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Contents.
Special articles :
Prices and cost of living in Japan and China since the World War, by
Ta Chen.....................................................................................................
Industrial relations and labor conditions:
Canada—Annual convention of the Trades and Labor Congress...............
Germany—Industrial standardization........................................................
Japan—Economic condition ofagricultural laborers................................
New South Wales—Labor conditions in rural industries...........................
New Zealand—Labor conditions and legislation, by Mrs. Victoria B.
Turner........................................................................................................
Human factor in eliminating industrial waste...........................................
Prices and cost of living:
Retail prices of food in the United States.....................................
Retail prices of coal in the United States..................................................
Retail prices of dry goods in the United States.........................................
Wholesale prices in October........................................................................
Wholesale prices of building materials.......................................................
Wholesale prices in the United States and foreign countries, 1913 to
September, 1921........................................................................................
Price changes, wholesale and retail, of important food articles in selected
cities........ .................................................................................................
Argentina—Increases in rents, 1919-20......................................................
Australia—Purchasing power of money.................
Great Britain—Increases in rents, 1914 to 1921.........................................
India—Cost of living in Bombay...............-................................................
Portugal—Prices of food in Lisbon, August, 1921......................................
Scandinavian countries—Changes in cost of living....................................
Wages and hours of labor :
Trend of wages in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1920......................
Days and hours of labor in blast furnaces in 1920......................................
Changes in union wage scales, 1907 to 1921................................................
Belgium—Average wages per hour in Liège, August, 1921.......................
Canada—Standardizing farm wages in western Canada.............................
Czechoslovakia—Average wages, 1914 and 1920.........................................
France—Wages in 1920 and 1921.................................................................
Germany—
Wages in industrial occupations, January, 1920, to July, 1921.........
Wages and salaries of manual workers and officials in Government
service.................................................................................................
Wage policy of Federation of German Employers’ Associations.......
Great Britain—Wage situation among agricultural laborers......................
Sweden—Wage reductions...........................................................................
Tasmania—Wages and hours of labor..........................................................
in
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Page.
1-7
8, 9
10,11
11-13
13-17
17-31
31
32-53
54-57
57-64
64-68
68, 69
70,71
72-75
75, 76
76
76,77
77
78
78-80
81, 82
83-89
89, 90
90
91
91
92-98
98-100
100-102
102-104
104,105
105
106
IV
C O N T E N T S.
Minimum wage:
Pago.
Texas—Report of Industrial Welfare Commission.................................... 107,108
South Australia—New minimum wage rates.............................................. 108-111
Labor agreements, awards, and decisions:
Railroads—
Decisions of the Railroad Labor Board................................................ 112-115
The Pullman agreement........................................................................ 115,116
Rochester shoe industry...............................................................................
116
Employment and unemployment:
Activities of mayors’ unemployment committees...................................... 117-119
Meeting of standing committee of President’s Conference on Unemploy
ment...........................................................................................................
119
Employment in selected industries in October, 1921................................ 119-122
Number of idle bituminous coal mines, week ending Oct. 1, 1921...........
123
A proposed score-card method of recording time lost on the job.............. 123-125
Arkansas—Volume of employment............................................................. 125,126
Massachusetts—Cost of placement work......................................... ............
126
New York—Employment in factories in October, 1921.............................
127
Unemployment in foreign countries...... ..................................................... 127-137
Great Britain—Labor’s manifesto on unemployment................................ 137-139
Italy—Public works for unemployment relief............................................
139
Woman and child labor:
Health problems of women in industry...................................................... 140,141
New York—Hours, wages, and working conditions of women in 5 and 10
cent stores................................................................................................. 141-144
Housing:
Massachusetts—Housing situation............................................................... 145-147
Great Britain—Progress of English building guilds.................................. 147-153
Industrial accidents:
Tenth annual congress of the National Safety Council............................. 154-156
Coke-oven accidents in the United States in 1920..................................... 156,157
Labor laws and court decisions:
California—
Provision for unemployed workers.......................................................
158
Poll tax on aliens................................................................................... 158,159
California, Georgia, and New Jersey—Injunctions against picketing....... 159,160
Illinois—
Investigation of the building industry................................................
160
Extortion in labor disputes..................................................................
161
Argentina—Rent law....................................................................................
161
Czechoslovakia—Application of eight-hour-day act to agriculture........... 162,163
Poland—Labor legislation............................................................................ 163-165
Strikes and lockouts:
The threatened railroad strike..................................................................... 166-179
Japan—Strike of dockyard workers at Kobe .. ........................................ 179,180
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C O N T E N T S.
Conciliation and arbitration :
Settlement of wage disputes........................................................................
Cooperation :
Company cooperative stores in the United States.....................................
Tenth international cooperative congress...................................................
What State labor bureaus are doing :
California.................
Maryland.......................................................................................................
Ohio............................
Pennsylvania................................................................................................
Philippine Islands........................................................................................
Current notes of interest to labor:
Projects under way in the United States Children’s Bureau....................
Welfare work for immigrants.......................................................................
Platform of new Federal Labor Party of Canada.......................................
South African board of trade and industries..............................................
An international index number..................................................................
Official publications relating to labor :
United States................................................................................................
Foreign countries..........................................................................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
V
Page.
181-184
185,186
187
188
188,189
190
190,191
192
193
193
194
194,195
195
196,197
197-201
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
v o l . x i i i —n o .
r.
D e c e m b e r , 1921
W A S H IN G T O N
Prices and Cost of Living in Japan and China Since the World War.
By T a
Ch e n ,
A. M., Fellow of Columbia University.
Japan.
HE outbreak of the World War cut off European demand for
Japan’s exports and caused temporary industrial depression
in the Island Empire. Throughout the year 1914, and up to
the middle of 1915, business was generally dull. Soon afterwards,
war industries sprang up in several Japanese cities, and an era of great
industrial activity began. Excessive profits for the narikin, or mush
room millionaires, reckless speculation, and greatly inflated currency
characterized Japanese commercial and industrial activities up to
the signing of the armistice. Immediately after the cessation of
hostilities by the warring nations there was a brief period of business
inactivity coupled with low prices and unemployment. During the
last two years high prices and high cost of living have in a large
measure forced a relatively high scale of wages.
T
Trend of Prices.
Between the Russo-Japanese War and the European War there
was a comparatively greater increase in wages than in prices in Japan,
thus creating a favorable situation for the populace. For example,
up to 1915 wages were 49 per cent and prices only 25 per cent higher
than those of 1900. But two years later the situation was suddenly
changed. Prices were increasing much faster than wages, as the
former had an increase of 155 per cent and the latter only 124 per cent
over those of 1900. Prices continued to rise and the peak of whole
sale prices was reached in January, 1920, being 298 per cent higher
than those in 1900. The following table gives the quarterly index
numbers of wholesale prices of 56 commodities in Tokyo from the
year 1912 to July, 1921:
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S O F 56 C O M M O D ITIES IN T O K Y O , B Y Q U A R
T E R S , JA N U A R Y , 1912, TO JU L Y , 1921.1
[Prices in 1900=100.]
M onth.
J a n u a ry .........................................
A p ril./...........................................
J u ly ................................................
O etobei.........................................
1912
1013
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
129
132
133
132
134
132
130
133
130
127
125
125
120
127
125
127
145
153
147
157
168
173
206
214
224
243
252
290
277
267
319
352
398
391
316
298
1 From th e Jap an F inancial an d Economic M onthly, Ju ly , 1921, p . 20.
2 June.
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1
1921
265
251
2 253
2
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Regarding retail prices in Japan, there has in recent years been a
similar upward trend, as the following table will show:
R E T A IL P R IC E S O F C E R T A IN A R T IC L E S IN JA P A N , IN 1917 A N D 1918.1
[Yen a t p ar = 49.8 cents; k in = 1.32 pounds; kw an = 8.26 pounds.]
Price in —
Commodity.
P er cent of
increase.
U nit.
R ice.......................................................
W h e a t...........................................................................
S ugar...................................................... ....... ..............
S a lt...................................................
Spices............................ . ..................
Sauce............................................... ..............................
Saki..............................................................................
P e tro leu m ................................................
Charcoal........................................
F u e l........................................................
P i n t ..............
........d o ......... .
Ivin...............
........d o ...........
K w an ...........
P i n t ..............
........d o ...........
__d o ...........
K w an...........
........d o __ ___
1917
1918
Y en.
0. 23
. 14
.22
.04
.46
.29
.64
.31
.20
.05
Yea.
0.38
.23
.27
.05
.65
.38
.84
.58
.28
.07
65.2
64.3
22.7
25. 0
41 3
31.0
31.2
87.1
40.0
40.0
1 ,1a'■'an. M inistry of A griculture a n d Commerce. T h ird an n u al report of Inspector of Factories.
1921, Vol. I, p. 19. (P ublished in Japanese.)
Tokyo,
Currency Inflation.
Since 1914 the notes in circulation on the Japanese market have
been quintupled. The Bank of Japan, which has the exclusive privi
lege of issuing notes, may issue up to 120,000,000 yen ($59,760,000,
par) of notes, secured by Government or private securities, or com
mercial bills, which are either tax free or subject to a small impost.
For additional notes, over and above 120,000,000 yen, the bank will
have to pay a tax of about 5 per cent upon the par value. Before the
war the bank paid scarcely any tax, because the excess of notes above
those secured by specie and bullion was usually below the 120,000,000
yen limit; but after the war an enormous amount of notes was
added each year, as the following table shows:
N O T E C IR C U L A T IO N , S P E C IE R E S E R V E , T A X E D N O T E S , AN D LO A N S (IN M IL L IO N S
O F Y E N ) IN JA P A N , 1914 TO 19204
[Yen a t par= 49.8 cents.]
N ote circu
lation.
Year.
1914.................................................................................
1915.................................................................................
1916.................................................................................
1917.................................................................................
1918.................................................................................
1919.................................................................................
1920.................................................................................
385
430
610
832
1,152
1,564
1,622
Specie
reserve.
218
248
410
649
721
951
984
Taxed notes.
47
61
70
63
310
492
560
Loans.
87
58
188
170
627
723
798
1 Q uarterly Jo u rn al of Economics, voi. 34, p . 437.
Trend of Wages.
The slow increase in wages has failed to keep pace with the rapid
advance of prices. Since the war male workers in many industries
have had an increase of 110 per cent in their daily wages, and female
workers an increase of 90 per cent. But this is not sufficient to
secure a decent living. Liberal employers grant annual bonuses to
their employees to the amount of 15 yen ($7.47, par). To workers
who have been in their employ five years and over, a larger bonus is
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1164]
3
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING IN JAPAN AND CHINA.
usually given. In some industries a subsidy for family maintenance
is provided, usually about 4.5 per cent of the monthly wages of the
employee. In January last the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture and
Commerce issued a report giving comparisons of wages in some indus
tries. These figures are given in the following table:
D A IL Y W A G E S IN 1917 AN D 1918 IN C E R T A IN IN D U S T R IE S O P JA P A N .1
[Yen a t par=49.8 cents.]
D aily wages in —
Per cent of
increase.
In d u stry .
Silk reeling:
M en....................................................................................................
W om en.................. ..........................................................................
C hildren............................................................................................
Silk filature:
M en....................................................................................................
W om en .............................................................................................
C hildren............................................................................................
C otton weaving:
M en....................................................................................................
W om en.............................................................................................
C hildren............................................................................................
H em p weaving:
M en....................................................................................................
W om en.............................................................................................
Children............................................................................................
1 Jap a n . M inistry of A griculture an d Commerce.
1921, Vol. I, p. 19. (P ublished in Japanese.)
1917
1918
Y en .
0.52
.42
.20
Y en .
0.68
.53
.26
30.7
26.2
30.0
.57
.35
.22
.72
.61
.30
26.3
74.3
36.4
.57
.37
.23
.69
.63
.31
21.1
70.3
34.8
.62
.38
.28
1.64
.45
.29
164.5
18.4
3.6
T hird an n u al rep o rt of inspector of factories.
•
Tokyo,
Cost of Living.
Among the school-teachers of Tokyo.—Toward the end of 1920 a costof-living survey was made among the school-teachers in Tokyo. The
study covered 775 male teachers and 444 female teachers. They
were grouped under nine classes according to their monthly incomes.
For each class there was worked out a comparative table of
their cost of living, covering 25 items of expenditure. A large deficit
was found to exist in each class. For example, class 1 has an average
monthly income of 45 yen ($22.41, par) and an average expenditure
of 60.50 yen ($30.12, par), creating a deficit of 15.50 yen ($7.72, par).
It is thus seen that the prevailing salaries were inadequate to meet
the increased and increasing cost of living.
COST O F L IV IN G AMONG SC H O O L -T E A C H E R S IN T O K Y O , 1920.’
[Yen a t par=49.8 cents.]
Item .
C lassi. Class 2. Class 3. Class 4. Classò. Classò. Class 7. Class 8. Classo.
Y en .
M onthly income:
S alary .......................................... 28.00
R en t allow ance........................ 4.00
Salary increase.........................
Miscellaneous............................ 13. 40
Y en .
30.00
4.00
1.00
14.40
Y en .
35.00
4.00
2.00
16.80
Y en .
37. 50
4. 00
2. 50
18.00
Y en .
40. 00
4. 00
2.50
19.20
Y en.
42. 50
4. 00
3.00
21.60
Y en .
47.50
4.00
4. 00
22.80
Y en .
52.50
4.00
5. 00
25.20
Y en .
60.00
6.00
6.00
28.80
T o ta l........................................ 45.40
49.40
57.80
62.00
65.70
71.10
78.30
86.70
100.80
M onthly expenditure:
F o o d ............................................ 28.74
Clothing...................................... 11.49
R e n t............................................ 7. 56
H e a lth ........................................ 2.91
E du catio n .................................. 4. 05
2. 85
Social activities........................
R ecreation, e tc ......................... 1.87
33.36
13.16
13.62
3.67
4.12
3.90
3.06
35. 31
15.56
15.64
4.36
4.28
4.29
4. 01
38.39
16. 04
17. 30
5.25
5.06
5.25
5. 44
41.08
17.47
18.62
5.83
5.61
5. 62
6. 55
42. 81
21.22
20.54
6.73
6. 26
6.84
8.00
46.79
21.78
21. 88
6.95
6.95
7. 34
9.36
79. 74
25.51
24. 51
8.54
8.54
7.98
10.54
55.93
29. 41
27. 71
13. 77
13.77
10.54
13.60
T o tal........................................ 59. 47
74.89
83. 45
92. 73
100. 78
112. 40
121. 05
165. 36
164.73
Deficit................................................. 14. 07
25.49
25. 65
30.73
35. 08
41.30
42. 75
78.66
63.93
1 The K eizai Ronso (Econom ic Journal), voi. 12, No. 1, p p . 154-171.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1165]
4
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Among the workers.—Since the war, the cost of the family budgets
of the workers has rapidly increased. For a family of two children,
the minimum expenditure per month covers the following items:
Yen.
Rent................................................................................................... 5. 50
Rice.................................................................................................... 15.12
Fish.................................................................................................... 1.00
Vegetables.......................................................................................... 4.50
Other food...........................................................................
1.70
Charcoal and fuel.............................................................................. 2. 50
Electric light..................................................................................... 1.10
Total........................................................................................ 31.42
The larger the size of the family, the larger is the monthly expendi
ture, and for a family of five children the minimum monthly expendi
ture will easily reach 40 yen ($19.92, par).
Recently the worker’s financial burden has been increased by
further advances in the price of the necessaries of life. The Osaka
Department of Industries has found the following per cent of increase
in the various items since 1918:
Per cent of
increase.
Rice..........................
Sugar..................................................................................................
Miso....................................................................................................
Coal.....................................................................................................
Nankeen..............................................
Fuel..............................................................
25.2
35.8
15.1
10.0
40.6
15.9
Because of the rising cost of living, the workers have often resorted
to the strike to demand an increase in wages. The rice riot of
1918-19 was a gigantic protest against the high cost of living, which,
according to Mr. Hamaguchi of the Diet, was u threatening the
livelihood of the majority of the nation.” The riot constituted an
important cause of the downfall of the Terauchi cabinet. Mr.
Tokonami, the minister of the interior, struck the keynote of the
whole situation when he appealed to the capitalists to “ establish
willingly some institutions to give the workers comfort and pros
perity” in order to secure their industrial cooperation.
To-day, the mounting cost of living is causing serious industrial
unrest among the working classes, of which strikes are one evidence.
The employees of the Kawasaki dockyards and the Mitsubishi dock
yards of Kobe went on strike on July 7 and 9, respectively, demanding
an immediate increase of wages, an 8-hour day, and the recognition
of their union. The number of strikers soon reached 35,000, and
they were strongly backed up by the Yuaikai, the most influential
labor union in Japan, with 80,000 members and 400 branch offices.1
Among the salary-without-bonus class.—Aside from the abovespecified classes, the high cost of living hits in a general way the
salary-without-bonus class, which includes editors, newspapermen,
soldiers, policemen, writers, and emplojnes of those companies that
have not materially profited by the World War. Their salary is
usually within the limit of 100 yen ($49.80, par) per month. They
are practising the strictest economy in order to make ends meet.
There are no savings in this class.
i For an account of this strike see pp. 179 and 180 of this issue of the Monthly L abor R eview.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1166]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING IN JAPAN AND CHINA.
5
In Japan generally.—According to the index numbers of the
Oriental Economist and the Bank of Japan, the cost of living in Japan
since the war has risen as follows:
Index
num ber.
June, 1914 1
December, 1914 1
December, 1915 1
December, 1916 1
December, 1917 1
December, 1918 1
December, 1919 1
December, 1920.
June, 1921..........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100.0
98.3
138.8
156.6
198.3
238.7
258.1
269.0
250.3
China.
effect of the European War on China’s economic situation was
similar to that on Japan’s. Business inactivity and extensive
unemployment prevailed up to the beginning of 1915, when prices
began to rise and industrial revival was in sight. Then the Twentyone Demands were made upon China. A nation-wide boycott of
Japanese goods was effected, which cut off Japanese exports to China
on the one hand and stimulated home industries on the other. Prices
rose. The industrial situation was further complicated by a great
depreciation of the paper currency of the country. But basic indus
tries such as foods, textiles, and clothing materials developed at a
rapid rate to meet the increasing home demand. After the armistice
prices advanced quickly and so also did wages.
Trend of Prices.
Taking 1914 as the base year, the index numbers for wholesale
prices in Peking showed a slight downward trend in 1915 and a part
of 1916. This was partly due to the European War—as industrial
depression was a world-wide phenomenon—and partly to political
and social instability in the nation. Soon afterwards prices began
an uninterrupted advance, as the following index numbers of whole
sale prices show:2
Index
num ber.
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
100. 0
99.0
105.1
165. 0
190. 3
230. 7
240. 2
As indicative of the course of retail prices, the cost of rice may
be taken. Since the war the price of polished rice in Shanghai has
advanced 135 per cent and is still increasing. In July last the
municipal council ordered 600 rice shops in the Foreign Settlement
to register in order to prevent speculation and further advance in
price. The rice shops refused to register because of conditions
attached to the order which they considered unsatisfactory, but later
on they registered through the guilds.
1 D a ta for years u p to 1919 are from Q uarterly Jo u rn a l of Economics, vol. 34, p. 433.
2 D a ta are from th e B an k ers’ Magazine, March, 1921. (Published in Chinese.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1167]
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
6
Trend of Wages.
High prices were especially hard on the working class, as wages
have not increased nearly so fast as the cost of living. For example,
the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce has recently found that
wholesale prices in Shanghai have advanced 140 per cent, whereas
the increase in wages hardly exceeds 80 per cent. Printers of
Hankow have had their wages increased about 95 per cent in the
last three years. Since the war the employees of the rice-milling
industry of Hongkong have had an increase of about 90 per cent,
plus an annual bonus of $10 ($4.80, in American money, at par
value). In the interior the increase in wages is not so great, no
industrial city having recorded an increase above 50 per cent since
1915.
Cost of Living.
Among the cotton-mill vjorkers.—Cotton weaving in China has been
rapidly developing since the war. The following table is an estimate
of the average monthly expenditure of the unskilled and semiskilled
workers of a factory in Shanghai:
A V E R A G E M O N T H LY E X P E N D IT U R E S O F U N S K IL L E D A N D S E M IS K IL L E D FA C TO R Y
W O R K E R S IN S H A N G H A I.1
[Chinese dollar a t par= 4 8 cents.]
M onthly expenditure for—
Deficit.
M onthly income.
Food.
£15.........................................................................
$20 ........................................................................
$25.........................................................................
1 C hina. K iangsu Province.
Clothing.
$12. 00
13.50
15.00
$2.00
3. 50
3.50
R ent.
$3.00
3.50
3.50
Miscel
laneous.
$2.00
3.00
4.50
R eport of In d u stria l Commissioner, 1920, p. 57.
Total.
$19. 00
23.50
26.50
$4.00
3.50
1.50
(Published in Chinese.)
In each class there is a deficit, although the deficit decreases as the
monthly income increases.
Among the villagers— Recently a survey on the cost of living was
made by Tsing Hua College, near Peking, among the villages in the
vicinity. The study covered 195 Chinese and Manchurian families
in 12 villages, and included farmers, mechanics, tradesmen, day
laborers, drivers, carpenters, and barbers. They were grouped under
seven classes according to their expenditures.
As the economic effects of the war are being felt only gradually in
these districts, these figures show fairly well the cost of living in
rural communities near the national capital.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1168]
7
PRICES AIsTI) COST OF LIVING IN JAPAN AND CHINA.
COST O F L IV IN G AMONG 195, C H IN E S E AND M A N C H U R IA N F A M IL IE S IN V IL L A G E S
N E A R P E K IN G .1
[Chinese dollar a t p a r= 4 8 cents.]
Average
to ta l
in
come.
E x p en d itu re group.
$30 to $49 ................................................
$50 to $89....................................................
$70 to $89....................................................
$90 to $109..................................................
$110 to $129............................... ................
$130 to $149................................................
$150 a nd ov er............................................
$40.10
58. 50
76.00
100. 80
123.00
139. 70
188. 80
Average expenditure for—
Food.
Cloth
ing.
Light
and
fuel.
R ent.
$2.00
3.40
5.50
10.30
11.50
$i. 60
3. 90
6.20
8.50
9. 50
$5.90
7.20
8.20
8.80
9.70
$47. 00
59. 70
74.00
83. 30
95. 50
A ver
age
to ta l
Miscel expend
lane iture.
ous.
$0. 80
2. 30
3. 90
7.00
8. 90
$41. SO
59. 30
76.50
97.80
117.90
135.10
184.10
Aver
age
deficit
( - ) or
surplus
(+)•
-$ 1 . 70
- .80
- .50
+ 3.00
+ 5.10
+ 4.60
+ 4.70
________ 1________
i Q uarterly Jo u rn al of Economics, vol. 33, p. 117.
In Manchuria.-—The South Manchuria Railway recently made a
cost-of-living survey among the farmers in about 100 villages in the
“ railway zone.” Covering such items as food, clothing, fuel, educa
tion, heat, and light, and miscellaneous expenses, it was found that
on the average a small farmer in Manchuria spends 7.44 yen ($3.71,
par) less per year for food than a farmer of the same class in Japan,
and a middle-class farmer spends 15.31 yen ($7.62, par) less than one
of the same class in Japan. This relatively lower standard of living
in Manchuria has given rise to a “ pessimistic view of Japanese
agricultural emigration to Manchuria.” 3
Moreover, the Japanese in Dairen, Manchuria, are receiving much
lower wages than their fellow countrymen in the same occupations
in Japan:
D A IL Y W A G ES O F JA P A N E S E W O R K E R S IN C E R T A IN O CCU PA TIO N S IN
M A N C H U R IA , A N D IN JA P A N .“
[Yen a t par=49.8 cents.]
D aily wage in — :
Occupation.
D airen,
M anchuria.
B lack sm ith s......................................
B rick lay ers........................................
C arp en ters.........................................
D ay lab o rers......................................
S to n ecu tters......................................
Tile roofers.........................................
P a in te rs ................ .............................
Tailors.................................................
a The D airen Tim es, Aug. 12,1921. (P ublished in
a The Keizai Ronso, Vol. V III, No. 3, p p . 427-433.
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Y en .
0.33
.30
.50
.30
. 50
.44
.40
.50
Chinese.)
[1169]
Jap a n .
Yen.
0.
1. 22
.97
.70
1.11
.99
.85
0. 79-0.97
91
D A IR E N ,
IN D U STRIA L R E L A T IO N S A ND LA B O R CO NDITIONS.
Annual Convention of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada .1
HE thirty-seventh annual convention of the Trades and Labor
Congress of Canada met in Winnipeg, August 22-27, 1921.
Six hundred and forty-two accredited delegates were in
attendance.
After addresses of welcome by the president of the Winnipeg
Trades and Labor Council, the mayor of Winnipeg, and Premier T. C.
Norris, the Hon. G. D. Robertson, Minister of Labor, spoke. The
following excerpt from his address is of special interest in view of the
world-wide prominence of the problem of unemployment.
T
The Federal Government announced on December 14, 1920, a general policy to aid
municipalities to meet the need where employment could not be found. It was,
briefly, th at wherever local authorities deemed relief merited and necessary and
provision was made for such relief, the Federal Government through the Department
of Labor would bear one-third of the cost, suggesting that Provincial Governments
should contribute an equal share. This suggestion was adopted by some Provinces,
though not by all. The Federal Government’s expenditure for this purpose since
January 1 last has been $434,000, representing one-third of a total cost of about
$1,200,000 disbursed for this purpose. In addition the Federal Government assumed
full responsibility for aiding disabled or handicapped returned soldiers and their
dependents. Twelve thousand one hundred and sixty-five such men, together with
their dependents, received aid in addition to their pensions to the amount of $1,192,200
between January 1 and August 1 this year. The net result is that for unemployment
relief since January 1 a total of $2,392,000 has been disbursed, of which amount the
Federal Government provided $1,626,000, or more than double the contribution of
Provinces and municipalities combined.
Among the matters taken up in the report of the executive council
were the legislative program of 1921: Provincial executives and
federations of labor; labor representatives on advisory councils;
industrial councils; compensation and industrial rehabilitation;
international relationships; immigration; and unemployment—a 16page memorandum in pamphlet form being submitted on this last
subject.
The special committee to which this memorandum was referred
adopted among other recommendations the following:
B e i t f u rth e r re so lv e d , That in the interim period between now and the time that
permanent machinery is set up by the Federal and Provincial Governments to cope
with the unemployment situation this congress request that the Federal Government:
1. Restrict and guard against unwarranted immigration.
2. Enact an 8-hour day, at least for their own employees.
3.
Construct necessary public works such as customhouses, post offices, and other
public buildings which are badly needed in many cities and towns throughout the
Dominion. '
4. Renew and repair all public buildings.
5. Continue money grants for immediate needs.
6.
Make housing ioans to the extent of $50,000,000 to aid the various cities and
towns to construct working-class houses.
7.
Overhaul all rolling stock, etc., on the Government railroads, also all other
equipment belonging to the various spending departments of the Federal Govern
ment.
1 The Labor G azette, O tta w a , Septem ber, 1921, p p. 1126-1149.
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IN D U ST R IA L RELA TIO N S AND LABOR C O N D ITIO N S.
9
B e i t f u r t h e r re so lved , That this Trades and Labor Congress of Canada through its
provincial executives request the several Provincial Governments to:
1. Engage in road building on a large scale.
2. Repair and renew old public buildings and construct necessary new ones.
3. Afforestation.
4. Develop agricultural lands.
5. Make a money grant for immediate needs.
B e i t f u r t h e r re so lv e d , That this Trades and Labor Congress of Canada request the
central labor councils throughout Canada to help in relieving the present unemploy
ment situation by getting the municipal councils to undertake at the earliest moment
the construction of sewers, water mains, roads, schools, fire halls, and other necessary
public buildings, and also to make a money grant for immediate relief.
Your committee further recommend that all of these resolutions should emphasize
the fact that all of these works and undertakings should recognize the prevailing
rates of wages and should not be classed as a charity.
Other Adopted Resolutions.
INCLUDED in the approved resolutions were the following:
* Calling on the Government to establish an 8-hour day and a
44-hour week.
Favoring the insertion of “ the fair-wage clause recognized by the
labor unions * * * in all contracts and subcontracts for work
given out by the Federal or Provincial Governments.”
Calling upon the Government to establish health insurance.
Calling upon the Government to pass an old-age pension act.
Objecting to military training in the schools.
Favoring light beer.
Requesting the Department of Labor to report on the losses
resulting to the worker in money and unemployment brought about
by overproduction and a desire to reduce wages.
Objecting to employees of Canadian national railways being de
barred as candidates for Provincial and National Parliaments.
Favoring the periodic medical examination of all kitchen help
and others engaged in food preparation.
Favoring the prohibition of the employment of white guds and
Asiatics in the same establishment and the prohibition of the employ
ment of white girls by Orientals.
Favoring the setting up by the Dominion of a national industrial
council and departmental councils in the civil service, and the
reclassification of such service.
Opposing the enforcement of any conscription law in Canada
without referendum vote.
Favoring the stamping of manufacturers’ cost on all commodities.
Favoring the creation of a commission to investigate and report
on the actual capitalization of the different Canadian industries.
Officers for 1921-22.
1V/IR. Tom Moore, of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Ottawa, was again elected president, and Mr. P. M. Draper,
of the International Typographical Union, the secretary-treasurer of
the Congress for the past year, will serve in this capacity for another
term.
It was decided to hold the 1922 meeting in Montreal.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW .
Industrial Standardization in Germany.
HE importance to the industrial life of the country of standardiza
tion of manufactured products along national lines and the ef
fect in stabilizing employment are shown in a report submitted to
this office by the American Engineering Standards Committee which
outlines the part standardization is playing in German industrial
reconstruction. It is stated that Germany is carrying on standard
ization work on a scale and with an intensity unequaled in any
country except Great Britain, and that this far-reaching program
forms a necessary part in building up an unprecedented industrial
structure for Germany’s foreign trade.
A great amount of standardization work had been carried on in
Germany before 1917 by various companies and by engineering and
industrial organizations, but at the suggestion of the German Govern
ment in 1917 a central organization called the Normenausschuss der
deutschen Industrie was formed. In the four years since it was
established the national standardization movement has been thor
oughly organized, 144 approved standards sheets have been issued,
and over 500 others have been developed to a point wffiere they have
been published in tentative form. Each sheet is as nearly independ
ent as possible and firms purchasing these sheets issue them directly
to designers, draughtsmen, and foremen for use as working drawings
and data sheets. About 100,000 sheets are sold monthly. In addi
tion an extensive information service on the standardization work of
Germany and of other countries is maintained. This branch of work
has been developed in this country by the American Engineering
Standards Committee, but in general it is said that German and
Japanese industries study foreign developments much more closely
than do those of other countries.
The work of the central committee is supplemented by fifteen or
ganizations known as special industry committees, each of which
deals with the standardization work peculiar to a single industry.
These special committees are affiliated to the central committee and
follow closely the standards set by the Normenausschuss itself.
In general, continental countries are going much further into
dimensional standardization than the Anglo-Saxon countries where
there is greater inclination to deal with matters having to do with
purchase and contract, such as specifications for materials, and for
performance of apparatus, methods of test, etc.
The report cites as typical examples of the German work their
system of “ preferred numbers” and their standard series of handles.
“ The first,” it is said, “ is a fundamental piece of work, founded on
theoretical considerations and of the first importance. It is a simple
system of numbers for use in all new standardization work in which
gradated numerical values are required, such as standard gradated
diameters of pulleys, thicknesses of plates, or capacities of machines.
The Germans believe that its use is going to lead to great economies in
material, in reducing the number of sizes, ranges, etc., to simplify the
carrying of stocks, and to facilitate interchangeability. It may be
shown theoretically that, under average conditions, a given number of
standard sizes laid out according to these numbers, will be better
fitted to any series of jobs taken at random than the same number
T
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IN D U ST R IA L RELA TIO N S AND LABOR C O N D IT IO N S.
11
of sizes laid out in any other way, and this with a minimum of ma
terial.
“ The standard handles furnish a typical example of German love of
thoroughness of detail. There are two shapes, each adapted to a
particular method of use, and there is a series of sizes for each shape.
The profiles have been worked out with the most extreme care, an
efficiency' engineer having been employed to make time-motion
studies to determine the exact profile that would insure the greatest
accuracy in operation with the minimum fatigue of the workman’s
hand. It is felt that by doing a thorough job once for all, different
industries and firms will be saved from doing the same thing over and
over, but always less well, and that at the same time interchangeability is introduced. ”
The present standardization movement is likened to the German
research movement which played so important a part in the develop
ment of their great chemical industries, and the Germans are expect
ing standardization to play a similar role in all their industries to that
which research has played in their chemical work. One of the most
important results of standardization is the stabilizing of production
and consequently of employment, since it makes it safe for the manu
facturer to accumulate stock during periods of slack orders, some
thing which he can not safely do with an unstandardized product.
As a result steady employment may be furnished the workers instead
of the periods of short-time work or complete unemployment which
are now all too common. Standardization also decreases litigation
and other factors which tend to disorganize industry and the burden
of which ultimately fall on the public. Some of the other benefits
resulting from a system of standardization are reduced selling costs,,
lower unit costs to the public by making mass production possible,
and establishment of competition upon the basis of efficiency in
production and distribution as well as upon the intrinsic merit of the
product.
Economic Condition of Agricultural Laborers in Japan.
N ARTICLE by Saichi Nakamura relating to the economic con
dition of agricultural laborers in Japan is contained in the No
vember, 1921, issue of the Journal of Political Economy. Ac
cording to this article 54 per cent of the families in Japan are engaged
in agriculture. The number of wage earners in agriculture is, how
ever, small, since there are only 5,859,326 cho (14,355,349 acres) of
arable land, divided up into very small farms—-90 per cent of the
holdings consisting of less than 2 cho (4.9 acres)—which are worked
by the farmers themselves with the help of members of their families.
Also the different farmers’ families assist one another, so that much
paid help is unnecessary. In the term “ agricultural laborer,” how
ever, the author also included those engaged in such occupations as
sericulture, tea picking, charcoal burning, and starch making, and
tenant farmers employed as wage earners in the spare time of their
own farm work. These aggregate 1,200,000 families.
As showing the general condition of the families of agricultural
laborers in Japan, the author takes a family of four living in the cen-
A
765G40—21-----2
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M O N T H L Y LABOE REV IEW .
tral part of the mainland of Japan. This family was studied in the
course of a recent investigation carried on by him, and consisted of
the husband aged 43, wife aged 38, daughter aged 13, and son aged
9. The budget of this family was as follows:
Annual income:
Y en.1
Earnings of husband, 400 days................................................. 400. 00
Earnings of wife—
137 days, agricultural work............................................... 102. 00
100 days, odd jobs............................................................. 50. 00
Products of garden.................................................................... 12. 00
Sale of fagots............................................................................. 15.00
Total............................................................................... 579.00
Annual expenditure:
Food........................................................................................... 266. 60
Clothing..................................................................................... 37. 20
Rent.....................................................................
40. 00
Fuel and light........................................................................... 33. 60
Education, church,gifts, etc.................................................... 34. 60
Taxes.....................................
6. 00
Care of person........................................................................... 15. 00
Comfort, recreation, etc.......................................................... 163. 40
Total............................................................................... 596.40
Deficit............................................................................................... 17. 40
It will be noticed that the item of comfort and recreation is rela
tively large. This is because of the inclusion of 146 yen per year
for sake (rice liquor), “ the sole source of comfort and pleasure of
their life.”
As illustrative of the fact that the foregoing case is not unrepre
sentative of Japan in general the author cites an investigation made
by him in November, 1920, of daily wages paid, in 10 different locali
ties. These wages showed the following range:
N um ber of
Daily wages:
localities,
1.37 yen 1...........................................................................................
1
1.50 y e n 1...........................................................................................
2
1.67 y e n 1. . . , ...........................................................
1.85 y e n 1...........................................................................................
1
1.87 y e n 1...........................................................................................
2
2.00 y en 1...........................................................................................
2
2.30 yen 1...........................................................................................
2
In an address by Hon. D. Tagawa of Tokyo, member of the Japa
nese Parliament, delivered before the National Popular Government
League in Washington, D. C., November 25, it was stated that
“ farm land is far cheaper in America than in Japan. There is no
farm land in Japan that costs less than $500 per acre. In the vicin
ity of Tokyo and Osaka it runs from $750 up per acre. The biggest
problem of Japan is the land question; it is of enormous difficulty.”
In order to vote the Japanese must pay a land or business income
tax of 3 yen ($1.50). “ There are only 3,000,000 voters out of a
total population of 57,000,000, and by this you can understand the
wealth, or rather poverty, of the great mass of the Japanese people.”
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1 Y en a t par=49.8 cents
[1174]
1
IN D U ST R IA L RELA TIO N S AND LABOR C O N D IT IO N S.
13
Labor Conditions in Rural industries in New South Wales.
/R E N the New South Wales Board of Trade made its investiga\A /
tion, during the summer of 1920, to ascertain what should be
. ” the living wages paid to adult employees of the State, it instituted
a separate public inquiry into the working and living conditions of
rural workers.1 As noted before in the November, 1921, issue of
the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w (pp. 15, 16), the hoard established from
this survey what should be the nonrural basic wage, but felt that it
could not safely commit itself to the declaration of a living wage
for those engaged in rural occupations upon the same basis, because
conditions of the rural industries and the actual cost of living as
compared with the income of the workers were quite different from
similar conditions prevailing in nonrural industries. Moreover,
available statistics were inadequate to indicate the true relations
between land, labor, and capital in rural enterprise. The board,
therefore, on July 7, 1921, was about to open a new inquiry into the
average cost of living of rural employees, a report of which will
appear later. Though the results of the inquiry made were not
such as could be used as a basis for fixing a living wage, and though
the authors of the report warn against too sweeping deductions
being made from the statistics presented, they do reveal interesting
facts regarding the agricultural industry of that State. Women em
ployed in rural districts are not included in the report.
Number Engaged in Agriculture.
IN NEW SOUTH WALES, as elsewhere, the agricultural population
* is diminishing. According to the State statistician the total number
of persons in the State “ engaged permanently in rural occupations”
varied from 151,200 in 1911 to 154,400 in 1912, and downward to
139,500 in 1919. Evidence given before a select committee of the
Legislative Council on the Agricultural Industry in 1920 showed th at
in 20 years the proportion of the population in rural districts had
declined from 30.7 to 22.1 per cent.
An actual division of these persons into classes is difficult owing
to conditions prevailing in agricultural enterprises. In the first
place they are divided generally into pastoral and agricultural pur
suits. Moreover, owner, manager, and workman may be one and
the same person, and employees may be sons of other farmers.
An approximate estimate places the total male employees at 71,000,
of whom 65,000 are wage earners. Of the latter number 49,000 are
adult male wage earners under the age of 60. If the 20,000 shearers
and other casual hands be deducted from this number, there re
mains a force of permanent adult male employees of the wage
earning class in pastoral and agricultural pursuits of about 30,000.
i R eport of th e New South W ales B oard of T rade upon R u ral In d ustries a nd th e Question of a R ural
Living W age. Conclusions upon in q u iry during 1920-21. Sydney, 1921.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
Wages.
Agricultural Industry.
condition is dtie in part to the fact that laborers are “ neither num
erous, nor organized, nor dependent for their wage rates upon a
wage-fixing authority, ” and in part to the fact that board anci lodg
ing constitute a part of the remuneration of a large proportion of
those employed in each section. As no fixed standard exists for
“ living-in” accommodations, there is introduced into the question
an indeterminate element which adversely affects comparative values.
The following table indicates approximately the wages in the various
districts of the State in 1919:
T able
1. — A V E R A G E
W E E K L Y A N D D A IL Y W A G E S O F P E R M A N E N T AN D CASUAL
H A N D S IN A G R IC U L T U R A L D IS T R IC T S O F N E W SO U TH W A L E S , 1919.
P erm anent hands.
Casual hands.
D istrict.
N orthern ta b le lan d s................................................................
N orth c o ast.......................................... ......................................
Southw estern slopes..................................................................
W estern ........................................................................................
A verage wage
per week.
A verage wage
per day.
Average wage
per day.
s d
s
1 35
17 6 to 40
2 34
3 33
s d
s d
7 6 to 15 0
d
7
0
6
6
s
d
8 0 to
s
9
9
10
d
6
6
0
1 W ith keep.
W ith keep; 48s. to 60s. w ithout keep.
3 W ith keep; 54s. w ithout keep.
2
In the north coast district concessions were made of milk, vege
tables, butter, eggs, fruit, and a run for a horse. These the report
says “ were of slight value and not general.” The majority of em
ployees on the southwestern slopes received some concessions,
averaging 6s. 7d. ($1.60, par) per week in the case of married men.
Weekly wages of harvest hands in the western district varied from
54s. to 60s. ($13.14 to $14.60, par) with keep; threshing-machine
hands from 48s. to 60s. ($11.68 to $14.60, par), also with keep;
while orchard hands in that district received an average daily wage
of 8s. ($1.95, par) without keep. Concessions to married men were
fairly general and averaged 4s. (97.3 cents, par) per week. The
average wages of agricultural male employees between 21 and 59
years of age, inclusive, were approximately 9s. lid . ($2.41, par) per
day or 54s. to 66s. ($13.14 to $16.06, par) per week.
Of the permanent employees between the ages of 21 and 60 years,
55 per cent were married men. The average family per married
male was nearly 2.2 and the average family per male of the ages
stated less than 1.
Information collected as regards housing showed that 8 employers
of the 15 interviewed in the northern tablelands district provided
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IN D U ST R IA L R E LA TIO N S AND LABOR C O N D IT IO N S.
15
houses for 15 of their married employees, and 3 employers had such
employees living in their homes. The report states further that—
In the other three districts employees were found in 51 eases to be living in houses
of one room, in 10 cases to he living in houses of two rooms, and in 10 cases to he living
in houses of three rooms, in 14 cases to he living in houses of four rooms, in 15 cases
to he living in houses of five rooms, in 3 cases to be living in houses of six rooms, in 4
cases to be living in houses of seven rooms, and in 1 case to be living in a house of
eight rooms. Thirty-nine employees in the three districts were provided with, quar
ters, 18 were provided with one room in the employer’s house, 1 was provided with
two rooms in the employer’s house, 20 were provided with huts, 7 with tents, 2 with
accommodation in barns, and 1 with a canvas room.
The value of board and lodging per week varied in the different
districts as follows: North coast, 20s. to 25s. ($4.87 to $6.08, par);
southwestern district, for single men between 20 and 60 years of
age, about 23^-s. ($5.72, par); western district, for single men between
20 and 60 years of age, 19s. to 21s. ($4.62 to $5.11, par). The northern
tablelands district did not report in this particular.
Among the evidence placed before the board in the course of its
inquiry was a memorandum in which the trend of agricultural
wages and their relation to the wages of craftsmen and other nonrural wage earners and food prices had been traced in five-year
periods from 1823 to 1920. The memorandum which was prepared
by Mr. D. T. Sawkins was based upon statistical publications of the
State and Commonwealth and additional matter furnished by the
State statistician.
The report assumes the period 1871-1875 as the standard period,
and portions of the tables showing average wages, cost of food, the
ratio of the weekly money wages of agricultural workers to the daily
wage of craftsmen and other nonrural workers, and the effective or
real wages of the three classes, from the above-mentioned period on,
are as follows:
T a b l e 2 .—A V E R A G E W A G E S A N D COST O F FO O D IN N E W S O U T H W A L E S FRO M 1871 TO
1920, B Y 5-Y E A R P E R IO D S .
D aily wages, w ithout
W eekly
board a n d lodging, of— wages, w ith Cost of a
board and food u n i t 2
lodging or
equal to
Laborers
rations,
3,000
Crafts
and
of
farm
calories.
m en .1
navvies.
laborers.
Period.
1871-1875.......................................................................................
1876-1880...................................................
1881-1S85.......................................................................................
1883-1890...............................................................................
1891-1895.......................................................................................
1896-1900......................................................................................
1901-1905.......................................................................................
1903-1910.......................................................................................
1911-1915......................................................................................
1916-1920.......................................................................................
s.
9
10
n
10
9
9
10
10
11
14
d.
9
8
i
2
1
2
•>
8
9
3
s. d.
7 0
7 2
8 0
8 0
.6 7
6
7 0
7 3
8 7
10 11
s. d.
18 4
15 0
17 0
16 7
13 4
13 11
17 1
19 9
22 6
32 0
d.
7.2
8.5
8.3
8.2
7.2
6.5
9.2
9.4
11.0
16.3
1 Average wages of carpenters, bricklayers, m asons, a n d blacksm iths.
2 One po u n d of bread, 1 pou n d of fresh beef, 1 ounce of b u tte r, 4 ounces of sugar, a n d 1 p o und of potatoes.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
T a b l e 3 .—IN D E X
N U M B E R S O F N O M IN A L W E E K L Y M O N E Y W A G E S O F FA RM
L A B O R E R S , D A IL Y W A G E S O F C R A F T S M E N AN D N O N R U R A L L A B O R E R S , AN D T H E
R A T IO O F T H E W A G E S O F FA R M L A B O R E R S TO T H O S E O F C R A F T SM E N A N D N O N
R U R A L W O R K E R S , 1871-1920, B Y 5-Y E A R P E R IO D S .
In d ex num bers of nom inal
wages of—
R atio of weekly
m oney wages of
agricultural
la
borers to daily
wages of—
Crafts
m en.
Crafts
m en.
Period.
1871 1875 1............................................................
1876-1880...............................................................
1881-1885...............................................................
1886-1890 ............... ..........................................
1891-1895..............................................................
1898-1900...............................................................
1901-1905..............................................................
1908-1910.............................................................
1911-1915..............................................................
1916-1920...............................................................
Index
num ber
of cost of
a simple
Laborers Agricul food un it.
and
tu ra l
navvies. laborers.
100
102
114
114
94
92
100
104
123
156
100
109
114
104
93
94
104
109
121
146
*
100
112
128
124
100
104
128
148
169
240
100
118
115
114
100
90
128
131
153
226
1. 37
1. 41
1. 53
1.63
1.47
1. 52
1.68
1. 81
1.91
2.25
Laborers
and
navvies.
1.90
2. 09
2.12
2. 07
2. 03
2.17
2.44
2.72
2. 62
2.93
1 T aken as sta n d a rd period.
4.— IN D E X N U M B E R S O F E F F E C T IV E W A G E S O F C R A F T S M E N , N O N R U R A L
W O R K E R S , A N D A G R IC U L T U R A L L A B O R E R S , A N D M U L T IP L E S O F COST O F W E E K L Y
FO O D IN T H E W E E K L Y W A G E S O F T H E S E C LA SSES, 1871-1920, B Y 5-Y E A R P E R IO D S .
T able
In d e x n um bers of effective
wages of—
M ultiples of cost of weekly
food u n it of 21,000 calories in
weekly wages of—
Period.
Crafts
m en.
1871-1875...............................................................
1876-1880 ................................................... ........
1881-1885...............................................................
1886-1890...............................................................
1891-1895.............................................................
1896-1900...............................................................
1901-1905..............................................................
1906-1910...............................................................
1911-1915............................................................
1916-1920...............................................................
Laborers A gricul Crafts
or
tu ra l
m en.
navvies. laborers.1
100
92
99
91
93
' 104
81
83
79
65
100
S6
99
100
94
102
78
79
80
69
100
95
111
109
100
116
100
113
110
106
13.9
12. 9
13.7
12. 8
12.9
14. 5
11.4
11.7
11.0
9.0
Laborers Agricul
or
tu ra l
navvies. laborers.1
10.0
8.6
9.9
10.0
9.4
10. 2
7.8
7.9
8.0
6.9
3.0
3 .,
3. a
3.5
3.2
3.7
3.2
3.6
3.5
3.4
1 Money wages only.
In a discussion of the conclusions indicated in these tables the report
points out, in particular, the increase in the wages of farm laborers
in the period 1916-1920 as compared with the period 1871-1875 (see
Table 2). This rise in agricultural wages is accounted for by the
fact that while the total population, of the State quadrupled dur
ing this period, the rural population increased only by 65 per cent.
Agriculture is a skilled industry and wages must be maintained in
the rural districts if the agricultural enterprise is to depend to any
appreciable extent upon employed labor.
Assuming that the price of a unit of food is a satisfactory guide to
the general purchasing power of money, Mr. Sawkins derives (Table 4)
effective wages by expressing nominal wages in terms of the price of
the food unit and shows thereby that while the standard of living of
craftsmen and other nonrural workers had declined since 1871—
1875, agricultural employees had not only maintained but slightly
advanced their standard of living.
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IN D U ST R IA L RELA TIO N S AND LABOR C O N D ITIO N S.
17
Pastoral Industry.
Wages in the pastoral industry have since 1907 been fixed by the
Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. On July 20
of that year wages of shearers were fixed at 24s. ($5.84, par) per 100
shorn sheep, without rations; shed hands received 27s. 6d. to 30s.
($6.69 to $7.30, par) per week, with rations, according to the class of
work, while rates for cooks and wool pressers were fixed above the
minimum granted to shed hands. In 1911 an effort was made to
bring these wages more nearly to the level of the basic wages prevailing
in other industries, and in 1917, owing to an increase of 51.4 per cent
in cost of living, the court increased shearers’ rates from 24s. to 30s.
($5.84 to $7.30, par) per 100 shorn sheep, with corresponding increases
in the associated rates. Shed hands received £3 ($14.60, par) per
week, with keep, and time and a half for overtime for the first two
hours and double time thereafter. “ Keep,” which theretofore had
been unstandardized and which by the award of 1911 had been fixed
at 15s. ($3.65, par) per week, was fixed at 20s. ($4.87, par) and was
defined as “ good and sufficient living accommodations and good and
sufficient rations cooked * * * by a competent cook.” “ Keep”
was not included in the wages of station hands where circumstances
made such an arrangement impracticable. The award applied only
to members of the Australian Workers’ Union.
On June 12, 1920, the minimum wages of adult station hands
(other than boundary riders) were fixed at 72s. ($17.52, par) per
week without keep, or 48s. ($11.68, par) per week with keep. Adult
boundary riders were awarded 64s. ($15.57, par) per week without
keep or 40s. ($9.73, par) per week with keep. An award covering
the citrus and other fruit-growing industries of the State was made
by the same court on April 12, 1920. By it wages of adult male
employees other than casual or seasonal were fixed at 69s. ($16.79,
par) per week, while wages of casual employees of the same class
engaged in harvesting, pruning, packing, or shipping operations were
fixed at 72s. ($17.52, par) per week, wages in each case being based
upon the existing cost of living and applying only to members of the
Australian Workers’ Union.
Labor Conditions and Legislation in New Zealand .1
B y M r s . V ic t o r ia B . T u r n e r .
N
EW ZEALAND, like other large British dependencies, is largely
an agricultural country, whose production of foodstuffs surpasses
its needs. I t is a self-governing Dominion, with an area of
103,581 square miles, possessing an invigorating climate and superior
natural resources. Its population in June, 1921, numbered 1,221,447
persons, exclusive of 49,776 Maoris and 12,797 residents of Cook and
other islands (census, 1916). Its infant mortality rate is lower than
1
In prep arin g th is re p o rt th e lab o r re p o rts an d c u rre n t n u m b ers of th e pu b lic a tio n s liste d below have
been used:
Official Y earbook of New Zealand, 1920; R ep o rt of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L abor, New Z ealand, 1919; New
Zealand D e p artm e n t of L abor: I ts organization a n d w ork, 1906; M onthly A b stra ct of S tatistics prepared
by th e G overnm ent S tatistician , A ug., 1921; L ab o u r Overseas (L ondon); L abour G azette, L ondon; In te r
n a tio n a l L abor R eview ; a n d R o u n d Table.
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18
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
that of any other country in the world. Education is free, secular,
and compulsory. According to the census of 1916, 83.53 per cent of
the inhabitants of the Dominion were literate, children forming a large
ortion of those who could neither read nor write. Influences,
as a large foreign element, and color and religious bars, which
frequently increase the difficulty of adjusting economic questions, are
lacking in New Zealand. Universal suffrage has existed since 1893;
and the average wealth of citizens over 20 years of age, quoted at £604
($2,939.37 par), does not indicate a poverty basis for social disorders.
In the direction of State control and management of industry New
Zealand has traveled far. Upon being convinced that a reasonable
measure of success could be secured, the Dominion Government has
not hesitated to undertake enterprises of an economic character
which have hitherto been left in private hands, to use its taxing powder
for the attainment of the general good as well as for simple fiscal
purposes, or to formulate an industrial code which in addition to
securing and enforcing industrial peace mitigated the asperities of
industrialism. According to Sir John Findley, who discusses in
dustrial peace in New Zealand in the October, 1921, number cf the
International Labor Review (p. 43), the State “ not only owns, and
has in the main constructed, the railways, but has adopted the
settled policy of prohibiting the construction and working of any
railway by private enterprise. Nearly all our city and borough tram
ways are municipally owned and operated. The State has acquired,
to a substantial extent by compulsion, large pastoral estates and
divided them among landless would-be settlers. I t has lent these
settlers money for farming purposes at the lowest possible rates of
interest and on the most favorable terms. I t has engaged exten
sively in ordinary banking. I t has opened and worked coal mines.
It has erected and conducted sawmills for the supply of a portion of its
requirements. I t has extensively engaged in life and fire insurance.
I t has acquired land and erected many houses thereon for workmen
generally. I t has cooperated as a helpful and unremunerated
partner with those engaged in nearly every branch of production. It
has its own workshops for the manufacture of railway rolling stock
and similar requirements. It owns and operates a certain number of
steamers and has erected tourist hotels and manages many tourist
resorts. Indeed, popular objection to State enterprises in New
Zealand is limited only to those cases where governmental control and
operation can not be shown to promise success or general benefits.”
Another indication of the trend of the Government’s industrial
policy is the character of the report of the coal board 2 appointed in
1918 to investigate the condition of the coal industry. The board,
which consisted of men of wide experience, recommended some form
of nationalization as necessary to effectual reorganization of the
mining industry and the appointment of a national coal board with
wide powers. The regulation of coal prices in the interests of con
sumers and the removal of industrial unrest, especially through the
provision of suitable housing conditions and means of recreation for
mine workers were also recommended.
For 30 years the construction of public works, such as railroads and
road building, has been carried out on what is known as the cooper-
a
2 New Z ealand. B oard of T rad e. A n n u a l re p o rt, 3d. 1918-19. p . 11.
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IN D U ST R IA L RELA TIO N S AND LABOR C O N D ITIO N S.
19
ative contract system, whereby labor becomes its own employer.
Under this system the road to be built is divided up into sections and,
after specifications of the work have been prepared and estimates of
cost based upon the wages prevailing in the district have been made,
the work is let to bodies of workmen, who then become the con
tractors. Though the engineer has a certain amount of discretionc.rv
power as regards the work, hours, etc., the management of eacn
party is left largely to the men themselves, who, upon the approval
of the engineer, ballot out undesirable or inefficient members. The
Labor Department provides the materials to the men at cost price.
The work is measured at stated intervals and full payment is made to
the party in charge of a section, whose members divide the money
among themselves according to the time worked by each member.
During March, 1920, 4,382 laborers and artisans were employed under
the cooperative system, while the monthly average for the year ending
March 31 of that year was 3,993.
This extensive system of public ownership has resulted in a large
national debt; that is, as compared with the population. Further
more, the war period was one of abnormal prosperity and was marked
by much free speculation, the influence of which is becoming apparent
now that the universal industrial depression has set in; but it is
believed by those in close contact with the situation that with her
varied agricultural and pastoral resources New Zealand will feel the
prevailing economic exigencies less than most countries. At any
rate, that the Government’s advanced social experiments are sup
ported by a large bulk of public opinion, and that, with the exception
of the industrial code, its policy in this respect has become more
popular since the war, is apparent in the party programs 3 of 1920,
especially those put out by the Liberal and Labor Parties.
General Labor Conditions.
A NATURAL sequence of New Zealand’s social trend has been
labor’s active participation in the State’s industrial and political
program. The first labor members were sent to Parliament m 1889.
In the general election of 1920 labor and independent labor candidates
won 8 seats. Nothing like a labor majority in Parliament has ever
been attained, however, owing in part to the agricultural character of
the country and in part to the somewhat revolutionary character of
the Labor Party programs in recent years. At the labor conference of
1913 the United Federation of Labor, including many of the strongest
unions, was formed. As has been the case in the labor movements of
other countries there has developed in New Zealand labor ranks a more
aggressive element advocating industrial unionism, and in January,
1919, this element initiated the National Industrial Alliance of Labor
which includes the waterside workers, the railway men, and the miners.
The United Federation of Labor, Agricultural and Pastoral Workers’
Union, and the Bootmakers’ Federation were not at first admitted to
the alliance because they still, to some extent at least, indorsed the oldfashioned principle of craft unionism, but later became members of
the new organization, the complete change in the federation being
apparent in a manifesto which it issued repudiating the arbitration
3 R ou n d Table, M ar., 1920, p p . 477-479.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O N T H L Y LABOE R E V IE W .
20
act. The importance of the alliance is said to be that it is the real
successor to the old miners’ federation or u Red Feds which explicitly
adopted the principle of the class war and the policy of the “ one big
union.”
Cost of Living, Wages, and Hours of Labor.
rT H E forces which in many other countries were conducive to an in* crease in the cost of living existed in New Zealand during the war
period and after the armistice, and operated to the same effect though
to a less degree. In July, 1920, retail prices of foods reached a level
of 67 per c en t4 over those prevailing in July, 1914. During the same
period retail food prices 4 had increased 97 per cent in South Africa,
88 per cent in India, 127 per cent in Canada, 94 per cent in neigh
boring Australia, while similar averages in the European countries had
mounted to 882 per cent in Finland, 322 to 327 per cent in Belgium,
345 per cent in Milan (Italy), 158 per cent in Great Britain, and 219
per cent in Norway. The peak of retail food prices 5in the Dominion
was reached in February, 1921, when they stood at 76.45 per cent
above the July, 1914, average. The increase in cost of living, includ
ing food, rent, fuel, and light, for the period, July, 1914, to July, 1920,
based on the Dominion’s weighted average, was 48.56 per cent, while
in March, 1921, it was 59.62 per cent above the July, 1914, level.
Since February and March of this year there has been a gradual reduc
tion in cost of living. In August, 1921, retail food prices had decreased
to 66.17 per cent above the 1914 level, while the cost of food, rent,
fuel, and light combined was 55.87 per cent above prices prevailing
in July, 1914.
Price fixing was followed during the war, but owing to the dissatis
faction arising from the increasing cost of commodities a board of
trade act, passed in 1919, gave the board the power to conduct inquiries
into matters affecting the cost of living, and especially upon questions
relating to the supply, demand, or price of commodities, and into
complaints that prices of particular classes of goods were unreasonably
high. As a result of its investigations the board has readjusted prices
of wheat, flour, and bread, subsidizing the millers in some cases, in
order to sell bread at certain fixed prices. It has further dealt with
prices of sugar, coal, timber, butter, groceries, etc., restricting export,
where necessary, to protect home markets, and has instituted some
proceedings against profiteers.
Advances in wages to meet the rising cost of living were made
generally through increases in the basic wage and the granting of
cost-of-living bonuses. In April, 1919, the arbitration court fixed the
basic wage for various grades of workers and in addition granted a
bonus of 2|d. ($0.05, par) per hour. It was also understood that
thereafter the bonus would be adjusted March 31 and September 30
of each year in accordance with the cost of living as determined by the
figures of the Government statistician. On the first of January, 1920,
Id. ($0.02, par) an hour was added to the bonus and on May 1, 1920, a
further addition of l^d. ($0.03, par) was awarded. Owing to a
general shortage of labor and because some employers had raised
their employees’ wages above the basic rate determined upon in April,
* Labour Gazette, London, October, 1921, p . 526.
5 M onthly A b stract of S tatistics of New Zealand.
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Sept., 1921. W ellington, 1921, p . 27.
[ 1182]
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR CONDITIONS.
21
1919, the basic wage was increased and a bonus fixed at 3d. ($0.06,
par) per hour superseded all previous bonuses. So the basic hourly
rates awarded by the court in 1919 and 1920 were:
BASIC H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S A W A R D E D IN 1919 A N D 1920.
[A t p ar 1 s. = 24.33 cents; 1 d. = 2.03 cents.]
Grade.
A pril, 1919.
A pril, 1920.
Skilled.................................. Is. 7Jd.
2S.
Sem iskilled........................... Is. 4d.-ls. 6 d .. Is. 8d.-ls. lOd.
U n sk illed .........................
Is. 31,d .
Is. 7d.
The 1919 rate with its three bonuses amounted to 2s. |d. ($0.50,
par) an hour for skilled workers; Is. 8-|d. ($0.42, par) for unskilled.
The new rates with the bonus were, respectively, 2s. 3d. and Is. lOd.
($0.55 and $0.45, par), semiskilled men receiving from Is. lid . to 2s.
Id. ($0.47 to $0.51, par) instead of Is. 9d. to Is.'lid . ($0.43 to $0.47,
par). In November, 1920, the court further increased the bonus of
unskilled men by 2id. ($0.04, par) an hour or 9s. ($2.19, par) a week.
Employers protested, and Parliament directed the court to reconsider
its award, taking into account the condition of industry. Upon
reconsideration the court found that owing to an earlier mistake in
calculation, the workers had been paid 2s. ($0.49, par) a week more
than was due. So, although upon the basis of the cost-of-livinofigures a weekly advance of 5s._ ($1.22, par) was due, the court docided that in view of the economic situation it was justified in granting
only 3s. ($0.73, par) a week, the difference compensating for the excess
previously paid. The minimum wage for unskilled male -workers for
the period September 30, 1920, to March 31, 1921, thus became 91s.
($22.14, par) per week.
When the minimum wage came up again for revision in the sprint
of 1921, the arbitration court was faced with the necessity of granting
not only the bonus of 3s. ($0.73, par) per week fixed for the previous
six months but of adding the 2s. ($0.49, par) per week which had been
deducted from the amount of the last bonus to discharge a past over
payment. The court, therefore, taking into account general financial
and economic conditions in the Dominion, reached the conclusion
(May 14, 1921) that industry could not bear the burden of advances in
wages and that a larger bonus would have a tendency to increase
unemployment, and to check the reduction in cost of living which
was then becoming apparent. And, furthermore, in view of the fall
in food prices which had already taken place, the court believed that
when statistics relating to retail prices of food and clothing were
ascertained in September, 1921, the decrease would be equal to the
last wage increases if not greater than they were. Acting upon this
assumption, it decided that a stabilization of wages until April, 1922,
would prove of greater benefit to employers and employees alike
than an immediate increase followed by a large decrease six months
later. To this end the court ruled that the 5s. ($1.22, par) a week
bonus which was due for the period May to October, 1921, instead of
being paid should be set off against any reduction required by the
revision of retail prices in the fall. The Dominion Government had
already made known its intention to withhold further cost-of-living
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MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
22
bonuses to Government employees, but had also stated that all such
employees would be retained at existing salaries as long as possible.
In adopting a policy contrary to its usual one the court felt that it
was, morally at least, sustained by the attitude of the Government
in its relation of employer.
Minimum wage rateshlicl not affect wage awards for various classes
of workers in specific industries, a general idea of which may be gained
from the following awards made at different times during the year
1920:
W A G E S AND H O U R S P R E V A IL IN G AMONG C E R T A IN C LA SSES O F E M P L O Y E E S IN A U CK
LA N D , N E W Z E A L A N D , D U R IN G 1920.
[At p ar £ 1 = $4.8665; ls .= 24.33 cents; an d ld .= 2.03 cents.]
W ages per hour.
Em ployees.
Able seam en 1.......................................................................
B ookbinders.........................................................................
B rew ery lab o rers................................................................
B rick lay ers...........................................................................
B uilders’ la b o re rs...............................................................
C arpenters a n d joiners.......................................................
C ontractors’ lab o rers.........................................................
Engine d riv e rs....................................................................
F u rn itu re w orkers..............................................................
Iro n m o ld e rs8.......................................................................
Iron w orkers........................................................................
Motor m echanics................................................................
P la s te re rs .................... ........................................................
Plum bers a n d gas fitte rs..................................................
R esta u ra n t w orkers...........................................................
Sh ip w rig h ts.........................................................................
Stonem asons........................................................................
Tim ber w o rk ers..................................................................
2
£.
s.
d.
4
5
0 to
1
7 to
1 7 to
^ 14 2 to
1 10 to
1 11 to
2
3 to
9 30
0 to
1 10 to
i 14 8 to
1 On tugboats.
2 Per m onth.
3 N ot reported.
* 42 hours for night work.
6 P er week. Casuals, Is. lOd. per hour.
£
s. d.
2 15 5 0
4 10 3
S 3 10 0
2 21
1 8
2 0
1 91
Io 2
2 3
2 0
2 3
2 0
2 44
2 44
4 15 0
2 0
2 3
17 2
Cost-ofliving
bonus
per hour.
H ours
per
week.
d.
(3)
(3)
(6)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
3
3
3
3
3
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(8)
3
3
(3)
i 45
46
44
44
44
44
44
44
w 60
44
44
47
6 4s. per week.
i Per day.
8 C hrist Church and W ellington.
9 Per week.
10 W omen, 48 hours per week.
Early in March, 1920, in settlement of the wage dispute which
began in August, 1919, miners (pieceworkers) were granted an
increase of 50 per cent, and day workers one of 60 per cent over
the prewar rates. Shift men got a flat rate of 18s. ($4.38, par) per
shift without a bonus. Overtime was to be paid for at time and a
half for the first three hours and double time thereafter. Regular
work on Sunday was paid at time and a half; other work on Sun
days and holidays, at double time. As the result of a strike the
railwaymen on the State roads of the North Island were granted
an immediate 3s. ($0.73, par) per day war increase. A judicial
committee appointed to report upon the matter recommended a
further bonus of Is. ($0.24, par) per day for married men and 6d.
($0.12, par) for single men, thus raising the minimum daily wage
to 14s. 6d. ($3.53, par) or £187 10s. ($912.47, par) per year. Week
ly hours were reduced to 38 in specified cities and to 48 elsewhere.
On the appeal of the Dominion post and telegraph workers for
a 62 per cent advance over the basic wage in 1914, the premier
agreed, May 6, 1920, to (a) accept £165 ($802.97, par) as a basic
living wage in 1914; (b) to pay the increase in cost of living, what-
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IN D U ST R IA L RE LA TIO N S AND LABOR C O N D ITIO N S.
23
ever it was; and (c) to increase postal rates to meet the added ex
pense. This decision raised general division employees’ wages to
about £267 ($1,299.36, par) a year, and clerks to £325 ($1,581.61,
par). In October teachers’ salaries were increased. Assistants in
primary schools received £180 ($875.97, par), rising to £230 ($1,119.30, par) a year for the lowest grade; £350 to £410 ($1,703.28
to $1,995.27, par) for the highest grade. Principals’ salaries were
fixed at £230 to £300 ($1,119.30 to $1,459.95, par) in small schools;
£530 to £600 ($2,579.25 to $2,919.90, par) in large schools. A
bonus of £40 ($194.66, par) was granted to married men. Dairy
workers’ minimum wage was fixed at £4 5s. ($20.68, par) a week;
their hours at 56 for drivers and 52 for other workers in summer,
and 44 in winter.
Women rarely do the same work as men in industry; and even in
occupations such as clerking in stores or clerical positions where
their work is much the same as that performed by men, they do
not as a rule receive equal wages, though there are a few exceptions.
Women in factories are not organized to the same extent as men.
In the manufacturing industries they work chiefly in clothing,
tailoring, hatmaking, dressmaking, shoemaking, printing estab
lishments, etc. Their minimum wages in certain industries during
the latter part of 1920 are shown in the following statement,
though their average actual earnings are said to be generally higher
than the minimum rates quoted:
Hotels and restaurants:
Waitresses 24s. to 27s. 6d. ($5.84 to $6.09, par) a week, plus board and lodging.
Tailoring and clothing trades:
Women over 21 years of age, 25s. ($6.08, par) a week.
Women with over four years’ experience, 35s. ($8.52, par) a week.
Woolen mills:
Women over 21 years of age, 25s. ($0.08, par) a week.
Women with over four years’ experience, lOd. ($0.20, par) an hour.
Upholstering trade:
Women over 21 years of age 25s. ($6.08, par) a week.
Women with over four years’ experience, 35s. ($8.52; par) a week.
Shop assistants (soft goods):
Women over 21 years of age, 21s. ($5.11, par) a week.
Women with over three years’ experience, 38s. 6d. ($9.37, par) a week.
Boot trade:
Women with five years’ experience 35s. ($8.52, par) a week.
Hot wax thread machinists 42s. 6d. ($10.34, par) a week.
Hairdressing trade:
Women with five years’ experience 70s. ($17.03, par) a week.
Saddlery, harness, and bag making:
Stitchers with over five years’ experience 37s. 6d ($9.12, par) a week.
Hours of labor in a country largely agricultural naturally vary
with the industry and the season, but the 44-hour week prevails
throughout the Dominion. Overtime is paid at time and a half
for the first three hours and double time thereafter.
Socialization of industry is thus far unknown and very few schemes
of profit sharing exist. Owing to the fact that industry is not so
highly specialized in New Zealand as in the largely industrial coun
tries, the workers change occupations during slack times and thus a
greater continuity of employment is maintained.
Though industrial unrest has not prevailed in New Zealand to
anything like the extent noticeable in many countries, yet between
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1185]
24
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
March 1, 1919, and March 1, 1920, 65 industrial disturbances occurred,
35 of which involved stoppages of work for one day or less. Chief
among the disputes occurring since the war was one occasioned by
dissatisfaction among the miners who among other things demanded
that the contract system be replaced by one of fixed wages. This
the owners refused to do and a “ go slow” policy was adopted which,
together with labor shortage and difficulties of transport and ma
chinery, resulted in a severe shortage of coal. The dispute was
finally" settled by Government intervention. The contract system
was retained, but increased rates of pay were granted. The “ go
slow” policy has since been resumed from time to time and during
the last of 1920 and the first months of 1921 irritation strikes for
four or five days each month developed.
On April 28," 1920, railwaymen on the State-owned railways in the
North Island struck for wage increases and were joined by other
classes of railway workers who declared sympathetic strikes. The
wage increases granted are discussed under “ Wages.” Prolonged
strikes in the sugar refineries at Chelsea were due to impatience at
the delays of the arbitration court. I t is reported that irritation
tactics, principally in the form of refusing to work overtime, were
resorted to among the dockers during the early months of this year,
tying up 46 vessels aggregating 143,000 tons, and that on March 2,
1921, this method of enforcing demands resulted in a lockout.
Department of Labor and Its Work.
'"THE New Zealand Labor Department, originally known as the
-*• Bureau of Industries, was organized in 1891 for the purpose of
coordinating methods of meeting the unemployment problem, which
at that time was one of great urgency in all the larger towns of the
Dominion. Through the passing of the truck and factory acts the
duties of the department were very soon enlarged by the inclusion
of factory inspection, paid inspectors being stationed in the larger
towns while sergeants and constables performed the work of inspec
tion and placement in the smaller towns and villages, and rural
districts. In the first year of its existence the department placed
2,593 persons. Between 1891 and March, 1920, a total of 128,824
men, whose dependents numbered 162,350, have been found employ
ment. For 59,710 of these private employment was found, while
the remaining 69,114 were sent to various kinds of Government
works. Women’s employment branches, dealing largely with domestic
service, were established in 1908. Each branch is in charge of an
experienced woman who gives assistance free of charge to the women
seeking employment. During the year ending March 31, 1920, place
ments were secured for 1,406, making a total of 24,855 women
assisted since the initiation of the system.
The passing of the shops and shop assistants acts, now known as
the shops and offices act, the extension of the factory act in 1894,
and the enactment of the first conciliation and arbitration act in the
same year very materially increased the work of the department and
necessitated a larger force. It was not until 1903, however, that the
labor department was actually placed upon a statutory basis, and its
functions were then defined as being (1) to administer the labor laws
of New Zealand; (2) to acquire and disseminate knowledge on all
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matters connected with the industrial occupations of the people;
(3) to collect and publish reliable information relating to or affecting
the industries of the colony and rates of wages. Power was also
given the department to enforce the furnishing of statistics, a penalty
of £20 (197.33 par) being fixed for failure on the part of any person
to give the information sought or for giving false information
intentionally.
During the next 15 years an accumulation of fresh responsibilities
under new acts passed from time to time was undertaken by the
department and in 1918-19, the latest period for which a report of
the department is available, it was administering, in addition to the
legislation mentioned, the following acts in the interests of labor:
Labor disputes investigation; workers’ compensation; shearers’ and
agricultural laborers’ accommodation; scaffolding inspection; servants
registry office; footwear regulation; and war legislation amendment
(rent); and a number of others.
Labor Legislation.
A S PREVIOUSLY shown the registration and oversight of factories
has been intrusted to the department of labor since its inception
and owing to the inclusive definition of a factory under the act this has
always constituted one of the most important duties of the depart
ment. A factory in New Zealand is “ any building, office, or place hi
which two or more persons are employed directly or indirectly in any
handicraft. ” But all bakeries and laundries, irrespective of the
number employed in them, all places wdiere Asiatics are employed,
and all places where machinery is used in preparing food for sale are
also included. Furthermore, the regulation of working hours,
wages of young persons, holidays, sanitation, hygiene, and safety of
factories are likewise carefully arranged for under the act. The
number of registered factories in the Dominion on March 31, 1920,
was 13,490, the employees numbering 85,591, as compared with
13,214 factories and 83,011 workers in 1915-16. During the same
year there were 1,218 accidents in factories, and 31 prosecutions for
violation of various provisions of the factory act, resulting in 30
convictions.
The shops and offices act originally restricted the working hours of
shop assistants to 52 per week and to within certain hours of the day,
according to the trade and locality. By an amendment of this act
which went into force January 1,1921, hours of this class of employees
were reduced from 52 to 48 per week. Overtime was fixed at 120
hours in a year, with a maximum of three hours in any one day.
The law also provides for inspection to see that sanitary arrangements
are adequate; for a compulsory weekly half holiday, and a minimum
wage for young people. Prosecutions under the act during 1919-20
numbered 100, convictions being obtained in 93 of them.
Up to 1894 shearers, of whom there are many thousands in the
Dominion, had to be content with whatever accommodation was
given them, and great dissatisfaction was felt regarding the lack of
regulation in this respect. The factory act of 1894 entailed on
inspectors of factories the duty of inspecting shearing sheds and
the provision of the factory act regarding the inspection of pastoral
workers was superseded by the shearers’ accommodation act for 1898.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The remoteness of many localities in which inspection must be made
emphasized the need of the appointment of a special officer for this
work, and in 1914 such an appointment was decided upon. The
war, however, intervening, the appointment was not made until
after the armistice, and on July 1, 1920, an act known as the shearers’
and agricultural laborers’ accommodation act, came into force
amending the original act, which was defective in many respects.
Included in the operation of this act are sawmill, threshing mill,
and flax mill employees, as well as shearers and agricultural laborers.
A workers’ compensation act has been operative in New Zealand for
many years. On January 1, 1921, an amendment of the existing
law became effective whereby compensation is payable beginning with
the date of accident if incapacity lasts for 3 days, and is to be equiva
lent to 55 per cent of average earnings, with a maximum of 75s.
($18. 25 par) a week. All workers earning less than £400 ($1,946.60,
par) are covered by the provisions of the new act. The number of
cases dealt with under the act during 1919-20 were 26, as compared
with 29 in 1918-19 and 42 in 1917-18. The rent restriction act,
also administered by the department of labor, has proved of un
doubted benefit to tenants and returned soldiers, though its re
strictive clause, which provides that in certain cases rent shall not
exceed 8 per cent of the capital value, has had the effect, the depart
ment’s report for 1918-19 states, of discouraging the building of
houses, thereby accentuating the very difficulty the rent restriction
law was designed to overcome.
To the legislation thus briefly outlined might be added the workers’
dwellings act, 1910, through which the department is able to provide
homes for its applicants at a cost of £150 ($729.98 par) less than is
usual in the ordinary markets, and which has since been merged in
the housing act of 1919, the employers’ liability act, the master and
apprentice act, and others which are indicative of the attitude of the
Government toward the amelioration of working conditions. But
the two pieces of labor legislation to which special importance must
be attached because they concern the living wage and therefore the
industrial peace of the Dominion, are the industrial conciliation and
arbitration act of 1894 and the labor disputes investigation act of
1913.
The first of these acts, as indicated above, was passed about a
quarter of a century ago in order to check the evils of the ‘‘sweating”
system which existed among the women and children in the clothing
trades. It was not the result of pressure brought to bear upon the
Government by labor bodies, but was rather the expression of an
outraged public opinion when such conditions became known
and a feeling that “ workers too poor and too weak to give battle in
the ordinary fashion of industrial warfare” ought to be protected.
The arbitration court consists of a president, who until recently
had to have the status of a supreme court judge, and two assessors,
one representing the labor unions, the other the employers. Union
ism is the basis of the arbitration system. Either a union, an individ
ual employer, or an employers’ union may file a dispute. The act
does not, however, compel employers to register but its provisions are
compulsory upon employers if the workers choose to register. Since
only the regularly organized labor unions can bring disputes before
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the court, ample facilities were and are afforded, both through the
provisions of the act and the efforts of the labor department, to
form these unions. An industrial union may consist of 3 or more
employers or 15 or more workers. In 1919/139 employers’ unions
with a membership of 5,146, and 380 labor unions with 82,553 mem
bers were registered under the act.
Upon the filing of a dispute a local conciliation council is formed,
consisting of three persons representing the parties in dispute, with
the conciliation commissioner, who is appointed by the Government
for three years, as chairman. If the council fails to reach a decision
an appeal is made to the arbitration court which acts for the whole
Dominion. These councils are said to settle successfully about 93
per cent of the disputes referred to them. The court was originally
given wide powers in reaching its decisions and its awards are binding
upon employers and workers alike. No strike or lockout is lawful
when the agreement is once entered into. Through an amend
ment which went into force December, 1918, the court may,
upon application being made, “ amend any award or industrial agree
ment in regard to wages or hours to meet any alteration in the con
ditions of employment or the cost of living that may have taken
place since the award or agreement was made.” If a union becomes
dissatisfied with the decision of the arbitration board or the indus
trial agreement into which it has entered, it may cancel its registra
tion and withdraw from the act. But even under these circumstances
it is not freed from the award until the time limits specified therein
have expired.
For those workers’ organizations which have not registered under
the industrial conciliation and arbitration act, and as supplementary
to that act, the labor disputes investigation act was passed in 1913,
and it is noteworthy that between its enactment in 1913 and March
31, 1919, only 7 disputes arose under the act, and they were settled
after investigation.
Change in Labor’s Attitude Toward Compulsory Arbitration.
¡7ROM the time of the enactment of its labor legislation until 1913,
1 the year of the great general strike, New Zealand was so free from
manifestations of industrial unrest as to be known as “ a country
without strikes,” and to this economic millennium which seemed to
have appeared the work of the arbitration court is believed to have
contributed much. During these years the court was popular with
the labor unions, which increasingly made use of its good offices,
while its policy was deplored, if not resented, by employers. Since
the outbreak of the war a complete reversal of opinion on the part of
the two parties immediately concerned in its decisions has come about,
and the reason, says Sir John Findley in the article previously referred
to, is that—
In the earlier years of its operation the court was able to award increases of wages,
shorter hours, and improved conditions of labor, without imperiling the existing
industrial system, but repeated reviews of awards, repeated increases of benefits to
the trade-unions maldng application to the court, in time brought conditions of em
ployment that, without a genuine menace to the industrial system itself, could scarcely
be further improved by the court. _ This stage marked the turning point in different
directions of the favor and popularity of the legislation.
76564°— 21------ 3
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Other writers, putting the case more bluntly, assert that while
awards made were invariably in favor of labor and the prosecutions
were chiefly against employers the act worked smoothly. According
to more liberal opinion the growing dissatisfaction of labor has its
basis in about the same economic conditions as exist the world over.
Cost of living mounted higher than wages, and increased wages in
turn brought still higher prices. Labor believes th at the Government,
notwithstanding its efforts, failed properly to control the cost-ofliving situation, and th a t the minimum wages fixed by the court on
the cost-of-living basis have a tendency to become real maximum
wages for all workers in a trade without regard to skill. Moreover,
some of the large unions which refrained from registering under the
act have, through strikes or threats of strikes, obtained larger wage
increases than did the unions adhering to the arbitration court.
Meanwhile the court has reached a limit with regard to the amount
of wage increases industry can bear. In general, labor in New
Zealand feels th a t somehow it is not receiving its share of the profits
of the present industrial system, and therefore concludes th at the
system should in some manner be changed. In the light of the facts
shown, however, it seems apparent th at such industrial unrest as
exists “ is due to the pursuit of ideals, attainable or unattainable, and
vaguely or definitely conceived, rather than to the pressure of want
or other intolerable conditions.”
The results of this lack of complete confidence in the decisions of
the court, for whatever reasons, are apparent in the “ go slow” poli
cies of the workers to restrict production, in a repudiation of the
court by the m ilitant element in the labor movement, in the exaggera
tion of grievances upon which wage appeals and stoppages of work
are based, and in the ever widening division between the two great
partners of production and distribution. And notwithstanding the
fact that the court has fully and publicly investigated cases brought
before it and has impartially passed upon their merits and demerits
in the light of the evidence obtained; th at by its decisions a living
wage has been secured to the poorer workers and “ sweated” labor
has disappeared from New Zealand; th at hours of labor have been
shortened without accompanying reductions in wages; th at a marked
improvement is manifest in all working conditions, and th at a large
proportion of the employers and organized workers are registered
under the act—the expediency of compulsory arbitration is ques
tioned and there is a widespread demand for reform.
In this connection the board of trade act of 1919 mentioned in the
discussion of cost of living should be briefly considered. This act
succeeded the cost-of-living act of 1915, but is broader in its scope
and will, if it becomes fully operative, supersede all of importance in
the compulsory arbitration system. Thus far the board has not been
authorized to deal with wage fixing, but this power may be granted
later if the act shows itself really workable.
Pensions and Superannuation Funds.
X T E W Z E A L A N D 'S social legislation is, however, by no means con-
* ^ fined to the special acts directly affecting workers during the
wage-earning period of their lives, administered by the department
of labor. Through the establishment of pensions and superannu
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29
ation funds the State Government endeavors to assist in protecting
them also when by reason of the vicissitudes of age, sickness, or
poverty they are no longer able to protect themselves.
Pensions.
In addition to the military pensions granted to veterans of the
several wars in which the Dominion has engaged an old-age pension
has been paid since 1898. Applicants for old-age pensions must be
65 years of age if men, 60 if women, which ages may be reduced to
60 and 55 years, respectively, in case there are young children de
pendents, and must not possess property amounting to £390 ($1,897.94, par) or over. Residence of 25 years and good character are
also prerequisites. The present average old-age pension amounts to
£39 ($189.79, par) per annum. The number of pensioners on March
31, 1920, was 19,993, who were paid during the year £732,968
($3,-566,988.77, par) at a cost of 12s. 6d. ($3.04, par) per capita of
population. Total payments under the act to March 31, 1920, aggre
gated £7,928,788 ($38,585,446.80, par). A widows' pension act,
which in its original form came into operation January 1, 1912,
provides a maximum weekly pension of 7s. 6d. ($1.83, par) to a widow
with one child under 14 years of age, with 7s. 6d. ($1.83, par) weekly
added for each additional child under 14 years. The number of such
pensions in force on March 31, 1920, was 3,444, the gross payments
during the year being £136,815 ($665,810.20, par). The average
pension amounted to £54 ($262.79, par).
Miners totally incapacitated for work owing to phthisis (pneumo
coniosis) contracted during work in New Zealand mines receive State
assistance in amounts varying with their marital condition. A sin
gle man or widower without children under 14 is paid £1 5s. ($6.08,
par) a week,’ while the pension of a married man or widower with
children under 14 is £1 15s. ($8.52, par) a week. The widow and
children of a police officer killed in the discharge of his duties receive
the same allowance they would have received had he been a member
of the expeditionary forces in the World War.
Superannuation Funds.
The question of providing retirement funds for the public and
semipublic employees of the Government has received considerable
attention, and acts of this character now operative cover the State
railways, public services, including the police, and teachers. More
over, various local bodies, such as road, town, and harbor boards,
county councils, etc., may establish retirement schemes under what
is known as the local authorities' superannuation act, 1908.
The provisions of the public service superannuation act apply to
all branches of the Government service except the State railways
and the teachers, whose retirement funds are fixed under separate acts.
The scheme came into force January 1, 1908, and is compulsory on
all persons appointed since that date. Its principal benefits are:
(1.) A pension for every year of service equal to one-sixtieth of the average annual
salary for the last three years, payable ( a) after 40 years’ service, or (b ) at age 65, or
(c) on retirement owing to ill health. The maximum pension is not to exceed twothirds of the salary, or, in the case of entrants after the 24th December, 1909, £300
[$1,459.95] per annum.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
(2.) A pension of £18 [$87.60] per annum to the widow of a contributor or pensioner
during widowhood and £13 [$63.26] per annum for each child under the age of 14.
Women may retire at the age of 55 after 30 years’ service. Con
tributions to the fund vary with the age of the employee on joining
the fund. For ages under 30 years they are 5 per cent of the salary;
30 and under 35, 6 per cent; 35 and under 40, 7 per cent; 40 and under
45, 8 per cent; 45 and under 50, 9 per cent; 50 and over, 10 per cent.
On December 31, 1919, contributors to the fund numbered 14,216,
and their yearly contributions amounted to £184,928 ($899,952.11,
par). At the same date 1,685 persons were drawing £120,459
($586,213.72, par) per annum.
Conditions governing the retirement of teachers are similar to
those applying to State employees, with the exception that (1) the
service of the teachers need not be continuous; (2) no pensions are
payable on retirement for ill health unless the service exceeds 15
years; (3) in the case of reduction of status owing to age or infirmity
there is no provision that the pension must be computed on the higher
salary, as is the case in the public service fund. December 31, 1919,
there were 5,019 contributors to this fund, and their annual contribu
tions amounted to £72,172 ($351,225.04, par). The Government had
at that time contributed a total of £178,000 ($866,237, par) to the
fund.
In the case of Government railroad employees the retirement fund
is also one-sixtieth of the annual rate of pay for every year of service,
but both men and women may retire at the age of 60. Other impor
tant differences between this fund and the public service superannua
tion fund are that the annual allowances to widows and children of
the railway men are paid only on the death of contributors previous
to retirement on a pension, and that the individual fund is computed
on the last salary received unless the contributor has within the
preceding five years served at a lower salary, in which case an aver
age for seven years is taken. On March 31, 1919, the number of
employees contributing to this fund was 10,655, while 1,892 persons
were drawing an annual amount of £102,783 ($500,193.47, par)
from it.
So far as known, only three local authorities have initiated retire
ment schemes for their employees under the local authorities super
annuation act. They are the Wellington and the Auckland Harbor
Board and the Butler County Council. A scheme having for its
principal objects the provision of annuities in old age and the pro
tection of families from birth to old age is embodied in the National
Provident Fund established by legislative enactment in 1910. This
fund is administered by the minister of finance as chairman and four
members appointed by the governor general. Any resident of New
Zealand between the ages of 16 and 45, whose average income during
the three years immediately preceding has not exceeded £250
($1,216.63, par) per annum, may become a member of this fund by
filling in a form at a post office or local office of the fund and paying
a first weekly contribution. No medical examination is required.
Benefits payable under the act are:
(1.) After contributing for 12 months, a payment not exceeding £6 [$29.20, par]
for medical attendance and nursing on the birth of a contributor’s child or children.
(2.) After contributing for five years, an allowance, after three months’ incapacity
to work, of 7s. 6d. [$1.83, par] per week for each child of a contributor under 14 years
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31
of age. Payable independent of any allowances due from friendly societies. No
contributions payable while in receipt of incapacity allowance.
(3.) After contributing for five years, an allowance, on the death of a contributor,
of 7s. 6d. [$1.83, par] per week for each child until 14 years of age, and 7s. 6d. [$1.83,
par] for the widow so long as any child is under 14 years of age.
