
405
406
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
407
LABOR TURN-OYER
Thirteen Industries
I n a d d i t i o n to the information for manufacturing as a whole,
details of labor turn-over are available for 13 separate manufacturing
industries. For these industries, the Bureau’s sample covers firms
accounting for at least 25 percent of the total number of wage earners
employed.
The highest accession rate (9.21) occurred in the slaughtering and
meat packing industry; the lowest (1.34) in boots and shoes.
Slaughtering and meat packing also registered the highest total
separation rate (6.33) and iron and steel the lowest (1.67). The
highest lay-off rate (4.96) was indicated in slaughtering and meat
packing; the lowest (0.61) in iron and steel. The highest discharge
rate occurred in the automobile parts and equipment industry; the
lowest in the men’s clothing industry. Sawmills reported the highest
quit rate; boot and shoe manufacturing the lowest.
Table 2.— Monthly Turn-Over Rates (per 100 Employees) in Specified Industries
Class of rates
M ay
1936
April
1936
M ay
1935
Automobiles and bodies
Quit rate .
Discharge rate___________
Lay-off rate. ...... ........ .......
Total separation rate
Accession rate_____ _____
1.58
.29
2.06
3.93
3.84
1.40
.25
1.38
.34
6.06
7.78
1.98
1.2 2
2.87
5.81
Bricks
Quit rate________ ____ . . .
Discharge rate___ .
Lay-off r a te ..
. .
Total separation rate_____
Accession rate____ _____
1.34
.32
2.43
4.09
7.78
1 .1 1
. 27
2.17
3. 55
13.13
M ay
1936
1.59
.28
1.65
3.52
4.74
1.17
.29
1. 25
2. 71
5.85
1.76
.42
2.91
5.09
5.12
0.92
.05
3.88
4.85
5. 64
0.93
.04
7.65
8.62
1.94
2.37
.29
5.92
8.58
15.77
0.74
.25
3. 23
4.22
3.72
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 .1 2
.25
4.96
6. 33
9.21
0.78
.23
5.57
6.58
6.61
. 32
1.96
3.94
6.64
1.18
.28
5.39
6.85
2.36
1.50
.23
1.13
2.86
2.68
1.40
.26
.82
2.48
3.29
1.15
.23
1.25
2. 63
3.74
Furniture
1.73
.37
1.97
4.07
7.27
0.93
.25
3. 09
4.27
3. 72
M ay
1936
0.67
. 18
4.97
5.82
2.83
0.75
.2 2
7.00
7.97
8.61
0.76
.07
2.31
3.14
3.53
0.69
.09
1.92
2.70
4.12
April
1936
M ay
1935
Boots and shoes
0. 75
. 16
2.64
3.55
1.34
0.67
. 16
2.0 1
2.84
1 .1 1
0.68
.17
3. 93
4. 78
1.65
Cotton manufacturing
1.2 2
.29
3.25
4.76
3.46
1 39
. 32
2 .1 1
3.82
3.79
0. 98
.26
4. 03
5.27
2.65
Iron and steel
0. 62
. 18
2 66
3.46
3. 75
0.97
.09
.61
1.67
3.99
Petroleum refining
Slaughtering and meat
packing
Quit rate___ ____________
Discharge rate.............. .........
Lay-off rate______________
Toial separation rate_____
Accession r a te ......................
1.66
Cigars and cigarettes
M en’s clothing
Quit r a t e . . . _____________
Discharge rate___________
Lay-off rate_______ ______
Total separation rate_____
Accession rate............. ...........
M ay
1935
Automobile parts
Foundries and machine
shops
Quit rate___________
Discharge rate____ _______
Lay-off fa te______________
Total separation rate. . . .
Accession rate..
_______
April
1936
0.48
.05
2.43
2. 96
3.63
0.79
.08
.44
1.31
5.43
0.77
.05
.70
1. 52
1.55
Sawmills
1.89
.35
3. 65
5.89
8.51
2 04
.34
3. 22
5.60
8.90
17.18
.25
3.88
21.31
8.84
MINIMUM WAGE
M inim um -W age O rders fo r H o tel and R e sta u ra n t
Employees in P rovince of Quebec 1
WO orders of the Minimum Wage Board of the Province of
Quebec, effective August 1, 1936, fix wage rates and conditions
of wage payment for woman workers, “and males when replacing
females,” in hotels, restaurants and other types of establishments
where food is served.
Minimum wage order no. 22 applies to restaurants not connected
with hotels, dining rooms, lunch counters, curb and roadside service to
automobiles, and similar service of food, and covers all female em
ployees. The rate is fixed at not less than 17 cents per hour, meals
included, for Montreal and all municipalities of over 5,000 population
in the Island of Montreal. A minimum rate of 15 cents per hour,
meals included, is established for Quebec, Hull, Sherbrooke, Three
Rivers, and all cities, exclusive of the Montreal district, of more than
25,000 population.
Order no. 23 covers hotels. As applied to waitresses and chamber
maids, the minimum wage fixed by the order is $17 a month in zone 1
(Montreal, Outremont, Verdun, and Westmount), and $15 a month
in zone 2 (Quebec, Hull, Sherbrooke, Three Rivers, and other cities
of over 25,000 population). The rate for kitchen help and other
female employees in hotels is not less than $22 a month, room and
board included, in zone 1, and $20 a month, room and board included,
in zone 2.
If hotel employees are not lodged, $8 per month is to be added to
the minimum monthly wage, and if neither lodging nor board is fur
nished an additional monthly wage of $18 must be paid.
Employees in food service in establishments other than hotels are
to be allowed one meal daily for 3 hours’ work or less; 2 meals for 5
hours’ work, and 3 meals for 8 hours or more per day. Meals are
declared to “form an integral part of the employee’s salary” and no
deductions therefor can be made. Time consumed for meals, how
ever, is not to be considered as working time. A minimum of 3
hours’ wages must be paid for each time the employee reports for duty,
T
1 Based on report from John R. Barry, American vice consul at Montreal, dated June 20, 1936.
408
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MINIMUM WAGE
409
and a bonus of 3 cents an hour shall be paid for all working time which
totals less than 30 hours in a week.
In other respects the orders are identical and deal with conditions
of payment, deductions from earnings, etc. Tips are declared to be
the property of the employee. Money received as tips cannot be
retained by the employer or considered part of the employee’s salary,
even with her consent. Uniforms are to be furnished and laundered
by the employer, except where made-to-measure uniforms are re
quired. In such cases the employer may sell the uniform at cost, the
price therefor not to exceed $3.
Earnings must be paid in full in cash, in sealed envelopes, and no
deduction “for any cause or purpose whatsoever” is permitted under
the ruling.
The order must be posted in a conspicuous place to which em
ployees have access, and employers are forbidden to discharge or
threaten to discharge or in any way discriminate against employees
who file complaints with the Minimum Wage Board or who testify
with regard to violations or infractions of the orders or of the Mini
mum Wage Act. Violations of the orders are subject to the penalties
imposed by the act. The Minimum Wage Board may, however, grant
exemptions to either order, and issue permits of variation or suspen
sion under exceptional conditions.
E stablishm ent of M inim um -W age R ates fo r 1936 and
1937 in Mexico 1
HE minimum-wage rates in Mexico, fixed by the special com
missions in the various municipalities and approved by the cen
tral boards of conciliation and arbitration (,Juntas Centrales de Concili
ación y Arbitraje) at the end of 1935 for the years 1936 and 1937,
vary from 0.75 peso 2 per day in Chiapas, Coahuila, Nuevo León,
Oaxaco, and Tamaulipas to 4.50 pesos in Baja California, Distrito
Norte, with an average for the entire country of 1.40 pesos per day.
For the years 1934 and 1935 the average rate fixed was 1.25 pesos per
day. The fixing of minimum wage rates is in accordance with the
Mexican Federal Labor Law of August 28, 1931, as amended by decree
of October 6, 1933. Minimum-wage rates were also fixed at the end
of 1932 and of 1933.
In eight States and the Territory of Quintana Roo, only one wage
was established for all types of work, although this wage varies from
T
1 Data are from Loyo, Gilberto, La Tercera Fijación del Salario Mínimo en México, in Revista de Econo
mía y Estadística (Mexico), March 1936, pp. 35-45; Diario Oficial (Mexico), Oct. 11, 1933, p. 435; U. S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bul. No. 569, Labor Legislation of Mexico, Washington, 1932, pp. 62, 63;
see also M onthly Labor Review, November 1934, p. 1234.
2 Average exchange rate of peso in January 1936=27.77 cents in United States currency.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
410
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
one municipality to another in five of these States. In 14 municipal
ities of Tlaxcala the minimum wage consists of a certain amount of
money and a specified quantity of maize. In other States, separate
wage rates are established for the more important types of work.
The greatest number of separate wage rates fixed according to type of
work was in Sinaloa and in the Territory of Baja California, Distrito
Sur, in each of which 11 were decreed.
The table shows for the various political divisions of Mexico the
number of wages fixed for different types of work in 1936 and 1937,
with the lowest, the highest, and the average minimum-wage rate for
each division.
Minimum Daily Wage Rates Fixed in the Various States of Mexico for
1936 and 1937
[Exchange rate of peso January 1936=27.77 cents in U . S. currency]
State, etc.
A guascalienteS-______
Baja California, D.N___
Baja California, D .S ___
Campeche___ _
__
Chiapas______________
Chihuahua___________
Coahuila_____________
Colima________ _____
Durango____ ______
Federal D istrict_______
Guanajuato___________
Guerrero__
Hidalgo_____ _______
Jalisco________ _______
M éxico________
Michoacán____________
Minimum wage
N um
ber of
rates Low High Aver
est
age
fixed est
5
3
11
1
4
3
3
3
4
2
4
1
1
1
1
1
P e so s P e so s
P e so s
1.50
4.50
2.75
1.50
1.16
3. 25
1.94
1.50
1.15
1.70
1.32
1.14
1.14
1.65
1.00
3.00
1.50
1.50
.75
1.50
.75
1.00
1.00
1.30
2.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
2.00
2.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.65
1. 25
1.50
1.40
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
.95
1 .1 2
1.0 1
1.04
1.03
LOO
1.00
State, etc.
P e so s P e so s
Morelos______________
Nayarit______________
N uevo Leon__________
Oaxaca_______________
Puebla.___ ___ _______
Queretaro. -- _______
Quintana Roo, ______
San Luis P o t o s i______
Sinaloa_______________
Sonora____
________
T a b a sco ______ _____
TamaulipaSTlaxcala
__
_____
Veracruz . .
_____
Y u c a ta n __________ . .
Zacatecas_____; _______
1 Also a certain quantity of maize, considered to be equal to 1 peso.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Minimum wage
N um
ber of
rates Low High Aver
age
est
fixed est
1
1
2
5
2
4
1.00
1.25
.75
.75
1.10
1.00
1
2.50
3
1.00
1.00
11
3
3
3
2
4
3
4
1.50
1.50
2.00
2. 50
1.75
1.50
2.50
1.25
2. 50
2.25
1.50
1.50
.75
L90
1.60
1.50
3.00
1.25
3.30
2. 50
1.00
2.00
2.00
P e so s
1.1 0
1.37
1.14
1.24
1.15
1.07
2. 50
1.04
1.60
1.91
1.56
1.14
1.13
2.02
1.62
1.09
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
E arnings and H o u rs in th e Set-U p Paper-B ox In d u stry ,
1933 to 19351
rERAGE weekly earnings in the set-up paper-box industry
advanced from $13.45 in May 1933 to $15.87 in August 1934,
and to $16.66 in August 1935, a total gain of 23.9 percent.2 As is
evident, most of this increase took place between May 1933 and
August 1934, and was due to the sharp rise in average hourly earnings
from 34.5 to 44.7 cents. On the other hand, the smaller gain in
average earnings per week between August 1934 and August 1935
was caused entirely by the rise in average weekly hours from 35.5
in the former period to 38.2 in the latter period. These findings are
the result of a recent survey3 conducted by the Bureau, in which
pre-code, code, and post-code conditions were covered.
Scope and Method
T he primary purpose of the survey was to ascertain the changes in
wages and hours of labor in this industry, (1) as a result of the adop
tion of both the President’s Reemployment Agreement and the code,
and (2) as a consequence of the discontinuance of the code.4 Hence,
information was obtained for three pay-roll periods, which fell respec
tively within the last half of May 1933, August 1934, and August
1935. The first period was about 2 months prior to the President’s
Reemployment Agreement, the second was at the halfway mark of
code regulation, and the third was about 3 months after the termina
tion of the code.
It is difficult to determine accurately the size of the set-up paperbox industry, as no separate figures are published for it by the Bureau
1 Prepared by Victor S. Baril, of the Bureau’s Division of Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions.
2 As defined by the code, this industry embraced “the manufacture of boxes made from paperboard and
other accessory materials, which, in ordinary and regular practice, are delivered to the consumer fully
erected and fabricated, including boxes manufactured by a member for his own use, and including jewelry
boxes, cases, and displays, whether made of paperboard or not.” Although covered by the set-up paperbox code, establishments engaged primarily in the manufacture of jewelry cases were not included in the
Bureau’s survey, as such cases are very often made of wood or metal.
3 A similar survey was made of the folding-paper-box industry, a partial report of which appeared in the
June 1936 M onthly Labor Review (pp. 1588-1615); the full report will be published in the near future.
< The President’s Reemployment Agreement was approved late in July 1933, and the substitute pro
visions covering this industry were adopted shortly thereafter. These were in effect until Dec. 31, 1933.
The set-up paper-box code became effective on Jan. 1, 1934, and continued in force until M ay 27, 1935, when
it was abandoned, along with all other codes, following the United States Supreme Court decision in the
Schechter case.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
411
412
M O N TH LY L A B O R R E V IE W — A U G U S T 1936
of the Census.5 However, it was estimated that in the fall of 1933
the industry had approximately 800 firms and 35,000 workers.6 In
May 1933, a total of 277 plants with 6,854 employees was covered
by this survey. During each of the two succeeding periods, however,
the sample was extended to 424 plants, which employed 11,864 workers
in August 1934 and 12,681 workers in August 1935.7 Based upon
these figures, it is estimated that approximately one-fourth of the
industry was covered in May 1933 and about one-third in each of the
two later periods. Table 1 gives a detailed picture of the coverage
for each period.
Table 1.— Coverage of Survey During Each of 3 Pay-Roll Periods
United States
Pay-roll
period
M ay 1933___
August 1934..
August 1935--
North
South
Number of employees
Number of employees
Number of employees
N um
N um
N um
ber of
ber o’f
ber of
plants Total Males Fe plants Total
Fe plants Total Males Fe
Males males
males
males
277 6,854
424 11,864
424 12 , 681
2,337
3,980
4,194
4,517
7,884
8,487
240 6,114
378 10,876
378 11,714
2,070
3,609
3,821
4,044
7,267
7,893
37
46
46
740
988
967
267
371
373
473
617
594
Set-up paper-box plants are distributed over the country. This is
no doubt due to the widespread use of such boxes for packaging pur
poses, and also to the bulkiness of the product, which makes it neces
sary for such plants to be within easy reach of their market. In all,
34 States were included in this survey. Both of the regions established
by the code were covered, the North including 23 and the South 11
of the 34 States.8 The greater part of this industry is in the North,
as evidenced by the fact that in the August 1935 coverage there were
378 plants employing 11,714 workers, located in the North, as against
46 plants with 967 employees, in the South.
This industry is also integrated to some extent with other indus
tries. As a result, it was necessary to include in the sample not only
paper-box plants proper, but also consumer plants which make
boxes for their own use and paper mills and printing establishments
6 This industry is included by the Census of Manufactures under “Boxes, paper, not elsewhere classi
fied”, which in 1933 embraced 1,104 establishments with a total of 53,111 employees (5,891 salaried workers
and 47,220 wage earners).
8 See letter to the President by N . R. A. Administrator, Hugh S. Johnson, under date of Dec. 15, 1933,
recommending the approval of the code.
7 Only plants having complete records for the last two pay-roll periods were scheduled. There were
424 plants that had records available for August 1934 and August 1935, and of these 277 also had records for
M ay 1933.
8 According to the code, the following 11 States covered here fall in the southern district: Alabama, Ar
kansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
and Virginia. The remaining 23 States, which form the northern district, are California, Colorado, Con necticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, M innesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, N ew Hampshire, N ew Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
413
W A G E S AND H O U R S O F LA BO R
which manufacture boxes more or less as a side line. Thus, of the
424 establishments scheduled, 345 were strictly paper-box plants, 70
were consumer plants, and 9 were either paper mills or printing
establishments.
Size of plant (in terms of total employment rather than set-up
paper-box employment) was also taken into consideration in selecting
the sample. An attempt was made to obtain a representative cover
age for each of the different size classes. Table 2 presents for each
class the number of plants and set-up paper-box employees covered.
Table 2.— Coverage of Survey According to Size of Plant, August 1935
Size of plant (total employment)
Under 10 employees---------------------------10 and under 20 employees-------- -------20 and under 30 employees------------ -----30 and under 50 employees------------------50 and under 100 employees-----------------100 and under 300 em ployees---- —
300 employees and over-------- ------------Total___
____________________
Number
Number of set-up
paperof estab
lishments box em
ployees
46
101
56
64
65
39
53
424
279
1,347
1,208
1,862
3,355
2,628
2,002
12,681
Information pertaining to wages and hours, technological processes
and occupational descriptions, and personnel policies were collected in
this survey. For each worker, data were obtained from company
records concerning the occupation, color,9 sex, method of wage pay
ment, total hours actually worked, and total earnings. These data
were used to compute average hourly earnings, weekly hours, and
weekly earnings, by occupation, sex, region, etc. Special tabulations
were prepared showing direct and indirect labor, independent and con
sumer plants, size of plant, size of city, and method of wage payment.
For New York City a tabulation was also made as to union and non
union establishments. Summaries pertaining to technological and
occupational descriptions as well as personnel policies were also
prepared.10
Average Hourly Earnings
Changes for the Country as a Whole
Set-up paper-box employees earned an average of 34.5 cents per
hour in May 1933,44.7 cents in August 1934, and 43.6 cents in August
1935. The average hourly earnings thus increased 10.2 cents, or 29.6
9
Colored workers constituted only about 1 percent of the total covered, and for this reason no separate
tabulations were made for them.
w All special tabulations, as well as the summaries covering technological processes and occupational
descriptions and personnel policies, will be published later in the bulletin.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
414
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
percent, between the pre-code and the code periods and declined 1.1
cents, or 2.5 percent, between the code and post-code periods. The
net advance between May 1933 and August 1935 was 9.1 cents, or
26.4 percent. These changes are shown in table 3.
Table 3.— Average Hourly Earnings, by Region and Sex, in 3 Pay-Roll Periods
Average hourly earnings
Percent of change
Region and sex
M ay
1933
August
1934
August
1935
M ay 1933
to August
1934
August
1934 to
August
1935
M ay 1933
to August
1935
United States______________ ____ _
Males_____________________
Females__________ _________
$0. 345
.441
.286
$0.447
.557
.387
$0. 436
.545
.378
+29.6
+26.3
+35.3
- 2 .5
- 2 .2
- 2 .3
+26.4
+23.6
+32.2
North
_ _ ______ __________
Males___________ __________
Females_____ ____________ .
.358
.460
.295
.453
.569
.391
.442
.556
.382
+26.5
+23.7
+32.5
- 2 .4
- 2 .3
- 2 .3
+23.5
+20.9
+29.5
South __________________________
Males_______________________
Females_____ _____________
.251
.303
.218
.375
.437
.335
.367
.429
.325
+49.4
+44.2
+53.7
- 2 .1
- 1.8
- 3 .0
+46.6
+41.2
+49.1
The full extent of the changes in average earnings per hour be
tween May 1933 and August 1934 and between the latter period and
August 1935 is indicated in table 4, which presents a percentage dis
tribution of all employees by average hourly earnings.
Table 4.— Percentage Distribution of Employees According to Average Hourly
Earnings in 3 Pay-Roll Periods
M ay 1933
Average hourly earnings
Under 15 c e n t s ._____________
15 and under 20 c en ts.. __________
20 and under 25 cents. _____________
25 and under 30 cents. ___________ .
30 and under 35 cents____________
35 and under 40 cents. __________
40 and under 45 cents_________
45 and under 50 cents____________ _
50 and under 55 cents_____ ________
55 and under 60 cents___ ______
60 and under 70 cents________
70 and under 80 cents. _____________
80 and under 100 cents___________ _____
100 and under 120 cents. _____
120 cents and over______________
T otal________ ______ _____
August 1934
August 1935
Simple
Cumu
Simple
Cumu
Simple
Cumu
percent lative per percent lative per percent lative per
age
centage
age
centage
age
centage
2.7
7.8
16.7
19.9
15.1
10.8
7.9
4.8
4.3
2.9
4.1
1.8
1.0
.2
(0
100.0
2.7
10.5
27.2
47.1
62.2
73.0
80.9
85.7
90.0
92.9
97.0
98.8
99.8
100.0
100.0
0
0 .1
.4
1.3
26.1
22.3
15.9
9.0
7.2
3.7
6.4
3.7
2.9
.8
.2
100.0
0
0 .1
.5
1.8
27.9
50.2
66.1
75.1
82.3
86.0
92.4
96.1
99.0
99.8
100.0
0
0.4
1.6
4.9
23.6
21.4
15.2
9.3
7.0
3.7
5.9
3.4
2.8
.6
.2
0
0.4
2.0
6.9
30.5
51.9
67.1
76.4
83.4
87.1
93.0
96.4
99.2
99.8
100.0
100.0
1 Less than Jdo of 1 percent.
It is evident from this distribution that the low-paid employees
profited most from the minimum-wage provisions of both the Presi
dent’s Reemployment Agreement and the code. Thus, in August
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
415
1934 only 1.8 percent of the employees earned less than 30 cents per
hour, the lowest minimum under the code, whereas 47.1 percent had
received less than that amount in May 1933. It is significant that
most of these low-paid workers were shifted to the classes earning
30 and under 45 cents, in which all three of the code minima fall.11
The percentage in these classes advanced from 33.8 in May 1933 to
64.3 in August 1934. However,in each of the higher classes, beginning
with 45 cents, the relative number of employees also increased under
the code. Thus, the rise in the percentages from May 1933 to August
1934 was from 12.0 to 19.9 in the group earning 45 and under 60
cents, from 6.9 to 13.0 in the group earning 60 cents and under $1,
and from 0.2 to 1.0 in the group receiving $1 or over.
On the whole, the changes in average hourly earnings between
August 1934 and August 1935 were confined to the classes earning
under 45 cents. During this period, the percentage earning less than
30 cents per hour increased from 1.8 to 6.9, most of the gain being
made at the expense of the group receiving 30 and under 45 cents,
which declined from 64.3 to 60.2 percent. With the exception of
those with hourly earnings of 45 and under 50 cents, which increased
slightly from 9.0 to 9.3 percent, the remaining classes either remained
unchanged or declined slightly. Between August 1934 and August
1935 the percentage earning 50 cents and over declined only from 24.9
to 23.6.
Changes by Sex and Region
An examination of the averages by sex and region (table 3) indi
cates that between May 1933 and August 1934 in each region the
absolute gains were greater for males but the relative gains were
greater for females. Furthermore, both the absolute and relative
advances for each sex were greater in the South than in the North.
Thus, during this period the average earnings per hour increased
10.9 cents (23.7 percent) for males and 9.6 cents (32.5 percent) for
females in the North, and 13.4 cents (44.2 percent) for males and 11.7
cents (53.7 percent) for females in the South. The larger gains for
females in the North and for both sexes in the South may be attrib
uted to the relatively low pre-code wages. The reduction in average
hourly earnings between August 1934 and August 1935 was more or
less uniform for all groups, amounting to about 1 cent or 2 percent.
Both the regional and sex differentials were affected to some extent
as a result of the changes in average hourly earnings. The regional
differentials in favor of northern workers declined from 15.7 cents in
May 1933 to 12.7 cents in August 1935 for males and from 7.7 cents
in the former period to 5.7 cents in the latter period for females. Con
versely, in each region the differentials favoring males increased
n These were 37.5 cents for males in the North, 32.5 cents for females in the North and males in the South,
and 30.0 cents for females in the South.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
416
M O NTHLY L A B O R R E V IE W — A U G U ST 1936
slightly, the advance for northern males being from 16.5 cents in
May 1933 to 17.4 cents in August 1935 and for southern males from
8.5 cents in the former period to 10.4 cents in the latter period.
In order to understand fully the influence of both the President’s
Reemployment Agreement and the code on the average earnings per
hour, it is advisable briefly to examine at this point the wage pro
visions contained in each of these documents. Under the substitute
provisions of the President’s Reemployment Agreement, set-up
paper-box manufacturers consented not to pay any factory worker
“less than 40 cents per hour, unless the hourly rate for the same class
of work on July 15, 1929, was less than 40 cents per hour”, in which
case they were “not to pay less than the hourly rate on July 15, 1929”,
provided that “the minimum rate of pay for the least skilled worker
employed in this industry shall be 32.5 cents per hour, except that
in the southern division it shall be 30 cents per hour.” The code
regulations which superseded the above provisions were much more
specific. Thus, “the minimum rate of wage of any laborer, mechani
cal worker, or artisan employed in any plant, mill, or factory, or on
work connected with the operation of any such plant, mill, or factory”,
was set at 37.5 cents per hour for males in the North, 32.5 cents per
hour for females in the North and males in the South, and 30.0 cents
per hour for females in the South. Piece workers were to be paid at
rates which would “yield a worker for an hour’s work not less than
the minimum rate” prescribed.12 Female employees doing substan
tially the same work as males and under the same conditions were to
receive the same rates of pay. The wage rates of employees already
earning more than the code-minimum rates were to be “reviewed and
such adjustments, if any, made therein as are equitable in the light
of all the circumstances.” Finally, duly certified substandard workers
were to be paid not less than 80 percent of the minimum prescribed
by the code.
An examination of table 5 shows quite conclusively the influence
of the code on the average hourly earnings of individual employees
for each of the sex-region groups.
12 The minimum rate of wages for all other employees, outside of commission salesmen, was to be $1 4
per week.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
417
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 5.— Percentage Distribution of Employees According to Average Hourly
Earnings, by Region and Sex, in 3 Pay-Roll Periods
Region, sex, and average hourly earnings
August 1935
August 1934
M ay 1933
Simple Cumula Simple Cumula Simple Cumula
percent tive per percent tive per percent tive per
centage
age
centage
age
centage
age
N o rth
Males:
Under 15 cants _ __________ ____
15 0 and under 20.0 cents______- ___
20 0 and under 25.0 cents__
___ _
25 0 and under 30.0 c en ts.____ ______
30 ft and nndar 35.0 cen ts.. ________
35 ft and under 37.5 cents . _______
37.5 cents . ________ ___ ___ _____
Over 37 5 and under 4ft.ft cents______
4ft ft and under 45.0 cents _____ _____
4À.0 and under 50.0 cents. _ ________
50.0 and under 55.0 cents___________
55 ft and under 60.0 cents. _____ _____
60 0 and under 70.0 cents. _ ________
70 ft and under 80.0 cents _______________
80 0 and under 100.0 cents__________
100 0 and under 120.0 cents _ _______
120.0 cents and over___ ______
T otal -------------------------- ------------ -------------Females:
0.8
1.7
5.2
9.0
9.8
5.5
1.4
2.6
12.4
11.6
11.8
8 .1
10.9
5.6
2.9
.6
.1
T otal ____________________________
2.5
7.7
16.7
26.5
32.0
33.4
36.0
48.4
60.0
71.8
79.9
90.8
96.4
99.3
99.9
100.0
2.0
21.0
10.3
31.3
57.0
11.0
.6
68.0
68.6
8.3
25.7
7.3
12.7
6.6
1.8
1.0
.6
1.4
(0
0 .1
. 1
.3
2.0
2.6
11.8
3.0
11.9
10.9
9.8
7.8
16.8
10.7
9.2
2.3
.7
«
0 .1
.2
.5
2.5
5.1
16.9
19.9
31.8
42.7
52.5
60.3
77. 1
87.8
97.0
99.3
75.9
88.6
95.2
97.0
98.0
98.6
100.0
.1
.2
1.5
2.4
22.2
10.4
25.1
19.0
8.5
6.4
1.8
2.4
0)
0 .2
.8
2.0
10 .2
8.8
2.2
5.6
7.9
18.2
21.4
32.7
44.1
54.2
62.3
78.3
88.5
97.3
99.5
.5
100.0
3.6
2.3
10.3
3.2
11.3
11.4
10 .1
8 .1
16.0
100.0
.1
.3
1.8
4.2
26.4
36.8
61.9
80.9
89.4
95.8
97.6
100.0
0)
.4
(>)
.4
1.6
6.2
2.0
8 .2
4.5
17.3
9.5
24.4
18.1
12.7
30.0
39.5
63.9
82.0
90.6
96.4
98. 1
8.6
5.8
1.7
1.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
0)
0.2
.6
1 .2
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.0
15 0 and under 20.0 cents__ _________
ft and under 25.0 cen ts. _ ________
ft and under 30.0 cents_________ .
30 ft and under 32.5 cents____ __ _____
32.5 cents__ _________ _____ _________
Oyer 32 5 and under 35 cents __________
35.0 and under 40.0 cents ---------------------40 0 and under 45.0 cents _____________
45 0 and under 50.0 cents _______________
50 ft and under 55.0 cents ____________ _
55 ft and under 60.0 cents _______________
_______ _____
60 ft cents and over
2ft
25
0.8
Sou th
Males:
6. 4
12.7
20. 2
0 and under 30.0 cents___________
0 and under 32.5 cents. _ ________
32.5 cents
_ _______________________
Over 32 5 and under 35.0 cents ________
35 0 and under 40.0 cents ___________ _
4ft ft and under 45.0 c e n t s ______ ____
45 ft and under 50.0 cents___________
50 0 and under 55.0 cents _______________
55 ft and under 60.ft cents _ ________
60 0 and under 70.0 cents___________
70 ft and under 80.0 cents _______________
80 0 and under lftft ft cents
100.0 cents and over -------------------------------
25
3Q
T otal ........... ........... ........................... .............
Females:
20 0 and under 25.0 cents _ ___________
25 0 and under 30 0 cents
__________
30.0 cents . . ________________________
Over 30 0 and under 35.0 cents______
35 ft and under 40.0 cents___________
4ft ft and under 45.0 cents___________
45 0 and under 50 ft cents
__ __
50.0 cents and over........ .. ............ .............
Total
17.6
7.9
.4
5.6
6.0
8.6
4.5
3.7
1.9
3.0
1 .1
.4
6. 4
19.1
39.3
56.9
64.8
65.2
70.8
76.8
85.4
89.9
93.6
95.5
98.5
99.6
99.6
100.0
14.8
27.3
29.6
17.5
.4
7.0
2.3
.7
14.8
42.1
71.7
89.2
89.6
96.6
98.9
99.6
99.6
.4
100.0
100.0
9.7
16.4
5.7
21.0
8 .1
8.4
10 .2
4.3
8.4
3.8
1.9
.5
1.6
11.3
27.7
33.4
54.4
62.5
70.9
81.1
85.4
93.8
97.6
99.5
100.0
4.8
10.8
12.3
5.1
19.6
9.1
10.4
9.7
4.3
7.5
3.2
1 .1
.5
1.6
6.4
17.2
29.5
34.6
54. 2
63.3
73.7
83.4
87.7
95.2
98.4
99. 5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
.5
.5
1 .1
1.6
.5
2.9
8.9
.5
2.4
4.9
3.5
31.3
29.5
17.7
8 .1
3.4
1.6
100.0
4.9
8.4
39.7
69.2
86.9
95.0
98.4
100.0
6.0
13.3
24.8
21.7
18.8
6.3
4.0
2 .2
22.2
47.0
68.7
87.5
93.8
97.8
100.0
100.0
-
i Less than J-lo of 1 percent.
82425— 36-------10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
418
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W — A U G U ST 1936
As regards the male workers in the North, who represented 30.0
percent of the employees covered in this survey, the percentage earn
ing less than the 37.5 cents minimum per hour dropped from 32.0
in May 1933 to 5.1 in August 1934. One-half of 1 percent of the
employees in the latter period received less than 30.0 cents per hour,
the lowest possible rate for males in the North, such workers thus
being paid rates in violation of the code. The workers (4.6 percent
of total) earning between 30.0 and 37.5 cents were either substandard
employees, who could be paid as low as 30.0 cents under the code, or
regular workers paid in violation of the code. In August 1934, there
was a limited concentration of the employees at the code level, 11.8
percent receiving exactly 37.5 cents in that period, as compared with
1.4 percent in May 1933. Increases in average earnings per hour
likewise extended to the higher-paid workers. While the percentage
paid 40.0 and under 60.0 cents dropped slightly between May 1933 and
August 1934 (from 43.9 to 40.4), the percentage earning 60.0 cents and
over increased from 20.1 in the former period to 39.7 in the latter.
The wage changes for males in the North which took place after
discontinuance of the code were slight. The percentage earning
less than 37.5 cents per hour increased but little, advancing from 5.1
in August 1934 to 7.9 in August 1935. At the same time, the per
centage receiving exactly 37.5 cents declined from 11.8 to 10.3. In
each of the classes above 37.5 cents, the changes were negligible,
affecting but little the wage structure set up under the code.
The code changes for male workers in the South, the smallest of
the four groups,13were even more striking than those for male workers
in the North. Between May 1933 and August 1934, the percentage
earning less than 32.5 cents per hour, or the code minimum for this
group, dropped from 64.8 to 11.3. Furthermore, no employee was
paid less than 25.0 cents in the latter period, as compared with 39.3
percent receiving less than that amount in the former period.14 The
sharp decline since May 1933 in the relative number of employees
earning under 32.5 cents was followed by concentrations in August
1934 of 16.4 percent at the code minimum and of 21.0 percent in
the 35.0 and under 40.0 cents class, as compared with 0.4 and 6.0
percent respectively in May 1933; the intervening class of over 32.5
and under 35.0 cents remaining practically unchanged. With the
exception of the 40.0 and under 45.0 cents class, in which there was
a slight reduction, each of the succeeding classes showed an increase
in the percentages between the two periods, the total rise being
from 14.6 to 37.5.
With the termination of the code, there was, as in the North, no
wholesale shifting of males in the South from higher to lower wage
13 These constituted only about 3 percent of all employees covered.
11 Of the 11.3 percent earning 25.0 and under 32.5 cents in August 1934, there was found only one worker
paid at less than 26.0 cents, which is the lowest possible rate for substandard male employees in the South.
The remaining workers under 32.5 cents were either substandard or those paid in violation of the code.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W A G E S AND H O U R S O F LA B O R
419
classes. Between August 1934 and August 1935, an increase in the
percentage earning less than 32.5 cents per hour (from 11.3 to 17.2)
was accompanied by a decrease in the percentage receiving 32.5 and
under 40.0 cents (from 43.1 to 37.0). Similarly, the advance in the
relative number earning 40.0 and under 50.0 cents (from 16.5 to 19.5
percent) followed a decline in the relative number receiving 50 cents
and over (from 29.1 to 26.3 percent).
The shifting of employees from lower- to higher-wage classes under
the code was even more pronounced for northern females. In the
case of this group, which constitutes approximately 60 percent of all
employees covered, the percentage receiving less than 32.5 cents per
hour, or the code minimum, declined from 68.0 in May 1933 to 4.2
in August 1934. This decrease was accompanied by increases in all
of the classes of 32.5 cents and over. A decided concentration
occurred at the code level, the percentage earning exactly 32.5 cents
rising from 0.6 in the pre-code period to 22.2 in the code period.
It should not be inferred, however, that all females in the North
receiving less than 32.5 cents per hour in August 1934 were paid in
violation of the code, as substandard workers in this group could
also be paid as low as 26.0 cents, or 80 percent of the code minimum.
Only 0.7 percent of these employees received less than 26.0 cents,
and 3.5 percent earned between 26.0 and 32.5 cents. Employees in
the former group were actually paid in violation of the code, while
those in the latter were either substandard workers paid at code
rates or underpaid able-bodied workers.
The extent to which the relative number of northern females who
earned 32.5 cents and over advanced from lower- to higher-wage
classes between May 1933 and August 1934 is evident from the fact
that the percentage gains were from 20.0 to 35.5 in the group earning
over 32.5 and under 40.0 cents, from 8.4 to 27.5 among those earning
40.0 and under 50.0 cents, and from 3.0 to 10.6 among those receiving
50.0 cents and over.
As in the case of males in both regions, there was also very little
disturbance in the distribution of northern females because of the
elimination of the code between August 1934 and August 1935.
During this period, the relative number of female workers in the
North increased in each of the classes receiving less than 32.5 cents
and decreased in all but one of the classes receiving 32.5 cents and
over. Thus, the percentage earning less than the former code mini
mum rose from 4.2 to 12.7, most of this gain resulting from a drop
from 22.2 to 17.3 in the percentage paid exactly this minimum. The
changes in the upper-wage classes were negligible.
Female workers in the South, who represent about 5 percent of the
total coverage, had the greatest relative changes between May 1933
and August 1934. The percentage earning less than the code mini
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
420
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W — A U G U ST 1936
mum, or 30.0 cents, was reduced from 89.2 in the first period to 8.4
in the second period.15 At the same time, sharp increases took place
in each class receiving 30.0 cents or over. Thus, the gains were from
0.4 to 31.3 percent in the class earning 30.0 cents, from 7.0 to 29.5
percent in the group receiving over 30.0 and under 35.0 cents, from
2.3 to 17.7 percent among those earning 35.0 and under 40.0 cents,
and from 1.1 to 13.1 percent among those earning 40.0 cents and over.
With the discontinuance of the code, a sharp increase took place
in the number of southern females earning less than 30.0 cents per
hour, the percentage rising from 8.4 in August 1934 to 22.2 in August
1935. This rise was accompanied by an equally sharp decline in the
percentage receiving 30.0 and under 35.0 cents (i. e., from 60.8
to 46.5). The changes in the classes earning 35.0 cents or more were
small, the total variation being from 30.8 in August 1934 to 31.3 in
August 1935.
Changes by Occupational Classes
The variations in the average hourly earnings of individual occu
pations and occupational groups 16 are presented in table 6.
Table 6.—-Average Hourly Earnings, by Region, Sex, and Occupational Class,
for 3 Pay-Roll Periods
Average hourly earnings
Region, sex, and occupational class
M ay
1933
Percent of change
M ay A ugust M ay
A ugust A ugust 1933 to 1934 to 1933 to
1934
1935 A ugust A ugust August
1934
1935
1935
N o r th
Males:
M iscellaneous cutter operators. . . ___ _________ $0. 555
Miscellaneous cutter feeders______ . _ _______
.352
Compositors and printing pressmen____________
.635
Combination pressmen and feeders, printings. __
.546
Press feeders, printing_______________
_____
.368
Scorer operators________ ____ _________________
.551
Scorer feeders________________________________
.374
Corner-cutter operators_____ __________________
.476
Corner-cutter feeders_________________________
.331
Single-stayer o p e r a to r s ..,____. . . . . . _________
.361
Quadruple-stayer operators_______ _ _________
.480
Quadruple-stayer feeders__________
. ...
.319
Under operators______________
..
______
.547
Ender feeders___________ __ _________________
.374
Box makers, hand____ __________ . . .
.470
Miscellaneous bench workers, unskilled_______
.264
Miscellaneous machine operators_______________
.458
Miscellaneous machine feeders 1 __________ _____
.357
Machine helpers and fioormen 2_________ _ _
.294
Machine adjusters and repairm en____________
.577
Bundlers and p a c k e r s ._____________ ______ _
.338
Truck drivers_______ ______ ____________ ___
.479
W a tc h m en ._____________________
.324
Office and plant supervisory employees_______ _
.645
Office and plant clerical em ployees.. . . . ______
.507
Laborers_____________________________________
.332
Other unskilled service workers. ______________
.353
See footnotes at end of table.
$0. 683
.437
.762
.631
.458
.692
.451
.555
.429
.493
.627
.440
.619
.440
.577
.421
.609
.449
.402
.685
.438
.595
.420
.808
.571
.432
.411
$0. 670
.444
.769
. 632
.459
.686
.466
.569
.425
.477
.637
.452
.622
.437
.519
.418
.609
.457
.397
.675
.415
580
.385
.795
.558
.414
.399
+23.1
+24.1
+ 20.0
+15. 6
+24.5
+25.6
+ 20.6
+16.6
+29.6
+36.6
+30.6
+37.9
+13.2
+17.6
+ 22.8
+59.5
+33.0
+25.8
+36.7
+18.7
+29.6
+24.2
+29.6
+25.3
+ 12.6
+30.1
+16.4
- 1 .9
+ 1.6
+ .9
+ .2
+ .2
—, 9
+ 3 .3
+ 2 .5
-.9
- 3 .2
+ 1.6
+ 2 .7
+ .5
-.7
- 10 .1
- .7
+ 1.8
- 2 .2
-1 .5
-5 .3
-2 .5
-8 .3
- 1.6
- 2 .3
- 4 .2
- 2 .9
+20.7
+26.1
+ 2 1 .1
+15.8
+24.7
+24.5
+24.6
+19.5
+28.4
+32.1
+32.7
+41.7
+13.7
+16.8
+10.4
+58.3
+33.0
+28.0
+35.0
+17.0
+ 22.8
+ 2 1 .1
+18.8
+23.3
+ 10 .1
+24.7
+13.0
15 Exactly 1.9 percent of the females in the South received less than the lowest possible rate under the code,
or 24.0 cents, and 6.5 percent earned from 24.0 to 30.0 cents per hour. While the first group was actually
paid in violation of the code, workers in the second group might be either substandard employees who
could properly be paid such low wages or able-bodied workers who were underpaid.
18 These include occupations not sufficiently large to warrant the publication of separate averages.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
421
W A G E S AND H O U R S O F LA B O R
Table 6.—Average Hourly Earnings, by Region, Sex, and Occupational Class,
for 3 Pay-Roll Periods— Continued
Average hourly earnings
Region, sex, and occupational class
May
1933
Percent of change
M ay A ugust M ay
A ugust A ugust 1933 to 1934 to 1933 to
1934
1935 A ugust A ugust August
1934
1935
1935
N o r th —C ontinued
Males—Continued.
$0. 584
Other skilled indirect workers
.402
Other semiskilled indirect workers______ ______
.292
Other unskilled indirect workers 3-------------- ------
$6. 707
.453
.404
$0. 707
.466
.396
+ 2 1 .1
+12.7
+38.4
+ 2 .9
- 2.0
+ 21 . 1
+15.9
+35.6
.460
.569
.556
+23.7
-2 .3
+20.9
.274
.241
.306
.275
.305
.234
.260
.318
.299
.252
.280
. 396
.302
.238
.284
.465
.418
.269
.295
.359
.353
.397
.363
.412
.360
.361
.410
.387
.366
.382
.445
.388
.347
.360
.526
.476
.310
.391
.367
.339
.395
.364
.401
.348
.358
.409
.379
.348
.371
.437
.365
.339
.345
.531
.471
.300
.382
+31.0
+46.5
+29.7
+32.0
+35.1
+53.8
+38.8
+28.9
+29.4
+45.2
+36.4
+12.4
+28.5
+45.8
+26.8
+13.1
+13.9
+15.2
+32.5
+ 2 .2
-4 .0
- .5
+ .3
- 2 .7
- 3 .3
+33.9
+40.7
+29.1
+32.4
+31.5
+48.7
+37.7
+28.6
+26.8
+38.1
+32.5
+10.4
+20.9
+42.4
+21.5
+14.2
+12.7
+11.5
+29.5
.417
.256
.184
.465
.291
.204
.303
.567
.371
.336
.601
.410
.349
.437
.532
.368
.345
.595
.397
.331
.429
+36.0
+44.9
+82.6
+29.2
+40.9
+71.1
+44.2
.220
.352
.337
.316
.360
.343
.329
.329
.327
.316
.335
.340
.329
.304
.345
.308
.339
.321
.305
.331
.325
+60.0
+53.9
+77.5
+51.3
+65.7
+51.6
+46.9
+65.2
+34.5
+53.7
T otal______________________________________
Females:
Corner-cutter feeders_________ ______________
Benders-up, hand___ ________________
_____
Single-stayer operators___
_________________
Quadruple-stayer feeders______ __ ---------- ----Strippers, machine--- - _ _____
_
.- - .- --- Turners-in, h a n d ___
Gluing-machine operators_________ _ _ ------Automatic-wrapping-machine operators.................
Box makers, hand.-- _____________ _ --------Miscellaneous bench workers, unskilled------------Lacers and fly leafers, machine-.
— ____
Miscellaneous machine operators 4__________. . .
Miscellaneous machine feeders 7
_ _______
Machine helpers and floormen
___ ____ .
Bundlers and packers. - . . . _______
Office and plant supervisory employees_______ .
Office and plant clerical employees-------------------Other indirect workers 5_______
.
...
T o ta l.._____ ______________________________
-.8
-.2
- 2. 1
- 4 .9
- 2 .9
- 1.8
- 5 .9
- 2 .3
- 4 .2
+ 1.0
- 1 .1
- 3 .2
- 2 .3
South
Males:
Miscellaneous machine operators K . . . ________
Miscellaneous machine feeder's 7 _______________
Machine helpers and floormen 2_ ______________
Other skilled indirect workers 6------------------------Other semiskilled indirect workers 7______ ____
Other unskilled indirect workers 3- . . .
------ T otal____ ____ ___ _ ---------------------------- . .
Females:
Single-stayer operators.. _______
___
Strippers, machine__________ . .
------- -Turners-in, h a n d ... _ . ------- -Automatic-wrapping-machine operators________
Box makers, hand____
_____ - _ ________
Miscellaneous bench workers, unskilled________
Miscellaneous machine feeders 7________________
Machine helpers and floormen 2------------- --------Other irrdirect workers 5_________________ _____
T otal_________ ___________________________
.219
. 178
.238
.207
. 217
.224
. 198
.235
.218
- 6.2
-.8
+ 2 .7
- 1.0
-3 . 2
- 5 .2
- 1.8
- 3 .4
- 2 .4
-3 . 8
- 4 .2
- 10 .2
+ 3 .0
- 2 .4
- 6 .7
+ 4 .7
- 3 .0
+27.6
+43.8
+87.5
+28.0
+36.4
+62.3
+41.6
+54.5
+50.2
+70.8
+45.0
+48.8
+56.2
+43.3
+54.0
+40.9
+49.1
1 For males in the North, it also includes machine strippers, gluing-machine operators, automatic-wrap
ping-machine operators, and machine lacers and fly leafers. For females in the North, it also includes
miscellaneous cutter feeders, printing-press feeders, scorer feeders, and ender feeders. For males in the
South, it also includes miscellaneous cutter feeders, printing-press feeders, scorer feeders, corner-cutter
feeders, single-stayer operators, quadruple-stayer feeders, ender feeders, machine strippers, gluing-ma
chine operators, automatic-wrapping-machine operators, and machine lacers and fly leafers. For fe
males in the South, it also includes miscellaneous cutter operators, miscellaneous cutter feeders, print
ing-press feeders, scorer feeders, corner-cutter feeders, quadruple-stayer feeders, ender feeders, gluingmachine operators, machine lacers and fly leafers, and miscellaneous machine operators.
3 For males in the North, it also includes hand benders-up and hand turners-in. For males in the
South, it also includes hand turners-in, hand box makers, and unskilled miscellaneous bench workers.
For females in the South it also includes hand benders-up.
3 For males in the North, it also includes truck drivers’ helpers. For males in the South it also includes
bundlers and packers, watchmen, laborers, and other unskilled service workers.
< For females in the North, it also includes miscellaneous cutter operators, combination printing press
men and feeders, scorer operators, corner-cutter operators, quadruple-stayer operators, and ender operators.
For males in the South, it also includes miscellaneous cutter operators, combination printing pressmen
and feeders, scorer operators, corner-cutter operators, quadruple-stayer operators, and ender operators.
s For females in the North, it also includes compositors and printing pressmen, bundlers and packers,
other unskilled service workers, and skilled, semiskilled, and unskilled miscellaneous workers, For fe
males in the South, it also includes bundlers and packers, office and plant supervisory employees, office and
plant clerical employees, other unskilled service workers, and unskilled miscellaneous indirect workers.
* For males in the South, it also includes compositors and printing pressmen, machine adjusters and
repairmen, and office and plant supervisory employees.
7 For males in the South, it also includes truck drivers and office and plant clerical employees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
422
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W — -AUGUST 1936
For male workers in the North, averages are presented for 23
individual occupations and 7 occupational groups.17 In May 1933,
the range in the averages of individual occupations was from 26.4
cents for unskilled miscellaneous bench workers to 57.7 cents for
machine adjusters and repairmen. However, when all averages are
considered, the occupational group of office and plant supervisory
employees had the highest, 64.5 cents, and the occupation of unskilled
miscellaneous bench workers still had the lowest. In August 1934,
machine helpers and floormen had the lowest average of any occu
pational class, 40.2 cents, while scorer operators had the highest
average of any individual occupation, 69.2 cents, and office and plant
supervisory employees the highest of all averages shown, 80.8 cents.
Between May 1933 and August 1934, office and plant clerical em
ployees had the smallest relative increase in average earnings, 12.6
percent, and unskilled miscellaneous bench workers the greatest,
59.5 percent. In a general way, the percentages of change seemed to
vary indirectly with skill. Thus, on the whole, percentage increases
were small for the skilled classes, greater for the semiskilled classes,
and greatest for the unskilled classes.18 Between August 1934 and
August 1935, the average hourly earnings advanced in 11 of the occu
pational classes, declined in 17, and remained unchanged in 2. The
increases ranged from 0.2 percent for combination printing pressmen
and feeders and for printing-press feeders to 3.3 percent for scorer
feeders. The decreases, on the other hand, extended from 0.7 per
cent for ender feeders and for unskilled miscellaneous bench workers
to 10.1 percent for hand box makers. In August 1935, watchmen had
the lowest average hourly earnings, 38.5 cents, and, as in August
1934, scorer operators had the highest of any individual occupation
average, 68.6 cents, and office and plant supervisory employees the
highest of all averages presented, 79.5 cents.
In case of female workers in the North, the range in average hourly
earnings in May 1933 was from 23.4 cents for hand turners-in to 46.5
cents for office and plant supervisory employees. In August 1934,
the lowest average, 31.0 cents, was for other indirect workers, while
the highest, 52.6 cents, was still for office and plant supervisory
employees. The percentage gains between these two periods extended
17 The 7 occupational groups include compositors and printing pressmen, office and plant supervisory
employees, office and plant clerical workers, other unskilled service workers, other skilled indirect work
ers, other semiskilled indirect workers, and other unskilled indirect workers.
18 The following classification of occupational classes according to skill was used: The skilled group in
cludes miscellaneous cutter operators, compositors and printing pressmen, combination pressmen and
feeders (printing), scorer operators, corner-cutter operators, quadruple-stayer operators, ender operators,
miscellaneous machine operators, machine adjusters and repairmen, truck drivers, office and plant super
visory employees, and other skilled indirect employees; the semiskilled group comprises miscellaneous
cutter feeders, printing-press feeders, scorer feeders, corner-cutter feeders, single-stayer operators, quad
ruple-stayer feeders, ender feeders, hand box makers, miscellaneous machine feeders, office and plant clerical
employees, and other semiskilled indirect workers; the unskilled group includes unskilled miscellaneous
bench workers, machine helpers and floormen, bundlers and packers, watchmen, laborers, other unskilled
service workers, and other unskilled indirect workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W A G E S AND H O U R S O F LA BO R
423
from 13.1 for the last-mentioned occupational group to 53.8 for hand
turners-in. It will be noticed that the August 1934 average for other
indirect workers was 1.5 cents under the code minimum. This was
due to the presence in this group of learners and apprentices and
substandard workers, whose averages in August 1934, while much
higher than in May 1933, were still well under the code minimum.
With the exception of three small increases, the average earnings per
hour decreased in all occupational classes between August 1934 and
August 1935. The declines, both relative and absolute, were smallest
for automatic-wrapping-machine operators, 0.1 cent or 0.2 percent,
and greatest for miscellaneous machine feeders, 2.3 cents or 5.9 per
cent. On the other hand, the increases were small, ranging from 0.1
cent or 0.3 percent for quadruple-stayer feeders to 0.8 cent or 2.2
percent for corner-cutter feeders. In August 1935, the same two
occupational classes had respectively the lowest and the highest
average hourly earnings as in August 1934, the range being from 30.0
cents for other indirect workers to 53.1 cents for office and plant
supervisory employees.
The 1935 average of the other indirect workers was affected even
to a greater extent than in 1934 by the presence of learners and
apprentices, as the number of these workers more than doubled during
this period, and, along with that, their average hourly earnings
declined slightly over 8 percent.
In the North, there are eight identical occupational classes for
which a comparison of average hourly earnings may be made by sex.
In May 1933, the differential in favor of males was 5.7 cents for
corner-cutter feeders, 5.5 cents for single-stayer operators, 4.4 cents
for quadruple-stayer feeders, 17.1 cents for hand box makers, 1.2
cents for unskilled miscellaneous bench workers, 5.4 cents for bundlers
and packers, 18.0 cents for office and plant supervisory employees,
and 8.9 cents for office and plant clerical employees. Instead of
disappearing, as provided under the code,19 these differences increased
somewhat. Thus, in August 1934 they were respectively 7.0, 9.6,
7.7, 19.0, 5.5, 7.8, 28.2, and 9.5 cents. With the discontinuance of
the code, however, these differentials declined in six and increased in
two of the eight occupational classes. In August 1935, the respective
differentials were 5.8, 8.2, 8.8, 14.0, 7.0, 7.0, 26.4, and 8.7 cents.
The range in the average earnings per hour of male workers in the
South was from 18.4 to 46.5 cents in May 1933 and from 33.6 to 60.1
cents in August 1934. In both periods, the lowest earnings were for
machine helpers and floormen and the highest for other skilled indirect
workers. The same two occupational groups had respectively the
greatest and smallest relative change between May 1933 and August
1934, 82.6 percent for the former and 29.2 percent for the latter. Foli» See p. 416.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
424
M O N TH LY LA BO R R E V IE W — A U G U ST 1936
lowing the discontinuance of the code, the averages of all but one of
the six groups shown declined, miscellaneous machine feeders having
the smallest decrease, 0.3 cent or 0.8 percent, and miscellaneous ma
chine operators the greatest, 3.5 cents or 6.2 percent. During this
period, the average of machine helpers and floormen advanced 0.9
cent or 2.7 percent. In August 1935, other unskilled indirect workers
had the lowest average hourly earnings, 33.1 cents, and as in the other
two periods, other skilled indirect workers had the highest average,
59.5 cents.
The average earnings per hour in the nine occupational classes shown
for female workers in the South varied from 17.8 to 23.8 cents in May
1933, from 31.6 to 36.0 cents in August 1934, and from 30.4 to 34.5
cents in August 1935. In each period, automatic-wrapping-machine
operators had the highest average, while hand turners-in had the
lowest average in 1933 and 1935 and, together with other indirect
workers, the lowest in 1934. Between May 1933 and August 1934,
the females in the South had, on the whole, the highest percentage
increases of any group. The lowest percentage gain during this
period was 34.5 for other indirect workers and the highest was 77.5
for hand turners-in. These large advances were due to the low pre
code average hourly earnings in this group and to the necessity of
bringing these earnings in line with the code minimum. In two cases,
the occupational averages in August 1934, while much higher than in
1933, still fell short of the code minimum of 32.5 cents. Thus, both
hand turners-in and other indirect workers averaged only 31.6 cents
per hour, or 0.9 cent under the code minimum. As neither class in
cluded exempted workers, it is evident that some of the employees in
these occupational classes were paid in violation of the code. In all
but two of the occupational classes, the average hourly earnings
dropped between August 1934 and August 1935. Machine strippers
and miscellaneous machine feeders had the smallest decline, 0.8 cent
or 2.4 percent, and hand box makers the greatest decrease, 3.5 cents
or 10.2 percent. The advances were 1.0 cent or 3.0 percent for un
skilled miscellaneous bench workers and 1.5 cents or 4.7 percent for
other indirect workers.