(4.) On reaching age 60, a pension of 10s., 20s., 30s., or 40s. [$2.43, $4.87, $7.30, or
$0.73] per week, according to the scale of contributions. The payment of this
pension will not affect any rights under the old-age pensions act.
Contributions to the fund range from 9d. ($0.18, par) per week at
16 years of age for the 10s. ($2.43, par) pension upward, the rate in
creasing in proportion to the amount applied for. On December
31, 1920, 19,724 persons were members of the fund as compared
with 16,154 at the close of 1919. The total amount of the fund
was approximately £473,360 ($2,303,606.44, par). Maternity bene
fits paid out during the year reached £31,972 ($155,591.74, par).
Human Factor in Eliminating industrial Waste.1
CCORDING to Mr. John P. Frey, editor of the International
Molders; Journal, the percentage apportionment of the re
sponsibility for industrial waste between labor and manage
ment offers no solution for the elimination of such waste. In his
judgment the only remedy lies in “ establishing thorough understand
ing and cooperation between management and labor.” The develop
ment of this spirit of cooperation is the problem. Rules in themselves
are unavailing, for this most desirable spirit is dependent upon “ the
psychology of management and labor, their sentiments toward each
other.” The prospect of future industrial relations would indeed be
discouraging if there was not strong evidence here and there
of a cooperation which has minimized industrial controversies,
facilitated the joint working out of a basis of industrial relationship,
and led to the establishment of “ conditions in industry which are in
advance and much more profitable than those which are found where
management assumed the determination and regulation of the rules
which are to govern labor. * * * The mathematician and the
mechanical engineer can work out and solve the mathematical prob
lems in industry, but the human factor lies entirely outside and is by
far the most im portant.”
Mr. Frey declared th at if frankness, freedom, and cooperation are
essential to successful political self-government, the same qualities
are equally necessary for cooperation between industrial groups.
W ithout organization management would be unable to carry on
modern industry. He thinks th at the wage earners’ right to organize
should be unquestioned and this would lead to the creation of an
industrial relationship which alone can eliminate the labor waste in
industry.
The development of the spirit of cooperation depends upon the
degree to which management “ is willing to recognize and establish
m utuality of rights, privileges, and responsibilities in the collective
determination of the terms of employment, the conditions of labor,
and the shop rules and regulations.” In brief, there must be the
same functioning of democracy in industry as in civil life.
A
1
Address delivered before th e conference on in d u stria l w astes, Silver B ay, N . Y ., Sept. 3, 1921 pub
lished in th e A m erican Federationist, O ct., 1921, W ashington D. C., p p . 835-843.
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PR IC E S A N D C O ST O F LIVING.
Retail Prices of Food in the United States.
HE following tables are based on figures which have been re
ceived by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from retail dealers
through monthly reports of actual selling prices.1
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food on October
15, 1920, and on September 15 and October 15, 1921, as well as the
percentage changes in the year and in the month. For example,
the price of strictly fresh eggs was 80.8 cents per dozen on October
15, 1920; 50.4 cents per dozen on September 15, 1921; and 58.9
cents per dozen on October 15, 1921. These figures show a decrease
of 27 per cent in the year and an increase of 17 per cent in the month.
The cost of the various articles of food,2 combined, showed a
decrease of 23 per cent in October, 1921, as compared with October,
1920, and a decrease of three-tenths of 1 per cent in October, 1921,
as compared with September, 1921.
T
T a b l e 1 __A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O P S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E O R D E C R E A S E OCT. 15, 1921, C O M PA R E D W IT H S E P T . 15, 1921, A N D OCT.
15, 1920.
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent a n d over are given in whole num bers.]
A verage retail price on—
Article.
U n it.
Oct. 15,
1920.
Sept. 15,
1921.
Oct. 15,
1921.
Per cent of in
crease ( + ) or de
crease ( —) Oct.
15, 1921, com
pared w ith—
Oct. 15,
1920.
Sept. 15,
1921.
Cents.
Cents.
Cents.
37.4
-1 6
- 4
44. 5
38.9
Sirloin s te a k ............................................ P o u n d .............
-2 1
- 4
34. 4
32.9
41.9
R ou n d s te a k ........................................... ........d o ...............
- 4
-1 7
33. 3
28.6
27.6
R ib r o a s t.................................................. ........d o ...............
-2 3
- 3
25.9
19.9
Chuck ro a s t............................................. ........d o ...............
20. 5
- 1
17.8
13.2
-2 6
........d o ...............
13.3
P la te beef.............................................
- 4
49.9
37.6
36. 0
-2 8
P ork chops....... ...................................... ........d o ...............
41.2
-2 5
- 4
B acon........................................................ ........d o ...............
54.6
43. 0
-1 9
- 6
59.8
51. 4
48. 3
H a m .......................................................... ........d o ...............
32.8
-2 1
37.9
30.0
- 9
L am b , leg of............................................ ........d o ..............
37.2
-1 5
- 3
43.9
38.2
H en s.......................................................... ........d o ...............
-1 5
- 1
39. 0
33.8
33.3
Salm on, c a n n e d ...................................... ........d o ...............
14.2
17.3
14.1
-1 8
Milk, fresh ............................................... Q u a rt...............
+ 1
1I n addition to m o n th ly retail prices of food a n d coal, th e b u reau secures prices of gas an d dry goods
from each of 51 cities. Gas h a s heretofore been published only in th e Ju n e issue, b u t appears this year
in th e Ju ly a n d N ovem ber issues. D ry goods ap p ears regularly in th e A pril, July, October, an d December
issues of th e M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w .
2T he following 22 articles, w eighted according to th e co nsum ption of th e average fam ily, have been used
from Jan u a ry , 1913, to December, 1920: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, p la te beef, pork
chops, bacon, h am , lard , hens, flour, corn m eal, eggs, b u tte r, m ilk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice,
coffee, tea. T he rem ainder of th e 43 articles show n in T ables 1 a n d 2 have been included in th e weighted
aggregates for each m o n th , beginning w ith J an u a ry , 1921.
32
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1194]
33
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING
1 .— A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C EN T
O F IN C R E A S E O R D E C R E A S E OCT. 15, 1921, C O M PA R ED W IT H S E P T . 15, 1921, A N D OCT.
15, 1920—Concluded.
T able
A verage retail price on—
A rticle.
U nit.
Oct. 15,
1920.
Milk, e v ap o rated...........
B u tte r ..............................
Oleom argarine................
N u t m a rg a rin e ............. .
Cheese............................. .
L a rd ................................
Crisco..............................
Eggs, stric tly fresh ___
Eggs, storage.................
B read..............................
F lo u r...............................
Corn m e a l......................
R olled o a ts....................
Corn fla k e s ....................
Cream of W h e a t..........
M acaroni........................
R ice.................................
B eans, n a v y ..................
P otato es.........................
O nions............................
C abbage.........................
B eans, b a k e d ................
Corn, can n ed .................
Peas, c an n ed .................
T om atoes, c an n e d ........
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ........
T e a ..................................
Coffee.............................
P ru n es............................
R aisin s...........................
B an a n a s.........................
Oranges...........................
15-16 oz. c a n ..
Pound...........
___do............
__ do.............
__ do.............
___ do............
__ do.............
Dozen............
___ do............
Pound...........
___ do............
___ d o ...........
...... do........... .
8-oz. package.
28-oz. package.
Pound...........
...... do........... .
...... do...........
.......do...........
.......do...........
.......do...........
No. 2 can---.......do...........
.......do...........
.......do...........
Pound..........
.......do...........
.......do...........
.......do...........
.......do...........
Dozen...........
.......do...........
Cents.
15.3
68.9
41.5
35.7
40.6
29.2
32.1
80.8
64. 2
11. 8
7.8
6.5
11.6
14.4
30.4
22.0
16.1
10.9
3. 4
4.7
3.6
16.7
18.5
19.2
14. 5
13.9
72.4
43.4
27.9
31. 4
47.2
71.3
All articles co m b in ed 1
P e r cent of in
crease ( + ) or de
crease ( —) Oct.
15, 1921, com
pared w ith—
Sept. 15,
1921.
Sept. 15,
1921.
Oct. 15,
1921.
Oct. 15,
1920.
Cents.
13.5
50.6
29.9
28. 1
32.6
17.9
21.3
50.4
Cents.
13.4
53.2
30.2
28.3
32.9
17.2
21. 5
58.9
44.1
9.5
5.4
4.3
9.8
12.0
29.7
20.5
9.3
8.2
3.5
6.5
4.8
14.0
16.1
17.9
12.9
6.9
69.1
35.6
19.1
27.3
38.8
56.6
-1 2
-2 3
-2 7
-2 1
-1 9
-4 1
-3 3
-2 7
-3 1
-1 9
-3 1
-3 4
-1 6
-1 7
- 2
- 7
-4 2
-2 5
+ 3
+ 38
+33
-1 6
-1 3
- 7
-1 1
-5 0
- 5
-1 8
-3 2
-1 3
-1 8
-2 1
—1
+ 5
+ 1
+ 1
+ 1
—4
+ î
+ 17
-2 3
- 0.3
9.6
5.6
4. 4
9.9
12.0
29.7
20.6
9.0
8.1
4.0
5.7
5.4
14. 1
16. 1
17.7
12.5
7.3
69.2
35.6
18.9
29.1
37.7
53.1
-
1
4
2
1
0
0
- 0.4
+ 3
+ 1
-1 3
+ 14
-1 1
- 1
0
•+■ 1
+ 3
- 5
- 0.2
0
+ 1
- 6
+ 3
+ 7
!See note 2, p. 32.
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of specified
food articles on October 15, 1913 and 1914, and on October 15 of each
year from 1917 to 1921, together with the percentage changes in
October of each of these specified years compared with October,
1913. For example, the price of butter in October, 1913, was
38.2 cents; in October, 1914, 37.6 cents; in October, 1917, 50.9
cents; in October, 1918, 65.1 cents; in October, 1919, 71.1 cents; in
October, 1920, 68.9 cents; and in October, 1921, 53.2 cents. As com
pared with the average price in October, 1913, these figures show a
decrease of 2 per cent in 1914. In October, 1917, the price showed
an increase of 33 per cent; in October, 1918, an increase of 70 per
cent; in October, 1919, an increase of 86 per cent; in October, 1920,
an increase of 80 per cent; and in October, 1921, an increase of 39
per cent.
The cost of the various articles, combined, showed an increase of
47 per cent in October, 1921, as compared with October, 1913.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1195]
34
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
T abi .e 2 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OR S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C EN T
OF IN C R E A SE OR D E C R E A SE OCT. 15 O F C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S CO M PA R ED
W IT H OCT. 15, 1913.
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent a n d over are given in whole num bers.]
Per cent of increase ( + ) or de
crease ( —) Oct. 15 of each
specified year com pared with
Oct. 15, 1913.
Average retail price- Oct. 15—
Article.
L n it.
1913 1914 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1914 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921
Sirlom s te a k ................
R ound s te a k ...............
R ib ro a s t......................
Chuck ro a st.................
P la te beef.....................
Pork chops................
B acon...*......................
H a m ............................
Lam b, leg o f...............
H en s__
Salmon (can n ed ).......
Milk, fresh ...................
M ilk” e v ap o rated ........
B u tte r...........................
O leom argarine............
N u t m a re a rin e ...........
Cheese.........................
L a rd .........................
Crisco............................
Eggs, stric tly fresh . . .
Eggs, storage...............
B read ..........................
F lo u r.......................
Com m e a l...................
Rolled o a ts..................
Com fla k e s..................
Cream of W h e a t.........
M acaroni......................
R ic e ...............................
Beans, n a v y ...............
P otato es.....................
O nions............... ...........
Cabbage......................
Beans, b a k ed ..............
Corn, can n ed ...............
Peas' can n ed ...............
Tom atoes, can n ed __
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ___
T e a .......................
Coffee..........................
P ru n es..........................
R aisins..........................
B an an as.......................
O ranges........................
P o u n d ___
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o ...........
. . .do...........
. .d o ...........
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o .........
. . .d o ..........
d o __
. . .d o ...........
Q u a rt........
15-16 oz.
can.
P o u n d ___
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o ..........
. .d o .........
.. .d o ...........
. . .d o ..........
Dozen.......
. . .d o ...........
P ound...
. . .d o .........
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o ...........
8-oz. p k g ..
28-oz. p k g .
P o u n d ___
. . .d o ...........
. . -do...........
. .d o .........
. . .d o ..........
. . .do...........
No. 2 c a n ..
.. .d o ...........
. . .d o ..........
. . .d o ...........
P o u n d ___
. .d o .......
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o ...........
. . .d o ..........
D ozen.......
. . .d o ..........
Cts.
Cts.
Cts.
44.5
41.9
33.3
25.9
17.8
49.9
54.6
59.8
37.9
43.9
39.0
17.3
15.3
37.4
32.9
27.6
19.9
13.2
36.0
41.2
48.3
30.0
37.2
33.3
14.2
13.4
+ .2 +
+ 3+
+ 3+
+ 4 -i+ 4+
+ 2+
+ 3+
+ 3+
+ 5+
+ 1+
38.2 37.6 50.9 65.1 71.1
42.6
35.8
22.4 23.0 34.9 38.5 42.4
16.0 15.5 31.3 34.2 36.1
37.5
41.6 39.0 55.2 64.1 72.0
59.2
5.6 6.4 9.9 9.8 10.1
3.3 3.7 7.1 6.7 7.3
3.1 3.3 7.0 6.8 6.6
9.2
14.1
25.2
19.4
8.7 8.8 11.1 14.0 17.3
18.9 16.7 12.5
1.8
3.0 3.5 3.8
4.9 4.5 6.3
4.5
17.1
19.1
19.1
16.1
5.5 7.2 9.8 10.6 11.4
54.7 61.3 67.5 71.0
29.7 29.6 30.5 30.5 48.6
16.5 18.3 29.0
14.9 15.5 20.9
39.3
55.3
68.9
41.5
35.7
40. 6
29.2
32. 1
80.8
64.2
11. 8
7.8
6.5
11.6
14.4
30.4
22.0
16.1
10.9
3.4
4.7
3.6
53.2
30.2
28.3
32.9
17.2
21.5
58.9
44.1
9.5
- 2 + 33 + 70 + 86 + 80 +39
9.0
Cts.
26.2
23.8
20.5
17.0
12.8
23.0
28.6
28.3
19.3
21.4
Cts.
32.9
30.8
25.8
21.8
16.5
38.9
48.2
42.6
31.6
31.1
28.3
9.0 12.7
Cts.
Cts.
39.8
36.9
30.6
24.5
17.6
44.3
52.8
52.4
33.9
40.3
34.8
16.0
16.6
25.7
23.1
20.0
16.4
12.3
22.6
27.8
27.6
18.4
21.2
41.0
39.0
32.3
27.9
21.5
45.4
57.9
52.0
35.2
39.0
30.9
14.8
All articles combined i
18.5
19.2
14.5
13.9
72.4
43.4
27.9
31.4
47.2
71.3
......
28 +
33 +
29 +
33 +
34 +
72 +
73 +
54 +
72 +
47 +
60 +
69 +
62 +
70 +
75 4101 +
108 +
88 +
91 +
84 +
55 + 73
60;+ 81
53 + 67
49 p 58
43!P 45
96 + 121
90 + 96
90 + 117
84 + 106
90 + 107
+ 46
+ 42
+ 38
+21
+ 7
+59
+ 48
+ 63
+ 75
0 + 41 + 64 + 78 + 92 + 58
+ 3 + 56 + 72 + 89 + 81 +47
3 + 96 + 114 + 126 + 83 + 8
- 6 + 33 + 54 + 73 + 94 +42
-f-14 + 77
+ 80 + 111
4-12 4-115 + 103 + 121 + 136
4.3 + 6 + 126 + 119 + 113 + 110
9.8
12.0
29.7
20.5
9.3 + i + 28 + 61 + 99 + 85
8.2
3.5
17 + 67 4_ 04 + 111 -1- 89
4- 70
+39
+ 7
+94
4.8
14.0
16.1
17.9
12.9
6.9 + 3 i + 78 + 93 + 107 + 153 +25
o 4- ]2 + 24 b 30 ¡- 33 + 27
69.1
0 + 3 + 3 + 64 + 46 + 20
19.1
27.3
38.8
56.6
+ 2 + 51 + 74 + 82 + 91 +47
5 See note 2, p. 32.
Table 3 shows the changes in the retail price of each of 22 articles
of food 3 as well as the changes in the amounts of these articles that
could be purchased for $1, each year, 1913 to 1920, and in October,
1921.
3
A lthough m o n th ly prices have been secured on 43 food articles since Ja n u a ry , 1919, prices on only 22
of these articles have been secured each m o n th since 1913.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1196]
35
PR IC E S AND COST OF LIV IN G .
T able 3.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D A R T IC L E S O F FO O D A N D AM O U N T
P U R C H A S A B L E F O R $1, IN EA C H Y E A R , 1913 TO 1920, A N D IN O C T O B E R , 1921.
Sirloin steak. R ou n d steak.
Year.
R ib roast.
Chuck roast.
P la te beef.
P ork chops.
AverAverAverAverAverAverA m t.
A m t.
A m t.
age
age
A m t.
age
age
age
A m t.
age
A m t.
for
|
1
.
retail fo r$ l. retail for |1 . retail
retail for Si. retail for SI. retail for SI.
price.
price.
price.
price.
price.
price.
Per lb. Lbs. Per lb.
1913..................... $0. 254
3.9 $0. 223
1914..................... .259
.236
3.9
1915..................... .257
3.9
.230
1916..................... .273
3.7
.245
3.2
1917..................... .315
.290
1918..................... .389
2.6
.369
1919..................... .417
2.4
.389
1920..................... .437
2.3
.395
1921: O c to b er.. .374
.329
2.7
Bacon.
Per lb.
1913..................... $0. 270
1914..................... .275
1915..................... .269
1916..................... .287
1917..................... . 410
1918..................... .529
1919..................... .554
1920..................... .523
1921: O c to b e r.. .412
H am .
Lbs. Per lb.
3.7 SO. 269
3.6
.273
.261
3.7
.294
3.5
.382
2.4
1.9
.479
1.8
.534
1.9
. 555
2.4
.483
Cheese.
Per lb.
1913..................... $0. 017
1914..................... .018
1915..................... .015
1916..................... .027
1917..................... .043
1918..................... .032
1919..................... .038
1920..................... .063
1921: O ctober. . .035
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
B read.
Qts. Per lb.
11. 2 SO. 056
11.2
.063
11. 4 .070
11.0
.073
.092
9.0
7. 2 .098
. 100
6.5
6.0
. 115
7.0
.095
Sugar.
Lbs. Per lb.
58.8 SO. 055
.059
55.6
.066
66. 7
37.0
.080
.093
23.3
31. 3
.097
26. 3 . 113
. 194
15.9
.069
28.6
Lard.
H ens.
Lbs. Per lb. Lbs. Per lb.
3.7 $0.158
6.3 SO. 213
6.4
3.7
. 156
.218
.208
3. 8
. 148
6.8
.236
3.4
. 175
5.7
2.6
.276
3.6
.286
.333
.377
2. 1
3.0
2.7
.411
1.9
.369
3.4
1.8
.295
.447
. 172
.372
2. 1
5.8
Milk.
Per lb. Lbs. Per qt.
1913..................... SO. 221
4. 5 SO. 089
1914..................... . 229
4.4
.089
4.3
.088
1915..................... .233
1916..................... .258
.091
3.9
. 112
3.0
1917..................... .332
2. 8
. 139
1918..................... .359
. 155
1919..................... .426
2.3
2.4
. 167
1920..................... .416
. 142
1921: O c to b e r.. .329
3.0
Potatoes.
Lbs. Per lb. Lbs. Per lb. Lbs. P er lb.
6.3 $0.121
4.5 $0. 198
5.1 $0. 160
4.2
. 126
.204
4.9
. 167
6.0
. 121
4.3
.201
5.0
.161
6. 2
4. 1 .212
4.7
. 171
5.8
. 128
3.4
.249
4.0
.209
4.8
.157
.266
.206
2.7
.307
3.3
3.8
.202
2.6
3.1
.270
.325
3.7
.332
.262
. 183
2.5
3.0
3.8
. 132
.276
3.6
5.0
3.0
.199
Coffee.
Lbs. Per lb.
18.2 SO. 298
16. 9 .297
.300
15. 2
.299
12.5
10. 8 .302
10.3
.305
.433
8.8
5.2
.470
.356
14.5
Eggs.
Corn meal.
Lbs. Per lb.
30.3 SO.030
.032
29.4
23. 8
.033
.034
22.7
14.3
.058
14.9
.068
13. 9 . 064
12.3
. 065
18.5
.043
Tea.
Lbs. Per lb.
3.4 SO. 544
3.4
.546
3.3
. 545
.546
3.3
.582
3.3
.648
3.3
.701
2.3
2. 1 .733
2.8
.691
Lbs.
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.7
1.5
1.4
1. 4
1. 4
•
[ 1197]
B u tte r.
Lbs. Per doz Doz. Per lb.
4.7 SO. 345
2.9 $0. 383
.362
4.6
.353
2.8
.341
.358
4.8
2.9
4.2
.394
.375
2.7
2.1
.487
3.5
.481
.577
2.7
.569
1.8
2. 4
1.6
.678
.628
2. 2
.681
1.5
.701
.532
1.7
2.7
.589
Flour.
Lbs. Per lb.
17.9 SO. 033
15.9
.034
.042
14.3
.044
13 7
10. 9 .070
10.2
.067
.072
10.0
8.7
.081
.054
10.5
Lbs. Per lb. Lbs.
8.3 $0. 210
4.8
7.9
.220
4.5
8.3
.203
4.9
4.4
7.8
.227
3.1
6.4
.319
.390
2.6
4.9
2.4
5.0
.423
.423
2.4
5.5
7.6
.360
2.8
Lbs.
2.6
2.8
2.8
2.5
2.1
1.7
1.5
1.4
1.9
Rice.
Lbs. Per lb.
33.3 SO. 087
31. 3 .088
.091
30. 3
29. 4
.091
17.2
. 104
14.7
.129
15.6
. 151
. 174
15. 4
23.2
.093
Lbs.
11.5
11.4
11.0
11.0
9.6
7.8
6.6
5.7
10.8
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
36
Index Numbers of Retail Prices of Food in the United States.
IN TABLE 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
* the retail prices of each of 22 food articles,4 by years from 1907 to
1920, and by months for 1920 and 1921.5 These index numbers, or
relative prices, are based on the year 1913 as 100, and are computed
by dividing the average price of each commodity for each month and
each year by the average price of that commodity for 1913. These
figures must be used with caution. For example, the relative price
of rib roast for the year 1920 was 168, which means that the average
money price for the year 1920 was 68 per cent higher than the average
money price for the year 1913. The relative price of bacon for the
year 1919 was 205 and for the year 1920, 194, which figures show a
drop of 11 points but a decrease of only 5 per cent in the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing the
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. From
January, 1913, to December, 1920, 22 articles have been included in
the index, and beginning with January, 1921, 43 articles have been
used.4 For an explanation of the method used in making the link
between the cost of the market basket of 22 articles, weighted accord
ing to the average family consumption in 1901, and the cost of the
market basket based on 43 articles and weighted according to the
consumption in 1918, see M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w for March, 1921
(p. 25).
The curve shown in the chart on page 38 pictures more readily to
the eye the changes in the cost of the family market basket and the
trend in the cost of the food budget than do the index numbers
given in the table. The retail cost of the food articles included in
the index has decreased since July, 1920, until the curve is brought
down in October, 1921, to approximately where it was in Septem
ber, 1917. The chart has been drawn on the logarithmic scale,8
because the percentages of increase or decrease are more accurately
shown than on the arithmetic scale.
4 See n o te 2, p. 32.
6 F o r in d ex n u m b ers of each m o n th , Jan u a ry , 1913, to D ecember, 1920, see M o n t h l y L a b o r R eview
or F eb ru ary , 1921, p p . 19-21.
6 For a discussion of th e logarithm ic ch art, see article on “ Comparison of arithm etic and ratio charts,” by
Lucian W . C haney, Monthly Labor R eview for March, 1919, pp. 20-34. Also, “ T h e ‘ra tio ’ c h arts,”
b y Prof. Irv in g Fisher, rep rin ted from Q uarterly P ublications of th e A m erican S tatistical Association
Ju n e, 1917, 24 p p .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1198]
T a b l e 4 .—IN D E X N U M B ER S SH O W IN G C H A N G ES IN T H E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , B Y
Y E A R S, 1907 TO 1920, A N D B Y M O N TH S F O R 1920 A N D 1921.
[Average for year 1913=100.]
Round Rib Chuck Plate Pork B a H am . Lard. H ens. Eggs. B u t Cheese. Milk. B read. Flour. Corn Rice. P o ta Su
Y ear an d m onth. Sirloin
ter.
toes. gar.
meal.
steak. steak. roast. roast. beef. chops. con.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
81
80
90
104
' 88
94
100
99
93
111
175.
211
234
81
83
89
94
91
93
100
102
97
111
134
177
193
206
187
210
187
188
190
199
206
215
222
223
225
222
212
186
215
204
192
191
189
185
184
177
177
185
183
162
197
210
215
224
221
216
211
212
214
207
201
189
84
86
93
98
94
99
100
102
99
109
139
165
182
197
240
199
161
153
153
155
166
184
206
234
250
268
180
179
181
183
181
182
190
197
191
180
141
131
124
116
106
103
106
115
113
109
200
201
203
202
194
1S1
182
183
179
175
229
139
121
99
97
101
122
138
146
171
100
104
100
106
130
170
167
74
76
83
92
85
91
100
105
96
108
152
186
201
74
77
83
95
91
91
100
102
100
106
152
196
205
76
78
82
91
89
91
100
102
97
109
142
178
199
164
151
201
194
158
157
157
166
166
174
179
172
170
162
158
145
152
152
150
157
155
157
158
154
152
147
146
136
178
180
186
206
202
194
208
219
238
238
210
157
186
186
186
191
195
200
203
203
202
202
196
176
148
138
141
140
138
135
129
130
128
124
140
129
130
127
124
117
109
112
171
156
168
177
167
162
163
181
179
171
171
166
155
164
161
159
160
162
159
153
71
73
77
80
81
91
100
102
101
108
124
153
164
68
71
74
78
79
89
100
106
103
110
130
165
174
76
78
81
85
85
94
100
103
101
107
126
155
164
100
104
101
107
131
166
169
172
177
168
159
160
161
170
171
182
192
186
185
177
171
156
166
167
168
179
179
191
202
196
193
188
178
160
159
159
161
169
169
176
181
176
175
168
165
152
159
151
154
157
158
157
'•58
157
153
147
163
153
157
160
160
160
161
160
154
148
157
148
152
1.54
153
151
148
147
144
139
n o
109
85
86
90
94
88
98
100
94
93
103
127
151
177
100
104
105
117
150
162
193
183
188
194
190
196
199
187
175
1.77
175
179
180
181
162
159
148
150
145
111
105
122
134
132
139
95
102
109
108
102
105
100
104
126
135
211
203
218
100
101
104
105
119
148
174
105
108
107
109
117
115
100
108
120
146
169
176
205
100
100
101
100
101
102
145
100
100
100
100
107
119
129
82
84
89
93
92
98
100
102
101
114
146
168
186
217
200
371
353
158
135
203
220
217
217
217
223
230
233
230
227
213
197
183
208
210
211
214
215
215
214
210
202
185
163
152
318
353
400
535
565
606
524
294
229
200
194
188
324
342
340
367
462
485
482
416
333
253
235
171
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
162
153
146
139
133
132
131
135
135
136
136
137
137
137
133
135
133
201
200
200
211
215
219
219
207
203
198
193
178
176
121
113
106
101
101
100
101
103
107
176
153
147
135
129
159
200
247
2oo
206
176
162
176
176
153
142
129
136
133
125
129
126
125
123
121
120
120
119
119
119
133
131
131
129
129
126
127
127
127
127
172
158
156
152
145
144
148
155
153
153
245
245
245
242
245
264
267
264
255
252
236
221
200
173
167
160
153
150
150
147
150
147
143
205
187
196
194
194
194
189
186
183
184
184
180
176
196
198
200
200
205
211
213
213
213
211
207
193
175
174
176
169
143
133
133
148
148
149
183
173
171
167
162
160
157
161
158
160
193
189
188
184
177
175
173
173
171
170
203
197
194
179
173
179
176
173
170
164
100
113
125
130
164
175
179
105
111
112
101
130
135
100
108
89
159
253
188
224
88
92
94
95
94
102
100
105
108
113
192
227
213
87
90
91
95
96
97
100
100
99
102
125
156
174
188
195
188
187
183
182
182
188
191
193
194
194
189
All
Tea. articles
com
bined.
P R IC E S AND COST OF LIV IN G ,
[11991
1907
1908
1909
1910.
1911
1912
1913..........................
1914..........................
1915...........................
1916...........................
1917...........................
1918...........................
1919...........................
1 9 2 0 : A v. for y e a r ..
Ja n u a ry ...........
F e b ru a ry ........
M arch...............
A pril.................
M ay...................
J u n e ..................
J u ly ..................
A u g u st.............
S ep tem b er---O ctober...........
N ovem ber___
D ecem ber........
1921:
J a n u a ry ...........
F e b ru a ry ........
M arch...............
A pril.................
M ay..................
J u n e .................
J u ly ..................
A u g u st.............
S ep tem b er___
O ctober............
Cof
fee.
CO
-4
T R E N D IN T H E R E T A IL COST O F A L L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D , C O M B IN ED , F O R T H E U N IT E D ST A TES, B Y M O N TH S, J A N U A R Y , 1913, TO O C TO B ER , 1921.
L Average cost for 1912== 100.
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
[ 1200]
1913
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1914
1$13
191$
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
PR IC E S AND COST OP L IV IN G .
39
Retail Prices of Food in 51 Cities on Specified Dates.
retail food prices are shown in Table 5 for 39 cities
for October 15, 1913, for October 15, 1920, and for September
15 and October 15, 1921. For 12 other cities prices are shown
for the same dates with the exception of October, 1913, as these
cities were .not scheduled by the bureau until after 1913.
AVERAGE
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1201]
40
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
T a b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T I
[The prices shown in th is tab le are com puted from reports sent m onthly to the bureau b y retail dealers.
A tlan ta, Ga.
B altim ore, Md.
B irm ingham , Ha.
A rticle.
U n it.
Oct. 15—
Sirloin s te a k ......................
R ou n d ste a k .....................
R ib ro a st............................
Chuck ro a st.......................
P la te beef..........................
P o u n d ..........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
Cts.
21.2
21.3
19.7
15.4
9.6
Cts.
40. 8
38.2
30.9
24.6
17.7
Cts.
36.1
33.1
27.4
20. 7
12.9
Cts.
34. 2
31.5
26. 9
20.0
12.7
Cts.
23. 5
22.0
17.3
15. 3
12.6
Cts.
44.0
42.6
34.3
26.5
17. 9
Cts.
37.6
34.3
28.9
20.5
13.4
Cts.
30. 3
33. 4
28.6
19.7
13. 8
Cts.
2S. 5
23. 0
20.5
16. 5
10. 4
Cts.
45.1
41.4
33.1
27.4
17.8
Cts.
38. 5
34. 7
27.7
21. S
13. 5
Cts.
37.0
32.5
26.9
20.7
13. 0
Pork chops........................
B a c o n ....'...........................
H a m ....................................
L a m b ..................................
H en s....................................
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
___d o ...........
........d o ......... .
26.0
32.2
30. 8
20.2
20.8
48.1
57.0
59.2
39.1
42.4
34.8
43.6
52.1
32.1
32.0
33.5
41.7
48.3
34.6
35.7
19.6
22.5
28. 5
18. 0
20. 8
46.4
4V. 5
63.6
39.0
45.2
35. S
35.8
54. 2
33. 7
40. 7
33. 5
34.8
51.1
32.3
39.0
24.6
35.0
32. 0
21.9
20.0
48.7
61.7
62. 3
44. 0
41. 3
33.6
46.2
53. 2
38.1
33. 2
32.0
44.4
51.0
36. 2
35. 7
Salmon, c an n e d ...............
Milk, fresh.........................
Milk, e v ap o rated .............
B u tte r ...‘...........................
O leom argarine..................
........d o ...........
28.2 19.8 20.2
35. 3
Q u a rt........... 10.6 25.0 17.5 17.8 8.7 16.0
15-16 oz. can.
17.1 14. 8 14. 7
14.6
P o u n d .......... 39.0 73.3 49.3 52.5 38.8 72.8
........d o ...........
46. 0 32.5 32.5
41.0
29.9
12.0
13.0
54.1
27.9
40.4 36.0 35.4
29. 5
12.0 10.0 25.0 20. 0 20.0
12. 8
16.3 15.0 14. 7
57.2 40.0 73.1 50.3 52.4
44.1
36. 3
28. 7
N u t m a rg a rin e .................
C h e e s e . ..........................
L a rd ....................................
Crisco..................................
Eggs, strictly fresh..........
........d o ...........
39.4 2S. 8 29.2
35.1 27.0 27. 2
40. 0
____d o ........... 25.6 40.0 31.3 32.4 23.3 41.0 32.9 33.2 23.0 40.9
........d o . ____ 15.4 30.3 19. 5 18.4 18.0 29.4 17.5 17.0 15.2 2«. 9
........d o ...........
31.5 20.0 20.3
28.9 19.6 19.7
33.6
D ozen........... 34. i 69.7 42.8 48.1 36.3 75.9 48.7 57.2 35.0 68.6
Eggs, storage.....................
B read........7........................
F lo u r..................................
Corn m eal..........................
Rolled o ats................... .
........d o . ____
P o u n d ..........
........d o . . . . . .
........d o ......... .
........d o ...........
5.9 12.8 10.9 10.9
3.5 8.1 5.6 5. 7
2.7 5.1 3.3 3.1
12.2 11.2 11.2
59.3
5.5 10. S
3.2 7. 7
2.6 5.3
11.3
43. 5
8.6
5. 3
3.6 3.4
9.9 9. 3
64.4
41. 7
5.4 11.5 9.5 9.5
3,6 8. 5 6.1 6 1
2.4 5.0 3.2 3.2
14.0 11. 4 11 2
Corn flakes.........................
Cream of W h eat...............
M acaroni............................
R ice.....................................
B eans, n a v y . ....................
8-oz. p k g ___
28-oz. p k g . . .
Pound... .. .
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
14.7 13.1 13.1
31.6 30.8 31.1
23.9 21.5 21.7
8.6 14.4 8.3 9.1
12.8 9. 8 9.6
13, 5 10. 5 10.3
29.1 27.6 27. 9
21.6 20.6 20.2
9.0 15.6 9.2 9. 3
10.6 7. 8 7.9
14.9 12 9 12 8
33.3 31.0 30.9
23.1 20.6 20.6
8.2 15.9 8. 8 9.1
13. 2 9. 2 9. 5
P o tato es.............................
Onions................................
C abbage.............................
B ean sT b ak ed ...................
Corn, c an n e d .....................
........d o ...........
____ d o ...........
........d o ...........
No. 2 c a n . . .
........d o ...........
2.3
1.8
Peas, can n ed .....................
Tom atoes, can n ed ...........
Sugar, g ra n u la te d ............
T e a ......................................
Coffee..................................
........d o ...........
20.1
........d o ...........
14.1
P o u n d .......... 5.8 14.9
........d o ........... 60.0 94.2
........d o ........... 32.0 44.3
17.8
12.1
7.5
89. 8
35. 0
18.4
18.1
13.1
12.8
7.3 4.9 13.7
89. 8 56.0 69. 2
35.3 24.4 39. 5
16. 5
11.0
6.6
65 2
31.0
21.2
16.8
11.3
14.0
6.3 5.7 14.8
64 8 61*3 87.5
30. 7 28.8 45.7
20.3
11.8
7.4
84 0
36.5
20 6
12.3
7.1
82 7
36.3
P ru n es................................
R aisin s...............................
B an a n a s.............................
O ranges..............................
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
D ozen...........
........d o ...........
17. 8
30.4
26.2
58.5
19. 8
27.2
27.6
49.3
19. 1
27. 5
26.6
59.1
18,0
25. 4
28.0
63.8
20.6
32. 0
36. 7
52.9
22.0
30.0
36. 8
48.2
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept Oct.
Sent. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921. 1921.
1913 1920
1913 1920
1913 1920
4.5 4.8 4.6
6. 4 6. 7 8.1
5.0 6.1 5.9
15.7 13. 9 13.9
20.2 15. 9 16.2
28.3
28.3
37.1
70.8
8.5
3.2 3.8 3.6
4.1 5.6 6.2
2. 8 4. 7 4.0
14.9 12. 8 12. 7
18.0 16.1 16.0
26. 2
32.9
33. 5
68.8
2.2
31. 4
31.0
18.7
24.9
42.4
32.8
32.0
17.6
24.2
46.7
4.4 5.1 4.8
5.4 7.0 7. 7
5.2 6. 5 6.3
18.0 16.1 16 0
19. 3 17 5 17 9
30.2
32.5
46. 7
55.0
1 T he steak for w hich prices are here quoted is know n as “ porterhouse’’ in m ost of the cities included in
this report, b u t in this city it is called “ sirloin” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1202 ]
41
P R IC E S AND COST OF LIV IN G ,
C LES O F FO O D F O R 51 C IT IE S ON C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D D A TE S.
As some dealers occasionally fail to rep o rt, th e n u m b er of q uotations varies from m o n th to m onth.]
B ridgeport,
Conn.
B oston, Mass.
Buffalo, N . Y.
B u tte, M ont.
C harleston, S. C.
Oct. 15—
1913
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct. O ct. Sept. Oct.
Sept. O ct. Oct. Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
15,
15,
15, 15, 15,
15,
15, 15,
15,
15,
15, 15,
1921. 1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1920.
1920.
1921.
1921.
1920
1913 1920
1913 1920 1921. .1921
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
1 35.0 169.3 1 60. 6 1 58.0
35.0 65.3 53.3 51.7
25.fi 44.9 33.9 33.5
18.0 34.4 24.0 23.6
15.2 14. 5
Cts.
52.5
49.8
37.7
29.4
13. 9
Cts.
44. 9
4i. 3
34.3
23.1
10. 3
Cts.
42.9
39.2
32.9
21.7
9. 9
Cts.
22.3
19.3
16.5
15.0
11. 5
Cts.
41.5
37.3
32.6
25.7
17.5
Cts.
37.9
32.4
27.7
20. 1
12. 7
Cts.
35.4
30.6
26.9
19.8
12.2
Cts.
37.1
32.7
28.4
22.4
16. 2
Cts.
30.2
25.9
23.5
16.8
11.6
Cts.
28.7
24.8
22.9
16.5
11, 8
Cts.
21.8
20.4
20.0
15.0
12.1
Cts.
41.5
41.6
33.0
26.8
21. 8
Cts.
35.0
33.6
28.6
22.1
15. 5
Cts.
35.7
34.0
29.3
22.3
15. 2
21.0
22.3
26.7
15.3
21.0
26.0
26.6
28.8
22.5
21.9
53.2
55.8
56.9
44.7
50.0
40.4
39.9
48.8
38.2
42.7
36.5
39.2
47.6
38.3
44.0
57.1
51.1
70.3
41.6
51.9
43.3
38.6
59.6
35.1
44.5
41.8
38.2
56. C
33.4
43.7
52.5
60.5
73. C
40. 1
46.4
37.5
47.6
61. 5
32.5
43.4
36.6
43. 1
57.3
30. 1
41.1
52.3
47.5
57.9
31.8
43.0
39.9
33.8
50.7
27.2
36.5
38.3
33.0
47.5
24.4
36.0
50.8
64.0
64.9
32.3
42.4
35.7
52.3
55.8
29.7
37.8
35.0
.50.4
56.3
27.5
31.6
37.9
18.4
15.8
69.4
43.8
34.4
15.5
13.9
51.9
30.1
33.8
15.4
13.7
53.6
29.0
40.6
18.0
15.2
67.9
40. 9
38.3
15.0
13.4
50.1
28.3
36.3
37.1
15,0 8.0 17.0
14.4
13.4
51.0 37.1 68.3
28.3 ........ 40.7
30.3
14.0
12.4
50.2
28.8
30.0
15.0
12 3
54.3
28.7
44.8
15.8
16.4
69.5
40.0
40.8
14.3
13. 5
49.3
32.5
36.3
40.0
14.3 Ì2.Ó 23.3
13.7
15. 2
54.0 38.2 68.0
32.5
43.5
36.0
40.9
29.4
32.5
53.3 105.7
27.4
33.0
18.3
21.7
76.1
27.6
33.0
17.4
21.9
85.6
35.6
41.5
28.0
30.9
96.4
25.5
33.2
16.9
19.9
66.1
24.3
33.4 ¿ i. 5
16.2 14.4
20.1
77.3 36.6
34.0
39.1
27.9
29.7
80.4
27.9
31.4
17.0
19.4
54.7
28.2
32.1
16.8
20.1
66.9
39.7
42.5
33.1
41.7
80.6
32.3
37.0
21.6
25.9
52.9
32.9
38.3 29.0 29.0
37.7 2Ì.Ó 39. 4 29.6 29.8
21.4 15.3 28.8 19.8 19.0
24.9
32.3 20.1 20.8
58.8 35.0 68.5 40.2 41.0
66.3
11.4
8.3
7.7
10.6
9.9
6.6
5.4
9.0
61.1
11.5
7.1
6.5
9.1
8.7
5.3
4.1
8.4
42.8
8.7
4.6
4.2
8.6
66.4
12.8
8.8
7.8
10.2
9.7
6.4
4.9
8.7
48.3
9.6
6.0
5.0
8.6
38.4
59.4
5.9 13.2 10.8 10.8
3.8 9.0 6.2 6.2
2.6 5.2 3.0 3.0
12.5 10.9 10.7
14.4
30.5
25.6
18.1
10.4
11.5
29.6
24.4
10.0
7.8
47.5
45.1
9.9 12.7 ÌÓ.6 10.6 5.6
6.2 8.0 6.0 5.6 3.0
5.4 9.0 7.6 7.8 2.5
9.1 11.7 9.8 9.7 ........
11.6 13.7 10.9 11.1
29.7 29.3 29.0 28.9
24.2 25.0 24.6 24.5
10.2 16.5 9.1 9.7 9.3
7.9 11.6 8.7 8.8
13.2 10.6 10.6
28.3 27.9 28.1
22.9 22.2 22.0
16.3 8.8 9.2
10.9 7.9 8.0
15.3
33.9
22.1
16.4
11.5
13.7
33.8
22.6
9.4
9.0
13.7
33.9
22.6
9.3
8.8
14.8 12.4 12.0
30.3 30.3 30.3
23.7 91 9 21.2
5.6 11.7 6.0 6.7
14.3 9.6 9.6
3.1
4.3
4.3
18.0
20.9
3.4
6.5
5.8
15.6
19.2
2.8 3.1 3.7 3.1
7.0 4.7 5 .5 6.4
5.6 3.5 5.6 5.2
15.5 15.2 12.7 12.6
19.4 21.4 19.2 18.6
2.6 3.1 2.6
4.2 5.8 6.5
1.7 4.2 3.5
14.2 11.4 11.4
18.0 16.0 16.3
2.5
4.6
3.8
22.2
18.6
2.5
5,2
5.1
20.0
17.6
1.9
6.4
4.7
19.2
17.5
2.2
22.2
15.5
13.2
69.9
49.5
20.5
12.9
6.9
66.5
41.3
20.6
13.1
6.5
66.5
41.4
22.2
14.2
14.1
64.0
42.1
20.2
12.2
7.0
60.1
35.3
20.6
17.5
15.3
13.0
6.5 5.4 14.4
58.9 45.0 67.5
35.3 29.3 43.7
16.2
12.1
6.9
62.6
32.8
17.2
12.6
6.6
61.2
33.4
18.5
16.3
16.2
78.2
58.4
17.2
13.8
9.5
76.2
46.4
17.4
21.8
14.6
14.0
9.0 5.0 14.5
76.2 50.0 79.6
46.3 26.8 42.7
29.3
31.9
56.2
72.8
19.5
28.4
44.6
58.5
18.9
25.9
45.7
67.3
26.7
30.8
45.9
76.9
18.8
29.7
37.4
56.6
20.9
28.8
38.8
58.9
18.5
27.9
43.9
59.4
18.9 29.1 19.5 19.5
25.5 31.5 32.0 30.3
44.8 2 18.2 2 12.8 2 12.8
61.1 75.0 48.5 51.9
24.4
25.4
31.3
20.5
25.6
8.9
38.0
23.1
15.7
6.0
3.(3
3.5
9.4
1.7
5.4
58.6
33.0
1.7
27.6
31.8
50.8
73.2
2 Per p ound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1203]
30.9 30.4
18.7 18.7
19 o 12.9
48.1 48.8
29.1 28.9
3.6 4.0 3.6
5.2 5.6 6.9
4.7 6.0 5.7
14.6 11. 7 11.6
19.1 14.6 14.9
28.1
31.4
53.8
69.3
18.5
11.4
6.6
74.1
31.9
18.5
11.6
6.1
74.9
32.1
19.0
28.5
38.6
52.5
19.4
26.9
37.0
45.8
42
M O N T H L Y LABOE EEVTEW,
T a b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S
C incinnati, Ohio.
Chicago, 111.
A rticle.
U n it.
Sirloin steak......................
R ou n d ste a k .....................
R ib ro ast....... ....................
Hhiipk roast,________ __
Plato bfifif. _
P o u n d ..........
........do............
........do............
........do............
........do ............
Cleveland, Ohio.
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. O ct
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
15, 15,
15,
1921. 1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1920
1913
1913 1920
1913 1920
15-
Cts.
24.8
21.6
20.1
15.8
12.0
Cts.
47.3
39.0
35.0
27.0
19.1
Cts.
38.6
31.6
30.1
20.4
11.9
Cts.
37.9
30.9
29.5
20.3
12.0
Cts.
23.3
21.0
19.2
16.1
12.2
Cts.
38.3
35.7
31.6
22.7
19.1
Cts.
33.9
31.0
27.9
18.1
13.6
Cts.
32.2
29.9
27.5
18.0
13.8
Cts.
25.4
22.9
18.7
16.9
12.2
Cts.
45.3
40. 5
31.2
27.2
17.1
Cts.
35.5
29.9
25.5
19.4
11.8
Cts.
33.6
28.3
24.0
18.9
11.8
P ork eh ops__
........do............ 21.0
B aro n .................................. ........do............ 32.7
d o __
32.0
L a m b .................................. ........do ........... 19.8
TTp/ns .................................. ........do ........... 18.4
46.0
59.4
61.9
38.7
36.9
36.9
50.8
51.1
33.5
36.2
33.4
47.5
49.3
30.6
33.0
23.7
26.0
30.0
17.8
22.7
48.2
48.9
62.0
32.5
44.3
36.6
35.1
52.6
30.4
37.8
36.0
33.8
49.2
30.3
36.8
23.0
28.1
35.7
18.7
20.9
52.4
55.3
62.8
37.3
44.4
38.1
44.2
53.1
31.0
36.5
36.0
39.1
49.4
28.7
34.8
Salmon rannfid
Milk, fresh .........................
Milk, e v ap o rated .. . . ___
B u tte r ..................... ..
Ol pom argari nfi________
38.6
.d o ...........
Q u a rt............ 8.0 16.0
14.2
15-16 oz. can .
P o u n d .......... 35.4 63.3
37.0
........do ...........
35.0
12.3
12.4
48.2
25.4
35.0
36.8
12.0 8.0 15.0
14.6
12.3
51.8 37.8 69.0
38.1
25.5
32.0
13.0
12.9
49.8
28.9
39.0
31.6
13.0 8.0 16.0
15.5
12.7
52.4 39.2 70.0
42.6
29.1
34.3
13.0
12.8
52.6
29.9
33.2
13.0
12.8
56.4
30.3
N u t m arg arin e.................
Cheese............................. .
B a r d ................. ....... .........
Criseo _ ________ _
Eggs, stric tly fresh ..........
34.2
32.7 24.6 24.9
........d o . . . . . . .
........do ........... 25.7 41.3 36.1 36.2 21.0 42.5
........d o . . . . . . . 15.0 27.6 17.2 16.8 14.2 27. S
31.0
31.1 21.1 21.2
........do............
Dozen........... 33.3 71.5 46.6 55.2 32.6 71.3
26.6
34.7
15.8
20.6
43.1
27.0
34.1 24. Ó
15.2 16.4
20.4
55.2 42.7
34.8
40.9
30.3
32.9
79.5
27.5
31.0
18.5
21.1
51.0
27.6
31.7
18.1
21.6
60.3
Pggs storagfi _ .
B read ..................................
Flour ................................
Corn m eal........................
p.oil fid o ats__ _
„.d o ...........
P o u n d ..........
........do ..........
........do ...........
........do ...........
60.6
5.4 12.4
2.9 7.0
2.8 6.7
10.3
62.3
4.8 11.5
3.3 7.8
2.8 5.2
11.6
9.4
5.7
3.4
9.9
Corn flakfis__
Cream of Wbfiat,__
Mararom*__ .
Tiififi.................. ..... .............
B eans, n a v y ......................
8-OZ. p k g ___
28-oz. p k g ...
P o u n d ..........
........do............
........do...........
13.7 10.9 11.0
28.9 28.0 28.0
20.7 18.6 18.4
9.0 15.8 9.2 9.6
10.9 7.5 7.5
P o ta to e s.............................
Onions
Cabbage.................... .........
B ea n s/b a k ed ....................
Corn; ra n n fid.....................
........d o ....—
___do...........
........do............
N o. 2 c a n __
........do ............
1.7
Peas, ra n n fid .....................
Tom atoes, ean n ed ..........
Sn^ar, g ra n u la te d ............
T e a ......................................
Coffee..................................
17.2
........do............
........do............
14.4
P o u n d .......... 5.2 12.4
........do ........... 55.0 72.0
........do ........... 30.7 39.7
15.7
12.7
6.7
60.7
33.2
18.0
15.8
13.0 ...... 14.6
6.4 5.4 12.5
66.1 60.0 76.6
33.5 25.6 35.9
16.9
12.3
6.8
70.2
30.2
17.6
20.6 17.7
12.6
15.3 12.8
6.9 5.5 13.6 7.3
70. C 50.0 76.7 6 4 .7
30.4 26.5 46.6 36.6
P ru n es.........._................ .
R a is in s __
B an a n a s............................
Oranges___
........do............
. ..d o __ . . .
Dozen...........
........do............
28.6
30.3
43.4
70.5
19.7
29.2
38.4
49.1
20.0 ........
26. S ......
38.2
59.
22.7
29.
38.6
49.9!
21. C ........
26.2
39.1
49.
3.0
4. C
2.6
16.3
17.4
9.8
5.1
6.3
9.2
43.6
9.8
4.2
6.0
9.2
4.1 3.3
5.1 5.5
5.1 4.3
13.4 13.3
14.8 15.1
45.8
9.3
5.4
3.3
9.7
14.2 11.5 11.4
30.2 29.6 29.3
19.9 19.0 18.7
8.8 15.9 9.6 9.4
9.9 7.1 6.9
1.8
3.8 4.7 4.1
2.1 5.7 6.8
3.8 6.0 5.1
15.5 12.6 12.6
17.5 14.1 15.2
30.9
35.2
49. (
65.2
63.2
5.6 11.8
3.1 8. C
3.0 6.5
12. C
43.8
9.1 9.0
5.7 5.4
4.4 4.3
9.1 10.1
15.3 12.5 12.4
30.5 28.5 28.5
23.5 21.6 21.0
9.0 17.5 8.9 9.5
10.3 7.3 7.5
1.9
4.1 4.4 3.4
4.8 5.6 6.6
3.3 5.7 4.7
16.0 13.3 13.2
20.1 17.7 17.8
29.2
31.5
54."
71. (
18.
27.
42.
51.4
17.9
13.1
6.9
65.2
37.0
18.6
25.5
45.3
54.3
1 T he steak for which prices are here q uoted is know n as “ p o rterhouse” in m ost of th e cities included in
th is rep o rt, b u t in th is city i t is called “ ru m p ” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1204]
43
P R IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G .
O F FO O D F O R 51 C IT IE S ON C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D D A T E S—C ontinued.
Colum bus,
Ohio.
Dallas , Tex
D etroit , Mich.
D enver, Colo.
F all R iver, Mass.
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. 15— Sept. Oct. Oct. 15— Sept. Oct. Oct. 15— Sept. Oct. O ct. 15— Sept. Oct.
15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1920. 1921. 1921.
1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921.
1913 1920
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
135.3 169.3 156.9 154.9
28.0 54.8 45.1 43.8
23.3 36.5 29.2 28.2
18.0 28.2 21.2 20.8
13.4 12.8
Cts.
40.4
36.6
31.6
26.2
19.0
Cts.
35.3
30.8
28.6
22.1
14.4
Cts.
33.9
28.8
27.0
21.0
13.4
Cts.
23.3
21.3
20.1
16.9
13.6
Cts.
39 3
37. 5
32.1
27.5
21.6
Cts.
34.6
33.2
27.8
23.2
17.8
Cts.
31.3
32.5
27.1
21.6
17.4
Cts.
23.9
21.4
17.8
15.8
10.0
Cts.
36.7
32.5
27.0
21.2
14.0
Cts.
32.6
27.9
23.7
17.6
9.9
Cts.
29.8
25.4
23.1
16.8
9.8
Cts.
25.4
20.8
20.0
15.4
11.0
Cts.
43.5
37.7
32.7
24.7
17.8
Cts.
37.1
30.1
27.7
19.9
11.9
Cts.
35.2
28.1
26.3
18.7
11.6
44.3
51.4
51.7
28.3
39.4
32.6
40.5
51.3
35.0
37.0
31.6
38.1
46.3
35.8
34.0
22.5
38.3
32.5
23.3
19.3
48.8
58.2
61.1
44.3
38.6
37.5
48.6
54.2
36.0
30.6
36.1
47.1
53.5
36.0
30.7
20.8
28.0
31.7
14.6
19.4
50.0
58.3
64.0
32.5
40.0
37.4
48.0
57.2
31.8
33.9
35.8
44.8
54.1
29.7
30.7
21.6
23.5
27.0
16.4
19.8
50.8
53.0
64.1
38.5
42.3
37.4
41.1
54.9
32.2
38.0
36.6
39.0
51.3
29.3
34.6
23.2
25.7
31.2
18.3
24.6
52.0
51.9
63.9
39.7
53.7
37.4
41.6
53.5
35.2
49.2
36.6
42.1
51.8
34.7
47.6
36.4
15.0
14.9
68.9
40.1
31.9
12.0
14.2
49.9
27.0
37.9 31.0 30.7
40.7
31.6
12.0 11.6 20.0 15.0 15.0 8.4 12.8
14.7
15.9 14.8 14.8
13.5
53.9 42.5 66.2 48.3 51.5 39.0 63.9
43.1
36.3 26.0 27.0 _
27.7
38.0
10.8
13.0
46.4
32.3
36.8
10.8 9.0
13.1
49.3 37. Ò
31.3
39.5
16.0
15.4
69.7
42.1
32.7
13.0
13. 0
50.0
28.4
31.6
13.0 9.Ò
12.7
53.9 35.9
28.6
38.5
17.0
16.7
67.6
41.9
34.3
13.0
15.0
49.6
32.3
34.3
13.0
14.9
50.8
32.3
34.9
39.6
26.3
31.4
74.3
26.3
30.6
15.5
20.9
41.2
37.4
34.5 27.3 27.5
37.0 29.6 30.3
35.5 29.4 29.4
26.3
30.4 20.0 40.2 33.4 32.8 26.1 43.6 35.9 35.3 21.7 40.5 33.3 33.0 23.6 41.0
14.3 16.8 32.4 21.7 21.0 16.1 31.2 19.1 18.9 16.5 29.7 18.0 17.1 15.3 28.0
34.5
30.5 20.0 20.5
30.1 19.9 20.3
31.9 22.4 22.3
21.7
65.8 40.9 46.1 37.1 71.9 45.0 53.1 35.6 80.5 51.5 58.0 52.7 103.3
59.5
31.3
32.8
17.1
21.5
75.7
31.7
33.0
16.6
22.3
84.2
45.0
69.7
12.1 9.4 9.4
7.5 5.4 5.3
5.4 3.7 3.2
12.8 11.0 10.9
38.3
60.0
5.3 12.0 10.1 10.1
3.2 7.8 5.0 5.0
3.3 6.2 3.9 4.0
14.1 11.6 11.5
41.1
63.5
5.5 12.1 10.2 10.0
2.6 6.3 4.0 3.9
2.6 5.7 3.4 3.4
11.1 10.0 9.7
44.7
63.8
5.6 12.1 9.4 9.4
3.1 7.5 5.5 5.3
2.8 7.2 5.0 4.9
12.4 10.4 10.3
11.4
30.1
21.1
10.3
7.4
14.7 12.9 12.8
31.5 31.7 31.6
22.5 21.5 21.5
9.3 16.0 9.0 9.8
11.4 9.2 9.2
15.1 13.3 12.9
30.3 29.7 29.8
20.5 21.5 20.8
8.6 16.3 9.2 9.6
12.2 8.9 8.8
14.3 11.5 11.2
29.7 29.9 29.8
20.6 19.4 19.3
8.4 16.1 7.8 8.6
9.6 6.7 7.1
1.4
1.6
14.3
29.8
21.4
16.7
9.5
11.0
30.1
21.2
10.1
7.2
3.3 4.7 3.8
5.2 6.4 7.5
3.8 7.7 6.1
15.9 14.0 13.8
15.5 13.8 13.8
2.5
4.2 4.9 4.7
6.5 6.4 7.0
6.4 6.1 6.1
18.9 16. 4 15.9
20.9 17.9 17.9
3.0 3.2 3.1
4.2 5.2 5.6
2.1 2.9 3.2
17.9 16.7 16.4
18.4 15.4 15.1
16.5
13.6
13.7
87.6
42.3
15.6
12.4
7.3
80.9
33.6
23.6
15.8
15.0
12.3
7.0 5.8 14.0
82.5 66.7 87.2
34.7 36.7 47.2
22.1
14.1
7.7
87.6
38.7
22.2
18.9
14.1
15.1
7.7 5.4 14.2
87.6 52.8 74.3
38.2 29.4 44.6
30.3
30.5
50.7
64.0
19. 1
27.4
37.9
52.7
19.2
23.9
40.0
63.7
22.2
28.3
35.0
54.2
22.6
27.6
36.3
56.6
28.7
32.6
45.0
66.3
18.0
12. C
7.9
70.2
34.9
29.0 19.9
30.4 29.8
2 15.6 213.3
70.3 51.7
17.4
19.1
14.3
12.8
7.5 5.4 12.8
70.9 43.3 69. C
35.7 29.3 42.7
19.2
27.3
213.4
55.7
8 P er p ound.
76564°—21---4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2.7 3.7 2.8
4.2 5.3 5.9
2.7 4.8 3.8
15.5 12.0 12.1
19.6 15.4 15.6
[1205]
28.9
30.9
41.8
70.8
6.2
3.3
3.7
ÌÓ.Ó
......
1.8
49.4
64.4
12.0 10.5 10.5
8.5 5.9 5.6
8.7 7.5 7.6
12.1 11.0 11.0
15.0 13.7 13.6
29.5 30.3 29.9
25.8 25.7 25.3
17.5 9.2 9.8
11.0 7.9 8.1
3.2 3.5 3.0
5.0 6.0 6.7
3.2 6.3 5.1
17.0 13.9 14.2
19.3 15.8 16.8
16.0
12.1
6.9
62.0
34.8
16.9
12.9
6.6 5.3
62.5 44.2
35.2 33.0
20.0
14.9
14.3
60.3
50.3
18.3
12.5
7.0
57.3
39.2
18.8
12.7
6.9
57.7
39.4
17.6
28.2
33.3
50.4
18.4
25.7
34.4
58.4
26.2
28.6
47.0
62.1
19.0
29.8
39.0
53.8
18.5
28.3
41.0
58.8
44
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
T a b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S
H ouston, Tex.
Indianapolis, In d .
Jacksonville, F la.
Oct. 15—
Article.
U n it.
Sirloin steak ................................
R ound s te a k ...............................
R ib ro a s t................... .................
Chuck r o a s t.................................
P la te beef..................................
P o u n d ..........
........do............
........do............
........do ............
........do ............
Cts.
36.7
35. 3
30. 1
27.0
21.2
Cts.
30.5
30. 1
24.8
21.5
16.5
Cts.
30.7
29.6
24.5
21.2
16.0
Cts.
26. 0
24. 7
17. 8
16.3
12.9
Cts.
39 6
39 4
29 0
25. 8
18. 3
Cts.
36.5
35.2
25. 7
22. 0
15.1
Cts.
35.0
33.7
26.0
21.5
14.8
Cts.
25. 5
21. 0
21. 3
14.6
11.6
Cts.
39. 3
36.6
29.9
23.4
16.0
Cts.
35.4
30.7
26.0
18.5
10.3
Cts.
35.4
30.3
25.2
16.7
10.0
P o rk chops.................................
B aco n...........................................
H a m .............................................
L a m b ..........................................
H e n s.............................................
........do............
........do............
........d o ......... .
........do............
........d o ...........
50.4
63.0
58. 8
40. 8
43. 3
34.6
51.6
52.7
33.0
31.2
34.2
50.8
52.7
33.8
31.6
22.2
29.7
31. 2
20.7
21.0
47. 9
53. 7
62. 1
37. 0
39. 3
36.2
41.2
53. 9
33. 8
35.4
33.8
39.7
50. 5
32.6
32.9
24.0
31. 0
30. 2
21.6
23. 8
49.6
53.7
57. 5
35.0
45.0
35.4
39.8
52.1
36.9
38.1
33.8
38.3
47.5
33.8
39.6
Salmon, c an n e d ........................
Milk, fresh...................................
Milk, ev ap o rated .......................
B u tte r...............................
Oleomargarine...... ............... .
........do............
Q u a rt............
15-16 oz. can .
P o u n d ..........
........do............
37.2
20. 5
15. 8
63.8
41.5
31.8
15.8
13.9
47.2
30.5
25.2
12.0
13.4
47.7
29.8
25.4
11.7 12. 3
13.3
50.4 39.3
29.6
33. 4
25.0
15. 3
69.9
41.4
27 8
20.0
13. 8
50.7
30.4
26.5
20.0
14.8
51.0
30.0
N u t m arg arin e...........................
Cheese...........................................
L a r d ........................................ .
Crisco..........................................
Eggs, stric tly fresh ....................
........d o ..........
........do............
___.d o ............
........do ............
D ozen...........
37.4
38.9
28.7
30.6
69.1
29.4
29.8
19.8
21.3
39.3
30.2
32.1
15.5 8.0 14. 0
13.9
15. 5
49.5 36.8 67.4
32.8
40. 8
•
29.8
34. 8
29.8 21.3 40.7
18.3 15.0 27.5
21.7
31. 3
41.1 32.2 68.4
27.6
33.2
15.0
20.9
40.6
28.6
38.5 28.5 29.6
34.2 22.5 38.6 30.5 30.2
14.3 15.8 30.9 20.7 18.4
21.3
31.8 21.2 21.2
52.8 40.0 73.2 54.4 61.1
Eggs, sto rag e........ .....................
B re a d ___ ....................................
F lour............................................
C o rn m e a l...... ................... .
Rolled o a ts ............ ....................
48.0
........d o .......... 63. 5
P o u n d .......... 10.3 8.5 8.5
........do............ 8. 3 5.5 5.5
........do............ 5.4 3.9 4.0
........do............ 13.0 10.6 10.5
57.5
5.1 11.6
3.2 7. 5
2.5 6. 0
11. 8
45.0
8.6
5.1
3.1
9.4
44.8
66.3
6.2 12.2 10.4 10.4
3.7 8.6 6. 3 6.0
2.9 5.1 3. 4 3.2
12.8 11.0 11.1
C o rn flak es...... .....................
C ream of W h e a t. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M acaroni..................................
Rice...............................................
B eans, n a v y ................................
8-oz. p k g ___
28-oz. p k g .. .
P o u n d .. .
........do..........
........do............
15.1 11.6 11.9
32.9 31.7 31.7
22 9 20.1 20.1
9. 2 18 1 9 4 10 0
9.3 7. 5 7 6
15.2 13.0 12.4
31.1 30. a 30.1
22 £ 2 0 . 9 20.4
6.6 13.1 8.4 8.8
12. 6 9 3 9 . 4
Potatoes............... ......................
O nions..........................................
Cabbage.................................
B eans ,~baked.............................
Corn, c a n n e d ................... ..........
........do............ 4. 8 4.9 4.7
........do............ 5. 8 5. 8 6.6
........do............ 5.5 6 1 5.7
N o. 2 c a n __ 16.7 13 5 13. 4
„ .. ..d o ........... 15.2 13. 3 14.1
P eas, c a n n e d ................... .
Tom atoes, c a n n e d .....................
Sugar, g ra n u la te d .....................
T e a . ........................................
Coflee....................... ...................
........do ............
........do............
P o u n d .. . . . .
........do............
........do ............
20. 3
14.3
14 7
75. 7
38. 2
17. 8
12.2
7.1
7 0
29.7
17 7
13.1
6. 4 5.7
71 8 60. 0
31.1 30. Ô
16. 3
14.6
13 7
88 1
46 8
15 6
13 4
7 5
82 2
37* 8
15 9
22
14 2
13
7 4 5 9 14
81 Q 60 0 9 0
37* 7 34.5 44
P ru n e s ........................................
R aisin s.........................................
B an a n a s.......................................
O ranges........................................
........do............
........do............
Dozen...........
........do............
26. 2
31. 9
45.6
60.9
18. 2
28. 8
30. 3
47.1
18.1
26. 5
31.6
49.1
29 4
36 1
34.1
66.7
21 2
31 9
30 3
50.9
19 6
29* 9
30* 3
55.2
Oct. Sept. Oct.
15, 15, 15,
1920. 1921. 1921.
14.6 12.5 12.4
30.2 29.5 29.6
21 5 20. 2 20.1
13 5 7. 8 8. 0
11.0 8. 8 9. 0
Sept. Oct.
Sent. Oct.
15, 15,
15, 15,
1921.
1921.
1921.
1913 1920 1921.
1913 1920
1.7
8.6
5.2
3.4
9.4
3, 2 4 5 3 5
4. 6 6. 2 6 9
3 9 6 4 5 0
16 2 14 0 1\ 2
16 7 14 6 15 0
2.5
4 1
6.1
4 Q
16 0
20 2
4 7 4.3
6. 0 7.8
6 4 6 3
13 2 13 2
16 4 16 6
2 18 4 18 9
4 12 1 12 0
5 7 3 6 9
0 86 2
4 37 6 37 Q
27 9 17 9 18 7
29 7 31 4 28 8
46' 7 28* 8 32 5
61 7 5 3 ! 0 44 0
........
1 The steak for w hich prices are here quoted is k now n as “ p o rterhouse” in m ost of the cities included
in th is report, b u t in th is c ity it is called “ sirlo in ” steak .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
£1206]
45
P R IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G ,
O F FO O D F O R 51 C IT IE S ON C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D D A T E S—C ontinued.
K ansas City, Mo.
Oct 15—
L ittle Rock, A rk.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Louisville, Ky.
M anchester, N . H .
Oct 15—
Oct. 15—
Oct 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1921. 1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1913 1920
1913 1920
1913 1920
1913 1920
1913 1920 1921. 1921.
Sept. Oct.
AO
,
Cts.
24.9
22.3
18. 0
15.6
12.2
Cts.
42.0
37.0
29. 0
21.3
16.0
Cts.
36.4
32.6
26.0
18.3
11.4
Cts.
35.6
30.7
24.5
18.0
10.9
Cts.
25.0
20.0
20.0
17.5
12.5
Cts.
38.1
36.4
30.9
23.9
18.4
Cts.
33.3
30.6
26.6
19.3
14.3
Cts. Cts.
31.7 24.0
29.7 21.0
24. 5 19.4
18. 0 15.8
13.4 13.3
Cts.
37.9
32.7
31.7
21.8
17.8
Cts.
34.0
28.6
28.3
17.2
12.3
Cts.
33.6
28.2
28.0
17.8
13.4
Cts.
23.0
20.0
18.2
15.9
13.1
Cts.
35.7
34.2
28.1
23.6
19.5
Cts.
31.8
29.9
24.5
19.1
15.1
Cts. Cts. Cts.
30.1 137.0 167.2
28. 2 29. 5 56.6
22.7 20.5 34.7
17.6 17.0 30.4
13.8
23.1
31.3
29.4
18.3
16.1
45.9
56.5
60.6
33.8
38.1
35.6
47.6
52.6
30.2
31.6
33.8 21.3
44.7 36.7
50.8 30.0
29.6 18.8
32.0 19.0
47.1
57.8
61.8
42.2
39.4
34.8
48.1
52.3
35.0
31.5
32.9 25.4
45.3 33.1
51.3 35.0
32.9 18.6
31.7 26.2
53.6
65.5
69. 5
35.2
49.5
43.0
54.3
61.3
28.6
42.7
42.7
52.8
61.1
28.1
43.7
21.9
29.5
29.0
18.2
21.8
46.5
51.8
58.4
34.0
42.0
35.2
40.6
49.1
29.0
29.8
31.5
36. 3
41.5
27.0
30.6
37.0
9.3 16.0
15.4
3S.8 67.6
40.6
31.2
14.7
14.4
48.4
29.3
31.6
38.3
14.7 10. Ò 20. 0
14.6
16.1
51.4 45. Ô 69.5
29.3
42.2
37.2
13.0
14.3
49.1
31.3
34.8
13.0 ÌÓ.Ò
14.1
50.6 39.5
31.0
50.9
18.0
12.8
72.0
43.8
43.3
14.3
11.9
56.1
32.9
32.2
42.5
14.0 8 .8 16.0
12.1
15.7
59.1 39.2 68.7
33.4
42.3
26.4
11,0
13. 9
51. 2
29.2
26.7
11.0 8.Ò
13.9
54.8 42. Ò
29.7
34.8 27.3 27.8
37.8
21. 8 42.4 34.3 34.6 23.3 40.2
16.4 30.3 18.9 18.1 16.5 29. C
33.9 23.1 23.1
30.5
35. Ò 67.9 40.1 49.6 35. Ò 65.8
28.4
32.9
20.5
21.9
40.2
35.2 29.4
28.5
32.9 Ì9.5 44.1 37.7
19.8 17.9 30.2 17.9
22.3
31.4 21.9
44.3 52.5 85.9 54.0
62.2
9.8
7.3 5.2
7.4 5.1
2 .8
... . 14.0 10.7
6. Ó
1 2 .6
3.0
39.4
9.7
ii.c
5.1 3.6 8 .2
4.9 2 .8 4.8
1 0 .6
13.0
15.0 12.9 13.2
31.1 30.7 30.7
23.4 2 2 .6 2 2 .8
8.7 14.7 8 .6 9.0 8.3
10.5 8.3 8.9
9.5
5. 6
2.9
1 1 .2
29.9
35.1 28.2
37.9 22.5 39.1 29.7
17.6 16.1 28.0 16.3
22.1
33.0 21.7
6 8 .8 30.0 65.7 37.0
44.2
6 6 .8
46.1
55.3
9.5 6 . Ò 10.6 9.2 9.2 5.7 10.4
5.6 3.4 7.9 5.7 5.4 3.5 7.8
3. C 3.4 7.6 5.2 5.0 2.4 4.6
1 1 .2
11.4 10.5 1 0 .6
11.4
14.7 1 2 .6 13.1
31.2 30.0 30.8
23.2 21.7 2 1 .8
13.9 7.9 8 .2 7.7
8.3 8.4
1 1 .0
13.5 12.4 1 2 .6
29.6 28.6 28.6
19.7 18.4 17.9
14.8 9.5 9.9 8.7
9.2 8 .2 8 .2
14.3
30. 1
21.2
15.5
9.4
Cts. Cts.
156.4 1 5 2 . 8
48.1 46.6
28.1 26.6
22.9 22.7
16.4 17.3
54.1
50.4
61.6
40.1
52.9
40.8
36.7
51.2
33.0
48.3
39.7
36.1
47.6
32.9
47.6
40.8
16.8
17.4
73.1
41.8
33.8
15. 0
14.7
56.4
30.3
33 6
15.0
14.6
57.1
31.0
27.2
34.7 26.0
29.9 22. Ò 41.1 33. 3
14.7 16.3 28.9 17.9
21.7
34.9 21.4
45.8 47.3 95.1 67.4
26.0
33.9
17.7
22.8
23.5
29.0
20.0
24.5
37.7
8.9
5.4
2 .6
2.5
9.7 9.8
8.9
5.4
11.5 1 1 .6
29.4 29.8
19.7 19.0
8.7 9.2
6.7 6.9
49.1
6 6 .8
5.9 11.3
3.4 8 .1
3.5 8 .1
12.3
8 .8
2 1 .6
75.0
8 .6
8 .6
6.3
5.5
6.0
5.3
9.7
1 0 .0
15.3 1 2 .8 1 2 .8
29.7 29.6 29.7
27.2 25.5 25.5
16.9 8 .6 9.2
1 1 .0
7.9 8 .2
3.5 3.9 3.5 2.4 3.9
5.1 6.6 8 .1
5.8
4.2 5. C 4.7
5.1
16.8 14.8 14.7
15. Ç
.... 15.9 14.6 14.1
17.3
4.9 4.3 1.7 3.7 3.6 3.7 2.2 2.7 4.1 3.2
7.0 8 .2
4.1 4.5 5.9
3.6 4.6 5.6
5.9 5.8
3.9 4.0 4. 0
4.6 7.1 6.5
14.1 13.5
18. 4 15.8 16.2
16.0 13.0 1 2 .8
15.9 15.8 .... 18.8 17.6 17.1
17.0 15.6 16.0
16.8 15.2 15.5
14.6 1 2 .8 13.1
5.7 14.8 7. S 7.2 5.5
54. C 86. î 78.1 78.7 50. C
27.8 45.2 36.5 35.7 30.8
19.0 19.7
19.5 18.1 18.4
2 15.4 2 15.1 2 15.6
1 1 .8 12.4
8.« 7.8 5.5 1 2 .6 7.3 7.0 5.4
92.9 91.3 54.5 75.8 65.9 65.7 65.0
38.1 38.1 36.3 41.9 37.2 39.2 27.5
17.6 17.1 17.1
22.5 21.4 2 1 .6
3 22.7 819.6 319.6
13.4 12.9 12.9
13. C 7.2 7.6 5.3 13.8 7.4 7.0
8 6 .6 76.9 76.2 47.5 63.0 58.2 57.6
44.2 34.1 34.2 32.0 47.4 38.2 38.2
21.4 2 0 .2
33. C 28.3
4 9. 5 410.6
50.4 62.1
27.3 2 2 .8 2 2 .0
31.5 28. 1 26.8
42.5 36.8 36.8
64.3 40.0 44.5
1.9
29.0
35.2
52.5
75.1
18.5
30.7
46.1
51.6
19.0
29.9
45.6
57.3
No.
18.5
14.4
14.5
94. Ç
45.7
28.6
29.5
4 11.4
74.2
can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
27.4
29.2
415.2
59.5
18.0
27.1
411.6
33.5
3 No. 3 can.
[1207]
17.0
27.6
4 11.3
38.5
4 P er pound.
1 .6
3.0 3.3 2.7
4.4 6 .6 6 .2
3.1 5.7 5.0
17.8 16.3 16.1
20.5 19.2 19.3
27.8 18.8 19.4
33.1 28.1 27.2
413.4 4 10.6 4 10.8
72.1 51.7 63.7
46
M O N T H L Y LABOE. E E Y IE W .
T a b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S
M emphis, Tenn.
M ilwaukee, Wis.
M inneapolis, M inn.
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
15, 15,
15, 15,
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1921.
1913 1920
1913 1920
1913 1920
Oct. 15—
Article.
U nit.
Sirloin s te a k .....................
R ound ste a k .....................
R ib ro a s t...........................
Chuck ro a st.......................
P late beef...........................
P o u n d ..........
........ d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
Cts.
24. 0
20.0
21.0
15.4
11.9
CIS.
38.1
35.5
30.2
22.7
17.8
CIS.
30. 5
27.9
25.0
17.2
12.8
CIS.
30. 3
27.3
23.9
17.0
12.7
Cts.
23.6
21.6
18.8
16.4
12.1
Cts.
41.6
38.5
31.7
27.4
17.4
Cts.
38.7
34.5
28.1
23.4
13.7
Cts.
36.7
32.5
27. 3
22.5
13.6
Cts.
23.0
21.3
20.0
17.0
10.1
Cts.
35.7
30.8
28.0
22.4
13.6
Cts.
32.4
28.0
25.6
18.4
10.1
Cts.
29.9
26.1
22.4
16.7
9.7
P ork ch o p s.......................
Bacon......... .......................
H a m ............................ . .....
L am b ..................................
H ens............... ...................
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........d o ___ _
____ d o ...........
20.5
31.0
29.0
20.0
19.5
46.7
57.8
58.9
42.1
40.9
31.3
42.9
49.3
32.8
29.9
29.7
41.1
45.7
31.7
33.0
21.2
28.6
29.0
19.5
18.8
46.0
57.2
57.4
38.0
35.6
38.8
45.7
50.9
34.7
35.1
34.2
43.5
47.9
31.7
29.7
20.8
27.7
32.7
14.8
17.2
42.7
57.9
60.8
30.0
32.4
35.6
46.2
53.0
28.4
30.6
31.9
43.1
46.0
26.1
27.5
44.1
12.0
15.7
64.6
38.1
36.9
9.0
13.5
47.6
26.4
35.2
47.5
9.0 8.0 14.0
13.3
15.5
51.4 35.5 62.1
26.5
41.2
40.6
11.0
14.4
44.7
28.2
40.2
11.0
14.1
47.8
29.3
Salmon, c an n e d ___. . . . .
Milk, fresh.........................
Milk, evaporated..............
B u tte r................... ............
O leom argarine. . . . . . . . . .
. .d o ...........
40.5 35.3 35. S
Q u a rt............ 10.0 20.0 17.3 17.3 7.0
15-16 oz. can.
16.4 14.8 14.8
P o u n d . . . . . . 38.8 67.1 47.3 49.1 35. Ô
...... d o ...........
42. 0 30.6 32.0
N u t m arg arin e. . . . . . . . . .
Cheese. . “ ......................
L a rd ...................................
Orisco.................................
Eggs, stric tly fresh ..........
........d o ...........
33.2 25.9 25.6
36.2 27.4 27. S
32.9 25.1 25.6
........ d o ........... 20.8 38.1 28.9 30.1 22.0 37.0 29.7 30.9 20.8 38.1 30.1 30.5
____ d o - ------ 16.3 29.8 16.9 14.6 15.8 29.3 18.5 17.3 15.7 28.2 16.9 16.4
........d o ...........
32.2 19.7 19.4
32.9 21.4 21.9
32.4 22.2 22.3
Dozen........... 29.6 68.1 39.8 47.9 35.0 67.0 39.8 50.7 34.0 68.1 38.3 49.5
Eggs, storage................. .
B read........7.......................
F lo u r..................................
Corn m e a l .. .. ...................
Rolled o a t s . ........ ............
........ d o ...........
P o u n d ..........
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
____ d o ...........
37.5
6.0 13.5 10.3 10.3
3.5 8.3 5.7 5.7
2.5 4.8 2.7 2.5
12.7 10. 8 10.8
60.1
5.7 11.0
3.0 7.6
3.7 6.8
8.9
Corn flakes........................
Cream of W h e a t..............
M acaroni...........................
R ice-----. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beans, n a v y .....................
fi-oz. p k g ___
28-oz."pkg__
P o u n d ..........
........ d o ...........
........ d o ...........
14.5 12.4 12.6
30.1 28. 9 29 0
20.6 17. 4 17.1
8.1 12.8 7.2 7.7
11.6 7.8 8.1
14.4 11. 6 11.6
30.0 29. 4 29:3
20. 6 18. 2 18.3
9.0 17.1 9.3 10.0
10.1 7.5 7.8
P otato es...........................
Onions................................
Cabbage........................ .
Beans, b a k e d . . . . . _____
Corn, c an n ed .....................
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
........ d o ...........
No. 2 c a n . . .
........ d o ...........
2.1
1.6
Peas, c a n n e d ..................
Tomatoes, can n ed — . . .
Sugar, g ran u lated............
T e a .....................................
Coffee................................
........d o ...........
........d o ...........
P o u n d _____
5. 6
........d o ........... 63. 8
____d o ........... 27.5
18.9
14.0
14.6
93.5
40.9
17.1
12.5
7. i
87.1
36.5
17.1
17.7
13.0
14.9
7.1 5. 5 13. ]
86.2 50.0 72.4
37.9 27.5 39. 4
P run es....................... ....
R aisins...............................
B ananas..................... ......
Oranges..............................
........d o ...........
. . . . . d o ..........
Dozen...........
____d o _____
27.3
33. (
46. S
63.6
21.1
32.7
33. <
53.6
20.9
28.2
34.1
54.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
3.6 4.7 4.3
4.1 5. 5 6.5
3.5 5.2 4.9
17.4 14. 5 14.6
18.9 14. 6 14.8
1 W hole.
9.4
5.3
4.9
7.5
2.9
3. 7
2. 1
4.4
6.1
4.7
12. C
17. 1 15. 4
28.5
31.4
3 14.1
71.4
15.1
12.6
7.0
66. 9
32. 0
3.1
7.7
3.3
12.2
15.4
15. 5 12.3 12.3
31. 4 29. 8 30.1
19. 3 17. 5 17.8
8.6 16.0 8.7 9.3
11. 5 8. S 8. 8
1.3
3.4 3.2
5. J 6.4
4.1 4.3 3.1
18. C 15. 5 15. 6
17.4 14.1 14.2
2.7
15.2
18.3
12.8
16.4
6.6 5. 6 13.2
66. 6 45.0 70. 9
32.1 30.8 44. fi
18.5 18.7
30.6 28.1
8 10.1 3 10.2
52. 9 56.9
1 No. 3 can.
[1208]
38.0
60.2
40.9
9.4 5.6 11.1 8.5 8.5
5. C 2.8 7. C 5.5 5.3
4.7 2.5 6.7 4.8 4.8
7.4
9.3 8.6 8.4
16.2
15.2
7. 5
64. 8
39. 4
15.5
15.2
7.1
64.0
39.7
28.6 18.9 19.5
30.4 29.5 27.8
3 16.5 3 11 2 3 121
71. 8 51. 5 55.2
47
P R IC E S AND COST O F L IV IN G .
O F F O O D F O R 51 C I T I E S O N C E R T A I N S P E C I F I E D D A T E S — C o n tin u e d .
Mobile, Ala.
N ew H aven, Conn.
N ew ark, N . J.
N ew O rleans, La.
New Y ork, N . Y.
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Oct. 15—
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Sept. Oct.
Oct. Sept. Oct.
15,
15,
15
15,
15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1920. 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 192Ì. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921.
Cts.
42.2
41.4
33.3
22.9
11.5
Cts.
41.4
40.5
32.1
20.8
10.6
Cts.
31.8
29.6
24.2
20.0
Cts.
59.5
53.7
43.7
33.9
Cts.
48.1
40.6
34.2
24.5
15.8
Cts.
47.3
38.9
33.2
23.7
15.0
Cts.
21.5
19.0
18.4
15.5
11.2
Cts.
33.1
31.2
30.0
21.9
18.4
Cts.
30.8
28.1
27.0
18.7
15.0
Cts.
30. 5
27.6
26.8
19.1
15.7
Cts.
26.1
25.5
21.6
16.0
14.8
Cts. Cts.
50.1 42.6
50.3 41.8
41.7 36.0
28.8 22.5
22.7 17.9
Cts.
41.0
40.2
35.6
22.3
18.5
24.0 52.7 39.1
25.8 47.4 38.1
120.8 142.4 133.1
19.0 39.3 34.3
23.0 46.9 40.2
37.1
36.2
128.5
33.8
40.1
23.6
29.7
32.8
18.3
23.5
54.3
56.2
69.1
41.3
51.3
38.4
44.4
57.0
33.6
44.7
38.2
43.8
53.6
32.1
43.5
25.0
30.4
26.0
21.0
21.0
53.7
57.7
57.8
42.1
46.7
38.9
46.7
52.5
36.5
38.0
38.5
44.8
48.4
35.9
39.1
22.9
25.7
29.5
15.2
21.8
52.1
52.0
63.1
32.3
46.5
40.6
40.0
56.4
32.2
40.6
39.0
39.3
54.2
30.6
40.6
31.4
41.5
17.0 9.0 17.0
11.7
15.2
54.8 36.8 67.1
42.1
30.2
36.7
15.0
13.2
49.8
29.7
40.0
37.0
15.0 9.5 18.5
12.9
15.3
49.7 37.5 71.5
43.5
28.8
38.0
16.5
13.0
49.1
30.3
43.6
37.9
16.5 9.0 18.0
14.5
12.9
51.3 37.5 69.9
41.9
30.3
37.1
15.0
11.9
51.3
30.3
36.4
15.0
11.9
55.2
30.8
36.1
40.0
27.9
30.5
97.8
26. 8
32.0
17.1
19.3
68.2
26.7
35.9 28.7 28.9
33. 0 2Ì.4 40.5 31.6 32.1 Ì9. 8
16.4 14.9 27.2 17.7 16.7 16.3
19.6
32.4 20.4 20.8
76.4 34.3 66.3 45.1 46.6 47. 9
34.9
41.6
30.1
30.4
87.4
26.8
33.8
18.2
20.4
63.0
27.1
33.6
18.0
20.4
71.5
Cts.
35.5
35.9
30.5
26.0
20.2
Cts.
32.3
32.2
26.6
21.7
16.7
Cts.
31.1
30.8
26.6
20.8
16.2
56.9
60.5
60 0
37.8
48.6
37.5
44.6
49.1
32.8
36.9
36.1
46.5
48.9
33.0
37.9
39.3
23.5
17.6
72.5
42.6
34.8
16.5
13.8
52.3
31.7
35.3
39.7
17.5 9.0 19.0
14.6
13.8
53.6 39.2 71.5
31.2
40.7
41.5
41.1
29.3
35.3
70.3
29.6
30.8
19.0
21.4
46.7
29.2
35.8 27.6 27.7
31.2 24.8 42. 5 34.9 35.2 23. 5
17.4 16.3 29.3 17.3 16.2 15.7
21.4
29.9 19.6 20.1
48.1 52.7 91.0 64.1 72,7 52.9
64.0
41.2
11.0 8.4 8.4
8.6 5.4 5.5
5.4 3.1 3.1
13.3 10.3 10.8
Cts.
27.7
27.7
21.0
18.6
12.0
Cts.
50. 7
50.4
39.7
27.6
16.2
68.1
5. 6 11.4
3.6 8.1
3.6 8.1
...... 10.4
32.7
16.5
11.9
52.3
29.9
9.3
5.7
6.4
8.6
48.5
9.3
5.2
6.6
8.9
71.5
46.3
6.Ó 11.8 9.5 9.5
3.2 7.9 5.6 5.3
3.2 7.9 6.5 6.3
11.2 10.2 10.3
62.7
5.Ò 10.7
3.8 8.5
2.9 5.1
11.9
8. i
6.0
3.2
9.6
40.7
8.1
6.1
3.1
9.7
14.7 11.9 12.1
30.9 29.8 29.1
21.6 19.4 20.2
13.3 8.5 8.6
12.2 8.6 9.0
13.0 10.1 10.0
28.4 29.1 28.7
25.3 21.8 19.6
9.0 15.9 8.6 8.7 9.3
11.0 7.9 8.1 ........
13.8 11.0 11.0
29.5 28.7 28.5
22. 5 21.7 21.2
16.9 9.2 9.3
11.0 7.6 7.9
4.6 5.0 5.0
5.1 5.9 7.1
4.5 5.0 5.5
16.1 14.0 13.8
18.5 15.9 16.2
2.5
3.2 3.7 3.1 2.1 4.3 4.9 4.8
4.6 5.3 6.0
4.9 5.6 6.4
3.8 5.9 4.9
3.3 4.7 4.4
16.7 13.8 13.6
16.9 13.6 13.2
21.3 19.1 19.0 ........ 16.2 13.4 14.1
19.2
12.8
13.6
53.5
36.3
17.8
11.1
6.7
49. 1
31.4
18.1
10.9
6.0
49.4
31.1
26.6
31.2
51.8
........ 73.9
16.9
28.5
39.2
63.1
17.5
26.4
39.6
66.9
18.9 17.9 18.5
14.9 12.9 13.3
14.8 7.6 7.0 5.2
81.0 75.6 74.3 53.8
4 0 . 8 32.6 32.4 29.3
28.6 17.4 20.6
30.7 30.5 30.1
33.8 26.5 28.0
5 5 .0
5 0 .4
4 9 .4
3.5 4.4 4.0
5.4 6.6 6.6
3.8 6.1 5.0
14.4 11.9 11.6
18.5 15.8 16.1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.7
14.1 11.1 11.0
30.0 29. 5 29.5
11.6 9.6 9.5
7.5 11.6 7.8 8.0
10.2 7.5 7.5
22.4 22.2 22.4
17.5
2 22.5 2 21.2 2 21.0
14.5
5. 5 14.0 7.1 6.5 5. i 13.9
5 5 . 0 63.0 54.7 55. t 62.1 74.1
3 3 . 8 46.7 37.7 37.8 25.0 35.3
26.9
31.1
43.1
68.4
18.2
28.1
36.1
54.2
17.7
25.6
35.8
63.3
3 Per p o u n d .
[ 1209]
26.4
30.1
25.1
51.0
66.7
6.Ò 11.9
3.2 8.3
3.5 8. 1
10.0
43.6
io. i 10.1
5.8 5.5
6.6 6.5
8.7 8.5
12.7 10.2 10.1
28.8 28.8 28.7
24.2 22.0 21.9
8.Ó 15.6 . 8.9 9.1
11.2
8.6 8.7
2.4
3.6
4.8
2.9
15.2
18.1
4.0 4.0
6.1 6.4
5.7 5.1
13.2 13.0
14.5 14.7
18.1
12.5
6.8
72.1
30.0
18.2
17.7
12.9
12.8
6.4 4.9 13.1
71.5 43.3 58.4
30.1 27.2 37.4
16.5
11.7
6.5
51.9
32.7
16.5
11.3
6.0
52.3
32.6
17.6
29.5
20.1
52.0
18.8
28.5
23.8
53.5
26.2
32.0
47.3
75.7
19.4
27.5
41.5
63.2
19.1
25.9
41.8
66.5
48
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
TABLE 5 __A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S
N o r fo lk , V a .
A r tic le
U n it.
O c t. S e p t.
15,
15,
1920. 1921.
O c t.
15,
1921.
O m aha , N ebr.
O c t. 15—
1913
1920
P e o r ia , 111.
O c t.
15,
1921.
S e p t.
15,
1921.
O c t. S e p t.
15,
15,
1920. 1921.
O c t.
15r
1921.
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
P o u n d ............
..........d o ---------___ . d o ..............
..........d o .............
..........d o .............
4 9 .9
4 4 .1
38. 8
2 9 .0
1 8 .0
4 1 .1
3 5 .5
3 3 .2
2 0 .8
1 3 .3
3 8 .0
3 1 .1
3 1 .2
2 0 .1
13 .3
2 5 .6
2 2 .8
1 9 .4
16 .1
11. 8
4 3 .0
3 9 .3
3 0 .0
2 3 .5
1 4 .5
3 7 .0
3 2 .8
26. 5
2 0 .7
11.1
3 6 .3
3 2 .2
2 6 .0
1 9 .8
1 1 .2
36. 4
3 5 .1
2 6 .8
2 3 .9
1 5 .8
3 3 .2
3 2 .9
2 4 .1
1 9 .6
1 3 .0
3 1 .4
3 0 .2
2 3 .0
18 .7
1 2 .8
P o r k c h o p s .................... ........... ..........d o .............
___ d o ______
B a c o n ___ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TTam ........................................ __ . d o ..............
__ d o ____ . .
Tvfr.mb....... ...................................
H e n s ............................................ ___ d o ____ __
4 9 .4
5 4 .6
5 3 .3
4 3 .3
5 0 .0
3 4 .4
4 0 .9
4 8 .0
3 8 .3
3 8 .5
2 9 .6
39. 4
4 2 .5
32. 8
3 9 .6
2 1 .9
2 8 .6
3 0 .0
1 6 .3
1 6 .3
4 7 .8
5 9 .2
6 4 .2
3 8 .5
3 4 .3
3 6 .8
5 2 .1
5 6 .3
3 1 .1
3 2 .2
3 6 .3
4 9 .1
5 2 .8
3 0 .9
3 0 .9
4 4 .9
5 5 .6
6 0 .6
3 5 .3
3 7 .6
3 6 .0
4 4 .6
5 2 .9
3 4 .4
3 3 .7
3 4 .6
4 3 .8
4 9 .2
3 1 .4
2 9 .1
S a lm o n , c a n n e d .............. ...... . „. „. d o ............
M ilk , f r e s h . . . » ....................... Q u a r t_______
M ilk , e v a p o r a t e d ................. 15-16 oz. c a n .
B u t t e r _________ __________ P o u n d ............
O le o m a r g a r in e ....................... ..........d o .............
3 5 .5
2 1 .3
1 5 .3
7 3 .4
4 5 .8
2 6 .7
2a 5
1 3 .0
5 3 .2
2 8 .5
2 7 .6
2 0 .5
1 2 .9
5 4 .4
2 8 .5
4a 4
1 5 .5
1 5 .9
6 4 .6
4 3 ,9
3 5 .5
12. 0
1 4 .2
4 6 .2
3 2 .6
3 4 .3
1 2 .8
1 4 .1
5 0 ,9
3 2 .1
3 7 .5
15.1
1 5 .7
63. 5
4a 2
3 4 .8
1 1 .7
1 4 .4
4 6 .3
3 0 .1
3 5 ,2
1 2 .7
1 4 .3
4 9 .5
3a 1
N u t m a r g a r in e .......................
C h e e s e .........................................
L a r d .................................. ..
O r is o n ................ ........................
E g g s , s t r ic t l y f r e s h . . . . . . .
..........d o ---------..........d o .............
_____d o .............
__ . d o . . . . . .
D o z e n .......
3 5 .5
3 9 .1
2 9 .6
3 2 .9
7 3 .4
2 8 .7
2 9 .4
1 8 .4
2 0 .1
4 9 .2
2 8 .3
3 0 .6
17 .7
2 0 .2
5 3 .3
3 6 .1
39.3
3 1 .7
3 5 .3
6 5 .6
2 9 .0
31. 6
1 9 .9
2 2 .2
3 8 .3
2 8 .4
32 .0
19 .1
2 2 .1
4 4 .3
3 5 .4
3 9 .3
2 9 .1
3 2 .2
6 8 .1
2 7 .9
3 2 .8
1 8 .2
2 2 .3
3 8 ,8
2 8 .0
3 3 .5
1 6 .6
E g g s , s t o r a g e . . . . . . ...........
B r e a d ..........................................
F l o u r ...........................................
Corn m e a l.................................
P o lle d o a t s ...............................
..........d o .............
Pound......
..........d o . . . . . .
..........d o . . . . . .
__ d o . . . . . .
6 2 .0
1 1 .5
8 .0
5 .5
1 1 .5
9 ,2
5 .7
3 .4
9 .6
4 3 .0
9 .1
5 .7
3 .3
9 .5
3 1 .6
7 .3
5 .8
1 3 .9
9 .9
4. 8
4 .2
1 0 .6
3 9 ,7
1 0 .5
4 .6
3 .9
1 0 .4
6 3 .3
1 2 .6
8.1
6 .0
1 3 .0
9 .7
5 .6
4 .2
1 1 .3
C orn f la k e s ...............................
C ream o f W h e a t .. . . . . . . __
M a c a ro n i............................... ..
R i c e ............ .................................
B e a n s , n a v ^ ___. . . . . . . . . .
8-oz. p k g . . . .
28-oz. p k g . . .
P o u n d ............
..........d o . . _ ....
..........d o . „ . . . .
1 4 .2
28. Ç
2 2 .4
1 8 .9
1 1 .9
11 .1
2 9 .2
19. 7
9 .9
8 .7
1 1 .6
28. 8
1 9 .6
9. 8
8 .6
1 5 .4
3 1 .7
23. 2
16. 4
1 1 .5
1 4 .1
30. 8
20. 9
8. 5
8 .0
1 3 .8
30. 8
20; 8
9 .0
8 .4
1 5 .3
31. 9
2 2 .1
1 6 .8
1 0 .9
1 3 .2
3 0 .6
2 0 .2
8 .7
8 .0
1 3 .0
3 0 .3
2 0 .6
8 .7
8 .4
P o t a t o e s ....................................
O n io n s .......................
C a b b a g e ...... . ............................
B e a n s ^ b a k e d ..........................
C orn, c a n n e d ...........................
..........d o ............
. . . . .d o . . . . . .
..........d o .............
N o . 2 c a n ___
..........d o . . . . . .
3 .7
5 .4
4 .7
1 3 .9
2 0 .9
4 .0
5 .4
5 .3
1& 8
15
3 .7
6 .1
5 .1
10.7
1 5 .5
2 .9
4. 4
2. 9
1 9 .6
17. 9
3 .3
5. 4
5 2
1 7 .0
1 4 .6
3 .0
6v7
4. 8
1 6 .2
14. 7
3 .0
5 .1
3. 8
1 7 .5
17 .3
4 .1
fL4
6. 8
14 .1
14. 8
3 .1
7. 6
6. 3
1 4 .0
14. 7
. . . . . d o .............
P o u n d ............
..........d o . . . . . .
.......... d o .............
2 2 .1
1 4 .1
1 3 .5
9 0 .4
4 8 .7
1 9 .0
11 .1
6 .8
3 9 .1
2 0 .7
1 2 .0
6 .5
77. 5
3 8 .5
1 8 .4
16 .1
1 4 .2
80. i
4 3 .7
1 5 .6
1 2 .6
7 .3
72. Ç
38. 5
1 5 .6
1 3 .7
7 .2
7 1 .7
3 7 .8
1 8 .4
1 5 .3
13 .7
7 2 .7
4 3 .7
1 6 .7
1 2 .8
7 .7
63 6
32 7
16 .3
12 .7
7 .5
6 3 .3
3 1 .7
P r u n e s .............. .................. . . . ..........d o .............
R a is in s ........................................ . ____ d o .............
B a n a n a s .......... .......................... D o z e n .............
__ . d o ..............
O r a n g e s ...................................
2 7 .6
29.1
44. 5
75. 5
1 7 .6
2 8 .7
3 5 .0
54. 2
1 9 .6
2 7 .6
35. 5
55. 8
1 9 .4
30 3
3 2 .1
3 1 .1
2 4 .0
S ir lo in s t e a k _____________
R o u n d s t e a k ...........................
R ib r o a s t ...................................
C h u ck r o a s t ..............................
P la t e b e e f ..................................
P e a s , c a n n e d ...........................
T o m a to e s , c a n n e d .. . . . . . .
S u g a r , g r a in fla te d ___ ____
T e a .........................................
C o ffe e ........................................ ..
........ d o _____
.4
77. Í
8 .2
3 7 .0
2 3 .3
1 7 .6
3 0 ,0
5 .2
2 .7
2 .5
8 .5
1 .8
5 .8
56. t
3 0 .0
30. 5 20.
32, 2 31.
4 15 2 4 10
7 5 .8
49.
3
6
5 2 .1
4 1 .4
9 .3
42
10. 8
2 2 .5
30. 8
32 4
1 4 10 6 4 14 3 4 1 1 0
J 5 3 .4 6 6 .0
5 0 .4
i
H
1
5 3 .3
1The steak for which prices are here quoted is know n as “ porterhouse ” in m ost of th e cities included in
this report, b u t in th is city it is eailed “ sirlo in ” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ri2io]
49
P R IC E S AIsTD COST OF L IV IN G ,
O F FO O D F O R 51 C IT IE S ON C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D D A T E S —C ontinued.
P ittsb u rg h , P a.
P hiladelphia, P a.
P o rtlan d , Me.
P o rtlan d , Oreg.
Providence, R . I.
Oct. 1 5 - Sept. Oct. Oct. 15— Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. 15— Sept. Oct. Oct. 15— Sept. Oct.
15
15, 15, 15, 15, 15,
15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1920. 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921.
1913 1920
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
i 57.0 147.5 144.1
49.9 29.6 37.0
41.7 33. 7 31.6
30.2 20.5 19.0
16.8 10.8 10.3
27.7
23.7
21. 7
17.8
12.8
49.5
44.5
38.0
29.1
18.0
43.3
35.8
31.8
21.5
12.0
41.2 163.3 158.8
34.5 52.5 46.1
30. 5 31.8 28.7
21.4 24.6 19.1
11.6
14.8
39.0
38.7
57.8
35.8
43.7
23.2
30.6
29.9
20. 0
25.5
51.0
56.4
65.0
42.6
49.1
38.3
46.2
55.9
36.0
43.7
37.4
43.2
52.5
35. 0
41.8
54.5
51.1
66.5
39.2
52.5
35.8 29.0
8.6 15.0 11.0
15.1 13.5
43. i 75. 8 57.4
44.4 29.5
40.1
28.7
11.0 8.8 16. 0
15.1
13.3
59.9 39.5 70.8
29.8
38.8
34.3
14.0
12.6
52.7
28.5
33.2
14. 0
12.8
56.8
28.5
36.8 27.8
25.6 41.9 35. 4
15.6 29.0 16.5
29.5 19.8
42.5 80.4 52.6
28.1
35.3 27.0 27.3
35.7 24.5 41.1 34.2 34.3
15.7 15.7 28.6 16.6 15.9
30.4 19.9 20.5
19.7
62.5 38. Ö 75.9 48.1 56.7
131.2
26.4
22.1
18.2
11.5
23.3
27.5
31.9
19.1
23.1
50.1
50. 2
66. 0
43.0
49.7
66.2
4.8 10.6
3.2 7.9
2.8 5.9
10.3
8.8
5.9
4.5
8.9
37.1
37.4
53.9
34.4
41.7
12.8 10,8 10.8
28.5 28.3 28.1
22.8 21.4 20.6
9.8 16.9 9.6 9.7 9.2
10.8 8.3 8.4 ........
2.3
3.5 4.0 3.9
4.2 5.8 6.0
3.4 5.1 4.4
15.1 12.3 12.2
17.5 15.6 15.2
1.9
......
Cts.
58.4
50.4
70.5
45.3
49.8
44.4
37.3
59.6
35.4
46.6
446
36.7
56.0
34.6
46.4
40.7
12.9
12.7
53.2
30.0
43.0
40.7
12.8 9.0 18.1
16.0
12.7
55.2 38.6 68.8
41.6
30.0
37.3
15.6
14.0
51.9
30.4
36.8
15.5
13.8
53.1
30.4
38.0
42.1
33.8
35.7
77.8
30.5
35.0
20.1
24.0
43.4
35.5
30.1
35.5 22. C 40.5
21.4 15.7 27.5
31.4
24.1
58.8 53.6 100.7
27.8
32.3
17.3
21.7
69.6
28.3
32.1
17.0
22.3
81.2
63.6
5.6 11.3
2.9 7.1
3.4 7.3
12.2
9.5
4.8
4.7
9.5
67.3
5.9 12.3
3.5 8.2
3.1 6.6
...... 12.3
10.6
6.3
4.6
10.5
46.6
10.6
6.0
44
10.4
23.5
21.0
19.6
16.9
13.8
32.3
30.4
29.3
21.4
16.4
29.3
26.1
24.7
16.9
12.5
28.9
25.9
24.6
16.8
12.6
1 40.2
31.6
24.2
18.8
39.5
40.1
54.7
33.6
47.1
39.0
39.2
51.7
30.3
44.5
23.4
31.5
30.8
16.9
21.3
47.5
60.2
60.6
32,9
38.9
35.9
48.2
51.4
27.8
34.1
34.5
46.7
49.5
27.1
34.5
22.0
22.2
33.3
18.7
24.8
38.8
17.0
16.1
73.3
43.3
33.2
15.0
14.3
55.4
32.9
32.8
48.2
15.0 9.7 15.6
14. 5
14.5
54.7 42.6 66.2
33.5
42.0
35.4
41.6
28.3
32.6
95.0
29.2
34.7
17.4
21.6
66.9
29.1
34.2 20. 8
16.8 18.3
21.6
73.1 49. Ö
44.1 69.0
63.6
50.3
5.5 11.8 9.4 9.1 12.0 io .i 10.1
3.2 7.8 5.6 5.4 7.9 5.7 5.6
3.0 7.5 4.3 4.3 7.1 4.6 4.7
11.6 10.2 10.4 10.0 7.8 7.6
46.3
8.8
5.5
4.0
8.7
Cts.
■56.6
44.3
27.4
18.6
14.8
45.0
9.5
4.5
4.3
9.3
i 77.8 i 65.6 164.5
60.8 49.6 48.2
45.9 36.4 35.6
35.7 27.9 27.3
18.7 17.9
14.0 11.4 11.5 15.1 12.1 12.0
29.8 29.3 29.5 29.9 29.2 29.6
22.5 21.7 21.5 24.8 23.7 24.2
17.8 9.8 10.1 18.3 10.3 10.5 8.6
10.0 7.5 7.6 10.9 8.0 8.4 ........
14.5 13.2 13.0
33.8 31.7 31.3
18.7 17.6 17.6
17.1 9.8 9.8 9.3
9.4 7.7 7.7 ........
3.3 4.0 3.2 2.8 3.2 2.6
4.9 0.0 6.9 4.4 5.7 6.4
3.9 5.2 4.8 2.3 3.7 3.5
16.5 13.8 13.3 18.5 16.9 16.3
17.8 15.5 15.4 19.7 17.2 16.9
2.8 2.6 2.6 1.7 3.2
4.2 4.9 5.2
4.5
3.0 5.3 4.1
4 0
16.4
21.0 17. 8 17.8
22.4 18.8 18.3 ........ 20.8
1.3
14.1
30.6
25.0
17.4
10.1
11.8 11.7
29.8 29.8
22.7 22.5
9.8 9.9
8.1 8.1
3.8
5.8
4.9
13.3
18.6
2.9
6.7
4.9
13.1
18.7
17.9
14.8
5.6 13.6
54.0 61.2
24.5 33. 9
16.0
11.4
6.7
62.4
30.1
16.0
17.8
14.1
11.6
6.1 5.7 13.7
62.6 58.0 78.7
29.8 30.0 44.6
16.1
11.9
7.3
76.2
36.4
16.1 20.5
12.1 222.9
7.1 14.3
76.2 63.2
36.2 47.5
21.2 18.1 18.2
19.5 19.5
21.6
210.3 210.2
s;i7.3 314.4 314.6
15.1
7.2 6.8 6.2 13.8 7.6 7.5 5. i 15.0
56.9 57.5 55.0 68.3 64.1 64.1 48.3 59.9
38.4 38.5 35.0 44.7 38.0 37.3 30.0 47.7
19.5 19.5
14.1 14.2
7.1 6.7
61.1 60.8
39.4 39.4
26.0
31.2
41.5
........ 69.3
17.4
26. C
35.8
51.8
18.2
24.6
35.4
56.2
21.5
27.4
42.8
53.2
21.2
27.4
43.4
54.1
18.5 18.1
27.5 25.9
110.2 410.7
59.4 60.8
18.8
28.9
36.3
62.5
2 No. 3 can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
29.3
33.9
49.7
75.3
25.4
30.1
414.3
84.8
* No. 2J can.
[ 1211]
21.7 9.8 12.7
30.0 28.1 26.9
0 7 .1 0 3 .3 413.6
82.5 58.0 56.7
4 P e r pound.
28.0
30.0
51.9
77.8
18.7
27.7
38,8
69.5
50
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
T able 5 —A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S
Richmond, Va.
Article.
Unit.
Sirloinsteak......................... Pound........
......do.........
Round steak.
Rib roast. ...................... ____do......
Chuck roast.... , .................. ......do.........
Plate beef.. . . . ................... ......do.........
Pork chops.......................... .....do........
Bacon...*.............. ..... ........ ......do.........
Haiti.................................... ......do.........
Lamb.................................. . = do........
Hens............................ .....- ......do........
Salmon (cannerlt............... .. ____do......
Quart.........
Milk, fresh__
Milk, evaporated................ 15-16oz. can.
Butter... t............................ Pound........
Oleomargarine...................... ......do.........
Nut margarine..................... ....-do........
.....do......
Cheese......................
Lard..........;.................... .....do........
Crisco................................... ......do.........
Eggs,, strictlyfresh........... Dozen.........
Eees. storage........................ ____do.........
Pound
"Bread
Flour................................... ......do.____
Corn meal........................ . ......do.........
Rolled oats.... ..................... ......do.........
8-oz. pkg__
Corn flakes
Creamoi Wheat................... 28-ozrpkg...
Macaroni.............................. Pound..7...
Rice..................................... ......do.........
......do.........
Beans, navy... . ‘
Potatoes................... ........ „„. ..do........
Onions................................ ......do.........
Cabbage..................... ........ ......do.........
Beans^baked...................... No. 2can...
Corn, canned....................... ......do.........
Peas, canned........................ ......do.........
Tomatoes, canned................ ......do.........
Sugar, granulated................. Pound........
Tea...................................... ......do.........
Coffee,................................ ......do.........
Prunes.. . . ............... __ ......do___ _
Raisins................................ ......do.........
Bananas............................. Dozen.........
O ranges.____. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
........d o ...........
Rochester,
N. Y.
St. Louis, Mo.
Oct. 15— Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. 15—ISept. Oct.
15, 15,
15, 15, 15, 15, 15,
1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1920. 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921.
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
22.2 46. 1 41.4 39. 2 43.6 38.1 36.7 26.0 40.6 36.1 34.3
32.6
20.0 42.2 36.1 34.9 39.9 33.2 31.3 24.3 39.6 34.2 2
.2
18.9 34.2 30.9 30.4 33.0 27.3 26.2 19.5 31.5 29. 4 18
.2
15.9 28.2 23.8 23.8 28.8 23.0 23.3 15.6 22.7 18.8 19
12.6 22.5 17.8 18.0 18.9 11.8 12.4 11.9 18.3 12.5 3.4
22.0 48.9 36.8 35.5 49.4 38.9 37.5 19.8 44.4 34.9 33.8
27.2 50.0 38.3 37.1 45.4 35.9 35.1.26.9 50.9 39.8 38.3
25.0 55.5 47.8 44.0 58.2 52.8 50.8 27.3 59.4 50.4 46.8
19.3 44.4 40.6 40.0 36.8 34.2 32.3 18.3 33.8 29.4 29.3
20.4 45.7 36.7 36.4 47.5 42.7 41.5 16.8 34.6 32.0 30.4
36.4 33.7 33.1
26.7 17.9 18.1 40.2 32.6 33.3
10.0 16.5 14.0 14.0 15.5 13.0 14.0 8.8 16.8 13.0 13.0
13.9 12.6 12.5
16.5 14.8 14.5 15.9 13.8 13.9
40.2 75.1 56.4 58.9 68.6 51.1 52.4 37.9 69.8 50.8 55.0
38.6 28.5 23.3
44.5 31.7 32.6 42.8 31.1 31.0
34.3 26.0 25.5
37.8 28.4 28.2 35.1 28.4 28.5
22.3 40. 5 32.2 32.6 39.6 32.9 33.6 19.6 38.1 30.3 30.6
15.4 29.7 18.6 18.4 27.6 17.7 17.1 13.1 24.4 14.2 12.4
30.7 20.4 20.7
32.8 22.3 20.9 31.0 19.2 20.1
34.5 78.4 48.4 50.8 83.0 55.2 63.1 31.0 69.2 40.6 49.9
39.4
59.4
43.7 63.5
45.4
66.5
5. 4 13.1 10. 7 10.7 11.4 8.3 8.1 5.6 12.1 10.1 9.7
3.2 8.0 6.0 5.7 7.9 5 8 5.6 2.9 7.1 4.8 4.7
2.3 6.2 4.2 4.1 7.3 5.2 5.4 2.5 5.1 3.4 3.2
10.6 9 4 9.2
12.2 11.1 10.9 8.7 7.9 7.5
12.9 10.6 10.5
14.6 12.9 12.6 14.6 11.5 12.0
30.2 29. 8 30.0
30.9 31.3 31.3 30.1 28.9 28.7
20.2 20. 5 20.7
21.5 22. 1 21.8 21.9 20.7 20.4
10.0 18.9 11.0 11.6 17.3 9.3 9.0 8.2 14. 4 8.5 8.7
9.4 7.2 7.5
12.0 8.7 9.3 11.1 8.1 8.2
2.1 4.5 4.9 4.8 2.4 3.2 2.6 1.9 3.8 4.3 3.8
4.4 5.5 6.4
5.6 6.3 6.7 4.4 5.2 5.7
3.7 5.2 4.9
4.2 6.1 5.6 2.7 4.7 4.3
1
2
.
1
14.3 11.8 11.6
15.1 11.9 11.8
13.9 12.1
15.5 15.2 15.3
19.9 15.5 15.5 19.8 16.0 16.3
15.8 16.0 16.0
21.4 20. 20.4 20.6 19.0 19.3
13.9 12.1 12.8
14.4 12.9 13.2 15.7 12.6 13.3
5.4 14.8 7.4 6.8 14. ( 6.9 6.6 5.3 12.5 7.0 6.8
7
56.( 89.6 85. £ 82. f 68.i 59. ] 61. ( 55. C: 4. < 69. ] 68.1
27.4 44.2 36.1 36. 8 40.5 33.7 33.3 24.4 38.2 32.3 32.4
29.3 20.C 19.2
28.6 22.3 21.0 27.7 20.7 21.7
31.4 30. 27.7
31.7 28. 25.9 31.1 28. 28.1
52.4 38. 40.6 48.5 42.5 42.3
38.9 32.!- 33.0
64.1 47.8 49.9
75.0 53.1 51.4 73.3 54.3I 61.8
1 No.
can.
[ 1212]
51
P R IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G ,
O F FO O D F O R 51 C IT IE S ON C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D D A T E S —C ontinued.
St. Pau , Minn.
Salt Lake City,
Utah.
San Francisco,
Calif.
Savannah Ga.
Scranton, Pa.
Oct. 15— Sept. Oct. Oct 1.5— Sept. Oct. Oct. 15— Sept. Oct. Oct. Sent. Oct. Oct. 15— Sept. Oct.
15, 15,
15, 15, 15, 15, 15,
15, 15,
15, 15,
1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921. 1920. 1921. 1921. 1913 1920 1921. 1921.
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cys. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
26.4 39.2 35. 5 32.3 22.6 33.7 28.5 28.1 21.4 32.1 29.0 29.0 39.6 32.9 31.4 26.0 52.3
23.0 32.4 29.7 27.0 20.0 31.7 25.1 24.8 19.7 30.3 26. 3 26.4 35. 4 28.1 27.9 22.0 44.9
20.4 30.7 27.4 25.8 19.4 27.0 22.4 21.6 21.3 30.8 28.2 27.1 30.2 25. 7 24.6 23.0 38.9
16.8 23.6 21.4 19.8 15.0 23.1 16.8 16.6 15.2 21 1 17.5 17.3 23.8 18.3 17.2 17.6 31.7
10.8 14.5 11.7 11.0 12.5 15.8 11.7 11.7 14.2 17.8 13.3 13.5 18.4 15.0 15.2 11.9 18.7
20.4 42.8 35.2 32.6 24.3 50.0 36.3 33.7 24.2 46.4 40.9 40.7 48.3 32.5 29.9 22.8 52.7
27.0 54.7 44.0 41. 3 30.0 56.5 44.3 41.3 34.4 64.8 56. 6 55. 0 53.5 39.9 38.9 27.5 56.2
28.8 58.8 50.0 46.3 30.0 58.7 49.3 45.0 34.0 62.5 57.5 53.8 56.7 43.0 42.2 30.0 64. 5
16. 1 31 0 28.7 26.3 16.9 31.3 27.2 24.4 16.7 35.2 30.1 30.1 45. 0 37.5 38.3 17.3 46.3
18.0 33.3 31.1 28.9 23.3 41.7 36.0 35.6 24.5 49.8 45.9 45.3 50.0 36.9 37.1 21.8 51.8
42.7
34.6 31.5 29.1 43.8 34.1 33.3
41.7 39.7 39.5
40.0 35.6 35.6
7.8 14.0 11.0 11.0 8.7 12.5 12.5 12.5 10.0 16.8 14. 0 14.0 24.7 20.0 20. 0 8.8 16.0
15.1
13. 2 12.4 12.4 15.0 12.7 12.4
15.6 13.9 14.2
14.9 12.4 12.5
36.5 62.4 43.1 47.1 39.0 69.5 49.1 52.7 40. Ó70. 0 54.9 58.3 72.1 50.9 54.1 36.6 68.0
42.5
38.1 28.8 29.3 44.8 34.5 35.1
40.2 30.0 30.3
42.5 29.0 30.2
35.3 29.3 29.2 38.6 30.7 31.6
36.7
34.8 26.6 27.6
37.7 29.4 30.6
21.0 39.6 31.1 31.5 24.2 38.7 27.8 28.4 2Ì.Ò 43. 0 33.1 34.1 40.5 30.5 31.1 Ì8. 3 39.4
15.3 29.4 18.2 17.0 20.0 31.7 1.9.4 18.7 18.0 31.7 19.4 18.9 31.0 21.3 20.0 16.0 29.6
32. 5 22.4 22.4 33.0 19.3 19.8
32.3
36.2 23.8 24.1
36.1 25.1 25.1
32.3 67.8 40.4 50.5 42. Ò77.8 45.6 51.3 56.4 90.5 54.4 67.2 69.4 51.3 53.3 45.8 80.4
41.1
63.7
62.2
42.6 61.7
44.0
67.9
60.5
42.0
6.0 11.4 8.6 8.5 5.9 12.4 9.8 9.8 5.9 10.9 9.6 9.3 12.4 ÌÓ. 5 10.5 5. 6 13.9
5.8 3. 6 8.6
2.9 7.2 5.5 5.3 2.4 5.9 3.3 3.3 3.4 7.7 5.6 5.4 8.3 5.9 2.7
8.2
2.5 6.9 4.3 4.6 3.4 7.1 4.0 3.9 3.5 7.3 4.7 4.7 5.0 2.8
10.2 9.6 9.4
11.1 10.4 10.5 13.0 10.9 10.4...... 12.2
10.6 10.3 10.5
14.4
14.7 12.5 12.4 14.9 11.2 10.9
15.2 13.7 13.7
15.3 13.6 13.5
29.6
29.1 28.8 28.6 31.4 29.6 29.7
31.2 29.9 30.0
34.0 32.1 31.8
1
4
.
1
1
9
.
8
2
5.9
1
4
.2
1
4
.3
2
2
.9
1
9
.6
2
2
.3
1
9
.2
2
2
.7
20.3 19.1
22.7
8.1 8.5 8.5 17.3
10.0 17.0 8.6 9.0 8.2 15.0 8.0 8.3 8.5 15.3 8.7 8.4 13.8 9.6
9.6
12.7
8.8 6.7 6.9 14.3
10.7 8.4 8.5
11.3 8. 8 8.7
1.3 2.6 3.1 2.9 1.4 2.6 2.5 2.4 1.8 3.6 3.3 3.5 4.1 4.0 3.6 1.9 3.0
5.2
2.8 3.5 4.5 5.8 6. 4 7.5
3.9 5.0 5.4
3.4 4.5 5. 5
2.6
5. 0 5.5 5.6
3.1 3.7 3. 8
2.9 3. 8 3. 3
15.4
18.2 16.7 16.4 17.6 12.8 13.2
20.0 17.8 17.4
19.0 16.9 16.3
18.0
19.0 17.3 17.2 17.7 15.3 14.8
18.9 15.3 15.5
...... 17.7 16.7 16.9
18.5
19.1 18.5 18.4 18.3 18.7 19.5
17.4 16.5 16.6
17.7 15.2 15.9
15.1
13. t ‘12.2‘13.4 14. 3 12.1 12.3
14.8 14.3 14.3
15. S 13.4 12.8
5.6 14.3 7.7 *7.4 5.8 15. C 8.1 7.8 5.4 13.7 7.4 6.8 14.5 7.2 6.5 "5.‘5 14.8
45.0 73. 1 67.7 68.6 65. 7 82. a 82.5 83.1 50. C 59. Ï 56.7 57.1 81. C 69.1 68.8 52.5 69.5
30.0 47.7 38.7 39.3 35.8 56.3 45.0 44.5 32.0 39.4 34.3 33.8 39.6 32.4 31.8 31.3 47.8
26.4
22.5 16.3 16.2 30.7 19.4 19.4
26.8 16.6 16.5
30.1 20.1 20.6
31.0
30. 1 27. ! 25.1 30.6 29. 5 2M
31. 1 25.5 25.1
32.5 29.9 28.7
39.2
45. 0 36.S 38.6 60. ( 38.1 37.5
218.2216.7217.0
216. 1211.8212.2
70.8
64.3 48.8 53. 3|116. 7 69.4 57.5
73.0 51.0 54.1
71.8 53.7 59.3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2 P er po u n d .
[1213}
Cts.
49.2
39.7
35.7
26.4
12.1
41.2
44.9
59.0
41.4
46.9
39.7
12.8
13.6
50.6
29.4
28.8
31.1
19.1
21.5
58.7
Cts.
47.8
38.3
35.0
25.9
11.7
40.9
43.9
53.3
40.0
44.1
39.1
13.3
13.7
52.0
30.0
29.0
31.4
19.0
21.5
66.2
47.8
10. 4 10.2
6.7 6.5
7.3 7.0
11.1 10.9
12.8 12.8
29. 5 29.3
23.6 23.6
9.6 9.9
9.7 9.8
3.8 3.2
5.6 5.9
5. 1
13.4 13.3
17.4 17.2
17.7 17.7
12.8 12.8
7.5 7.0
62,8 63.3
38.8 39.2
17.2 17.7
29.8 29.4
35.8 36.5
54.4 59.7
4 .5
52
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
T able 5 __A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D F O R
51 C IT IE S ON C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D D A T E S —Concluded.
iNo. 2J can.
2 Per pound.
Comparison of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities.
6 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food 7 in October, 1921, compared with the
average cost in the year 1913, in October, 1920, and in September,
1921. For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the one-year and
the one-month periods. These cities have been scheduled by the
bureau at different dates since 1913. These percentage changes are
'T 'A B L E
7 For list of articles, see note 2, p. 32.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1214]
53
P R IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G .
based on actual retail prices secured each month from retail dealers
and on the average family consumption of these articles in each city.8
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have perfect
reporting cities. For the month of October 98 per cent of all the
firms reporting in the 51 cities sent in a report promptly. The fol
lowing were perfect reporting cities; that is, every merchant in the
following-named 34 cities who is cooperating with the bureau sent in
his report in time for his prices to be included in the city averages:
Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Bridgeport, Butte,
Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas
City, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Manchester, Memphis, Milwaukee,
Minneapolis, Mobile, Newark, New Haven, Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Me., Portland, Oreg., Richmond,
Ya., St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt Lake City, and Washington, D. C.
The following summary shows the promptness with which the
merchants responded in October:
R E T A IL P R IC E R E P O R T S R E C E IV E D D U R IN G O C TO B ER .
Geographical division.
U nited
States.
Item .
Percentage of reports received.......................
N u m b e re d cities in each section from
w hich every report w as received...............
N orth
South
A tlantic. A tlantic.
98
98
34
9
N orth
Central.
South
Central.
99
98
98
10
6
4
99
W estern.
T a b l e 6 .—P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G ES IN T H E R E T A IL COST O F FO O D IN O C T O B E R , 1921,
C O M PA R ED W IT H T H E COST IN S E P T E M B E R , 1921, O C T O B E R , 1920, A N D W IT H T H E
A V E R A G E COST IN T H E T E A R 1913, B Y C IT IE S .
City.
A tla n ta ...............
B altim ore............
B irm in g h a m ___
B oston.................
B rid g ep o rt..........
Buffalo.................
B u tte ...................
C harleston, S. C.
Chicago................
C incinnati...........
C leveland............
Colum bus............
D allas...................
D enver...........
D etro it.........
F a ll R iv e r...........
H o u sto n ..............
In d ia n a p o lis .. . .
Jacksonville........
K ansas C ity.......
L ittle R o ck ........
Los Angeles........
L ouisville...........
M anchester.........
M em phis.............
M ilw aukee..........
Percentage Percentage decrease
October, 1921, com
increase
pared w ith — '
October,
1921,
com pared
w ith year October,
Septem
1920.
ber, 1921.
1913.
50
54
54
58
58
53
53
54
48
49
41
54
56
47
46
53
42
47
40
57
46
52
24
24
25
22
22
23
25
25
23
22
27
21
21
24
25
23
24
23
22
23
24
18
26
23
26
23
a 1
0
0.4
0.3
0.4
a2
0.2
1
2
0.4
2
0
a 1
a 0.3
2
0
a 0.3
2
1
0
0.4
a3
1
1
a 1
3
City.
M inneapolis........
M obile*...............
N ew ark...............
New H a v en ........
New O rleans___
New Y o rk ..........
N orfolk................
O m aha.................
Peoria...................
P h ilad elp h ia —
P itts b u r g h .. . . . .
P o rtla n d , Me__
P o rtla n d , O reg..
Providence.........
R ic h m o n d ..........
R o ch ester............
St. L ouis.............
St. P a u l...............
S alt L ake C ity ..
San F ran cisco ...
S a v a n n ah ............
S c ra n to n .............
S e a ttle .................
Springfield, 111.
“W ashington, D.C.
Percentage Percentage decrease
O ctober, 1921, com
increase
pared w ith —
October,
1921,
com pared
w ith year October,
Septem
ber, 1921.
1920.
1913.
47
50
51
51
59
51
51
52
41
62
65
53
35
51
61
42
63
24
26
22
24
23
21
25
23
23
23
22
23
21
22
22
23
24
24
25
18
25
21
21
24
20
0. 4
Cl 1
0.1
!
a 0.3
a 1
2
a 2
1
0
1
1
a 3
0.3
1
a 1
1
0.2
a 1
a3
1
0.4
a 1
1
1
a Increase.
5The consum ption figure used from Jan u a ry , 1913, to D ecember, 1920, for each article in each c ity is
given in th e Monthly Labor R eview for N ovem ber, 1918, pp. 94 an d 95. The consum ption figures
w hich have been used for each m o n th beginning w ith Jan u a ry , 1921, are given in th e Monthly L abor
R eview for M arch, 1921, p. 26.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1215]
54
M O N T H L Y LABOE EEV IEW ,
Retail Prices of Coal in the United States.1
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
October 15, 1920, and on September 15, and October 15, 1921,
for the United States and for each of the cities included in the
total for the United States. Prices for coal are secured from the
cities from which monthly retail prices of food are received.
In addition to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are
shown for Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those
cities where these coals form any considerable portion of the sales
for household use.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds used. The coal dealers in each city are asked to quote
prices on the kinds of bituminous coal usually sold for household use.
The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers, but do not
include charges for storing the coal in cellar or coal bin where an
extra handling is necessary.
T
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F COAL P E R TON OF 2,000 PO U N D S, F O R H O U SE H O L D
U SE , ON OCT. 15, 1920, A N D ON S E P T . 15 A N D OCT. 15, 1921.
1921
Oct. 15, 1920.
City, a n d k in d of coal.
Sept. 15.
U n ite d S ta te s :
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove...............................................................................
C h estn u t........................................................................
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
A tlan ta Ga.:
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
B altim ore, Md.:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove...............................................................................
C h estn u t........................................................................
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
B irm ingham , A la.:
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
B oston, Mass.:
Pen n sy lv an ia anthracite—
Stove...............................................................................
C h estn u t........................................................................
B ridgeport, C onn.:
Pen n sy lv an ia anthracite—
Stove...............................................................................
C h estn u t.................................... ..................................
Buffalo, N. Y .:
Pennsylvania an th racite—
Stove...............................................................................
C h estn u t.................................. ....................................
B u tte , M ont.:
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
Charleston, S. C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove...............................................................................
C h e stn u t........................................................................
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove...............................................................................
C h e stn u t........................................................................
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
C incinnati, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove............................................... ...............................
C h e stn u t........................................................................
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
Oct. 15.
$16.077
16.151
12.496
$15.031
15.064
10.470
$15.073
15.105
10.413
14.596
8. 792
8.833
i 15.500
i 15.500
i 11.125
a 14.750
a 14.750
8.063
i 14.958
i 14.750
8.079
10.269
8.618
8.746
16.000
16.000
15.000
15.000
15.500
15.500
17.954
17.954
14.400
14.300
14.500
14.400
13.220
13.240
13.120
13.120
13.120
13.120
12.570
11.960
11.815
i 17.875
> 17. 725
13.000
i 17.000
i 17.100
12.000
■17.000
1 17.100
12.000
16.710
16.750
10.940
15.490
15.490
8.862
15.520
15.490
8.926
15.725
15.500
9.000
15.500
15.750
6.917
15.500
15.750
7.563
« Per to n of 2,240 pounds.
1 Prices of coal were formerly secured sem iannually and published in the M arch and Septem ber issues of
the Monthly L abob R eview. Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published m onthly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1216]
55
PR IC E S AND COST OF LIV IN G ,
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F COAL P E R TO N O F 2,000 P O U N D S, F O R H O U S E H O L D
U SE , ON OCT. 15, 1920, A N D ON S E P T . 15 A N D OCT. 15, 1021—C ontinued.
1921
O c t . 15, 1920.
C i t y , a n d k i n d o f c o a l.
S e p t . 15.
C le v e la n d , O h io :
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S to v e
.....................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
C o lu m b u s , O h io :
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
D a lla s , T e x .:
A r k a n s a s a n th r a c it e —
E g g ...................................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s ..................................................................................................................
D e n v e r , C o l o .:
C o lo r a d o a n t h r a c i t e —
S t o v e , 3 a n d 5 m i x e d ...............................................................................
F u r n a c e , 1 a n d 2 m i x e d .......................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
D e t r o it , M ic h .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
F a l l R i v e r , M a s s .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ................ ..................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
H o u s t o n , T e x .:
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
I n d ia n a p o lis , I n d .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
J a c k s o n v ille , F l a .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s ......................................................................................................................
K a n s a s C i t y , M o .:
A r k a n s a s a n th r a c it e —
F u r n a c e .............................................., ....................................................................
S t o v e , o r N o . 4 ..................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s ......................................................................................................................
L i t t l e R o c k , A r k .:
A r k a n s a s a n th r a c it e —
E g g ..................................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
L o s A n g e le s , C a l i f .:
B i t u m i n o u s ......................................................................................................................
L o u is v ille , K y .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n t h r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
M a n ch e ste r, N . H .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
M e m p h i s , T e n n .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
M ilw a u k e e , W i s .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s ....... ...............................................................................................................
M in n e a p o lis , M in n .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
Mobile, Ala.:
B itu m in o u s..........................................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1217]
O c t . 15.
$1 6.5 4 0
1 6.513
12.3 5 0
$1 4.2 8 8
14 .2 6 3
8 .8 5 0
$ 1 4.388
1 4.350
8 .9 4 4
16.3 0 0
11.5 0 8
14 .8 3 3
7 .7 0 5
1 5.000
7 .6 7 0
2 0 ,0 0 0
15.583
1 8 .0 0 0
1 5 .1 5 4
18 .3 3 4
1 5.500
17.6 0 0
17.6 0 0
1 1.687
16 .0 8 3
16 .0 8 3
10 .9 5 0
16 .0 0 0
16 .0 0 0
10 .9 6 4
1 6.500
16 .4 3 8
1 4.029
14 .5 6 3
1 4.563
9 .5 9 4
14 .7 5 0
14 .7 5 0
9 .3 4 4
17 .5 0 0
1 6.500
14 .0 0 0
1 5 .2 5 0
1 5 .0 0 0
1 1.000
15 .2 5 0
15 .0 0 0
1 0.333
16 .1 3 2
12 .4 1 7
1 2.417
1 6 .4 3 0
1 6.415
10 .7 2 9
1 5 .3 7 5
15 .5 8 3
8 .4 8 8
15 .5 0 0
15 .6 6 7
8 .5 6 0
23 .0 0 0
2 3 .0 0 0
18 .0 0 0
1 6.500
1 6.500
12 .5 0 0
1 7.500
1 7.500
1 3.000
19 .1 0 0
19. .500
11 .4 9 6
1 7.143
1 7 .6 8 8
9 .6 3 3
1 7.286
17. 813
9 .6 5 0
17 .0 0 0
1 5 .4 6 2
14 .5 0 0
13 .2 8 6
1 5.000
1 3.286
19. I l l
19 .0 0 0
1 9.000
1 7.000
1 1.043
16. 875
16 .8 7 5
8 .0 7 9
16. 875
1 6.833
8 .1 0 0
1 8 .0 0 0
1 8.000
16 .0 0 0
16 .5 0 0
16 .5 0 0
11 .3 3 3
16.500
1 6.500
1 1.333
18 .0 0 0
1 8.000
1 1 .5 5 0
1 8 .0 0 0
18.0 0 0
8 .3 9 3
1 8.000
1 8.000
8 .3 9 3
15.9 7 0
1 6 .0 5 0
14. 510
16 .3 1 0
1 6.310
10. 593
16 .1 5 0
16.150
1 0.602
1 8 .3 5 0
18.4 3 0
15.131
1 7 .9 5 0
17 .9 5 0
12 .4 3 0
1 7.950
17.950
12 .4 8 6
14. 202
10. 944
11.429
56
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F COAL P E R TO N O F 2,000 PO U N D S, F O R H O U S E H O L D
U S E , ON OCT. 15, 1920, A N D ON S E P T . 15 A N D OCT. 15, 1921—C ontinued.
1921
O c t . 15, 1920.
C i t y , a n d k i n d o f c-oal.
S e p t . 15.
N e w a rk , N . J .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
N e w H a v e n , C o n n .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e .. .
...................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
N e w O r le a n s , L a .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ............................ ......................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
N e w Y o r k , N . Y .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
N o r fo lk , V a .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n t h r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
O m a h a , N e b r .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n t h r a c it e —
S t o v e ..............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
P e o r i a , 111.:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
P h ila d e lp h ia , P a . :
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e .. .
................................................................... ........................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
P itts b u r g h , P a .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ................... ................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s ......................................................................................................................
P o r t la n d , M e .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
P o r t l a n d , O r e g .:
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
P r o v id e n c e , R. I . :
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ............................................................ .................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
R ic h m o n d , V a .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ............. .................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
R o ch e ste r, N . Y .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
St. L o u i s , M o .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
S t . P a u l , M in n .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
1
2
Per to n of 2,240 pounds.
F ifty cents per ton additional is charged for “ b in ning.”
th e coal in to the cellar.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1218]
O c t . 15.
$1 3.0 0 0
1 3.000
$1 2.9 0 0
12 .9 0 0
$1 2.8 7 5
12. 875
17 .7 5 0
17. 750
14 .0 0 0
1 4.000
1 4 .0 0 0
14 .0 0 0
2 2 .5 0 0
22. 500
14. 327
17. 500
17. 500
10 .7 5 0
17 .5 0 0
17 .5 0 0
10 .7 5 0
1 4 .3 9 8
1 4 .3 9 8
1 3 .3 4 2
13 .3 4 2
13 .3 4 2
1 3.300
16. 000
16 .0 0 0
1 3.679
14. 500
14. 500
1 1.643
14 .0 0 0
1 4 .0 0 0
10 .0 0 0
2 3 .9 0 0
2 4 .0 0 0
14. 753
2 2 .0 0 0
2 2 .0 0 0
1 2.313
2 2 .0 0 0
2 2 .0 0 0
12. 579
16. 000
9 .3 1 3
15. 500
15. 500
6 .3 7 5
1 5.375
1 5 .5 0 0
6 .2 2 2
1 14. 888
1 14. 888
1 14. 219
i 14. 219
1 14 .3 1 3
1 14 .2 8 1
1 19. 000
i 18. 833
9 .0 2 8
1 15. 750
1 15. 817
6 .8 5 7
1 15. 500
1 15. 667
6 .8 5 7
17. 280
17. 280
14. 700
1 5 .1 2 0
15 .1 2 0
8 .4 9 3
15.1 1 5
15.1 1 5
14. 207
12. 493
12. 396
2 16. 200
2 16. 200
2 14. 833
2 15.0 0 0
2 15.0 0 0
2 8 .7 5 0
2 1 5.000
2 15. 000
15 .1 2 5
1 5 .1 2 5
12. 236
14. 250
14. 250
10 .8 4 6
1 4 .2 5 0
14. 250
10. 808
13. 375
13. 475
1 3 .5 5 0
13. 550
13. 550
1 3 .5 5 0
16. 250
16. 250
8 .4 6 3
15. 938
16 .1 2 5
6. 788
1 5 .9 3 8
1 6 .1 2 5
18. 292
18. 325
16. 879
1 7 .9 5 0
1 7 .9 5 0
1 3 .0 1 4
17 .9 5 0
17. 950
13. 385
6.938
Most custom ers require binning or basketing
57
P R IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G .
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OE COAL P E R TO N O F 2,000 P O U N D S, F O R H O U S E H O L D
U SE , ON OCT. 15, 1920, A N D ON S E P T . 15 A N D OCT. 15, 1921—Concluded.
1921
C i t y , a n d k i n d o f c o a l.
O c t . 15, 1920.
S e p t . 15.
S a lt L a k e C it y , U t a h :
C o lo r a d o a n t h r a c i t e —
F u r n a c e , 1 a n d 2 m i x e d .........................................................................
S t o v e , 3 a n d 5 m i x e d ................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
S a n F r a n c is c o , C a lif .:
N e w M e x ic o a n th r a c it e —
C e r i llo s e g g ..............................................................................................................
C o lo r a d o a n t h r a c i t e —
E g g ...................................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
S a v a n n a h , G a .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n t h r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ....................................................................................................................
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
S c r a n to n , P a .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t ...................................................................................................................
S e a ttle , W a s h .:
B i t u m i n o u s ......................................................................................................................
S p r i n g f i e l d , 111.:
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
W a s h in g t o n , D . C .:
P e n n s y l v a n i a a n t h r a c it e —
S t o v e ...............................................................................................................................
C h e s t n u t .......................................................................................................... .........
B i t u m i n o u s .......................................................................................................................
$1 8.4 0 0
18. 500
9 .7 5 0
O c t . 15.
$1 9,1 2 5
2 0 .0 0 0
9 .4 4 5
$19. 000
19 .8 7 5
8. 963
2 8 .6 5 0
2 6 .8 7 5
27. 250
2 6 .7 5 0
19 .4 0 0
2 6 .2 5 0
19. 273
26. 250
1 9 .2 7 3
3 1 9 .1 0 0
3 19 .1 0 0
3 1 7 .3 5 0
3 17.1 0 0
3 1 7 .1 0 0
3 1 2 .4 3 3
3 17 .1 0 0
8 1 7 .1 0 0
3 12 .4 3 3
9 .8 3 3
9 .8 3 3
9 .6 5 0
9 .6 5 0
9 .6 5 0
9 .6 5 0
4 11 .6 1 2
< 1 1 . 513
4 1 1 .4 3 3
4. S15
4 .4 5 0
4 .4 7 5
1 1 5 .5 4 3
1 15. 500
11 .5 1 5
1 15 .0 0 7
1 14.6 2 1
1 9. 917
1 15 .0 8 4
1 14.621
i 9. 554
1
8
4
P er ton of 2,240 pounds.
All coal sold in S av an n ah is weighed b y th e city. A charge of 10 cents per to n or h alf to n is m ade.
This additional charge has been included in th e above prices.
Prices in Zone A. The cartage charges in Zone A were as follows: October, 1920, $1.85; Septem ber
a n d October, 1921, $1.75. These charges have been included in th e averages. The cartage charges in
Seattle during these m o n th s have ranged from $1.55 to $3.05, according to distance.
Retail Prices of Dry Goods in the United States.1
HE following table gives the average retail prices of 10 articles
of dry goods on October 15 of each year, 1915 to 1921, inclu
sive. The averages given are based on the retail prices of
standard brands only.
1R etail prices of d ry goods are published in th e A pril, J u ly , October, and D ecem ber issues of th e
T
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1219]
A V E R A G E
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
O F 10 A R T I C L E S
O F D R Y
GO O D S
ON
O C T . 15, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, a n d 1921 I N
Cu
51 C I T I E S .
00
A r tic le .
U n it .
1915
B a ltim o r e , M d .
B ir m in g h a m , A la .
A v e r a g e r e t a i l p r ic e o n O c t . 15—
A v e r a g e r e t a i l p r ic e o n O c t . 15—
A v e r a g e r e t a i l p r ic e o n O c t . 15—
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1915
1916
[1220]
Yard
. . .d o ..
...d o ..
...d o ..
. .d o
. . d o ..
. . .d o ..
E ach .
Y ard.
. do
P a ir
.121
.0 8 4
.1 2 5
.1 5 0
.1 2 0
.3 1 6
.8 5 0
.1 1 7
$ 0 .0 7 7 SO. 118
.1 3 6
.1 9 0
.1 0 0
.1 9 0
.1 3 5
.2 1 0
.1 9 7
.2 5 0
.1 3 2
.2 2 3
.3 8 9
.5 1 8
1 .0 5 0 1 .3 5 8
.1 3 0
.1 9 3
.9 2 5
3 .6 2 5
SO. 220 SO. 210
$ 0 .1 5 0
.4 1 5 $ 0 .3 7 3
.25 2
.39 7
.28 2
.17 2
.30 1
.2 7 4
.36 4
.24 5
.36 8
.3 5 0
.5 0 4
.5 4 5
.6 4 3
.55 9
.3 7 8
.3 9 8
.3 6 0
.2 5 8
.8 3 4
1.041
.6
80
.8 7 1
2 .1 6 4 2 .1 9 8 2 .6 6 2 1 .6 6 4
.3 2 1
.3 6 8
.42 5
.2 4 0
1 .1 2 5 1 .0 5 0 1 .383
.92 7
5 .6 5 0 5 .7 1 4 6 .2 8 8 4 .5 8 8
B u tte , M ont.
C a li c o , 24 t o 25 i n c h .............................................
P e r c a l e .................... ......................................
G i n g h a m , a p r o n , 27 t o 28 i n c h ...............
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 2 7 -in c h .................................
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 3 2 -in c h .................................
M u s l i n , b le a c h e d ......................................................
S h e e t i n g , b le a c h e d , 9 -4 ....................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1918
1921
1920
1919
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
Y a r d . $ 0 .0 7 5 SO. 100 $ 0 .1 0 8 $ 0 .2 5 0 $ 0.250
SO. 069 SO. 093 $ 0 .1 3 0 SO. 350 SO. 250
SO. 217 $ 0 .0 6 4 $0 .0 7 8 SO. 121 $ 0 .2 1 0 $ 0 .2 2 2 SO. 150 $ 0 .0 9 3
.3 8 0
...d o ..
.3 9 0 SO. 508 SO. 257
.40 9 SO. 429
.2 3 8
. 139
.3 7 0
.4 0 0
.12 5
.1 5 0
.2 4 3
.4 0 9
.125
.2 5 8
.4 0 0
.12 3
.1 5 1
.23 0
.2 5 7
.1 4 9
.2 7 9
.277,
.2 8 0
.1 5 4
...d o ..
.1 0 5
.0 8 0
.2 9 2
.28 9
.09 1
.1 5 0
.09 1
.1 8 5
.3 2 0
.26 0
.2 8 0
.181
.0 9 4
.0 7 6
.19 0
. 413
.381
.4 5 0
.241
.1 2 6
.41 3
.3 5 9
.2 4 3
...d o ..
.1 3 6
.1 9 6
.25 4
.1 2 0
.3 9 4
.1 0 8
.2 2 8
.1 1 8
.3 8 3
.38 7
.4 3 3
.141
.24 0
.521
. 516
.610
.3 7 5
.1 6 5
.50 3
.64 3
.50 3
.52 1
.471
.150
.150
.250
.5 8 8
...d o ..
.25 C
.5 4 6
.64 3
.16 5
.2 5 0
.34 2
.3 1 5
.225
.2 9 0
.1 8 5
.40 2
.211
.1 0 2
.4 0 8
.1 0 4
.1 1 3
.1 8 7
.331
.1 0 6
.3 8 4
. ..d o ..
.1 3 1
.2 0 3
.3 3 8
.33 3
.12 4
.2 1 4
.6 2 9
.9 1 9 1 .1 2 5
.7 4 8 -.276
.6 9 8
.7 8 8
.8 3 3
.6 9 3
.8 9 0
.3 3 6
.4 5 0
...d o ..
.3 2 5
.4 0 6
.5 2 9
.7 8 8
.85 3 1 .0 4 6
.3 0 3
.3 6 8
.5 5 0
.84 5 1 .1 7 0 1 .8 3 8 2 .0 1 3 2 .1 6 2 1 .5 5 0
Each.
.7 7 8
.8 8 4 1 .3 4 2 2 .2 6 8 2 .2 8 1 2 .7 8 1 1 .7 6 2
.7 1 3
.8 0 8 1 .0 1 0 1 .3 6 2 2 .0 0 4 2 .2 2 7 2 .5 5 2 1 .5 9 4
.341
.2 0 7
.4 4 2
.221
.39 2
.4 1 8
.22 3
.1 2 5
.1 7 0
.3 4 9
.3 6 8
.1 8 6
.3 7 7
.369
.11 5
.3 7 3
.1 0 7
Y ard.
.1 0 9
.1 3 6
.1 3 0
.22 3
.990
.990 1 .0 9 6
.9 3 0
1 .2 5 0
.9 5 0
.945 1 .425 1.33C 1 .0 0 8
.6 7 7
.7 6 3
.7 5 0
.9 0 0
. . d o ..
3 .0 0 0 5 .3 1 0 5 .9 9 8 6 .0 5 4 4 .1 4 3
5 .9 3 8 7 .0 9 0 7 . 500i 4 .4 7 9
3 .7 4 0 4 .7 9 2 5 .1 5 3 5 .9 0 3 3 .8 6 8
P a ir ..
B rid g e p o rt Conn.
B o sto n , M ass.
C a li c o , 24 to 25 i n c h .............................................
P e r c a le ..................................................................................
G i n g h a m , a p r o n , 27 t o 28 i n c h ...............
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 2 7 -in c h .................................
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 3 2 -in c h .................................
M u s l i n , b le a c h e d ................................................
S h e e t i n g , b le a c h e d , 9 -4 ....................................
S h e e t s , b le a c h e d , 81 b y 9 0 ...........................
O u t i n g fl a n n e l , 27 t o 28 i n c h .....................
F l a n n e l , w h i t e , w o o l, 2 7 -in c h .
B l a n k e t s , c o t t o n , 66 lav 8 0 ...........................
1917
SO. 078 SO. 117 SO.
.12 5
.09 3
.1 2 8
.1 5 0
.1 3 6
.4 2 9
1 .0 0 0
.12 5
.1 9 0
.14 3
.215
.2 4 0
.1 8 6
.6 0 5
1 .3 7 0
.1 7 0
.5 6 3
2 .7 5 0
190 SO. 190
.38 5
.39 5
.26 2
.2 9 0
.3 5 3
.37 7
.5 6 4
. 544
.3 6 8
. 357
.921
.8 7 0
2 .1 5 5 2 .2 4 8
.33 3
.3 3 8
.7 6 0
.6 5 0
6 .9 5 0 5 .7 5 0
C harleston, S. C.
1
Y a r d . * 0 .0 7 1 $ 0 .0 7 6 $ 0 .1 0 8 $0 .1 6 8 $ 0 .1 7 4 ¡$0.250 SO. 133 SO. 065 SO. 083 $0 .1 4 4 W
...d o ..
.3 2 9
.4 8 3
.12 5
.1 5 0
.223
. 150
.1 5 8
.2 3 3
.3 8 8
.2 6 0
.1 5 6
...d o ..
.1 2 5
.08 3
.1 0 3
.2 5 0
.25 0
.2 5 0
.1 5 4
.0 8 0
.0 9 8
.1 4 2
.2 2 1
.36 5
.1 3 2
.20 3
...d o ..
.147
.36 3
.3 8 6
.2 4 8
.1 1 3
.1 7 5
.2 9 0
.2 2 0
...d o ..
.2 9 0
.5 3 3
.4 6 3
.5 7 0
.1 5 0
.4 3 8
.21 5
...d o ..
.12 9
.1 4 6
.1 8 8
.363
.36 6
.3 5 0
.2 4 4
.1 0 2
.1 2 0
...d o . J
.5 3 3
.8 3 9
.925 1 .217
.3 6 9
.4 3 4
.7 9 7
.3 6 0
.4 0 3
.561
B uffalo, N . Y.
I
$ 0 .478’SO. 248
.2 9 0
.16 6
.24 2
.4 4 8
.4 8 8
.6 5 9
.221
.4 0 0
.67 3
1 .1 4 8
2 .7 3 8 1 .7 7 4
.225
.4 4 8
.7 0 0
1 .2 5 0
6 .6 4 0 5 .0 6 3
$0.0 6 4 $ 0 .0 7 8 $ 0 .1 3 4 $ 0 .2 6 3 SO. 199 SO. 250 $0 .1 1 0
.4 0 6
.23 5
.38 4
.38 8
.2 5 7
.125
.1 4 6
.1 6 3
.1 0 0
.1 6 8
.30 7
.2 8 6
. 303
.0 8 0
.2 6 7
.1 3 2
.201
.36 0
.3 6 0
.381
.11 7
.6 2 9
.5 2 2
.5 7 9
.595
.2 4 0
.22 1
.1 3 2
.3 8 4
.3 5 7
.2 3 0
.3 4 6
.1 0 8
.7 0 5
.85 4
.94 7 1 .1 4 2
.3 3 8
.4 2 6
.5 8 8
.90 3 1 .1 2 4 1 .5 3 9 2 .1 0 8 2 .2 6 1 2 .8 1 7 1 .6 6 8
.38 5
.2 2 6
.1 1 9
.1 9 8
.37 7
.3 4 9
.1 3 1
.8 6 5
.987 1 .115
1 .0 3 8
.9 1 7
3 .1 9 2 6 .1 2 4 6 .3 5 0 6 .3 4 9 5 .2 1 0
C hicago, 111.
253 $ 0 .2 5 0 SO. 177 $0.1 1 3 SO. 063 SO. 088 SO. 125 SO. 246 SO. 216 SO. 216 $0 .1 3 7
.2 4 6
.4 2 5
.4 5 8
.3 9 8
.12 5
.1 5 0
.2 5 0
.3 5 0
.3 7 0
.233
.38 8
.1 5 7
.2 5 4
.2 7 4
.0 7 6
.2 8 6
.2 7 3
.2 4 0
.15 8
.0 9 7
.1 4 0
.2 6 8
.2 4 1
.38 3
.22 2
.36 8
.341
.3 6 2
.121
. 145
. 216
.3 6 3
.3 5 0
. 565
.80 5
.6 0 2
.5 1 4
.4 1 0
.6 1 4
.50 7
.2 5 0
.2 5 0
.3 5 0
.41 3
.2 2 6
.2 8 2
.38 5
.121
.3 1 2
.3 6 1
.201
.1 0 0
.21 3
.34 3
.28 1
.7 1 1
.9 5 5 1 .023
.80 1
.5 9 0
.60 7
.9 7 1
.9 9 6
.31 3
.3 9 1
.8 3 1
M O N T H L Y LABOR REV IEW
C a li c o , 24 t o 25 i n c h .............................................
P e r c a le ...................................................................................
G i n g h a m , a p r o n , 27 t o 28 i n c h ...............
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 2 7 -in c h .................................
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 3 2 -in c h .................................
M u s lin , b le a c h e d ......................................................
S h e e t i n g , b le a c h e d , 9 -4 ....................................
S h e e t s , b le a c h e d , 81 b y 9 0 ...........................
O u t i n g f l a n n e l , 27 t o 28 i n c h .....................
F l a n n e l , w h i t e , w o o l, 2 7 -in c h ..................
B lankets, cotton, 66 by 8 0 ...........................
A tla n ta , G a .
Sheets,
b le a c h e d . 81 b y 9 0 ............................ E a c h .
O u t i n g f l a n n e l , 27 t o 28 i n c h ..................... Y a r d .
F l a n n e l , w h i t e , w o o l, 2 7 -in c h ................... . . . d o . .
B l a n k e t s , c o t t o n , 66 b y 8 0 ............................ P a i r . .
1 .1 2 5
.1 2 5
.......
1 .3 0 0
.1 2 5
1 .717
.1 9 0
.85 0
4 .5 5 0
2 .2 4 2
.34 9
.8 5 0
5 .9 9 0
2 .3 5 0
.3 3 6
.96 3
5 .8 0 0
3 .0 0 0
.4 0 7
1 .0 8 8
5 .9 0 0
2 .0 4 4
.26 6
.93 2
5 .2 7 0
.875
.11 3
1 .0 3 4
.1 2 9
1 .464 2 .0 1 6
.2 1 7
.3 6 8
. 450
.6 5 0
3 .2 5 0 5 .1 6 0
76564o— 21—
5
[1221]
G in g h a m
M n s lin
d r e s s 32 -in ch
b le a c h e d
S h e e tin g b le a c h e d Q 4
Flannel ,
w hit/6 , "w ool, 27 m o i l . . . . . . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
Y a r d . $ 0 .0 5 8 $ 0 .0 7 6 $0.1 2 5 $ 0.217 $ 0 .1 9 6 S O .200 $ 0 .1 0 0 $0.0 7 0 $ 0 .0 8 8 1 0 .1 2 2 l$0 .238
.1 9 8
.3 5 8
.1 5 8
.1 4 4
.1 4 4
.3 7 5
.3 8 7
.1 4 4
.2 2 5
.4 9 0
.21 9
...d o ..
.1 5 8
.0 7 7
.2 5 0
.2 5 0
.2 3 5
.0 8 8
.1 0 0
.1 7 5
.0 9 4
.1 5 2
.3 4 2
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.1
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.1
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.3 6 0
.1 1 4
.2 0 0
.3 2 5
.3 6 9
.3 5 8
.2 2 8
.1 4 6
.2 5 5
...d o ..
.5 3 8
.5 5 9
.6 1 5
.1 7 5
.3 5 0
. 638
.4 9 5
do
.191
.29 1
.3 2 5
.2 7 2
.117
.14 1
.2 3 3
.3 7 0
.ÍÓ 3
.1 2 2
.2 0 7
. .; d o ..
.3 4 8
.4 7 3
.8 5 5
.9 2 6
.6 3 4
.3 2 2
.4 3 6
.62 1
.9 5 3
.2 8 5
.7 5 6
...d o ..
.9 5 8 1 .1 7 3 1 .9 2 5 2 .0 4 2 2 .2 9 8 1 .4 8 3
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.83 6 1 .0 7 0 1 .7 3 2 2 .3 5 9
E ach .
.2 1 0
.3 4 0
.3 3 2
.1 8 7
.3 9 5
.1 2 5
.3 3 6
.1 2 5
.1 4 5
.2 0 6
.1 1 3
Y ard.
.7 0 0
.7 8 8
.7 1 7 1 .1 2 5
.8 5 0
1 .1 7 5 1 .1 4 0
3 .7 5 0 6 .4 8 3 6 .9 5 6 7 .0 7 9 4 .5 8 3
4 .0 0 0 5 .9 5 0
P a i r . . ..........
1
1
$0.0 9 0 $0.1 9 0
JO . 070
.1 7 7
.37 3 SO. 337 $ 0 .4 2 0 $ 0 .2 4 6
.1 2 5 ®0.140
.2 6 3
.0 8 8
.0 9 9
.1 5 0
.2 9 0
.2 5 0
.151
.1 3 1
.3 4 2
.3 9 5
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.1 1 9
.1 7 7
.3 1 6
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.5
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0
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50
do
.2 2 6
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1
.0
8
3
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0
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1
2
.5
4
5
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7
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4
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do
.8 7 8 1 .1 3 3 1 .4 1 3 2 .0 8 0 2 .1 1 0 2 .4 8 8 1 .6 8 3
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.1 3 2
1 .0 5 7
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5 .4 3 5 5 .9 0 3 5 .9 3 7 4 .7 8 8
P a i r ..
do
.S O I
.1 1 8
1 .021
.1 3 9
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.2 0 5
.7 9 7
3 .8 8 3
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.3 6 4
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5 .4 3 3
2 .2 4 4
.3 6 7
1 .3 7 5
5 .7 6 5
2 .5 2 3
.3 2 2
1 .1 5 0
6 .2 5 5
1 .6 5 4
.1 9 8
.8 9 6
4 .6 0 7
C olum bus, Ohio.
..........
SO. 080 $ 0 .1 1 8 SO. 230 SO. 225 $ 0 .2 5 0 SO. 146
.2 1 9
.4 2 0
. 167
.5 2 2
.3 8 3
.2 4 4
.1 0 4
.1 5 0
.3 0 7
.2 6 5
.2 6 3
.1 7 0
.1 4 5
.3 0 0
.3 7 1
.3 8 3
.4 5 9
.2 7 6
.5 9 2
.2 1 8
.3 6 7
.5 9 6
.6 8 5
.5 8 3
.1 3 9
.2 1 0
.2 1 3
.3 4 8
.3 8 9
.3 6 7
.4 0 8
.5 9 0
.8 0 6
.9 9 5 1 .1 7 0
.6 3 9
1 .0 6 7 1 .4 5 0 2 .0 4 7 2 .3 0 6 2. 613 1 .7 1 5
.1 9 4
.1 3 8
.4 2 4
.3 8 4
.4 5 0
.2 2 8
1 .100 1 .1 2 5
1 .2 5 0
4 ,5 0 0 6 .5 6 7 5 .3 3 0 6 .1 0 2 4 .7 4 7
D e tro it, M ich.
$0.2 0 1 $ 0 .2 0 0 $ 0 .1 4 0 $ 0 .0 7 0 $ 0 .0 9 3 $ 0 .1 4 3 $ 0 .2 0 2 $ 0 .1 9 0 '$ 0 .197 $ 0 .1 3 6
.5 8 0
.2 9 3
.4 5 7
.1 2 5
.1 5 0
.3 9 2
.4 4 7
.2 2 5
.4 6 2
.2 7 0
.3 3 3
.3 2 5
.1 6 5
.0 8 6
.1 0 5
.1 6 0
.2 8 7
.2 6 0
.2 9 4
.1 7 4
.3 9 3
.4 7 3
.2 4 6
.1 2 5
.1 4 0
.2 3 8
.3 5 8
.3 8 3
.3 2 6
.2 1 6
.7 0 9
.7 5 3
.5 7 1
.150
.50 1
.22 0
.3 2 0
.5 4 0
.4 9 0
.6 8 9
.2 2 8
.4 1 5
.3 9 0
.1 2 7
.1 4 0
.2 3 1
.3 6 6
.42 1
.3 4 2
.2 1 7
.7 6 7
1 .0 7 0 1 .1 4 5
.3 3 0
.4 1 8
.5 9 4
.8 4 0 1 .0 0 8
.9 9 2
.73 1
2 .6 3 7 2 .8 4 5 1 .871
.9 3 3 1 .1 7 0 1 .6 0 8 2 .1 8 8 2 .5 0 7 2 .5 4 8 1 .8 6 2
.3 8 7
.2 1 5
.4 8 6
.1 2 0
.1 3 9
.1 9 8
.36 1
.3 6 4
.4 2 0
.22 1
1 .0 6 7 1 .3 6 7 1 .1 2 5
1 .1 3 8 1 .0 2 5 1 .1 4 5 1 .0 6 7 1 .2 3 3
6 .3 8 1 7 .6 8 8 5 .4 5 8
4 .6 9 6 6 .2 5 0 6 .2 4 2 4 .4 9 8
H o u sto n , Tex.
In d ia n a p o lis , In d .
$ 0 .2 0 3 *0 .2 1 0 $ 0 .2 1 0 Í 0 . 130 $ 0 .0 6 0 $ 0 .0 7 5 $0.1 2 1 $ 0 .2 5 7 $ 0 .1 9 3 $0. 223
.3 5 0
.3 8 8
.3 6 0
.3 6 8
.2 8 0
.1 2 5
.1 4 4
.2 0 0
.4 1 0
.4 5 8
.2 6 8
.2 6 0
.2 4 5
.1 9 0
.0 9 2
.2 7 0
.281
.0 7 6
.1 5 0
.3 0 4
.3 2 9
.3 2 5
.2 0 8
.35 1
.1 2 0
.1 3 3
.2 0 9
.3 4 9
.3 6 4
.4 0 7
.5 1 2
.5 8 9
.5 4 4
.5 0 7
.5 0 8
.4 9 2
.2 5 0
.5 7 5
.1 8 1
.301
.3 2 6
.2 5 0
.1 0 9
.1 9 3
.Í 2 6
.3 2 6
.34 6
.3 8 6
.7 5 5
.8 1 5
.3 0 8
.8 2 9
.8 9 4 1 .0 7 6
.7 7 6
.5 8 0
.3 8 5
.5 6 4
1 .8 8 3 2 .0 3 7 2 .3 1 7 1 .5 1 0
.8 0 3
.9 9 5 1 .3 1 9 2 .0 5 4 2 .2 0 8 2 .6 0 6
.3 6 0
.3 1 0
.3 3 5
.18 3
.1 1 8
.1 8 0
.3 7 8
.3 2 8
.3 9 7
.1 2 9
.6 1 5
.7 9 0
.7 4 3
.9 7 4
.7 2 3
.8 3 5
.8 9 5 1 .1 9 5
7 .4 6 7 6 .4 7 2 7 .0 4 7 4 .2 7 0
3 .3 9 7 5 .9 8 8 6 .2 4 0 6.622
$ 0 .1 3 2
.2 7 5
. 177
.2 6 3
.4 4 5
.2 2 4
.6 9 4
1 .6 2 0
.2 0 5
1 .0 4 7
4 .9 4 1
PR IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G .
D enver, Colo.
1
F a ll R iver, M ass.
F a lle n 24 t o 2^ i n c h
P e r c a le
1 .5 4 4
.1 9 8
.7 5 8
3 .5 7 2
Y a r d . $0.0 6 3 $ 0 .0 7 9 SO. 120 $ 0 .2 3 8 $ 0 .2 3 3 $ 0 .2 2 6 $ 0 .1 5 0 SO. 068 1 0.065 $ 0 .1 0 8 SO. 233 $ 0 .1 8 0 SO. 200 SO. 131
.125
.1 4 2
.2 5 0
.3 1 9
.4 0 0
.14 2
.3 9 2
...d o ..
.25 4
.125
.2 1 0
.3 8 7
.4 2 0
.2 5 9
.1 7 5
.0 7 6
.0 9 4
.2 7 0
.2 7 0
.0 8 0
.0 8 6
.1 4 2
...d o ..
.27 3
.1 4 4
.3 0 7
.2 8 0
.2 9 0
.1 5 7
.2 0 2
.3 1 4
.3 2 7
.1 4 2
.3 5 2
...d o ..
.1 1 3
.13 1
.4 1 0
.23 7
.125
.19 7
.3 6 9
.3 7 9
.2 4 7
. . .d o ..
.1 5 0
.16 5
.5 8 8
.5 9 6
.7 1 3
.250
.2 5 0
.6 9 1
.5 3 8
.6 2 6
.3 4 6
.3 7 5
.2 1 9
.2 4 4
...d o ..
.1 0 3
.1 2 3
.1 7 9
.3 0 3
.201
.1 1 8
.13 1
.3 5 8
.3 8 4
.3 3 6
. ..d o .. .29 7 .3 6 2 .5 0 8 .7 9 8 .8 3 9 .9 9 9 .6 5 4 .3 5 6 .4 4 4 .5 6 4 .8 2 9 .9 4 4 .9 2 6 .6 7 6
.7 8 5
.9 3 0 1 .2 8 8 1 .999 2 .2 8 3 2 .5 4 0 1.695
.893 1 .114 1 .4 7 6 2 .1 2 4 2 .2 4 3 2 .2 6 5 1 .6 1 3
E ach .
.1 7 2
.1 2 5
.3 5 6
.3 6 2
.1 1 7
.3 8 8
.3 4 7
.2 0 6
.1 1 9
.1 3 4
.1 8 0
.3 5 4
.3 7 4
.2 0 3
Y ard .
.6 5 0
.87 5 1 .175
do
.7 5 0
1 .1 9 3
.9 1 0
1 .250 1 .117
6 .4 0 0 5.9 5 Ò 6 .8 9 8 3 .9 7 9
4 .6 2 5 5 .9 3 8 6 .9 1 7 6 .6 8 0 4. 756
P a ir .
B alia s, Tex.
C a l i c o , 24 to 25 i n c h ...............................................
P e r c a le ................................................................................
G i n g h a m , a p r o n , 27 t o 28 i n c h ................
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 2 7 -in c h ..................................
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 3 2 - in c h .........................
M u s l i n , b le a c h e d .......................................................
S h e e t i n g , b l e a c h e d , 9 - 4 .....................................
S h e e t s , b l e a c h e d , 81 b y 9 0 ............................
O u t i n g f l a n n e l , 27 t o 28 i n c h .....................
F l a n n e l w h i t e w o o l 2 7 -in c h
B lankets, c o t t o n , 69 b y 8 0 ............................
2 .2 6 7
• . 339
1 .0 1 0
4 .7 2 7
C leveland, Ohio.
C incinnati, Ohio.
C a li c o , 24 t o 25 i n c h ..............................................
P e r c a le ....................................................................................
G i n g h a m , a p r o n , 27 t o 28 i n c h ................
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 2 7 -in c h ..................................
G i n g h a m , d r e s s , 3 2 - i n c h .................................
M n s l i n , b le a c h e d
....................................
S h e e t i n g b l e a c h e d , 9 -4 ....................................
S h e e t s , b l e a c h e d , 81 b y 9 0 ............................
O u t i n g f l a n n e l , 27 t o 2 8 i n c h .....................
F l a n n e l , w h i t e , w o o l, 2 7 -in c h ___
"RianV e t s , c o t t o n , 66 b y 8 0 ............................
2 .2 5 4
.3 2 4
1 .2 6 7
5 .7 3 8
O
O
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F 10 A R T IC L E S O F D R Y GOODS ON OCT. 15, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1819, 1920, a nd 1921 IN 51 C IT IE S —C ontinued.
Article.
U n it.
1915
K a n sa s C ity, Mo.
L ittle B ock, A rk.
Average retail price on Oct. 15—
Average retail price on Oct. 15—
A verage retail price on Oct. 15—
1916
1917
1918
1919
[ 1222]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
Louisville, K y.
1920
1921
$0.233 $0.153
.426 .237
.238 .163
.374 .235
.563 .427
.321 .199
.943 .610
2.361 1.522
.356 .203
1.156 .875
6.488 4.095
M an ch ester N . K
Y ard. $0.070 $0.091 $0.119 $0.255 $0 . 1 8 o!.......... $0.125 $0.063 $0.081 $0.127 $0.244 $0.222 $0.225 $0.128 $0.067 $0.080 $0.122 $0.279W 216 $0.258 $0.133
...d o .. .150 . 164 .231 .439 .450 80.509 .282 .120 .145 .217 .410 .396 .469 .257 . 120 .127 . 190 .398 .381 .449 .241
...d o .. .082 .100 .171 .350 .292 .306 .178 .071 .100 .188 .299 .272 .250 .158 .080 .094 .125 .284 .244 .253 .167
...d o .. .118 .132 .248 .400 .398 .431 .251 .115 .138 .234 .403 .385 .433 .264 .118 .127 .213 .353 .362 .341 .222
. ..d o .. .138 .215 .300 .549 .611 .681 .544
.513 .560 .591 .413
.583 .634 .714 .521
...d o .. .115 .132 .213 .360 .385 .379 .223 .096 .120 • Í94 .341 .352 .298 .214 . 106 .137 .230 .355 .370 .381 .230
...d o .. .320 .414 .598 .812 .887 1.032 .723 .284 .354 .482 .778 .841 .970 .686 .316 .403 .581 .834 .913 1.033 .668
Each. .815 1.050 1.590 2.063 2.177 2.606 1.618 .797 .920 1.348 1.961 2.205 2.655 1.625 .877 1.053 1.530 1.958 2.369 2.431 1.681
Y ard. .115 .142 .190 . 397 .396 .429 .245 .112 .141 .208 .403 .319 .432 .244 .098 .123 .204 .388 .331 .371 .230
...d o ..
1.250 1.285 .983 1.095 . S43
1.250 1.100 1.200 1.333 1.200
.875
.920 1.125 .770
2.980 4.926 4.988 5.560 4.351
P a ir..
2.500 5.969 6.636
4.581
5.960 6.500 6.903 4.265
M em phis, T e n a .
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h .............................
Percale....................................................
G ingham , apron, 27 to 28 inch..........
G ingham , dress, 27-inch.....................
G ingham , dress, 32-inch.....................
Muslin, bleached..................................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4.......................
1921
Y ard. $0.070 $0.100 $0.150 $0.254
$0.290 $0.144 $0.072 $0.080 $0.125 $0.247 $0.223 $0.255 $0.153 $0.067 $0.087 $0.125 $0.201 $0.190
...d o .. . 113 .165 .250 .442 $0.463
.290 . 142 .150 .235 .436 .441 .517 .273 . 125 .150 .225 .361 .388
...d o .. .078 .113 .190 .314 .350 .290 .170 .088 .102 .187 .316 .316 .250 .183 .087 .096 .163 .280 .267
...d o .. .117 . 150 .200 .368 .390 .397 .234 .115 .146 .216 .390 .373 .446 .270 .118 .135 .193 .325 .336
...d o .. .150 . .ISO .250 .524 .550 .656 .521
.588 .6.85 .737 .487
.495 .450
...d o .. .106 .131 .238 .348 .436
408 .216 .115 .135 .211 .359 .445 .411 .232 .113 .127 .204 .309 .317
. _.do.. . 338 .373 .525 .831 .950 1.000 .588 .332 .403 .553 .894 .980 1.077 .715 .309 .384 .528 .806 .850
Each. .795 .990 1.375 2.035 2.375 2.363 1.512 .762 1.000 1.400 2.229 2.360 2.725 1.644 .798 .918 1.340 1.915 1.975
Y ard. .108 .150 .190 .351 .345 .410 .218 .115 .138 .185 .400 .342 .453 .221 .111 .129 .190 .336 .342
... d o ..
. 650 .775
.850 .850
920
.650 1.125 1.050
3.625 5.995 6.500 7.143 4.186
6.108 6.680 6.893 4.994
3.750 4.910 4.792
P a ir..
L o s A ngeles C alif
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h .......... .
Percale...................................................
Gingham , apron, 27 to 28 in ch ..........
G ingham , dress, 27-inch....................
Gingham, dress, 32-inch.. . ; ............
Muslin, bleached................... ..............
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4................... t .
Sheets, bleached, 81 b y 90.................
O uting flannel, 27 to 28 in ch .............
Flannel, w hite, wool, 27-inch
B lankets, cotton. 66 b v 8 0 .................
1920
M ilw aukee, Wis.
M inneapolis, Minn.
Y ard. $0.061 $0.086'$0.12010.259 $0.225 $0.256 $0.133 $0.064 $0.081 $0.116 $0.209 $0.244 $0.195 $0.132 $0.072 $0.086 $0.127 $0.226 $0.171 $0.177 $0.111
...d o .. .125 .164 .220 .424 .424 .461 .275 .125 . 150 .207 .430 .414 .487 .265 . 138 . 145 .240 .387 .387 .369 .258
...d o .. ,085 .100 .150 .293 .310 .281 .161 .080 . 100 .150 .278 .267 .288 .184 .086 .100 .161 .273 .258 .213 .160
...d o .. .113 .138 .238 .352 .366 .493 .269 .121 .135 .207 .345 .357 .412 .243 .136 .143 .246 .346 .354 .384 .258
... d o . .
.546 .588 .722 .533 .165 . 180 .250 .549 .548 .708 .516 .250 .250 .295 .606 .634 .741 .562
...d o .. .109 .137 .204 .348 .379 .334 .199 .110 . 125 .175 .335 .384 .387 .236 .130 .138 .202 .340 .380 .316 .225
...d o .. .328 .406 .563 .854 .934 1.120 .712 .303 .407 .572 .825 .848 1.086 .705 .322 .411 .523 .812 .853 .961 .634
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h ........ ...................
Percale....................................................
G ingham , apron, 27 to 28 in ch..........
G ingham, dress, 27-inch.....................
Gingham , dress, 32-ineh.....................
Muslin, bleached..................................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4.......................
Sheets, bleached, 81 b y 90.................
O uting flannel, 27 to 28 in ch .............
F lannel, w hite, wool. 27-inch............
B lankets, cotton, 66 l)v 80.................
Jack so n v ille, F la .
Sheets, bleached, 81 b y 90.................
O uting flannel, 27 to 28 inch.............
Flannel, w hite, wool, 27-inch............
B lankets, cotton, 66 fey 80.................
Each.
Y ard.
..d o ..
P a ir..
.843 1.075 1.411 2.164 2.426 2.667 1.689
.114 .131 .178 .360 .359 .416 .202
1.000 1.350 1.000 1.288 .917
3.250 6.033 8.209 6.495 4.546
.7821 1.061 1.604 2.133 2.180 2.6791 1.706
.120 .136 .200 .331 .343 . 468 . 209
.750 .850 .750 .750 1.000
3.740 6.079 6.300 6.849 4.463
N e w a rk , N . J.
M obile, Ala.
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h ...............
Percale...........................................
G ingham , apron, 27 to 28 inch.
G ingham , dress, 27-inch...........
Gingham, dress, 32-inch., ........
M uslin, bleached.......................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4.............
Sheets, bleached, 81 by 90........
O uting flannel, 27 to 28 in c h ...
Flannel, w hite, wool, 27-inch..
B lankets, cotton, 66 fey 80........
Y ard.
..d o ..
..d o ..
..d o ..
..d o ..
..d o ..
..d o ..
Each.
Y ard.
..d o ..
P air..
SO. 246 $0.
.373 .
.280 .
.358 .
.531 .
.341 .
.806 .
2.071 2.
.353 .
6.107 6.
.5*6
Y ard.
..d o ..
..d o ..
..d o ..
...d o ..
...d o ..
,..d o ..
Each.
Y ard.
,..d o ..
P a ir..
.060 0.080 $0.150 $0.250 $0.217
.140 .220 .375 .375
.100 .163 .267 .290
.197 .336 .338
.459 .584
.095 \"Ì28 ".'Ì83 .317 .341
.760 .784
.325 .380
1.888 1.946
.783 .850
.100 .106
.339 .308
.590
5.986
.102
.087
.107
.111
LÌ5Ó
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.221
1.053
4.849
N ew Y ork, N . Y.
>0.220
$0.120 $ 0 .
.414 .225
.250 .174
.366 .222
.750 .503
.278 .191
.743 .522
2.040 1.440
.349 .182
1.000 .750
6.457 4.270
O m aha, N eb r.
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h ........ .
Percale................................................
G ingham , apron, 27 to 28 inch___
Gingham , dress, 27-inch.................
Gingham , dress, 32-inch.................
M uslin, bleached..............................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4...................
Sheets, feleached, 81 by 90.............
O uting flannel, 27 to 28 inch.........
Flannel, w h ite, wool, 27-inch........
B lan k ets, cotton, 66 b y 80............
SO. 100
.277
.150
.248
.494
.209
.665
1.786
Yard. $0.066 $0. Q77 $0.134 $0.237 $0.202 $0.213 $0.141
...d o .. .128 .148 .250 .389 . 399 .497 .290
...d o .. .074 .093 .168 .287 .277 .308 .188
.117 .138 .205 .367 .346 .473 .280
...d o ..
.608 .652 .682 .488
...d o ..
...d o .. .106 .119 .187 .362 .371 .385 .232
.308 .351 .530 .776 .895 1.173 .725
...d o ..
Each. .805 .952 1.342 2.071 2.257 2.620 1.784'.........
Yard. .117 .130 .189 .371 .368 .436 • 210j.........
.900 1.163 1.283 1.406 1.088,.........
...d o ..
3.342 6.667 6.520 6.802 4. 544 !.........
Pair..