Among female employees, there are six identical occupations for
which regional comparisons are possible. In May 1933, the differ
entials in favor of females in the North were 8.6 cents for single-stayer
operators, 8.6 cents for machine strippers, 5.6 cents for hand turners-in,
8.0 cents for automatic-wrapping-machine operators, 9.2 cents for
hand box makers, and 3.5 cents for unskilled miscellaneous bench
workers. By August 1934, these differences had declined in the first
five occupations mentioned and increased slightly in the sixth. They
were respectively 4.5, 7.5, 4.4, 5.0, 4.4, and 3.7 cents. The reductions
were due to the greater relative and absolute increases in the average
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
425
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
hourly earnings of females in the South than in the North. On the
other hand, the slight increase in the differential favoring female
unskilled miscellaneous bench workers in the North was due to the
fact that between May 1933 and August 1934 the absolute increase
for that occupation in the North was slightly greater than in the
South. In August 1935, for each of the six occupations, the differ
entials in favor of females in the North, which amounted respectively
to 5.5, 7.2, 4.4, 6.4, 7.1, and 0.9 cents, were all smaller than the corre
sponding differentials in May 1933. As compared with August 1934,
however, they increased in three instances, declined in two, and
remained unchanged in one.
Weekly Hours
Changes in Averages
I n a d d i t i o n to increasing average hourly earnings, the code brought
about a reduction in the average weekly hours, as may be seen by an
examination of table 7. Thus, between May 1933 and August 1934
the average hours in the industry fell from 39.0 to 35.5, a decline of
3.5 hours or 9 percent. The drop was greater for males than for
females, and it was also greater in the South than in the North. In
the North the hours of males declined 5.1 hours or 11.9 percent, as
compared with 1.6 hours or 4.4 percent for females, and in the South
the hours of males dropped 11.0 hours or 23.3 percent as against
9.0 hours or 21.2 percent for females. In August 1934, the highest
average in any group (37.7 hours for males in the North) was more
than 2 hours under the maximum set up by the code for most
employees.
Table 7.—Average Weekly Hours, by Region and Sex, in 3 Pay-Roll Periods
Percent of change
Average weekly hours
Region and sex
M ay
1933
August
1934
August
1935
M ay
1933 to
August
1934
August
1934 to
August
1935
M ay
1933 to
August
1935
United States
_ _ ____ _
- - _____
TVTales
_
_________
Females------------ -- -------------- ---
39.0
43.3
36.8
35.5
37.5
34.5
38.2
40.5
37.0
- 9 .0
-1 3 .4
- 6.2
+ 7 .6
+ 8.0
+ 7 .2
- 2 .1
+ 6 .5
+ .5
North
_______ _________________
Males ___ ______ -- -- _______
Females__
- _ _ _ _ _ _ ___
---
38.4
42.8
36.2
35.6
37.7
34.6
38.2
40.6
37.1
- 7 .3
-1 1 .9
- 4 .4
+ 7 .3
+ 7.7
+ 7 .2
- .5
- 5 .1
+ 2 .5
Smith
__
_ _ _ _
_____
Males
___ __________
Females
- __- ___
44.2
47.2
42.4
34.5
36.2
33.4
37.7
39.6
36.4
-2 1 .9
-2 3 .3
- 2 1 .2
+ 9.3
+ 9.4
+ 9 .0
-1 4 .7
-16. 1
-1 4 .2
With the lifting of the maximum-hour provisions following the dis
continuance of the code, the average weekly hours increased. The
industry average advanced from 35.5 in August 1934 to 38.2 in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
426
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
August 1935, a gain of 2.7 hours or 7.6 percent. Similar increases
also took place for each group, although the average advanced more
in the South than in the North and within each region the gains were
greater for males than for females. The smallest increase, both
absolute and relative, was 2.5 hours, or 7.2 percent, for females in the
North, and the greatest, 3.4 hours or 9.4 percent, was for males in the
South.
With the exception of female workers in the North, the average
hours per week for each of the groups were still lower in August 1935
than in May 1933. These decreases, which amounted to 0.8 hour or
2.1 percent for the industry as a whole, were 2.2 hours or 5.1 percent
for males in the North, 7.6 hours or 16.1 percent for males in the
South, and 6.0 hours or 14.2 percent for females in the South. How
ever, the large group of females in the North worked on the average
0.9 hour or 2.5 percent more per week in 1935 than in 1933, this
being due to the fact that the increase in their average weekly hours
between August 1934 and August 1935 more than offset the small
decline that had taken place between May 1933 and August 1934.
One of the chief effects of the maximum-hour provisions of the
code was to level off somewhat the sex differentials. Thus, between
May 1933 and August 1934 the differentials in favor of males were
reduced from 6.6 to 3.1 hours in the North and from 4.8 to 2.8 hours
in the South. Between August 1934 and August 1935, during which
time the code was discontinued, they increased but little, advancing
only 0.4 hour in both districts. Regional differences were also
affected by the code. Thus, while males and females in the South
enjoyed respectively a differential of 4.4 and 6.2 hours in May 1933,
the opposite was true in each of the two later periods, males and
females in the North working a somewhat longer week than males
and females in the South.
Changes in Percentage Distributions of Employees
The full extent of the reduction in weekly hours under the code,
as well as the increase after the code, is shown in table 8. In order to
appreciate the significance of these changes, however, it is advisable
first to examine the provisions relating to working hours as found in
the code.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
427
W A G E S AND H O U E S O F LA B O R
Table 8.—Percentage Distribution of Employees According to Weekly Hours,
by Region and Sex, in 3 Pay-Roll Periods
M ay 1933
August 1934
August 1935
Cumu Simple Cumu
Simple Cumu
lative
lative
lative Simple
per
per
per
per
per
per
centage centage centage centage centage centage
Region, sex, and weekly hours
U n ited S ta te s
All employees:
Under 16 hours_______ . _____ ________ ___
16 and under 24 hours_________________ _____
24 and under 32 hours. ____________ ____ ____
32 and under 40 hours_____________ __________
40 hours________________________________ ____
Over 40 and under 48 hours______
__________
48 hours________ ___________________________
Over 48 and under 56 hours________ . ----------56 hours and over___ _______ _____ ___ ____ _
Total
________ _
.
____
4.3
6.6
12.7
2 1.2
5.6
23.0
6.5
16.3
3.8
4.3
10.9
23.6
44.8
50.4
73.4
79.9
96.2
3.6
6.7
11.3
24.7
46.0
5.7
.9
100.0
.3
.8
3.6
10.3
21.6
46.3
92.3
98.0
98.9
99.7
100.0
6.8
4.9
15.1
33.9
74.3
91.2
94.0
98.9
1 .1
100.0
2.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
2. 5
2.5
4.3
8.3
18.8
40.4
16.9
N o rth
Males:
Under 16 hours_______ _________________ - - 16 and under 24 hours---- ------ -----------------------24 and under 32 h o u r s ..._____ ______ ________
32 and under 40 hours_________ . ____________
40 hours__________. ______ _______
Over 40 and under 48 hours_______ ___________
48 hours____ ______ _______ ____ . . . ------ -Over 48 and under 56 hours____ ____ ______ ____
56 hours and over_____________________________
Total
_________ _
_ - ...... .......
Females:
Under 16 hours__ _____ ________ . . . ---- ------16 and under 24 hours__________ _______ ____
24 and under 32 hours_____________________ ....
32 and under 40 h o u r s .______ _____ _________
40 hours_________ __________________________
Over 40 and under 48 hours-------------------- -------48 hours_____________________________________
Over 48 and under 56 hours__________ _______
56 hours and ovpr
______
Total
_ __
. _
_ __.
1.9
3.8
8.8
16.1
4.9
26.3
10.0
21.5
6.7
1.9
5.7
14.5
30.6
35.5
61.8
71.8
93.3
100.0
2 .1
4.4
8.3
16.2
54.6
9.7
1.5
2.3
.9
2 .1
6.5
14.8
31.0
85.6
95.3
96.8
99.1
100.0
8.8
2.8
100.0
— —---5.6
8.8
15.6
24.7
6.5
22.8
5.4
9.3
1.3
5.6
14.4
30.0
54.7
61.2
84.0
89.4
98.7
4.3
7.6
12.5
28.6
42.5
3.8
.6
.1
4.3
11.9
24.4
53.0
95.5
99.3
99.9
100.0
100.0
2.9
5.3
10 .2
21.4
38.9
15.4
2.6
3.0
.3
3.6
7.8
85.1
88.4
97.2
—
2.9
8.2
18.4
39.8
78.7
94.1
96.7
99.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
1 .2
21.8
66.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1 .2
2.4
4.2
14.0
44.2
19.1
3.3
South
Males:
Under 16 hours_______________ __________ . . .
16 and under 24 hours_______________________ .
24 and under 32 hours--------- -------------------------32 and under 40 hours________________________
40 hours------------------ --------------------------------Over 40 and under 48 hours---------------- ----------48 hours___ ___________
.- -------------- -----Over 48 and under 56 hours------ --------------- -----56 hours and over_______- . . . ------------- ---------T o ta l..___________________________________
Females:
Under 16 hours---------------------------------------------16 and under 24 hours________ _______ _________
24 and under 32 hours------- ------ ----------------------32 and under 40 hours.._ ------------- - ----------- 40 hours______________ . . . - ----------- --- --- Over 40 and under 48 hours-------------------------------------------------- ----------48 hours--------------Over 48 and under 56 hours-------------- ------------T otal---------------- ---------- ------ -----------------------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.9
2 .2
5.3
12.3
3.8
13.8
2.6
40.1
18.0
1.9
4.1
9.4
21.7
25.5
39.3
41.9
82.0
100.0
2 .1
16.1
1.7
40.8
4.4
100.0
9.1
21.3
48.5
8.4
1 .1
1 .1
.5
3.2
10.0
19.1
40.4
88.9
97.3
98.4
99.5
100.0
4.9
7.4
16.9
34.9
37.0
53.1
54.8
95.6
5.3
8.3
16. 5
29.2
37.5
2.4
.5
.3
100.0
100.0
2.7
2.9
7.3
15.3
34.8
23.3
3.8
7.8
2.7
5. 6
12.9
28.2
63.0
86.3
90.1
97.9
2 .1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
4.9
2.5
9.5
18.0
3.2
6.8
5.3
13.6
30.1
59.3
96.8
99.2
99.7
100.0
5. 2
4. 6
10.9
15.7
40.0
18.0
2.6
2.8
.2
100.0
5. 2
9.8
20. 7
36.4
76.4
94.4
97.0
99.8
100.0
428
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W — A U G U ST 1936
The provisions of the President’s Reemployment Agreement re
lating to hours of work were fairly general.20 The code provisions,
however, were much more specific. Thus, “laborers, mechanical
workers, or artisans”, who represent most of the employees, were to
work 40 hours per week, with an annual tolerance of 7.5 percent,
but not more than 48 hours in any 1 week. All time worked in
excess of 40 hours in any 1 week was to be paid for at not less than
time and one-third. Employees engaged in emergency repairs or
emergency maintenance work were exempted from this general limi
tation, with the provision that all hours in excess of 40 in any 1 week
were to be paid for at not less than time and one-third. In addition,
certain special exemptions were made. Thus, watchmen were allowed
to work 56 hours in any 1 week, chauffeurs and truckmen an average
of 40 hours in any 4 consecutive weeks, and engineers and firemen an
average of 42 hours 21 in any 4 consecutive weeks. The hours of
executives and their personal secretaries and of all supervisory em
ployees receiving $35 or more per week were not limited. For all
other employees, the hours of work were to average not more than
40 per week in any 13 consecutive weeks and not more than 48 in
any 1 week.
The principal effects of the maximum-hours provisions of the code
on the industry as a whole were to reduce sharply the number of
employees working over 40 hours per week and to bring about a
very decided concentration at the code level. Thus, the percentage
working over 40 hours dropped from 49.6 in May 1933 to 7.7 in
August 1934. During this period, the percentage employed over 40
but under 48 hours was reduced from 23.0 to 5.7, that working 48 but
under 56 declined from 22.8 to 1.7, and that with a week of 56 hours or
over decreased from 3.8 to 0.3. An examination of the distribution
for individual occupations shows that a majority of the employees
working over 48 hours per week in August 1934 were engaged in in
direct work and so could have justifiably worked such long hours under
the code. Along with the above reductions, the percentage of employ
ees working a week of exactly 40 hours rose from 5.6 in May 1933 to
46.0 in August 1934. During this period the percentages in each of
the classes under 40 hours varied but little, the greatest change taking
place in the 32-and-under 40-hour class, which increased from 21.2 in
May 1933 to 24.7 in August 1934.
After the code, there was an upward shift in the distribution of
employees for the entire industry. Between August 1934 and
20 The substitute provisions provided that:
a. “ During a fixed period of 6 consecutive months, the average maximum hours that any employee
may work shall not exceed 40 hours per week;
b. “During peak periods of business incident to this industry, the hours per employee per week may be
increased to, but not exceeding, 48 hours per week;
“In this connection, it shall be understood that any time in excess of 40 hours shall be paid for at time
and one-third.”
21 All time in excess of 9 hours in any 1 day was to be paid for at not less than time and one-third.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W A G E S AND H O U R S O F LA BO R
429
August 1935, the relative number of workers decreased in each of
the classes of 40 hours and under and increased in each of the classes
over 40 hours. During this period, the percentage employed 40
hours or less declined from 92.3 to 74.3, while the percentage working
over 40 hours advanced from 7.7 to 25.7. The reductions were
sharpest in the 32-and-under-40-hour class and in the 40-hour class,
the former dropping from 24.7 to 18.8 percent and the latter from
46.0 to 40.4 percent. On the other hand, the greatest increase oc
curred in the over 40- and under 48-hour class, the percentage here
advancing from 5.7 to 16.9.
An examination of the distributions of the four groups shows that
the variations in each of these differ from the changes in the industry
as a whole only in degree and not in kind.
In each group, the relative number working over 40 hours per
week declined sharply between May 1933 and August 1934. In the
North the percentage dropped from 64.5 to 14.4 for males and from
38.8 to 4.5 for females, and in the South from 74.5 to 11.1 for males
and from 63.0 to 3.2 for females. With the increase in weekly hours
after the code, the relative number employed over 40 hours per week
rose considerably. In August 1935, 34.0 percent of the males and 21.3
percent of the females in the North and 37.0 percent of the males and
23.6 percent of the females in the South worked over 40 hours per week.
However, these respective percentages in 1935 were lower than in 1933.
As previously stated, the sharp decrease in the percentages working
over 40 hours per week was accompanied by a very pronounced
concentration of workers at the code level. Between May 1933 and
August 1934, the number employed exactly 40 hours rose from 4.9
to 54.6 percent for males in the North, from 6.5 to 42.5 percent for
females in the North, from 3.8 to 48.5 percent for males in the South,
and from 2.1 to 37.5 percent for females in the South. As may be
seen, the increase in these percentages was greater for males than
for females. With the discontinuance of the code, the 1934 per
centages were not seriously disturbed, declining in three and increas
ing in one of the four groups. Thus, in August 1935, the percentage
working exactly 40 hours in the North was 44.2 for males and 38.9 for
females, and in the South 34.8 for males and 40.0 for females.
Between May 1933 and August 1934, the relative number of
employees working less than 40 hours per week remained practically
unchanged in the North but almost doubled in the South. During
this period, the percentage working less than the maximum code hours
increased from 30.6 to 31.0 for males in the North, and decreased
from 54.7 to 53.0 for females in the North. In the South, however,
the percentage rose from 21.7 to 40.4 for males and from 34.9 to 59.3
for females. The increases in the South were brought about by the
very sharp reductions in the relative number working over 40 hours per
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
430
M O N TH LY LA BO R R E V IE W — -A U G U ST 1936
week. While a large proportion of these employees were absorbed in
the 40-hour class, roughly one-third were shifted to the under 40-hour
class. With the lifting of the maximum-hours provisions of the code
and the increase in weekly hours, the percentage working less than
40 hours per week declined in each sex-region group. In August
1935, these percentages were 21.8 for males in the North, 39.8 for
females in the North, 28.2 for males in the South, and 36.4 for females
in the South.
Weekly Earnings
Changes in Averages
F o r the industry as a whole, the average weekly earnings rose from
$13.45 in May 1933 to $15.87 in August 1934, a gain of $2.42 or 18.0
percent. This increase was due entirely to the sharp advance in
average hourly earnings, as the average weekly hours declined during
this period. The gain in weekly hours, however, was responsible for
the increase in the average earnings per week from $15.87 in August
1934 to $16.66 in August 1935 (a rise of 79.0 cents or 5.0 percent),
since the average earnings per hour declined slightly during this
interval. Over the entire period, the average weekly earnings
advanced $3.21 or 23.9 percent. These facts are disclosed in table 9.
Table 9.—Average Weekly Earnings, by Region and Sex, in 3 Pay-Roll Periods
Average weekly earnings
Region and sex
M ay
1933
Percent of change
August
1934
August
1935
M ay
1933 to
August
1934
August
1934 to
August
1935
M ay
1933 to
August
1935
United States _____________ _ - ..........
Males____________________________
Females_____________ _ _ _______
$13.45
19.09
10.53
$15.87
20.91
13. 33
$16. 66
22.08
13. 99
+18.0
+ 9 ,5
+26.6
+ 5 .0
+ 5 .6
+ 5 .0
+23.9
+15.7
+32.9
North_________ ____________ . . . . .
M ales._____ __________ _. ___
F em ales... __ _______________ .
13.74
19.71
10.68
16.14
21.43
13. 52
16.90
22. 58
14.15
+17.5
+ 8 .7
+26.6
+ 4 .7
+ 5 .4
+ 4 .7
+23.0
+14.6
+32.5
South______________ _ . . . ____ _ . . .
M a le s .___. . . . ____________ .
Females__________________________
11.08
14. 32
9. 25
12.93
15.81
13.83
16. 98
11.85
+16.7
+10.4
+ 2 1 .2
+ 7 .0
+ 7 .4
+ 5 .7
+24.8
+18.6
+28.1
1 1 .2 1
Average Weekly Earnings
B e t w e e n May 1933 and August 1934, males in the North had a
higher absolute rise in average weekly earnings ($1.72) than males in
the South ($1.49), but the latter had a greater relative gain than the
former (10.4 percent as compared with 8.7 percent). During the
same period, females in the North had greater relative and absolute
increases ($2.84 or 26.6 percent) than females in the South ($1.96
or 21.2 percent). From August 1934 to August 1935, the gains
amounted to $1.15 (5.4 percent) for males in the North, 63 cents
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
431
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
(4.7 percent) for females in the North, $1.17 (7.4 percent) for males
in the South, and 64 cents (5.7 percent) for females in the South.
For the period as a whole (May 1933 to August 1935), the advances
in the North were $2.87 or 14.6 percent for males and $3.47 or 32.5
percent for females, while in the South they amounted to $2.66 or 18.6
percent for males and $2.60 or 28.1 percent for females.
The changes in average weekly earnings between May 1933 and
August 1935 affected, to some extent, the sex and regional differen
tials. During the period the margin in favor of males dropped from
$9.03 to $8.43 in the North and increased from $5.07 to $5.13 in the
South. On the other hand, the northern differential advanced from
$5.39 to $5.60 for males and from $1.43 to $2.30 for females.
Changes in Percentage Distribution of Employees
An examination of the distribution of employees for the industry,
as shown in table 10, discloses the fact that between May 1933 and
August 1934 there was a decrease in the percentages of employees in
each of the classes under $12 per week and an increase in the per
centages of employees in each of the classes of $12 and over. Thus,
during this period the percentage earning less than $12 dropped from
50.8 to 23.5, while the percentage receiving $12 and over advanced
from 49.2 to 76.5. The greater part of the reduction took place in
the $4 and under $12 group, while most of the increase occurred in
the $12 and under $20 group. The greatest advance was in the $12
and under $16 class (from 21.0 to 38.4 percent), which includes all
three of the full-time code-minimum weekly wages.22
Table 10 .—-Percentage Distribution of Employees According to Weekly Earnings,
by Region and Sex, in 3 Pay-Roll Periods
M ay 1933
Region, sex, and weekly earnings
August 1934
August 1935
Simple Cumula Simple Cumula Simple
percent tive per percent tive per percent
centage
age
age
centage
age
Cumula
tive per
centage
U n ited S tates
All employees:
Under $4__............__ .................. __
$4 and under $8
__
___
and under $12_ ________________
and under $ 1 6 ________________
$16 and under $20__________________
$20 and under $24_________________
$24 and under $28 ________________
$28 and under $32__________________
$32 and under $36. ______ _ ______
$36 and under $40____________ _____
$40 and under $44_ _ _______________
$44 and under $48 _______________
$48 and over__ _____________ ______
$8
$12
T otal___ ___ _
______
4.6
17.2
29.0
21.0
11.1
7.3
4.6
2.4
1.4
.7
.4
.2
.1
100.0
4.6
21.8
50.8
71.8
82.9
90.2
94.8
97. 2
98.6
99.3
99.7
99.9
100.0
1.7
6.5
15.3
38.4
17.5
8.3
5.3
2.9
2.2
.8
.6
.3
.2
100.0
1.7
8.2
23.5
61.9
79.4
87.7
93.0
95.9
98.1
98.9
99.5
99.8
100.0
1.8
4.8
13.1
35.6
21.4
9.7
5.5
3.5
2.4
1.0
.6
.3
.3
1.8
6.6
19.7
55.3
76.7
86.4
91.9
95.4
97.8
98.8
99.4
99.7
100.0
100.0
22These weekly wages are $15 for males in the North, $13 for females inthe North and males in the South
and $12 for females in the South.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
432
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 10.—Percentage Distribution of Employees According to Weekly Earnings,
by Region and Sex, in 3 Pay-Roll Periods— Continued
August 1934
M ay 1933
Region, sex, and weekly earnings
Simple
percentage
Cumulative percentage
Simple
percentage
Cumulative percentage
1.3
5.1
1.3
6.4
18.2
29.5
30.4
34.9
54.4
71.6
84.4
91.4
95.7
98.0
99.1
99.6
0.7
2.5
5.5
0.7
3.2
8.7
18.8
25.9
28.9
49.0
64.9
78.7
87.4
93.9
96.4
98.4
99.3
August 1935
Simple
percentage
Cumulative percentage
N o rth
Males:
_________ ____________
Under $4
$4 and under $8_ -- ____ _ __
and under $12 .
.
.................
$12 and under $15___ ___
$15_______________________________
Over $15 and under $16_____________
$16 and under $20- - _______________
$20 and under $24___
$24 and under $28_______
$28 and under $32__
____
__
$32 and under $ 3 6 __
$36 and under $40
_ ______
$40 and under $44___ _ ____ _ $44 and under $48 _____
$48 and over_________ _______ ____
$8
11.8
11.3
.9
4.5
19.5
17.2
12.8
7.0
4.3
2.3
1.1
.5
.4
100.0
Females:
_________ Under $4 .
_ __
$4 and under $8- ___and under $12
-_ ____
$12 and under $ 1 3 ____ __________
$13_______________________________
Over $13 and under $16__
...................
$16 and under $20- ..
$20 and under $24___
____
$24 and under $28___ _ _____ _ _
$28 and under $32__________________
$32 and under $36 _ _
___
$36 and under $40 __________ _ --_
$40 and under $44
$44 and under $48 $48 and over
. .
. ___
$8
6.0
22.0
37.1
8.0
.7
14.5
7.6
2.7
.9
.3
.1
.1
(>)
(9
6.0
28.0
65.1
73.1
73.8
88.3
95.9
98.6
99.5
99.8
99.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Total
7.1
3.0
20.1
15.9
13.8
8.7
6.5
2.5
2.0
.9
.7
2.1
7.7
19.1
8.4
11.5
26.9
17.2
5.2
1.3
.4
.1
.1
0)
100.0
1.3
3.8
7.6
5.2
3.7
21.0
17.5
14.3
10.5
7.2
3.1
2.1
1.0
100.0
.9
0.8
2.1
5.9
13.5
18.7
22.4
43.4
60.9
75.2
85.7
92.9
96.0
98.1
99.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Total
10.1
0.8
2.0
6.2
2.1
9.8
28.9
37.3
48.8
75.7
92.9
98. 1
99.4
99.8
99.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
16.8
7.0
.1
28.9
22.4
6.5
1.4
.5
8
.1
.1
(')
2.0
8.2
25.0
32.0
40.1
69.0
91.4
97.9
99.3
99.8
99.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
South
Males:
Under $4___ . _______________ __
$4 and under $8 . . ________ _____
and under $12 ______ _______ _
$12 and under $13 ______________ _
$13_______________________________
Over $13 and under $16_____________
$16 and under $20
____________ _
$20 and under $24_____ _
$24 and under $ 2 8 . ........... . . . _
$28 and under $32-_ —_ ____ _______
$32 and under $36___ _ __ _____
$36 and under $40
. _____
_ _
$40 and under $44 .._
$44 and under $48
$48 and over _
$8
Total _
Females:
Under $4.
. _ _
____
$4 and under $8
_ _
and under $12 _ _
_ _ ____
_______________________________
Over $12 and under $16 _ _ __ _ __
$16 and under $20 _ __
$20 and under $24 _
___
$24 and under $28_ .__ ____ _ ____
$8
$12
Total
1 Mo of 1 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2.6
13.1
27.0
5.2
.8
16.1
14.2
11.3
6.7
1.5
.4
.4
.7
2.6
15.7
42.7
47.9
48.7
64.8
79.0
90.3
97.0
98.5
98.9
99.3
100.0
.3
7.2
16.0
7.8
9.7
21.5
13.8
10.8
7.5
2.4
2.2
.3
.5
.3
7.5
23.5
31.3
41.0
62.5
76.3
87.1
94.6
97.0
99.2
99.5
100.0
2.4
4.0
9.4
7.8
5.1
23.0
20.7
11.8
9.4
2.6
2.2
.8
.5
.3
7.6
31.9
36.8
.2
19.1
3.6
.4
.4
100.0
7.6
39.5
76.3
76.5
95.6
99.2
99.6
100.0
3.7
16.1
27.5
12.0
32.1
7.6
.8
.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.4
6.4
15.8
23.6
28.7
51.7
72.4
84.2
93.6
96.2
98.4
99.2
99.7
99.7
3.7
19.8
47.3
59.3
91.4
99.0
99.8
100.0
5.2
8.6
25. 6
16.0
32.8
9.6
2.0
.2
100.0
5.2
13.8
39.4
55.4
88.2
97.8
99.8
100.0
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
433
The shifting of workers from lower to higher weekly wage classes
continued, although on a more limited scale, after the code was
abandoned. With the exception of the under $4 class, which increased
slightly between August 1934 and August 1935, small decreases
occurred in each of the classes under $16, thus reducing the percentage
earning less than that figure from 61.9 to 55.3. Most of these
employees were evidently transferred to the $16 and under $24
classes, as the percentage here increased from 25.8 to 31.1. The
greater part of this advance was in the $16 and under $20 class. The
percentages for the higher wage classes either increased very little or
remained unchanged.
The code did not greatly affect the weekly earnings of male workers
in the North. In May 1933, 70.5 percent were already earning $15
or more per week; in August 1934, this percentage had risen to 81.2.
During this period, the relative number of employees decreased in
each of the classes under $15, and increased in each of the classes of
$24 and over. The concentration at the code level was not very
pronounced, as only 7.1 percent earned exactly $15 in August 1934,
as compared with 0.9 percent in May 1933. In the over $15 and
under $24 classes, however, the trend varied, resulting in a decrease
in the percentage for this group from 41.2 in the earlier period to 39.0
in the later period. This shift of workers to higher wage levels con
tinued even after the code. Thus, 86.5 percent earned $15 or over in
August 1935, as against 81.2 in August 1934.
Most of the changes in the weekly earnings of male workers in the
South between May 1933 and August 1934 took place in the wage
classes under $16. Thus, while the relative number paid less than $13,
the code minimum for males in the South, dropped from 47.9 to 31.3
percent, those receiving $13 and under $16 increased from 16.9 to
31.2 percent. Furthermore, 9.7 percent earned exactly $13 per week
in August 1934 as against 0.8 percent in May 1933. In the classes of
$16 and over the changes varied considerably, the percentage paid
$16 and under $24 declining from 25.5 to 24.6, the percentage receiv
ing $24 and under $36 advancing from 8.6 to 12.1, and the percentage
earning $36 and over dropping from 1.1 to 0.8. The weekly earnings
of males in the South continued to advance after the code. Between
August 1934 and August 1935, those receiving less than the former
code minimum, $13, dropped from 31.3 to 23.6 percent and those
earning exactly $13 declined from 9.7 to 5.1 percent. In contrast, the
percentage paid over $13 advanced from 59.0 to 71.3, the greatest
increase taking place in the $16 and under $20 class, where the per
centage rose from 13.8 to 20.7.
The shifting of workers to higher weekly wage levels following the
adoption of the code was much more pronounced in the case of females
8 2 4 2 5 — 3 6 —1—11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
434
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
than in that of males. In the North the percentage of females receiv
ing less than $13 per week, the full-time weekly minimum under the
code for this group, dropped from 73.1 in May 1933 to 37.3 in August
1934. At the same time, the relative number rose in practically all of
the classes of $13 and over. Most of the decrease took place in the $4
and under $12 classes, from 59.1 to 26.8 percent, and practically all
of the gain occurred in the $13 and under $24 classes, from 25.5 to
60.8 percent. An important concentration took place at the code
level, the percentage here rising from 0.7 in May 1933 to 11.5 in
•August 1934. The increases after the code were small. From August
1934 to August 1935, the relative number declined in each of the classes
of $13 and under, advanced in each of the classes over $13 and under
$32, and remained unchanged in the classes of $32 and over.
In May 1933, over three-fourths of the females in the South (76.3
percent) earned less than $12 per week. With the establishment of a
minimum full-time weekly wage of $12, the percentage receiving less
than that amount declined to 47.3 in August 1934. Most of the work
ers affected were shifted from the $4 and under $12 classes, which
decreased from 68.7 to 43.6 percent, to the $12 and under $16 class,
which advanced from 19.3 to 44.1 percent. Between August 1934
and August 1935, the weekly earnings of females in the South, in
common with those of all other set-up paper-box employees, con
tinued to rise slightly. During this period, the percentage earning
less than the former code minimum, $12, dropped from 47.3 to 39.4.
Thus, in August 1935, 60.6 percent of the females in the South were
paid $12 or more, as compared with 52.7 percent in August 1934.
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E arnings and H o u rs in T in -P la te , S trip, Skelp, and
T u b e M ills, 1933 and 1935 1
N MARCH 1935, the average weekly earnings of wage earners were
$28.09 in tin-plate mills, $28.66 in strip mills, $20.98 in skelp
mills, $19.70 in lap-weld tube mills, $19.43 in butt-weld tube mills,
and $22.14 in seamless tube mills.2 Similar information for March
1933 is available for tin-plate mills only, where the average earnings
per week for that period amounted to $17.84.3 Compared with the
latter figure, the 1935 earnings in this department represent a gain
of 57.5 percent. The remaining five departments were covered in
1935 for the first time. However, in view of the fact that substantial
increases took place in all departments where comparisons between
the 2 years are possible, it may be assumed that similar advances
also occurred in these five departments.
The 6 departments included in this article are the last of the 21
covered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its recent survey of the
iron and steel industry.4 The number of employees scheduled in
each of these 6 departments is shown in table l,5 the total in March
1935 amounting to 26,037. As far as tin-plate mills are concerned,
the 1933 coverage was enlarged in 1935 to embrace workers in the
Eastern district, which accounts in part for the increase in the number
of employees between the 2 years.
I
T a b le 1 .— C o v e r a g e o f 1933 a n d 1935 S u r v e y s for T in - P la t e , S tr ip , S k e lp , L a p W eld T u b e , B u t t- W e ld T u b e , a n d S e a m le ss T u b e M ills
Department and year
Tin-plate mills:
1933___________________________
1935________________ __
Strip mills: 1935............ __ .........
Skelp mills: 1935___________________
Lap-weld tube mills: 1935_________
Butt-weld tube mills: 1935___
Seamless tube mills: 1935___________
Number Number
of plants of States
7
9
12
6
6
6
3
4
5
6
4
3
4
3
Number
of wage
earners
8,163
13,462
6,788
749
1,753
2,076
1,209
1 Prepared by Edward K. Frazier, of the Bureau’s Division of Wages, Hours, and Working Condition's
3 All data covering female plant workers in these and other departments, office workers, and an analysis
of the industry as a whole will appear later.
3 This figure includes the earnings of 330 females. If males alone were considered, this average would be
only slightly higher.
3 The other 15 departments have already been covered as follows: Blast furnaces, Bessemer converters,
open-hearth and electric furnaces in April 1936 M onthly Labor Review (pp. 1027-1054); blooming, rail,
structural, plate, and billet mills in June 1936 M onthly Labor Review (pp. 1615-1638); bar, puddling, sheet
bar, rod, wire, and sheet mills in July 1936 M onthly Labor Review (pp. 113-138).
3 For a description of the scope and method of this survey, see the April 1936 M onthly Labor Review
(pp. 1027-1029). In order pot to reveal the identity of individual plants, the data in this article are shown on
a district basis only for strip mills. The extent of each of the geographical districts used, as well as their
relation to the 21 code regions, will be found in footnotes 7 and 8, respectively, on pp. 1029 and 1030’of the
above issue.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
435
436
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W — A U G U S T
1936
Tin-Plate Mills
Average Hourly Earnings
T he
average hourly earnings of tin-plate-mill wage earners
amounted to 73.8 cents in 1935. This figure represents an increase of
40 percent over the 1933 average of 52.7 cents, thus reflecting the
increases in wage rates under the code.
Every class of labor benefited from this upward swing in wages, as
indicated by the percentage distributions in table 2. In 1933 the
workers earning 40 cents per hour included slightly more than onequarter of the total labor force, but declined to one-half of 1 percent
in 1935. In the latter year the lowest-paid quarter of the workers
included all the wage groups up to 55 cents, whereas in 1933 the
workers earning less than 55 cents had formed 63.7 percent of the
total. On the other hand, the percentage paid 55 and under 75 cents
advanced from 25.7 in 1933 to 33.4 in 1935. Similarly, those earning
75 cents and under $1 rose from only 6.6 percent in 1933 to 29.2
percent in 1935. The percentage paid $1 and over increased from
4.0 in 1933 to 12.2 in 1935.
T a b le 2 .— D is t r ib u tio n o f W a g e E a r n e rs in T in - P la t e M ills A c c o r d in g t o A v e r a g e
H o u r ly E a r n in g s , 1933 a n d 1935
1935
1933
Average hourly earnings
Under 25.0 cents____ _______ ___________
25.0 and under 30.0 cents_______________
30.0 and under 32.5 cents_______________
32.5 and under 35.0 cents_______________
35.0 and under 37.5 cents_____ _______
37.5 and under 40.0 cents________ ______
40.0 and under 42.5 cents_______________
42.5 and under 45 0 cents_______________
45.0 and under 47.5 cents_______________
47.5 and under 50.0 cents_______________
50.0 and under 55.0 c e n ts ... -*_________
55.0 and under 60.0 cents____ . . . _______
60.0 and under 65.0 cents________ ____ __
65.0 and undei 70.0 cents____ ___________
70.0 and under 75.0 cents_______________
75.0 and under 80.0 cents_____ _____ ____
80.0 and under 85.0 cents_____________ 85.0 and under 90.0 cents_______________
90.0 and under 95.0 c e n ts ... ________ . . .
95. 0 and under 100.0 cents..
. _______
100.0 and under 110.0 cents_____________
110.0 and under 120.0 cents_____________
120.0 and under 130.0 cents_____________
130.0 and under 140.0 cents. . . . . . ______
140.0 and under 150.0 cents_____________
150.0 and under 160.0 cents___________ .
160.0 and under 170.0 cents_____________
170.0 cents and over..................... ..................
Total
Number
of wage
earners
Simple
percent
age
i 74
168
526
285
532
512
465
632
552
532
904
722
607
457
310
205
149
98
58
35
87
101
67
34
0.9
2.1
6.4
3.5
6.5
6.3
5.7
7.8
6.8
6.5
11.2
8.9
7.4
5.6
3.8
2.5
1.8
1.2
.7
.4
1. 1
1.2
.8
.4
.3
.2
22
15
6
8
8,163
(2)
(2)
100.0
Cumula Number
tive per of wage
earners
centage
Simple
percent
age
1
6
6
11
15
38
279
515
680
591
1,248
1,305
1,109
980
1,088
1,083
988
852
595
438
608
261
132
102
128
120
107
176
(2)
(2)
f2)
(2)
0.1
.3
2.1
3.8
5.1
4.4
9.4
9.8
8.2
7.3
8.1
8.0
7.3
6.3
4.4
3.2
4.5
1.9
1.0
13,462
100.0
0.9
3.0
9.4
12.9
19.4
25.7
31.4
39.2
46.0
52.5
63.7
72.6
80.0
85.6
89.4
91.9
93.7
94.9
95.6
96.0
97.1
98.3
99.1
99.5
99.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
.8
1 .0
.9
.8
1.3
Cumula
tive per
centage
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
0.1
.4
2.5
6.3
11.4
15.8
25.2
35.0
43.2
50.5
58.6
66.6
73.9
80.2
84.6
87.8
92.3
94.2
95.2
96.0
97.0
97.9
98.7
100.0
1 I n c lu d e s 7 w it h ea r n in g s of le ss t h a n 2 0 .0 c e n ts , 26 w ith ea r n in g s of 20.0 a n d u n d e r 22.5 c e n ts , a n d 41
w ith ea r n in g s of 22.5 a n d u n d e r 25.0 c e n ts.
8 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
437
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
The occupational averages in 1933, as shown in table 3, ranged
from 33.5 cents for common laborers to $1,197 for the skilled occupa
tion of rollers.6 In 1935, the averages of the same occupations also
represented the extremes of the range, being respectively 45.4 cents
and $1,585. Thus, the average earnings pcf hour for common
laboieis increased 36 percent between the 2 years, as compared with
32 percent for rollers. Despite the somewhat greater relative gain
for common laborers, the absolute differential between the two
occupations widened from 86.2 cents in 1933 to $1,131 in 1935.
T a b le 3 .— A v e r a g e H o u r ly E a r n in g s o f W a g e E a r n e rs in
O c c u p a tio n , 1933 a n d 1935
O c c u p a tio n
P a ir h e a te r s ____ ______
P a ir
h e a te r s ,
le v e l
h a n d e d ________ __
R o lle r s _________
R o lle r s, le v e l-h a n d e d ___
R o u g h e r s _______ __
C a tc h e r s -.
C a tc h e r s, le v e l- h a n d e d ..
D o u b le r s , h a n d . . .
D o u b le r s , m e c h a n ic a l...
S c r e w b o y s _________
S in g le b o y s . . . ............ .
H e a te r s _________
H e a te r s , l e v e l- h a n d e d ...
H e a te r s ’ h e lp e r s ...........
S h e a r m e n ____ ______
1933
1935
N u m A ver
b er of a g e
w age hour
ly
earn
earn
ers
in g s
N u m A ver
age
b er of
w age h our
ly
earn
earn
ers
in g s
312 $0. 501
475 $0. 669
60
362
66
356
323
100
35
361
353
345
83
453
95
78
79
.693
557 1.585
58
.9 0 8
585
.908
550
.8 0 8
93
.6 2 7
58 .8 8 5
549
.691
559
.633
412
.651
107
.990
887
.8 8 9
.7 5 0
187
232 1.019
.3 5 5
1.197
.7 4 6
.6 7 7
.6 1 2
.3 9 0
.7 5 8
.5 1 4
.4 6 8
.5 0 0
.7 3 7
.6 9 6
.5 4 2
.5 2 3
O c cu p a tio n
S h e a r m e n ’s h elp er s
O p e n e r s_____________
C o ld -ro ll r o u g h e r s _____
C o ld -ro ll c a t c h e r s ... .
P ic k le r s ’ h e l p e r s ...
R e -sq u a r e s h e a r m e n ____
G agers a n d in s p e c t o r s ...
T in n e r s , h a n d _______
T in n e r s , m a c h in e . . .
B r a n n e r s . ____
.
C o m m o n la b o r e r s .. . .
M isc e lla n e o u s la b o r 1___
C le r ic a l, p la n t _________
S u p e r v is o r y , p la n t _____
O th er d ir e c t la b o r 2_
O th er in d ir e c t la b o r 2.__
T in - P la t e M ills, b y
1933
1935
N u m A ver
ber o f age
w age hour
ly
earn
earn
ers
in g s
N u m A ver
b er o f age
w age h our
ly
earn
earn
ers
in g s
27 $0.430
126 $0. 550
182 .5 0 9
518
.8 6 6
53
.5 6 5
139
.7 0 6
80
.5 4 3
.7 2 2
133
201
.6 1 8
286
.9 7 7
34
.3 7 3
50
.5 2 3
270
.461
379
.6 4 5
.6 4 8
' 92
116
.8 5 4
117
.5 7 7
.7 7 3
187
67
.4 1 5
110
.5 2 6
414
.3 3 5
735
.4 5 4
407
.3 5 2
769
.5 5 4
151 .4 1 7
356
.6 8 0
125 .6 0 0
228
.7 3 8
1,384
.4 7 0 1,711
.701
240 .4 4 9
500
.623
1 This group includes laborers who were paid either at more or at less than the common-labor rate of the
plant in which they were found. It also includes other unskilled jobs not generally designated as common
labor on plant pay rolls.
2 This group consists of various occupations either on direct or indirect work in which there were not
enough employees in any one occupation to warrant showing separate averages.
The average for each occupation in 1935 was much higher than in
1933. In 6 occupations the 1935 figures were from 20 to 30 percent
higher, in 15 from 30 to 40 percent higher, in 2 from 40 to 50 percent
higher, and in 7 over 50 percent higher. In only 1 occupation did the
gain amount to less than 20 percent. Two of the unskilled, 1 of the
semiskilled, and 3 of the skilled occupations were represented among
the 7 in which the average hourly earnings advanced over 50 percent.7
6 The skilled occupations in this department are pair heaters, level-handed pair heaters, rollers, level
handed rollers, roughers, catchers, level-handed catchers, heaters, level-handed heaters, shearmen, re-square
shearmen, gagers and inspectors, hand tinners, and machine tinners; the semiskilled occupations are hand
doublers, mechanical doublers, screwboys, single boys, heaters’ helpers, openers, cold-roll roughers, and
branners; the unskilled occupations are shearmen’s helpers, cold-roll catchers, picklers’ helpers, common
laborers, and miscellaneous labor. Plant clerical and supervisory employees, as well as other direct and
indirect labor, have not been classified as to skill.
A list of the occupations common to each of the 21 departments in the industry for which no departmental
averages are shown here, may be found in footnote 10, p. 1033, of the April 1936 M onthly Labor Review.
7 The remaining occupation was that of plant clerical employees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
438
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
There was also a wide difference in the averages within each of the 3
groups into which the occupations have been divided. In the skilled
group, the range in 1933 was from 35.5 cents for level-handed pair
heaters to $1,197 for rollers, in 1935 from 52.3 cents for re-square
shearmen to $1,585 for rollers. In 1933 the spread among the semi
skilled occupations was from 41.5 cents for branners to 75.8 cents for
hand doublers, and in 1935 from 52.6 cents for the former occupation
to 88.5 cents for the latter. The lowest earnings among the unskilled
occupations in 1933 were 33.5 cents for common laborers and the
highest 61.8 cents for picklers’ helpers. In 1935 the same occupations
had the lowest and highest averages, namely 45.4 cents and 97.7 cents.
In each year some of the semiskilled and unskilled occupations had
higher average hourly earnings than some of the skilled occupations.
This was due to the less favorable conditions under which employees
in the various occupations worked. For example, picklers’ helpers,
who earned an average of 97.7 cents in 1935, worked around vats filled
with a hot solution of sulphuric acid. This work is disagreeable on
account of the acid fumes and the dampness of the floor and atmos
phere, and entitled them to higher earnings than a more skilled
occupation.
Weekly Hours
T h e a v e r a g e w e e k ly h o u r s o f t in - p la t e m ill e m p lo y e e s w e r e 38.1 in
1935, w h ic h r e p r e s e n ts a g a in o f 3.7 h o u r s or 10.8 p e r c e n t o v e r th e
1933 a v e r a g e o f 34.4.8
Less than 5 percent of the employees worked under 24 hours in
1935. On the other hand slightly over 15 percent worked a week of
more than 40 hours. Those having a week of 24 and under 40 hours
included about one-third of all employees, as compared with some
what over 50 percent working exactly 40 hours.
In 1933 the range in the occupational averages shown in table 4
was from 22.1 hours for openers to 38.2 hours for branners. The hours
worked by these occupations are not necessarily governed by mill
operations, which means that they may vary considerably from those
of the rolling crews. The lowest occupational average in 1935 was
32.6 hours for picklers’ helpers and the highest, other than the 48.8
hours for plant supervisory employees, was 40.7 hours for level-handed
pair heaters. In each year, common laborers averaged as many hours
as the skilled occupations of rollers, catchers, shearmen, tinners, etc.
Generally, the shear crew obtained the least working time in each of
the periods covered. The rolling crews averaged close to 30 hours in
1933, as compared with about 38 in 1935.
8
The 1933 average was the highest found among the 10 departments covered, but in 1935 it was fourth in
rank from the highest figure.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
439
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b le 4 .— A v e r a g e
Occupation
Pair heaters________ __
Pair heaters, level
handed_____________
Rollers. _____________
Roller, level-handed___
Roughers_____________
Catchers______________
Catchers, level-handed..
Doublers, hand______
Doublers, m echanical...
Screw boys___________
Single boys___________
Heaters_______________
Heaters, level-handed...
Heaters’ helpers ______
Shearmen......... ..............
W e e k ly H o u r s o f W a g e E a r n e rs in
O c c u p a tio n , 1933 a n d 1935
1933
1935
N um Aver
ber of age
wage week
earn ly
ers hours
N um Aver
ber of age
wage week
earn
ly
ers hours
312
31.9
475
38.7
60
362
66
356
323
100
35
361
353
345
83
453
95
78
0)
79
557
58
585
550
93
58
549
559
412
107
887
187
232
40.7
37.6
36.1
38.0
37.4
38.5
38.4
38.6
37.9
38.8
39.3
39.0
40.0
36.0
1 D a t a n o t a v a ila b le .
31.0
30.8
32.1
30.7
(')
32.6
30.3
30.0
30.8
30.3
34.5
29.4
28.8
T in - P la t e
M ills , b y
1933
Occupation
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Shearmen’s helpers____
27
Openers. ______ ____ 182
Cold-roll roughers_____
53
Cold-roll catchers_____
80
Picklers’ helpers______
201
Re-square shearmen___
34
Gagers and inspectors... 270
Tinners, hand________
92
Tinners, machine_____
117
Branners__________ _
67
Common laborers... . . . 414
Miscellaneous labor 2___ 407
Clerical, plant________
151
Supervisory, plant____
125
Other direct labor 3____ 1,384
Other indirect labor 3_._ 240
2 S ee fo o tn o te 1, p a g e 437.
1935
Aver
age
week
ly
hours
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Aver
age
week
ly
hours
25.8
22.1
126
518
139
133
286
35.4
35.1
37.8
36.6
32.6
37.6
38.3
36.3
36.0
39.3
37.8
36.6
38.4
48.8
36.6
39.8
0)
(>)
0)
0)
0)
34.8
30.8
38.2
35.1
0)
(0
0)
0)
(■)
50
379
116
187
110
735
769
356
228
1,711
500
3 S ee fo o tn o te 2, p a g e 437.
Weekly Earnings
As mentioned, the average weekly earnings of tin-plate mills
increased from $17.84 in 1933 to $28.09 in 1935. This gain was due
mostly to the higher average earnings per hour, as the average weekly
hours rose only 10.8 percent during that period.
Only 6.7 percent of the employees were paid less than $16 a week
in 1935. About one-third of these workers were found among the
common and miscellaneous laborers. At the other end of the distri
bution, there was found the same percentage (6.8) earning $44 and
over. Two-thirds of these were among 3 skilled occupations; namely,
level-handed heaters, rollers, and roughers. Those receiving $16 and
under $24 comprised 32.5 percent. The group paid $24 and under
$32 constituted 32.6 percent. Thus, 71.8 percent of all workers earned
under $32. That percentage may be compared with 77.3 in sheet
mills, 70.1 in strip mills, 91.3 in blast furnaces, and 76.5 in openhearth furnaces. Those receiving $32 and under $44 amounted to 21.4
percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
440
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
T a b le 5 .— A v e r a g e W e e k ly E a r n in g s o f W a g e E a r n e rs in T in - P la t e
O c c u p a tio n , 1933 a n d 1935
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Occupation
Pair heaters_______ . Pair heaters, levelhanded
Rollers
Rollers, level-handed _.
Roughers- ____ - - __
Catchers. . . . . .
Catchers, level-handed .
Doublers, hand
Doublers, m echanical...
Seraw boys
Single b o y s.. ________
TTe.nt.ers
Heaters, level-handed...
Heaters’ helpers___ _
Shearmen..."__________
Aver N um Aver
age
age
of week
week ber
wage
ly
ly
earn
earn
earn ers
ings
ings
312 $16.09
475 $25.87
60
362
66
356
323
100
35
361
353
345
83
453
95
78
79
557
58
585
550
93
58
549
559
412
107
887
187
232
0)
37.36
22.88
21.80
18.92
(9
24.69
15.68
14.10
15. 46
22.36
24.06
15.95
15.20
1 Data not available.
28.18
59.60
32. 79
34. 52
30.25
24.13
34.01
26.64
23.98
25.29
38.95
34.67
30.00
36.69
1935
1933
1935
1933
M ills, b y
N um
ber of
wage
garn
ers
Occupation
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings
126 $19.44
27 $11.10
Shearmen’s helpers ----518 30. 40
182 11.25
____
Openers. _____
139 26. 67
53 (9
Cold-roll roughers-------133 26.40
80 (9
Cold-roll catchers._____
286 31.90
201 (9
Picklers’ helpers . ------50 19. 70
34 (9
Re-square shearmen----379 *^4. 11
270 (9
Gagers and inspectors...
116 31.06
92 22. 56
Tinners, h a n d .. .. ------187 27. 80
117 17.81
Tinners, m achine.------110 20. 67
67 15.85
Branners. ___________
735 17.18
414 11.73
Common laborers . . ---769 20. 24
407 (9
Miscellaneous labor 2—
356 26.13
151 (9
Clerical, plant.
. . .
125 (9
228 36. 00
Supervisory, p la n t..---1, 711 25. 64
1,384 (9
Other direct labor 3. . .
500 24. 83
240 (9
Other indirect labor3. . .
2 See footnote 1, p. 437.
3 See footnote 2, p. 437.
In 1933 the averages in 12 of the 19 occupations shown in table 5
were less than $20, the lowest being $11.10 for shearmen’s helpers.
In 1935 only 3 of 31 occupations averaged less than $20, the lowest
being $17.18 for common laborers. In 1933 there was a differential
of $25.63 between the average weekly earnings of common laborers
and rollers. This amount increased to $42.42 in 1935, despite the
fact that common laborers had a slightly longer workweek than
rollers. In 1935, the unskilled occupation of picklers’ helpers received
an average of $31.90 per week, which is higher than the figures for the
skilled occupations of catchers ($30.25), hand tinners ($31.06), and
machine tinners ($27.80).
Strip Mills
Average Hourly Earnings
T h e a v e r a g e h o u r ly e a r n in g s o f s t r ip -m ill e m p lo y e e s a m o u n t e d
71.5
c e n t s in
1935,
w h ic h m a y b e c o m p a r e d w it h
70.1
to
c e n ts in s h e e t
m ills a n d 7 3 .8 c e n ts in t in - p la t e m ills , a ll th r e e d e p a r tm e n ts m a n u f a c
tu r in g s h e e t p r o d u c ts .
In 1935 the average hourly earnings of strip-mill workers for all
districts combined ranged from 35 cents to $3.50. The distribution
of these employees in table 6 shows that only 0.4 percent earned under
45 cents per hour. Those receiving 45 and under 60 cents amounted
to more than one-third (37.3 percent) of the total. Exactly one-third
were paid 60 and under 75 cents. This leaves 21.3 percent with
earnings of 75 cents and under $1, and 8.0 percent receiving $1 and
over.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
441
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
The small number of strip-mill plants covered in the Eastern and
Southern districts does not permit the presentation of separate
averages in these areas. The averages in the Eastern and Pittsburgh
districts were almost identical, and as a result the data in these two
regions have been combined. Likewise, the Southern and the Great
Lakes and Middle West districts have been considered as one area,
since the averages in these two regions were also very close. The
average earnings per hour in the Eastern and Pittsburgh districts
amounted to 68.5 cents, as compared with 73.5 cents in the Great
Lakes and Southern districts.
T a b le 6 .— D is t r ib u tio n o f W a g e E a r n e r s in S tr ip M ills, A c c o r d in g t o A v e r a g e
H o u r ly E a r n in g s , b y D is t r ic t , 1935
Total, all districts
Average hourly earnings
Eastern and Pittsburgh
districts
Great Lakes and Middle
West and Southern
districts
N um
Cumu N um Simple Cumu N um Simple Cumu
lative ber of
ber of Simple
lative ber of
lative
per
per
per
per
wage
wage
per
per
wage centage
centage earners centage centage
earners centage centage earners
35.0 and under 40.0 cen ts.. .
40.0 and under 45.0 cents__
45.0 and under 47.5 cents.
47.5 and under 50.0 cents__
50.0 and under 55.0 cen ts.. .
55.0 and under 60.0 cents—
60.0 and under 65.0 cents—
65.0 and under 70.0 c e n ts ...
70.0 and under 75.0 c e n ts ...
75.0 and under 80.0 cen ts.. .
80.0 and under 85.0 cents—
85.0 and under 90.0 c e n ts ...
90.0 and under 100.0 cen ts..
100.0 and under 110.0 cents.
110.0 and under 120.0 cents.
120.0 and under 130.0 cents.
130.0 and under 140.0 cents.
140.0 and under 150.0 cents.
150.0 and under 160.0 cents.
160.0 and under 170.0 cents.
170.0 and under 190.0 cents.
190.0 and under 220.0 cents.
220.0 cents and over______
Total
7
18
440
330
651
1,114
881
799
567
449
391
281
325
173
114
60
51
26
26
19
23
17
26
0.1
.3
6.5
4.9
9.6
16.3
12.9
11.7
8.4
6.6
5.8
4.1
4.8
2.5
1.7
.9
.8
.4
.4
.3
.3
.3
.4
6,788
100.0
0.1
.4
6.9
11.8
21.4
37.7
50.6
62.3
70.7
77.3
83.1
87.2
92.0
94.5
96.2
97.1
97.9
98.3
98.7
99.0
99.3
99.6
100.0
6
18
310
175
308
556
386
269
204
194
135
120
90
64
49
19
25
8
4
6
13
10
9
0.2
.6
10.5
5.9
10.3
18.8
13.1
9.0
6.9
6.5
4.5
4.0
3.0
2. 1
1.6
.6
.8
.3
.1
.2
.4
.3
.3
2,978
100.0
0.2
.8
11.3
17.2
27.5
46.3
59.4
68.4
75.3
81.8
86.3
90.3
93.3
95.4
97.0
97.6
98.4
98.7
98.8
99.0
99.4
99.7
100.0
1
(0
130
155
343
558
495
530
363
255
256
161
235
109
65
41
26
18
22
13
10
7
17
3.4
4.1
9.0
14.6
13.0
13.9
9.5
6.7
6.7
4.2
6.2
2.9
1.7
1.1
.7
.5
.6
.3
.3
.2
.4
3,810
100.0
(0
(')
3.4
7.5
16.5
31.1
44.1
58.0
67.5
74.2
80.9
85.1
91.3
94.2
95.9
97.0
97.7
98.2
98.8
99.1
99.4
99.6
100.0
1Less than Ho of 1 percent.