J
$0.085 $0.139 $0.264
. 156 .208 .424
.093 .154 .281
.138 .216 .368
.155 .250 . 552
.126 .213 .366
.406 .569 .923
1.028 1.392 2.189
.126 .188 .388
.870 1.022
3.750 5.750
SO. 250
.450
.295
.390
.659
.380
.951
2.326
.338
1.070
5.975
P e o ria , 111.
.066 $0.081 $0.131 $0.233 SO. 227 $0.208 SO. 125
.125 .146 .218 . 3931 .370 .394 .245
.080 .102 .161 .293! .288 .246 .157
.127 .147 .212 .338 .362 .390 .239
.138 .210 .250 . 537i .553 .595 .476
.104 .131 .210 .351! .374 .349 .219
.306 .394 .501 .778! .824 .957 .646
.831 1.041 1.340 1.975; 2.011 2.578 1.525
.109 .122 .173 .342 .310 .346 .212
.995 1.013 .935 1.275 .875
3.000 4.688Í 5.996 6.000 4.366
N o rfo lk , V a.
SO. 240
.413
.296
.429
.796
.335
1.104
2.664
.398
1.147
6.729
SO. 129
.257
. 155
.260
.515
.225
.674
1.629
.223
1.030
4.550
$0.250
.434
.295
.365
.572
.354
.782
2.062
.352
1.000
6.796
SO. 263 Í;0.250|S X 150
.437! . 463; .240
. 305! .280 .179
.376! • 406| .242
.568i .603! .457
.381! .365 .218
.873! 1.030 .675
2.174 2.617! 1.697
.355 . 400! . 199
1.125, 1.167! 1.058
6.740, 6.236j 3.500
AND COST OF LIV IN G ,
ri2231
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h ........ .
P e rc a le ..................................................
G ingham, apron, 27 to 28 in c h .........
Gingham , dress, 27-inch.....................
G ingham, dress, 32-inch.....................
M uslin, bleached..................................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4.......................
Sheets, bleached, 81 b y 90.................
O uting flannel, 27 to 28 inch.............
Flannel, w hite, wool, 27-inch...........
B lankets, cotton, 66 fey 80.................
1.406 2.163 2.361 2.561; 1.681
.188 .408 .344 .385 . 211
.933 .800
1.047 . 916
3.500 5.762 5.779 6.1051 4,457
N ew H aven, Conn.
$0.250 50.144 $0,065 SO. OSO SO. 125 SO. 260 $0.238 $0.170
.443 .244 .125 .157 .235 .430 .408 .424
.270 .150 .080 .097 .150 .270 .250 .244
.402 .209 .125 . 135 .244 .373 .355 .373
.596 .410 .183 .203 .295 .553 .609 .671
.322 .199 .100 .122 .213 .330 .391 .323
.908 .595 .340 .410
.849 .845 1.055
2.533 1.504 .880 1.063 1.370 2.072 2.316 2.667
.416 .193 .120 .133 .191 .372 .349 .364
.790 .897
1.367 1.650 1.220 1.410
6.605 5.000
3.740 5.750 5.271 6.039
N ew O rleans, L a .
1.0621
. 142
.........
.........
P h ila d e lp h ia , P a .
$0.207 $0.186 $0.203 $0.125 •$0.069 .$0.088'$0.133 $0.211 SO. 250 $0.210'$0.121
.343 . 340 .490 .271 .125 .150 .235 .376 .414! '. 375 .252
.223 .248 .227 .174 .080 .095 .171 .289 . 268, .271 .159
.307 .356 .370 .257 .122 .148 .202 .367 .344 . 379 . 236
.513 . 540 .735 .570 .250 .265 .380 .521 .576' .682 .512
.350 .347 .286 .223 .106 .130 .213 .329 .377' . 286 .237
.705 .991 .990 .878 .329 .393 .553 .886 . 865: . 924 . 680
2.208 2.363 2.632 1.697 .832 1.004 1.443 2.047 2.144 2.351 1.564
.340 .375 .395 .220 .105 .131 .182 .391 . 348; . 396| . 208
____ .790
.800 1.022 .883, 1.287, 1.027
.950
........... 6.125 5.717 7.293 4.478
3.250 4.836 6.095 6.137 4.369
05
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF 10 A R T IC L E S O F D R Y GOODS ON OCT. 15, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 191-9, 1920, and 1921 IN 51 C IT IE S —Concluded.
Article.
U nit.
1915
P o r tla n d , Me.
P o r tla n d , Oreg.
A verage retail price on Oct. 15-
A verage retail price on Oct. 15—
Average retail price on Oct. 15—
«
1916
1917 ! 1918
Yard. $0.069 50.085 50.119 80.276
...d o ..
.125 .150 • 223| .361
..,d o ..
.079 .093 . 166: . 286
.123 .131 . 215 .339
...d o ..
.173 .160 . 2351 .554
...d o ..
...d o .. .108 .126 . 201 .338
...d o .. .328 .391 • 578Ì .857
Each. .818 1.008 1.412 2.090
Yard. .117 .133 .193; .352
...d o ..
. 920 . 800
Pair .
.......... ! 6.536
1919
50.199
.385
.274
.332
.603
.361
.917
2.181
.335
1.068
5.511
1920
1921
1915
[1224]
Yard.
...d o ..
...d o ..
...d o ..
...d o ..
...d o ..
...d o ..
Each.
Y ard.
...d o ..
P air..
1.073!$0.080 50.130 $0.274110
.124 .125 .188 . 372!
.090 .109 .170 .297!
.122 .129 .188 . 370;
.150
.230 .523
.108 " .’Ì3Ì .217 .352
.324 .375 .498 .823
.845 1.016 1.422 2.230
.118 .120
.390
.900 .990
3.290 6.018
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1918
1919
1920
1921
80.235 50.137
.404 .244
.290 .171
.412 .235
.614 .461
.371 .213
1.037 .640
2.722 1.614
.448 .235
1.290 .888
6.488 4.934
$0.064; SO- 081 80.141 0.250 SO. 220,80.210 0.134
.125 .155 .250 .430 .4301 .390 .280
.075 .093 .150 .290 . 280 . 250 .160
.131 .245 .372 .357 .403 .249
.121
.125 .180 .290 .651 .700! .793 .521
.093 .127 .193 .361 .376 .355 .207
.294 .376 .540 .810 .922| 1-050 .680
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1
2.000:
R ichm ond, Va.
S t. L ouis, Mo.
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h ............
Percale...................................
G ingham , apron, 27 to 28 inch.
G ingham , dress, 27-inch..
G ingham , dress, 32-inch..........
M uslin, bleached.......................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4............
FRASER
1917
1
i
50.125 $0.065 SO. 074 $0.127 $0.239 80.188 $0.221 SO. 135
,$0.398 $0.390 $0.357 .237 .150 .148 .228 . 37G .400 .421 .286
.310 .250 .290 .190 .080 .088 .147 .280 .273 .301 .167
.390 .330 .390 .250 .120 .128 .196 .366 .367 .345 .247
. 48C .496 .704
. 535 .519 .701 .501
.338 .365; .373 .226 .113 .121 .200 .325 .349 .350 .233
.775 .814: .965 .647 .324 .379 .542 .769 .846 . 900 .652
2.498 1.664 .950 1.034 1.467 1.96C 2.162 2.390 1.765
1.976
.373 . 348! .428 .222 .115 .136 .176 .347 .328 .332 .212
.983 .900 1.167 1.100
1.122 1.250' 1.445 .990
4.950 6.063 6.250 7.438 4.524
5.495 5.625! 5.693 4.643
.230 $0.134
. 476 .245
.243 .149
.386 .243
.690 .547
.327 .223
.010 .641
. 635 1.618
.387 .191
.250 .865
.250 3.963
P ro v id en ce, R. I.
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h ...........................
Percale..................................................
Gingham , apron, 27 to 28 inch........
G ingham, dress, 27-inch...................
Gingham , dress, 32-inch...................
M uslin, bleached................................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4.....................
Sheets, bleached, 81 b y 90...............
O uting flannel, 27 to 28 inch...........
Flannel, w hite, wool, 27-inch..........
B lankets, cotton, 66 b y 80...............
1916
.067
.125
.082
120
.’Ü2
.316
.831
.115
.086 $0.131 $0.238 50.216 $0.224 $0.141
. 146 .221 .409 .384 .386 . 2391
.099 .168 .294 .273 .257 .160
.140 .234 .342 .358 .358 . 234
.250 .471 .511 .585 .468
. Ì39 ,. 222 .365 .371 .310 .226
.404 .581 .844 .933 .935 . 6S8
.026 1.392 2.075 2.265 2.349 1.601
.131 .184 .353 .354 .373 .201
.617 .914 .793 1.125 .911
3.185 6.237 5.567 5.983 4.468
S t. P a u l, Minn.
80.078 $0.108||0.214
.131 .150 .210 .361
.074 .100 .147 .284
.119 .128 .172 .349
.538
.150
.114 ’ ".’134 V2Ó8 .344
.306 .361 .474 .867
R o c h e ste r, N. Y.
!
80.074 80.095 80.198 $0.185 $0.150 $0.143
.138 .200 .372 .397 . 3 5 4 .248
.091 .150 .248 .248 .226 .167
.130 .223 .337 .323 .363 .238
.215 .320 .522 .629 . 604 . 563
.116 .201 .309 .346 .320 .212
.369 .508 . 775 .878 1.027 .639
1.036 1.387 2.075 2.229 2.538 1.839
.122 .200 .355 .327 .333 .213
.590
1.243 1.115
4. 750 5.988 6.870 7.033 4.340
S a lt L a k e C ity, U ta h .
.231! 80.194 0.131 $0.068 $0.083 $0.142 $0. 204 80.200 80.250 80.144
.388 .366 .255 . 150 .146 .238 .424 .440 .499 .300
.255 .255 .164 .083 .110 .167 .294 .2:6 .276 .148
.374 .363 .248 .128 .141 .234 .366 .395 .372 . 255
. 565 .620 .516
.290
. 656 .683 .642 .551
.397 .342 .210 .116 .128 .203 .329 .382 .345 .230
.894 .938 .658 .341 .413 .571 .826 .945 1.143 .711
MONTHLY LABOR
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h .....................
P ercale............................................
G ingham , apron, 27 to 28 in c h ..
G ingham , dress, 27-inch.............
G ingham dress, 32-inch.............
M uslin, bleached..........................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4........
Sheets, bleached, 81 b y 90..........
O uting flannel, 27 to 28 in ch___
Flannel, w hite, wool, 27-inch...
B lankets, cotton, 66 b y 80..........
P itts b u r g h , P a .
PRICES AND COST OP LIVING.
[1225]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
64
The following table shows for the United States average retail
prices of specified articles of dry goods on October 15 of each year,
1915 to 1921, inclusive:
AVERAGE
R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D A R T IC L E S O F D R Y GOODS F O R
U N IT E D ST A T E S ON OCT. 15 O F EA C H Y E A R , 1915 TO 1921.
THE
Average retail price on Oct 15—
U n it.
Article.
■
1915
Calico, 24 to 25 in c h ................................................
Percale.......................................................................
G ingham , ap ron, 27 to 28in c h .............................
Gingham^ dress, 27-inch........................................
Gingham, dress, 32-inch.............................. .........
M uslin, bleached.....................................................
Sheeting, bleached, 9-4..........................................
Sheets, bleached, 81 b y 90 in c h e s.......................
O uting flannel, 27 to 2 8 in ch ---- ~........................
F lannel, w hite, wool, 27-inch..............................
B lankets, cotton, 66 by 80 in ch es.......................
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
Y ard, SO. 066 $0. 082 SO. 127 $0.238 SO. 216 SO. 222
.394
.409
.434
.222
.148
.. .do . . 128
.276
.269
.098
. 163
.290
.. - d o . .081
.362
.218
.358
.395
. 136
.. .do . . 120
.202
.280
.543
.581
.663
. . .do . .176
.344
.372
.345
. 129
.207
.. .do . .109
.829
.394
.553
.907 1.030
.. .do . .320
Each. .839 1. 028 1.438 2. 081 2. 266 2. 554
. 132
. 193
.378
.349
.390
Y ard. .115
.. .do .
.875 1. 002 1.035 1. 208
P a ir ..
3.643 5.884 6.108 6.425
1921
SO. 134
.258
.165
.246
.507
.221
.679
1.672
.215
.930
4. 593
Wholesale Prices in October,
SLXGPXT recession in the general level of wholesale prices in
October is shown by information gathered by the United
States Department of Labor through the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Measured by the bureau’s weighted index number
the decline from the September level was a little over one per cent.
For the first time since June farm products showed a net decrease,
due to the drop in corn, wheat, and other grains. Food products
also were cheaper than in the month before, substantial declines
being reported for flour, meal, sugar, potatoes, and most pork prod
ucts. Building materials and housefurnishing goods averaged less
than in September, while a slight decrease was shown for the group
of miscellaneous commodities, including such important articles as
bran and millfeed middlings, linseed meal, cottonseed oil, phosphate
rock, and newsprint paper.
In the groups of cloths and clothing, fuel and lighting, and metals
there were small net increases in October. No change in the general
price level was found in the case of chemicals and drugs.
A
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1226]
65
PR IC E S AND COST OF L IV IN G .
Some of the more important changes occurring between September
and October, as measured by average prices in each month, are as
follows:
IM P O R T A N T A R T IC L E S IN C R E A S IN G OR D E C R E A S IN G IN A V E R A G E P R IC E IN OCTO
B E R AS C O M PA R ED W IT H S E P T E M B E R , 1921, B Y G R O U P S O F C O M M O D ITIES.
In c re a s e s.
Com m odity.
Per
cent.
5.3
6.0
13.0
Food, etc.
B utter,-cream ery, extra:
Chicago.......................... .
New Y o rk ..................... .
San Francisco...............
Cheese:
Chicago...........................
New Y o rk ..................... .
San Francisco...............
Coffee, Rio No. 7, New
Y ork................................
Eggs, fresh:
Chicago..........................
New Y o rk ......................
San Francisco...............
Oranges, California, Chi
cago ..................................
Beef, fresh, good n a tiv e
steers, Chicago.............
M utton, dressed, New
Y o rk ...............................
Milk, fresh:
Chicago..........................
N ew Y o rk .....................
Rice, B lue Rose, New
O rlean s..........................
Tea, Form osa, fine, New
Y ork................................
Onions, fresh, Chicago---V inegar, cider, New Y ork
8.8
8.2
5.8
3.4
5.7
12.7
3.0
31.5
22.3
20. 2
11.2
3.1
5.7
16.7
14.1
5.5
3.4
20.0
25.0
Cloths and clothing.
C otton b lan k ets, New
Y ork................................
Denims, M assachusetts,
2.20, New Y ork.............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
cent.
5.8
5.9
Drilling, brow n, Pepperell, N ew Y ork............
Cotton
flannel,
unbleached, New Y o r k ...
P rin t cloths, 27 inches,
B oston..............................
Sheeting, bleached, Pepperell, 10/4, New Y o rk ..
Sheeting, brow n, W are
Shoals L. L., 4/4, New
Y ork.................................
M uslin, bleached, 4/4:
F ru it of th e Loom,
New Y o rk ...................
Lonsdale, facto ry ..........
U nderw ear, m en’s shirts
a n d draw ers, New
Y ork.................................
Cotton y arns, Boston:
Carded, 10/1.....................
T w isted, 40/2...................
Fuel and lighting.
Alcohol, den atu red , New
Y ork.................................
Coke, Connellsville, furnace, a t ovens.................
Gasoline, m otor, New
Y ork..................................
Petroleum , crude, a t
wells:
K ansas-O klahom a........
P e n n sy lv an ia .................
Petroleum , refined, New
Y ork, w ater w hite,
150°....................................
Metals and metal products.
Copper, in g o t, New Y o rk .
Copper wire, bare, f. o. b.
m ill....................................
L ead, pig, New Y o rk ........
Lead pipe, New Y o rk.......
[1227]
C om m odity.
Per
cent.
Metals and metal prod
ucts—Concluded.
Cloths and clothing—
Concluded.
Farm products.
H ides, packers, heavy
n a tiv e steers, Chicago...
Live stock, cattle, steers,
good to choice, Chicago
H ay , alfalfa, No. 1, K a n
sas C ity...................... ...
C om m odity.
12.2
7.5
10.2
Nails, wire, P ittsb u rg h ...
Silver, b ar, fine, New
Y ork.................................
Tin, pig, New Y o rk ..........
Zinc, pig (spelter), New
Y ork.................................
1.3
7.7
2.8
16.0
Building material».
10.5
13.9
16.5
3.2
11.2
19.6
12.0
L ath , eastern spruce,
New Y o rk .......................
Douglas fir, No. 2, m ill..
Pine, yellow siding, N or
folk, V a................. .........
T urpentine, New Y o rk ..,
Shingles, red cedar, m ill..
5.7 i
6.8
2.0 |
3.2 1
6.7
5.2
8.5
Chemicals and drugs.
Soda, New Y ork:
C arbonate of................. .
C austic.........................
N itra te of........................
12.1
1.8
7.3
Miscellaneous.
Cottonseed m eal, New
Y o rk ...............................
2. 5 Jute, raw , New Y o rk ___
Rope, p u re M anila, New
Y ork................................
55.0 | R ubber, Para, island,
New Y ork ..................... .
35.1 |
H em p ,M anila ,New York
T ankage, 9 an d 20 per
5.5 j
cent, Chicago.................
2.7
6.7
23.8
5.3
16.5
20.4
17.8
17.9
66
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
IM P O R T A N T A R T IC L E S IN C R E A S IN G OR D E G R E A SIN G IN A V E R A G E P R IC E IN OCTO
B E R AS C O M PA R ED W IT H S E P T E M B E R , 1921, B Y G R O U P S O F C O M M O D ITIES—Concld.
D ecrea ses.
Com m odity.
Per
sent.
C om m odity.
Farm products.
Food, etc.—Concluded.
C otton, m iddling:
New O rleans...................
New Y o rk ...... . ..............
Flaxseed, M inneapolis__
B arley, m altin g , Chicago.
Corn, cash, N o. 2, Chi
cago ...................................
O ats, cash, Chicago...........
Rye, No. 2, Chicago...........
W heat:
No. 1 n o rth e rn spring,
M inneapolis.................
No. 2 h a rd w in ter,
K an sas C ity ...............
H ides, calfskins, Chicago.
Hogs, light, Chicago..........
Sheep, Chicago:
E w es.................................
L am b s.............................
P o u ltry , live, Chicago___
Hay, tim o th y , No. 1,
Chicago...........................
M eat, Chicago:
Bacon, short clear sides.
H am s, sm oked...............
Molasses, New O rleans,
N ew Y o rk .......................
Sugar, N ew Y ork:
R a w ..................................
G ra n u la te d .....................
Potatoes, w hite, Chicago.
2.5
3.6
10.7
8.8
12.8
9.8
16.8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
23. 8
13.9
3.7
3.5
7.2
25.7
Cloths and clothing.
11.0
8.9
3. 1
3.8
7.4
3.7
12.4
4.9
Food, etc.
B eans, m edium , New
Y ork..................................
Flour, b uckw heat, New
Y ork.S tate......... ............
Flour, rye, M inneapolis..
Flour, w heat:
P a te n ts, K an sas C ity ...
S tan d ard p a te n t, M in
neapolis........................
Apples, B aldw ins, Chi
cago...................................
Lemons, California, Chi
cago ...................................
R aisins, New Y o rk ...........
Glucose, 42°, New Y o r k ..
L ard, prim e, contract,
New Y o rk .......................
Corn m eal, w hite, Deca
tu r, Illin o is.....................
P e r
cent.
4.4
5.6
19. 1
4. 2
10.7
9.2
20.8
3.2
5.3
11.6
14.4
Shoes, factory:
Men’s, ta n ,
grain,
b lu c h e r.........................
Men’s vici calf, b lu c h e r.
Trousering,w orsted filled,
New Y o rk ........................
F ren ch serge, facto ry ........
Storm serge, fa c to ry ..........
Sicilian cloth, New Y ork.
Y a m , w orsted, fine dom estic, 2/50s, P hiladel
phia ...................................
L eather, side, black, Bos
to n .....................................
Fuel and lighting.
Coal, sem ibitum inous,
New R iver, C in cin n ati.
Coal, ru n of m ine, St.
L o u is................................
Metals and metal products.
B ar iron, P itts b u rg h ........
Steel plates, ta n k , P ittsbu rg h ................................
Steel rails, Bessemer,
P ittsb u rg h .......................
Steel rails, open hearth,
P ittsb u rg h .......................
Steel, stru ctu ral, Chicago.
T in plate, domestic, coke,
P ittsb u rg h .......................
[1228]
6.9
3.6
8.6
9.0
6.9
3.3
4.8
8.3
4.8
1.6
2.2
2.4
2.8
3.7
3.8
2.4
C om m odity.
Building materials.
B rick, com m on, New
Y ork..................................
C em ent, P ortlan d , f. o. b.
p l a n t ....................... ........
P ine, w hite, No. 2 b arn ,
N ew Y o rk .......................
Pine, yellow flooring,
New Y o rk .......................
Linseed oil, raw , New
Y o rk .................................
P u tty , New Y ork .............
Chemicals and drugs.
Acid, nitric, New Y o rk ...
Acid, sulphuric, New
Y ork................................
Copper su lp h ate, New
Y ork.................................
Glycerine, refined, New
Y ork........... . . ..................
O pium , n a tu ra l, New
Y ork..................................
House-furnishing goods.
Bedroom sets,. Chicago__
K itchen chairs, Chicago. .
N appies, 4-inch, factory. .
Pitchers, -^gallon, fac
to ry ...................................
T um blers, § p in t, factory.
Pails, galvanized, factory.
Tubs, galvanized, factory.
Miscellaneous.
B ran, M inneapolis............
Cottonseed oil, New !
Y ork..................................;
P aper, n ew sprint, rolls, I
f. o. d . m ill....................... '
P hosphate rock, f. o. b.
m ine..................................
Linseed m eal, New Y o rk .
Millfeed m iddlings, M in
neapolis............................
Per
cent.
1.2
5.9
4.2
2.2
8.7
9. 5
3.6
5.6
2.6
2.1
2.2
1.9
4. 0
6. 2
9.5
5. 9
7. 4
4. 7
7.0
10.4
8.1
2.0
10.4
7.1
67
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S A N D M O N TH S, 1913,
TO O C T O B E R , 1921, B Y G R O U P S O F COM M O D ITIES.
[1913=100.]
Y ear an d m onth.
1913..............................
J a n u a ry ...............
A pril....................
J u ly ......................
O ctober...............
1914..............................
J a n u a ry ..........
A pril....................
J u ly ......................
O ctober...............
1915..............................
J a n u a ry ...............
A p ril.....................
J u ly ......................
O ctober...........
1915.
.................
Ja n u a ry ...............
A pril....................
J u ly ......................
O ctober...............
1917..............................
J a n u a ry ...............
A pril.....................
J u ly ......................
O ctober...............
1918..............................
J a n u a iy .............
F eb ru ary .............
M arch...................
A p ril....................
M ay......................
J u n e .....................
J u ly ......................
A ugust.................
S eptem b er..........
O ctober...............
N ovem ber..........
D ecem ber............
1919..............................
Ja n u a ry .............
F e b ru a ry ............
M arch...................
A pril.....................
M ay......................
J u n e .....................
J u ly ......................
A ugust.................
S eptem b er..........
O ctober...............
N ovem ber..........
D ecem ber............
1920..............................
Ja n u a ry ...............
F e b ru a ry ............
M arch..................
A pril....................
M ay......................
J u n e .....................
J u ly ......................
A ugust.................
S eptem b er..........
O ctober...............
N ovem ber. . . .
December............
1921:
J a n u a ry ...............
F e b ru a ry ............
M arch...................
A pril.....................
M ay......................
J u n e .....................
J u ly ......................
A ugust.................
S eptem ber..........
O ctober1.............
Farm
pro d
ucts.
Food,
etc.
Cloths
and
cloth
in g
100
97
97
101
103
103
101
103
104
103
105
102
107
103
105
122
108
114
118
136
189
148
181
199
208
220
207
208
212
217
214
217
224
230
237
224
221
222
234
222
218
228
235
240
231
246
243
226
230
240
244
218
246
237
239
246
244
243
236
222
210
182
165
144
100
99
96
102
102
103
102
95
104
107
104
106
105
104
103
126
113
117
121
140
176
150
182
181
183
189
187
186
177
178
177
179
184
191
199
201
206
210
210
207
196
203
211
214
204
216
227
211
211
219
234
236
253
244
246
270
287
279
268
235
223
204
195
172
100
100
100
100
100
98
98
99
99
97
100
98
99
99
103
128
110
119
126
138
181
161
169
187
193
239
211
216
223
232
237
245
249
252
136
129
125
115
117
113
115
118
122
119
162
150
150
141
133
132
134
152
146
142
1 Prelim inary.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Fuel
and
lig h t
ing.
Metals
and
m etal
prod
ucís.
•
All
B uild C hem i-! House- Miscel
in g
fur
cals
la n e mcom
odi
m ate
a nd nishing ous.
ties.
rials. drugs. goods.
162
164
175
186
208
227
231
236
253
308
268
300
325
341
341
337
333
328
318
313
274
266
100
101
101
99
100
101
100
100
99
105
114
103
102
108
124
153
150
172
156
150
138
159
170
198
252
221
232
232
232
229
223
219
216
222
220
218
215
195
179
191
185
183
178
179
174
171
172
173
174
176
179
210
189
197
205
212
215
218
217
216
222
216
207
188
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
99
99
99
99
99
99
99
99
115
105
108
121
124
144
132
139
152
152
196
161
161
165
172
173
198
199
221
226
226
226
227
236
218
218
218
217
217
233
245
259
262
264
299
303
337
324
329
329
331
339
362
362
363
371
371
369
346
100
100
98
101
100
99
99
101
97
96
99
100
99
98
99
120
>, 107
110
120
132
155
138
149
153
163
193
178
181
. 184
191
194
196
190
191
194
196
203
204
217
212
208
217
216
213
212
221
225
217
220
220
220
236
227
227
230
238
246
247
243
240
239
229
220
205
100
100
98
100
101
100
100
98
100
99
101
99
100
101
101
124
110
117
119
134
176
151
172
186
181
196
185
186
187
190
190
193
198
202
207
204
206
206
212
208
197
201
203
207
207
218
226
220
223
230
238
243
248
249
253
265
272
269
262.
250
242
225
207
189
239
221
208
203
202
202
200
198
193
192
182
178
171
168
166
166
163
161
162
162
283
277
275
274
262
250
235
230
223
218
190
180
167
154
151
150
149
147
146
145
177
167
162
154
151
148
148
152
152
150
257
2.58
250
261
234
223
216
217
228
258
282
304
306
313
325
335
302
350
356
356
353
347
335
317
299
278
257
234
220
100
103
98
99
100
96
99
98
95
93
93
93
89
90
98
119
105
108
108
133
175
176
184
192
146
163
157
157
158
157
160
159
166
166
167
167
171
171
173
170
169
168
167
167
170
171
175
181
181
179
181
238
184
187
192
213
235
246
252
268
284
282
258
236
109
107
102
98
99
87
92
91
85
83
97
83
91
102
1(K)
14S
126
147
115
151
208
183
208
257
182
181
174
176
176
177
178
178
184
185
184
187
188
184
161
172
168
162
152
152
1-54
158
165
160
161
164
169
186
177
189
192
195
193
190
191
193
192
184
170
157
100
100
101
101
98
97
98
99
97
96
94
94
94
93
93
101
99
101
99
101
124
106
114
132
134
151
136
138
144
146
148
150
154
157
159
158
164
164
192
161
163
208
198
192
186
181
180
179
179
187
190
228
218
207
199
194
187
184
182
178
182
152
146
139
138
138
132
125
120
120
121
[1229]
68
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Comparing October with the corresponding month of last year, it is
seen from the foregoing table that the general price level for all com
modities has declined approximately 33| per cent. The greatest de
crease is shown for the group of house-furnishing goods, in which prices
have fallen 41 per cent. Building materials were 38£ per cent cheaper
than in October, 1920; fuel and lighting materials were 354 per cent
cheaper; and farm products and metals were over 34 per cent cheaper.
Food articles averaged over 30 per cent less in price than a year ago,
cloths and clothing averaged 26 per cent less, and chemicals and
drugs 25 per cent less. In the group of miscellaneous commodities
the decrease was over 36 per cent.
Wholesale Prices of Building Materials.
I
N VIEW of the popular interest in the trend of building material
prices in recent months, the following table and chart have been
prepared from data in the possession of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The prices here shown in the form of percentages have
been obtained either by averaging reports from a number of pro
ducing areas or by using quotations from a single representative
market as indicative of prices in other markets. In all cases the
information is believed to indicate correctly the trend of prices for
the country as a whole.
W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S O F B U IL D IN G M A T E R IA L S , A T D A T E P E A K W A S R E A C H E D AND
IN A U G U ST, S E P T E M B E R , A N D O C TO B ER , 1921, E X P R E S S E D AS P E R C E N T A G E S O F
A V E R A G E P R IC E IN 1913.
R elative price—
A rticle.
A ugust,
1921.
A t peak.
Brick, common, a t kiln, average for U n ited
S ta te s....................................................................
Gravel, a t p la n t, average for U n ite d S ta te s ..
Hollow tile, Chicago.............................................
Lime, com m on, lu m p , a t p la n t, average for
U n ited S ta te s .....................................................
P o rtla n d cem ent, a t p la n t, average for
U n ited S ta te s ................................................
Sand, a t p la n t,a v e ra g e for U n ited S ta te s ___
Slate, roofing, New Y o rk .....................................
B ars, reinforcing, P ittsb u rg h .............................
Nails, wire, P itts b u rg h ........................................
S tru ctu ral steel, P ittsb u rg h ................................
Roofing tin , P itts b u r g h ......................................
Cast-iron pipe, New Y ork....................................
Douglas fir, No. 1, a t m ills..................................
Hemlock, Chicago..................................................
L a th , a t m ills .........................................................
R ed cedar shingles, a t m ills................................
W h ite oak, C in c in n ati..........................................
Yellow p ine flooring, a t m ills ...........................
T im bers, so u th ern yellow pine, a t m ills ........
P la te glass, New Y o rk .........................................
W indow glass. New Y o rk ................. ................
L inseed oil, New Y o rk ..........................
P u tty , New Y o rk..................................................
T u rp en tin e, New Y o rk .......................................
W hite lead, New Y o r k ........................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Aug. 1920
Dec., 1920
Ju n e, 1920
294.8
333.0
236.9
September,
1921.
October,
1921.
218.5
274,5
148.1
208.8
271.9
144.7
207.1
269. 9
1-44.7
O ct., 1920
285.8
218.9
244.4
213.1
Sept., 1920
Dec., 1920
A ug., 1920
Ju ly , 1917
J a n ., 1920
Ju n e, 1917
Nov., 1917
S e p t.,1920
J a n ., 1920
M ar., 1920
Feb ., 1920
Feb ., 1920
M ar., 1920
Feb ., 1920
M ar., 1920
A ug., 1920
A ug., 1918
A ug., 1919
J a n ., 1920
A pr., 1920
M ar., 1920
214.2
213.5
257. 3
327. 1
252.9
331.0
220. 5
330. 4
407.3.
256.2
456.8
346.8
388.4
455.3
317. 5
329.5
295.2
480.4
226.4
601.8
229.3
190.2
181.2
220.5
152. 6
156.7
122.5
167.2
193. 8
114.0
128.2
110.0
127.1
131.6
141. 2
132.1
253.5
231.0
160.7
198.1
147.9
181.2
178.4
180.2
220. 5
127.2
162.9
122.5
167.2
202.4
114.0
128.2
118. 0
155.6
131.6
155. 4
130.0
253. 5
231. 0
161. 2
198.1
167.7
181.2
170.8
176.4
220. 5
119.9
164.9
115. 9
167.2
202.4
114. 0
128.7
137. 9
168.8
146.6
184.8
134.4
253.5
231.0
147. 2
179. 2
176.4
181.2
[1230]
69
PRICES AivD COST OF LIVING.
BRICK. COMMON BUILDING
G R AV EL
k
HOLLOW
T IL E
L IM E
PO RTLAN D
M A X IM U M
CEMENT
g ^ g P R IC E
SAND
(AVERAGE
R O O FIN G
IRO N
P R IC E
LE VEL
PRICE IN
OCT
LEVEL
1921
1913 = 10 0 )
SLATE
BARS
N A IL S
STRUCTURAL STEEL
CAST
IR O N
RO O FIN G
P IP E
T IN
DO UG LAS
>
F IR
h e m lo c k
LATH
RED CEDAR
W H IT E
SH
OAK
YELLOW PINE FLOORING
YELLOW PINE TIM BER S
PLATE
W IN DO W
L IN S E E D
GLASS
G LASS
O IL
PUTTY
T U R P E N T IN E
W H IT E
LEAD
¡00
iso
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2bo
óo
j5ô ÔÎÔ 4Ò0 ÎÜ
[1231]
¿5?
¿50
70
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Wholesale Prices in the United States and Foreign Countries, 1913 to
September, 1921.
N TFFE following table the more important index numbers of
wholesale prices in the United States and several foreign countries,
' as compiled by recognized authorities, have been reduced to a
common base, in order that the trend of prices in the several coun
tries may be directly compared. The results here shown have been
obtained by merely shifting the base for each series of index numbers
to the year 1913; i. e., by dividing the index for 1913 on the original
base into the index for each year or month on that base. These
results are therefore to be rega,rded only as approximations of the cor
rect index numbers in the case of series constructed by averaging
the relative prices of individual commodities.1 This applies to the
index numbers of the Department of Labor of Canada, the Statistique
Générale of France, the British series of the Economist, the series for
Italy constructed by Prof. Riccardo Rachi, and the series here shown
for Japan. The index numbers of the United States Bureau of
Labor Statistics and the Census and Statistics Office of New Zealand
are built on aggregates of actual money prices, or relatives made
from such aggregates of actual prices, and therefore can readily be
shifted to any desired base. The series here shown for Sweden,
Germany, and Australia are reproduced as published, the last two
series being rounded off to three digits. It should be understood also
that the validity of the comparisons here made is affected by the
wide difference in the number of commodities included in the different
series of index numbers.
I
W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T IIE U N IT E D ST A T E S AND C E R T A IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S .
[Index num bers expressed as percentages of th e index n u m ber for 1913.
Y ear and
m onth.
U nited
States:
Bureau
of Labor
S tatis
tics;
327 com
m odi
ties
(vari
able).
C anada:
D epart
m e n t of
Labor;
272 com
m odi
ties
(vari
able).
U nited France: nGerma
y : S ta
K ing
S tatis
tistis
tiq u e
dom:
chen
Econo Géné Reichs
m ist;
rale;
am
t; 38
44 com 45 com com
m odi
m odi
m
odi
ties.
ties.
ties.
Italy :
Riccardo
Bachi;
38 com
m odities
u n til end
of 1919;
there
after
76 com
modities.
1913............
1914............
1915...........
1916............
1917...........
1 9 1 8 ......
1919............
100
100
101
124
176
196
212
100
100
110
134
174
205
216
100
99
123
160
204
225
235
100
102
140
188
262
339
356
1914.
J a n u a ry ...
A p ril.. . . . .
July
O ctober. .
100
98
100
99
101
101
99
102
97
96
95
101
100
100
101
107
102
92
92
98
99
100
101
101
103
108
111
112
112
124
122
125
124
135
142
158
105
121
130
148
1915.
July
O cto b er...
100
100
133
201
299
409'
364
Japan:
B ank of
Japan,
Tokyo;
56 com
m odi
ties.
100
96
97
117
147
192
236
See te x t explanation.]
Sweden:
Svensk
Handelstidning;
47 com
m odi
ties.
a 100
116
145
185
241
339
331
A ustra
New
lia:
Zea
Bureau
land:
of Cen Census
sus
a nd Sta
a n d Sta tistics
tistics;
Office;
92 com 140 com
m odi
m odi
ties.
ties.
b 100
111
132
146
170
180
100
102
121
131
148
172
175
a July, 1913-June, 1914.
6 Ju ly , 1914.
1 For a discussion of in d ex num bers, constructed according to this m ethod, see B u lle tin No. 181 of th e
B ureau of Labor Statistics, p p . 245-252.
[1232]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
71
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING,
W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S A N D C E R T A IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —
Concluded.
Y ear and
m onth.
U nited
States: C anada:
Bureau D epart
of Labor m e n t of
Statis Labor;
tics;
272 com
327 com m odi
m odi
ties
(vari
ties
(vari
able).
able).
U nited France: nGerma
y : S ta
K ing
Statis
tistis
tique
dom:
chen
Géné Reichs
Econo
rale;
m ist;
a
m
t; 38
44 com 45 com com
m odi
m odi
m
odi
ties.
ties.
ties.
Italy :
Riccardo
B achi;
38 com
m odities
until end
of 1919;
there
after
76 com
modities.
Japan:
B a n t of
Japan,
Tokyo;
56 com
m odi
ties.
Sweden:
Svensk
Handelstidning;
47 com
m odi
ties.
A ustra
New
lia:
Zea
B ureau
land:
of Cen Census
sus
a nd Sta
an d S ta tistics
tistics;
Office;
92 com 140 com
m odi
m odi
ties.
ties.
1916.
J a n u a ry __
A pril.........
J u ly ...........
O ctober__
110
117
119
134
127
132
132
138
143
156
156
171
179
190
186
198
184
201
193
207
133
1917.
Ja n u a ry __
A pril.........
Ju ly .
O cto b er...
151
172
188
181
154
369
179
179
184
200
208
212
215
248
268
284
229
265
304
350
133
136
148
155
1918.
.January__
F eb ru ary .
M arch.......
A p ril.........
M a y __
J u n e __
J u ly ...........
August . ..
Septem ber
O ctober__
N ovember
December.
185
186
187
190
190
193
198
202
207
204
206
206
190
194
199
199
204
207
210
210
211
2M
215
213
215
216
218
221
223
227
228
233
232
231
231
226
313
319
327
333
335
329
337
350
355
360
358.
353
363
380
394
401
409
415
429
432
433
442
437
371
1919.
J a n u a ry __
F eb ru ary .
M arch__
April.........
M ay...........
J u n e ..........
Ju ly ..
A ug u st__
Septem ber
O ctober. _
N ovem ber
D ecember.
203
197
201
203
207
207
218
226
220
223
230
238
211
206
205
206
210
210
217'
222
223
221
227
238
217
216
212
214
222
230
240
242
245
252
259
273
348
340
337
332
325
330
349
347
360
382
405
423
325
321
325
332
338
358
362
369
372
390
439
457
1920.
J a n u a r y ...
F e b ru a ry .
M arch.......
A pril.........
M ay...........
J u n e ..........
J u ly ...........
A ugust__
Septem ber
O c to b e r...
N ovember
December.
248
249
253
265
272
269
262
250
242
225
207
189
250
254
258
261
263
258
256
244
241
234
225
214
288
303
310
306
304
291
292
288
284
260
245
220
487
522
554
588
550
493
496
501
526
502
460
435
124
167
169
156
150
138
136
145
150
146
151
144
508
557
602
664
660
632
604
625
655
659
670
655
177
167
162
154
151
148
148
152
152
208
199
194
187
183
179
176
174
172
209
192
189
183
182
179
178
179
183
407
377
360
347
329
325
330
331
344
144
137
133
132
131
137
143
191
642
613
601
584
547
509
520
542
580
1921.
J a n u a r y ...
F ebru ary .
M arch.......
A pril.........
M ay...........
J u n e ..........
A ugust___
Septem ber
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1233]
370
367
372
164
164
167
168
171
171
170
172
172
173
172
172
160
159
161
166
167
169
172
177
179
182
186
187
369
358
354
339
330
324
320
321
319
307
308
317
171
167
168
171
172
173
176
182
185
200
199
197
180
176
170
168
167
168
170
174
178
179
181
183
301
314
322
300
272
248
239
235
231
226
221
206
319
342
354
354
361
366
364
365
362
346
331
299
203
206
209
217
225
233
234
236
230
215
208
197
190
194
202
205
209
205
215
215
216
218
214
214
201
195
191
190
191
192
196
199
207
267
250
237
229
218
218
211
198
182
196
192
181
171
166
162
159
160
160
212
206
204
201
198
196
v-
72
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Price Changes, Wholesale and Retail, of Important Food Articles in
Selected Cities.
ONTINUING information published in previous issues of the
M onthly L abo r R e v ie w , the trend of wholesale and retail
prices since 1913 for a number of important food products is
shown herewith. Exact comparison of wholesale with retail prices
is not attempted in the tables. Some food products—fresh meats,
for example—are not sold by the retailer in the same form in which
they leave the wholesaler, hence strictly comparable prices are not
obtainable. I t was found impracticable also to obtain both whole
sale and retail prices for the same date, the retail prices being those
prevailing on the 15th of the month, while the wholesale prices are
for a variable date, usually several days prior to the 15th. The fig
ures in the table are therefore to be considered as merely indicative
of price variations in the retail as compared with the wholesale
markets.
To assist in comparing the fluctuations at wholesale and at retail,
the differential between the two series of quotations a t successive
dates is given. I t should not be assumed, however, th a t this differ
ential in any case represents the margin of profit to the retailer, since
in addition to a possible difference of grade between the articles shown
at wholesale and at retail, the various items of handling cost to both
the wholesaler and the retailer are included in the figure.
C
W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL P R IC E S O F IM P O R T A N T FO O D A R T IC L E S IN SE L E C T E D
C IT IE S .
[The initials W =w holesale, R = re ta il. T he wholesale price is th e m ean of th e high an d low quotations
on th e d ate selected as published in leading trad e journals. T he retail price is th e average of prices
reported to th e B ureau of Labor Statistics b y dealers.]
A rticle a n d city.
Beef, Chicago:
Steer loin ends
(h ip )......................W _.
Sirloin s te a k ............ R ..
Price differential...........
Beef, Chicago:
Steer rounds, No. 2 .W ..
R o u n d s te a k ............R . .
Price differential............
Beef, Chicago:
Steer ribs, No. 2 . . . W . .
R ib ro a s t.................. R ..
Price differential............
Beef, New York:
No. 2 lo in s, c ity .- ..W ..
Sirloin s te a k ............ R ..
Price differential............
Beef, New York:
No. 2 ro u n d s ,c ity . . W . .
R o u n d s te a k ............R . .
Price differential. . . . . . .
Beef, New Y ork:
No. 2 ribs, c ity .......W . .
R ib ro a s t.................. R . .
Price differential...........
Pork, Chicago:
L o in s........................ W _.
C hops.........................R . .
Price differential............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1921
Ju ly —
1913:
AvU nit. erage
for
1919 1920 Jan. A pr, ¡May. Ju n e July. Aug. Sept. Oct.
year. 1917 1918
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
L b .. 16.8 19.0 34.0 27.0 36. 0 34. 0 28.0 25.0 24.0
L b .. 23.2 30.2 37.7 39.3 47.8 40.2 38.4 38.1 37.6
6.4 11.2 3.7 12.3 11.8 6.2 10.4 13.1 13.6
Cts.
26.0
38.4
12.4
Cts.
26.0
38.7
12.7
Cts.
28.0
38.6
12.6
Cts.
25.0
37.9
12.9
L b .. 13.1 17.0 25.0 22.0 29.0 16.0 16.0 16. 0 15.0 16.0 16.0 14.0 13.0
L b .. 20.2 26.6 35.0 35.5 40.9 32.7 31.2 31.0 31.3 31.8 31.9 31.6 30.9
7.1 9.6 10.0 13.5 11.9 16.7 15.2 15.0 16.3 15.8 15.9 17.6 17.9
L b .. 15.7 20.0 2a o 24,0 35.0 26.0 23.0 19.0 20.0 19.0 24.0 22.0 18.0
L b .. 19.5 24.6 31.8 31.9 35. 9 31.9 31.6 30.4 30.0 29.5 30.5 30. 1 29.5
.9 5.9 8.6 11.4 10.0 10.5 6.5 8.1 11.5
3.8 4.6 3.8 7.9
L b .. 15.8 19. 0 28. C 28.5 43.0 30.0 30.0 30.5 28.0 28.0 28.0 30.0 26.0
L b .. 25.9 33.7 43.9 44. 4 52.9 43.9 42.9 42.9 43.0 43.4 43.5 42.6 41. 0
10.1 14.7 15.9 15. S 9.9 13.9 12.9 12.4 15.0 15.4 15.5 12.6 15.0
L b .. 12.1 17.5 28. C 22.0 30.0 16.0 15.5 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 16.0 15.0
L b .. 24.9 33.7 40.3 46.2 52,9 43.6 41.9 42. 1 42.0 42.5 42.5 41.8 40. 2
12.8 16.2 IS. 3 24.2 22.9 27.6 25.4 2-5.1 25.0 25.5 25.5 25.8 25.2
L b .. 15.1 19. C 28. C 27.5 36. C 27.5 26. 0 23.0 22.5 22.5 21.5 22.0 21.0
L b .. 21.8 27.9 37.5 38.6 4-1.4 38.3 38.0 37.3 36.7 36.0 36.3 36.0 35.6
6. 7 8.9 9.5 11.1 8.4 10.8 12.0 14.3 14.2 13.5 14.8 14.0 14.6
L b .. 14.9 25. C 29. C 37. C 35. C 21. C 28.0 23.0 21.0 21.0 29.5 29.0 25.0
L b .. 19.0 29. 2 35, 5 41. 7 42. 6 30. 8 36.0 31. 1 29.8 30.2 36.9 36.9 33.4
4.1 4.2 6. 5 4.7 7.6 9.8 8.0 8.1 8.8 9.2 7.4 7.9 8.4
[12 3 4 ]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
73
W H O L E S A L E AN D R E T A IL P R IC E S O F IM P O R T A N T FO O D A R T IC L E S IN S E L E C T E D
C IT IE S —C ontinued.
A r tic le a n d c it y .
Ju ly —
1913
AvU nit eragc
far
year 1917 1918 1919 1920 Jan
1921
A pr Ma> June Ju lj Aug Sept.j Oct.
P o rk , N ew Y o rk :
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
L o i n s , w e s t e r n ..............W . . L b .
15. 23. 30. 37. 29.. 29J 29.« 27. 24. £ 25. 28. £ 31. 28.5
C h o p s ......................................... R . . L b .
2L 32.« 40.« 47. 44. 39. ■ 39." 38. 37.8 37. £ 40.« 40.« 39.0
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ...................
., 9.
. 14,8
.
."
. S 13.3
. £ 12.3 9.« 10.5
B a c o n , C h ic a g o :
S h o r t c le a r s i d e s . . . W . . L b .
." 24." 27. 33.1
.«
15.2
. £ 15.9
. £ 14. S 13. £ 10.9
S l i c e d . ......................................R . . L b .
29. 43. 54.7 61. 60.1 50.7 52.2 52. 51. f 52.1 52.3 50. 47. 5
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ...................
16.7 19. 27. 28.4 39. 37. £ 37.« 39.4 37.7 39.1 37.4 36. £ 36.6
H a m , C h ic a g o :
S m o k e d ................................W . ., L b .
16.« 24. 30.1 38.3 37.5 24.5 27.8 27.3 27.3 31.5 33. C 28.4 24,0
S m o k e d , s l i c e d ......................... L b.
26.« 4L 49.1 58.8 61.3 51.2 51.7 50.9 51.3 51.7 53.6 51.1 49.3
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l _________ '
.« 17. 19.0
.; 23.8 26.7 23.9 2,3.6 24.0
22.7 25.3
L ard , N ew Y o rk:
P r i m e , c o n t r a c t _____ W . . L b ..
.«
26.2 35.8 19.« 13.6 10.5 9. <8 9.9
.«
11.3
11.5 9. 9
P u r e , t u b . ....................... R . .
L b . 16.0 27.4 32.2 42. r 29.2 22.7 19.1 17.6 16.9 17.3 18.8 18.2 18.0
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ...................
5.0 7.3
6.7 9.6 9.
7.8
7.0
5.3
7.5
6.7
L a m b , C h ic a g o :
D r e s s e d , r o u n d ______W . . L b .. 14.9 26.0 31.0 29.0 31.0 23.5
24.0
28.0
25.0
19.0
17.0
L e g o f , y e a r l i n g _____ R . .
L b . . 19. <8 28.7 35.7 36.2 41.5 36. 1 33.6 34.4 35.1 34.3 33.7 33.5 30.6
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ...................
4.9 2.7 4.7 7.2 10.5
13.6 10.4 7.1 9.3 12.7 14.5 13.6
P o u lt r y , N e w Y o r k :
D r e s s e d f o w l s ................ W . . L b .. 18.2 24.8 36.0 34.5 39.0 35. 5 38. 5 36.0
33. 5 33. 5 36. 5 30.5
D r e s s e d h e n s ..................R . .
L b . . 21.4 28.7 41.0 41.5 47.0 43. 1 44.6 42.9 41.9 41.8 43.2 40.6 31.5
40.6
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ...................
3.2 3.9 5.0 7.0
7.6
6.9
8.4 8.3 6.7
9.1
B u t t e r , C h ic a g o :
C r e a m e r y , e x t r a . . . W . . L b .. 31.0 37.5 42.5 52.0 55. 5 48. 5 46.0
29.0
31.0
38.0
40.
5
41.0
44.
C r e a m e r y , e x t r a ____ R . .
L b . . 36. 2 43.2 48.0 57.1 62.9 56.3 53.5 37.6 37.2 45.6 48. 8 48. 2 51. 58
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ...................
5.2 5.7 5. 5 5.1 7.4 7.8 7.5
7.6 7.8 7.7 7.3
B u tte r, N ew Y o r k :
C r e a m e r y , e x t r a ____ W . . L b .. 32.3 39.5 44.4 51.0 57. 4 53.8 49.4
29.5
32.8
39.8
43.8 43.3 46. 5
C r e a m e r y , e x t r a _____ R . .
L b . . 38.2 45.3 51.4 61.3 66.9 63.4 57.2 41.5 39.9 47.6 53.3
51.3 55.2
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ..................
5. 9 5. 8 7.0 10.3 9.5 9.6 7.8
7.1
7.8
9.5
8.7
B u t t e r , S a n F r a n c is c o :
C r e a m e r y , e x t r a . . . W . . L b .. 31.7 38.5 50.0 56.5 59.0 46.5 38.0
34.0
37.0
41.5
46.
5
43.
5
50.0
C r e a m e r y , e x t r a _____ R . .
L b . . 38.8 45. 5 56.6 64.7
54.9 45.5 41.8 46.6 49.1 52.7 54.9 58.3
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ...................
7.1 7.0
.6
9.0 8.4 7.5 7.8 9.6 7.6 9.2 8.4 8.3
C h e e se , C h ic a g o :
W h o l e m i l k ..................... W . . L b .. 14.2
22.7 30.9 24.9 24.3 18.3 14.0 14.0 17.0 18.5 18.8 19.1
F u l l c r e a m ..........................R . . L b . .
33.9 34.5 44.1 43.4 40.3 39.0 35.8 34. 5 34.6 36.1 36.1 36.2
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ...................
12. 3
. 8 13.2 18.5 16.0 20.7
20.5 17.6 17.6 17.3 17.1
C h eese, N e w Y o r k :
W h o l e m i l k , S t a t e . W . . L b .. 15.4 23.8 23.9 31.5 26.5 23.0 22.3 15.3
14.9 17.6 20.3
F u l l c r e a m ........................ R . .
L b ..
32.8 33.2 42.8 41.7 39.0 38.6 36.3 32. 2 32.4 33.8 33. 8 33.6
P r ic e d iffe r e n t ia l. . . . . . .
9.0 9.3 11.3 15.2 16.0 16. 3
17.3
14.8 13.5 13.8
C h ee se , S a n F r a n c is c o :
F a n c y . . ................................W . . L b .. 15.9
26.0 32.0 33.0 24.5 21.5 16.0 18.0 22.5 -22.0 23.5 24.0
F u l l c r e a m ..........................R . . L b . .
29. 7 32.3 41.2 42.6 39. 7 36.8 27.0 26.5 29.8 33.5 33. 1 34.1
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l .................. ...
9. 7 6.3 9.2 9.6 15.2 15.3
8.5 7.3 11.5 9.6
M il k , C h ic a g o :
F r e s h .........................................W . . Q t . .
3.8 4.7 5.3
7.2 5.9 5.1 4.4 4.4 5.0 5.0 3.2 3. 8
F r e s h , b o t t l e d 1.............R . .
Q t..
.0
14.0 15.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14. 0 14.0 14.0 12.3
.0
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l .......................
4. 2 5.3 6.7 7.2 7.8
8.9 9.6 9.6 9.0 9.0 9.1
M ilk , N e w Y o r k :
F r e s h .........................................W . . Q t . .
3.5 5.0 5.4 7.1 7.0 7.5 5.2 5.6 4.9 5.4 6.9
. 9 7. 9
F r e s h , b o t t l e d 1 ______ R . . Q t . .
9.0 11.4 12.7 16.0 16.0 17.0 15.0 15.0 14.3 14.0 15.0 15.0 15.0
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l .......................
5, 5 6.4 7.3 8.9 9.0 9.5 9.8 9.4 9.4
7.1
M ilk , S a n F r a n c is c o :
F r e s h .........................................W . _ Q t . .
3.9 4.3 5.9 7.4 8.4 8.4 7.1 7.1 7.1
F r e s h , b o t t l e d ................ R . . Q t . .
14.0 16.0 15.8 14.6 14.6 14.6 14.0 14.0 14. 0 14.0
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l .......................
5.7
7.6 7.4 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.9 7.9 7.9 7.9
E g g s , C h ic a g o :
F r e s h , f i r s t s . . .................W . . D o z .
31.0 36.5 42.0 41.5 68.5 24.3 21.3 23.8 29.5 30.5 30.0 43. 0
S t r i c t l y f r e s h ....................R . . D o z . 29.2 40.6 45.7 53.2 53.4 78.6
32.5 32.4 33.4 41.8 44.8 46.6 55.2
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l .......................
. 6 9.6 9.2
11.9
11.1 9.6 12.3 14.3 16.6
E ggs, N ew Y o rk :
F r e s h , f i r s t s ......................W . . D o z . 24.9 35.0 40.0 44.5 46.5 68.5 27.3 23.5
26.5 34.0 35. 5 35.5 44. 5
S t r i c t l y f r e s h ....................R . . D o z . 39. 7 47.7 57.3 66.4
89. 7 43.7 42.5 44.6 53.4 59.4 63.0 71.5
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l ______ . . . .
14. 8 12.7 17.3 21.9 20.3
16.4 19.0 18.1 19.4 23.9 27.5 27.0
E g g s , S a n F r a n c is c o :
F r e s h ........................................ W . . D o z . 26.8 32.0 44.0 45.0 48.0 59.0 26.5
25.5 31.5 37.0 37. 5 45. 0
S t r i c t l y f r e s h ....................R . . D o z .
39. 2 51.4 56.6 60.6 70.5 33. 5 30.3 33.4 46.7 50. 8 54.4 67.2
P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l .......................
. o| 7 .2| 7.4
11. sj 7.0 9.3 7.9 15.2
6
12
10.1 10
10
11 20.1
10 10 11
20 12.8
12
20
12
12
20.2 20.6
12
6.0
8.6
20.0
8.1
21.0
12.6
8.0
6.1
10.1
8.6 6.2
12.0
6
8.2
8.0
68.0
21.6
11
21.8
21.0
20.0 22.0
11.6
11.0
10.1
20.0
8 10.0 12.0
6.8
12
8.2
8.1
6
8.6 8.1 8.1
6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1
10.0 10.0 12.1
6.1
6.2 6.6
22.6
6
11.2
10.1 8.2
66.8
12.2
21.2
21.0
1Delivered,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
..... 10
11.6 12.6
£1235]
13.8 16.9 22.2
'74
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL P R IC E S O F IM P O R T A N T FO O D A R T IC L E S IN S E L E C T E D
C IT IE S —Concluded.
Article an d city.
Meal, corn, Chicago:
F in e ......................... .W ..
F in e ....................... .R ..
Price differential.
Beans. New York:
Medium, choice... .W ..
N avy, w h ite ......... .R ..
Price d ifferen tial.
Potatoes, Chicago:
W h ite 2................... .W ..
W h ite..................... .R ..
Price differential.
Rice, New Orleans:
H e a d ....................... .W ..
H e a d ...................... .R . .
Price d ifferen tial.
Sugar, New York:
G ra n u la te d ........... .W ..
G ra n u la te d ........... .R ..
Price differential.
Ju ly —
1921
1913:
AvU nit. erage
for
year. 1917 1918 1919 1920 Jan. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
L b ..
L b ..
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
1.4 4.5 5.4 4.6 4.3 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.5
2. 9 5.8 6.8 6.1 7.2 6.7 6.2 6. 1 6.0 5.9 6.1 6.3 6.0
1. 5 1.3 1.4 1. 5 2.9 4.8 4.5 4.3 4.1 4.0 4.4 4.6 4.5
L b ..
Lb
4.0 15.4 11.9 7.5 8.3
18. 8 17. 5 12.2 12.5
3.4 5.6 4.7 4.2
5.6
9.9
4.3
5.4
9.0
3.6
4.8
8.6
3.8
4.8
8.5
3.7
4.8
9.1
4.3
5.1
8.6
3.5
5.4
8.6
3.2
5.1
8. 7
3.6
L b ..
L b ..
1.0
1.5
.5
7.4
9.8
2.4
1.3
2.5
1.2
.9
2.0
1.1
2.5
1.8
1.6
1.4
3.0
1.6
2.0
3.6
3.8
4.6
.8
2.9
4.1
1.2
2.0
3.3
1.3
7.1 9.3 10.5 12.5
10.1 11.9 14.2 15.6
3. 0 2.6 3.7 3.1
3.9
8.9
5.0
3.1
7.2
4.1
3.3
7.1
3. 8
4.8
7.4
2.6
3.4
7.5
4.1
5.3
7.6
2.3
4.7
7.8
3.1
4.9
8.0
3.1
7.4 8.8 19.9
8.8 10.0 25.2
1.4 1.2 5.3
7.6
9.0
1.4
7.5
8.9
1.4
6.3
7.3
1.0
5.6
6.9
1.3
5.4
6.3
.9
5.9
6.9
1.0
5.5
6.5
1.0
5.2
6.0
.8
L b ..
L b ..
5.0
L b ..
L b ..
4.3
4.9
.6
4.4
5.0
.6
7.4
8.4
1.0
1.5
3.7
2.2
1.4
5.0
3.6
2 Good to choice.
R E L A T IV E W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL P R IC E S O F IM P O R T A N T FO O D A R T IC L E S IN
S E L E C T E D C IT IE S.
[Average for 1913=100.]
1921
Ju ly —
A v
erage
for
1
1913. 1917 1918 1919 1920 Jan. Apr. .May. June July, Aug. Sept. Oct.
A rticle a n d city.
Beef, Chicago:
Steer loin ends (h ip ). . ..W ..
Sirloin s te a k ................... . . . R . .
Beef, Chicago:
Steer rounds, No. 2___ ..W ..
R ou n d s te a k ................. . . . R ..
Beef, Chicago:
Steer ribs, N o. 2 ........... . .W ..
R ib ro a s t......................... . . . R . .
Beef, New Y ork:
No. 2 loins, c ity ............ ..W ..
Sirloin ste a k ................... . . . R . .
Beef, New York:
No. 2 rounds, c ity ........ ..W ..
R ound stea k ................... . . . I t . .
Beef, New Y ork:
No. 2 ribs, c ity ...............
R ib ro a s t......................... . . . R . .
P ork, Chicago:
Loins................................. ..W ..
Chons............................... . . . R . .
P ork, New Y ork:
Loins, w estern .............. ..W ..
Chops............................... . . . R . .
Bacon, Chicago:
Short clear sides........... ..W ..
Sliced............................... . . . I t . .
H am , Chicago:
Sm oked............................ ..W ..
Smoked, sliced.............. . . . I t . .
L ard , New York:
Prim e, c o n tra c t............ ..W ..
Pure, tu b ......................... . . . R . .
L am b, Chicago:
Dressed, ro u n d ............. ..W ..
Leg of. y earlin g ............. . . . R . .
P o u ltry , N ew Y ork:
Dressed fowls.................. ..W ..
Dressed h e n s .................. . . . R . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
..w..
100
100
113
130
202
162
161
169
214
206
202
173
167
166
149
164
143
162
155
166
155
167
155
166
149
163
100
100
130
132
191
173
168
176
221
202
122
162
122
154
122
153
115
155
122
157
122
158
107
156
99
153
100
100
127
126
178
163
153
164
223
184
166
164
146
162
121
156
127
154
121
151
153
156
140
154
115
151
100
100
120
130
177
169
180
171
272
204
190
169
190
166
193
166
177
166
177
168
177
168
190
164
165
158
100
100
145
135
231
186
182
186
248
212
132
175
128
168
140
169
140
169
140
171
140
171
132
168
124
161
100
100
126
128
185
172
182
177
238
204
182
176
172
174
152
171
149
168
149
165
142
167
146
165
139
163
100
100
168
154
195
187
248
219
235
224
141
162
188
189
154
164
141
157
141
159
198
194
195
194
168
176
100
100
155
150
201
187
243
219
194
204
191
182
191
183
178
176
161
174
164
175
187
187
204
187
187
180
100
100
194
149
216
186
261
209
162
204
101
172
120
178
102
178
109
176
102
177
117
178
109
173
86
162
100
100
146
156
181
185
231
221
226
230
148
192
167
194
164
191
164
193
190
194
199
202
171
192
145
185
100
100
183
171
238
201
325
266
178
183
124
142
95
119
89
110
90
106
109
108
103
118
105
114
90
113
100
100
174
145
208
180
195
183
208
210
158
182
134
170
161
174
188
177
168
173
141
170
128
169
114
155
100
100
136
134
198
192
190
194
214
220
195
201
212
208
198
200
184
196
184
195
201
202
168
190
173
190
[1236]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
75
R E L A T IV E W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL P R IC E S O F IM P O R T A N T PO O D A R T IC L E S IN
S E L E C T E D C IT IE S —Concluded.
A rticle a n d city.
B u tte r, Chicago:
Cream ery, e x tra ............... .W ..
Cream ery, e x tra .............. -R ..
B u tte r, New York:
Cream ery, e x tra ............... .W ..
Cream ery, e x tra .............. .R ..
B u tte r, San Francisco:
Creamer}'-, e x tra ............... -W_.
Creamery, e x tra .............. . R ..
Milk, Chicago:
F re s h ................................ W
Fresh, bottled, delivered .R . .
Milk, New York:
F re s h ................................ ; .W ..
Fresh, b ottled, delivered .R ..
Milk, San Francisco:
F resh .................................. W
Fresh, b o ttle d ................... .R . .
Eggs, Chicago:
Fresh, firsts ....................... W ..
Strictly fresh...................... -R ..
Eggs, New York:
Fresh, firsts....................... W ..
Strictly fresh ..................... .R ..
Eggs, San Francisco:
F re s h .................................. W
Strictly fresh ...................... .R . .
Meal, corn, Chicago:
F in e ................................... W
l i n e ...................................... .R . .
Potatoes, Chicago:
W hite, good to c h o ic e... W ..
W h ite .................................. .R ..
Sugar, New York:
G ra n u la te d ....................... W
G ra n u la te d ......................... .R . .
Ju ly —
1921
A v
erage
for
1913. 1917 1918 1919 1920 Jan . Apr. Slay June July Aug. Sept Oct
100
100
121
119
137
133
168
158
179
174
156 •148
156 148
94
104
100
103
123
126
132
135
131
133
144
143
100
100
122
119
137
135
158
160
178
175
167
166
153
150
91
109
102
104
123
125
136
140
134
134
144
145
100
100
121
117
158
146
178
167
186
175
147
141
120
117
107
108
117
120
131
127
137
136
147
141
158
150
100
100
124
125
139
150
179
175
189
188
155
175
134
175
116
175
116
175
132
175
132
175
84
154
100
150
100
100
143
127
154
141
203
178
200
178
214
189
149
167
160
167
140
159
154
156
197
167
197
167
226
167
100
100
110
100
151
121
190
140
215
160
215
158
182
146
182
146
182
146
140
156
140
156
140
156
140
100
100
137
139
162
157
186
182
184
183
303
269
108
111
94
111
105
114
131
143
135
153
133
160
190
189
100
100
141
120
161
144
179
167
187
168
275
226
n o
n o
94
107
106
112
137
135
143
150
143
159
179
180
100
100
119
105
164
138
168
152
179
162
220
189
99
90
78
81
95
90
118
125
138
136
140
146
168
180
100
100
321
200
386
234
329
210
307
248
136
231
121
214
129
210
136
207
136
203
121
210
121
217
107
207
100
100
440
333
150
247
140
333
740
653
130
167
90
133
250
120
140
200
200
240
380
307
290
273
200
220
100
100
172
171
172
180
205
204
463
514
177
184
174
182
147
149
130
141
126
129
137
141
128
133
121
122
increases in Rents in Argentina, 1919-20.
INCE 1919, rents in Argentina have increased very considerably
according to an article in the June, 1921, issue of Crónica Men
sual, the monthly publication of the Argentine Department
of Labor. The table following shows the increase since January,
1919, of rent for one room and for three and four room houses in
eight important cities (excluding the Federal capital):
S
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F R E N T F O R O N E ROOM A N D F O R T H R E E A N D F O U R ROOM
H O U SE S , JA N U A R Y A N D JU N E , 1919, A N D JA N U A R Y AN D JU N E , 1920, IN S P E C IF IE D
C IT IE S .
[R en t in Jan u ary , 1919=100.]
One room.
3 a nd 4 room houses.
City.
Jan .,
1919.
B ahia B lanca............................................
Córdoba......................................................
L a P la ta .....................................................
M endoza.....................................................
P a ra n á .........................................................
R osario........................................................
S alta............................................................
T u c u m á n ...................................................
76564°— 21-----6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
June,
1919.
Jan .,
1920.
June,
1920.
125
100
100
115
100
120
100
100
125
100
120
123
117
150
167
130
150
150
130
138
117
200
167
135
[ 1237]
Jan.,
1919.
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
June,
1919.
100
100
100
120
100
111
117
100
Jan.,
1920.
117
100
117
n o
133
143
167
130
June,
1920.
200
145
117
180
144
157
167
135
76
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
I t will be noted that in four of the cities, Bahia Blanca, Cordoba,
Rosario, and Salta, rent for one room increased 50 per cent or more
in the 18-months’ period and in four, Bahia Blanca, Mendoza, Rosario,
and Salta, a similar increase occurred in the rent for three and four
room houses. The excessive cost of building materials since 1911
is said to be responsible for a slowing up of construction and a conse
quent shortage of housing facilities, and increased rents.
In the study of rent increases in Buenos Aires the average rent for
one room in a tenement house is taken as the basis of comparison.
The index numbers for the years 1914 to 1920, wdth the rate in 1914
as the base or 100, show the fluctuations in average rents during that
period:
Index
num ber.
100
83
71
95
101
129
170
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
The decrease in rents in Buenos Aires during the period 1914 to
1916 as shown in the above statement is said to have been due to the
extensive emigration on account of the European war rather than
to any greater building activity. By 1918 rents had returned to
practically the 1914 level and since that time have risen rapidly,
the rent of an ordinary inside room having increased 69 per cent,
three-room houses 41 per cent, and four-room houses 30 per cent.
Purchasing Power of Money in Australia.
HE Quarterly Summary of Australian Statistics, Bulletin No. 84,
June, 1921, gives the purchasing power of money in six capital
cities of Australia for each year, 1901 to 1920, and for the first
two quarters of 1921, as compared wdth the year 1911. A summary
of these figures for the years 1901 to 1920 was published in the
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w for June, 1921 (p. 44). The increase in
1920 as compared with 1911 was, for food and groceries, 110 per cent;
for house rent, 33.3 per cent; and for both of these classes, 78.3 per
cent. Comparative figures for the first two quarters of 1921 show
a decrease of 2.9 per cent in cost of food and groceries, and an increase
of 3.9 per cent in cost of house rent, compared with the year 1920.
T
Increases in Rents in Great Britain, 1914 to 1921.
rT pIIE British Labor Gazette for October, 1921, contains an article
(p. 521) giving statistics of increases in rent in Great Britain.
From the end of 1915 up to the time of effectiveness of the
increase of rent act of 1920, rents of working-class dwellings remained
at the prewar level, except for increases due to increased local taxes
and water charges. Under this 1920 act an increase in rents is per
mitted equal to the increase in taxes and water charges over 1914
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1238]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
77
plus 30 per cent of the net rent (i. e., exclusive of rates, water charges,
etc.) of August, 1914, and in addition, as from July, 1921, a further
10 per cent increase of prewar rent. It is stated that “ of the per
mitted addition of 40 per cent to the prewar net rents, five-eighths
is on account of the landlord’s responsibility for repairs, and increases
on account of the higher level of mortgage interest permitted by the
act fall within the remainder.”
In order to ascertain the increases actually effected the department
made inquiry which revealed the fact that the average “ permitted”
increase in towns of England and Wales amounts to about 57 per
cent of the gross rent (net rent plus water and other charges) in 1914.
The average for London is about the same, while in Scotland the
increases permitted range between G5 and 70 per cent of the prewar
gross rent. Taking into consideration the fact that only in about
95 per cent of cases had the 30 per cent increase been put into effect
and in only 75 to 80 per cent of cases the additional 10 per cent
authorized as from July of this year, the Ministry of Labor calculates
that the actual increase in gross rents in Great Britain since 1914
averages 53 per cent.
Cost of Living in Bombay, India.
STATEMENT of increases in cost of living among the working
classes of Bombay since September, 1920, has just been
received from the secretariat of the labor office of that presi
dency. In determining the cost of living the food grains consisting
of cereals and pulses have been treated separately from other articles
in the food group, the other groups being fuel and lighting, clothing,
and house rent. The groups have been given the relative importance
which each bears to the total aggregate expense. No allowance has
been made for any change in standard oi living since July, 1914,
which is used as the basis in calculating the changes.
The percentage increases over July, 1914, by groups are as follows:
A
P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E IN COST O F L IV IN G O F W O R K IN G CLASSES IN B O M B A Y ,
IN D IA , O V E R JU L Y , 1914, B Y G R O U P S, S E P T E M B E R , 1920, TO S E P T E M B E R , 1921.
Per cent of increase in —
Y ear an d m onth.
Food grains.
Cereals. Pulses.
O ther
articles
of food.
All food
articles.
Fuel a nd Cloth
lighting.
ing.
1920.
S eptem ber......................................
O ctober...........................................
N ovem ber......................................
D ecem ber.......................................
47
48
48
44
91
97
97
97
163
161
138
127
93
93
85
78
51
58
58
84
199
191
191
184
1921.
J a n u a ry .................... .....................
F e b ru a ry ........................................
M arch..............................................
A p ril................................................
M ay..................................................
J u n e .................................................
J u ly ..................................................
A u g u st............................................
Septem ber................... ..................
31
31
28
31
40
45
55
58
75
97
97
90
83
86
83
91
93
110
106
88
89
85
92
102
99
104
91
63
56
54
54
62
69
74
77
83
92
88
76
77
77
77
76
76
76
169
151
139
153
160
163
163
163
168
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1239]
H ouse
rent.
T otal
cost of
living.
92
93
86
81
65
69
62
60
60
67
73
77
80
85
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
78
Prices of Food in Lisbon, Portugal, in August, 1921.
CONSULAR report, dated September 1, 1921, gives “ market”
and retail prices of certain articles of food in Lisbon in August,
1921. These prices are given in the table below:
A
P R IC E S O F C E R T A IN A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN
L I S B O N , P O R T U G A L , I N A U G U S T , 1921.
[E s c u d o a t p a r = $1.0805; k i l o = 2.2046 p o u n d s ; a r r o b a = 32.38 p o u n d s ; l i t e r = 0.908 q u a r t, d r y m ea su re.]
Article.
Sugar w hite .....................................
Rice:
N a tio n a l...........
...................
E n g lish ..........................................
V e n e tia n ........................................
Codfish:
Sw edish.........................................
Po rtu g u ese....................................
E nglish...........................................
L ard . . .
........................................
P otatoes....
....................................
B isc u its.................................................
B arley coffee........................................
C h estn u ts..............................................
O nions...................................................
C ountry sausage..................................
F ig s.........................................................
Beans:
Small, so u p ...................................
W h ite .............................................
R e d .................................................
M ixed.............................................
Chick p e a s ............................................
B u tte r....................................................
M arm alade............................................
N u ts ..... .................................................
E g g s................ ......................................
B aco n .....................................................
Cheese:
C o u n try .........................................
L o n d o n .........„* ..
Is la n d ....................................
F le m ish ..........................................
U n it.
M arket
price.
R etail
price.
K ilo ..............
Escudos.
1.10
Escudo'.
1. 90-2. 00
........do ............
........do............
........do............
.75
.78
.80
1
] 1.20-1. 40
J
15 kilos.........
........do............
........do............
........do...........
A rroba..........
K ilo ..............
........do............
........do ............
A rroba..........
K ilo ,............
........do............
23.50
21.50
18.00
50. 00
2.60
3. 20
.65
.38
1.20
5.80
.85
)
1 1 1. 50-2. 00
L iter.............
........do ...........
........do ............
........do ............
........do ...........
K ilo ..............
........do ............
........do ............
20 d o z e n .. . .
K ilo ..............
.44
.60
.60
.28
.43
4. 80
3.00
1. 30
30.00
5.20
........do ............
___do..........
........do ...........
........do ............
3.80
4.50
3.80
6.90
i 3. 00-4. 00
3.30
6.00
1 2.00
7.20
1
1
.60- . 80
. 70-1.00
6.00-7.00
2.00
6.50
]
[ 4. 00-10. 00
j
1 P e r k ilo .
Changes in Cost oi Living in Scandinavian Countries.
F
IGURES showing the per cent of increase in cost of living in
Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are given in the Statistiske
Efterretninger for October 13, 1921 (No. 25). The three coun
tries through their respective statistical offices have since 1914 made
their bases of price calculations as nearly identical as conditions in
each country would permit. Percentage increases at different periods
in the various items of the household budget are given for each coun
try, a normal budget in 1914 being taken as the base.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1240]
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.
79
The table below shows the increase in the cost of the budget as
compared with 1914 in each of the Scandinavian countries from the
summer of 1920 to the summer of 1921.
C H A N G ES IN COST O F T H E H O U S E H O L D B U D G E T IN N O R W A Y , S W E D E N , A N D D E N
M A R K , JU L Y , 1920, JA N U A R Y , 1921, AN D JU L Y , 1921.
Item .
D enm ark.
Sweden.
N orw ay.
Per cent of increase
from 1914 to—
P e r cent of increase
from 1914 to—
P e r cent of increase
from 1914 to—
Ju ly ,
1920.
Ja n u Ju ly ,
ary,
1921. 1921.
Ju ly ,
1920.
Ja n u July,
ary,
1921. 1921.
July,
1920.
Ja n u
ary,
1921.
July,
1921.
F o o d ..................... .......................................
Clothing.....................................................
H ousing......................................
Fuel an d lig h t...........................................
T a x e s...................................
M iscellaneous................
153
255
30
463
127
147
176
192
30
478
144
124
136
148
41
301
201
114
187
290
30
272
190
135
186
255
55
. 280
190
145
131
170
55
164
272
125
211
236
47
376
(i)
176
242
248
55
468
c1)
195
190
192
61
266
(D
193
T o ta l.......................................
162
164
137
170
171
136
202
235
193
1 Taxes are included in to ta l increase.
In January, 1921, in all three countries the total cost of living
reached a higher level than that of the summer of 1920, but a decline
had already begun in the price of a number of the principal articles
of necessity and by July of 1921 a marked decrease is shown in the
cost of that budget. I t is noticeable that while in Sweden and Den
mark the cost of living was at practically the same level during the
period July, 1920, to July, 1921, in Norway it was considerably
higher.
According to a report from the Central Statistical Bureau of Nor
way, the increase in the cost of the workman’s budget, which, as
shown in the table above, was 193 per cent over prewar costs in
July, 1921, had, by September, 1921, fallen to 188 per cent. The
decrease, it is reported, is due mainly to a fall in the price of petro
leum, beer, manufactured articles, ready-made clothing, and certain
miscellaneous articles. There was a slight decrease in the cost of
foodstuffs, meats, flour, bread, and vegetables having all declined in
price. Salted m utton, eggs, and coffee, however, increased somewhat.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1241]
80
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
The following table, taken from a consular report of August 18,
1921, shows the estimated money cost of the household budget, in
Denmark, of a workman whose annual income in 1914 was 2,000
crowns ($536, par), in July of each year, 1914 to 1919, and in January
and July, 1920 and 1921:
E S T I M A T E D M O N E Y C O S T O P W O R K I N G M E N ’S B U D G E T I N D E N M A R K , J U L Y O F E A C H
Y E A R 1914 T O 1919, A N D J A N U A R Y A N D J U L Y , 1920 A N D 1921.
[C row n a t p a r = 2 6 .8 c e n t s .]
1920
J u ly -
1921
I te m .
F o o d s tu ffs :
P o r k , m e a t , a n d d e lic a te s
s e n ...............................................
M ilk , c h e e se , a n d e g g s ......... |
M argarin e, b u tte r , a n d la r d
F is h , fresh a n d s a l t e d ..........
B r e a d .............................................
F lo u r , g r it, e t c .........................
P o ta to e s , v e g e ta b le s , fru its.
S u g a r , groc erie s, b eer , e t c .
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
Cr.
Cr.
Cr.
Cr.
Cr.
Cr.
234
328
420
370
483
569
290
377
424
498
499
612
30
153
33
54
158
30
199
56
65
164
38
194
59
65
186
42
284
80
82
226
42
264
82
120
287
Jan.
J u ly .
Jan.
J u ly .
Or.
Cr.
Cr.
Cr.
60
269
85
143
277
704
424
345
52
314
107
122
319
684
358
349
50
317
116
183
351
758
437
364
56
384
128
147
353
j
t
648
299
264
51
391
101
163
325
T o t a l .........................................
950
1,219
1,386
1,580
1,777
2 ,0 1 5
2,3 8 7
2 ,4 0 8
2 ,6 2 5
2 ,2 4 2
C lo th in g , s h o e s, la u n d r y .............
R e n t ........................................................
F u e l a n d li g h t ....................................
T a x e s , s u b s c r ip tio n s , e t c ............
O th er e x p e n s e s .................................
270
285
100
210
185
297
285
130
210
185
432
292
175
210
223
513
300
220
210
271
702
307
275
210
364
837
322
292
340
415
899
342
392
375
443
959
371
563
476
457
789
371
578
512
414
669
403
401
632
396
T o t a l .........................................
1 ,0 5 0
1,107
1,3 3 2
1,514
1,858
2 ,2 0 6
2 ,4 5 1
2 ,8 2 6
2 ,6 6 4
2, .501
G r a n d t o t a l — ..................... 2,0 0 0
2 ,3 2 6
2 ,7 1 8
3 ,0 9 4 j 3 ,6 3 5
4,221
4 ,8 3 8
5,2 3 4
5,289
4 ,7 4 3
Iceland has collected no figures showing the effect of price increases
on the cost of the household budget. The statistical bureau of th at
country, however, has gathered information showing the retail prices
of food in Reykjavik, and an approximate figure for the total budget
has been arrived at on the basis of the increase in food prices. Ac
cording to this estimate the increase in cost of living from July, 1914,
to July, 1920, was 312 per cent, which figure was, in October, 1920,
further increased to 327 per cent. By July, 1921, however, the cost
of living had dropped to 218 per cent over 1914 prices.
Methods of collection of cost of living figures in Finland are in .the
main the same as those in the three other northern countries. These
figures show that the cost of living in January, 1921, was 965 per cent
above the prewar level. Since then there has been some decrease,
but even in May, 1921, prices wrere 913 per cent higher than in 1914.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1242]
W AGES A N D H O U R S O F LA BO R.
Trend of Wages in the Iron and Steel Industry, 1907 to 1920.
FORTHCOMING bulletin on wages and hours of labor in the
iron and steel industry to be issued by the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the highest rates of
wages ever paid in the iron and steel industry prevailed during the
autumn of 1920. These rates are reflected in the following table of
index numbers taken from the bulletin which show, for a combina
tion of the principal productive occupations in each of 10 departments
of the industry, relative average hourly earnings for varying periods
of years from 1907 to 1920. These index numbers are simply per
centages, data for 1913, the year immediately preceding the World
War, being taken as the base, or 100 per cent. The index for each
year is the per cent that the average of that year is of the average
for 1913. The index number for average hourly earnings in the blast
furnace department for 1920 was 283 as compared with 100 in 1913 and
83 in 1909. That for the sheet mill department was 229 as compared
with 100 in 1913 and 84 in 1910. These two departments show the
extremes of relative changes, the remaining eight departments falling
between them. This table is based on data obtained in 1920 for the
forthcoming report and on reports previously published by the
bureau. No reports were made for the years 1916 and 1918 and for
four departments for 1917. The principal productive occupations on
which the table is based constitute about 50 per cent of all employees.
A
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L P R O D U C
T IV E O C C U P A T IO N S IN T H E S E V E R A L D E P A R T M E N T S O F T H E IR O N A N D S T E E L
I N D U S T R Y , 1907 T O 1920.
Y ear.
B la s t
fur
n aces.
B esse
m er
con
v er te r s.
88
85
S3
87
89
92
100
101
101
156
250
283
85
79
82
86
82
90
100
90
94
151
208
241
1907....................................
1908....................................
1909....................................
1910............................. ..
1911....................................
1912....................................
1913....................................
1914....................................
1915....................................
1917....................................
1 9 1 9 ..................................
1920....................................
O p en h e a r tli
fu r
n aces.
89
89
92
100
100
104
152
239
282
Pud
d lin g
m ills .
B lo o m
in g
m ills .
100
96
269
279
81
82
87
100
102
104
133
220
233
P la t e
m ills .
S ta n d
a rd
ra il
m ills .
B ar
m ills .
89
87
92
100
101
107
90
89
89
100
99
97
94
84
86
95
90
90
100
96
98
233
267
221
256
214
252
Sheet
m ills .
84
91
93
100
101
92
178
193
229
T in
p la te
m ills .
88
98
99
100
102
102
220
252
The World War impetus which brought about all these astounding
increases in average earnings was sufficient to hold them and even
to continue the increases for two years after the armistice. Accord
ing to published reports in the press, however, various reductions
have taken place during the year 1921.
The number of plants and the number of employees covered in the
forthcoming report for 1920 are shown in the following table, by
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1243]
81
82
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
departments, together with the average earnings per hour of all
occupations combined in each department and the average earnings
per hour of common labor alone. The highest average hourly earn
ings are those of the sheet mills, and the tin-plate mills departments.
The rolling crews in these departments work in three shifts and at
very high speed. Puddlers also are paid exceptionally high wages.
The lowest average hourly earnings are those of the blast furnace
department, in which department only a few occupations are highly
skilled, a great number of employees more nearly approaching the
common labor class.
N U M B E R O F P L A N T S AN D E M P L O Y E E S AN D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S F O R
A LL E M P L O Y E E S A N D F O R COMMON L A B O R E R S , B Y D E P A R T M E N T S , 1920.
N um N um ber
ber
of em
of
plants. ployees.
D epartm ent.
B last fu rn a c e s ..............................................................................................
Bessemer converters.................. .................................................................
O pen-hearth furn aces.............. ..................................................................
P uddling m ills..................................1..........................................................
Blooming m ills.............................................................................................
P la te mills
.
....................................................................................
S tandard rail m ills............... .......................................................................
Sheet m ills.
..........................................................................................
T in-plate m ills.............................. ...............................................................
28
11
19
15
20
11
4
25
13
9
12,083
2, 888
S, 007
-3,-262
3,571
3,227
1,341
6,685
8, 527
10,366
Average earnings
per hour.
All em
ployees.
Common
labor.
80.571
.677
.671
.885
. 659
.671
.632
.713
1.039
.949
SO. 474
.537
. 525
. 457
. 511
.498
.531
. 506
.536
.533
Common Labor.
rT'HE term “ common labor,” so far as possible, has been confined
* to laborers wholly unskilled and more or less of a floating gang
who work in and about the mill proper, but upon whose work the
mill was not primarily dependent for operation. The basic rate for
common labor is practically the same in all departments of a plant,
and from it to a large extent are determined the rates for other
occupations requiring little skill. Hence the rate for common labor
is of importance beyond the limits of the occupation proper.
The earnings of common labor for all departments combined in
1920 were 3.4 times those in 1907 and 2.8 times those in 1913.
A V E R A G E E A R N IN G S P E R H O U R O F COMMON L A B O R IN T H E IR O N AN D S T E E L
IN D U S T R Y , B Y D E P A R T M E N T S , 1907 TO 1920.
Y ear.
A ll d e B la s t
fur
p a r t
m e n ts . n a c e s .
B esse
O p en m er h e a r th P u d B lo o m P la t e
d lin g
in g
con
m ills .
fu r
m ills . m ills .
v e r t
n aces.
ers.
S ta n d
B ar
a rd
m ills .
ra il
m ills .
Sheet
m ills .
SO. 153 . . . . . . .
$0.151 $0.146 $0.155
1907
.1 5 3
. 147
. 140
. 155
1908
.1 5 0
. 138
.151
. 145
1909
.1 6 0 $0.164
.1 6 3 SO. 157
SO. 162 SO. 159 SO. 163
.1 5 0
.1 5 8
1910..........
.1 6 3
.1 5 9
.1 6 6
.1 6 1
.1 5 8
.1 6 9
. 161
.1 6 6
.1 5 1
1911..........
. 161
.1 6 0
.1 6 3
.1 6 9
.1 6 8
.1 6 7
.1 6 4
.1 6 2
.1 5 2
1912.........................................
.1
6
9
.1 9 0
.1
9
2
.1
8
5
.1
7
5
.1
8
7
.1 7 3
.1 8 5
.1 8 1
1913................
.1 7 3
. 187
.1 7 4
.1 8 5
.1 8 8
.1 9 3
.1 7 7
.1 8 5 SO. 173
1914.........................................
.1 8 1
.1 7 4
.1 7 3
.1 8 8
.1 8 7
.1 8 2
.1 7 1
.1 9 3
.1 8 6
.1 6 7
.1 8 0
1915.........................................
.2 9 4
.331
.292
.2 8 7
.2 9 8
1 9 1 7 ..
.2 9 8
.2 8 1
.443
.4 6 2
.4
5
0
.4
7
8
.4 6 8
.4 3 6
.4 6 9
.461
.457
.4 8 9
1919.........................................
.5 3 1
.5 3 6
.457
.5 1 1
.4 9 8
. 506
.4 7 4
.5 3 7
.5 2 5
.5 0 8
1920.........................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1244]
T in
p la te
m ills .
SO. Ì65
.1 6 4
.1 6 7
.1 8 9
.1 8 9
.1 9 0
.4 6 1
.5 3 3
W AGES AND H O U E S OF LABOE.
83
Days and Hours oi Labor in Blast Furnaces in 1920.
CCORDING to the forthcoming bulletin on wages and hours
of labor in the iron and steel industry, mentioned in the pre
ceding article, the amount of 7-day work per week for indi
vidual employees in blast furnaces, which before the war had been
gradually decreased by the introduction of relief men for one turn
per week, was considerably augmented during the period 1915 to
1919, but as shown by conditions in 1920 the rebel policy is now
coming back into force. • The bureau’s published reports show in
1907 and 1909, 97 per cent of the employees in selected occupations
working 7 days per week; in 1911, 89 per cent; in 1913, 81 per cent;
in 1915, 59 per cent working 7 days each week and 4 per cent working
7 and 6 days in alternate weeks; and in 1919, 80 per cent working 7
days each week and 10 per cent 7 and 6 d ays alternately. The data
collected in 1920 show 54 per cent working 7 days regularly, while 25 1
per cent were alternating 7 and 6 days per week.
The following table, taken from the chapter on blast furnaces of
the forthcoming report for 1920, shows the complex arrangement of
turns and hours under which employees work in this industry.
Plants which are in operation 24 hours per day must arrange some
system so that individual employees are assured, so far as possible,
some relief from regular and continuous night work and some break
even in continuous day work.
The table shows the customary number of day turns and night
turns per week and the corresponding hours for each turn for each
day of the week, as well as the full-time hours per week, for three
groups of employees by districts as follows: Those who work days
only, those who work nights only, and those who alternate or
rotate weekly from day to night shift. The order of arrangement
begins with the greatest number of days per week and hours per
day. The number of hours worked per day seldom varies during
the period Monday to Friday, inclusive, while the number of
hours worked on Saturday and Sunday often differ from the number
worked during the first five days of the week.
Two groups of employees alternating on day and night work and
who work 7 days on day turn and 7 nights on night turn, unless there
is some system of relief, have to work a long shift of 18 to 24 hours
when changing turns. Likewise in a three-turn plant employees
have to work more than 8 hours out of 24 when changing turn.
There are varied systems of relief, however, in force in many plants
whereby this long turn is avoided.
In some instances in the table hours are reported for 7 days, yet
the number of days worked are reported as 6. This is owing to the
fact that it is a 7-day occupation wherein each employee was relieved
one day in 7, with no information available, however, as to which
day; therefore, the hours for all days have been shown and the relief
indicated in the full-time hours per week.
The table shows the extent of regular relief systems and their
workings, but it must not be assumed that there is no chance for
A
1 I n c lu d in g a ll o c c u p a tio n s i n t h e d e p a r t m e n t t h e p e r c e n ta g e s a r e 54 w o r k in g 7 d a y s a n d o n ly 17 w o r k in g
6 a n d 7 d a y s a lt e r n a t e ly .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1245]
84
M 0X T H .L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
rest where such lias not been shown.. In some plants while there is
no r e g u l a r system of relief, the employees a,re not held strictly to the
working days of the plant and can often take a day off as they desire
it, the plant putting another man in his place. As it was impossible
to determine when or how often a m an might be e x c u s e d , such plants
have been treated in this table as though no relief was granted.
Workmen whose labors are continuous and who are subjected to
high temperatures usually have a relief or spell hand; that is, 3 men
work on a 2-man position or 2 men work on a 1-man position,
which plan allows each man in rotation a period of rest. Such inter
val of rest is considered as time on duty.
There are many divisions of the 24-hour -work day brought about
in numerous instances by employees arranging to divide day and
night into various lengths to best suit their desires, and plants have
recognized these divisions. This accounts for such turns as 11 hours
for day and 13 hours for night, 10 hours for day and 14 hours for
night, or 10^ hours for day and 13^- hours for night. The prevailing
idea is, however, to divide the 24-hour work day equally between
the day and night shifts. In some departments 3 shifts, usually
of equal length are customary.
This table is divided into two sections, the first covering only
those employees wdio worked but one combination of customary
turns and hours, the second section covering those who worked at
two or more combinations of turns and hours. Where employees
work in two or more occupations, and there is a variation in the number
of turns per -week or in length of turns, the employee has been tabu
lated as often as such change may have taken place; for example, an
employee may have worked as a shearman on a basis of 6 turns per
week of 12 hours each, a shearman’s helper on a basis of 6 turns per
week of 11 hours each, and further as a iaborer on a basis of 5 turns
per week of 13 hours each, in which event the employee would be
found in the second section of the table, where he would be tabulated
three different times. This method of tabulation of necessity causes
duplications in the number of employees in the second section of the
table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1246]
85
W AGES AND H O U E S OF LABOR,
C U S T O M A R Y F U L L -T IM E T U R N S P E R W E E K A N D H O U R S P E R T U R N , B Y D IS T R IC T S ,
1920— B L A S T F U R N A C E S .
P A R T 1.—E M PL O Y E E S W H O W O R K E D A T B U T O NE C O M B IN A TIO N O F C U STO M A R Y
D A Y S A N D H O U R S D U R IN G P A Y P E R IO D .
C u s to m a r y tu r n s a n d h o u r s w o rk ed .
N u m b e r o i e m p lo y e e s , b y d is tr ic ts .
N ig h t tu r n s.
D a y tu r n s.
Horn’s.
H o u rs.
E a s tern.
G reat
L a k e s S o u th Turns M o n
P it t s and
T o ta l. per
ern .
day
b u r g h .1
M id d le
w eek .
to
W e s t.2
F r i
day.
S a tUT-
day.
Sun- Per
day. w eek.
T u rn s
per
w eek .
M on
day
S a tto
F r i- d a y .
day.
S u n - P er
day. w eek.
E m ployees w ho w o rk e d d a y tu rn s.
7
30
51
120
7
/
3
50
8
67
1
7
/
6
{
7
7
6
1 7
7
7
1
/
\
!
17
631
8
6
86
1
1
6
1
60
2
3
205
20
58
2
9
27
14
1
1
3
10
116
2
91
13
174
193
71
1
1
i
1
5
1
1
45
22
3
1
11
722
3
26
8
6
14
88
1
1
109
1
105
2
2
9
35
21
4
1
5
187
654
20
130
28
6
2
1
1
82
11
5
6
l
§
1 6
7
7
7
{
\
i\
77
6l
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
8
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
8
6
6
6
8
6
8
6
8
5
8
D
12
12
12
12
12
12
11
11
11
•11
11
11
11
11
10J
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
8
8
8
12
12
12
12
U è
U è
11"
11
11
11
lOi
10
10
10
10
10
12
12
12
12
12
10
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
IO 1
io "
10
10
10
10
10
10
9
8
8
5
12
12
12
li
IL
Ili
11
11
10
5
10!
10
10
9
8
8
8
9
9
8
8
12
10
11
11
11
11
6
10
104
10“
10
10
10
6
5
10
8
5
5
12
8
ih
11
10
10
9
5
9è
9
5
8
9è
12
12
12
5
4
8
84
72
84
72
84
80
77
66
77
77
68
72
66
76
731
70j
60
70
70
60
66
65
69
56
53
50
72
66
72
71
69
69
66
66
65
60
63
60
60
59
59
55
57
54
50
48
48
45
44
1 I n t h e P itts b u r g h d is tr ic t o u t of 1,042 e m p lo y e e s re p o r te d a s w o r k in g 6 d a y s a n d 6 n ig h t s p er w e e k a lte r'
n a t e ly 42 p er c e n t w o r k on e e x tr a tu r n e v e r y 4 | w e e k s . O u t o f 1,750 e m p lo y e e s r e p o r te d as w o r k in g 7 d a y s
a n d 7 n ig h t s p er w e e k a lte r n a te ly , 32 per c e n t “are r e lie v e d o n e tu r n o n c o m p le tio n of 14 tu r n s.
2 I n t h e G reat L a k e s a n d M id d le W e s t d is t r ic t o u t of 2,345 e m p lo y e e s re p o r te d a s w o r k in g 7 d a y s a n d 7
n ig h ts p er w e e k a lte r n a te ly , 8 p er c e n t a re r e lie v e d o n e tu r n o n c o m p le tio n o f 18 tu r n s.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1247]
86
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
CU STO M A RY F U L L -T IM E TU R N S P E R W E E K AND H O U R S P E R T U R N , B Y D IS T R IC T S ,
1920—B LA ST FU R N A C E S—Continued.
P A R T 1.—E M P L O Y E E S W H O W O R K E D A T B U T ONE C O M B IN A T IO N O F C U STO M A R Y
D A Y S A N D H O U R S D U R IN G P A Y P E R IO D —Concluded.
C ustom ary tu rn s an d hours worked.
N um ber oi employees, by districts.
D ay turns.
N ight turns.
Hours.
Great
E a s t P itts Lakes
South Total. Turns
and
per Mon
er n .
ern.
burgh. Middle
week. day
to
W est.
F ri
day.
Hours.
S at Sun Per
u r
day. day. week.
Turns
per
week.
Mon
day S at Sun Per
ur
to
Fri day. day. week.
day.
E m ployees w ho w o rk e d n ig h t tu rn s.
1
2
Î
1
6
15
1
3
3
2
1
3
3
2
15
9
7
7
6
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
65
20
40
1
2
13
13
13
13
12
H*
10
8
13
12
12
HI
1H
10
8
13
13
13
13
12
1H
10
8
13
12
12
nè
Hi
10
8
13
13
15
12
Hi
10
8
13
12
Hi
10
91
91
78
83
84
80170
56
78
72
72
69
69
60
48
E m p lo y ees w h o a lte r n a te d w eekly fro m d a y to n ig h t tu rn s.
252
1
68
7
2
720
9
10
63
4
907
3
89
347
73
6
5
8
128
2
613
2
157
615
275
7
3
1
504
1,260
24
770
13
2
3
78
61
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,932
9
10
63
5
1,048
3
6
89
7
9
158
62.8
907
9
3
I
l
/
1
1
1
6
6
6
6
6
1 260
2
2
24
24
770
2
15
2
3
78
61
24
12
2
2
7
1
6
7
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
J
\
6
6
6
6
6
6
12
12
12
12
12
12
Hi
11
11
101
1!)
10
10
8
8
8
12
12
12
12
H
H
11
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
8
8
8
12
12
12
12
12
12
H§
11
11
101
10
10
10
8
8
8
12
12
12
12
\X
11
10
9
10
10
10
10
10
8
8
8
[1248]
12
12
12
12
H*
11
11
101
10
10
8
8
8
12
84
84
72
84
72
84
801
77
77
73-1
70
70
70
56
56
56
7
6
7
7
6
7
7
7
6
7
7
7
7
12
12
12
10
10
10
1H
13
13
13*
12
12
12
10
10
10
Hi
13
13
13*
10
11*
13
13
13*
84
72
84
70
60
70
801
91
78
94*
13
10
13
10
13
10
91
70
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
72
72
72
6
6
6
12
12
12
12
12
56
56
o4
72
72
72
7
13
11
11
10
10
8
8
13
60
60
48
48
48
12
12
6
12
10
12
10
6
8
s
g
7
6
12
12
7
59
12
12
10
12
19
84
12
10
72
60
8
48
48
87
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
C U STO M A RY F U L L -T IM E T U R N S P E R W E E K A N D H O U R S P E R T U R N , B Y D IS T R IC T S ,
1920—B LA ST FU R N A C E S —Concluded.
P A R T 2.—E M P L O Y E E S W H O W O R K E D A T TW O OR M ORE C O M B IN A TIO N S OF
C U STO M A R Y D A Y S A N D H O U R S D U R IN G P A Y P E R IO D .
[Each employee is counted u n d er each varying com bination a t w hich he worked.]
C ustom ary tu rn s an d hours worked.
N u m b er of employees, b y districts.
N ight turns.
D ay turns.
Hours.
Hours.
Great
T urns Mon
Turns Mon
E a st P itts Lakes
per
per
and South
day S at Sun Per
ern. Total. week.
ern. bu rg h .1 Middle
day
S at Sun Per week.
u r
u
r
to
to’
' W est.
F ri day. day. week.
F ri day. day. week.
day.
day.
E m p lo y ees w ho w o rk e d d a y tu rn s.
3
20
1
30
11
1
9
37
172
11
1
29
2
3
1
58
1
4
1
8
13
37
204
1
41
11
2
29
2
16
1
58
1
4
1
8
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
12
12
111
11“
10
12
12
12
12
12
11
11
10
10
10
18
12
Hi
11
10
12
12
12
12
12
11
11
10
9
9
12
12
11J
11
10
12
12
11
10
10
90
84
804
77
70
72
72
72
72
72
66
66
60
69
59
7
7j
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
12
12
114
13“
14
12
12
12
12
12
13
13
12
13
12
6
12
114
13“
14
12
12
7
12
12
13
Ì2
13
12
12
12
114
13"
14
12
12
12
12
13
13
12
13
78
84
801
91
98
84
84
79
72
72
78
78
72
78
72
1 In th e P ittsb u rg h d istrict ou t of 62 employees reported as w orking 7 days and 7 nights per w eek alter
nately , 60 per cent are relieved 1 tu rn on com pletion of 14 tu rn s. O ut of 72 m en reported as w orking 6
days a n d 6 nights per week a ltern ately , 17 p er cent w ork 1 tu rn ex tra every 4J weeks.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1249]
■ 88
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The information for the blast-furnace department was obtained
from 28 plants and covers 12,083 actual employees—11,664 in the
first division of the table and 419 in the second. However, a total
of the figures would show 12,515 persons in this table due to 432
duplications or repeated employees appearing in the second section
of the table.
From the nature of the blast-furnace process Sunday work is
necessary, and 10,568 of the employees included in the first section
and 728 (including duplications) of those in the second, or a total
of 11,296, were Sunday workers. Of this number 54 per cent or
6,059 employees worked every Sunday, 3 per cent worked every
other Sunday, and the remaining 43 per cent were relieved one
Sunday out of every 3 or some such, period. A total of 28 employees
worked fewer hours on Sunday than on the regular Monday to Friday
turns and 257 worked a shorter number of hours on Saturday.
Of the 11,664 employees reported working at one combination of
hours and turns, 76 per cent or 8,914 employees alternated weekly
from day to night work, 22 per cent or 2,554 worked days only,
while the remaining 2 per cent or 196 employees worked nights only.
Of the 8,914 employees alternating from day to night work, 57 per
cent or 5,044 worked 7 turns either day or night, 22 per cent or 2,001
worked either 6 days and 7 nights, or 7 days and 6 nights, and 21
per cent or 1,869 worked on a 6-turn basis either day or night.
The 12-hour turn was most common among these employees,
3,483 or 39 per cent working on 12-hour shifts. The 8-hour turn was
also wTell represented, 1,952 or 22 per cent being on a 3-shift basis.
The length of the day turn is not always the same as that of the
night turn, as shown by the fact that 3,376 or 38 per cent of the total
number of alternating employees worked turns of different lengths,
3,105 working 11 hours when on day turn and 13 hours when on
night turn.
Of the 2,554 persons who worked days only, 56 per cent or 1,421
worked 6 days per week, 41 per cent or 1,047 worked 7 days, and 3
per cent or 86 employees alternated from 6 days one week to 7 days
the next. Among the day workers a 10-hour work day predominated,
as 69 per cent or 722 of the 7-day workers and 59 per cent or 842
of those working 6 days were found on shifts of that length. Prac
tically 50 per cent of the 86 alternating employees worked 11 hours
each day, the other half varying from a turn of 10 hours to one of
12 hours.
A total of 117, or 60 per cent of the 196 employees reported as
working night turns only, worked 7 nights per week, and out of that
number 74 or 63 per cent were on a 12-hour shift. Those whose
working time per week was 6 nights numbered 78, and of that total
49 or the same percentage as that of the 7-night workers worked 12
hours per turn. Only one employee alternated weekly from 6 to 7
turns and was on duty 13 hours each night.
The 851 employees (including duplications) presented in the
second section of the table are divided into the following classes:
Those alternating from day to night numbering 416 or 49 per cent;
those working days only 347 or 41 per cent, and those working nights
only 88 or 10 per cent. Out of the 416 employees who worked days
one week and nights the next, 294 or 71 per cent worked 7 turns
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1250]
89
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
each week, 89 or 21 per cent worked 6 turns, and 33 or 8 per cent
worked 6 days and 7 nights or 7 days and 6 nights. The customary
length of turn for 289 or 69 per cent of the alternating employees was
12 hours either day or night and 100 or 24 per cent alternated from
a 11-hour day to a 13-hour night. A total of 196, or 56 per cent of
those working days only, worked 7 turns per week, 140 or 40 per cent
worked 6 turns, and l i or 3 per cent alternated from 6 to 7 days per
week. Sixty-seven per cent of these men or 234 in all worked 10
hours per day. The working time of those employed nights only is
divided into two groups, 6 nights or 7 nights per week, 84 per cent
or 74 employees working 7 nights. A total of 63 employees or 72
per cent of the above total of 88 worked 12 hours per night.
At the beginning of this article reference is made to 7-day work in
blast furnaces for the United States as a whole. The table below
gives the amount of 7-day work in the four iron and steel districts
of the country in 1920.
P E R C EN T O F B L A ST -FU R N A C E E M P L O Y E E S W O R K IN G 7 D AYS P E R W E E K AND
7 D AYS A N D 6 DA Y S, A L T E R N A T E L Y , BY D IST R IC T S, 1920.
P er cen t of employees whose custom ary
working days per week were—
All occupations.
P rincipal produc
tive occupations.
D istrict.
7 days.
7 days
an d 6
days,
alter
nately.
7 days.
7 days
a nd 6
days,
alter
nately.
U astern ............................................................
P ittsb u re h .............................. .......................
Great Lakes a n d Middle W est...................
Southern..........................................................
79
39
64
60
30
17
84
23
68
84
49
16
T o tal........................................................
54
17
54
25
Changes in Union Wage Scales, 1907 to 1921.
HE change that has taken place between 1907 and 1921 in the
union scale of wages and hours of labor, all trades taken as a
whole, is shown in the following table of index numbers taken
from a forthcoming bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics on “ Changes in union wage scales, 1907 to 1921.” These
index numbers are simply percentages in which 1913 is taken as the
base or 100. The figures are as of May each year, not yearly averages.
Between 1907 and 1921 there was an increase in the index number
from 90 to 205, making the rate per hour in 1921 nearly 2\ times
that of 1907. In studying the table it must be kept in mind that the
figures are not money rates or hours of labor, but index numbers
computed from such rates and hours. The detailed data for 1921
and further summary figures for earlier years will appear in a forth
coming bulletin.
The index numbers are based on the union minimum rates as
provided in agreements with employers. In some instances mdi-
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1251]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
90
vidual employees are paid more than the union scale. The investi
gation covers the principal trades paid at “ time” rates in 66 large
industrial centers. Employees working at piece rates can not be
included, as there are many different piece rates in some trades, and
piece rates are seldom intelligible to anyone outside of the trade in
question. Average earnings per hour or week at piece rates involve
so much labor that the collection and compilation of such informa
tion could not be undertaken in connection with the present work.
The table follows:
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F U N IO N W A G E R A T E S AN D H O U R S O F L A B O R IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S AS O F MAY EA C H Y E A R , 1907 TO 1921.
[1913= 100.1
Year.
R ates of
wages per
hour.
Full-tim e
hours per
week.
R atés of
wages per
week, full
tim e.
90
91
92
94
96
98
100
102
103
107
114
133
155
199
205
103
102
102
101
' 101
100
100
100
99
99
98
97
95
94
94
92
93
93
95
96
98
100
102
102
106
112
130
148
189
193
1907.......................................
1908.......................................
1909.......................................
1910.......................................
1911.......................................
1912.......................................
1913.......................................
1914.......................................
1915.......................................
1916.......................................
1917.......................................
1918.......................................
1919.......................................
1920.......................................
1921.......................................
Average Wages Per Hour in Liege, Belgium, August, 1921.
TATISTICS of average hourly wages in Liege, quoted from the
report of the Liege Employment Office, are contained in a
consular report dated September 28, 1921, just received by
this bureau. These figures represent wages paid during the month
of August, 1921, to workmen placed in employment by the employ
ment exchange.
S
A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E S PA ID IN A U G U ST, 1921, IN C E R T A IN O C CU PA TIO N S IN
L IE G E , B E L G IU M .
[Franc a t p a r= 19.3 cents.]
O ccupation.
R ate per
hour.
O ccupation.
R ate per
hour.
O ccupation.
B ak e rs...........................
B lacksm iths.................
C abinetm akers............
C arpenters.....................
Clock m ak ers...............
Confectioners...............
Coopers..........................
E lectricians...................
Francs.
2.75
2.50
2. 72
2. 87
3.00
2.50
2.50
2.75
F irem en .........................
Gingerbread m a k e rs...
Glaziers...........................
H airdressers..................
Joiners............................
Masons............................
M iners.............................
H olders'..........................
Francs.
2. 25
2.00
2.50
2.00
2.52
2.64
4.00
2.50
P a in te rs.......
P ipe m akers..................
P laners.........
P la ste re rs.......................
P lu m b ers.................
Shoem akers...................
T urners___
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1252]
R ate per
hour.
Francs.
2.33
2.90
2.55
2.50
2.43
2.33
2.76
91
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOR.
Standardizing Farm Wages in Western Canada.3
HE managers of 10 Saskatchewan public employment offices held
a conference last spring with representatives of the organized
farmers and set the standard wage for the summer season at $60
a month. The Public Service Monthly, an official organ of the Govern
ment of Saskatchewan, states that “ the idea though new, has worked
out with fair success and was sufficiently well adopted by the farmers
generally to prove that such a standardization of wages was possible.”
Another conference was held later at Winnipeg relative to harvesting
and threshing wages, which was attended by public employment
service officials from the four western Provinces as wTell as the prin
cipal officers of the Saskatchewan Grain Growers’ Association, the
United Farmers of Alberta, and the United Farmers of Manitoba.
As a result of these discussions, the standard rate for harvesting and
threshing was fixed at $4 per day for experienced workers in the
three prairie Provinces.
T
Average Wages in Czechoslovakia in 1914 and 1920.
CONSULAR report of September 1, 1921, quotes from the
Gazette de Prague wages paid in certain industries in 1914
and 1920. These are as follows:
A
A V E R A G E W A G E R A T E S IN C E R T A IN IN D U S T R IE S IN C ZE C H O SL O V A K IA , 1914 A N D *920.
[1 crown a t par=20.3 cents.]
Wages (in crowns) in —
W ages (in crowns) in —
In d u stry .
In d u stry .
1914
B last furnaces..............
<Jeramics.......................
Iro n w orks....................
Forcing of c h ain s........
C abm etm aking............
C onstruction................
Shoe m an u factu rin g . .
P aper m anufacturing.
Corn m ills.....................
Brew eries......................
D istilleries....................
D ynam ite manufacta rin g .........................
Per hour.
0. 32-0.40
.26
.30
.20- .25
.40- .50
.39
1920
1914
Per hour.
5.45- 6.15
2.60
3.79
3.90- 4.15
6.50- 8.00
4.20- 4. 50
Per day.
3.00-4.30
2.00-7.30
2.90-4.60
2.05
3. 70-4.00
Per day.
25.00-28.00
36. 87
37.00-50.00
34.46
56.00-60. 80
5.50
70. Û0-S0.00
Per week.
Cem ent m anufacturin g ...............................
Glass m an u factu rin g ..
M anufacture of heating a p p a ra tu s ...........
T apestry m anufacturin g ...............................
Chocolate manufacta rin g .........................
Chicory m anufacturin g ................
1 T he L abor G azette, O ttaw a, Septem ber, 1921, p p . 1080, 1081.
76504°— 21
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1253]
22.00-28. 00
18.00-28.00
1920
Per week.
230.00-342. 00
330.00-450.00
24.00-38. 00
312.00-384.00
20.00-30.00
200.00-273.00
14. 00-23. 00
200.00-270.00
24.00
270. 00
92
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Wages in France in 1920 and 1921.
AN investigation of average wages paid to certain classes of
ZA workers in France lias been made every five years since 1896
" by the General Statistical Bureau,1 the last inquiry before the
war being made in 1911. This study, conducted by means of ques
tionnaires sent to trade councils and to mayors in towns where these
councils did not exist, relates particularly to occupations in smallscale industries, and although lacking somewhat perhaps in exactness
it furnishes uniform elements of comparison and a general idea of
the movement of wages in France. The general indexes for 38 occu
pations of males and 7 occupations of females were computed for all
the cities except Paris grouped together and for Paris separately.
The figures for 1916, being incomplete and not including the invaded
districts, are not strictly comparable with those of 1911 and 1921.
The averages thus established have been used to calculate the index
numbers of hourly and daily wages in 1921, 1911 being taken as the
base.
For the group of cities other than Paris the average daily wage at
the beginning of 1921 was 14 francs ($2.70, par) for laborers, 14.30
francs ($2.76, par) for weavers, 16 to 20 francs ($3.09 to $3.86, par)
for workers in other trades, and 9 to 10 francs ($1.74 to $1.93, par) for
women. In Paris the daily wages of male workers averaged between
25 and 32 francs ($4.83 and $6.18, par) and those of women about 16
francs ($3.09, par). In 1921 the average working day was approxi
mately 8 hours, while in 1911 the 10-hour day was in force. Com
pared with 1911, in the cities other than Paris the hourly wages have
increased about five times, while the daily wages have a little more
than quadrupled. The percentage increase was greatest generally
for workers who were the lowest paid before the war, brickmakers
receiving an increase of about 378 per cent; navvies and quarrymen,
350 per cent; weavers, rope maners, coopers, blacksmiths, and
laborers, from 330 to 335 per cent, while printers and binders were
lowest in the list with an increase of 275 to 280 per cent, the increases
of the majority of workers of both sexes varying from 290 to 330 per
cent.
The following table gives the daily and hourly wages in different
occupations in 1911, 1916, and 1921 in Paris and in other cities, and
the index numbers for 1921, 1911 being taken as 100:.
1 France. B u reau d e la S tatistiq u e G énérale d e la F ran ce. B ulletin. Juillet, 1921. P p . 339-374.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1254]
93
W AGES AND H O U E S OF LABOR,
D A IL Y AND H O U R L Y W A G E S IN F R E N C H C IT IE S IN 1911, 1916, AND 1921, B Y
O C CU PA TIO N .
P a r is .
Average wages.
1911
O ccupation.
1916
Index n u m
bers for 1921
(1911=100).
1921
H ourly D aily H ourly Daily H ourly D aily H ourly.
D aily.
rate.
rate.
rate.
rate.
rate.
rate.
M a le s.
B rew ers................. ............................................
Printers-com positers......................................
B ookbinders....................................................
T an n ers.............................................................
Saddlers-harness m akers...............................
Shoem akers......................................................
Tailors................................................................
Dyers-scour e rs.............................. ..................
W ood tu rn e rs ...
Coopers..............................................................
C abinetm akers.................................................
U pholsterers.....................................................
P it saw yers......................................................
C arpenters........................................................
Joiners................................................................
T insm iths..........................................................
P lu m b ers..........................................................
B lacksm iths......................................................
L ocksm iths.......................................................
M etal tu rn e rs...................................................
Masons...............................................................
N avvies.............................................................
T ilers................. ................................................
H ouse p a in te rs .............................................. ,
O rnam ental carv ers.......................................
B riekm akers....................................................
P o tters...............................................................
Glaziers. ................. .......................................
L aborers............................................................
Average, aLl m ale employees.............
F r.
F r.
F r.
5.00
7.20
0.675
.95
.80
.95
.65
.85
.85
6. 75
9. 05
8.00
9.50
6. 50
8. 50
8. 50
F r.
0.45
.80
.60
. 65
.70
.75
.75
7. 50
7.00
9.00
9. 50
.95
9. 50
. 00
4.00
19.00
27.60
25.60
25. 20
25.20
26. 00
28.00
34.00
28.00
30.00
32.00
9.00
1.125
8.25
8.55
7.60
1.05
1.075
.975
28. 00
28.00
30.00
28.00
28.00
32.00
26.00
28.00
28. 00
26.00
28. 00
28.00
32.00
26.00
28.00
28.00
18.00
6.00
6. 50
7. 00
7.50
7.50
.75
.70
.90
1.05
1.00
.80
.80
.95
. 00
.90
.825
.95
.80
.95
.85
. 20
1
1
.60
.90
.50
F r.
7.65
5.00
1.00
.55
7.00
9.00
5.50
3.50
3.50
3. 75
3. 50
3.50
4. 00
3. 25
3.50
3.50
3.25
3. 50
3. 50
4. 00
3.25
3. 50
3.50
2. 25
.85
.75
10.50
9.67
8.77
9. 00
7.65
12. 50
F r.
444
431
400
485
450
433
467
380
383
320
388
360
347
373
467
536
444
373
429
355
350
469
437
368
400
361
424
368
405
368
412
333
311
375
350
350
320
325
340
327
342
350
388
296
583
■ 389
450
467
366
360
.81
7.78
.91
8.95
3.43
27. 52
423
354
.40
.35
.30
.50
4.00
3.50
3.00
5. 00
.50
.45
.45
.50
5.00
4. 50
4.50
5.00
16.00
16.00
16.00
16.00
16. 00
16.00
500
571
667
400
400
457
533
320
400
320
.475
4.75
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
16.00
488
390
F e m a le s.
Ironers................................................................
D ressm akers — ...............................................
Seam stresses....................................................
W aistcoast m ak ers.........................................
Em broiderers .
M illiners. . .
.........................................
.50
5.00
Average, all female employees.........
.41
4.10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3. 45
3.20
3.15
3.15
3.25
3.50
3. 50
1.00 10
10.12
8.00 1.00 10.00
8.00 .80 8.00
8.00
10. 00
10. 00 1.00 10.00
8.00 1.05 9.45
8.00
7. 22
10. 80
6.ÔÔ
2. 00
[ 1255]
94
M O N T H L Y LABOE EEV IEW .
D A IL Y A N D H O U R L Y W A G E S IN F R E N C H C IT IE S IN 1911, 1916, AN D 1921, BY
O C CU PA TIO N —Concluded.
C itie s o th e r th a n P a r i s .
Average wages.
1916
1911
Occupation.
Index num
bers for 1921
(1911=100).
1921
H ourly D aily H ourly D aily H ourly Dally H ourly. Daily.
rate'.
rate.
rate.
rate.
rate.
rate.
F r.
F r.
F r.
F r.
F r.
B rew ers..............................................................
Printers-com positors......................................
B ookbinders................................................... .
T an n ers..............................................................
Saddlers-harness m akers...............................
Shoem akers.......................................................
Tailors................................................................
D yers-scourers.................................................
W eavers............................................................
Rope m akers.....................................................
W heelw rights...................................................
W ood tu rn e rs ...................................................
Coopers.............................................................
C abinetm akers.................................................
U pholsterers.....................................................
P it saw y ers.......................................................
C arp en ters........................................................
Joiners................................................................
C oppersm iths...................................................
T in sm ith s............ ............................................
P lu m b ers..........................................................
B lack sm ith s........ ............................................
F arriers..............................................................
Stove m a k e rs...... ............................................
L o ck sm ith s.......................................................
M etal tu rn e rs ...................................................
W atch m ak ers...................................................
Q u a r r y m e n ....................................................
S to n ecu tters.....................................................
M asons...............................................................
N a v v ie s ............................................................
T ilers..................................................................
H ouse n a in te rs.................................................
O rnam ental carv ers.......................................
B rick m ak ers.....................................................
P o tte r s ...............................................................
Glaziers..............................................................
L ab o rers............................................................
0.40
. 50
.43
.40
.42
.38
.44
.42
.35
.38
.43
.50
.44
.49
.51
.45
. 51
.47
.53
.47
.49
.50
.44
.50
.46
.53
. 55
.42
.52
.49
.39
.52
.49
. 65
.41
.42
.49
.33
4. 21
4.94
4.67
4.09
4. 26
3. 95
4.55
4.13
3.32
3.64
4.44
4.88
4. 48
4.86
5.06
4.57
5.05
4.70
5.40
4. 74
4.92
5.12
4. 40
5.04
4.65
5.39
5.31
4.16
5.11
4.80
3.82
5.05
4.76
. 39
4.17
4. 26
4.72
3. 26
0.47
.61
.56
.53
.53
.52
.54
.54
.41
.44
.54
.59
. 56
.58
.61
.57
.63
.56
.62
.58
.59
.61
.57
.59
.61
4.93
5. 71
5.44
5. 25
5.27
5.35
5.41
5.24
4.08
4. 27
5.39
5. 83
5.48
5.71
. 07
5.39
2.08
2. 31
2.25
Average, all m ale em ployees............
.46
M aks.
F e m a le s .
2.07
1.98
2. 20
19. 72
17. 22
20.14
19.43
25.41
19.95
18.33
19. 52
14.01
520
462
523
525
493
521
500
498
529
513
530
492
536
502
472
520
478
498
492
504
482
500
520
484
502
485
462
533
481
488
526
471
480
488
573
517
484
506
405
375
382
416
395
413
396
407
432
435
423
406
435
429
396
428
401
414
395
406
393
401
433
387
412
383
390
447
411
411
451
402
408
398
478
430
414
430
.65
.55
.64
.61
.51
.62
. 65
.75
.51
.50
.59
.44
5. 57
5.78
5. 64
. 60
6.44
5.31
6.16
5.84
4. 95
6.05
5.61
7.44
4. 82
4.83
5.61
4.25
2.09
1.85
1.95
2.28
2.46
2.36
2.46
2.41
2. 34
2.44
2.34
2.61
2.37
2.36
2.50
2. 29
2.42
2.31
2.57
2. 54
2.24
2.50
2.39
2.05
2.45
2.35
3.17
2. 35
2.17
2. 37
1.67
4.61
.57
5.56
2.31
18.92
502
410
1.07
1.17
1.30
1.18
1.17
8.73
9.43
8.96
10. 04
10. 49
9.16
9. 24
486
509
529
488
591
472
468
406
413
431
402
492
375
373
1.17
9.44
509
412
6
6
6.10
5.60
6.16
5. 77
5.90
6.11
.66 6
Ironers................................................................
D ressm akers.....................................................
Seam stresses.....................................................
W aistcoat m ak ers...........................................
Lace m a k e rs.....................................................
E m b ro id erers...................................................
M illiners..................... ......................................
.22
.23
.21
.25
.22
.25
.25
2.15
2.28
2.08
2.50
2.13
2.44
2. 48
.26
.27
.25
.28
. 26
.28
.28
2.60
2.63
2.49
2.80
2.38
2.40
2.71
Average, all female employees..........
.23
2. 29
.27
2.57
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2.10
F r.
17.06
18.54
17.86
17.02
16.83
16.30
18.02
16. 80
14.33
15.84
18. 77
19.80
19.47
20. 36
[1256]
1.11
1.22
20.02
19.56
20.24
19. 45
21.33
19.26
19. 36
20. 53
19.07
19. 50
19.18
20.67
20.70
18. 58
21.00
95
WAGES AïTD H O U E S OF LABOR.
Supplementary information was furnished by the trade councils
in a number of cases relating to workers in large-scale industries.
The following table shows, as does the preceding table, that wages
at the beginning of 1921 were from four to five times greater than in
1911:
D A IL Y W A G E S IN 1911 AN D 1921 O F "W ORKERS IN D IF F E R E N T L O C A L IT IE S
IN FR A N C E .
[1 franc a t par=19.3 cents.]
D aily wages.
Place.
Occupation.
1911
Francs.
Miners
.......................................................................
.....................................................................
Do .
Do
.....................................................
Do
....................................................................
............................................................
Cot,ton spinners....
Do .
....................................................................
Do
........................................................
Wool com bers.............................................................................
Do
......................................
W eavers—lin en ...........................................................................
Iron w o rk e rs ....
........................................................
Do
.................................................
Do
.......................................................................
Do .
.......................................................................
D o ...........................................................................................
G u n sm ith s...................................................................................
Do .
. .
................................................................
Glass w orkers....
................................................................
Do.
................................................................
Do ......................................................................................
Dockers . .
..............................................................
.....................................................................
Do .
Do .
..................................................................
A lbi.................................
F irm in y .........................
Rive-de-G ier.................
St. E tie n n e ....................
R em irem o n t.................
Fraize..............................
B rionne...........................
F ourm ies........................
........do..............................
........do..............................
M azam et.........................
A rm entieres...................
G uise...............................
C harleville.....................
A ix-en-Provence..........
Châlon-sur-Saône.........
F réviüe-E scarbotin__
M acon.............................
St. E tie n n e ....................
C hâtellerault.................
Thiers..............................
A lbi..................................
Châlon-sur-Saône.........
Rive-de-G ier.................
M arseille........................
L a Rochelle...................
R ochefort.......................
5 .0 0
5. 00
5. 00
5 .2 5
4 .5 0
3 .6 0
3 .0 0
3 .5 0
2 .4 5
2 .5 0
3 .5 0
4 .0 0
5 .0 0
5 .2 5
5 .0 0
5. 50
4 .5 0
5 .0 0
5 .5 0
4 .9 5
4 .5 0
8 .0 0
8 .8 0
8 .0 0
6 .0 0
6. 50
5 .5 0
1921
Francs.
2 0 .0 0
25. 0 0-30. 00
2 4 .0 0
2 1 .0 0
1 6 .0 0
1 3 .5 0
1 2 .0 0
2 0 .8 0
1 8 .0 0
14. 0 0-18. 00
1 3 .5 0
1 8 .0 0
2 5 .2 0
2 7 .5 0
2 4 .0 0
2 0 .0 0
1 8 .0 0
2 2 .0 0
2 0 .0 0
2 0 .0 0
2 0 .0 0
2 4 .0 0
2 9 .0 0
2 5 .0 0 -5 0 .0 0
2 2 .0 0
2 0 .0 0
1 7 .0 0
Wages in the Metal-working Industries.
¡N 1917 the Ministry of Armament established minimum scales of
wages for all workers engaged in the manufacture of war material.
Later, by reason of the increase in the cost of living the periodic
revision of these figures became necessary, but generally the basic
wage was maintained and a varying cost-of-living bonus added.
This principle has been followed in the metal trades since the armis
tice, and in a large number of localities minimum wages have been
fixed either by agreements between workers’ and employers’ organ
izations or by the decision of the employers. These minimum scales,
which include the rates for setting up tools and the cost-of-liying
bonus, do not include the family allowances which have been given
in some sections. Taking as a base the wages of laborers in 1917,
in general the rates had increased 50 per cent in 1918, 100 per cent
in 1919, and 125 to 150 per cent in 1920. During the first half-year
of 1921 reductions averaging from 8 to 12 per cent were made in the
rates except in Paris where the minimum rates remain unchanged.
In this connection the results of an inquiry into wages of metal
workers by the employers in metallurgical and mechanical industries
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1257]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
96
in the region of Paris are of interest. The study covered about 70,000
men, 15,000 women, and 6,000 young persons. For skilled workers
working on piecework the median wage was 3.41 francs ($0.66, par)
per hour or 27.28 francs ($5.27, par) per day, and for time workers
3.10 francs ($0.60, par) per hour or 24.80 francs ($4.79, par) per day.
Twenty-five per cent of the pieceworkers earned more than 3.83
francs ($0.74, par) per hour or 30.62 francs ($5.91, par) per day, but
25 per cent, on the other hand, earned less than 3.04 francs ($0.59,
par) per hour or 26.32 francs ($5.08, par) per day; for skilled workers
working on an hourly basis the corresponding figures were 3.47
francs ($0.67, par) per hour or 27.76 francs ($5.36, par) per day,
and 2.75 francs ($0.53, par) per hour or 22 francs ($4.25, par) per
day. For unskilled workers the median rate for piecework was 2.25
francs ($0.43, par) per hour or 18 francs ($3.47, par) per day, aiid
for time work, 2.19 francs ($0.42, par) per hour or 17.52 francs
($3.38, par) per day. The median piece rate for woman laborers was
1.79 francs ($0.35, par), or 14.32 francs ($2.76, par) per day, and for
time work 1.54 francs ($0.30, par), or 12.32 francs ($2.38, par) per
day.
The following table gives the wages of common and skilled labor
in the metal trades fixed by collective agreements at different periods
from 1917 to 1921 in five of the principal cities:
D A IL Y M INIM UM W A G ES IN T H E M E T A L IN D U S T R IE S IN R E P R E S E N T A T IV E C IT IE S
IN F R A N C E .
Laborers.
Location.
Paris
D ate.
Ordin a ry .
M ar., 1917.
Nov., 1917.
Ju ly , 1918.
A pr., 1919.
A pr., 1920.
M ar., 1921.
June, 1921.
Nancy.
Bourges
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M echanics.
W omen.
Semi Lowest H ighest Labor- Semi
skilled.
ers.
skilled. grade. grade.
Francs. Francs. Francs. Francs. Francs. Francs.
11. 50
. 50
9. 50
8.50
8.00
12.50
7.50
11.00
10. 00
9. 50
. 50
14.00
12.50
11. 50
11.50
10.50
16.00
20. 00
16.00
15.00
21 . 00
11.70
17.80
17. 80
17.00
11.00
19.75
16.75
16. 00
16.75
19. 75
14.50
14.00
14.50
Ju n e, 1919.
N ov., 1919.
M ay, 1920.
Sept., 1920
Ju n e, 1921.
Valenciennes
!
O ct., 1919........
A pr., 1920........
Sept., 1 9 2 0 ....
Ju n e, 1921........
Mar., 1917.
Dec., 1917.
May, 1918.
Jan ., 1919..
Feb., 1920.
A pr., 1920.
Oct., 1920.
A pr., 1921.
A pr., 1917........
O ct., 1917____
M ar., 1920........
Sept., 1920___
May, 1921........
Ju n e, 1921........
[ 1258]
6
8
10. 80
12. 80
15.60
17.60
15.60
10.00
14.80
16. 80
14.80
5. 50
7.00
8.25
11.00
13. 25
15.00
16. 00
14. 20
6.00
7.50
14.00
15.00
14.00
13.00
12.40
14. 40
16. 80
18.80
16.80
15.20
17. 20
19.20
21. 20
19.20
14.80
17.60
19.60
17.60
20.00
22.00
20.00
7.50
8.75
11.50
13.25
15.00
16.00
14. 20
6.50
8.00
9.00
11.75
14. 25
16.00
16.80
15,00
9.00
10. 50
11.25
14.00
15.05
17.20
18.00
16.20
6.25
7.75
15.00
16.00
15. 00
14.00
6.50
8.05
16.00
17.00
16.00
15.00
8.50
12.80
16.00
15. 00
16. 00
6.00
17. 20
10.20
18.00
19.00
IS. 00
17.00
4.00
5.00
5.75
7.25
8.50
10.00
10.35
.95
8
4.00
5.00
8.40
8.40
7.60
4. 25
5. 50
6.25
7.75
9.05
10.60
11. 00
9.60
WAGES AXD HOURS OF LABOR.
97
Wages in the Textile and Clothing Industries.
A T THE beginning of 1921 the association of textile employers in
1 * Roubaix-Tourcoing made an investigation of the wages which
were being paid at that time to workers in the different spinning and
weaving centers of the country. A comparison of the hourly rates
prevailing in 1921 with the 1911 figures of the Statistical Office in the
following table gives an approximate idea of the degree to which
wages have increased although the figures are not strictly comparable
owing to the fact that they were gathered by different agencies.
H O U R L Y W A G ES IN V A R IO U S T E X T IL E C E N T E R S O F FR A N C E IN 1911 AND 1921, A N D
P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E .
H ourly wages.
O ccupation and place.
Spinners, cotton:
R o u b a ix ..................................................................................................................
Lille..........................................................................................................................
T ro y es.............. .......................................................................................................
Spinners, wool:
R o u b aix ..................................................................................................................
V ien n e.....................................................................................................................
W eavers:
R o u b aix ..................................................................................................................
E lb e u f.....................................................................................................................
R o u en ......................................................................................................................
E p in a l.....................................................................................................................
M azam et............................................................................................................. ...
Per cent
of
increase.
1911
1921
Francs.
Francs.
3.21
2.69
2.95
484
412
637
.65
As
3. 28
2.28
405
551
.40
.375
.30
.35
.375
2.65
2.05
1.465
562
447
388
471
433
.525
.40
2.00
2.00
Since January, 1921, because of the lowered cost of living, wage
reductions have been put into effect in the different sections. In
Roubaix this amounted to a reduction of 0.15 franc ($0.03, par) per
hour in the cost-of-living bonus and at Mazamet a 10 per cent reduc
tion of wages was agreed upon by the unions and the employers’
organizations, while at Vienne and Troyes sliding-scale agreements
were concluded by which changes in the amount of the cost-of living
bonus were to follow a change in the cost-of-living index when this
change amounted to at least 5 and 6 per cent, respectively.
Agricultural Wages.
A GRXCULTURAL wages since 1915 have been fixed by the prefects
of the different Departments with the advice of a mixed commis
sion, and after inquiry among employers’ and workers’ organizations,
the agricultural department, etc. The daily wages, without board, of
agricultural workers in 1921 ranged in the different Departments
between a minimum of 10 francs ($1.93, par) and a maximum of 24
francs ($4.63, par), the average for the country being 14.25 francs
($2.75, par). As the average for 1911 was 3.35 francs ($0.65, par)
the wages of these workers have increased 325 per cent in the 10-year
period, which is somewhat less than the increases of industrial
wrorkers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1259]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Wages and the Cost of Living.
A COMPARISON of wages and the cost of living as represented by
the cost of board and lodging in the towns furnishing the data on
wages and the prices of 13 articles published by the statistical bureau
every three months show the following changes in the cities outside of
Paris:
AVERAGE DAILY WAGES, COST OF BOARD AND LODGING, AND RETAIL PRICES OP 13
ARTICLES, AND INDEX NUMBERS THEREOF IN FRENCH CITIES IN 1911,1916, AND 1921.
[1911=100.]
Index numbers.
Item.
1911
1916
1921
1916
1921
Francs. Francs. Francs.
Daily wages:
Men .............................................................................. 4.61 5.56 18.92 1122
Women ........................................................................ 2.29 2.57 9. 44 2116
Cost of board and lodging per month...................................... 70.00 99.00 285.00 141
145
Retail prices of 13articles.... .................................................
410
412
407
424
1The index is calculated on a basis of 4.55francs ($0.88, par) for 1911, the total for the cities not inthe
invaded section.
2The index is calculated on a basis of 2.21 francs ($0.43, par) for 1911, the total for the cities not in the
invaded section.
In 1917 wages had increased somewhat less than the cost of living,
but in 1919 and the beginning of 1920 they were comparatively
higher. In 1921, however, the wage and price indexes were nearly at
the same level, although following the unemployment crisis in the
last half of 1920 the working day had been reduced in many industries,
with the result that the gains of the workers had been reduced to a
much greater degree than the lowered daily rates would seem to
indicate.
Wages in Industrial Occupations in Germany, ianuary, 1920, to
July, 1921.1
HE Frankfurter Zeitung recently published wage statistics cov
ering 28 groups of workers and the period January, 1920, to July,
1921. In the case of 10 of these groups statistics are also given
for 1914. Most of the data are based upon rates fixed in collective
agreements valid in Frankfort on the Main. The data relating to
weavers are those current in Augsburg, and the data relating to
miners are based upon wage rates in Prussian mines. The statistics
are reproduced in the following comparative table:
T
1Fromareport of the American consulateat Berlindated September 19,1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1260]
99
WAGES AND H O U R S OF LABOR.
A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S O F V A R IO U S O C C U PA T IO N A L G R O U P S IN F R A N K
F O R T ON T H E M AIN , 1914, 1920, A N D 1921.
[1 m ark a t par=23.8 cents/]
Index num bers
(January 1, 1920=100).
A verage hourly wage rates.
Occupational group.
1914
R ailroad w o rk e rs1...............
B utchers
...........................
Tailors, m en’s .......................
Tile w orkers...........................
Commercial forwarding lab o re rs..................................
B riq u et workers .................
W eavers (A uesburg)...........
H eavy tra n sp o rt workers,
m ale.....................................
P rinters, book .....................
B uilding trad es w o rk ers. . .
M etal w o rk ers.......................
W orkers in th e soap ind u s try ..................................
W orkers in food industries.
Shoemakers (small shops)
W orkers in shoe factories..
W ood w orkers.......................
P ainters a n d la c q u erers...
W orkers in ju n k shops___
W orkers in th e ru b b er ind u s try ..................................
Gardeners, m ark et ...........
Gardeners, p riv a te ...............
W orkers in la rg e chemical
factories 2............................
W orkers in sm all chemical
factories 3............................
H airdressers .
B arbers.................. ...............
Brew ery w orkers (weekly
w age)...................................
Clerical’ w orkers (m onthly
s a la ry )4
M in ersjp er sh ift).................
Jan. 1, Ju ly 1, Dec. 1,
1920.
1920.
1920.
May,
192 L.
July,
1921.
1914
Marks. Marks. Marks. Marks. Marks. Marks.
5. 90
5. 90
5.20
5. 20
4.30
5.83
5. 83
3. 75
5.20
5.20
5. 25
6.25
5.75
6.25
3. 70
5.90
4.80
5.00
5.90
3.50
0.65
.62
. 45
.44
.63
.63
.61
.50
48
1
139
194
137
121 121
139
212
143
137
155
231
168
137
155
231
168
171
171
3.50
3. 33
3. 26
4.63
6.46
4.64
5.08
. 46
5.14
6
5.98
7.08
5.14
5.98
7.08
5.14
132
193
142
145
193
158
212 212
158
158
3.23
3.06
3.00
2.87
4.90
4.10
5.85
5. 94
5. 38
5.27
6.80
5. 94
5. 73
5.27
7. 00
6.60
5.73
5. 32
7.00
. 60
152
134
195
206
166
172
226
206
177
172
233
230
177
174
233
230
2.84
2. 75
2. 70
2.70
2.65
2.60
2.60
5. 40
4.65
4.05
4.25
5. 36
5. 30
5.50
5.90
5.80
5. 20
4.70
6.15
6.15
5.50
6.30
7.08
5. 20
190
169
150
157
211
2. 35
. 20
5.60
4.20
4.00
6.00
6.40
5. 60
5. 40
5. 60
5. 40
191
182
5. 50
6.00
5.00
3.12
2.60
5.70
3.12
2.60
6. 40
6.10
6. 40 22
6.10
4.17
125.00
250. 00
275.00
700.00
27.00
1,120.00
2
2.20
2.20
2.00
1.66
1.35
4. 49
July Dec. May, July,
l,
. 1921. 1921.
1920. 1920.
4.20
4.00
6.00
6. 75
6.90
5.90
3.54
3.23
275.00
22
22
6
6. 30 16
7.08
5.20
208
221 221
257
192
257
192
191
182
218
209
218
209
250
279
291
291
250
182
193
285
S2
193
305
213
239
305
251
277
192
174
232
236
222 222
6.00 22
255
42 202
255
6.75
265
265
6. 90 22 203
5.90
211 211 227 227
6.40
21 238 255 272 272
3. 64
300.00
1,370.00 1,370.00 1.539.00
54.10
54.10
48.60
* 43.00
6
16
1
200 220 220
160 196
17 5159 6180
180 196
240
220
200 200
220
196
216
1 W orkers over 24 years of age.
These include large factories of dyes.
s These include some of th e sm aller factories of pharm aceutical articles, cosmetics, and soap.
These are u n m arried employees over 26 years of age in class C of th e tra d e classification.
This is th e average ra te for th ree m onths.
2
4
6
According to the preceding table the increases in wages from Janu
ary, 1920, to July, 1921, range from 37 per cent in the case of railroad
workers to 205 per cent in that of workers in small chemical factories.
In 20 out of 28 occupational groups wages had more than doubled
during these 18 months, and the average increase for the 28 groups
was 120 per cent. In the case of the 10 groups for which prewar rates
are available the increase may be stated as follows: With a wage
index of 22 in 1914 and of 100 in January, 1920, the wage index in
July, 1921, was 245. The same facts may be stated as follows: If
the wage index for 1914 is assumed to be 100, in January, 1920, it
was 450, and in July, 1921, 1103.
Increases in wages are of significance principally in connection with
increases in the cost of living. The cost-of-living statistics published
by the German Statistical Office show that the cost-of-living index
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1261 ]
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
for July, 1921, was 960 for Frankfort on the Main as compared with
1914. Accordingly wages have apparently increased somewhat more
than the cost of living. I t should, however, be kept in mind that the
above wage statistics were secured largely from one city and therefore
are not necessarily representative of the average wage rates through
out Germany.
Wages and Salaries of Manual Workers and Officials in the German
Government Service.1
N VIEW of the heavy increase in the cost of living the German Gov
ernment has granted wage and salary increases to all the manual
workers and salaried officials in its employment, these increases
becoming effective on August 1, 1921. The basic wage rates and sal
aries as well as the local supplementary allowances (OrtszuscMage)
were left unchanged; only the cost-of-living bonus has been increased.
The increase in the cost-of-living bonus varies between 0.30 and
0.80 mark (7.1 and 19.0 cents, par) per hour in the case of male juve
nile manual workers under 18 years of age and between 0.80 and 1
mark (19.0 and 23.8 cents par) per hour in that of male adult manual
workers. This grading of the cost-of-living bonus according to the
age of the workers is an innovation introduced by the Government
for the purpose of compensating itself for increases of the family
allowances granted to its employees.
For the purpose of classification the manual workers are graded
into 7 groups (I to VII). The wage rate in each of these groups varies
according to (1) the locality in which the worker is employed—the
localities being grouped in 5 classes, A to E, according to the cost of
living—and (2) the worker’s age—7 age classes having been estab
lished, the completed 18th year of age forming the lowest class and
the completed 24th year of age the highest class. Skilled mechanics
are classified under groups I to III, semiskilled workers under groups
IV to VI, and unskilled labor under group VII.
The new wage scale for manual workers in the Federal Government
service covers now approximately one million workers, this high figure
having been reachecf through the taking over by the German Federal
Government of all the State railroads which employ more than
700,000 manual workers.
As regards statutory Government officials the cost-of-living bonus
to their basic salaries and local supplementary allowances has been
increased in all salary grades by 23 per cent in local class A, by 24
per cent in the local classes B and C, by 27 per cent in local class D,
and by 30 per cent in local class E.
Lack of space does not permit the reproduction here of the com
plete wage scales. In the following two tables is shown what the
average earnings of manual workers and statutory officials are under
the new wage and salary scales and how they compare with the
respective prewar earnings.
I
1
W irtsch aft u n d S tatistik.
Berlin, Septem ber, 1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H erau sgegeb en
vom S tatistischen R eichsam t.
[1262]
Vol.
1,
No.
9.
P p . 4263.
101
WAGES AND H O U E S OF LABOE.
A V E R A G E E A R N IN G S P E R DA Y . W E E K , A N D Y E A R O F M ANUAL W O R K E R S IN
EM PL O Y M E N T O F T H E G ER M AN F E D E R A L G O V ER N M E N T, 1913 AN D 1921.
THE
[One m ark a t p a r-=23.8 cents.]
Average earnings.
Index
1921
(1913=
).
1921
1913
Group.
100
P er day. Per week. Per year. P er day. Per week. P er year.
M arks.
Skilled w orkers..............................
Semiskilled w orkers................. ...
U nskilled w orkers.........................
M a rks.
5.17
4.04
3.18
31.02
24.24
19.08
M arks.
M a rks.
1,613.04
1,260.48
992.16
48.00
44.80
44.00
M a rks.
M arks.
288.00 14.976.00
268.80 13,977.60
264.00 13.728.00
928
1,109
1,384
A V E R A G E A N N U A L SA L A R IE S OF G ER M A N G O V E R N M E N T O F F IC IA L S , 1913 AN D 1921.
[One m ark a t par=23.8 cents.]
A verage an n u al salaries.
1913
1921
Basic
salary.
R ent
allow
ance.
Total.
Local
sup
Basic plem en Cost-ofliving Total.
salary.
ta ry
allow bonus.
ance.
M arks.
M a rks.
M arks.
M arks.
Group.
High-salaried officials.............................
M edium-salaried officials.......................
Low-salaried officials..............................
5,700
3,300
1,350
800
520
290
6,500
3,820
1,640
12,100
7,745
5,350
M arks.
M a rks.
M arks.
2,900
2,300
1,700
13,350
8,940
6,275
28,350
18,985
13,325
Index
1921
(1913=
).
100
436
497
812
According to the two preceding tables the annual earnings of un
skilled manual workers in the employment of the German Govern
ment are to-day nearly 14 times as high as in 1913, those of semi
skilled workers 11 times, and those of skilled workers 91 times as
as high, while the salaries of low-salaried officials are 8 | times as
high as in prewar times, those of medium-salaried officials 5 times,
and those of high-salaried officials only 4J times as high.
On the whole, the new regulation of wages and salaries shows a
much larger increase in the remuneration of the formerly lowest com
pensated working forces, especially of the unskilled manual workers,
and a relatively very small increase in the salaries of higher officials,
which increase has remained far behind the increase in the cost of
living. If the family allowances are considered, which in the case
of manual workers amount to 0.20 mark (4.8 cents, par) per hour
for each child under 14 years of age, and in that of salaried officials
to 50 marks per month ($11.90, par) for each child under 14 years of
age, the former large differences in the remuneration of the various
classes of employees are still more equalized.
The intensive shifting of income conditions becomes still more evi
dent if one assumes the annual earnings of an unskilled manual
worker to be 100 and computes the multiple of these earnings for the
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M O N T H L Y LABOE B E V IE W .
other groups of manual workers and salaried officials.
obtained is the following:
The result
R E L A T IV E A N N U A L E A R N IN G S O F V A R IO U S G R O U PS O F W O R K E R S , 1913 AND 1921.
[E arnings of unskilled m an u al workers=100.]
O ccupation groups.
Unskilled m an u al w o rk er.............................
Semiskilled m an u al w o rk er.........................
Skilled m an u al w o rk er..................................
Low-salaried official........................................
M edium-salaried official................................
High-salaried official......................................
1913
100
127
163
165
385
685
1921
100
102
108
113
151
215
These figures illustrate clearly the great social descent of the upper
and middle strata of the German population. They indicate the great
distress of a large part of the population and how unequally the
development of income conditions is taking place. As a matter of
fact, only the wages of unskilled manual workers have been adjusted
to the increase in the cost of living, while all other groups of manual
workers and salaried employees had to lower their standard of living.
Wage Policy of the Federation of German Employers’ Associations.1
OLLECTIVE bargaining having become practically the sole
method in Germany for concluding labor contracts, the largest
central organization of employers, the Federation of German
Employers’ Associations (Vereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbdnde) has laid down the following guiding principles for the joint
action of employers with respect to the conclusion of collective agree
ments :
(1)
In regulating wages the unit is the local trade association.
Accordingly, wages are as a rule to be regulated on a combined trade
and locality basis. There should be standard local wages for all
industries.
(2)
In fixing wages all factors which make up the wage must be
taken into consideration, the chief factors being conditions preva
lent in the trade at the moment and the cost of living in the locality.
Next come, according to situation, markets, industrial districts,
neighboring industries, etc., a number of local subsidiary factors
which may have an influence from the point of view both of the trade
and of the locality. The most important principle, however, for
every labor contract is that wages must be based on output.
(3)
In fixing a wage scale care must be taken to insure due con
sideration of all the component factors in the wage by means of the
closest possible collaboration of the trade and intertrade associations
concerned. This cooperation is in principle realized by means of
the collaboration of the intertrade local association in the fixing of
wages in the various trades, the best method of collaboration being
a personal meeting of directors and managers.
1In tern atio n al L abor Office. D aily Intelligence. Geneva, Sept. 13, 1921.
C
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WAGES AND H O U E S OF LABOE.
103
(4) The following main types of the collective regulation of wages
should be distinguished:
(a) Wage regulation on a combined trade and locality basis.
(b) Wage regulation on an intertrade and locality basis.
(c) Wage regulation in a particular trade over a whole indus
trial area.
(d) Wage regulation on a national basis.
(5) Wage regulation on a combined trade and locality basis is the
general rule. Collective wage agreements on this basis are concluded
by—
(a) The local trade organization, if the industry in question is of
sufficient importance in the locality to enable a local trade organiza
tion to be formed;
(b) By the intertrade local association either on behalf of the
special sections which should be formed as soon as possible or on
behalf of individual firms.
(6) Wage regulation on an intertrade and locality basis is excep
tional, and is only possible in localities in which one branch of indus
try is so much stronger than the individual firms of other groups
that it predominates.
(7) Wage regulation on an intertrade and locality basis with close
collaboration between all employers’ organizations in the locality
can also be adopted exceptionally in cases in which the solidarity of
the local trade-unions concerned is so great that the conclusion of
collective wage agreements on a trade and locality basis would result
in undesirable consequences.
(8) Wage regulation in a particular trade for a whole industrial
area is only to be adopted for areas in which all trade and local
factors in the making up of the wage can be brought into play by
means of collaboration between the competent trade and intertrade
local associations of the district. Wage regulation in a particular
trade for a whole area is to be adopted for the protection of areas in
which organizations are weak in cases where a particular industry is
so scattered that the formation of local trade sections is impossible.
(9) Central wage regulation, extending beyond an area in which
from an industrial point of view joint trade and local collaboration is
possible, is as a rule to be rejected.
(10) The intertrade local and district associations are the compe
tent organs for securing that due consideration shall be paid to the
cost of living factor in the wage policy.
In order to fulfill this function, the intertrade local and district
associations must supervise the official or other cost of living and
price statistics in their respective districts, and if necessary compile
such statistics themselves.
(11) The importance of the intertrade local and district associa
tions will increase in proportion as the tendency to central regulation
of all labor conditions becomes more noticeable in official and tradeunion circles, and for this reason the employers must insist the more
on due consideration being paid to special local conditions. I t is the
particular function of the intertrade local district associations to
carry on the struggle against centralized control of industrial life
(wage boards, national classification of districts) by the authorities
and trade-unions.
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[12654
104
m onthly
labor
r e v ie w
.
(12)
In addition to these functions in connection with the policy
of collective bargaining, the intertrade local and district associations
will also have a number of im portant duties in conjunction with the
trade associations with respect to the representation of the general
interests of the employers of a particular locality or district (labor
boards, district economic councils); for the fulfillment of these func
tions the application of well-established principles of organization
and wage policy is particularly necessary.
Wage Situation Among Agricultural Laborers in Great Britain,1
S A result of the repeal of the corn production act of 1917 the
agricultural wages boards ceased to exist on October 1, 1921.
In their place have been instituted conciliation committees,
consisting of representatives of workers and farmer employers but
lacking the public, or “ appointed, ” members. A committee may
agree upon rates of wages for any class of persons employed in the
district or any part of the district for which the committee is formed.
I t majf set special rates of wages for special classes of workers, agree
upon the period for which the scale shall be in force, and deal with
hours and conditions of labor. The agreements arrived at m ay be
submitted to the minister of agriculture and if approved and pub
lished by him the agreement will become applicable to all the farms
in the district.
Objection to these committees is made, however, on the ground
th a t a committee which has arrived at an agreement must by reso
lution decide to submit it to the ministry for confirmation, which
resolution can easily be blocked by the farmers’ representatives on
the committee. Other objections are th at there is no central coor
dinating body, the probable result being th a t there will be a host of
wage rates in operation with no attem pt a t uniform ity; th at there
is no State responsibility for enforcing the agreements concluded;
and th a t even where an agreement has been made, a farm worker
may accept a lower wage than th a t specified in the agreement, a
circumstance which “ strikes at the root of district agreements and
collective bargaining, and is a menace to trade-unionism.”
Since September, 1921, the minimum wage rates fixed by the agri
cultural wages board for England and Wales have been 42s. ($10.22,
par) per week and for Ireland, since May, 1921, 32s. and 34s. ($7.79
and $8.27, par) per week. These rates ceased to be legally effective
on October 1, 1921, though in some parts of the country they are still
being paid pending agreements through the conciliation committees.
In other cases, it is stated, the employers are demanding longer hours
at lower wages, and these, in the majority of instances, have not
been accepted by the men. In a few districts agreements have been
arrived at by the farmers and workers. I t is said, however, th a t in
some places, as in Merioneth and Montgomery, the farmers have flatly
refused to work on conciliation committees.
A
1
This article is based on articles in th e L abour Gazette, London, O ctober, 1921, an d T he Econom ist,
London, Oct. 22, 1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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W AGES AND IiO U B S OF LABOR.
105
Tlie Economist for October 22, 1921, states the situation to be
as follows:
There is a prospect of widespread reductions of wages, judging by the new suggested
rates which are being put forward by the farmers. Before the wages board came to
an end there was a minimum wage in most districts of 42s. ($10.22, par) for a 48-hour
week. In Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire the employers have proposed a wage
of 38s. ($9.25, par) for a week of 50 hours. The Berkshire farmers have offered 36s.
($8.76, par ) for a 50-hour week, from October 1 to December 1, and will not agree to
the registration of the agreement. In South Cambridgeshire the farmers have pro
posed a wage of 37s. 6d. ($9.12, par) a week for the next two months. The offer made
by the Devonshire farmers is that the farm workers should be paid 39s._ ($9.49, par)
per week of 51 hours. Herefordshire employers propose a reduction by instalments,
and offer 39s. ($9.49, par) for 50 hours during October and thereafter 36s. ($8.76, par)
per week. The Wiltshire farmers have laid it down that 36s. ($8.76, per) per week
is their final and only offer, and that under no circumstances will any agreement to
which they are parties be registered. I t will be seen from these typical cases that
the wages offered range from 36s. to 39s. ($8.76 to $9.49, par) for a longer working week.
The increase in working hours means, in effect, a further reduction in wages. It
may be noted that many of the offers made by the employers hold good for very short
periods, which suggests that further reductions of wages and increases of hours are con
templated in the near future.
Wage Reductions in Sweden.
A
CCORDING to a consular report of September 17, 1921, wage
reductions are being made generally. The Swedish Royal
" Social Board reports that the cost o'f living has fallen about
16 per cent as compared with October, 1920, when prices were at
their highest point. Whether wages have been reduced in the same
proportion can not be definitely determined, it is stated, there being
no general or comprehensive statistics on the subject. From many
industries there are no reports as to wage reductions, but from the
figures available it would seem that the wage reductions are some
what in excess of those in cost of li ving.
The following table shows the reductions that have been made in
wages paid in various occupations:
W A G E R E D U C T IO N S IN S P E C IF IE D O C CU PA TIO N S IN S W E D E N .
O ccupation.
W orkers in p ap er factories...................
C arpenters an d jo in ers.........................
T extile w orkers......................................
M iners.......................................................
Iro n a n d steel w o rk ers.........................
Seamen, firem en, and engineers........
R ate of re
duction.
Per cent.
20 to 30
15
25
20
20 to 25
30 to 40
20
15
O ccupation.
R ate of re
duction.
Per cent.
Brickm akers a n d laborers on lime
k iln s .......................................................
W orkers in tobacco factories...............
C om m unal lab o rers.............. ...............
W orkers in sugar factories...................
Laborers on sugar-beet farm s.............
P rin te rs.....................................................
Tailors.......................................................
12to 20
14 to 16
15
11 to 13
13 to 17
10
5
The tailors, it is stated, are “facing a much greater reduction,
which will probably amount to 12 per cent, but they have been on
strike for many months.” The report states: “ That there will be
further decrease of wages in nearly every line of Swedish industry
seems altogether probable in view of the fact that productive costs
are still too high to permit of successful operation of many industries.”
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[1267]
106
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
Wages and Hours of Labor in T asmania.1
CCORDING to the annual report of the Tasmanian Industrial
Department for 1920-21, 8,568 persons were employed in
Tasmanian factories. Of these, 7,193 were men aiH 1,375,
women. Fifty boards for fixing wages and hours were established
under the wages board act of 1920. Weekly hours varied from 38 to
84, with a large proportion at 48. The number of factories, employ
ees, and the average weekly wages in 19 industry groups are shown
in the following table:
A
A V E R A G E W E E K L Y W A G E S I N S P E C I F I E D I N D U S T R Y G R O U P S I N T A S M A N I A , 1920.
[£ 1 a t p a r = $4.8665; l s . = 24.3 ce n ts ; l d . = 2.03 c e n ts .]
N u m b e r o f e m p lo y e e s .
I n d u s t r y grou p .
N u m b e r of
fa cto riesM ale.
F e m a le .
A verage
w e e k ly
w a g e.
d
£.
T r e a tin g r a w m a t e r ia l..................................
O ils a n d f a t s ......................................................
P r o c e s se s i n s to n e , c la y , e t c .....................
W o r k in g i n w o o d ............................................
M e ta l w o r k s, m a c h in e r y , e t c ...................
F o o d a n d d r in k ..............................................
C lo th in g a n d t e x t i le fa b r ic s ......................
B o o k s , p r in tin g , e t c . ....................................
V e h ic le s , s a d d le r y ..........................................
S h ip a n d b o a t b u ild in g ...............................
F u r n itu r e , b e d d in g , e t c ..............................
D r u g s, c h e m ic a ls , fe r tiliz e r s — .............
T im e p ie c e s , j e w e lr y ......................................
H e a t , lig h t , a n d p o w e r ................................
M inor w a r e s (n o t e s le w h e r e in c lu d e d )
1 T a s m a n ia . I n d u s tr ia l d e p a r tm e n t,
e t c . T a s m a n ia , 1921. 37 p p .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
10
2
20
292
85
331
124
22
51
4
36
8
4
20
57
116
13
432
2,0 9 4
1,191
1,0 9 8
371
458
334
66
599
54
22
222
126
1,066
7,193
4
195
969
102
26
24
6
49
3
3
3
4
3
3
1
1
3
4
3
3
4
4
2
19
11
17
2
11
3
16
15
2
17
7
6
3
5
19
4
1
1
0
7
11
1
10
7
0
2
6
9
2
5
1,3 7 5
S ix t h a n n u a l re p o r t, 1920-21, o n fa c to r ie s, w a g e s b o a rd s, s h o p s ,
[ 1268 J
MINIM UM WAGE.
Report of Industrial Welfare Commission of Texas.
^R E first report of the Industrial Welfare Commission of Texas,
created by chapter 160 of the Acts of 1919, covers the ex
perience of the commission, from June, 1919, to August, 1920,
and embodies the results of two surveys made by the commission to
determine the cost of living in the various sections of the State. It
was found that the average cost of living per week in northern
Texas, in the various industries covered, was $15.38; in southern
Texas, $14.57; in eastern Texas, $12.77; in western Texas, $12.20;
in central Texas, $15.61; and in northwestern Texas, the oil section
of the State, $23.38. The industries investigated included telephone
and telegraph companies, mercantile establishments, laundries, and
factories, the four groups covering approximately 85 per cent of the
employed women of the State.
For the State, the industries showed an average weekly wage of
$12.31 in the telephone and telegraph industry, with an average&cost
of living of $14.14; in the mercantile industry wages averaged $12.98,
and the cost of living, $15.44; in the laundry industry, wages, $9.39,
and cost of living, $13.78; and in factory work wages were $11.52,
where the cost oi living was $14.65. In the report averages are
also shown by districts, by population, and by 40 cities.
The second survey, less extensive than the first, showed the average
cost of living in the State in industries not covered by the first investi
gation to be $16.07, with considerable divergence by sections, though
the general rate for the State was higher than at the time of the first
survey, this survey being made “ at the peak of high prices.” Wages
had somewhat increased also, but continued to fall behind the cost of
living.
I he differences by localities led to a desire to prescribe a minimum
wage adapted to the conditions disclosed by the investigation, but the
attorney general of the State construed the law as permitting nothing
but a uniform wage for the State as a whole. The legislature in extra
sessions, both by petition by a number of its members and later by
a concurrent resolution, requested the commission to set no wage
until the meeting of the regular session in January, 1921, when there
would be opportunity to remedy the defects believed to exist in the
law. No action was therefore taken by the commission until the
time of the convening of the legislature, when a rate was fixed, with
the suggestion that some experience under the act would aid the
legislature in formulating amendments. A general order applicable
to the industries investigated fixed a rate of 25 cents per hour or $12
per week of 48 hours, with proportional rates for additional time
worked. This order was to go into effect on the 7th of February, a
month after the convening of the legislature.
The constitutionality of the act had already been tested in a case
where a waitress had been discharged from her employment on
I
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
108
account of having given testimony before the commission at a hear
ing in October. 1920. This was in violation of the protective provi
sions of the statute, and the employer was convicted, the conviction
being sustained by the court of criminal appeals of the State on
October 15, 1920 (Poye v. State, 230 S. W. 161).
At the time of its meeting to formulate the order, in November,
1920, the commission had the support of the decision in the Poye
case, as well as the results of a third survey which was completed
just prior to the date of the meeting. This disclosed an average
minimum cost of necessaries amounting to $13.55, $1.55 in excess of
the minimum fixed by the commission.
It may be added that since the above report was closed, the legis
lature of the State repealed the act of 1919, and in a separate measure
enacted a new minimum, wage law. This, however, was vetoed by
the governor, so that since that time no statute on the subject exists
in the State.
New Minimum Wage Rates in South Australia.
D
URING August, 1921, wage rates in a number of indus
tries were arrived at by the wages boards for those indus
tries.
Fibrous Plaster Industry.
A MAXIMUM working week of 44 hours on outside jobs and 48
* * hours on inside jobs is established for the fibrous plaster in
dustry, the time of beginning work to be not earlier than 7.20 a. m.
and the time of ending to be 12 noon on Saturday and 5 p. m. on
other week days. Persons over 21 years, having no previous ex
perience, are to be paid the following hourly scale:
I n s id e w o r k .
s. d.
E'irst vear........................................ .................................. 1 9
Second year.................................... .............................. 1 101
2 0
After 2 years...................................
O u ts id e w o rk .
s. d.
1 11
2 Oh
2 2
Foremen are to receive 6s. ($1.46, par) per week in addition to
usual wages.
Apprentices and “ improvers ” are provided for in the ratio of one
each to each four employees or fraction thereof receiving the minimum
adult wage. Apprenticeship is for a term of five years. Wages paid
apprentices range from £1 ($4.87, par) in the first year of apprentice
ship to £3 5s. ($15.82, par) in the fifth year. Wages to be paid to
improvers are in accordance with age and range from £1 2s. 6d.
($5.47, par) per week at less than 17 years of age to £3 7s. 6d. ($16.42,
par) at 21 years.
Overtime on week days is to be paid for at the rate of from time and
a quarter to double time, according to the hour of the day or night at
which the work is done. Work on Sundays and holidays is to receive
double pay.
Horseshoeing.
A 48-HOUR week is established in the horseshoeing trade, the
work to be performed between 7 a. m. and 5 p. m., Saturday s
work ending at 11.45 a. m.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1270]
MINIMUM WAGE.
109
Shoers and turners are to receive 17s. 6d. ($4.26, par) per day and
doormen 16s. 8d. ($4.06, par). Rates for apprentices and “ im
provers” range from 14s. ($3.41, par) per week for the first year to
£2 16s. ($13.63, par) for the sixth year. One improver may be
employed for every 5 workers, receiving the minimum wage of 16s.
8d. ($4.06, par), except in shoe turning shops where the proportion
may be one improver for every shoe turner.
Time in excess of 48 hours per week shall be paid for at the rate of
time and a cpiarter for the first two hours, time and a half for the
next six hours, and double time thereafter and on Sundays and
holida}7s.
Biscuit and Confectionery Industries.
A N ORDER for the biscuit and confectionery industries estab* * lishes a 48-hour week and provides that where a less number of
hours is worked wages shall be on a pro rata basis. Work on Saturday
ends at 12 noon.
Biscuit industry.—Wage rates per day for males over 21 years of
age are to be as follows: Machinists, 14s. Id. ($3.43, par); brakemen,
traveling and stationary ovenmen, and mixers, 13s. 9d. ($3.35, par);
and mixers’ assistants and all other employees, 13s. 3d. ($3.22, par).
Rates for males under 21 years range from 17s. 6d. ($4.26, par) per
week for the first year to £2 8s. ($11.68, par) for the seventh year.
Adult female workers are to receive £1 15s. ($8.52, par) per week and
foreivomen £2 ($9.73, par). Females under 21 years are to receive
weekly wages ranging from 15s. ($3.65, par) for the first year to
£1 10s. ($7.30, par) for the seventh year.
Confectionery.-—The following table shows the rates established
for the different occupations in the confectionery industry:
M IN IM U M
W EEKLY
W AGE
RATES
IN D U S T R Y OF SO U T H
E S T A B L IS H E D
FO R
THE
C O N F E C T IO N E R Y
A U S T R A L I A , B Y O C C U P A T IO N S .
[£ 1 a t p a r = $ 4 .8 7 ; l s .= 2 4 .3 c e n ts ; l d .= 2 .0 3 c e n t s .]
R a te lor—
O c c u p a tio n .
F ir s t
y ea r .
C h o c o la te d ip p e r s ..........................
B u lk or n o v e lt y d ip p e r s ............
£
0
S econ d
y ea r .
s. d.
14
13
6
0
£
0
s. d.
17
14
6
6
F o u r th
y ea r .
T h ir d
y ea r .
£
1
s.
0
17
d.
0
6
£
1
1
F ifth
year.
S ix t h
year.
s. d. £ s. d.
3
0
6
0
1 6
1 3
6
6
£
1
1
A fter s ix t h
y ea r .
s. d.
10
6
£
1
1
0
6
.s.
15
15
d.
0
0
S e v e n th
y ea r .
G en eral w ork :
M ales.............................................
- F e m a le s ......................................
A p p r e n tic e s a n d “ im p r o v e r s ”
14
13
17
6
0
0
1
17
14
0
6
6
0
1
1
0
17
6
0
6
6
1
1
1
6
0
16
6
0
6
1
1
2
13
3
6
6
6
6
2
1
i 2
3
6
16
6
6
6
S k ille d c o n fe c tio n e r s ......................................
C o n fe c tio n e r s.........................................................................................................................................................................................
H e a d s to r e m e n .....................................................................................................................................................................................
A d u lt s t o r e m e n ...................................................................................................................................................................................
A d u lt la b o r e r s .................................................................................................................................
A d u lt fe m a le w o r k e r s ......................................................................................................................................................................
1 A n d th e r e a fte r th e m in im u m r a te for a d u lts.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1271]
i2
i 1
£
4
4
4
3
3
1
13
10
6
0
s. d
8
4
4
19
19
15
6
6
6
6
6
0
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
110
Painting and Decorating.
in the painting and decorating trade shall be paid
2s. 11d. (52.5 cents, par) per hour, or 17s. 3d. ($4.20, par) for a
JOURNEYMEN
day of 8 hours, the daily work to be done between 7.30 a. m. and 5
p. m. except on Saturday when work stops at noon. Apprentices’
wages range from 10s. ($2.43, par) per week for the first half year to
£2" 10s. ($12.17, par) for the tenth half year. Apprentices must be
provided with board and lodging or be allowed 20s. ($4.87, par) per
week for these items. One improver may be employed for every
six adult workers, improvers’ weekly wages ranging from £1 2s. 6d.
($5.47, par) at 17 years of age to £2 ($9.73, par) at 20 years of age.
Overtime rates range from time and a quarter to double time, accord
ing to the hour at which the work is performed. Work on Saturdays,
from noon till midnight, shall be paid for at the rate of time and a
half. Certain allowances are made for carfares, varying with the
distance between shop and place where work is to be done.
Brush Manufacturing.
COR a week of 48 hours the following weekly rates are established
* in the brush-making industry:
M I N IM U M W E E K L Y W A G E
R A T E S E S T A B L IS H E D
IN B R U S H -M A K IN G IN D U S T R Y .
[ £ l a t p a r = $ 4 .8 7 ; ls .= 2 4 .3 c e n ts ; I d . = 2 .0 3 c e n ts .]
W e e k ly
ra te.
O p er a tio n .
O p er a tio n .
s. d.
£
4
13
0
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
0
0
0
6
6
6
6
6
0
0
0
0
6
6
6
6
6
0
F in is h in g b r u sh e s , or o p e r a tin g sa n d R n r i n g d r a w n w o r k .............................................
O p e r a tin g b o r in g m a c h in e ...............................
W o r k a t b a ss p a n .................................................
M a k in g s te e l w ir e b r u s h e s ...............................
M a k in g b o t t le or flu e b r u sh e s ........................
P u n c h in g a n d s ta m p in g , m a le s ....................
W e e k ly
rate.
£ s. d
O p e r a tin g b a ss p a n m a c h in e , m a l e s .........
D r a w in g b a s s b r o o m s, m a le s .........................
D r a w in g b a ss b r o o m s , fe m a le s ......................
B e n c h d r a w in g , f e m a le s ....................................
O p e r a tin g tr e a d le k n o t-s iz in g m a c h in e
or d r a w n w o r k , fe m a le s .................................
O p e r a tin g a u t o m a t ic b o r in g a n d fillin g
m a c h in e , le m a le s ...............................................
O p er a tin g p u n c h in g a n d s t a m p in g m a
c h in e , le m a le s ......................................................
4
4
1
1
6
0
16
16
6
0
0
0
1
16 0
1
16 0
1
16 0
All time worked in excess of 48 hours per week shall be paid for at
regular rates plus 3d. (6.1 cents, par) per hour.
The order contains a very detailed schedule of piece rates.
Females—Metropolitan Area.
'T'HE South Australian Board of Industry has fixed the minimum
wage for female workers over 18 years of age, in the metropolitan
area, at 35s. ($8.52, par) per week, according to a consular report
recently received by this bureau. This is an increase of 5s._($1.22,
par) per week over the minimum heretofore in effect, which was
fixed by the South Australian Industrial Court in August, 1919.
The consular report states th a t:
This increase in the minimum wage for female employees has been awarded by
the official board of industry at a time when many industries in South Australia are
either idle or partially operating, and when the number of unemployed is growing
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1272]
MINIMUM WAGE.
Ill
larger. The premier for the State has announced publicly that any general increase
of wages under the present state of conditions can only result in increased nonemploy
ment and increased business depression.
In determining this minimum wage, however, the board states
that it acted on certain assumptions, some of which are quoted
below:
That, while the need for public and private economy is equally evident and urgent,
the State of South Australia is not quite so hopelessly bankrupt in resources of material,
or of mind, or of will, as to warrant the board of industry in declaring as a standard
living wage for unskilled workers generally a sum inadequate to supply what may
be regarded as the bare necessaries of life in a supposedly civilized society.
That there is no impropriety in the belief that a sane economy should be sought
through increased efficiency on the part of either employees or of employers, or of
both, in the complex mechanism of production rather than through wages so low as
to menace the health of the working population, to depress purchasing power in the
local market, and to give a legal sanction to the creation or growth of a malnutritioned
and discontented proletariat. Further, that the employers and employees of this
State, speaking generally, are not so devoid of intelligence as to fail to realize the
importance of a more effective cooperation in the processes of production.
That the “ normal and reasonable needs” of the wage earner as referred to in the
statutory definition of “ living wage” are not to be ascertained by reference to what
may be deemed a possible scale of wages in industries passing through a period of
abnormal depression due to world-wide influences.
That, with respect to industries of the kind just referred to, the State industrial
court will adhere to its frequently reiterated policy of bringing parties together in
order that they may discuss the desirability of carrying on for the time being, and
if so, the question of ways and means by agreement of the parties.
That although a previously declared living wage during some time that it has been
in operation may have become ineffectual to maintain the standard of normal and
reasonable needs owing to a rapid increase in the cost of living due to world-wide
cause , the duty of the board as indicated by the Industrial Code is simply to declare
a Iivisng wage for the future on such evidence as it has before it.
That, while the national production and income are relevant for the purpose of
considering what wage may be considered a living wage, the duty of the board in
respect to woman workers is to apply the standard of needs as "distinct from the
standard of the relative value of the work of man and woman employees respectively.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1273]
LA BO R A G R EEM EN TS, AW ARDS, A ND DECISIONS.
Railroads— Decisions of the Railroad Labor Board.
B
Y DECISION N o. 224, issued September 12, the board ruled
that membership in a labor union was not sufficient cause for
discharge of a worker employed in a supervisory capacity. The
case concerned the discharge of two section foremen in the employ of
the Butler County Railroad Co. The management’s reasons for dis
charge were set forth in the following letter of dismissal written by
the general manager of the company to one of the discharged foremen:
T o w h o m i t m a y c o n cern :
Jesse Hicks has worked for this railroad for a number of years, first as section laborer
and later as section foreman in charge of one of its track sections. He is competent,
industrious, and his services were satisfactory. He was discharged because he be
longed to a union of trackmen to which the men [with whom] he was working also
belonged. The membership of h is men and himself in that union was deemed incom
patible with his position as foreman representing the company in its relations with
the men, and for that reason [he] was retired.
The board decided that the action of the carrier was “ unjust and
unreasonable, and they [the discharged foremen] shall in justice be
reinstated and placed in full enjoyment of such seniority rights, if
any, as the rules or practices existing on the carrier in question
guarantee, provided they report for assignment within fifteen days
from date of this decision. They should be reimbursed for losses
suffered, less the amount earned since date of dismissal, provided
there was on this carrier an existing rule or established usage guar
anteeing to employees pay for loss occasioned by unjust suspension or
dismissal.”
Addendum No. 3 to Decision No. 222, effective October 16, further
amends the “ national agreements” of the shop crafts operative
under the Railroad Administration. This decision removes the
inhibition against piecework and permits negotiation on that subject
by individual carriers and their employees. The new rules as set
forth in this decision, together with the rules they modify, which had
been agreed upon by the shop crafts and the Railroad Administration,
are as follows:
R u l e s O p e r a t iv e U n d e r R a il r o a d
A d m in is t r a t io n .
j
I
R u l e s A d o p t e d b y R a il r o a d L a b o r
B oard.
R u le 1.
E ight hours shall co n stitu te a d ay ’s work. All
employees coining u n d er th e provisions of th is
schedule, except as provided for in. rule 15, shall be
paid on th e h ourly basis.
112
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E ig h t hours shall con stitu te a d ay’s work. All
employees coming under th e provisions of this
agreem ent, except as otherw ise provided in th is
schedule of rules, or as m ay hereafter be legally es
tablished betw een th e carrier an d th e employees,
shall be paid on th e hourly basis.
T h is rule is in te n d e d to rem ove th e inhibition
against piecework contained in rule 1 of th e shop
crafts’ n atio n al agreem ent a n d to p e rm it th e ques
tio n to be tak en up for negotiation on a ny individual
railroad in th e m anner prescribed b y th e T rans
p o rtatio n A ct.
[1274]
LABOR A G R EE M E N T S, AWARDS, AND D E C ISIO N S.
R u l e s O p e r a t iv e U n d e r R a il r o a d
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n — CoDtinuod.
|
113
I R u l e s A d o p t e d b y R a il r o a d L a b o r
B o a r d — CoutinuGcl.
R u l e 2.
R ule 2. W hen one shift is employed, th e startin g
tim e shall be n o t earlier th a n 7 o’clock a n d no t later
th a n 8 o’clock. T he tim e an d len g th of th e lu n ch
period shall be subject to m u tu a l agreem ent.
R u le 3. _W here tw o shifts a re em ployed, th e
startin g tim e of th e first shift sh all be governed by
ru le 2, an d th e second shift s h all s ta r t im m ediately
following th e first shift or a t 8 p. m.
T h e spread of th e second sh ift sh all consist of 8
consecutive hours, including a n allowance of 20
m inutes for lu n ch w ith in th e lim its of th e fifth hour.
R u le 4. W here th re e shifts are em ployed, th e
startin g tim e of th e first sh ift shall be governed b y
ru le 2, an d th e sta rtin g tim e for each following
shift sh all he regulated accordingly.
T he spread of each sh ift sh all consist of 8 con
secutive hours, including a n allow ance of 20 m inutes
for lu n ch w ith in th e lim its of th e fifth hour.
R ule 5. T h e tim e established for commencing
a n d q u ittin g work for a ll m en on each shift shall be
th e sam e a t th e respective points, b u t where th ree
shifts are w orked b y ru n n in g repair forces, a n d tw o
shifts b y back-shop forces, th e q u ittin g tim e of th e
first shift a n d th e commencing an d q u ittin g tim e
of th e second shift of th e back-shop forces w ill be
governed b y th e provisions of rule 3.
There m ay be one, tw*o, or three shifts em ployed.
T h e startin g tim e of a ny shift shall he arranged by
m u tu a l u nderstanding betw een th e local officers
an d th e em ployees’ com m ittee based on actual
service requirem ents.
T he tim e and len g th of the lunch period shall be
subject to m u tu a l agreem ent.
(T h e above was su b stitu ted for rules 2, 3, 4, and
5 of th e national agreem ent.)
EXCEPTION.
I t is agreed th a t th ree 8-hour shifts m ay he estab
lished u n d er th e provisions of ru le 4 for th e em
ployees necessary to th e continuous operation of
pow er houses, m illw right gangs, heat-treating
p lan ts, tra in y ard ru n n in g repair a n d inspection
forces (not repair track s) w ith o u t extending th e
provisions of rule 4 to th e balance of th e shop forces.
R u le 8 .
Em ployees regularly assigned to w ork on Sun
days or holidays, or those called to tak e th e p lace
of such employees, w ill be allowed to com plete th e
balance of th e d ay unless released a t th eir ow n
request. Those w ho are called w ill be advised as
soon as possible after vacancies becom e know n.
Same.
R u le 18.
W hen new jobs are created or vacancies occur in
th e respective crafts th e oldest employees in po in t
of service shall, if sufficient ab ility is show n by trial,
he given preference in filling such new jobs or any
vacancies th a t m ay be desirable to them . All
vacancies or new jobs created w ill be bulletined.
B ulletins m u st be posted five days before vacancies
are filled p erm anently. Em ployees desiring to
avail, them selves of th is ru le will m ake application
to th e official in charge an d a copy of th e application
w ill be given to th e local chairm an.