Among the occupational averages shown in table 7, the highest for
all districts combined was $2,265 for the skilled9 occupation of rollers
and the lowest was 49.3 cents for common laborers. The differential
between the two occupations is $1,772, which may be compared with
$1,055 between rollers in mechanical sheet mills and common laborers
9
The skilled occupations are heaters, electric-roll engineers, rollers, assistant rollers, pulpit operators,
gagers, shearmen, annealers, cold-roll rollers, cold reduction rollers, and inspectors; the semiskilled occu
pations are chargers and chargers’ helpers, heaters’ helpers, looper operators, coders, stitcher car operators,
shear and level operators, picklers, cold-roll catchers, cold reduction rollers’ helpers, roller levelers, and
tractor operators; the unskilled occupations are stitcher feeders, shear and level operators’ helpers, shear
m en’s helpers, sheet pilers, picklers’ helpers, annealers’ helpers, common laborers, and miscellaneous labor.
Plant clerical and supervisory employees, as well as other direct and indirect labor, have not been class
ified as to skill.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
in hand and mechanical sheet mills. The skilled occupations of
heaters, assistant rollers, gagers, and cold reduction rollers also aver
aged well over $1 per hour. Of the 34 occupations and occupational
groups, only 4 averaged less than 60 cents, namely shear and level
operators’ helpers, picklers’ helpers, common laborers, and miscel
laneous labor, all of which are unskilled occupations.
T a b le 7 .— A v e r a g e H o u r ly E a r n in g s o f W a g e E a r n e r s in S tr ip M ills, b y O c c u p a
t io n a n d D is t r ic t , 1935
Total, all districts
Eastern and P itts
burgh districts
Great Lakes and
M iddle West and
Southern districts
Number
of wage
earners
Average
hourly
earnings
Number
of wage
earners
Average
hourly
earnings
Number
of wage
earners
89
42
66
32
32
82
43
43
50
109
36
45
78
146
313
440
133
73
210
35
111
100
204
54
86
41
311
64
131
907
322
315
527
311
$0. 676
1.510
.897
.909
2.265
1.412
.834
.774
1.025
.703
.796
.647
.721
.550
.787
.615
.604
.702
.599
.903
.626
.896
.685
1.318
.684
.627
.671
.607
.493
.586
.674
.920
.668
.790
27
17
32
$0.595
1.361
.850
(9
2.344
1.287
.929
(9
.978
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
.747
.582
.518
.753
.561
(9
.582
.780
.627
(9
(9
(9
.664
• 62
25
34
(9
18
47
26
(9
37
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
187
276
64
52
122
(9
82
52
140
(9
(9
(9
180
$0. 707
1.596
.923
(9
2.216
1.486
.782
(9
1.038
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
.812
.632
.688
.683
.624
(9
.640
1.009
.711
(9
(9
(9
.675
(9
(9
Occupation
Chargers and chargers’ helpers_________
Heaters
___
- __________________
Heaters’ helpers_______________________
Roll engineers, electric_________________
Rollers
________________________
Assistant rollers- - __________________
Pulpit operators______________________
Looper operators______________________
Gagers. _____________________________
C o ilers______________________________
Stitcher car operators__________________
Stitcher feeders_______________________
Shear and level operators______________
Shear and level operators’ helpers.......... .
Shearmen____________________________
Shearmen’s helpers_____ ___ __________
Sheet pilers______________ . . _______
Picklers. . ____________ .
_________
Picklers’ helpers______________________
Annealers_____________ ____ ___________
Annealers’ h e lp e r s ......................... .............
Cold-roll rollers (finishing) . __________
Cold-roll catchers (finishing). _________
Rollers, cold reduction_________________
Rollers’ helpers, cold reduction_________
Rollers (levelers)______________________
Inspectors, product____________________
Tractor operators_____________________
Common laborers.
____ _________
Miscellaneous labor 2____________ ______
Clerical, plant.................................................
Supervisory, plant___________ _________
Other direct labor 3____________________
Other indirect labor 3.....................................
(i)
(9
(i)
(i)
(!)
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
14
35
17
13
126
164
69
21
88
29
48
64
131
67
448
157
120
193
167
(9
.472
.5 5 5
.650
.923
.599
.767
64
459
165
195
334
144
Average
hourly
earnings
.511
.610
.694
.918
.701
.814
1 I n order n o t to r e v e a l t h e id e n t it y o f a n y p la n t, d is tr ic t a v e r a g e s are n o t s h o w n .
2 S ee fo o tn o te 1, p . 437.
2 S e e fo o tn o te 2, p . 437.
Weekly Hours
T h e weekly hours of strip-mill employees averaged 40.1 in 1935.
While this figure equals the 6 months’ average permitted under the
code, 8.8 percent worked under 32 hours. Of this latter number,
somewhat over one-half were employed less than 24 hours. An addi
tional 14.5 percent obtained 32 and under 40 hours of labor. As
almost one-quarter received a week of less than 40 hours, a consider
able number had to work over 40 hours in order to bring the average
up to the above figure. The latter class constituted 35.2 percent of
the total. Practically all of these worked 48 hours. The largest
single group (41.5 percent) obtained exactly 40 hours of labor.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
443
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
The average in the Eastern and Pittsburgh districts was 37.3 hours
as compared with 42.3 hours in the Great Lakes and Middle West and
Southern districts.
T a b le 8 .— A v e r a g e W e e k ly H o u r s o f W a g e E a r n e rs in S tr ip M ills , b y O c c u p a tio n
a n d D is t r ic t , 1935
Total, all districts
Chargers and chargers’ helpers_________
Heaters
_
_________________
Heaters’ helpers____________ _________
Roll engineers, electric. _ _ _ _______
Rollers- .
_______________ - - ______
Assistant rollers. ______
- __ _______
Pulpit operators _ _ __ ____________
Ronpat operators__ _ _ _ _________ _
Gagers. _____________________________
Coilers_____________________ ________
Stitcher car operators__________________
Stitcher feeders_______________________
Shear and level operators.. ___________
Shear and level operators’ helpers_______
Shearmen __ _ ____________________
Shearmen’s helpers__ _______ _________
Sheet pilers _
___________________
Picklers _____________________________
Pie.klers’ helpers___ ___________________
Annealers____________________________
Annealers’ helpers. __ _ _____________
old-roll rollers (finishing) ____________
Hoid-roll catchers ( finishing)___________
Rollers, oold reduction_________ _______
Rollers* helpers, cold reduction_________
Poilers, levelers __ _ _________________
Inspectors, product. _________________
Tractor operators
__ _______ ____
Common laborers ___________________
]Vfisepllaneons labor 2 _
_______ ____
Clerical, p la n t___ ____________________
Supervisory plant
_ _____________
Other direct labor 3 _ _ _ _ ____________
Other indirect labor 3____ _____________
Eastern and P itts
burgh districts
Great Lakes and
M iddle West and
Southern districts
Number
of wage
earners
Average
weekly
hours
Number
of wage
earners
Average
weekly
hours
Number
of wage
earners
89
42
66
32
32
82
43
43
50
109
36
45
78
146
313
440
133
73
210
35
111
100
204
54
86
41
311
64
131
907
322
315
527
311
37.0
41.5
33.3
38.3
44.0
39.7
40.0
39.5
39.9
39.6
37.3
39.9
41.3
42.0
41.3
41.0
41.4
40.9
39.0
44.3
41.6
41.7
40.2
40.9
40.1
35.0
39.4
38.2
39.1
37.1
42.1
47.3
39.3
41.5
27
17
32
33.5
37.4
24.1
0
38.7
34.7
33.5
0
33.0
0
0
0
0
0
39.0
37.2
39.0
39.0
37.6
0 „
37.4
42.7
39.2
0
0
0
38.2
0
36.9
33.4
39.2
45.4
34.6
39.7
62
25
34
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
35
17
13
126
164
69
21
88
29
48
64
131
67
448
157
120
193
167
0
(0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
(0
18
47
26
37
187
276
64
52
122
82
52
140
180
64
459
165
195
334
144
Average
weekly
hours
38.5
44.3
42.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
48.2
43.4
44.3
42.3
42.9
43.3
43.9
41.7
40.1
43.1
40.7
40.7
40.3
41.5
40.7
44.9
48. 5
42.0
43.6
1In order not to reveal the identity at any plant, district averages are not shown.
2 See footnote 1, p. 437.
s See footnote 2, p. 437.
With the exception of heaters’ helpers, rollers, annealers, roller
levelers, and plant supervisory workers, the occupational averages
shown in table 8, were all fairly close to 40. The range was from
33.3 hours for heaters’ helpers to 47.3 for plant supervisory employees.
Weekly Earnings
S t r i p - m i l l wage earners were paid an average of $28.66 per week
in 1935. This amount may be compared with $26.72 in sheet mills
and $28.09 in tin-plate mills The weekly earnings of workers in
strip mills ranged from under $2 to $100 and over. About threefourths of them, however, earned $18 and under $40. Those receiv
ing less than $18 amounted to 11.0 percent, as against 12.3 percent
earning $40 and over. Those paid $18 and under $24 constituted 26.6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
444
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
percent. The number earning $24 and under $32 amounted to 32.5
percent. The remaining 17.6 percent earned $32 and under $40.
From the above percentages it may be seen that there was no marked
degree of concentration in any particular class.
The average amounted to $25.57 in the Eastern and Pittsburgh
districts as against $31.08 in the Great Lakes and Middle West
region.
The average weekly earnings by occupation for all districts com
bined ranged from $19.27 for common laborers to $99.70 for rollers.
The former occupation, as shown by table 9, was the only one averag
ing less than $20. In addition to rollers, the occupations of heaters,
assistant rollers, and cold reduction rollers were paid an average of
more than $50. The differential between the average weekly earnings
of common laborers and rollers amounted to $80.43, as against
$40.97 between common laborers and mechanical rollers in sheet
mills. The unskilled occupations of stitcher feeders, shearmen’s
helpers, and annealers’ helpers averaged better than $25 per week.
T a b le 9 . — A v e r a g e W e e k ly E a r n in g s o f W a g e E a r n e rs in S tr ip M ills, b y O c c u
p a tio n a n d D is t r ic t , 1935
Total, all districts
Eastern and P itts
burgh districts
Great Lakes and
Middle West and
Southern districts
Number
of wage
earners
Average
weekly
earnings
Number
of wage
earners
Average
weekly
earnings
Number
of wage
earners
89
42
66
32
32
82
43
43
50
109
36
45
78
146
313
440
133
73
210
35
111
100
204
54
$25.01
62.71
29.91
34. 84
99.70
56.03
33.40
30. 60
40. 93
27. 85
29. 66
25. 77
29.78
23.07
32. 53
25.23
25.01
28.74
23.37
40. 02
26.07
37. 36
27. 55
53.88
27. 43
21.91
26.45
23.21
19. 27
21.72
28.40
43.54
26. 29
32.81
27
17
32
$19.96
50.92
20.51
62
25
34
Occupation
C h a r g ers a n d ch arge rs’ h e lp e r s .. .
H e a te r s ______________ ________ ____
H e a te r s ’ h e lp e r s__________________
R o ll e n g in e e r s, e le c tr ic ___________
R o lle r s _____ _____ _________________
A ss is ta n t r o lle r s __________________
P u lp it o p e r a to r s ................... ..................
L o o p er o p e r a to r s____ _____ ________
G a g ers____ ___________ ______ ______
C o d e r s ................ ..................... ..................
S titc h e r car o p e r a to r s ........ .......... .......
S titc h e r f e e d e r s .________ __________
S h e ar a n d le v e l o p e r a to r s _________
S h e ar a n d le v e l o p e r a to r s’ h e lp e r s
S h e a r m e n __________________________
S h e a r m e n ’s h e lp e r s_______________
S h e e t p ile r s _________________ ______
P ic k le r s ____ ________ ______________
P ic k le r s ’ h e lp e r s ................... ..................
A n n e a le r s _____ ______ _____________
A n n e a le r s ’ h e lp e r s ________________
C o ld -roll ro llers (fin is h in g ) _______
C old -roll ca tch er s (fin is h in g ) _____
R o lle r s, co ld r e d u c tio n ____________
R o lle r s ’ h e lp e r s, co ld r e d u c tio n ___
R o lle r s, le v e le r s ___________________
In s p e c to r s, p r o d u c t _______________
T ra c to r o p e r a t o r s .________________
C o m m o n la b o r e r s _________________
M isc e lla n e o u s la b o r 2______________
C ler ica l, p la n t _____________________
S u p e r v is o r y , p la n t ________________
O th e r d ir e c t lab or 3________________
O th er in d ir e c t la b o r 3______________
86
41
311
64
131
907
322
315
527
311
(■)
(9
14
35
17
13
(')
(')
0)
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
126
164
69
21
88
29
48
64
131
67
448
157
120
193
167
(9
90.65
44.70
31.08
18
47
26
$27. 22
70.73
38. 75
(9
106. 74
64. 47
34.91
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
32.32
29.12
21.61
20. 20
29. 36
21.10
21.79
33.32
24. 56
25.37
17.42
18. 55
25. 47
41.87
20. 76
30. 47
* order not to reveal the identity of any plant, district averages are not shown.
2See footnote 1, p. 437.
3 See footnote 2, p. 437.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(9
Average
weekly
earnings
37
187
276
64
52
122
82
52
140
180
64
459
165
195
334
144
(9
43.96
34. 83
27. 38
30. 20
28. 50
25.01
27. 58
41.10
28.92
(9
(9
(9
27.24
(9
21.21
24.82
31.18
44. 56
29. 49
35.52
445
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Skelp Mills
Average Hourly Earnings
Skelp-mill employees earned an average of 65.3 cents per hour in
1935. In that year, only 3.0 percent of the workers received less
than 45 cents.10 The number earning 45 and under 60 cents amounted
to 49.5 percent, thus accounting for slightly more than one-half of
the total. From that point the emplojmes were distributed as fol
lows: 16.4 percent earning 60 and under 70 cents, 14.8 percent 70
and under 80 cents, and 16.3 percent 80 cents and over.
The average hourly earnings by occupation, as shown in table 10,
ranged from 46.3 cents for common laborers to $1,512 for rollers.11
These figures represent a differential of $1,049, as compared with
that of 78.6 cents existing between the former in plate mills and the
latter in universal plate mills, which occupations are respectively
similar to those in skelp mills. Heaters in skelp mills received an
average of $1,191 per hour, this being 16 cents more than the earn
ings of the same occupation in plate mills. The earnings of heaters’
helpers were very close in both departments.
Table 10.— Average Hourly Earnings of Wage Earners in Skelp M ills, by
Occupation, 1935
Occupation
H e a te r s____
______ _
Heaters’ h e lp e r s ..________
Rollers.....................................
Assistant r o lle r s .._________
Roughers____ . ________
Hotbed m en__ ___ _____ _
Shearmen_____________ ____
Number
of wage
earners
Average
hourly
earnings
22
37
13
14
21
43
23
$1.191
.695
1.512
.930
. 687
.559
.751
Occupation
Shearmen’s helpers..................
Common laborers.
Clerical, plant
Supervisory, plant
Other direct labor 1
Other indirect labor *. . .
Number
of wage
earners
17
54
41
43
161
33
Average
hourly
earnings
$0.537
.463
. 584
. 653
. 631
. 527
i See footnote 2, p. 437.
Weekly Hours
E mployees in skelp mills in 1935 worked an average of 32.1 hours
per week, which is equivalent to 4 full days of work. There were
13.1 percent employed less than 24 hours or 3 days, and 17.0 percent
more than 40 hours or 5 days, the great majority of the latter working
48 hours or 6 days. There were 56.0 percent employed 24 and under
40 hours, and an additional 13.9 percent exactly 40 hours or 5 days.
The occupational averages ranged from 26.6 hours for hotbed men
to 39.8 for rollers. In general, the unskilled occupations averaged
slightly less working time than the skilled. The occupation of shear
men was the only one in the latter group that averaged less than 30
hours.
10 The Southern district is not represented in this department.
11 The skilled occupations are heaters, rollers, assistant rollers, roughers, and shearmen. The semi
skilled occupation is heaters’ helpers; the unskilled occupations are hotbed men, shearmen’s helpers, and
common laborers. Plant clerical and supervisory employees, as well as other direct and indirect labor,
have not] been classified as to skill.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Weekly Earnings
T h e average weekly earnings of employees in this department
amounted to $20.98 in 1935. One-fifth of the workers had weekly
earnings of less than $14, another one-fifth $14 and under $18, and
an additional one-fifth $18 and under $22, making 60 percent with
weekly earnings of less than $22. Of the remaining 40 percent,
approximately one-half were paid $28 and over. More than threefifths of the employees in the latter class were found among heaters,
rollers and their assistants, roll turners, and plant supervisory workers.
Common laborers and hotbed men each averaged less than $15
per week. In fact, 40 percent of all workers in these two occupations
had weekly earnings of less than $12, and only approximately 8 per
cent made as much as $20. Rollers were paid an average of $60.19
per week. The differential between the earnings of this occupation
and common laborers was $46.48. Assistant rollers received an
average of $31.20, or $28.99 less than rollers. Heaters’ helpers were
paid $17.45 less than heaters, which compares with a differential of
only $3.84 between shearmen and shearmen’s helpers.
Lap-Weld Tube Mills
Average Hourly Earnings
L ap-weld tube mill wage earners were paid an average of 60.1
cents per hour in 1935. That figure may be compared with 61.8
cents in butt-weld tube and 55.9 cents in seamless tube mills.
In the lap-weld department, 10.4 percent of the workers earned
under 45 cents. Over one-half of these were found in three of the
unskilled12 occupations, namely common laborers, miscellaneous
labor, and pit hands. There was a well-defined tendency for the
employees to concentrate in the classes of 45 and under 60 cents, as
a total of 55.0 percent received such earnings. Slightly over one-third
of the wage earners were paid 60 cents and over, with very few earn
ing in excess of 90 cents.
The range in occupational averages, as shown in table 11, was
from 47.5 cents for miscellaneous labor to $1,123 for welders. Two
of the semiskilled occupations, namely, turn-downs and coupling
reamers and tappers, had higher average hourly earnings (77.1 and
77.3 cents, respectively) than the skilled occupations of roll setters
(76.2 cents) and die setters (75.8 cents). On the other hand, the
average hourly earnings of 58.6 and 57.7 cents respectively in the
i* The skilled occupations are benders, welders, roll setters, die setters, and inspectors; the semiskilled
occupations are charging-machine operators, pusher runners, turn-downs, bailers, bar pullers, takers-ofi,
straightener operators, saw operators, blister men, ball grinders, pipe testers, cutters and threaders, and
coupling reamers and tappers; the unskilled occupations are benders’ helpers, buggymen, pit hands, pipe
testers’ helpers, common laborers, and miscellaneous labor. Plant clerical and supervisory employees,
as well as other than direct and indirect labor, have not been classified as to skill.
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unskilled occupations of benders’ helpers and pit hands were higher
than similar figures in several semiskilled occupations. These seeming
inconsistencies were due in part to working conditions as well as to
the geographical location of the plants reporting these occupations.
The average earnings per hour of common laborers in lap-weld tube
mills amounted to 47.7 cents. This figure may be compared with
42.2 cents for common laborers in blast furnaces, 46.0 cents in openhearth furnaces, and 44.4 cents in blooming mills.
Table 11.— Average Hourly Earnings of Wage Earners in Lap-Weld Tube M ills,
by Occupation, 1935
Occupation
C harging-m achine operators
(bending fu rn ace)___________
Benders
Benders’ helpers____ __________
R nggym an
P i t h a n d s ( w e ld in g fu r n a c e)
Pusher runners______________ .
Turn-downs _ _______________
Bailers -- __
_________
Welders
Bar pullers
._ _
____
Takers-off
R o ll s e tte r s
___
Straightener operators_______ .
Saw operators_________________
N um
ber of
wage
earners
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
39
14
18
23
92
24
35
42
32
35
45
24
56
48
$0. 596
.822
.586
. 544
.577
.608
.771
.548
1. 123
.573
.575
.762
.573
.517
Occupation
Blister m en---------- ------------------Ball grinders_________ _____ . . .
Pipe testers, hydraulic__ _ ___
Pipe testers’ helpers, hydraulic...
Die setters___________ _______
Cutters and threaders__________
Coupling reamers and tappers___
Inspectors, p r o d u c t ......................
Common laborers______________
Miscellaneous labor 1_______ . . .
Clerical, plant_________________
Supervisory, plant______ . ___
Other direct labor 2_ ______ ___
Other indirect labor 2__________
N um Aver
age
ber of hourly
wage
earn
earners
ings
23
14
19
20
19
118
15
88
172
128
94
60
140
33
$0. 558
.546
.533
.521
.758
.580
.773
.596
.477
.475
.563
.820
.574
.631
2 See footnote 2, p. 437.
1 See footnote 1, p. 437.
Weekly Hours
T h e weekly hours of lap-weld tube workers averaged 32.8 in 1935.
This is very close to the 31.5 hours in butt-weld tube mills, but
considerably less than the 39.6 hours in seamless tube mills.
There was a great amount of part-time work in this department.
Thus, 38.1 percent worked less than 32 hours and an additional
19.5 percent 32 and under 40 hours. Approximately one-third of
the employees worked a week of exactly 40 hours. The remaining
11 percent had a week of over 40 hours, of whom only a few worked
in excess of 48 hours.
The occupational averages ranged from 23.1 hours for coupling
reamers and tappers to 41.9 for plant supervisory workers. As the
latter occupation was not governed by code hours, a fairer com
parison may be obtained by using as the upper limit the 38.7 hours
for ball grinders. Only four occupations and one occupational
group, outside of coupling reamers and tappers, averaged less than
30 hours per week. These were bailers (29.8), pipe testers (28.9),
inspectors (28.5), common laborers (27.3), and other indirect labor
(27.3). Pit hands averaged 31.3 hours, bar pullers 31.1, takers-off
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
32.0, saw operators 30.4, pipe testers’ helpers 30.6, cutters and
threaders 32.3, and miscellaneous labor 31.6 hours. The averages for
the remaining 14 occupations and 1 occupational group were above
the average for the department as a whole.
Weekly Earnings
T he average weekly earnings of wage earners in these mills were
$19.70 in 1935, as compared with $19.43 in butt-weld tube mills and
$22.14 in seamless tube mills.
In the lap-weld tube mills, 27.3 percent earned less than $14 and
an additional 18.5 percent received $14 and under $18, which means
that almost one-half of the workers were paid less than $18. About
one-third of the employees received $18 and under $26. This leaves
slightly less than 22 percent with earnings of $26 and over. The
number in the latter group receiving as much as $36 was quite small,
being confined in the main to 3 occupations, namely, turn-downs,
welders, and plant supervisory workers.
The average weekly earnings among the various occupations
ranged from $13.04 for common laborers to $42.09 for welders.
Three of the six unskilled occupations averaged less than $16, and
two averaged $18 and less than $20, with benders’ helpers averag
ing $20.03. With the exception of inspectors, none of the skilled
occupations averaged less than $26. Nine of the 13 semiskilled
occupations averaged less than $20, the lowest being $15.39 for pipe
testers. The highest average weekly earnings among the semiskilled
occupations were $27.45 for turn-downs.
Butt-Weld Tube Mills
Average Hourly Earnings
E mployees in butt-weld tube mills received an average of 61.8
cents per hour in 1935. About one-third of the wage earners were
paid 35 and under 50 cents, an additional one-third 50 and under
65 cents, and the remaining one-third from 65 cents to $1.40 and
over per hour. In general, the unskilled workers fell in the first
classification, the semiskilled in the second, and the skilled in the
third one. However, a fair number of unskilled employees earned
more than 50 cents, and an appreciable number of semiskilled re
ceived more than 65 cents.
Among the occupational averages appearing in table 12, the
lowest was 44.0 cents for common laborers and the highest $1,295
for welders. The differential between these two occupations amounts
to 85.5 cents, as against 64.6 cents between welders and common
laborers in lap-weld tube mills. The range in average earnings per
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
hour among the skilled occupations 13 was from 65.9 cents for die
setters to $1,295 for welders, in the semiskilled occupations from
45.6 cents for pipe testers to 76.7 cents for pickers; and in the un
skilled occupations from 44.0 cents for common laborers to 60.3
cents for tongsmen. The wide variation within each of these groups
is due to such job requirements as the location of the worker with
respect to heat exposure, speed in handling materials, ability to do
heavy work, experience, judgment, etc.
Table 12.— Average Hourly Earnings of Wage Earners in Butt-W eld Tube Mills,
by Occupation, 1935
Occupation
Skelp clippers and helpers______
Chargers, hand_______________
Charging machine operators____
Heaters, skelp____ ___________
Pickers__ ______ ______________
Bench movers____ ___________
Welders______________________
Hook boys_________ . _______
Tongsmen_____________________
Size rollers____________________
Roll setters_____ . . . _________
Straighteners, h a n d .. __ ______
Straighteners, machine_________
... ...
Saw operators____ _
Pipe testers, hydraulic_________
N um
ber of
wage
earners
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
Occupation
35
27
54
20
43
35
49
20
63
25
13
116
18
$0.692
.604
.662
.616
. 767
.583
1.295
. 755
.603
.655
.917
.627
.579
. 550
.456
Die setters. ______
Cutters and threaders
Coupling reamers and tappers__
Pipe picklers
Galvanizers
Rackmen
Inspectors, product
Bundlers and helpers
Bell cleaners
Common laborers
Miscellaneous labor i
Clerical, plant ..
Supervisory, plant
Other direct labor 2
Other indirect labor 2___________
29
32
1 See footnote 1, p. 437.
N um Aver
age
ber of hourly
wage
earn
earners ings
10
78
21
17
57
40
121
44
48
Ufi
204
72
78
$n 659
57 ?
! 497
fill
591
541
fifiO
fi47
5fi7
440
502
fil4
7fi4
lfi4
5fi2
51
! 607
2 See footnote 2, p. 437.
It will be seen that die setters, a skilled occupation, received an
average of only 65.9 cents, which is rather low when one considers
that it requires a skilled machinist to set up and keep the dies of
pipe-threading machines in order.
Weekly Hours
T h e average weekly hours in this department amounted to 31.5
in 1935. There was considerable part-time work among the em
ployees covered, as 27.7 percent worked a week of less than 24 hours.
This short workweek was confined more or less to the semiskilled
and unskilled occupations, the latter being the more seriously affected
group. Those working 24 and under 40 hours amounted to 31.8 per
cent. This leaves 40.5 percent with a week of 40 hours and over.
Of this latter group, nearly two-thirds worked exactly 40 hours.
12
The skilled occupations are welders, roll setters, die setters, and inspectors; the semiskilled occupa
tions are skelp clippers and helpers, hand chargers, charging-machine operators, heaters, pickers, hook
boys, size rollers, hand straighteners, machine straighteners, saw operators, pipe testers, cutters and
threaders, coupling reamers and tappers, pipe picklers, galvanizers, and bundlers and helpers; the un
skilled occupations are bench movers, tongsmen, rackmen, bell cleaners, common laborers, and miscel
laneous labor. Plant clerical and supervisory employees, as well as other direct and indirect labor, have
not been classified as to skill.
82425— 36-------12
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
The occupational averages ranged from 22.4 hours for hand
straighteners to 41.2 for plant supervisory workers. None of the
unskilled occupations averaged in excess of 28.6 hours, the lowest
being 25.0 for miscellaneous labor. On the other hand, none of the
skilled occupations averaged less than 32.7 hours, the highest being
38.2 for roll setters. Among the semiskilled occupations, the range
was from 22.4 hours for hand straighteners to 37.8 for coupling
reamers and tappers. As the latter range is rather wide, a clearer
idea of the working time in this group may be gained from the fact
that 1 of these occupations averaged less than 23 hours, 8 between
25 and 30 hours, and 7 between 31 and 38 hours.
Weekly Earnings
B utt-weld tube mill employees received an average of $19.43 per
week in 1935. The distribution of workers shows that 17.4 percent
had weekly earnings of less than $10 and that an additional 28.3
percent received $10 and under $18. The class of $18 and under
$24 included 26.2 percent. This leaves slightly over one-quarter of
of the workers with earnings of $24 or more. Of this latter group,
only a few received as much as $36.
Among the several occupations, the range in average weekly
earnings was from $12.55 for miscellaneous labor to $44.82 for welders.
This differential of $32.27 may be compared with that of $27.09
existing between the same occupations in the lap-weld tube mills.
Of the 6 unskilled occupations, only 2, tongsmen ($15.51) and bell
cleaners ($15.03), averaged as much as $15. The skilled occupa
tions of die setters and inspectors averaged respectively $24.85 and
$21.55, as compared with $34.98 for roll setters and $44.82 for welders.
Among the semiskilled occupations, 2 averaged between $12 and $15,
8 between $16 and $20, and 6 between $20 and $23.
Seamless Tube Mills
Average Hourly Earnings
Seamless-tube mill wage earners received an average of 55.9 cents
per hour in 1935, which is approximately 5 cents less than the average
in either lap-weld or butt-weld tube mills.
A distribution of employees according to average hourly earnings
discloses that 24.6 percent earned less than 50 cents. Of that group,
none were paid less than 35 cents. About three-fifths of those receiv
ing less than 50 cents were found in 5 occupations; namely, benchmen’s helpers, common laborers, miscellaneous labor, cut-off operators,
and service workers. The class paid 50 and under 60 cents included
49.2 percent of the workers. The remaining 26.2 percent earned 60
cents and over. Although a few of the workers in the latter group
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
received as much as $1.10, the great majority were paid 60 and under
80 cents.
The occupational averages shown in table 13 ranged from 42.2
cents for common laborers to 76.6 for plant supervisory workers.
Among the skilled 14 occupations, inspectors were paid an average of
only 55.2 cents, which may be compared with 56.4 cents for the
unskilled occupation of pointers. The skilled occupations of heaters
and piercing operators received, respectively, 72.1 and 73.5 cents.
These occupations and plant supervisory employees were the only
ones averaging as much as 70 cents. Among the seven semiskilled
occupations, the range in earnings was from 52.5 cents for pipe
testers to 58.8 cents for pipe picklers.
Table 13.— Average Hourly Earnings of Wage Earners in Seamless Tube Mills,
by Occupation, 1935
Occupation
Heaters----------------------------------Piercing operators
"R ollers, h o t - m i ll
S t r a ig h t e n e r s , h a n d
___
S t r a ig h t e n e r s , m a c h in e
C u t - o f f o p e r a t o r s ____ __
P i p e p i e k le r s
A n n ealers--___
___
-- - - ______
P o i n t e r s , o o ld d r a w i n g
Benchmen, cold drawing-----------
N um
ber of
wage
earners
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
Occupation
21
15
15
14
34
70
12
17
18
81
$0.721
.735
.677
.545
.587
.532
.588
.575
.564
.544
Benchmen’s helpers, cold drawing______________ _________
Pipe testers, hydraulic_________
Inspectors, product____________
Common laborers______________
Miscellaneous labor C— __ __
Clerical, plant_________________
Supervisory, plant----------- -------Other direct labor 1____________
Other indirect labor 2--------- ------
1 See footnote 1, p. 437.
N um Aver
age
ber of hourly
wage
earn
earners ings
65
16
75
62
70
30
84
173
96
$0. 498
.525
.552
.422
.473
.529
.766
.558
.558
1 See footnote 2, p. 437.
Average Weekly Hours
T h e average weekly hours of seamless-tube mill workers were 39.6
in 1935. This figure indicates that there was very little part-time
work among the employees. Thus only 6.3 percent worked a week
of less than 32 hours, and 78.0 percent received 40 hours or more of
labor. This leaves only 15.7 percent with a week of 32 and under
40 hours. Although 78.0 percent worked 40 hours or more, there
were only 1.5 percent working over 48 hours. The latter were mostly
supervisory workers whose hours were not limited by the code.
The average weekly hours among the various occupations were all
fairly close to 40, with exception of 34.3 for piercing operators and
36.1 for other direct labor. This indicates that all classes of labor
had a fairly equal opportunity for employment. Common laborers
usually average less time than the skilled occupations. However,
14 The skilled occupations are heaters, piercing operators, rollers, and inspectors; the semiskilled occu
pations are hand straighteners, machine straighteners, cut-oil operators, pipe picklers, annealers, benchmen, and pipe testers; the unskilled occupations are pointers, henchmen’s helpers, common laborers, and
miscellaneous laborers. Plant clerical and supervisory plant workers, as well as direct and indirect labor,
have not been classified as to skill.
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in this department they worked an average of 39.0 hours, as com
pared with 34.3 for piercing operators, 38.3 for rollers, 40.1 for
inspectors, and 41.3 for heaters.
Weekly Earnings
I n 1935, the average weekly earnings of employees in this depart
ment were $22.14. This amount may be compared with $19.43 in
butt-weld tube mills and $19.70 in lap-weld tube mills. The higher
earnings in seamless-tube mills were the result of longer weekly
hours, as the average hourly earnings were lower than in either of
the other two tube departments. A distribution of employees
according to weekly earnings shows that 13.2 percent earned less
than $18 and that an additional 16.1 percent earned $18 and less
than $20. The class of $20 and under $24 included 40.6 percent of
the workers. The remainder, covering about one-third of the em
ployees, received $24 and over. Of this latter group very few made
more than $36.
The average weekly earnings by occupation ranged from $16.45
for common laborers to $31.96 for plant supervisory workers. Among
the other occupational averages the highest was $29.75 for heaters,
followed by $25.92 for rollers. Of the seven semiskilled occupations,
none averaged more than $24.05 nor less than $20.34. The unskilled
occupation of pointers averaged $22.41, which may be compared
with $22.15 for the skilled occupation of inspectors and $21.62 and
$20.34, respectively, for the semiskilled occupations of cut-off opera
tors and pipe testers.
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A verage A n n u a l E arnings in M an u factu rin g in Ohio,
1933 and 1934: P a rt 2 1
N SIX of the seven manufacturing groups included in this article 2
the average annual wage and salary payments to wage earners
were higher in 1934 than in 1933 and 1932, and in two of the groups
the average in 1934 was also higher than in 1931.
The average annual payment to wage earners in the manufacture
of paper and printing in Ohio was $1,168 in 1934, $1,074 in 1933, and
$1,513 in 1929; in the manufacture of rubber products, $1,246 in 1934,
$1,027 in 1933, and $1,562 in 1929; in the manufacture of stone, clay,
and glass products, $910 in 1934, $831 in 1933, and $1,319 in 1929;
in textile manufacturing $843 in 1934, $713 in 1933, and $1,026 in
1929; in tobacco manufacturing $632 in 1934, $541 in 1933, and $660
in 1929; in the manufacture of vehicles, $1,237 in 1934, $1,020 in
1933, and $1,609 in 1929; and in miscellaneous manufactures, $1,057
in 1934, $937 in 1933, and $1,379 in 1929.
Table 1 shows for each of the 7 manufacturing groups included in
this article the average annual wage and salary payment to wage
earners for each year, 1929 to 1934. In each of the 7 groups em
ployees reported as wage earners comprised more than 80 percent
of the total reported each year, 1933 and 1934.
I
Table 1.— Average Annual Wage and Salary Paym ents to Wage Earners in
Manufactures in Ohio, 1929 to 1934, by Industry Group
Industry group 1
1929
Paper and printing.. ________ _____ ____________ $1,513
Rubber produ cts...____________________ __________ 1,562
Stone, clay, and glass p rod u cts.......................... ............
1,319
Textiles____________ ______ _____________________
1,026
Tobacco..... ............................................ ............................
660
Vehicles____ ______ ______________________________ 1,609
Miscellaneous manufactures_______________________ 1,379
1930
1931
1932
1933
$1,473
1,450
1,187
954
627
1,331
1,285
$1,362
1,254
1,096
865
599
1,174
1,196
$1,192
1,011
834
705
507
934
940
$1,074
1,027
831
713
541
1,020
937
1934
$1,168
1,246
910
843
632
1,237
1,057
1 Data for seven other manufacturing groups were published in the M onthly Labor Review for June
1936 (pp. 1639-1653).
i B y Fred C. Croxton, Columbus, Ohio, and Frank C. Croxton, Whiting, Ind. A series of articles on
average annual wage and salary payments in Ohio published in the M onthly Labor Review, beginning
in January 1934, covered the years 1916 to 1932 for most industries, and 1918 to 1932 for construction and
for all industries combined. A second series beginning in April 1935 covered 1929 to 1933. A third series
beginning in March 1936 covers 1933 and 1934. The first series was also published in U. S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics Bulletin No. 613. Fluctuation of employment in Ohio is shown in the M onthly Labor Review
for January 1936.
1 Data for seven other manufacturing groups were published in the Monthly Labor Review, June 1936
(pp. 1639-1653).
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454
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 2 presents data relating to employment and wage and
salary payments in 1933 and 1934 3 for each of the three general
occupation groups in each of the seven manufacturing groups. Table
3 presents data for wage earners alone in individual industries under
each of the seven groups. The industries shown separately are those
which employed in Ohio (according to reports received from em
ployers) approximately 1,000 or more wage earners, or which paid
wage earners a total of approximately $1,000,000 or more in one or
more years covered by the several series of articles published in the
Monthly Labor Review.
Under each industry group in table 3 certain individual industries
which employ comparatively few people in Ohio have been combined
under the classification “other.” The industries so classified are
indicated in the Monthly Labor Review for July 1935 (p. 128). In
indicating the number of industries within a manufacturing group,
“other” is considered an industry.
In tables 2 and 3 data for superintendents and managers are
included in the section relating to total wage and salary payments
only.
The annual reports made by employers,4 as required by law, to the
Ohio Division of Labor Statistics show, among other items, the
number of persons employed on the 15th of each month and total
wage and salary payments for the year. The average number of
persons shown in this article was computed by dividing the sum of
the monthly figures by 12 and the average annual wage and salary
payment was computed by dividing the total wage and salary pay
ment for the year by the average number of persons employed.
The average annual payments shown should not be taken as exact
measures but as approximate figures. It should be borne in mind that
average annual wage and salary payments as here computed do not
show full-time earnings, as data concerning part-time and overtime
work are not available. Average full-time earnings may be either
greater or less than the computed average. The changes in the
averages from year to year also do not afford any measure of changes
in wage or salary scales or rates of pay.
In supplying data concerning total wage and salary payments,
employers were requested to report total wage and salary payments
in dollars, including bonuses and premiums and value of board and
lodging furnished. Employers were also instructed not to include
salaries of officials. Data other than total wage and salary payments
were not requested concerning superintendents and managers.
3 For data for earlier years, see M onthly Labor Review, July 1935, and U . S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bulletin No. 613.
* For source and scope of the material for these series of articles, see M onthly Labor Review, April 1935
(pp. 986, 987),
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
455
Paper and printing.—The average number of persons (not including
superintendents and managers) employed in 1934 was 4,510 greater
than in 1933 and 2,539 less than in 1929, total wage and salary pay
ments were $9,232,500 greater than in 1933 and $21,313,808 less than
in 1929, and the average annual payment was $80 higher than in
1933 and $337 lower than in 1929.
For wage earners the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
103.6, of total payments 81.9, and of average annual payments 79.0.
During the 2 years 1933 and 1934 the highest number of wage earners
was employed in December 1934 and the lowest number in May 1933.
Comparing 1934 with 1933 for the 9 industries in this group, table
3 shows for wage earners that the average number employed was
greater in five industries and less in four, and total payments and
average annual payments were greater in eight industries and less
in one.
Indexes are shown for wage earners in eight industries. The 1934
index of employment was above the 1926 level (100.0) in five indus
tries. The 1934 index of average annual payments was below 85 in
3 of the 8 industries.
Rubber products.—-The average number of persons (not including
superintendents and managers) employed in 1934 was 6,091 greater
than in 1933 and 16,086 less than in 1929, total wage and salary
payments were $18,283,562 greater than in 1933 and $41,398,586 less
than in 1929, and the average annual payment was $216 higher than
in 1933 and $288 lower than in 1929.
For wage earners the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
85.4, of total payments 68.1, and of average annual payments 79.8.
During the 2 years 1933 and 1934, the highest number of wage earners
was employed in August 1933 and the lowest number in March 1933.
Chart 1 shows the indexes for wage earners in manufactures of
rubber products for the 11 years, 1924 to 1934.
Comparing 1934 with 1933 for the three industries in the rubber
products group, table 3 shows for wage earners that the average
number employed and total payments were greater in two and less
in one industry, and the average annual payment was higher in each
of the three industries.
Indexes are shown for wage earners in two industries. The 1934
indexes of employment were 91.2 and 84.0, and the corresponding
indexes of average annual payments were 68.0 and 81.1.
Stone, clay, and glass products.—The average number of persons
(not including superintendents and managers) employed in 1934 was
6,337 greater than in 1933 and 13,436 less than in 1929, total wage
and salary payments were $7,696,181 greater than in 1933 and
$30,482,015 less than in 1929, and the average annual payment was
$75 higher than in 1933 and $413 lower than in 1929.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
For wage earners the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
63.6, of total payments 42.6, and of average annual payments 66.9.
During the 2 years 1933 and 1934 the highest number of wage earners
was employed in June 1934 and the lowest number in January 1933.
Comparing 1934 with 1933 for the eight industries in this group,
table 3 shows for wage earners that the average number employed,
C
h a rt
1.— I n d e x e s o f E m p l o y m e n t a n d A n n u a l W a
M a n u f a c t u r e s o f R u b b e r P r o d u c t s . 1924
ge
to
Paym
1934
en ts
in
total payments, and the average annual payment were greater in
seven and less in one industry.
Indexes are shown for wage earners in seven industries. The 1934
index of employment was above the 1926 level (100.0) in 1 industry
and below 50 in 5 industries. The 1934 index of average annual
payments was below 65 in 5 industries.
Textiles.—The average number of persons (not including superin
tendents and managers) employed in 1934 was 1,460 greater than in
1933 and 6,741 less than in 1929, total wage and salary payments
were $6,008,376 greater than in 1933 and $15,060,817 less than in
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
457
1929, and the average annual payment was $124 higher than in 1933
and $199 lower than in 1929.
For wage earners the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
85.3, of total payments 66.6, and of average annual payments 78.1.
During the 2 years 1933 and 1934 the highest number of wage
earners was employed in May 1934 and the lowest number in March
1933.
Comparing 1934 with 1933 for the 13 industries in this group,
table 3 shows for wage earners that the average number employed
was greater in 6 and less in 7 industries, total payments were greater
in each of the 13 industries, and the average annual payment was
higher in 12 and lower in 1 industry.
Indexes are shown for wage earners in 12 industries. The 1934
index of employment was above the 1926 level (100.0) in 1 industry
and below 60 in 3 industries. The 1934 index of average annual
payments was below 75 in 4 industries.
Tobacco.—The average number of persons (not including superin
tendents and managers) employed in 1934 was 192 greater than in
1933 and 3,604 less than in 1929, total wage and salary payments
were $592,572 greater than in 1933 and $2,603,020 less than in 1929,
and the average annual payment was $89 higher than in 1933 and
$26 lower than in 1929.
For wage earners the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
48.5, of total payments 42.7, and of average annual payments 88.1.
During the 2 years 1933 and 1934 the highest number of wage
earners was employed in October 1934 and the lowest number in
January 1934.
Comparing 1934 with 1933 for the three industries in this group,
table 3 shows for wage earners that the average number employed,
total payments, and average annual payments were greater in each
of the three industries.
Indexes are shown for wage earners in three industries. The 1934
index of employment was above the 1926 level (100.0) in 1 industry
and below 45 in 2 industries. The 1934 index of average annual
payments was below 85 in 2 industries.
Vehicles.—The average number of persons (not including superin
tendents and managers) employed in 1934 was 15,129 greater than
in 1933 and 37,517 less than in 1929, total wage and salary payments
were $23,972,188 greater than in 1933 and $75,806,767 less than in
1929, and the average annual payment was $193 higher than in 1933
and $365 lower than in 1929.
For wage earners the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
65.8, of total payments 58.4, and of average annual payments 88.7.
During 1933 and 1934 the highest number of wage earners was
employed in May 1934 and the lowest number in March 1933.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
458
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M
a n u fa ctu res
o f
Ve
h ic l e s
, 1924
to
1934
459
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Chart 2 (p. 458) shows the indexes for wage earners in manufactures
of vehicles for the 11 years, 1924 to 1934.
Comparing 1934 with 1933, table 3 shows for wage earners that the
average number employed and total payments were greater in each
of the seven industries, and the average annual payment was higher
in five industries and lower in two.
Indexes are shown for wage earners in six industries. The 1934
index of employment was above the 1926 level (100.0) in 2 indus
tries and below 40 in 3 industries. The 1934 index of average
annual payments was below 75 in 4 of the 6 industries.
Miscellaneous manufactures.-—The average number of persons (not
including superintendents and managers) employed in 1934 was 3,715
greater than in 1933 and 24,978 less than in 1929, total wage and salary
payments were $7,773,675 greater than in 1933 and $53,990,591 less
than in 1929, and the average annual payment was $78 higher than
in 1933 and $349 lower than in 1929.
For wage earners the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
81.2, of total payments 60.5, and of average annual payments 74.4.
During 1933 and 1934 the highest number of wage earners was
employed in June 1934 and the lowest number in March 1933.
Comparing 1934 with 1933 for the 15 industries where comparisons
may be made in this group, table 3 shows for wage earners that the
average number employed and total payments were greater in 12
industries and less in 3, and the average annual payment was higher
in each of the 15 industries.
Indexes for wage earners are shown for 14 industries. The 1934
index of employment was above the 1926 level (100.0) in 4 industries
and below 40 in 4 industries. The 1934 index of average annual
payments was below 75 in 8 of the 14 industries.
T a b le 2 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e a n d S a la r y P a y m e n t s in M a n u fa c tu r e s in
O h io , 1933 a n d 1 9 3 4 , b y I n d u s tr y G ro u p s
[Data for earlier years were published in the M onthly Labor Review, July 1935, and in U . S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics Bui. No. 613]
Paper and printing
Stone, clay, and glass
products
Rubber products
Item
1933
1,107
Average number employed:
earners ______ ______
Bookkeepers, stenographers,
Salespeople (not traveling)........
T o t a l..........................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,122
1934
1933
1934
1933
102
98
573
580
22,194
28,405
1,348
78
23,620
1,453
99
29,957
38,476
41,994
42,308
46,967
7,030
1,731
47,237
8,240
1,513
51,747
4,983
28
47,319
6,419
24
53,410
Wage and salary payments to—
Wapfl earners ______________ $41,320,092
Bookkeepers, stenographers,
9,188,617
2,793,450
Salespeople (not traveling)........
Subtotal _________________ 53,302,159
3,829,032
Superintendents and managersGrand total................................ 57,131,191
—
1934
$49,056,470 $43,433,041 $58,523,654 $18,448,453 $25,847,881
10,927,091 8,845,509 12,059,191 1,766,091 2,010,878
160,680
108,714
50,033
70, 766
2,551,098
62,534,659 52,349,316 70,632,878 20,323, 258 28,019,439
4,176,785 1,471,925 1,760,867 1, 297,606 1,307,617
66,711,444 53,821,241 72,393,745 21,620,864 29,327,056
---- --------------------
460
T a b le 2
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e a n d S a la r y P a y m e n t s in M a n u fa c tu r e s in
O h io, 1933 a n d 1 9 3 4 , b y I n d u s tr y G ro u p s— C o n tin u e d
Paper and printing
Stone, clay, and glass
products
Rubber products
Item
1933
Average annual payments to—
Wage earners___ ____ _______
Bookkeepers, stenographers,
and office clerks......................
Salespeople (not traveling)___
All employees 2_
Increase J from 1933 to 1934 in—
Average number employed:
Number.............. ..................
Percent..................... ............
Total payments:
Amount—..............................
Percent_________________
Average annual payments:
Amount_________________
Percent_____ ________I . —
Indexes of wage earners (1926=
100.0):
Average number employed___
Total payments_____________
Average annual payments____
Number of wage earners employed
on 15th of month:
January________ ______ ____
February.____ _________
March___ ______ ____________
April__ ____ ________________
M ay___________ ___________ |
June_____ ____ _
July________________
August_____________________
September__________________
O ctober..................... ....................
November____ ______________
December___________________
Variation from maximum:
N u m b er .._______ __________
Percent......................... .
1934
1933
1934
1933
1934
$1,074
$1,168
$1,027
$1, 246
$831
$910
1,307
1,614
1,326
1,775
1,879
(>)
1,310
1, 384
1,128
1,208
1,686
0
)
1,106
(‘)
0 )
1,322
4,510
9.5
6,091
12.9
6,337
26.8
$9,232,500
17.3
$18,283,562
34.9
$7,696,181
37.9
7.1
$216
19.5
$75
8.7
94.9
68.9
72.7
103.6
81.9
79.0
76.9
50.5
65.7
79.8
49.7
30.4
61.1
63.6
42.6
66.9
35, 731
36.555
35,700
35,704
35.556
36,308
37,317
39,951
42, 287
42,597
42,063
41,939
40,187
41,182
42, 111
42,336
42,571
42, 374
41,522
41,636
42,082
42,557
42,456
42,909
34,617
34,769
33, 275
34,063
37,531
43,182
47, 738
51,335
48,859
48,071
47, 294
46,958
45,591
47,100
48,891
50, 208
50,368
49,699
48,234
47,539
44,462
43,353
43,066
45,091
16,859
18,323
17,346
18,712
21,426
23,131
24,755
26,109
24,998
24,674
24, 806
25,194
25,658
26,941
28,370
29,983
29,833
30,057
28, 048
28,268
29,167
28,334
28,353
27,850
7,041
16.51
2,722
6.3
18,060
35.2
7,302
14.5
9,250
35.4
4,399
14.6
85.4
68.1
Textiles
Tobacco
Item
1933
Number of establishments................
Average number employed:
Wage earners...........................................................
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office" cïërksl
Salespeople (not tra v elin g )................... ............
Total.
Wage and salary payments to—
Wage earners...............................
Bookkepers, stenographers, and office clerks^
Salespeople (not traveling)________________
Subtotal.............. .......................
Superintendents and managers.
Grand total.
Average annual payments to—
Wage earners.............................. .............................
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks.
Salespeople (not traveling)_______ __________
All employees J.
Footnotes on p. 461.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1934
1933
1934
549
542
109
111
36,021
2,108
149
37,301
2,305
132
5,178
109
18
5, 365
116
16
38, 278
39, 738
5,305
5,497
$25, 689,740 $31,441,337
2,416,185
2, 666,667
184,040
190,337
$2,803,357
144, 506
30, 770
$3,390, 727
157,741
22,737
28,289,965
1,495,949
34,298, 341
1, 737,697
2,978,633
146,180
3, 571,205
134,876
29, 785,914
36,036,038
3,124, 813
3, 706,081
$713
1,146
$843
1,157
(>)
739
863
0)
$541
$632
(>)
(>)
(0
(0
561
650
461
W AG ES AND H O URS OF LABOR
T a b le 2 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e a n d S a la r y P a y m e n t s in M a n u fa c tu r e s in
O h io , 1 9 3 4 a n d 19 3 4 , b y I n d u s tr y G ro u p s— C o n tin u e d
Tobacco
Textiles
Item
1934
1933
Increase 3 from 1933 to 1934 in—
Average number employed:
Number
_______
Percent
Total payments:
Amount
_ _ _ _________
Percent
_____
Average annual payments:
Amount
_ _______
Pfirfifint
Indexes of wage earners (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____________________
Total paym ents_______________________________
Average annual paym ents______________________
Number of wage earners employed on 15th of month:
January.
___________________________________
February .
. . . __________________
March
_ _ _ _ ____________________
April
. . .
____________________
M ay
. ________________
June
.
. . . . ______________________
July . .
______ _______________
August
-.
- - - - ____________________
September.. . . .
. . _________ _____________
October
. . . . __________________
November
_ _ _ _ ____________________
December .
_ _ . _____________ ___
Variation from maximum:
Number . .
. . . ________________________
Percent ________________________
1934
1933
1,460
3.8
192
3.6
$6,008,376
21.2
$592, 572
19.9
$124
16.8
$89
15.9
82.4
54.4
66.0
85.3
66.6
78.1
46.8
35.3
75.5
48.5
42.7
88.1
31,734
33,769
31,154
32,183
34,738
37,553
38,956
40,034
39,929
40,088
37,045
35,073
35,303
38,887
39,808
37,696
40,283
38,149
35,087
36,868
37,282
38,056
36,156
34,031
5,256
5,688
4,998
5,088
5,336
5,112
5,470
5,200
5,135
5,189
4,824
4,844
4,085
4,914
5,031
5,125
5,433
5,683
5, 609
5,620
5,847
5,933
5,627
5,473
8,934
22.3
6,252
15.5
864
15.2
1,848
31.1
Miscellaneous
manufactures
Vehicles
Item
1933
1934
1933
1934
882
216
880
217
Number of establishments _______ __________________
Average number employed:
41,050
44,672
23,256
37,568
W age earn ers________________________ _____ ___
6,388
3,328
6,080
2,517
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and nflfiee clftrks
279
44
680
50
Salespeople (not traveling).-------- ----------------------40,946
47,717
51,432
25,817
Total .
_ _______________________________
Wage and salary payments to—
Wage earners__________________________________ $23, 721,921 $46,468,237 $38,479,792 $47, 231, 705
9,371,967
8,166,929
4,893,264
3, 615,863
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks-----516,794
743, 594
88,684
140,213
Salespeople (not traveling).----------- -------------------Subtotal . ____ _______ _______ _______ _______ 27,477,997 51,450,185 48,368,553 56,142,228
3,
262,822
3,
222,091
2,103,658
1,665,118
Superintendents and managers----------------- --------29,143,115 53, 553,843 51,631,375 59,364,319
Grand total
______________________ _____
Average annual payments to—
Wage earn ers_______________ - ____ _. _____
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks------Salespeople (not traveling).........................................
All employees 2_ ________________ _________ Increase 3 from 1933 to 1934 in—
Average number employed:
$1,020
1,437
0)
1,064
$1, 237
1,470
(l)
1, 257
$937
1,467
(0
1,014
$1,057
1,343
1,094
1,092
3,715
15,129
_ _ ______________
7.8
58.6
Percent
_ __ _ _______
Total payments:
$7,773,675
$23,972,188
Amount
_ _ ___________ _________
87.2
16.1
Percent
_ _________ _______
Average annual payments:
$78
$193
Amount
_______ _
7.7
18.1
Percen t
Indexes of wage earners (1926=100.0):
81.2
74.6
65.8
40.8
Average n u m b e r employed ___________________
58.4
60.5
49.3
29.8
Total payments _ ___________________ _______
74.4
66.0
73.2
88.7
Average annual payments-------------- ----------------1 N ot computed owing to small number involved.
2 N ot including superintendents and managers.
3 This section includes wage earners; bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks; and salespeople (not
traveling).
N um ber
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
462
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W — A U G U S T
1936
T a b le 2 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e a n d S a la r y P a y m e n t s in M a n u fa c tu r e s in
O h io , 1933 a n d 1 9 3 4 , b y I n d u s tr y G r o u p s— C o n tin u e d
Miscellaneous
manufactures
Vehicles
Item
1934
1933
Number of wage earners employed on 15th of month:
January______________________________________
February________________ ____________________
March_________ _____________________ _________
April________ _________ _______ ______________
M ay........... ......................... ........................................ .......
June__________________________________________
J u ly ..__________________________ ______ _______
August___________________________ ____ _______
September____________________________________
October______ ________________________________
November____________________________________
December____________________________ ________
Variation from maximum:
Number__________________________ ___________
Percent.________ ____ _____________ ___________
1933
1934
19,086
19,158
16,962
19, 313
21, 256
23,845
26,469
28,677
27,429
26,332
24,984
25, 562
29,884
39,919
44,806
38,433
50, 265
45,328
32, Oil
36,493
32,560
32,099
31,641
37, 376
33,026
33,250
31,888
33, 597
39, 399
44,027
42,627
45, 525
48, 317
48,076
47, 367
45,506
38,228
40,828
43,853
46,000
47, 715
49,513
44,957
43,667
43,688
44,504
45,041
48,072
11, 715
40.9
20, 381
40.5
6,429
13.3
11,285
22.8
T a b le 3 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e a n d S a la r y P a y m e n t s o f W a g e E a r n e rs in
M a n u fa c tu r e s in O h io , 1933 a n d 1 9 3 4 , b y I n d u s tr ie s
[Data for earlier years were published in the M onthly Labor Keview, July 1935, and in U . S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics Bui. No. 613]
Payer and printing
Boxes, fancy and pap e r , including
drinking cups
Bags, paper
Item
1934
1933
Number of establishments_____ ____
Average number of wage earners employed__________________________
Total wage and salary p a y m en ts___
Average annual paym ents.............. .