Same, except or th e ad d itio n of th e following
clause:
An employee exercising his seniority rights under
th is rule w ill do so w ithout expense to th e carrier;
he will lose his right to the job he le ft; an d if after a
fair trial he fails to qualify for th e new position, he
will have to take w hatever position m ay be open in
his craft.
R u l e 31.
Seniority of employees in each craft covered by
this agreem ent shall be confined to th e p o in t em
ployed in each of th e following dep artm en ts:
M aintenance of w ay (bridge a n d building,
where separate from m aintenance of way
d e p a rtm e n t).
M aintenance of equipm ent.
M aintenance of telegraph.
M aintenance of signals.
Four subdivisions of th e carm en, as follows:
P a tte rn m akers.
U pholsterers.
P ain ters.
O ther carm en.
The seniority lists will be open to inspection and
copy furnished th e com m ittee.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Seniority of employees in each craft covered by
th is agreem ent shall he confined to the po in t em
ployed in each of th e following departm ents, except
as provided in special rules of each craft:
M aintenance of w ay (bridge a nd building,
where separate from m aintenance of w ay
d ep artm en t).
M aintenance of equipm ent.
M aintenance of telegraph.
M aintenance of signals.
F our subdivisions of th e carm en as follows:
P a tte rn m akers.
U pholsterers.
P ainters.
O ther carm en.
The seniority lists will be open to inspection a nd
copy furnished th e committee'.
[1275]
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
R u l e s O p e r a t iv e U n d e r R a il r o a d
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n — Continued.
j R ules
A d o p t e d b y R a il r o a d
B o a r d — Continued.
L abor
R u le 4 6 .
A pplicants for em ploym ent w ill be required to
m ake statem en t only as to th eir ab ility and address
of relatives, except w hen th eir d u ties'req u ire th em
to distinguish signals or do flagging, w hen th e y
shall be required to pass th e usual eyesight and
hearing tests.
A pplicants for em ploym ent m ay be required to
tak e physical exam ination a t th e expense of th e
carrier to d eterm ine th e fitness of th e applicant to
reasonably perform th e service required m his craft
or class. "T hey w ill also be required to m ake a
s tatem e n t showing address of relatives, necessary
four (4) years’ experience, and nam e and local
address of la st employer.
R u le 48 .
Em ployees in ju red while a t work w ill n o t be
required to m ake accident reports before th e y are
given m edical atte n tio n , b u t w ill m ake th em as
soon as practicable thereafter. Proper m edical
a tte n tio n will be given a t th e earliest possible m o
m ent, a n d employees shall be p erm itted to re tu rn
to work w ithout signing a release pending final
settlem en t of th e case.
A t the option of th e employee, personal in ju ry
settlem ents m ay be handled u n d er th e provisions
of rules 35 a n d 36. W here d eath or p e rm a n e n t
disability results from in ju ry th e law ful heirs of th e
deceased m ay have th e case handled as herein
provided.
Em ployees in jured while a t work will not be
required to m ake accident reports before they are
given m edical a tte n tio n , b u t w ill m ake th e m as
soon as practicable thereafter. Proper m edical
atten tio n will be given a t th e earliest possible mo
m ent, a n d w hen able, employees shall be perm itted
to re tu rn to w ork w ithout signing a release pending
final settlem en t of th e case.
A t th e option of th e injured p a rty , personal injury
settlem en ts m ay be handled b y th e d uly authorized
representatives of th e employee w ith th e duly
authorized representative of the carrier. W here
death or perm an ent disability results from injury,
th e law ful heirs of th e deceased m ay have the case
h andled as herein provided.
R u le 50.
E xisting conditions in regard to shop tra in s will
be m ain tain ed unless changed b y m u tu a l agree
m ent» T he com pany will endeavor to keep shop
trains on schedule time, properly heated and lighted
and in a safe, clean, a n d san itary condition. This
n o t to ap p ly to tem p o rary service provided in case
of emergency.
E xisting conditions m regard to shop trains will
be continued unless changed b y m u tu a l agreem ent,
or unless, after disagreem ent "between the carrier
a n d employees, the dispute is properly brought
before th e Labor B oard and th e board" finds the
continuance of existing conditions u n ju st a nd u n
reasonable, a n d orders same discontinued or modi
fied.
T he com pany will endeavor to keep shop trains
on schedule tim e, properly heated an d lighted, and
in a safe, clean, and sanitary condition. This not
to a p p ly to tem porary service provided in case of
em ergency.
R u le 55 .
W hen dism antling or scrapping engines, boilers,
tanks, cars (except wood cars), or other m ach in ery ,
this w ork will be done b y mechanics of th eir respec
tive crafts. Sufficient help will be furnished.
W hen wood cars are dism antled for scrapping,
parts to be rem oved before car is b u rn ed or de
stroyed w ill be rem oved b y carm en.
W ork of scrapping engines, boilers, tanks, and
cars or other m achinery w ill be done by crews under
th e direction of a mechanic.
R u le 60.
W hen employees are required to check in and out
on th eir own tim e, th ey will be paid one hour ex tra
a t th e close of each week, regardless of th e n u m b er
of hours worked d uring th e week.
A t th e close of each week one m in u te for each
hour actually w orked during th e week w ill be al
low ed employees for checking in and out and m ak
in g ou t service cards on th eir own tim e.
R id e 61 .
A ny m an who has served an apprenticeship or
has had four years’ experience a t th e m achinist's
trade aud who, b y his skill an d experience, is qu ali
fied a nd capable of laying ou t and fitting together
the m etal p arts of an y m achine orlocom otive, w ith
or w ithout drawings, and com petent to do either
sizing, shaping, tu rn in g , boring, planing, grinding,
finishing, or adjusting th e m etal p a rts of a n y ma
chine or locomotive w hatsoever shall c o n stitu te a
m achinist.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1276]
Same.
LABOR A G R EE M E N T S, AWARDS, AND D E C ISIO N S.
R ules
O p e r a t iv e U n d e r R a il r o a d | R u l e s
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n — Concluded.
A d o p t e d b y R a il r o a d
B o a r d — Concluded.
115
L abor
R u le 65.
M achinists assigned to ru n n in g repairs shall not
be required to work on dead work a t points where
dead work forces are m aintained.
M achinists assigned to run n in g repairs shall not
be required to work on dead work a t points where
dead-work forces are m aintained except w hen there
is no t sufficient ru n n in g repairs to keep them busy.
R u le 66.
D ead work m eans all work on an engine which !
can n o t be handled w ith in 24 hours b y th e regu- i
larly assigned ru n n in g repair forces m ain tain ed a t !
point where th e question arises.
Same,
R u le 67.
Dead-work forces will no t be assigned to perform
ru n n in g repair w ork, except w hen th e regularly
assigned ru n n in g repair forces are unable to get
engines out in tim e to prev en t delay to tra in move
m ent.
Same.
R u le 6 8 .
I n case of wrecks where engines. are disabled,
m achinist a n d helper (more if necessary) shall ac
com pany th e w recker. T hey will work u n d er the
direction of th e wreck foreman.
In case of wrecks where engines are disabled,
m achinist an d helper, if necessary, shall accompany
th e wrecker. T hey w ill work under th e direction
of th e wreck foreman.
M achinists required to inspect locomotives and
swear to reports required b y th e Federal locomotive
inspection law shall receive 5 cents p e r hour above
th e m inim um rate paid m achinists a t the p o in t
em ployed.
A t points where there are ordinarily fifteen (15)
or more engines tested and inspected each m onth,
a n d m achinists are required to swear to Federal
reports covering such inspection, a m achinist will
be assigned to handle this work in connection w ith
other m achinist’s work and w ill be allowed five
cents (5$) per hour above th e m achinist’s m inim um
ra te at th e p o in t em ployed.
A t points or on shifts where no inspector is as
signed and m achinists are required to inspect en
gines a n d swear to Federal reports, th e y w ill be
paid five cents (5<t) per hour above the m achinist’s
m in im u m rate a t th e po in t em ployed for th e days on
which such inspections are made.
A utogenous welders shall receive five cents (5<t)
per hour above th e m inim um rate paid mechanics at
the p o in t employed.
Autogenous welders shall receive 5 cents per hour
above the m inim um rate p aid m achinists a t the
point employed.
78.
A ny m an who has served an apprenticeship, or i
has h ad four years’ experience a t th e trade, who can
w ith th e aid of tools, w ith or w ithout draw ings, and
is com petent to either lay out, build, or repair
boilers, tanks, and details thereof, a n d complete
same in a mechanical m an n er shall co n stitu te a
boilerm aker.
Same,
Hie Pullman Agreement.
N AGREEMENT effective September 16 was signed by the Pull
man Co. (operating department) and System Federation No.
122, Railway Employees' Department, American Federation of
Labor, Mechanical Section No. 1, affecting approximately 6,000
workers employed as machinists, blacksmiths, sheet-metal workers,
electrical workers, and carmen.
A
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MONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW.
The agreement, which is similar to the national agreement nego
tiated between the shop crafts and the Railroad Administration, con
sists of 93 rules, providing specific regulations for hours and working
conditions of the crafts involved.
The rules provide for the 8-hour day, the 48-hour week, and for
time and one-half for overtime, with specified exceptions. Regula
tions concerning seniority, apprenticeship, and adjustment of griev
ances are included in the agreement, and special rules affecting the
conditions of work peculiar to each craft which is a party to the
contract. Provision is made for the revision of these rules, upon
request of either party, and for termination of this agreement by
either party 60 days after giving written notice thereof. This
is the first agreement the Pullman Co. has made with its em
ployees as members of craft unions.
Rochester Shoe Industry.
HE agreement between the Rochester Boot and Shoe Manu
facturers’ Association of the city of Rochester, N. Y., and
Joint Council No. 6, United Shoe Workers of America, which
was signed last May, provided for a reopening of the wage question
on or about August 1, at the option of either party.
In accordance with the terms of this agreement the wage question
was reopened early in August when the manufacturers requested
a 25 per cent decrease in the wages of shoe workers. Upon failure
to agree upon the wage change, an arbitration board was appointed
with Col. Sanford E. Thompson as chairman. The decision of this
board, handed down on October 24, announced a cut in wages and
earnings of all shoe workers of 10 per cent, and recommended a
joint effort by employers and workers to institute production stand
ards. This recommendation is as follows:
T
It is recommended that the following plans be immediately carried out: The
manufacturers and joint council shall agree upon an industrial engineer who will
make a brief survey of the plants, to occupy not more than one month, for the pur
pose of outlining a plan for procedure and for preparing the way in each factory for an
equitable adjustment of wage and piece rates on a strictly scientific basis and for
other plans aiming at cost reduction; that this be followed immediately by the
organization of joint administrative and technical machinery for putting the recom
mendations for improvements in methods and job analysis [into effect] as outlined by
the survey.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12781
E M P L O Y M E N T A ND U N E M PLO Y M E N T .
Activities of Mayors’ Unemployment Committees.1
WO hundred and nine out of the 327 cities in the United States
whose population is 20,000 or more have organized mayors’
emergency committees in accordance with the recommenda
tions of the President’s Conference on Unemployment, or have signi
fied their ability to carry out the recommendations of the conference
with machinery already in existence. Many of those cities not
organized are so situated that there is no grave local problem.
These figures were the salient feature of a report recently made to
the standing committee of the conference by Col. Arthur Woods,
chairman of the special committee on civic and emergency measures
created by the President. Col. Woods’s figures, officials of the con
ference said, mean that the coordination of municipal agencies to
meet the unemployment crisis, expected to reach maximum intensity
in January or February, is virtually complete.
The States most thoroughly organized to date are: Massachusetts,
Illinois .(with the exception of Chicago), Connecticut, Michigan, Cali
fornia, Oregon, Washington, and Georgia. The States where the
situation promises to be acute and where a considerable start has
been made, though numerous cities are yet to be organized, are:
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, and
Texas. Reports from Texas indicate that the situation there is being
aggravatedTy a winter influx of “ floaters.”
“ The decrease in unemployment during October, as evidenced by
the statistics of the Department of Labor and the passage of the
Federal highway act in accordance with the Conference’s recommenda
tions are most encouraging,” Col. WYods said. “ Manufacturers and
employers generally are accepting individual responsibility to a note
worthy degree. Definite instances are reported in increasing number
where the enlargement or renovation of plants and improvements in
equipment are being ordered as a direct contribution to the emergency
drive. However, the possible suffering is certain to grow severer as
winter closes down, and if any communities remain unorganized their
situations are likely to be comparable to regrettable conditions abroad.
The crisis is by no means passed.”
To obtain an exact estimate of the number of persons who need
work at this time, the conference committee has asked all mayors’
committees to send weekly reports of registrations at employment
bureaus and the number of applicants placed at work. “These replies
are just being received,” said Col. Woods, “and indicate heavy regis
tration in certain sections.”
Figures for November 1, or later, showed the following comparison
between registrations for jobs and placements at local employment
T
1 P resid en t’s Conference on U nem ploym ent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Press release b y U . S. D ep artm en t of Commerce.
[1279]
117
118
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
bureaus of certain cities in Ohio: Cleveland, 18,485 registrations, 3,111
placements; Akron, 10,112 registrations, 1,334 placements^ Cincin
nati, 4,424 registrations, 1,034 placements; Columbus, 8,073 regis
trations, 2,578 placements; Toledo, 6,552 registrations, 1,395 place
ments; Youngstown, 4,295 registrations, 970 placements.
Kansas reported that there were 8,525 persons unemployed in the
cities of Wichita, Kansas City, Hutchinson, Topeka, Parsons, and
Salina. Ninety per cent of the unemployed in this State is un
skilled labor, and 65 per cent of the total work is part time.
Registrations and placements, in four cities of Connecticut, for
November 3 were as follows: Bridgeport, 176 registrations, 50 places
filled; Hartford, 144 registrations, 130 places filled; New Haven,
237 registrations, 207 places filled; Waterbury, 133 registrations,
55 places filled. I t was estimated that on November 4 there were
11,572 unemployed in 31 factories in Bridgeport, with the total un
employment much larger. In Waterbury, the estimate is 5,000
unemployed; in Hartford, 6,000; in New Britain, approximately
5,000; iii Bristol, 1,200; and in New Haven, the newspapers state
that 34 per cent of the city’s population are out of work at this time,
and that a large majority are women. Mayors’ committees are
organized in these cities to meet the extreme situation.
The organization perfected in Atlanta faces a serious task, with an
estimated unemployment there of 5,000. In Savannah, Ga., Mobile
and Montgomery, Ala., the unemployment is not considered serious.
In Texas, employment conditions show improvement, except in the
coast cities which are registering a large shipping unemployment.
States of the far West, especially California, are trying to protect
themselves against a migration of the floating unemployed of the
country. They hope to provide work for their own population, but
can not take care of those from other States or cities. A survey made
by the commissioner of labor of California showed decreases of 20
per cent in employment in 585 industrial establishments, of 60 per
cent in shipbuilding, of 30 per cent in canning, packing, and drying,
of 34 per cent in the sugar industry, and of 10 per cent in the lumber
industry. It is believed that there are 90,000 persons out of work
in California at this time, and including the migratory population,
the total may reach 140,000.
Cities of the Northwest, as Spokane, Seattle, and Portland, are
trying to provide work for their own residents, by hastening con
struction of public works and other emergency measures, but they
are warning all outsiders of the scant possibility of finding work if
they come there.
The committee on unemployment statistics of New York City
estimates that 342,860 persons, or 13.5 per cent of the gainfully
employed in the city, are now out of work. This applies only to
residents. About 140,000 of these are in the manufacturing and
mechanical industries and 12,500 are in the building trades. There
are also from 20,000 to 50,000 unemployed nonresidents. More than
one-quarter of the idle are transportation workers.
Philadelphia has taken a census of jobs while registering the un
employed. In two days 296 jobs were reported, and in the first week
more than 400 positions were found and filled.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1280]
E M P L O Y M E N T AND U N E M P L O Y M E N T .
119
The citizens’ committee on unemployment of the District of
Columbia estimates that the total unemployed at present will not
exceed 6,000 in a total population of approximately 500,000. An
employment bureau is maintained, where applicants may register
without a fee, and the business men of the District have contributed
to the support of this bureau. The opinion of the committee, based
on three weeks’ registration, is that the District will be able to
handle its own unemployed this winter, but that it can not take care
of floaters coming from outside.
During the three last weeks of October, 4,752 unemployed regis
tered at the District’s unemployment bureau, and jobs were found
for 1,581. Of those who applied for work, 1,130 were clerical or
professional, 519 were skilled labor, 810 were unskilled labor, and
1,684 were domestics. The highest placements were 611 in domestic
labor, and the lowest were 73 in the clerical or professional group.
Housekeepers in the District still report a scarcity of house seivants
and building contractors complain that skilled labor is backward in
accepting work offered.
Meeting of Standing Committee of President’s Conference on
Unemployment.
N NOVEMBER 4, 1921, the Secretary of Commerce presided
over a session of the Standing Committee of the President’s
Conference on Unemployment, which was held in New York
City at the Engineering Societies Building. The progress of emergency
measures was the subject for discussion. After the meeting Secretary
Hoover announced that 20 subcommittees would soon be appointed
to study cyclical and seasonal phases of the situation. It is expected
that the results of these investigations will be embodied in the most
comprehensive report that has ever been made with reference to
causes of unemployment.
Two days after the meeting of the Standing Committee it was
announced that the following regional directors had been selected
to link the Conference more effectually with the mayors’ unem
ployment committees in the various communities: Winslow B.
Ayer, Portland, Oreg.; C. M. Babcock, St. Paul; Ray Dickinson,
East Orange, N. J.; J. E. Edgerton, Nashville; Mortimer Fleishhacker, San Francisco; James S. Gibson, Seattle; John W. Hallowell,
Boston; A. L. Humphrey, Pittsburgh; Jackson Johnson, St. Louis;
C. F. Rand, New York City; William S. Rossiter, Concord, N. FI.;
E. Sherman, Chicago; Ernest T. Trigg, Philadelphia; and Evans
Woolen, Indianapolis.
O
Employment in Selected Industries in October, 1921.
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics received and tabulated reports
concerning the volume of employment in October, 1921, from
representative establishments in 13 manufacturing industries
and in bituminous coal mining.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1281 ]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
120
Comparing the figures of October, 1921, with those for identical
establishments for October, 1920, it appears that in 8 of the 14
industries there were increases in the number of persons employed,
while in 6 industries there were decreases. The largest increase,
52.5 per cent, appears in the woolen industry. Men’s ready-made
clothing shows an increase of 30.5 per cent and cotton finishing
shows an increase of 29.9 per cent. In the iron and steel industry,
the greatest decrease, 37.8 per cent, appears.
Six of the 14 industries show increases in the total amount of
pay roll for October, 1921, as compared with October, 1920. The
remaining 8 industries show decreases in the amount of pay roll.
The woolen industry shows the most important increase, 38.3 per
cent. An increase of 23 per cent appears in boots and shoes and
one of 20.1 per cent in cotton finishing. The most important per
centage decrease is 67.6, which appears in iron and steel. Paper
making shows a decrease of 44.5 per cent and car building and
repairing shows a decrease of 42.3 per cent.
C O M PA RISO N OF E M PL O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN O C TO B ER , 1920,
AND 1921.
In d u stry .
Iro n an d ste e l.........................
A utomobile m an u factu rin g .
Car building and re p a irin g ..
Cotton m anufacturing..........
Cotton finishing.....................
Hosiery a n d underw ear........
W oolen.....................................
S ilk ...........................................
M en’s ready-m ade clothing.
L eather m anufacturing.......
Boots a n d shoes.....................
Pappr iTm.lrin^r____________
ripa.r m nm ifactoring..........
Coal m ining (b itu m in o u s)..
E sta b
lish
m ents
report Period
of
ing for
Octo p a y roll.
ber,
both
years.
117
50
62
61
17
63
52
45
48
37
82
58
54
102
4 m o n th .
I w eek. .
4 m onth.
1 w eek. .
. ..d o .......
. ..d o .......
. ..d o .......
2 weeks.
1 w eek ..
...d o .......
. . . do.......
. ..d o .......
. ..dO.......
4 m onth.
N um ber on p ay roll.
Octo
ber,
1920.
Per
cent of
Octo increase
ber,
( + ) or
1921.
de
crease
(--)•
191,870 119.269
116,615 89,346
71,116 50,772
59,623 63,597
10,457 13,579
25,623 30,283
33,770 51,496
12,884 14,137
25,872 33,757
14,160 13,617
53,460 64,940
34,367 24,499
16,214 16,865
27,590 25,858
A m ount of pay roll.
October,
1920.
-3 7 .8 115,393,187
-2 3 .4
4,299,731
5,342,742
-2 8 .6
+ 6.7
1,066,067
+29.9
236,900
461,991
+ 18.2
760,706
+52. 5
548,775
+ 9.7
766,571
+30.5
- 3.8
375,563
+ 21. 5
1,143,759
-2 8 .7
1,055,025
+ 4.0
344,282
2,487,472
- 6.3
October,
1921.
84,989,018
2,620,491
3,081,558
988,259
284,611
515,561
1,052,243
560,132
910,885
296,025
1,406,902
585,721
304, 794
1,837,681
Per
cent of
increase
( + ) or
de
crease
(-).
-6 7 .6
-3 9 .1
-4 2 .3
- 7.3
+20.1
+11.6
+38.3
+ 2.1
+18.8
-2 1 .2
+23.0
-4 4 .5
-1 1 .5
-2 6 .1
Comparative data for October, 1921, and September, 1921, appear
in the following table. The figures show that in 10 industries there
were increases m the number of persons on the pay roll in October
as compared with September, and in 4, decreases. The largest in
creases, 7.6 per cent, 6.1 per cent and 5.3 per cent, appear in car
building and repairing, iron and steel, and bituminous coal mining,
respectively. Automobile manufacturing shows a decrease of 3.9
per cent, and men’s ready-made clothing a decrease of 1.9 per cent.
In comparing October, 1921, with September, 1921, 6 industries
show increases in the amount of money paid to employees and 8
show decreases. Respective percentage increases of 17.3, 15.1, and
12, appear in bituminous coal mining, iron and steel, and car build
ing and repairing. Men’s ready-made clothing shows a decrease of
16.1 per cent and automobile manufacturing a decrease of 10.8 per
cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1282]
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
121
CO M PARISON O F E M P L O Y M E N T IN ID E N T IC A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN S E P T E M B E R
A N D O C T O B E R , 1921.
E sta b
N u m b er on pay roll.
A m ount of p ay roll.
lish
m ents
report Period
Per
Per
ing for
of
cent of
cent of
Sep
Septem Octo increase
Septem
O ctober, increase
tem ber p a y roll.
ber,
ber,
1921.
( + ) or
t + ) or b er, 1921.
1921.
1921. decrease
and
decrease
Octo
(-)•
(
)
•
ber.
in d u stry .
Iron an d steel........................
A utom obile m anufacturing
Car building a n d repairing..
Cotton m an u factu rin g ..........
C otton finishing........7............
Hosiery an d u n d erw ear___
W oolen.....................................
S ilk ...........................................
Men’s ready-m ade clothing.
Leather m an ufacturing.......
Boots an d shoes.....................
P aper m aking.........................
Cigar m an u factu rin g ............
Coal m ining (b itu m in o u s)..
109
52
03
61
17
65
52
44
50
36
82
58
55
94
1 m onth.
1 w e ek ..
4 m onth.
I w eek..
. . . d o ----. ..d o ___
. . . d o ___
2 w eeks.
1 w e ek ..
...d o ....
. . . d o ___
. . . d o ----. . . d o .. ..
| m onth.
I ll , 970 118,799
93,296 89,687
47, 339 50,928
62, 846 63,597
13,336 13, 579
30,641 32,106
51,459 51, 496
12,635 12,498
34,600 33,936
13, 287 13, 494
63, 747 62, 748
22, 596 23,068
16,945 17,144
24,919 26,239
$4,318,183 $4,969,732
2,944,511 2,627,442
2,759,235 3,091,619
1 066, 787
988 259
292,693
284,611
501, 727
546,206
1,052,143
1,155,993
- 1 .1
494,161
501,892
1,092,015
915,799
-1 .9
297,400
293,449
+ 1.6
-1 .6
1,458,276 1,369,013
+ 2.1
538,681
558, 488
322,910
+ 1.2
310,575
+ 5.3 1,585,743
1, 859,693
+ 6.1
-3 .9
+ 7 .6
+ 1.2
+ 1.8
+ 4 .8
+ 35.1
-1 0 .8
+12.0
— 7.4
- 2.8
+ 8.9
- 9.0
+ 1.6
-1 6 ,1
- 1.3
- 6.1
+ 3.7
- 3.8
+ 17.3
In addition to the data presented in the above tables as to the
number of employees on the pay roll, 89 plants in the iron and steel
industry reported 92,495 employees as actually working on the last
full day of the pay period reported for October, 1921, as against
152,212 for the reported pay-roll period in October, 1920, a decrease
of 39.2 per cent. Figures given for 91 establishments in the iron
and steel industry show that 92,271 employees were actually working
on the last full day of the pay period reported for October, 1921, as
against 85,621 employees for the period in September, 1921, an in
crease of 7.8 per cent.
Changes in Wage Rates and Per Capita Earnings.
POURING the period September 15 to October 15 there were wage
changes made by some of the establishments in 9 of the 14
industries.
Iron and steel.— One plant made a 27 per cent decrease in wages
to 46 per cent of the employees. A decrease of 20 per cent was
reported by two mills, affecting 70 per cent of the men in the first
mill and 65 per cent of the men in the second mill. Decreases rang
ing from 12 to 18 per cent were made to the entire force of 11 estab
lishments. All employees in another establishment were reduced
approximately 15 per cent in wages. A reduction in wage rates of
10 per cent was reported by four plants, affecting ail men in the first
two plants, 95 per cent of the men in the third plant, and about 92
per cent of the men in the fourth plant. Ninety-five per cent of the
force in one establishment were cut 9 per cent in wages, while the
entire force of another establishment had an average wage reduction
of 7 per cent. Increased production caused by resumption of work
is reported for the iron and steel industry. The per capita earnings
for October are 8.5 per cent higher than those for September.
Automobiles.—A decrease of 10 per cent in wage rates was made to
all employees in one establishment. In another establishment the
pieceworkers, 34 per cent of the employees, were reduced 5 per cent
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1283]
122
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
in wages, while those paid by the hour, 22 per cent of the employees,
were reduced approximately 7 per cent in wages. On account of
decreased production, many establishments are working on a shortweek schedule, and the per capita earnings show a decrease of 7.2
per cent when comparing September and October.
Car building and repairing.—A decrease of 20 per cent, affecting
60 per cent of the employees, was reported by one shop. An in
crease in per capita earnings of 4.2 per cent is reported for this
industry, as in many districts plants are working full time.
Cotton manufacturing.—Although the number of persons employed
shows a slight increase, less time has been worked during this period,
and the per capita earnings are 8.4 per cent less for October than
for September.
Cotton finishing.—A wage rate decrease of 20 per cent was made
by one plant to 95 per cent of the employees. When comparing the
per capita earnings for September and October, a decrease of 4.5
per cent is shown.
Hosiery and underwear.—An increase of 20 per cent was granted
to 20 per cent of the force in one establishment. Employment condi
tions have improved in this industry and the per capita earnings for
October are 3.9 per cent higher than those for September.
Woolen.—A decrease of 9 per cent in per capita earnings is noted
when September and October figures are compared.
Silk.—One mill reported a 7 per cent decrease in wage rates,
affecting 27 per cent of the employees. When earnings for September
and October are compared, an increase of 2.7 per cent is shown.
Men’s ready-made clothing.—Part-time employment was reported
throughout the industry, due to the seasonal decline in trade. The
per capita earnings show a decrease of 14.5 per cent when September
and October figures are compared.
Leather.—In one tannery a decrease of 10 per cent was made to
approximately 27 per cent of the employees. Work was rather
slack and the per capita earnings for October are 2.8 per cent less
than for September.
Boots and shoes.—One factory made a 9 per cent wage decrease to
98 per cent of the force. A decrease of 4.6 per cent in per capita
earnings is shown when September earnings are compared with
October earnings, as the period reported for was a slack period
between manufacturing seasons.
Paper.—Decreases ranging from 8 to 20 per cent were made to all
employees in one mill, while in another mill the entire force was
reduced 15 per cent. In three plants, a decrease of 12^ per cent was
made to all men. In a fourth plant 60 per cent of the men were
decreased 12 per cent in wages. Four establishments report a wage
rate decrease of approximately 10 per cent, which affected the entire
force in three establishments and 5 per cent of the force in the fourth
establishment. One concern made a 40 cent flat cut for men and a
25 cent cut for women. An increase of 1.6 percent is shown for per
capita earnings when September and October figures are compared.
Cigars.—When the per capita earnings for October are compared
with those for September, a decrease of 4.9 per cent appears.
Bituminous coal.—Comparing the September and October per
capita earnings, an increase of 11.4 is shown.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1284]
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
123
Number of idle Bituminous Coal Mines, Week Ending October 1, 1921.
1 ¥ JEEKLY Report No. 223 of the United States Geological SurV \ / vey contains data on the number of idle bituminous coal
mines for the week ending October 1, 1921. A similar study
for the week ending August 20, 1921, in Weekly Report No. 218, was
noted in the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w for November, 1921 (pp. 141
and 142).
In the period from August 20 to October 1 there was a noticeable
decrease in the number of mines idle the entire week, a reduction
from 36 to 32.8 per cent of the mines reporting. On the latter date
895 out of the 2,727 mines reporting were closed the entire week,
with resultant unproductiveness and unemployment. As reports are
received only from commercial mines of some size, the data collected
do not show the entire number of mines closed in the period under
consideration. The statistics in the table following refer only to the
number of mines, no account being taken of the varying capacity of
the mines included. “As in general the larger mines are the last to
close, the proportion of the rated capacity shut down during the
entire week of October 1 was doubtless much less than 32.8 per cent,
the figure for the number of mines so closed.”
N U M B E R O F ID L E , F U L L -T IM E . A N D P A R T -T IM E B IT U M IN O U S M IN E S R E P O R T IN G
W E E K L Y TO T H E G E O L O G IC A L S U R V E Y !
N um ber of m ines reporting.
W eek ending—
Aug. 21, 1920............................................
M ar. 26,' 1921..............................................
Ju ly 16,' 1921..............................................
Aug. 20,1921.............................................
Oct. 1, Î921.................................................
Closed
entire
week.
W orking
p a rt
tim e.
W ork
ing
full
tim e.
96
710
874
970
895
2, 407
!, 687
1,633
1, 547
1,628
337
122
171
180
204
P er cent of m ines reporting.
T otal.
Closed
entire
week.
2, 840
2,519
2; 678
2,697
2, 727
3.4
28. 2
32.6
36.0
32.8
2
W ork W ork
ing
ing
p a rt
full
tim e.
tim e.
84.7
67.0
61.0
57.3
59.7
11.9
4.8
6.4
6.7
7.5
T otal.
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1 Includes only comm ercial operations of some size.
2 In a few instances it was necessary to use d a ta for weeks ending other th a n A ugust 21, b u t these sub
stitu tio n s do no t affect th e com parability of th e d a ta for 1920 an d 1921.
A Proposed Score-card Method of Recording Time Lost on the Job.
HE Policyholders’ Service Bureau of the Metropolitan Life Insur
ance Co. has recently sent out a bulletin discussing the advan
tages of keeping account of the time lost during employment
and giving a draft of a score card for recording such time. It points
out that in many occupations there is a good deal of time lost while
on the job, and that up to the present very little notice has been
taken of this “ unemployment within employment.” This loss is a
serious matter, however, for both employer and employee. If the
latter is a time worker, it is much to his advantage that the work
should flow in a smooth and continuous volume, relieving him alike
from overtime and from lay-offs. If he is a pieceworker, his loss from
irregular work is obvious; one of the serious complaints against cer
tain industries is the amount of time the workers must spend waiting
T
76564°— 21----- 0
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[
1285]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
124
for work, while they are paid only for the time actually employed.
On the employer’s side it is a decided advantage to employ no more
workers than are needed, and to regularize production. Overhead
expenses go on whether the men are working or not, and cost of
production increases with the increase in idle time of machinery and
equipment.
It is evident from the employer’s standpoint that this plan can in many cases bring
about an increased production and a decreased operation cost per unit. No em
ployer is anxious to shut down his plant. With the proper installation and follow
up of the unemployment score, it will be possible in many cases to avoid curtailment
of operation.
The suggested score card, partially filled out to show the method
of operation, is as follows:
U N E M P L O Y M E N T SCO RE CA RD .
N am e of concern..............................................................D e p artm e n t o r group
A ddress............. ...........................................................................................................
K in d of b u sin ess........................................................................................................
Period covered fro m ........................................................................... to ..................
The figures given should (need n o t) be considered confidential.
N ote .—T he purpose of th is un em p lo y m en t score is to develop a standarized in stru m e n t and a m ethod
for accurately m easuring th e degree of “ un em p lo y m en t w ith in em p lo y m en t’’; i. e., th e percentage of the
tim e a concern’s employees should be w orking th a t is “ w a ste d ” through one cause or another. The
item s a n d percentages given are m erely b y w ay of illu stra tio n an d suggestion.
Per
P roductive tim e (64 per c e n t).
cent.
1. In a d e q u ate volum e...................................... 8
2. Lack of stan d a rd iza tio n .............................. 1
A. Orders 3.
U neven flow of o rd e rs................................. 0
(12 per 4...............................................................................
cent).
5
...........................................................
,6. All o th e r......................................................... 3
1 . B roken promise of m a n u fa c tu re r............. 2 Chargeable to —
T ran sp o rtatio n d elay s.................................1 P u rch asin g . . .
B . Lack of 2.
m aterials 3. E rro rs.............................................................. 31 Storekeeping..
4.
Seasonal, as w ith can n eries....................... 0 Gang boss........
(8
per'
5. ...................................... ...........................! D rafting room
cent).
6
.....................................
.7. All o th e r........................................................2
C olds..........
1. Sickness.......................................................... 3-j Contagious
Chronic . . .
2. A ccidents.......................................................
3. Horne c o n d itio n s. . ...................................... J
4. Recognized holidays.................................... 0
C. Absen 5.
J
L iq u o r.....................
teeism (6- 6. W
eath er...........................................................o
per
cent).
Unemployed
7. T a rd in ess........................................................ 1
tim e (36 per/
8. P ersonal business including ju ry d u ty . .0
cent).
9. V acations, re g u la r........................................ 0
40.
.......................................
11
,12. A llo th e r .............................
'1. B eltin g ..................................
2. Broken p a r ts ..................... .
Poor a d ju stm e n t................
D. E q u ip 3.
m en t (2; 4. Pow er fa ilu re ......................
5.
In
tro d u ctio n of machines.
per cent). 6.................................
1
1
0
0
7 ...................................................................
E . Factory
ad m in is
tra tio n (8'
per cent).
8. A llo th e r....................................
1 . Strikes a n d lab o r stoppages..
2. Lockouts....................................
3. B ad p la n n in g ...........................
4. Stock ta k in g ..............................
5. D isciplinary lay offs...............
6. L abor p o licy.............................
7. Sales-factory m aladjustm ent.
8
.......................
9.........................................................
10. All o th e r..................................
■i
A
.0
M
1
i
O rder of w o rk ...............
R o u tin g .............................
Delay getting in to work.
Tools or jigs no t ready ..
.2
If this score card, or something similar to it, were at all generally
adopted, it would soon be possible to secure data of much importance,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1286]
E M P L O Y M E N T AND U N E M P L O Y M E N T .
125
which are now quite unattainable, as to the amount of time lost
through sickness, through causes within the worker’s control, and
through causes for which the management alone is responsible. In
many of the wage adjustments which have come up for discussion
during the current year, there has been disagreement between
workers and employers as to the amount of employed time a man
could count on during the year, and as to how far the workers are
responsible for the low earnings they claim to have received. Data
such as this card calls for would help to throw light on these ques
tions.
The caution is given that before trying to adopt the plan the
employer should make sure that his employees understand and
approve it.
It is to the interest of employers to see that their employees thoroughly understand
the objects of the unemployment score. It is to their common interest to have the
number of man-hours as nearly as possible 100 per cent efficient. * * * gelling of
employees is imperative for the success of this plan. Without their whole-hearted
cooperation it is quite possible that in some cases the iob ticket will not contain an
accurate statement of the manner in which the time is spent between the starting
and stopping times required. This would necessarily make the total percentage of
unemployment shown on the score inaccurate.
Volume of Employment in Arkansas.1
A CCORDXNG to reports from Arkansas employers for the 60-day
period closing September 15, 1921, there was practically no
change in their volume of employment compared with that
recorded at the end of the preceding period. From May 15, 1921,
there was a slight improvement in the employment situation, which,
however, is reported as not being nearly so favorable as it was for the
corresponding period in 1920. Especially noticeable are the employ
ers’ statements regarding their reduced pay rolls.
The building trades show considerable activity, due to the construc
tion of many small buildings and the need for repair work through
out the State. Railroads are adding to their shop forces. Returns
from 458 firms indicate that 26,152 persons were employed by them
for the 60-day period ending September 15, 1921, while for the pre
ceding 60-day period 26,345 persons were employed by 316 firms.
Average per capita earnings for the month ending July 15, 1921,
were $62.75 and for the previous month $67.32, a decrease of 6.7 per
cent. For the month ending September 15, per capita earnings were
$61.45, or 2.1 per cent less than in August. “ Reduction in earnings
may well be attributed to part-time work rather than to a reduction
in rate of pay.”
The following table shows for the months indicated for the period
from September 15, 1920, up to and including September 15, 1921,
the number of firms reporting, number of persons on pay roll, amount
of pay roll, and per capita earnings:
1 A rkansas. B ureau of Labor a n d Statistics. E m ploym ent Survey B ulletin, O ct. 1,1921. Issued in
cooperation w ith U . S. E m p lo y m en t Service. L ittle Rock, A rk. (M imeographed.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1287J
126
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
N U M B E R O F R E P O R T IN G FIR M S, N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S ON P A Y R O L L , AM O U N T O F
PA Y R O L L , AND P E R C A PIT A E A R N IN G S, B Y M O N TH S, F O R T H E Y E A R E N D IN G
S E P T E M B E R 15 .1921.
Per capi ta earning .i
M onth ending—
N um N um
b er of
firm s ber on Amount, of p ay
roll.
rep o rt pav
roll.
A m ount.
ing.
Oet. 15, 1920.
Nov. 15, 1920
Dee. 15, 1920.
Jan . 15, 1921.
Feb. 15, 1921.
Mar. 15, 1921.
A pr. 15, 1921.
May 15,1921.
Jun e 15, 1921.
July 15, 1921.
Aug. 15, 1921.
Sept. 15, 1921
293
293
293
293
293
293
2 293
2 293
316
316
458
458
18,147
17,304
15, 484
12, 592
13, 315
11, 233
8,238
7,961
13, 291
13,054
13,037
13,115
$1,796,099.19
1,667,469.65
1,458,620.04
1,101, 295. 27
993,482. 85
827, 761. 29
485,632. 90
492,074. 04
981,358. 70
878,900. 40
820,091.19
805,672. 80
$98.97
96. 36
94. 20
87. 53
74.61
73.69
58. 95
61.81
72. 48
67.32
62. 75
61.43
Per
cent of
change
as com
pared
w ith
each
preced
ing
m onth.
-2 ,6
- 2.2
- 7.0
- 1.4
- 1.2
-2 0 .0
+ 4.8
+ 17.2
- 7.6
- 6.7
- 2.1
1 Average per cap ita earnings for 10-nionth period, $78.50.
2 Two hundred and nin ety -th ree firms reported, h u t of th is n u m ber 63 were operating only a m inor p a rt
of th e tim e, or were closed entirely for th e 60-day period.
Cost of Placement Work in Massachusetts.1
HE per capita cost of the placement of a person through the
Massachusetts public employment office system is $ 1. 11, an
average based on an experience of 13 years. During that
period approximately 391,000 positions have been filled at a total
cost for equipment and maintenance of about $433,000. Despite the
marked reduction in the demand for labor because of the industrial
depression in the latter part of 1920, the number of positions reported
filled at the three State offices during that calendar year was 37,520,
or only 95 less than in 1919. In making comparisons between the
per capita placement costs of the Massachusetts offices with the re
ported expenditures for corresponding work in other States, allow
ance must be made for the fact that in some States the employment
offices are located in public buildings, and that rent, janitor service,
telephone service, and some other contingent expenses are not in
cluded in the operation costs, while in Massachusetts these various
items are included in such costs. Moreover, the term “ placement”
is not used in the same way in all the States. For example, in Massa
chusetts persons are not recorded placed unless they are reported as
engaged by the employers to whom they have been referred, whereas
in some of the States persons referred to positions are recorded as
placed whether or not there has been a definite report on their en
gagement for these positions.
T
1 M assachusetts.
n c tn n
A nnual report on th e public em ploym ent offices for the year ending Dec 31 1929
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
°
[ 1288 ]
1
•
E M P L O Y M E N T AND U N E M P L O Y M E N T .
127
Employment in New York State Factories in October, 1921.
I
N A recent press release of the New York State Department of
Labor, report is made of a gain of nearly
per cent in employ
ment in New York State factories from September to October.
The increases reported were chiefly the result of an improvement in
business conditions. However, some factories employed more work
ers because of a seasonal increase in demand. Every one of the
chief industry groups reported an increase except the water, light,
and power group. Decreases occurred in several individual indus
tries as the result of business depression or the end of seasonal
activity.
Among the industries in which there was increased employment
due to improved business conditions were those manufacturing iron
and steel products, railway equipment, structural iron, firearms,
cutlery, typewriters, drugs and chemicals, glass, pianos, and men’s
shirts and furnishings. Seasonal demand was responsible for in
creased activity in industries manufacturing heating apparatus, mis
cellaneous leather goods, fur goods, paper boxes, textiles, knit goods,
millinery, women’s underwear, and candy. Other industries report
ing a greater number of employees at work in October than in Sep
tember were the printing and bookbinding trades of New York City
and those industries engaged in making paper products, silverware,
soap, coal-tar products, and bakery products.
Decreases in employment were reported in locomotive works, saw
mills and planing mills, and in the brick, tile, and pottery industry.
In the boot and shoe industry as a whole there was practically no
change, but reduced employment was reported by firms manufac
turing the higher-priced shoes, while an increase occurred in factories
making the cheaper grades of shoes. A decrease in number employed
in the men’s clothing and women’s clothing industries is due to the
fact that a seasonal transition occurs between the close of the fall
manufacturing period and the opening of the spring manufacturing
season. The canned goods industry and the beverages industry
reported the largest reduction in employees for the month of October.
In both industries the season is coming to an end. A smaller reduc
tion occurred in the sugar refineries for the same reason.
Unemployment in Foreign Countries.
INCE the last publication in the M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w
of data on unemployment in foreign countries (October, 1921,
issue, pp. 137 -159), the situation as regards the state of em
ployment shows signs of slow but steady improvement in the great
majority of foreign countries. The only country in which the latest
unemployment statistics indicate increased unemployment is Italy.
In Switzerland the number of totally unemployed persons has
slightly increased, but this increase is offset by a decrease in the
number of short-time workers.
A summary of the latest reports on unemployment in foreign coun
tries is given below in table form, followed by more detailed informa
tion for the more im portant countries:
S
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12S91
C ountry.
Date.
G reat B rita in .................... Sept. 30,1921
Sept. 30,1921
Oct.
1,1921
Aug. 27,1921
Sept. 1,1921
[1290]
France................................ Oct. 15,1921
Oct. 21,1921
B elgium ............................. Ju ly 31,1921
Aug.,
Ita ly .................................... Ju ly
1921
1,1921
Sw itzerland....................... Sept. 30,1921
Sept.,
1921
H olland.............................. Aug.,
1921
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Source of data.
1,484,829 (n u m b er of unem ploym ent
books lodged) representing 12.2 per
cent of all persons insured against
unem ploym ent.
L abor Gazette, October, 1921.................
R em arks.
Of th e 1,484,829 persons having lodged th e ir unem ploy
m e n t books, 1,198,280 w ere males a n d 286,549 were
fem ales. I n addition, 322,315 insured persons (177,276
males a nd 145,039 females) or 2.8 p e r cent of all insured
persons were system atic short-tim e w orkers and en
title d to out-of-work donation. T he p e r cent of totally
unem ployed on A ug. 26, 1921, was 13.2, a nd th a t of
short-tim e workers 3.4
14.8 per cent of trade-union m e m b e rs.. ........d o ........................................................... The per cent of unem ployed trade-union m em bers a t the
end of August, 1921, -was 16.3 an d 2.2 a t th e end of Sep
tem ber, 1920.
1,250,000 (estim ated to ta l num ber of Daify Telegraph, London, Oct. 7,1921. E stim ate of the Prussian Cham ber of Commerce.
unem ployed).
2.2 per cent of trade-union m em b ers... Reichs-A rbeitsblatt, Sept. 30, 1921 . . . The per cent of unem ployed trade-union m em bers a t the
end of th e last week of July, 1921, was 2.6 an d 5.9 a t th e
end of A ugust, 1920.
232,369 persons received unem ploy ........d o ........................................................... Of th e 232,369 persons receiving unem ploym ent dona
tions 176,745 were males a n d 55,624 were females. On
m en t donations.
Aug. 1,1921, th e to ta l n um ber w as 268,508.
17,970 persons on the live register of B ulletin d u Marche d u Travail, Oct. Of th e 17,970 persons on th e live register of em ploym ent
22, 1921.
exchanges, 13,256 w ere m ales a n d 4,714 females.
em ploym ent exchanges.
18,831 persons in receipt of unem ploy ........d o ........................................................... Of th e 18,831 persons in receipt of unem ploym ent benefits,
13,679 were m ales, a nd 5,152 w ere females. A t th e end
m en t benefits from d epartm ental
of th e preceding week th e n u m b er of persons receiving
and m unicipal unem ploym ent funds.
unem ploym ent benefits was 18,819.
147,232 m em bers of unem ploym ent R evue d u Travail, Septem ber, 1921... T he corresponding per cent for Ju n e 30, 1921, was 22.9.
T he aggregate days of unem ploym ent in J uly num bered
funds or 21.4 p e r cent of th e to ta l
2,094,647, as com pared w ith 2,186,203 in June.
m em bership w ere either out of work
or on short tim e.
15,572 applications for em ploym ent at ........d o ................................................ .......... T he num ber of applicants for w ork in Ju ly was 15,257.
For every 100 vacant situations there were 179 appli
public em ploym ent exchanges.
cants in August, as against 178 in July.
388,744 unem ployed; 192,358 p art-tim e B ollettino del Lavoro, July, 1921.......... T he corresponding figures for May 1, 1921, were 250,145
(rotation) workers; 46,582 short-tirne
unem ployed, 188,877 p art-tim e a n d 69,370 short-tim e
workers.
w orkers.
66,846 to tally unem ployed; 69,421 short- Der Schweizerische A rbeitsm arkt, The corresponding figures on Aug. 31, 1921, were 63,1S2
October, 1921.
to tally unem ployed a nd 74,309 short-tim e workers.
tim e w orkers.
51,265 applicants for em ploym ent at ........d o . . . . . . .................................... .......... The num ber of applicants for em ploym ent in A ugust,
1921, was 51,063. P er 100 vacan t situations there were
public em ploym ent exchanges.
793 m ale a nd 427 female applicants in Septem ber, 1921.
T he corresponding figures for A ugust, 1921, were 952
a nd 428.
T
he
corresponding num bers of applicants for July, 1921,
60,548 male and 12,751 female appli M aandschrift v an het C entral B ureau
were 59,425 male an d 12,448 female applicants.
voor de Statistiek, Sept. 30, 1921.
cants on live register of em ploym ent
exchanges.
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
G e rm a n y ..:.....................
N um ber or p e r cent of unem ployed.
128
SUM M ARY O F L A T E S T R E P O R T S ON U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S.
D en m ark ........................... Sept. 30,1921
Sept. 27,1921
N orw ay.............................. Ju ly 31,1921
Sw eden.............................. Aug. 31,1921
Ju n e 30,1921
1921
July,
1921
C anada............................... Sept. 1,1921
Sept. 24,1921
[1291]
129
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E M P L O Y M E N T AND U N E M P L O Y M E N T .
Czechoslovakia...........
Aug.,
16.6percent of members of trade-unions Statistiske Efterretninger, Oct. 13,1921. The corresponding p e r cent for A ugust, 1921, was 17.7.
55,176 unem ployed.................................... Labor Gazette, October, 1921................ Of th e 55,176 to tally unem ployed, 28,581 w ere in Copen
hagen, 10,104 in th e Islands, a nd 16,511 in Ju tla n d .
15.9 per cent of mem bers of trade-unions ....... d o ........................................................... T he corresponding p e r cent a t th e end of June, 1921, and
Ju ly , 1920, was 18.4 a n d 1.1, respectively.
26.8 p er cent of trade-union members . . . . . d o . . . ................................ ................... T he corresponding p er cent a t th e end of Ju ly , 1921, was
27.8 an d 3 a t th e end of A ugust, 1920.
65,674 unem ployed............................. .
Sociala M eddelanden, No. 10,1921___ T his figure represents th e result of a n investigation in to
th e state of unem ploym ent b y a special ccmmission.
235 applications for work for every 100 ........d o ........................................................... T he corresponding n um ber of applicants for w ork per 100
vacant positions was 261 in July, 1921, and 95 in A ugust,
v acant positions registered a t public
1920.
em ploym ent exchanges.
33,500 unem ployed persons in receipt Gazette de Prague, Sept. 3, 1921.......... T he corresponding n um ber in June, 1921 was 29,000, a nd
of state unem ploym ent allowance.
33,653 in Ju ly , 1920.
8.7 p er cent of members of trade-unions. Labor Gazette, O ttaw a, October, 1921. T he corresponding per cent a t th e beginning of A ugust,
1921, an d Septem ber, 1920 was 9.1 a nd 2.4, respectively.
90.2 was th e index num ber of employ E m ploym ent, O ttaw a, Oct. 15,1921... T he corresponding index for th e fortnight ended Sept. 10,
m en t based on reports of employers
1921, was 89.6, a n d 108.2 for th a t ended Sept. 25, 1920.
for th e two-week period ended Sept.
24, 1921.
130
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
Great Britain.1
|G MPLOYMENT during September showed a further improvement
in some trades, but it was still bad generally, and in most of the
principal industries there was much unemployment and short-time
working.
Trade-unions with a net membership of 1,433,249 reported 211,953
(or 14.8 per cent) of their members as unemployed at the end of Sep
tember, 1921, compared with 16.3 per cent at the end of August,
1921, and 2.2 per cent at the end of September, 1920. In the fol
lowing table figures are given for various groups of unions:
ST A T E O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T AMONG T R A D E -U N IO N M EM B E R S IN G R E A T B R IT A IN
S E P T E M B E R 30, 1921.
U nem ployed m em
bers Sept. 30,1921.1
In d u s try group.
M embership
covered.
N um ber.
P er cent of increase
(+ 1 or decrease
( —) in num ber
of unem ployed as
com pared w ith—
31,
P er cent. A ug.
1921.
Sept. 30,
1920.
B u ild in g 2....................................................................
Coal m in in g ................................................................
M achinery an d sh ipbuilding..................................
Miscellaneous m etal in d u strie s..............................
Textile in d u stries:
C otton...................................................................
W oolen a n d w o rsted .........................................
O th ers...................................................................
Prin tin g , bookbinding, an d p a p e r.......................
F urn ish in g ..................................................................
W oodw orking.............................................................
Clothing:
Boot a n d shoe.....................................................
O ther clothing....................................................
L eath er............................................................. ...........
Glass.............................................................................
P o tte ry .........................................................................
Tobacco3.....................................................................
103, 034
176,555
507, 776
71,982
4,077
23,087
128, 881
12,637
4.0
13.1
25.4
17.6
-1 .7
—5o 8
- .7
-2 .5
+
+
+
+
3.6
13.0
22.0
16.4
81,384
12, 704
82, 440
102,692
40. 489
58,683
6,275
804
5,053
8,311
3,520
5,982
7.7
6.3
6.1
8.1
8.7
10.2
+ .4
-2 ,4
- .9
- .6
-1 .6
+ 1.3
+
+
+
+
+
+
5.2
3.1
4. 5
6.3
6.3
8.9
77, 688
64,390
11,750
1, 319
35, 650
4,713
4,020
4,117
1,315
76
2,050
1,748
5.2
6.4
11. 2
5.8
5.8
37.1
-1 .2
-1 .1
+ .5
-1 .1
-1 .7
-3 .3
+ 2.4
+ 4.0
+ 4.1
-}- o. 8
+ 5.7
+ 30.2
T o tal..................................................................
1, 433, 249
211,953
14.8
-1 .5
+ 12.6
1 Short tim e a n d broken tim e are n o t reflected in th e figures.
2 B ased m ain ly on re tu rn s from carp en ters a n d plum bers. •
3 R etu rn s supplied b y u n io n s whose m em bers are m ain ly cigar m akers.
The number of persons insured under the unemployment insurance
acts of 1920 and 1921 is estimated at about 12,200,000. Of these,
1,484,829, or 12.2 per cent, were totally unemployed on September
30, 1921, as compared with 13.2 per cent on August 26, 1921. These
figures are exclusive of those persons who had removed their unem
ployment insurance books from the employment exchanges after
exhaustion of their unemployment benefit. In addition, 322,315 per
sons, or 2.6 per cent of the total number of insured persons, were
working systematic short time on September 30, 1921, in such a
manner as to entitle them to benefit under the unemployment insur
ance acts. The percentage on August 26, 1921, was 3.4.
The number of workers on the live register of the employment
exchanges on September 30, 1921, was approximately 1,404,700, of
whom men numbered 1,078,400 and women 229,400, the remainder
being boys and girls. The corresponding total for August 26, 1921,
1 L abour G azette, London, October, 1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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E M P L O Y M E N T AND U N E M P L O Y M E N T .
131
was 1,573,000, of whom 1,190,000 were men and 275,000 were women.
Further, on September 30 about 366,500 persons who had exhausted
their rights to unemployment benefit had ceased to register for
employment. The live-register figures, therefore, do not fully indi
cate the total number of unemployed. The total number of vacan
cies notified to the employment exchanges and unfilled on September
30, 1921, was 21,000, of which 5,250 were for men and 13,500 for
women; the corresponding number on August 26 was 21,000, of
which 4,500 were for men and 14,400 for women.
Returns from employers indicate that in September employment
in coal mines showed a decline arid was bad generally in the English
districts; in Scotland, however, there was an improvement. The
number of workers employed at the mines covered by the returns
was nearly 1 per cent less than in August, 1921, and nearly 10 per
cent less than in September, 1920. The average number of days
worked per week at the mines was 4.67, showing a slight decrease as
compared with the preceding month and a decrease of more than one
day per week as compared with September, 1920.
At iron mines employment improved as compared with the previous
month, but a large number of mines still remained closed. With
shale miners employment also improved. At lead and zinc mines
employment continued bad, and at tin mines was practically sus
pended.
Employment in the pig-iron industry, though showing some im
provement, was bad, and the number of furnaces in blast, though
greater than in the preceding month, was 75 per cent less than those
in operation a year ago. At iron and steel works employment also
continued bad, a large number of works still being closed and many
others working short time. In the tin plate and sheet steel trade
employment showed a further improvement; at the end of the month
361 mills were reported to be in operation, as compared with 320 at
the end of August, 1921, and 506 in September, 1920. In the ma
chinery industry employment continued bad. In the shipbuilding
and ship-repairing trades it showed a slight improvement at some
centers. In some branches of the other metal trades employment
also improved slightly, but it remained generally bad with considera
ble short-time working.
In the textile industry employment continued slack with much
short time and unemployment. The woolen and worsted trades and
the hosiery trades, in which there was some recovery, form the only
exception.
In the building trades employment continued good with plasterers,
fairly good with bricklayers, and fair with masons. With plumbers,
carpenters, and joiners it was moderate on the whole, and with
painters, navvies, and laborers it continued slack. In the wood
working and furniture industries employment continued bad on the
whole.
In agriculture the supply of labor was in excess of the demand in
nearly all parts of the country, and there was much unemployment,
chiefly among unskilled workers.
With dock and riverside workers employment continued slack;
with seamen also it was slack, and in all ports large numbers were
unable to obtain berths.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
Germany.2
IN its report on the state of the labor market for August, 1921, the
4 Reichs-Arbeitsblatt says:
During August, as in preceding months, the general aspect presented by the labor
market was one of sustained improvement. As the season advanced the demand for
labor in agriculture and other seasonal industries became less, whereas in the textile
and the metal and machinery industries an unmistakable upward tendency was per
ceptible. The numerous movements for wage increases, together with stoppages of
work, which occurred in the latter part of the month, due to the enforced payments
of milliards of marks, and the consequent rise in prices acted as a disturbing factor
in this upward movement.
The number of totally unemployed persons in receipt of unem
ployment allowances underwent a further decline, from 268,508
on August 1, to 232,369 on September 1, or 13.5 per cent. The
number of men receiving unemployment allowances fell from 205,495
to 176,745 (14 per cent), and that of women from 63,013 to 55,624
(11.7 per cent). Allowances were also paid to 250,514 members of
families of totally unemployed persons. Statistics compiled on the
basis of reports of the demobilization commissioners show that 8
persons out of every 1,000 of the population of Germany were in
receipt of unemployment allowances on September 1 as against 9.4
on August 1. Unemployment was most intensive in the States of
Hamburg and Saxony, where 24.3 and 15.6 persons, respectively,
per 1,000 of the population were in receipt of unemployment allow
ances. The corresponding figure for Prussia was 8.6.
Returns from trade-unions also indicate improved employment dur
ing the month of August. Out of a total of 5,680,337 members of unions
making returns, 123,689, or 2.2 per cent, were out of work at the end of
the month, as compared with 2.6 per cent at the end of the preceding
month and 5.9 per cent in August, 1920. The table following shows the
degree of unemployment among members of the largest organizations:
U N E M P L O Y M E N T AMONG M E M B E R S O F G ER M A N T R A D E -U N IO N S .
M ember
P e r cent unem ployed.
ship of
unions
reporting A ugust,
Ju ly , August,
on Aug.
1921,
1921.
1920.
31, 1921.
Federation.
B uilding trades (Social-Democratic.).........................................................
P ain ters (Social-Dem ocratic)........... ........................................................
Metal workers (Social D em ocratic)............................................................
M etal workers (C hristian)............. ..............................................................
M etal workers (£L irsch -D an ek er)...„......................................................
Textile workers (Social-Democratic)................................................
Textile workers (C hristian)............ ........................................................
Clothing workers (Social-Democrat, c ).......................................................
Boot arid shoe m akers (Social-Democratic)..............................................
T ransport workers (S ocial-D em ocratic).................................................
P rinters (Social-Democratic)............... .......................................................
Bookbinders (Social-Dem ocratic)...............................................................
Saddlers a n d bag m akers (Social D em ocratic)........................................
W oodworkers (Social-Democratic)............................................................
W oodworkers (C hristian).............................................................................
Glass workers (Social-Democratic)..................................................
Porcelain workers (Social D em ocratic).....................................................
Bakers an d confectioners (Social-Democratic)........................................
Brewery and flour mill workers (Social D em ocratic)............................
Tobacco workers (Social-Democratic)............................... ........................
Engineers and firemen (Social-Democratic).............................................
Factory-workers (Social-Democratic)............................................... ........
Factory and tra n sp o rt workers (C hristian)............................................
M unicipal and S tate workers (Social-Democratic)................................
All unions m aking re tu rn s ................................................................
2R eichs-A rbeitsblatt.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Berlin, Sept. 30 and Oct. 26,1921.
[1294]
481,733
52, 705
1,310, 883
222, 720
105; 077
5S1, 733
89,662
100,723
90,016
537,232
69i 452
78,194
3i; 341
349,615
36,100
60,710
53; 554
69,132
73,144
81,' 709
33,028
507, 851
107; 433
267; 633
5,680, 337
2.3
.5
2.6
1.7
.9
.9
.8
1.7
1.9
1.4
2.6
6.0
3.0
.2
3.8
2.6
4.8
.9
2.3
1.5
1.6
3.9
2.4
2.2
2.4
.5
3 .2
1. 8
1 .2
1 .6
.9
us
2 .5
2 .2
1 .5
3 .2
7 .9
3.9
.4
1. 2
2.5
5.7
1.1
2.0
2.1
2.9
2.2
2.6
3.5
4.4
7.6
5.5
2.0
1.4
13.6
0 9
10.7
3.9
3.0
6.0
22.4
10.5
2.3
3 1
4,7
10.5
2.2
8. 5
2.0
3.6
2. 8
2 .0
5 .9
E M P L O Y M E N T AND U N E M P L O Y M E N T .
183
From the preceding table it is evident th at in August, 1921, as
compared with July, 1921, and August, 1920, unemployment has de
creased among the members of nearly every large trade-union federa
tion. The decrease is especially marked if the figures for August,
1921, are compared with those for the same month in 1920.
The improvement is also reflected in the returns relating both to
employment exchanges and to sick funds. The former show that
142 applicants for work were registered for every 100 vacancies in
August, 1921, as compared with 151 in July, 1921, and with 195 in
August, 1920. As regards sick funds, an aggregate contributing
membership of 13,225,299 was recorded by 6,456 of these funds
reporting on September 1, 1921, an increase of 0.7 per cent upon the
total for the same funds on August 1, 1921. It should be noted that
the sick fund membership forms a good index of the state of employ
ment because every employed wage earner or salaried worker in
Germany must be a contributing member of a sick fund.
In view of these favorable statistics it seems strange that the Berlin
special correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph states in the
issue of October 7, 1921, that the total number of unemployed in
Germany is estimated by the Prussian Chamber of Commerce at
1,250,000.3
Italy.4
pR O M returns made by the provincial commissions on employment
1
to the Italian National Office for Employment and Unemploy
ment on the state of employment in Italy on July 1, 1921, it appeared
th at on that date 388,744 persons (308,679 males and 80,065 females)
were totally unemployed. This figure indicates an increase of 55.4
per cent over the total number of unemployed on May 1 of this year,
which was 250,145 (192,242 males and 50,903 females). In the case
of male workers the increase in the number of totally unemployed was
equivalent to 54.82 per cent and in th a t of female workers to 57.28
per cent.
As regards the regional distribution of unemployment, the largest
number of unemployed (107,940) was reported from the Province of
Venice. Lombardy, with 92,547 unemployed, comes next, while
Piedmont, with 52,537, comes in third place. These three Provinces
are located in the north of Italy. Of the central Provinces, Emilia
and Toscana have the largest unemployment, with 40,359 and
29,368 unemployed persons, respectively. In all other Provinces,
especially the central and southern Provinces, unemployment was
much less intensive.
There is only one industry in which unemployment has decreased
since May 1. That industry is mining, the decrease amounting to
27.44 per cent. In all other industries unemployment has increased,
the increase varying between 0.05 per cent in the case of agriculture
and 300.61 per cent in that of the chemical industry. Industry
groups in which the increase was very great are the industries working
up agricultural products (175.16 per cent) and the textile industries
(164.31 per cent). The largest number of totally unemployed per
sons was enumerated in the building trades and construction work
3 Labour G azette, London, October, 1921, p. 643.
4 B ollettino del Lavoro e della Previdenza Sociale. Voi. 36, No. 1. Rome, July, 1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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134
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
(104,654), the textile industries (61,856), the metal-working indus
tries (60,771), agriculture, hunting, and fishing (43,581), and the
industries working up agricultural products (40,117).
In addition to the large number of totally unemployed there were
also 192,358 workers (154,731 males and 37,627 females) on July 1
who worked part time, i. e., in rotation, as compared with 188,877
(162,923 males and 25,954 females) on May 1. The industries which,
in order to spread employment as much as possible, had adopted the
system of working their employees in rotation (first and last three days
of the week alternately) are the textile industry in which 101,415
workers were working part time, agriculture with 35,795, and the metal
working industries with 23,422 part-time workers.
Short-time (reduced daily hours of labor) work was resorted to in a
lesser measure than part-time work. The total number of shorttime workers on July 1 was 46,582 (41,782 males and 4,800 females).
While the number of part-time workers had increased by 3,481 (1.84
per cent) on July 1, as compared with May 1, the number of shorttime workers had decreased by 22,788 (48.92 per cent).
In response to repeated demands a law has been passed in Italy
for the alleviation of unemployment by increased loans and grants
for the acceleration of existing and the inauguration of new public
works.5 By this measure, apart from the financial assistance which
previously existing legislation had authorized the Deposits and
Loans Bank to extend, the National Social Insurance Bank, National
Insurance Institute, and the savings branches of the banks of Naples
and Sicily are now empowered to grant loans to the amount of
500.000. 000 lire ($96,500,000, p ar),' 300,000,000 lire ($57,900,000,
par) in 1921 and 200,000,000 lire ($38,600,000, par) in 1922-23. The
above-mentioned banks, etc,., will make loans to Provinces, com
munes, or concessionaries of public works in accordance with direc
tions from a committee to be set up. This committee will arrange for
the coordination and distribution of public works throughout Italy.
The initial grant for any specific work is not to exceed one-tenth
of the total amount of the loan, the remaining advances being made
in accordance with the progress of the work. Provision is also made
for the establishment of independent land reclamation bodies in
central and southern Italy, and for the compulsory construction of
canals and irrigation works, the contribution of the State being
limited to one-third of the cost, the balance to be borne by the
properties benefited.
The law also authorizes greatly increased expenditure by the
Ministry of Public Works on various engineering projects, including
61.000. 000 lire ($11,773,000, par) for bridges and roads, 78,000,000
lire ($15,054,000, par) for hydraulic works, and 60,000,000 lire
($11,580,000, par) for harbor and coast works. Two special extra
ordinary grants are also authorized, viz, 300,000,000 lire ($57,900,000,
par) for the construction of the Predil railway from Trieste to Cividalo, and Creda to Tervisio, and 60,000,000 lire ($11,580,000, par) for
alterations to the Val Sugana line from the former Austrian frontier.
All these sums are, however, to be spread over a series of years, but
100.000. 000 lire ($19,300,000, par) will be provided during the fiscal
year 1921-22.
6 L a b o u r G a z e t t e , L o n d o n , O c t o b e r , 1921, p . 524.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
135
Additional assistance is to be provided by means of loans for the
erection of workmen’s dwellings.
The law came into force on the day of its publication in the Gazetta
Ufficiale, viz., August 20, 1921.
Canada.B
YY/EEKLY reports from employers to the Dominion headquarters
** of the Employment Service of Canada for the period August
14 to September 10, 1921, showed a considerable increase in the
volume of employment. The index number for the period averaged
89.1 as compared with 107.7 for the corresponding period of last
year. During the first half of the period (Aug. 14 to 27) there
were pronounced contractions, largely as a result of temporary
shutdowns in railway car shops. During the early part of September,
however, the gains made much more than counterbalanced these
losses; on the whole over 6,000 persons were added to the staffs of
the firms making returns.
The industries which showed the most pronounced net increase
over the previous period wore logging, edible plant products, textiles,
coal mining, railway and water transportation, and retail trade.
In many cases these gains represent a continuation of the activity
already" noted in the July-August period. Sawmills continued to
register pronounced declines in activity; the losses in this group
and those in pulp and paper products, which were also extensive,
indicate to a large extent seasonal inactivity. Decreases on a
much smaller scale were recorded by firms in building and railway
construction, tobacco factories, telephone operation, nonmetallic
minerals other than coal, metallic ore mining, and hotels and
restaurants.
In comparison with the returns for the same period in 1920,
considerable depression was indicated in practically all groups;
the only exceptions were leather, coal mining, local and water
transportation. Employment in the manufacturing group as a
whole was considerably less active; dullness was especially marked
in the lumber, iron and steel, rubber and miscellaneous manufactur
ing divisions.
There was a further, though slight, decline in unemployment
reported by trade-unions at the beginning of September. As in
the case of employers’ returns, however, trade-union reports indi
cated considerably more inactivity than in the corresponding period
of 1920. The slight improvement over the preceding month was
largely due to increased employment for transportation workers
and in the mining, fishing, and lumber working and logging groups.
All Provinces, except Quebec and Ontario, reflected more favorable
conditions as compared with August, 1921. Returns were tabulated
from more than 1,600 unions, whose membership aggregated nearly
189,000 persons. ' Of these, almost 16,500 were unemployed, a
percentage of 8.7 as compared with 9.1 in the preceding month
and 2.4 at the beginning of September, 1920.
The volume of business transacted by the offices of the Employ
ment Service of Canada during the four-week period ended August
8 L a b o r G a z e t t e , O t t a w a , O c t o b e r , 1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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136
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
13, 1921, was considerably larger than in the previous four-week
period, due to the increased demand for harvest workers in the
western Provinces. During the week ended August 13, applications
registered the highest point since the establishment of the employ
ment service. During the four-week period ended August 13, 1921,
the offices of the service reported that 41,227 persons were referred
to positions and that 34,412 (31,724 men and 2,688 women) were
placed. Placements during the preceding four-week period num
bered 20,667, while during the corresponding period of 1920 there
were 35,368 placements effected. In addition to the above, 5,030
placements were made in casual employment (one week or less),
as compared with 5,774 reported during the preceding four-week
period, and 6,836 during the corresponding period of 1920. During
the period July 18 to August 13, 1921, employers notified the service
of 49,970 vacancies of which 42,594 were for men arid 7,376 for
women. Vacancies during the previous period totaled 31,590, and
during the corresponding period of last year 47,373 vacancies were
reported. The number of applications reported by the offices dur
ing the period under review was 52,445 (44,971 from men and 7,474
from women); applications registered during the preceding period
numbered 37,786, and during the corresponding period of 1920 they
totaled 40,814.
The October, 1921, issue of the Canadian Labor Gazette contains a
review of the measures taken by the Canadian Government to relieve
unemployment and of its future policy in this respect, which are here
briefly summarized.
During the last 90 days of 1920 approximately 150,000 workmen
lost their employment. Before the seriousness of the situation was
fully realized by the public, steps were taken by the Government to
arrest the movement and aid those unable to maintain themselves.
Over 8,000 employers were appealed to and asked to retain all work
men possible, on short time, if not on full time. Banks were asked
to aid in extending credits enabling industry to carry on. Federal,
provincial, and municipal governments did what was possible on
short notice to provide employment with the result that little further
decline occurred after January 1, 1921.
On December 14, 1920, the Federal Government announced a relief
policy to aid those in need, reimbursing to municipalities throughout
Canada one-third of the amount each found it necessary to expend
to relieve distress. The Federal Government has expended over
$600,000 for this purpose in addition to maintaining entirely 12,165
unemployed disabled soldiers and their dependents at a cost of over
a million dollars, relieving municipalities of all expense in this con
nection.
The Federal Government received many expressions of apprecia
tion because of the prompt action taken in a matter primarily the
responsibility of local communities, but universally it was urged that
employment rather than unemployment relief should be provided.
To meet this need a communication was addressed to all provincial
governments on July 13, 1921, proposing that such advance prepara
tion as was possible should be made to meet the anticipated need
during the coming winter. Correspondence on this subject has also
been exchanged between the Department of Labor and some 70
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
137
municipalities, and three representatives of the department have
visited most of the industrial centers gathering information on the
subject.
After careful consideration in the light of last winter’s experience
and information gathered, the Federal Government has determined
upon a definite course of action to aid in fairly meeting the situation
this coming winter. The policy outlined, and the principles upon
which it is based, are briefly:
1. Unemployment relief always has been and must necessarily
continue to be primarily a municipal responsibility and in the second
instance the responsibility of the Province.
2. That because of the present situation being due to causes beyond
the power of local or even national control provincial governments
and the Federal Government should cooperate with municipal author
ities in (a) helping to create and provide employment; (b) where
employment can not be furnished to workmen who are willing to
work, to aid in providing food and shelter for themselves and their
dependents until the present emergency period is past.
3. That Federal funds used for unemployment relief, or for relief
work, must be disbursed only through responsible municipal authori
ties, who in each case shall bear at least one-third of the total or
extra cost.
The Government proposes to participate in the cost of work pro
vided by municipalities on the following basis:
(a) Municipality to bear the normal cost, that is to say, the cost
of carrying on the said work in the normal working season.
(b) Estimate of normal cost to be approved by engineers in the
Federal Department of Public Works.
(c) That municipal, provincial, and Federal Governments bear
equally and jointly the actual cost over the estimated normal cost,
thereby encouraging the creation of employment where possible.
id) That where work can not be provided the Federal Government
continue to refund one-third of the disbursements actually made by a
municipality for unemployment relief, conditional upon the Prov
inces participating on an equal basis.
Labor’s (British) Manifesto on Unemployment.1
A S REGARDS unemployment the P»ritish labor movement,
both in and out of Parliament, has pretty consistently rnain1
tamed that it is the duty of the State to provide work or
adequate maintenance for every willing worker. At the tradesunion congress held at Cardiff in September this principle was re
affirmed, and following a discussion of the vital subject of unemploy
ment, a joint manifesto drafted’ on behalf of the parliamentary
committee of the congress and the executive committee of the labor
party was issued.
According to the manifesto labor considers the question of unem
ployment a national one, to cope with which there must be a national
policy aiming at the restoration of normal industry; the policy of
leaving localities to bear their own burden of unemployment, a con1 B r i t i s h T r a d e s U n i o n R e v i e w , O c t o b e r , 1921, p p . 7 -8 .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
dition for which in many instances they are not responsible, is held
to he indefensible and unjust. Schemes for local public works
which must be carried out through the raising of loans, it is stated,
could more easily be managed by the State which has greater
facilities and better opportunities for obtaining reasonable terms.
“ The most powerful argument against the method of local loans,”
the manifesto affirms, “ is that it places the burden on the backs of
the rate payers, and inflicts the heaviest burdens on the areas whose
affliction is already the greatest.”
Labor admits that the stimulation of normal production is of vital
importance, but argues th at it can not be secured through wide
spread wage reductions and attacks upon the trade board system.
Increased efficiency on the part of labor demands adequate wages,
reasonable hours and conditions of employment, and the removal of
the present sources of inefficiency. On the other hand, production
can be stimulated through the placing of such orders by the Govern
ment as would reabsorb into wage-earning work the majority of
unemployed workers.
Under this scheme the Government should not only anticipate the
future needs of the various departments and issue orders for stores
and equipment, but should itself place substantial orders for staple
commodities with manufacturers. For the carrying out of the
second part of this relief scheme the manifesto suggests th at the
Government should call together the representatives of the indus
tries and place definite orders for goods for which there is an ascer
tained demand, and which would be placed at prices agreed upon
after an examination of costs.
The manifesto continues as follows:
We do not think that employers could expect to receive their normal profits under
this scheme; and we believe that it would be to their advantage to continue produc
tion on terms covering costs, including overhead charges and a margin for contingen
cies. I t might be found advisable to establish a working week of, say, 40 hours per
week. The allocation of the total Government order within the industry should
be left to the joint decision of th e employers’ organizations and trade-unions con
cerned. Production under this scheme would be on Government account, and it
is suggested that the Government should export, say, wool textile goods and agri
cultural machinery on credit to Continental countries needing them. The Govern
ment might deal direct with other Governments, with cooperative societies, or with
other organizations able and willing ultimately to pay for the goods.
Some of these goods might be disposed of at home to great advantage. For example,
a proportion of the agricultural machinery produced under this scheme might be
retained by the Government and sold, if need be, on the plan of payment by install
ments, to farmers and groups of small holders.
The results of this plan of production on Government account would be—
(1) The maintenance of the morale and efficiency of the people;
(2) The maintenance of a large proportion of the machinery of production in work
ing order pending the return of normal trade;
(3) The maintenance and improvement of the home trade and the stimulation of
foreign commerce;
•«
(4) The saving of enormous sums on unemployment benefit and poor relief.
The unemployed not affected by the relief measures proposed
might, labor thinks, be adequately dealt with by the development
of public works. And the manifesto proposes th at the Government
should, after investigating the national situation in this respect,
make a list of necessary national undertakings in the order of the
extent to which they would create a further demand for labor,
preference being given to those most likely to stimulate a revival of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1300]
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
139
industry. Local authorities should be required to follow the same
plan, and a comprehensive housing policy is emphasized as an imme
diate means of providing employment for the building and allied
trades.
Characterizing the Government’s previous proposal of a 50 per
cent grant for the financing of local schemes as entirely inadequate,
labor believes that the distinction made by the Government between
schemes relating to revenue-producing and nonrevenue-producing
services should be maintained.
In the case of productive schemes, the Government should make a grant of 75 per
cent of the necessary expenditure and lend the remaining 25 per cent to local authori
ties free of interest for three years. After that period the rate of interest might be,
say, 3 per cent, arrangements being made for repayment at stated intervals. In the
case of nonproductive schemes, the Government should make a grant of 90 per cent
of the necessary expenditure and lend the remaining 10 per cent to local authorities
free of interest for five years, at the end of which period interest at the rate suggested
above should be charged.
While the manifesto places special emphasis on the provision of
work for the unemployed, the maintenance of the unemployment
insurance benefits on an adequate scale is advocated in case employ
ment can not be furnished for all workers.
Public Works for Unemployment Relief in Italy.
LAW providing for loans and grants for the relief of unemploy
ment through the acceleration of existing and the inauguration
of new public works has just been passed in Italy according
to the British Labor Gazette (October, 1921, p. 524). By this law
certain national banking and insurance institutions are empowered
to grant loans to the amount of 500,000,000 lire ($96,500,000, par) —
300,000,000 lire ($57,900,000, par) in 1921, and 200,000,000 lire
($38,600,000, par) in 1922 and 1923. These institutions will make
loans to Provinces, communes, or concessionaries on public works as
directed by a committee which will consist of the ministers of the
treasury, public works, agriculture, industry, and commerce and
labor, the chairman being the president of the council of ministers.
The initial grant is not to exceed one-tenth of the total amount
of the loan, the remaining advances being made according to the
progress of the work. Provision is made for the establishment of
independent land reclamation bodies in central and southern Italy,
and for the compulsory construction of canals and irrigation works,
the contribution of the State being limited to one-third of the cost,
the balance to be borne by the properties benefited.
Greatly increased expenditures by the Ministry of Public Works
are also authorized, including 61,000,000 lire ($11,773,000, par) for
bridges and roads, 78,000,000 lire ($15,054,000, par) for hydraulic
works, and 60,000,000 lire ($11,580,000, par) for harbor and coast
works. Grants of 300,000,000 lire ($57,900,000, par) and 60,000,000
lire ($11,580,000, par), respectively, are made for work on two rail
roads, the expenditures to be spread out over a series of years.
Loans are also to be provided for the erection of workmen’s dwell
ings, and houses whose walls have been commenced or finished
between July 9, 1918, and December 31, 1925, are to be exempt for
10 years from the taxes and supertaxes on buildings.
A
76564°— 21----- 10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1301]
W OM AN A ND CH ILD LABOR.
Health Problems of Women in Industry.
RECENT bulletin of the Women’s Bureau of the United States
Department of Labor, entitled u Health problems of women
in industry,” is an appeal for a serious study of the effect upon
women of various kinds of industrial employment, in order that pro
tective legislation may be based on knowledge, not theory. The
bulletin calls attention to the fact that while healthful conditions of
employment are needed by men as well as by women, the latter are
ant to be more affected by unfavorable conditions, since ordinarily
they have work at home in addition to the work at the factory or
the shop, thus being under a double strain, which reduces their pow
ers of resistance. Also, undoubtedly, some conditions interfere with
their special racial function. On both grounds they need protection
more than men, but if legislative protection is attempted without
knowledge, it may restrict their opportunities of employment quite
unnecessarily, and therefore harm rather than help. As an instance
legislation in regard to lifting weights is cited.
A
In Ohio and Pennsylvania a woman may not lift a core and core box the combined
weight of which is more than 15 pounds. In New York women in the core rooms of
factories are prohibited from lifting more than 25 pounds. There is a very great differ
ence between 15 and 25 pounds, and it is obvious that if 15 pounds is all a woman can
safely lift in Ohio and Pennsylvania, the women of New York are being permitted to
endanger their health; while if 25 pounds is safe for a woman in New York to lift, the
women of Pennsylvania and Ohio are being unnecessarily restricted in their work in
core rooms.
Again, there are some conditions which legislation has not at
tempted to regulate, where perhaps protection is needed—as, for
instance, piecework on repetition processes. Women are favored by
employers for these processes, which are usually carried on at full
speed, sometimes under conditions far from favorable.
The pathological effect on the nerves and health of a woman of this continued
tension and activity has never been definitely determined. Any casual observer
of women working at these processes will know, however, that th e y must have patho
logical significance. Indeed, when girl after girl in a group of cigarette packers is
found to be afflicted with a constant jerking or rythmic motion of her body which
follows the motions she makes while at work, resulting in extreme fatigue and ner
vousness, it would seem as if the effect of the speeding up of pieceworkers in some
occupations was so obvious as to need but little research to stamp it as being a serious
menace. There is great need for careful and full examination of the effects of this
system in order that it may be properly controlled.
Another case cited is the general ignorance as to the effect of
poisonous dusts and fumes. upon women. Scientific research has
established the fact that women are more harmfully affected than
men by work in lead, but with regard to other poisons we have no
140
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1302]
WOMAN AND CHILD LABOR.
141
such knowledge. Yet without it it is impossible to say whether
special protective legislation is needed for women. The argument
closes by stressing the need for facts, which can be collected only by
the combined efforts of scientists and health experts and industrial
engineers, but without which protective legislation for women runs
the risk of being either futile or harmful.
Hours, Wages, and Working Conditions of Women in Five and Ten
Cent Stores in New York State.1
r~jp,HE New York Department of Labor has recently issued a report
on the employment of women in 5 and 10 cent stores, based
upon a study of 70 stores in 19 cities employing 2,626 workers,
of whom 2,325 or 88.5 per cent were women. As conditions varied
considerably according to the size of the cities, three schedules were
made, the first including New York and Brooklyn, the second dealing
with upstate cities having a population of over 50,000, and the third
taking in cities of less than 50,000. Thirty per cent of the stores and
46 per cent of the workers studied were in the first schedule.
The general plan of these stores was much the same, no matter
where located. Salesmanship is reduced to a minimum, practically
all that is required of the average salesgirl being the ability to make
change and wrap articles. In addition, she is responsible for keeping
her counter and shelves in order and stocked with goods. Little
discrimination was exercised in securing help, and little effort was
made to train or hold it after it was secured.
Selection of the girls for the job was governed by what type of girl could be obtained
at the particular time she was needed for the lowest wage the market could stand.
Any idea of a permanent, satisfied, well-trained working force was strangely absent;
girls came and went. This was particularly true in factory towns where the girls in
good times worked in a factory and when they were laid off or got tired of factory work,
clerked in 5 and 10 cent stores for a while. In one store in a factory town, not a single
girl had been employed for more than two months, although the store had been open
for seven years. The prevailing wage was $9 a week, and the lack of any organization
even to methods of accounting, made clear one reason for the turnover situation.
Sixty of the 70 stores studied were under chain management, and
the report notes that “ stores under individual management ordinarily
used more discrimination in choosing employees, and gave them more
responsibility and chance for getting ahead than the chain stores.”
Still there were two chain systems in which an effort was being made to
teach salesmanship and secure a picked group of girls.
The lack of training constitutes an objection to service in these
stores, but probably a more serious one is the constant opportunity
for dishonesty. The managers all commented on the frequency of
thieving, which is particularly easy to commit and hard to detect in
5 and 10 cent stores, owing to the manner in which the goods are dis
played and the almost universal use of the cash register. Shop
lifting is equally easy, and it is not known in what proportions the
responsibility for the steady loss through theft is divided between the
1
New Y ork, D e p artm en t of L abor. T he em p lo y m en t of w om en in 5 and 10 cent stores.
W om en in In d u s try . Septem ber, 1921. 68 p p . Special b u lle tin No. 109.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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B ureau of
142
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
employees and the public, “ but it is known that it is done exten
sively by both.” A curious experiment is reported.
One store manager, anxious to test the honesty of the public, wrapped empty boxes
and left one on a front counter. It disappeared immediately and was replaced by
another, and so on. Within half an hour 22 of these empty packages had been taken
and the manager was convinced that his difficulties with thieving were certainly not
altogether due to a dishonest sales force.
The physical conditions of the work were not wholly satisfactory.
Anyone who has been in a 5 and 10 cent store knows that it is a diffi
cult matter to keep the air good in such a place, and the difficulty is
increased when there are balconies or basements in use. On Satur
days, and at the rush hours on other days, the work is carried on under
high tension. Seats were commonly provided, especially by the
chain stores.
The question is not so much whether seats exist or not, but what chance there is to
use them. The only real opportunity to be off one’s feet comes when the girls are
“ off the floor.”
Toilet facilities and wash rooms were in the main sufficient, but
were frequently neglected or inadequately equipped. All but 10
of the stores had something called a rest room, though often this
was thoroughly unsatisfactory. Some, however, were found with
well equipped and attractive rest rooms, which were kept up as
carefully as the part of the store intended for customers. Where
such rooms existed, the report notes, “ they were used a great deal
at meal times and before and after work.”
In regard to hours, the 5 and 10 cent stores usually conform to
the custom of their locality, except that some of the chain manage
ments definitely demand that their stores be kept open on Saturday
afternoon in summer, even if other stores close. The scheduled
hours for Brooklyn and New York were somewhat less than those
for the large up-state cities, and these, in turn were shorter than those
for the smaller cities. In general, the smaller the city the longer
the hours. For 21 per cent of the whole group of women, the sched
uled hours were 48 per week or less, the lower limit being 45 hours;
for the remainder the hours ranged from 48 through 54.
The regular working hours for 98 per cent of the women were less than the legal
maximum of 54 hours a week, and practically two-thirds of the men’s hours were
scheduled under 54.
The daily hours, for five days of the week, were also generally
reasonable, only 30 per cent of the women working over 8 hours,
with an upper limit of 9, but on Saturday the requirements were
more severe, 79 per cent working over 8 hours, with an upper limit
of 11^ hours. “ Sixteen per cent of the women worked 11 hours
on Saturday, and 51 per cent worked 10 hours or more on that day.”
The study of wages was complicated by the number of part-time
workers, the frequent use of bonuses and commissions, the occupa
tional differences, and the varying practices as to deductions for
lost time, absences, and the like. In general, it was found, the
smaller the city the lower the wage, although some exceptions were
found among the independent stores, where intelligent managers
were trying to work up a better force. The wage level was not
high.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1304]
WOMAN AND CHILD LABOR.
143
Of the total group of full-time women workers, exactly one-half received less than
$13.49. Fifty-live and twelve hundredths per cent were receiving less than $14 a
week, two-thirds received less than $15, and 99.09 per cent less than $30.
These figures present the most favorable view of the case, since
they include the wages of the floor and clerical workers, who were
better paid than the sales force. Separating these two classes, the
distribution by wage groups is as follows:
D IS T R IB U T IO N B Y W E E K L Y W A G E r a t e s O F 216 FL O O R A N D C L E R IC A L W O R K E R S
AND 1,298 SA L ESW O M E N IN 5 AN D 10 C EN T ST O R E S.
Floor a n d clerical workers.
Saleswomen.
W eekly wage rate.
N um ber.
Per cent.
2
N um ber.
Per cent.
8.86
U nder $10.....................................................................
a n d u n d er $12.......................................................
$12 a n d u n d e r $15.......................................................
$15 a n d u n d e r $18.......................................................
sis a n d u n d e r $20.......................................................
$20 a n d u n d er $25.......................................................
$25 an d over............................. ...................................
30
52
45
49
33
0.92
2.32
13. 89
24. 07
20. 83
22. 69
15. 28
115
259
616
261
28
7
2.16
.92
.54
T o tal...................................................................
216
100. 00
1,298
¡00.00
$10
12
19.95
47.46
20.11
This shows more than one-fourth of the saleswomen getting under
$12 a week and more than three-fourths getting under $15. The
low level thus indicated is confirmed by a study of annual earnings
for the year ending March, 1921. Sixty-six girls were found who
had worked 44 weeks or over, two-thirds having worked for 49 weeks
or more and one-third for 51 or 52 weeks, the lost time being due
either to illness or vacation.
Thirty per cent of these girls had been with their stores more than 5 years, and one
girl; a cashier, had a period of service of more than 20 years; she was the only girl who
had earned more than $1,050 during the year’s time, and her annual wage had
amounted to between $1,300 and $1,350. Forty-five per cent of these 66 girls had
earned less than $600 and 12 per cent earned less than $500. The group was made
up of 51 saleswomen, 7 lloorwomen (one of whom did some of the buying), and 8
cashiers; of the saleswomen, the highest annual wage was that of a girl at a music
counter, $963.15.
There was a striking difference in the earnings of men and women,
82 per cent of the men receiving $20 a week or over, while less than 7
per cent of the women reached these figures. To a considerable
extent, this difference is to be accounted for on occupational grounds,
as men and women were usually employed at different work, but
even when they were doing the same thing there was a marked differ
ence in their payment.
There were 11 men window dressers in New York City and Brooklyn and only 1
woman. The woman received $15 a week, the men from $20 to $55.
Sixty-three and fifteen hundredths per cent of the floorwomen were receiving less
than $20 a week, the minimum wage for men in that group. The maximum wage
for women in this group was between $30 and $35, and the maximum wage for men $60.
Summing up the whole situation, the investigators concluded that
too little attention had been paid to the human element in the
business.
Only one condition in the present outlook would appear to prevent this business
from reaching an enviable place in the retail world and maintaining it—that of the
personnel.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1305]
144
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The short period of service of the sales force with its resulting high labor turnover,
the lack of opportunity and promotion among the workers, the wage below subsist
ence, all point to the fact that the emphasis of management has been placed on the
financial solvency of the business rather than the human solvency.
The records of the chain stores are unprecedented in their development of mer
chandizing and distribution. This report, dealing as it does with the human organ
ization of the business, indicates that the employees’ position in the organization is
undefined and irresponsible, not to say costly
Too little attention has been paid to the value of a well-defined, properly functioning
personnel policy, which would emphasize the existence of human needs and would
in part aid in the solution of the store’s most pressing difficulties. In such large
organizations as carry the bulk of this business, such a policy could only be outlined
and efficiently administered through a special department, occupying a position of
key importance; a department which would perform the work of “ maintaining a well
selected, carefully trained, properly assigned, and stable employees’ organization.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
s
[1306]
HOUSING.
Housing Situation in Massachusetts.
REPORT recently issued by the Massachusetts Commission
on the Necessaries of Life1 contains some data of interest regard
ing the housing situation in th at State. Rents, it is noted,
have reached the highest point recorded for Massachusetts, being at
the date of the report (January, 1921) some 50 per cent above the
1913 figure. The greater p art of this increase has occurred since
the close of the war. A survey made by the commission in repre
sentative cities and towns of the State shows the average advance
in each year as follows:
A
P er cent.
1913
..............................................................................................
1914
.......................................................................................
1915
.....................................................................
1916
..............................................................................................
1917
............................................................................. ...........
1918
..............................................................................................
1919
..............................................................................................
1920
..............................................................................................
1921, Jan. 1 .........................................................................................
0.0
3.5
4 1
5.3
8.2
16.3
29.6
50.6
51. 07
I t will be seen that while up to and during the war rents had
increased by 16.3 per cent, during the next two years the rise was
more than twice as great. The report gives no indication as to
whether or not the peak had been reached. While the average
increase is about 50 per cent, the range in general is from 10 to 60
per cent, though this varies with the locality. In Lawrence for
instance, it is from 25 to 100 per cent, and in Boston, in the case of
the more attractive apartments the increase has sometimes reached
100 per cent.
In the opinion of the commission these increases are not to be
explained on the ground of a real scarcity of housing, for they have
taken place even in localities where there has been a relative decrease
in population. Thus in Fall River for the decade ending 1920 the
population showed an increase of 1 per cent, while the number of
dwellings increased by 16 per cent; in Holyoke the population
increased by 4.3 per cent and the number of dwellings by 14.1 per
cent; and in Lawrence the population increased 9.8 per cent while
the dwellings increased by 13.9 per cent. Yet, as compared with
1913, Fall River shows an average increase in rent of 25 per cent,
Holyoke of 35 per cent, and Lawrence of from 25 to 100 per cent.
Taking the State as a whole, the population in 1920 showed an
increase over 1910 of 14.6 per cent, while the number of dwellings
increased by 19.2 per cent. Such facts, the commission thinks,
justify the conclusion th at the rise in rents is not due to any scarcity
of dwellings.
In Massachusetts it is more a question of improved housing conditions at reasonable
cost rather than a mere matter of shelter. The demand for better living conditions,
for more space and rooms, for better homes and better neighborhoods has been to a
great extent the cause of increased rents.
1 R eport of th e Special Commission on th e Necessaries of Life.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1307]
Boston, J an u a ry , 1921.
125 pp.
145
146
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
The trend from the poorer class of houses to better tenements is shown in exact
figures from Fall River, where at the peak of the demand there were 1,488 tenements
of the poorer class vacant. In Boston the Mayor’s rent committee has stated that
there are vacant 2,000 tenements because of the prevailing high wages which caused
a demand for better houses.
It is doubtful whether housing experts would acquiesce in this con
clusion of the commission. I t is generally agreed that every commu
nity needs a certain proportion of unoccupied dwellings, “ merely to
provide that elbow room necessary to maintain a normal social con
dition,” and two thousand vacant tenements in a city with a popu
lation of nearly three-quarters of a million is a small proportion for
this purpose. Also, nothing is said as to whether the vacant tene
ments in Boston and Fall River are fit for habitation. Neither is
anything said as to the amount of “ doubling up,” with conse
quent overcrowding, which has taken place on account of the rise
in rents. Since the population of Boston during the last decade
increased by 11.6 per cent and the number of dwellings by but 10.8
per cent, and since inevitably the older dwellings are continuously
deteriorating, it is hard to believe that the complaints of the housing
situation in that city are due only to high wages and a consequent
desire for improved housing conditions. The commission appears to
realize this, for later, another explanation is given of the rise in rents.
Landlords have been prompt to take advantage of these conditions to increase
rents. Properties which for years had been unprofitable were made to pay * * *.
Speculation in houses, due to high rents, has created the belief or fear that actual
shelter was not available. Dwellings have been sold over and over again, each time
at an advanced price. The lack of housing has been exaggerated to an extent that
tenants live in fear of increased rents or notices to vacate, ready at all times to make
any possible sacrifice to remain in their living quarters.
A number of the increases in rent, the commission asserts, have
been in violation of the 1920 law which provides that an increase
of more than 25 per cent over the rent “ as it existed one year prior
to the time of the agreement under which the rent is sought to be
recovered,” shall be considered unjust, unreasonable, and oppressive.
The great difficulty in regard to this law is that the majority of
tenants have no lease, and their tenancy may be terminated by the
landlord on 30 days’ notice; consequently they will put up with any
increase they can possibly meet rather than face the risk of finding
themselves without shelter. It would be a barren victory if they
successfully resisted an increase of rent, only to be notified that
they must leave their tenement or apartment. Nevertheless, the
commission holds that this law “ has been of great value in a vast
number of cases.” Of still greater utility, it feels has been the law
which permits a judge to grant a stay of proceedings in actions of
summary process to recover possession of dwellings. This, it feels,
has been the most useful of the emergency rent laws though it would
be of still greater value if it covered a longer period.
This law has not saved the tenant from the burden of finding other quarters. If
the present six months’ period could be extended to cover the period of the present
emergency, it would prevent much hardship, expense, and anxiety. Such extension
would enable tenants to stay in present quarters instead of forcing them to seek new
homes, and thus increase the agitation and artificial demand already existing. One
change starts an endless procession of families moving out and in.
Ill regard to remedies for the present situation, the commission
is not very hopeful. Increased building will take place “ when rents
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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HOUSING.
147
are sufficiently high to attract investors,” and after building has
sufficiently increased rents will come down, falling first in the older
class of buildings. Meanwhile, “ if rents are kept unduly low by law,
the supply of dwellings will not increase.” In brief, the commission
holds that the present situation has been brought about in the main
by natural causes, and natural causes will remedy it in due time if
human impatience does not interfere with their workings.
The commission makes a few recommendations. Only about 33
per cent of the people, it finds, own their own homes, and it suggests
that “ the first important step is to create a desire on the part of
people to own and occupy their own homes and thus become their
own landlords.” The most definite step recommended as a means
toward this desirable end is in regard to the problem of financing
building enterprises.
However, from numerous reports and complaints received by the commission, it
appears that many applicants for real estate loans from financial institutions are
obliged to obtain the same through a third party, who receives a commission. This
practice should be eliminated either by giving the applicant the right of appeal to
the bank commissioner, or by a statute making it illegal to charge or receive a com
mission on this class of loans.
The cooperative banks of the Commonwealth are recommended
as exceptionally valuable and convenient agencies for financing
would-be home owners. These banks, which were established in
1879, now number nearly 200, and have assets of $ 1 6 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,
“ almost entirely invested in real estate mortgages.” Mention is
made of the fact that a number of industrial corporations have
begun building homes to be sold on easy terms to their employees,
and that several projects are under way for the cooperative owner
ship of apartment houses. All these projects the commission holds,
should, in the interest of the investor, be under the control of the
bank commissioner. Philanthropic and State aid in provision of
housing are deprecated, and the efforts of “ the private builder who
is seeking gain ” are considered the main reliance for the improvement
of conditions in the future. In the meanwhile, purely as an emergency
matter, the State might properly take some measures to protect the
public.
While rents are in process of reaching a sufficiently high level to increase building,
the people should be protected against extortion and harassment by unscrupulous
landlords. The commission therefore recommends that until more normal condi
tions exist there be some State supervision of rents for the protection of tenants.
Progress of the English Building Guilds.
LMOST coincidently with the English Government’s relin
quishment of its housing campaign, the English building
guilds have entered a new stage of their development, having
united into a National Guild, and having definitely entered the field
of private building. The guilds began their existence in a modest
and almost unpremeditated fashion. Before the close of the war
there had come into being an industrial council for the building
industry, composed in equal numbers of employers and employees,
which had appointed a number of subcommittees and was consid
ering various plans for the betterment of the industry. The com
mittee on scientific management presented what was probably the
A
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148
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
most important and far-reaching report brought before this body.
Its arguments and recommendations were discussed at length in an
earlier issue of the R e v ie w .1 Without going into details, it may
be said that this report contemplated the organization of the whole
industry as a self-governing body conducted for the public benefit,
insuring to each member fair remuneration, but eliminating profits.
Managerial and professional ability should be paid by salaries, and
the craftsman and machinist should be guaranteed continuous
employment, or, if employment failed through no fault of their own,
should receive a proportion of the normal pay, varying according
to the number of dependents. The general principle underlying the
plan was that everyone who is necessary to an industry has a right
to five by that industry, and to live by it the whole year round, not
merely during its busy season, but that no one has a right to more
than a fair remuneration for his services. If the industry makes more
than this program calls for, then either charges to the public should
be reduced or the surplus should be applied, after forming a fund for
possible lean years, to the improvement of the industry.
The proposed changes represented too wide a departure from
established methods to be acceptable to all the employer members
of the council, and for nearly two years the report was the subject
of strong controversy. Meanwhile, there was a tremendous need for
houses, building labor was relatively scarce, building costs were
rising disproportionately, and the governmental housing plan was
meeting with delay and difficulty at every step. Under these cir
cumstances certain progressive groups decided not to wait upon the
industry as a whole, but to unite and offer their services for the hous
ing program without further delay. At Manchester first and next
at London building-guild committees were formed and entered the
bidding for the housing contracts which the local authorities wished
to place. The Manchester guild committee was in the field by
February, 1920, and offered its services with a formal statement that
“ in no circumstances will the building-guild committee undertake
any speculative or profiteering contracts,” but that it believed tnat
the work could be done better, more quickly, and also at less cost
under the democratic management and craft fellowship of the guild
methods than under the ordinary profit-making methods.
The committee was ready and willing to begin work at once, but
a number of difficulties interfered, the greatest being a doubt on the
part of the local authorities as to its financial stability. Finally, by
late fall a satisfactory arrangement was worked out, the Wholesale
Cooperative Society guaranteeing a supply of materials, and the
Cooperative Insurance Society insuring the local authorities against
loss, and both in London and in Manchester and its vicinity the
guilds began work. By the end of the year the Manchester guild
had contracts accepted and sanctioned by the Ministry of Health
covering 1,196 houses, while their bids covering 1,020 more had been
accepted by the local authorities and only awaited the indorsement
of the central housing authority. They had begun work on schemes
including 635 of these houses. The London Guild had begun work
on a contract for 300 houses at Walthamstow and had concluded a
contract for another scheme at Greenwich.
1
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w , October,, I 'm , p p . 168-173.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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HOUSING.
149
The first few months of work under the guild system served to
bring out clearly three points which have been emphasized by further
experience: The comparative cheapness of the work, the greater
speed attained under the guild management, and the enthusiasm it
develops among the men. The first became noticeable as soon as
the guild began to put in bids. These were based on the estimated
cost of labor and materials; should the actual cost prove higher than
the estimate, the guild was to receive an allowance for the difference;2
should it prove lower, the saving was to go to the authorities. To
the prime cost of labor and materials, 6 per cent was added for over
head charges, and, in addition, the guild was to receive a lump sum
of £40 ($195, par) per house, which was to be used to establish a
reserve fund for the purpose of securing continuous pay to the work
ers. Under this contract the bids put in by the guilds were con
spicuously lower than those of private contractors. I t has been
estimated that the difference averaged about £100 ($487, par) per
house, but it differed according to type of house and other considera
tions. As a single scheme might include several hundred houses, the
saving was sometimes impressive. Thus, early in 1921, the local
authorities of Heywood advertised for bids for a housing scheme
they had in hand, and received three offers, the guild figures being
£16,000 ($77,864, par) lower than one and £26,000 ($126,529, par)
lower than the other bid received from private contractors. The
London guild’s bid for putting up 400 homes at Walthamstow was
over £14,000 ($68,131, par) below the lowest estimate submitted by
private contractors; at Walkden, where 64 houses were to be put
up, the guild’s estimate was £5,626 ($27,379, par) less than the lowest
offer made by other builders; at Merthyr, on a scheme including
40 houses, the guild put in a bid at an average of £1,026 ($4,993, par)
per house, while the bids of the private contractors ranged from
£1,350 to £1,575 ($6,570 to $7,665, par) per house.
At first the charge was brought th at the guilds were taking advan
tage of the sliding-scale clause in the contracts, arid th at although
the bids might be low, the final costs would prove high. As con
tracts began to be finished, this charge seems to have been dropped,
as the final cost was apt to be less than th at given in the preliminary
estimates. The first houses finished were p u t up for the Bentley
local authorities, and of these an official report states:
The first completed houses which were built by the guild committee for the Bentley
Urban District Council, have been completed in four months at a total cost of £760
[$3,699, par] per house. The completion of the houses at a total cost of £760 per
house, which is £70 [$341, par] below the figure (£830 [$4,039, par]) which the guild
estimated, may be taken as a saving of approximately £200 [$973, par] per house as
against private contracts.3
On 21 houses erected for the Wigan authorities, the final cost
was less than the estimate by from £32 to £72 ($156 to $350, par)
per house, according to the type of house. In the material at hand,
no instance has been found of a guild committee having exceeded
the figure given in the estimate.
A part of this reduction from the estimate no doubt is due to a
fall in the cost of building materials since the contracts were made,
2A sliding scale clause of th is k in d was included in practically all th e contracts m ade w ith p riv ate build
ers, owing to th e extrem e u n c erta in ty as to costs a n d wages in th e p o stw ar period.
3Scotland, B oard of H ealth . R ep o rt of com m ittee of in q u iry in to th e high cost of building working
class dwellings in Scotland.
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but as the guild’s estimates were invariably lower than those of
private contractors made at the same time, not all of the economy
secured can be attributed to this cause. I t is noticeable that none
of the saving made is due to scamping anything connected with the
job. The materials are standard quality, and there is general
agreement that the work is excellent. Concerning the Bentley
houses mentioned above, the official surveyor of the district stated
in writing: “ The quality of the work is extra good and far superior
to that done by any other contractors in the district. ” Similar
testimony comes from other places where the guilds are working.
A high official of the Ministry of Health declared that the work of the guildsmen
at the Clayton estate was “ the best in England and Wales.” The chairman of the
contracts subcommittee of the Manchester City Corporation said, “ Work on guild
contracts beats everything. ” The brickwork on the Clayton estate is the finest I
have ever seen. I heard complaints concerning this scheme; production was excellent
but quality was too good.4
The comparative cheapness of the guild building seems due not
only to the elimination of profits, but in part to the efficient workman
ship and good output of the men, which is closely connected with
their enthusiasm for the guild system. Under it they are sure of
full pay, in wet weather or in fine, in sickness or in health, employed
or unemployed, and so have no fear of working themselves out of a
job. More im portant still, in the estimation of the guildsmen, is
the democratic organization of the industry. The managing com
mittee in each local unit is made up of representatives of each trade,
elected by the members of th at trade, and subject to recall should
their action be unsatisfactory. In addition, each craft elects its
own departmental foreman. Each worker, therefore, feels that he
has some share in each decision th at is made, th at the job is really his
and that instead of being a mere pawn to do what he is told when he
is told and to be discarded when his particular piece of work is finished,
he is an integral part of the industry, a partner in the whole affair, and
that its success or failure depends partially on his individual effort.
Finally, he knows th at the benefit of any extra skill or swiftness or
assiduity on his part goes to the public in the form of reduced cost
or better product, instead of being turned to the private profit of
his employer, and the net result of these conditions seems to be a
marked increase in output, a decreased need for supervision, and a
considerable improvement in the quality of the work done. The
enthusiasm of the men for their work seems to strike observers
very generally. One investigator gives his experience in the course
of a personal inspection of five different schemes on which the guilds
were working:
There is a notable absence of the lethargic movements which one is accustomed to
see on all kinds of building work. Everybody appears to be working with a will, as
though the job had to be carried through with the utmost possible speed. On one
scheme, where 236 men were employed, I took particular care to inspect places where,
in normal conditions, workmen might be found “ miking,” e. g., behind stacks of
brick, timber stores, sheds, etc. In no case did I discover anything of the sort. I
watched a group of laborers shoveling earth into carts. It was wonderful how
quickly the carts were filled. This intense activity was not due to the intimidation
of a vigilant foreman. The men were on their honor. * * * In the joinery shop
all the men were working at top speed. I discovered that the shop foreman was
“ away queer.” * * * On one scheme I discovered a variation of what I had
* A n in q u iry in to th e w orking of th e building guilds, by E rn est Selley.
ning, June, 1921, p . 140.
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come to regard as the guild standard of work. I noticed in my wanderings over the
site that there appeared to be a “ sagging” in the speed worked by some of the laborers.
Among a group employed on excavation work only a few seemed to be working with
a will. The others appeared to find a philosophical joy in contemplation rather than
activity. I overheard one of the hard workers exclaim, “ Come on, mates, you’re
letting us down! ” This remark had the desired effect. The general foreman ex
plained that, as there were large numbers of unemployed in the neighborhood, many
had volunteered merely for a job, and not because they had been inspired by guild
ideals. Besides, it would take time for their minds and muscles to respond to the
new stimuli. His experience was that after a few weeks two or three keen guildsmen produced wonderful effects on a whole gang.5
The guilds have met with bitter opposition, which, while the hous
ing program was under way, was sufficient to limit drastically the
number of contracts the local authorities were allowed to make with
them. Now that they have turned to the field of private work, it is
not yet apparent whether their opponents will be able to interfere
seriously with their development. The underlying cause of hostility
is, of course, the fact that the guild system is a direct challenge to
the present industrial organization, and that just so far as it is suc
cessful it will tend to monopolize the field, and to drive out the
present system of profits for employers and irregular work for em
ployees. A part of the opposition has been openly based upon these
grounds, the main argument being that the guilds will form a huge
industrial trust before which the public will be helpless. The guilds
reply that they are not likely to drive out the private contractor
unless they can work better and cheaper than he, and that if they
can, it is to the public interest that they should prevail. Since, they
add, they are based on the principle of making no profits, it is diffi
cult to see how the public would suffer even should the contractor
vanish and all building fall into the hands of the guilds.
In general, however, the attacks upon the guilds hardly go into
their underlying philosophy to this extent, but are directed to more
obvious and trivial matters. One of the most tenable objections
was brought forward by an official committee, which, having exam
ined the work done by the guilds, approved it, so far as it had gone
at the time of the report, but thought it unwise for the Government
to encourage the system of continuous pay.
We have considered the question of guild contracts and are in sympathy with the
policy of provision of workmen’s houses by guilds and think that, subj ect to reason
able safeguard, the system has much to commend it. We have been unable to obtain
sufficient information to enable us to say what effect this system will have upon costs.
We do think, however, that the differentiation in wages and conditions of payment
by the guilds i3 undesirable, in that it is likely to cause unrest in the building trades.
The enabling provisions of the contract whereby the guilds are able to give to their
employees terms by way of payment for wet time and sick time, and holidays which
are not recognized in the industry as a whole, we think must have a disturbing in
fluence upon building labor, which is such a large factor in considering the question
of cost.6
The guildsmen admit that their practice of continuous pay is
likely to cause dissatisfaction among outside workmen who do not
get it, but they decline to accept responsibility for this result. I t is
entirely possible for the private contractor, they point out, to adopt
the same principle and thereby prevent such dissatisfaction; if he
does not choose to do that, it is not their fault.
s G arden Cities a n d Tow n P lan n in g , June, 1921, p . 138.
G reat B rita in , M inistry of H ealth . R eport of com m ittee on th e high cost of building working-class
dwellings, p . 50. 1921.
6
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Another objection brought is that continuous pay is an invitation
to slacking and malingering. The contrary seems to be the case, so
far as the facts can yet be gathered. Thus, the pay sheet of the
Manchester Guild for the quarter ending December 31, 1920, showed
that the amount paid out for time not worked was less than 1 per
cent of the total amount paid in wages. As that quarter includes
two months in which bad weather is common, it is fairly apparent
that no undue advantage was taken, either of the weather or the
sick-leave provision.
At Walkden, where an average of forty men had been employed for 23 weeks, the
amount paid in respect of time lost through wet weather averaged 17s. 6d. ($4.26, par)
a week over the whole period. The fact is, that under the guild system there is less
“raining off ” than on the other jobs. The chairman of the Worselev District Council
housing committee informed me that the men on the Walkden scheme had worked
during all sorts of bad weather. * * * It should be stated, however, that under
the guild system men are willing to be put to any jobs that can be found when weather
conditions make it impossible for them to carry on their own craft.7
Still another argument is that the present efficiency of the guilds
is temporary, a mere flash in the pan. At present, it is said, the men
have the enthusiasm of pioneers; the test will come when the novelty
of the system has worn off, and the human tendency to give as little
work for as much pay as possible reasserts itself. The guildsmen
do not think that this is the human tendency under such conditions
as the guild provides, but admit th at only time can show how much
truth this criticism contains. They point out, however, th at they
have and exercise the right to discharge a man if he shows himself
unwilling to live up to the guild ideal of service, and th at in this
they have a defense against the slack worker if such a defense is
necessary. They themselves believe th at the careless or indifferent
worker is more affected by the enthusiasm of the ardent guildsmen,
who create the atmosphere surrounding the job, than by the fear of
discharge.
The Government’s change of plan in regard to housing came at a
time when the building guild committees which had developed in
various parts of the country were planning a union, and probably it
hastened that step. On July 23, 1921, representatives of the 115
committees met and formed a national body, under which are regional
councils and local committees. The central body, acting through a
national committee, maintains staffs of technical and professional
workers, makes contracts, keeps up yards and plants for the supply
of necessary materials, and is legally responsible for the execution
of contracts and the administration of the continuous pay fund.
The regional councils, each representing at least ten local committees,
may enter into contracts on their own initiative provided they do
not exceed a specified sum, and the local committees may undertake
small jobs independently, but in general the contract-making power
is in the hands of the central body.
The local committees consist of not more than two representatives
from each trade-union in the industry, elected by whatever method
the individual unions may choose. To these may be added one rep
resentative from any approved body of building trade workers,
“ whether administrative, technical, or operative.” The committees
have practically full control of matters in their own districts.
7 G arden Cities an d Tow n P lan n in g , Ju n e, 1921, p . 110.
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Each representative upon the committee shall be responsible in cooperation with
the secretary for the supply, conditions of employment, and discipline of the em
ployees in his trade-union. If any point touching trade-union rules and regulations
be raised, the local managing committee of the trade-union concerned shall he con
sulted. The decision of a joint session of the local managing committee and the
guild committee shall be final. * * *
. The guild committee shall be responsible for faithfully carrying out all contracts
signed on its behalf. To that end, it must by its own methods choose its general
and departmental foremen, and apply to the best advantage the funds under its
control.8
At the time this organization was formed the guilds also adopted
a new form of contract, made necessary by the change from Govern
ment to private building. The contracts made with the Government
were provisional, allowing for a change in the total amount should
prices or wages vary during the time of the execution of the agree
ment. In general, the final cost of contracts which have yet been
finished proved to be less than the figures given in the contract, but
the element of uncertainty involved was not satisfactory to the
private builder, who wished to know definitely what liability he was
assuming. Yet the guilds objected to a fixed sum, since, if the final
cost were less than this, they would be left with a profit on their
hands, contrary to all their principles. Accordingly, the so-called
“ maximum price contract" has been adopted, under which the guild
sets a figure which is in no case to be exceeded but may be reduced,
the owner to receive the benefit of any reduction which may be
accomplished. To cover the risk of loss involved in this absolute
maximum, an insurance fund has been started, which is financed by
adding a very small percentage charge to the cost of labor and mate
rials when drawing up the contract. The guild also offers another
form of contract, designed to meet cases where there is danger that
makers of materials may try to boycott guild enterprises, under
which the owner supplies the materials and the guild provides the
labor and the organizing personnel.
With the formation of the central body and the adoption of the
new contract, the guild enters another phase of its development, and
one in which it will meet the test of more severe conditions than in
the past. The large-scale building involved in the Government’s
housing plans smoothed away some of the difficulties which must
now be encountered; the present period of business depression and
widespread unemployment is not a favorable time for making a start;
and, as their critics have suggested, as the guilds become more of an
old story and as their workers become less and less a picked body,
output and quality of work may deteriorate. The guilds, however,
show no signs of trepidation. They are negotiating a loan of
£150,000 ($729,975, par) from the trade-unions, to be used in pro
viding the necessary plant and equipment, and they are already put
ting up in London what will probably be the first guild factory in
Great Britain. They are still busy on contracts undertaken for the
Government, and are seeking new work from, private employers with
entire confidence that they can carry through their full program.
And other workers are beginning to follow suit. A guild of furniture
makers, it is reported, has already been formed, a guild of clothing
makers is under discussion, and in connection with WYlwyn Garden
City, efforts are being made to form an agricultural workers’ guild.
8 C onstitution of th e N atio n al B uilding Guild, articles 5,. 11.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[13151
IN D U STRIA L A CCIDENTS.
Tenth Annual Congress of the National Safety Council.
T IS usually the case that each of the annual gatherings of the
National Safety Council has some distinctive feature. The
tenth congress was held in Boston, September 26 to 30. Here
tofore the special efforts during the week of the congress toward a
realization of the goal of safety work have been mostly confined to
the city where the congress was held. In the present instance the
entire New England area was interested and alert to make a good
record. Precise figures are not available, but industrial and high
way fatalities did not much, if at all, exceed one-half as many as
occurred in the corresponding week of the previous year.
The fact that the highway is the most dangerous place in America
so far as number of accidents is concerned was again forcibly brought
to attention. It should be remarked, however, that its comparative
hazard may be exaggerated due to the fact that there is no way in
which amount of exposure can be exactly ascertained as is done in
the determination of industrial hazard.
The opening session with its address of welcome by the governor
of the State, response and address by the president of the council,
reports of officers and committees, can not be summarized in any
satisfactory manner. The reports made it evident that while the
prevailing industrial depression was having its effect upon the
membership and the revenues of the council, safety activities were
by no means reduced in the same proportion. Clearly the members
of the council are, in large majority, of the opinion that safety work
should be maintained to the utmost even in the face of difficulties
at a time of depression.
For a considerable period in the early development of the council
there was a tendency to split up into sectional meetings in such
fashion as to constitute practically separate gatherings. In the
last few years it has been recognized that this tendency, if pushed
to an extreme, would interfere with the solidarity and effectiveness
of the movement. Accordingly, in recent meetings time has been
given to general sessions in which matters of interest to everyone
concerned in safety have been discussed.
The subject of the general session of the afternoon of September
26th was “ Public safety and education.” The problem of public
safety was presented by Mr. Arthur Woods, formerly police com
missioner of New York City, and that of safety instruction in the
public schools by Dr. John M. Withers, of the University of New
York; General Manager C. W. Price reported the activities of the
National Safety Council in introducing the subject into the schools.
Some very remarkable results of such instruction are on record.
For some years a general round table has been called at 8.30 a. m.
The interest "of the safety' men in such discussions has been evidenced
I
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by the fact that they have been on hand at that hour in goodly
numbers. This year, under the chairmanship of Mr. Geo. T. Fonda
of the Bethlehem Steel Co., the subject of safety bulletins was con
sidered from various angles. Probably no instrumentality has a
more direct and efficient appeal to the workman regarding those
forms of accident for which skill and care are the only remedies
than these bulletins.
Mr. H. W. Forster, of the Independence Bureau, Philadelphia,
discussed the engineer’s contribution to the saving of human life.
Mr. L. P, Alford of “ Management Engineering,” spoke on increas
ing production through accident prevention, and Mr. I). J. Price,
of the United States Department of Agriculture, gave demonstra
tions and motion pictures of dust explosions. The prevention of
such disasters as the destruction of the elevators in Chicago is very
clearly an engineering problem not yet perfectly solved.
A joint meeting of the manufacturing sections brought out an
exceedingly interesting presentation of the “ why” and “ how” of
better industrial lighting. Industry has still a long way to go before
lighting will be making its full contribution to production and safety.
It is encouraging that the matter is receiving earnest attention from
illuminating engineers and that some plants have installations
closely approximating an ideal standard. It is probable that
material changes in the form of lamps and their arrangement are
due, but quite as important is a higher standard in the matter of
upkeep. A great deal of light which might serve a useful purpose
is simply being smothered by lack of cleanliness in lamps and
reflectors.
In the session on health and sanitation, Chairman Wilcox of the
Wisconsin Industrial Commission made a very earnest plea for the
inclusion of all occupational diseases in the scope of compensation.
He made it clear that material lessening of industrial disease might be
expected from such inclusion. Dr. Spaeth of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity discussed the relation of health to the length of the working
day. There was considerable disappointment that General Sawyer
was unable to present his paper on “ Health of industrial workers,
and the public welfare.” Dr. Armstrong’s paper on “ What has been
done for the health of the industrial worker in Framingham?” was a
convincing showing of the possibilities of intensive effort. The
Framingham demonstration is intended to show primarily what can
be accomplished in the control of tuberculosis, it is quite evident
that such an attack on this particular malady has a material influence
on the general welfare.
Selection among the many sectional meetings is necessary since
it is an unavoidable feature of the congress that several things must
occur at the same time. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
is, however, interested especially in two subjects:
(1)
Such development of statistical methods and procedures as
will adequately present the facts regarding the experience of the
workers. Several of the sections of the National Safety Council have
undertaken to assemble their accident data. To this end they have
consulted with the bureau and have developed their schemes in
accordance with the proposals of the committee on statistics and
compensation insurance cost of the International Association of
76504°—21
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. Two of the sections
included this subject in then program .for the Boston meeting.
The construction section has had the matter under consideration for
two years and has evolved a system which, while corresponding in
its main features to the plans of the committee on statistics and com
pensation insurance cost, is adapted to the particular needs of con
struction companies. The automotive section will hereafter assemble
its statistical material in a similar manner.
(2)
National safety codes.—One of these codes in which the bureau
has had direct participation is that for the woodworking industries.,
A portion of one session was devoted to discussion of the code in
its present stage. Last year at Milwaukee time was given to con
sideration of the accident hazards involved in the operation of
circular saws. At the Boston meeting a broader phase was taken.
At another session Mr. J. M. Dickinson of the United States Bureau
of Standards presented the safety code for logging operations. The
two codes—logging and woodworking—will, when completed, provide
standards for the whole process of converting forests into usable
commodities.
The steam railroad section of the council has an extended program
and the sessions of this section were conducted with snap and en
thusiasm. The biggest safety problem of the railways is the grade
crossing. The final solution is an engineering and financial one.
When our railways run at other levels than the streets or are as
securely fenced and guarded as European roads were before the war,
the problem will nearly vanish.
The net impression derivable from contact with the sessions of the
council and the representatives there present is that steady progress
is being made toward the conditions in which safety will be recognized
as an integral part of business as essential in every well-ordered con
cern as any other element of production.
Coke-oven Accidents in the United States in 1920.
RECENT report (Technical Paper 293) by the United States
Bureau of Mines gives details of coke-oven accidents in the
United States during the calendar year 1920, and includes
figures for the preceding years as far back as 1915. The 1920 report
is based on returns received from 9,721 by-product ovens and 43,173
ovens of the beehive type, employing 28,139 men, 2 per cent less than
in 1919. Each employee worked an average of 319 days, an increase
of 30 days or 10 per cent as compared with the previous year. These
men worked a total of 8,976,214 shifts, about 8 per cent more than
in 1919. During the year under consideration coke-oven accidents
caused the death of 49 and the injury of 3,415 employees, a decrease
of 4 fatalities and 616 injuries as compared with the year before.
The fatality rate was 1.64 per thousand 300-day workers and the
injury rate was 114.13, as compared with 1.92 killed and 145.66
injured per thousand men employed in 1919, representing decreases
of 0.28 and 31.53, respectively. “ These rates may be expressed in
another way by saying that during the past year 8 lives were saved
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and 943 men escaped accidental injury who would have been killed
or injured if the accident rates for 1919 had continued through the
year 1920.” The following table compiled from the report gives the
essential facts relating to coke-oven accidents in the United States
during the six-year period, 1915 to 1920, inclusive:
C O K E -O V EN A C CID EN TS IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , 1915 TO 1920.
1920
Item .
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
N um ber.
N um ber em ployed..................
31,060
31,603
32,417
32,389
E q u iv alen t n u m b er of 30035,476
d a y w orkers...........................
34,119
35,595
31,415
D ays of labor perform ed........ 9,424,476 10,235,674 10,678,429 10,642,688
Average days a c tiv e ................
303
324
329
329
73
N um ber killed..........................
38
45
76
N um ber killed per 1,000 300day w orkers...........................
1.32
2.14
2.06
7,792
N um ber in ju re d .......................
2,852
6,713
5,237
N um ber in ju red per 1,000 300219.64
d ay w orkers...........................
90.78
153.49
188.59
1.21
Per
c en t
of de
crease
from
1919.
2.0
28,741
28,139
27,674
8,302,059
289
53
29,921
8,976,214
319
49
i 8.1
i 8.1
i 10.4
7.5
1.92
4,031
1.64
3,415
14.6
15.3
145.66
114.13
21.7
1 Increase.
Fatal injuries during 1920 were due for the most part to haulage
equipment (16), falls of persons (4), and falling objects (3), in the
order named. Burns, falling objects, haulage equipment, and hand
tools caused most of the nonfatal accidents (467, 411, 374, and 315,
respectively).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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LA BO R LAWS A N D C O U R T DECISIONS.
Provision for Unemployed Workers, California.
N EFFECT anticipating one of the recommendations of the Presi
dent’s Unemployment Conference, an act of the California Legis
lature (ch. 246) approved May 24, 1921, prescribes a. mode of pro
cedure for unemployment relief in that State. The State board of con
trol which supervises expenditure of State funds is authorized to secure
from the various departments, bureaus, boards, and commissions of
the State tentative plans for the extension of public works with a
view to affording “ increased opportunities for advantageous public
labor during periods of unemployment.” The bureau of labor sta
tistics, the immigration and housing commission, and industrial wel
fare commission are to keep constantly advised of industrial condi
tions throughout the State; and the bureau, either on its own initiative
or at the suggestion of the governor, may act in any case of evident
extraordinary unemployment caused by industrial depression, making
inquiry into the facts relating thereto. If such a depression is found
to exist, the board of control is authorized to use the available emer
gency fund for such extension of public works as the various depart
ments, etc., may suggest, the action taken to be left to the judgment
and discretion of the board of control.
The bureau of labor statistics is charged with the duty of preparing
approved lists of applicants for employment, with appropriate infor
mation as to their qualifications, making these lists available for the
employing departments, bureaus, etc. Citizens of California have the
first preference, citizens of other States residing in California second,
while aliens within the State are to receive consideration last.
I
Poll Tax on Aliens, California.
HE California Legislature at its session of the current year passed
a law (ch. 424) levying an annual poll tax of $10 on each alien
male resident in the State. The failure of an alien to pay his tax
made all debts owing to him, including wages, liable to garnishment.
Notice to the employer of an alien employee’s failure to pay this tax
obligated the employer to hold out from any wages due or to be earned
a sum sufficient to pay the tax, allowing three days’ notice to the
employee to furnish a receipt or evidence of payment. The constitu
tionality of this law was naturally promptly questioned, the case being
one of a citizen of Mexico, one Kotta, held by the chief of police in the
city and county of San Francisco for failure to pay the tax prescribed
by the statute above noted. Kotta applied for a writ of habeas corpus,
and the supreme court of the State directed his discharge from custody
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on the ground that the statute under which he was held was unconsti
tutional (Ex parte Kotta, 200 Pac. Rep. 957). The statute was held
to conflict with the provisions of the fourteenth amendment, which
forbids any State to “ deny to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of the laws.” This provision was held, as often
before, to apply to all persons within the territorial jurisdiction of the
constitution without regard to citizenship, race, color, or nationality.
The tax imposed would be based solely on the alien character of the
persons affected, different from and additional to the taxes required to
be paid by all inhabitants, whether citizen or alien ; being based solely
on the alien character of its subjects the statute attempts a discrimina
tion which the constitution does not allow.
Injunctions Against Picketing.
R
ECENT decisions in widely separated jurisdictions, in each of
which certain forms of picketing have been recognized as legal,
point out the distinction between permissible picketing and that
which will be enjoined. In one case (Southern California Iron & Steel
Co. v. Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel & Tin Workers, 200
Pac. 1), the association named had undertaken a strike against the
employers and were picketing the establishment in order to cut off the
supply of new workmen. The superior court of Los Angeles County
had granted the employers an injunction against picketing and inter
fering with their business, and from this the association appealed to
the supreme court of the State.
First pointing out the rights of workmen to quit employment, no
contract to the contrary existing, the court said that the employee
who had quit might legally peaceably persuade another employee to
quit his position or to remain out of the employment. However, a
coercion of the will, either by threats of violent acts, or by violence, or
the mere force of numbers is unlawful and subject to injunction. The
evidence was, as usual, conflicting, but the court found ample support
of the findings made by the court below that there had been threats
and intimidation, a number of employees testifying that they had left
work for fear of injury, while the wives of employees had been put in
fear by the fact that visits had been made to their homes and offensive
epithets had been applied to their husbands. It was said that to even
“ politely” request a withdrawal from service might be coercive and
unlawful if in fact there were enough strikers present to inspire a feel
ing of fear by reason of their numbers.
The second case was decided by the Supreme Court of Georgia
(McMichael v. Atlanta Envelope Co., 108 S. E. 226). As in the forego
ing case, there was a strike and an interlocutory injunction. The case
was before the supreme court of the State on a writ of error.
The union of workmen claimed that the court below had abused its
discretion in issuing the injunction, and had admitted improper testi
mony. The strike followed a demand for increased wages, shorter
hours, and a closed-shop contract. The employers refused the de
mand and undertook to carry on the business as an open shop with
individual contracts binding the employees not to be or become mem-
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bers of any labor organization during the term of their contract.
The strikers undertook to persuade the employees to break their con
tracts, offering them also transportation if they would leave the city.
At the present hearing the union relied on an earlier decision of the
court in which it was said that an injunction would not lie against
striking employees “ attempting by proper argument to persuade
others from taking their places so long as they did not resort to force
and intimidation.” The court approved this ruling in the instant
case, but added that where the attempt was “ by improper argu
m ent” and a “ resort to force, coercion, or intimidation,” it was clearly
the duty of the court to interfere by injunction. Lawful persuasion
was limited to such appeals to the judgment, reason, or sentiment as
leave the mind “ free to act of its own volition” ; where such freedom
no longer exists “ more than persuasion has been exercised.” The
evidence showed that there had been coercive action, and the injunc
tion was affirmed.
A third case (Cyrus Currier & Sons v. International Holders’ Union,
115 Atl. 66) was decided by the court of chancery of New Jersey,
which has allowed picketing for the purpose of obtaining information
“ by the use of the eyes and ears,” and conveying information to
those willing to hear (W. & A. Fletcher Co. v. Machinists, 55 Atl.
1077). A strike of some four years’ duration involved picketing and
attempts to persuade employees to join the union in breach of in
dividual contracts. An injunction was allowed not only against the
picketing with violence that had been indulged in, but also against
the persuasion that was directed to the breaching of the contracts,
the court saying that “ it is the master’s legal right to have his serv
ants abide with him, free from interference of the union, as it is the
right of the union to prosper unmolested by the employer.”
investigation of the Building Industry, Illinois.
NDUSTRIAL conditions and union activities in the building indus
try in Illinois, particularly in Chicago (p. 29), must be charged with
an act of the legislature of that State creating an investigating
commission to conduct inquiries with regard to that industry. The
commission is made up of members of the legislature, fourteen in all,
with power to subpoena and examine witnesses and require the pro
duction of books, papers, and records. The amount of $50,000 is
appropriated for the expenses of the commission.
The duty of the commission is to inquire into cost of construction
of buildings and other dwellings in the State, and to investigate the
existence of such combinations, agreements, practices, etc., among
builders, contractors, material men, laborers, and others as might
affect the cost of construction. The cost of production, distribution,
and transportation of building material and every element affecting
cost come within the scope of this commission. A report is to be made
to the governor not later than December 15, 1922, with recommenda
tions for such legislation as may be deemed necessary.
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Extortion in Labor Disputes, Illinois.
NSPIRED, no doubt, by the conditions prevailing in the same field
dealt with by the act noted above, i. e., the building industry,
another act of the Illinois Legislature (p. 401) deals with the sub
ject of extortion by labor organization. The act makes it an offense for
any person representing or pretending to represent any group of work
men to “ extort or attempt to extort, demand, accept, obtain, or
attempt to obtain” money or anything of value from any employer,
property owner, lessee, or their agents as a consideration for avoiding
settling or terminating any claim or controversy relating to em
ployment. The collection of alleged, fines or penalties imposed on
employers, etc., is likewise forbidden. No person is to be excused
from giving evidence on the ground that it may incriminate him, but
witnesses properly subpoenaed can not be punished on account of
transactions concerning which they testify under such subpoena.
The penalty for violation of this act is imprisonment for not less
than one year nor more than five years, no provision for fine being
made.
I
R.ent Law in Argentina.1
FTER two years’ agitation and discussion of legal measures to
check the increases in rent and otherwise to protect renters
from the rapacity of the landlords, the National Congress of
Argentina recently passed three measures designed to alleviate the
conditions complained of. These were promulgated on September 19
and became effective on that date. The first of these measures pro
vides that for two years after the promulgation of the law, rent for
houses, rooms, and apartments, for residential or industrial purposes,
in the Republic shall not be increased beyond the rate on January 1,
1920, and that under certain prescribed conditions all legal proceed
ings for dispossessing tenants for nonpayment of rent shall be stopped.
The’second measure amends certain articles of the civil code con
cerning leases. One provision nullifies any clause in a lease which is
designed to exclude children; another provides that leases shall be
considered to be for two years in the case of business or industrial
property, and one and one-half years in the case of dwellings, unless
the written contract specifies a period greater than two years, and
that during this period no change in rent or terms may be made. In
the case of furnished houses and rooms whose rent is fixed by the
year, month, week, or day the period of rental shall be that for which
the price is fixed, unless the time is stipulated in the contract. There
are certain exceptions to these provisions, as when the rent is in
arrears for two consecutive periods, or if the owner desires to enlarge
or improve his property. Another amendment regulates subletting,
and limits the increase that may be made in the rent under such
circumstances.
The third measure determines the procedure to be followed in carry
ing out judgments of the court permitting eviction of tenants.
A
1
L a Nacidn, Buenos Aires, Septem ber 16 an d 20,1921; an d B oletin del Museo Social A rgentino, Buenos
Aires, O ctober 10,1921.
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Application oi the Czechoslovakian Eight-Hour Day Act to
Agriculture.1
r-r-ijjE eight-hour day act of Czechoslovakia, which applies to
both industry and agriculture, was promulgated on December
A 19, 1918. Early in 1919 regulations were issued for putting
this legislation into effect. The provisions relative to agricultural
work are quite elastic in order to meet the country’s economic, social,
and climatic conditions.
The act differentiates day laborers from “ deputatists ” and farm
servants,2 day laborers alone benefiting by the principle of the 8-hour
day. As a matter of fact, this principle is adapted to these workers
by taking a period of four weeks as the basis for calculating the work
ing hours, the distribution of the 192 permitted hours within the basic
period to be agreed upon by the employers and workers. Two hours’
overtime per day were allowed for a maximum of 20 weeks, namely,
240 hours annually, and certain formalities were at first required to
secure permission for overtime work. Overtime wage rates are not
fixed by law.
Under the act the employer may use an agricultural day laborer
for a maximum of 2,640 hours and a deputatist (permanent employee)
or farm servant for a maximum of 3,840 hours during the year.
There was so much controversy as to the positive results of this
act as applied to agriculture that the minister for social welfare of
Czechoslovakia held an oral inquiry on the subject on December 9,
1920. The proceedings of this inquiry are embodied in a report of
the International Labor Office, which publication also includes the
results of a personal investigation by a member of that office regard
ing the operation of the act.
The report states that general conclusions as to the effects of the
legislation would be premature because of the short time since the
passage of the act, the abnormal social and political conditions to
which it has been applied, and the lack of requisite data for a proper
estimate as to this law’s results and implications. It is declared,
however, that the tension between employers and workers which
seems to have been created at first by this legislation has been
apparently brought to an end by the collective agreements of 1920.
These agreements have so greatly modified the act that existing
conditions are not so much regulated by it as by a combination of
provisions of this law and of the collective agreements. The modifica
tions relative to day laborers include the doing away with the com
pensatory rest period, the establishment of the normal work day
of 10 hours, the abolition of the overtime permit system and the
resultant elimination of all restrictions on overtime.
Wages for agricultural day laborers have increased, due in part
at least to the operation of the act, and a change has been made
from daily to hourly rates. Payment at piece rates has become
more popular. The wages of permanent employees have also
1
2
The eight-hour day act a n d its application to agriculture in Czechoslovakia, published by th e In te r
national Labor Office, Geneva, 1921.
„„ „
F arm servants are generally unm arried, a n d are usuallv lodged a nd boarded b y th e em ployer.
Depu
ta tis ts ” are th e perm an en t emplovees paid by th e m o n th or year, a nd are usually m arried. T hey are
lodged by th e proprietor, b u t are only boarded in p a rt by th eir employer. A p a y m e n t m k in d is term ed
a " d e p u ta t.”
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advanced. There is a marked tendency to pay a greater proportion
of wages in kind.
Apparently the material conditions of agricultural employees
have improved, the demand for labor has increased, and migration
of rural workers to town has stopped since the passage of the act,
but the extent of its influence in bringing about these results, can
not be determined.
The report declares that this law was not responsible for the poor
harvest in 1919.
The act would seem to be more easily put into effect on extensive
farms and estates, and to have detrimental results when applied to
average-sized or small farms.
The workers appear to have utilized the spare time made available
to them under the act by additional labor to augment their earnings
or in trade-union activities.
On the whole, the law seems to have given the workers a certain
amount of protection and a sense of security. It is reported that
there is no recorded evidence to warrant the conclusion that improved
relations between employers and employees have resulted from this
legislation. The number of strikes has apparently not been affected
by the law which has, however, been influential in promoting the
expansion of trade-unionism among agricultural workers.
The act seems to have been successfully applied without modifica
tion to forestry work (tree felling) and in agricultural improvements
and public utility work, but general experience appears to indicate
that the principle of the 8-hour day can not be rigidly applied to
agriculture but must be made adaptable to local conditions.
Labor Legislation in the Polish Republic.
HE above is the title of a pamphlet of 55 pages by Gustaw
Simon, setting forth a summary of the legislation of the Polish
Republic enacted and considered from the date of its establish
ment, up to October, 1920. This covers a period of practically two
years, during which time the problems of adjusting the social and
legal status of three divergent groups had to be considered. Prussian
Poland had the benefits of a considerable legislative development and
organization, while the territory acquired from Russia was extremely
deficient in this regard; the condition of the remaining territory lay
between these two, the Austrian system being much less efficient
than that of Prussia.
A ministry of labor and social protection was built up from the
labor department already founded during the German occupation
in 1917, and at the date of this writing contains 5 sections: Labor
protection, labor insurance, employment agencies, social protection,
and general. A considerable number of decrees had been issued
directly by the Government of the Republic before the formation
of a Diet, but the subjects considered were chiefly those embodied
in law by the action of the Diet.
The first law considered is that fixing the work time in industry
and commerce, adopting the 8-hour day, but limiting work time on
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Saturday to 6 hours. In injurious employments the time may be
further reduced. It is noted that this limits work to a 46-hour week,
a further reduction than that provided by the standard adopted
by the International Labor Conference in Washington. Overtime
work may be allowed by permission granted in special circumstances,
but is limited in amount, and must be paid for at a rate of time and
one-half; while excess extra work, night work and Sunday work
call for double pay. An hour’s recreation after every 6 hours of
work is the general rule, but with exceptions according to the require
ments of the employment.
A labor inspection decree is regarded as of special importance in
the Russian area where there is much need of a careful supervision of
the conditions of employment, including wages, the prices of goods
furnished by employers, apprenticeship, social insurance, etc. Among
the 60 labor inspectors are 18 farming inspectors.
In March, 1919, an act for the adjustment of labor disputes was
adopted, subsequent extensions of scope being made. This, how
ever, is regarded as “ merely the introduction to a great arbitration
legislation (labor courts) which has already been prepared by the
Ministry of Labor.” Agricultural conflicts are embraced, the law
in this respect being regarded as of special importance. Methods
include mediation by the labor inspectors, a conciliation commis
sion, and an arbitration commission. This last is the final resort,
and is supported by the State treasury. The act is said to be “ the
turning point in the rural conditions in Poland,” and has introduced
a prospect of rational development to replace chaos and one-sidedness.
The large Jewish element of the population causes difficulty with
regard to the observance of holidays, and particularly as to the
Sabbath. Legislation secures rest on Sundays and the Christian
holidays, with freedom, however, to those who are desirous of observ
ing other days. The Sunda}^ rest law is said to be very rigidly
enforced.
Workingmen’s trade-unions and federations are the subject of
legislation which contemplates registration and representation of
registered unions in consultative councils attached to the Ministry of
Labor.
Compulsory insurance against illness already existed in the German
and Austrian areas, but with divergent systems. The Russian law of
1912 had not affected the Polish Province. A uniform law therefore
had to recognize the various conditions and make the necessary
adjustments to the previous law. Compulsory sick insurance exists
regardless of sex for employees generally, while cottagers and persons
working with them temporarily, as well as apprentices and assistants,
even though unsalaried, are subject to insurance. Membership is
divided according to wages into 14 groups, and rates of benefits are
adjusted accordingly. Provision is made for medical aid, maternity
benefits, funeral expenses, and a continuing payment during dis
ability for work for a period not exceeding 26 weeks. Contributions
amount to 6f per cent of the earnings, compulsory members paying
two-fifths and employers three-fifths of the amount. Unemployed
persons are cared for by contributions from the State treasury, which
also bears one-half the cost of maternity relief and of aid for the fam
ilies of sick members.
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165
An important section of the report is that which discusses employ
ment service and emigration. The activities of this service were
largely influenced by the restoration of Polish workers forced to
emigrate during the war. Employment conditions were so thor
oughly disorganized, and economic activities suspended, that the
work of placement has been fundamental. Private labor exchanges
continue, though the communal activities of the different areas vary
widely in their development. Full and careful supervision by the
state of this matter is contemplated both by existing legislation and
by additional enactments under consideration. Care for the unem
ployed has been an important function, but conditions are said to be
improving and works of a merely provisory and philanthropic nature
have given way to those of a productive type. Investigations of
the cost of living, the distribution of farm lands, a state housing fund,
the control of rents, and housing inspection are other measures that
have been adopted looking toward the adjustment of economic
conditions. In this connection mention is also made of the
cooperative societies bill.
Bills in prospect relate to the labor of women and children, domestic
service, collective agreements, and accident insurance; emigration
and labor exchanges are also to receive further consideration, as
well as labor disputes, the sweating system, etc.
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The Threatened Railroad Strike.
r-|~iECHNICALLY, the threatened strike was in repudiation of the
Railroad Labor Board’s wage cut of 12 per cent, effective last
A July. The precipitating cause of the strike call was the
announced intention of the railway executives to ask lor further
wage reductions. But industrial relations on the railroads had been
seething for some time. The brotherhood officers already had a
strike authorization from their membership in their pockets, pending,
they said, a final effort to get the rail managers into conference.
Some of the compelling causes of the unrest of the railroad unions
are to be found in their charge that the railroads were not carrying
out the decisions of the board, and that at least 39 ot the railroads
had disregarded the Railroad Labor Board’s decisions; in their con
viction that many of the railroads were unwilling to make agree
ments—in fact only two railroads had made satisfactory ones; in
their dissatisfaction with certain recent decisions of the Railroad
Labor Board involving rules and conditions of work on the railroads;
and finally in their conviction that the carriers were antagonistic to
union organization and were attempting to bring about an inopportune
strike.
A strike ballot was authorized by the engineers, conductors, fire
men, trainmen, and switchmen at the conference of the general
chairmen of these brotherhoods, held in Chicago last July. At that
time a resolution was passed providing for a meeting with represen
tatives of the carriers in an attempt to adjust “ all matters in con
troversy,” and directing union representatives to place the railway
executives on record as to whether or not they would request further
wage decreases, and for a strike ballot on the 12 per cent cut in wages
authorized by the Railroad Labor Board and effective July 1. That
resolution, which also sets forth certain grievances of the railroad
workers, follows:
R e s o lu tio n o f R a ilw a y B r o th e r h o o d s , J u l y , 1921.
Whereas the general chairmen re;»resenting the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi
neers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Order of Railway Conductors, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and the Switchmen’s Union of North
America, on American railroads where wage reductions have been authorized by the
United States Railroad Labor Board, have assembled to take action thereon; and
Whereas they are required not only to consider a wage reduction, but in many
instances railroad officers have served notice of their intention to abolish time and
one-half for overtime in road freight and yard service, and in addition thereto to revise
schedules for the benefit of the railroad by abolishing many rules and conditions,
which in the aggregate mean the loss of much money and the creation of less favorable
conditions for the various classes of employees; and
Whereas much unrest and uneasiness exist, which cause deep concern, add to the
seriousness of the situation and establish a condition of affairs which makes it practi166
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167
cally impossible for this body of general chairmen to take the responsibility of decid
ing.these important questions, for the reason that we hold that no reduction in wages
of the various classes is justifiable; and
Whereas it is the earnest desire of the representatives assembled to do everything
possible compatible with their duty to those whom they represent, to avoid any
inconvenience or loss to the public; and
Whereas in keeping with this thought we hereby authorize and direct our execu
tive officers to acquaint those in authority with these resolutions; further, that they
call attention to the fact that certain carriers, namely, the Missouri & North Arkansas
Railway and the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad, have disregarded the
decisions and flouted the authority of the United States Railroad Labor Board; and
Whereas despite all these provocative circumstances, coupled with a common desire
to refrain from taking any action that might precipitate a deplorable situation, we
R e s o lv e , That the general chairmen here assembled can not assume the responsi
bility of accepting wage reductions, and that not later than September 1, 1921, the
entire subject matter be referred to the membership through the various general
committees for acceptance or rejection. Be it further
R e s o lv e d , That we authorize our chief executives to make arrangements, if possible,
to meet a committee of railway executives to be selected to meet a subcommittee
representing the organizations named herein to consider and, if possible, adjust all
matters in controversy, and that our chief executives and the committees who are
handling these questions be directed to clearly place the representatives of the rail
way corporations on record as to whether or not they will request further decreases
in rates or compensation, the abolition of schedule rules or regulations, or the elimina
tion of time and one-half time.
The ballot when submitted to the men shall contain an impartial and unbiased
recital of all that is involved and the wishes of the men as expressed by ballot shall
determine the matter in accordance with the laws of the respective organizations.
Conferences held in the east, southeast, and western territories
considered four union demands; (1) The recall of all wage reductions
pending negotiations, so that each party to the conference is on an
equal basis; (2) assurance that for a fixed time to be determined by
agreement no further reductions would he requested or made; (3) an
agreement that no effort be made to take away from the men time
and one-half time for overtime; and (4) an agreement that for a
certain fixed time to be agreed upon no attempt would be made
to cancel or change the present agreement of rules and working
conditions. These negotiations were unsuccessful and a strike vote
followed. The result of this vote was communicated to the railway
executives with a request for a conference. The executives, how
ever, already in session, had adopted a program which called for a
further reduction amounting to about 10 per cent in wages of railway
workers, such reduction to lie passed on to the public in the shape
of reductions in freight rates.
This course precluded any agreement on the demands of the
workers that assurance be given by the carriers of no further wage
reductions during a fixed time determined by agreement. This
conference therefore failed, and the strike was called for October 30.
The documents of interest in these negotiations are reprinted
herewith.
The program of the railway executives for reduction of wages is
set forth in the following resolution:
P r o g r a m o f R a ilr o a d s f o r R e d u c tio n o f W ages.
It is therefore resolved that the following program be properly initiated and put
into effect:
1. Application of the United States Railroad Labor Board, to be filed promptly
as possible under the law, for a reduction in Wages of train service employees sufficient
to remove the remainder of the increase made by the Labor Board’s Decision No. 2
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
(which 'would involve a further reduction of approximately 10 per cent), and for a
reduction in the wages of all other classes of railroad labor to the rate for such labor
in the several territories where the carriers operate, with the understanding that
concurrently with such reduction in wages, the benefit of the reduction thus obtained
shall, with the concurrence of the Interstate Commerce Commission, be passed on
to the public in the reduction of existing railroad rates, except in so far as such re
ductions shall have been made in the meantime.
That at the time of the announcement of this program a comprehensive statement
be issued to the public, pointing out that the railroads can not, because of the ordinary
and irresistible operation of economic laws, make reductions in rates with proper
regard to their duty to furnish the public with transportation until there is a sub
stantial reduction in costs; reciting the conditions of the carriers which make this
manifest and asking the support of the public and of labor itself in the effort to bring
about a proper readjustment of the costs of transportation and the charges made to
the public for the transportation service.
The statement to the public issued in accordance with this res-,
olution follows :
S ta te m e n t o f R a ilw a y E x e c u tiv e s re P r o p o s e d W age R e d u c tio n s .
At a meeting of the Association of Railway Executives to-day, it was determined
by the railroads of the United States to seek to bring about a reduction in rates, and
as a means to that end to seek a reduction in present railroad wages, which have
compelled maintenance of the present rates.
An application will be made immediately to the United States Railroad Labor
Board for a reduction in wages of train service employees sufficient to remove the
remainder of the increases made by the Labor Board’s decision of July 20, 1920
(which would involve a further reduction of approximately 10 per cent), and for a
reduction in the wages of all other classes of railroad labor to the going rate for such
labor in the several territories where the carriers operate.
The foregoing action is upon the understanding that concurrently with such re
duction in wages the benefit of the reduction, thus obtained, shall, with the con
currence of the Interstate Commerce Commission, be passed on to the public in the
reduction of existing railroad rates, except in so far as this reduction shall have been
made in the meantime.
The managements have decided upon this course in view of their realization of
the fact that the wheels of industrial activity have been slowed down to a point which
brings depression and distress to the entire public, and that something must be done
to start them again in operation.
The situation which confronts the railroads is extremely critical. The railroads
in 1920 realized a net railway operating income of about $62,000,000, upon a property
investment of over $19,000,000,000, and even this amount of $62,000,000 included
back mail pay for prior years received from the Government of approximately
$64,000,000, thus showing, when the operations of that year alone are considered, an
actual deficit before making any allowance for either interest or dividends.
The year ended in serious depression in all branches of industry, and in marked
reduction of the market demand for and the prices of basic commodities, resulting
in a very serious falling off in the volume of traffic.
In this situation a policy of the most rigid economy and of postponing and cutting
to the bone the upkeep of the properties was adopted by the railroads. This w'as at
the price of neglecting and for the time deferring work which must hereafter and in
the near future be done and paid for. This is illustrated by the fact that, as of Septem
ber 15, 1921, over 16 per cent, or 374,431 in number, of the freight cars of the carriers
were in bad order and needing repairs, as against a normal of bad-order cars of not
more than 160,000, as is further illustrated by the deferred and inadequate maintenance
of other equipment and of roadway and structures.
Even under those conditions and with this large bill charged up against the future,
which must soon be provided for and paid if the carriers are to perform successfully
their transportation duties, the result of operations for the first eight months of this
year, the latest available figures, has been at a rate of net railway operating income,
before providing for interest or dividends, amounting to only 2.6 per cent per annum
on the valuation of the carrier properties made by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in the recent rent case, an amount not sufficient to pay the interest on their
ouststanding bonds.
It is manifest, from this showing, that the rate of return of 5) or 6 per cent, for the
first two years after March 1, 1920, fixed in the transportation act as a minimum rea
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sonable return upon railroad investment, has not been even approximated, much less
reached, and that the present high rates accordingly are not due to any statutory
guarantee of earnings, for there is no such guarantee.
In analyzing the expenses, which have largely brought about this situation, it
becomes evident that by far the largest contributing cause is the labor cost. To-day
the railroads pay out to labor approximately 60 cents on the dollar they receive for
transportation services, whereas in 1916, 40 cents on the dollar went to labor.
On the first day of January, 1917, when the Government took charge of wages through
the Adamson Act, the labor cost of the railroads had not exceeded the sum of about
$1,468,000.000 annually. In 1920, when governmental authority made the last wage
increase, the labor cost of the railroads was about $3,698,000,000 annually, or, if con
tinued throughout the year, instead of for the eight months, during which the wage
increases were in effect, the labor cost, on an annual basis, would have been largely
in excess of $3,900,000,000—an increase, since the Government took charge of railroad
wages in the Adamson Act, of approximately $2,450,000,000 annually. In the light of
these figures, it is manifest that the recent reduction of wages, authorized by the
Labor Board, estimated at 10 to 12 per cent, in no sense meets or solves the problem
of labor costs and in no way makes it possible for the railroads to afford a reduction in
their revenues.
Indeed, during the last year there have been between 4,000 and 5,000 individual
reductions in freight rates. On some railroads the reductions in rates have amounted
to more than the reduction in wages so far made, and on many other railroads the re
ductions in wages allowed no net return on operations, but merely provided against
the further accumulation of a deficit.
The point is often made that agriculture and other industries are also suffering the
same immediate difficulties as the railroads. Why, therefore, do not the railroads
take their medicine like anybody else? The answer lies in several facts:
1. The railroads were not permitted, as were other industries, to make charges
during the years of prosperity making possible the accumulation of a surplus to tide
them over the present extreme adversity. According to the reports of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, the rate of return on property investment of the railroads of
the United States for the last several years has been as follows:
R a te o f R e tu r n E a r n e d by R a ilr o a d s o f the U n ite d S ta te s o n T h e ir P r o p e r ty I n v e s tm e n t.
P e r c e n t.
P e r c e n t.
4.84
5.15
4.17
4.20
5.90
1912.
1913.
1914.
1915.
1916'
1916 2,
1917..
6.16
5. 26
3.51
2.46
0. 32
1918..
1919..
1920..
2Calendar year.
1Fiscal year.
It will thus be noted that during the years when other industries were making very
large profits, when the prices of farm products and the wages of labor were soaring to
unheard-of heights, the earnings upon railroad investment in the United States were
held within very narrow limits, and that they have, during the last four years, pro
gressively declined.
2. The railroads are responsible to the public for providing adequate transportation.
Their charges are limited by public authority and they are in very large respects
(notably for labor) compelled to spend money on a basis fixed by public authority.
The margin within which they are permitted to earn a return upon their investment,
or to offer inducements to attract new capital for extensions and betterments, is
extremely limited. However much the railroads might desire, therefore, to reduce
their charges in times of depression, it will be perceived that the limitations surround
ing their action do not permit them to give effect to broad and elastic policies which
mfght very properly govern other lines of business not thus restricted.
It has been urged upon the railroads that a reduction in rates will stimulate traffic
and that increased traffic will protect the carriers from the loss incident to a reduction
in rates. The railroad managements can not disguise from themselves that this sug
gestion is merely conjectural, and that an adverse result of the experiment would be
disastrous not only to the railroads but to the public, whose supreme need is adequate
transportation. Consequently the railroad managements can not feel justified in
placing these instrumentalities, so essential to the public welfare, at the hazard of such
an experiment, based solely upon such a conjecture.
It is evident, however, that existing transportation charges bear in many cases a
disproportionate relationship to the prices at which commodities can be sold in the
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market, and that existing labor and other costs of transportation thus imposed upon
industry and agriculture generally a burden greater than they should bear. This is
especially true of agriculture. The railroad managements are feeling sensitive to and,
sympathetic with this distressing situation and desire to do everything to assist in re
lieving it that is compatible with their duty to furnish the transportation which the
public must have.
At the moment the railroads in many cases are paying 40 cents an hour for unskilled
labor, when similar labor is working alongside the railroads and can easily be obtained
by them at 20 cents an hour. The railroads of the country paid in 1920 a total of con
siderably over $1,300.000,000 to unskilled labor alone. However desirable it may be
to pay this or that schedule of wages, it is obvious that it can not be paid out of railroad
earnings unless the industries which use the railroads are capable of meeting such
charges.
The railroads, and through them the people generally, are also hampered in their efforts
to economize by a schedule of working rules and conditions now in force as a heritage
from the period of Federal control and upheld by the Railroad Labor Board. These
conditions are expensive, uneconomic, and unnecessary from the point of view of
railroad operation, and extremely burdensome upon the public which pays the bill.
This schedule of wages and of working conditions prevents the railroads from dealing
equitably with labor costs in accordance with rapidly changing conditions and the
great variety of local considerations which ought to control wages in different parts
of the country. The railroads are seking to have those rules and working conditions
abrogated.
“ The railroads will seek a reduction in wages, now proposed, by first requesting the
sanction of the Railroad Labor Board. The railroads will proceed with all possible
dispatch, and as soon as the Railroad Labor Board shall have given its assent to the
reduction of wages the general reduction in rates will be put into effect.”
The men’s position and their reasons for striking as set forth by
Mr. W. S. Stone, president of the engineers, are reprinted below:
M r. S t o n e ’s S t a te m e n t.
The men’s position and their reasons for striking are, in part, as follows:
When the transportation act of 1920 became a law it was hoped by the employees
that all disputes Would be adjusted and decisions rendered by the Board would be
complied with by the carriers and employees. Instead of complying with the deci
sions of the Labor Board, the railroads soon began to disregard or flout its decisions,
flagrant instances of this being the action of the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic, the
Erie,_ the Pennsylvania, and many other cases that could be cited.
It is well known, and admitted by all, that the railway men were the last to receive
any increase during the war period. During August, 1919, the Bortherhood of Loco
motive Engineers submitted to President Wilson a statement setting forth that a
decrease in the cost of the necessities of life was necessary or an increase in wages was
imperative.
From that time on the increase in wages was discussed on different occasions, and
was finally submitted to the Labor Board. In July, 1920, they handed down a desision
which based on all the facts, they declared just and equitable, and further stated that
their conclusions were reached after long consideration of the facts, as evidenced by
the testimony before that board.
Later, Mr. Atterbury of the Pennsylvania Railroad appeared before the Board,
and, in a spectacular presentation, demanded an immediate reduction of the wages
of all railroad employees, notwithstanding the carriers had been granted a material
increase in freight and passenger rates in order to meet the increased wages granted
by the board. This was denied on technical grounds, because the carriers had not
properly created a dispute, in accordance with the transportation act.
The railroads then began to serve notice on all their employees, demanding reduc
tions in pay, thereby legally creating a dispute, which was referred to the Labor Board,
resulting in a 12 per cent reduction as of July, 1921.
To further aggravate the situation, immediately following this meeting a great num
ber of the railroads served notice on their employees that they would revise a schedule
and take from them the rules governing their service that had been in effect for from
10 to 30 years. Said rules were obtained, partly by the efforts of the United States
Board of Mediation or boards of arbitration, of which the neutral members Were
appointed by the representatives of the Government. The majority of such rules were
the result of negotiations across the table with the representatives of the organizations
and the managers of the individual railroads and acknowledged to be fair and equitable.
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A conference of all general chairmen was arranged to be held in the month of July
in the city of Chicago. The result of said conference was to instruct the executives
of the organizations to meet the executives of the railroads some time prior to Septem
ber 1 for the purpose of trying to bring about an amicable adjustment. This was done,
and a committee of railroad executives Were met in the East, Southeast, and Western
territories, their answers all being similar and denying any kind of conciliatory
measures.
Following the refusal of the executives of the railways to enter into any agreement
with the executives of the organizations, there was nothing left to do but refer the
matter to a referendum vote of all the workers which, were employed on the railroad
and to submit their decision in the matter. In October the representatives of the
workers were convened in Chicago and a canvass of the vote Was made, which indicated
that 94 per cent plus Were in favor of withdrawing from the service. Such a condition
was never known before in the history of railroad labor," and no doubt was caused by
the arrogant, selfish attitude of the railroad executives, together with their declination
to be a party to any kind of conciliatory terms.
After the vote had been canvassed the chairman of the Railroad Owners' Association
was notified by wire of the result and the request for a conference committee was made.
The 150 railroad presidents, meeting in Chicago, named a committee of 5 railroad
presidents to meet the executive officers of the transportation brotherhoods. They
declined to make any concession or offer any solution providing for a settlement, but
instead notified us that a resolution had been adopted by the railroad presidents,
asking the Labor Board for a further wage reduction of the employees.
Then, and not until then, was permission given for men to leave the service.
The following railroad organizations comprising a membership of
approximately 405,000 voted to take part in the strike:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen.
Order of Railway Conductors.
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
Order of Railroad Telegraphers.
Switchmen’s Union of North America.
The shop crafts voted not to strike on the wage issue and to defer
their action until the Railroad Labor Board had disposed of the
'pending rules and working conditions controversy. The organiza
tions, with a total membership of about 1,250,000, which failed to
issue a strike call were as follows:
International Association of Machinists.
International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths, Drop Forgers and Helpers.
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of
America.
Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers International Alliance.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America.
Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and
Station Employees.
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and Shop Laborers.
Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen and Oilers.
Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.
On October 16 the three members of the public group of the
Railroad Labor Board who had been called by the President to a
conference with the Interstate Commerce Commission shortly before
the strike was announced, made to President Harding a proposal for
a settlement of the controversy. They proposed that the strike
order be withdrawn; that the 12 per cent wage decrease made
effective on July 1, be immediately translated into reduced freight
rates; and that the request for further wage reductions be withdrawn
until the. effect of such reduction on the revenue of the roads became
apparent. This plan was rejected.
76564°—21
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
On October 25 the Labor Board issued a memorandum on the
threatened strike, stating that the question of wage reductions
proposed by the carriers could not receive consideration until matters
on the board’s already overcrowded dockets were disposed of.
Questions of rules affecting working conditions on the railroads,
which were then under consideration by the board, were so inter
woven with wage questions that satisfactory consideration of the
latter would be impossible until such rules were definitely fixed.
This memorandum did not reach executives of labor organizations
until after the hearings called by the Railroad Labor Board on October
26, when representatives of the labor organizations planning to strike
and representatives of the carriers involved were cited to appear
before the board “ for hearing as to the question whether or not they
had violated or were violating decision No. 147 ” of the board.
At these hearings both sides were carefully questioned by the
board and a somewhat stormy session ensued, at which the railway
executives, through their spokesman, Mr. Cuyler, stated that any
action toward wage reduction or change in rules would be taken
through the regular channels as pointed out by the transportation
act of 1920. The hearings closed, however, without a decision.
A strike seemed inevitable.
Following the hearings, the union officials met in final conference
two days before the strike was to be called. One of the public
representatives of the board (Mr. Hooper) appeared before this
conference and explained to the union executives the significance
of the board’s memorandum concerning the inevitable delay before
action of the Railroad Labor Board could be taken on the requests
of the carriers for immediate further wage reductions. At this
conference action was taken which resulted in the calling off of the
strike. This action of the union executives in abrogating the strike
order and their reasons therefor are best set forth in their resolution
passed at that time, which appears among the following documents:
P r o p o s a l o f P u b li c G r o u p o f R a ilr o a d L a b o r B o a r d f o r S e ttle m e n t o f the D is p u te
(O cto b er 1 6 ).
Up until Friday, there was but little, if any, danger of a railroad strike. This fact
is well known to every man in close touch with the real situation. The railway workers
would have brought down upon their heads universal condemnation for resisting by
force a wage cut so manifestly just and reasonable as that made in July. It may like
wise be said that it remains to be seen whether the issuance of a strike order merely
because a petition for a wage reduction is about to be filed will be sustained by public
opinion.
The Railroad Labor Board has functioned for more than 18 months, settling hundreds
of controversies between carriers and their employees, and its decisions, with but few
exceptions, have been respected by both sides. There would have been a strike long
ago if the two parties had undertaken to settle without intervention or supervision the
manifold disputes they inherited from the war period.
There is absolutely nothing in existing conditions that justifies the carriers and their
employees in inflicting the ruinous results of a strike on themselves and on the public.
There is no amount of propaganda that can convince the people that either side is
entirely blameless.
On the first day of July the Railroad Labor Board made effective a decision which
reduced the wages of railway employees 12 per cent, aggregating about $400,000,000
per annum, basing the estimate on the normal number of employees. Since then, by
a revision of only a part of the working rules of only one class of employees, the car
riers have received further benefits, amounting to many millions of dollars.
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Friday the carriers notified the employees they would ask the Labor Board for a
further wage cut of 10 per cent, at the same time assuring the public that the shippers
and the people should have the benefit of this wage reduction in the form of reduced
freight rates.
To this proposition the employees reply that no general reduction of freight rates
followed the $400,000,000 wage reduction of July 1, that the cost of living has not
been sufficiently lowered since July 1 to justify another wage reduction, and that
they will strike without even awaiting a decision of the Labor Board as to whether
another wage reduction is just and reasonable.
This is the stage which the controversy has now reached.
There is at least one feasible plan by which it can be settled and a strike averted.
That plan is predicated upon an excellent suggestion made by Gen. Atterbury, of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, in his speech before the Convention of Vehicle and Imple
ment Manufacturers at Chicago last Friday. His suggestion is quoted as follows:
Nevertheless, it is a fact that the carriers, though they are not earning what they
should earn to entitle them to be called prosperous, nor what the law intends they
shall earn, can not rest under such protection while other business struggles for its
life. It would be a wise policy for the carriers publicly to avow that view, and vol
untarily reduce rates where they now work hardship, even though such rates may be
reasonable in a transportation sense, and even though to reduce them means a loss
of revenue to the carriers. The carriers can do this of their own volition, where it
would be improper for the Interstate Commerce Commission to do so. The re ult
would be a temporary check in the rising fortunes of the carriers, and that they
can ill afford, but it would be a step in the restoration of sound business conditions,
and tire public should give to the carriers a real appreciation of their act.
If the railroads will immediately, in good faith, adopt this suggestion of Gen. Atter
bury, the situation can be cleared up, freight rates reduced to shippers, the cost of
living reduced to the consumers and a stimulating effect exerted upon all business.
We would suggest that the wage cut of July 1 be translated at once into a reduction
of freight rates. This would be much more tangible and satisfactory to the public
than to promise that future wage reductions will be passed on to the people in the
form of reduced freight rates. The public undoubtedly expected this result when
the July wage reduction was made, and its consummation now, though somewhat
delayed, would be highly gratifying. That direct benefits would promptly follow
and that the psychological effect would be instantly beneficial can not be doubted.
Such reduction in the cost of living as might result from this and other causes
would inure to the benefit of the railway employees and would constitute one of the
statutory grounds for a further reduction in wages. At the same time, it would have
a tendency to reduce the cost of material supplies to the carriers, and it would not
then be necessary for the carriers to rely solely upon wage cuts for a reduction of their
operation expenses.
Reflation should be general, and, as far as possible, uniform. Up to this time the
farmer is the only man that has deflated, and lie came to the earth with a thud. This
was because he did not possess the parachute of organization to break his fall.
Another catastrophe of that sort should be avoided if possible. Wages and freight
rates should come to a just and reasonable level uniformly or by alternating stages.
Of course, nothing in these observations should be construed to indicate what the
action of the Labor Board will be on any wage dispute that may be brought before it.
Such disputes will continue to be adjusted by the board in accordance with the
evidence submitted and the requirements of the transportation act. When reduc
tions are justifiable they will be given.
It must be understood that there is no intention to indicate, in any sense, the duty
of the Interstate Commerce Commission in the premises.
In this connection, it may be informative to the public to know what factors the
transportation act requires the Labor Board to consider in fixing wages. They are
as follows:
(1) The scale of wages paid for similar kinds of work in other industries.
(2) The relation between wages and the cost of living.
(3) The hazards of the employment.
(4) The training and skill required.
(5) The degree of responsibility.
(6) The character and regularity of employment.
(7) Inequalities of increases in wages or of treatment, the result of previous wage
orders or adjustments. Other relevant circumstances are also to be considered.
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It is obvious that the first two factors above named are subject to frequent change,
and that, during a postwar period of readjustment, the changes may be rapid and
radical, necessitating a more frequent revision of wage schedules than would ordinarily
be necessary.
Condensing the foregoing suggestions into definite propositions, they stand as fol
lows:
1. Let the carriers immediately give a general rate reduction measured by the July
wage reduction and the benefits derived from the new rules, and devised under the
supervision of the Interstate Commerce Commission, to afford the greatest degree of
relief to the public.
2. Let the request for further wage reductions be withdrawn until the rate reduc
tions have been completed.
3. At such time as the carriers deem advisable let them present to the Railroad
Labor Board their petition for a further reduction in wages, based on conditions then
existing.
4. Pending the working out of the rate reduction and the action of the Labor Board
on such petition for a further wage reduction as the carriers may subsequently submit,
let the strike order be withdrawn.
This method of procedure has the merit of affording “ cooling tim e” to everybody
concerned, and requires of the carriers only one thing, namely, that they give to the
public in reduced freight rates the benefit of the July wage cut, just as they are pro
posing to do in case of further wage reductions. It also involves the withdrawal or
suspension of the strike order upon the part of the employees.
The course suggested does not involve any sacrifice of pride or prestige, either to
the carriers or to the employees.
In view of the enormous destruction of property values, the deadly blow to slowly
reviving business and the appalling human privation, suffering and death that will
follow in the wake of a tie-up of the company’s transportation system, the people
should bring to bear upon both parties the pressure of an impartial public sentiment.
Rejection of the Labor Board Plan by the Railway Executives.
¡FOLLOWING the announcement of this proposal, Mr. Cuyler,
* chairman of the Association of Railway Executives, issued a
statement itemizing the rate reductions made by the railroads since
the rate increases authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission
in September, 1920, and rejecting the plan of the public members of
the board in the following terms:
The plan of the railroads is to proceed as follows:
1. An application will be immediately made to the Lnited States Railroad Labor
Board for a reduction in wages of train-service employees, sufficient to remove the
remainder of the increases made by the Labor Board’s decision of July 20, 1920 (which
would involve a further reduction of approximately 10 per cent) and for a reduction
in the wages of all other classes of railroad labor to the going rate for such labor in the
several territories where the carriers operate.
2. Concurrently with such reductions in wages the benefit of the reduction thus
obtained shall with the assent of the Interstate Commerce Commission be passed on
to the public in the reduction of existing rates except in so far as such reduction shall
have been made in the meantime.
R e s o lu tio n o f R a ilr o a d L a b o r B o a r d E n j o i n i n g R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f C arriers a n d U n io n s
to A p p e a r B e fo r e I t ( O cto b er 2 1 ).
Whereas it has come to the knowledge of the United States Railroad Labor Board
that a dispute exists between the following carriers and the following organizations of
their employees:
[All railroads named in the wage reduction of July 1, embracing practically every
line in the country, are listed here, and in addition the names of the Big Four Brother
hoods and the Switchmen’s Union.]
Whereas information has come to this board that a conference was held in Chicago
on the 14th day of October, 1921, between certain of the executives of said carriers and
certain executives of said organizations of their employees, relative to the matters in
dispute, at which conference no agreement was reached; and
Whereas immediately following said conference it was announced through the public
press that the executives of said organizations of railway employees had issued and sent
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out to the members thereof orders or written authority to strike, and that a strike vote
had been taken on the line of the carriers mentioned; and
Whereas the board’s information is to the effect that said strike is threatened on two
grounds: First, in opposition to the wage reduction in decision No. 147 of this board,
and second, on account of an unsettled dispute, both as to wages and working conditions.
B e i t therefore, re so lv e d b y the U n ite d S ta te s R a ilr o a d L a b o r B o a rd :
First. In so far as said threatened strike is in opposition to and a violation of decision
No. 147 of this board, the above-named labor organizations and each of said carriers be
and are hereby cited to appear before this board for hearing as to the question whether
or not they have violated or are violating decision No. 147; and
Second. That, in so far as said threatened strike is the result of a dispute between
said carriers and their said organizations of employees concerning wages and rules and
working conditions, this board hereby assumes jurisdiction of said dispute on the statu
tory ground that it “ is likely substantially to interrupt commerce,” and said carriers
and said organizations of employees are hereby cited to appear before this board at
Chicago, 111., for hearing of said dispute.
The hearing on both of the foregoing matters is set for Wednesday, October 26, 1921,
at 10 a. m.
B e i t f u r t h e r reso lved , That the secretary of the board notify each of said carriers and
its said organizations of employees, botli by wire and by mail, of the date of said hear
ing and furnish each of them with a copy of this resolution.
B e i t f u r t h e r re so lved , That both parties to said dispute are hereby directed to main
tain the status quo on the properties of said carriers until said hearing and decision.
M e m o r a n d u m o f R a ilr o a d L a b o r B o a r d re P ro b a b le D e la y i n C o n s id e r a tio n o f P r o p o s a l
W age C u ts ( O cto b er 2 5 ).
Friction has arisen between practically all the Class I carriers of the United States
and their train and engine service employees and telegraphers, represented by the
following organizations:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen.
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
Order of Railway Conductors.
Switchmen’s Union of North America.
Order of Railroad Telegraphers.
One of the princiapl causes of this trouble lies in the fact that said carriers have
notified certain of the executives of said organizations that it is the purpose of the car
riers to apply to the United States Railroad Labor board for a further reduction in
wages, additional to that ordered July 1, 1921.
The proper consideration of the conditions surrounding the matters now pending
before the Railroad Labor Board should remove any immediate occasion for strife
between the carriers and said organizations of employees growing out of a possible
reduction in wages by the Labor Board. The conditions referred to are as follows:
Since the organization of the Labor Board, a little more than 18 months ago, more
than 2,000 cases involving disputes between carriers and employees have been filed
with the board. More than 700 of these disputes have been disposed of and many others
have been heard and not yet decided. The board has been deluged with cases in
volving minor grievances which would not have been sent here to congest its dockets
had the carriers and their employees cooperated in the establishment of adjustment
boards, as provided in the transportation act, 1920.
Three questions of paramount importance have been before the board: (1) The wage
increase of 1920, (2) the wage reduction of 1921, and (3) the adoption of new rules and
working conditions. Each of these matters has necessarily consumed a great amount
of time. Each of them involved all the Class I carriers and every individual of every
class of their employees in the. United States.
The two wage controversies were disposed of, but during the entire pendency of
both, the revision of rules and working conditions has been pending and is now only
well begun. The board has been justly urged by the carriers to complete its con
sideration of the rules and to hand down its decision. The board’s unavoidable delay
in disposing of this question has subjected it to criticism by the public and restive
complaint upon the part of the carriers.
The board has heretofore issued two decisions embracing shop-craft rules. The
remainder of the shop-craft rules are still pending, and the disputed rules of other
classes of employees have not yet been touched.
No more difficult and complex question can ever arise before this board than that
of the revision of the rules governing the working conditions of any class of railway
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employees. It requires an immense amount of time and painstaking work. It is the
judgment of the board that as a matter of procedure it would be unwise, and as a matter
of policy, unjust, to discontinue the consideration of rules and working conditions and
enter into a prolonged hearing of an application to reduce wages at this time.
It is not within the province of the Labor Board to shut the door in the face of either
carrier or employee desiring to submit a dispute to the board, or to dictate the time
when such dispute shall be filed. It is, however, within the discretion of the board
to fix the order in which it will take up and consider the numerous matters submitted
to it.
In this aspect of the matter, it should be of material help to the carriers and their
employees to understand the status of the board’s work as above set out and its plans
in regard thereto.
It will thus become apparent that the employees who are protesting against a further
wage cut are crossing bridges long before they can possibly get to them, and that carriers
can not hasten a wage reduction by applying for it at this time.
The attitude of the Labor Board in this matter must not be misunderstood. It is
not affected by the threat of a strike. It had adopted several weeks ago the policy of
making everything else secondary to the consideration of the controversies over rules
and working conditions, but with the ordinary number of unavoidable digressions, and
even with the greatest diligence, it will require considerable time to complete the
decision on rules.
Another factor that demands the highest consideration is the fact recognized by
both carriers and employees that the questions of wages and working rules are inex
tricably interwoven. Many of the rules and working conditions governing the em
ployees have a money value, and it would be difficult to give satisfactory consideration
to the question of wages until the rules and Avorking conditions to which the wages
would apply are definitely fixed and known.
In view of the foregoing considerations, it is the purpose of the United States Railroad
Labor Board that the submissions of carriers and employees on rules and working con
ditions shall be completely disposed of as to any particular class of employees before a
hearing is had on any question of wages affecting said class of employees on any carrier
covered by decision No. 147.
The rules governing any class of employees will be deemed to have been completely
disposed of when the board has passed upon all the submissions affecting said class,
either by a decision of disputed rules or by referring them back to a conference of the
carrier and employees.
R e s o l u t i o n o f R a ilr o a d U n io n s C a llin g o f f the S tr ik e .
Whereas upon summons of the United States Railroad Labor Board the representa
tives of all carriers parties to decision 147 and of other carriers not parties to said
decision, and the executive officers, executive committees, and general chairmen of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen, Order of Railway Conductors, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and
Switchmen's Union of North America attended a hearing before the United States
Railroad Labor Board on October 26 for the purpose of determining whether or not the
transportation act had been violated or was about to be violated by a threatened strike
of railway employees of the carriers involved in the dispute, the resolution of the board
Avhich afforded ground for the hearing being as follows:
(See pp. abovel74,175.)