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total payments_______________
Average annual payments______
16
1933
16
98.1
80.4
12 0
103.0
91.5
88.8
10
263
$305, 262
$1,161
111.6
85.0
76.1
110.6
94.7
85.7
12
78.8
62.9
79.8
87.4
76.4
87.4
Photo-engraving
64
50
9
8
1,292
1,165
$972,395 $1,181, 294
$914
$835
59
59
618
6, 768
9,067
719
675
$702, 555 $6, 779, 433 $9,443,437 $1,031, 871 $1, 249,106
$1, 002
$1,042
$1,137
$1,435
$1,851
37.4
32.6
87.3
87.8
75.0
85.5
Number of establishments_________
831
843
Average number of wage earners employed__________________________
22, 262
23,317
Total wage and salary paym ents____ $25, 512,822 $29, 292,304
Average annual payments__________
$1,146
$1,256
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
102.5
107.4
Total payments_______________
72.1
82.7
Average annual payments______
70.3
77.0
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
71
Paper, including
stationery
Printing and
publishing
See footnotes at end o f table.
73
1934
1933
1,157
1,215
4,981
4,935
$939,464 $1,068, 267 $4, 287,056 $4, 779,268
$812
$879
$860
$968
Labels and tags
Number of establishments__________
Average number of wage earners employed__________________________
Total wage and salary payments____
Average annual payments__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed__ _
Total payments_______________
Average annual payments______
1934
Envelopes
78.9
58.8
74.5
105.7
81.9
77.5
Stereotyping and
electrotyping
123.8
77.3
62.4
116.2
93.5
80.5
Paper and printing,
other 1
24
20
36
28
579
$901, 548
$1, 557
566
$974,733
$1, 722
582
$590, 241
$1, 014
310
$365, 506
$1,179
68.4
55.3
80.8
66.9
59.8
89.4
463
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b le 3 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e a n d S a la r y P a y m e n t s o f W a g e E a r n e r s in
M a n u fa c tu r e s in O h io, 1933 a n d 1 9 3 4 , b y I n d u s tr ie s— C o n tin u e d
Rubber products
Druggists’ sundries
and toys, rubber
Rubber products,
other 1
Tires and tubes
Item
1934
1933
Number of establishments_________
Average number of wage earners em
ployed______________ _____ ______
Total wage and salary payments........
Average annual payments__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total payments
Average annual payments______
41
1934
1933
45
1934
1933
29
25
36
24
1,834
2,600
41, 633
3,500
3,399
36,309
$2,623, 584 $2,918,845 $38,547,950 $53, 826, 653 $2,261, 507 $1,778,156
$870
$970
$1, 293
$1,062
$772
$834
91.2
62.0
68.0
88.6
55.7
62.9
84.0
68.1
81.1
73.3
48.8
66.6
Stone, clay, and glass products
Brick and tile, clay
Number of establishments...................
Average number of wage earners em
ployed...................................................
Total wage and salary paym ents.......
Average annual payments....................
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed___
Total payments_________ ____
Average annual paym ents........
138
10
10
93
103
4,291
3,053
$1,955,405 $3,428,577
$799
$640
486
$467,445
$962
905
$862,414
$953
359
$255,003
$710
516
$392,812
$761
47.4
25.6
54.0
30.7
18.7
61.0
57.2
34.5
60.4
27.7
13.2
47.6
39.8
20.3
51.0
140
33.7
14.6
43.2
23
85
12,024
8,746
$8,526,768 $12,098, 392
$975
$1,006
486
$518,918
$1,068
137.5
104.1
75.7
55.6
33.2
59.7
23
100.0
73.4
73.4
Wall plaster, including hydrated lime
Number of establishments...................
Average number of wage earners em
ployed....................................................
Total wage and salary paym ents........
Average annual payments....................
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed..........
Total payments...............................
Average annual payments.............
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
359
$246,620 $330,995
$922
$760
29.7
16.6
56.0
82
107
108
384
7,400
8,295
$416,125 $5, 531,824 $6,935,964
$748
$836
$1,084
43.9
26.6
60.6
Stone, clay, and glass
products, other 1
107
8
a9Q
27.2
12.4
45.5
Pottery, terra-cotta
and fire-clay prod
ucts
Marble and stone
work, stone yards
Glass
Number of establishments...................
Average number of wage earners em
ployed....................................................
Total wage and salary paym ents.......
Average annual payments....................
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed......... .
Total p a y m en ts............................
Average annual payments............
Concrete products
Cement
107
1,630
1,335
$946,470 $1,382,602
$848
$709
36.9
22.0
59.5
41.4
27.5
66.5
464
MONTHLY LABOK KEVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 3.—Employment and Wage and Salary Payments of Wage Earners in
Manufactures in Ohio, 1933 and 1934, by Industries— Continued
Textiles
Item
Awnings, tents, and
sails, in c lu d in g
auto fabrics
Clothing, men’s, in
cluding shirts and
coat pads
1934
1933
1933
1934
Clothing, women’s,
including corsets
1933
1934
Number of establishments____ _____
64
63
117
121
103
96
Average number of wage earners employed__________________________
1,563
1,551
13, 390
14, 733
4,020
4, 210
Total wage and salary paym ents____ $1,081, 344 $1,324,467 $9,641,453 $12,851,062 $2, 709, 725 $3, 757,479
Average annual payments__________
$692
$854
$720
$872
$674
$893
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed____
87.3
86.6
85.8
94.4
99.8
104. 5
Total payments________ ______
58.3
71.4
55.9
74.6
51.9
72.0
Average annual payments______
66.8
82.4
65.2
79.0
52.0
69.0
Cordage, twine, jute,
and linen goods
Number of establishments_________
Average number of wage earners employed--------------------------------------Total wage and salary paym ents..
Average annual paym ents__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total payments_______________
Average annual payments______
Custom tailoring,
men’s and women’s
Flags, banners, and
regalia
5
6
42
38
9
9
660
$477,047
$723
645
$492, 248
$763
480
$388,049
$794
513
$441,339
$860
605
$391,411
$647
571
$462,129
$809
95.1
75.0
78.8
92.9
77.4
83.2
21.1
13.2
62.9
22.1
15.1
68.1
84.7
56.1
66.2
80.0
66.2
82.8
Hosiery and knit
goods
Number of establishments............ .......
Average number of wage earners employed__________________ _____
Total wage and salary paym ents____
Average annual payments__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total payments_______________
Average annual payments______
12
1,569
$658,768
$420
75.8
45.6
60.2
12
33
31
32
1,472
4, 213
3,854
$813,486 $2, 746, 365 $2,968, 210
$553
$652
$770
679
$539,951
$795
777
$675,912
$870
52.0
35.3
67.9
59.4
44. 2
74.3
71.1
56.3
79.2
Millinery and lace
g o o d s , including
a r t i f i c i a l flowers
and feathers
Number of establishments_________
Average number of wage earners employed______ ____________ ____
Total wage and salary paym ents____
Average annual payments_____ . . .
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed____
Total payments____________
Average annual paym ents............
33
504
$380,697
$755
37.2
24.0
64.6
28
34.4
24.8
72.2
Number of establishments_______
77
77
Average number of wage earners employed__________________________
3,313
2,988
Total wage and salary paym ents.._ . $2,449,447 $2, 549,387
Average annual paym ents_______ . .
$820
$770
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total paym ents________________
Average annual payments....... .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
102.9
76.4
74.3
94.1
82.5
87.7
Woolen, worsted,
and w o o l - f e l t
goods, including
fur and felt hats
Silk and silk goods,
including throwsters
6
5
18
22
466
2,133
2,135
3,209
3,062
$392, 703 $1,948,783 $2,226,236 $2,276,700 $2,486,679
$843
$914
$1,043
$709
$812
Textiles, other 1
See footnotes at end of table.
32
Mattresses, pillows,
and cotton felts
97.4
76.0
78.1
97.5
86.8
89.1
93.1
76.0
81.6
88.8
83.0
93.4
465
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 3.—Employment and Wage and Salary Payments of Wage Earners in
Manufactures in Ohio, 1933 and 1934, by Industries— Continued
Tobacco
Chewing and smok
ing tobacco
Cigars and cigarettes
Tobacco rehandlers
Item
1933
1933
1934
1934
1934
1933
11
13
57
57
N umber of establishments _ _______
Average number of wage earners em
2,904
2,955
1,605
1,646
ployed__________________________
Total wage and salary paym ents........ $1,224,507 $1,320,994 $1,239,972 $1,651,976
$559
$763
$803
$427
Average annual payments__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
106.2
108.9
37.8
38.5
Average number e m p lo y e d ..___
31.5
81.1
87.5
23.7
Total paym ents__ ___________
76.4
80.4
82.0
62.6
Average annual payments______
41
41
670
$338,878
$506
764
$417,757
$547
35.6
28.6
80.2
40.6
35.2
86.7
Vehicles
Automobiles
and
parts,
including
assembling plants
Airplanes and parts
Number of establishments__________
Average number of wage earners em
ployed. . _______________________
Total wage and salary paym ents........
Average annual paym ents__________
indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number e m p lo v e d ..___
Total payments________________
Average annual payments______
11
12
269
$435,197
$1,618
56.9
57.4
138.9
101.0
80.8
112 .2
12
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average. number employed
T'été! payments
Average annual payments _
See footnotes at end of table.
82425— 36-------13
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
41.3
31.2
75.4
68.7
63.5
92.4
7
7
20
12
10 1.1
60.4
59.7
111.9
65.4
58.4
Ship and boat
building
Cars, steam and
street railroad
14
13
13
300
$205,507
$685
372
$305,913
$822
520
$472,361
$908
771
$813,809
$1,056
555
$572,668
$1,032
718
$817,459
$1,139
19.8
9.4
47.7
24.6
14.1
57.2
19.9
29.6
20.9
70.8
29.8
18.7
62.9
38.6
26.8
69.4
Vehicles, other 1
Number establishments
Average number of wage earners employed
149
1,811
1,637
657
19,863
33,067
$850,879 $20,679,967 $42,150,957 $1,253,288 $1,357,045
$766
$749
$1, 275
$1,041
$1,295
Carriages, wagons,
and materials, in
cluding repairing
Number of establish moots
Average number of wage earners em
ployed _________________________
Total wage and salary paym ents-----Average annual payments__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total payments________________
Average annual payments______
157
Carriages and sleds,
children’s
4
2
112
171
$172,175
$1,007
$102,933
$919
12 .1
60.9
466
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 3.—Employment and Wage and Salary Payments of Wage Earners in
Manufactures in Ohio, 1933 and 1934, by Industries— Continued
Miscellaneous manufactures
Item
Agricultural
implements
1933
Number of establishments____ _____
Average number of wage earners
employed_______________________
Total wage and salary paym ents____
Average annual payments__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed...........
Total payments_______________
Average annual payments______
Batteries, dry and
storage
1934
1933
19
20
5
5
461
$702,191
$1,523
27.0
22.4
82.9
31.4
26.3
83.8
26.7
17. 1
64.0
38.2
27.0
70.8
34
486
$457,911
$942
80.2
60.5
75.1
130
See footnotes at end of table.
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175.2
122 .1
69.6
185.1
149.3
80.7
Electrical machinery,
apparatus and supplies
35
167
173
H ouse-furnishing
goods, miscellaneous
12
530
15,453
13,453
6,624
$554,881 $13, 606,870 $13, 260,114 $7,445, 662
$1,047
$881
$986
$1,124
87.5
73.0
83.5
60.5
36.4
60.2
52.6
35.4
67.3
Models and pat
terns, other than
paper
Mechanical
refrigeration 3
123
4
73
71
2,068
2,243
$2,585,009 $2,851, 619
$1, 250
$1, 271
10,087
$12,453, 668
$1, 235
344
$390,441
$1,135
478
$619, 737
$1,297
35. 7
22. 4
62.8
49 6
35. 6
71.7
99.1
77.4
78.0
107.5
85.3
79.3
Pianos, organs, and
materials
4
5
9
187
$175,506
$939
472
$521, 439
$1,105
471
$379,072
$805
20.1
50.6
42.5
84.0
26.4
15.9
60.2
14.3
71.4
9
Radios and parts
8
8
70
18.7
13.0
69.7
71
971
1,204
1,860
2,107
$863,933 $1, 292, 234 $1,427,083 $1,863, 377
$890
$1,073
$767
$884
87.6
45.2
51.6
108.7
67.6
62.2
84.0
50.7
60.4
10
8
333
1,823
1.491
$310, 333 $1,379, 295 $1, 315, 663
$932
$757
$882
Signs and advertising
novelties
Roofing materials
Number of establishm ents..................
Average number of wage earners
employed_____ ______ ______ _____
Total wage and salary paym ents........
Average annual paym ents...................
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total payments_______ ____ ___
Average annual payments______
32
396
$596, 206
$1, 506
Musical instruments
and materials other
than pianos and
organs
Number of establishments_________
Average number of wage earners
employed_______________________
Total wage and salary paym ents___
Average annual payments_________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total payments_______________
Average annual paym ents............
1934
1933
35
Ice, manufactured
Number of establishments_________
Average number of wage earners
employed_______________________
Total wage and salary paym ents___
Average annual payments__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number em ployed..........
Total payments_______________
Average annual payments______
1934
1,548
1,084
2,909
3,072
$953,464 $1,507,104 $2,976, 740 $3, 640,940
$974
$1,023
$1,185
$880
D entists’ supplies
Number of establishments_________
Average number of wage earners
employed_______________________
Total wage and salary paym ents___
Average annual payments__________
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed_____
Total payments______ ________
Average annual paym ents______
Coke
95.1
66.2
69.6
205.5
147.9
72.0
168.1
141.1
83.9
Sporting and ath
letic goods
11
11
958
1.108
$820,556 $1,056,823
$857
$954
80.8
51.4
63.6
93.5
66.2
70.8
467
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 3.— Employment and Wage and Salary Payments of Wage Earners in
Manufactures in Ohio, 1933 and 1934, by Industries— Continued
Miscellaneous manufactures— Continued
Miscellaneous manu
factures, other i
Toys and games
Item
1934
1933
Number of establishments________
Average number of wage earners
employed.
___ ______
Total wage and salary paym ents____
Average annual payments____ _____
Indexes (1926=100.0):
Average number employed
Total payments
Average annual payments
20
097
$540,047
$653
27.9
17.1
61.3
1934
1933
24
275
281
4,589
4,993
1,095
$792,062 $3,881,997 $4,489,520
$723
$846
$899
36.9
25.1
67.8
1 Indexes not computed for “ Other.”
2 Greater proportion of establishments classified by Ohio Division of Labor Statistics in 1934 under
mechanical refrigeration. Other establishments in 1934 classified under “ N ot otherwise classified.” This
industry was also classified under “N ot otherwise classified” during earlier years and indexes cannot be
computed.
3 Classified by Ohio Division of Labor Statistics under “ House-furnishing goods, miscellaneous” for
earlier years.
E arnings of W omen in T ennessee In d u stries
EDIAN weekly earnings of women in the principal womanemploying industries in Tennessee, in a representative week in
the fall of 1935, varied from $5.65 for Negro laundry workers to
$12.55 for white women employed in department stores. Half the
white women employed in manufacturing industries earned less than
$12 a week, while 22 percent earned $15 or more. These data were
disclosed by the Women’s Bureau of the United States Department
of Labor in a survey of wages and hours of woman workers in Ten
nessee, which that agency made at the request of the Tennessee
Commissioner of Labor.1 The survey covered 267 establishments in
38 cities and towns. The establishments included 179 factories, 17
department stores, and 15 limited-price stores, 24 laundry and drycleaning plants, and 32 hotels and restaurants, and employed a total
of 29,625 women, of whom 9 percent were Negroes, and 28,644 men,
of whom 10 percent were Negroes. About four-fifths of the women
covered in the survey were employed in factories.
Median hourly and weekly earnings of white and colored women
in all industries covered by the survey except hotels and restaurants
are shown in table 1.
M
i U. S. Department of Labor. Women’s Bureau. Women in Tennessee Industries—Preliminary
report. Washington, 1936 (mimeographed).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
468
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 1.— Median Hourly and Weekly Earnings of Woman Workers in Tennessee,
by Industry and Race, Fall of 1935
Median hourly earn
ings of—
Median weekly earn
ings of—
Industry
Manufacturing______________ . . . . . . .
Stores:
Department____ ________________________ ___
Limited price____________________ ____________
Laundry. _ ___________ . ______ ___
D ry cleaning__________ ________________________ . .
W hite
women
Negro
women
C en ts
C en ts
White
women
Negro
women
32.3
16.7
$12 . 00
$6.75
26.9
25.0
17.4
17.6
26.0
12.55
10.05
7. 85
9.90
12.35
14.0
20.0
5.65
9.55
The small group of colored women in stores served in the capacity
of maids and cleaners and their weekly median differed only slightly
from that of the white women. In manufacturing, on the other
hand, the median of earnings of Negroes is little more than one-half
that for the white women. Even in laundries where the earnings of
the white women are lowest, those of the colored women drop even
farther down the wage scale.
Manufacturing
T a b l e 2 gives data on median weekly and hourly earnings of white
women in the manufacturing industries covered by the survey, in
which 79 percent of the total number of women for whom wage data
were reported were employed.
Table 2.—Earnings of White Women in Manufacturing, Tennessee, Fall of 1935
Type of factory
Textile;
Hosiery;
Seamless_______ _____ _______ _
Full-fashioned____ ______ _______
Cotton m ills_______________________
Knit underwear____________________
Silk and rayon textile_______________
Woolen m ills______________
Bags—cotton and burlap_______ ____
Clothing:
M en’s work clothing and shirts______
M en’s suits and overcoats......................
Other clothing________ _____ _______
Rayon yarns and "cellophane____________
Shoes___________________ .
Food products_________ _____ __________
Drugs and chemicals______ ____ ________
Tobacco products__________ ________
Printing and publishing................................
Wood products..................................
Paper box..................... ...................
M etal..........................................
Other manufacturing....................................
Less than H of 1 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent
Median of
earning
average
less than
hourly
30
cents an
earnings
hour
Median of
week's
earnings
Percent earning—
Less than
$12 a week
$15 or more
a week
62
39
38
48
70
41
63
13
37
14
15
4
30
76
40
5
35
C en ts
32
37
33
32
30
33
30
26
38
23
42
33
28
27
37
40
25
32
30
38
33
22
6
(9
$10. 20
13.40
12. 50
26
47
37
37
12 .10
10 . 60
70
15
79
9. 55
13. 25
8.80
16.60
14.15
11. 35
12.35
14.95
17.80
10.50
13.25
13.40
12.30
17
55
74
4
7
78
28
12
5
13.00
10. 95
86
7
23
65
33
9
9
72
39
41
47
8
2
74
41
10
7
47
71
4
36
28
24
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
469
Data on annual earnings were compiled for about 1,000 women in
representative manufacturing establishments. Employment among
this group was sufficiently regular that the incomes reported, ranging
from $420 to $850 and averaging $615, may be regarded as full-time
annual earnings. For white women in the chief manufacturing
groups, the medians of annual earnings were —
All manufacturing________________________________$615
Textile:
Hosiery, seamless__ ________________________ 540
Hosiery, full-fashioned______________________ 850
Other textile_______________________________
645
Clothing:
Men’s work clothing, shirts, other clothing___
420
Men’s suits and overcoats___________________ 665
Rayon yarns and cellophane_____________________ 815
Food products__________________________________ 555
Wood products_________________________________ 555
For Negro women in manufacturing the median of the annual
earnings was only $345.
Hotels and Restaurants
C o n d it io n s in hotels and restaurants do not readily lend themselves
to analysis comparable with other industries. Hours are irregular,
varying from individual to individual. For dining-room and kitchen
employees working hours may be broken into several shifts covering
meal periods. Hotel maids often are required to work 7 days a week.
The median of the week’s earnings for Negro chambermaids was
$5.65. The most common rate of pay for this job was $25 a month.
White women employed in the lodging division had a week’s median
of $10.20, or a prevailing rate of $45 a month. White waitresses were
the rule in hotel dining rooms. A tabulation of their earnings showed
a week’s median of $2.35. This was supplemented to some extent
by tips. Women in the dining rooms who do not receive tips, such
as cashiers, checkers, cafeteria counter girls, and bus girls, showed a
median of $10.35.
In hotel kitchens the jobs open to women are generally in the nature
of vegetable and pantry work. Both white and colored women were
found in the hotel kitchens. The week’s median for the latter was
$5.50, and for a smaller group of white women it was approximately $8.
In restaurants other than those located in hotels, the wage scale for
waitresses was higher. For waitresses classed as receiving tips the
median was $7.30. For other women in these dining rooms or cafe
terias who had no appreciable income from tips, the median was
$8.30. In the kitchens of commercial restaurants the group of white
women included was less than 50, but their earnings averaged between
$9 and $10 a week. Negro women’s earnings per week showed a
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
470
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1935
median of $8.55. In commercial restaurants the higher earnings may
be due partly to the fact that there the colored women are cooks
while in hotels they are usually pantry or vegetable girls.
S h o rte r W o rk w eek fo r B ritish Seamen 1
EGINNING October 1, 1936, working hours for British seamen
will be reduced from the present 84-hour week to a basic 56-hour
week with a maximum of 64 hours. These are the terms of an agree
ment reached through the National Maritime Board of Great Britain
on June 17. Instead of the usual 2-watch system under which
seamen work a 12-hour day with 4 hours on duty and 4 hours off,
the new arrangement provides for 8 hours’ continuous rest each day.
Overtime will be compensated either by overtime pay or by time
off in port. The new workweek applies to seamen on all foreigngoing vessels in the British mercantile marine exceeding 2,500 tons
gross. While the basic 56-hour week is provided for in the agree
ment, additional time up to the maximum of 8 hours per week may
be required without overtime pay or compensatory leave. Adjust
ment of hours of labor of engine department and steward’s depart
ment employees will be considered by the National Maritime Board
in the near future.
B
1 Industrial and Labor Information (Genova), July 20. 1936, pp. 90-91.
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EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
O p eratio n s of U n ite d States E m ploym ent Service,
Ju n e 1936
T }ISIN G totals in the field of public employment and sustained
£ V high volumes of placements with private employers brought
nonrelief placements made by offices of the United States Em
ployment Service during June to the highest level reported in any
month during the 1935-36 fiscal year. For the second successive
month placements in employment with governmental units and on
prevailing-wage public-works projects made a new all-time high.
Although slightly below the level for the preceding month, in accord
ance with the normal seasonal trend, placements with private em
ployers were second only to the total reported for May and, with
this exception, remained at the highest level in the past 24 months.
Placements on relief-works projects again declined.
Since the peak of activity in connection with requirements of the
W. P. A. last fall, efforts of the Employment Service have been
increasingly devoted toward securing greater opportunities for job
seekers in prevailing-wage employment, both public and private.
Results of these efforts are reflected in the fact that of a total of
470,055 placements of all classes made by public employment offices
in June, over 82 percent were in nonrelief prevailing-wage employ
ment. The 386,043 placements of this character represent the highest
aggregate in the past 24 months.
Placements in public prevailing-wage employment made by the
employment offices in June totaled 264,508. This total, which
represents a gain of 8.6 percent over the preceding month’s results,
is the highest monthly volume of public placements made during the
entire history of the Employment Service under its present organiza
tion. The next highest total was that reported for the month of
May when 243,506 such placements were reported. This classifi
cation “Public and governmental employment” includes placements
with all types of regular governmental agencies, local, State, and
Federal and, in addition, includes placements on prevailing-wage
public works for which relief status is not a requirement.
Continued activity in the solicitation of openings from private
employers resulted in 121,535 placements in private industry for the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
471
472
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
month of June. While this total represents a decline of 7.8 percent
from the May level, it is the second highest monthly volume in the
past 2 fiscal years. In 1935 a decline of 14.6 percent in private
placement was reported from May to June and in the previous year a
similar drop of 12.7 percent occurred. Placements with private
employers were made in all types of jobs ranging from common
labor to positions in the professional and technical field.
Continuing the decline in the volume of requisitions received from
relief projects during the present year, 84,012 placements of a relief
nature were reported for June, a decline of 7.8 percent from the May
level. This is the sixth successive monthly decline reported and
brings the volume of relief placements to the lowest level since August
1935. In making placements on relief projects the Employment
Service acts as personnel agency for the organization conducting the
projects and does not itself act in any respect as a relief organization.
Employment offices registered and classified 364,933 new applicants
during the month of June, a gain of 25 percent from the number
reported for May. In each of the 2 preceding years a gain in the
number of new applications received in June was reported over the
level for the preceding month.
As a result of the adoption of new regulations pertaining to
retention of registered relief employables in active status, a striking
reduction in the number of registrations reported in the active file
occurred during the month of June. Through strict enforcement of
the standard procedure requiring job seekers to maintain periodic
contact with employment offices, a large number of applicants pre
viously registered were removed from the active file following their
failure to notify the offices that they were still available for employ
ment. A still further reduction in the total number of applicants
resulted from the fact that a large number of persons with relief status,
who had previously been automatically retained in the active file
as available for referral, under agreements with W. P. A., were
placed on inactive status as a result of their failure to maintain active
contact with the offices. Under previous regulations it was necessary
to retain the applications of all such relief employables as active
regardless of whether the applicant maintained contact with the
offices. As a result of this practice it was found that many persons
theoretically available for referral, actually were not. Through
clearance of these two classes of applications, the total registrations
in the active file dropped to 6,666,599 at the end of the month.
The active files of the Employment Service are composed of several
elements. Included in the active file are the registrations of relief
persons certified as eligible for employment on W. P. A. projects
who are members of families from which no person has yet been
assigned to a project and the registrations of all relief persons who
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
473
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
have been assigned to and are working upon a W. P. A. or reliefworks project. The registration cards of these persons are still
automatically retained as active. In addition to these two classes
of relief persons, the active file includes the applications of nonrelief
persons who are unemployed and of employed persons who are seeking
better jobs. Likewise the active file contains applications of relief
persons who are members of families from which one person has been
assigned to a project but who, on a voluntary basis, maintain their
applications in active status. It is evident that because of the diverse
nature of the elements making up the active file the number of active
registrations of the public employment offices does not constitute in
any degree a measure or indication of total unemployment. These
registrations do, however, include all persons who are actively seeking
work through facilities of the offices.
Veterans’ Activities
D u r in g the month of June public employment offices made a
total of 28,504 placements of veterans. Some 19,568 of these place
ments were in public and governmental employment at prevailing
wages, a decline of 11.6 percent from the number reported in May.
Placements in private employment accounted for 4,759 of the veterans’
placements, a decline of 31.3 percent from the corresponding May total,
while 4,177 placements of veterans on relief projects were made.
During the month 6,801 veterans were registered for the first time
by employment offices. This is 25.5 percent fewer than the number
registered during the month of May. At the end of the month the
applications of 377,696 veterans were reported in the active files.
Table 1 indicates the division of activities between the offices of
the two operating branches of the United States Employment
Service—the affiliated State employment services and the National
Reemployment Service.
Table 1.— Summary of Operations of State Employment Services and National
Reemployment Service, June 1936
State employment services
A ctivity
Number
New applications.................................—
Total placements........... .............. . -Private------------------------ --------—
Public--------- --------------------------Relief_________________________
Active file...................... — .........- .........
202,479
217,206
97,484
85,126
34,596
3,237,201
Percent Percent
of change of United
from
States
total
M ay
+22.3
+ .6
-9 .3
+13.4
- 7 .7
> - 21.8
55.5
46.2
70.0
36.9
41.2
48.6
National Reemployment Service
Number
162,454
252,849
36,409
167,024
49,416
3,429,398
Percent Percent
of change of United
States
from
total
M ay
+28.6
-}-l. 0
—5 . 5
+ 6.0
- 9 .7
» -2 7 . 0
44.5
53.8
30.0
63.1
58. 8
51.4
i Changes in the procedure for maintaining the applications of relief employables resulted in an unusual
decline in the active file during June.
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474
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 2.— Operations of Offices of Combined State Employment Services an
National Reemployment Service, June 1936
New
applications
Placements
Private
State
Total
Per
cent of
N um change
ber
from
M ay
United States_________ 470,055 121,535
Public
Per
Per R elief 1 N um cent of
change
ber
cent
of
N um change
from
ber
M ay
from
M ay
- 7 .8 264, 508
+ 8.6
84,012 364,933
+25.0
6, 666, 599
2,800
356
2,233
10 , 611
1,531
5,302
1,971
4,562
28,951
5,141
+23.0
+27.1
+58.1
+29.6
+30.1
98,724
29,300
77,136
241,628
69,844
-7 8 .2
- 0 .4
+37.8
+ 5 .3
+ 11.8
2,748
196
397
1,783
2,882
4,682
902
4, 519
6, 646
3,887
+19.0
+20.3
+16.6
+ 3 .7
+14.9
53,161
10,915
63,091
98, 740
23,055
13, 222
6, 569
10, 353
6,999
4, 381
+ 20.1
+ 22.6
+11.4
+23.1
+22.4
1,143
119
435
488
525
31, 318
11,178
7,483
4, 253
4,219
+38.6
+47.5
+28.1
+28.6
+24.7
370,884
181,596
59,120
80,467
132,129
462 -1 5 .2
115 +134. 7
557 - 1 1 . 2
961 -1 5 .7
1,729 -1 3 .7
4, 651
2,557
2,243
2,511
7,555
+48.2
+ 4.1
- 0 .5
-1 3 .3
+16.9
526
1,194
979
2,045
3,382
6,169
2,259
3,298
8,596
9,993
-3 3 .5
+ 5 .4
+17.8
+26.4
+15.3
79,176
29; 275
96, 354
347, 782
181, 620
4,779
- 9 .9
65 +160. 0
2,113
- 8.2
2,191 +44.1
1,362 +159.4
10, 512
3,464
9,632
6,836
6, 542
+16.3
+ 6 .4
+19.6
+11.7
+15.6
1,158
3, 797
1,718
1,454
406
9,410
4, 771
9,578
2,864
3, 716
+38.6
+32.1
+32.6
+39.5
+42.8
133,381
105,058
265, 762
28, 914
38) 842
8,638
Alabama_________ ____
3,645
Arizona_________ _____
5, 304
Arkansas___ _________
California---- --------------- 39,522
Colorado--------------------- 6,181
279
817
609
14,976
2, 271
-2 9 .2
+11.9
-2 7 .7
+ 4 .4
- 5 .8
5, 559
2,472
2,462
13,935
2,379
+15.0
+ 12.0
- 3 .3
+ 2 .7
+31.5
5,148
2,076
5,149
6,637
5,888
1,773
772
1,029
782
-1 0 .9
+ 4 .2
-5 .2
-3 9 .0
+55.2
627
1,108
3, 723
3,734
2,224
Illinois________________ 26,714
In d ia n a ............................ 11,029
Iowa_________________ 14,045
8,940
Kansas----------------------5,883
Kentucky-------------------
12,349
4,341
3,257
1,453
977
-1 4 .3
- 21.0
- 6 .9
+47.4
-3 2 .7
5,639
3,866
3, 779
5,517
12 , 666
M innesota--------------- . 16,449
M ississippi------------------ 7,326
Missouri______________ 13,463
M ontana______ . ____ 10,481
Nebraska____________
8,310
Connecticut_____ ___
Delaware___________ Florida_______________
Georgia_______________
Idaho__________ ______
Louisiana_____________
M aine. ______________
Maryland_____________
Massachusetts____ _
Michigan ---------- . . . .
Active
file, June
30
1,12 0
N evada_______________ 1,693
N ew H am p sh ire... . . 1,894
N ew Jersey___________
9,546
N ew Mexico___ . . .
5,182
N ew Y o r k ...
____
33,079
4,371
1,243
12, 771
- 0 .5
-2 4 .9
+ 4 .2
+70.7
-1 0 .5
1,338
881
2,091
2,639
15, 300
- 6 .5
- 2 1 .1
+19.1
+31.6
+16.9
168
793
3,084
1,300
5,008
811
1,434
10, 772
1,903
22,965
+11.4
+ 20.0
+22.3
+ 5.3
+ 9 .2
5,759
27,066
292,730
50,171
555; 971
North Carolina. _____ 12,995
North Dakota
_____
5, 743
O h io ... ______________ 23,410
Oklahoma____
_____ 7,018
Oregon_______ ______
6,692
4, 279
725
9,162
1,819
1,346
- 8 .7
+ 8 .5
-2 6 .7
-1 9 .7
+43.3
7,507
3,178
11,206
4,013
4,188
+19.7
+11.5
-2 8 .4
+ 2.8
1,209
1,840
3,042
1,186
1,158
10,164
4,058
23,664
5,094
3,481
- 2 .9
+54.8
+59.0
+34.9
+38.5
103,322
33; 834
329,586
147; 655
102 , 682
Pennsylvania_________ 24,866
Rhode Island . . . ___
822
South Carolina________
4,786
South Dakota___ ____ 5,705
Tennessee__________ _
6,603
4,418
274
758
733
843
-2 7 .9
-1 1 .3
-3 1 .3
- 1 .7
-3 3 .7
13, 513
351
3,329
4,147
5,027
+ 1 .3
-2 7 .9
- 6.0
+15.0
- 0 .7
6,935
197
699
825
733
31,512
1,108
3, 775
2,710
6,295
+24.3
- 3 .1
+ 8.2
+25.3
+12.4
1,041,829
6l ’, 131
86; 780
28', 562
229,575
Texas________________
Utah..
_ __________
Vermont________
Virginia _____________
Washington— ________
27,100
4,693
2,340
9,011
9,208
5,190
1,526
333
1,599
844
+52.1
+26.2
-1 0 .5
- 8.2
+16.1
18,764
2, 534
1,607
6, 713
5,394
- 1 .9
+ 2 .4
+65.2
- 4 .7
- 0 .7
3,146
633
400
699
2,970
13,412
1,757
1,333
6,418
4,977
+14.6
+89.7
+32.0
+ 12.0
+60.2
199, 656
23,892
10; 460
86,510
89; 710
West Virginia_______ .
Wisconsin_______ _ . . .
Wyoming_____________
District of Columbia___
5,099
13, 716
3,560
2,999
895
4,408
515
1,937
-2 7 .3
-1 6 .5
+ 3 .0
-1 3 .3
3,862
7,421
2,306
949
+ 7.1
+45.8
+ 2.8
+13.7
342
1,887
739
113
5, 521
10,948
1,950
3,203
+21.7
+60.2
+13.2
+22.5
106,543
120,881
8*,971
27,369
187
220
1 Includes only security-wage placements on work-relief projects.
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475
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Table 3.— Operations of Offices of State Employment Services, June 1936
New
applications
Placements
Private
Public
Per
cent of
N um change
ber
from
M ay
Active
Per file, June
30
Per Relief i N um cent of
change
ber
cent
of
N um
from
change
M ay
ber
from
May
All States. . . . _______ 217,206
85,126
3 - 9 .3
97,484 2+13.4
2+ 22 .3
3,237,201
Arizona
...........
. . . 1,184
California_____ ____ 29,350
2,039
Colorado.. . . . ______
3, 529
Connecticut ..
2,076
D elaw are..
_____ . . .
458
12,081
692
1,325
772
+21.5
+ 8 .5
-4 0 .2
- 9 .6
+ 4 .2
670
8,082
787
494
1,108
+18.2
- 3 .6
+98.7
-7 5 .6
- 0 .4
56
9,187
560
1,710
196
677
23,946
2,946
3, 748
902
+16.9
+31.9
+14.3
+19.2
+20.3
12,392
194, 228
41,970
38,217
10,915
5,149
Florida ______________
Id ah o.. ______ . . . . 1,911
Illinois------------------------ 19,261
7,489
Indiana____________ .
6, 716
I o w a ________________
1,029
281
11, 363
3,866
2,829
- 5 .2
+ 1.8
-1 0 .7
-24. 1
- 8 .5
3, 723
1,190
7,209
3,582
3,762
+37.8
+ 10.6
+40.5
+57.4
+28.0
397
440
689
41
125
4,519
1,607
22,695
8,351
4, 583
+16.6
-2 8 .6
+32.7
+51.6
+48.0
63,091
10, 565
262,898
99,032
36,825
2, 697
5,639
3,184
5,017
4,309
998
462
862
2,983
1,493
+51.9
-1 5 .2
- 1 1 .2
- 2 .1
-1 4 .5
1,586
4, 651
993
1,848
1,970
+31.3
+48.2
-1 4 .6
- 2 .3
+ 10.8
113
526
1,329
186
846
1,003
6,169
4,933
4,264
5,249
+44.7
-3 3 .5
+27.9
+53.7
+36.3
22,034
79,176
185, 879
75,048
116,541
919
N ev a d a ..
------------New H a m p s h ir e ..____
598
8,740
New Jersey___________
2, 647
N ew M exico__________
21,941
N ew Y o r k _____ _ .
148
+9.B
- 20.8
4,148
(3)
595 + 12 1.2
11,237
- 8 .9
755
310
1,906
1,435
8,119
- 6.8
-2 0 .3
(3)
+43.2
+28.9
16
166
2,686
617
2,585
434
705
10,088
1,062
16, 009
+ 3 .8
+ 10.7
(3)
- 8 .5
+ 3.5
4,039
13,650
263,970
23,574
296,761
State
Total
Kansas (not affiliated). .
L ouisiana... ___ . .
Massachusetts________
M innesota____________
M issouri_______
___
122
34, 596 202,479
North Carolina.
. . 12,995
747
North Dakota_________
O h io ... __________ . . . 14,426
2, 353
Oklahoma . . . . . . ___
Oregon_____
_____ 2, 907
4, 279
337
7,221
1,489
873
- 8 .7
+16.2
-2 6 .9
-1 9 .6
+54.0
7,507
315
5,019
708
1,714
+ 1 .2
+53.7
+ 6 .7
-4 6 .1
-7 .4
1,209
95
2,186
156
320
10,164
804
16,148
1,545
1,877
- 2 .9
+89.2
+49.6
+36.0
+32.5
103,322
4,681
220,491
27,069
78,037
Pennsylvania___
_. . 13, 765
586
Rhode Island___ . . .
5, 208
South D akota.. ______
T en nessee___ . _____ 3,717
______ 7,245
Texas_______
3,292
240
623
506
1,258
-1 2 .4
- 9 .1
-4 .4
-4 6 .6
+56.9
6,315
270
3,897
2,907
5,318
+ 4 .8
-3 4 .0
+17.0
+12.5
+ 5 .0
4,158
76
21,248
688
304
669
2,532
3,414
3,841
+24.8
- 6 .5
+30.9
+22.5
+ 8 .2
550,000
54,603
26,217
96,591
58,965
2, 340
1,179
1,478
9, 471
1,395
2,999
333
615
307
3,780
292
1,937
-1 0 .5
-1 7 .0
- 20.1
-1 7 .1
+ 1.0
-1 3 .3
1,607
481
1,097
4,413
787
949
+65.2
-3 0 .4
+71.1
+60.6
-3 5 .9
+13.7
400
83
74
1,278
316
113
1,333
811
1,356
8, 277
1,015
3,203
+32.0
+18.9
+66.4
+ 10 .2
+22.5
10,460
10,891
23,252
89,882
4,566
27,369
Vermont___________ __
Virginia____ .
______
West Virginia. _______
___
W isconsin___
Wyoming . . . . . _
District of Columbia. . .
1,0 21
0.0
1 Includes only security-wage placements on work-relief projects.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
3 N ot comparable due to transfer of two National Reemployment Service offices to State employment
services, June 1, 1936.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
476
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 4.— Operations of Offices of the National Reemployment Service,
June 1936— Continued
New
applications
Placements
Private
State
Total
Per
N um cent of
change
ber
from
M ay
Public
Active
file, June
Per
30
cent of
Per R elief 1 N um change
ber
cent
of
from
N um
change
M ay
ber
from
M ay
49,416 162,454 2+28.6
3,429,398
+23.0
+33.1
+58.1
+19.5
+59.6
98,724
16,908
77,136
47,400
27,874
1,038
1,783
2,442
454
78
934 +17.9
+ 3.7
6,646
2 , 280 + 101 .4
8,623 +57.0
2,827 +36.8
14,944
98, 740
12,490
107,986
82,564
All States_____________ 252,849
36,409
8 - 5 .5
167,024
a + 6.0
8,638
Alabama. ____________
Arizona_______________ 2,461
Arkansas______________ 5,304
California_____________ 10,172
Colorado______________ 4,142
279
359
609
2,895
1,579
-2 9 .2
+ 1 .7
-2 7 .7
-9 .6
+26.0
5, 559
1,802
2,462
5,853
1,592
+15.0
+ 9 .8
- 3 .3
+13.0
+12.7
2,800
300
2,233
1,424
971
5,302
1,294
4,562
5,005
2,195
133
3,734
1,034
6,013
2,987
-8 4 .4
+ 5 .3
+13.3
+ 2 .3
- 3 .1
Connecticut----------------Georgia_________ _____
I d a h o ---------- ------------Illinois________________
Indiana_______________
3,977
7,453
3, 540
-1 4 .8
-3 9 .0
501 +119.7
986 -4 1 .4
475 +18.2
Iowa---------- -------------Kansas_______________
Kentucky_____________
M a in e ..-....................... —
Maryland---- ------ --------
7,329
6,243
5,883
3,866
3,779
+ 5 .2
428
455 +38. 3
977 -3 2 .7
115 +134.7
557 - 1 1 .2
6,591
5,413
4, 381
2, 557
2,243
+ 3 .7
+20.9
+22.4
+ 4 .1
-0 .5
310
375
525
1,194
979
2,900
3,250
4,219
2,259
3, 298
+ 5 .7
+24.3
+24.7
+ 5 .4
+17.8
22,295
58,433
132,129
29,275
96,354
Massachusetts.................. 2,333
Michigan................ ........... 12,666
Minnesota......................— 11,432
Mississippi.....................— 7,326
Missouri..................... ....... 9,154
99 -4 1 .4
1,729 -1 3 .7
1,796 -2 0 .5
65 +160.0
620 +11.5
1,518
7,555
8,664
3,464
7,662
-1 2 4
+16.9
+ 2 1.2
+ 6 .4
+22 1
716
3,382
972
3,797
872
3,663
9,993
5,146
4,771
4,329
+24,4
+15.3
+28.2
+32.1
+28.4
161,903
181, 620
58,333
105,058
149,221
Montana............................ 10,481
Nebraska........................... 8,310
Nevada----------------------774
New Hampshire----------- 1,296
New Jersey........................
806
2,191 +44.1
1,362 +159. 4
39 -2 6 .4
98 -2 9 .5
223
(3)
6,836
6, 542
583
571
185
+11.7
+15.6
- 6 .1
- 21.6
(3)
1,454
406
152
627
398
2,864
3,716
377
729
684
+39.5
+42.8
+ 21.6
+30.6
(3)
28,914
38,842
1,720
13,416
28,760
New Mexico..................... 2,535
New York.....................
11,138
North Dakota— ........ .
4,996
Ohio_________ ____ ___
8,984
Oklahom a........................ 4,665
648
1,534
388
1,941
330
+41.2
- 20.6
+ 2.6
-2 6 .1
-2 0 .5
1,204
7,181
2, 863
6,187
3,305
+19.9
+ 5 .7
+16.9
+15.8
-2 2 .9
683
2,423
1,745
856
1,030
841
6,956
3,254
7,516
3,549
+30.0
+25.4
+48.1
+83.9
+34.5
26,597
259,210
29,153
109,095
120,586
Oregon.................... ........... 3,785
Pennsylvania-.................. 1 1,10 1
Rhode Island....................
236
South Carolina............. .
4, 786
South Dakota...................
497
473
1,126
34
758
2,474
7,198
81
3,329
250
+11.3
- 1.6
+ 3 .8
- 6.0
- 9 .1
838
2,777
110
+27.2
-5 2 .5
-2 4 .4
-3 1 .3
+17.0
699
137
1,604
10, 264
87
3, 775
178
+46.4
+23.1
+67.3
+ 8.2
- 21.6
24, 645
491,829
6,528
86, 780
2,345
Tennessee— ..................... 2,886
Texas.................................. 19,855
U tah................. ................. 4,693
Virginia............................. 7,832
337
3,932
1,526
984
+ 3 .7
+50.7
+26.2
- 1 .7
2,120
13,446
2,534
6,232
-1 4 .4
- 4 .4
+ 2 .4
- 1 .9
429
2,477
633
616
2,881
9,571
1,757
5,607
+ 2 .3
+17.3
+89.7
+14.0
132,984
140, 691
23,892
75, 619
844
588
628
223
+16.1
-3 0 .6
- 12.8
+ 5 .7
5,394
2,765
3,008
1, 519
- 0 .7
- 6 .7
+28.4
+49.5
2,970
268
609
423
4,977
4,165
2,671
935
+60.2
+22.7
+43.4
+16.7
89,710
83, 291
30,999
4,405
Washington___________
West Virginia...............
Wisconsin_____________
W yom ing..........................
1,619
6, 637
9,208
3, 621
4,245
2,165
448
1,12 0
1 Includes only security-wage placements on work-relief projects.
121
a Computed from comparable reports only.
8 N ot comparable due to transfer of two National Reemployment Service offices to State employment
services, June 1,1936.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
477
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Table 5.—Veterans’ Activities of Offices of Combined State Employment Services
and National Reemployment Service, June 1936
New
applications
Placements
Private
Public
State
Total
Per
cent of
N um change
ber
from
M ay
Active
file, June
Per
30
cent
of
N um
Per
change
of R elief 1
ber
N um cent
from
change
ber
M ay
from
M ay
United States.................... 28,504
4,759
-3 1 .3
19,568
- 11 .6
4,177
6,801
-2 5 .5
377, 696
Alabama............................
Arizona.------- ------------Arkansas...........................
California_____________
Colorado..------ ------------
448
213
223
2,963
337
9
33
32
795
65
-6 9 .0
+ 10.0
- 8.6
-2 5 .1
+ 6.6
370
159
139
1,514
186
- 1 2 .1
- 9 .1
-1 9 .7
-1 5 .8
- 6 .1
69
52
654
21
105
44
60
933
86
86
- 7 .1
-2 1 .4
-1 4 .3
-2 3 .4
- 21.8
4,612
1,427
3,054
17,908
3,281
Connecticut......................
Delaware....... ............... ...
Florida......... .....................
G eorgia.._____________
Idaho.................................
307
-3 1 .3
- 21.6
-4 .9
-5 9 .4
+ 8.8
61
161
190
175
-7 2 .1
- 10.8
+14.2
-1 2 .4
- 6 .9
200
236
282
296
46
29
58
43
37
93
9
59
67
67
-3 1 .6
-5 0 .0
-3 9 .2
-2 7 .2
-1 6 .3
3,635
529
2, 671
4,426
1,336
Illinois........ ........................
Indiana_______________
Iowa....................................
Kansas........... ....................
Kentucky________ ____
1,553
729
1,098
617
480
453
139
206
108
67
-3 7 .8
-4 6 .7
-2 7 .5
+71.4
-4 2 .7
1,047
579
862
484
392
- 7 .3
+ 5 .3
- 8.2
- 8 .9
+ 3 .7
30
25
582
193
158
92
96
-2 7 .8
- 2 .5
-3 3 .6
-1 3 .2
-1 3 .5
24,531
11,781
3,646
4,708
7,025
Louisiana...........................
M aine________________
Maryland..........................
Massachusetts_________
M ichigan.------ ------------
305
255
264
408
670
21 +10.5
10 +900.0
+32.3
-1 4 .2
-1 9 .6
-1 2 .3
-2 9 .1
30
70
71
139
171
120
74
75
280
226
-6 4 .0
+ 2.8
-1 6 .7
+13.4
-4 0 .4
5,033
1,975
6,203
20,473
10,080
M innesota____________
Mississippi____________
Missouri.............. ..............
M ontana______________
Nebraska--------------------
1,143
218
909
783
484
-3 .8
-1 8 .2
- 12.8
- 7 .4
- 8 .4
70
104
201
111
74
31
48
176
65
76
- 1 1 .1
+29.7
-3 0 .7
-1 7 .7
0.0
9,934
3,946
17,251
1,378
2,604
Nevada.......... ....................
N ew Hampshire_______
New Jersey___________
New Mexico__________
N ew York........................
122
8
20
124
442
306
1,723
316
1,766
18,717
2,807
33,491
North Carolina................
North Dakota...................
Ohio_____ ____________
Oklahoma........................ .
Oregon................. .............
505
273
1,414
509
545
Pennsylvania_________
Rhode Island__________
South Carolina................
South Dakota_________
Tennessee_____________
112
66
17
17
49
84
53
11
21
29
19
59
-2 5 .6
-5 0 .0
-4 9 .6
254
175
164
250
440
166
-4 2 .4
907
83
197
49
-2 9 .1
+19.4
+36.1
715
512
404
14
-3 9 .1
+ 20.0
-2 3 .4
+115.6
-3 8 .1
100
76
167
195
1,167
-3 4 .2
-2 4 .8
+19.3
+ 8 .9
+ 4 .1
42
154
42
244
43
170
41
336
-3 9 .4
+26.5
-2 9 .2
-2 6 .8
-3 2 .8
31
318
102
66
-4 1 .3
+93.8
-5 0 .9
-4 6 .6
+13.8
361
169
966
322
412
-2 1 .4
-1 2 .4
- 6.0
-3 1 .3
- 9 .3
43
73
130
85
67
107
72
322
59
79
-4 7 .0
+26.3
-1 7 .4
-5 2 .4
-2 6 .9
3,699
1,392
19,169
8,134
7,599
1,657
51
225
403
335
151
9
35
44
29
-3 7 .6
-6 0 .9
- 22.2
-4 8 .2
-2 3 .7
1,037
34
171
318
272
-2 1 .7
-5 4 .7
-2 3 .7
+ 1.6
-1 9 .5
469
481
27
47
42
-2 3 .9
-6 .9
- 2 .1
-2 8 .8
-3 4 .4
51,879
3,723
3,409
1,559
10,964
Texas....................... ..........
U tah....................................
Vermont................... .........
Virginia.—.........................
Washington.......................
1,413
313
82
417
542
189
40
5
78
47
+ 1 1 .2
-6 0 .8
-5 8 .3
- 4 .1
1,129
232
63
316
414
-2 4 .1
- 1 .7
+50.0
-3 5 .0
-1 8 .5
95
41
14
23
81
-4 0 .1
+ 20.0
+ 5 .3
-3 7 .9
- 1 2 .2
8,671
1,450
384
3,156
5,648
West Virginia..-----------Wisconsin............. .............
W yoming_____________
District of Columbia___
316
946
237
271
25
142
-4 1 .9
-5 4 .8
-5 3 .8
-4 2 .0
271
647
204
207
-7 .8
+ 6.2
+ 4 .6
+11.9
20
-1 4 .9
-2 3 .5
-3 7 .1
-2 7 .1
5,783
8,418
473
1,642
2 + 100.0
6
121
69
312
101
12
58
0.0
112
i Includes only security-wage placements on work-relief projects.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8
19
41
34
157
21
6
101
191
24
20
100
65
86
218
44
121
478
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
S um m ary of A ctiv itie s of U n ite d States E m ploym ent
Service, Y ear Ending Ju n e 30, 1936
IGHER levels of activity in all branches of the work carried
on by offices of the United States Employment Service are
revealed by the tentative report for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1936. Most significant were the gains in placements made through
the public employment offices, an increased volume being reported
in every class of employment—private, public, and relief.
During the 12-month period ending June 30, 1936, total place
ments of 5,755,964 were made in all types of employment. For the
preceding year 3,174,651 placements were reported. As a result of
the widespread activities of the Works Progress Administration
program during 1935-36, placements on W. P. A. and relief projects
totaled 2,868,581. During 1934-35, when the public employment
offices were not universally used as an assignment agency on reliefworks projects, 402,919 such placements were made.
Despite the tremendous volume of W. P. A. registration and
placement activity handled during the year, the volume of both
public and private placements exceeded that of the previous year.
A total of 1,147,287 placements with private employers was reported
for the 12 months ending June 30, 1936, compared with 1,089,964
during the fiscal year 1935. Due to the heavy pressure of W. P. A.
referral activity during November and December 1935 and January
1936, private placements fell to a low level in these months. In
every month since that time, however, private placements exceeded
those for the same month 1 year earlier.
In the field of public and governmental employment similar results
were reported. Placements in this field aggregated 1,740,096, com
pared to 1,681,768 for the previous year. In each of the last 7
months of the year placements of this type were higher than for the
corresponding month of the preceding year.
During the 12-month period 6,124,827 new applicants were regis
tered and classified by the public employment offices. One year
earlier a total of 4,137,012 new registrations was reported.
The table on page 480 presents a summary of operations for the
past 2 years of the National Reemployment Service, the affiliated or
cooperating State employment services, and for both branches com
bined. The chart on page 479 compares the principal activities for
the fiscal year 1935-36 with those for the previous year.
H
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
479
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
A ctivities
J uly 1,1935 - J une 3 0 , 1936
C ompared with S ame Period One Year E arlier
MILLIONS
—to
-8
ACTIVE FILE
PLACEMENTS
-
6
-4
-2
1936
1935
1936
C lassification
/935
of
/936
/93S
Placements
J uly I, 1935 - J une 3 0 , 1936
Compared with S ame Period One Year E arlier
millions
millions
3.0 \-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRS
jiVRS
SES
25-
2.5
2.0 -
PUBLIC AND
GOVERNMENT
/.5-
J.5
PRIVATE
/.0
- 0.5
0
1936
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
¡935
/.936
1935
1936
/935
0
480
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Operations of Combined State Employment Services and National Reemploy
ment Service, Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 1935 and 1936
State and National
Services combined
State Employment
Services
National Reemploy
ment Service
1934-35
1935-36
1934-35
1935-36
1934-35
1935-36
6,124,827
5,755,964
1,922,566
898,793
3,229,080
2,533,198
2,214,446
2,275,858
2,895, 747
3, 222,766
2,887,383
1,147,287
732,240
465, 273
1,294,008
737,421
2,039,492
624, 691
1,593,375
409,866
1,740,096
2, 868, 581
876,604
6, 666, 599
266,967
166,553
240,046
2,395, 303
556, 587
1,239,190
303, 280
3,237,201
1,414,801
236, 366
854,796
4,317,744
1,183,509
1,629,391
573,324
3,429,398
A ctivity
New applications_____ _____ _____ - 4,137,012
Total placements___ _____________ 3,174,651
Placements (excluding relief and
0 . W. A .)___ ______________ 2, 771,732
Private____ ____________ - 1,089,964
Public and Government
services____________ ____ 1,681,768
402, 919
Relief, and W. P. A___ ______
Field visits_________ ____ ____ ____ 1,094,842
6,713,047
Active file_______________ ______
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Sum m ary of E m ploym ent R ep o rts for Ju n e 1936
ONTRA-SEASONAL gains in industrial and business employ
ment and pay rolls between May and June were indicated by
reports received from more than 135,000 manufacturing and non
manufacturing establishments surveyed by the United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics. These gains in June continue the succession of
increases which have been shown in employment each month since
February and in pay rolls, since January.
The increases over the month interval were widespread, 56 of the 90
manufacturing industries surveyed showing gains in employment and
55, in pay rolls. Eleven of the 16 nonmanufacturing industries cov
ered also showed advances in number of workers and 10 showed gains
in pay rolls.
Class I railroads likewise had more workers on their pay rolls in
June than in May according to preliminary reports of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
Substantial employment gains during June were reported on con
struction projects financed by the Public Works Administration and
on construction projects financed from regular governmental appro
priations. An increase in the number of wage earners also occurred
on Federal projects financed by The Works Program. Decreases in
employment, on the other hand, were reported on the emergency
conservation program and on construction projects financed by the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
Industrial and Business Employment
N early 59,000 workers were returned to jobs between May and
June in the combined manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries
surveyed and aggregate weekly wages were nearly $1,100,000 greater
in June than in the preceding month.