And whereas at said hearing the board was given full information as to the conten
tions and purposes of the organizations and the carriers in connection with the wage
reduction provided by decision 147 as to the intention of the carriers in reference to
further reductions in the pay of employees, as to reductions in wages made by a number
of carriers without authority of the board and as to applications of carriers for the
elimination of time and one-half for overtime and changes in agreements relating to
working conditions of the employees; and
Whereas the contention of the representatives of the employees before the Labor
Board was that the proposed strike was voted for in opposition to decision 147 of the
board and was justified upon the ground that no employee may be required to continue
in the service of the employers on a scale of vrages considered by said employee to be
unsatisfactory; and
Whereas the board propounded numerous questions for the purpose of developing
information as to what effect the statement contained in the ballot relating to the
proposed further reduction in wages and changes in working rules had upon the
employees in casting their ballots for or against a strike, in response to which the repre
sentatives of the employees expressed the opinion that the matters, referred to in the
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177
statement, were of vital concern to the employees, but that the ballot expressly stated
that it was cast in opposition to or in favor of the acceptance of the decrease in wages,
as provided in decision 147; and
Whereas the representatives of the employees seriously objected to the criticism of
the board to the effect that in its opinion they were in violation of the law in declaring
a strike upon matters not yet decided by the board, and took occasion to call the
board’s attention to the injustice of this criticism in view of the fact that 35 or 40
carriers, which were listed and made a part of the record, had violated section 301 of
the transportation act, as well as the decision of the board by arbitrarily putting into
effect reductions in wages and by making changes in working conditions without
complying with the provisions of the act; and
Whereas after interrogating the representatives of the employees the board interro
gated the representatives of the carriers ; and
Whereas in a reply to questions propounded to him, Mr. T. De Witt Cuyler, chairman
of the Association of Railway Executives, representing 95 per cent of the carriers cited
to appear, stated that none of the carriers represented by his association would reduce
wages or change working conditions unless by agreement with their employees or by
decision of the Labor Board, nor would they violate the transportation act in any
particular in respect to any dispute between the carriers and the employees; and
Whereas in reply to question propounded by the board to the respresentative of one
of the carriers a member of the Association of Railway Executives, who had reduced
wages and changed working conditions without authority of the board, he stated that
such reduction in wages and changes in working conditions would be restored and that
no further reductions or changes would be made except upon decision of the board or
by agreement with the employees; and
Whereas we interpret this question and answer to mean that all carriers who have
reduced wages or changed working conditions without authority of the board will
voluntarily cancel such reduction in wages or changes in working conditions or be
called to appear before the Labor Board and show cause why they should not do so ; and
Whereas in reply to questions propounded to representatives of short line railways
such representatives stated that they would comply with the provisions of the trans
portation act and that no reduction in w a g e s or changes in working conditions would
be made in violation of the law; and
Whereas in view of the questions propounded by the board to the carriers that
reduced wages or changed working conditions are in violation of the law, there is every
reason to expect early decisions requiring the cancellation of such reduction in wages
and changes in working conditions ; and
Whereas as further indicating the attitude of the board, the following memorandum
was adopted by the board in executive session:
(See pp. 175,176 above.)
IN T E R P R E T IN G T H E
M EM ORANDUM .
And whereas this memorandum is submitted to the executives of the carriers and
injected by them; and
Whereas it was not submitted to the representatives of the employees’ organi
zation until after the hearing on October 26, nor to your executive committees and
general chairman until the following morning; and
Whereas we interpret the foregoing memorandum to mean a number of important
things to the membership of our organizations. Among these things we mention:
First, it is evident that the board has adopted a policy under which it will not be in
a position to give consideration to any application affecting the wages of transporta
tion employees for a considerable period of time.
Second, that it does not propose to take any action on wage applications affecting
any class of employees until it is definitely known what working conditions apply.
Third, that the train and engine service employees will be given full consideration
in view of the hazard, responsibility, and other conditions peculiar to their employ
ment; and
Whereas in paragraph 3 of the board’s memorandum and during the progress of the
hearing the board announced that owing to the failure of the carriers and their employees
to agree upon the organization of voluntary adjustment boards, provided for by law,
the docket of the Labor Board has become so seriously congested as to make it impossi
ble to give proper and full consideration without extended delay to important ques
tions submitted for its decision; and
Whereas we construe this paragraph and announcement to mean that the Labor
Board will lend its support to the organizations in their efforts to induce the carriers
in different regions to speedily organize such adjustment boards^ in order that the
Labor Board may comply with the provisions of the law; that it shall receive for
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hearing and as soon as practicable and with due dilligence decide disputes involving
grievances, rules, and working conditions which are not decided as provided in section
301 and for which such adjustment boards would be required to receive for hearing and
decision under the provisions of section 303; and
Whereas in addition to the foregoing it has become apparent to your representatives
that the powers in control of railways have so arranged conditions as to shift the burden
and expense of a strike to the shoulders of the people; and
Whereas writh this information before us we feel that a solemn obligation rests upon
us to forego the full satisfaction of our demands rather than to cause loss and suffering
to the people by carrying on a strike, the expense and hardships of which would fall
upon the public instead of upon the railroads; and
RATE
R E D U C T IO N S A S S U R E D .
"Whereas as a result of the activities of these organizations since July the public is
assured a reduction in freight and passenger rates which would not otherwise have
been made, and which should be reflected in a substantial reduction in the cost of
living that will in a measure compensate the employees for the reduction in wages
imposed upon them ; and
Whereas We are not unmindful of the public concern in the issues involved in the
strike, but point out that the public is not correctly informed upon these issues. The
representatives of the employees have found it impossible, in view of the attitude of
the press, to get their case properly presented to the American people; therefore the
people have formed conclusions upon the matter from information wholly inaccurate
and misleading as published from day to day in the newspapers; We believe that if
the public knew the facts we could with entire confidence rely upon its decision; and
Whereas the employers of labor, except in the railway service, consider it a reason
able and fair policy to make term agreements with their employees, and every adjust
ment of Wages is made for a period of one, two, or three years; and
SETTLE
CO NTR OV ERSY FO R A Y E A R .
Whereas it was one of the aims of the employees in this dispute to secure a settle
ment of the railroad wage controversy for at least a period of one year, in order that
the business interests of the country might not be disturbed at frequent intervals by
serious disputes between the railroads and their employees, too often reaching the
point of a threatened cessation of Work by the employees, and that the employees
would not be obliged to assume the enormous expense incident to conducting repeated
hearings before the Labor Board involving their Wages and Working conditions, and
because the employers as Well as the public are entitled to settled conditions in respect
to these important matters; and
Whereas we here take occasion to inform the public that as. a result of the World
War railway employees were the last to receive increases in wages and among the first
to have a reduction of wages imposed upon them: Therefore be it
R e s o lv e d , That we the executive committees and general chairmen representing the
organizations named herein are sincerely of the opinion that the memorandum an
nouncing the policy of the board, and the pledges of the railway executives, made to
the board, constitute an acceptable basis of settlement, justifying the calling off of
the strikes which Were authorized by a vote of members of our organizations.
And we hereby call off such strikes, having confidence that good results will follow
the adoption of the memorandum by the Labor Board and the pledges of the railway
executives made to the board at public hearing on October 2G; and further, to afford
an opportunity for reduction of freight and passenger rates to correspond wi th existing
reductions in wages, to determine what effect such reductions in freight and passenger
rates will have upon the cost of living.
Resolution adopted.
The final statement of the Labor Board appeared as decision No.
299, and set forth the position of the board on some of the points
involved. This statement is printed herewith.
F i n a l S t a t e m e n t o f R a ilr o a d L a b o r B o a r d o n th e C o n tr o v e r s y ( O c to b e r 2 9 ).
(D E C IS IO N N O . 299.)
While for convenience and identification this proceeding is numbered, docketed,
and styled as above set out, it is in substance and fact an inquiry and proceeding
instituted and conducted by the Railroad Labor Board on its own motion under the
provisions of the statute.
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179
The subject and impelling cause of the inquiry was the threatened general strike
of the employees comprising the membership of the above-named labor organizations
on practically all the Class I carriers in the United States, which, if it had culmi
nated, would have resulted in a national calamity of incalculable magnitude. It
was the purpose of the board to develop the causes and true facts and conditions to
the end that all possible measures might be taken to avert the disaster. It was
shown that a vote had been taken and strikes called on all the roads—-and as to the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen had gone into effect on one, the International &
Great Northern—on account of dissatisfaction with decision No. 147 of the Labor
Board making a reduction in wages.
Since the hearing and as a result thereof the strikes have all been called off by the
officials of the organizations and the danger of an interruption of traffic removed.
The representatives of the carriers and the representatives of the employees have
announced their intention and purpose to conform to the law and abide by the orders
of the board. These facts render it unnecessary for the board to make any further
orders on or about this matter; and move it to congratulate the parties directly in
terested and the public most vitally and profoundly interested on this return to in
dustrial peace, triumph of the reign of law, and the escape from this national disaster.
But at this time, and while the matter is so intensely before the minds of all, the
board deems it expedient and proper to make its rulings and position on some of the
points involved so clear that no ground for any misunderstanding can hereafter exist.
First, when any change of wages, contracts, or rules previously in effect are contem
plated or proposed by either party, conference must be had as directed by the trans
portation act, and by rules or decisions of procedure promulgated by the board, and
where agreements are not reached the dispute must be brought before this board and
no action taken or change made until authorized by the board.
Second, the ordering or authorizing of the strike by the organizations of employees
parties hereto was a violation of decision No. 147 of this board, but said strike order
having been withdrawn, it is not now necessary for the board to take any further
steps in the matter.
The board desires to point out that such overt acts by either party tending to and
threatening an interruption of the transportation lines, the peaceful and uninter
rupted operation of which are so absolutely necessary to the peace, prosperity, and
safety of the entire people, are in themselves, even when they do not culminate in a
stoppage of traffic, a cause and source of great injury and damage.
The board further points out for the consideration of employees interested that when
such action does result in a strike, the organization so acting has forfeited its rights
and the rights of its members in and to the provisions and benefits of all contracts
theretofore existing, and the employees so striking have voluntarily removed them
selves from the classes entitled to appeal to this board for relief and protection.
Strike of Dockyard Workers at Kobe, japan.
N JULY 7 and July 9, 1921, respectively, 20,000 workers at the
Kawasaki Cods dockyards and 10,000 employed at those of the
Mitsubishi Co. struck. Their demands were: (1) Recognition
of the workmen’s right to join unions; (2) adoption of the shop commit
tee system; (3) adoption of the 8-hour day; (4) increased wages; (5)
payment of discharge compensation comparing favorably with that
paid by other firms. Several days later the workmen of the Kawa
saki yards returned to work and took over control of the plant. A
report received by this bureau from the office of naval intelligence of
the United States Navy Department states that “ all work was taken
up and progressed quietly and satisfactorily until July 14,” when the
workmen found themselves locked out. Raids and arrests of the
workers followed when the latter attempted to hold meetings and
some 375 labor leaders were discharged by the two companies.
Refusal by the Mitsubishi Co. to meet the workmen or discuss the
problems cut off hope of direct negotiations and the next day the
O
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foreman of the company joined the strike, the first time this had ever
happened in Japan.
After 10 days the lockout in both dockyards was declared at an
end, but no one resumed work. In the effort to induce the employees
to return, the Kawasaki Co. promised an increase of wages, and a
telegram was sent to each employee with the result that some of the
men went back to work. Gradually the number increased until
between 6,500 and 7,000 of the 20,000 employees of the Kawasaki
Co. and from 3,500 to 4,000 of the 10,000 workmen of the Mitsubishi
Co. were at work. On August 4 both companies again sent telegrams
to the workers requesting them to return and promising to make
concessions. Few returned and the next day more labor leaders
were discharged. Several attempts at mediation were again made
by the workmen but again mediation was refused by the Mitsubishi
Co.
Police interference with the workers was an outstanding feature
of the controversy, although the strike had been conducted “ with
out the least sign of rioting or disorder of any kind.” On one occasion
representatives of the men were arrested, according to the report,
“ for attempting to obtain an audience with the president of the
Mitsubishi Co.”
At the beginning of the strike, labor was “ generally denounced,”
but investigation of the situation by the Government and newspaper
men resulted in a “ complete and almost unanimous reversal of
opinion” in favor of the workers. The unprovoked attacks by the
police were also a factor in creating public sympathy for the men,
the Japanese Bar Association even instituting a criminal suit against
the police for these attacks. Strike collections were taken up by
the laborers in Tokio and Osaka, in some cases men of means also
making donations to the strikers’ cause.
Then suddenly, on August 8, when all circumstances pointed to a
complete victory for the men, over half of the strikers returned
without having gained a concession. According to the report, they
declined all compromises and stated that their return took place at
the instance of “ a person of national fame” whose name they would
not disclose. The next day they issued a statement in which they
stated, in part, that—
We have resolved to return to work, but we have not abandoned the cause for
which we declared the strike. This much we can declare, that the near future will
see us in the enjoyment of rights obtained by our real power from pur employers. One
of the motives which have impelled us to resume work unconditionally is the realiza
tion of the inconvenience which our strike has caused to the citizens of Kobe and the
danger in which we have placed the shipbuilding industry of the country. The
realization of the increasing misery to which we have brought our families has also
contributed to aid in ending the strike.
The report points out certain interesting features of the strike:
It lasted over twice as long as any previous_ strike in the country. The number of
men involved was greater by thousands than in any previous strike. The strike was
begun without an organization to control it or funds to maintain it, and was orderly
conducted against oppression for nearly a month before any outside help or relief
funds were received. This last phase is extraordinary when the poverty of the average
Japanese laborer is considered.
It is fairly safe to assume that, as a result of the lessons learned in this strike, these
same men will be better prepared in the way of organization and reserve funds for
the next strike.
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CONCILIATIO N A ND A R B ITR A TIO N .
Settlement of Wage Disputes.
N ANALYSIS of the factors governing present wage levels and
the formulation of principles to serve as the basis of a policy
of wage settlement, form the main theses of a new book on
“ The settlement of wage disputes” by Mr. Herbert Feis, associate
professor in economics at the University of Kansas.1
The problem of wage settlement the author regards as the “ task
of elucidation or invention of methods and principles in accordance
with which the product of industry might be shared among the wage
earners and other participants in the product with relative peace
and satisfacton.”
Such a policy of wage settlement to work successfully must accom
plish two ends: (1) I t must represent convincingly the eifort to
divide the product of industry so as to satisfy the most widely held
conceptions of justice in the industrial system; (2) it must contribute,
wherever it is a factor, to such an adjustment of industrial relations
as will command the voluntary support of all groups whose coopera
tion is necessary for the maintenance of industrial peace.
Wage adjustments heretofore have been largely made through
compromise, sometimes with little respect to the justice of the case.
Force and opportunism have too often determined the result.
Attempts to settle wage disputes by principles have been isolated
and sporadic, but new purposes and claims are arising which will
necessitate adjustment with established arrangements if peaceful
industrial development is to be attained.
Any policy for wage adjustment must of course be based upon a
knowledge of the present economic position of the various groups
engaged in industry and of their present relations, as well as of the
forces which determine wage adjustments at the present time.
These present economic conditions and forces the author analyzes.
The part cost of living has played in the determination of wages
is discussed and its advantages and disadvantages pointed out.
Here an alternative basis is suggested for the determination of the
price movements used in the adjustment of wages. It is suggested
that the basis of price movements should be the change in the index
number of prices of all important commodities produced within the
country; in the making of such an index number, the prices of food,
rent, and clothing to be given a heavy weight (50 per cent, for
example) of the total. Such a method, it is claimed, would tend to
assure that the change did express in a considerable measure the
change in the cost of living, and would tend to keep wage changes
in closer accord with the changes in the total value product of industry
A
1Feis, H erb ert.
The settlem en t of wage d isputes. New Y ork, The M acmillan Co., 1921. 289 pp.
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
than any method based solely on a measurement of the change in
the cost of living.
Types of price movements are analyzed, and the resultant rise or
fall in wages, together with some discussion of the reasons and
justification therefor. Wage reductions in a period of declining
prices are not always justified, their justification depending upon
the causes and conditions accompanying such a price decline. When
the decline in prices is due to some such cause as the progress of
invention or the development of the means of transport, “ the fall
of prices is brought about by an increase in the quantity of goods
produced and there is no reason why wages should be decreased.
Indeed, there may even be occasion for an increase.” Again, when
the decline in prices marks a period of reaction from _a period of
price increase and credit expansion but is not accompanied by much
forced liquidation, in short, when business conditions accompanying
the price decline do not warrant apprehensions of a crisis, there
would seem, to be no good reason why wages should be reduced. In
this case the cost of labor will fall without any reduction in wage
rates, as the amount of overtime work is lessened, as employment
is concentrated upon more efficient workers and efficiency is increased
by the desire of the workman to hold his job. The necessit}^ for
cutting down costs usually leads also to improved methods of pro
duction and other economies of managemet.
When a decline in prices is accompanied by severe industrial
depression, however, when there has been great expansion of credit,
when the banking system as a whole shows a low reserve and some
banks suspend specie payment, a wage reduction may be essential
to industrial recovery.
The greater part of the book is devoted to a discussion of the
principles which should govern the authority constituted to settle
those disputes which can not be settled by the ordinary means of
collective bargaining.
It is assumed that whatever policy of wage adjustment is put into
force will be administered by a government agency, with and by the
consent and support of both the wage earners and the employers. It
is also presumed that the method of collective bargaining is accepted
throughout industry. “ Indeed,” the author says, “ the existence of
organized joint boards or councils of wage earners and employers
would be almost essential to the success of any policy.”
The central agency for the administration of the policy, the author
conceives, should be a commission or court to which a dispute, in
cidental to the settlement of wages in any industry and incapable of
settlement by the ordinary course of collective bargaining, should be
referred, the wage policy of such a board to rest upon the following
principles:
(1) The principle of wage standardization to be applied throughout
industry—standardized rates to be considered as minimum rates and
the principle of standardization to be construed so as to permit of all
methods of wage payment—the necessity for limitation and variation
of such a policy in a hitherto unstandardized industry to be recog
nized.
(2) The wages of those groups of wage earners who are at the
bottom of the wage scale should be regulated upon the living wage
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183
principle, such wage to be at least sufficient to permit them to satisfy
their “ normal and reasonable needs,” and established with due
regard to the standard of living of wage earners in general and of
the middle classes in the community. The living wage should be a
standard wage, subject to all the qualifications and limitations of
other standard wage rates.
(3) Wages of groups of wage earners not included within the scope
of the living wage policy should be settled by reference to principles
applying equally to them all. Wage decisions at the inauguration of
the policy must rest upon the acceptance and protection of existing
wage levels and existing wage relationships, but as cases arise which
bring up the question of the relative positions of workers engaged in
different industries and occupations, they should be settled as part
of a general process of building up in industry an ordered scheme of
wage relationship.
Wage awards for different industries and occupations should be constantly related
to each other. The underlying emphasis in the whole series of awards for different
industries and occupations should be that the wages of each group are what they are,
more because the total wage income is what it is than because of the special type of
work performed by any group. The same wage should be paid throughout industry
for different kinds of work which require approximately the same human qualities
and which make approximately the same demands upon the individual. The wage
differentials that are established should be such as will make i t reasonably certain
that industry will be provided with at least the existing proportion of the more skilled
grades of labor, and to make it reasonably certain also that the more arduous, dan
gerous, irregular, and disagreeable work will command the service of as much labor
as at present. The hopes for the establishment of any scheme of wage relationship
will be realized or not, according as particular groups of wage earners are willing to
accept a wage that may be less than that which they might secure by the continued
use of their own group strength. This last remark applies in particular to those
groups of wage earners whose economic position, as organized groups, is very strong
by virtue of the fact that the work they perform is essential to the economic existence
of the whole community—such, for example, as the railway men, the bank clerks,
the printers, and the miners.
(4) Wages to be adjusted to movements in the general price level,
the measure of price change to be the movement of the index num
ber of all the important commodities produced within the country
as outlined above, adjustments to be made in time of rising prices
and of falling prices as occasion requires. (See discussion above.)
(5) The application of a profits test to be used to mark and meas
ure the distributive situation in industry as a whole, indicating the
share in the product of industry that is taking the form of profits.
Whenever the general range of profits exceeds the return conceived
to be just, the wages of all groups of workers should be increased in
an attempt to transfer extra profits to the wage earners.
The most satisfactory policy would not attempt any direct control of profits. Nor
would it make provision for the transfer of the extra profits that may be earned by
particular enterprises or industries to the wage earners of those particular enterprises
or industries. The forces of industrial competition—trade-union activity, public
opinion, and Government regulation—would have to be depended upon to keep the
profits return of industry at approximately the level which may be set as the mark of
just and sound distribution. A policy of direct control of profits may, however, be
advisable in particular industries or on special occasions. The continued assent of the
wage earners to any policy of wage settlement will be largely governed by the success
of the community in making good its claim to a large part of the extra profits which
may accrue to particular enterprises or industries.
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(6)
Such a policy of wage settlement by arbitration is dependent
upon the organization of labor throughout industry. I t would have
to make use of joint councils or boards in many ways.
All organizations oi wage earners or employers should be compelled (if necessary)
to agree to a policy of open membership. Such a policy of open membership should
suffice to prevent*monopolistic action on the part of the union in any industry or
trade.2 I t would also be well if shop rules could be brought within the field of public
supervision, but that may prove impracticable. Finally, it may be said that no
part of the policy should interfere with the development of profit-sharing plans pro
vided such plans are the product of joint agreement between the employers and the
workers engaging in them; and if the workers immediately concerned so desire, the
labor organizations should be given full representation in the arrangements. Nor,
indeed, should it discourage any movement toward the participation of the workers
in the control of industry, whatever the scope of such participation. On the con
trary, by creating mutual confidence between the wage earners and the directors of
industry, and, by giving both the wage earners and the employers training in the art
of mutual agreement, it should prepare the way for the growth of such participation.
The next few years will see much controversy and a great variety
of experiments in wage settlement. The main currents of industrial
change, in the author’s opinion, will be in the direction indicated by
two relatively new ideas, which appear likely to endure and to be
accepted by society.
The first is the idea that the welfare of the wage earners in each particular industry
is one of the major questions in the conduct of that industry and that the wage
earners should participate effectively in those activities of direction by which the
conditions of labor are determined. The second idea is that the whole body of wage
earners in industry should possess the means of checking the action of private enter
prise when they can prove clearly that the methods of production that are being
pursued are "wasteful either of human or of material resources.
2 “ W hore th e union ad m its all qualified workers to m em bership, under reasonable conditions, such a
rule can not become th e basis oi m onopoly.” U nited States In d u strial Commission R eport (1915), vol.
1, p. 116. R eport signed b y Commissioners M anly, W alsh, Lennon, O’Connell, an d Garretson.
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C O O PER A TIO N .
Company Cooperative Stores in the United States.
S
O-CALLED company “ cooperative” stores in the United States
are of all degrees of cooperativeness. Some are company stores
in every sense of the word, while at the other end of the scale
are the really cooperative stores financed, managed, and operated
exclusively by the employees, though subsidized by the company in
the m atter of rent, light, and heat.
A report on these company cooperative stores by the policyholders’
service bureau of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.1 has just been
received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The aim of this report
is “ to bring to the attention of employers of labor the plans by which
a number of companies are hoping to reduce the cost of the neces
saries of life for their employees.” The report states, however, that
the results of several investigations seem to indicate a decreasing
interest in the plant cooperative store. Replies received to a ques
tionnaire sent out by the National Association of Corporation Train
ing in the spring of 1921 show th at only about four-fifths of the plans
recently in operation are being continued.
The skillful management of the chain store—the efficient buying, selling, pub
licity, and accounting-—is one of the reasons given. The companies whose plans
seem to be to a large extent successful are located in small, isolated communities,
where capital has not yet found its way to establish a first-class store. Other plans
which have proved to be successful are chiefly those where the best business methods
have been used. It has often been found that employees are unwilling to have the
inconvenience of carrying purchases through the streets or in street cars. This con
dition has meant either the expense of a delivery system or a falling off of customers.
Six types of cooperative buying plans were disclosed by the study.
These are as follows:
(1) The company store at which goods are sold to the employee by
the company at cost plus a small amount for overhead.
(2) The cooperative store, managed by the employees, but with
rent, heat, and light and sometimes even the salary of the attendant
furnished by the company.
(3)
The company-purchase plan, under which no store is run, but
orders are taken by the company, the goods being obtained from a
wholesaler, and therefore at reduced prices.
(4)
The cooperative purchase plan, under which the order-taking
and buying is done by the employees themselves.
(5)
The company discount plan, under which liberal discounts are
given on goods handled by the company, usually, however, restricted
to articles bought for the personal use of the employee or of his
family.
1
M etropolitan Life In su ran ce Co. Policyholders’ Service B ureau. A report on com pany a nd coop
erative stores. (M im eographed.) NeV Y ork, 1921.
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186
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
(6)
The outside discount plan, by which arrangements are made
for discounts on goods purchased in local stores.
The practicability of starting a store was found to depend largely
on the size of the firm, the most successful stores being those in plants
having a thousand or more employees. In plants having as few as
500 workers, it is stated, a store may be run successfully but neces
sitates the employees buying a large proportion of their supplies at
the store.
As to the question of whether the management or the employees
should run the store, the conclusion was reached that “ a certain de
gree” of participation by the employees was a “ very real advantage.”
On the other hand, there are a number of practical reasons why employee responsi
bility in management is not always possible. The difficulty of raising the necessary
capital is not a trivial matter when brought before the attention of the employees.
It is also very important to have an association of the employees formed which could
be the responsible body. If such an organization already exists, it is perhaps a little
easier to sell the employees such an idea.
A number of companies have assumed the management of stores and they call
upon representatives of the employees constantly for advice. These companies
believe that the training of an employees’ organization to the point where it can
run the store efficiently is bound to be a long process. They aim ultimately, however,
to put the employees in control.
In the majority of cases it was found that the initial capital was
provided by the company, though in cases where the store was in the
control of the employees themselves, the latter raised the capital
through small contributions. In almost all cases the management
donates rent, heat, and light to the enterprise. Even with this
advantage the ability of the store to compete with the chain stores
was found to be problematical, and possible only with the most
efficient management and the most favorable conditions. One
company, however, states that “ the employees save 10 per cent on
the chain-store prices” in that city.
Goods are generally sold for cash and more than half of the stores
deliver no goods. Where delivery is made it is usually only of bulky
packages and at the express request of the employee. The “ costplus” plan is in general use in the stores.
The report takes the attitude that it is a mistake to eliminate
advertising. Advertising, it says, should be done in a number of
ways, by price lists, letters to employees wffio have “ fallen away”
from the store, sales letters, slips in the pay envelope, and articles
in the company magazine.
Detailed accounts of the cooperative purchase plans of 18 companies
are given. Widely diverse effects of the company store are noted.
Two of the most interesting may be cited. In one case ‘ local
dealers in staple articles have been forced to reduce prices. In some
cases they have gone out of business, and in others they have given
up their delivery system.” In the other case the manager of the
company states that the store has caused a reduction in his labor
turnover.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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COO PERATION.
187
Tenth International Cooperative Congress.1
THIE tenth congress of the International Cooperative Alliance was
A held at Basel, Switzerland, August 22 to 25. This is the only
such congress held since 1913, the war having made such inter
national meetings impossible. The alliance is stated to have in
membership some 42,500 societies having a combined membership
of about 24,000,000. Delegates from the cooperative movement in
25 countries, including the United States, were present. Some of
the matters taken up by the congress were the definition of the
economic and social policies of the alliance; its relations with the
Russian movement, with the League of Nations, the International
Labor Office, and the trade-unions; and the problem of the estab
lishment of an international cooperative wholesale society and an
international cooperative bank.
The question of allowing delegates from Russia to be seated evoked
considerable discussion and, as one delegate put it, “ involved the
whole principle of cooperative societies controlled by Governments.”
It was stated that the great Russian movement had been taken over by the Soviet
Government, but that the Government, finding itself unable to handle the situation
was gradually restoring a certain measure of liberty to the societies. Delegates
asserted that the movement was still so subject to political control that no delegates
from Russia could be regarded as the free choice of a free cooperative movement.
On the other hand, it was felt unjust to disfranchise the whole Russian movement
because it had been made the victim of circumstances over which it had no control;
therefore two delegates were accepted who were known to have been cooperators
before the Government undertook the control of the cooperatives.
In the discussion on a resolution looking toward the establishment
of commercial relations between the various national cooperative
organizations it was urged that some sort of international credits be
adopted suitable to the cooperative movement. To facilitate inter
national exchange among cooperatives a resolution was adopted
recommending a conference of representatives of cooperative banks
and banking departments, to be held as soon as possible, for the
purpose of evolving a plan for an international cooperative bank.
A resolution, proposed by a delegate from the German movement
and adopted by the convention, provided for an international federa
tion of wholesale societies, taking the form of a special cooperative
society and having headquarters in England. The International
Commission of Wholesale Societies was directed to carry out the
provisions of the resolution.
Mr. Albert Thomas, speaking on the subject of the international
economic policy of the cooperative movement, stated it to be his
conviction that the cooperatives should favor neither nationalist pro
tectionism nor free international competition, “ for these are, in
different degrees, forms of competition and war,” but should demand
the free association of all the peoples. He also urged the establish
ment, in the League of Nations, of an international statistical office
to collect and publish information as to the production, supplies, and
needs of the different countries.
1 This article is based on inform ation from th e D aily Intelligence (In tern atio n al Labor Office, G eneva),
Sept. 2, 1921; L ’Inform ation Sociale, P aris, Sept. 22, 1921; Cooperation, New Y ork, O ctober, 1921, a n d the
N ation, New Y ork, Oct. 5, 1921.
76564°— 21-
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W H A T S T A T E LA B O R BU REA U S A R E DOING.
California.1
PTTIE Department of Labor and Industrial Relations of California
was organized on October 26, 1921, at Sacramento. Hon.
Will J. French was elected chairman and Mrs. Katherine Philips Edson,
secretary. The new department has four divisions, the industrial
accident commission, the commission of immigration and housing, the
industrial welfare commission, and the bureau of labor statistics.
In accordance with the law under which the department operates
there must be submitted to the governor and to the next session of
the legislature a complete reorganization plan.
Meanwhile, the department is under instructions to eliminate any
duplication in its work. In the interest of improved service, pro
vision is made for transferring functions and funds from one division
to another.
Maryland.
Child Labor.
/^\N E of the principal subjects discussed in the twenty-ninth annual
^
report of the State Board of Labor and Statistics of Maryland,
1920, is child labor. During the year 1920 there were 17,894 appli
cations for children’s work permits at the Baltimore office—2,897
more than in 1919. Of these 17,894 applications, 9,501 were for
general and 2,013 for vacation permits. There were 1,179 temporary
general and vacation permits, and 2,562 vocational permits to
mentally retarded children issued. Newsboys’ and street traders’
badges were granted to 1,533 children.
The problem of the child of subnormal intellect has been given
special consideration by the State board and a psychiatrist has been
added to its force, whose duty it is to determine the best adjustment
for such children and to place them in industry under observation.
During 1920, 859 boys and girls were under such supervision. In a
preliminary report of a study of over 1,000 such children, the adop
tion of continuation schools and the abolition of inadequate night
schools are suggested as the truly effectual method of vocational
training for backward children.
Ten-hour Law.
The ten-hour law applies to females employed in manufacturing,
mechanical, mercantile, printing, baking, and laundering establish
ments. The total number of establishments in Baltimore city and
1L e tte r from th e In d u stria l A ccident Commission, un d er d ate of Oct. 31, 1921.
188
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WHAT STATE LABOR BUREAUS ARE DOING.
189
the counties of Maryland inspected under this law in 1920 was
2,003, involving 43,265 women, 6,287 being employed in offices,
6,149 in salesrooms, and 30,829 in workrooms. The largest number
(15,153) were employed in the manufacture of men’s and women’s
clothing.
The manufacturing and mechanical establishments, the retail
stores, and laundries show varying percentages of women with a
10-hour working day, such percentages, however, usually being very
small.
While 105 violations of the law for not having schedules of work
ing hours posted were found, on notice by the board such schedules
were posted, there being only one prosecution under the law during
the year.
Factory Inspection.
Under the factory inspection law there were 1,426 inspections
made of establishments in Baltimore city in 1920, in which 27,002
persons were employed. The 1919 inspections under this law num
bered 1,533 in establishments employing 23,670 persons. Clothing
manufacturing employed the greatest number, cigar and cigarette
manufacturing coming next. There were no violations of the factory
inspection law in 1920.
Mining Accidents.
The State mine inspector reports the following as to accidents in
mines during the year:
There were 6 fatal accidents in the mines during the year ending May 1, 1920, and
207 nonfatal accidents, compared with 9 fatal accidents and 236 nonfatal for the pre
ceding year. There were only 2 nonfatal accidents in the clay mines during the year.
Employment Service.
The office of the Federal and State Free Employment Service was
opened January 20, 1920, under the direction of the chairman of the
State board of labor and statistics. The superintendent’s salary was
paid by the Federal Government up to July 1.
The total number applying for positions during the six months that
thoservice was in operation was 1,318, of whom 1,081 were males and
237 females. The number who applied for help was 9,166, of whom
7,574 wanted males and 1,592 females. The number referred was
3,251, 2,524 males and 727 females, and the number reported placed
was 251, 215 males and 36 females. The cost to the Federal Govern
ment of the placing of these 251 persons was $1,026, or $4.06 each,
and to the State $360, or $1.43 each, a total of $5.49 for each position
secured.
Strikes.
Of the 21 strikes in Maryland during 1920 only 3 were serious.
Two of these were railroad strikes and the third was at the Baltimore
Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co.’s plant, and involved 6,000 men.
The total number of days lost as a result of the year’s strikes was
197,630. The loss in wages is estimated at $1,560,957, and the total
loss to the firms at about $4,544,284.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
190
Reorganization of Labor Offices.
REORGANIZATION of the Ohio labor offices was effected
July 1, 1921, in accordance with the provisions of the law
creating a department of industrial relations. This new depart
ment is in charge of a director who also holds the position of
secretary of the State industrial commission. The inspection de
partments, including workshops, factories, mines, and the department
of examination of applicants for licenses to operate steam engines
and boilers, which were formerly divisions of the industrial commis
sion, are now under the jurisdiction of the department of industrial
relations.
The workmen’s compensation department is still under the super
vision of the commission, which is also charged with the enforcing of
the law regarding mediation and arbitration and the fixing of safety
standards for work places. Mr. Percy Tetlow has been appointed
director of the department of industrial relations. The members
of the industrial commission are Mr. T. J. Duffy, chairman, Mr. J. D.
Clark, and Miss Rose Moriarty.
Pennsylvania.
Production, Employment, and Wages P aid in Industries, 1916 to 1920.
WORDING to a preliminary report of the Pennsylvania Depart
ment of Internal Affairs, published October 21, 1921, the value
of the manufactured products of the great industrial communities
of that State in 1920 was $11,085,723,500, which was almost double
the value of the industrial products of 1916. In 1918 the industrial
products were valued at $9,403,306,600; in 1919, at $8,853,047,600.
It is stated that “ high prices and not a corresponding increase in
quantity production was responsible in a measure for the new recordbreaking valuation total.
The secretary of internal affairs announces that there were 26,076
industrial establishments reporting to his department in 1920; in
1919,20,888.
The following statistics are given as to the number of employed
in the industries of the State in the years specified:
1916 .....................
1,735,543
1917 .................................................................................................. 1,802,813
1918 ................................................
1,827,101
1919 .................................................................................................. 1, 523, 609
1920 .................................................................................................. 1,614,041
Of all the persons employed last year 1,101,442 were Americans white, 63,565 were
Americans colored, and 449,034 were foreigners. The American colored labor was
greater last year than in any former year and was practically double the figure for
1916. Foreign labor decreased steadily since 1916, so that last year there were prac
tically 163,000 less foreigners employed than there were in 1916.
Of all the persons engaged in industrial occupations in 1920, 1,373,591 were males
and 240,450 were female employees. The records show also that of all of the persons
employed, 11,230 were boys and 10,420 were girls under the age of sixteen years and
classed as minors.
2
Inform ation furnished b y th e ch airm an of th e In d u stria l Commission of Ohio in a letter under date of
Oct. 19, 1921.
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WHAT STATE LABOR BUREAUS ARE DOING.
191
The total wages of industrial employees were:
1916..............
$ 1 ,2 8 0 ,6 9 4 ,2 0 0
191 8 ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 ,2 1 7 ,2 7 2 ,9 0 0
191 9 ...........................................................................................................................................................
1 ,8 6 4 ,4 2 7 ,1 0 0
192 0 ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 ,3 7 0 ,6 6 7 ,5 0 0
Of the total amount paid in wages in 1920, male workers received
$2,203,338,900, and female workers $167,328,600.
Bituminous Coal Production in 1920.3
During 1920 the bituminous coal mines of Pennsylvania produced
157,700,400 tons of soft coal which were valued at the mines at
$556,644,400.
The production in 1920 was about 20,000,000 tons above that of
the preceding year, in which 137,058,500 tons were produced. The
valuation at the mines of the 1919 production was $327,475,400.
The employees in the 1,358 mines reported on numbered 159,423
in 1920, and in 1919, 153,207. In 1920, 88,828 foreigners were en
gaged in the bituminous industry and 70,595 Americans were
employed in the mines, 4,490 of whom were colored.
The total wage of the bituminous mine workers of Pennsvlvania
was $289,657,500 in 1920; in 1919, $196,024,700.
Identification Tags for Workers in Hazardous Occupations.4
The chairman of the Pennsylvania Workmen’s Compensation Board
has recently made the novel and practical suggestion that workmen
engaged in hazardous occupations should wear identification tags.
Unfortunate victims of industrial accidents could thus be identified
and much terrible suspense eliminated among the families and rela
tives of other workers in the plant where the disaster occurred. The
industrial board is planning to consult the various safety authorities
of the State regarding the merits of this suggested practice.
When films with defective perforations, bad splicing, or similar
faults are put in the projector the safety of the projectionist and the
patrons of the motion picture is endangered. To avoid such hazard
the industrial board will issue a code providing for the proper inspec
tion of every motion-picture film circulating through film exchanges.
Advisory Council for Woman and Ch ild Labor Problems.
The commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and
Industry is planning to form a council of individuals and representa
tives of various organizations interested in the welfare of women
and children in industry.
The council’s function would be to aid the department in an advi
sory capacity in the regulation and improvement of the working con
ditions of the women and children in the State’s industries.
3 Pennsylvania D ep artm en t of In te rn a l Affairs, B ureau of Public Inform ation. Press release, Oct. 31»
1921. H arrisburg, P a..
* B ulletin of Inform ation issued by th e Pen n sy lv an ia In d u strial Board, October, 1921.
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H arrisburg.
192
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
Philippine Islands.
quarterly bulletin (March, 1921) of the Philippine Bureau of
A Labor contains the annual report of that bureau for 1920. The
report includes such subjects as the work of the public employment
offices, claims and complaints, labor accidents, strikes, unemploy
ment, inspection of work places, prices, wages, and family budgets.
Besides their regular function of placing registered laborers in
positions and furnishing the help requested by employers, the public
employment offices have the added task of recruiting laborers and
of “ inducing them to become homeseekers should they wish to be
come petty landowners in the future and thus aid the country in
developing its natural resources.” During the year 1920, 4,497
persons were registered for employment and 3,416 placed; besides
3,201 homeseekers, with 11,305 members of their families, were sent
out to various parts of the island. The year closed with the serious
problem of unemployment “ practically solved to the satisfaction of
those affected.”
A total of 392 claims and complaints were filed in the central
office of the bureau of labor and its branches during 1920. Of these
247 were adjusted in favor of the complainant, and 145 against the
complainant. The total amount involved in the claims and com
plaints was 35,674.89 pesos ($17,837.45, par), of which 23,626.04
pesos ($11,813.02, par) was collected during the year.
The summary of labor accidents shows 460 accidents reported in
1920, 387 persons temporarily disabled, 55 permanently disabled,
109 deaths, and 202 cases receiving indemnities. The total amount
collected by the bureau on indemnities was 11,516.99 pesos ($5,758.50,
par).
During the same period the bureau was instrumental in effecting
settlements in 57 strikes, involving 10,561 strikers, and in 11 petitions
for increase in wages, involving 578 persons. Of these strikes and
petitions, 49 were settled in favor of the laborer and 15 against,
while 4 were still pending settlement. Forty-six were unionist and
22 nonunionist. As to cause, 48 were due to the laborers’ desire for
an increase in wages and 22 to other causes.
Statistical tables present data on house rents of tobacco workers in
Manila and of laborers in the Provinces, cost of living and prices of
articles of prime necessity in 1920, and wages of employees and
laborers in Manila and the Provinces.
rT 'H E
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C U R R E N T N O T E S O F IN T E R E S T T O L A B O R .
Projects Under W ay in the United States Children’s Bureau.
industrial division of the United States Children’s Bureau
ni cooperation with the junior division of the United States
Employment Service is about to commence a field study of the condi
tions under which children are prepared for and directed into indus
trial life in this country, with special reference to such work as is
done by public and private placement bureaus, vocational guidance
departments in the schools, and similar agencies.
It is proposed to study intensively the work which is being done in
perhaps a dozen or fifteen cities in which some significant features of
a vocational guidance program have been undertaken.
In the planning of this study the Children’s Bureau has had the
cooperation of the United States Bureau of Education, the Federal
Board for Vocational Education, the junior division of the United
States Employment Service, the officers of the National Vocational
Guidance Association, and other persons interested in the educa
tional and industrial aspects of the vocational guidance problem.
The Children’s Bureau is also planning to call a conference for the
purpose of discussing standards and problems relating to the issuing
of employment certificates or permits authorizing children to work.
This conference is to be held at the time of the meeting of the National
Education Association in Boston next July. In connection with the
project the president of the National Education Association has
appointed a committee of school superintendents to cooperate with
the Children’s Bureau. Invitations to the conference will be sent
not only to school officials but to all other agencies interested in the
administration of child labor laws.
Welfare Work for Immigrants.
A N ADVISORY committee on welfare work.among immigrant
arrivals at the principal United States ports of entry has
recently been appointed by the Commissioner General of Immigra
tion. The personnel of the new organization, which will serve with
out compensation, is as follows: Chairman, Mr. Fred C. Croxton,
Chairman of the Ohio Council of Social Agencies; Secretary, Mrs.
Nathaniel Thayer, Director of the Division of Immigration and
Americanization, of the Department of Education of Massachusetts;
Miss Julia Lathrop, formerly Chief of the United States Children’s
Bureau; Mr. W. W. Sibray, Inspector of the United States Immigra
tion Service at Pittsburgh; Dr. Charles P. Neill, Director of the
National Social Service School for women; and MissLoula D. Lasker,
who was active in Red Cross work in New York.
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193
194
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
A majority of the committee had a conference on October 31 with
the Secretary of Labor and the Commissioner General of Immigration,
and shortly afterwards went to New York to study social-service
work at Ellis Island.
It is expected that Boston, Philadelphia, and probably other ports
of entry will be visited by the committee, which will also work
among immigrants who are on the way to their destination and upon
their arrival at such destination.
In connection with the appointment of this committee the Com
missioner General said that he was “ strongly of the opinion that a
study of the so-called welfare work among arriving immigrants
should be made to determine whether the Bureau [of Immigration]
is doing its full duty in this field and also whether the work now
being done by various organizations at our immigration stations
adequately meets the existing needs.”
Platform of New Federal Labor Party of Canada.1
A NEW Federal Labor Party, organized in Winnipeg last August,
has made the following declaration:
We have in view a complete change in our present economical and social system.
In this we recognize bur solidarity with the workers the world over. As a means to
this end and in order to meet the present pressing needs we recommend the following
platform:
1. Unemployment, (a) State insurance against unemployment chargeable to
industry. (6) Regulation of immigration.
2. Public ownership and democratic control of public utilities.
3. Electoral reform: (a) Proportional representation; (6) names instead of election
deposit; (c) extension of voting facilities.
4. Old-age pensions and health and disability insurance.
5. Abolition of nonelective legislative bodies.
6. International disarmament.
7. Direct legislation: (a) the initiative; (6) the referendum; (c) the recall.
8. Enactment of recommendations of Washington labor conference, especially the
8-hour day.
9. Repeal of amendments to immigration act providing for deportation of British
subjects.
10. Removal of taxation on the necessities of life, taxation of land values, and
abolition of fiscal legislation that, leads to class privilege.
11. Nationalization of the banking system.
12. Capital levy for the reduction of war debt.
South African Board of Trade and Industries.
ACCORDING to the Board of Trade Journal (London) of October
13, 1921, there was established by the Union of South Africa,
during July last, a board of trade and industries whose principal
duty it will be to give a “ continuously close study to questions of
trade and tariffs.” Such a department was found necessary, owing
to the increase in the Union’s export trade during the war. In
addition to questions relative to cost of materials, of production and
of transportation in the Union and elsewhere, which will naturally
1In d u strial C anada, Toronto, Septem ber, 1921, p. 49.
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CURRENT NOTES OF INTEREST TO LABOR.
195
constitute matters for examination and report, the board will con
sider the cost, efficiency, and conditions of labor, both domestic and
foreign, as well as the prices received by producers, manufacturers,
wholesale dealers, distributors, and retailers.
An International Index Number.2
IN CONNECTION with financial settlements between countries it
is obviously of greatest importance to know accurately the
amount of goods a unit of money will purchase in such countries.
The Federal Reserve Board has established for its use, especially
for making foreign comparisons, a wholesale price index number
computed from approximately 90 quotations of staples of first
importance “ grouped as goods produced, goods imported, and goods
exported, as well as raw materials, producers’ goods and consumers’
goods.” This index gives the trend of the average purchasing
power of money in various countries and also its purchasing power
with reference to some classes of basic commodities. Current index
numbers are published for the United States. Comparable price
data are now being collected on a practically uniform schedule in
Great Britain, France, and Canada, and similar work is under way
for Germany, Italy, and other countries. Such an index ought to
aid materially in the attempt to solve more scientifically the foreign
financial and trade problems of the United States.
2
Commerce R eports, Oct. 24, 1921, published b y th e U nited S tates B ureau oi Foreign a n d Domestic
Commerce, W ashington, D. C.
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O F F IC IA L P U B L IC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G T O L A B O R .
United States.
M a r y l a n d .— State Board o f Labor and Statistics.
Baltimore, 1921.
Twenty-ninth annual report, 1920.
429 pp.
This publication is reviewed on pages 188 and 189 of this issue of the
M onthly
L a bo r R e v ie w .
M a ssa c h u sett s .—Department o f Labor and Lndustries.
A n n u a l report on the public
employment offices fo r the year ending December 31, 1920. Boston, 1921. 53 pp.
Data from this report appear on page 126 of this issue of the M o nthly L a b o r R e
view '.
— —
Special commission on the necessaries o f life.
1921. 125 pp.
Report, January, 1921.
Boston,
A d ig est of t h e sectio n of th is re p o rt d e alin g w ith h o u sin g a p p ea rs on pages 145 to
147 of th is issue of t h e M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .
N e w Y o r k .— Department o f Labor.
o f women in 5 and 10 cent stores.
bulletin No. 109.
Bureau o f Women in Industry. The employment
New York, September, 1921. 68 pp. Special
This report is summarized on pages 141 to 144 of this issue of the M onthly L abor
R e v ie wr.
T e x a s .— State Board fo r Vocational Education.
Outline o f plans fo r vocational edu
cation in Texas under the Smith-Hughes Act, 1920-1921. A ustin, November, 1920.
74 pp. B ulletin 125.
U n it e d S t a t e s .— Department o f Agriculture. Office o f fa rm management and farm
economics. Standards o f labor on the hill farm s o f Louisiana. Washington, A ugust,
1921. 27 pp. IUus. B ulletin No. 961.
A statement of the prevailing amounts of work performed by crews of various sizes
at field and crop work, and the labor requirements of crops per acre in the hill sections
of Louisiana.
---------
Department o f Commerce. Bureau o f Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Switzer
land: A commercial and industrial handbook. Washington, 1921. 128 pp. Special
agents series, No. 210.
Of interest to labor in this handbook are data on hours, wages, trade-unions, strikes,
living costs, labor supply and demand, unemployment benefits, and social insurance.
Department o f Labor. Bureau o f Labor Statistics. Union scale o f wages and hours
o f labor, May 15, 1920. Washington, 1921. 280 pp. Wages and hours o f labor
series. B ulletin No. 286.
---------------------------------------- - Wages and hours o f labor in cotton-goods manufacturing.
Washington ,
1921. 125 pp. Wages and hours of labor series. B ulletin No. 288.
------------
A preliminary summary of this report was given in the M o nthly L a b o r R e v ie w
for February, 1921, pp. 70-72.
Wages and hours o f labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing,
1920. Washington, 1921. 97 pp. Wages and hours o f labor series. B ulletin
No. 289.
--------------------------------
A preliminary summary of this report was given in the M onthly L a b or R e v ie w
for March, 1921, pages 67-69.
196
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OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
197
U nited States .— Department of the Interior. Bureau o f Mines. Coke-oven accidents in
the United States during the calendar year 1920. Washington, 1921. 32 pp. Tech
nical paper 293.
This report is summarized on pages 156 and 157 of this issue of the M onthly L abor
R e v ie w .
Oil-camp sanitation.
nical paper 261.
----------------------------------------
Washington, 1921.
32 pp.
Illustrated.
Tech
Production o f explosives in the United States during the calendar year
1920, with notes on mine accidents due to explosives. Washington, 1921. 44 pp.
Technical paper 291.
----------------------------------------
Of interest to labor in this report are the list of permissible explosives tested prior
to June 1, 1921, and notes on mine fatalities due to explosives. “ Accidents in the
mining industry due to the use of explosives during the past nine years have caused
from 4 to 9 per cent of all fatalities at coal mines, 9 to 14 per cent at metal mines, and
13 to 26 per cent at quarries. Considered in relation to the number of men employed,
there has been a general decline in the number of such fatalities. ’’ The total number
of fatalities to underground workers in coal mines due to explosives, in 1920, was 127,
78 of these being in bituminous mines. There is a table on fatal accidents due to
explosives in the mineral industry in 1919.
------------
Interstate Commerce Commission. B ulletin concerning the employment o f women
on large steam roads in 1920. Washington, 1921. 5 pp.
The tables presented in this bulletin are based on returns received from Class I
roads. It is pointed out that “ in 1919, after the return to civil life of the majority
of men who had been in the military service, the average number of women in railway
service was greater than before, the increase in 1919 being 12.6 per cent of 1918, and
the average number in 1920 only 151 less than in 1919.” On October 1, 19*20, there
were 90,052 female employees on Class I roads, of whom 71,637 were engaged in
clerical or semiclerical work, 4,998 in cleaning, 2,638 in personal service, 1,978 as
telegraph and telephone operators, 1,492 in the car department, and 1,357 in shop
work. The general tendency, it is said, appears to be to employ more women in those
occupations for which they are physically suited, and to drop them from those for
which they are, as a rule, physically unsuited.
Foreign Countries.
A u st r a l ia .— Bureau o f Census and Statistics.
statistics fo r the years 1909-10 to 1919-20.
B ulletin No. 14. C. S ., No. 373.
Sum m ary o f Commonwealth production
Melbourne [1921]. 212 pp. Production
Includes data .on number of employees and wages in various pursuits.
---------
Royal Commission on the Basic Wage. Report [and supplementary report] .
bourne, 1920 and 1921. 2 parts. 115 pp.
Mel
The report of a committee appointed December 6, 1919, to investigate the actual
present cost of living of an average family of five persons, the actual corresponding
cost of living during each of the preceding five years, and a method of automatically
adjusting the basic wage to the changing purchasing power of the sovereign. A review
of present cost of living indicated that a weekly wage varying from £5 6s. 2|d. ($25.84,
par) in Brisbane to £5 17s. fd. ($28.48, par) in Sydney was necessary to maintain in a
reasonable standard of comfort the average family of a man, his wife, and three chil
dren under 14 years of age. The report contains three statistical appendixes giving
detailed results of the investigation and a minority report signed by two of the members
of the committee.
The supplementary report deals with the second part of the terms of reference of the
main report, viz, the actual corresponding cost of living during each of the five years
immediately preceding the period of actual investigation. It covers the period
1915-1919, and compares the “ Minimum quantity budget necessary to maintain a
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
worker’s family of five in health and decency, ’’ published by the United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics, with the Australian budget.
A u st r a l ia (N ew S o uth W a l e s ). — Board of Trade.
Report upon the rural industries
and the question o f a rural living wage, 1920-21. Sydney, 1921. 47 pp. 6
appendixes.
For more complete report see pp. 13 to 17 of this issue of the M onthly L abor
R e v ie w .
Au st r a l ia ). — Statistical Department. Statistical register, 1919-20.
Adelaide, 1920. [ Various paging.]
------ (T a sm a n ia ). — Industrial Department. Sixth annual report, 1920-21, on factories,
wage hoards, shops, etc. Hobart, 1921. 37 pp.
------ (S o uth
A more extended review of this report may be found on pp. 106 of this issue of the
M o n t h ly L a b o r R e v ie w .
A u st r ia .— Statistische Zentrallcommission.
Beitrage zur Arbeitsstatistik. Die kollek
tiven Arbeitsverträge in den Jahren 1917 und 1918. Die Arbeitseinteilungen in den
Jahren 1917 und 1918. Die Arbeitsvermittlung in den Jahren 1918 und 1919.
Vienna, 1921. 84 pp. Beiträge zur Statistik der Republik Oesterreich, Heft. 9.
This volume published by the Austrian Statistical Commission treats the following
three subjects: (1) Collective agreements in 1917 and 1918; (2) strikes in 1917 and
1918; and (3) activities of employment offices in 1918 and 1919.
The statistics on collective agreements show that in 1917, when Austria still was in
possession of its prewar territory, 176 collective agreements, covering 4,198 establish
ments and 187,591 workers, were concluded, while in 1918, although Austria’s territory
had been greatly reduced, 200 agreements, covering 12,758 establishments and 256,732
workers, had been concluded.
In the present territory of the Republic of Austria 41 strikes took place in 1917 in
182 establishments employing 92,257 workers of whom 88,717 (96.2 per cent) partici
pated in the strikes. In 1918 the number of strikes was 60, that of the establishments
affected 288, and that of the strikers 84,024, or 76.5 per cent of the 109,814 workers
employed in the establishments affected. Most of the strikes were of short duration,
the average duration in both years being 5.1 days. The great majority of the strikes
were only partly successful for the workers (70.7 per cent in 1917 and 65 per cent in
1918). The per cent of strikes in which the workers were fully successful was 17.1 in
1917 and 11.7 in 1918.
The statistics on the activities of the free employment offices show that in 1918 the
state of the labor market was still fairly good, for the number of applicants per 100
vacancies was only 113.9. In 1919, however, the collapse of Austria is reflected in
the employment statistics, the number of applicants for work per 100 vacancies having
risen to 175.
B e l g iu m .— Ministère de VIndustrie, du Travail et du Ravitaillement.
Inspection du
travail et des établissements dangereux, insalubres ou incommodes. Rapports an
nuels de l’inspection du travail. 21me année (1920). Bruxelles, 1921. 262 p p .
This report of the factory inspection department, of the ministry of labor is made by
the chief inspectors of the different provinces. It covers reports on labor accidents,
the results of the inspection of factories, work of women and children, and concilia
tion and arbitration.
Secrétariat général. Statistique des accidents du travail.
des résultats. Bruxelles [1921]. 55 pp.
---------------------
Année 1910.
Exposé
This statistical report of labor accidents for the year 1-910 covers 54,630 enterprises
and a total of 832,127 workers.
— - — ----------
crins.
Service médical du travail. Le travail industriel des peaux, des poils et des
Etude d ’hygiène professionnelle. Bruxelles, 1921. 448 pp.
A report by the medical service of the Belgian Ministry of Industry and Labor on
industrial hygiene in the wool, hides, and hair industries.
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OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
B r a zil (S âo P a u lo ). — Departamenio Estadual do Trabalho.
balho em 1919.
Sâo P aulo, 1921.
'55 pp.
Os accidentes no tra-
Avulso No. 18.
Industrial accident statistics for 1919 for the city of Sâo Paulo, Brazil. The acci.
dents are classified by severity, occupation, causes, etc.
C ana d a (M a n it o b a ). — Department o f Public Works.
fiscal year ending November SO, 1920.
F ifth annual report fo r the
Winnipeg, 1921. 226 pp.
Among the reports of various branches and subservices of the department of public
works is that of the bureau of labor, giving details as to inspection, industrial acci
dents, trade-unions, etc.
D e n m a r k .— Arbejdsfishedsinspektjren.
Indberetning til Indenrigsministeriet fo r regnskabsaaret 1919-20 ( fra 1 A p ril 1919 til 31 Marts 1920). Copenhagen, 1921. 21 pp.
Report of the Danish unemployment inspector. On March 31, 1920, there were
65 authorized unemployment funds. During the fiscal year there was a membership
increase of 16,541, or 5| per cent. At the beginning of the fiscal year, April 1, 1919,
the 66 funds then existing had 3,528,038.71 kroner ($945,514.37, par), or 12 kroner
($3.22, par) for each of 296,389 members. At the end of the fiscal year the 65 funds
with 312,930 members had 3,293,533.19 kroner ($882,666.90, par), or about 10^ kroner
($2.81, par) per member.
F r a n c e .— Ministère de VHygiène, de VAssistance et de la Prévoyance Sociales.
port du conseil supérieur des habitations à bon marché.
[45 pp.]
Rap
Année 1920. Paris, 1921.
This report of the superior council for cheap dwelling houses gives the reports of
the permanent committee upon the application of the legislation relating to cheap
dwellings for the year 1920.
—
—
Ministère du Travail. Bureau de la Statistique Générale. Annuaire statistique.
Trente-sixième volume, 1919-1920. Résumé rétrospectif. Divers pays. Paris,
1921. xvi, 392 pp.
This report contains statistical information in regard to the population, commerce,
finance, and industries of France over a long period of years. About half of the re
port covers the same information for the principal countries of the world.
G e r m a n y .— Statistisches Reichsamt.
Berlin, 1921.
Lohn- u n d Gehaltserhebung vom Februar 1920.
Statistik des Deutschen Reichs, B and 293.
56*, 438 pp.
This volume contains the results of an investigation into wages and salaries in the
most important industry groups, conducted in February, 1920, by the German Statis
tical Office. Summaries of the data contained in the volume were given for a few
industry groups in the May and July, 1921, issues of the M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .
Although only twenty months have elapsed since the above investigation, wages
have meanwhile increased so rapidly in Germany that the wage statistics compiled
in February, 1920, have now mere documentary value.
G r ea t B r it a in .— Home Office.
Prevention o f anthrax among industrial workers.
Memorandum on the disinfecting station established in Great Britain fo r disinfection
o f wool and hair. London, 1921. 15 pp.
------------ ' -------------
1921.
Factory Department.
16 pp.
Memorandum on industrial lead poisoning.
London,
This bulletin on lead poisoning circulated by the International Labor Office because
the prohibition of the use of white lead is one of the principal items on the agenda
of the Third International Labor Conference, gives a brief account of the conditions
under which lead poisoning is contracted and of the symtoms and effects. A table
of cases reported by five-year periods from 1900 to 1919 shows 753 cases with 27 deaths
in 1900-1904, 548 cases and 34 deaths 1910-1914, and 279 cases and 21 deaths in
1915-1919. The large reduction in the last period reported is stated to be due to the
adverse effect of the war on several lead industries.
Privy Council. Committee fo r scientific and industrial research.
year 1920-21. London, 1921. 121pp. Cmd.1491.
•------------
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Report fo r the
200
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
G r e a t B r it a in ( I r e l a n d ). — Local Government Board.
ended 31st March, 1920.
D ublin, 1921.
x d ii, 49 pp.
A n n u a l report fo r the year
Cmd. 1432.
Of interest to labor in this report are the sections dealing with the old-age pensions
acts (1908 to 1919) and housing.
------ (M a n c h e s t e r ).— Public Health Office.
chester, 1920.
Manchester, 1921,
Report on the health o f the city o f Man
xvi, 276 pp.
Of interest to labor in this report are the portions dealing with housing, occupa
tional mortality, inspection of factories, workshops, and home work, maternity and
child welfare.
G r e e c e .-— [Direction du Service des Mines.]
de la Grèce pendant Vannée 1919.
Tableaux statistiques du mouvement minier
Athens, 1921. 35 pp.
This report of the bureau of mines of the ministry ©f national economy gives
statistics for 1919 of the production of Greek mines, consumption, prices, production
costs, number of workers employed, and number injured or killed in mine accidents.
I c el a n d .— Ilagstofu.
Reykjavik, 1921.
Bûnadarskyrslur arid 1919. Gefid üt a f Hagstofu Islands.
31 pp. Hagskyrslur Islands 27.
Statistical report on agriculture in Iceland for the year 1919.
Fiskiskyrslur og H lunninda arid 1918. Gefid ut a f Ilagstofu Islands.
javik, 1921. 20*, 55 pp. Hagskyrslur islands 28.
--------------------
Reyk
Report on fishing and hunting industry in Iceland in 1918.
I n d ia (B o m ba y ).— Labor Office.
September, 1921.
Secretariat.
Labor Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 1.
Bombay,
44 pp.
This new labor monthly is published by the labor office of the presidency of Bom
bay (India). According to its editor the Labor Gazette aims to give information
regarding labor conditions in India in much the same manner as official labor periodi
cals of other countries reflect their special industrial conditions. The first number
contains statistical information regarding cost of living, prices, wages, industrial
disputes, trade unions, and factory legislation.
I n t e r n a t io n a l L a b o r O f f ic e .— The eight-hour day act and its application to agricul
ture in Czechoslovakia.
Geneva, 1921.
96 pp.
This publication is summarized on pages 162 and 163 of this issue of the M onthly
L a bo r R e v ie w .
---------
The international protection o f women workers.
Studies and Reports, Series I, No. 1.
Geneva, October, 1921.
14 pp.
Gives a brief résumé of the movement for the protection of Women in industry from
the time of the Berlin Conference in 1890, and discusses the proposals of this character
to come before the Third International Labor Conference at Geneva this year. It
emphasizes the trend towards protection from harmful working conditions regard
less of sex.
The principal importance of the conference which is about to be held lies, as has
been shown, not in the special measures that it may adopt for the protection of Women
workers so much as in the proposal to put men and Women on a footing of almost
complete equality in all protective measures contemplated. It is in this direction
that women desire to see the development of protection for Women workers. They
no longer ask for privileges—they demand absolute equality.
N o r w a y .-—Departementet fo r Sociale Saker.
121 pp.
Utvandringsstatistikk.
Norges Offisielle Statistikk, V II, 25.
Christiania, 1921.
This publication is a statistical and historical survey of Norwegian emigration.
---------
Fabrikktilsynet. Ârsberetninger fra arbeidsrâdet og fabrikktilsynet fo r 1920.
tiania, 1921. xvi, 208 pp.
Chris
Annual report on factory inspection in Norway for the year 1920. The report states
that one of the subjects dealt with was the law of July 11, 1919, whereby the working
period was reduced from 10 to 8§ hours daily and from 54 to 48 hours weekly. No
special difficulty was experienced in carrying out this law, as its provisions had been
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OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR.
introduced in agreements between employers and employees in most of the larger
industrial groups before the law went into effect. During 1920, 3,442 accidents were
reported, 37 resulting in death, as against a total of 2,411 reported in 1919, 50 of which
were fatal. The report also contains the reports from the district inspectors and the
report of the woman factory inspector, whose territory includes the whole country.
N o rw a y (C h r is t ia n ia ). — Arbeidskontor.
Aarsberetning, 1920.
[Christiania, 1921.]
\ 30 p p .
Report of the Christiania employment exchange. During the year 36,650 applicants
for work were placed and 36,686 vacancies filled. There are included also short
reports of private employment exchanges and of the unemployment funds.
S w e d e n .— Government Delegation for International Collaboration in Social Politics.
The Swedish agricultural laborer.
Stockholm, 1921.
94 pp.
Ulus.
This book is published by order of the special delegation appointed for international
collaboration in social politics for the Geneva Conference in 1921. It gives a survey
of agricultural conditions showing labor supply, hours and wages, standard of living,
housing conditions, efforts to form small holdings and land settlements, etc.
---------
Socialstyrelsen. Levnadskotnaderna i Sverige 1913-1914. Del. I. Utredningens
huvudresultat. Stockholm, 1921. 110*, 87 pp. Sveriges Officiella Statistik. Socialstatistik.
This comprises Part I of the report of a general investigation into living costs made
by the Swedish Labor Office in 1913 and 1914. I t is a summary of the investigation
made, some of the main results of which have previously been published.
—— (S tockholm ). —Statistiska Kontor.
Berattelse angdende Stockholm,s stads arbetsfôrmedling jam te statistisk ôversikt rôrande verksamheten dr 1918. Stockholm, 1921.
16*, 11pp. Stockholms Stads Statistik. I X . Arbctsformedling.
Report of employment exchange for city of Stockholm for 1918.
Statistisk oversikt av fabriksindustrien och hantverkerierna i Stockholm dr
1919. Stockholm , 1921. 10*, 6 pp. Stockholms Stads Statistik. X I I . Fabriker
och Ilantverk.
---------------------
Report on factories and workshops in Stockholm during the year 1919.
S w it zer la n d (B e r n ). — Arbeits- u n d Wohnungsamt.
Verwaltungsbericht f ü r das Jahr
1920. [Bern, 1921.] 27 pp.
The administrative report for the year 1920 of the employment office, housing office,
and unemployment insurance fund of the city of Bern. The employment office
received 16,490 applications for employment and 17,883 notifications of vacant situa
tions, and placed 12,400 persons. In 1919 the corresponding figures were 16,690,
17,885, and 11,978. The employment office acted also as disbursing agency of the
unemployment allowances granted by the Swiss Federal Government.
The housing office reports great scarcity of dwellings. In 1920 there was a shortage
of approximately 2,000 dwellings.
op S o u t h A f r ic a . — Department o f Mines and Industries. A n n u a l reports * * *
fo r the calendar year 1920. Pretoria, 1921. 123, and 23 pp. Tables.
U n io n
Sections I and II of this report of the secretary for mines and industries deal with
the purely labor aspects of the South African mining industry and contain tabular
statistics showing the number and nationality of persons employed in the mines, as
well as their salaries and wages. Sections IV and V III deal with accidents and miner’s
phthisis, respectively.
•---------
Office o f Census and Statistics.
1921.
Social statistics.
Pretoria, 1921.
81 pp.
No. 3,
Statistics of wages and industrial matters (including industrial organization and
disputes) and of retail and wholesale prices, rents, and cost of living (1895-1921).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SERIES OF BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
[T h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e a n n u a l a n d s p e c i a l r e p o r t s a n d o f t h e b i m o n t h l y b u l l e t i n w a s
d i s c o n t i n u e d in J u l y , 1912, a n d s in c e t h a t t i m e a b u l l e t i n h a s b e e n p u b l i s h e d a t ir r e g u la r
i n te r v a ls . E a c h n u m b e r c o n t a i n s m a t t e r d e v o t e d t o o n e o f a s e r ie s o f g e n e r a l s u b j e c t s .
T h e s e b u l l e t i n s a r e n u m b e r e d c o n s e c u t i v e l y , b e g i n n in g w i t h N o . 101, a n d u p t o N o . 236 t h e y
a ls o c a r r y c o n s e c u ti v e n u m b e r s u n d e r e a c h s e r ie s . B e g in n in g w i t h N o . 237 t h e s e r ia l n u m
b e r in g h a s b e e n d i s c o n t i n u e d . A l i s t o f t h e s e r ie s is g iv e n b e lo w . U n d e r e a c h is g r o u p e d
a ll t h e b u l l e t i n s w h ic h c o n ta i n m a t e r i a l r e la t in g to t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r o f t h a t s e r ie s . A
l i s t o f t h e r e p o r t s a n d b u l l e t i n s o f t h e B u r e a u i s s u e d p r i o r to J u l y 1 , 1912, w ill b e f u r n is h e d
o n a p p li c a ti o n . T h e b u l l e t i n s m a r k e d t h u s * a r e o u t o f p r i n t .]
W holesale Prices.
* B ui. 114.
B ui. 149.
* B ui. 173.
* B u i. 181.
* B ui. 200.
B u i. 226.
B ui. 269.
B ui. 284.
W holesale prices, 1890 to 1912.
W holesale prices, 1890 to 1913.
In d e x num bers of wholesale prices in th e U n ited States a n d foreign countries.
W holesale prices, 1890 to 1914.
W holesale prices, 1890 to 1915.
W holesale prices, 1890 to 1916.
W holesale prices, 1890 to 1919.
In d e x num bers of wholesale prices in th e U n ited S tates an d foreign countries.
of B u lletin No. 173.]
B ui. 296. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1920. [In press.]
[Revision
Retail Prices and Cost of Living.
* B ui. 105. R etail prices, 1890 to 1911: P a rt I.
R etail prices, 1890 to 1911: P a rt I I —G eneral ta w “s.
* B ui. 106. R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1912: P a rt I.
R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1912: P a rt I I —G eneral tables.
B ui. 108. R etail prices, 1890 to A ugust, 1912.
B ui. 110. R etail prices, 1890 to October, 1912.
B ui. 113. R etail prices, 1890 to December, 1912.
B ui. 115. R etail prices, 1890 to F eb ru ary , 1913.
* B ui. 121. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer.
B ui. 125. R etail prices, 1890 to A pril, 1913.
* B ui. 130. W h eat an d flour prices, from farm er to consumer.
B ui. 132. R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1913.
B ui. 136. R etail prices, 1890 to A ugust, 1913.
* B ui. 138. R etail prices, 1890 to October, 1913.
* B ui. 140. R etail prices, 1890 to December, 1913.
B ui. 156. R etail prices, 1907 to December, 1914.
B ui. 164. B u tte r prices, from producer to consum er.
B ui. 170. Foreign food prices as affected b y th e w ar.
B ui. 184. R etail prices, 1907 to Ju n e, 1915.
B ui. 197. R etail prices, 1907 to December, 1915.
B ui. 228. R etail prices, 1907 to D ecember, 1916.
B ui. 270. R etail prices. 1913 to 1919.
B u i. 300. R e ta il prices. 1913 to 1920. [In press.
W ages and Hours of Labor.
B ui. 116. H ours, earnings, an d d u ra tio n of em ploym ent of wage-earning women in selected industries
in th e D istrict of Columbia.
* B ui. 118. T en-hour m ax im u m w orking-day for w omen an d young persons.
B ui. 119. W orking hours of women in th e pea canneries of W isconsin.
* B ui. 128. Wages an d hours of labor in th e cotton, woolen, an d silk industries, 1890 to 1912.
* B ui. 129. Wages an d hours of labor in th e lum ber, m illw ork, an d fu rn itu re industries, 1890 to 1912.
* B u i. 131. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, 1907 to 1912.
* B ui. 134. Wages an d hours of labor in th e boot a n d shoe a n d hosiery an d k n it goods industries, 1890
to 1912.
* B ui. 135. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e cigar a n d clothing industries, 1911 a n d 1912.
B ui. 137. W ages a n d hours of labor in th e building a n d repairing of steam railroad cars, 1890 to 1912.
B ui. 143. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, M ay 15,1913.
76564°—21-----14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(i)
W ages and Hours of Labor—Concluded.
B ui. 146. W ages a n d reg u larity of em ploym ent a n d stan dardization of piece rates in th e dress and
w aist in d u s try of New Y ork City.
*Bul. 147. W ages a n d reg u larity of em ploym ent in th e cloak, suit, a n d s k irt in d u stry .
*Bul. 150. W ages an d hours of labor in th e cotton, woolen, an d silk industries, 1907 to 1913.
*Bul. 151. W ages an d hours of labor in th e iron an d steel in d u stry in th e U nited Sates, 1907 to 1912.
B ui. 153. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e lum ber, millw ork, a n d furniture industries, 1907 to 1913.
*Bul. 154. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e boot an d shoe a nd hosiery and underw ear industries, 1907
to 1913.
B ui. 160. H ours, earnings, an d conditions of labor of w omen in In d ia n a m ercantile establishm ents
a n d g arm ent factories.
B ui. 161. W ages an d hours of labor in th e clothing a n d cigar industries, 1911 to 1913.
B ui. 163. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e building a n d repairing of steam railroad cars, 1907 to 1913.
B ui. 168. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e iron an d steel in d u stry , 1907 to 1918.
*Bul. 171. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, M ay 1,1914.
B ui. 177. Wages an d hours of labor in th e hosiery a n d underw ear in d u stry , 1907 to 1914.
B ui. 178. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e boot a n d shoe in d u stry , 1907 to 1914.
B ui. 187. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e m en ’s clothing in d u stry , 1911 to 1914.
*Bul. 190. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e cotton, woolen, a n d silk industries, 1907 to 1914.
*Bul. 194. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, May 1,1915.
B ui. 204. Street railw ay em ploym ent in th e U nited States.
B ui. 214. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, M ay 15, 1916.
B ui. 218. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e iron an d steel in d u stry , 1907 to 1915.
B ui. 221. H ours, fatigue, an d health in B ritish m unition factories.
B ui. 225. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e lu m b er, m illw ork, a n d furniture industries, 1915.
B ui. 232. Wages an d hours of labor in th e boot a n d shoe in d u stry , 1907 to 1916.
B ui. 238. Wages an d hours of labor in woolen an d w orsted goods m anufacturing, 1916.
B ui. 239. W ages an d hours of labor in cotton goods m anufacturing a nd finishing, 1916.
B ui. 245. U nion scale of wages an d hours of labor. M ay 15,1917.
B ui. 252. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e slaughtering a n d m eat-packing in d u stry , 1917.
B ui. 259. U nion scale of wages an d hours of labor, May 15,1918.
B ui. 260. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e boot a n d shoe in d u stry , 1907 to 1918.
B ui. 261. Wages a n d hours of labor in woolen a n d w orsted goods m anufactured, 1918.
B ui. 262. Wages a n d hours of labor in cotton goods m anufacturing a nd finishing, 1918.
B ui. 265. In d u stria l survey m selected in d u stries in th e U nited States, 1919. Preliminary report.
B ui. 274. U nion scale of wages an d hours of labor, M ay 15,1919.
B ui. 278. Wages an d hours of labor in th e boot an d shoe in d u stry , 1907-1920.
B ui. 279. H ours an d earnings in a n th ra c ite a n d bitum inous coal m ining.
B ui. 286. U nion scale of wages an d hours of labor, M ay 15, 1920.
B ui. 288. Wages a n d hours of labor in cotton goods m anufacturing, 1920.
B ui. 289. Wages a n d hours of labor in woolen a n d worsted goods m anufacturing, 1920.
B ui. 294. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e slaughtering a nd m eat-packing in d u stry in 1921. [In
press.]
B ui. 297. W ages a n d hours of labor in th e petroleum in d u stry . [In press.]
B ui. 302. U nion scale of wages a n d hours of labor, M ay 15,1921. [In press.]
Employment and Unemployment.
*Bul.. 109. S tatistics of u n em p lo y m en t a n d th e work of em ploym ent offices.
B u i. 116. H ours, earning, a n d d u ratio n of em ploym ent of wage-earning women in selected industries
in th e D istrict of Columbia.
B ui. 172. U nem ploym ent in New Y ork City, N . Y.
*Bul. 182. U nem ploym ent am ong w omen in d e p artm e n t a n d other retail stores of B oston, Mass.
*Bul. 183. R egularity of em ploym ent in th e w om en’s ready-to-w ear garm ent industries.
B ui. 192. Proceedings of th e A m erican Association of Public E m ploym ent Offices.
*Bul. 195. U nem ploym ent in th e U nited States.
B ui. 196. Proceedings of th e E m p lo y m en t M anagers’ Conference held a t M inneapolis, Jan u ary , 1916.
B ui. 202. Proceedings of th e conference of th e E m p lo y m ent M anagers’ A ssociation of Boston, Mass.,
held M ay 10, 1916.
B ui. 206. T he B ritish system of labor exchanges.
B ui. 220. Proceedings of th e F o u rth A n n u al M eeting of th e Am erican Association of Public E m ploy
m e n t Offices, Buffalo, N . Y ., Ju ly 20 a n d 21, 1916.
B ui. 223. E m p lo y m en t of women a n d juveniles in G reat B rita in during th e w ar.
*Bul. 227. Proceedings of th e E m p lo y m en t M anagers’ Conference, Philadelphia, P a . , A pril 2 and 3,
1917.
B ui. 235. E m p lo y m en t system of th e Lake Carriers’ Association.
B ui. 241 P ublic em ploym ent offices in th e U n ited States.
B ui, 247 Proceedings of E m p lo y m en t M anagers’ Conference, Rochester, N. Y ., May 9-11, 1918.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(ID
Women in Industry.
B u i. 116. H ours, earnings, a n d d u ra tio n of em ploym ent of w age-earning w om en in selected indus
tries in th e D istric t of C o lu m b ia.
* B ui. 117. P ro h ib itio n of n ig h t w ork of young persons.
* B ui. 118. T en-hour m ax im u m w orking-day for w om en a n d young p ersons.
B ui. 119. W o rking h o u rs of w om en in th e pea canneries of W isconsin.
* B ui. 122. E m p lo y m en t of wom en in pow er la u n d ries in M ilwaukee.
B ui. 160. H ours, earnings, an d conditions of labor of w om en in In d ia n a m ercantile establishm ents
a n d g a rm e n t factories.
* B ui. 167. M inimum-w age legislation in th e U n ite d S tates an d foreign countries.
* B ui. 175. S um m ary of th e re p o rt on condition of w om an an d child wage earners in th e U nited S tates.
* B u i. 176. Effect of m in im u m wage d ete rm in a tio n s in Oregon.
* B ui. 180. T h e boot a n d shoe in d u s try in M assachusetts as a vocation for wom en.
* B ui. 182. U nem ploym ent am ong w om en in d e p a rtm e n t an d oth er re ta il stores of B oston, Mass.
B ui. 193. D ressm aking as a tra d e for w om en in M assachusetts.
B ui. 215. In d u s tria l experience of trade-school girls in M assachusetts.
B u i. 217. Effect of w orkm en’s com pensation law s in dim inishing th e necessity of in d u stria l employ
m e n t of wom en a n d children.
B ui. 223. E m p lo y m en t of wom en a n d juveniles in G reat B rita in during th e w ar.
B ui. 253. W om en in th e lead in d u s try .
Workmen’s Insurance and Compensation (including laws relating thereto).
B ui. 101.
B ui. 102.
B ui. 103.
B ui. 107.
* B ui. 126.
* B ui. 155.
* B ui. 185.
B ui. 203.
B ui. 210.
B ui. 212.
B ui. 217.
B ui. 240.
B ui. 243.
B ui. 248.
B ui. 264.
B ui. 272.
* B ui. 273.
B ui. 275.
B ui. 281.
B ui. 301.
Care of tuberculosis wage earners in G erm any.
B ritish N a tio n a l In su ran ce A ct, 1911.
Sickness an d accident in su ran ce law of Sw itzerland.
Law re latin g to in su ran ce of salaried employees in G erm any.
W orkm en’s com pensation law s of th e U n ited S tates a n d foreign countries.
C om pensation for accidents to employees of th e U n ited States.
C om pensation legislation of 1914 a n d 1915.
W orkm en’s com pensation law s of th e U n ited S tates a n d foreign countries.
Proceedings of th e T h ird A n n u al M eeting of th e In te rn a tio n a l Association of In d u stria l
A ccident B oards an d Commissions.
Proceedings of th e conference on social in su ran ce called b y th e In te rn a tio n a l Association
of In d u s tria l A ccident B oards a n d Commissions.
Effect of w orkm en’s com pensation law s in dim inishing th e necessity of in d u stria l employ
m e n t of wom en an d children.
Com parison of w orkm en’s com pensation law s of th e U n ited States.
W orkm en’s com pensation legislation in th e U n ited S tates a nd foreign countries.
Proceedings of th e F o u rth A n n u al Meeting of th e in te rn a tio n a l Association of In d u strial
A ccident B oards an d Commissions.
Proceedings of th e F ifth A n n u al Meeting of th e In te rn a tio n a l Association of In d u stria l
A ccident B oards an d Commissions.
W orkm en’s com pensation legislation of th e U n ited S tates a nd Canada, 1919.
Proceedings of th e Six th A n n u al Meeting of th e In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation of In d u stria l
A ccident B oards an d Commissions.
Com parison of w orkm en’s com pensation law s of th e U n ited S tates a nd C anada.
Proceedings of th e Seventh A n n u al M eeting of th e In te rn a tio n a l Association of In d u stria l
A ccident B oards an d Commissions.
Com parison of w orkm en’s com pensation insurance and a d m inistration. [In press.]
Industrial
B ui.
B ui.
* B ui.
B ui.
* B ui.
B ui.
* B ui.
B ui.
Accidents and Hygiene.
104. Lead poisoning in potteries, tile works, an d porcelain enam eled san itary w are factories.
120. H ygiene of th e p a in te rs ’ trad e.
127. D angers to w orkers from d u st an d fumes, a n d m ethods of protection.
141. L ead poisoning in th e sm elting a n d refining of lead.
157. In d u s tria l accident statistic s.
165. L ead poisoning in th e m an u factu re of storage b atteries.
179. In d u s tria l poisons used in th e ru b b er in d u stry .
188. R ep o rt of B ritish d e p a rtm e n ta l com m ittee on th e danger in th e use of lead in th e painting
of buildings.
* B ui. 201. R ep o rt of com m ittee on s tatistic s a n d com pensation insurance cost of the In te rn a tio n a l
A ssociation of In d u s tria l A ccident B oards an d Commissions. [Lim ited edition.]
B ui. 205. A n th ra x as a n occupational disease.
B ui. 207. Causes of d e ath b y occupation.
B ui. 209. H ygiene of th e p rin tin g trad es.
* B ui. 216. A ccidents a n d accident p rev en tio n in m achine building.
B ui. 219. In d u s tria l poisons used or produced in th e m an u factu re of explosives.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
( i n )
Industrial Accidents and H ygiene—Concluded.
B ui. 221.
B ui. 230.
B ui. 231.
*Bul. 234.
B ui. 236.
B ui. 251.
B ui. 253.
B ui. 256.
B ui. 267.
B ui. 276.
B ui. 280.
B ui. 291.
B ui. 293.
B ui. 298.
H ours, fatigue, an d h e alth in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
In d u s tria l efficiency an d fatigue in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
M ortality from resp irato ry diseases in d u s ty trad es.
Safety m ovem ent in th e iron a n d steel in d u stry , 1907 to 1917.
Effect of th e air ham m er on th e h a n d s of sto n ecu tters.
P rev en tab le d e ath in th e c o tto n m an u factu rin g in d u stry .
W om en in th e lead in d u stries.
A ccidents an d accident p rev en tio n in m achine building. R evision of B u i. 216.
A n th ra x as a n occupational disease. [Revised.]
S tan d ard izatio n of in d u stria l accident statistics.
In d u s tria l poisoning in m aking coal-tar dyes an d dye interm ediates.
Carbon m onoxide poisoning. [In press.]
T he problem of d u st p h th isis in th e g ra n ite sto n e in d u s try . [In press.]
Causes an d p rev en tio n of accidents in th e iron a n d steel in d u stry , 1910 to 1919. [In press.]
Conciliation and Arbitration (including strikes and lockouts).
* B ui. 124. Conciliation an d arb itratio n in th e building trades of G reater New Y ork.
* Bui. 133. R eport of th e in d u strial council of th e B ritish Board of T rade on its inquiry in to industrial
agreem ents.
B ui. 139. Michigan copper d istrict strike.
B ui. 144. In d u stria l court of th e cloak, suit, a n d sk irt in d u stry of N ew Y ork City.
B ui. 145. Conciliation, a rb itratio n , an d san itatio n in th e dress an d w aist in d u stry of New York
City.
B ui. 191. Collective bargaining in th e an th racite coal in d u stry.
*Bul. 198. Collective agreem ents in th e m en’s clothing in d u stry .
B ui. 233. O peration of th e In d u stria l D isputes Investigation A ct of Canada.
liabor Laws of the United States (including decisions of courts relating to labor).
* B ui. 111.
* B ui. 112.
* B ui. 148.
* B ui. 152.
* B ui. 166.
* B ui. 169.
* B ui. 186.
* B ui. 1S9.
B ui. 211.
* B ui. 213.
B ui. 224.
B ui. 229.
B ui. 244.
B ui. 246.
B ui. 257.
B ui. 258.
B ui 277.
B ui. 285.
B ui. 290.
B ui. 292.
L abor legislation of 1912.
Decisions of courts an d opinions affecting labor, 1912.
L abor Laws of th e U n ited States, w ith decisions of courts relating thereto.
Decisions of courts a n d opinions affecting labor, 1913.
Labor legislation of 1914.
Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1914.
L abor legislation of 1915.
Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1915
L abor laws and th eir a d m in istratio n in th e Pacific States.
L abor legislation of 1916.
Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1916.
W age-paym ent legislation in th e U n ited States.
L abor legislation of 1917.
Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1917.
L abor legislation of 1918.
Decisions of courts an d opinions affecting labor, 1918.
L abor legislation of 1919.
M inimum-wage legislation in th e U nited States.
Decisions of courts a n d opinions affecting labor, 1919-1920. [In press.]
L abor legislation of 1920. [In press.]
Foreign Labor Laws.
B ui. 142. A dm inistration of labor law s a n d factory inspection in certain European countries.
Vocational Education.
B ui. 145. Conciliation, a rb itratio n , an d san itatio n in th e dress and w aist industry of New Y ork
C ity.
* B ui. 147. W ages a n d regularity of em ploym ent in th e cloak, suit, an d sk irt in dustry.
* B ui. 159. Short-unit courses for wage earners, an d a factory school experim ent.
B ui. 162. V ocational education survey of R ichm ond, Va.
B ui. 199. V ocational education survey of M inneapolis.
Labor as Affected by the War.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
170.
219.
221.
222.
223.
230.
Foreign food prices as affected by th e w ar.
In d u stria l poisons used or produced in th e m an u facture of explosives.
H ours, fatigue, a n d h ealth in B ritish m unition factories.
W elfare work in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
E m p lo y m en t of w om en a n d juveniles in G reat B rita in during th e w ar.
In d u stria l efficiency an d fatigue in B ritish m u n ition factories.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(IV)
Labor as Affected by the War—Concluded.
B ui. 237. In d u stria l u n rest in Great B ritain .
B ui. 249. In d u stria l h ealth a n d efficiency. F in al report of B ritish H ealth of M unition W orkers
C om m ittee.
B ui. 255. Jo in t in d u stria l councils in G reat B ritain .
B ui. 283. H isto ry of th e Shipbuilding L abor A d ju stm en t Board, 1917 to 1919.
B ui. 287. N ational W ar Labor B oard. [In press.]
M iscellaneous Series.
* Bui. 117.
* B ui. 118.
* B ui. 123.
* B ui. 158.
* B ui. 159.
* B ui. 167.
B ui. 170.
B ui. 174.
Bui.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
Bui.
208.
222.
242.
250.
254.
263.
266.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
B ui.
268.
271.
282.
295.
299.
Pro h ib itio n of n ig h t w ork of young persons.
Ten-hour m ax im u m w orking-day for w om en and young persons.
Em ployers’ welfare w ork.
G overnm ent aid to hom e owning a n d housing of working people in foreign countries.
S hort-unit courses for wage earners, a n d a factory school experim ent.
M inimum-wage legislation in th e U nited States an d foreign countries.
Foreign food prices as affected by th e war.
Subject index o f th e publications of th e U nited States Bureau of Labor Statistics up to
May 1,1915.
Profit sharing in th e U nited States.
W elfare work in B ritish m u n itio n factories.
Food situ atio n in C entral Europe, 1917.
W elfare work for employees in in d u strial establishm ents in the U nited States.
In te rn a tio n a l labor legislation an d th e society of nations.
H ousing by em ployers in th e U nited States.
Proceedings of S eventh A n n u al Convention of G overnm ental Labor Officials of th e U nited
States a n d C anada.
H istorical survey of in tern atio n al action affecting labor.
A d u lt working-class education in G reat B rita in a n d th e U nited States.
M utual relief associations am ong G overnm ent employees in W ashington, 1). C.
B uilding operations in representative cities in 1920. [In press.]
Personnel research agencies. A guide to organized research in em ploym ent, m anagem ent,
in d u strial relations, train in g , an d working conditions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS ISSUED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Descriptions of occupations, prepared for the United States Employment. Service, 1918-19.
Boots a n d shoes, harness and saddlery, a n d tan n in g .
Cane-sugar refining and flour milling.
Coal a n d w ater gas, p a in t a n d varnish, paper, p rin tin g trades, an d rubber goods.
Electrical m anufacturing, distribution, an d m aintenance.
Class.
H otels a n d restau ran ts.
Logging cam ps a n d sawmills.
M edicinal m anufacturing.
M etal working, building a n d general construction, railroad transportation, an d shipbuilding.
Mines a n d m ining.
Office employees.
Slaughtering an d m eat packing.
Street railw ays.
* Textiles a n d clothing.
* M ater tra n sp o rtatio n .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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(V I)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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