In 3 of the 4 preceding years, 193 2-35, for which monthly infor
mation is available, net declines were shown in employment between
May and June ranging from approximately 100,000 to 300,000
workers. The only year in which June showed a gain was 1933, when
a sharp increase was registered following the alleviation of the banking
situation.
8 2 4 2 5 — 3 6 --------1 4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
481
482
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
A comparison of June 1936 totals with June 1935 figures shows
gains of approximately 805,000 in number of workers and $37,500,000
in weekly wage payments.
Factory employment showed a contra-seasonal gain of 0.4 percent
from May to June, continuing the expansion which has been shown
each month since January, and indicating the return of more than
27.000 workers to jobs. Factory pay rolls rose 0.3 percent over the
month interval.
Fifty-six of the 90 manufacturing industries surveyed reported
more workers in June than in the preceding month, and 55 industries
showed larger pay rolls. The major gains were in the durable-goods
industries. Employment in the durable-goods group increased 0.9
percent over the month interval, the June index (79.9) exceeding the
levels of any month since September 1930. A decline of 0.1 percent
was shown in the group of nondurable-goods industries. The June
employment index for the nondurable-goods group (92.6) indicates
that for every 1,000 workers employed in this group during the indexbase period (1923-25 —100) 926 were employed in June 1936, while a
similar comparison of the durable-goods indexes indicates that for
every 1,000 workers employed in that group during the index-base
period, 799 were employed in June 1936.
The June 1936 factory employment index (86.0) is 7.9 percent
above the level of June 1935 and marks the highest point reached
since October 1930. The pay-roll index for June 1936 (79.5) is 19.7
percent above the June 1935 level and is also higher than the index
of any month since October 1930.
A number of manufacturing industries registered new “highs’7 in
employment in June. The blast-furnaces, steel-works, and rollingmills industry group reported the largest number of workers employed
in any month since August 1930; employment in foundries and ma
chine shops exceeded the levels of any month since September 1930;
the engine, turbine, and tractor industry reported the highest em
ployment level since March 1930; and electric- and steam-car building
shops reported the maximum employment since April 1930. Em
ployment in the electrical-machinery, steam-fittings, structural-metal
work, aluminum, millwork, brick, and steam-railroad repair-shop
industries, exceeded the levels of any month since the latter part
of 1931.
The most pronounced gains in employment over the month interval
were seasonal in character: the canning and preserving industry
reported a gain of 34.1 percent; radios and phonographs, 12.6 per
cent; beet sugar, 10.7 percent; and ice cream, 5.3 percent. A number
of industries manufacturing building-construction materials also
reported employment gains, among which were structural metalwork,
5.0 percent; millwork, 3.9 percent; brick, 5.9 percent; steam and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
483
hot-water heating apparatus, 1.2 percent; and cement, 0.9 percent.
Employment in blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills rose 1.3
percent over the month interval. The increase in this industry was
somewhat retarded by labor disturbances which caused decreased
plant operation in several localities. Other industries of major
importance in which gains in employment were shown were men’s
clothing, 3.6 percent; electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies,
2.6 percent; furniture, 2.0 percent; slaughtering and meat packing,
1.7 percent; silk and rayon goods, 1.6 percent; chemicals, 1.2 percent;
petroleum refining, 1.2 percent; foundries and machine shops, 1.0
percent; steam-railroad repair shops, 0.8 percent; and cotton goods,
0.4 percent. Establishments in the machine-tool industry continued
to absorb workers in June. The increase of 1.6 percent in employ
ment in this industry continued the unbroken succession of gains
which have been shown monthly since October 1934. The June
1936 employment index (109.8) is higher than the level recorded in
any month since September 1930.
The largest percentage declines in employment from May to June
were also seasonal and were in the fertilizer industry (38.5 percent),
cottonseed oil-cake-meal (14.1 percent), millinery (12.5 percent),
and women’s clothing (9.7 percent). The decrease of 26.8 percent in
employment in the typewriter industry was due primarily to labor
troubles as was the decrease of 6.6 percent in the cash registers, adding
machines, and calculating machines industry. A seasonal decline of
4.2 percent was reported in the agricultural implement industry and
declines ranging from 2.1 percent to 2.9 percent were shown in the
boots and shoes, cotton small wares, confectionery, wirework, rubber
boots and shoes, dyeing and finishing, pottery, and shipbuilding
industries. Employment in the automobile industry declined 1.2
percent over the month interval.
Eleven of the 16 nonmanufacturing industries surveyed showed
increases in number of workers and 10 showed gains in pay rolls.
The net gain in employment in the combined nonmanufacturing
industries aggregated more than 31,000 workers.
Retail-trade establishments reported a small increase, the impor
tant group of general merchandising establishments, composed of
department, variety, and general merchandising stores and mail-order
houses, showing a slight gain instead of the customary seasonal
recession. The level of employment in retail trade was higher than
in June of any year since 1931. Each of the three utility industries
reported increased employment, the number of workers in the electric
light and power and manufactured gas industry reaching the highest
level since November 1931. The private building-construction indus
try showed a further substantial gain (4.3 percent). Other industries
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
484
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
reporting gains in workers were quarrying and nonmetallic mining,
metal mining, crude-petroleum producing, laundries, dyeing and
cleaning, and insurance.
A seasonal decline of 6.7 percent in employment was shown in
anthracite mining, and a decrease of 1.9 percent in brokerage. The
decreases in the remaining three industries reporting declines (bitumi
nous-coal mining, year-round hotels, and wholesale trade) ranged
from 0.7 percent to 0.1 percent.
According to reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission there
were 1,064,848 workers (exclusive of executives and officials) employed
by class I railroads in June as compared with 1,056,454 in May, a
gain of 0.8 percent. Pay-roll data for June were not available at
the time this report was prepared. The total compensation of all
employees except executives and officials was $144,819,909 in May
and $143,505,090 in April, a gain of 0.9 percent. The preliminary
indexes of employment, compiled by the Commission and based on
the 3-year average 1923-25 as 100, are 60.3 in June and 59.8 in
May. The final April index is 58.8.
Hours and earnings.—Average hours worked per week in the
manufacturing industries surveyed were 39.2 in June, a decrease of
0.1 percent over May. Average hourly earnings, however, rose 0.1
percent over the month interval to 57.5 cents. Average weekly
earnings, which are based on reports from a larger number of estab
lishments than average hours and hourly earnings, stood at $22.91
in June, a decline of 0.1 percent over May.
Five of the 14 nonmanufacturing industries for which man-hour
data are compiled showed gains in average hours worked per
week. These industries were quarrying and nonmetallic mining
(1.2 percent), crude-petroleum producing (0.4 percent), electric
light and power (less than 0.1 percent), wholesale trade (0.1
percent), and retail trade (0.3 percent). Eight industries showed
higher average hourly rates, the increases ranging from 0.3 percent
to 1.2 percent. Gains in average weekly earnings were shown by
8 of the 16 industries covered.
Table 1 presents a summary of employment and pay-roll indexes
and average weekly earnings in June 1936 for all manufacturing
industries combined, for selected nonmanufacturing industries, and
for class I railroads, with percentage changes over the month and
year intervals except in the few industries for which certain items
cannot be computed. The indexes of employment and pay rolls
for the manufacturing industries are based on the 3-year average
1923-25 as 100 and for the nonmanufacturing industries, on the
12-month average for 1929 as 100.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
485
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 1.—-Employment, Pay Rolls, and Weekly Earnings in All Manufacturing
Industries Combined and in Nonmanufacturing Industries, June 1936 (Pre
liminary Figures)
rEmployment
Average weekly
earnings
Pay roll
___________ B ___
Industry
Index,
June
1936
All manufacturing industries
combined____________ ____
Class I steam railroads 1_____
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 A _
Electric-railroad and mo
tor-bus operation and
maintenance__________
Trade:
Wholesale__________ ____
Retail........ ...... .............
General merchandisOther than general
merchandising_____
Hotels (year-round) »________
Laundries... ........ ................ .
Dyeing and c le a n in g ...............
Brokerage_____ __________
Insurance______ ______ _____
Building construction_______
Percentage
change from—
M ay
1936
June
1935
+ 0 .4
+ 7 .9
+ 6.2
a m -2 5
= 100)
86.0
60.3
+ .8
Index,
June
1936
Percentage
Percentage
change from— Aver change from—
age in
June
M ay June
1936 M ay June
1936
1935
1936
1935
{1923-25
= 100)
{1929=
100 )
79.5
(2)
{1929=
100)
+ 0 .3 +19.7 $22. 91
(2)
(2)
(2)
- 0 .1
(2)
+10.9
(2)
23.81 - 20.1
20.47
-.4
24.43
-.7
-2 9 .5
- 2 .3
+13.7
+ 4 .4 +30.2
+ 1.0 - 1 . 1
20.46
29.05
+ 1.6
+ .4
+22.7
+ 3 .9
51.2
75.7
61.9
- 6 .7
- 9 .7
-.7
-2 .7
+ 1.8 +34.8
42.0 -2 5 .4 -3 6 .4
61.5 - 1 .1 - 5 . 0
48.2 + 1 . 1 +53.2
53.5
72.9
+ 2 .7
44.0
58.5
+ .6
+ 6.0
- 4 .9
72.1
+ .7
+ 2 .7
77.4
- 1 .5
+ 4 .0
28. 79
- 2 .1
+ 1 .2
90.4
+ 1.6
+ 7 .8
88.1
+ 1.
+10.4
31. 61
-.3
+ 2 .5
71.7
+ .3
«
66.8
+ 1.0
+ 4.5
30.15
+ .7
+ 1.5
84.6
85.5
-.1
+ .5
+ 3 .0
+ 4 .0
68.4
66.4
+ .2
+ .9
+ 5.9
+ 6.2
28.81
20.71
+ .3
+ .4
+ 2.8
+ 2.2
96.4
+ .9
+ 5 .6
81.3
+ .6
+ 6.0
17.43
- .3
+ .3
82.6
83.9
87.2
87.5
(2)
(2)
(2)
+ .4
+ 3 .5
+ 3 .3
+ 6.0
+ 4 .7
+23.
+ 1.0
+21.3
63.3
+ 1.0 + 6.5
- .5
+ 4 .8
+ .3 + 1 1 .1
- 4 .0 + 5 .4
- 1.8 +31.2
+ 1 . 1 + 4 .4
+ 5 .5 +38.5
23.43
13.90
16.13
19.23
37.59
38. 26
27.26
+ .6
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .7
+ 4 .8
+ .1
+ 6 .7
+ 3.4
+14.5
-.2
+ 2.0
+ .2
1.9
+. 4
+ 4.3
66.6
75.8
69.2
(2)
(2)
(2)
-.3
- 1 .7
- 4 .2
+• 7
+ 1 .2
+ .8
1 Preliminary; source—Interstate Commerce Commission.
2 N ot available.
3 M ay data revised as follows: Employment index, 89.0, percentage change from April 1936, +1.1, from
M ay 1935, + 6.8. Average weekly earnings, $31.67, percentage change from April 1936, -0 .1 .
4 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
1 Cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
Public Employment
E m p l o y m e n t on construction projects financed from Public Works
Administration funds increased substantially in June. During the
month 350,000 wage earners were working on these projects, a gain
of 11 percent compared with the number working in May. Employ
ment gains were registered on Federal and non-Federal projects
financed from funds provided by the National Industrial Recovery
Act. On non-Federal projects financed from funds provided by the
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, the number of em
ployees increased from 144,000 in May to 169,000 in June. Total
pay-roll disbursements of $25,841,000 were 14 percent higher than
in the previous month.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
486
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Employment on construction projects financed from regular govern
mental appropriations also showed a marked gain. The 102,000
wage earners employed represented an increase of 28 percent com
pared with May. The most substantial gains in employment oc
curred on public-road projects and on naval vessel construction work.
Monthly pay-roll disbursements advanced from $6,243,000 in May
to slightly over $8,631,000 in June.
The number of wage earners employed on construction projects
financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation declined sharply.
During June there were 8,500 workers employed, a decrease of 23
percent compared with employment in May. Losses in the number
of wage earners occurred on bridge construction projects and on
miscellaneous projects, but the most pronounced decrease was re
ported for water and sewerage work. Total pay-roll disbursements
of $942,000 were $21,000 less than in May.
Employment on projects financed by The Works Program increased
in June. During the month there were 3,014,000 workers engaged
on this program, an increase of 50,000 compared with May. On
Federal projects employment totaled 453,000, a gain of 13 percent
over the previous month. A small decrease in employment on the
other hand, occurred on projects operated by the Works Progress
Administration. Total pay-roll disbursements increased from $150,696.000 in May to $150,880,000 in June.
In the regular agencies of the Federal Government, small increases
in the number of employees were reported for the executive, judicial,
legislative, and military services. The number of employees in the
executive branch increased less than 1 percent in June as compared
with May, but was 15 percent greater than in June 1935. Of the
824,626 employees in the executive service in June (1936) 117,470 were
working in the District of Columbia and 707,156 outside the Dis
trict. The most marked increase in employment in the executive
departments of the Federal Government in June occurred in the War
Department. Pronounced gains also were reported in the Post Office
Department, the Navy Department, the Department of the Interior,
the Department of Agriculture, and Tennessee Valley Authority.
On the other hand, substantial decreases in employment occurred
in the Veterans’ Administration and the Home Owners’ Loan
Corporation.
The number of workers employed in emergency conservation work
(Civilian Conservation Camps) decreased from 408,000 in May to
383.000 in June. All groups of employees with the exception of
those working in supervisory and technical capacities showed losses
in the number of workers employed. Total pay-roll disbursements
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
487
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
amounted to $17,947,000, a decrease of $663,000 compared with the
previous month.
In June 186,000 workers were employed on the construction and
maintenance of State roads. This is an increase of 3 percent com
pared with the 181,000 engaged on this program in May. Although
employment in maintenance work increased less than 1 percent, em
ployment on new road construction showed a gain of 25 percent. Of
the total number employed on this program in June, 165,000 or 89
percent were engaged in maintenance work. Pay-roll disbursements
totaled $11,488,000, an increase of approximately $927,000 over the
previous month.
A summary of Federal employment and pay-roll statistics for June
is given in table 2.
Table 2.— Summary of Federal Employment and Pay Rolls, June 1936
(Preliminary Figures)
Pay roll
Employment
Class
Federal Service:
Executive i____ _ ______________
Judicial ___________ ___________
L egisla tiv e____________________
M ilitary____ _ __________ ______
Construction projects:
Financed by P. W. A ______ _
Financed by R. F. C_ _________
Financed by regular governmental
appropriati ons____________ ____
The Works Program : 9
Federal projects.
_ _ _ ________
Projects operated by W. P. A _____
Relief work:
Fmergency conservation work— __
Percentage
change
Percentage
change
June
1936
M ay
1936
8 824,626
1,947
5,043
297,433
818,228
1,927
5,032
296,746
3 349, 572
7 8, 501
« 315,393
8 10,988
+ 10.8
- 22.6
102, 376
79, 789
+28.3
8,631,104
6,242, 763
+38.3
401,298
453,012
2, 561, 307 2, 563,185
+12.9
22, 657,507
128, 222,740
19,160, 510
131, 535,493
+18.3
- 2 .5
- 6.0 io 17,947,251 u 18, 610, 245
-3 .6
1» 383, 279 ‘1 407, 621
June 1936
M ay 1936
+ 0.8 $129, 487,167 3$126,923,327
492,188
+ 1.0
469,743
1,187,232
1,187,815
+ .2
22,751, 644
22,041,326
+ .2
-.1
3 25, 840, 926
7 941, 680
9 22, 590, 878
8 962. 280
+ 2.0
- 4 .6
(<)
- 3 .2
+14.4
- 2 .1
1 Data concerning number of wage earners refer to employment on last day of month specified; includes
employees of Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Howard University.
3 N ot including 566 employees transferred but not reported by department to which they were assigned.
3 Revised.
* Less than Ho of 1 percent.
,
_ ,
5 Includes 176,184 wage earners and $11,435,825 pay roll covering P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A.
A. 1935 funds.
.
6 Includes 149,334 wage earners and $9,101,702 pay roll covering P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A.
A. 1935 funds.
7 Includes 157 employees and pay roll of $13,265 on projects financed by R. F. C. Mortgage Co.
8 Includes 85 employees and pay roll of $7,621 on projects financed by R. F. C. Mortgage Co.
9 Data covering P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds are not included m The Works
Program and shown only under P. W. A.
19 42,035 employees and pay roll of $5,877,050 included in executive service.
» 41,510 employees and pay roll of $5,750,350 included in executive service.
D etailed R ep o rts for M ay 1936
HIS article presents the detailed figures on volume of employ
ment, as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the
month of May 1936. The tabular data are the same as those published
in the Employment and Pay Rolls pamphlet for May, except for
certain minor revisions or corrections.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
488
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Private Employment
M o n t h l y reports on employment and pay rolls in private indus
try are now available for the following groups: 90 manufacturing
industries; 16 nonmanufacturing industries, including building con
struction; and class I steam railroads. The reports for the first two
of these groups—manufacturing and nonmanufacturing—are based
on sample surveys by the Brueau of Labor Statistics, and in virtually
all industries the samples are sufficiently large to be entirely repre
sentative. The figures on class I steam railroads are compiled by
the Interstate Commerce Commission and are presented in the
foregoing summary.
Employment, Pay Rolls, Hours, Earnings In May 1936
T h e indexes of employment and pay rolls, average hours worked
per week, average hourly earnings, and average weekly earnings in
manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries in May 1936 are
shown in table 1. Percentage changes from April 1936 and May
1935 are also given.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 1.—Employment, Pay Rolls, Hours, and Earnings in Manufacturing and Nonmanufacturing Industries, May 1936
E m p lo y m e n t
I n d u s tr y
P e r c e n ta g e
ch a n g e from —
A p r il
1936
M ay
1935
Ind ex,
M ay
1936
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
M ay
1936
A p r il
1936
A verage hours w ork ed
p er w e e k 1
M ay
1935
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
M ay
1936
A p r il
1936
A v e r a g e h o u r ly
e a r n in g s 1
M ay
1935
M ay
1936
A p r il
1936
M ay
1935
A p r il
1936
M ay
1935
Manufacturing (indexes are based on 8-year average 1923-25= 100)
AH m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u stries..............................
85.7
+ 0 .7
+ 5 .5
79.3
+ 1 .8
+15.8
$22.95
D u r a b le g o o d s ............................................ ...................
N o n d u r a b le g o o d s .................... .......................................
7 9 .2
9 2 .7
+ 2 .1
+ 1 0 .9
+ 1 .0
76.1
8 3 .4
+ 3 .1
+ 2 6 .6
+ 5 .3
25.95
19.81
-.4
+.1
+ 1 .1
+ 9 .6
39.2
+ 1 .2
+ 9 .8
Cents
57.4
+ 1 .1
+ 1 4 .1
+ 4 .3
4 1 .3
3 7 .1
+ 1 .3
+ 1 2 .8
+ 5 .3
6 1 .8
5 3 .0
+.6
+.8
+ 0 .1
0
-.1
+.1
+ 1 .3
- 1 .3
-.1
-.2
+ .3
Dvrable goods
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p rod u cts, n o t in
c lu d in g m a c h in er y _______ ____ ___________
B la s t fu r n a c e s, s te e l w o rk s, a n d ro llin g m i l l s ..
B o lts , n u t s , w a sh e r s, a n d r iv e t s ______________
C a st-ir o n p ip e --------------------------------------------------C u t le r y (n o t in c lu d in g silv e r a n d p la te d c u t
le r y ) , a n d ed g e to o ls _________________ _____ _
F o r g in g s, iron a n d s t e e l...............................................
H a r d w a r e ---------- ------------------------ --------- ------------P lu m b e r s ’ s u p p lie s .............................. ..........................
S te a m a n d h o t-w a te r h e a tin g a p p a r a tu s an d
s te a m f it t in g s _______________________ _____ _
S t o v e s __________________________________________
S tr u c tu r a l a n d o r n a m e n ta l m e t a l w o r k . . . ___
T in c a n s a n d o th e r tin w a r e ___________________
T o o ls (n o t in c lu d in g ed g e to o ls, m a c h in e
to o ls , file s, a n d s a w s ) ________________________
W ir e w o r k ______________________________________
1
81.1
+ 2 .5
+12.0
76.9
+ 4.1
+31.9
26.01
+ 1 .5
+17.8
41.5
+ 1 .6
+17.7
82 .1
8 7 .3
5 8 .2
+ 3 .1
+ 1 1 .6
+ 9 .1
+18 4
8 2 .5
8 1 .9
4 0 .7
+ 4 .2
+ 3 5 .1
+ 2 5 .8
+ 4 8 .6
27.75
24. 21
19. 34
+ 1 .1
- 1 .6
+ 7 .0
+ 2 1 .1
+ 1 5 .3
+ 2 5 .4
4 1 .9
4 2 .7
3 9 .5
+ 1 .1
- .9
+ 8 .6
+ 2 1 .1
+ 1 5 .0
+ 2 5 .1
5 6 .7
48. 2
6 2 .5
56.1
53 .7
64.9
- 3 .5
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .6
20.39
25.8 9
22. 77
22.81
-1 .7
- .9
+ 3 .4
+ 6 .6
+ 7 .3
+ 3 .0
+ 2 3 .1
+ 9 .3
3 8 .8
4 1 .9
4 1 .0
3 9 .6
-2 .3
+ 2 .5
+ 5 .8
+ 7 .8
+ 4 .3
+ 1 9 .1
+ 6 .6
5 2 .9
6 1 .7
5 5 .8
5 7 .5
+ 3 .0
+ 1 1 .6
+ 9 .9
+ 2 0 .5
+ 4 .0
4 1 .1
4 1 .3
4 2 .6
3 9 .3
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .1
+ 4 .9
+ 1 .5
+ 1 1 .0
+ 1 0 .7
+ 2 2 .4
+ 2 .8
5 8 .5
5 7 .2
57.1
5 5 .2
+ 8 .0
+ 2 0 .3
4 3 .3
4 2 .2
-.6
-.6
+ 9 .0
+ 2 2 .3
5 3 .8
5 4 .8
+.8
+ 2 .5
- 1 .8
+ 2 .6
-.8
+ 9 .7
76 .5
68 .7
54 .8
9 4 .8
+ 1 .0
- 2 .3
+ 1 4 .4
+ 3 .0
+ 2 1 .1
+ 7.7
+ 4 .8
+ 1 8 .0
+ 2 6 .9
+ 3 2 .4
61 .8
106.2
69.1
9 8 .6
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .3
+ 7 .2
+ 2 .9
+ 2 0 .3
+ 7 .2
+ 2 3 .4
+ 9 .1
4 6 .3
8 7 .5
6 0 .7
9 8 .6
+ 5 .9
+ 2 .2
+ 1 1 .1
+ 4 .6
+ 3 4 .4
+ 1 7 .9
+ 4 8 .4
+ 1 3 .3
24.04
23.51
24. 34
21.81
72.4
147.5
- .3
+ 2 .2
+ 1 2 .6
+ 1 5 .8
73 .9
149.2
- 1 .1
+ 1 .7
+ 2 1 .5
+ 3 9 .6
23.19
23.14
-.8
+ 3 .6
+ 1 .6
-.8
- .5
+.2
61.6
66.2
-.6
- 1 .0
+ .8
- 1 .0
+ .7
+ .8
-(> )
-.3
-1 .2
-.8
-. 1
+.2
+.1
- .3
- 1 .5
+.2
+.1
+ 2 .2
-. 1
-.8
- 1 .6
- .4
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
In d e x ,
M ay’
1936
A v e r a g e w e e k ly
e a r n in g s 1
P a y rolls
-.5
-.8
A v e r a g e w e e k ly ea r n in g s are c o m p u te d fro m figu res fu r n ish e d b y a ll r e p o r tin g e s ta b lis h m e n ts . A v e r a g e h o u r s a n d a v e r a g e h o u r ly e a r n in g s are c o m p u te d from d a ta s u p p lie d
b y a sm a lle r n u m b e r o f e s ta b lis h m e n ts as ah re p o r tin g fir m s d o n o t fu r n ish m a n -h o u r s. P e r c e n ta g e c h a n g e s o v e r y e a r are c o m p u te d from in d e x e s . P e r c e n ta g e c h a n g e s o v e r m o n th
in a v e r a g e w e e k ly ea r n in g s for t h e m a n u fa c tu r in g g ro u p s, for a ll m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u str ie s c o m b in e d , a n d for r e ta il tr a d e are a lso c o m p u te d fro m in d e x e s .
* L e s s t h a n H o o f 1 p e r c e n t.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
00
CO
Industry
Percentage
change from—
April
1936
May
1935
Index,
May
1936
M ay
1936
M ay
1935
April
1936
M ay
1935
Average hourly
earnings 1
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
April
1936
Average hours worked
per week 1
M ay
1936
M ay
1936
April
1936
M ay
1935
April
1936
M ay
1935
+12.4
+ 4 .3
60.7
61.4
-0 .4
-.1
+ 0 ,5
+ 2.6
+ 1 .5
Manufacturing (indexes are based on 3-year average 1923-25 = 100)
M ach inery, 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
w h e e ls.________________________________
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____________________________
Railroad repair s h o p s _____________ ________
Electric railroad_____ _______ _____________
Steam railroad__________ ____ ____ _________
N onferrous 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 de
vices.__............................. ..................................
Jewelry___________ ______________ ________
Lighting equipment_____ ____ ____________
Silverware and plated ware_______ _________
Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and
zinc_______ ______ ________________ _____
Stamped and enameled w are...........
............
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C en ts
99.1
138. 3
+ 3 .0
-1 .5
+17.3
+42.5
89.6
168.8
+ 3.8
- 2. 1
+33.2
+52.7
125.58
24.99
+ 0.8
-.7
+12.7
+ 7.3
41.9
40.8
+ 1.6
-.4
12 1.2
+ 1.6
+18.0
107.7
+ 2.6
+29.4
29.16
+ 1.0
+ 9 .6
42.0
+ 1 .2
+ 8 .1
70.1
-.2
+ 1 .2
+12.7
61.4
-.1
+ .4
+• 1
+16.0
+ 10.8
+13.8
+ 12.6
+ 8 .7
+10.9
+ 6.8
+ 12 .2
+ 4 .8
+ 10 .1
+10.9
+ 4 .1
+ 1.5
+ 5 .0
+ 9 .8
+ 1 .7
+ 9 .2
68.9
59.6
63.1
53.5
59.3
57.4
75.0
64.2
76.6
61.0
64.2
75.3
67.8
62.1
+ .4
-.5
+ .4
- 1 .7
+ 3 .6
+ .5
51.5
56.3
55.5
57.8
+09
+ .6
56.9
50.9
+ 1.0
-.7
+ 4 .9
+ .4
77.1
120.6
86.1
107.8
215.4
70.4
106.6
105.5
544.1
115.6
62.2
34.7
98.7
60.1
65.9
59.7
89.0
84.6
87.7
91.4
67.7
82.3
65.1
88.0
110.8
+ 2 .3
+ .2
+ 2.8
+ 1 .7
+14.2
-.5
+ .8
+ 1 .3
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .4
-.1
+ 8.9
+19.0
+16.7
+29.8
+28. 2
+10.7
+ 1 1 .2
+ 3.7
+38.8
-.6
+ 3 .2
+15.2
+29.2
+13.1
71.1
91.8
78.4
101.7
141.9
63.6
97.2
113.1
433.8
124.0
68.6
+ .5
+ .3
+ .4
+ 1.0
+13.3
+ 7 .4
+ 8 .1
+ 8.5
17.0
95.6
61.6
62.7
61.6
75.2
78.8
73.3
+ .2
-.8
+13.5
+ 3.0
+19.0
-1 1 .9
79.9
52.8
80.4
48.9
+10.7
- 1 .1
+ .3
-.2
+ 5 .6
-.6
-.7
- 1 .7
+10.7
+ 3.7
64.9
97.3
+ 3.6
+ 22.0
25.30
+ 1 .3
+11.7
40.9
40.2
43.3
44.6
38.2
41.6
40.6
40.4
42.1
41.0
37.9
39.4
36.6
42.5
44.9
42.3
40.4
40.4
41.2
+• 1
+ 1.6
+ 2 .2
+ 7 .2
+ 1.4
+ .4
+ .4:
+ 4.2
+ 3.5
+23.7
+35.3
+45.0
+39.7
+23.4
+ 2 1.2
+19.0
+36.5
+18.1
+ 4 .2
+23.4
+45.5
+17.3
+ 4.1
+18.6
+18.1
+15.8
+19.2
27. 68
25.84
28.22
20.42
24.64
23. 29
30.47
25.90
31.39
23.13
25. 29
27.93
28.75
28.60
28. 79
22.59
23.00
24.19
+ .5
+ 1 .1
+ 2.5
+ 5 .3
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .1
+ .5
+ 4 .0
+ .5
- 2.0
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .3
+ .5
+ 1 .1
+ 1.3
-.3
+ 2.5
+ 4 .0
+16.0
+ 11.6
+ 9 .2
+ 11.6
+ 9.1
+15.9
- 1.6
+18.8
+ 1.0
+ 7.3
+12.5
+ 4.7
+ 3 .7
+ 4 .8
+ 10.0
+ 6.9
+ 9.9
+ 1.5
+ 2 .1
+ 7 .6
+ .3
+23.4
+ 6 .1
+38.2
-1 4 . 1
20.36
21.03
22.98
21. 39
+ 1 .3
+ 2.8
+ 1.9
+ 8 .7
+ 2.9
+16.0
- 2 .7
39.6
36.5
41.6
36.8
+ 09
+ .8
+ 4 .9
+ 6 .5
+18.5
- 3 .8
+ 2.3
- 3 .8
+27.1
+16.8
+15.1
+ 12.6
41.6
40.8
+ 2.0
- 1 .3
+ 10 .2
+ 12 .2
+• 7
+ 3.9
+ 4.3
+20.3
+ 1.8
+ 1.8
+ 1.6
+ 6.4
+ 1.9
- 2.0
+ 12.6
+ 1.7
+ .3
+ 1.6
+ 1.6
+09
23.66
20. 77
+.9
+ 2.9
- 2 .1
+ .2
-.1
+ 1.0
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .1
+ .4
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .2
- 1.0
+ 2.5
+ 2 .1
+ 3.6
68.2
35.6
56.9
58.7
+• 8
+ .7
+ .2
+ .2
+ .3
-1 .9
+ .7
+ .6
-00
+• 1
+ .8
-4 .4
- 1 .1
+ .3
+ 5 .1
-3 .2
+ 6.6
- 3 .3
-2 .7
+ 1.0
-.4
+ .8
+. 7
-.5
+ 1. 1
+ 4 .8
+ 1 .3
+ 1 .1
- 1.6
+ 3 .3
- 1.6
- 2 .2
-00
+ .2
-0 9
+ .6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Index,
M ay
1936
Average weekly
earnings 1
Pay rolls
Employment
490
Table 1.—Employment, Pay Rolls, Hours, and Earnings in Manufacturing and Nonmanufacturing Industries, May 1936— Continued
56.7
73.0
+ 2.0
+ 1 .2
+11.4
+ 9 .0
48.1
56.7
+ 3.9
+ .9
+38.2
+ 20.2
19.29
18. 59
+ 1.8
-.3
+24.0
+ 10 .1
41.6
40.4
+ 1 .2
- .4
+18.8
+ 10.6
45.8
46.0
+ .4
-.4
+ 3 .8
49.8
38.4
97.8
59.8
39.9
58.4
97.3
31.0
70.2
+ 2.6
+ 2 .5
- 1 .2
+ 3.6
+ 8 .7
+ 11.6
+22.3
+13.0
- 1 .2
+ 8.7
+35.0
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .7
+ 8 .9
- 1.8
43.9
31.3
58. 1
49.3
29.5
44.0
93.0
27.4
52.8
+ 6.4
+ 5 .2
+ 1.9
+ 5.1
+14.2
+15. 1
+ 1.0
+17.7
- 7 .2
+50.9
+55.4
+ 1 .5
+ 22 .3
+66.7
+19.6
+14.0
+29.3
+ 5 .0
20.06
19. 57
13.90
21.46
19. 23
21.95
22. 38
28.14
+ 3 .7
+ 2.6
+ 3.1
+ 1 .4
+ 5 .1
+ 3 .1
+• 8
+ 1 2 .1
- 5 .4
+23.4
+37.9
+ 2 .7
+12.4
+23.3
+16.5
+ 11 .0
+18.7
+ 6 .7
43.6
42.2
+ 3 .9
+ 1 .1
+23.1
+28.0
46.0
46.7
-. 1
+ 1 .1
+ (2)
+ 9 .2
39.2
43.3
38.9
36.9
41.4
38.0
+ 2 .2
+ 5.1
+ 3 .9
+• 6
+ 8 .7
-3 .7
+14.9
+27. 1
+16.1
+ 6.8
+18.9
+11.5
56.2
44.7
56.3
60.9
68.7
55.7
+ .1
94.2
90.7
80.0
90.4
84.5
107.1
84.0
113.4
60.5
86.7
97.9
88.3
132.6
84.7
114.2
62.9
105.0
83.9
81.4
94.3
96.3
114.8
178.9
74.9
- 2.0
- 1 .3
+ .5
-(* )
- 2.8
- 4 .0
+ .7
- .3
+ .3
+ 2.8
- 5 .2
- 2.6
+ 4 .2
+ 1 .2
- 8 .2
- 4 .8
+ 2 .7
77.0
76.4
- 3 .7
- 2 .4
68.8
-.6
+ 2.0
+ 2.0
- 6 .7
+ 9 .3
- 2 .5
+ 1 .7
+13.7
+ 3.3
-9 .2
- 5 .6
+ 2 .4
- 1.8
+ 6 .5
- 1.0
+ 2 .9
+11.7
-1 .9
-8 .9
-1 4 .7
+ 6. 5
+ 6.2
+ 7 .0
+18.7
+ 6 .3
+ 1 .7
- 5 .5
+ 4 .7
+11.5
+ 4 .8
- 6 .4
- 2 .3
- 1.8
- 1 .2
- 1 .1
+ .3
- 3 .1
- 4 .8
+ 8.6
- 3 .3
- 1 .2
+ 1 .1
- 2.6
- 1 .7
- 3 .2
- 2.8
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .3
- 7 .1
+ 6.6
+ 2 .9
+ 4 .2
+ 9 .2
+ 2 .2
- 1 .2
- 1.0
-.4
- 2.6
-.3
+ 6 .5
- 3 .3
+ 9 .1
35.1
36.0
34.1
36.9
37.5
36.5
31.1
35.1
34.8
35.6
33.4
30.6
35.1
34.2
35.8
-.3
-.7
-.5
+ .3
-3 .5
- 5 .1
+10.4
- 2 .1
- 2 .1
+ .5
+• 5
+ 2.6
- 2 .3
-.9
+ 7 .2
+ 6.6
- 4 .1
+ 1 1 .1
+ 2.8
+ 4.1
+ 8.6
+ 6.6
+ 7 .5
-1 .4
+ 9 .1
+ 6.2
+ 9 .3
+10.3
+18.6
45.2
43.7
55.7
36.6
44.5
52. 2
67.9
46.9
42.9
50.1
48.3
55.1
47.4
44.6
33.5
34.8
32.5
30.6
38.9
41.3
42.4
41.6
- 1 .9
- 2.6
-4 .4
+ 2.0
+ 3.7
+ 2 .1
+ 5 .1
+12.9
- 6.8
- 10.0
+ 3 .4
+ 4 .9
+ 5 .4
+ 6.2
37.0
51.4
50. 1
55. 8
54.4
53.9
78.7
36.5
37.0
43.0
48.6
41.5
39.7
39.2
+11.5
+ 1 .4
+ 4 .0
+ 4 .5
+ 3 .7
+ 2.0
- 2 .7
+ 10 .2
+ 4 .7
+ 1 1 .2
+ 8 .3
+ 2.8
+ 4 .3
- 6 .3
41.8
43.0
53.4
53.6
56.3
61.9
57.9
+ .2
+ 5 .1
- 1.8
20.20
+ .3
-.8
+ .4
+ 4 .5
-.2
+ .1
+ .8
-1 .3
+ .6
+ 4 .2
+ 1.6
+ .7
N o n d u ra b le goods
Textiles a n d th eir p ro d u cts_________________
F a b rics.._________ ________ ______________
Carpets and rugs_____ ________________
Cotton g o o d s..._______ _______________
Cotton smallwares_______________ _____
Dyeing and finishing textiles______ ____
Hats, fur-felt___________ ______________
K nit goods____________________________
Silk and rayon goods____________ ______
Woolen and worsted goods-------------------Wearing apparel__________ ____ ______ ____
Clothing, men’s_______________________
Clothing, women’s____________________
Corsets and allied garments____________
M en’s furnishings_____________________
M illinery_____________________________
Shirts and collars______________________
L eather a n d its m a n u fa c tu r e s ________ ____ _
Boots and shoes_________ _________________
Leather
Food a n d kindred p ro d u cts_________________
Baking________ _____ ____________________
Beverages___________________ ___________
B u tter ..
___
_______ _____________
Canning and preserving___________________
Confectionery_______ _____________________
Flour____________________________________
Ice cream____ __________ ________________
Slaughtering and meat packing____________
Sugar, b e e t --------------------------------------Sugar refining, cane...............................................
68.1
69.0
70.5
82.0
82.8
39.2
81.7
+ .6
- 1 .3
- 6.6
- 1 .3
- 3 .7
- 5 .1
- 2 .7
- 2.8
+ 2 .1
- 6.6
- 3 .1
- 2 .9
- 3 .4
-. 7
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .2
+ 9 .2
+ 5 .5
- ( 2)
- 2 .2
- 2.6
+19.2
+ 2.6
+ 9 .0
-.1
+ .8
+ 7 .0
- 7 .1
+ 6 .4
+ 2 .1
- 1 .4
- 3 .2
- 4 .4
+ 1 .1
'+.5
+ 1.8
+10.7
+ 2 .3
- 8.8
- 7 .0
- 4 .2
+ 5 .6
+ 2.8
- 12 .2
- 2 .2
77.3
73.8
87. 7
77.9
105.4
49.4
67.2
73.8
63.3
95.2
82.2
73.0
54.3
101.9
65.9
56.8
95. 9
92.7
104. 1
192.9
61.0
85.1
59.9
65.2
69.4
77.6
39.4
74.0
+ .3
- 5 .8
- 8. 6
+ 9 .2
- 4 .6
- 7 .7
-. 1
- 6.2
- 6 .7
- 5 .9
- 5 .5
+ 2.9
-13. 9
- 3 .8
- 5 .7
- 8 .9
+1. 4
+5.7
+ 3 .7
+14.8
+ 8.0
+ 8.0
- .9
+ 2.2
+20.4
+ 5.3
+ 8 .1
+ .1
15.90
15. 62
19. 00
13. 47
16. 71
19. 11
21. 69
16. 03
14. 96
17. 76
16.72
16. 97
18. 35
15. 47
13. 06
20. 76
12.86
16.80
15. 32
21.69
22.39
22. 89
32. 51
21. 91
15.06
15.81
23.40
26.33
23.34
23.84
22.91
+ .8
-7 . 9
- .7
-3 .0
-5 .7
+ 2. 1
+ 3 .3
+ 2 .5
+ 5 .2
+ 2 .3
+ 8.0
+ 1 .3
+ 4 .9
+ 1.0
+ 2.6
-.8
+ .2
-.6
- 5 .9
-1 0 .9
+5. 4
+ 5 .7
+ 5 .2
+ 7 .0
+3. 9
+11.4
+ 1.8
+ 9 .3
+ 5 .3
+ 1 .9
+ 6 .4
+ .1
+ .8
- 1.0
-4 .5
- 2.8
+(>)
_ ( 2)
-.3
+ 1.0
- 1.0
+ .4
+ .4
- 2 .2
- .4
- 5 .1
+ 1 .5
- .4
-3 .3
-.7
+ ( 2)
-1 .4
-3 .3
-7 .8
-. 1
-1 3 .4
- 1.8
-3 .5
+ 2.0
+ .4
-.3
+ 1 .5
-.2
—. 6
-.1
-.1
-.3
+ .4
+ .5
+ .2
+ .5
-.2
+ .2
- 3 .4
-.7
-1 .7
+ 1.6
-.1
TREND
L u m b er a n d allied p ro d u cts________ _______
Furniture________________________________
Lumber:
Millwork___ ______ ___________________
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___
Pottery.......... ...........................................................
O
*1
-9 .3
-6 .5
- 1 1 .6
+• 2
-1 9 .0
+ 3 .1
-3 .4
- 2.6
- 2.8
hj
>
w
o
-.8
-.5
+ 5 .5
2 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CO
T a b le 1 .— E m p lo y m e n t , P a y R o lls, H o u r s, a n d E a r n in g s in M a n u fa c tu r in g a n d N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s , M a y 1 9 3 6 — C o n tin u e d
Employment
Industry
Percentage
change from—
April
1936
M ay
1935
Index,
M ay
1936
Percentage
change from—
April
1936
M ay
1935
Average hours worked
per week
Percentage
change from—
M ay
1936
April
1936
Average hourly
earnings
Percentage
change from—
M ay
1936
M ay
1935
Percentage
change from—
M ay
1936
April
1936
M ay
1935
40.8
45.3
40.1
69.8
48.7
53.2
April
1936
M ay
1935
Manufacturing (indexes are based on 3-year average 1923-25=100)
T obacco m a n u fa c tu r e s ............................. ............
Chewing and smoking tobacco, and snuff___
Cigars and cigarettes........ ....................................
Paper a n d p r in t in g ,.. _____________________
Boxes, paper______ _____________________
Paper and pulp.......................................................
Printing and publishing:
Book and job................ ...................................
Newspapers and periodicals
C hem icals a n d allied p ro d u cts, a n d p etrole u m refin in g_____________________________
Other than petroleum refining..........................
Chemicals........................................................
Cottonseed—oil, cake, and meal________
Druggists’ preparations............................. .
Explosives___ ______ __________________
Fertilizers_________________ __________
Paints and varnishes...... ................ ..............
Rayon and allied products_____________
Soap................................................................
Petroleum refining................... ................. ..........
R ubber p ro d u cts___________________ ________
Rubber boots and shoes_______ ___________
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tubes...................................................
Rubber tires and inner tubes...........................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
56.7
64.6
55.7
99.0
85.0
111. 0
+ 3 .3
- 1.0
+ 2 .9
+ .4
89.8
103.0
110.0
110 .1
+ .8
+ .6
+ 0.2
- 2 .7
+• 7
+ 3 .6
+ .5
+ 1.0
46.8
67.3
44.2
91.9
80.2
97.0
+ 9 .9
+ 4 .5
+ 1 1 .1
+ .9
+ 1.8
+ 8
+ 6.8
+ 4 .3
+ 7 .2
+ 8.4
+ 6 .3
+11.7
$14. 77
16.08
14. 49
26.30
19.24
22.14
+ 7.3
+ 5 .5
+ 8.0
+ .4
+ .9
+ .9
-. 5
+ 4 .2
+ 3 .4
83.0
98. 9
+ 1 .5
+ .4
+ 5.3
+ 9 .3
28. 79
35.23
+ .6
-.6
-.8
+ 1.9
+ 1 .9
+ 3 .0
- 5 .3
102.9
102.7
107.0
39.9
95.9
80.4
113.9
106.0
259.0
95.7
103.4
76.8
50.9
+ 1.6
+ 1 .5
+ 2.0
-1 2 .3
- 2 .1
+ 3 .6
- 8 .1
+ 5 .3
+ 1.6
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .7
+ 3.8
- 2 .1
+ 8.5
+ 9.1
+ 9 .4
+ 4 .2
+ 2 .1
+ 8.0
+24.2
+11.5
+ 8 .9
+ 2.0
+ 6.8
+15.5
+17.8
24.49
22.54
26. 47
9. 70
22.14
27. 20
15.44
25. 68
20.18
23. 73
29.17
26.33
19.13
119.1
-.5
+ 7 .9
+13.8
+36.1
20.90
31.79
110.3
40.0
96.8
83.1
110.7
114.5
341.4
97.5
109.4
83.0
59.0
+ 1 .2
-1 4 .8
- 1.6
- 2.6
-1 9 .7
+ 2 .3
+ 3 .1
+• 7
~(>)
+ 1 .1
- 1 .4
130.9
70.0
+ 2.8
-.1
+ .1
- 4 .8
+ .6
+ 1 .7
+ 4 .4
-.7
+1 o
+ .7
+ 1 1 .1
+ 4 .8
- 4 .9
68.2
C en ts
+ 6.6
+ 7.1
+ 6 .3
+ 5.6
+ 5 .7
+10.3
36.1
35.6
36.2
39.3
39.6
41.7
+ 9.8
+ 3.1
+ 11.0
+ .5
+ .2
+ .2
+ 6.7
+ 2 .4
+ 7 .3
+ 5 .5
+ 7 .8
+10.4
+ .9
+ 5 .3
38.7
37.1
+ 1.0
+ .4
+ 4 .1
+ .7
74.8
91.8
-.2
+ .8
-.7
+ 2 .1
39.5
40.6
41.0
43.8
38.0
38.7
42.7
43.7
38.6
39.0
36.3
37.7
37.1
+ 1.0
+ .7
-.4
- 4 .4
+ 2 .9 '
+ 3 .8
+ 3 .3
- 1 .4
+ 2 .2
+ 2 .5
+ 6.2
+ 6 .3
+ 4 .2
+15.9
62.4
55.8
64.6
+ 1 .3
+ 2 .1
+ 3 .0
-.5
+ 6 .4
+14.5
+ 2 .9
- 1 .5
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .7
+ 2.7
- .7
+ 6 .5
+ 7 .0
+ 6 .1
+ 10.0
+ 2.0
+13.6
+23.2
+ 9 .7
+ 4 .4
+ 2 .9
+ 5 .9
+14.6
+ 6.0
+ 1 .7
+ 1.6
+ 2.0
- 6.8
-.4
+ 4.9
+ 8 .7
+21.9
39.7
36.3
+ .2
+ .9
+ 2.2
+ 2.3
+ .6
- 0 .9
+ 2 .2
- 1 .4
-0 .5
+ 5 .2
+ .2
+ 1 .1
-1 .7
+ .5
+ .7
-0 0
+ .1
-.8
-.1
-.2
+ 6 .3
+24.8
+ 7 .5
+ 3 .6
+ 2 .4
+ 4 .8
+12.4
+ 9 .2
55.5
70.3
36.2
58.8
52.3
61.1
81.0
69.4
51.6
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .3
+ 3 .4
+10.3
-.4
-. 1
-.5
-.7
+ 2 .9
-.5
+ .3
+ 2 .1
+ .4
-2 .9
- .7
+ .5
+ 8 .1
+18.0
88.2
52.7
_ ( 2)
+ 4 .3
-. 1
+ 3 .7
-.6
22.0
0
+ 5 .6
- 1.6
+ 2 .4
+ .8
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Index,
M ay
1936
Average weekly
earnings
Pay rolls
^
N o n m a n u f a c t u r i n g (■i n d e x e s a r e b a s e d o n 1 2 - m o n t h a v e r a g e 1 9 2 9 = ■ 1 0 0 )
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 motorbus operation and
maintenance____ ____________ ________
Trade:
Wholesale_________ _______ _______ _______
R e ta il___________ _____________________
General merchandising____ ____ _______
Other than general merchandising.............
Hotels (year-round) 3...................................................
Laundries............. ........................................... ..............
Dyeing and cleaning__________________________
Brokerage_______________________________ ____
Insurance_____________________ ____ ______ ___
Building construction_________________________
1 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
54.9
76.2
60.8
52.0
72.5
+10.3
—1.6
+ 5 .7
+ 7 .5
+ 1 .9
56.3
62.2
47.7
42.1
58.0
+96.5
+37.0
+ 5.1
—4.6
+ 4.9
+16.7
+ 1.8
+13.6
+26.7
+51.6
+28.6
+ .3
$29. 79
20.72
24.09
20.30
28. 86
+78.2
+ 1.0
71.6
+ 1 .1
+ 2 .3
78.5
+ 3.3
+ 6.6
29. 47
+ 2 .2
89.0
+ 1 .1
+ 6.8
87.0
+ 1.0
+ 9 .0
31.67
.1
71.5
+ .4
—. 1
66.1
+ .3
+ 3 .9
29.93
—.1
84.6
85.0
95.5
82.3
84.1
85.5
87.3
—1.3
+ 2.6
+ 3.4
+ 4 .5
+ 3.1
+ 3.1
+ 5.5
+ 7 .9
+27.1
+• 9
+ 21.6
+ .5
+ .7
—2.0
+ .3
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .7
+ 6 .7
+ 5 .5
+ 6 .1
+ 6.0
+ 6.2
+ 5.1
+13.4
+17.0
+36.6
+ 4 .0
+39. 8
28. 61
20. 69
17. 56
23. 37
13.94
16.46
20.30
37. 52
38.16
27.00
+ 1 .7
+ .9
+ 1.8
(0
0)
0)
—.2
—.2
+• 2
+13.0
+ 2 .5
68.2
—.6
65.8
80.8
62.7
67.0
75.6
72.2
+ .9
+ 1.0
+ 6.6
+12.5
(0
(0
(0
+• 2
+ 20.2
—.2
+ .1
—.8
+ 8 .5
—. 1
+ .6
—. 1
+ 3 .7
+ 5 .5
+ .3
-(> )
+ 6 .3
+ 10.8
+25.2
+10.7
+ 22.2
+ 5 .0
35.1
25.7
41.2
43.2
38.1
+69.8
—.9
+ 00
+ 8.6
+ .3
+ 4 .2
39.5
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .1
40.6
—.3
+4.1
46.6
+ .3
+ 2 .9
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .4
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .9
+ 7 .7
+ 8 .4
+ 7 .5
+ 3.1
+14.9
42.7
43.4
40.4
44.3
48.3
43.0
45.2
+ .5
0)
(0
33.4
+ .6
+ .4
+ .7
—.6
+ 2.4
+ 4 .2
(0
(0
+ 5 .2
3 Cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
83.9
80.5
57.8
46.9
76.7
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .2
—1 .0
—.3
—.5
+ 2.0
+ 8.0
—2.3
—2.9
—2.6
+ .7
77.1
—. 1
+ 3 .9
+ 1.8
78.0
+ .3
+ .7
S
+ 3 .6
63.2
—.3
+ 1 .1
°
+ 3 .0
+ 4 .1
+ 7 .6
+ 3 .2
+ 1 .0
+ 6 .4
+ 1 .7
52.1
46.2
53.9
28.6
37.8
45.7
66.8
+ 1.0
+ .4
- 1 -1
-1 .5
-4 .8
-.9
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .1
+ 2.6
^
M
g
5
+
o
+ 7.1
+14.3
+15.0
+25.1
+ 5 .2
(0
(0
+14.4
(0
(0
80.6
+ .8
+ .2
+ .4
+ 2 .3
(0
(0
+ 1 .2
4N ot available.
(0
(0
+1'3
□
2
%
g
1
H3
>
ü
hj
>
W
o
t-1
F
CO
+»
CO
co
494
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls, January 1935 to May 1936
Indexes of employment and pay rolls are given in tables 2 and 3
for all manufacturing industries combined, for the durable- and
nondurable-goods groups of manufacturing industries separately, and
for 13 nonmanufacturing industries including 2 subgroups under
retail trade, by months, January 1935 to May 1936, inclusive. The
diagram on page 497 indicates the trend of factory employment
and pay rolls from January 1919 to May 1936.
The indexes of factory employment and pay rolls are computed
from returns supplied by representative establishments in 90 manu
facturing industries. The base used in computing these indexes is
the 3-year average 1923-25 taken as 100. In May 1936 reports were
received from 24,535 establishments employing 4,178,272 workers,
whose weekly earnings were $95,862,068. The employment reports
received from these establishments cover more than 55 percent of the
total wage earners in all manufacturing industries of the country and
more than 65 percent of the wage earners in the 90 industries included
in the monthly survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The indexes for nonmanufacturing industries are also computed
from data supplied by reporting establishments, but the base is the
12-month average for 1929 as 100.
Table 2.— Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in all Manufacturing Industries
Combined and in the Durable- and Nondurable-Goods Groups, January 1935
to May 1936 1
[3-year average 1923-25=100]
Manufacturing
Month
Employ
ment
Nondurable goods
Durable goods
Total
Pay rolls
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1936
1935
1936
1935
1936
1935
1936
1935
January________________
February______________
March_________________
April...............- ....................
M ay___________________
June
- ________ -- -
78.8 2 82.9 64.3 2 72.7
81.4 283.6 69.1 272.7
82.5 84.1 270.8 76.3
82.6 85. 1 70.8 77.9
81.2 85.7 68.5 79.3
66.4
79.7
69.4
71.0
71.8
71.4
69.7
66.2
74.4
74.4
75.7
77.6
79.2
52.5
58.6
60.5
61.8
60.1
57.6
65. 1
64.7
69.7
73.8
76.1
92.4
94.2
95.0
94.2
91.8
90.6
92.1
92.6
93.2
93.1
92.7
79.3
82.6
83.9
82.4
79.2
77.6
July
August________________
September
October
November _
December
79.7
82.0
83.7
85.3
85.0
84.6
65.4
69.7
72. 2
75.0
74.5
276.4
69.4
70.5
71. 2
74.9
76.1
75.7
55.6
58.9
60.6
66.3
82.2
70.3
71.4
1935
Average
1936
1935
69.7
90.8
94.3
97.1
96.4
94.6
94.2
77.9
83.4
87. 1
86. 2
82.7
85.0
60.9
93.8
82.3
68.1
1936
82.4
82.8
84.9
83.3
83.4
1 Comparable indexes for earlier years will be found in the February 1935 and subsequent issues of the
M onthly Labor Review.
» Revised.
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TEEND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY EOLLS
495
Table 3.— Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Selected Nonmanufacturing
Industries, January 1935 to May 1936 1
[12-month average 1929=100]
Anthracite mining
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Bituminous-coal
mining
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Metalliferous mining
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936
59.1
61.2
52.5
49.8
54.9
54.4 80.0 79.8
76.7 81.1 80.2
81.6 80.4
28.6 74.3 77.5
56.3 75.3 76.2
66.0
77.9
57.5
64.3
38.9
49.9
49.5
59.6 70.6 44.3 54.2 30.1 41.7 36.9 39.4 20.8 25.5
66.1 78.4 44.3 55.5 29.9 42.8 37.3 36.9 22.2 23.9
Janu ary..........
February_____
M arch..............
A p r il...............
M ay..................
June________
62.9
64.4
51.4
52.6
53.5
56.8
July..........
A u g u s t____
September___
Oetober
November----December........
49.4
38.7
46.0
58.8
46.6
57.3
37.5
25.3
38.2
55.9
28.4
55.4
70.0
73.4
77.1
74.3
76.1
79.1
35.9
45.8
60.1
69.8
65.5
69.5
45.2
46.3
48.9
51.6
52.6
53.5
31.1
33.4
35.4
38.7
39.6
43.2
50.9
51.0
50.0
50.0
46.7
43.1
34.4
36.3
35.4
36.5
32.1
29.7
Average. 53.2
47.5
76.7
58.2
47.3
33.9
46.0
30.7
42. 6
67.5 70.2 45.0 55.9 30.9 45.1 40.5 42.2 24.9 30.9
45.0 62.6 46.0 57.5 31.8 45.5 45.3 48.4 28.9 36.1
49.1 62.2 44.4 60.8 31.4 47.7 49.5 52.0 32.8 42.1
46.0
50.4
33.8
31.5
64.7
Electric light and
power, and manu
factured gas
Electric-railroad and
m otorb us opera
tion and mainte
nance 2
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936
1936
Crude-petroleum
producing
Month
Employ
ment
71.1
70.8
70.7
71.2
72.5
Pay rolls
55.5
54.9
56.0
56.7
57.8
59.2
Telephone and
telegraph
Employ
ment
70.5
70.0
69.8
69.7
70.0
70.2
70.1
69.9
70.2
70.8
71.6
Pay rolls
73.9
72.9
75.3
73.1
73.7
74.4
Janu ary...
February..
March___
April..........
M ay -------June_____
74.9
74.2
74.0
74.9
76.0
76.7
July............
August___
September.
October__
November.
December.
77.4
76.3
75.1
74.7
73.0
71.9
59.9
58.9
60.9
57.9
57.2
59.9
70.3
70.5
70.4
70.0
69.8
69.6
75.7
75.5
73.8
74.9
74.9
75.6
Average- 74.9
57.9
70.1
74.5
55.7
55.7
55.9
56.9
58.0
75.0
76.2
77.2
76.0
78.5
82.7
82.2
82.3
82.6
83.3
83.9
Pay rolls
86. 1 78.0 84.8 71.2 70.7 62.9 65.0
86.1 78.3 84.7 71.0 71.7 63.1 68.3
86.8 79.4 85.9 71.3 71.2 63.4 67.8
88.0 79.0 86.2 71.4 71.3 63.3 65.9
89.0 79.8 87.0 71.6 71.5 63.6 66.1
63.9
79.8
71.7
63.4
63.3
64.0
64.1
63.8
86.0
71.5
71.2
71.0
71.1
71.1
70.5
81.4
71.2
63.7
86.8 ..
86. 9 ..
81.5
82.8
84.5
84.4
83.4
84.8
84.8 ..
87.4 ..
87.6
86.8 ..
66.1
1 Comparable indexes for earlier years for all of these industries, except year-ronud hotels, will be found
in the February 1935 and subsequent issues of the M onthly Labor Review. Complete indexes for yearround hotels will be found in the September 1935 issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
2 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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496
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 3.— Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Selected Nonmanufacturing
Industries, January 1935 to May 1936— Continued
[12-month average 1929=100]
Wholesale trade
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Total retail trade
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Retail trade-gen
eral merchandising
Retail trade—other
than general mer
chandising
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936
79.5 80.4 59.7 62.1 87.3 88.2 73.5 76.4 77.4 78.4 56.9 59.1
January........
February_____
M arch. .......... .
A p r il...............
M a y .. . ............
June..................
84.2
84.6
84.0
83.2
82.5
82.1
July...................
August____. . .
September___
October............
November.......
December........
82. l ........ 64.6
79.3
82.7 . . . . 64.8
78.0
67.2
81.8
8 3 .7
___________
66.8
83.8
8 5 .7
......................
8 6 .4 ......... 66.9
84.6
68.6
8 6 .8
..............92.9
Average. 84.0
85.6
85.0
85.6
85.7
84.6
63.9
64.6
65.2
64.8
64.6
64.6
66.6
66.6 79.2 79.7 59.3 61.6 86.2 85.1 72.3 73.9 77.3 78.3 56.6 59.1
69.0 80.2 81.9 60.4 63.5 88.6 90.9 74.1 77.3 78.0 79.5 57.6 60.7
67.9 83.5 85.2 62.5 65.3 94.4 97.4 77.5 81.0 80.7 82.0 59.4 62.1
68.2 82.2 85.0 62.0 65.8 91.3 95.5 76.3 80.8 79.8 82.3 59.0 62.7
82.2
91.2
62.5
76.7
59.5
79.8
65.6
60.5
59.3
62.5
63.2
63.4
69.3
85.5
83.1
92.2
97.1
131.7
77.7
76.7
79.1
80.3
80.1
82.7
58.1
57.2
59.4
59.8
59.6
62.0
94.2
78.0
79.1
58.8
101.6
62.1
82.3
72.0
69.5
77.2
79.8
82.0
104.5
Year-round hotels
Employ
ment
M onth
Pay rolls
Laundries
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Dyeing and cleaning
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936
January____________________ ______
February_____ _______________ ____
March____________________________
A p r il.._________ _________________
M ay__________________ _________
June_____________________________
80.3
81.1
80.8
81.1
81.6
81.3
J u l y . . ................................ ........................
August____________________ _______
September__________ ____________
October___. . . _______________ ____
November__ __ __________ . . .
December_____ _______ ________ . . .
80.3
80.7
81.1
81.6
81.5
80.8
62.1
62.0
63.1
64.3
64.8
64.2
84.4
84.2
83.0
81.9
81.3
81.1
70.9
69.2
67.9
67.1
66.7
67.5
81. 7
79.4
82.1
80.4
76.3
73.4
61.5
58. 2
63.1
61.1
55.4
52.9
Average____ _____ ___________ 81.0
63.4
81.5
66.9
77. 5
57. 9
81.9
82.8
82.8
83.2
84.1
62.2
63.5
63.9
63.6
63.7
63.5
64.9 79.6 81.5 63.9 68.3 70.3 71.5 50.4 51.6
66.5 79.6 81.2 64.1 67.8 69.6 70.3 49.8 49.0
66.0 79.7 82.1 64.6 69.9 72.5 74.7 53.5 56.4
66.3 80.0 83.2 65.5 70.9 79.9 81.8 61.9 64.1
67.0 81.1 85.5 66.6 75.6 80.9 87.3 61.7 72.2
82.3
68. 2
83. 6
65.7
Trend of Private Employment, by States
A c o m p a r i s o n of employment and pay rolls, by States and geo
graphic divisions, in April and May 1936 is shown in table 4 for all
groups combined, except building construction and class I railroads,
and for all manufacturing industries combined, based on data supplied
by reporting establishments. The percentage changes shown, unless
otherwise noted, are unweighted—that is, the industries included in
the manufacturing group and in the grand total have not been
weighted according to their relative importance.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CO
-I
498
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
T a b le 4 .— C o m p a riso n o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in I d e n t ic a l E s ta b lis h m e n t s ,
A p ril a n d M a y 1 9 3 6 , b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s a n d b y S ta t e s
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]
Manufacturing
Total—all groups
Geographic divi
sion and State
Per
Num Number cent Amount
ber of on pay
age
of pay
estab roll M ay change roll (1
from
week)
lish
1936
ments
April M ay 1936
1936
Per
cent
age
change
from
April
1936
Per
N um Number cent Amount
ber of on pay
of pay
age
estab roll May change roll (1
lish
week)
from
1936
April M ay 1936
ments
1936
D o lla rs
N ew E n g la n d ___ 13, 774
M aine..............
804
New Hampshire_______
640
Vermont_____
463
Massachusetts- i 8, 610
Rhode Island.. 1,193
C onnecticut... 2,064
+ 0.9
+ 1 .6
3,311
264
-. 1
676,673
359,096
+ 4.3
+ (2) 10,206,959
84,099
+ .2 1, 674,126
179, 786 + 1 .5 3, 983,690
+ .8
+ 5 .3
+ .*
- 1 .0
+3.1
200
131
1,631
33,948
16, 701
455,157
M iddle A tla n tic .. 34, 403 1, 911,845
New York____ 22, 925 873, 781
N ew Jersey___ 3, 299 263,074
Pennsylvania.. 8,178 774,990
E ast N o rth C entra l___________ 19, 645 1,985, 315
O hio........... .
8,185 567, 358
Indiana______
2,223 202, 408
Illinois_______ 1 4,574 636,829
Michigan____
3, 669 503,108
Wisconsin____
6 994 175,612
W est N o rth C entra l_____ _____ 11,458
Minnesota___
2,161
Iowa________
1,685
Missouri_____
3,131
North Dakota.
510
South Dakota.
475
Nebraska____
1,603
Kansas______ 8 1,893
S o u th A tla n tic . 10,960
D elaw are____
216
Maryland____ 1,519
District of Columbia_____ 1,058
Virginia______ 2,158
West Virginia. 1,259
North Carolina 1,293
South Carolina
771
Georgia______
1,475
Florida______
1, 211
E ast S o u th C entra l___________
Kentucky____
Tennessee____
Alabama_____
Mississippi___
W est S o u th C entral___________
Arkansas_____
Louisiana____
Oklahoma____
Texas________
D o lla rs
+ 0 .6 17, 924, 595
+ 1 .7 1,024,051
821, 926
52, 235
+ .7
- .2
+ .9
+ 1 .6
47, 659,229
22,476, 783
6,466, 910
18, 715, 536
+ 0 .3 11,170, 729
+ 1 .5
776,885
+ 0 .5
+ 1.2
27,060
10,185
- .4
+ 3.1
510, 663
214,305
+ 5.2
257,144
- .6
5 ,3 3 0 ,8 5 6
- .9
64,883 + (2) 1,196,376
147,244 + 1.6 3,141, 644
- 2 .0
+ 3.5
+ 3.7 4,945 1,103, 086
+ .4 3 1,913 407,585
228,154
+ 1 .8
*739
+ 8 .8 2 ,293 467,347
+ .4 26, 017, 073
+ 1 .2
+ . 1 10,141,465
+ . 9 5,380, U 9
+ . 5 10,495,159
+ 2 .1
+ 1 .6
+ 1.6 39, 736, 284
10, 613, 380
+ 2.7
+ 3.3
+ 1 .3 50, 725, 597
+ .6 14, 284,312
+ 2.3
+ 2 .4
7,124 1, 523, 758
2,314 410,194
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .7
911
2,198
961
740
165,120
+ 3 .0
+ 2 . 9 3 ,9 5 4 ,4 2 8
350,933
+ 1 . 6 8,378, 769
+ 2 .4
455,732 + 1 - 4 13,450,371 + 2 . 3
141,779 7 + 2 . 0 3 ,3 3 9 ,3 3 6 7 + 2 .4
188,192
35,992
30,071
81,224
675
1,654
11,020
+ 1 .7 14,655, 274
+ 2 .7
+ 1 - 8 4 ,0 9 0 ,6 7 3
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .2
+ 4 .0
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .6
+ 7 .0
+ 5 .6
+ .6
+• 8
2,139
368
361
749
41
34
149
437
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .8
2,629
76
+ 3 .0
542
+ 2 .6
+ 3 .0
+ .2
-.3
+ .4
- 8 .9
41
429
241
554
202
361
183
3, 333
64, 692
55,324
129, 264
60, 297
77,389
16,579
+ 1.9
- .6
+ 1 .7
- 1 .7
- 1 .0
- 1 .9
+ .8
155,342
31, 587
61,763
51,402
10,590
- . 9 2, 591, 805
642,890
-.3
+ .6 1,024, 735
- 1 .4
790, 753
133,427
- 8 .8
+ .2
+ 2 .7
+ .1
-. 1
- 8 .7
+ 3.6
+ 1.1
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .6
+ .4
+2.1
+ .5
+ .7
8, 929, 372
1,959,106
1, 240,696
3, 501, 369
118,203
120,231
715, 633
5 6 ,886
+ .7
1 ,274,134
111,243
392
693
548, 420
41,904
+ 2 .4 4,8 0 7 ,1 3 7
+ 1 .1 12,888,201
393, 748
82,176
56, 278
156,198
5,073
5, 336
31,801
750,325
13,021
Per
cent
age
change
from
April
1936
- . 8 13,933,441
298,091
+ 2 .9
+• 8 2 ,4 6 1 ,2 3 2
+ 2.7
+ 5.5
+ 4.5
+ 1.3
+ 6.3
+ 9.5
- .9
2 7 ,656
+ 1.5 4,196,105
853,836
+2.1
673,935
+ 4.0
+ .6 1, 711, 784
17,313
+ 5.5
- 2 .2
38,310
251,059
+ 2.0
649,868
+ .8
489,448
8,740
- . 5 8,302,736
194, 248
+ 2.9
+ 1 .2
+ 3.7
73,830 7 + 1 . 2
+ 1 .9
1 ,5 9 4 ,6 7 2 7 + 5 .3
37,115
- .3
96,909
143, 627 + 1.3
140,188 - 1 .5
67,855 - 1 .0
101, 525 - 1 .4
38,843 -1 1 .3
897,851
1, 817,827
3, 216, 754
1,997, 632
941, 725
1, 588,868
713,461
112, 649 + 2.9
1,168,399 + 2.7
1, 263,944
-.1
1,810, 499 + (2)
- .7
801,496
1,089,440
- .4
267, 389 + (2)
4, 546
1,463
1,302
1,216
565
261, 535
81,150
86,149
77, 279
16,957
- .3
+ 1 .0
-.2
-.8
- 5 .4
4, 638, 539
1,653,679
1,483,849
1,250,965
250,046
+ .6
+ 2 .6
- .6
- 3 .2
921
261
330
234
96
4,194
163, 749
+ 1 .4 3, 472, 518
+ 2 .7
1,012
82,179
8 485
+ 1.7 1, 639,468
21,433
+ 2 .5
357,112
+ 1 .8
207
15,101
+ 3 .1
232, 630
+ 2 .0
925
1,385
43,232
37, 912
+ 1 .3
800, 715
857, 534
+3.C
+ 2.1
211
13C
22,558
9,584
+ .7
+ 1 .7
367,03C
207,00£
+ 5.1
+ 2 .0
1,399
61,172
+ 1 .7
1 ,4 5 7 ,1 5 7
+ 3 .2
461
34,936
+ 1 .8
832,799
+ 3 .7
1 Includes banks and trusts companies, construction, municipal, agricultural, and office employment,
amusement and recreation, professional services, and trucking and handling.
2Less than 1/10 of 1 percent.
3Includes laundering and cleaning, water, light, and power.
4Includes laundries.
5 Includes automobile and miscellaneous services, restaurants, and building and contracting.
6Includes construction, but does not include hotels and restaurants, or public works.
7Weighted percentage change.
8 Includes financial institutions, construction, miscellaneous services, and restaurants.
• Includes automobile dealers and garages, and sand, gravel, and building stone.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
499
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T a b le 4 .— C o m p a r iso n o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in I d e n tic a l E s ta b lis h m e n t s ,
A p ril a n d M a y 1 9 3 6 , b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s a n d b y S ta t e s — C o n tin u e d
Total—all groups
Geographic divi
sion and State
Per
N um Number cent Amount
ber of on pay
age
of pay
estab roll May change roll (1
lish
from
week)
1936
ments
April M ay 1936
1936
M o u n ta in ______
Montana_____
Idaho________
Wyoming.........
Colorado_____
New M exico...
Arizona______
U tah________
Nevada______
Manufacturing
Per
cent
age
change
from
April
1936
Per
N um Number cent Amount
ber of on pay
age
of pay
estab roll May change roll (1
lish
from
week)
1936
ments
April M ay 1936
1936
D o lla rs
1,136
702
489
320
1,242
325
537
599
222
P acific_____ ___ 6, 592
W ashington.,. 3, 005
Oregon______
1,339
California____ io 2, U 8
D o lla rs
116,051 +1.8 2, 759, 600
19, 286 +5.3
517, 620
9, 266 + 8 .7
210, 078
8,217
- .2
214, 581
35, 520
821,112
- .5
6, 522 +10.7
128,840
15,058 - 1 .8
359,204
18, 992
+. 2
422, 082
3,190 + 4 .0
86,083
+ 1.3
+ 4 .6
+ 6 .7
- 1 .8
- .5
+ 7 .5
- .8
-. 1
+ 3 .9
518
421, 095
90, 844
47,302
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .4
+ 5 .2
2,103
467
255
230, 953
49,377
25, 657
+ 1 .8
1,381
155,919
m , 949
+ .3 10, 931,196
+ 1 .2 2,260,728
+ 2 .0 1,174,357
- . 3 7, 499,411
82
54
41
175
28
40
100
28
Per
cent
age
change
from
April
1936
30, 013 + 1.1
4, 775 + 6.2
3,036 +22.9
1,740 + 6.4
9, 656
+ .8
807 + 8.3
-.2
2,780
6,390 + 1.9
859 + 6.6
721,155 + 6 .6
125,484 +11.6
68,411 +19.2
48,545 + 5.0
232,035 4-3.5
14,199 +18.8
63, 798 + 2 .6
144,732 + 3 .7
24, 251 + 6.4
+.1 5,981,173
+ 1 .8 1, 210,034
+ 3.1
618, 205
- .9
4 ,153,234
+ 2 .5
+ 1.4
+ 7.5
+ 2 .1
!0 Includes banks, insurance, and office employment.
Private Employment and Pay Rolls in Principal Cities
A c o m p a r i s o n of May employment and pay rolls with the April
totals in 13 cities of the United States having a population of 500,000
or over is made in table 5. The changes are computed from reports
received from identical establishments in both months.
In addition to reports included in the several industrial groups
regularly covered in the survey of the Bureau, reports have also been
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 a b le 5 .— C o m p a riso n o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in I d e n t ic a l E s ta b lis h m e n t s
in A p ril a n d M a y 1 9 3 6 , b y P r in c ip a l C itie s
C it y
N u m b e r of N u m b e r on P e r c e n ta g e
ch ange
e s ta b lis h
p a y r o ll
from
m e n ts
M a y 1936
A p r il 1936
A m o u n t of
p a y ro ll
w eek )
M a y 1936
P e r c e n ta g e
change
from
A p r il 1936
(1
N e w Y o r k , N . Y ______ __________________
C h ica g o , 111__ ______________________
...
P h ila d e lp h ia , P a _________________ _______
D e tr o it, M i c h _____ ____________ _____ ____
L o s A n g e le s , C a lif_________ ______ _______
17,956
4,177
2,608
1,554
2,873
691,252
393,154
217,059
342,874
134, 638
- 1 .2
+ 1 .0
-.4
+ 1 .7
$18, 396,959
10,193,651
5,3 5 1 ,6 2 1
10,390,135
3 ,4 2 2 ,4 5 2
- 0 .4
+ 1 .9
+ 2 .5
+ 2 .4
+ .7
C le v e la n d , O h io ______ ___________________
S t. L o u is, M o ..................................... ................. ..
B a ltim o r e , M d ___________________________
B o s to n , M a s s ____________ __________ _____
1,848
1,601
1,296
4,681
137,359
123,400
86,864
166,327
- 1 .2
3 ,552,571
2,865,811
2 ,0 0 4 ,1 8 9
3,99 7 ,2 7 5
+ 1 .8
+ 4 .6
- .5
P itts b u r g h , P a .................................................... ..
S a n F r a n c isc o , C a lif...........................................
B u ffa lo , N . Y .................... .....................................
M ilw a u k e e , Wis.....................................
1,490
1,525
1,030
704
196, 784
79,578
77,079
71,664
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+.6
+.2
+ 1 .3
- .3
+ 1 .9
- 1 .2
+ 2 .7
+1.0
5,128 349
2 ,119,916
1 ,924,130
1,755, 712
+.2
+ 2 .8
-.4
+ 3 .5
+1.7
500
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Public Employment
E m p l o y m e n t created by the Federal Government includes em
ployment in the regular agencies of the Government, employment on
the various construction programs wholly or partially financed by
Federal funds, and employment on relief-work projects.
jL Construction projects financed by the Public Works Administration
are those projects authorized by title II of the National Industrial
Recovery Act of June 16, 1933. This program of public works was
extended to June 30, 1937, by the Emergency Relief Appropriation
Act of 1935.
The Works Program was inaugurated by the President in a series
of Executive orders by authority of Public Resolution No. 11, ap
proved April 8, 1935. Employment created by this program includes
employment on Federal projects and employment on projects operated
by the Works Progress Administration. Federal projects are those
conducted by Federal agencies which have received allotments from
The Works Program fund. Projects operated by the Works Progress
Administration are those projects conducted under the supervision of
the W. P. A.
The emergency conservation program (Civilian Conservation
Corps) created in April 1933 has been further extended under author
ity of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
Executive Service of the Federal Government
S t a t i s t i c s of employment in the executive branches of the Federal
Government in May 1935, April 1936, and May 1936 are given in
table 6.
T a b le 6 .— E m p lo y e e s in t h e E x e c u t iv e S e r v ic e o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t,
M a y 1 9 3 5 , A p ril a n d M a y , 1 9 3 6 1
[Subject to revision]
District of Columbia 2
Outside District of
Columbia
Entire service 3
Perma Tempo Total
rary 3
nent
Perma Tempo Total
rary 3
nent
Item
Perma Tempo Total
rary
nent
Number of employees:
M ay 1935.............. - .........April 1936_________ ____
M ay 1 9 3 6 ....................
Percentage change:
M ay 1935 to M ay 1936—
April 1936 to M ay 1936. „
Labor turn-over M ay 1936:
Additions 8_____________
Separations 8___________
Turn-over rate per 100.........
92, 763
107,222
107,812
10, 256 103,019 515,001 94,572 609, 573 607, 764 104,828 712, 592
8,200 115,422 599, 268 96,077 695,345 706,490 104,277 810,767
9, 417 117, 229 600, 274 100,725 700,999 708,086 110,142 <818,228
+16. 22 -8 .1 8 +13. 79 +16. 56
+ . 55 +14.84 +1. 57
+ . 17
1,895
1,343
1. 25
2, 239
635
7. 21
4,134
1,978
1. 70
9,808
10,046
1.64
+6. 51 +15.00 +16. 51
+ .2 3
+4.84
+ . 81
+5.07
+5.62
+14.82
+ . 92
29, 798
24,629
3.53
22,229
15, 218
14.19
33,932
26,607
3. 27
19,990
14,583
14.82
11,703
11,389
1.61
1 Data on number of employees refer to employment on last day of month.
3 Includes employees of Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Howard University.
3 N ot including field employees of Post Office Department or 17,486 employees hired under letters of
authorization by the Department of Agriculture with a pay roll of $779,710.
4 Includes 136 employees by transfer previously reported as separations by transfer not actual additions
for M ay.
.
* N ot including employees transferred within the Government service, as such transfers should not be
regarded as labor turn-over.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
501
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
The monthly record of employment in the executive departments
of the United States Government from May 1935 to May 1936,
inclusive, is shown in table 7.
T a b le 7 .— E m p lo y m e n t in t h e E x e c u tiv e D e p a r t m e n t s o f t h e U n ite d S ta t e s
G o v e r n m e n t b y M o n t h s , M a y 1935 t o M a y 1936
[Subject to revision]
Month
Outside
District District
of
of
Columbia Columbia
Total
1935
M ay______ _______
June_____________
July______________
August___________
September________
October__________
November................
December________
Outside
District District
of
of
Columbia Columbia
Month
Total
1936
103,019
103,977
104,747
107,037
109,195
110, 583
111, 196
112,088
609, 573
614, 259
631,134
663,086
678, 229
687,115
690, 202
704,135
712, 592
718, 236
735,881
770,123
787,424
797,698
801,398
816, 223
January________ _
February_________
March____________
April_____________
M ay_____________
111, 797
112,697
112,739
115,422
117, 229
689,499
687, 626
693, 665
695, 345
700,999
801,296
800,323
806,404
810, 767
818, 228
Construction Projects Financed by the Public Works Administration
D e t a i l s concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during May 1 on construction projects financed by Public Works
Administration funds are given in table 8, by type of project.
T a b le 8 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls o n P r o je c ts F in a n c e d fro m P u b lic W ork s
F u n d s , M o n th E n d in g M a y 15, 1936
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
Maximum Weekly
number
employed 1 average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of AverValue of
material
man-hours 1 age
orders
earn
worked
ings per placed dur
during
hour ing month
month
Federal projects—Financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All projects 2___________ _________
2 102,633
95,524
$8,911,513
12,030,630
$0. 741
$9,670,907
Building construction2___________
Forestry___ ____ ____ _____ ______
Naval vessels ______ ____________
Public roads 4___________________
Reclamation____________________
17,563
13
25,434
0)
12, 256
14,384
13
25,040
25, 791
11,683
1, 249, 232
1,837
3, 255,061
1, 275,844
1, 271, 226
1,542,194
1,390
3,932,379
2,426, 700
1,699,657
.810
1.322
.828
.526
.748
1,657,173
214
1,788,522
2, 500,000
2,005, 888
River, harbor, and flood control........
Streets and roads.................................
Water and sewerage______________
Miscellaneous.......................................
17,892
2,225
137
1,322
15,347
1,913
107
1,246
1,655,518
116,172
7,343
79, 280
2,085,157
222,905
12,496
107,752
.794
.521
.588
.736
1,558,710
90,343
18,935
51,122
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes a maximum of 5,725 and an average of 4,462 employees working on low-cost housing projects
financed from E. R. A. A. funds, who were paid $353,725 for 515,049 man-hours of labor. Material orders
in the amount of $387,108 were placed for these projects. These data are also included in separate tables
covering projects financed by The Works Program.
2 Includes weekly average for public roads.
4 Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
* Not available; average included in total.
i
Data concerning projects financed by Public Works Administration funds are based on month ending
M ay 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
502
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
T a b le 8 .— E m p lo y m e n t an d P a y R o lls o n P r o je c ts F in a n c e d fro m P u b lic W o rk s
F u n d s , M o n t h E n d in g M a y 15, 1 9 3 6 — C o n tin u e d
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
Maximum Weekly
number
em ployed1 average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of AverValue of
material
man-hours
age
earn
orders
worked
ings per placed dur
during
hour ing month
month
Non-Federal projects—Financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All projects
. . . ________________
Building construction ................ . .
Streets and roads________________
Water and sew erage_____________
Miscellaneous__________________
61, 964
51,120
$4, 549,065
5,175,682
$0. 879
$8,457, 406
30, 243
8, 488
19,942
3,291
25,052
6, 677
16,708
2,683
2, 354, 158
495,008
1, 506, 857
193,042
2,430,511
655,047
1,779, 141
310, 983
.969
.756
.847
.621
4, 232, 408
819,967
2, 312, 236
1,092,795
Non-Federal “ Transportation Loan” projects —Financed from
N . I R. A. funds
All projects......................... ...............
7,187
(«)
Railroad construction____________
Railroad-car and locomotive shops..
Operated by railroads________
Operated by commercial firm s..
4,950
2, 237
1,921
316
4,413
(8)
1,847
(9)
$382,323
674, 932
$0. 566
176, 668
205, 655
160, 647
45, 008
381,926
293,006
232, 849
60, 157
.463
.702
.690
.748
(«)
$135,982
(6)
66,552
m
Non-Federal projects—Financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds 7
All projects. ____________ _______
143, 609
117,942
$8, 747,977
12, 496,625
$0.700
$19, 725, 224
Building construction____________
Electrification___________________
H eavy engineering_________ _____
Reclamation___________ _______
93, 276
474
1,883
1,028
76,554
421
1,572
872
5,814, 269
28, 284
199,015
50,690
7,935,922
38, 344
214,335
88,653
.733
.738
.929
.572
12,862, 204
160,322
482, 208
77,321
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads____ _____ ______
Water and sewerage______________
M iscella n eo u s..___ ____ _________
345
13, 269
32,133
1,201
255
10, 504
26, 847
917
25, 880
634,453
1,935, 213
60,173
31, 292
1,047,584
3,045,435
95,060
.827
.606
.635
.633
46, 734
1, 255,371
4,665,816
175, 248
6 Data not available.
7 These data are also included in separate tables covering projects financed by The Works Program.
Federal construction projects are financed by allotments made by
the Public Works Administration to the various agencies and depart
ments of the Federal Government from funds provided under the Na
tional Industrial Recovery Act. The major portion of the low-cost
housing program now under way, however, is financed by funds pro
vided under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. The
work is performed either by commercial firms, which have been
awarded contracts, or by day labor hired directly by the Federal
agencies.
Non-Federal projects are financed by allotments made by the Public
Works Administration from funds available under either the National
Industrial Recovery Act or the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act
of 1935. Most of the allotments have been made to the States and
their political subdivisions, but occasionally .allotments have been
made to commercial firms. In financing projects for the States or
their political subdivisions from funds appropriated under the Na
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
503
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
tional Industrial Recovery Act, the Public Works Administration
makes a direct grant of not more than 30 percent of the total labor
and material cost. When funds provided under the Emergency Re
lief Appropriation Act of 1935 are used to finance a non-Federal pro
ject, as much as 45 percent of the total labor and material cost may be
furnished in the form of a grant. The remaining 55 percent or more
of the cost is financed by the recipient. When circumstances justify
such action, the Public Works Administration may provide the
grantee with the additional funds by means of a loan. Allotments to
commercial enterprises are made only as loans. All loans made by
the Public Works Administration carry interest charges and have a
definite date of maturity. Collateral posted with the Public Works
Administrât'on to secure loans may be offered for sale to the public,
and in this way a revolving fund is provided which enlarges the scope
of activities.
Commercial loans have been made, for the most part, to railroads.
Railroad work financed by loans made by the Public Works Adminis
tration falls under three headings: First, construction work in the
form of 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 operated by the railroads; and
third, locomotive and passenger- and freight-car building in com
mercial shops.
Monthly Trend
A summary of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
projects financed from public-works funds from July 1933 to May
1936 is given in table 9.
T a b le 9 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls, J u ly 1933 t o M a y
F in a n c e d fro m P u b lic -W o r k s F u n d s
1 9 3 6 , on
P r o je c ts
[S u b jec t to re v isio n ]
Year and month
Maxi
mum
number
of wage
earners 1
July 1933 to M ay 1936, inclusive 3______
July to December, 1933, inclusive. _____
January to December, 1934, inclusive__
January to December, 1935, inclusive 3- . .
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked dur
ing month
of ma
Average Value orders
earnings terial
placed
dur
per hour ing month
$677. 536,173 1,066, 333,963
$0. 635 $1, 250,859, 572
32,941,335
308,311,143
254,176,118
61,718,911
523, 561, 666
371, 352, 552
.534
.589
.684
3 75, 453,114
3 610,051,090
3 417, 321,441
14, 399, 381
12, 220, 479
13, 981,176
18,915, 663
22,590,878
19,195, 535
16, 404, 771
18, 519, 649
25,203,010
30,377, 869
.750
.745
.755
.751
.744
22, 796,818
23,460, 743
4 29,068, 402
4 32, 459, 393
3 40,248, 571
1936
January3. . ....................................................
February 3___________________________
March 3_____ ___ __________ . ____
A p ril3 _______________ ____________ M ay 3_______________________________
197,820
176, 764
202, 236
264, 427
315,393
1M a x im u m n u m b e r e m p lo y e d d u r in g a n y 1 w e e k o f th e m o n th b y e a c h c o n tra cto r a n d G o v e r n m e n t
a g e n c y d o in g force -accou n t w o rk . I n c lu d e s w e e k ly a v er a g e for p u b lic -r o a d p ro jects.
3I n c lu d e s w a g e earners e m p lo y e d o n p ro jects u n d e r t h e ju r is d ic tio n o f P . W . A . w h ic h a re fin a n c e d fro m
E . R . A . A . fu n d s . T h e s e d a ta are a lso in c lu d e d in ta b le s co v e r in g p ro jects fin a n c e d b y T h e W o r k s P r o
gram .
^ In c lu d e sj)r d e r sj)la c e d b y ra ilro a d s for n e w e q u ip m e n t.
4R e v is e d .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
504
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
The Works Program
A d e t a i l e d record of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours
worked on projects financed by The Works Program in May 1is shown
in table 10, by type of project.
T a b le 10 . — E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls o n P r o je c ts F in a n c e d b y T h e W ork s
P r o g r a m , M a y 1936
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
Maximum Weekly
number
employed 1 average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked
during
month
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects
All projects______________ _______
401, 298
356,036
$19,160,510
43, 267,437
$0.443
$12, 668, 052
Building construction______ _____
Electrification___________________
Forestry______________________
Grade-crossing elim ination............
H eavy engineering_______________
Hydroelectric power plants_______
Plant, crop, and livestock conservation________ _______ ________
Professional, technical, and clerical.
Public roads____ ___________ ____
Reclamation__________________ _
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads_________ _______
Water and sewerage______________
Miscellaneous___________________
37,803
910
17,994
23,126
203
2, 333
34,447
819
16, 695
19, 203
194
1,815
2,147,988
51, 746
826, 773
1,176,184
12, 734
42,137
3,845,938
82, 030
2, 042, 218
2, 085; 587
25,839
177,181
.559
.631
. 405
.564
.493
.238
1, 442,959
135, 603
36,920
29,121
105,843
82, 501
44,897
9,123
816
9, 708
30, 487
29,101
87,524
76, 418
41,588
8,298
641
8, 806
1,208,831
2, 023,414
4, 729, 234
2, 768,155
3,153,745
445, 204
43,855
530,510
5,575,840
3,464,101
10,377,922
7,623,929
5,736,404
1,028, 778
93, 368
1,108,302
.217
.584
.456
.363
.550
.433
.470
.479
39,325
159,664
3,657,463
2,380,339
2,247, 604
216,215
6,354
396,822
All projects 3____________________
149, 334
122,404
$9,101, 702
13,011,674
$0. 700
$20,112,332
Building construction 3__________
Electrification___________________
H eavy engineering__________ ____
Reclamation________ ____ _______
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads________________
Water and sewerage................. ...........
Miscellaneous____________ ______ _
99,001
474
1,883
1,028
345
13, 269
32,133
1,201
81,016
421
1,572
872
255
10, 504
26,847
917
6,167,994
28, 284
199,015
50,690
25,880
634, 453
1, 935, 213
60,173
8,450,971
38,344
214,335
88,653
31,292
1,047,584
3,045,435
95, 060
.730
.738
.929
.572
.827
.606
.635
.633
13,249,312
160, 322
482, 208
77, 321
46, 734
1, 255,371
4, 665,816
175, 248
1,898,196
25,998
61,510
P. W. A.projects financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds 2
Projects operated by Works Progress Administration
All projects 3................. .................... .
Conservation............. .........................
Highway, road, and street________
Housing 3___________ ______ _____
Professional, technical, and clerical.
Public building_________________
Publicly owned or operated utilities 8 ___________ ___________
Recreational facilities 7________
Rural electrification and electric
utilities__ _
. . ____________
Sanitation and health ________ .
Sewing, canning, gardening, etc___
Transportation.....
.......... ..............
N ot elsewhere classified__________
4 2,563,185
$131,535,493 294,574,320
156, 371
884, 047
5 662
265, 715
228,004
7, 398, 743 19,020, 686
40j 8451358 102,678, 870
363,438
620, 213
18, H3| 212 30,466j 987
13,442, 086 24, 743, 686
.389
. 398
.586
.595
.543
783,541
6,570; 040
234,942
279, 482
11,989,722
15,481,033
26,181,276
30, 035,866
.458
.515
4,015,144
2,500, 296
4,251
81, 934
310,885
54,304
57i 588
206,198
3, 793,895
14,102, 693
2,881,216
2 , 917 ; 899
421,946
10,088,014
37; 264,690
6,175, 890
6,876; 196
.489
.376
.378
.467
.424
98, 733
952,210
667; 978
787,369
497,869
,
$0. 447 8 $21,959,643
600, 742
4,485, 721
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 These data are also included in separate tables covering projects under the jurisdiction of the Public
Works Administration.
3 Data for a maximum of 237 and an average of 237 employees who were paid $28,256 for 30,306 man-hours
on demolition work at the site of low-cost housing projects are included both under P. W. A. projects
financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds and under projects operated by the Works Progress Administration.
4 Includes data for 25,374 transient camp workers who were paid $635,403 and subsistence for 3,241,907
man-hours on conservation work, etc.
5 Value of material orders placed during month ending M ay 31, 1936.
6 Exclusive of electric utilities.
7 Exclusive of buildings.
1 Data concerning projects financed by The Works Program are based on month ending M ay 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
505
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Monthly Trend
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on projects financed
by The Works Program from the beginning of the program in July
1935 to May 1936 are given in table 11.
T a b le 1 1 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls, J u ly 1935 t o M a y 1 9 3 6 , on P r o je c ts
F in a n c e d b y T h e W o rk s P ro g ra m
[S u b jec t to re v isio n ]
M onth and year
Maximum
M onthly
number
pay-roll dis
em ployed1 bursements
Number of
man-hours
worked dur
ing month
Value of
Average
material
earnings
orders
per hour placed dur
ing month
Federal projects
July 1935 to M ay 1936, inclusive_______
$103,942, 675
238,119,966
$0.437
$84,390,396
July to December, 1935_______________
30,077, 743
65,915,609
.456
32,116,942
11,179,541
12, 529, 207
14,431, 789
16, 563, 885
19,160, 510
25,955,820
29,173,914
35, 243,886
38, 563,300
43, 267,437
.431
.429
.409
.430
.443
8, 988, 622
9, 684, 578
8,028,299
12, 903,903
12, 668,052
1936
January...........................................................
February------ . . . ------------ ------------------March_____________ ______ - ------ -------April__________ ____ ______ ________
M ay------- -----------------------------------------
248,929
298,589
325,505
375,865
401, 298
P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds 2
September 1935 to M ay 1936, inclusive-.
$22,065,199
31,975, 609
$0. 690
$59, 655,990
September to December, 1935_________
661,283
996,091
.664
2,025,494
1,128, 635
1,794,866
3,032, 280
6,346,433
9,101,702
1, 621,349
2,609,270
4, 525, 546
9,211, 679
13, 011, 674
.696
.688
.670
.689
.700
3,632,378
8,611,717
10, 548,343
14, 725, 726
20,112,332
1936
January..........................................................
February......................................... ..............
March____________________________
April________________________ _______
M ay.............................. ......................... .........
23, 740
39,848
64,223
112,345
149,334
Projects operated by Works Progress Administration
$852,097,344 1,974,084,057
August 1935 to M ay 1936, inclusive------August to December, 1935____________
1936
January..........................................................
February-----------------------------------------M arch.-------------------------------------------April_______________________________
M ay------------------ ------------------------------
2,755,802
2,900,645
3,044,685
2,856, 508
2, 563,185
$0.432 $142,938, 596
170,911, 331
367,589,041
.465
46,042,303
127,054,184
136, 276, 680
142,827,306
143, 492,350
131,535,493
310,755, 226
331,916,478
338,477, 216
330,771,776
294, 574,320
.409
.411
.422
.434
.447
19,860, 772
17,896, 597
17, 592, 687
19,586, 594
21,959,643
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 These data are also included in separate tables covering projects under the jurisdiction of the Public
Works Administration.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
506
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-— AUGUST 1936
Emergency Conservation Work
F ig u r e s for employment and pay rolls in emergency conservation
work in April and May 1936, are presented in table 12.
T a b le
1 2 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in E m e r g e n c y
A p ril a n d M a y , 1936 1
C o n se r v a tio n
W ork ,
[Subject to revision]
Number of
employees
Group
Amount of pay rolls
M ay
April
May
All groups 2___ ___ ____ ___________________________
407, 621
391,002
$18,610,245
$18,058, 235
Enrolled personnel2______________ ____ ____________
Reserve officers____________________________________
Educational advisers 3_______________________ .
Supervisory and technical 4_________________ _______
357,002
7, 762
1, 975
5 40,862
340, 371
6,992
1,970
8 41,669
11,121,242
1, 620, 971
340,067
8 5,527,965
10,592, 774
1,457, 001
339, 242
8 5,669, 218
April
1 Data on number of employees refer to employment on last day of month. Amounts of pay rolls are for
entire month.
2 Revised.
3 Included in executive service table.
4 Includes carpenters, electricians, and laborers.
8 39,535 employees and pay roll of $5,410,283 included in executive-service table.
6 40,250 employees and pay roll of $5,560,783 included in executive-service table.
Employment and pay-roll data for emergency conservation work
ers are collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the War
Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
Commerce, the Treasury Department, and the Department of the
Interior. The monthly pay of the enrolled personnel is distributed
as follows: 5 percent are paid $45; 8 percent, $36; and the remain
ing 87 percent, $30. The enrolled men, in addition to their pay, are
provided with board, clothing, and medical services.
Monthly statistics of employment and pay rolls on the emergency
conservation program from May 1935 to May 1936, inclusive,
are given in table 13.
T a b le 1 3 .— M o n t h ly T o t a ls o f E m p lo y e e s a n d P a y R o lls in E m e r g e n c y
C o n s e r v a tio n W ork , M a y 1935 t o M a y 1936 1
[Subject to revision]
Month
Number
of em
ployees
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
1935
M ay........ .........
June...................
July__________
August_______
September____
O ctober...........
November........
December____
1 Revised.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
387,953
430, 226
483, 329
593,311
536, 752
554,143
546,683
509,126
Month
Number
of em
ployees
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
1936
$17,777,305
19,816,204
22,133, 513
26, 293, 526
24,455,343
24,886, 623
24, 009,372
21,949,480
January_______________
February______________
March_________________
A p r i l . .. ..............................
M ay___________ _______
478, 751
454,231
356, 273
391, 002
407, 621
$21,427,065
20,484,379
17,251,772
18, 058,235
18, 610,245
507
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Construction Projects Financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
F i g u r e s for employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on con
struction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corpora
tion in May 1 are presented in table 14, by type of project.
Table 14.— E m ploym ent and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation, by T ype of Project, M ay 1936
[Subject to revision]
Type of project
All projects_______________________________
"B ridges
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Number
of wage
earners
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number
of
man-hours
worked
during
month
Average
earnings
per hour
10,988
$962, 280
1,244, 097
$0.773
$1,441,248
176, 502
59,971
1,496
827,196
178,932
1.117
.759
.716
.719
.691
85,494
73,080
46
1,244,119
38, 509
_ ____________________________________
Building construction L.......................................Reclamation______________ ____ —- ..................
Water and sewerage—.............................................
Miscellaneous__ _________________________
1, 289
538
11
7,882
1,268
197,198
45,536
1,071
594,812
123, 663
1 Includes 85 employees; pay-roll disbursements of $7,621; 6,523 man-hours worked; and material orders
placed during the month amounting to $19,309 on projects financed by R. F. O. Mortgage Co.
A monthly summary of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours
worked, on construction projects financed by the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation from May 1935 to May 1936, inclusive, is
given in table 15.
Table 15.— Em ploym ent and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation, M ay 1935 to M ay 1936
[Subject to revision]
Month
1935
June
July
August
September
October
]SfovPimhp.r
ppmFiat
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Value of
Number of Average
material
man-hours
earnings
worked dur per hour orders placed
during month
ing month
___________ ___________
___- _________________
_____ __________________
10, 506
11,901
9, 581
9,415
$1,100,977
1,191,336
1,001, 653
1 , 020, 208
1,522,959
1,592, 744
1,349,064
1,367,071
$0.723
. 748
. 742
.746
$2,287,090
3,998,576
1,495,108
965,174
______________________
_______ ___ _______ ___________________
_______
9, 301
i 9, 204
i 9,802
i 7, 792
957,846
952, 790
1,001,408
869,459
1,271,475
1, 269, 273
1, 344,234
1,160,845
.753
. 751
. 745
.749
1,016,202
1,228,928
1,411,338
1, 383,293
7, 560
7,961
8,134
850,271
905,455
916,059
1,133, 880
962, 280
1,093,350
1,179,431
1,193,145
1,479,182
1, 244,097
.778
. /t)8
. 768
. 767
. 773
1,355,520
1,436,119
1,385, 640
1,292,063
1,441,248
1936
February
Number
of wage
earners
________________
VTarch
____________________________
April
M ay
- ________________
___________________
10,021
10,988
i Revised.
1 Data concerning projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation refer to the month end
ing May 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
508
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Construction Projects Financed From Regular Governmental Appropriations
W h e n e v e r a construction contract is awarded or force-account
work is started by a department or agency of the Federal Govern
ment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is immediately notified on forms
supplied by the Bureau, of the name and address of the contractor,
the amount of the contract, and the type of work to be performed.
Blanks are then mailed by the Bureau to the contractor or Govern
ment agency doing the work. These reports are returned to the
Bureau and show the number of men on pay rolls, the amounts dis
bursed for pay, the number of man-hours worked on the project, and
the value of the different types of materials for which orders were
placed during the month.
The following tables present data concerning construction projects
on which work has started since July 1, 1934. The Bureau does not
have statistics covering projects which were under way previous to
that date.
Data concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
construction projects financed from regular governmental appropria
tions during May 1 are given in table 16, by type of project.
Table 16.— E m ploym ent on Construction Projects Financed from Regular
Governm ental Appropriations, by T ype of Project, M ay 1936
[Subject to revision]
Number of wage
earners
Type of project
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Value of
Number of
material
man-hours Average
orders
worked
earnings
dur
during
per hour placed
ing
month
month
Maximum
number
employed •
Weekly
average
All projects. ......................................
2 79, 789
76, 645
$6,242,763
10,262, 637
$0. 608
$12,559,367
Building construction....................
Electrification...................................
Naval vessels______ ____ _______
Public roads 3__________ _______
Reclamation___ ____ __________
10,095
4
13,440
(4)
1,209
8,436
4
12,928
38,884
1,144
743, 647
99
1,444, 535
2, 705,079
170,472
1,092,812
128
1,771, 247
4,963,902
229, 668
.680
.773
.816
.545
.742
2,872,924
2,808,723
5,300, 568
3, 608
River, harbor, and flood control..
Streets and roads______ ____ ___
Water and sewerage____________
Miscellaneous_________________
12,582
2,097
59
1,419
12,103
1,878
41
1,227
1,024,776
90,973
2, 580
60, 602
1,883, 736
221,136
5, 653
94,355
.544
.411
.456
.642
913, 647
57, 865
270
601, 762
0
1 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 tho Bureau of Public Roads.
4 N ot available; average number included in total.
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on construction
projects financed from regular governmental appropriations from
May 1935 to May 1936 are shown, by months, in table 17.
1 Data concerning projects financed by regular governmental appropriations are based on month ending
M a y 15,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
509
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 17 . — Em ploym ent on Construction Projects Financed from Regular
Governmental Appropriation, M ay 1935 to M ay 1936
[Subject to revision]
Number
of wage
earners
Month
1985
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of Average Value of ma
man-hours
earnings terial orders
worked dur per hour placed dur
ing month
ing month
M ay...........
June_____
July______
August-----
23,057
26,191
25,788
36,491
$1,599,937
1, 904,454
1,890,209
2,694,822
2,370,925
2,842,470
2,752,801
4,137,008
$0.675
.670
.687
.651
$2,704,333
2,960,270
3,079,618
4,459,551
September.
October. . .
November.
December.
45,592
59,091
63,912
56,780
3,199,785
4,193,129
4,077,395
3,707,963
5,066,873
6,716,798
6,559,665
5,980,118
.632
.624
.622
.620
5,801,445
7,181,155
6,690,405
6,155,840
January..
February.
March—
April____
M ay.........
46,895
43,915
47,538
60,107
79,789
3,990,725
3,619,025
3,674,896
5,205,353
6,242,763
6,246,418
5, 545,115
5,814,569
8,375,190
10,262,637
.639
.653
.632
.622
.608
5,584,611
6,669,016
7,185,019
9,861,378
10,561,134
State-Road Projects
A r e c o r d of employment and pay-roll disbursements in the con
struction and maintenance of State roads from May 1935 to May
1936, inclusive, is presented in table 18.
Table 18 . — Em ploym ent on Construction and M aintenance of State Roads,
M ay 1935 to M ay 1936 1
[Subject to revision]
Number of employees working on—
Month
New roads
1935
JlIQ6
July
August
Septem Fpt
October
Nov^Tnbp.r
PçnAmhp.r
roll
Total
_________ ____________________
___________________________
27,924
30,823
35,826
40,130
135,541
138, 253
148,575
163,960
163,465
169,076
184,401
204,090
$6,008,348
7,079,793
8,232,589
9,063,104
_______ ____________ - ___________________________
__________________ _______
________________
______
40,431
40, 390
32,487
27,046
156,187
147,324
139,138
121,690
196,618
187,714
171,625
148,736
8,435,225
8,150,299
7,156,025
6,139, 581
14,358
10,256
8,150
11,339
16,566
105,795
119,777
133,386
143,305
164,356
120,153
130,033
141, 536
154,644
180,922
7,481,502
7,572, bl4
7,689,770
8, 918,024
10,560,866
1936
J anuary
February
March
Mainte
nance
____________________________
- ______________ _________
__ __________ _______ ______
TVTiiv
i Excluding employment furnished by projects financed from Public Works Administration funds.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BUILDING OPERATIONS
S um m ary o f B u ilding-C onstructio n R ep o rts for Ju n e
1936
PRONOUNCED improvement was shown in building-construc
tion acitivity in June 1936. The value of building construction
for which permits were issued in June totaled $155,598,000, an increase
of 34.4 percent, compared with the $115,763,000 reported by the
same cities in May. All classes of construction registered substan
tial gains, but the most marked increase occurred in the value of
permits issued for new residential buildings.
A marked increase was also shown in building-construction activ
ity in June over the corresponding month of the previous year.
Compared with June 1935 the value of construction permits issued
in June 1936 increased 96.8 percent. All classes of construction
showed sharp gains.
Data comparing May and June 1936 are based on reports received
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1,362 identical cities with a
population of 2,500 or over. Data comparing June 1936 with June
1935 are based on reports received by the Bureau from 708 identical
cities with a population of 10,000 or over.
A
Comparisons, June 1936 with May 1936
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 1,362 identical cities for
May and June 1936 is given in table 1.
Table 1.— Summary of Building Construction in 1,362 Identical Cities, M ay
and June 1936
Number of buildings
Class of construction
Estimated cost
Per
centage
change
June 1936
M ay 1936
56,366
+ 1 .9
$155, 598,042
$115, 762.883
+34.4
9,893
10, 302
36,171
+ 9 .0
+ 1.0
75, 268, 266
50,422, 363
29, 907,453
51,825, 363
35,854, 631
28,082,889
+45.2
+40.6
+ 6 .5
June
1936
May1936
All construction______________
57,416
New residential buildings_________
New nonresidential b u ild in g s ...___
Additions, alterations, and repairs__
10, 787
10,409
36, 220
+ .1
Per
centage
change
The number of buildings for which permits were issued in June
showed a 1.9 percent increase over the previous month. The largest
gain was indicated in the number of new residential buildings. Meas510
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
511
BUILDING OPERATIONS
ured by the value of permits issued the estimated cost of new resi
dential buildings in June showed a gain of $23,443,000 over May;
for new nonresidential buildings the increase was $14,568,000; and
for additions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings the gain
over the same period was $1,825,000.
A summary of the estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and
the number of families provided for in dwellings for which permits
were issued in May and June 1936 is shown in table 2.
Table 2.— Summary of Estim ated Cost of Housekeeping Dwellings and of the
Number of Families Provided for in 1,362 Identical Cities, M ay and June
1936
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Type of dwelling
All types________________
______
1 -family — _______________________
2 -fam ily 1
_ __________________
M ultifam ily 2
_________________
June 1936
M ay 1936
$74,593, 470
$50, 567, 230
43,937,677
2,542,311
28,113,482
Number of families provided
for in new dwellings
Per
Per
centage June 1936 M ay 1936 centage
change
change
+47.5
19,128
12, 916
+48.1
+ 9 .3
40, 216,699
2,014, 570 +26.2
8, 335, 961 +237. 3
9,942
873
8,313
9,233
727
2, 956
+ 7 .7
+ 20.1
+181. 2
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Compared with May, a substantial increase was shown in the
estimated cost of new housekeeping dwellings in June. All types of
dwellings registered gains, but the most marked increase, 237 percent,
occurred in the estimated cost of multifamily dwellings. The number
of families provided for by all types of new dwellings increased 48
percent. Multifamily dwelling units with 181 percent increase
showed the most pronounced gain.
Comparisons, June 1936 with June 1935
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 708 identical cities in
June 1935 and June 1936 is presented in table 3.
Table 3.— Summary of Building Construction in 708 Identical Cities, June
1935 and June 1936
Number of buildings
Class of construction
All construction_____ ___ _________
Now rosidontial buildings ________
Now nonrosidential buildings _ __ _
Additions, alterations, and repairs-----
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June
1936
June
1935
52, 556
39,040
9, 280
9, 396
33,880
4,792
6,329
27,919
Estimated cost
Per
centage
change
Per
centage
change
June 1936
June 1935
+34.6
$143, 273, 709
$72,790,789
+96.8
67,820, 564
47, 301,864
28,151, 281
28,034,023
26,161,916
18, 594,850
+141.9
+80.8
+51.4
+93.7
+48.5
+21.4
512
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW — -AUGUST 1936
Permits were issued for 35 percent more buildings in June 1936
than in the corresponding month of 1935. All classes of construction
showed gains, the most pronounced increase occurring in the number
of new residential buildings. The estimated cost of building construc
tion in June 1936, measured by the value of permits issued, was
$70,483,000 greater than in June 1935. Indicated expenditures for
new residential construction accounted for more than one-half of the
increase.
Table 4 presents, in summary form, the estimated cost of new house
keeping dwellings and the number of families provided for in such
dwellings, for the months of June 1935 and June 1936.
Table 4.— Summary of E stim ated Cost of Housekeeping Dwellings and of the
Number of Families Provided for in 708 Identical Cities, June 1935 and June
1936
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Number of families provided
for in new dwellings
Type of dwelling
All types__________________________
12-
family___ ______ _______
family i ______________
Multifamily 2______ ___ ____ _______
Per
Per
centage June 1936 June 1935 centage
change
change
June 1936
June 1935
$67, 545,718
$27, 616,473 +144. 6
17,431
7,186
+142.6
37,426, 505
2,333,281
27,785,932
18,708,888 + 100.0
1,263,505 +84.7
7,644,040 +263. 5
8,539
754
8,138
4,406
442
2,338
+93.8
+70.6
+248.1
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Measured by the value of permits issued, the estimated cost of
new housekeeping dwellings in June 1936 was $67,546,000, an increase
of 145 percent, compared with June 1935. The most pronounced
increase in expenditures was indicated for multifamily dwellings.
The number of families provided for in new dwellings in June 1936
showed an increase of 143 percent. All types of family dwelling
units showed marked gains.
Important Building Projects
P e r m i t s were issued during June for the following important build
ing projects: In New York City—in the Borough of the Bronx for
apartment houses to cost nearly $19,000,000, in the Borough of
Manhattan for apartment houses to cost over $3,700,000 and for
institutional buildings to cost over $5,000,000, in the Borough of
Queens for apartment houses to cost over $800,000; in East Hartford,
Conn., for factory buildings to cost $295,000; in Buffalo, N. Y., for
factory buildings to cost $370,000; in Chicago, 111., for factory build
ings to cost over $500,000 and for store buildings to cost over $500,000;
in Detroit, Mich., for factory buildings to cost nearly $900,000; in
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BUILDING OPERATIONS
513
Cincinnati, Ohio, for public-utility buildings to cost nearly $2,000,000;
in Washington, D. C., for apartment houses to cost nearly $1,500,000;
in St. Paul, Minn., for factory buildings to cost over $400,000; in
Fort Worth, Tex., for amusement and recreational buildings to cost
over $1,000,000; in Los Angeles, Calif., for school buildings to cost
over $1,000,000; in Oakland, Calif., for factory buildings to cost over
$650,000; and in Pasadena, Calif., for a school building to cost nearly
$600,000. A contract was awarded by the Procurement Division of
the Treasury Department for an additional building at the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing to cost nearly $5,000,000.
D etailed R e p o rts fo r M ay 1936
ETAILED figures on building construction, as compiled by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the month of May 1936 are
presented in this article. The data are the same as published in the
Building Construction pamphlet for May, except for certain minor
revisions or corrections.
Building Construction in Principal Cities
A l t h o u g h the value of permits issued for both new residential
buildings and for additions, alterations, and repairs to existing struc
tures increased in May, the aggregate value of all building permits
issued during the month was below the April level. The decrease
was due to a decided lowering of the permit valuation of nonresidential
buildings. Reports to the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1,522 cities
showed an increase of 0.8 percent in the value of new residential build
ings and an advance of 9.6 percent in additions, alterations, and
repairs, but a decrease of more than 13.2 percent in the value of
new nonresidential buildings. The value of all buildings for which
permits were issued in May amounted to $119,451,000, as against
$122,130,000 in April (see table 1).
In spite of the decrease in comparison with April, the May level
of building activity was still far ahead of a year ago. Compared
with the corresponding month of last year, the permit valuation for
residential construction in May shows an increase of more than
$20,000,000, or 78.0 percent. The value of permits issued for new
nonresidential buildings increased $11,000,000, or 44.5 percent, and
the value of additions, alterations, and repairs to existing structures
increased nearly $7,000,000, or 32.6 percent. The increase in the
total value of permits issued in May was $38,000,000 greater than in
the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 53.6 percent.
8 2 4 2 5 — 3 6 --------16
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514
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 1.— Summary of Building Construction in 1,522 Identical Cities, April and
May 1936
Number of buildings
Class of construction
M ay 1936 April 1936
All construction......... .........................
58, 758
57,812
New residential buildings________
New nonresidential buildings..........
Additions, alterations, and repairs.
10, 295
10,376
10, 579
36,857
10,868
37, 595
Estimated cost
Percent
age
change
April 1936
Percent
age
change
+ 1.6 $119,451,167 $122,130,316
- 2 .2
-.8
+ 2 .7
+ 2.0
M ay 1936
53,418,436
36,994,123
29, 038, 608
53,013,193
42,624,699
26,492,424
+. 8
-1 3 .2
+ 9 .6
The figures for building-construction activity for April and May are
based on reports received by the Bureau from 1,522 identical cities
having a population of 2,500 or over. The comparisons with the
corresponding month of last year are based on reports received from
792 identical cities having a population of 10,000 or over.
The information concerning permits issued is received by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics direct from local building officials, except
in the States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, where the State departments of
labor collect and forward the data to the Bureau. The cost figures
shown in this report are estimates made by prospective builders on
applying for permits to build. No land costs are included. Only
building projects within the corporate limits of the cities included in
the survey are shown in the Bureau’s tabulation. The data, however,
do include the value of contracts awarded for Federal and State
buildings in the cities covered. This information is collected by the
Bureau from the various Federal and State agencies which have the
power to award contracts for building construction. The data on
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I
bd
d
C
rc1
i—
Or
516
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-— AUGUST 1936
public buildings are then added to the information concerning private
buildings received from local building officials. In May the value of
Federal and State buildings for which contracts were awarded in
these 1,522 cities amounted to $3,470,000 and in April to $1,483,000.
In the 792 cities which reported for May 1935, the value of public
buildings for which contracts were awarded amounted to $4,486,000.
Index numbers of indicated expenditures for each of the different
types of building construction and for the number of family-dwelling
units provided in new dwellings are given in table 2. The monthly
trends for these major classes of construction and for the number of
family-dwelling units provided during the period January 1933 to
May 1936 are shown graphically in the accompanying charts
Table 2.— Index Numbers of Families Provided for and of Indicated Expenditures
for Building Operations
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
Indicated expenditures for—
Month
Families
provided
for
N ew resi
dential
buildings
N ew non Additions,
con
residential alterations, Total
buildings and repairs struction
1930
62.0
59.6
51.0
48.5
100.1
90.7
81.8
84.5
73.8
69.3
64.6
51.7
48.6
39.8
73.9
58.5
65.2
53.0
60.6
48.8
13.4
11.3
9.7
7.9
25.0
39.3
32.0
27.3
18.8
23.3
7.4
11.9
4.6
9.9
33.8
22.6
8 .1
29.8
9.5
21.7
6.7
7.3
13. 6
20.4
30.1
36.4
16.7
13.0
14.2
21 . 2
20.0
19.9
45.5
47. 2
2 1. 6
22 0
19.0
19.6
28.1
30.9
31.6
16.6
19.1
22.7
26.2
26.4
26.2
23.1
44.4
45.5
39.5
41.0
36.2
47.9
53.9
59.1
24.9
24.5
36.0
39.6
38.7
1931
1932
1933
193 It
9.0
10 .2
12.8
1935
IS. 9
M*av
1936
February______________________________
March_________________________________
April___ ____ _____________ _____ _______
M ay___________________________________
During the first 5 months of 1936, permits were issued for buildings
valued at more than $466,000,000. (See table 3.) This is an increase
of 70.6 percent compared with the corresponding period of 1935.
Residential building during the first 5 months of 1936 was 114 percent
greater than in the first 5 months of 1935. There was an increase
of 66.0 percent in the value of new nonresidential buildings and a
gain of more than 30 percent in the value of additions, alterations, and
repairs to existing structures.
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BUILDING OPERATIONS
Table 3.—Estimated Cost of Building Construction, First 5 Months of 1935 and
of 1936, by Class of Construction
Estimated cost of building
c o n s t r u c t i o n —first 5
months of—
Class of construction
Percentage
change
1936
1935
All construction_____ ______________ ____ ____ _____________
$466,440,980
$273,382, 712
+70.6
New residential buildings ________________________________
N ew non residential buildings. _ ___ ____________________
Additions, alterations, and repairs__________________________
188,960,987
168,896,311
108, 583,682
88,199,809
101,820,375
83,362, 528
+114. 2
+65.9
+30.3
Comparison With Previous Month
T h e value of new residential buildings for which permits were
issued in May exceeds the April level in five of the nine geographic
divisions. (See table 4.) The largest increase, 56.0 percent, was in
the East South Central States. Four of the nine geographic divi
sions registered increases in the value of permits issued for new
nonresidential buildings. These increases were, however, offset
by sharp decreases in other parts of the country and the total value
of the permits issued for this type of construction was 13.2 percent
lower than in April. The largest decreases in new nonresidential
construction were in the East North Central and the Middle Atlantic
States. In five geographic divisions gains were reported in the value
of additions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings, the largest
increase being in the South Atlantic States. The largest decrease in
this type of construction occurred in the Mountain States.
Table 4.—Estimated Cost of Building Construction in 1,522 Identical Cities,
April and May 1936
N ew nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
N ew residential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
M ay 1936
April 1936
All divisions................ ...........
$53,418,436
$53,013,193
New England____________
Middle Atlantic__________
East North Central______
West North Central______
South A tla n tic __________
East South Central ______
West South Central______
Mountain_______________
Pacific ________________
3,144,615
14,504,246
10,842, 786
3,375, 780
7,586, 799
1,249,827
2,996,121
1,367,575
8,350,687
3,472,264
14,791,258
10,158,936
3,167,101
7,310,084
800,979
3, 265,909
1,278,198
8,768,464
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Percent
age
change
Percent
age
change
M ay 1936
April 1936
+ 0.8
$36,994,123
$42,624,699
-1 3 .2
- 9 .4
- 1 .9
+ 6 .7
+ 6.6
+ 3 .8
+56.0
- 8 .3
+ 7 .0
- 4 .8
2,635,713
12,191,109
6,825,178
2,114,200
2,472,780
1,089,107
2,647,504
779,411
6,239,121
2, 212, 237
11, 249,726
12,073,186
2,857,793
4,152,223
1, 642,906
2, 767,865
732,537
4,936, 226
+19.1
+ 8.4
-4 3 .5
-2 6 .0
-4 0 .4
-3 3 .7
- 4 .3
+ 6.4
+26.4
518
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 4.—Estimated Cost of Building Construction in 1,522 Identical Cities,
April and May 1936—Continued
Additions, alterations, and
repairs (estimated cost)
Geographic division
M ay 1936
April 1936
All divisions.............. ........... $29,038,608 $26,492, 424
New England___________
Middle Atlantic...................
East North Central______
West North Central_____
South Atlantic_____ _____
East South Central-.........
West South Central............
M ountain.................... .........
Pacific_____________ ____
2, 309, 364
8, 658,805
5, 365,581
1, 737,089
4,834,549
824, 724
1, 234,433
648,534
3,425,529
2,542,177
8, 291, 007
4, 517,305
1, 520,891
2,880, 111
825,130
1,472, 575
1,215,930
3, 227,298
Total construction
Per
centage
change
M ay 1936
April 1936
N um
ber
of
Per
cities
centage
change
+ 9 .6 $119,451,167 $122,130, 316
- 9 .2
+ 4 .4
+18.8
+14. 2
+67.9
0)
-1 6 .2
-4 6 .7
+ 6 .1
8,089, 692
35,354,160
23,033,545
7, 227,069
14,894,128
3,163,658
6,878,058
2,795, 520
18,015,337
8, 226, 678
34, 331,991
26, 749,427
7,545, 785
14,342, 418
3, 269,015
7, 506, 349
3,226,665
16,931,988
- 2 .2
1,522
-1 . 7
+ 3 .0
-1 3 .9
- 4 .2
+ 3.8
-3 .2
- 8 .4
-1 3 .4
+ 6 .4
132
361
333
134
184
74
99
63
142
1 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
Living quarters will be provided for 13,341 families by the new
dwellings for which permits were issued in May. This is an increase
of 2.4 percent compared with the preceding month. The gain was
confined to multifamily dwellings as there were decreases in the
number of dwelling units provided in both one-family and twofamily dwellings. (See table 5.)
Table 5.—Estimated Cost and Number of Family-Dwelling Units Provided in
1,522 Identical Cities, April and May 1936
Number of families provided for
Type of dwelling
M ay 1936
April 1936
All types-------------------------
13,341
13,027
1 -fa m ily .................................
2-family 1 ________________
Multifamily 2........ ................
9,622
733
2, 986
9, 636
906
2,485
Percentage
change
Estimated cost
M ay 1936
April 1936
Percentage
change
+ 2 .4
$52,186,803
$52, 381,716
- 0 .4
-.1
41, 782,902
2,029,840
8,374,061
42,899,896
2,530,061
6,951, 759
- 2.6
-1 9 .8
+20.5
-1 9 .1
+ 20.2
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Analysis By Size of Cities, April and M ay 1936
C o m p a r e d with April, there were decided variations in the trend
of construction in cities of different population groups. The 14
cities having a population of 500,000 and over showed the largest
gain over April in indicated expenditures for building construction.
Gains were also shown in the cities having a population between
25,000 and 50,000 and between 5,000 and 10,000. The largest de
crease occurred in the population group of from 50,000 to 100,000.
Gains in residential construction occurred in five of the seven popu
lation groups, the largest gain being recorded in the two smallest
groups.
Only three population groups registered increases in the estimated
cost of nonresidential buildings, but five groups showed increases in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
519
BUILDING OPERATIONS
the value of permits issued for additions, alterations, and repairs to
existing structures.
The estimated cost of building construction in 1,522 identical
cities having a population of 2,500 or over is given in table 6, by
population groups, for the months of April and May 1936.
Table 6.—Estimated Cost of Building Construction, by Cities of Specified
Population, April and May 1936
f
.. --New residential buildings
Total construction
Population group
N um
ber of
cities
April 1936
M ay 1936
Total, all groups_______
1,522 $119,451,167 $122,130, 316
500,000 and over_______
100,000 and under 500,000.
50,000 and under 100,000.
25,000 and under 50,000. _
10,000 and under 25,000.
5,000 and under 10,000...
2,500 and under 5,000___
14
78
96
163
442
350
379
43,395,452
25,526,354
10, 567, 073
12, 635, 291
15,385,964
8, 026, 682
3,914, 351
38, 715,486
27, 775,433
13,548,333
11,471,192
18,474,955
7,479,434
4, 665,483
April 1936
Percent
age
change
- 2 .2 $53,418,436 $53,013,193
+ 0.8
Percent
age
M ay 1936
change
+ 12 . 1
- 8 .1
- 22.0
+ 10 . 1
-1 6 .7
+ 7 .3
-1 6 .1
M ay 1936
April 1936
Total, all groups________ $36,994,123
500,000 and over.. . _____
100.000 and under 500,000.
50.000 and under 100,000. .
25.000 and under 50,000...
10.000 and under 25,000. _.
5.000 and under 10,000---2,500 and under 5,000------
13, 560,928
9,419,916
2,929,647
4, 719, 670
3, 624,978
1, 789,509
949,475
17, 671, 049
9,435,137
4,850,048
4, 765, 741
9, 399, 013
4, 615, 287
2,276,918
+ 3 .7
+ 4 .6
- 7 .6
+ 4 .5
-1 1 .7
+ 8 .2
+ 9 .0
Additions, alterations, and repairs
New nonresidential buildings
Population group
18,317,940
9,870, 200
4,482, 219
4,978, 693
8, 294,870
4,991, 591
2,482,923
Percentage
change
May 1936
April 1936
Percentage
change
$42, 624,699
-1 3 .2
$29,038,608
$26,492,424
+ 9 .6
11,473,292
12,160, 707
5,872, 605
4, 257,857
5, 378,552
1,548,291
1,933,395
+18.2
-2 2 .5
-5 0 .1
+ 10.8
-3 2 .6
+15.6
-5 0 .9
11, 516, 584
6,236, 238
3,155, 207
2,936,928
3,466,116
1, 245, 582
481,953
9, 571,145
6,179,589
2,825, 680
2.447,594
3, 697,390
1,315,856
455,170
+20.3
+ 0 .9
+11.7
+ 20.0
- 6 .3
- 5 .3
+ 5 .9
The number of family-dwelling units provided in the 1,522 reporting
cities is shown, by population groups, in table 7.
Table 7.— Number of Families Provided for by Different Types of Dwellings in
1,522 Identical Cities, April and May 1936, by Population Groups
Population group
N um
ber of
cities
Total number
of families pro
vided for
1 -family
dwellings
M ay
1936
April
1936
M ay
1936
April
1936
2 -family
dwellings 2
M ay
1936
April
1936
Multifamily
dwellings 2
M ay
1936
April
1936
Total, all grou p s.......... .......
1,522
13,341
13, 027
9,622
9,636
733
906
2,986
2,485
500,000 and over--------100,000 and under 500,000. _.
50,000 and under 100.000---25,000 and under 50,000____
10,000 and under 25,000____
5,000 and under 10,000____
2,500 and under 5,000. . . .
14
78
96
163
442
350
379
4,838
2,483
1,095
1 , 211
1,994
1,081
639
4,387
2,428
1,141
1,173
2,262
1,037
599
2,511
1,921
930
1,052
1,804
826
578
2,396
1,988
917
983
1,942
865
545
222
204
2,105
399
75
91
87
195
34
1,787
238
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
163
90
68
103
60
27
202
104
82
200
75
39
120
108
120
97
15
520
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
More family-dwelling units were provided during May than April
in five of the seven population groups. These increases were for the
most part due to a pick-up in the erection of apartment houses,
although the number of one-family dwellings showed gains in four of
the seven groups.
Comparison W ith a Year Ago
P r o n o u n c e d gains are shown in the value of buildings for which
permits were issued in each of the nine geographic divisions, com
paring May 1936 with the corresponding month of 1935. The
increases range from 25.0 percent in the West South Central States to
84.2 percent in the Mountain States. An increase of 78.8 percent is
indicated in the total estimated cost of new residential buildings, but
four of the geographic divisions show gains of more than 100 percent
and one, the East South Central, shows a gain of over 200 percent.
(See table 8.)
Table 8.— Estimated Cost of Building Construction in 792 Identical Cities, May
1935 and May 1936
New residential buildings (estimated
cost)
Geographic division
M ay 1936
M ay 1935
All divisions.......................
$45, 720,384
$25, 573, 278
New E ngland....................
Middle Atlantic________
East North Central_____
West North Central.........
South A tlan tic..................
East South Central..........
West South Central_____
Mountain............................
Pacific.......... .................
3,027,115
12,995, 423
9,096, 520
2, 901,841
5, 502, 479
1,055,782
2,630,496
1,136,360
7,374,368
1,921,465
8, 535,271
3, 934, 618
1, 816,983
3,578,712
334,168
1, 439,906
488, 215
3,523, 940
Percentage
change
M ay 1936
All divisions.............
New E ngland ......... .
Middle Atlantic___
East North CentralWest North Central
South Atlantic.........
East South CentralWest South Central
M ountain...................
Pacific...................... .
M ay 1935
$27, 233, 292 $20, 537, 252
2, 283, 642
8,198, 717
5, 059,015
1,657,970
4, 581, 672
646, 928
1,068, 418
533, 543
3,203,387
1, 857,690
6, 714,484
3, 651, 362
1, 290, 790
2, 713,884
725, 335
771, 359
393, 961
2,418,387
Percentage
change
M ay 1936
M ay 1935
+78.8
$34, 394, 636
$23, 794,695
+44.5
+57.5
+52.3
+131.2
+59.7
+53.8
+215. 9
+82.7
+132.8
+109. 3
2, 599,158
11,624, 582
6,166,060
1,864, 2552,062,895
944,053
2, 685, 784
597, 076
5,850, 773
1,858,717
6, 393, 582
4,187, 595
1,454,689
2,946, 775
706, 547
2,896,028
348, 845
3,001,917
+39.8
+81.8
+47.2
+28.2
-3 0 .0
+33.6
- 7 .3
+71.2
+94.9
Additions alterations, and repairs
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
N ew nonresidential buildings (esti
mated cost)
Percentage
change
Total construction
M ay 1936
May 1935
Percent- her of
cities
age
change
+32.6 $107, 348,312 $69,905, 225
+53.6
792
+22.9
+ 22.1
+38.6
+28.4
+ 68.8
- 10.8
+38.5
+35.4
+32.5
+40.3
+51.6
+72.6
+40.8
+31.5
+49.9
+25.0
+84.2
+83.7
no
182
184
7,909, 915
32,818, 722
20, 321,595
6, 424,066
12,147, 046
2, 646, 763
6, 384, 698
2, 266, 979
16, 428, 528
5,637,872
21,643,337
11,773, 575
4, 562,462
9, 239, 371
1,766,050
5,107,293
1,231,021
8,944, 244
68
82
35
46
25
60
Seven of the nine geographic divisions registered gains in the value
of new nonresidential buildings and eight in the value of additions,
alterations, and repairs to existing structures.
The number of family-dwelling units and the estimated cost of the
various types of housekeeping dwellings for which permits were issued
in May 1935 and May 1936 are given in table 9.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
521
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Table 9 . —Estimated Cost and Number of Family-Dwelling Units Provided in
792 Identical Cities, May 1935 and May 1936
Estimated cost
Number of families provided for
Type of dwelling
Percentage
change
M ay 1936
M ay 1935
Percentage
change
M ay 1936
M ay 1935
11,582
7,010
+65.2
$45,283, 751
$25,364,014
+78.5
35,577,008
1,820,282
7,886,461
19,072,938
1,165, 294
5,125,782
+86.5
+56.2
+53.9
All types________________
1 -family______ __________
2-family 1 ________________
M ultifam ily 2____________
4,656
438
1,916
8,181
644
2,757
+75.7
+47.0
+43.9
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
* Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Substantial gains were registered in the number of family-dwelling
units provided in all types of housekeeping dwellings, the gain in
one-family dwellings being more than 75 percent.
Construction From Public Funds
I n f o r m a t i o n concerning the value of contracts awarded and
force-account work started during April and May 1936 on projects
financed from the Public Works Administration fund, from The
Works Program fund, and from regular governmental appropriations
is shown in table 10.
Table 10 . — Value of Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on
Projects Financed From Federal Funds, April and May 1936 1
The Works Program 2
Total
Regular governmental
appropriations
Type of project
M ay
1936
April
1936
M ay
1936
April
1936
M ay
1936
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
April
1936
D o lla rs
All types....................................- ......... 3 87,359,943 «94,015,033 29,803,058 5 31,579,172 21,711,217
18,113,053
178,442
« 986,809 5,993,304
B u ild in g ............................................. 26,839,066 * 26,674,631
783
269,000
279,032 2 , 686,080
Electrification---------------------------- 2,996,427
971,839
Heavy engineering............................. 1, 598,386
14,230
Hydroelectric power plants......... .
401,700
1,298,900
401, 700
N aval vessels.......................................
Professional, technical, and clerical
»
228,822
1,200
228,822
1,200
projects............................................
Public roads:
12,811,051 13,118, 243 12,808,252
Grade-crossing elim in a tio n .... 13,118,
30,454,218 13,313,185 I 15,860, 593 13,925,742
Roads............................................ 28, 551,
155,600
239,818 1,096,651
1,493,399
530,
Reclamation........................................
150,845
863,469
17,850
1,385,608
972,
River, harbor, and flood control.. .
2,
500
2,500
Sewing, canning, gardening, e t c ...
37,244
900
1, 570, 790
Streets and roads 8_____________ _ 2,399,
9,884
0
13, 577,328
Water and sewerage systems.......... 8,391,
323,491
175,700
247,340
3,252,685
Miscellaneous---------------------------- 1, 559,
2,013,013
0
0
0
0
0
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
0
0
2,100
1,298,900
13,206,992
155,500
867, 763
0
6,530
562, 255
522
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table JO.—Value of Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on
Projects Financed From Federal Funds, April and May 1936—Continued
Public Works Administration
Non-Federal
Type of project
Federal
N . I. R. A.
M ay 1936
All types______ ____ __________
Building___ ________________
Electrification________________
Heavy engineering______________
Hydroelectric power plants. ..........
Public roads:
Grade-crossing elimination___
Roads______________ .
Reclamation____________
River, harbor, and flood control...
Streets and roads 8_____________
Water and sewerage system s_____
Miscellaneous_________ .
D o lla rs
1,894,965
397, 659
1, 312,107
116,348
21,020
47, 001
0
830
E. R. A. A. 1935 7
April 1936 May 1936 April 1936 M ay 1936
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
April 1936
D o lla rs
2, 709, 526 10, 356, 540 12,882, 777 » 23,594,163 1 28,730,505
1,109, 574 6, 754, 683
5,003, 511 3 13,514,978 * 17,561,724
309, 564
7,932
1, 598, 386
971,839
0
14, 230
1, 386, 633
142, 010
0
255, 044
48, 549 3,041, 445
22 , 760
305, 368
0
591,195
5, 405,239
1, 882,832
0
2, 799
19,187
69, 877
»99, 238
367,000
2,058,999
5, 340, 403
682, 769
8 8,117,010
* 979, 595
5 609, 138
1 Preliminary, subject to revision.
2 Does not include data for that part of The Works Program operated by the Works Progress Adminis
tration.
8 Includes $167,684 low-cost housing projects (Housing Division, P. W. A.).
* Revised; includes $873,084 low-cost housing projects (Housing Division, P. W. A )
* Revised. '
« Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
7 Not included in The Works Program.
Among the more important construction projects to be financed
wholly or partially from Federal funds during May were: Sanitary
sewerage in Chicago, 111., to cost over $2,700,000; water and sewerage
work in New Orleans, La., to cost nearly $700,000; sewerage work in
Minneapolis-St. Paul Sanitary District to cost over $1,700,000; New
York City subway to cost over $900,000; sewerage systems in Buf
falo, N. Y., to cost over $700,000; and waterworks in Cicero, 111., to
cost over $900,000.
The value of public-building and highway-construction awards
financed wholly from appropriations from State funds, as reported by
the various State governments, for May 1935 and April and May 1936,
is shown, by geographic divisions, in table 11.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
523
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Table 11.— Value of Public-Building and Highway-Construction Awards Financed
Wholly by State Funds
Value of awards for public buildings
Value of awards for highway
construction
Geographic division
M ay 1936
April 1936
M ay 1935
M ay 1936
April 1936
M ay 1935
$986, 580
$2,810,397
$1, 203,090
$6, 273,456
$5, 555,464
$3,898,042
New England_______________
Middle Atlantic____________
East North Central____ ____ West North Central_________
South Atlantic................. - .........
7,867
167, 111
189,941
18, 387
189, 250
6,000
602, 521
321,382
102,970
51,242
30,094
856,173
131,613
20,152
46,145
736, 204
1,806,316
351,362
10,859
219,261
1,280,495
370,960
561, 519
482, 526
226,971
8,993
167,172
423,682
375,381
141,537
East South Central_________
West South Central____ ____
M ountain_________________ Pacific_____________________
15,000
222,360
31,800
144,864
0
6,444
1,615
10, 854
0
1,087,119
127,473
511,690
621,301
245,831
2,056,060
75, 297
404,089
All divisions_________ ____
100,000
0
88,012
2,440,141
612, 509
21,173
1,999,311
The value of the highway work undertaken under May 1936 con
tracts as reported by the States was much greater than during either
April 1936 or May 1935. In contrast, the value of public-building
awards during May 1936 was lower than for either of the other two
periods under discussion.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
Food Prices in Ju n e 1936
E
ETAIL food costs advanced 5.5 percent between May 19 and June
30. During the first part of this period the increase was greater
than during the last 2 weeks. The rise amounted to 2.8 percent from
May 19 to June 2; 2.1 percent from June 2 to June 16; and 0.5 percent
from June 16 to June 30. The continued increases were due primarily
to advances in prices of fruits and vegetables, augmented by higher
prices for butter and eggs.
The composite index of retail food costs stood at 84.3 (1923-25
equals 100) on June 30, the highest level since March 15, 1931.
Compared with a year ago, retail food costs were 3.4 percent higher.
The cost of cereals and bakery products declined 0.3 percent between
May 19 and June 30. This decrease was due largely to a drop of 1.8
percent for wheat flour and of 0.6 percent for white bread. The
price of flour is lower than it has been at any time since July 15, 1933.
Decreases in the price of white bread occurred in 14 cities. The price
of whole-wheat bread fell 0.1 percent. Other decreases were 0.7 per
cent for hominy grits and 0.6 percent for wheat cereal. Increases
ranged from 0.1 percent for rye bread to 2.0 percent for macaroni.
The average advance of 1.3 percent in the retail cost of meats was
not continuous during the 6-week period, May 19 to June 30. A
recession took place from June 2 to June 16, due largely to lowerprices
for the beef and veal items. The chief factors causing the net advance
of 1.3 percent were a gain of 3.7 percent for pork and an average rise
of 3.3 percent for lamb. The price of roasting chickens was also
higher, 3.4 percent. Partially offsetting these advances was an 0.8percent decrease in beef costs during the 6 weeks. The largest in
creases reported for the items in the group were 7.0 percent for pork
loin roast and 6.4 percent for pork chops. The price of plate beef fell
5.5 percent, the largest decrease shown.
The cost of dairy products rose 3.0 percent, as a result of higher
prices for butter. Although the price of butter is usually lower in
June than in May, all but one of the 51 cities reported increases which
ranged from 3.0 percent in Savannah to 18.0 percent in Denver. In
23 cities the reported increase was over 10.0 percent. Dallas was the
only city which showed a decline. The average price for the 51 cities
combined was up 10.2 percent. Price changes for other items in the
524
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
525
group were relatively small. The average price of fresh milk, delivered,
rose 0.1 percent, due to an advance of 1 cent a quart in Louisville.
Evaporated milk also showed an increase of 0.1 percent. Cheese
advanced 0.6 percent, and cream decreased an equal amount.
Larger than average seasonal increases during June brought the
price of eggs on June 30, 9.1 percent above the average for May 19,
although still 2.0 percent below a year ago. Increases were reported
by all cities, but were most pronounced in cities of the New England
and South Central regions.
Fruit and vegetable costs rose 21.5 percent. The advance was due
to higher prices for those fresh items of greatest importance in the
average family budget. The abnormal rise in potato prices during
May and the first half of June was the result of seasonal advances
augmented by the effect of a shortage in the supply of both the old and
new crop. On June 16 the average price of potatoes was 44.6 percent
above the price on May 19 and 130.5 percent higher than a year ago.
However, the upward movement was checked, and from June 16 to
June 30 potato prices declined 2.7 percent. Cabbage, which usually
shows a moderate decrease at this season, advanced 49.7 percent during
the 6-week period. Apple prices were up 18.3 percent. Other
important price changes in the subgroup were increases of 21.2 percent
for sweetpotatoes, 11.8 percent for lettuce, 8.8 percent for oranges,
and a decrease of 23.7 percent for green beans. The index for canned
fruits and vegetables rose 0.1 percent. Price changes for items in
this subgroup more or less offset each other. The largest decline was
1.0 percent in the price of pears and the largest gain 1.9 percent for
corn. Costs of dried fruits and vegetables were 1.9 percent higher
than on May 19. The price of navy beans was up by 3.5 percent and
of prunes, 2.8 percent. Peaches showed the only decrease in the sub
group, 0.3 percent.
Beverages and chocolate costs decreased 0.8 percent. The aver
age price of coffee during June was lower than at any time since
January 1913. Between May 19 and June 30, the net decrease was
1.2 percent. Tea and cocoa registered small increases. The price
of chocolate remained unchanged.
Prices of all items in the fats and oils group were lower on June
30 than on May 19. The decreases ranged from 0.2 percent for salad
oil to 2.5 percent for lard and 3.0 percent for oleomargarine. The
index for the group declined 1.9 percent and is lower than at any
time since January 1935.
The cost of sugar and sweets rose 1.0 percent. The price of sugar,
which is the determining factor in the movement of the group,
increased 1.5 percent. The average price of molasses rose 0.3 per
cent, while corn sirup and strawberry preserves declined 9.5 and 0.9
percent, respectively.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
526
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Indexes of retail ^ood costs by major commodity groups in June
and May 1936 are presented in table 1, together with comparison
of the level of costs for June 1929 and other recent years.
Table 1.— Indexes of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities Combined 1 by Commodity
Groups
June and May 1936 and June 1935, 1933, and 1929
[1923-25=100]
1936
1935
1933
1929
June
15
Commodity group
June
30
June
16
June
M ay
19
May
5
June
18
June
4
June
15
All foods........ .............. .......
84.3
83.8
82.1
79.9
80.1
81.5
81.9
64.9
103. 7
Cereals and bakery products___________________
Meats___________________
Dairy products___________
Eggs------------------------------Fruits and vegetables_____
Fresh________________
Canned______________
Dried________________
Beverages and chocolate__
Fats and oils_____. . . .
Sugar and sweets_________
90.4
94.4
77.5
65.0
85.1
87.0
78.4
58.9
67.1
72.8
64.7
90.4
94.0
76.5
63.0
85.2
87.1
78.3
58.4
66.9
73.0
34.5
90.7
94.4
75.5
60.6
78.3
79.3
78.3
58.2
67.3
73.4
64.3
90.7
93.2
75.2
59.6
70. 1
69.9
78.2
57.8
67.6
74.2
64.1
91.0
94.3
76.1
59.0
68.9
92.1
99.1
73.9
66.3
67.3
92.4
99.9
74.5
65.9
67.7
66.4
84.4
63.0
70.8
81.5
64.9
71.8
65.9
64.7
43.5
67.5
68.9
66.7
52.5
67.3
49.9
61.0
97.7
123.3
101.4
85. 7
98.2
97.8
98.1
102.5
110.5
93. 4
72.3
2
68.6
78.3
57.7
67.7
74.8
63.8
66.0
84.3
63.1
70.1
81.7
65.1
i Aggregate costs of 42 foods in each city prior to Jan. 1 , 1935, and of 84 foods since that date, weighted
to represent total purchases, have been combined with the use of population weights.
Prices of 49 of the 84 foods included in the index advanced be
tween May 19 and June 30. Lower prices were reported for the
other 35 items. Cabbage and potatoes showed the largest percent
age increases and green beans the greatest decrease.
Average prices for each of the 84 foods for 51 cities combined
are shown in table 2 for June and May 1936 and for June 1935.
Table 2.—Average Retail Prices of 84 Foods in 51 Large Cities Combined 1
June and May 1936 and June 1935
[’ Indicates the 42 foods included in indexes prior to Jan. 1, 1935]
1936
1935
Article
June 30 June 16 June 2 May 19 M ay 5 June 18 June 4
Cereals and bakery products:
Cereals:
L lour, w h e a t____ ______ pound..
’ Macaroni. _ _____ -------------do----’ Wheat cereal........ . 28-oz. package..
*Corn flakes_______ . 8-oz. package..
*Corn meal________ ----------pound..
Hominy grits_____ 24-oz. package..
’ Rice_________
______ pound..
’ Rolled oats_______ -------------do___
Bakery products:
’ Bread, white_____ ------------ do___
Bread, whole-wheat—..............do----Bread, rye_______ .................do___
Cake____________ ------------ do___
Soda crackers.......... ----------- do___
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C ents
4.5
15.0
24.2
8 .1
4.9
8.9
C ents
4.5
15.1
24. 2
8. 1
4.9
8.9
C ents
C ents
4.6
15.0
24.2
4.6
14.7
24.3
8 .1
7.4
7.4
4.9
9.0
8.5
7.4
8 .1
8. 1
9.3
8.9
25. 2
18.1
9.3
8.9
25.1
18.1
8.6
9.3
8.9
25.4
18.1
8.6
8.2
8 .1
C ents
4.7
14. 8
24.3
8 .1
4.8
9.0
8.5
7.4
4.8
9.0
8.5
7.4
8.2
8.2
9.3
8.9
25.1
18.0
9.3
8.9
24.9
18.1
C ents
4.9
15.7
24. 2
8.2
C en ts
5. 0
15. 7
24.4
8 .2
5.1
9.3
8.3
7. 7
5.1
9.3
8.4
7. 6
8.3
9.3
8. 3
8.8
23.3
17.0
9.3
8.8
23. 2
16.9
527
RETAIL PRICES
Table 2.—Average Retail Prices of 84 Foods in 51 Large Cities C om binedContinued
r
June and May 1936 and June 1935
vindicates the 42 foods included in indexes prior to Jan. 1, 1935]
1935
1936
Article
June 30 June 16 June 2 M ay 19 M ay 5 June 18 June 4
Meats:
C ents
Beef:
37.2
‘ Sirloin steak______ ___...p o u n d ..
33.6
‘ Round steak_____ _________do___
28.7
*Rib roast________ ________ do___
21.7
‘ Chuck roast______ ________ do___
14.4
*Plate—___________ ________ do__ _
25.9
Liver___________ ________ do___
Veal:
40.8
_ ______ do
Cutlets_____ _
Pork:
34.6
‘ Chops__________ _______ do___
28.7
Loin roast----------- _______ do___
40.4
‘ Bacon, sliced------- ________do_- _
35.1
Bacon, strip_____ ________ do___
48.6
*Ham, s lic e d ____ _________ do___
32.0
Ham, whole-------- ________ do___
23.6
Salt pork......... ....... _________ do___
Lamb:
14. 2
B reast..................... _________ do___
24.9
Chuck__________ ________ do___
31.4
‘ Leg-------------------- ___ ______ do----39.3
Rib chops.............. ____ ____ do___
Poultry:
33.6
‘ Roasting chickens. ................._do___
Fish:
13.1
Salmon, pink____ ____16-oz. can ..
_ _____do___
25.5
‘Salmon, red____
Dairy products:
37.4
‘ Butter______________ ............... pound..
26.7
‘ Cheese______________ ................. _do___
14.6
Cream____________________ Vi p in t..
11.6
Milk, fresh (delivered and store)2.quart..
11.8
‘ Milk, fresh (delivered) _________ do
7.4
‘ Milk, evaporated____ ___14i^-oz. can..
33.8
‘ Eggs---------------------- -------- _______ dozen..
Fruits and vegetables:
Fresh:
6.6
Apples_________ _ _______ pound..
6.2
‘ Bananas________ _________ do___
32.5
Lemons........... ....... ________ dozen..
34.9
‘ Oranges_________ _________ do___
8.7
Beans, green____ _______ pound..
6.0
‘ Cabbage________ _________ do___
5.2
Carrots.............. . . . . ____bunch..
9.7
Celery...................... ________ stalk ..
8.3
Lettuce_________ ________ head..
4.1
‘ Onions__________ _______ pound..
4.8
‘ Potatoes________ _________ do___
6.5
Spinach________ _ _________ do___
...........
.......
do___
5.6
Sweetpotatoes-----Canned:
17.7
_.
.no.
2
J.S
can..
Peaches_________
22.0
Pears___________ _________ do___
22 .2
Pineapples ............ _________ do
26.3
Asparagus_______ _____no. 2 can..
11.5
_________
do___
Beans, green_____
6.9
‘ Beans with pork.. _____16-oz. can..
11.4
_____
no.
2
can..
‘ Corn_____ _____ _
15.9
‘ Peas____________ _________ do___
9.2
‘ Tomatoes_______ _________ do . . .
8.2
Tomato soup------- . . . 10 J^-oz. can..
Dried:
17.0
Peaches_________ ............... pound..
9.7
‘ Prunes__________ _ _______ do___
9.7
‘ Raisins-------------- .15-oz. package..
8.8
Black-eyed peas... _______ pound _
10.7
Lima beans______ _________ do___
5.9
‘ N avy beans........... _________ do___
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C ents
Cents
C en ts
C en ts
C ents
37.0
33.5
28.8
37.1
33.4
29.0
37.0
33.4
28.8
37.1
33.6
29.2
C en ts
42.9
38. 7
33.1
26. 2
18.0
24. 2
22.0
21.8
14.8
25.9
15.2
25.6
15.3
25.4
15.6
25.4
42.4
38.3
32.6
25.8
17.8
24.7
40.9
40.8
39.9
39.9
39.3
39.5
34.4
28.5
40.5
35.1
48.1
31.6
23.5
35.0
29.2
40.4
35.3
47.3
30.8
23.7
32.5
26.8
40.5
35.2
46.9
30.7
24.0
34.1
28.4
41.0
35.5
47.0
30.7
24.4
37.1
31.0
41.0
35.3
45. 2
28.5
26.0
37.9
31.3
40.2
35.0
44. 8
28.2
25.9
14.2
24.7
31.3
39.3
14. 6
25.0
32.0
39.0
14.0
24.1
30.4
37.9
13.9
23.8
30.8
37.6
21.6
12.8
21.6
28.0 *
33.7
28. 1
34.4
31.8
32.1
32.5
32.7
31.5
31.9
21.0
32.3
26. 7
14.7
21.6
22.2
12.5
13.1
25.5
13.1
25.5
13.1
25.5
13. 1
25.5
13.0
21 . 0
35.8
26.7
14.6
34 3
26.5
14.7
33.9
26.5
14.7
35.2
26.9
14.9
31.4
26.5
14. 6
11.6
11.8
11.6
11.8
7.4
30.7
7. i
34. 6
11.6
11.8
7.4
32.8
7.4
31.6
7.4
31.0
6.4
6.3
32.9
34.6
5.8
6.3
33.2
34.1
11.5
4.1
5.5
9.9
7.8
4.0
4.3
5.8
4.8
5.6
6.3
32.6
32.0
11.3
4.0
5.2
9.9
7.4
4.0
3.4
10.0
5.4
5.5
10 .1
8.5
4.0
4.9
6.0
5.1
17.7
22.0
22.3
26.1
11.4
7.0
11.3
15.8
9.2
8.2
17.6
22 .1
22.3
26.1
11.4
7.0
1 1 .2
15.8
9.2
8.2
6.0
4.6
11.8
7. 2
34. 4
7.9
7.4
6 .1
6 .1
2 1 .2
6. 2
20.8
31.4
8.7
3.6
5.4
32.6
9.1
4.1
5.8
11.6
8.0
6. 4
2 .1
1 1 .2
9. 4
7. 1
10.0
8.6
4. 1
3.2
6.9
4.3
26.0
11.4
7.0
2 .1
4.8
4. 5
5. 3
4. 4
19.3
22.9
19.3
22.6
25. 4
11.9
6. 8
13.0
17.7
10.3
22.8
22.7
25. 4
11. 9
6. 9
12.9
17. 6
10.4
1 1 .2
1 1 .2
15.8
9.2
15.8
9.2
8 .1
8 .1
8 .1
8 .1
17.1
9.4
9.7
8. 8
10 . 6
5. 6
16.8
11. 5
9.8
8. 7
10 . 0
6. 3
16.8
11. 5
9.8
8. 7
10 . 0
6. 3
17.1
9.5
9.7
17.1
9.4
9.7
10.7
5.7
10.7
5.7
5.7
8.8
11.8
5.5
28.1
30.1
12.9
4.3
5.2
17.6
22.3
22.4
25.8
11.4
7.0
17.6
22.2
22.2
17.1
9.6
9.7
8.8
11.6
11.8
13.0
8.8
10.6
528
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 2.—Average Retail Prices of 84 Foods in 51 Large Cities Combined—
Continued
June and May 1936 and June 1935
[‘ Indicates the 42 foods included in indexes prior to Jan. 1, 1935]
1936
1935
Article
June 30 June 16 June 2 M ay 19 M ay 5 June 18 June 4
Beverages and chocolate:
♦Coffee_________ ______ ______ pou nd..
♦Tea_________ ____ ___ ________do____
Cocoa_______________ ___ - 8-oz. can ..
Chocolate_____ _______ - 8-oz. package..
Fats and oils:
*Lard________________ ______ pound..
Lard compound______ ................d o ___
‘ Vegetable shortening—. .................do___
Salad oil ......................... ________ p in t..
Mayonnaise____ _____ ........ .Vi p in t..
‘ Oleomargarine_______ ______ pound..
Peanut b u tter............. .................do___
Sugar and sweets:
‘ Sugar................................ .......... .......do___
Corn sirup___________ ____24-oz. can..
M olasses.._____ ______ ____18-oz. can..
Strawberry preserves.. .......... ..p o u n d ..
C en ts
C en ts
24.1
C en ts
24.0
67.7
24.1
67.8
68.2
10.6
10.6
10.6
C en ts
C en ts
25.3
68.9
10.9
16.5
24.4
67.8
10.7
16.4
2 2 .1
C en ts
24.4
67.9
10.6
C en ts
25.7
69.3
1 1 .1
2 2 .1
16.5
16.4
15.5
14.5
21.3
24.6
16.8
17.4
18.4
15.5
14.4
21.3
24.7
17.0
17.6
18.5
15.7
14.6
21.4
24.7
17.0
17.7
18.6
15.9
14.7
21.4
24.7
17.0
18.0
18.7
16.0
14.9
21.5
24.7
17.0
18.4
18.9
18.9
16.5
21.7
24.8
17.1
19.1
22. 5
26.2
17.1
19.1
22.3
5.7
13.6
14.4
5.6
13.6
14.3
5.6
13.6
14.4
20.3
5.6
13.6
14.3
20.3
5.5
13.6
14.3
5.7
13.7
14.4
20.4
5.6
13.7
14.3
20.4
20.1
20.1
16.4
20.2
18.8
16.5
21.8
1Prices for individual cities are combined with the use of population weights.
3Average prices of milk delivered by dairies and sold in grocery stores, weighted according to the relative
proportion distributed by each method.
Details by Regions and Cities
T h e advance of 5.5 percent in the composite index from May 19
to June 30 was the result of higher food costs in all of the 51 cities
included in the index.
In all cities the increase was greater than 2.0 percent, while in 31
cities the gain amounted to 5.0 percent or over. The largest advance,
10.8 percent, was reported for two cities, Indianapolis and Salt
Lake City.
In all cities, the most influential factors in the rise were first, the
sharp increase in potato prices; second, higher prices for butter,
contrary to the usual movement from May to June; and third,
seasonal advances for eggs.
Average regional increases ranged from 3.4 percent in the West
South Central area to 7.4 percent in the East North Central, and 8.5
percent in the Mountain area.
Index numbers of the retail cost of food in each of the 51 cities
are given in table 3 for June and May 1936, and for June of earlier
years.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
529
RETAIL PRICES
Table 3.— Indexes of the Average Retail Cost of All Foods, by C ities1
June and May 1936 and June 1935, 1934, 1933, 1932, and 1929
[1923-25=100]
1935
1936
1934
1933
1932
1929
Region and city
June June June
30
16
2
May
19
May June June June June June
4
19
5
18
15
15
June
15
Average: 5 1 cities c o m b in ed - 84.3
83.8
82.1
79.9
80.1
81.5
81.9
73.4
64.9
67.6
103.7
N ew E n g la n d _______________
__
Boston__________ _
Bridgeport_______________
Fall River________
83.0
81.5
86.5
83. 7
82.6
81. 1
85.9
83.3
80.0
78.4
84.3
80. 7
78.4
76.9
82.6
79. 1
79.2
77.9
82.6
80.3
79.3
77.9
84.0
78.9
79.7
78.3
84.3
79.3
73.4
72.5
76. 0
72.7
64.4
63.3
67.5
62.9
67.3
65.6
70.1
65.8
101. 7
100. 9'
103. 1.
101. 1
Manchester__
N ew H aven_____
Portland, M aine__________
Providence________ . . .
88. 1
87. 2
84.5
81. 4
87.3
86.5
84.0
SI. 8
83. 2
83.7
80.9
79.5
81.2
82. 4
78.5
77.8
81.9
82.3
79.5
78.8
81.6
82.9
81.0
77.9
81.0
83.0
81. 1
79.0
73.3
76.6
74. 7
71.1
65.6
06.6
65. 7
64.9
65.4
72.0
69. 4
67.6
101.2:
103.3
102. 8
102. a*
M iddle A tla n tic .
_________
Buffalo______
Newark _____
New York_______
84.8
86.9
84. 7
84.3
84.6
85.2
84.2
84. 2
83.1
81.6
83.6
83.3
81.0
79.8
80.9
81.8
81.3
80. 1
81.6
82. 1
81.7
82.2
82.6
81.7
82.5
82. 4
84.1
82.9
76.0
73.9
75.9
76.9
65.8
65. 7
66. 1
67.5
69.9
69. 1
72.9
71.9
103.6
105. 3
102. 8
102.8
86. 7
83. 6
86. 9
89.9
86.8
82. 7
86.8
81. 4
85.3
80.8
83. 1
79.5
81.9
78.6
82. 3
77.6
82.5
78. 7
81.5
77.8
82.2
80.8
81. 1
79. 0
83.3
80.6
81.5
79. 9
78.0
72. 6
75.3
71.6
65.6
62.4
63. 1
63.9
70. 1
65.0
60.8
66.8
103. 7
106.4
101. 2
105 . e,
86.0 85.1
85. 1 84. 3
90. 2 88. 1
85.8 84.4
90.2 89.4
83.0
83. 1
88.0
81. 7
83.9
80.1
80.5
84.3
79. 1
82.5
80.3
81. 0
84. 0
78. 6
80.4
82.8
81. 4
87.5
83.9
84.8
82.7
81.8
85.8
83.5
85.6
72.8
72. 1
73.6
71.5
73.8
64.5
65.8
66.4
63. 0
64.7
66.0
69.8
68. 1
65. 6
67.3
106.0>
106. 9>
109. 7
104. 8
102.7
86. 0
87.8
87.5
86. 7
83.8
85. 5
86.8
86. 2
88. 1
84.3
82. 6
83.5
83. 7
84. 2
81.9
79.5
79.3
80.9
80.3
77.8
79. 9
79.5
82.3
80. 2
77.7
82. 4 82. 0
80.9 80. 7
84. 1 84.0
84. 0 83. 7
81. 1 '81.5
74.0
72.6
74.9
74.8
70.9
61.5
65.5
67.6
65.2
64.6
62. 6
66. 2
70.2
66.2
64.7
106.1
105.1
104. 6.
101. 4
103. 8-
W est N orth C entral
Kansas C ity___
Minneapolis_____
Omaha..........
St. Louis_______
St. Paul___ _
87.9
86.6
90.9
84.2
89. 2
87. 7
87.3
85.4
89.9
83.9
89. 3
86.2
86.0
85.9
87.0
82.4
88.4
82.6
82.7
80.5
84.6
79 6
85. 1
81.4
82.9
80.4
85. 0
79.2
85. 6
81.3
86.2
83.5
87.9
85.3
87.6
85.5
86.0
83.3
88.0
85.2
87. 3
86. 1
74.7
74.0
77.9
71.3
74.6
76.9
65.9
67. 9
64.3
63.3
67.3
63.4
66.5
67.4
08. 1
63.1
66.7
67.2
104.9
102.6
105. 1
101.5108.9
101.3
S o u th A tla n tic __
Atlanta____
Baltimore . . .
Charleston. S. C___
Jacksonville__ _
82.8
78.9
88.0
82. 2
80. 3
82.4
78. 2
88.6
81. 1
78.9
81.0
77. 2
86.5
79.6
76.9
79.5
75. 4
84. 6
78.6
76.2
79.6
75. 5
84.4
79. 1
76.2
81.0
77. 1
86. 2
78.9
76. 1
81.2
78.3
85.6
78.8
75.9
71.9
68.9
74. 2
69.6
67.6
63.2
62. 7
65.2
60. 4
58.5
66.3
64. 2
68. 1
66.9
62.8
102.4
103. 8
102.1
99. 9
97.7
81. 7
78. 1
83.5
85.3
81.0
77.9
82.3
84.8
79.7
76.2
80.4
84. 7
78.4
75. 7
79.8
82.7
78.6
75. 2
79.3
83.2
79.5
76.8
79.2
84.5
79.9
77.8
79. 0
84.4
72.0
70.4
70.6
75. 2
61.6
61. 0
61.8
66.7
68.4
63.2
64. 4
69.3
105.7
98. 5
104. 6
104.6
E ast S o u th C entral—
Birmingham_____________
Louisville
M em phis_______
M obile___ _
79.6
74.8
90.0
81. 3
78.5
78.5
73.6
89.6
79.3
76.7
77.6
72. 7
87.4
80.9
75. 4
75.1
70.7
83.9
77.8
74.8
75.0
70. 3
84. 0
78.8
74.9
77.5
71.8
90. 1
81. 1
75.5
78.6
74. 1
88.6
82.4
75.6
67.3
62.7
74.8
70. 3
66.4
63.2
60.8
08. 7
64. 4
59.9
62.0
58.9
66.8
64.7
62.3
104.5
101, 0
111.8
105. 0
101.2
W est S o u th C en tra l__
Dallas_____
H o u s to n ..______
Little Rock_____
New Orleans_____ . . .
79.2
76.5
79.4
78. 3
82. 7
78.4
75. 2
78.9
77.8
82.3
Philadelphia____
P ittsburgh________
Rochester____
Scranton___ . . .
E ast N orth C entral
Chicago.. . . .
Cincinnati_____
Cleveland. ___
Columbus, Ohio__________
D e t r o i t .. ___
Indianapolis...
M ilwaukee_____
Peoria___ _
Springfield, 111____________
N orfo lk _____ .
Richmond___
Savannah..
Washington, D. C.................
77.4 76.6 76.8 79.0 79.7 69.8 61.9 62.6 102.1
75. 1 74. 4 74. 4 79. 1 79.8 69.9 62.5 61.8 103.7
76.8 75.9 76.5 75. 7 77.2 68.5 60. 1 60.6
69.9
77. 2 76.3 76.8 78. 0 77.5 65.3 56. 7 57.8 101.6
64. 7 67.6 102.8
81.6 80.6 80.5 83. 7 83. 4 ¿2.3
1 Aggregate costs of 42 foods in each city prior to Jan. 1, 1935, and of 84 foods since that date, weighted to
represent total purchases, have been combined for regions and for the United States with the use of popula
tion weights.
8 2 4 2 5 — 36--------- 17
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
530
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W — A U G U ST 1936
Table 3.— Indexes of the Average Retail Cost of All Foods, by Cities— Contd.
June and May 1936 and June 1935, 1934, 1933, 1932, and 1929
1936
1935
1934
1933
1932
1929
Region and city
June June June May May June June June June June June
30
2
16
19
5
18
4
19
15
15
15
M o u n t a in _____ ____ ______
B utte_______________
Denver
_ ___________
Salt Lake C ity........................
90.1
83.9
91.5
89.2
90.1
85.3
92.4
87.3
8G.0
80.6
87.5
84.9
83.0
77.2
85.3
80.4
83.7
77.5
85.4
79.4
87.6
80.1
91.1
83.9
87.5
80.8
90. 7
84.0
73.2
07.2
75.9
70.2
P a cific____ ____ _____________
Los Angeles______________
Portland, Oreg__________
San Francisco______ ______
Seattle_______________
80.0
74.5
85.8
83.3
84.5
80.3
75. 0
85.5
83.3
85. 6
79.3
74. 2
84.8
82.3
84. 1
77.1
72. 3
80.8
80.8
80. 0
76.8
71. 7
80.0
80. 7
80. 2
79.3
74.3
79.6
84.5
81.0
79.6
74.8
79.5
85. 0
80.9
68.6
63. 5
68. 7
73.9
70. 4
66.7
62.8
65.6
67.3
65.2
69.2
64.4
100.8
65.4
60.6
64. 4
70. 3
68.5
66.9
61.8
67.0
72.0
69.5
101.2
99.3
102. 0
103.2
102.4
68. 0
102.7
104.8
103.6
Retail Food Costs, 1929 to June 1930
R e t a i l food costs in the larger cities of the United States were 18.8
percent lower on June 30, 1936, than on June 15, 1929. The index
was 84.3 percent of the 1923-25 average as compared with 103.7
percent on June 15, 1929.
Lower costs were registered for all of the commodity groups. The
largest difference was shown for dried fruits and vegetables, 42.5
percent. Cereals and bakery products showed the least change.
Costs for this group were only 7.4 percent below the level of June 1929.
Compared with the depression period, June 15, 1933, retail food
costs on June 30, 1936, were 29.8 percent higher. Beverages and
chocolate was the only group which showed lower costs.
Indexes of retail food costs for all foods and for the various com
modity groups are given in table 4 by years from 1929 to 1935 and for
all pricing periods in 1936.
The chart on page 532 shows the relative changes in the retail
costs of all foods and each of the major food groups from 1929 to June
1936, inclusive.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
531
RETAIL PRICES
Table 4.— Indexes of Retail Food Costs in 51 Large Cities Combined,1 by
Commodity Groups
1929 to June 30, 1936, Inclusive
[1923-25 = 100]
D a te
A ll
foods
C ereals
an d
D a ir y
b a k e r y M e a ts p ro d E g g s
p ro d
u c ts
u c ts
F r u its a n d v e g e ta b le s
T o ta l
F resh
C a n n ed D r ie d
B everages
an d
chocola te
F a ts S ug a r
and
and
o ils sw e e ts
B y years
1929....... ............... 104.7
1930____________ 9 9 .6
82.1
1931....... .............
1932____________ 68.3
98.1
95.1
8 3 .5
75.5
121.1
113.6
9 6 .4
7 5 .5
102.9
95.1
8 0 .8
6 6 .7
101.2
85 .4
67.2
57 .9
9 8 .4
103.4
73.3
6 0 .4
98.1
104.9
72.9
5 9 .9
9 6 .8
9 2 .3
80.3
7 1 .0
103.8
9 6 .4
72.1
55 .4
110.0
9 5 .7
8 3 .2
75.1
93.1
8 6 .7
70.4
52 .0
74 .6
70.1
64.7
5 8 .4
66.4
74.1
8 0 .4
77.4
91.0
9 2 .9
65.7
75.0
96.1
65.2
71.2
7 6 .7
55.3
62.4
7 3 .5
65 .8
6 9 .8
60 .6
66 .6
6 9 .6
58 .6
6 8 .5
80. 7
8 2 .7
5 3 .6
61.3
61.8
6 8 .4
71.7
70.3
4 8 .6
55 .4
81 .5
61 .5
6 3 .8
6 5 .0
1933____________
1934____________
1935..... .......... ..
B iw eek ly for 1936
1936
J a n . 14_________
J a n . 2 8 . . . ____
F e b . 11________
F e b . 25________
M a r . 10________
M a r . 24________
8 1 .7
80.7
80.6
81.3
79.5
79.0
9 4 .0
9 3 .0
92.5
92.1
9 1 .7
9 1 .6
97 .3
95.9
94 .9
94.9
93 .3
9 3 .2
79 .8
79 .8
80 .5
8 1 .8
79.5
78.5
73.8
6 9 .6
70 .6
78.0
66 .9
5 9 .5
62 .7
62.1
62 .0
62 .4
61.7
62 .4
61.5
6 0 .8
6 0 .8
6 1 .2
6 0 .5
61.2
79 .4
79. 2
78.9
7 8 .6
78.5
78.3
58 .2
58.1
57.9
58.1
57.9
58 .0
6 7 .6
67.5
6 7 .4
67 .4
6 7 .6
67 .6
79 .3
7 7 .6
76 .8
76 .2
75.7
75.3
64 .9
6 4 .4
64.1
6 3 .9
6 3 .7
63. 7
A pr.
A pr.
M ay
M ay
June
June
June
78.9
79.7
80.1
79.9
82.1
83.8
84.3
9 1 .3
91.2
9 1 .0
9 0 .7
9 0 .7
90.4
9 0 .4
93 .7
94. 1
94 .3
93 .2
9 4 .4
9 4 .0
9 4 .4
77 .8
77.8
76.1
75 .2
75.5
76.5
77.5
56.9
57. 4
59 .0
5 9 .6
60 .6
63 .0
65.0
63 .3
66.5
68.9
70.1
78.3
8 5 .2
85.1
6 2 .2
6 5 .8
6 8 .6
6 9 .9
79.3
87.1
87 .0
7 8 .4
78.3
78.3
78.2
78.3
78.3
78.4
57.8
57.7
57.7
57 .8
58 .2
58 .4
58 .9
67 .7
67.5
67.7
6 7 .6
67.3
66.9
67.1
75.1
75.2
74.8
7 4 .2
7 3 .4
7 3 .0
72.8
63 .8
63 .8
63 .8
64.1
64.3
64. 5
64. 7
7........... ........
21________
5 _________
19________
2_________
16
_
30________
• A ggregate co sts of 42 foods in ea ch c it y prior to J a n . 1, 1935, a n d o f 84 foods s in c e t h a t d a te , w e ig h te d to
r e p r e se n t to ta l p u r ch a se s, h a v e b e e n c o m b in e d w ith th e u se o f p o p u la tio n w e ig h ts .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
532
M O N TH LY LA BO R R E V IE W — A U G U S T
1936
RETAIL COST OF FOOD
1923-25-100
WO
120
100
80
60
VO
J S. BUREAU Qf LABOR STATISTICS
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
W holesale Prices in Ju n e 1936
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics all-commodity index advanced 0.8
percent from May to June largely because of sharp increases in
wholesale prices of farm products and foods. The general level of
wholesale commodity prices is 1.7 percent below the first month of
the year and 0.8 percent below that for the corresponding month of
last year.
In addition to increases of 3.9 percent in farm products and 2.4
percent in foods, slight advances were shown in fuel and lighting
materials, chemicals and drugs, and miscellaneous commodities.
Fractional decreases were recorded for the hides and leather products,
textile products, metals and metal products, and house-furnishing
goods groups. Building materials remained unchanged at the
May level.
Five of the ten major commodity groups are above their respective
June 1935 levels. The increases range from 0.6 percent for building
materials to 5.5 percent for hides and leather products. During the
12-month period, June 1935 to June 1936, wholesale food prices
declined 3.5 percent; chemicals and drugs, 3.3 percent; metals and
metal products, 0.8 percent; textile products, 0.6 percent; and farm
products, 0.3 percent.
Changes within the major commodity groups which influenced the
trend of the composite index in June are enumerated in table 1.
T
Table 1.— Number of Commodities Changing in Price from May to June 1936
G rou p s
A l l c o m m o d i t i e s _____________________________________________________
F a rm p ro d u c ts
F o o d 55
FfjrjoQ a n d le a tL ^ r p r o d u c t s
T e x t ile p r o d u c t s
F u e l a n d lig h t in g m a te r ia ls
M e t a l s a n d rnftt.n.l p r o d u c t s
B u i l d i n g TTiRtorials
n h e m iV -a ls a nr! d r u g s
H o u s e -fu r n is h in g g o o d s
IM isoellanao^u?
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
__________ _______ _______
______ ____________________ —
_
____________ __________
- - - _____ ____ — ---------_ _____________ __________ - _____________ _____ —
_ _____ - ________________ —
______________
_________ —
_ _ _ ________________________
_ ___________________ _________
In crea ses
D ecreases
N o change
173
120
491
46
50
7
16
8
9
13
7
4
13
16
34
9
23
6
9
7
10
5
1
5
38
25
73
10
112
66
72
52
38
533
534
M O N TH LY L A B O E R E V IE W — A U G U ST
1936
The index for the raw-materials group advanced 2.4 percent during
June to a point 1.6 percent above a year ago. Finished products
rose 0.2 percent during the month. Average wholesale prices of
manufactured commodities are 1.8 percent below the June 1935 level.
Semimanufactured articles declined 0.3 percent between Mav and
June to equal last year’s level.
The large group of all commodities other than farm products
(nonagricultural) advanced 0.3 percent during the month, but is
0.8 percent below the corresponding month of last year. The index
for the group of all commodities other than farm products and proc
essed foods, representing industrial commodities, remained un
changed at 78.8. It is 1 percent above the June 1935 index.
A comparison of the June indexes with May 1936 and June 1935
is shown in table 2.
Table 2.— Comparison of Index Numbers for June 1936 With May 1936 and
June 1935
[1926 = 100]
Commodity groups
June
1936
M ay
1936
Change
from a
month
ago
(percent)
June
1935
Change
from a
year
ago
(percent)
All commodities....................................................... .
79.2
78.6
+0.8
79.8
-0 .8
Farm products_____________ _____
Foods___________________________ ’”y " " " y y y
Hides and leather products.......... ......
.
Textile products_____________________ h l l l l h h
Fuel and lighting materials_____ _____________ 1
78. 1
79.9
93.8
69.7
76.1
75.2
78.0
94.0
69.8
76.0
+ 3.9
+ 2.4
-.2
-. 1
+ .1
78.3
82.8
88.9
70.1
74.2
-.3
- 3 .5
+ 5 .5
-.6
+ 2 .6
Metals and metal products_____ ________
Building materials_______________________ Y.Y.l'.
Chemicals and drugs__________________
House-furnishing goods_______
Miscellaneous commodities_____________ h - . - . T
86.2
85.8
78.0
81.4
69.7
86.3
85.8
77.7
81.5
69. 2
-. 1
0
+ .4
-. 1
+ .7
86.9
85.3
80.7
80.5
68.4
- .8
+ .6
- 3 .3
+ 1.1
+ 1.9
Raw materials____________________________
Semimanufactured articles___
Finished products__________________ II-IIIIIIT
All commodities other than farm products________
All commodities other than farm products and foods.
77.6
73.9
80.7
79.4
78.8
75.8
74. 1
80.5
79. 2
78.8
76.4
73.9
82.2
80.0
78.0
+ 1 .6
0
- 1 .8
-.8
+ 1 .0
+ 2 .4
-.3
+ .2
+ .3
0
Index numbers for the groups and subgroups of commodities for
May and June 1936 and June of each of the preceding 7 years are
shown in table 3.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
535
WHOLESALE PRICES
Table 3.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups and Subgroups of
Commodities
[1926=100]
G r ou p s an d su b g ro u p s
June
1936
M ay
1936
June
1935
June
1934
June
1933
June
1932
June
1931
A ll c o m m o d ite s _____________________
7 9 .2
7 8 .6
7 9 .8
7 4 .6
6 5 .0
63 .9
7 2 .1
F arm p r o d u c ts _____________________
G rain s
_________________ _____
L iv e s to c k an d p o u lt r y ________ O th er farm p r o d u c ts ____________
Foods
_ ______________________
I ) a ir y p r o d u c ts
______________
C ereal p r o d u c ts _ _____________
F r u its an d v e g e ta b le s ___________
_________________
M e a ts
O th er foods
__________________
H id e s and le a th e r p r o d u c ts_________
Shoes
__ ___________________
H id e s an d s k in s
___________
L e a th e r
_____________________
O th er le a th e r p r o d u c ts --------------T e x tile p r o d u c ts
_________________
C lo th in g
_____________________
C o tto n good s ___________________
TCnit g o o d s
_______________
S ilk an d ra y o n
_____________
W o o le n and w o r ste d g o o d s ______
O th er te x tile p r o d u c ts ___________
F u el an d lig h tin g m a te r ia ls _________
A n th r a c ite
__________________
P it n m in n n s coal ______________
C oke
___________ ______ E le c t r ic it y
_ ___________________
G as
_ __________ - ______
P e tr o le u m p r o d u c t s ____________
M e ta ls a n d m e ta l p r o d u c ts _________
A g ric u ltu r a l im p le m e n t s _______
Jrnn and ste e l _________________
M o to r v e h ic le s
______________
N o n ferrous m e t a l s ______________
P lu m p in g an d h e a t in g __________
F n ild in g m a te r ia ls _______________
P r ic k a n d t i l e ____________ —
C em en t
______________
L um ber
__ ______ - ----------P ainb and p a in t m a te r ia ls _____
P h im b in n an d h e a t in g __________
S tr u c tu r a l ste e l
____ ________
O th er b u ild in g m a te r ia ls _____
C h e m ic a ls and d r u g s. ______________
C h e m ic a ls
_______
- _____
D r u g s a n d p h a r m a c e u tic a ls . F er ti b zer -m a,ter i a ls ______________
M ix e d f e r t i liz e r s ________________
H o n s e -fn r n is h in g g o o d s_______ ______
F u r n i s h i n g s . ___________________
F u r n itu r e ____________________
M is c e lla n e o u s
__________ ______
A u to m o b ile tir e s a n d t u b e s _____
C a ttle feed
_________________
P a p er an d p u l p . _______________
R u b b e r , cr u d e
______ ______ O th er m is c e lla n e o u s _____________
___
____________
R a w m a te r ia ls
S e m im a n u fa c tu r e d a r tic le s ________
F in ish e d p r o d u c ts
__ ______ ______
A ll c o m m o d itie s o th er th a n farm
p r o d u c ts ________________ ____ ____
A ll c o m m o d itie s o th er t h a n farm
p r o d u c ts an d f o o d s _______________
78 .1
7 3 .0
8 3 .2
7 5 .8
7 9 .9
7 7 .6
81 .6
8 2 .0
85. 1
72.3
9 3 .8
99 .7
8 9 .0
8 3 .2
9 5 .4
69 .7
80 .9
75.4
60.3
29.3
8 2 .6
66.9
76 .1
77 .0
96 .5
9 3 .7
)
(>)
5 7 .7
.2
94. 2
86 .3
9 2 .9
7 0 .0
7 3 .8
8 5 .8
8 9 .2
9 5 .5
8 2 .1
79. 5
73 .8
9 2 .5
90. 1
78 .0
84.3
7 3 .2
6 4 .0
7 5 .2
7 0 .6
8 2 .5
71.4
78 .0
7 5 .0
8 2 .2
72.3
85 .1
7 1 .5
9 4 .0
.2
87 .3
84.4
95 .4
6 9 .8
81 .1
75.5
60 .6
29 .1
82. 2
6 7 .5
7 6 .0
7 6 .6
9 6 .5
9 3 .7
84. 2
87 .3
5 8 .2
8 6 .3
94. 2
8 6 .3
9 3 .0
7 0 .7
73 .8
8 5 .8
7 8 .3
76 .9
8 4 .8
74 .3
8 2 .8
7 4 .6
9 0 .5
68 .7
9 4 .5
77. 2
8 8 .9
9 7 .3
78 .0
80 .5
84 .4
70.1
8 0 .7
8 2 .5
5 9 .5
2 7 .2
7 5 .6
68 .9
7 4 .2
7 4 .0
9 6 .1
8 8 .7
9 0 .2
9 5 .2
5 3 .2
86.9
9 3 .6
87 .1
94 .7
69. 1
6 3 .3
7 2 .4
4 8 .3
69 .4
6 9 .8
7 3 .0
8 9 .2
70.1
6 2 .2
6 2 .8
87. 1
9 8 .4
70.1
7 5 .3
5 3 .2
5 7 .4
4 6 .6
5 6 .2
6 1 .2
63. 1
70 .7
63 .9
5 2 .4
61. 1
8 2 .4
85 .5
81 .4
7 4 .3
7 8 .5
6 1 .5
64 .5
67.1
50.9
3 5 .2
4 5 .7
3 7 .7
4 6 .7
4 8 .2
5 8 .8
5 7 .4
6 5 .4
56 .0
61 .9
7 0 .8
73.3
7 8 .8
7 4 .3
76 .4
71 .3
6 8 .5
0
86
100
86.8
72 .7
8 2 .6
86.0
6 2 .8
25 .0
8 0 .8
74 .8
72 .8
76 .9
9 5 .0
8 5 .0
9 0 .6
9 7 .5
50.6
8 7 .7
91. 1
88.6
8 1 .4
8 5 .2
7 7 .5
6 9 .7
47 .5
80 .7
80.6
3 3 .0
80. 8
77 .6
73.9
80. 7
9 5 .5
8 3 .0
7 8 .8
7 3 .8
9 2 .0
8 9 .9
7 7 .7
84.1
7 3 .2
64. 7
6 5 .3
8 1 .5
8 5 .0
77 .9
6 9 .2
4 7 .5
7 1 .2
80 .5
32 .3
8 0 .7
7 5 .8
7 4 .1
8 0 .5
8 5 .3
89. 2
94 .9
81 .6
7 9 .8
06. 2
9 2 .0
90. 0
80 .7
86 .3
74 .3
6 5 .7
74.5
8 0 .5
8 3 .9
77. 1
68 .4
4 5 .0
9 2 .2
7 9 .7
26. 0
80 .1
7 6 .4
7 3 .9
8 2 .2
9 5 .0
6 8 .5
7 5 .1
8 7 .8
9 1 .1
9 3 .9
86 .3
80 .3
75. 1
94. 5
9 2 .0
7 5 .6
7 8 .6
73 .1
67.9
7 3 .4
8 2 .0
8 5 .1
7 9 .0
70 .2
4 4 .6
86.9
8 3 .5
27 .7
8 3 .1
6 7 .3
72.9
7 8 .2
79 .4
7 9 .2
8 0 .0
76 .9
66.0
7 8 .8
88.8
7 8 .8
66.2
7 8 .0
7 8 .2
68.8
7 3 .6
6 1 .5
7 6 .8
7 8 .3
75.3
91 .4
101.7
3 4 .4
7 9 .3
8 3 .0
7 6 .2
9 0 .4
6 3 .2
67 .4
74 .7
7 7 .0
8 1 .8
6 7 .4
71.9
67 .4
8 1 .7
8 0 .6
7 3 .7
8 1 .5
55.5
66.8
62 .4
5 6 .0
5 5 .4
7 0 .8
8 7 .5
32 .5
58.7
9 6 .4
5 2 .7
62. 2
51.0
4 9 .6
27.5
55 .0
66 .7
7 1 .6
85 .3
8 1 .8
7 6 .9
105.5
106.3
4 8 .2
79 .9
84 .9
7 9 .8
9 3 .8
4 7 .5
66 .7
7 0 .8
76.1
77. 1
5 7 .6
7 3 .3
66 .7
81 .7
77 .6
73. 1
7 8 .6
5 8 .3
68.0 68.0
7 5 .0
5 6 .2
65 .3
6 9 .0
69 .0
74.7
75 .4
7 4 .0
6 4 .2
3 9 .6
42. 1
7 6 .2
5 .8
8 4 .6
5 3 .2
5 7 .6
70 .0
6 7.4
6 7 .8
63 .0
73.4
7 3 .6
73.4
6 0 .8
40. 1
55 .8
73 .5
12.6
68.9
70 .1
88.0
9 4 .6
6 5 .5
8 7 .8
101.4
66.6
76 .3
67.6
5 9 .8
4 1 .9
68.0
75 .5
62 .9
88.8
83 .2
81 .5
9 8 .6
101.9
3 0 .7
8 4 .4
9 4 .2
8 3 .5
9 4 .2
6 1 .2
June
1930
86.8
June
1929
95. 2
8 8 .9
7 8 .7
8 8 .5
9 2 .7
9 0 .8
90. 2
8 2 .9
109.0
9 9 .9
78. 1
102.4
103.0
9 9 .0
102.9
105.5
8 1 .6
8 6 .7
.8 7 .2
8 1 .8
6 0 .5
7 9 .7
103 .3
9 1 .0
7 8 .9
8 5 .8
88
86.2
88.6
8 4 .0
9 7 .5
9 9 .7
6 3 .6
91 .9
9 4 .5
8 9 .0
111.0
102 .3
9 9 .1
105. 2
85. 1
9 7 .4
1 1 1 .5
9 0 .3
107 .9
106.1
110.9
110.3
105.9
90. 1
9 0 .0
9 7 .8
8 8 .7
7 9 .9
8 8 .3
9 2 .6
8 4 .5
.1
8 9 .6
8 4 .7
9 4 .4
9 4 .4
7 6 .6
101.2
64.7
6 9 .3
7 6 .0
86 .4
25.9
9 6 .9
8 4 .9
8 1 .7
8 8 .4
9 9 .0
9 5 .5
107.8
105.5
9 5 .7
95. 2
93. 1
9 4 .6
9 4 .0
9 2 .6
9 5 .7
9 9 .6
9 7 .4
9 3 .4
9 7 .8
7 0 .8
9 2 .6
9 6 .7
9 4 .6
9 3 .8
9 5 .5
8 2 .4
54. 5
106.2
89. 2
4 2 .7
9 9 .2
9 6 .6
9 2 .4
95. G
73 .4
8 6 .3
9 3 .5
74. 1
8 5 .7
91.
86.6
79 .3
83 .7
77 .7
68 .5
8 0 .0
86.6
8 4 .3
85.4
79 .4
8 2 .5
6 2 .6
7 9 .8
8 2 .4
86 .4
8 3 .4
89 .8
69 .7
4 6 .0
61. 1
8 0 .7
13.3
88.2
100.8
7 9 .8
8 8 .3
8 9 .9
8 8 .5
9 1 .7
8 5 .6
9 2 .4
8 8 .3
86.8
9 3 .0
89 .4
9 4 .0
6 8 .5
8 5 .3
94. 1
9 3 .4
9 2 .3
9 4 .6
7 8 .4
5 0 .3
102.0
’Data not yet available.
Weekly Fluctuations
W h o l e sa l e commodity prices remained steady between the last
week of May and the first week of June according to the all-com
modity index. A slightly higher tendency was evidenced toward the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
536
M O N TH LY LA BO R R E V IE W — A U G U ST
1936
middle of the month, then prices again steadied and the index re
mained at 78.7 for the week ending June 20. Pronounced advances
m prices of farm products and foods during the latter part of the
month caused the index to rise 0.9 percent to 79.4 percent of the
1926 average.
A net gain of 3.3 percent was registered in prices of raw materials
between the first and last weeks of June. The index rose from 76.3
to 78.8 during the month interval. Wholesale prices of semimanu
factured items weakened slightly in early June. This loss was fully
recovered by midmonth and by the week ending June 27, the index
had advanced to 74.2. The index for the finished products group
declined slightly from May to the middle of June. Two successive
advances of 0.1 percent and 0.4 percent were registered in the indexes
for the manufactured commodities group during the weeks ending
June 20, and 27.
The large group of all commodities other than farm products
(nonagricultural) declined 0.3 percent from May 30 to June 6, then
registered successive increases of 0.1 percent and 0.1 percent and
0.4 percent, respectively, the remaining 3 weeks of the month. All
commodities other than farm products and processed foods, regis
tered alternate decreases and increases of 0.1 percent during the 4
weeks of June. The index for the last week of June stood at 78.8
percent of the 1926 average, the same level as for the week ending
May 30.
The farm-products group registered a net gain of 4.8 percent during
the month of June. From an index of 76.5 at the beginning of the
month, agricultural commodities rose steadily until the index reached
80.2 for the week ending June 27. The advance was due largely to
sharp increases in prices of grains, hops, peanuts, onions, dried
beans, and potatoes. The subgroup of livestock and poultry, be
cause of higher prices for hogs and steers, advanced 2 percent during
June although prices of cows, sheep, and live poultry were lower.
Wholesale food prices rose constantly throughout June. The
index advanced from 78.7 for the first week to 81.0 for the closing
week, an increase of 2.9 percent. Fruits and vegetable prices rose
'during the first 2 weeks then receded 2.5 percent the week ending
June 20. A sharp increase was recorded the latter part of the month
and the index for the week ending July 27 was 6.8 percent above that
for the first of the month. Dairy products followed an upward
course each of the 4 weeks, registering a gain of 3.8 percent. Prices
of meats weakened slightly toward midmonth but recovered to regis
ter an increase of 2 percent during the 4-week interval. Individual
food items for which higher prices were reported were butter, cheese,
rye flour, hominy grits, lamb, fresh pork, cocoa beans, and salt!
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S
537
Lower prices were reported for bananas, dressed poultry, oleomar
garine, and oleo oil.
The hides-and-leather-products group, as a whole, showed very
little change during June. Following an 0.3-percent increase be
tween May 30 and June 6, the index remained at 94.6 through the
week ending June 13. Lower prices for shoes caused the index to
decline 0.2 percent to 94.4. It remained at this level through the end
of the month. Average prices of hides and skins were somewhat
lower during mid-June, but practically all of this drop was regained
the last week of the month. Leather remained steady.
A minor upward tendency was evidenced by the textile-products
group in June. The index advanced from 69.1 to 69.5 from the first
to the last weeks of the month. The subgroups of clothing, knit goods,
and other textile products, including jute and twine, declined. Cotton
goods, silk and rayon, and woolen and worsted goods advanced frac
tionally.
Due to lower average prices for electricity and petroleum products,
the fuel-and-lighting-materials group declined the first 3 weeks of
June. Coal advanced slightly* and coke remained unchanged. The
index leveled off at 76.4 the last week of the month.
Continued weakness in prices of pig tin caused the index for the
metals-and-metal-products group to decline during the month of
June. Iron and steel also declined fractionally toward the latter part
of the month. Average wholesale prices of agricultural implements
and plumbing and heating fixtures remained unchanged. The index
for the metals-and-metal-products group, as a whole, fell from 85.7 to
85.4 from June 6 to June 27.
Building-material prices rose 0.1 percent toward mid-June but
declined 0.2 percent the week ending June 20 to 85.6 percent of the
1926 average. The index remained at this figure during the last week
of the month. Brick and tile and paint materials prices averaged
higher and lumber declined. Cement and structural steel remained
unchanged.
The chemicals-and-drugs group advanced during June as a result of
higher prices for fats and oils, fertilizer materials, and mixed fertilizers.
The subgroup of drugs and pharmaceuticals remained unchanged at
the May level.
Following a period of stability for the first 3 weeks of the month,
the index for the liouse-furnishing-goods group declined 0.4 percent to
82.6 the last week of June. Average prices of both furniture and fur
nishings were lower.
Cattle feed prices rose 34 percent from June 6 to 27. Crude rubber
advanced 2.8 percent during the 4 week period. Wholesale prices of
automobile tires and tubes and paper and pulp remained steady.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
538
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— AUGUST 1936
Table 4 shows index numbers of wholesale prices by groups of com
modities for each week of May and June 1936.
Table 4.— Weekly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups of Commodities
[1926=100]
Commodity groups
June June June June May May M ay M ay May
27,
20,
13,
30,
23.
16.
2,
6,
9,
1936 1936 1936 1936 1936 1936 1936 1936 1936
All commodities_______ ______ __________
79.4
78.7
78.7
78.4
78.4
78.2
78.1
78.6
79.1
Farm products_______ _____________ . _
Foods______ ______ . _________ . .
Hides and leather products________________
Textile products_______ _________________
Fuel and lighting materials___ . . ________
Metals and metal products______
Building materials___________ _________ .
Chemicals and d r u g s__________ _________
House-furnishing goods____________________
Miscellaneous_____ - ___________ .
Raw materials________
_____
Semimanufactured articles_________ ______
Finished products__ ____
.....
All commodities other than farm products__
All commodities other than farm products and
foods_______________ . _______ _
80.2
81.0
94.4
69.5
76.4
85.4
85.6
78.0
82.6
70.1
78.8
74. 2
80.8
79.3
77.4
79.7
94.4
69.4
76.4
85.5
85.6
77.6
82.9
69.6
77.0
74.1
80.5
79.0
77.4
79.4
94.6
69.3
76.6
85.7
85.8
77.3
82.9
69.3
76.9
74.1
80.4
78.9
76.5
78.7
94.6
69.1
76.7
85.7
85.7
77.3
82.9
69.0
76.3
74.0
80.4
78.8
75.9
78.4
94.3
69.2
76.8
85.7
85.7
77.4
82.9
69.1
76.0
74.1
80.5
79.0
75.0
77.5
94.3
69.2
76.8
85.7
85.6
77.3
82.8
69. 1
75 5
74. 1
80.5
78.8
74.4
77.4
94.8
69.5
76.9
85.7
85.5
77.3
82.8
69.2
75. 1
74.3
80.4
78.9
76.2
78.0
94.9
69.6
77.2
86.0
85.6
77.5
82.8
68.4
76.0
74.4
80.8
79.1
77.1
79.1
94.9
69.7
77.3
86.0
85.5
77 8
82.8
68.6
76.6
74.5
81. 2
79. 5
78.8
78.7
78.8
78.7* 78.8
78.7
78.8
78.9
78. 9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR
INTEREST
Ju ly 1936
Agricultural Conditions
Agricultural labor in the United States, 1915-1935: A selected list of references.
Compiled by Esther M. Colvin and Josiah C. Folsom. Washington, U. S.
Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Library, December 1935. 493 pp.,
mimeographed. (Agricultural Economics Bibliography No. 64.)
Country life programs: Proceedings of the Eighteenth American Country Life Con
ference, Columbus, Ohio, September 1935. Chicago, University of Chicago
Press, 1936. 131 pp.
Farm income, production, population movements affecting farm life, rural
health facilities, education, and the improvement of rural government, were dis
cussed in the addresses printed in this volume.
Apprenticeship
Indentured apprenticeship—a discussion of the procedure for placing apprentices
under agreements. Washington, Federal Committee on Apprentice Train
ing, 1936. 45 pp., mimeographed. (Bui. No. 111.)
This bulletin is intended to serve as a handbook on “the mechanics of inden
tured apprenticeship”, covering the relation of each of the component parts—
employer, apprentice, school, public, and State—to the apprentice training pro
gram. Suggested schedules of training processes, and a sample apprentice agree
ment, are included.
Child Labor
Child labor in Wisconsin, 1917-1935. Madison, Industrial Commission of Wis
consin, 1936. 38 pp., maps, charts; mimeographed.
Detailed statistical analysis of work permits granted to children in Wisconsin
from 1917 to 1935. The data are,.tabulated by age-and nativity, industries en
tered, geographical distribution, etc. Compensation cases involving illegallyemployed minors subject to increased compensation are reviewed in tabular form,
and the record of medical examination of applicants, and of applications refused
for all reasons, is presented.
Collective Bargaining
Collective bargaining in the glass industry, 1935-36. Washington, U. S. Bureau o f
Labor Statistics, 1936. 12 pp. (Serial No. R. 387, reprint from May 1936
Monthly Labor Review.)
Cooperative Movement
The farmers’ stake in cooperative credit. By W. I. Myers. Washington, U. S.
Farm Credit Administration, 1936. 18 pp. (Circular A-7.)
The relationship of agricultural cooperation to consumers’ cooperation. By Joseph
G. Knapp. (In Cooperative Journal, Washington, D. C., May-June 1936r
pp. 73-80.)
Defines and distinguishes between agricultural (producers’) cooperation and
consumers’ cooperation and shows that each supplements the other.
539
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
540
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W — A U G U S T
1936
Third annual repon of the United States Farm Credit Administration, 1935. Wash
ington, 1936. 200 pp., charts.
Includes reports of the activities of the Credit Union Division and of the Co
operative Division of the Farm Credit Administration; also data on the various
types of cooperative enterprises (such as production credit associations and banks
for cooperatives) set up in conformity with the credit provisions of the Federal
Farm Credit Act.
A study of development of cooperatives in North Dakota. Bismarck, State Planning
Board, 1935. 27 pp., maps; mimeographed.
There were 539 cooperative associations of different types in North Dakota on
January 1, 1936. Of these, 101 were consumers’ associations and 295 were market
ing associations which also carried on cooperative purchasing for their members.
International directory of cooperative organizations. Geneva, International Labor
Office, 1936. 190 pp. 9th ed. (American agent: World Peace Foundation,
Boston.)
The directory not only lists cooperative societies of various types in each
country of the world, but gives much statistical data as to membership, business
•operations, paid-in share capital, etc. Printed in English, French, and German,
and for each country in the native language.
Year-book of agricultural cooperation, 1936. Edited bv Horace Plunkett Founda
tion. London, P. S. King & Son, Ltd., 1936. 623 pp.
Contains a general review of agricultural cooperation in 1936, articles on cooper
ation in various countries, each written by a well-known student of cooperation
or a cooperator, and a bibliography.
C o st o f L iv in g
Money disbursements of wage earners and clerical workers in four Michigan cities.
Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 10 pp. (Serial No. R.
404, reprint from June 1936 Monthly Labor Review.)
Money disbursements of wage earners and clerical workers in Richmond, Birming
ham, and New Orleans. Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936.
8 pp. (Serial No. R. 392, reprint from May 1936 Monthly Labor Review.)
Quantity and cost budgets for (1) family of an executive, (2) fam ily of a clerk, (3)
family of a wage earner, (Jf) dependent families or children; prices for San Fran
cisco, November 1935. Berkeley, University of California, Heller Com
mittee for Research in Social Economics, February 1936. 66 pp., mimeo
graphed.
Las encuestas sobre el costo de la vida, base para la política de previsión social—
necesidad de unificar métodos y procedimientos. Contribución del Departa
mento del Trabajo de México al Séptimo Congreso Científico Americano
By Genaro V. Vásquez and Gilberto Loyo. México, [Departamento del
Trabajo ?], 1935. 6 pp.
A brief account of Government cost-of-living studies in Mexico up to August
31, 1935, and a proposal for unified policy and procedure for such studies on the
part of the Spanish-American nations.
E c o n o m ic a n d S o c ia l P r o b le m s
Family and society: A study of the sociology of reconstruction. By Carle C. Zim
merman and Merle E. Frampton. London, Williams & Norgate, Ltd., 1936.
611 pp.
This work raises many basic cpiestions with reference to the significance of exist
ing conditions and recent trends of American culture as related to the family.
Among these questions are: Can families on relief be rehabilitated? Will the
situation of industrial workers be improved by mere decentralization? Can the
marginal farmer be made to migrate without affecting his familistic society?
What part does the family play in the intrinsic phases of social evolution?
The theories and methods of the French sociologist Frédéric Le Play are given
•considerable space in the volume.
Wage earners meet the depression. By Ruth Alice Allen and Sam B. Barton.
Austin, University of Texas, 1935. 105 pp. (Bulletin No. 3545.)
Sample studies of how a small group of workers have met the depression.
Detailed schedules of income and expenditures are given.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
R E C E N T P U B L IC A T IO N S O F LA B O R IN T E R E S T
541
A study of Kansas poor-farms. Topeka, Kansas Emergency Relief Committee,,
1935. 46 pp., map. (Bulletin No. 307.)
An analysis of physical, social, and financial conditions of the 77 county poorfarms in operation in Kansas in 1934. These institutions had an average inmate
population during that year of 1,780, and cared for a total of 2,540 inmates,
37.5 percent of whom were under 65 years of age.
The study relates the almshouse problem to that of the wider field of old-age
assistance. Answering its own question “Will old-age assistance close the poorhouse?”, it points to the fact that in practically all poorhouses there are certain
types of inmates, in addition to the aged and chronically ill, who cannot live a
normal life in the community even with the financial aid of an old-age pension.
Proceedings of the Minnesota State Conference of Social Work, September 16-21 r
1935. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota, [1935?]. 140 pp.
The subjects covered at this meeting included the social problems raised by
relief giving; progress toward a new social order; trends in social work; some
byproducts of the mass relief program as they affect the public; and social and
economic reasons for low-cost housing.
Planned socialism: “ The plan du travail” of the Belgian Labor Party. By Henri
de Man; translated and edited by G. D. H. Cole. London, New Fabian
Research Bureau, 17 John Street, W. C. 1, 1935. 41 pp.
The “plan of work” for a socialistic State drawn up by Henri de Man and
adopted by the Belgian Labor Party in 1933. The introduction, by G. D. H.
Cole, compares political and economic conditions in Belgium, and on the continent
generally, with those in Great Britain, and discusses the extent to which a similar
plan might be applicable in the latter country. A bibliography of books and
pamphlets concerning the plan is appended.
The new Germany: National Socialist government in theory and practice. By Fritz.
Ermarth. Washington, Digest Press, 1936. 203 pp. (American University
Studies in International Law and Relations, No. 2.)
A chapter on “The Economic State” includes a discussion of “planned labor
economy.” A bibliography is appended.
The distribution of national capital. By G. W. Daniels and H. Campion. Man
chester, England, Manchester University Press, 1936. 62 pp., charts.
The authors conclude that, contrary to frequently expressed views, there has
been no significant decrease in the inequality of individual ownership of capital
in Great Britain since 1910.
E d u c a tio n
Adult education for social change. A handbook for leaders and members of dis
cussion groups, forums, and adult classes, prepared by the Swartlimore
Seminar. Philadelphia, Social Order Committee, 311 South Juniper Street,
1936. 36 pp.
Presents 9 planks of a platform for a new social order and discusses the means
of adapting adult education to the goals sought for the student—the gaining of
skills and abilities, the unfolding of personality, and the acquiring of facility in
solving the problems of life. A dozen or more special forms of organization for
adult education are described, and comprehensive bibliographies are furnished.
Space and equipment for homemaking instruction: A guide to location and arrange
ment of homemaking departments. Washington, U. S. Office of Education,
1936. 153 pp., charts, illus. (Bulletin No. 181, Home Economic Series
No. 18, 1935.)
After reviewing the underlying philosophy of vocational education in home
economics, various practical problems are taken up such as location, arrangement,
and space for homemaking departments; furnishings and equipment for teaching
homemaking; the preparation of teachers; and the function of home-economics
supervision. A bibliography is included.
Procedure for survey of a State program of vocational rehabilitationA manual of
procedure for assembling and interpreting data on the factors involved_ in the
conduct of a State rehabilitation program. Washington, U. S. Office of Educa
tion, 1936. 82 pp., maps. (Vocational Education Bulletin No. 184, Re
habilitation Series No. 24.)
While the scheme described in this publication is primarily devised to measure
the organization and functioning of a State program, the information collected
in this way for a period of years would serve as a basis for surveys of even broader
application.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
542
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W — A U G U S T
1936
Public education in the Philippine Islands. Washington, U. S. Office of Educa
tion, 1935. 53 pp., illus. (Bulletin, 1935, No. 9.)
One section of the report deals with agricultural and vocational training.
Training for the public service. The report and recommendations of a con
ference sponsored by Public Administration Clearing House. Edited by
Morris B. Lambie. Chicago, Public Administration Service, 850 East 58th
St., 1935. 49 pp. (Publication No. 49.)
The conference emphasized principles and criteria. It did not attempt to
pass judgment upon any individual existing educational or training program for
public employment.
Memorandum on the establishment and conduct of courses of instruction for un
employed boys and girls, Scotland. London, Ministry of Labor, 1936.
53 pp.
The program of the Ministry of Labor of Great Britain, adopted after consulta
tion with the educational authorities of Scotland, for establishing and main
taining junior instruction centers and classes for unemployed juveniles in Scot
land, as required by the unemployment insurance acts of Î934 and 1935.
Employment and Unemployment
Variation in man-hour employment per worker between the spring and fall of 1938.
Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 12 pp. (Serial No.
R. 374.)
Investigation of unemployment caused by labor-saving devices in industry. Hear
ings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Labor, House of Represent
atives, 74th Cong., 2d sess., on H. Res. 49, Februarv and March 1936.
Washington, 1936. 119 pp., charts.
First annual report of London Regional Advisory Council for Juvenile Employment
1985. London, Ministry of Labor, 1936. 14 pp.
Continued demand in excess of supply for juvenile workers between the ages
of 14 and 18 is reported by the juvenile employment bureaus of the London
region for the year 1935. The distributive trades afford the greatest number
of employment opportunities for both boys and girls. Such unemployment as
exists among young people just leaving school is attributed in the report prin
cipally to the distance between the residential centers that are the main source
of supply and the trade and industrial centers where the demand is greatest.
Because of this distance, transportation costs are disproportionate to earnings
and discourage employment.
Employment Offices
Public employment offices and labor exchanges: An annotated bibliography and
union list of books, pamphlets, periodical articles, and official documents.
By Thomas Wesley Rogers and Homer E. Marsh. Bloomington, Indiana
University, School of Business Administration, June 1935. 210 pp., mimeo
graphed. (Indiana Studies in Business— Special Bulletin.)
Lists references to materials on the subject covered which have been pub
lished in the United States during the last 25 years. The references are classified
by author and by subject.
Housing
Slums and housing, with special reference to New York City. By James Ford.
Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1936. 1033 pp. (2 vols.), maps,
plans, illus.
The history of housing in New York City is traced, showing the influence of
economic, social, and political factors, and means of eliminating existing slums
and preventing the growth of new ones are discussed. Although most of the
data presented concern the New York area, references are made to conditions
in all parts of the world to illustrate the points at issue. Volume 2 includes au
extended bibliography of publications concerning housing in New York City
and also a list of housing bibliographies.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT
P U B L IC A T IO N S
OF
LABOR
IN T E R E S T
543
Industrial Accidents and Health
Accident experience in the iron and steel industry, 1933 and 1934• Washington,
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 7 pp. (Serial No. R. 399, reprint
from June 1936 Monthly Labor Review.)
Accident facts, 1936 edition. Chicago, National Safety Council, Inc., 20 North
Wacker Drive, 1936. 88 pp., maps, charts, illus.
Statistics of accidents in 1935, taken from this publication, are given in this
issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
Discussion of industrial accidents and diseases, 1935 Convention of the International
Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, Asheville, N. C.
Washington, U. S. Division of Labor Standards, 1936. 204 pp. (Bui. No. 4.)
The questions discussed at the conference included various phases of workmen’s
compensation; the diagnosis of silicosis and asbestosis and the disabilities caused
by these diseases; and accident prevention.
The inflammation of coal dusts: The effect of the fineness of the dust. By T. N.
Mason and R. V. Wheeler. London, Safety in Mines Research Board, 1936.
16 pp., diagrams. (Paper No. 95.)
A report on a series of experiments on the effect of the fineness of coal dust on
its inflammability.
The inflammation of coal dusts: The value of the presence of carbon dioxide and
combined water in the dusts. By T. N. Mason and R. V. Wheeler. London,
Safety in Mines Research Board, 1936. 10 pp., diagrams. (Paper No. 96.)
The study shows that the relative efficacy of the “incombustible” dusts used
to suppress the propagation of coal-dust explosions depends essentially on the
proportions of combined carbon dioxide and combined water that they contain.
A preliminary report of the dermatological and systemic effects of exposure to hexachloro-naphthalene and chloro-diphenyl. Harrisburg, Pa., Department of
Labor and Industry, Bureau of Industrial Standards, 1936. 15 pp., illus.
(Special Bulletin No. 43.)
Relation of sickness to income and income change in 10 surveyed communities.
Health and depression studies No. 1: Method of study and general results
for each locality. By G. St. J. Perrott and Selwyn D. Collins. Washington,
U. S. Public Health Service, 1935. 28 pp., charts. (Reprint No. 1684 from
Public Health Reports, May 3, 1935.)
Industrial and Labor Conditions
Anthracite region— tons of coal mined, days worked, persons employed, killed and
injured, explosives used, man-days, 1935. Harrisburg, Pa., Department of
Mines, 1936. 20 pp., mimeographed.
The information in this tabular statement is given by companies and districts.
Annuaire, houillères, mines de fer, mines métalliques, trente-sixième année. Paris,
Comité Central des Houillères de France et de la Chambre Syndicale
Française des Mines Métalliques, 1936. Various paging.
Includes statistics of production in French coal mines in 1934 and 1935, in
iron and metal mines, 1931 to 1935, and of the number of workers and total
wages in coal and lignite mines in 1934.
Annual statistical summary of output, and of the costs of production, proceeds and
profits of the [British] coal mining industry for the year ended December 31,
1935. London, Mines Department, 1936. Folder. (Cmd. 5142.)
The summary shows an output of approximately 215,000,000 tons of coal
with an average output per manshift of 23.25 cwt. Average earnings per man
shift were 9s. 3.15d.
Report on the British coal industry. A survey of the current problems of the
British coal-mining industry and of the distribution of coal, with proposals
for reorganization. London, Political and Economic Planning (PEP), 16
Queen Anne’s Gate, 1936. 214 pp., charts.
The section on progress of coal-mine mechanization is reviewed in this issue of
the Monthly Labor Review.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
544
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W — A U G U S T
1936
The socialization of iron and steel. By “Ingot.” London, Victor Gollancz, Ltd.,
1936. 174 pp., charts.
Mainly a factual study of the British iron and steel industry, including discus
sions of employment, wages, and labor organization. The concluding chapters
present a plan for socialization.
National textile bill. Washington, House of Representatives, Committee on Labor,
1936. 18 pp. (Report No. 2590, to accompany H. R. 12285, 74th Cong.,
2d sess.)
To rehabilitate and stabilize labor conditions in the textile industry of the United
States. Hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Labor, House
of Representatives, 74th Cong., 2d sess., on H. R. 9072, January and Feb
ruary 1936. Washington, 1936. 794 pp., charts, illus.
Revolt on the Clyde—an autobiography. By William Gallacher. London, Law
rence and Wishart, 1936. 301 pp., illus.
An autobiographical recital of the activities of the Clyde Workers’ Committee
and the shop steward movement in the munitions factories and shipyards of
Glasgow, Scotland, and vicinity, during the World War, written by one of the
leaders of the movement.
International Labor Relations
Fundamentos técnicos del establecimiento de un Instituto Inter americano del Trabajo.
Contribución del Departamento del Trabajo de México al Séptimo Congreso
Científico Americano. By Genaro V. Vásquez and Rubén Salido Orcillo.
México, [Departamento del Trabajo?], 1935. 15 pp.
A history of the movement for the creation of an Inter-American Labor
Institute.
Resultados prácticos e influencia de las convenciones internacionales del trabajo,
sobre las legislaciones sociales, de las naciones hispanoamericanas. Contri
bución del Departamento del Trabajo de México al Séptimo Congreso
Científico Americano. By Genaro V. Vásquez and Rubén Salido Orcillo.
México, [Departamento del Trabajo?], 1935. 15 pp.
A brief account of the ratification by the Latin-American nations of conven
tions adopted at the International Labor Conferences.
Labor Legislation
International survey of legal decisions on labor law, 193j-35. Geneva, Interna
tional Labor Office, 1936. li, 347 pp. (American agent: World Peace
Foundation, Boston.)
Law and labor relations: A study of the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act of
Canada. By B. M. Selekman. Boston, Harvard University, Graduate
School of Business Administration, 1936. 65 pp. (Business Research
Studies No. 14.)
The report reviews the operation and administration of the act from 1907,
the date of its enactment, to 1935, and discusses the changing attitudes toward
it of workers and employers and the significance of the Canadian experience for
the United States. An appendix gives the text of the act and its amendments.
Legal A id
Growth of legal-aid work in the United States. A study of our administration of
justice primarily as it affects the wage earner and of the agencies designed
to improve his position before the law. By Reginald Heber Smith and
John S. Bradway. Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936.
223 pp. (including bibliography). (Bui. No. 607.)
National Association of Legal Aid Organizations: Reports of committees, 193j-1935.
[Boston, 1935?] 35 pp.
Includes the program of the 1935 convention at Louisville, Ky., reports of the
secretary and treasurer of the association, and statistics on membership and
cases handled.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
m
R E C E N T P U B L IC A T IO N S O F L A B O R IN T E R E S T
545
Leisure and Recreation
Leisure and recreation. By M. H. and E. S. Neumeyer. New York, A. S. Barnes
and Co., Inc., 1936. 405 pp.
This study of leisure and recreation in their sociological aspects discusses
general factors conditioning leisure; new uses of leisure; public and group aspects
of recreation; recreation movements in other countries; community recreation;
and recreation leadership.
Migration
World immigration with special reference to the United States. By Maurice R,
Davie. New York, Macmillan Co., 1936. 588 pp., map, chart.
A consideration of immigration from the viewpoints of both countries of origin
and countries of destination, particular attention being given to the United States
as the outstanding immigrant-receiving country. The history, causes, extent,
and results of immigration, the assimilation problem, and immigration laws and
their administration are discussed.
Minimum Wage
A brief history of the New York minimum wage case. Washington, U. S. Women’s
Bureau, 1936. 11 pp., mimeographed.
Reviews the terms of the New York minimum-wage act and the circumstances
surrounding its enactment, as well as the action of the State courts and the United
States Supreme Court on the case upon which the constitutionality of the act
was tested. Abstracts of the majority and minority decisions of the United
States Supreme Court are included.
Evolución del derecho obrero en México en relación con el costo de la vida y el salario
mínimo. Contribución del Departamento del Trabajo de México al Sép
timo Congreso Científico Americano. By José Cantu Estrada. México,
[Departamento del Trabajo?], 1935. 13 pp.
Treats of the development in Mexico of the worker’s right to a minimum wage
based on the cost of living.
La tercera fijación del salario mínimo [en México], By Gilberto Loyo. In
Revista de Economía y Estadística, Secretaría de la Economía Nacional,
Mexico, March 1936, pp. 35-45.
A history of the fixing of minimum wages in Mexico. Certain data from this
publication are given in this issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
Occupations
Social work as a profession. By Esther Lucile Brown. New York, Russell Sage
Foundation, 1936. 120 pp. (2d ed.)
Calls attention to the changing concepts of social work and discusses its scope
and the evolution of training for the profession. Data are given on the number of
social workers, their salaries, the demand for their services, and the general
trends in social work.
R elief Measures and Statistics
The Indiana poor law, its development and administration with special reference
to the provision of State care for the sick poor. By Alice Shaffer, Mary Wysor
Keefer, and Sophonisba P. Breckinridge. Chicago, 1936. 378 pp.
(University of Chicago Social Service Monograph No. 28.)
Three centuries of poor law administration—a study of legislation in Rhode Island.
By Margaret Creech. Chicago, 1936. 331 pp. (University of Chicago
Social Service Monograph No. 24.)
Review of activities of the State Relief Administration of California, 1933-1935.
Sacramento, 1936. 332 pp., maps, charts, lllus.
In addition to reports on activities under the various relief programs (direct
relief, transient relief, work relief, emergency education, surplus-commodity
program, etc.) the report gives data on the cooperative self-help movement in the
State.
82425— 36-
-18
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W — A U G U S T
1936
Fourth annual report of New Jersey Emergency Relief Administration [year ending
September 30, 1935]. Trenton, 1935. 145 pp.
Includes an analysis of relief clients as to occupational classification and type
of dependency of family, expenditures for various types of relief, relief gardens,
etc.
Medical relief in Wisconsin, 1934-35. Madison, State Public Welfare Depart
ment, 1936. 12 pp., mimeographed.
A report of the expenditures by local relief agencies in Wisconsin during
1934-35 for medical care in the homes of families receiving relief.
Work relief costs [in Wisconsin], 1934-35. Madison, State Public Welfare De
partment, 1936. 38 pp.
A supplement to the “Review of work relief activities, April 1934 to August
1935”, giving data not available when the earlier report was published.
Unemployment relief documents: Guide to the official publications and releases of
F. E. R. A. and the 43 State relief agencies. By Jerome K. Wilcox. New
York, H. W. Wilson Co., 1936. 95 pp.
The publications listed in this guide cover subjects relating to The Works
Program, general relief, surplus-commodity relief, transient relief, youth work, etc.
Unemployment, relief, and economic security: A survey of Michigan’s relief and
unemployment problem. By William Haber and Paul L. Stanchfield.
(Second report of Michigan State Emergency Welfare Relief Commission.)
Lansing, 1936. 329 pp., maps, charts.
Covers scope and character of relief problem in Michigan, long-range economic
trends, economic security, administrative machinery of relief, people on relief,
work relief, emergency education and allied programs, rural rehabilitation, relief
to transients, and other special programs (including self-help cooperatives).
The unemployment relief problem in North Carolina. Raleigh, North Carolina
League of Municipalities, Committee on Welfare and Unemployment
Relief, 1936. 32 pp., charts; mimeographed. (Report No. 16.)
According to the report, 51,299 placements in public works jobs had been
made in North Carolina as of February 8, 1936; of this number, 46,181 were
employed by the Works Progress Administration. It was estimated that about
$8,154,000 annually would be required to provide relief for 50,000 needy cases
that were receiving no benefit from the public works program.
Unemployment and relief in Canada. Ottawa, Department of Labor, 1936. 31
pp. (Supplement to Labor Gazette, April 1936.)
An analysis of the unemployment and relief situation in Canada as presented
in debates in the Dominion House of Commons in connection with passage of
the Unemployment Relief and Assistance Act, 1936. A summary of relief sta
tistics as of February 1936 is included in the report.
Accounts of the Unemployment Fund [Great Britain] showing the receipts and pay
ments for the year ended March 31, 1935, together with the report of the Comp
troller and Auditor General thereon. London, Exchequer and Audit Depart
ment, 1936. 6 pp.
Selected decisions given by the umpire during the calendar year 1934 respecting
claims for benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Acts [Great Britain],
1920 to 1934• London, Ministry of Labor, 1935. 102 pp.
Self-Help Organizations
IiesurnS of conference of Missouri self-help cooperatives, Jefferson City, December
27-30, 1935. Jefferson City, Missouri Relief Commission, 1936. Various
paging, charts; mimeographed.
Social Security
The social security program of the United States. By Joseph P. Harris. (In
American Political Science Review, Menasha, Wis., June 1936, pp. 455-493.)
The history of the action leading up to the enactment of the Federal Social
Security Act is given and its provisions as to each type of insurance are sum
marized. There is also a discussion of the financial and administrative problems
involved in setting up such a comprehensive system.
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Social security in the United States, 1936. A record of the Ninth National Con
ference on Social Security, New York City, April 24 and 25, 1936, together
with a census of social security in the United States. New York, American
Association for Social Security, Inc., 1936. 170 pp.
In addition to the proceedings of the conference, the report contains statistics
of operation during 1935 under the State old-age-pension acts.
The development of the Social Security Act: A selected list of references. By Helen
Baker. Princeton, N. J., Princeton University, Industrial Relations Section,
1936. 11 pp.
Social security legislation in Nebraska. By Ernest F. Witte. (In Social Service
Review, Chicago, March 1936, pp. 79-108.)
A layman’s summary of the Employment and Social Insurance Act, Canada, 1935.
Ottawa, Canadian Welfare Council, 1935. 22 pp.
Life insurance— a critical examination. By Edward Berman. New York,
Harper & Brothers, 1936. 192 pp.
A study of the typical methods of conducting life insurance business with a
view to an appraisal of the efficiency and economy of the present system. Con
siderable attention is devoted to industrial life insurance, and to the Massachu
setts system of savings bank life insurance.
Security against sickness: A study of health insurance. By I. S. Falk. Garden
City» N. Y., Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc., 1936. 423 pp.
The author discusses the need for group payment of sickness costs in the United
States, covering the costs of sickness and the methods of group payment; European
experience with health insurance, including a description of the German, British,
French, and Danish health insurance systems; and outlines the basis for an Ameri
can program. Pertinent appendixes include: An extract from the report of the
President’s Committee on Economic Security; principles adopted by the American
Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American Hospital
Association, and the American Dental Association; draft conventions and a
recommendation adopted by the International Labor Office; and resolutions of
the International Professional Association of Physicians and of the Fifth Inter
national Conference of National Associations of Health Insurance Funds and
Mutual Aid Societies.
Beretning fra invalideforsikringsretten for aaret 1934. Copenhagen, 1936. 179
pp., pasters. (Ssertryk af Socialt Tidsskrift, Marts 1936.)
Report on invalidity insurance in Denmark in 1934 with some figures for earlier
years. The data cover expense of administration, number of insured, number
of pensioners, rehabilitation, vocational training, etc. English translations of
table heads are furnished.
Kertomus elakekassoista sekd sairaus- ja hautausapukassoista fa -renkaista vuonna
1933. Helsinki, Finland, Sosialiministerio, 1936. 119 pp.
Report on pension funds and on sickness- and death-benefit funds and societies
in Finland, for the year 1933. Printed in Finnish and Swedish, with French
translation of table contents and a French résumé.
Sjomannstrygden, 1933; Fiskertrygden, 1933. Oslo, Rikstrygdeverket, 1936. 52 pp.
Annual reports of the Norwegian Insurance Office on State insurance against
accidents in seafaring and fisheries for the fiscal year 1933. French translations
are given of the table of contents and heads of the statistical tables.
Indberetning om arbejdsanvisningen og arbejdsltfshedsforsikringen i regnskabsaaret,
1934-35. Copenhagen, Arbejdsdirekt0ren, 1936. 90 pp., pasters, charts.
Annual report on activities of employment offices and on unemployment
insurance in Denmark during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1935.
En Hispano-America, no seguro de desocupación involuntaria, sino medidas pre
ventivas de ella. Contribución del Departamento del Trabajo de México al
Séptimo Congreso Científico Americano. By Gilberto Loyo and Adolfo
Zamora. Mexico, [Departamento del Trabajo?], 1935. 15 pp.
A discussion of unemployment insurance in certain countries, and of unem
ployment in Mexico from 1931 through 1934, with reasons why the authors
think unemployment insurance is not a satisfactory solution of the problem of
unemployment in Mexico and other countries. Suggestions are made looking
toward the prevention of unemployment.
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Vacations W ith Pay
Selected plans of companies granting vacations with pay to wage earners. New
York, National Industrial Conference Board, Inc., 247 Park Ave., 1936.
25 pp. (Domestic Affairs Series, Memorandum No. 48.)
Reproduces the plans of 12 companies for vacations with pay for wage earners.
Wages and Hours of Labor
Earnings in cigarette, snuff, and chewing- and smoking-tobacco plants in 1933-35.
Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 14 pp. (Serial No.
R. 390, reprint from May 1936 Monthly Labor Review.)
Cotton cloth: Report to the President on the differences in costs of production of
cotton cloth in the United States and in the principal competing country [Japan],
Washington, U. S. Tariff Commission, 1936. 168 pp., chart. (Report No.
112, Second series.)
Contains data on wages and hours in cotton mills in this country and in Japan.
Salaries in land-grant colleges, 1935 (not including institutions for Negroes).
By Walter J. Greenleaf. Washington, U. S. Office of Education, 1936.
18 pp. (Circular No. 157.)
Welfare Work
Bulletin de la Société pour le Développement des Institutions sociales dans les Entre
prises, 1935. Paris, 1935. 99 pp.
Proceedings of the society for the development of social institutions in industry
(formerly the French profit-sharing society), containing accounts of the various
meetings held during 1935, in which are included reports of the welfare work of
several industrial establishments.
Miners’ Welfare Fund: Fourteenth annual report of the Miners’ Welfare Com
mittee for the year 1935, and ninth annual report of the Selection Committee,
Miners’ Welfare National Scholarship Scheme. London, Mines Depart
ment, 1936. 53 pp. illus.
The allocation to statutory functions of the 1935 Miners’ Welfare Fund, which
amounted to £736,588, was as follows: Pithead baths and other forms of pit
welfare, £393,066; recreation, £178,135; health, £72,835; education, £12,742;
research, £45,367. Fourteen new pithead baths were completed during 1935,
26 were under construction on December 31, 1935, and plans and appropriations
for 17 more were made during the year. Five scholarships were awarded to
mine workers and 13 to children of mine workers. Thirteen scholarships were
completed and 25 were active during the year covered by the report.
Women in Industry
Are women taking men’s jobsf By Muriel Heagney. Melbourne, Hilton &
Veitch, 1935. 190 pp.
An international survey, with particular reference to Australia, of fields of
employment, wages, working conditions, and job opportunities of woman workers,
upon which is based a negative answer to the question presented in the title.
Y o u th Problems
Report of the administration and operation of the National Youth Administration
program. Washington, U. S. National Youth Administration, April 25,
1936. 195 pp.; mimeographed.
This volume on the activities of the N. Y. A. includes data on State and local
advisory committees, student aid, guidance, and placement and work projects.
Information on the work projects is given in this issue of the Monthly Labor
Review.
Youth—finding jobs. By D. L. Harley. Washington, U. S. Office of Education,
Committee on Youth Problems, 1936. 59 pp. (Bulletin, 1936, No. 18-V.)
Data on training for domestic service from this bulletin are given in this issue
of the Monthly Labor Review.
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Youth welfare in Germany. By John W. Taylor.
Co., 1936. 259 pp., charts, illus.
A study of the operation in the past and present
have been designed to exert a formative influence
A bibliography of German works on the subject is
549
Nashville, Tenn., Baird-Ward
of systems in Germany which
upon the character of youth.
included.
General Reports
Forty-fourth annual report of the Commissioner of Labor and Statistics of M ary
land, 1935. Baltimore, 1936. 61 pp.
Includes data on employment, industrial disputes, women and children in
industry, mine operation, and occupational diseases.
Official yearbook of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1935. Canberra, Bureau of
Census and Statistics, 1936. 971 pp., maps, charts.
Wages and working hours, prices, cost of living, and employment are among
the many topics covered.
Annuaire statistique de la République Tchécoslovaque. Prague, Office de Statis
tique, 1936. In 2 parts; 292 and 172 pp.
A general statistical annual, including data on wages, unemployment, work
of employment offices, strikes and lockouts, collective agreements, trade-union
membership, social insurance, production, prices and cost of living, family food
consumption, and cooperative societies. Printed in Czech with French table of
contents and, in a separate volume, French translations of the table heads, stubs,
and footnotes.
Native affairs annual report, Northern Rhodesia, 1935. Lusaka, [Native Affairs
Department?], 1936. 96 pp.
Includes information on labor conditions in different industries and areas and
gives wage scales.
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